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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: The Heavenly Dance Family's Rascal Fourth Young Master
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'Where am I?'
My memory was hazy. My eyes wouldn't open easily. In contrast, the comforting warmth against my skin told me I was lying on a fine bed, covered by a fine blanket.
Through the haze, memories surfaced. I was Baek Jung-hyeok, one of the three great Divine Doctors of the Central Plains. That damned Sichuan Tang Clan… My disciples… Ji-pyeong, Yeon-ho, So-so… The Myriad Fragrance Grand Restoration Formation, the Heavenly Demon, the Demonic Cult, soul transmigration….
That's right, I had possessed the body of a member of the Demonic Cult who had just died. In that case, the first thing to do is….
'Gather information.'
But… why won't my eyes open?
Finally, with great effort, I managed to lift my heavy eyelids. I scanned my surroundings. For some reason, my neck wouldn't move properly.
A clean, ceilinged room, expensive-looking furniture, and around me were women who appeared to be maids and a man who looked like a physician.
They all seemed to be taking care of me. From the looks of it, I was clearly a person of high status.
"Uh, uh…."
"Ah, Young Master! You're awake!"
"…!"
Young Master… It was clear I was of high rank. But the words wouldn't come out. I noticed a bandage wrapped around my neck, and a dizzying pain pulsed through my entire body.
"You mustn't speak right now. The wound on your neck hasn't healed."
'Damn....'
I had expected this. No matter how I possessed the body of someone on the brink of death, what if it was an old man whose life was about to end? I would surely die before I could accomplish the task given to me. No, I would perish before I even had the chance to train in the martial arts I learned from my master, the Heavenly Demon.
Then there was only one answer. A young body, but one that had met its end through some misfortune. That's why my whole body ached as if I'd been beaten, and why it was difficult to even lift a finger.
'I expected it wouldn't be easy… but this is something else.'
Just then, the door opened and an old man with white hair entered.
"Greetings to the Family Head."
"""Greetings to the Family Head."""
The maids and the physician all bowed respectfully. He must be the highest-ranking person in the organization I now belonged to.
"How is the fourth one's condition?"
"Well… Until yesterday, I thought he was on the verge of passing. However, his condition suddenly improved since dawn today, and it seems he has overcome the immediate crisis."
"...He may be a disgraceful son, but he is still my precious flesh and blood. I will provide everything you need, so just keep him alive."
"I will do my best."
The man called the Family Head approached me. He placed a hand on my head and spoke softly.
"You rascal. How long will you continue to torment your father? Will this only end when you and I are both dead?"
"…."
I closed my eyes and said nothing.
Because I knew nothing….
The Family Head's emotions were tinged with a sorrowful pain,
but I was not the target of those feelings.
'This whole situation is just baffling….'
"I'll be going now to prepare for the Heavenly Dance Festival."
"Yes. I will do my utmost to treat the Young Master."
"I'm counting on you."
After giving the physician a few more instructions, the Family Head left.
From what I'd heard, I could tell. That man was this body's father. I didn't know the reason, but his calling me a 'disgraceful son' suggested this body's original owner must have caused a lot of trouble.
'Last night, this body's original owner died, and my soul entered it at dawn. But why was this guy so injured?'
"The wounds on your neck and abdomen are deep. I will apply medicine, so please focus on your recovery."
The physician's care was meticulous. The problem was that he didn't seem to think very highly of me. I could tell because he nagged me constantly while treating me.
"Why do you act like this? You weren't like this when you were young. Isn't it time you came to your senses?"
He didn't stop nagging, even as he placed needles in my body and applied medicine.
'Hey, I don't know.'
I didn't know anything, but the constant reprimands from everyone around me were starting to feel unjust. They wouldn't understand. The indignation of a man over seventy isn't so easily appeased.
Still, through the physician's nagging and the maids' gossip, I managed to learn a few things.
First, this body's name was Baek Mu-heun. He was the fourth young master of the Heavenly Dance Family, a family in charge of rituals, medicine, and scholarly research for the Demonic Cult, also known as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It seemed the Demonic Cult was also a religion that held regular rituals. A family proficient in scholarship and medicine… I felt I could adapt to this rather quickly.
Second, this body was a notorious scoundrel. As a child, he had shown considerable promise and was often called a genius, but after losing his mother at the age of seven or eight, he had become a wastrel and had lived that way for thirteen years.
Third, seven days ago, this body had been squandering the family's money and causing a ruckus at a brothel when he was mysteriously attacked and collapsed. They even said it was karma, as his reckless behavior was bringing ruin upon the family.
'Even if I've been pretending to be asleep for a while… these maids really don't hold back, do they….'
Finally, and most importantly… it was currently mid-March, not long after the time of my death.
'Phew.'
I breathed a sigh of relief.
As far as I knew, the fruit of the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree, which Golden Fang Poison Claw said was in a place called Blade Leaf Valley, ripened in July.
