Chapter 290
Chapter 290
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 290
Chapter Title: A Tangled Betrothal
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“In any case, I apologize once again.”
Yeon So-ha bowed her head respectfully.
“Lord Bu urged me to return, but I was stubborn and insisted on staying here.”
Lifting her head, she spoke with a courteous expression.
“Everything is my fault, so please do not reprimand the Lord.”
Jin-seol’s eyes grew even colder.
The word *socheop* is a humble term a married woman uses to refer to herself when speaking to her husband.
Not only was Yeon So-ha using the term incorrectly…
Was she not treating Jin-seol like a woman who coveted another’s man?
“I didn’t come here to blame Lord Bu unconditionally.”
Regaining her composure, Jin-seol spoke in a gentle voice.
“It’s just that the Martial Soul Lord is the successor of our Cult, and he and I are entangled in various matters. So, I ask for your understanding, Young Mistress.”
In that instant, Yeon So-ha’s fine eyebrows shot up.
*This is a matter between the two of us who belong to the Demonic Cult, so outsiders should stay out of it.*
Though her tone and expression were polite, was that not her ultimate meaning?
*Throb.*
A thin vein pulsed on her forehead as Yeon So-ha waved her hands with a troubled look.
“Not at all. Lord Bu may face many difficulties because of me in the future… How could I dare?”
At that moment, Jin-seol’s long, slender, curved eyebrows arched upwards.
*He and I have a future together, so I will continue to be involved.*
That is what Yeon So-ha was saying.
“Young Mistress, you are far too considerate. There's no need to trouble yourself so.”
*You have big dreams. Do you really think that will happen?*
“No, it’s fine. In the past, Lord Bu risked his life to meet me… I am simply acting as he did.”
*Our relationship is different from yours. We are destined to be together, you see.*
For a while now, Bu Eun-seol had been hearing things.
Polite words were clearly being exchanged, yet entirely different words echoed in his mind.
“I have urgent business to attend to, so I will be leaving.”
Like a master who had reached the Transcendent Realm, Bu Eun-seol seized the fleeting opportunity and tried to make a swift exit.
But his attempt ended in vain.
Because another woman was walking down the path from the opposite direction.
Dressed in a long robe that covered her knees, with a black sash tied tightly around her waist, from a distance she looked like a scholar with a handsome, jade-like face.
But as she drew closer, her peerless beauty, as if carved from transparent jade, was gradually revealed.
It was none other than Dan So-ok, the treasured jewel of Dan Wol-hon and the Secret Command Lord of the Demonic Cult, who was being discussed as the next candidate for Grand Commander.
“Lord Bu.”
The beauty in official attire revealed her pearly white teeth as she looked at Bu Eun-seol.
“It’s been a while.”
“Who are you?”
“It’s me, Dan So-ok.”
Bu Eun-seol flinched and studied her face again.
Having absorbed the Transcendent Spirit Fruit and fully recovered her body, Dan So-ok’s appearance had completely changed.
She had become so beautiful that one might mistake her for a celestial maiden descended from the heavens.
“You are Lady Dan?”
As Bu Eun-seol’s eyes widened in surprise, Dan So-ok bowed her head so low it nearly touched the ground.
*“Thank you. For giving me the Transcendent Spirit Fruit, which is like life itself, without any conditions.”*
Seeing Yeon So-ha and Jin-seol standing there, she conveyed her thanks via telepathy.
After all, the fact that she had consumed the Transcendent Spirit Fruit was something no one else could ever know.
*“It’s alright. I was merely repaying my debt for rendering your Azure Flame Jade unusable.”*
Bu Eun-seol replied telepathically before speaking aloud.
“So, what brings you here?”
“To apologize for a mistake my father made…”
Dan So-ok glanced at Yeon So-ha and Jin-seol, a faint smile on her lips.
“And I heard you were in a bit of trouble, so I came to help resolve it.”
After uttering those cryptic words, she looked at Jin-seol and offered a greeting.
“Sang-hwa Jin. It’s been a long time.”
“Lord Dan.”
Jin-seol accepted the greeting, taken aback.
“I heard you went away to recuperate. Are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, thanks to a certain someone.”
She then turned to Yeon So-ha and spoke again.
“I am Dan So-ok, in charge of the Secret Command of our Cult.”
“So you are the Lady Dan they call the Silver Scale Jade Leaf.”
Yeon So-ha also nodded her head.
“I am Yeon So-ha.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Young Mistress Yeon.”
Then, Dan So-ok glanced at the side of Bu Eun-seol’s face, which was covered in a cold sweat, and smiled faintly.
“Lord Bu. I have a few words for these two ladies, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. Take your time.”
For the first time in his life, Bu Eun-seol employed the thirty-sixth stratagem—retreat.
“I have urgent business to attend to, so I must be going.”
