Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Enlightenment
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Thanks to Gwang-yu's consideration, I took a brief breath of fresh air and hurried back to the meeting hall before it got too late.
"Young Cult Leader, where are you going? The meeting is about to start."
Just then, I spotted the Young Cult Leader emerging from the meeting hall with a grim expression, followed by Five Elements trying to hold him back.
"Young Cult Leader, I'm sorry for being late."
Soon enough, he spotted me and strode right over.
'I caused a scene in the meeting hall and then vanished, so of course I'm going to get chewed out.'
Bracing myself for a scolding, I clasped my hands together, bowed my head politely, and squeezed my eyes shut...
"How's your body?"
"Pardon?"
"I asked if your body's okay."
'He's not here to yell at me?'
I cracked my eyes open to find the Young Cult Leader staring straight through me.
'Why's he looking at me like that? So intense?'
He somehow seemed even more irritated than usual!
Well, can you blame him? In front of the eleven elders, where he was showing off his chosen aide for the first time, said aide had made a pathetic display before the meeting even started. No wonder he's pissed.
Am I about to get fired?
The Young Cult Leader's aide position is sweeter than I thought—plenty of personal time, light workload.
And the authority that comes with being the Young Cult Leader's aide isn't too shabby either.
If I lose this aide gig right now...
'You incompetent fool of an aide. I overestimated you. Dismiss Seol right n— No! Banish Seol!'
'Young Cult Leader, forgive me! Give me one more chance! I have to stay in the cult!'
'Silence! For old times' sake, I'll tell you how to stick around the Heavenly Demon Cult.'
'W-what is it?'
'If you want to cling on by your toenails, go back where you belong.'
'Where's that?'
'To the place you ought to be.'
Imagining the Young Cult Leader stripping me of my aide position and sending me back to serving his meals sent chills down my spine.
'Not that! Anything but that!'
I'd barely escaped the hell of being his errand boy!
I couldn't go back to carrying trays and fetching water as his servant.
Stay calm, Seol Cheon-seong!
If I handle my duties from here on out without a hitch, I can dodge this crisis.
"I'm fine now. I guess I was just a little tense since it was my first time leading a meeting."
"Fine? You nearly keeled over from Ferocious's killing intent and took a stroll to the Yellow Springs. You must've been scared out of your wits."
I tried to play it cool to reassure him my work wouldn't suffer, but Gwang-yu poured cold water on it.
'Master, please shut up.'
Too late to signal him now.
"Look, Little Bean's got sharp eyes—she's still on edge. She needs rest right n—"
Gwang-yu, who'd bungled my subtle hints like a regular at a noodle joint mangling his dumplings, tried to "help" by doubling down.
"No, really, I'm okay, Master."
I grabbed his arm, grinding my teeth. Only then did he catch on that my intentions differed from his and finally clammed up.
'Sometimes I wonder who's the master here.'
"I'll head straight in and get things ready."
As I moved to enter the meeting hall like nothing happened, the Young Cult Leader shot out his arm to block me.
'What? Didn't he say the meeting's starting soon? He knows I'm busy—why block me?'
Is he planning to strip me of my aide position right here?
"You don't have to attend the meeting."
"Pardon? You mean...!"
'So he is kicking me out as aide?'
Yes, this marks the start of Seol Cheon-seong's wise servant life.
"Like Gwang-yu said, rest if you're not feeling well. Five Elements can handle it, so no need to push yourself."
I was half-resigned when the Young Cult Leader continued calmly.
'His voice sounds softer than usual. Almost like the Young Cult Leader's actually worried about me?'
Of course, just my imagination...
At any rate, it means I can skip the meeting without jeopardizing my aide position?
"Then head back to your quarters and rest. Gwang-yu, see Seol the aide back."
"No, thank you! I appreciate the thought, but I'll handle the meeting."
I politely declined the Young Cult Leader's offer.
'Honestly, jumping into the eleven elders' meeting for the first time and leading it is daunting...'
But I didn't want to run!
