Chapter 34
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Shadow of the Demon (1)
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"What brings you out here?"
Zhuge Ji looked around, letting out exclamations of admiration.
"This place has such wonderful scenery no matter when I see it. So peaceful and cozy."
"I've seen it every day, so it doesn't move me much anymore."
He had originally chosen this spot for its serene landscape, but with people visiting almost daily, it had driven him to the brink of madness.
She sat gracefully opposite him under the pine tree.
A gentle breeze carried a faint, elegant fragrance from behind Zhuge Ji.
"First, let me borrow this seat to apologize on behalf of my side. One of our family elders was terribly rude."
"It's fine. Even if I were Elder Zhuge Seo, I wouldn't have acted differently."
"Thank you."
A subtle silence hung between him and Zhuge Ji for a long while.
She seemed about to say something, hesitating before closing her mouth.
In the end, he broke the silence first.
"I know why the three of you moved into our home. It must be because of the formation array. But Gwang-u and I have lived in these mountains for so long that mingling with people feels awkward. I'll give you the remaining half, so please stay just a couple of days and then head back."
He figured Zhuge Ji would be delighted.
As expected, she beamed with joy, flustered and at a loss, before suddenly grabbing his hand.
"Really, truly... thank you. Our Zhuge Family has received an immense favor from you that we couldn't repay even in a lifetime."
Meeting her teary eyes stirred his heart unexpectedly.
For the first time since birth, a woman—and a young, beautiful one at that—had held his hand.
She quickly realized it too and hastily pulled her hands away.
"S-sorry."
"No, it's fine."
An awkward silence settled between him and Zhuge Ji once more.
The atmosphere was so uncomfortable that he desperately wished someone would interrupt them.
As if answering his silent plea, a faint presence approached from afar.
"Someone's coming."
Breaking the silence with those words felt like a breath of fresh air down to his core.
"Pardon?"
Locking eyes with Zhuge Ji's puzzled gaze, he realized his blunder.
"Ah, no, it's nothing."
But she soon sensed it too and gave him a meaningful look.
"You're right. They're heading this way."
Just after she spoke, Namgung Hye emerged from the shadowy trees.
"What are you two doing here?"
Curiosity and mischief danced across Namgung Hye's face.
"Nothing much."
As he rose from his seat, Zhuge Ji stood as well.
"Something's off... really suspicious. There's definitely something between you two..."
Namgung Hye sidled up beside him and Zhuge Ji, scrutinizing their expressions.
But neither he nor Zhuge Ji said a word.
A fist harder than iron aimed for his left cheek.
He tilted his head slightly to dodge, only for another to fly toward his right.
Stepping back to evade, he countered with his sect's Heavenly Thunder Fist toward the Great Heavenly Demon's chest.
Countless fist shadows dazzled the Great Heavenly Demon's eyes as they surged forward.
But something sharper than a blade, heavier than a mountain, and faster than lightning erupted from below even quicker.
Sak.
The thing rising from below sliced across his cheek.
His cheek split deeply, blood trickling down his neck to soak his chest.
What had cut his cheek was the Great Heavenly Demon's foot.
'As expected, only the Great Heavenly Demon's martial arts can stand against the Great Heavenly Demon.'
He had tested every technique from his sect to counter the Great Heavenly Demon's arts, but all that came was defeat and death.
Kkekkeuk.
"Pathetic One Immortal Sect techniques will never bring me down. You've been practicing them day and night to defeat me, but it's all for naught."
Ignoring the Great Heavenly Demon's sneer, he retreated a few steps and slowly reached for his sword hilt.
As he gripped the hilt, the Great Heavenly Demon placed his hand on his own.
But he soon withdrew it and posed a question.
"Why were you trying to sleep outside?"
He also released the hilt.
"Don't you go berserk every night because of me? With those jianghu women in the house now, how could I let them see me like that?"
The Great Heavenly Demon stared at him wordlessly for a long time.
Usually, no matter how fearsome he was, he met his gaze directly—but today, for some reason, he couldn't.
Hoo.
A sigh like a lament escaped the Great Heavenly Demon's lips.
"Abandoning your house for mere jianghu women and sleeping outside... There's no fool in this world like you."
Though the Great Heavenly Demon mocked him snidely, he felt too pathetic to retort.
"Go drown yourself in a puddle without me lifting a finger, you idiot!"
He kept his head turned away, silent.
"One touch from a woman, and you sit there like a mute fool? Gwang-u, who's spent nights with courtesans, is a hundred times better than you, you pitiful wretch."
He listened quietly out of self-loathing at first, but it started grating on him.
"That's not why I was sitting there like an idiot."
Kkekkeuk.
"At least you admit you're an idiot."
"Damn it."
Reacting without thinking, he spat out words that gave the demon an opening.
The Great Heavenly Demon's face, which had only mocked until now, twisted terrifyingly.
"How many times have I told you the most dangerous thing in the world is a beautiful woman? Go back home right now and slaughter those bitches!"
