Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Eternal Divine Thief (1)
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“……?!!”
The moment he heard that story, even the Heavenly Demon couldn't maintain a proper expression.
No one had ever recognized him as the First Heavenly Demon the instant they laid eyes on him.
Not even Sogang, his ardent supporter who knew so much about the legendary figure, had noticed at first.
Yet the world's richest man had spotted it immediately.
“Huhu, this is quite amusing. Why do you look so surprised?”
The Heavenly Demon quickly regained his usual air of leisure, as if the shock had never happened.
“I heard you sometimes told my daughter stories about Investigator Seok Cheong. Along with tales of his overwhelming presence that even handled Great Hero Ha Jin with ease, and his uniquely sharp insight... I wondered if you might be the First Heavenly Demon.”
Seok Myeongju, aged gracefully with an air of refinement unfit for his years, spoke without knowing—or perhaps caring about—the Heavenly Demon's astonishment.
“Hmm, that's not quite convincing on its own. Did some secret leak out, or was there another reason?”
The Heavenly Demon eyed him suspiciously, refusing to trust his words.
“As expected, I can't fool the Heavenly Demon.”
Seok Myeongju said this and pulled a rolled-up scroll from the wide sleeve of his robe, handing it to the Heavenly Demon.
Smooth!
It was astonishingly a portrait of someone—and it resembled the Heavenly Demon's current appearance so closely it was startling.
“That’s!”
The Heavenly Demon's face registered shock at the portrait, which looked as if it brazenly depicted his own features.
The portrait appeared to have been drawn long ago.
The moment he saw it, a long-forgotten fragment of memory resurfaced.
—This must be fate... Would it be all right if I drew your portrait, Heavenly Demon?
Don't let my merchant looks fool you—I always wanted to be a painter if business didn't work out.
Right before parting ways with Seok Cheong, he had been scribbling something. It turned out to be this very portrait.
“I see. So Seok Cheong passed down my portrait to his descendants?”
“Yes. To Investigator Seok Cheong and our lineage, you are the cornerstone that allowed us to amass this vast fortune.”
Seok Myeongju readily admitted it.
Seok Cheong, who could be called his ancestor, had been from a collateral bloodline. At the time, no one had anticipated that the First Heavenly Demon would become the Demonic Cult Leader—except him, the sole predictor.
That single conviction and guess had earned Seok Cheong immense wealth. And until the Heavenly Demon was sealed, they worked together, ushering in a true golden age for the Seok Clan, living up to its name.
“So, you passed down this portrait through generations of Seok Clan leaders, with instructions to properly serve anyone who resembled it.”
Seok Myeongju, an exceptional merchant and extreme realist, had doubted it could ever be the First Heavenly Demon himself. But here it was.
The Heavenly Demon looked as if he had leaped straight out of the weathered portrait.
On top of that, his exceptional skill playing with Ha Jin near the entrance of the Seok Clan main estate, and his natural air of condescension, as if he spoke to the heavens themselves from birth.
'This is none other than the quality of a Heavenly King capable of ruling all under heaven—what else could it be?'
Some are born to lord over others, excelling at handling people.
The world called such qualities those of a Heavenly King. Those possessing them often became kings, sage rulers, or the supreme under heaven.
“I heard you saved my daughter and my worthless second son.”
Seok Myeongju seemed indifferent to his heirs, but he knew everything.
In other words, he had rescued Seok Geum-yeong from crisis and spared Seok Ho-gwi, who deserved death, with mercy—leaving him blind, deaf, and mute, but alive.
Seok Myeongju felt gratitude for that.
Wasn't it fortunate enough to have their lives spared by the First Heavenly Demon's hand?
“Yeah. Seok Cheong had an uncanny nose for money, benefiting both me and the cult immensely. So we parted with good memories all around.”
Of course, Seok Cheong would have ditched him without a backward glance the moment he was sealed, siding with another faction. But the Heavenly Demon held no grudge.
Those times together had been truly happy, and Seok Cheong had fulfilled his duties to the end.
“Investigator Seok Cheong felt the same.”
“What? Really?”
The Heavenly Demon asked in genuine surprise, clearly not having expected that.
Seok Cheong was a good man at heart, but a ruthless merchant without blood or tears. The Heavenly Demon had assumed he cut ties cleanly after the sealing.
“Yes. He left a will stating that if the First Heavenly Demon ever revived, it would be the Seok Clan's golden opportunity to earn vast wealth—so stake everything on him without hesitation.”
“Puhahat!”
The Heavenly Demon couldn't hold back his laughter at the quintessentially Seok Cheong-like final words.
“That thunderbolt-headed rascal.”
Who else but the First Heavenly Demon could call the legendary Seok Clan leader such a thing?
“So... what will our current Seok Clan leader choose? Will you follow Seok Cheong's will and invest in this penniless First Heavenly Demon?”
The Heavenly Demon was intensely curious.
He knew better than anyone the temperament of merchants, especially merchant clans, thanks to Seok Cheong.
