I Ended Up Becoming The Heavenly Demon’s True Best Friend, Even Though He’s Shy Around Others

Chapter 82

"Senior Brother, are you alright?"

When they went outside, the junior brothers rushed over and asked Ya Socheong with concern.

Ya Socheong said he was fine and asked what had happened to Pae Maseong.

The junior brothers boasted, saying that Pae Maseong had finished off all the others.

They were excited, saying that they had never known that their senior brother was such a great person.

"That's right. Your Senior Brother Pae is a truly great person. So you must also always follow Senior Brother Pae and diligently strive."

"But since this is over, will you be staying with us again, Senior Brother?"

The junior brothers, although they also liked Senior Brother Pae, seemed to like their senior brother the most, and they looked at Ya Socheong with a pleading face.

"If His Highness the Prince lets me go, I suppose so. It seems you also want to return to the sect soon."

But the junior brothers said that was not the case.

They said that since they didn't have any family left in their hometowns anyway, and the people they had formed ties with were all in the Nether Shadow Faction, that was not a problem.

And they said that they were just saying that because they missed the time when they had trained with their senior brother, and Ya Socheong also nodded.

He thought that although they were saying that now, when the children of the Nether Shadow Faction also found someone they liked and started a family, they would forget what they had said and those words would disappear.

Ya Socheong, belatedly worried about the fifth prince, went to where he was, and he saw that the junior lords were still guarding him like an iron wall.

When Ya Socheong returned, the fifth prince and the junior lords asked what had happened with worried eyes, and when he told them the news that Hyeonwol was dead, they nodded.

"You have worked hard, Faction Leader Ya. You have done a great thing. It seemed that they were people of very high martial prowess at a glance, and if it weren't for you, Faction Leader Ya, it would have been a big problem. Did you find the painting?"

Although the fifth prince asked, Ya Socheong could not tell the truth.

Even though he knew how great a fault it was to lie to the prince, it seemed that he was accumulating more and more lies to the fifth prince.

Still, it was better to close his eyes and lie than to let it be known that he had the painting and get the children of the Nether Shadow Faction involved in a possible danger.

"I see. Then what should we do now? It seems that I cannot stay here for long."

Since it was not something he could decide on his own, Ya Socheong looked at the junior lords.

At that, Dan Mok-hwawun looked at the fifth prince and said.

"We have decided not to look for the painting. In any case, even if one of us finds the painting and goes, it seems that the Sect Leader can change the junior sect leader at any time, and we have decided not to be swayed by the Sect Leader's will anymore."

At those words, the fifth prince's eyes shone with interest.

"Is that really so? Then will you give up the position of junior sect leader in the future?"

"Yes."

"Is everyone of the same mind?"

When the fifth prince asked, the other junior lords also answered yes.

The fifth prince laughed, saying that Ya Socheong might get a windfall from this.

It seemed that it could actually be so.

But Ya Socheong also had no intention of bringing the painting to the Sect Leader.

In the meantime, Dan Mok-hwawun's words continued.

"We have decided to return to the sect and withdraw from the junior sect leader competition. And we have decided to train in our respective martial arts in the remaining time."

"What is the reason for thinking so?"

When the fifth prince asked, Dan Mok-hwawun looked at Ya Socheong.

"Although Faction Leader Ya has the lowest status among us, his martial prowess is stronger than anyone else. And he boldly threw his body for his junior brothers without sparing his life. It seemed that that was his strength. I have not had a chance to compete directly with Faction Leader Ya, and Faction Leader Ya will not be able to attack or cut us. Because we are the Sect Leader's bloodline. But I have submitted myself."

Listening to his words, the fifth prince nodded.

Following Dan Mok-hwawun, Dan Mok-seol, Dan Mok-heukya, and Dan Mok-cheongyeong also said that they had lost and submitted.

They also said that they could not defeat Ya Socheong and that they acknowledged that Ya Socheong was stronger than any of them.

"Faction Leader Ya, I will no longer be involved in the fight for the succession of the Heavenly Demon Sect. And I will quietly live the rest of my life for the revival of the Heavenly Demon Sect. If you ever need my help, Faction Leader Ya, I will always be willing to help you."

Dan Mok-hwawun's words were something that Ya Socheong had not even thought of.

When Ya Socheong looked at him with a surprised face, the others also said that they would do the same, as if they had already discussed it.

Since Dan Mok-hwawun, who was the most influential among them, had said that and had stepped back, it seemed that they could not dare to covet that position.

The expressions of the four people looked the most comfortable since they had first met in the Heavenly Demon Sect.

"Thank you for being overwhelmingly strong so that we could submit, Faction Leader Ya. We will return to the sect as we are."

While Dan Mok-hwawun was speaking, his guards who were standing behind him also had a gentle expression.

It was a face as if they had finally put down the burden they had been carrying for a long time and their hearts were a little at ease.

"I am envious of you. I even think that it would be good if I could also do that."

Then he looked at Ya Socheong and continued.

"The statement that you are overwhelmingly strong so that one can submit is probably true, Faction Leader Ya. That is something that deserves to be thanked for."