"They've done nothing wrong—why kill them?"
"You bastard!"
His fury made the Great Heavenly Demon's gray hair stand on end.
"Don't you know those women will drag you into trouble? Kill anyone who might block your path early, or you'll regret it later!"
He wasn't unaware.
Those women would surely cause headaches.
No, just thinking of them already made his head throb.
But he couldn't kill them for that.
"No."
"Then I'll kill you painfully in their place."
"I don't want that either. I'll kill myself now."
Sring... slash!
Drawing his sword, he slit his own throat.
Cough!
As darkness closed in, the enraged Great Heavenly Demon's shout echoed.
"You bastard!"
Three days had passed since the women moved into the house.
Zhuge Family retainers visited morning and evening to check on the women, glare at Gwang-u and him, then leave.
Gwang-u was thrilled to live with Seok Su-a, grinning ear to ear, but every day felt like sitting on thorns to him.
Especially with Namgung Hye constantly prying into his business whenever she could—he felt half-mad.
So he eagerly awaited word that Zhuge Ji would return to the Seok Family.
But her words only deepened his gloom.
"I wanted to go back to the Seok Family, but Hye insists on staying here longer."
Chopping vegetables with a kitchen knife, he suddenly lost his strength and stopped.
Zhuge Ji couldn't lift her head, as if she'd committed a grave sin.
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault. If I'd been more careful, this wouldn't have happened."
What could he say to a woman owning her mistake?
"No. It's not Miss Zhuge's fault. I have my own plans, so don't worry."
Leaving the half-chopped vegetables, he stepped out and yelled at Gwang-u by the river.
"Gwang-u! Get over here!"
Gwang-u was peeking at Seok Su-a washing her face by the river.
"What, bro?"
The kid didn't want to budge, just turning his head.
"You little shit. Wanna die?"
His temper finally snapped.
Startled, Gwang-u scampered over.
"Need something, bro?"
"You're cooking from now on."
His plan was simple.
If Gwang-u cooked, even these delicately raised women couldn't endure and would leave.
Unaware, Gwang-u fretted.
"Bro, will Miss Seok like my cooking?"
"She'll love it. Put your heart into it."
"Got it, bro."
Gwang-u beamed and headed to the kitchen.
He watched Gwang-u excitedly cook for a bit, then fetched the scroll with the formation array from his room.
Though Zhuge Ji hadn't kept her promise, he wanted to return the complete array to the Zhuge Family as Divine Calculator had wished.
And with Namgung Hye absent, now was the perfect chance.
"Miss Zhuge, here's the rest of the formation."
Zhuge Ji hesitated to take the scroll.
She just stared at his face.
"You're really giving this to me? I didn't keep my promise."
"It's fine. I don't understand formations anyway—it's useless to me. Take it."
With trembling hands, she accepted the scroll and tucked it carefully into her bosom.
"Could you tell me your name? I swear I won't tell a soul."
After a moment's hesitation, he gave it.
"Un-san. Go Un-san."
Gwang-u, who had served the meal to the room, came out and peeked anxiously inside.
He sat comfortably on the porch, eating and awaiting the fallout.
Bang.
As expected, Namgung Hye stormed out, face twisted in displeasure.
"What's with this food?"
"What's wrong with it?"
He pretended to savor the soup Gwang-u made.
"It tastes awful."
Namgung Hye looked wronged, like she'd lost something precious.
"See? I'm enjoying it."
After glaring at him, she turned to Gwang-u, who hung his head like a criminal.
"Did you make dinner?"
"...Yes."
He didn't like Gwang-u's dejected tone.
"Hey, don't just stand there—eat already."
Gwang-u shuffled to the porch and started eating.
"This is ridiculous..."
As Namgung Hye raised her voice, Zhuge Ji and Seok Su-a emerged.
"Enough, Hye. This isn't an inn. We're the ones imposing here, so we have to endure it."
"I know, sis. But it wasn't like this before. He's deliberately doing this to drive us out."
Namgung Hye shot him a cat-like glare before retreating inside.
"Fine, I'll have meals brought from the village restaurant myself."
Cough!
The meat lodged in his throat shot back out.
'Damn it...'
Zhuge Ji gave him and Gwang-u a slight bow before heading back in.
After some talk, she finished eating, packed with Namgung Hye and Seok Su-a, and came out.
"We've imposed long enough. We're heading back to the Seok Family now."
He wondered why they were leaving so suddenly but didn't ask.
"Safe travels."
"I hope we meet again."
Zhuge Ji bid farewell, followed by Namgung Hye and Seok Su-a.
"We've troubled you for days. Please accept this as thanks."
Namgung Hye placed a silk pouch on the porch.
Her usual sour expression was gone.
"You're really leaving? Miss Seok..."
He jabbed Gwang-u's side to shut him up.
Zhuge Ji bowed once more, then led Namgung Hye and Seok Su-a out.
Watching their retreating figures, he threw his hands up in triumph.
"Bye! Let's never meet again."