Chapter 79: "No, Brother, even if it wasn’t that person, you would have done well enough in your own way. But..."
Yeo Ha-ryun let go of Jin Cheon-hee's arm. "... But if you say so, then there’s nothing I can do."
The mark of Yeo Ha-ryun's hand was deeply imprinted on Jin Cheon-hee's arm.
The mark of the Heavenly Slaughter Star on his disciple's arm.
The master's expression stiffened subtly.
Baek Rin-yiseon spoke.
"Hee-ya. I can’t understand why you formed a sworn brotherhood with that one."
Suppressing the rising killing intent, the master added one more sentence.
"What can I do? It’s all because you’re too kind..."
Even in the midst of this, Baek Rin-yiseon was smiling as he scratched Yeo Ha-ryun.
"Lady Wang, you were reckless. If the Palace Master finds out about this, he will not stay silent."
The master scolded Wang Gak-yeon.
The endless stream of scolding made Wang Gak-yeon's face pale.
But that expression wasn’t one of guilt or remorse toward her father.
It was concern for Jin Cheon-hee. 'Cheon-hee, if I leave now, you’ll die.
What will you do?' Her gaze toward Jin Cheon-hee seemed to say just that.
Even if she had to endure some scolding, Wang Gak-yeon was ultimately an outsider.
She could just listen to the scolding and return to her father.
Sure, her father might scold her a bit more, but since she had already paid the price, she had no regrets in her life.
The problem was how Jin Cheon-hee would handle himself after Wang Gak-yeon left.
"Now, then, you may leave. We’ll deal with this matter again later."
Wang Gak-yeon bowed deeply and then gave Jin Cheon-hee a look. 'I’m leaving.
Stay strong.' Jin Cheon-hee nodded slightly.
After Wang Gak-yeon left, only the master, the Little Heavenly Demon Yeo Ha-ryun, and Jin Cheon-hee remained in the room.
Silence filled the air.
Jin Cheon-hee quickly spoke up.
"This disciple will go brew some tea!" Before the master or Yeo Ha-ryun could respond, he hurried off to the kitchen. 'This is driving me crazy.
How did things end up like this?' In the original novel, their relationship was like that of a life-saving benefactor and protagonist in a martial arts novel. 'Of course, even back then, it was a bit business-like.' Since Yeo Ha-ryun had saved his life, he had done what was expected, and Baek Rin-yiseon had also asked for or helped with various things when Yeo Ha-ryun needed it.
But that didn’t mean Yeo Ha-ryun had ever sought a way to save Baek Rin-yiseon’s life or worried about his well-being. 'Thinking about it now, it really was a dry relationship.' Yeo Ha-ryun, like a typical martial arts novel protagonist, had clear debts and favors, but there was no emotional exchange.
The master, too, was just a minor character who died early on, so he didn’t have much of a role in Yeo Ha-ryun’s life. 'Come to think of it, their personalities just didn’t match from the start.' Now that even the life-saving benefactor and passing acquaintance relationship was gone, they were immediately at each other’s throats.
Jin Cheon-hee thought, 'I...
I have to somehow make this relationship a little better.' Jin Cheon-hee was lost in thought. 'In the original, the master who died will be saved by me, and Yeo Ha-ryun...
I hope he can live a bit less vengeful and happier than in the original.' Yeo Ha-ryun, the Heavenly Demon, was not lacking as a protagonist, but as a person, he had many voids in his life.
Like a true protagonist, Yeo Ha-ryun lived a hellish life.
Those who lost their families because of Yeo Ha-ryun were also dragged into that hell.
Readers of the novel knew that the protagonist wasn’t a bad person.
Even though he was a demon, he acted according to his own principles.
But that was thanks to the omniscient third-person perspective; the protagonist and his enemies, whether from the righteous or demonic sects, had no way of knowing. 'But this time, things are very different from the original novel.' During the short time he spent with Jin Cheon-hee, Yeo Ha-ryun had time to reflect on the value of human life.
And thanks to the promise he made as a brother, he held back twice.
That significantly reduced the number of enemies.
The original Yeo Ha-ryun had power but lacked virtue.
This time, thanks to the principle of holding back twice, he was able to interact with people who would have otherwise become enemies.
The proof of that was the black blood bracelet wrapped around Jin Cheon-hee’s wrist, the Black Heaven Blood Thread.
The master’s health had improved, and Yeo Ha-ryun’s killing intent had been somewhat suppressed, but nothing comes for free. 'They’ve truly become strangers.' Jin Cheon-hee thought up to that point and then slapped his own cheek with a loud smack. 'It’s okay! I’ll do my best!' Encouraging himself, he brewed the tea and went back inside.
"Master! I’ve brought the tea!"
Jin Cheon-hee poured tea for the two and eagerly told Yeo Ha-ryun stories about his life.
He didn’t forget to praise how great the master was and how well he treated him.
On the other hand, he told the master how kind Yeo Ha-ryun was, how he held back twice, that he was a sworn brother, and that he had gifted him a precious bracelet. "......"
The two coldly glared at each other before each spoke a word.
"Hee-ya, you don’t need to protect 'that one' to such an extent."
"Brother, the master is truly a great presence to you."
Even Yeo Ha-ryun’s voice carried a hint of jealousy.
It seemed he felt like he had been struggling between life and death in the wilderness while the master had been making happy memories with Baek Rin-yiseon. 'Ah, he’s still a child.' Still, the master’s expression softened compared to before.