The junior lords were preparing to leave in earnest, but Pae Maseong had not been seen for a long time.

"Where is Pae Maseong?"

When Ya Socheong asked Dan Yujong, Dan Yujong grinned.

"He is talking with the junior lord Dan Mok-seol, and the atmosphere is unusual."

"With the junior lord Dan Mok-seol?"

It seemed that Dan Mok-seol was showing interest because Pae Maseong had saved her.

If it was Pae Maseong and Dan Mok-seol, they matched each other in status and looked good together.

He tried to remember who Pae Maseong was originally linked with in the novel, but he couldn't remember well.

It seemed that as time went on, more and more content would become vague.

Vowing that he would definitely write down all the content this time when he had time later, Ya Socheong went around to the people he had grown fond of and said his goodbyes.

In the meantime, the fifth prince called Ya Socheong and said casually.

"Faction Leader Ya, can you help me for a while? I have to fix the strategist's matter and fill in new people, and I would be at ease if you helped me."

He had thought that it would probably be so, and it seemed that it was indeed so.

Ya Socheong could not refuse and said he would, and the fifth prince was very sorry.

But since it seemed that a good opportunity might open up for the junior brothers of the Nether Shadow Faction, Ya Socheong decided to think of it in a good way.

First, Ya Socheong talked with Pae Maseong.

If only Pae Maseong wanted it, staying by the fifth prince's side would also be a good opportunity for him.

But Pae Maseong reserved his answer, saying that he wanted to think about it more.

It could be that Pae Maseong was not sure that the fifth prince would become the emperor.

But since it seemed that he had to be sure himself, he did not force it and decided to wait for now as Pae Maseong had said.

Knowing that they would be going with the fifth prince again, the junior brothers of the Nether Shadow Faction soon accepted that.

It seemed that being with the fifth prince was not so uncomfortable now.

* * *

"What do you plan to do with the strategist, Your Highness?"

On the way back, Ya Socheong and Pae Maseong often rode in the prince's carriage together and talked about that.

At that time, Pae Maseong would surround the carriage with a ki barrier so that the conversation inside could not be heard from the outside.

The fifth prince, who had not yet made a decision, asked Ya Socheong for advice.

"The strategist is a person who has been with me for a very long time. So I have a strong desire to give him a chance. I also want to know why he betrayed me."

"If that is the case, all the people around you will be in danger. They may have to give up their lives without even being able to make a decision."

When Ya Socheong said that, the fifth prince sighed quietly.

It seemed that he was burdened by the fact that so many people's lives were at stake on his judgment.

Ya Socheong now understood him.

Although he had not wanted it, too many people's lives had come to depend on Ya Socheong.

"Faction Leader Ya, can you stay by my side until this is over? I know it is an excessive request, but I am saying this because it seems that this is a crucial matter that will determine all future matters."

Since it was not something he could decide on his own, when he looked at Pae Maseong, Pae Maseong nodded.

It seemed that he was saying to entrust the Nether Shadow Faction to him and do as he wished.

If only Pae Maseong said so, Ya Socheong would be able to push the fifth prince once more.

Seeing that, the fifth prince sighed once more.

"I am really envious of you two. To see that you, who are not related by blood, have such a complete trust in each other. Even strangers are like that, but I don't know what we, who are brothers who have shared blood, are doing now."

"It must be because you have shared precious blood. And didn't you receive excessive love from the emperor to say such a thing? Even if others can make such a complaint, it seems that you should not."

When Ya Socheong said that, the fifth prince burst out laughing.

"I had forgotten for a moment that Faction Leader Ya is a sarcastic person. I understand. I will come to my senses. I will do my duty of having shared precious blood."

After finishing his conversation with him, Ya Socheong and Pae Maseong, who had gone outside side by side, rode on horseback together.

When Ya Socheong kept glancing at Pae Maseong, Pae Maseong noticed that and looked at Ya Socheong.

"Why?"

"Are you not going to tell me if I don't ask?"

"What?"

"It seems you're not going to tell me even so."

At that, Pae Maseong's face turned red.

"Ah... no, that's... I'm sure she was just being kind because she was grateful that I had saved the junior lord. By the time we meet next, she probably won't even remember who I am."

"What are you talking about? If the junior lord Dan Mok-seol is not lacking in any way, there's no way that's the case. Don't you think she would deliberately try to form a connection with you, who is coveted by everyone in the Heavenly Demon Sect, now that she has such a connection?"

"What's there to see in me? The other junior lords are expanding their power by marrying people of high status from prestigious families or demonic sects, so what good would it do to get mixed up with someone like me? If she had been born ordinary from the beginning, I don't know, but she's a junior lord. She's a person who will have a hard time surviving if she falls behind."

As he said that, a faint light appeared in Pae Maseong's eyes.

Seeing that, it seemed that his feelings for Dan Mok-seol were certainly not simple.

Although there would be a considerable age difference, he wondered if that would be a problem if the two of them purely liked each other.

Since it would be a different feeling from the Heavenly Demon Dan Mok-san coveting Baek Yuhwa.

(End of Chapter)