As he hastily turned to leave, a shocking statement reached his ears.
“I’m sorry, but Lord Bu and I have already exchanged betrothal gifts. We are engaged.”
*Freeze.*
In that moment, Bu Eun-seol’s body, which had been about to exit the reception hall, froze like a stone statue.
‘She said she would resolve it…’
Slowly turning his head, his eyes widened as if they would tear.
‘Isn’t that just pouring oil on a fire?’
Just as he regained his senses and was about to rush back, Dan So-ok pointed at Bu Eun-seol’s neck with a triumphant expression.
“Look. The necklace Lord Bu is wearing is the very gift I gave him.”
*Stagger.*
For a moment, Yeon So-ha swayed as if dizzy.
Jin-seol maintained a stoic expression, but her gaze was fixed like a knife on Bu Eun-seol’s neck.
Indeed, a thin necklace hung around Bu Eun-seol’s neck.
He had simply grown accustomed to it and hadn't thought to take it off, but…
In their eyes, it could only be seen as a betrothal gift he never took off his body for even a moment.
“I apologize. If I had told you sooner, this ridiculous situation would not have occurred.”
Dan So-ok clasped her hands together with an apologetic look.
“From now on, I will make sure no such scandals circulate about Lord Bu.”
She then winked at Bu Eun-seol and sent a telepathic message.
*“Don’t worry. This is just a little lie to prevent you from getting into more trouble in the future.”*
She truly possessed the cunning befitting a candidate for Grand Commander.
Under the pretext of helping Bu Eun-seol, she would shoot down her rivals in one fell swoop and spread the rumor of their engagement…
She was trying to kill two birds with one stone.
*“Just say you agree. I promise I will never bother you.”*
Dan So-ok was a formidable woman.
If Bu Eun-seol affirmed her words, the troublesome scandals that had plagued him until now would vanish completely.
But from this day forward, whether he liked it or not… Bu Eun-seol would be recognized as being engaged to Dan So-ok.
It was truly like being led by the nose with an invisible ring.
Bu Eun-seol was conflicted.
The image of a furious Dan Wol-hon, seemingly breathing fire, flashed through his mind.
‘But right now, getting rid of these complicated rumors is more important.’
Bu Eun-seol knew the apple Dan So-ok offered was poisoned, but he had no choice but to accept it.
He had to escape this scandal as quickly as possible to focus on the tasks ahead.
‘She is wise, so she will never bother me using this promise as leverage.’
Completely disregarding Dan So-ok’s genuine affection, Bu Eun-seol was about to nod his head when,
“Then, what was the betrothal gift you received?”
Just then, a woman from afar, with a sword in a pure white scabbard at her waist, posed the question in a loud voice.
It was A-yeon, the successor of the Sword Pavilion.
“Ah, sorry for suddenly interrupting.”
As the women’s sharp glares fixed on her face, A-yeon pointed at Bu Eun-seol and said coldly.
“I just got tired of waiting for the Lord.”
She had arranged to have a duel with Bu Eun-seol at the small training ground at three in the afternoon.
But it was now almost five, and he still hadn’t shown up.
Unable to wait any longer, she had come looking for him at the Devil Suppression Hall’s reception hall.
And there she saw the women engaged in a battle of wills with Bu Eun-seol at the center.
In truth, A-yeon had not intended to interfere.
But seeing Dan So-ok use a scheme to instantly crush the other two women, her sense of justice compelled her to step forward.
“Who might you be?”
At Dan So-ok’s question, A-yeon politely clasped her hands.
“A-yeon, a disciple of the Sword Pavilion.”
Realizing A-yeon was the true successor of the Sword Pavilion, Dan So-ok’s eyes widened.
She had only recently returned to the Demonic Cult from Hangzhou.
As such, she had only vaguely heard that a disciple from the Sword Pavilion had entered the Cult; she hadn't yet heard that this disciple was the official successor.
“Betrothal gifts are meant to be exchanged, are they not?”
A-yeon looked at Dan So-ok with confident eyes.
“May I see the gift you received from the Lord?”
At the repeated question, Dan So-ok’s gaze wavered.
A-yeon’s eyes were as still as a clear lake.
From that alone, she could surmise that A-yeon’s wisdom was no less than her own.
What if she couldn't answer properly?
This lie would be exposed in an instant.
“I cannot show you.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I was promised not to disclose it.”
Dan So-ok believed that the Transcendent Spirit Fruit was the proof of Bu Eun-seol’s feelings for her.
Otherwise, why would he have given her a legendary elixir capable of granting sixty years of internal energy in an instant?
Dan So-ok was thoroughly ignoring the fact that Bu Eun-seol was not a man who cared for elixirs or treasures, and that he had simply been repaying his debt for the Azure Flame Jade.
“Pfft.”
At that moment, Yeon So-ha burst out laughing.