According to Gwang-yu, I buckled under the killing intent because I doubted myself. At the very least, I wanted to conquer that intent and return stronger.
'As long as I'm the aide, I'll keep facing those eleven elders. Same with the Tang Clan of Sichuan, who might kidnap me anytime, or the big-shot spy colluding with them in the Heavenly Demon Cult. I can't collapse from mere killing intent like today!'
"The Heavenly Demon Cult's aide doesn't retreat from something like this."
'Believe in my strength! Trust my potential!'
To show my resolve, I clamped my mouth shut and stared the Young Cult Leader straight in the eye.
"Ahem, fine. Prepare the meeting."
Seeing my determination wouldn't waver, the Young Cult Leader reluctantly allowed me entry.
"Yes! You seemed to have something urgent—handle it, and I'll have everything ready by the time you return!"
"That's..."
"The Young Cult Leader just..."
"Right. Make it solid."
I'd recalled how he'd stormed out despite Five Elements' pleas moments ago, but for some reason, the Young Cult Leader cut off Five Elements mid-sentence and vanished somewhere.
"Five Elements the aide and the Young Cult Leader get along so nicely. Like a grandpa and his grandson."
I watched them fondly, but Gwang-yu shuddered like he was terrified.
"Little Bean, that looks nice to you? To me, it screams hostage drama laced with death threats..."
"Don't sow discord between people who get along fine. Now, Master, you head back to the elders' seats too."
"You sure you're okay?"
Gwang-yu, who'd been playful moments ago, now eyed me with genuine concern.
'Is it because he's a thousand years old? He worries about his disciple way too much.'
"Of course! Whose disciple am I?"
"The great disciple of the great Gwang-yu!"
"Exactly—so trust your great disciple! You told me to believe in my potential, but how can it work if you don't believe in me?"
Gwang-yu just watched my confident declaration with a smile, saying nothing.
'What's with that? That proud smile like a kindergartener's parent watching their kid get their diploma?'
I wasn't seeing this side of Gwang-yu for the first time, but it always felt over the top.
Well, they say your master is like a second father.
I'll hold off on the nagging.
"Anyway, I need to prep the meeting! I'm in a rush, so I'll head in first! See you later, Master!"
I waved to Gwang-yu and hurried into the meeting hall to prepare.
"Now I get it... That's why! Why the Heavenly Demon hid away to raise Seol Cheon-seong in secret..."
After Cheon-seong waved and disappeared into the meeting hall, Gwang-yu gained a profound realization.
'At first, I thought it was irresponsible for a figure like the Heavenly Demon to abandon the cult and go into hiding just to raise his child. Hell, I even questioned if he was fit for the throne.'
But after becoming Cheon-seong's master and living alongside her, he realized the cult's positions couldn't even be compared to her on the same level.
"Exactly—so trust your great disciple! You told me to believe in my potential, but how can it work if you don't believe in me?"
Gwang-yu suddenly recalled Cheon-seong's words just before entering the hall.
"...It's not that I don't believe in her."
'If she were untrustworthy, I wouldn't have taken her as a disciple from the start. Wait, have I ever trusted anyone to begin with?'
Gwang-yu had never built trust with people before, yet now he trusted Cheon-seong more than anyone.
'I've changed a lot. That's why I can somewhat understand the Heavenly Demon's feelings—knowing Little Bean will do great, but still worrying endlessly.'
"It's like you hate to let her go out into the world. Worried she'll get hurt body and soul. Like watching a kid play by the water's edge."
'That feeling means Little Bean's become precious to me.'
And that only fueled his rage toward those targeting her.
'There must be more among the elders with divided loyalties. Just like I once doubted the Heavenly Demon.'
And among them...
The traitor plotting rebellion by secretly colluding with the Tang Clan of Sichuan while the Heavenly Demon was away.
"Time to hunt them down."
Gwang-yu swept back the hair covering his forehead with one hand and smirked crookedly, living up to his nickname as the Heavenly Demon Cult's wastrel.
"Those bold fools daring to target our Little Bean."