Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: I Think I'm Starting to Get It
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"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
Byeok Taesan slightly raised his gaze to look at Yeon Harin, who was sitting in front of him.
"It's nothing."
Ever since he returned from his outing, Yeon Harin had stuck to him, showing no intention of leaving.
It seemed she was worried something might happen to him.
After joining them, Yu Seoyeon had been guarding Yeon Harin. It seemed she had sensed something was amiss.
Even now, she was standing guard a short distance behind Yeon Harin, watching her and Byeok Taesan with a very pleased expression.
Byeok Taesan was currently having a meal with Yeon Harin.
He had already finished eating and was momentarily lost in thought about what had happened earlier.
'It's strange.'
Today, he had lightly extracted and burned the souls of the three men, including Seo Munjehak.
He used the method he had recently learned from the One-Needle Eccentric and practiced.
He gently burned the outermost layer of their souls, extracting only the parts that hadn't mixed with the original soul.
It was a bit different from the One-Needle Eccentric's soul, but he had done it often enough that it wasn't too difficult.
He then absorbed the spiritual power extracted from the gentle burning through the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
But the power he absorbed was very different from what he was used to.
No, to be more precise, its nature was different from what he had extracted from the One-Needle Eccentric's soul.
The spiritual power drawn from the One-Needle Eccentric's soul was truly exceptional. It demonstrated incredible potency, especially for healing meridians—nothing could be better.
He had thought it was due to a difference in how he used the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts, but it seemed that wasn't the case.
Seeing how pathetic the spiritual power extracted in the same way from Seo Munjehak's group was, it was clear.
Of course, "pathetic" referred to its healing effect compared to the One-Needle Eccentric's; the spiritual power itself wasn't weak.
In fact, it seemed it would be more effective if used in a different way.
'Come to think of it…'
The spiritual power extracted from the courtesans had brought about a change in his body. Other women had described it as a strange allure.
And indeed, the way women looked at him had subtly changed since then.
'I think I'm starting to get it...'
He couldn't be certain yet, but it seemed that the nature of the spiritual power a soul contained changed depending on how impurities accumulated on it.
Of course, the fundamental potency of the spiritual power was strong regardless of whose soul it was extracted from.
Moreover, since this couldn't be called internal energy, others wouldn't be able to detect that he had accumulated such power.
Unless someone had accumulated a similar power, they would never be able to tell.
Even the One-Needle Eccentric hadn't known despite checking his pulse.
"So it has to be a physician, then."
He had found a way to heal his severed meridians faster. The answer was physicians.
There was a limit to what he could achieve by clinging only to the One-Needle Eccentric.
Naturally, the effect was best the first time a soul was burned.
The effect gradually diminished. Once all the impurities on the soul were burned away and absorbed, he couldn't expect much more from it.
Of course, if left alone, impurities would accumulate again, but that would take a long time.
So, he had to find a new physician. It would be even better if they had a good amount of impurities and were also a skilled doctor.
As it happened, there was a perfect physician nearby.
With a pleasant expression, Byeok Taesan broke out of his thoughts.
"Young Master, you don't have anything to worry about, do you? Did the people who came with me say something strange to you?"
Yeon Harin looked at Byeok Taesan with a worried expression.
It was because Byeok Taesan had remained silent and lost in thought for a while after finishing his meal.
"Worry? On the contrary."
"Pardon?"
"I think something good is about to happen."
"Ah... I see. I hope that... it has something to do with me."
Yeon Harin said, smiling a little shyly.
'She really is beautiful.'
Byeok Taesan thought as he watched Yeon Harin smile.
With beauty like this, wasn't she close to the most beautiful of all the women he had ever seen?
'Still, is she a little less beautiful than *her*? No, are they about the same?'
A certain person came to mind, but he quickly shook the thought away. It wasn't like he would ever meet her anyway.
That woman was probably in the Heavenly Demonic Cult right now.
Unless he got rid of Hyeonwoljin, he would never see her again.
Even if she left the Heavenly Demonic Cult, the chances of their paths crossing were infinitesimally low.
After all, he was now the second young master of the Golden Jade Trading Company.
"Since we've finished eating, shall we go for a short walk?"
At Byeok Taesan's words, Yeon Harin beamed and nodded her head frantically.
How long had it been since Byeok Taesan had taken the initiative like this?
"I'd love to."
The two of them went outside, walking side by side.
And Yu Seoyeon and Cheon Gyeongwan followed quietly from a short distance away.
The two were faithful to their duty as escorts.
At least for this moment.
