CH 40
#What Kind of Person Is He? (1)
“Did you wash up properly?”
First floor of Chilso Palace’s annex.
Two still-damp boys shuffled hesitantly toward Jang Yi-seo, who sat cross-legged at the center. The Sixth Prince Meng Hui and Seventh Prince Mao – brothers who had “bonded” by soiling themselves together.
“Sit.”
Jang Yi-seo pointed to the low table before him bearing two perfectly roasted chickens. Meng Hui and Mao gulped audibly before sitting. Empty stomachs inevitably grow restless.
“What is this nonsense? The Seventh Prince’s antics I understand, but why would the Sixth Prince do this? Where are your attendants? Did you come alone?”
Leaving their own residence to come shit their pants here – an incomprehensible act.
“…….”
Meng Hui’s eyes welled with tears instead of answering. Understandable. He’d come to see the renowned advisor only to suffer humiliation. And on their first meeting, no less.
“Hey Jang Yi-seo, ease up. Everyone makes mistakes when they’re young. Life doesn’t always go as planned.”
“Who’s comforting whom here? I don’t need your platitudes!”
“I was supporting you with some brown-hearted solidarity!”
“I don’t recognize that color!”
“Hilarious! Then what color was your earlier display? Green?”
“Show respect to your elder!”
“Go take another dump, brat. Wahahaha!”
“You!”
“What?”
The two princes sprang up, growling like feral dogs. Jang Yi-seo massaged his temples before slamming his palm on the floor.
“Both of you – silence. What exactly have you accomplished to warrant this racket?”
“How dare you! I’m the Meng family’s legitimate heir–”
“Shall I contact the Meng family then? Along with the soiled garments you arrived in?”
Meng Hui immediately sat like a scolded puppy. “I-I was being quiet!”
“Then continue. Seventh Prince – lower your voice and sit.”
“This is unfair! You think I wanted this? Why would they place those things near the latrine–”
“Silence.”
When Jang Yi-seo lifted his gaze, Mao grumbled but complied. Meng Hui stared in shock.
‘Is that delinquent actually obeying him?’
Though awkward, their dynamic had clearly inverted – the Seventh Prince now wary of the advisor.
‘Could this advisor be his master? Now that I think about it, the mechanical traps installed here... could they be training devices?’
Meng Hui studied Jang Yi-seo through narrowed eyes.
Ordinary features, likely under twenty. No obvious strength, yet his gaze held inexplicable authority – like battle-hardened elders.
‘What am I thinking! Comparing this nobody to Father!’
Meng Hui shook his head violently. The day’s shocks were getting to him.
Grrroowl.
His stomach growled fiercely.
“You must be hungry. Eat first,” Jang Yi-seo gestured to the table. “We’ll talk afterward.”
Mao immediately seized a drumstick with a boisterous “Wahaha! Let’s eat!”
Meng Hui nodded primly. “...We’ll partake.”
As they ate, Jang Yi-seo moved to a corner window, arms crossed. Meng Hui devoured chicken while scheming.
‘Advisor Jang Yi-seo. And Mao. I’ll uncover all your secrets.’
After finishing his meal, of course.
Jang Yi-seo watched Meng Hui from the window periphery.
Sixth Prince Meng Hui.
Information flowed through his mind effortlessly:
Youngest son of Third Elder Meng Cheol-yong, Meng family head.
Golden child born with talent and privilege.
Wielder of the divine short spear Mookheuk, skill exceptional for his age.
Though initially doubted due to timidity, proved himself by becoming the sect leader’s youngest adopted heir.
A pampered lordling whose arrogance rivals the Seventh Prince’s, habitually dismissive of others.
Public knowledge.
But behind the gilded facade:
‘A child bred specifically to become the sect leader’s heir.’
Though unconfirmed, records showed the Mengs had sought high-quality surrogates. Meng Hui appeared two years later – recognized as legitimate despite his birth mother’s absence. An open secret.
‘Does he favor Mao because their circumstances align...?’
Jang Yi-seo’s gaze shifted to the wrestling princes.
“My drumstick! I was saving it!”
“Too slow, runt!”
“That’s mine!”
“Ow! You–”
The advisor’s frown deepened. Normally, Mao wouldn’t entertain guests. Though known rivals, their dynamic now resembled cousins squabbling – perhaps due to shared status as youngest princes.
‘Had their elder brothers met here, the palace would be rubble.’
