Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Helping Ha Jin (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Finally, finally!"
Upon hearing the words "complete recovery," Ha Jin collapsed right there and burst into tears.
Even a transcendent being who had reached the realm of divine ascension that every martial artist dreamed of was ultimately just a helpless father who couldn't overcome his child.
Tears streamed down...
Ha Jin's cheeks were soaked in an instant.
And how could they not be? From the moment Ha Yeon-seol began suffering from shattered pelvis vein syndrome to the days when he had no choice but to betray Seok Geum-yeong, all the memories and events flashed through his mind like a lantern show.
"What are you doing crying already?"
"Exactly. You have to see your fully recovered daughter. In front of her, you need to show the image of the world's strongest father."
Without Seok Geum-yeong and the Heavenly Demon's words, Ha Jin might have stayed there sobbing endlessly.
"Sniff... I understand."
Ha Jin wiped away his tears as best he could and hurriedly made his way to the medical room where Ha Yeon-seol lay.
His hands trembled uncontrollably, betraying all his emotions.
Ha Jin steadied his shaking hands and barely managed to open the door. Inside awaited the sight he had dreamed of endlessly.
"Oh? You came? My body feels so light!"
Incredibly, Ha Yeon-seol wasn't lying on the bed but standing in place, jumping around energetically.
"Seol-ah!"
Ha Jin, who for the past few years had only remembered his daughter confined to her sickbed, waged a fierce battle to hold back the tears threatening to spill once more.
"My body doesn't twist anymore, and there's no more suffocating pain."
"Yes. That's wonderful."
Ha Jin clenched his molars tightly, holding back tears to prove he was a steadfast father.
He wanted nothing more than to embrace Ha Yeon-seol and shower her with kisses, but there were too many eyes watching.
"Thank you, Physician Yu. And Gunryong, as well as the young lady. I don't know how to repay this grace."
Having witnessed his daughter's complete recovery with his own eyes, Ha Jin bowed his head in gratitude not only to the merciless killer and the Heavenly Demon but also to Seok Geum-yeong, Yang Hui-gun, Sogang, and the others.
"No need to feel indebted. I'll make proper use of you when the time comes."
The Heavenly Demon patted the back of Ha Jin, who was bowing humbly.
"Y-Yes?"
Ha Jin felt a burden lift at the words, only to hesitate again between laughter and tears upon hearing that even someone of the Heavenly Demon's caliber planned to "properly use" him.
Hahahahaha!
Everyone burst into laughter at the sight.
"Young lady, thank you for forgiving this foolish me and taking me back."
Ha Jin, feeling deeper happiness than ever before, bowed to Seok Geum-yeong once more.
"No. Now that your daughter is fully recovered... you can return to where you belong."
Seok Geum-yeong's eyes held a hint of regret but acceptance of the inevitable.
"Pardon?"
"Doesn't Uncle Ha Jin have goals or purposes as a martial artist?"
She was right.
In the first place, a supreme martial artist of Invincible Golden Sword Ha Jin's caliber had sought refuge in the Seok Family Manor solely to save his daughter from the incurable shattered pelvis vein syndrome.
Now that she was cured, the massive monthly stipend from the Seok Family Manor was no longer necessary.
All that remained was to return to the Central Plains martial world and soar freely.
It was right then.
"......"
For some reason, Invincible Golden Sword Ha Jin fell silent, deep in thought, unable to respond immediately.
After some time, he finally spoke.
"Young lady. Will you give me one more chance?"
"Pardon?"
"If you grant me one more chance... no matter what happens, I will never betray you again. I will protect you with my life."
Ha Jin knelt on one knee right there, pledging his submission.
This went beyond a mere bodyguard and heir; it signified a true lord-vassal relationship.
Rather than leaving the Seok Family Manor to fly free, it meant binding himself to Seok Geum-yeong and the manor henceforth.
"Are you serious?"
Even Seok Geum-yeong, caught off guard, asked in surprise.
"Of course. You didn't just save my daughter—you saved me as well. I will spend my life repaying that debt by serving as your protector."
Ha Jin had never been more sincere.
After all, the ones most responsible for saving him from suicide and his dying daughter were undeniably Seok Geum-yeong and the Heavenly Demon.
"No. Uncle Ha Jin, you have ambitions as a martial artist, don't you?"
"Naturally, I have the desire to grow stronger."
"Then why..."
As Seok Geum-yeong's curiosity grew,
"Ha Jin will occasionally visit Ghost Sword Manor or spar with me for exchanges."
The Heavenly Demon interjected suddenly.
Previously, Invincible Golden Sword Ha Jin had trained and sparred alongside the Heavenly Demon, Yang Hui-gun, and others, experiencing rapid progress day by day, month by month.
'That was several times faster than training alone.'
Thus, he planned to devote most of the year to protecting Seok Geum-yeong, then use his annual leave and holidays to visit Ghost Sword Manor and the Heavenly Demon for training.
This way, he could repay Seok Geum-yeong's grace and grow stronger as a martial artist—killing two birds with one stone.
"Then, Gunryong. Young hero Yang Hui-gun. I entrust you every year."
Ha Jin offered a respectful fist salute, showing his courtesy.
"I'd welcome it."
From Yang Hui-gun's perspective, training with Ha Jin—who matched his skill level and possessed seasoned experience from the jianghu—was highly beneficial.
"Good. Come each year prepared to die."
As the Heavenly Demon grinned, Ha Jin felt a twinge of regret—not quite regret.
With this, all issues and conflicts were resolved. Both Ha Jin and Seok Geum-yeong found peace and stability.
