Chapter 326
Chapter 326
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 326
>Chapter Title: Shadow (1)
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Lewd thoughts did not come to mind. On the contrary, what surfaced was a sense of fear.
Her businesslike, cold face contrasted so starkly with the books cradled in her arms that it was utterly eerie.
"Uh... Do we need to research bedchamber arts?"
When Il-mok asked cautiously, Jin Ha-yeon replied with an impassive expression.
"It is to prepare for any unforeseen incidents."
Unforeseen incidents? What kind of unforeseen incidents?
Just as Il-mok's thoughts began tilting toward something strange, Jin Ha-yeon seemed to notice and spoke again.
"Young Master, we are the maidservants who serve the Sovereign of Ten Thousand Demons and you. If you or the Sovereign were to suffer severe internal injuries, we would do anything for your recovery."
Only then did the cases of Ouyang Mun and Dam Bin come to Il-mok's mind.
Even as she brought up bedchamber arts, Jin Ha-yeon maintained her businesslike expression and tone, and for some reason, her words lingered in Il-mok's head.
'Right. As members of the Silver Harmony Pavilion, they are ultimately the cult leader's maidservants before being mine.'
What if his eldest senior brother failed to become the cult leader, and some random person took the throne?
And if that person wanted to bring back his maidservants to his side as they originally were?
Furthermore, if that person suffered severe internal injuries?
No. What if he summoned Il-mok's former maidservants to his chambers under the pretext of boosting internal energy?
'...Anyone else, maybe not, but Ha-yeon would accept it. Above all, she's a woman who prioritizes the Heavenly Demon.'
Il-mok's thoughts reached that point, and he felt a prickling dryness in his mouth.
Was it because he had relied on her service for so long? It was just a young master and maidservant relationship, yet for some reason, it left a bad taste.
Yes. He and she were nothing more than young master and maidservant.
If she truly met a man she loved, he would gladly let her go—in fact, he had more than enough willingness to do so.
But this was different.
Do bad imaginings always grow in size?
For some reason, an image arose in Il-mok's mind of someone dragging away Ha-yeon and the other four maidservants.
That man wore the face of his eldest senior brother, Wi Jin-hak.
Il-mok hurriedly shook his head.
'Damn senile old hag.'
Because of Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang, useless thoughts kept surfacing.
Perhaps it was demonic deviation from his internal injuries not fully healed yet.
'If it weren't for Seon-a.'
He felt like launching a nighttime ambush to subdue her and toss her into Peach Blossom Ridge.
While Il-mok struggled to shake off the stray thoughts.
"Young Master, is that book about bedchamber arts as well?"
"Y-Yes."
To hide his thoughts, Il-mok answered hastily, and Ha-yeon approached him, extending her hand.
Il-mok hesitated for a moment before handing her the book, and she quickly skimmed through it before returning it to him.
"Young Master, you must memorize the contents of that book."
"!?"
Her shocking words instantly erased the thoughts that had just arisen.
"Y-You mean this one? I was going to b-burn it!"
It was a martial art far too harmful to women.
He couldn't fathom why such a technique had even been created.
In response to Il-mok's reaction, Jin Ha-yeon replied with her usual impassive expression.
"Young Master, no one knows what the future holds. You may suffer severe internal injuries later, or there might come a time when you urgently need to boost your internal energy. You could even face a villain stronger than yourself."
Amusingly, her words held the answer.
The reason such a horrific technique with terrible side effects had been born in the impenetrable Potala Palace.
The world was full of countless villains, and like other Daoist or Buddhist sects, the Potala Palace had developed various martial arts to protect its lay disciples and novices.
The only difference from other sects was that they not only accepted dual cultivation but viewed it as a form of training.
Then, a villain with terrifying power disrupted the region, and the Potala Palace monks alone could not subdue him.
To slay him, several women voluntarily shared their power with the monks—that was the origin of the Potala Palace bedchamber arts.
"So, learn those bedchamber arts. If the day ever comes when you need them, feel free to call on us."
Jin Ha-yeon said this in an utterly businesslike tone.
Watching her treat even this as official business, Il-mok thought she was remarkable in many ways.
"Then I shall take my leave first."
With that, Jin Ha-yeon turned and exited the library.
Her face flushed red.
Il-mok's thoughts were only half correct.
She had been desperately trying to think of this as 'official business.'
Otherwise, her face would have turned beet red in front of Il-mok.
* * *
After calming the women of the Potala Palace and finishing their meals.
Il-mok's maidservants gathered in one room.
It was one of the larger rooms originally used by the Potala Palace esoteric monks.
"Hm?"
Upon arriving, Joo Seo-yeon looked at the table with a puzzled expression.
Several unfamiliar books were placed there.
"Learn these as well. As maidservants of the Silver Harmony Pavilion, the day may come when they are needed."
Jin Ha-yeon omitted detailed explanation, and the three women approached the table with puzzled looks.
Since there were several books, each picked one and opened it.
Jeong-hyeon jumped in shock, slammed the book shut, and screamed.
"Eek!"
Her face turned bright red, as if it might burst.
Meanwhile, Joo Seo-yeon, who had first spotted the book, closed it with a disgusted expression and placed it back on the table using only her fingertips.
