NOVEL NEXT chapter 223
At the base of Mount Qingcheng.
Taoists stood with tense expressions along the road leading to the Qingcheng Sect.
They were waiting for the people from the Blazing Fire Divine Palace, who could arrive at any moment.
“Whew, this is really nerve-wracking.”
At the words of a male Taoist speaking in a nervous voice, the female Taoist beside him nodded.
“Do you think they’ll actually listen to us?”
“I don’t know. Still, we have to try our best.”
“Oh! Something’s coming!”
When they looked in the direction pointed out, a group of people was indeed approaching.
Upon closer inspection, they could see an escort bureau flag fluttering in the wind.
“Phew. That scared me. It's the escort bureau. Looks like they're bringing this month’s delivery.”
“Shincheon Escort Bureau? Never heard of it.”
“You don’t think… they’re from the Blazing Fire Divine Palace disguised as an escort bureau, do you?”
At someone’s suggestion, everyone tensed up again.
“No way. Surely they wouldn’t go so far as to disguise themselves as an escort bureau, right?”
“Right…?”
Even as they said it probably wasn’t, their expressions remained visibly tense.
Then, one of the people in the lead seemed to spot the Qingcheng Sect Taoists and started approaching them.
“Haha! Have you come out to welcome us?”
Though it wasn’t the case, the Taoists nodded to match the other party’s mood.
“That’s right. We had a feeling the escort goods might arrive around today.”
“Then it’s good we hurried. If we’d been any later, we might have kept you waiting. It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Namgoong Hwan, master of the Changcheon Merchant Guild.”
“Oh! I-I see. My apologies for not recognizing you!”
“No worries. It’s not like I walk around with a name tag. How could you have known? It’s fine.”
Once they realized he was Namgoong Hwan, the Taoists let out sighs of relief.
But Namgoong Hwan already knew.
They weren’t waiting for the escort goods.
No one makes that kind of face while waiting for cargo.
The Qingcheng Sect Taoists could never lie.
Just look at them now.
Their eyes weren’t on the goods—they were fixed on the road.
“Who else are you waiting for besides us?”
“Ah, apologies. To be honest… we were waiting for someone else, not the delivery.”
“Is it the people from the Blazing Fire Divine Palace?”
“Gasp! H-How did you know that?”
“They came with us.”
“What?”
The Taoists were visibly startled.
Then, a figure stepped forward before them.
It was the Palace Lord of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace—Hwa Sogwang.
“Hmph! I am the Lord of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace.”
As Hwa Sogwang revealed himself, the Taoists of the Qingcheng Sect began to fluster.
“W-Welcome! We’ve been… waiting for you.”
“Thank you. For this warm reception.”
“N-No, not at all. Please, allow us to guide you inside. The Sect Master is waiting.”
But Hwa Sogwang didn’t readily follow. Instead, he seemed to glance around, as if watching someone else’s reaction.
Was there really someone here who the Palace Lord of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace would defer to?
No matter how they looked around, there was no such presence.
Then, Hwa Sogwang spoke.
“There is someone I serve. I’d like to go up with him.”
“Excuse me?”
For a moment, the Taoists thought they must have misheard.
Someone that the Lord of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace served?
“W-Who is that person?”
“My lord.”
Everyone was stunned by Hwa Sogwang’s answer.
It was real.
At Hwa Sogwang’s call, Yeon Woo Jin stepped forward and greeted the Taoists with a martial salute.
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Yeon Woo Jin, master of the Shincheon Escort Bureau.”
The master of an escort bureau?
How could the head of an escort bureau be the master of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace?
He even looked young.
Were they being mocked?
Or was this some sort of trap?
The Taoists were at a loss, unable to figure out what was going on.
“I-I see. My apologies for not recognizing you.”
They greeted him awkwardly in their fluster, and Hwa Sogwang exploded with fury.
“What are you doing?! I clearly said this man is my lord, Hwa Sogwang’s master!”
“Ah! M-My apologies! I was just surprised!”