Only then did she realize that Dan So-ok’s words were full of holes and that it was an unbelievable lie.
“Lord Bu.”
Yeon So-ha looked straight at Bu Eun-seol and took a step forward.
“Is what she says true?”
Reflecting the sunlight, Yeon So-ha’s eyes sparkled like blood-red jade.
“Please give me a clear answer as to whether Lord Dan is your fiancée.”
Approaching him boldly, she stared directly into Bu Eun-seol’s eyes.
“If so, I will never bother you again.”
Bu Eun-seol did not answer. No, he couldn't.
If he told such a lie just to escape this situation…
He couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of storm would follow.
“I’m sorry.”
Bu Eun-seol lowered his head, his eyes losing focus.
He could not think of a way to overcome this move.
Even he, who was quick-witted and stronger than anyone in a crisis, had no choice but to raise the white flag.
***
Inside the Devil Suppression Hall, in a banquet room.
There, with Yeon So-ha at the center, sat Jin-seol, Dan So-ok, and A-yeon around a table.
“…And that is what happened.”
Yeon So-ha explained to them in detail how she had met Bu Eun-seol and when they had become engaged.
Of course, she conveniently left out the part where the Divine Maiden Palace’s Mistress, Yeon Ja-mi, had swapped the betrothal gifts to drive Bu Eun-seol away.
“I have not told a single lie. If you doubt me, you are welcome to use all the information networks of the Demonic Cult to verify it.”
Yeon So-ha had added a tiny bit of falsehood to the truth.
If she didn’t hammer this point home now, troublesome issues would continuously arise in the future.
“So, what are you trying to say?”
When Dan So-ok asked with a displeased expression, Yeon So-ha smiled confidently.
“Lord Bu is a hero, so I expect him to be admired by many women. And I am not a woman completely devoid of understanding.”
After taking a deep breath, she continued.
“I would prefer such things not happen, but… even if they do, I just hope you won't forget that I am the official wife.”
*Thump.*
Dan So-ok’s expression hardened instantly. Yeon So-ha’s words were a provocation that could not be laughed off.
“Are you telling me to become a concubine?”
When Dan So-ok lost her composure and snapped, Yeon So-ha covered her mouth and laughed.
“I already told you. I would prefer such things not happen.”
“This is not worth listening to. I’ve just wasted my time.”
As Dan So-ok stood up and exclaimed coldly, Yeon So-ha spoke.
“If we part ways without an agreement, the line of women wanting to marry him will only grow longer, and the Lord will continue to suffer.”
Yeon So-ha looked at Dan So-ok with her sparkling red eyes.
“I will be sure to save the Lord from this crisis. The same way you did, Lord Dan.”
Dan So-ok fell silent.
If she left now, Yeon So-ha would indeed use the same method she had to stop the spreading rumors.
In that case, Yeon So-ha would be confirmed as Bu Eun-seol’s fiancée.
“What is it you want?”
“I’m saying we should decide this clearly amongst ourselves.”
Yeon So-ha laid her cards on the table.
“Honestly, I don’t want to create any more rivals. You all are handful enough as it is.”
Public opinion may have given birth to the title of the Three Beauties of the World.
But all three women were peerless beauties, each able to stand on par with Yeon So-ha.
Jin-seol held sway over the leaders of the Demonic Cult and was actively supported by the Grand Commander.
And Dan So-ok was the next Grand Commander of the Demonic Cult and the treasured jewel of the Demonic Possession Division Chief.
And what about A-yeon?
Not only was she so beautiful that the moon would hide in shame, but she was also an outstanding new-generation grandmaster, poised to surpass the title of the greatest female martial artist and challenge for the position of the next number one swordsman of the Orthodox Faction.
Yeon So-ha did not want any more rivals.
“What I’m saying is, let’s stop the rumors with just the four of us, and not create any more competitors.”
“I’m out.”
At that moment, Jin-seol stood up and said.
“I have no intention of marrying the Martial Soul Lord.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. However…”
Jin-seol wore a faint but confident smile.
“In the future, to become the master of the Demonic Cult, Lord Bu will get on his knees and propose to me.”
Leaving behind those meaningful words, she said,
“I will think about it again then.”
With a cryptic smile, she turned and left the banquet room.
What was the source of such confidence?
Why was she so sure that Bu Eun-seol would propose to her to become the master of the Demonic Cult?
“Alright.”
Yeon So-ha’s clear voice broke the others from their thoughts.
The distant future was not important to her.
She had to deal with the problems right in front of her.
“Since Sang-hwa Jin has given up, there are three of us left.”
“The same goes for me.”
A-yeon stood up and said.
“I only came here to have a duel with the Martial Soul Lord. I have no intention of seeing him as a man.”
“Even if the Lord gets on his knees and proposes to you?”
