Chapter 335: Deung Hwaun’s Hidden Past (2)

Deung Hwaun was no longer the same as before. The moment she changed was when Ha Cheollyeong became Yong Hwarin’s disciple.

Ever since Ha Cheollyeong’s arrival, Deung Hwaun had turned into a completely different person.

Demonic Master recalled the saying that when a person changes suddenly, death may soon follow.

From Demonic Master’s perspective, it felt as if Deung Hwaun was experiencing maternal love toward Ha Cheollyeong. Through that, he faintly sensed that she might have a child of her own.

However, Demonic Master never once voiced such a thought aloud.

Because if a parent was separated from their child, they were likely already burying that pain deep within.

“Why did Lady Deung save Ha Cheollyeong? No—why did you risk your life to save him?”

Deung Hwaun let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“And why is that a problem?”

“Originally, we were not in a relationship where one would risk their life for the other, were we? I’d like to know the reason.”

Deung Hwaun had once tried to kill Yong Hwarin. Naturally, her actions were bound to raise suspicion.

Due to the Yin-Yang Twin Parasites, she was forced to board the same boat with Demonic Master and had been staying with the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, but she had always been someone who could kill Yong Hwarin at any moment.

It made no sense that such a person would risk her life for the disciple of her enemy.

He asked the question because he thought he wouldn’t feel at ease until he knew the reason.

Deung Hwaun hesitated for a moment.

To tell that story, she would have to dig up no small part of her life history.

Even so, she couldn’t avoid answering now.

Though she hesitated briefly about revealing her past, she no longer wished to hide it.

“Then I’ll have to begin with my story. Will you listen, even if it’s a long one?”

Yong Hwarin smiled.

“I’m willing to stay up all night listening, if that’s what it takes.”

When Yong Hwarin sat down in his chair, Deung Hwaun gave him a faint smile.

“I come from Ihwa Palace.”

“I’ve heard about that.”

“My story goes back twenty-five years. And this story is also related to the Heavenly Demon Sect.”

“Hm.”

When the Heavenly Demon Sect was brought up in response to a question about why she saved Ha Cheollyeong, Yong Hwarin became curious.

Yong Hwarin and Demonic Master sat in the chairs across from her and began to listen closely.

Demonic Master had known Deung Hwaun for quite some time, but this was the first time he was hearing her past.

“Twenty-five years ago, Il Taegong of the Heavenly Demon Sect visited Ihwa Palace. He came in hopes of forming an alliance between Ihwa Palace and the Heavenly Demon Sect.”

There had been a reason behind the alliance between Man Inhwa, the Young Mistress of Ihwa Palace, and Eum Sajeok.

“At that time, Il Taegong took notice of me. The palace mistress, realizing that, assigned me to serve Il Taegong.”

Since it was a story involving her disgrace, it wouldn’t have been easy to speak of it, but Deung Hwaun continued her words in a calm tone, as though telling someone else’s tale.

As she said, she must have possessed considerable beauty in her youth.

Even in her middle age, her appearance and demeanor still radiated a powerful sensual charm.

“Each time Il Taegong visited the palace that year, I attended to him—and afterward, I realized I had conceived.”

Demonic Master and Yong Hwarin couldn’t even give a reaction.

It was a somber tale, and one that a woman could hardly bring herself to speak aloud.

“Later, I gave birth to twins—one boy, one girl.”

At Deung Hwaun’s story, Yong Hwarin let out a sigh.

“Ah!”

“But my son was born with a body perfectly suited to cultivate the Moonlight Demon Art.”

Demonic Master responded without thinking.

“So then what happened?”

Deung Hwaun bowed her head and continued.

“My son was taken away for the Moonlight Demon Art, and I never saw him again. So I endured, raising only my daughter. But Ihwa Palace then tried to take my daughter too, saying she must also learn the Moonlight Demon Art. Ihwa Palace sacrificed many disciples over the years in hopes of completing that art. But no one ever succeeded. The martial art is meaningless without the right constitution. Man Inhwa tried to abduct Lady Seok because she was born with the right body to cultivate the Moonlight Demon Art.”

Deung Hwaun continued calmly, though her eyes sometimes revealed a deep sense of regret.

“I couldn’t sacrifice my daughter as well, so I fled Ihwa Palace with her. But I was quickly caught by a pursuit squad from the Heavenly Demon Sect, and they took my daughter from me.”

Yong Hwarin asked,

“What? Why did the Heavenly Demon Sect get involved?”

“At that time, Ihwa Palace couldn’t openly show itself in the murim world, so they had requested assistance from the Heavenly Demon Sect. They took my daughter, and I barely managed to escape.”

Yong Hwarin felt like he now understood how Deung Hwaun had become entangled with the Blood Demon of the Self-Revolving.

“So you went to seek out the Blood Demon of the Self-Revolving?”

“Yes, I needed him. Fortunately, I resembled his former lover, so I was able to win his favor.”

“Did you need his martial arts? For revenge?”

Deung Hwaun shook her head.

