Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: A Sudden Question
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While Hyeok Mulin was briefly away from Heavenly Mountain,
the demonic cultivators were faithfully carrying out their assigned duties in their respective positions.
And among them, the most striking growth was seen in the Cheon Clan.
Flip.
Cheon Seohee, seated in the office, swiftly turned the pages of the documents. To anyone watching, the speed was so blistering it might seem she wasn't reading them properly at all.
But she was a woman blessed with lightning-fast speed-reading skills and razor-sharp judgment, able to fully grasp the contents and reach a conclusion in that fleeting moment.
"This one's tricky. This one has to be done."
She sorted them instantly into what was feasible and what wasn't.
The workload had ballooned far beyond before, but she felt more satisfaction than complaint.
'Yes, this is how it should be.'
The businesses and tasks handled by the clan had expanded dramatically in scope and variety compared to the past.
Previously, they'd squandered so much manpower, money, and time.
All driven by a singular obsession: revenge against Hyeok Mulin.
His declaration of divorce from his position as Cult Leader had scarred the pride of Cheon Jungak, her father and the clan patriarch.
But now, fortunately, everything had normalized. And the clear trigger for that change?
Clan Patriarch Cheon Jungak's defeat.
In the Demonic Martial God Tournament, Cheon Jungak had stepped forward brimming with confidence, only to ultimately fall to Hyeok Mulin.
It was a result that defied everyone's expectations, delivering a colossal shock not just to the demonic cultivators but to Cheon Jungak himself.
As a single warrior—and as a clan patriarch—it could have broken him entirely.
Yet Cheon Seohee stood firmly by his side, steadfastly supporting him. In the end, he acknowledged his defeat and rose again for the sake of the clan, overcoming past failures.
Afterward, redirecting the resources once wasted on targeting Hyeok Mulin toward clan businesses allowed the Cheon Clan to slowly trace an upward curve and make a comeback.
'Even those around us were surprised. Despite the patriarch's defeat, I didn't show much emotional change.'
If she had panicked, lost her way, or sunk into despair as well, the Cheon Clan might truly never have recovered.
But she calmly stepped in to tidy up the surroundings in his stead and aid his resurgence—a truly astonishing composure.
'No, come to think of it, even though Father lost, the reason I wasn't surprised...'
Perhaps because she'd anticipated that outcome in advance.
The back of her father that she'd always seen was immense.
By comparison, Hyeok Mulin had seemed utterly ordinary, but each time she encountered him as time passed, his presence only grew stronger—without a single moment of stagnation.
So deep down in her heart, she'd somehow foreseen her father's defeat, which was why she hadn't reacted strongly.
Of course, she'd never know the definitive answer to her emotions back then.
Thud.
Shaking off stray thoughts, Cheon Seohee refocused on the documents. Soon, her hand paused on one in particular.
She stared at it intently, then let out a soft sigh.
"Are you outside?"
"Yes, Eldest Young Lady."
"Come in."
Gulp.
Others might have thought it her usual icy tone, but the maid who had served her for years knew better.
Her voice lacked its usual softness, meaning something had irked her.
Bracing herself, the maid entered the office. Cheon Seohee held out a single document and spoke.
"What is this?"
"Th-that's...!"
The paper in Cheon Seohee's hand.
It was a detailed list of marriage prospects prepared for her.
The maid squeezed her eyes shut upon seeing it. Cheon Seohee set it down and continued.
"It seems a document meant for Father got mixed in with mine."
It wasn't a major error.
Many of the businesses once led by Cheon Jungak now flowed through her, so a document or two getting shuffled wasn't unusual.
But the content was enough to sour her mood.
"I clearly told Father he has no intentions of remarrying, yet he still hasn't given up?"
"...Yes."
The maid nodded slowly, and Cheon Seohee let out a deep sigh.
She then waved her off dismissively.
"Understood. You may go."
Showing displeasure to her maid wouldn't change anything.
In the end, she'd have to discuss it with her father again.
Originally, Cheon Seohee held no strong opinions or thoughts on marriage.
But after her divorce from the Cult Leader, she'd never once felt drawn to any other man.
Was there any need to rush into a remarriage with someone she didn't desire?
Confident in her own abilities and status, she had no wish to hastily settle her heart.
Rip. Tear.
Lightly shredding the matchmaking document, Cheon Seohee moved on to the next.
With the clan's forces expanding and more warriors joining, it detailed the progress on constructing an external training ground beyond the estate.
Her eyes, scanning meticulously, halted at one point.
The most crucial step before construction.
A problem had arisen in securing the nearby land.
Both selected candidate sites had expressed refusal.
'These two spots are the ideal locations.'
They were the prime sites near the estate, so at minimum, one of the two had to be acquired.
But the moment she checked the first refuser.
"This one's out."
Cheon Seohee coldly dismissed the possibility.
The owner of the first site was Lion Pavilion, and their refusal letter oddly contained a hint of opportunity.
—If the head pavilion and Cheon Clan forge deeper ties, we would consider it positively.
Cheon Seohee knew exactly what "deeper ties" they meant.