They never did losing business.
Compared to that, the Heavenly Demon had no home or temple, and the Demonic Cult he needed to revive had been utterly destroyed.
Anyone could see it was a massive loss, not a gain. What investment could there be?
“I'll give that answer in front of the others. For now... I swear on my neck, Investigator Seok Cheong's honor, and his grave to keep the secret that Gunryong is the First Heavenly Demon.”
Seok Myeongju secured the secrecy first, before answering.
It was a wise move. If the secret leaked, the Heavenly Demon might demand his head—a precaution for survival.
“Fine, fine. My comrades already know, so no issue. Oh! Ha Jin and Geum-yeong don't—could you explain it to them later?”
“Yes, understood.”
The richest merchant in the martial world, Seok Clan leader Seok Myeongju—who bowed to no alliance leader or high official, not even flinching at the emperor's commands—was receiving condescension.
He felt no offense; it was an honor to meet the legend.
He had admired and respected the First Heavenly Demon since childhood.
This was the First Heavenly Demon's dignity.
“Chief Steward. Escort the others in respectfully.”
“Yes, Clan Leader.”
With Seok Myeongju's permission, the door opened, signaling the rest to enter.
Yang Hui-gun, Sogang, Seok Geum-yeong, and Ha Jin, arriving late, were dying to know what the Seok Clan leader and Heavenly Demon had discussed—but they couldn't guess.
“First, to Yang Hui-gun and Hero Sogang, who exerted themselves to save my daughter Geum-yeong, I grant certificates proving you honored guests of the Seok Clan. Additionally, to Ghost Sword Manor and Physician Yu Cheon-baek, who greatly aided Great Hero Ha Jin, I give 500 gold taels each.”
Ooooooh!
Before their curiosity could fade, the massive, generous rewards from Seok Myeongju caused an uproar.
“Honored guest status from the Seok Clan!”
“They say it provides enough benefits for three generations to live lavishly!”
Honored guests of the Seok Clan numbered fewer than 100 across the world.
The perks were immense: borrowing or receiving funds from all Seok Clan branches and trade fleets in the Central Plains, even relocating into the vast Seok Clan grounds to reside for generations.
Hence the saying that an honored guest certificate allowed three generations to live like the wealthy.
“500 gold taels... Father might faint.”
“Physician Yu Cheon-baek will too.”
He further flaunted his wealth by giving 500 gold taels each to Ghost Sword Manor and Yu Cheon-baek.
This was the Seok Clan's way: immense rewards for benefactors, devastating revenge for enemies.
The surprises weren't over.
“Above all, the one who made the key contribution to saving Seok Geum-yeong and the greatest merit in rescuing Ha Yeon-seol, the only daughter of Great Hero Ha Jin, is none other than Hero Gunryong.”
Amid the rewards for all, Gunryong—solely excluded until now—took center stage.
Gulp!
The others watched eagerly to see how massive his reward would be.
“We shall appoint Gunryong as an official Dharma Protector of the Seok Clan. Additionally, grant him the Gold Stone Tablet.”
WAAAAAAAAH!
Cheers erupted, incomparable to before.
An official Dharma Protector was on par with elders—a vastly higher position than honored guest.
It even granted participation and speaking rights in Seok Clan internal affairs, wielding immense authority.
“Clan Leader. Is that truly your decision?”
“Father!”
Even Ha Jin and Seok Geum-yeong turned in shock and alarm.
Most shocking was the Gold Stone Tablet.
The Seok Clan had long rewarded benefactors with precious named plaques.
Divided by bronze, silver, and gold stone tablets based on the favor's magnitude—even bronze equaled honored guest perks.
But gold...
“The Gold Stone Tablet grants authority over an entire Seok Clan branch!”
“In Seok Clan history, fewer than five have ever been given!”
Chief stewards and stewards exclaimed in shock, urging him to reconsider the excessiveness.
Yet they couldn't stop Seok Myeongju.
“Compared to the grace Hero Gunryong showed and his value, it's a drop in the ocean, mere dust. Tsk tsk, you still can't gauge a person's true worth? Study more.”
There was no stopping him—the extraordinary man who had never once failed in judging people and employing talent, boasting the greatest insight.
It was natural to be shocked at his unprecedented investment in a person.
Even more surprising was Gunryong's reaction.
“Dharma Protector? What annoying tasks are you planning to dump on me now?”
Others struggled, bribing even lowly Seok Clan servants for a mere connection—yet here was Gunryong, treating the position as a hassle with a bored expression.
There was a reason for his words.
As mentioned, merchants never took losses.
That meant Seok Myeongju wanted Gunryong to stay and handle some request.
The one who unified the Demonic Cult—stricter than the merciless martial world—was quick on the uptake.
“If it's a request, make it now. I'll consider it if it piques my interest.”
Seok Myeongju inwardly admired his sharp insight and temperament once more.
“It's nothing else but... we've received a warning letter from the Eternal Divine Thief.”