Divorced Heavenly Demon - Chapter 8

The rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed through the mountains. Sitting in the carriage, Samajin looked out the window with a complex expression. “What’s going on?” he muttered quietly and tried to guess how the orders had come down. His father was not someone who would issue a private command from the main school. Nor could anyone else dare summon someone from the Sarmase family. This left only one possibility: the Heavenly Demon himself had personally summoned him. ‘…But why?’

While Samajin could deduce who appointed him, he couldn’t fathom the reason. Why summon a notorious drunkard? Samajin couldn’t unravel this mystery by the time they reached the Heavenly Demon Palace. “Master, we’ve arrived,” the driver announced. “Thank you,” replied Samajin, dismissing the driver at the entrance of the palace. Just then, he unexpectedly noticed someone familiar. “Father?” “You’ve come,” replied Sarmageuk, who was waiting at the entrance. Although surprised, Samajin noticed Sarmageuk was moving without delay. “Follow me,” his father ordered, moving toward his destination.

Caught off guard initially, Samajin quickly followed. Walking silently for a while, Samajin eventually spoke first. “Does your intention have any influence on this appointment?” With a brief pause, Sarmageuk continued walking and then replied, “The cult leader decided it alone.” “…!” Samajin’s eyes wavered at that answer. Any lingering doubts he had vanished. Then he asked, “What kind of person is the cult leader?” attempting to glean any insight into the current situation. Still, Sarmageuk remained silent and continued moving.

They did not speak again until they reached their destination. There, they encountered a left guardian waiting in front of the entrance of Jeongcheongak. “The second son is here,” the guardian said. “Verified,” came the response. As Samajin admired Jeongcheongak’s exterior, Sarmageuk unexpectedly spoke. “You asked about what kind of person the cult leader is.” Taken aback by his father’s sudden words, Samajin’s eyes widened. He couldn’t believe his father had remembered his question from so long ago. “I don’t really know either.” “…Pardon?” Samajin thought it was strange for someone as significant as the great military advisor to answer thusly. Sarmageuk placed a hand on Samajin’s shoulder. “Don’t strain yourself; just fulfill your duties.” “…Yes, I understand.”

With that, Sarmageuk left, and Samajin found himself alone, staring at the door. ‘I can’t understand why they called me or what they want me to do. If I mess things up a few times, they’ll just send me back.’ The head of the Sarmase family had yet to be decided. Until then, he planned to play the fool. ‘No matter what, my goal hasn’t changed. I won’t ever reveal my true abilities.’ Having reaffirmed his resolve, Samajin followed the subordinate into Jeongcheongak. “Cult leader, the second son of the Sarmase family is here,” the left guardian announced. “Send him in.”

As the gate opened, Samajin entered Jeongcheongak. Around the same time, Hyukmurin, who had been skimming through documents while working, heard the news he’d been waiting for: the arrival of the person he had anticipated. “Finally here?” feeling pleased, Hyukmurin commanded, “Send him in.” As the door opened, the person he’d been expecting entered Jeongcheongak, glancing around with a curious expression. Hyukmurin addressed him, “I’ll finish this shortly. Sit and wait in the empty seat.” “Yes? Yes, understood.”

After quickly concluding his work, Hyukmurin stood and approached Samajin, who was looking around. Sitting across from him, Hyukmurin locked eyes with him. Introducing himself with a gentle demeanor, Hyukmurin said, “I’m Hyukmurin, the leader of this cult.” “I greet the esteemed celestial. I am Samajin of the Sarmase family.” The current military advisor, Sarmageuk, was known as one of the most remarkable advisors in the cult’s history. Yet, decades later, Samajin, who succeeded his position in the Sarmase family, possessed talents that were so spectacular he was called a prodigy of the century.

‘But he didn’t reveal his abilities out of familial affection.’ Samajin hid his talents to yield the young master’s position to his brother and eventually left his family. Decades later, however, Samajin abruptly returned to the main family, left in mourning as all the direct lines of the Sarmase family had perished in a sudden incident. Alone and devastated, he returned and lamented. —Had I not left, had I not abandoned the main family…!

After his mourning, it is said Samajin wept tears of blood for three days in regret and remorse. Though he never took the position of a great military advisor in the cult, he became the head of his family and led the Sarmase house to its most prosperous golden era. ‘He is, right now, the most needed person for me,’ thought Hyukmurin.

Samajin could handle the clerical work that the Heavenly Demon had to conduct swiftly, accurately, and fairly. As a member of the Sarmase family, he wouldn’t be easily touched from outside, and he would perform his duties impeccably. He was also someone Hyukmurin could trust not to reveal his absence. Gaining the freedom of motion was what Hyukmurin desperately needed.

“Your seat is over there. Let me briefly explain the tasks you’ll undertake…” Because of this need, Hyukmurin had already set up a desk and chair for Samajin in Jeongcheongak. Before introducing the position and duties, Hyukmurin asked, “That’s all there is to do. Is there anything you’d like to say?” “May I ask one question?” replied Samajin. “Go ahead,” said Hyukmurin with a nod. Samajin asked without hesitation, “What is the reason you chose me?” “The reason,” Hyukmurin pondered briefly, touching his chin. As he closed his eyes slightly in thought, he soon opened his mouth with a soft smile. “You have something in common with me.” “…Pardon?” Samajin felt puzzled and looked at Hyukmurin. Bemused by the skeptical look he received, Hyukmurin moved on. “Your current role is a temporary deputy military advisor for only fifteen days. No need for pressure, take it easy.” “Yes, understood.”

