Chapter 2
As mentioned before, this world is a rootless martial arts setting in which the Demonic Cult has emerged victorious, so it wasn’t particularly unusual for demonic practitioners to visit noble families.
It was even more so for the Sichuan Tang Clan, located along the route from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains—the stronghold of the Demonic Cult—to the Central Plains. Its position was practically that of a roadside stop.
“Hehe. I can tell just by your expression. You’re about to say, ‘What’s so special about guests from Cheonryeon Mountain?’ But guests differ from one another! This one was so important that Father even gathered the entire family. Of course, someone as slow with information as you wouldn’t know anything at all.”
Tang Sorin spoke smugly.
The first, second, and third madams—powerful in their own right—didn’t even need to ask; their servants diligently brought them information. But no one would bother delivering news to Liser, the neglected youngest daughter of the clan head.
“This is the difference between you and me. Got it?”
Liser nodded readily, acknowledging it without resistance.
“You’re absolutely right. If it weren’t for you, I’d know nothing. Thank you for coming all the way to tell me. I used to think it was ridiculous how you lorded over me just because you were born four months earlier, but I sincerely apologize.”
“…Uh… you’ve been thinking that all this time…?”
“So what makes this guest so special that you’re this concerned about it?”
Still reeling from Liser’s sudden confession and feeling both shocked and betrayed, Tang Sorin quickly regained her composure.
“R-right. Listen carefully. This guest isn’t just some nobody. It’s the Palace Lord of Cheonryeon Palace!”
“…!”
This time, even Liser couldn’t help but be surprised.
As the saying went, “Demonic Cult member = guest from Cheonryeon Mountain,” Cheonryeon Mountain was one of the representative mountains of the Demonic Cult.
Naturally, Cheonryeon Palace, bearing the same name, was one of the most famous palaces within the cult.
Of course, it couldn’t be compared to the residences of the true core figures—like the Cult Leader, the Left and Right Protectors, the Five Demon Lords, or the Council of Elders. Those existed on an entirely different level.
Still, among places accessible to outsiders, Cheonryeon Palace was arguably the most influential and widely known.
Why would the Lord of Cheonryeon Palace come to the Tang Clan?
She had heard that exceptionally talented individuals were sometimes sent to Cheonryeon Palace for training. Could it be that, this time, they had come in search of talent instead?
If so, this visit could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Liser.
If you come from Cheonryeon Palace, you’ll never go hungry, no matter what you do. Even if you leave Sichuan, fellow demonic practitioners would help you settle somewhere easily.
“I think they came to take Sister Cheomryeo.”
At Tang Sorin’s highly plausible guess, Liser felt a wave of disappointment.
Tang Cheomryeo, the eldest daughter of the Second Madam, was known for being beautiful, intelligent, and—above all—exceptionally gifted in martial arts, even if she lacked a good personality.
Ah, what a letdown.
Even so, Liser didn’t lose heart.
Though the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of being scouted by Cheonryeon Palace would likely go to Tang Cheomryeo, at least the overall unpleasantness level of the Tang Clan would drop significantly.
“…Did you just call Sister Cheomryeo ill-mannered?”
“Ah, I should hurry. You said Father was calling.”
This was how Liser was—someone who could find a silver lining even in difficult circumstances.
“Seventh, how old are you now?”
The head of the Sichuan Tang Clan—Liser’s father, Tang Muncheon—asked.
“My apologies, but I am the ninth, and I am sixteen years old, Father.”
She didn’t feel particularly hurt.
After all, Liser only saw Tang Muncheon once or twice a year, and even then, it was usually from afar.
Expecting familial affection to develop when all they did was line up with siblings during holidays and take turns greeting him like items on a conveyor belt would be asking too much.
“Sixteen, hm.”
But something about Tang Muncheon’s attitude felt suspicious.
Come to think of it, why had he called her in for a private conversation? They weren’t even close.
This feels ominous.
Could it be that, now that she was of age, he intended to send her away to fend for herself?
If that were the case, she had long since prepared herself mentally.
Still, Liser planned to act shocked and terrified, as if she had never expected such a harsh decision. That way, she might be able to extract a bit more compensation.
First, I’ll ask for the right to run an apothecary under the Tang Clan’s name. No—better not limit it to just that. Dream big. And then I’ll ask for two hundred nyang of gold as startup capital…
“You are of an appropriate age for marriage.”
“…Pardon?”
“Have you undergone the coming-of-age rites?”
“I have, but…”
“Good.”
Liser blinked in confusion.
Marriage? He wants me to get married?
Of course, she had always known it would happen someday—but wasn’t this far too soon?
Sixteen? Even by this world’s standards, that was early marriage.
Liser nearly flipped the table and screamed at the top of her lungs, but the glimpse of hidden weapons tucked inside Tang Muncheon’s sleeve quickly cooled her temper.
“F-Father. I am deeply grateful for your concern, but I believe I am still lacking in many areas to enter marriage.”
“There is no need to worry about that. You can continue your studies at Cheonryeon Mountain. There is a senior member of the Tang Clan who joined earlier—if you seek their guidance, they will surely teach you, though they may be somewhat eccentric…”
“Father, Father.”
Though she knew it was rude, Liser cut him off to get his attention.
“Cheonryeon Mountain?”
Tang Muncheon frowned in disappointment.
“I heard you were clever.”
“It’s not that I don’t know where Cheonryeon Mountain is. I’m asking why I have to go there.”
“Did your mother tell you nothing?”
Liser paused, took a breath, and replied,
“…My mother passed away.”
“Mm.”
Liser glanced down at the table.
At this point, she felt like she could flip it over and scream without Tang Muncheon even bothering to draw his hidden weapons.
Setting aside his shocking indifference—(though in truth, it wasn’t something that could simply be set aside; it was just too late to change it now)—she needed to understand what exactly was going on.
“So I came to hear the details.”
“…Why ask me?”
“You seemed like the one who would know best.”
Liser sat down casually at the tea table.
Across from her sat her elder sister by nine years—Tang Cheomryeo, daughter of the Second Madam.
“Did I come to the wrong person?”
“No. You came to the right one.”
Though she hadn’t expected Liser to come directly to her like this!
Tang Cheomryeo crossed her arms, her eyes shifting as she calculated where to begin and how much to reveal.
Hm. Scheming already, are we?
Liser watched her with clear displeasure.
Even if the Tang Clan’s overall personality average was rock-bottom, there were still differences among individuals.
Tang Sorin, though equally ill-tempered, was at least straightforward—placing her among the better ones. But Tang Cheomryeo, who was naturally cunning and fond of manipulating others, was clearly among the worst.
I’ll shut her up the moment she opens her mouth.
After a long silence, Tang Cheomryeo finally spoke.
“This is all an investment for your future—”
“Cut the nonsense.”
Liser swiftly blocked her scheming before it could even begin.
