Episode 32
Episode 32
Translation: Godtl
Ye-ryeong listened to the entire conversation and made a troubled expression.
"Hmm, if that's the reason, then killing her outright would indeed be difficult."
It seemed she couldn't think of an immediate solution either.
Cheon Mu-jin's worries deepened.
Then, in that moment, a plausible plan occurred to him.
'Should I threaten her by taking photos and spreading them?'
Nude photos of Cheon Ha-na circulating through the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? That might actually be an amusing situation.
Of course, that alone wouldn't be enough to threaten her.
Unless he could actually poison her completely...
'Poison?'
Wait—this might actually be a decent idea.
Forcing her to ingest poison and then using the antidote as leverage could be one way. The question was, what kind of poison to use.
A mediocre poison could be neutralized by the Poison Demon Clan with only minor losses. Naturally, that wouldn't be ideal.
But what if it wasn't a mediocre poison?
'I have miracle pills—practically the pinnacle of modern technology.'
In this world, it was certain that no one would even be able to analyze the composition of the miracle pills. And once Cheon Ha-na was addicted to them, she would be utterly ruined.
In that case, it would align perfectly with his desired plan.
Breaking Cheon Ha-na and making her his subordinate would be a sure thing.
"I've just thought of a very good plan."
"What is it?"
"Do you remember that ointment?"
"Ointment...?"
Ye-ryeong tilted her head in thought before nodding.
She definitely remembered the one used on Ju-rin. The moment it was applied, it had sent her into an immediate frenzy.
"Are you planning to use that?"
"Something like that."
Cheon Mu-jin smirked as he stood up.
"Could you explain?"
"It's simple—I'm going to turn Cheon Ha-na into a complete slut. To the point where she can't live without a cock, a total slave."
"I see."
Even to this kind of plan, Ye-ryeong nodded as if she saw no issue with it.
Truly a loyal subordinate.
"Well then, shall we go?"
Their destination was somewhere Cheon Ha-na of the Blade Demon Clan was likely to be.
There weren't many places a lonely woman who had lost an arm would go.
Cheon Mu-jin headed toward a pavilion north of the Demon Path Pavilion, where the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains were clearly visible.
With sheer cliffs and towering peaks in full view, it was the perfect place to sigh while taking in the scenery.
How did he know this? Because after failing the sixth Hunter exam, he had once sought out the Han River in a similarly despondent mood.
Of course, he hadn't jumped in, but he understood well enough what that kind of emptiness felt like.
So, he could approach Cheon Ha-na with relatively lightheartedness.
Sure enough, Cheon Ha-na was there.
"What are you doing here?"
"Did you come to mock me too?"
Cheon Ha-na's reaction was extremely hostile. It seemed several others had already come by.
Most likely to mock her for effectively being eliminated from the Young Cult Leader candidacy.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down a little, won't you?"
"Calm down? Does this look like a situation where I should be calm?"
Cheon Ha-na snapped as she stood up, her empty sleeve fluttering—a stark reminder of her missing arm.
"Whoa, whoa, you'd better listen carefully. Who knows? Maybe I'm the one here to pick up the broken kite?"
"What did you say?"
"Do you really think anyone would take in a crippled Doma clanswoman? And do you think this Demon Path Pavilion is the kind of place where familial bonds matter?"
"......."
Cheon Ha-na couldn't answer.
She knew it too. In the Demon Path Pavilion, a one-armed woman like her was practically doomed to be cast aside.
Surviving at all would be a blessing—and even that wasn't guaranteed, given how many would want to eliminate her as a threat.
And that wasn't even the end of it.
If another faction's Young Cult Leader ascended to the Heavenly Demon's throne, the Blade Demon Clan's influence would undoubtedly decline even further.
Especially with the would-be next Blade Demon Clan Lord in this pitiful state.
Whether in the short term or the long term, nothing but the worst scenarios came to mind.
"But I'm different. I'm considering taking you under my wing."
The words "Someone like you?" didn't come out.
In the past, maybe—but the current Cheon Mu-jin was a proven force who had subdued Cheon Yeon-hwa and Cheon Yu-rin.
He might not compare to Cheon Gi-baek, but he was undeniably close to being a Young Cult Leader candidate.
Still, she couldn't understand why.
Why would he want her?
"You'd take me in? What's your reason? Do you want to absorb the Blade Demon Clan into your faction?"
If he wanted the Blade Demon Clan's backing, she could somewhat understand.
Of course, if that were the case, she intended to refuse. The Blade Demon Clan had no intention of submitting to anyone.