Clapping his hands to gather attention, Hyukmurin rose. “Then, let’s resume the paperwork.” “Where should I start?” “Begin with the documents on my desk,” Hyukmurin instructed. Nodding, Samajin moved a few piles of documents to his desk and began to review them. ‘So this is what they’ll involve. I understand the gist.’ The reports related to a severe drought in Kuitun, requiring aid as members were facing starvation. Having grasped the essential points, Samajin flipped the page. His pupils widened in shock. In the subsequent pages, the resolutions, decisions, and reasons behind them were detailed clearly. This documentation was likely already handled by the cult leader. ‘It’s more thorough than I expected.’ Not only were relief efforts detailed, including the nearby regions from where they could gather help the fastest, but also the precision in estimation, support systems, and even future measures were elaborately laid out year by year. It was hard to believe such attention to detail had come from someone who hadn’t been long in their position. ‘He’s no mere puppet,’ Samajin thought, glancing at Hyukmurin.

Just at that moment, they unexpectedly made eye contact. Quickly averting his gaze, Samajin heard Hyukmurin say nonchalantly, “Ah, I almost forgot. Use this for approvals.” With those words, Hyukmurin tossed something small to Samajin, who caught it reflexively, looking confused. Then, seeing what he held, Samajin’s body went rigid. ‘This… this is!’ He was holding the cult leader’s seal—a mark of immense authority. Staring at the seal with trembling eyes, a focused Hyukmurin ignored him and continued his work. Samajin’s gaze returned to what he held. The seal’s actual weight was light, but understanding its power, it felt overwhelmingly heavy to Samajin. ‘Giving the cult leader’s seal to a mere temporary deputy?’ This single seal could annihilate a prestigious family in an instant. It could also declare war on the Martial Alliance and ravage the Middle Kingdom on a whim. What trust had placed such a vital seal in his hands? The burden was staggering to the point of incomprehensibility. Gulping down a dry swallow, Samajin steadied his breathing to calm himself. ‘I need to stay composed. Remember the essence.’ But any plans to ruin simple tasks had to be dismissed. Misusing the seal a few times could shake the cult itself. ‘Alright, do nothing and just sit still.’ If he continued to perform poorly, he’d be dismissed soon enough. Samajin accepted the change in tactics, nodding quietly.

* * *

One day passed, then two. Three days, four days passed, then five. A full week passed, and on the tenth day, Samajin stared intently at the empty cult leader’s office seat. Then he turned to face the still big stack of documents exactly like before. “I was wrong. Carelessly wrong.” Samajin admitted his planning had been faulty. The cult leader had no interest in anything he did. It was safe to say he had been left unattended. But this wasn’t a disinterest out of ill intentions. “I had no idea someone could live such a disciplined life.” In the cult, no one was busier than the leader himself.

Hyukmurin only occasionally visited Jeongcheongak to finish some documents, but from morning to night, he was solely focused on cultivating in the Heavenly Martial Hall. He was so devoted to practice that he even overlooked proper meals, relying on simple provisions. “This is the current cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult?” Hyukmurin. Even without trying to listen, Samajin had overheard bits about him. Rumor claimed he lacked talent and strength and had foolishly chosen to divorce in his slothfulness. Samajin could now confidently state those rumors were baseless. “Who started such nonsense? There’s not a grain of truth in them.” Samajin had witnessed each martial move done by Hyukmurin; they held profound meaning, and he was leading the cult more diligently than anyone. Moreover, Hyukmurin would never take meaningless actions. There was no way someone like him would make a foolish decision like pursuing a divorce improperly. “Could it be that he saw the path?” The single way the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Hyuk family, and Samajin himself could all be saved. He initially thought he alone saw this path in the world, but it appeared he was mistaken. “Certainly no ordinary person.” He possessed intelligence and insight and had a level of understanding on par with Samajin himself. As time went on, Samajin grew to realize the weight and responsibility Hyukmurin shouldered.

Observing the cult leader closely for nearly ten days, Samajin found himself unwittingly inspired by Hyukmurin. Perhaps Hyukmurin knew the way. He, whom Samajin thought surely understood this path… Clang! Just then, Hyukmurin entered Jeongcheongak. He finished his morning training and returned during his break to handle some work. Glancing at Samajin casually, Hyukmurin noted, ‘Nothing’s changed.’ The stack of documents was exactly where and how they had been. He hadn’t touched his duties at all. Returning his focus, Hyukmurin sat down and resumed his paperwork. Absorbed in finishing the documents he had started the day before, he was interrupted by Samajin’s voice. “Cult leader. Can I ask you something?” Surprised to hear him speak after ten days, Hyukmurin replied indifferently, “Go ahead.” While his gaze didn’t shift, Hyukmurin continued attending to his tasks.

Samajin took a small, steadying breath before speaking in a voice that held the slightest tremor. “What should I do?” Thud! Hyukmurin’s hand stopped moving. A heavy silence filled the room, breaking only when Hyukmurin spoke. “I don’t know either.” “…I see.” “However,” Hyukmurin resumed working, his voice firm, “Do not lose yourself for others. Simply, follow your heart’s wishes.” He was being genuine. Don’t sacrifice yourself for your family. That wouldn’t lead to a positive outcome for him or the family. Like Samajin, Hyukmurin had lived a life full of pain and regret in his previous life as well. Even if Samajin didn’t commit himself to him, at the very least, Hyukmurin wished for Samajin to live a life without regrets this time.

“…!” Samajin’s pupils lit up with a lucid light at those words. What followed was heavy silence between them. Eventually, Samajin shattered it. “Cult leader, may I ask one last question?” Rising from his seat, Samajin approached Hyukmurin slowly, his eyes previously empty now burning intensely. “Currently, to what extent do I have authority?” At that question, Hyukmurin’s gaze moved upward incrementally. Locking eyes with Samajin, Hyukmurin spoke clearly, “Everything.” From his seat, Hyukmurin declared firmly, “Whatever I can do, all that is within your authority.”