Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: What on Earth Is His True Identity? (1)
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I must have been sleeping in an empty room in Young Ho-kyeong's quarters.
After somehow holding off Elder Yi and finishing Young Ho-kyeong's treatment, the moment I came to, I seduced her and spent the next few days pounding away at her, so I knew absolutely nothing about the current situation.
By the time I woke up, two days had already passed since the incident, and it was only now that I learned today marked the third day.
"So, you ended up letting Elder Yi go..."
"It's a shame, but for now, we've settled for keeping him from doing anything reckless."
Young Ho-kyeong replied with a slight smile, her expression showing no trace of regret.
I was sitting across from Young Ho-kyeong, having breakfast. Even as we cleared the neatly laid-out morning meal, the fact that they'd let Elder Yi slip away nagged at me.
Truth be told, I hadn't been particularly invested in capturing Elder Yi myself.
With my master there, and the cult leader—a peerless expert only a step below him—and even the Divine Demon, I figured he'd get caught eventually anyway.
'Elder Yi dodging my master's eyes and escaping?'
If this were a densely populated area with plenty of places to hide, maybe, but out there? Nothing but deserts and wastelands?
I knew my master could freely wield the legendary lightness skill, Traversing the Void, so I couldn't buy that for a second.
Ah, or maybe I just wasn't interested in catching him at all.
"As you suggested, I've prepared a chance for you to share your ideas with the elders."
"Yes, as I've said time and again..."
"Not in front of others. Absolutely not."
"No, not that... "
"Ah, that one. Of course. If things go as you say, there's no need to clash at all."
"Even if not, it'll be fine. I'll figure out another way if it comes to that, got it?"
Young Ho-kyeong was merciful to her own people but merciless to outsiders.
That's why I'd laid out two conditions. First, instead of charging in recklessly just because my proposal fell flat, hold off on that impulse.
Second was...
"Oh, and before meeting the elders, Father wants to see you."
"...For what?"
Even between father and daughter, she kept calling him 'Cult Leader,' so hearing her say 'Father' felt fresh, but I didn't point it out.
"To express his gratitude to you, and he said there's news you need to hear. I don't know the details myself."
News I need to hear? I'd never seen him as the righteous type...
To me, the cult leader was someone awkwardly uncomfortable ever since he'd caught me in the act with Chae Su-ran that first time.
But since even Young Ho-kyeong didn't know, I supposed I'd have to go see him.
"Well, now that breakfast is done, we should head over, right? Ah, but I should pay my morning respects to Master first."
"He said to come right away. I suspect the Blood Demon might be there too... Hup..."
As we rose from our seats side by side, she gently pushed me away when I stood next to her.
"Didn't you say no in front of others?"
"No one's watching."
That was the other condition I'd hung over Young Ho-kyeong.
"Someone could walk in anytime... Just hold back a little, okay?"
Whenever I wanted, Young Ho-kyeong would offer me her body.
Honestly, the thrill in that condition came from her blushing face as she reluctantly agreed, but in practice, this pure-hearted seductress had ended up loving it.
'I pretended to accept her condition and ended up knocking her up with pregnancy sex, so we're even?'
I groped Young Ho-kyeong's ass before pulling my hand away, catching the faintly disappointed look on her face.
A faint pang of guilt—like morning mist—came from knowing I'd turned this woman into this.
"What? Master said... what?"
The cult leader repeated himself as the Blood Demon's disciple widened his eyes.
"Your master left for other business. He left this letter for you—read it."
The cult leader watched as the young man tore open the envelope. When he finally looked up, the cult leader spoke.
"Bad news?"
"No. Thank you for delivering it personally."
"No trouble."
The cult leader brushed off the thanks lightly, then rose from his chair and slowly descended from the dais.
He took the young man's hands in both of his and spoke.
"If anything, I'm the one far more grateful to you. As a father with a daughter, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for protecting her with your life."
The cult leader meant every word.
His daughter was old enough to fend for herself many times over, but to him, she was the sole treasure his late wife had left behind.
Besides, if things had gone according to Elder Yi's scheme, he would've been forced into a pointless bloodbath as cult leader.
"My position prevents me from bowing my head, but from the heart, that's what I want to do. Thank you. Truly."
If only their ages lined up and his romantic entanglements were cleaner, he'd make a fine son-in-law.
