Chapter 252: Chapter 252

“I… I’m sorry…”

Ju Ji-yak could not even finish her sentence, her head lowered.

To think the person she brought with such effort was a fraud?

Of course, listening to his story, he did have some knowledge of medical treatment, but other than that, everything he said was a lie, so he could not be considered a proper person.

“Haha, it’s fine, it’s fine. Aren’t there all kinds of people in the world?”

Namgung Cheon tilted his cup with a pleasant expression for the first time in a while.

That was thanks to the return of Sa Do-hak.

Only now did it feel a bit like a manor.

“Why are you listening to such a swindler? Have you gone senile, old man?”

“Still, wasn’t it entertaining?”

“As if!”

“Haha, anyway, seeing you here, it seems things on your end have been settled well.”

Sa Do-hak smirked and nodded.

There was nothing to settle or not.

He had killed everyone suspected of being a spy, and nipped in the bud those who could become enemies of the Demonic Sect in the future.

Although their power had dropped significantly because most of the elders and guardians were dead, the ability of the fellow who succeeded to the position of the next Heavenly Demon would be more than enough to lead the new Demonic Sect well.

“Who did you give it to?”

“It is Gam Chun, the Blazing Saber.”

“Oho… that man certainly has the ability to lead a force. But isn’t it a bit late for him to learn the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?”

“He’ll handle it.”

Sa Do-hak shrugged his shoulders.

For the members of the Demonic Sect, the killing of the elders and guardians in front of so many people had become a terror, and since there was even a master who had killed the Black Wind Demon who possessed overwhelming power, no one would take Sa Do-hak’s decision lightly.

Therefore, he did not need to achieve great mastery in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. Since his original ability could be considered the best in the current Demonic Sect, who would dare covet his position?

Moreover, they would think Sa Do-hak was backing him up behind the scenes, so unless they were completely reckless, they would have no choice but to follow.

“Both the Orthodox path and the Demonic Sect… their strength is in a pitiful state without exception. Haha…”

At Namgung Cheon’s lament, Zhuge Un also nodded with a bitter expression.

Under these circumstances, he wondered if they could even defend themselves if someone were to invade the Central Plains.

The Heavenly Way Association and the Martial Alliance were still gnashing their teeth at each other, while the Demonic Sect and the unorthodox path had both seen their forces greatly diminished.

Of course, at the center of it,

‘Isn’t this family the problem?’

Zhuge Un wanted to say those words, but he kept his mouth shut.

Wasn’t the disappearance of the Ma family, a pillar of the unorthodox path, the splitting of the Martial Alliance in half, and the overturning of the Demonic Sect all because of the people living in this family?

‘This place is the biggest problem, the biggest problem.’

Zhuge Un sighed as he thought that.

“By the way, I don’t see those kittens around?”

Sa Do-hak asked, glancing around.

The two spiritual beasts that always clung tightly to So-mi’s side were nowhere to be seen. Wondering what was going on, he looked at Namgung So-hye, who tried to avoid his gaze and muttered softly.

“That… So-mi… hugged them, and…”

“…Are they alive?”

“The, the white tiger is somewhat fine, but… the, the white cat got terrified and ran away…”

Meaning they had run away from home.

Sa Do-hak let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

Just how toxic was Dan Woo-hyun’s internal energy for them to end up like that? The moment he checked her pulse, Sa Do-hak also felt there was nothing he could do, so he clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“Anyway, why isn’t that guy here?”

“He hasn’t returned yet.”

“Still?”

Since he had been receiving carrier pigeons from time to time, Sa Do-hak also knew to some extent how things were going in the family.

Including the fact that Dan Woo-hyun had gone on a separate journey with Jang Sam-tae.

“Isn’t he bringing back a woman or something?”

Sa Do-hak asked as he took a drink.

At that, fire flared in Namgung So-hye’s eyes. Watching her, he grinned, finding it extremely amusing.

“Well, if it’s him, he is certainly capable of it. He has money, he has a house… Having a kid attached to him is a problem, but since it’s So-mi, well… she will get over it easily.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Why? Do you think it has to be you?”

At Sa Do-hak’s teasing words, Namgung So-hye’s face turned red. Until now, she had never once thought that Dan Woo-hyun would get a woman.

Therefore, she had not even given it a thought, but hearing Sa Do-hak’s words, an anxiety arose that maybe it could happen.

She frowned without realizing it.

“Stop playing around. Young Master Dan only has So-mi, you know?”

“That’s why you are disqualified.”

“Geez!”

“Want to fight?”

At her stance, looking as if she would draw her sword and charge at Sa Do-hak at any moment, Sa Do-hak clenched his fist tightly. It was clear that he would not show mercy even if she was Namgung So-hye.

“It’s not like that!”

Hmph!

Namgung So-hye snorted and hurriedly moved toward the kitchen.

She had practiced cooking tirelessly to serve delicious food when Dan Woo-hyun returned, and now there was almost no housework she couldn’t do.

But what if he really brought a woman?

It felt like her heart would break.

“But really… when will he return…”

Heading to the kitchen, Namgung So-hye looked off into the distance.

She looked just like a woman waiting anxiously for her beloved.

Namgung So-hye sighed and began preparing the food.

She fired herself up, thinking she should make plenty of delicious food since Sa Do-hak had returned after a long time!

She lit the fire and began the food prep.

Just as she was about to start cooking with pleasant thoughts, thinking it would take some time since she had to make a lot,

“Let’s go eat out today! My treat!”

“Wow! Sounds great!”

“Hmm, that seems fine for a change. Hahaha.”

At the voices that followed, the spatula she was holding snapped.

* * *

The Pungyo Inn.

