The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life

Chapter 121 Don’t Tremble

The Heavenly Divine Healer was resting a short distance away after thoroughly examining a corpse.

"Ah, it's been so long since I last did this. I’m really out of practice."

In the past, he had dissected dozens of corpses in a single day, but now, perhaps due to his age, even handling just one left him drained.

The Needle Master looked at the Heavenly Divine Healer with an intrigued expression.

"You're really exceptional when it comes to this kind of work."

The Heavenly Divine Healer chuckled at the compliment.

"How many corpses have I dissected over the years? Honestly, compared to me, you’ve done remarkably well despite your limited experience."

"Well, my approach is a little different from other physicians."

The Needle Master said this as he glanced at Cho Seoran, who was sitting nearby, her face pale.

No matter how skilled and experienced Cho Seoran was as a physician, she couldn’t have had many opportunities to examine corpses like this.

Even after dealing with just one corpse, her body and mind were completely exhausted. A bit more of this, and she felt like she might collapse.

Moreover, she realized how inadequate her skills were for this type of work.

While she was confident in researching and crafting medicine, this was an entirely different matter.

"I don’t think I have any talent for this," she said in a subdued voice.

The Heavenly Divine Healer gazed silently at her. Feeling his eyes on her, Cho Seoran grew uneasy.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t tell me you’re going to make me do something again…”

"No, it’s just that you mentioned talent, and it made me think of something."

Cho Seoran slightly nodded, her discomfort evident, and she had no desire to discuss the topic further.

Unexpectedly, the Needle Master chimed in with a similar sentiment.

"Well, there are ways to acquire talent if you lack it."

When the Needle Master nodded decisively, the Heavenly Divine Healer's eyes gleamed.

"You’ve noticed it too?"

"How could I not? It’s happened repeatedly. Honestly, you and I have experienced it as well, haven’t we?"

The Heavenly Divine Healer laughed.

"That’s true. We’ve been through it ourselves. So, how about you? Did it yield results for you?"

"Of course. Frankly, I recently had a breakthrough, and I owe it to that. Without it, breaking through the wall might’ve been impossible. Even my medical skills have progressed."

"Same here. Though I’m not as interested in martial arts, it’s been a huge help with my medical expertise."

"I’ve noticed. You’ve improved significantly compared to before. I think it’s time to acknowledge it."

"Acknowledge what? That I’ve surpassed you?"

The Needle Master nodded, and Cho Seoran's eyes widened in shock. She looked between the two men, her astonishment plain.

"Come on, let’s be honest. From the moment we first met, I was ahead of you in medicine. You were just poking people with needles, not practicing true medical skills."

The Needle Master scowled deeply.

"Why ruin a perfectly good moment? I compliment you, and now you’re getting cocky?"

The Heavenly Divine Healer raised a hand to cut him off.

"This isn’t the time for that. Quiet down."

"What? You little—!"

The Heavenly Divine Healer turned to Cho Seoran.

"So, what do you think?"

"Huh? About what?" she stammered, flustered. A hint of expectation flickered in her eyes.

The Needle Master, now calmer, interjected slyly.

"Obviously, whether you want to change."

Cho Seoran cautiously asked, "Is that… possible for me too?"

The Heavenly Divine Healer smirked, and something about that smile made her feel uneasy.

"Of course, it’s possible. Just trust us and leave your body to us."

"Huh? My… my body?" she exclaimed, stepping back while covering her chest with both hands.

The Heavenly Divine Healer frowned.

"Ugh, seriously. I’m not going to do anything to you! Brother! Help me out here!"

The Needle Master, feigning innocence, replied seriously, "Don’t involve me. You’re the one after her body."

Cho Seoran retreated further, her expression growing even grimmer.

"Brother! For crying out loud!"

The Needle Master burst into laughter.

••••

Byeok Taesan was listening to Hwaryeong’s report.

Hwaryeong had interrogated Jam Geuk Cheon through the Hao Clan scouts, extracting all of his memories.

However, there wasn’t much left in Jam Geuk Cheon’s mind.

"It felt as though only a few critical pieces of information had been forcibly implanted,"

Byeok Taesan stroked his chin thoughtfully, a peculiar expression on his face.

That might actually be true.

"And what about Jang Bada?"

"That’s one of the last memories he retained, so it was relatively vivid. Though fragmented, his responses were confident."

Even amidst the chaos, the information had been carefully pieced together to create a coherent narrative.

For Hao Clan or Hwaryeong, handling such details was no challenge at all.

“Jam Geuk Cheon acquired an elixir through Jang Bada,” Hwaryeong reported.

“An elixir?”

“He called it Azure Jade Stone, but it doesn’t seem to be that. It appears someone deliberately arranged for him to ingest the drug.”

Byeok Taesan nodded. That seemed plausible.

Considering that was Jam Geuk Cheon’s last memory, the elixir must have had some special effect.

Or perhaps the place where the elixir was obtained had an unusual influence.

Looking at the activities of the Nameless Sect, their expertise in formations was evident.

“Couldn’t they have used a formation to manipulate something back then?”

“What do you think?”

“If Jam Geuk Cheon’s memory is accurate, the cause of his resurrection in another body is likely that drug,” Hwaryeong replied.

“But no matter how he got the elixir through Jang Bodo, consuming it without suspicion is madness,”

“It seems he consumed it immediately upon discovering it,” Hwaryeong added.

If that was the case, there must have been something peculiar about the location where the drug was found.

“Gather any rumors or information about Jang Bodo,”

“I’ve already sent orders to Hao Clan. You’ll have results soon,”

Byeok Taesan nodded again. Having Hwaryeong around certainly made things easier. She handled matters seamlessly without needing constant direction.

