Chapter 630: Return of the Demon Cult Leader
“You, you…!”
Dan Lijeong, who had just returned home, glared with wide eyes and pointed a trembling finger.
His finger was directed at his son, Dan Lihyuk, who stood nonchalantly behind a middle-aged woman.
The woman, with her slightly heavy makeup, possessed a beauty that needed no enhancement. Yet, her sharp and somewhat irritable demeanor could make anyone feel a bit intimidated.
And there, behind her, stood Dan Lihyuk, as if he hadn’t just caused a ruckus at the brothel.
Finally, Dan Lijeong erupted in anger.
“You insolent brat! How dare you barge in here!”
“Father. This is the house where I was born and raised. Do you truly wish for me to leave?”
Dan Lihyuk asked, his eyebrows forming a pleading arch, while Dan Lijeong clenched his fists, trying to suppress his rage.
“You were just rolling around in a brothel…”
“I was foolish and indulged in some entertainment. Please forgive me.”
Dan Lihyuk bowed deeply, feigning sincerity as he asked for forgiveness.
But Dan Lijeong knew all too well that his son’s confidence came from having someone to back him up, and his anger didn’t subside easily.
“Forgiveness? Do you think you can toss around the word ‘forgiveness’ so lightly? Come here this instant! I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget…!”
At that moment, the middle-aged woman stepped forward and spoke coldly.
“Enough, dear.”
“Wife…!”
“Is it really necessary to make such a fuss just because a young man visited a brothel?”
“Ha! When I was his age, I wouldn’t have dared to even think of such things…!”
“That’s because you were such a stick-in-the-mud. I don’t want our child growing up to be as dull as you.”
“D-dull…?”
“Surely you don’t think you’re as charming and lively as our dear lord, do you?”
“Ha, wife. Even so, calling the lord ‘dear’ in front of the child…!”
“Quiet! It’s just a meaningless nickname to me. How many times do I have to tell you? It’s like a pet name. The lord is my own special… nickname.”
“Your face is turning red!”
“Oh? Is it? Anyway, stop bothering our Lihyuk.”
“Wife, I’m not bothering him. I’m trying to discipline him…”
“I said stop it. What’s the big deal if a young man visits a brothel?”
“Wife! It’s because you keep coddling him that he’s turning into a delinquent!”
“What did you say? So it’s all my fault now?”
“I’m not denying it! They say you can tell the parents by looking at the child!”
“You really…! Aren’t you a parent too?”
“That’s why I’m trying to discipline him!”
“Oh, and despite all your disciplining, why is our child like this?”
“Because you keep coddling him…”
“So it’s my fault again?”
“Yes!”
“Maybe your disciplining is the problem! Have you ever thought about how stifling it must be to live with someone as rigid as you? If my father had been like you, I would have left home ages ago!”
“W-what?”
Watching his parents bicker, Dan Lihyuk couldn’t help but chuckle.
Dan Lijeong’s eyebrows shot up.
“You brat! What’s so funny?”
“Don’t take it out on him! I’m talking to you right now!”
“Ha, wife. Let’s discuss this quietly when we’re alone.”
“No! I want to settle this now! Do you know how frustrating you are? You had feelings for me but couldn’t even propose, so I had to do it first! I must have been crazy to find that endearing!”
“Why are you bringing that up now?”
Dan Lijeong shouted in confusion, and the woman scoffed in response.
“Ha! So now you want to forget the past? Pretend you did nothing wrong? That it was only natural for me to propose first?”
“That’s not what I meant. Good grief.”
Dan Lihyuk burst into laughter again.
At the same time, Dan Lijeong’s anger flared as he reached for his bow.
“You brat! You’re laughing when you’re the cause of all this chaos?”
In an instant,
A whip with thorns extended from the woman’s hand, crackling with flames.
“If you touch him again, I won’t stand by!”
“Ha, wife! Huh? You brat, stop right there! Dan Lihyuk!”
But Dan Lihyuk was already running, leaping over the wall and disappearing.
Seeing her son vanish, the woman retracted her whip and looked at Dan Lijeong with a cold expression.
“Don’t ever use violence on him again.”
“Wife, please help me so I don’t have to.”
“What more can I do?”
Dan Lijeong sighed deeply and shook his head.
Better to say nothing. Better to say nothing.
He looked at her with a wistful gaze, recalling the thought that crossed his mind every day.
‘Why did I… why did I marry this woman? I must have been crazy.’
She was undoubtedly beautiful.
Her rare silver hair was captivating.
Even though she seemed wild and unpredictable, her confidence and straightforwardness were admirable.
Yes, she was a woman, but even a man could find her impressive.
The fact that she was from the Sapa clan was a minor concern, but after the Demon War, the distinction between factions had become meaningless.
Yes, everything seemed perfect up to that point.
But…
“Are you crazy? Completely crazy. How much are you going to regret liking that crazy woman?”
That was what Mok Danhwa had said when he confessed his feelings.
He should have listened to her then.
“Even if she seems normal, she’s far from it. And you’re too normal. More than normal. You’re polar opposites.”