Previously, when she'd learned of her father's matchmaking efforts for her remarriage, she'd secretly reviewed the details.
And at the top of that list was Lion Pavilion's young pavilion master.
So their intent was straightforward.
We have no reason to accept since you rejected our previous proposal.
But if the Cheon Clan changes its mind and pushes forward with the eldest young lady's marriage, we'll view this favorably too.
Tsk.
"As if I'd accept that."
Frowning, Cheon Seohee clicked her tongue in disdain.
There was no further talk to be had with those wielding marriage proposals as weapons.
She had two candidates anyway.
Even without them, one remained, so it was fine.
"That means we focus here..."
Her pupils flickered with complex emotions as she examined the next—and final—candidate.
The Yagul Clan.
Moreover, the entity managing that land was none other than the Yagul Clan's young lady, Yagul Sohwa.
Yagul Sohwa, heir to the Yagul Clan, was a woman who had already shouldered numerous businesses.
As Cheon Seohee's own authority grew, it had inevitably drawn the two women into entanglement over this one region.
'Haven't seen her alone since we came of age.'
The two women were among the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's famed beauties, hailed as the Three Flowers of the Demonic Path.
Though Cheon Seohee was slightly older, the age gap wasn't large, and they shared the bond of the Seven Great Demon Clans. As children, they'd met and interacted many times.
But as time passed and they matured, feeling the growing disparity between their clans and the uncomfortable gazes comparing them, they'd naturally drifted apart at some point.
There was no specific incident; it was simply the atmosphere of the world that pulled them away.
'It's a bit awkward now.'
Since adulthood, they'd only crossed paths at major events or brushed by on the street—no private meetings.
Yet now, there was no retreating from the situation.
In the end, Cheon Seohee penned a letter formally requesting a meeting with Yagul Sohwa.
'It was something that had to happen eventually.'
As women holding major stakes in businesses for the Cheon and Yagul Clans, this wouldn't be their last encounter; many more lay ahead.
If they could seize this chance to reconnect and restore their old intimacy, it would be ideal.
Still, with time having passed and their growth unknown to each other, Cheon Seohee felt a twinge of worry.
"Negotiations won't be easy."
Trained under Yagul Hyeon—the coldest, most brilliant businesswoman among the Seven Great Demon Clans' patriarchs.
Cheon Seohee couldn't easily predict what such a woman might demand.
Moreover, with one of the two candidates already crossed off, she had no other options left.
"No choice."
Even if she made tough demands, she'd have to accept as much as possible.
Whatever she asked, securing that land would bring greater long-term benefits to the clan than outright refusal.
Having reached that conclusion, Cheon Seohee nodded with firm resolve and prepared for her meeting with Yagul Sohwa.
"I'll give you the plot you want."
"...Is that for real?"
"Of course."
At Yagul Sohwa's crisp decision, Cheon Seohee doubted her ears for a moment.
They'd reserved an entire day at a high-end restaurant often used for inviting VIPs from the Cheon Clan.
In the vast, empty venue, the two met privately and slowly discussed business. Cheon Seohee had merely floated her first proposal lightly.
'And she accepts it immediately?'
Cheon Seohee had prepared detailed countermeasures, expecting rejection all the way to the fifth or sixth offer. But now, she wouldn't even need them.
Of course, from the Cheon Clan's perspective, it couldn't be better. Yet a corner of her mind couldn't help but question it.
So, in the end, Cheon Seohee posed the direct query.
"Why accept so readily? As you might guess, we had no alternatives. Even if you'd demanded better terms, we would have agreed."
"That might have been possible. But isn't the heart of business trust, not just profit?"
In truth, from the Yagul Clan's standpoint, it wasn't land of great value.
The Cheon Clan simply needed it desperately.
Hoarding it tightly and dragging out refusals risked them giving up entirely, turning the inflated value to dust in an instant.
Besides, Cheon Seohee's opening proposal was already more than sufficient for the Yagul Clan. Considering their relationship, Yagul Sohwa accepted it on the spot.
"Thank you. It was essential land for us."
"You made a fine offer to its owner, so they'll be satisfied too."
"Then I'm glad."
Looking at Yagul Sohwa, Cheon Seohee smiled faintly.
Her earlier worries seemed foolish now that it was resolved so cleanly—truly grateful.
As she'd said, this could smooth relations between the clans even further.
They had more areas for collaboration than conflict in business, so it was undoubtedly positive for the Cheon Clan.
Still, thankful for the unhesitating acceptance, Cheon Seohee pressed her lips together and expressed her gratitude directly.
"Is there anything you're curious about? Or information the Yagul Clan needs? Whether worldly rumors or secrets, I'll answer sincerely—so speak freely."
"In that case..."
Yagul Sohwa gazed into the air thoughtfully for a moment before fixing her eyes on Cheon Seohee.
A subtle smile played on her lips as she tossed out a brief question.
"What do you..."
But that question carried the weight of a thousand gold to Cheon Seohee.
"...think of the Cult Leader?"
Thud.
The words struck her heart like a hammer blow.