It felt like Hwa Sogwang had baited them, and now he’d use this excuse to act out however he pleased.
That’s what they thought.
But then—
“It’s understandable to be surprised. Can you quiet down a bit?”
“Huh? Y-Yes! I’m sorry. I just… got emotional because it felt like my lord was being disrespected.”
The Taoists’ eyes widened.
That wasn’t an act.
That was genuine fear on his face.
Yeon Woo Jin apologized again.
“I’m sorry.”
“N-No! Not at all!”
They had no idea what was going on anymore.
The Taoists just stood there, dazed.
Then Namgoong Hwan spoke.
“What are you all doing, not guiding us in? The lord is waiting, isn’t he?”
“What…?”
Why was he like this too?
With even Namgoong Hwan calling him “lord,” they felt like they were losing their minds.
They thought they’d been training diligently all this time—but it was all for nothing.
They were genuinely overwhelmed.
“A-All right.”
They realized they weren’t equipped to handle this situation. And so, the Taoists decided to hand it over to the Sect Master.
****
The Qingcheng Sect Master and his wife stood with confused expressions as they looked at the group the Taoists had brought.
Among them were familiar faces.
“Isn’t that Master Namgoong of the Merchant Guild?”
“How have you been?”
“Thanks to you… And…”
Their gaze turned to Hwa Sogwang, the Palace Lord of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace.
“You’ve arrived… Palace Lord.”
“It’s been a while. You seem well—I won’t bother asking further.”
Thinking that their son had seduced Hwa Sogwang’s daughter, it was no wonder that the Palace Lord’s eyes didn’t look kindly on them.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop my own child.”
At the Sect Master’s apology, Hwa Sogwang sighed.
Because he understood.
“I feel the same way. Haa… Raising children is no easy task.”
“Yes… But what can we do? One cannot control the heart of another.”
“Haa… And so, I’ve decided to give my blessing.”
“Yes, giving your bless—wait, what?”
“I said I’ll allow it. From now on… please take care of my daughter, in-laws.”
“I-In-laws… Th-Thank you! Truly, thank you! I’ll treasure her as if she were my own daughter!”
“Thank you so much! I promise to cherish and love her like my own!”
Tears welled up in the eyes of the Sect Master and his wife as they repeatedly bowed in gratitude to Hwa Sogwang.
A testament to how much stress they had been under.
Hwa Sogwang spoke with a bitter smile.
“Let’s forget all that Orthodox-Demonic nonsense and get along from now on.”
“Thank you! The Blazing Fire Divine Palace is family to us now. We don’t care for those ideologies either.”
“That’s right! From now on, anyone who speaks ill of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace is an enemy of Qingcheng!”
Moved by their sincerity, Hwa Sogwang finally let his guard down and let out a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha! You two saying that really lifts my spirits. If anyone insults Qingcheng, I won’t let them be, either.”
Hwa Sogwang’s response brought relief not only to the Sect Master and his wife, but also to the elders of Qingcheng who had been watching nervously from the sidelines.
Everything had gone smoothly.
Even if the Murim Alliance had something to say about forming ties with a demonic sect—so what?
Fate was not something you could sever just because you wanted to.
Especially not when it involved love.
“May we call the children over now?”
“Of course. Tell them it’s safe to come out.”
He had known all along that they’d been secretly watching everything unfold.
No one knew his daughter’s presence better than Hwa Sogwang.
At his permission, two figures cautiously revealed themselves from the shadows.
The Qingcheng Sect Master and his wife looked on with slightly anxious expressions, watching Hwa Sogwang’s reaction.
They feared he might have only pretended to grant his approval to lure the children out.
“F-Father…”
Hwa Miyeon, daughter of Hwa Sogwang, spoke with an apologetic look on her face.
Seeing her so dejected made Hwa Sogwang’s heart ache.
“You must’ve suffered a lot. Were you eating properly?”
“Yes…”
“Tsk… That’s enough suffering now. I’m giving you my blessing. Live well together.”