* * *
The walk turned out to be a bit long.
Byeok Taesan and Yeon Harin wandered along the riverbank for a long time, even after the sun had set.
In truth, for Byeok Taesan, this moment was part of the process of assimilating the new spiritual power he had obtained today.
Unlike usual, the spiritual power he gained today was more effectively absorbed while moving like this, rather than sitting still.
It seemed this, too, followed the characteristics of the soul it came from.
This was a realm he had barely considered or attempted before.
Not only had he not yet fully grasped the newly awakened Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts, but he also hadn't had the luxury of turning his attention elsewhere while focusing on healing his body.
In any case, the walk grew longer because of this, but Yeon Harin seemed to have interpreted it in a different light.
By the time they returned, her face was quite flushed.
They arrived back at the Golden Moon Inn, and as they were about to enter, they noticed it was unusually bustling inside.
"What's this?"
At Byeok Taesan's murmur, Cheon Gyeongwan stepped forward and went inside the inn.
"I'll go see what's happening."
Cheon Gyeongwan went inside and came back out almost immediately.
"It would be better to wait a little before going in."
"Hm?"
"They're currently... airing the place out."
The moment he heard that, Byeok Taesan could roughly guess what had happened.
Without hesitation, Byeok Taesan turned around.
"Let's take one more lap."
There was no need to smell the shit someone else had made, was there?
He could just hold his breath for the short walk to the annex, but if Cheon Gyeongwan was saying this, the stench must be truly awful.
So, it was better to continue their walk and breathe the fresh air for now.
* * *
Seo Munjehak, Gu Yangsu, and Chu Yeonghak were gathered in one room, their heads hung low.
They sat around a small table, none of them saying a word.
The more they thought about it, the bleaker it seemed.
"Fuck, I..."
The words wouldn't come out. *I shat my pants.*
It wasn't just a little leak; he had really shit himself. And in his sleep, no less.
The smell was so foul that no amount of washing could get it out of their bodies.
If they hadn't been the sons of prestigious families, they probably would have been kicked out of the inn.
No, perhaps being kicked out would have been better.
"We should have run."
At someone's mumble, the others nodded in unison.
But it wasn't a situation they could run from.
It had happened while they were asleep.
By the time they woke up, it was already too late.
The three of them had to sleep in this room together tonight. It was a kind of quarantine.
They accepted it humbly. They had no other choice.
The Golden Moon Inn had promised to do its best to contain the rumors.
Though who knew how effective that would be.
"Let's endure it for today and leave first thing tomorrow. What do you think?"
Gu Yangsu asked, his eyes red as if he were about to burst into tears.
Seo Munjehak let out a deep sigh.
"Haaa... Tomorrow... afternoon, someone from the Hubei Martial Alliance is supposed to arrive to meet us."
A man from the Seomun Family, who served as a Patrol Captain in the Hubei Martial Alliance, had insisted on coming all the way to Jingzhou for Seo Munjehak's sake. How could he refuse?
For the sake of his future, he absolutely couldn't.
Seo Munjehak planned to advance his career externally like this, rather than establishing a position within his family.
As the third son, it wasn't easy to secure a place in the family anyway.
Since he planned to secure a position in the Hubei Martial Alliance in the future, he was in a situation where he had to make a very good impression on the family elder who was a Patrol Captain there.
Gu Yangsu's and Chu Yeonghak's eyes wavered.
The thought of having to endure this humiliation tomorrow as well was utterly bleak.
But they couldn't just say they would leave on their own.
"For now... when he arrives tomorrow, I think I'll tell him about Byeok Taesan."
The moment the name Byeok Taesan was mentioned, all three of them stiffened.
Even Seo Munjehak, who had said the name first, did.
A moment of silence hung in the air.
A deep sense of self-loathing crushed the three men.
To escape this, they had to use any means necessary. And a Patrol Captain of the Hubei Martial Alliance would be a great help in that regard.
A strange light, a mixture of fear and hope, shimmered in the eyes of the three men.
* * *
Night fell.
The annex of the Golden Moon Inn was truly well-decorated.
A small stream and a pond, the trees and rocks surrounding them, and a small pavilion nestled in their midst all came together to create a scene of natural beauty.
And at the center of it all, in a position that overlooked everything, stood a large and beautiful pavilion.
Byeok Taesan was staying on the top floor of the pavilion, and from the window, he had a panoramic view of the annex grounds.
"Not bad at all."
In his time as the Heavenly Demon, he had experienced many things, but he could count on one hand the number of inns as well-appointed as this.