"Holding back twice... I’ve never seen such patience from the Heavenly Slaughter Star in any records. It’s truly remarkable."
The master stroked his chin, lost in thought.
After a while, he added, "Hee-ya."
"Yes, Master."
"I’ve said this many times, but there’s nothing more precious to me in this world than you. So, originally, 'that one' would have been dead the moment I laid eyes on him." "......"
"But since you call him your brother, and he calls you his brother, it’s not easy for me to act as I please."
Jin Cheon-hee caught the trap in those words.
He said it wasn’t easy to act as he pleased, not that he wouldn’t act as he pleased.
The master sighed softly.
"Hee-ya."
"Yes... Master."
"If that one harms even a single hair on your head, I will do whatever it takes."
The master said this while looking down at Yeo Ha-ryun.
It was the same smile as usual, but there was a sharp aftertaste.
Killing intent.
"Master, that won’t happen."
"Good. Since you say so, I’ll believe you once. Of course, after a bit of investigation. This master has friends in the demonic sect too." ...
Of course he does.
He’s the great Baek Rin-yiseon, after all.
The master left with those words.
Yeo Ha-ryun stared at the spot where Baek Rin-yiseon had been for a long time.
Several days passed.
Jin Cheon-hee helped Yeo Ha-ryun with his recovery, and the master came and went occasionally.
The two didn’t speak to each other directly.
Everything was done through Jin Cheon-hee.
"Still, it’s thanks to you that they didn’t fight. Hold your head high."
Wang Gak-yeon said this.
As expected, she had gone back and received some scolding from her father.
But that was all.
Both her father and Wang Gak-yeon herself knew that her temper wouldn’t change.
After all, she was the daughter who resembled the Palace Master the most.
It was a pity for both of them.
Jin Cheon-hee fanned the boiling medicinal soup and said, "If I hadn’t been in the middle, they wouldn’t have fought."
"Is it good to live so pessimistically?" At Gak-yeon’s words, Jin Cheon-hee smiled bitterly. 'It wasn’t like this in the original.' As a devoted reader of the Heavenly Demon, his feelings were complicated.
Gak-yeon said, "Cheon-hee."
"Hmm?" "I’ve felt this for a while, but you’re trying to do everything perfectly. You’ve taken care of the master, saved your friend, and even saved the Open Sect’s leader’s limbs. You’ve already done enough. Yet you’re still striving for more perfection." "......"
It was advice from one perfectionist to another.
Wang Gak-yeon, who had a similar temperament, understood Jin Cheon-hee.
"Even parents can’t do that. Look at my dad. He’s a great father who even saved his daughter, but he’s suffering because of his troublemaker daughter."
"No, where else would you find someone like you?" "That’s what I’m saying. Anyway, just focus on what’s in front of you. Let the rest flow as it will. Even the Jade Emperor couldn’t do everything." "......"
Jin Cheon-hee couldn’t respond.
Gak-yeon patted his back a couple of times.
"Have some confidence. Walk with your shoulders back. I’m leaving."
"Already?" "My dad gave me an enormous training punishment. I have to finish it before sunset."
She slung her bow over her shoulder and stood up.
Perhaps it was because he had seen her fight seriously once.
Somehow, she looked cool. 'Right.
Even though it’s different from the original, I’m glad I saved you, my friend.' Even if he went back in time, he would have made the same decision.
Jin Cheon-hee thought so.
Jin Cheon-hee saw Gak-yeon off, put out the fire, and picked up the medicine bowl.
When he returned to the annex, Yeo Ha-ryun was sitting cross-legged, circulating his energy.
His body had recovered enough to reach the stage of energy circulation.
Jin Cheon-hee carefully placed the medicinal soup next to him so as not to disturb his energy circulation and then joined him in circulating his own energy.
The sound of wind echoed through the bamboo forest.
In the quiet annex, only the sound of bamboo leaves rustling could be heard.
The scent of snow and rain drifted in.
Jin Cheon-hee finished his energy circulation and slowly opened his eyes. 'Ah, the seasons are changing again.' It meant he was growing older once more.
"Brother. Are you done?" "You finished your energy circulation first, huh."
"Yeah. I drank the medicine too. And I peeled an apple."
He placed a plate of apples in front of Jin Cheon-hee.
"Are you giving this to me to eat?" "You’ve been working hard to treat me. It’s just an apple, what’s the big deal?" The apple Yeo Ha-ryun handed over was strangely peculiar.
It wasn’t so much peeled as it was perfectly smooth, as if the skin had been removed without a single knife mark. 'I can’t see any knife marks.
How did he peel it?' It was a level of skill hard to imagine, achieved at such a young age.
And he was using it just to peel an apple.
There was no luxury like this. 'Let’s pretend not to notice at times like this.' Jin Cheon-hee chewed on the apple while checking Yeo Ha-ryun’s pulse.
"You’re almost fully recovered. You can go back now."
"What about the Gu?" He was referring to the Blood Gu.
The demonic sect implants a Blood Gu into new members upon initiation.
It’s the most notorious Blood Gu in the Central Plains.
Jin Cheon-hee explained the method to remove it.
"It’s all been removed."
"You managed to extract it in the end. If anyone else heard, they’d say it was madness."
That was true.
There was one fact that neither Wang Gak-yeon nor the master knew.