This wasn't just her stance—the current Blade Demon Clan Lord, Cheon Ha-na's mother, undoubtedly felt the same way.
"The Blade Demon Clan? I have no interest in that."
"Then is it money you're after?"
Unlike the direct descendants of the Four Great Clans, Cheon Mu-jin had no substantial backing. If gold and silver were his goal, she was willing to consider cooperation.
"Money? You think that's all I care about? If I wanted money, I wouldn't be aiming for the Young Cult Leader position—I'd have left the Murim altogether."
A renowned master could rake in wealth as easily as scooping water with a ladle.
"Then what in the world do you want from me? What could a one-armed woman possibly offer you?"
"I can reattach your arm. So work for me."
"...What?"
***
Cheon Ha-na's brow furrowed.
She doubted her own ears.
"Did you come here just to mock me?"
"Why do you assume I'm lying?"
"Because it defies common sense. If lost limbs could be so easily restored, there wouldn't be any blind or one-armed people in this world."
"I never said it was easy. It's an extremely difficult task. I might even be putting myself at considerable risk."
"...What?"
"I don't know why you assume it's simple, but it's anything but. It's far from easy."
"...Then the fact that you're making this offer means you must want something from me. What is it you truly desire?"
Cheon Ha-na's voice lowered slightly.
She seemed to sense that this was no longer a joke. And if she could fulfill his demands, she was willing to accept the deal.
Seeing this, Cheon Mu-jin—who had judged that she was beginning to yield—stepped closer to her.
"Can you swear to obey whatever I command?"
"...What exactly do you intend to demand?"
"It's simple."
Cheon Mu-jin's gaze swept over Cheon Ha-na's body.
He had been too preoccupied with Cheon Yu-rin to notice before, but now that he looked closely, she had quite an enticing figure.
Was it because of her rigorous training in the Dao?
Her robust, athletic physique was enough to stir desire in him.
Noticing his gaze, Cheon Ha-na shuddered, her eyes flashing with contempt.
"What's the meaning of that look?"
Despite missing an arm, she instinctively moved to grab the sword she had propped nearby. But stopping her was effortless.
Clang!
A single light kick sent the blade flying far away.
"Tch—!"
Cheon Mu-jin pressed down on her upper body with his free hand and smirked.
"Let's make a deal. I'll restore your arm—in exchange, you become my concubine for exactly one week."
"...Do you really think I'd accept something like that?"
Cheon Ha-na struggled with a look of disdain. But with only one arm, resistance was futile.
"Isn't this an unbeatable opportunity? All you have to do is be my concubine for a week, and I'll return your body to its former state."
"Even if you are a bastard, we still share the same blood. More importantly, how can I trust you to keep your word?"
Her concern seemed to lie more with the latter than the former.
The suspicion that he might just be toying with her, intending to violate her.
"You know what? I could rape you right now if I wanted. Do you really think you can resist me? The fact that I'm offering this deal at all should be taken as a sign of respect."
"Tch—!"
The truth was, her life was already in Cheon Mu-jin's hands.
And Cheon Ha-na knew it—which was why she couldn't bring herself to argue.
"And the same blood? Since when have any of you ever treated me as such? Wasn't it routine to scorn me as some lowborn wretch?"
Cheon Ha-na had no answer.
She had never once considered him family. So even she found her own excuse rather flimsy.
"So? Do you accept?"
"...I accept."
"Good. Then I'll add just one more condition."
"What else are you scheming?"
"For this week, you'll cooperate fully. Resistance would ruin my enjoyment. Swear you won't resist at all. If you do, I'll keep every promise I've made to you."
"I swear it. But you must also swear—vow that you'll uphold your end!"
"I swear upon the name of the Cheon Family."
Cheon Mu-jin smirked and took Cheon Ha-na's arm, guiding her.
"Then shall we move somewhere quieter? To claim the price of our agreement."
He already had a place in mind.
A very secure place.
Cheon Ha-na followed Cheon Mu-jin to his private quarters.
"Is this your private residence?"
"Ah, is this your first time seeing it?"
Private quarters were only granted to those who passed the third-stage exam. Naturally, this was her first time.
"It's much more comfortable than the shared lodgings. Since you'll be my concubine for the week, you can stay here."
"What?"
"It's a hassle to go looking for you. Not like you'll have any reason to leave anyway."
At that moment, Cheon Ha-na didn't realize—
Just what kind of agreement she had accepted.
Nor what awaited her in the coming week.