The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life

Chapter 19: A Natural Course of Events

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Byeok Taesan sat on his bed with his eyes gently closed.

The reason he had decided not to leave the house for a month was simple—it was now time to regulate the meridians he had temporarily restored with spiritual energy.

Over the past month, Byeok Taesan had been frequenting the courtesan houses, using the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art to absorb soul essence and reconnect his severed meridians.

However, this method merely restored the functionality of his meridians using soul essence; it had not fundamentally healed the severed meridians themselves.

This was why the Heavenly Divine Healer had been so startled when conducting his pulse diagnosis.

The meridians restored through soul essence functioned somewhat differently from natural ones.

In fact, their performance exceeded that of ordinary meridians.

The problem lay in their durability, and this was precisely what Byeok Taesan was now working to resolve.

He would need to spend about a month healing the meridians he had temporarily restored.

It was likely that most of the spiritual energy he had used to reconnect them would be consumed in the process.

But in return, he would gain strengthened meridians—ones incomparable to those of ordinary people.

Of course, what he could achieve this time would be only a small portion of his goal.

But there was still plenty of time.

If he continued visiting the courtesan houses to accumulate spiritual energy, he would eventually achieve a perfect body.

Byeok Taesan devoted all his time, apart from meals, to healing his meridians.

He even forwent sleep.

‘Indeed… the nature of soul essence has changed.’

In his days as the Heavenly Demon, the soul essence he had obtained through the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art had been exceedingly violent and destructive.

It raged within him daily, as if seeking to annihilate everything in its path.

Simply unleashing that energy was enough to obliterate most of his enemies.

But the act of releasing it was itself incredibly challenging.

Without the utmost mastery over inner energy control, one couldn’t even dare attempt it.

Reaching that pinnacle of control was the foundation of the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art.

It was no wonder the art was so difficult to master and wield.

However, the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art he had been reborn with after his death was different.

The soul essence obtained through it was tenacious and cohesive.

This did not mean it was easier to handle.

In fact, in certain aspects, it was even more difficult to manage.

But Byeok Taesan was someone who had reached the pinnacle of the Soul Augmenting Demonic Art, albeit through an unorthodox path. His past experiences and skills were not something that could simply disappear.

With remarkable proficiency, Byeok Taesan utilized the art to meticulously reconnect his severed meridians, piece by piece.

He did not rush.

Even if it took several days to restore a single meridian, it didn’t matter.

What was crucial was how thoroughly and solidly he could repair them.

The treatment proceeded smoothly.

••••

Cheon Kyungwan was on his way to the office of the Golden Wall Merchants’ leader.

His entire body felt as though it creaked with every step.

Of course, this was just his imagination—his physical condition was better than ever.

The Heavenly Divine Healer was truly deserving of his title.

Cheon Kyungwan recalled how confidently the healer had claimed there were only five physicians in the world more skilled than himself.

Faced with such extraordinary results, he had no choice but to acknowledge the man’s claim.

In fact, it was almost inconceivable that there could be anyone more skilled than the Heavenly Divine Healer.

Who could those five physicians possibly be? Were they even human?

This question naturally brought his thoughts back to Byeok Taesan.

The Heavenly Divine Healer had remarked that Byeok Taesan’s condition was so severe that it was a wonder he was still alive.

He had said that all the meridians in Byeok Taesan’s body were severed.

Those born with conditions like Nine Yin Severed Meridians or Seven Yin Severed Meridians were already considered prodigies capable of shaking the world.

How extraordinary must Byeok Taesan be, then?

‘Did he keep it hidden until now because he thought it was impossible to treat?’

Byeok Taesan could be divided into two distinct personas: the one from before and the one from after he began visiting the courtesan houses.

The previous Byeok Taesan had been a wreck, living with cynicism, dissatisfaction, anxiety, and despair.

But the Byeok Taesan after that was a completely different person.

‘It’s fascinating.’

Fascinating, yet also entirely natural.

He had recently come to deeply realize just how incredible the human desire for survival truly was.

“Sigh.”

Thinking about training made him sigh. It also made his body shudder and his skin crawl.

As these thoughts occupied his mind, he arrived at the office of Byeok Taesoo, the leader of the Golden Wall Merchants.

The office door was wide open, revealing Byeok Taesoo seated at a large desk, reviewing several documents.

The scene was picturesque.

‘Still, our Young Master…’

Byeok Taesoo was much older than Byeok Taesan.