For a moment, A-yeon’s cheeks flushed red.
The image of Bu Eun-seol looking at her with a serious expression and getting down on one knee flashed through her mind.
It was a delusion that a disciple of the Scholarly Sect should never even imagine.
‘What am I thinking.’
Shaking her head vigorously, A-yeon said with determination in her eyes.
“Of course.”
“Very well, then. As a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, I trust you will keep your word.”
A-yeon did not reply to Yeon So-ha’s words, turning coldly and exiting the banquet room.
“So, it’s just the two of us to decide now, isn’t it?”
At Yeon So-ha’s words, Dan So-ok thought for a long time. Finally, she answered in a low voice.
“On one condition.”
From that day on.
The rumors that the successor of the Demonic Cult was looking for a bride completely died down.
Because a new rumor spread like wildfire: that Bu Eun-seol had exchanged betrothal gifts with both the Divine Maiden Palace’s Young Mistress, Yeon So-ha, and the Demonic Cult’s Secret Command Lord, Dan So-ok.
*“As expected of the Demonic Cult’s successor, he’s incredible!”*
Bu Eun-seol had snatched up two flowers representing both the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions with both hands?
When the news spread that he had promised to marry two beauties at the same time, the people of the Demonic Cult were filled with shock and amazement.
*“Lord Dan is one thing, but to be engaged to the Young Mistress of the Divine Maiden Palace, a deeply rooted Orthodox Sect?”*
The members of the Demonic Cult expressed their astonishment at Bu Eun-seol’s bold and unconventional decision.
*“Truly the Martial Soul Lord. He always stirs up a storm!”*
At this point, only one question remained on everyone’s mind.
*“So, who is the official wife?”*
The people of the Demonic Cult were dying to know who the official wife was, but no word on the matter was heard.
Yeon So-ha had already left, and Dan So-ok remained silent on the subject.
*“You rascal. You could have at least consulted with me before making a decision.”*
And Baek-yeon of Nang-ya-gak, upon hearing the news, sent a letter filled with suppressed disappointment.
*“That bastard is openly taking a concubine!”*
Furthermore, Dan Wol-hon, upon hearing the rumors, rushed to the Devil Suppression Hall to cause another scene.
*“Gather the Ten Thousand Demon Hall in front of the Devil Suppression Hall immediately! This time, I will surely destroy that bastard’s residence!”*
But when Dan So-ok got angry and said she would never see him again if he acted like that, Dan Wol-hon, truly afraid he might never see his daughter’s face again, never came near the Devil Suppression Hall from that day on.
And yet, Bu Eun-seol himself remained silent…
Yu Un-ryong’s office.
Yu Un-ryong was writing a letter, while all the Division Chiefs, including Myo Cheon-u, had made themselves at home.
“What kind of person announces they’ve decided on two fiancées?”
Won Se-mun said with a sigh.
“I have no idea what our Lord is thinking.”
“How should I know?”
Jo Nam-cheon leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head.
“Still, rejecting Sang-hwa Jin was unexpected. She would have been the most helpful.”
“The most helpful one was Lady A-yeon of the Sword Pavilion. She’s the strongest in martial arts.”
As Myo Cheon-u spoke, Wi Cheon-gyeong shook his head.
“To be honest, I think he should have taken all four of them.”
At Wi Cheon-gyeong’s bold statement, all the Division Chiefs’ mouths fell open and their eyes widened.
“You’re that kind of guy?”
“What kind of guy?”
“I mean, such a bold statement is, in the history of Murim…”
Just as Won Se-mun was about to speak with a smirk,
“Hey!”
Yu Un-ryong, who had been writing the letter, shouted, a vein popping on his forehead.
“Is my office a common room?”
The Division Chiefs stared at him blankly for a moment, then, as if it were no big deal, turned back to their chatter.
Seeing this, Yu Un-ryong hung his head.
The reason he had argued so passionately before, persuading the Division Chiefs to choose A-yeon, the successor of the Sword Pavilion.
In truth, it was because he had hoped those dark-hearted bastards would stop coming to his office.
‘Bu Eun-seol isn’t going to get married anyway, that bastard!’
Yu Un-ryong already knew.
The rumor about exchanging betrothal gifts was a result of Bu Eun-seol’s firm resolve to end this ‘fiancée-finding fiasco,’ combined with Yeon So-ha and Dan So-ok’s armistice agreement.
But these damn bastards, even after the rumors of the gift exchange had spread, were still huddled together in his office, gossiping.
“Aren’t you leaving!”
Yu Un-ryong shouted again, but the Division Chiefs paid him no mind, their heads together as they whispered.
*Slump.*
He sank into his seat and stared glumly at the *Ten-Section Staff Illustrations* on his bookshelf.
Then, in a voice of resignation, he muttered weakly.
“Please… just go do it somewhere else.”