Even now, she had likely addressed numerous tasks beyond what she reported, simply because Taesan mentioned Jang Bodo.

“Do you have anything else to report?”

Hwaryeong succinctly provided updates on their current activities: progress in formation analysis, the extent of their surveillance on the Heaven Guard Corps based on information from Seung Doheung, and the subjugation of subordinate factions linked to Go Jun-kwang and Seo Daegun.

“Lastly, we are monitoring Nameless Sect groups connected to Go Jun-kwang and Seo Daegun. With your approval, we’ll proceed with cleanup operations,” she concluded.

“Proceed,”

Hwaryeong bowed respectfully before leaving.

As she opened the door to leave Taesan’s room, she noticed the Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master waiting outside. Behind them stood Cho Seoran, bowing her head deeply.

Hwaryeong appeared momentarily surprised but quickly composed herself, giving them a slight nod before departing swiftly, leaving the door ajar.

“Hehe. Young Master, you’re still awake?” The Heavenly Divine Healer greeted with a sly grin.

“What are you plotting now?”

“Ah, plotting? You wound me, Young Master. My every word and action stems solely from my loyalty and devotion to you. I live only to serve you,” the Healer declared with mock solemnity.

Ignoring him, Byeok Taesan shifted his gaze toward the Needle Master and Cho Seoran, scanning them briefly.

“If you have something to say, come in,”

“Oh, me? I don’t have much to say. I just wondered when you might retire for the night,” the Healer replied nonchalantly, slipping into the room.

The Needle Master and Cho Seoran quickly followed suit, shutting the door behind them.

Byeok Taesan observed the three silently. Their unease was palpable.

“What trouble have you caused this time?” Byeok Taesan’s cold tone cut through the room like a blade.

The trio flinched and frantically waved their hands in denial.

“Trouble? Never! Absolutely not! Please believe us, Young Master!”

“Then?” Byeok Taesan’s eyes narrowed as he scanned them once more.

After a moment’s hesitation, the Heavenly Divine Healer spoke cautiously.

“Uh… Young Master, about our attendants… That… Did you do it? Did you do the same thing to us?”

“I don’t know what you’re referring to, but I understand your implication,”

His gaze landed on Cho Seoran, who froze under his scrutiny before hurriedly bowing her head again.

Turning away, Byeok Taesan walked toward the bedroom adjoining his study.

“Follow me,”

“What?” Cho Seoran stammered, glancing nervously between Taesan, the Heavenly Divine Healer, and the Needle Master.

The Healer gestured urgently toward her.

“Hurry up! What are you waiting for?”

“By myself? But that’s his bedroom…”

Before she could resist further, the Healer and Needle Master gently nudged her forward.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Caught off guard, Cho Seoran stumbled forward until she found herself directly behind Taesan.

“Aah…” she muttered in panic as her thoughts became muddled. Rational thinking slipped away.

She had come this far, following the Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master, after hearing that Taesan could awaken her hidden potential.

And now, here she was.

"This isn’t right..."

By the time that thought crossed her mind, it was already too late. When she came to her senses, Cho Seoran found herself sitting on the edge of Byeok Taesan’s bed inside his bedroom.

Standing before her was Byeok Taesan.

Her heart pounded wildly, as if it might burst.

Cho Seoran swallowed nervously and lifted her gaze. Byeok Taesan’s face came into view.

He was looking down at her with an utterly composed expression.

"Don’t tremble. It’s nothing significant,"

At those words, Cho Seoran screamed inwardly.

‘Nothing significant? How is this nothing?!’

If this wasn’t significant, then what on earth could be?

Her eyes, filled with tension, watched as Byeok Taesan raised his hand.

When that hand rested on her head, her mind went blank.

Cho Seoran slowly opened her eyes. She blinked a few times, taking in the sight of the ceiling above her.

Startled, she shot up and glanced around.

Her memory was hazy, but it seemed she had fallen asleep on the bed.

‘My clothes… they’re still the same?’

A strange mix of emotions washed over her. She felt relieved, yet a bit disappointed—a complicated tangle of feelings.

Cho Seoran tried to recall what had happened.

It had been a grueling experience, akin to enduring the process of brewing medicine or crafting pills. Yet, strangely, there was happiness in it.

Throughout the night, she had felt something akin to a sense of achievement.

‘Ah… so I really did something, didn’t I?’

Her face flushed a deep red.

She carefully climbed off the bed and stepped outside.

Opening the door, she found herself in the room Byeok Taesan used as his office.

It was empty.

A sense of relief mingled with a peculiar disappointment.

Quietly, she exited the area. She considered looking for the Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master but hesitated.

‘Perhaps… it’s better not to meet them right now.’

Cho Seoran slipped away, seeking a place where no one would find her.

Byeok Taesan stood at the center of the sole training hall within the manor grounds.

He had come here to refine the energy he had obtained last night by burning Cho Seoran’s spirit.

"Impressive."

It was truly remarkable.

After encountering half-Jiangshi, he had largely stopped extracting and burning human spirits.

Compared to half-Jiangshi, the efficiency and quantity of energy gained were too low.

But that perspective changed last night.

Initially, he hadn’t planned on extracting Cho Seoran’s spirit. However, seeing the Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master’s efforts stirred his interest slightly.

Maintaining a good relationship with the Heavenly Medicine Pavilion was essential, and Cho Seoran would remain useful. He decided it wouldn’t hurt to provide her a foundation for growth by refining her spirit once, believing it could be beneficial in the long run.

The result was astonishing.

The energy derived from burning her spirit was akin to a spiritual elixir.

Was it because she was someone who crafted medicine?

"Heavenly Medicine Pavilion…"

Byeok Taesan murmured softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.