The exact age was unclear, but he was at least twenty years his senior.

Byeok Taesoo’s son, Byeok Jehyeok, was said to be a year younger than Byeok Taesan, though even this was uncertain.

Truthfully, Cheon Kyungwan hadn’t cared enough to confirm it.

Though now, things were a little different.

In any case, Byeok Taesoo’s appearance as he sat at the desk was quite impressive—he embodied the ideal image for someone of his age.

His looks probably worked very favorably for him in the merchant business.

Even so, compared to the recently improved complexion of Byeok Taesan, he fell a bit short.

Surely, when Byeok Taesan reached his age, he would be far more extraordinary.

With such idle thoughts in mind, Cheon Kyungwan stepped into the office.

Byeok Taesoo seemed to notice him then, setting down the documents and slowly raising his head to meet Cheon Kyungwan’s gaze.

“It’s been a while. I should see you more often, but I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t been able to pay much attention.”

“No, not at all. I know you’ve been attentive. I have no complaints about my stay here and find life here very satisfying.”

“That’s a relief.”

Byeok Taesoo rose from his seat and moved to a nearby table, specially arranged for guests.

He gestured for Cheon Kyungwan to sit first and then took a seat himself.

With the table between them, the two men fell silent, briefly observing each other.

It was Byeok Taesoo who spoke first.

“You look somewhat unwell. Have you been dealing with any concerns lately?”

Cheon Kyungwan shook his head.

“No, not at all. The intensity of my training has simply increased. My body is in excellent condition, so there’s no need to worry.”

“Ah… I see. Impressive. You’re truly dedicated to your efforts.”

Cheon Kyungwan let out a wry smile.

He was indeed putting in effort, but it hadn’t been long since he began doing so.

For the longest time, he had deluded himself into thinking he was training rigorously.

It was only recently, through the assistance of the Heavenly Divine Healer and his more demanding training regimen, that he realized how comfortably he had been training before.

“More importantly, may I ask why you’ve summoned me so suddenly?”

At this very moment, Yoo Seoyeon was probably gritting her teeth and swinging her sword with all her might.

The time he spent here would create a gap between them, and that gap would inevitably return to him as suffering.

He wanted to get to the point quickly.

“First, I wanted to express my gratitude.”

“Gratitude?”

“I’ve heard that you’ve been taking great care of Taesan. I don’t know if Taesan has expressed his gratitude, but even if he hasn’t, please don’t hold it against him. He’s been ill since he was young, so he’s still unskilled in dealing with the world.”

Cheon Kyungwan stared at Byeok Taesoo with a baffled expression.

Unskilled? Who? That Byeok Taesan?

Byeok Taesoo slightly bowed his head.

Seeing this, Cheon Kyungwan quickly regained his composure and spoke immediately.

“Please don’t do this. If anything, I’m the one receiving help. I have no intention of leaving the Young Master no matter what happens. Even if you try to drive me away, I’ll cling on stubbornly.”

Byeok Taesoo broke into a bright smile.

“I am sincerely grateful for your kindness, Warrior Cheon.”

Cheon Kyungwan almost said that wasn’t the case but held back.

If he brought up such an argument now, it would only fall on deaf ears and waste more time.

“And, by the way… how is the Heavenly Divine Healer?”

“He’s truly… a remarkable physician. An extraordinary individual.”

This was something he could state with absolute certainty—after all, he had experienced that brilliance firsthand.

“Ah, is that so? That’s a relief.”

Byeok Taesoo’s face brightened again.

“I did some research myself, but I couldn’t be completely certain, so I was worried. That’s why I’ve been personally verifying things with those who’ve observed him up close.”

Cheon Kyungwan shook his head firmly.

“There’s no need for such confirmation. From what I’ve seen, aside from figures like the Divine Physician or the Poison Demon, he is unmatched under the heavens.”

“Is he truly that skilled?”

Byeok Taesoo’s eyes widened like lanterns. While he had gathered information and rumors to some extent, he hadn’t been entirely sure.

But hearing Cheon Kyungwan’s firm declaration, he felt reassured that bringing the Heavenly Divine Healer here had been the right choice.

“So then… Do you think the Heavenly Divine Healer can cure our Taesan’s condition?”

Cheon Kyungwan hesitated and didn’t answer immediately.

Strictly speaking, Byeok Taesan was healing himself.

He would surely achieve a full recovery.

From observing Byeok Taesan’s words and actions, Cheon Kyungwan had absolute confidence that he would succeed in curing himself.