"Anyone else from your cult would've done the same. For someone who wants to build close ties with the Demonic Cult, it was only natural."
"Even so, letting it pass with mere words wouldn't sit right. I'll need to think on how to repay you properly, but you can look forward to it. Feel free to name your price."
"Ah, well... Thank you."
The young man hesitated a moment before nodding vigorously.
As the two conversed briefly, the elders began gathering one by one to hear the young man's explanation.
The master's letter had two points. Urgent business forcing him to leave the Demonic Cult headquarters. Congratulations on reaching the pinnacle realm, observations on my martial arts, and some explanations.
'This guy watched everything and just let me flail around on purpose.'
It twisted my gut a bit, but Master's the type who does whatever he wants if he has a goal. He probably kept watch without letting me die or get badly hurt.
<Knowing how to reach the pinnacle would only harm you, so no one told you.>
Yeah, something like that. Not teaching me meant it was for my own good.
<You've grown beyond expectations. Thanks to your rapidly growing inner energy, you've experienced real combat far beyond what you thought you understood.>
<The instinctive, body-reliant martial arts you've formed in that process—'Yeon' (然), meaning 'as it naturally is,' if we must name it.>
<But that's not enough. Relying on unconscious movements leaves you uncertain in true emergencies, so train harder...>
Blah blah blah.
The point was, no return plans mentioned. Whatever wind blew him away, without Master here, I'd have to be extra careful in the Demonic Cult.
Meanwhile, the cult leader's promised 'repayment' nagged at me a little.
Whether the newly awakened female Young Ho-kyeong ended up liking it or not, I'd already used her as a living onahole during my stay here—that was my reward.
Getting another on the same grounds felt off.
'Can't exactly say, "I've already gotten your daughter's pussy," or he'd chop my head off, ready to fight even Master.'
No real choices here. Young Ho-kyeong wouldn't blab to her father about us banging...
<Ah, Father, if you permit it... Hng♥>
Ah, no good. Can't trust it. Soon as this explanation wraps, I need to gag her mouth.
'Young Ho-kyeong doesn't know I banged Chae Su-ran too.'
Mention grandkids offhand, and who knows how the cult leader reacts.
"Young hero Kang, everyone's gathered... Time to begin your explanation."
Hearing Elder Yi's words, I finally noticed all eyes on me.
"Alright, then, about the business your cult is about to start..."
Let's see how they take it.
The cult leader was captivated by the young man's explanation.
After dismissing the escort agency idea, he'd lost some steam at the mention of transportation—but only briefly. The young man persuaded the skeptical elders with his eloquent tongue.
First, using Mingjiao capital to form a merchant group selling goods not to middlemen, but directly to end consumers—individuals.
A method only possible for the Mingjiao, with superior quality and numbers of experts beyond any martial sect.
<What about the added transport costs?>
To Third Elder's question, the young man stressed that even for unsold items in branches, paying a modest fee grants access to unmatched value.
Linking to branch receipts for buyer verification, installing transfer devices as pickup points to handle unclear maps or addresses—ideas poured out.
"That's all. Any questions?"
Expecting the lone disciple of the Blood Demon to have only drilled martial arts, the cult leader was surprised by his practical knowledge for running an organization.
'What on earth is his true identity?'
Even in major martial forces, only designated heirs typically possess such knowledge.
Last time, it was his unique perspective and guts to call the Demonic Cult 'wicked' to their faces that intrigued.
This time, the solid plan and depth of knowledge astonished.
"Well, no questions from them, so I'll ask. For the transfer devices and other items in your plan—can we trust you know how to make them?"
"...Not certain, but I know the principles. A few tries and it'll be solid."
"Good. Proceed in consultation with the elders."
Free labor is great, but overdo it and you get sick. Giving him a cut of profits is smartest—he'll work harder for his share.
As the cult leader watched, their eyes met.
'No, not me.'
The young man wasn't looking at him.
Casually following the gaze to his right rear, where his daughter stood at attention, the cult leader noted her eyes carried an indescribable, peculiar vibe.
Warm yet sharp—unclear, but he'd definitely felt that gaze from someone before, flickering at the edge of memory.
Not recalling now, the cult leader brushed it off, shoving the thought to the back of his mind.