So-called siblings, yet truly competitors for the vice-sect leader position.
At least those two are young, so this much is understandable. For the older ones, from the First Prince to the Fourth Prince, merely facing them would be an event drastic enough to overturn the entire Demon Sect.
Just look at the Third Princess, Sahae-ryeong—doesn’t she endure constant assassination attempts? The closer one is to the Sect Leader’s seat, the more cautious one must act.
‘But to come here alone without even an aide. Is he naive or just an idiot?’
Even if they’re latecomers with no real rivals, this level of carelessness is beyond belief. The perfect prey—easy to blindside. Of course, I’ll be the one doing the blindsiding.
Jang I-seo turned and spoke.
“If you’ve finished eating, Prince Seventh, please retire to your room. Starting tomorrow, formal training begins.”
At his stern tone, the two reacted in unison, startled.
“Training?!”
“Go to my room?”
What’s with these brats? Jang I-seo glared at them alternately. Mao spoke first, as if seizing initiative.
“Let’s sleep together… I’m lonely.”
“Out.”
Jang I-seo’s killing intent flared as he issued the expulsion.
“You fucking bastard…”
Mao shuffled out. The Sixth Prince, left alone, stared blankly at their still-unfamiliar dynamic. He’s using informal speech while dismissing him—what’s going on here?
But he soon shook his head violently and widened his eyes sharply. Regardless, this isn’t what matters now.
“Mao is training?”
The reason he came here. Time to confirm it.
When Jang I-seo looked at him as if questioning why he’d ask, Maeng Hwi pressed louder, like an interrogator.
“Why. Why is he training?”
“Must I explain even that?”
“Do you want to die? Report to me immediately. That’s an order.”
An order? Ha, this punk. The corner of Jang I-seo’s mouth twitched upward.
“Aren’t you training, Sixth Prince?”
“It’s different for me! He’s talentless—a lifelong coward who avoided martial arts!”
“Talentless… Do you truly believe that?”
Jang I-seo tilted his head impassively. Maeng Hwi snorted in response.
“Hmph, so you claim otherwise?”
Of course not.
“Just as the Sect Leader acknowledged your talent, he personally recognized Prince Seventh’s. Are you denying this?”
“Why is my father involved here?!”
“Because it’s relevant.”
Tch! Maeng Hwi’s teeth ground audibly. What kind of insolent bastard is this?
“You—do you know who I am?”
I do.
“Maeng Hwi.”
“M-Maeng Hwi?! How dare you address me so casually?!”
What else should I say? When Jang I-seo stared at him incredulously, Maeng Hwi flushed crimson and shouted.
“You lowborn aide with no lineage or backing! You think you can disrespect me, the Maeng family’s true heir, and walk away unscathed?!”
“Unscathed…?”
It happened then. Thick demonic energy began pouring from Jang I-seo’s body.
Whooom!
Maeng Hwi’s mind blanked as his breath hitched.
‘Th-this aura!’
Though young, he was a prodigy chosen by the Sect Leader. The energy radiating from Jang I-seo was faint in volume, but to his refined senses, it mirrored that of the one even Cheonsan’s elders bowed to.
‘F-Father…?’
Maeng Hwi trembled and crumpled to the floor. How could such flawless demonic energy exist?
Jang I-seo too was surprised. He’d only released a wisp of the Heavenly Demon’s energy experimentally—he hadn’t expected such potency.
‘The rumors were true—he’s utterly spineless. To cower from mere energy. Or is the Heavenly Demon truly this fearsome?’
But even without this, he’d have crushed the prince’s arrogance. This was both a sincere lesson to a warped child and a warning to a future rival.
So—
Jang I-seo coolly assessed him and declared:
“First you barge in unannounced and make a scene… Now you question my safety?”
“Th-that’s not—”
“Listen well. Others might hesitate, but I lack lineage or backing. I don’t fear consequences. Understand?”
“You… aren’t you afraid of the Maeng family?!”
How was he raised to keep invoking his family here? Jang I-seo replied like a patient tutor.
“Look around. Where is your Maeng family? No elders. No aides. Only you and me, Sixth Prince.”
“But no one else dares speak to me like this!”
“Exactly. Remember this—people like me exist.”
Maeng Hwi’s face contorted. What kind of monster…?
For a moment, Jang I-seo seemed an impassable wall before him.
The kind of towering wall only adults could become.
