Published at 26th of January 2026 9:28 am

Chapter 341

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A wooden stake. I nodded slightly as I looked at it.

"What's this for?"

Why did he bring a wooden stake? At my words, the Ghost Demon looked at me and spoke.

"The main cult has given an order. It's an edict to finish the job."

"If by job you mean..."

Does he mean I should stake it down and complete the hexagram?

"So, what about it?"

"That's why I'm here to ask your will, my Heaven. How do you wish for us to proceed?"

"Hm?"

I narrowed my eyes at his words. How do I wish to proceed?

"You're asking me about this?"

"Yes, my Heaven."

"... What if I tell you not to?"

"Then we will retrieve what we prepared in Shaanxi and deal with it so that it won't become a problem for you, my Heaven."

You'll retrieve everything you've already planted and handle it? At that, I asked again.

"Do you... know what this is?"

"I do not."

He said this boldly.

"I only move by orders. I do not know the Young cult leader's intent."

"..."

Is he telling the truth? That sounds different from last time.

'He just follows the Young cult leader's words, huh...'

Then does that Baekga bastard know what this stake means?

'It's true the fanatics are involved.'

Even knowing what will happen after planting it, they still do it. It's unbelievable.

'Tsk.'

The Ghost Demon noticed that I was concerned about this and came to ask how to handle it.

"The two locations currently set up are complete, and dealing with the place you're concerned about and the remaining one will not take even a day."

"..."

The place I was concerned about.

That meant the stake I had cleared out myself.

'He knows.'

He was aware of everything. I was taken aback.

'He knew, and still watched?'

So he knew all about it, even before the whole misunderstanding that I was the Heavenly Demon's child.

'Whether he anticipated it or saw it himself, I can't say.'

It was still a chilling situation.

"If you, my Heaven, are troubled, as your servant, I will accomplish whatever you desire. Even if it means the destruction of my own body."

I flinched as I saw him speak those words. It was that look from beforethe same eyes, filled with madness, looking at me.

Those were unmistakably

'The eyes of fanatics.'

The same kind of madness in the eyes of those who followed the fanatics.

Just what is it about the Heavenly Demon's child that makes this guy so obsessed?

And

'The stake, huh.'

I stared at the wooden stake the Ghost Demon had brought, deep in thought. Deal with it?

If it's used to create a hexagram as is, that's a separate problem altogether.

'The trouble that'd follow from that would be a nightmare.'

It would be nice if he took care of it for me.

'... Hmmm.'

Something was bothering me.

'If I stop this current plan...'

Of course, they'd realize something was off, and the aftermath could be a problem.

Also

'The Ghost Demon is a problem too.'

When he said he'd take care of it neatly, he meant making sure there was no trouble for me.

He had no regard for his own safety.

Honestly, my position was no differentI didn't care what might happen to the Ghost Demon.

But

'He could still be useful.'

Regardless of his identity, he's a useful being.

Is this really the right way to use him?

'Not yet.'

Not yet. If this was tied to the fanatics from my past lifethe crazy bastardsthen this isn't the time to play that card.

That's where I ended my deliberations.

"Alright."

"Oh, so you mean...?"

"Proceed."

"To finish the task... Huh?"

The Ghost Demon hesitated, looking as if he had misheard me.

"I said do it."

Open the hexagram.

I aimed to find my own benefit in this.

'There are ways, after all.'

It's better than not opening it.

A way to screw over the fanatics and still gain something for myself.

That's what I had.

"Go ahead with the plan as you were given. However."

I approached the Ghost Demon.

As I got closer, I caught a whiff of a pleasant scent. Why does a man smell like this? It was a bit unsettling, but I ignored it and spoke to him.

"...!"

The Ghost Demon's eyes widened at my words. I spoke.

"Can you do it?"

"... Yes."

The Ghost Demon smiled brightly and replied.

"Please leave it to me, my Heaven."

***

I sent the Ghost Demon on his way. There was no point in staying here any longer, so I said I'd see him tomorrow.

Then, carrying the somyeon I had prepared, I went looking for Yu Yun.

"Hey. I brought"

As I returned to where I was before, I saw a familiar face.

"Young master Bang."

It was Chun Uijin. He looked at me, his face stiff with concern.

"... Are you alright? No injuries?"

"Oh, yes. As you can see, I'm fine."

"... Ha."

At that, Chun Uijin let out a sigh of relief. Then, with a slightly angry face, he said,

"What were you thinking...!"

He started to scold me but bit his lip and stopped.

"... I'm sorry. Who am I to speak?"

He'd started to raise his voice but went still, regretful. Just as I was about to say something to his hardened expression

"You must have refrained from telling me because I would have been of no help."

"No, that's not..."

His words reminded me of what Chun Hye-In had saidthat his situation was different.

It was a bit awkward.

"Young master Chun. That's not it..."