“No. What I needed was the Azure Dragon Three Marbles he possessed. Long ago, I heard from the palace mistress that the Azure Dragon Three Marbles were required to complete the Moonlight Demon Art or the Glass Divine Art. I intended to use those marbles to exchange for my son. And since the Blood Demon of the Self-Revolving had connections with masters from the Heavenly Demon Sect, I thought I could use him to find my daughter’s whereabouts.”

With those words, a lingering doubt in Yong Hwarin’s mind was resolved.

Even from his own observations, Deung Hwaun had shown no affection toward the Blood Demon of the Self-Revolving, so her persistent attachment and supposed desire for revenge had been difficult to understand.

‘So that’s why she went through all that trouble for the Azure Dragon Three Marbles… even without knowing what they were.’

Demonic Master nodded.

“So that’s why you accepted so readily when Eum Sajeok tried to recruit you to find the Four Great Divine Items.”

Demonic Master had told himself it was because of the Yin-Yang Twin Parasites, but he’d always harbored a wound in his heart from when Deung Hwaun had betrayed him while working with Eum Sajeok.

Now that he thought about it, however, she had no choice if she was searching for her children.

Deung Hwaun must have been waiting for Eum Sajeok to acquire the Azure Dragon Three Marbles, intending to steal them once he did.

For a parent, nothing came before their child.

‘To find her children, she had to live with people she hated and work with people she loathed. No wonder she had to harden herself.’

Demonic Master, too, was a father who would have done anything for his daughter. So now he understood Deung Hwaun’s heart.

“But then I noticed that Young Master Ha resembled my son. That’s why I drew close to him without realizing it.”

Only then did Demonic Master and Yong Hwarin understand why Deung Hwaun had shown warm eyes—eyes no one else had ever seen from her—toward Ha Cheollyeong, and why she hovered near him so often.

She was seeing the son she had lost through Ha Cheollyeong.

It made them fall silent as they realized that perhaps what they had witnessed was a mother’s love.

Demonic Master tilted his head slightly and asked,

“By the way, we saw Man Inhwa several times while working under Eum Sajeok, so how come she didn’t recognize you?”

“It’s been over twenty years since we parted. I’ve changed, and she was just a child when we were separated. She eventually recognized me, though. Luckily, before that happened, Young Master Yong rescued me, allowing me to stay with the Sky Ocean Merchant Union. If not for that, Man Inhwa would have received me from Eum Sajeok—and then I would have suffered horrific torment until the day I died.”

Demonic Master asked,

“What’s your son’s name?”

After a pause, Deung Hwaun replied.

“Cheolun.”

“Ah…”

Yong Hwarin let out a quiet sigh.

‘So that’s why she grew emotionally attached—because Ha Cheollyeong’s name resembled her son’s.’

Demonic Master asked again,

“What surname did he take?”

“Gong.”

“Why Gong?”

He asked because he knew that Il Taegong’s surname was Ok.

“I didn’t want him to inherit Il Taegong’s surname. I made one up. It means ‘to be together.’”

The character Gong (共), meaning “together,” showed just how deeply Deung Hwaun had cherished her children.

“But now, I don’t know what surname he goes by. The palace mistress of Ihwa Palace probably gave them her own surname.”

“Then there’s a good chance the children bear the surname Man.”

When Yong Hwarin said that, Deung Hwaun shook her head.

“No, that’s not it.”

Yong Hwarin had assumed the palace mistress of Ihwa Palace used the surname Man.

Demonic Master responded on her behalf.

“Young Master Yong, Ihwa Palace doesn’t pass down the palace mistress position through bloodline. They raise several girls who qualify for the position of Young Mistress and pass it on to the most outstanding among them. Even then, being a Young Mistress doesn’t guarantee succession. If the mistress doesn’t approve, she can strip the position at any time.”

Yong Hwarin thought to himself,

‘Ah, so that’s why the martial artists of Ihwa Palace ignored the fact that Man Inhwa was taken hostage back on Myoseon Mountain and attacked us anyway. Their succession system is just like the Heavenly Demon Sect’s.’

As Yong Hwarin stood up, he said,

“It must not have been easy to talk about this. Thank you for answering honestly. I believe Lady Deung will one day be reunited with her children. And when the time comes, if the opportunity arises, I’ll do what I can to help.”

Deung Hwaun felt her eyes sting strangely at those words.

She had never once received help in her life, nor had anyone ever offered to help her.

The only one who had been there for her was Demonic Master—and that was how she’d managed to hold on this long.

“Cheollyeong lost his parents at a young age and has always longed for a mother’s love. Please take care of him.”

“Thank you, Young Master Yong.”

The truth was, Deung Hwaun had always felt the gazes of others whenever she drew close to Ha Cheollyeong.

The people of the Heavenly Central Sect knew what kind of person she was, and they watched her as if they might harm her the moment she approached Ha Cheollyeong.

But now, with those words, Yong Hwarin had effectively given her permission to see him without fear of reprisal.

Deung Hwaun was deeply moved by Yong Hwarin’s understanding, and she bowed her head.

A single tear fell onto the back of her hand.

‘Even after being battered by the harsh world, motherly love is something one cannot suppress.’

Yong Hwarin looked at her with quiet sorrow in his heart.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep