Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: Arrival at Blood Heaven Divine Palace
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The red-maned steed pulling the carriage galloped on without pause.
And at some point, Hyeok Mulin could feel they were drawing near their destination.
Having traversed the rugged, uneven mountain paths, they now moved along smoother trails where the carriage barely shook at all.
Hyeok Mulin glanced out the window, and his view filled with their destination.
On the misty mountainside, colossal crimson trees—ancient things hundreds of years old—pierced the sky like spears.
Hyeok Mulin had entered the Blood Heaven Divine Palace's headquarters at Blood Lord Mountain. As he peered into the deepening paths, he noted the changes around him.
Sss—
A chilling wind whispered through, and buildings topped with blood-red tiles flickered in and out of view amid the clouds. Crimson-eyed pillars flanked the path leading inward, standing sentinel.
Occasional gusts carried red leaves swirling in the air, conjuring the illusion of a bloody gale.
Watching the Blood Heaven Divine Palace's scenery unfold, Hyeok Mulin turned his gaze forward.
Yeon Jeokhwa sat with her eyes gently closed, her face rigid as if lost in thought.
Observing her, Hyeok Mulin spoke up.
"This place must make you uncomfortable."
"...You can tell?"
Yeon Jeokhwa slowly opened her eyes in response to his words.
What an incredible person.
How could he notice even such a subtle shift?
"Hard not to. Your expression has been stiff ever since we entered Blood Lord Mountain."
Throughout their journey, Yeon Jeokhwa hadn't spoken much, but her face had remained serene.
Yet the moment they stepped into the Blood Heaven Divine Palace's headquarters, her demeanor changed.
Her expression hardened, and her fingers fidgeted as if she were tense.
"Strange. You're the next Palace Lord, aren't you? What are you so worried about?"
Who tenses up entering their own home?
This place should feel more comfortable than the outside world.
But instead, she seemed even more on edge now that they had arrived.
Naturally, her behavior sparked considerable doubt in Hyeok Mulin's eyes.
Yeon Jeokhwa let out a sigh and answered his question.
"I'm not sure yet if this house will truly become mine."
"Aren't you the Little Palace Lord, officially chosen as the next successor?"
"That's not wrong, but that position can change at any moment. The Palace Lord values ability above all, so if someone better comes along, I'd have to step aside immediately. And there are already plenty eyeing my spot."
Even after ascending to Little Palace Lord, Yeon Jeokhwa still had to compete with others.
To hold her position, she walked a thin line of ice every day.
She could never let her guard down here, even for a moment—that discomfort was inevitable.
"Curious. Usually, once a successor is set, the competition ends naturally."
"It wasn't always like that at first. I was close to that once..."
Right after Yeon Jeokhwa became Little Palace Lord, the Palace Lord backed her strongly, helping her seize real power.
At the same time, she was entrusted with various internal and external affairs, given chances to prove her worth.
However.
"That day at the auction house, everything I'd built crumbled in an instant."
She had succeeded in acquiring the Blood River Flame Divine Art, but competing with Hyeok Mulin had driven the bidding price far beyond imagination.
As a result, all her prior achievements were wiped clean, and even her qualifications as Little Palace Lord came under doubt.
She was forced into a life where she had to constantly prove herself just to keep her seat.
"I see."
In essence, her precarious position stemmed from Hyeok Mulin, yet surprisingly, she remained composed in front of him.
"So, do you hate me for it?"
"......"
Yeon Jeokhwa glanced at Hyeok Mulin.
She soon sighed and denied it.
"No. I struck first at the auction, so I can't blame you."
Hoo.
She certainly had a clear sense of reason.
Looks like she earned that Little Palace Lord title fairly.
"Still, be careful. Plenty here keep me in check, so just as many will resent you for coming with me."
"Worried about me now?"
"This isn't worry...!"
Her voice rose briefly, but Yeon Jeokhwa trailed off.
Nothing else came to mind to replace "worry" in that moment.
After a brief silence, she hurriedly continued.
"Anyway, watch yourself. I'll keep an eye out as much as I can, but don't let your guard down and get hurt wandering around."
Who was worrying about whom?
Hyeok Mulin smirked at her and replied.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Good."
Thud.
The carriage bumped over a tree root.
Its speed gradually slowed, then came to a complete stop.
"We're here."
Yeon Jeokhwa met Hyeok Mulin's eyes.
She turned and added,
"I'll get out first. Take your time."
Yeon Jeokhwa opened the carriage door and stepped down.
She appeared amid the Blood Heaven Divine Palace headquarters, drenched from ground to sky in red.
Soon, a man approached from the front.
Click.
"Congratulations on the Little Palace Lord's return."
The gate guard captain bowed slightly, and the palace servants behind him followed suit.
Yet none of them bowed fully to Yeon Jeokhwa.
Half-hearted loyalty from the servants.
Still, she nodded calmly, accepting it.
A curt word.
That ended their exchange.
They weren't close enough for more.
Afterward, the gate guard captain and his men naturally handled the aftermath of the Little Palace Lord's journey.
Unhitching the horses, sorting the wagons and carriage—that was their role.
Having released the red-maned steed's reins, the captain sent them to the stables, then headed to the carriage.
Ordinary servants were barred from even approaching it.
Only the gate guard captain could manage even simple cleanup.
The moment he opened the door to tidy up...
"...Hm?"
His thoughts froze as he took in the carriage's interior.
A man he'd never seen before sat inside—the same carriage the Little Palace Lord had ridden.
Stunned, he stammered without thinking,
"Wh-who are you?"
"Hm?"
"Captain?"
The servants' puzzled gazes converged.
Hyeok Mulin calmly stepped out.
The servants' reactions mirrored the captain's.
Thud.
Hands slackened, dropping weapons as they stared blankly at Hyeok Mulin.
A mysterious man emerging from the carriage reserved solely for the Little Palace Lord.
'Who the hell is he?'
The same question filled their minds, drawing all eyes to Yeon Jeokhwa.
Feeling the intensity briefly, she explained in a nonchalant tone,
"He's my close friend. He'll be staying at the palace for a while, so treat him without inconvenience."
"Cl-close friend?"
"The Little Palace Lord brought a friend?"
But her explanation only fueled suspicion like wildfire.
Yeon Jeokhwa had always kept the world at arm's length, never letting anyone close.
Pushing away the near, striking down the approaching.
With cold eyes that trusted no one, she had no friends to speak of.
Yet on a business trip, she suddenly brought a close friend?
And not same sex—a man?
The servants exchanged odd glances.
Then Hyeok Mulin approached Yeon Jeokhwa and said,
"Were you waiting? You could've gone ahead."
Her pupils wavered at his words.
His tone was slightly more formal than before.
But soon she understood.
He was minding the servants, matching her status as Little Palace Lord.
Inside the carriage, they'd spoken casually, but now in public, he used a more refined manner.
'I never asked for that consideration.'
It was unannounced, but not unpleasant.
It was the first time anyone had shown such thoughtfulness.
"Ahem. First time at the palace—if you got lost, what then? Waiting is only proper."
Her voice shifted subtly from usual as she addressed the still-frozen gate guard captain gripping the door.
"I'm going to see the Palace Lord, but where is she now?"
He snapped to and replied hastily,
"She's in the midst of a ritual and has forbidden audiences for the time being."
"I see. Then the report will have to wait."
Of all times, a ritual.
Yeon Jeokhwa had planned to inform the Palace Lord of Hyeok Mulin's visit first and foremost.
No escaping her eyes anywhere here.
The first step had faltered, but Yeon Jeokhwa thought this might be better.
If Hyeok Mulin handled his business and left quickly, no need to introduce him.
"Understood. Then I'll head to my quarters."
Finishing with the captain, Yeon Jeokhwa turned to Hyeok Mulin.
"Follow me."
The Little Palace Lord taking a man to her quarters...?
The captain's eyes glazed over again.
His dazed head slowly turned to the surrounding servants.
The servant meeting his gaze nodded stiffly.
A man brought suddenly.
Heading straight to introduce to the Palace Lord.
And now going alone to her quarters.
Their eyes widened uncontrollably.
Faces locked in shock, their thoughts aligned.
"The Little Palace Lord has...!"
Putting it all together yielded one clear conclusion.
'She brought her lover!'
The Blood Heaven Divine Palace plunged into a frenzy of heated excitement.