It was an inn that had recently opened in Yueyang.

It provided dishes made by a first-class chef at low prices, and the interior of the large inn was decorated with trees and flowers, making it as beautiful as a landscape painting.

The owner of this place was Geum Eun-hak, and the manager was Hoyeon Ji.

Since it was also a place that sold the alcohol of the Hoyeon Family, most of the customers came from all over the Central Plains to taste the liquor and cuisine.

The front of the inn was always crowded with customers, and when it was busy, one had to wait for nearly an hour to get food.

People glanced repeatedly at the group seated in such a place.

Since they were the group welcomed with open arms by none other than the leader of the Gold Ring Merchant Group, and Hoyeon Ji himself was carrying and serving the food, what sight could be more surprising than that?

Countless people were whispering here and there, but the locals of Yueyang ate and talked naturally as if they had already known all along.

“Looking at her today, the little fairy is becoming even cuter. Sigh… I want to make her my daughter-in-law.”

“Hey! Don’t say such things! Do you know how many people almost died at the hands of Lord Hong after shooting their mouths off like that?”

Laughter could be heard from all around.

To them, the group itself was a famous attraction.

The manor where immortals lived, or should it be called a family now?

They were the ones staying in such a place, and from the moment they appeared, the security of Yueyang had noticeably improved.

Although many kept it quiet, most of the adults already knew who the Gentleman Sword and the Heaven Demolishing Lord were.

Indeed, it would be stranger not to know.

“Hahaha, this place is bustling no matter when we come.”

“Indeed.”

“Isn’t it a good thing that business is doing well?”

Zhuge Un swallowed his tears as he looked around.

How much had they suffered when establishing this inn? Geum Eun-hak, who wanted to save every penny, and Zhuge Un, who wanted to spend money lavishly if they were going to spend it anyway, had a silent tug-of-war.

Their differences could not be bridged for a long time, but after an angry Zhuge Un grabbed Geum Eun-hak by the collar and dragged him to a back alley, the current Pungyo Inn was built.

Taking the place of Geum Eun-hak, who was stuck in the clinic for a while, they completely renovated the inn and decorated it with a significant amount of money.

Although Geum Eun-hak wept tears of blood when he calculated the accounts after recovering, they were earning far more profits than that, so Zhuge Un deserved gratitude instead.

“Now, carefully…”

While he was lost in thought, he heard a voice and looked to the side to see Namgung So-hye feeding So-mi, who was sitting in a chair.

This was for So-mi, who tended to break not only chopsticks but even spoons whenever she held them.

Of course, So-mi was unsatisfied, but if they didn’t do this, she would be forced to shove her face greedily into the plate to eat.

“Ugh…”

So-mi opened her mouth with a tearful face.

Her only thought was that she wanted to fix her constitution as soon as possible.

It was by no means easy, but she feared she might end up unable to do anything if she continued to live like this.

Just then, the door of the inn burst open and a group stepped inside.

Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak, who were eating casually, widened their eyes. It was because there was a somewhat familiar man there.

“No, do we absolutely have to eat out?”

“What’s wrong with that? They say it’s incredibly famous in Yueyang.”

“I want to eat delicious food with the Manor Lord and So-mi! Not with you!”

“Why do you like eating with gloomy men so much?”

“So-mi is not a man! That child is a fairy, a fairy!”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

The grumbling voices of the entering man and woman resounded clearly throughout the entire inn.

Hearing the all-too-familiar voices, the others also turned their gazes.

“Huh?”

Jang Sam-tae also looked over.

He saw a gathering of familiar faces. Because he hadn’t expected them to be in such a place, a look of surprise was clear on his face.

“Why… here…?”

“Uncle Jang!”

So-mi jumped up from her seat.

She recognized Jang Sam-tae at a single glance after a long time.

Although his appearance was quite different from when she last saw him, there was no doubt that he was Jang Sam-tae.

“Uh… So-mi!?”

“Uncle!”

So-mi shed tears of joy.

She then ran toward him with a completely different feeling than when she saw Sa Do-hak.

She had known Jang Sam-tae the longest among the people present, and they had relied on each other that much, so how could So-mi’s heart not be moved?

She ran to him in a single breath and threw herself into his embrace.

Crack!

“Gwaaakh!”

And in that instant,

Jang Sam-tae’s body flew away as if hit by a wild bull.

So-mi, who was about to hug him, widened her eyes.

Flying off with the sound of the wind, Jang Sam-tae crashed through the door of the inn and fell outside.

Crash!

“H-Hey!?”

The startled Mae-hyang gasped in horror as she watched the scene.

How could this tiny child blow away a sturdy man?

She stared blankly with eyes full of astonishment at Jang Sam-tae, who was lying flat.

His eyes rolled back showing only the whites, and foamy spit leaked from his mouth.

“Hmm, that was a bit too much.”

Just then, someone muttered while watching the situation.

So-mi snapped out of it and looked toward him. She began to see the figure of Dan Woo-hyun approaching the inn slowly, very slowly.

So-mi just stared at him blankly.

Instead of running to hug him like she did with Sa Do-hak or Jang Sam-tae, she couldn’t even move as if in a dream, only sending a gaze filled with tears.

Coming up to So-mi before she knew it, Dan Woo-hyun placed his hand on top of her head.

Then, he opened his mouth.

“Have you been doing well?”

At the warm words, a single tear fell drop by drop from So-mi’s eyes.

She felt a warm touch telling her that this was reality, not a dream.

“Waaah!”

So-mi burst into tears.

Enjoyed the chapter?

If you like our work, consider supporting us on Ko-fi. This site solely runs on donations. Every donation helps us keep translating!

Support on Ko-fi