"I'm sorry. I wished I could have been of help, but it seems I still have a long way to go... I simply wanted to greet you since I heard you were here."

Chun Uijin bowed politely and tried to leave.

I considered letting him go but grabbed him for now.

"Young master Chun."

"... Yes?"

"... Do you like somyeon?"

"Huh...?"

His eyes narrowed slightly.

I pulled him over to sit on the veranda. With Sung Hun inside, I couldn't bring Chun Uijin in as well.

When I arrived, Yu Yun came out right away as if she had een waiting.

Upon seeing the somyeon I'd brought, her eyes widened.

"Eat."

"..."

Yu Yun immediately plopped down and stared at the somyeon.

I handed some to Chun Uijin.

"Have some. I just cooked it."

"Young master Bang, are you sure...?"

"Yes. It's better than it looks. You toowait. You're already eating."

As if there was no need to worry, Yu Yun was gobbling down the noodles as if possessed.

Seeing her eat so desperately, Chun Uijin stared blankly at her.

"... Ah, I..."

"I went to the trouble to make it, so please have some."

"..."

Hesitantly, Chun Uijin ate the noodles.

"... Mm..."

His reaction was ambiguous. That's to be expected. It's just noodles with broth, after allhow delicious could it be?

Especially for someone from a wealthy family like Chun Uijin, it would be nothing special.

"It's tasty..."

"You're not good at lying, young master Chun. You know that, right?"

"..."

"It's fine."

It wasn't as if I'd given him the noodles to impress him with taste; it was simply for the sake of pretext.

A pretext to keep Chun Uijin with me.

"Young master Chun."

"Yes."

"Sorry."

"...!"

As I bowed my head, Chun Uijin flinched in surprise.

"A-ah, please, you don't need to bow!"

"... It wasn't my intention to exclude you, young master Chun."

Honestly, that's not a lie. I did think he was too weak to bring along, though.

"And I apologize for not giving you a heads up because things moved too quickly. The situation was really urgent."

"I understand everything."

He'd probably understand. Though, emotionally, it wouldn't be easy to swallow.

He'd undoubtedly know that he was the weakest among us, and he was always struggling with being compared to his sister.

"I wanted us to do something together, but with everything being so strange, I couldn't pay attention to you."

"You really don't have to be concerned about that. Young master Bang is different from me, so there's no need to mind someone like me. It was up to me to take responsibility."

Well.

Still, having brought him along as a companion, ignoring him wasn't right.

But rather than apologize twice, it was better to bring up something else.

I cared about Chun Uijin more than I let on.

Contrary to having abandoned him, I was actually the most concerned about him.

Despite his confident face, I sensed his inferiority complex and anxiety.

His lowered self-esteem merged with the memory of someone from my past.

Maybe that's why I was always keeping an eye on Chun Uijin.

Though he was worrying about me, I worried about him even more.

"Young master Chun."

"Y-yes...?"

"I know I'm not really in a position to say this right now, but... could I ask you for a favor?"

"A favor...?"

A favor, out of nowhere? Chun Uijin looked at me in confusion.

I spoke.

"If you agree to this favor, I'll teach you one of master's secret techniques."

"... What?"

What?

Chun Uijin was shocked by my words, and even Yu Chun-gil, who had been silent, was surprised.

What are you saying without my permission?

I could see him frowning at me for speaking out of turn.

I was a little nervous, but I ignored him.

"Well? What do you think?"

"... Why... Is it because you're concerned for me? If that's the case, you really don't need"

"I am concerned about you. But you can't keep being like this forever, can you?"

"..."

"I need strong people."

To be honest, I don't even really need that, but some things needed to be said.

"I need people who won't get exhausted and will keep up with me."

I actually didn't. I was going to get exhausted myself at this rate. I knew it, but I just kept talking.

"Right now, young master Chun, you're not that kind of person."

"..."

Chun Uijin bit his lips. Seeing that, I continued.

"So grasp this opportunity. I'm not giving it to anyone else. But you, young master Chun, are special."

"... I'm special?"

"Yes. I believe in your potential, young master Chun."

And there should be some. It's not an empty promise. His sister is Chun Hye-In, and his father is Virtuous Moon Sword.

How could Chun Uijin have nothing? He wasn't picked up off the streets, after all.

"So, please don't let this chance pass."

"..."

Chun Uijin's pupils trembled. His newly opened blue eyes quivered.

"What will you do?"

"..."

He fell silent. All sorts of worries flitted across his faceuncertainty, anxietyI couldn't know what exactly.

"... What... what kind of favor is it?"

In the end, he made the choice I was hoping for.

Seeing that, I smiled.

"It's nothing much..."

I lowered my voice and looked at him.

"I'm meeting the Ghost Demon soon. I want to ask for your help there."

"... Huh?"

At my words, Chun Uijin froze up like a stone.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

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