Then it would happen.

If Byeok Taesan himself was so certain, who could dare dispute it?

Strictly speaking, the Heavenly Divine Healer wasn’t the one directly curing him. But the illness would be cured nonetheless.

“I’m confident that he will make a full recovery.”

At Cheon Kyungwan’s words, Byeok Taesoo nodded deeply.

When Cheon Kyungwan noticed tears slightly welling up in Byeok Taesoo’s eyes, he became flustered.

“That’s truly… a relief. In fact, I’ve been discreetly seeking out other physicians in case the Heavenly Divine Healer gave up. But finding a physician more skilled than him is incredibly difficult. I’ve been very anxious, but now I feel at ease.”

Byeok Taesoo’s voice was filled with sincere emotion.

Cheon Kyungwan cautiously spoke.

“It seems… you truly care for our Young Master.”

“Of course I do. He is my brother.”

Byeok Taesoo’s gaze briefly grew distant and wistful before he continued speaking.

“I remember the moment he was born. Truly… that tiny little thing squirming around—it was so fascinating to watch…”

Byeok Taesoo adjusted his expression, dispelling the sentimentality, and spoke again to lighten the mood.

“To me, Taesan is practically like my own child. When a child is in pain, the parent suffers even more. That’s why I’m determined to do everything I can for him.”

Cheon Kyungwan looked at Byeok Taesoo with a hint of admiration.

“By the way… I’ve heard that there have been some recent incidents around Taesan.”

“Yes.”

Cheon Kyungwan gave a succinct answer.

He figured Byeok Taesoo likely knew more about those events than he did.

“So, what I’m saying is, I’d like to slightly increase Taesan’s escort. I wanted to get your permission and hear your opinion, so I suggested meeting you.”

Cheon Kyungwan was technically a warrior affiliated with the Golden Wall Merchants, but since their relationship leaned more toward cooperation, it was better to seek permission even for trivial matters like this.

At least, Byeok Taesoo thought so, and he had always adhered to that approach.

Moreover, dealing with him in this manner often led Cheon Kyungwan to accept and comply with most requests without much resistance.

However, this time, things were slightly different from Byeok Taesoo’s expectations.

“It would be best to first confirm the Young Master’s intentions.”

At those words, Byeok Taesoo’s eyes gleamed.

“Warrior Cheon, it seems… you’ve truly become one of Taesan’s people.”

“Didn’t I tell you from the beginning? I will never leave the Young Master’s side.”

Byeok Taesoo bowed his head politely.

“Please continue to take care of him.”

Cheon Kyungwan, caught off guard, hurriedly bowed his head in return.

Raising his head again, Byeok Taesoo spoke with a bitter expression.

“Then, could you please find out Taesan’s intentions for me? There are many awkward circumstances that make it difficult for me to meet him in person…”

“I understand.”

Although it hadn’t always been the case, now, he understood.

If Byeok Taesoo were to meet Byeok Taesan directly, his wife and son would not look kindly upon it.

“I’ll speak with the Young Master carefully. Even if he refuses the increase in escorts, please don’t worry too much.”

Byeok Taesoo nodded with a faint bitter smile.

“Understood.”

It was entirely plausible.

Byeok Taesan undoubtedly found him displeasing.

How could brothers who barely interacted maintain a good relationship?

Cheon Kyungwan spoke calmly to Byeok Taesoo.

“The Young Master is far more exceptional than you think, Family Head. So, if he says he doesn’t need an escort, it truly means that it’s either unnecessary or that it would be a hindrance. There’s no other personal sentiment involved in that decision.”

Byeok Taesoo looked at Cheon Kyungwan with surprised eyes.

Cheon Kyungwan he knew was someone who only cared about martial arts.

Yet, after having this conversation, it was clear that he had changed from before.

Whether this change was because of Byeok Taesan or simply coincidental, Byeok Taesoo couldn’t be certain.

However, one thing was clear—this conversation gave Byeok Taesoo a reason to rethink his view of Byeok Taesan.

•••

Byeok Taesan left his room after roughly finishing his meridian treatment.

During that time, he hadn’t taken a single step outside the room.

He ate in the room, and even bathed there.

Thanks to devoting all his time, he was able to completely exhaust the energy he had accumulated over the past weeks in just fifteen days.

As soon as Byeok Taesan left the room, he headed straight for the training hall.

From that direction, waves of energy were constantly flowing.

“Well, let’s see if they’re training properly.”