"The Golden Moon Inn, the Golden Moon Inn..."
No matter how many times he repeated the name, nothing came to mind. The same went for the Golden Moon Trading Company.
In other words, he hadn't paid it much attention during his time as the Heavenly Demon. It also meant the Heavenly Demonic Cult hadn't taken much notice of it either.
But thinking about it, wasn't it a bit strange?
The Golden Moon Trading Company was a merchant group that vied for the top spot in the world.
At that level, shouldn't its name have frequently reached the Heavenly Demon's ears?
As he was looking outside, Cheon Gyeongwan, who was standing outside the room to guard the door, spoke.
"Young Master, shall I bring the One-Needle Eccentric?"
Every night on their journey here, he had brought the One-Needle Eccentric into his room.
Perhaps because of that, he could sense the One-Needle Eccentric's presence nearby. He was probably preparing himself mentally.
"Not today. Go and bring the Divine Doctor of the Ages."
"Pardon?"
Byeok Taesan turned his head to look at the door. Although he couldn't see him, Cheon Gyeongwan must have felt his aura.
That must be why he flinched like that.
"Understood. I'll bring him at once."
A short while later, the Divine Doctor of the Ages entered the room with a bewildered expression.
"Young Master, why have you called for me at this late hour?"
Fear flickered deep in the Divine Doctor's eyes. Yet, at the same time, as if entertaining a sliver of hope, he cautiously approached Byeok Taesan.
"I discovered something very important today."
"You did?"
"That I need a physician."
"Pardon?"
Byeok Taesan beckoned him closer with a flick of his finger.
As if possessed, the Divine Doctor of the Ages hesitantly shuffled toward Byeok Taesan.
Byeok Taesan grinned and placed his hand on the crown of the Divine Doctor's head.
"I'll just take a little."
* * *
"Kuaaaaaaaargh!"
A desperate scream echoed faintly from somewhere.
Seo Munjehak, who had just managed to fall asleep, shot his eyes open.
The terror he wanted to forget crept up from the depths of his mind.
The moment vividly returned to him—he was face down on the floor, an identical scream coming from beside him.
His entire body went rigid. He trembled like that, unable to sleep, until the screaming stopped.
No, even after the screaming ended, he couldn't sleep and had to fight against his fear.
And at that same time, Gu Yangsu and Chu Yeonghak were having the exact same experience as Seo Munjehak.
The three of them harmoniously spent a sleepless night.
* * *
"Eheheheheh."
Hearing the laughter beside him, the Divine Doctor of the Ages whipped his head around to glare at the One-Needle Eccentric.
"Stop laughing."
"Kekekeke. What does it matter to you if I laugh or not? Mwahahaha!"
The One-Needle Eccentric burst into a hearty laugh.
He had good reason. It felt like ten years of indigestion had cleared up all at once.
"So, how does it feel to have our Young Master take an interest in you? You must be thrilled, right?"
The Divine Doctor of the Ages trembled all over as he glared at the One-Needle Eccentric.
"My, my, if looks could kill. You're a master of the death glare. Mwahahaha."
"Were you always such a flippant person?"
The One-Needle Eccentric grinned.
"Say what you will. I don't even know what I was like originally. I just want to enjoy this moment to the fullest. That was quite a juicy scream. How was it? Hurt quite a bit, didn't it?"
"Grr. I'm not talking."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages turned his head away with a huff.
Seeing this, the One-Needle Eccentric cackled again.
Just then, the sight of Byeok Taesan coming down the stairs entered their view.
As if by magic, they fell silent.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages scurried over to Byeok Taesan and bowed respectfully.
"Young Master, you're awake? Shall I have them prepare a meal?"
Byeok Taesan looked at the man, wondering why he was suddenly acting this way.
Then he shifted his gaze to the One-Needle Eccentric, who was sitting a distance away.
Reading the bewilderment on the One-Needle Eccentric's face, Byeok Taesan's eyes narrowed.
"You two didn't cause any trouble, did you?"
"Goodness, of course not. You know how quiet a person I am."
Byeok Taesan waved his hand dismissively.
"If not, then fine. Just tell them to bring some food."
"Yes, Young Master."
As the Divine Doctor replied and was about to withdraw, Byeok Taesan suddenly raised his hand as if he'd remembered something.
"Wait."
"Yes?"
The Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric looked at Byeok Taesan with identical expressions and swallowed nervously.
A chilly tension filled the air.
"Do you happen to know any physicians?"
"Pardon?"
The two men stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.