"Senior Ha-yeon, do we really have to learn something like this?"
"It is to prepare for unforeseen incidents. What if the Young Master or the Heavenly Demon suffers internal injuries?"
"Th-Then we can just send them to the Mad Demon elder. Why do something like... "
"What if battle breaks out where the Mad Demon elder isn't present? What if there are no herbs available, specifically? Are you saying you'd let the one you serve die because there's no other way?"
Faced with her utterly official justification, Joo Seo-yeon could not muster a reply.
But she had no desire to read a book tangled up in man-woman affairs. If it were just text, maybe, but it was even more so because it was unnecessarily illustrated with detailed drawings.
'Young Master, please get stronger quickly. So Senior Ha-yeon doesn't have to get dragged into weird stuff!'
As she thought that inwardly, she lost focus and looked around.
Just then, Jeong-hyeon screamed again, dropping the book.
"Eek."
Perhaps due to Jin Ha-yeon's words, she had mustered courage to open and read it again, only for an embarrassing illustration to pop up.
Joo Seo-yeon watched Jeong-hyeon's reaction with an amused expression for a moment, then lost focus again and turned her head.
A strange sight entered Joo Seo-yeon's eyes.
'What is Red Cat doing by herself?'
Red Cat was Joo Seo-yeon's private nickname for Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a.
Partly due to her martial art's characteristics, but mostly her attitude.
Except when with Il-mok, she acted as prickly as a cat.
Of course, she had never called Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a that to her face. She would surely get her face shredded by cat claws.
In any case, Red Cat was intently reading the book.
"The young one's getting naughty."
When Joo Seo-yeon teased her like that, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a glared at her.
"I am an adult now too. And it might be necessary for big brother?"
Unlike when speaking with Il-mok, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a's tone was utterly businesslike.
'As expected, just like a cat.'
While Joo Seo-yeon thought that inwardly, Jin Ha-yeon took a step toward the two and spoke.
"Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a, no matter that you are direct lineage of the Hyeok-ryeon clan, you are now officially part of the Silver Harmony Pavilion. I have clearly told you that calling the Young Master 'big brother' is improper."
Jin Ha-yeon looked down at Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a with cold eyes, and Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a looked up at Jin Ha-yeon with her red pupils.
For a moment, their gazes clashed, exuding a chill that seemed to freeze the air.
"...Understood, Senior Ha-yeon."
Replying as coldly as Jin Ha-yeon, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a sharply turned her head and resumed reading the book.
Joo Seo-yeon, who had watched the two women's power struggle, was now smiling contentedly.
'As expected, Senior Ha-yeon is most elegant when angry!'
Jin Ha-yeon's eyes, turning from the rebellious Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a, caught sight of Joo Seo-yeon.
Twisting her body back and forth with a pleased smile—such a bizarre sight.
"Eek!"
And amid that, Jeong-hyeon's odd scream echoed from nearby again.
Faced with the varied reactions from the three women she led, Jin Ha-yeon let out a faint sigh.
"...Haa."
* * *
The next morning.
"Yawwwn."
After circulating qi late into the night to heal his internal injuries and restore his internal energy before sleeping, Il-mok stretched and stepped out of his room.
"Did you cough, Young Master?"
As usual, his maidservants guarding his door greeted him, but their reactions felt somehow different from normal.
Jin Ha-yeon had her usual impassive face.
'...Is facial flushing one of the side effects of the Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art?'
Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a's cheeks were slightly red, in addition to her red eyes and hair.
'...In that case, it seems Junior Jeong's Blood Fox Crimson Claw Art is superior.'
Jeong-hyeon was not just slightly flushed—her face was beet red, ready to explode.
The moment her eyes met Il-mok's, she hurriedly turned her head away and let out an odd scream.
"Eek."
"......"
In the midst of this scatterbrained scene from the morning, making him half-dazed, Joo Seo-yeon had approached him before he knew it.
"I believe in you, Young Master. That you will become stronger than anyone in the world."
"...What nonsense is this all of a sudden?"
Such a thought crossed his mind.
That perhaps his maidservants had all eaten something weird together last night.
* * *
Guang Province, Guangzhou.
It was the most prosperous metropolis in the southern region of the Han territory known as the Central Plains, boasting the most unique atmosphere.
Like any other city, countless people traversed the streets.
From burly men to elders and children. From ordinary housewives to women from the massive pleasure quarters befitting a great city.
But among them, the most distinctive were the colorful foreigners.
Various colorful foreigners moved through Guangzhou, and strangely, their exotic appearances did not feel out of place.
Guangzhou in Guang Province was one of the few trade ports in the Central Plains—where desert and grassland routes were nearly blocked—allowing passage to overseas.
In one chaotic corner of Guangzhou, where incongruent peoples mingled.
At the center of a massive compound bearing the signboard [Silver Moon Merchant Guild], there was the guild master's residence, and beneath its shadow.
'...I have no idea what day it is anymore.'
A person whose existence was unknown to anyone in the Silver Moon Merchant Guild had hidden there.
'They haven't all forgotten about me, have they?'
After hiding for days, a certain person was beginning to show symptoms of persecution complex.
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