Dan Lijeong had disagreed.
He believed that their differences would complement each other, making them more complete.
“Friends? Sure, you could say we’re friends. Best friends? What nonsense. Why would I be best friends with that crazy woman? You’re going to regret not listening to me. As a friend, maybe, but as a life partner, she’s exhausting. Women know women best.”
He thought he knew better.
And in a way, he did.
Now, Dan Lijeong knew his wife, Seol Seorin, far better than Mok Danhwa ever could.
But…
‘In the end, you were right.’
Dan Lijeong sighed softly.
Even if he didn’t regret it, he couldn’t deny they were polar opposites.
At that moment,
“Why are you sighing while looking at me? Are you thinking, ‘Why did I marry that woman!’?”
“N-no! I wasn’t thinking that.”
Seol Seorin squinted and mimicked him.
“N-no! I wasn’t thinking that. Stuttering like that.”
“Really, I wasn’t.”
“You better not be. You should be grateful. A pretty woman like me living with you! Who else would marry someone as frustrating as you? Only I can put up with it.”
“I’ll have you know I’m called the ‘Divine Archer.’”
“Sigh, I wonder how my dear lord is doing.”
“Let’s keep it reasonable. Even if you call the lord ‘dear’ in front of me!”
“Quiet! You sighed while looking at me!”
“Are you serious?”
“What? Want to have a go at it?”
Seol Seorin glared and shouted.
Just then, a commotion was heard outside the door.
A servant rushed in.
“What is it?”
“Um, the Lord of Jayang Gate wishes to see you.”
“The Lord of Jayang Gate…?”
Dan Lijeong exchanged a glance with Seol Seorin and nodded.
“Show him in.”
Jayang Gate was the largest sect in Guiyang, but during the Demon War, they had abandoned Guiyang and fled.
Because of this, Dan Lijeong didn’t hold them in high regard.
Soon, the servant left, and No Cheol, the Lord of Jayang Gate, entered with a steady stride.
But behind him followed a group of disciples from Jayang Gate.
This was quite rude, but given their status and influence in Guiyang, the gatekeeper must have been unable to stop them.
“It’s been a while, Lord Dan!”
“Welcome, Lord No.”
“Ha ha, Lady Seol, you are as beautiful as ever.”
“Ho ho, thank you.”
Seol Seorin smiled brightly, seemingly pleased.
Dan Lijeong observed No Cheol and his disciples.
Sensing his gaze, No Cheol continued.
“Ah, the reason for my visit… since everyone is busy, I’ll get straight to the point.”
“What is it?”
“Regrettably, I heard that Lord Dan caused a disturbance at the brothel managed by our sect.”
“If it’s about that, I’ve already spoken with the owner.”
“Ah, yes, I heard. You promised to repair the broken walls and windows.”
“That’s right.”
“But it’s not as simple as that.”
“What seems to be the problem?”
“Master Danli’s recent outburst left quite a few guests feeling rather displeased. This could certainly affect our reputation… Given the circumstances, it seems we have no choice but to discuss compensation for the damages.”
In other words, they were demanding compensation for disrupting their business.
Whether the guests had actually complained was anyone’s guess.
But for the Zayang Sect, this was a golden opportunity.
They had never been fond of the Ilseong Archery Sect.
A few years back, when Danli Jeong was still the head of the Cheonmyeol Brigade, they had to tread carefully.
The Cheonmyeol Brigade had been a formidable force, leading the charge in settling old scores.
But with the brigade disbanded and Danli Jeong returning home, he was now like a tiger without its teeth.
The aftermath of the Demon War had long since severed the lineage of the Ilseong Sword Sect, and though Danli Jeong had returned to establish the Ilseong Archery Sect, the Zayang Sect had already solidified their power in the region.
Yet, to No-cheol, Danli Jeong remained a thorn in his side.
“I’ve heard the Ilseong Archery Sect has been growing lately… It seems they’re trying to regain their former strength. We can’t let this opportunity to assert our dominance slip by.”
With a smirk, No-cheol spoke up.
“Now, about that compensation… it’s quite substantial.”
“How much are we talking?”
“Ten thousand nyang.”
“What? Are you serious?”
Danli Jeong’s eyes widened in shock.
Ten thousand nyang was a fortune, more than most people could earn in a lifetime.
Savoring Danli Jeong’s stunned expression, No-cheol paused before continuing.
“You see, once a bad rumor spreads, it’s incredibly difficult to reverse. It takes a lot of money to appease people and manage public relations. But since it’s Master Danli we’re talking about, I have a different proposal in mind…”
“What is it?”
Danli Jeong asked, bracing himself for whatever was to come.
No-cheol grinned slyly.
“It’s simple. Engage in a sparring match with me, and give my disciples the chance to witness Master Danli’s archery skills.”
“Just that…?”
“Exactly.”
No-cheol nodded, adding one more thing.
“Coincidentally, I’ve been teaching my disciples how to handle archers.”
The implication was clear.
In other words, it was a rigged match.
If Danli Jeong agreed to lose gracefully and boost No-cheol’s prestige, the matter of compensation would be forgotten.