She’d heard the words before—but hearing them directly made it real.
Her father had truly given his blessing.
It was astonishing.
Her father was someone who never reversed his decisions.
And yet—for the first time, he had changed his mind and acknowledged her choice.
That made it all the more moving.
“Thank you, Father.”
As tears streamed from his daughter’s eyes, Hwa Sogwang spoke in a gentle voice.
“Silly girl. It’s a happy day—why are you crying?”
“Hng…”
“I’m the one who should apologize. Thinking back, everything I did in the name of protecting you only made you suffer.”
“That’s not true. You did it all for me.”
At her words, Hwa Sogwang smiled.
Yes.
His daughter truly was a kind child.
Just like her late mother.
Maybe that’s why he’d been so forceful—thinking it was for her sake.
His gaze turned to Yeongmyeong, his future son-in-law.
He still wasn’t thrilled about marrying his daughter off to a Taoist, but he would accept it.
Forcing a smile, Hwa Sogwang spoke.
“Take good care of my daughter from now on.”
“Yes, Father-in-law.”
“Father-in-law… Since I’m your father-in-law now, let me say just one thing.”
“I’m listening.”
“If I ever see her cry again—you die.”
“Eh? Y-Yes! Understood!”
“I’ll be watching.”
“I’ll never disappoint you.”
“Good. I’ll hold you to that.”
“Thank you.”
After speaking with Yeongmyeong, the Sect Master and his wife, who had been watching nervously, beamed as they spoke.
“In-law, please stay with us tonight. We’d love to host you.”
“All right. I’ll trouble you for the night. Also… there’s something I’d like to discuss in private. May I ask for a moment of your time?”
Hwa Sogwang’s expression turned serious.
“Of course. Let’s head to the Sect Master’s room {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} now.”
Then Hwa Sogwang nodded.
“There’s someone I’d like to bring with me.”
“Excuse me?”
Someone?
Who here would Hwa Sogwang use such an honorific for?
Or… had that person not yet arrived?
“Understood. For now, let’s go to the Sect Master’s room.”
The Sect Master and his wife began to lead the way—
But then Hwa Sogwang turned to a young man quietly standing beside him.
“It’s time to go.”
He bowed slightly as he spoke, looking every bit the subordinate.
Who was this young man, that the Palace Lord of the Blazing Fire Divine Palace would act like a subordinate to him?
They would soon find out.
“My lord.”
Shock.
The word that left Hwa Sogwang’s lips was one no one had expected.
My lord.
People shook their heads in disbelief, thinking they must’ve misheard.
The Sect Master and his wife also stared in shock, looking back and forth between Hwa Sogwang and Yeon Woo Jin.
Then something even more unbelievable happened.
Namgoong Hwan, standing nearby, spoke as well.
“My lord, shall we?”
The same word—my lord—came from Namgoong Hwan’s mouth.
A silence fell over the hall.
All eyes turned to Yeon Woo Jin.
“If you call me ‘my lord’ here, everyone will hear it.”
“My apologies! But I wanted the people here to know that I, Hwa Sogwang, serve you. Only then will they treat you with the respect you deserve.”
Namgoong Hwan chimed in.
“I feel the same. Just look. They’re treating only us with respect, not our lord. I despise that.”
In the end, Yeon Woo Jin sighed and stepped forward to introduce himself.
“I apologize. I was originally just planning to meet with the Sect Master quietly and leave.”
“And who… might you be?”
“Hello. I’m from the Shincheon Escort Bureau… No, I suppose I should just say it clearly since it’s out now. I’m Yeon Woo Jin, grandson of the Supreme Master of Martial Deity Heaven.”
“T-The grandson of the Supreme Master of Martial Deity Heaven!”
“M-My heavens!”
Everyone flinched and staggered back.
The weight of the title grandson of the Supreme Master of Martial Deity Heaven was immense.
And now they understood.
If he had the authority to command both Hwa Sogwang and Namgoong Hwan… his identity had to be at least that great.