The Heavenly Demon's group had spent ample time at the Seok Family Manor and were about to head toward the Sima family in Henan below Hebei when,
"Ah! Gunryong young hero! My father insists on seeing you."
Just before the Heavenly Demon's departure, Seok Geum-yeong stopped him.
"R-Really? The Seok Family Manor Lord?"
Sogang exclaimed in surprise at the rare arrangement to meet such a prominent figure.
Arrogant martial artists often looked down on merchants, but not the lord of this place. Even the leader of the Murim Alliance couldn't ignore the Seok Family Manor Lord.
He wasn't just the richest of the rich, boasting the world's greatest financial power; the rivers of silver and gold in the jianghu martial world flowed in his direction.
The Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans were no exception.
Running massive sects or clans inevitably required funds, leading them to seek patronage from tycoons, great merchants, and trading companies.
At the pinnacle of those trading companies stood Seok Geum-yeong's father, the Seok Family Manor Lord—arguably the world's foremost figure among martial artists.
"The Seok Family Manor Lord wants to see me? Why?"
"I'm not sure either. But he said to formally invite you right after Uncle Ha Jin's matter is settled."
"I see."
The Heavenly Demon tilted his head.
His mind filled with thoughts.
'Is it because I roughed up Sek Ho-gwi a bit?'
But Seok Geum-yeong's tone held no hostility. Moreover, the Heavenly Demon himself was curious to meet the master of the Seok Family Manor, who practically controlled the flow of funds in the Central Plains martial world.
There was an old saying in the martial world:
-The place backed by the Seok Family Manor Lord.
That would become the world's greatest sect, the world's greatest clan.
Even if laced with Central Plains hyperbole, it was grounded in truth.
In fact, with sheer financial might, the Seok Family Manor had recruited Invincible Golden Sword Ha Jin and martial artists rivaling mid-tier sects, building an impregnable defense that no one dared belittle.
"It's not for anything bad."
"Fine. I'll gladly meet him."
The Heavenly Demon decided, and Seok Geum-yeong relayed the good news to the Seok Family Manor's upper echelons.
Before even a single cup of tea had cooled, the manor lord dispatched his grand steward with a carriage to fetch the Heavenly Demon's group directly.
"A c-carriage?"
"We're practically there. Why?"
As the Heavenly Demon and Yang Hui-gun puzzled, Seok Geum-yeong burst into laughter.
"Pfft! This is just the outskirts of the Seok Family Manor proper. Not even the real main hall. You need the carriage to go further inside to reach the lord's quarters and the true main building."
The world of tycoons and the immensely wealthy was indeed different.
The grounds were so vast that even internal travel required carriages.
At her words, the Heavenly Demon looked around in bewilderment.
'I wondered why the world's greatest Seok Family Manor felt so desolate. So this was just the entrance.'
To compare it to a village, it was like entering the gate and stepping into the first thatched hut.
Thus, the Heavenly Demon's group boarded the carriage and ascended once more. After a considerable time and passing through stringent procedures,
"We will now enter the Gold Center Pavilion, where the lord resides!"
The most secretive and heavily guarded place in the Seok Family Manor.
They entered the Gold Center Pavilion, home to the manor lord's chambers.
True to its plaque's inscription, Gold Center—meaning the heart where gold gathers—boldly declared its ambitions.
"That plaque's calligraphy. It looks familiar, doesn't it?"
The elegant golden letters spelling "Gold Center Pavilion."
Gazing at them briefly, the Heavenly Demon spoke up.
"That plaque was personally written by Grandfather Sek Cheong, who rose to manor lord from a collateral bloodline—a rare feat."
Seok Geum-yeong shared a story known only to the Seok family.
"As I thought."
The Heavenly Demon recalled Sek Cheong while staring at the writing.
-If you seize the world, Heavenly Demon, I shall seize the trading world!
Sek Cheong, far younger than him and from a collateral line of the Seok Family Manor, had boldly declared his aim for the top of the trading realm.
Their meeting hadn't been long—quite short, in fact—but the memory was vivid, its impact lingering.
"We will now enter the lord's chambers. Please leave all weapons and armor in the carriage beforehand."
The Seok Family Manor's grand steward instructed, and though reluctant, the Heavenly Demon set down his Heavenly Lord Demon Dragon Sword in compliance.
The sword was sentient; if needed, it would fly to him like imperial sword arts. No worries there.
Just as everyone faced the Seok Family Manor Lord,
"First, before that... The Seok Family Manor Lord requests a one-on-one meeting with Gunryong young hero."
Astonishingly, the world's greatest tycoon wished to meet Gunryong alone.
Even setting aside his most promising heir and beloved youngest daughter, Seok Geum-yeong.
"What? He wants to see me alone?"
The Heavenly Demon asked again, wondering if he'd misheard.
"Yes."
"Hahaha."
The Heavenly Demon laughed at the amusing situation.
He did have a past connection with Sek Cheong, but he had no ties— not even a single meeting—with the current Seok Family Manor Lord.
Unable to fathom the reason for the private summons, his curiosity piqued.
"Tell him I'll gladly meet."
The Heavenly Demon had no reason to refuse.
Even if it were a trap or ambush, he was confident he could handle it.
"Thank you for understanding. This way, please."
Under the grand steward's guidance, the Heavenly Demon reached the Seok Family Manor Lord's chambers—serene, impeccably clean, and refined.
There sat a middle-aged man of clear, noble demeanor and refined aura, just as rumored.
He was Seok Myeong-ju, the Seok Family Manor Lord and Seok Geum-yeong's father. The moment the Heavenly Demon arrived, his opening words were staggering.
"Seok Myeong-ju, descendant of Grand Ancestor Sek Cheong, welcomes the great First Heavenly Demon."