The Sichuan Tang Clan would need the Blood Jade Tree, the key ingredient, to complete their Poison Blood Demon cultivation formation. It would be difficult to complete the formation if my disciples were dead, so they should be alive until then.
That meant my disciples wouldn't die before July. In other words, I still had three months. Before then, I had to go to Blade Leaf Valley, stop Golden Fang Poison Claw, and obtain the Blood Jade Tree.
'Good! I've gained some important information and bought myself a little time. Now, I'll focus on recovery.'
For the next three days, I received the devoted care of the physician and the maids, and my condition improved somewhat.
As soon as the wound on my neck healed enough for me to speak, I sat up and immediately called for the physician.
"Physician Jang."
"Yes, Young Master."
"I have a request."
"Please, speak."
"I have no memory of what happened before the attack."
"…."
"It's true. I don't remember a thing. I only learned your name by asking the maids."
"You didn't know it before you collapsed, either."
"Huh? H-haha… No, that's not the point. Right now, I can't remember anything besides my name and my family's name."
"Are you sure you're not just trying to come up with an excuse for the Family Head?"
Even when I claimed memory loss, the physician continued to press me, as if there had been similar incidents before.
This man's suspicion was extraordinary. No, it wasn't suspicion, but complete distrust of me.
"No, I'm telling you it's not like that."
"I am but a humble physician. It makes no difference to me, but whether the Family Head believes you is another matter entirely."
"That's not for you to worry about, Physician Jang. Just grant me one request."
"Please, speak."
"Bring me someone from the family whom I can question freely, someone well-informed about the state of the Divine Cult and the affairs of the martial world."
"Understood. But first, please drink your medicine."
"Fine…."
The moment I could speak, I actively began gathering information. I had a clear goal. However, rushing toward it blindly was something only a fool would do.
Everything had a proper order. And determining that order began with a precise understanding of the current situation.
* * *
An hour later, a servant entered.
"You, what's your name?"
"It is Jang Bong."
"And what do you do?"
"I handle odd jobs for the Heavenly Dance Family."
"I see. I hear you're good at picking up bits and pieces of information?"
"...Yes."
"Alright, I have a few questions. Just tell me what you know."
"Yes."
"What is the Heavenly Dance Family's position within the main cult?"
"Huh? Why are you asking me that…?"
His expression clearly said, 'Why is the fourth young master of the Heavenly Dance Family asking a mere servant like me such a question?'
"I've lost all my memories. So, don't ask why. Just answer my questions."
"Ah… Yes."
It was obvious he was suspicious. To ease his doubts, I took out a silver coin I had hidden in my clothes and showed it to him.
"Speak well, and you will be rewarded handsomely. Now, talk."
"Ah, yes!"
As expected, humans need rewards to be motivated. After seeing the silver, the servant named Jang Bong began to spill information freely.
"Within the Divine Cult, there are several families that serve the Cult Leader. The Heavenly Dance Family is in charge of the cult's rituals and scholarly research. I understand that once every four years, they conduct a ritual to the Heavenly Demon God with the Sacred Fire Palace and divine the future of the main cult."
'So he's talking about that Heavenly Dance Festival thing. I think I overheard the Family Head mention he was preparing for it. But what's this Sacred Fire Palace….'
"Do you know anything about the main cult's organization?"
"Yes. Besides the Guardian Unit that protects the Cult Leader, the supreme one of the Divine Cult, and the Bright Heavenly Demon Unit, which is his direct retinue, there are several other factions within the cult. The most prominent are the Three Palaces, the Five Pavilions, and the Council of Elders."
"So the Sacred Fire Palace is one of the Three Palaces."
"Yes. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is a religion that reveres fire. They hold rituals honoring the Sacred Fire, which is said to have been left by the founding Heavenly Demon. The Sacred Fire Palace, which is composed of priestesses, is in charge of all of this."
"Then why is the Heavenly Dance Family needed?"
"I heard the Heavenly Dance Family is in charge of the dances during the rituals."
"I see. Do you have any information about the martial world? For example, about the Sichuan Tang Clan's forces invading a place called Blade Leaf Valley…."
"Huh? No, nothing. As far as I know, there haven't been any major movements lately."
"I see… Alright. Thank you. You may leave now. I'll arrange for you to be paid double your daily wage."
"Huh? Ah, yes… Understood."
Even after I told him to leave, his gaze remained fixed on my chest. However, the information he provided wasn't worth the silver, so I just scowled and sent him on his way.
The room fell silent. I closed my eyes again to organize the information.
[ Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Heavenly Dance (天舞) Family ]
So it's the 'Dance' (舞) family, not the 'Martial' (武) family….
"The fourth young master of the Heavenly Dance Family, Baek Mu-heun. The youngest son, said to be the most beautiful in a family renowned for its exceptional looks for generations.
A notorious wastrel who was mysteriously attacked and nearly died after causing a commotion in a brothel seven days ago… is that it?"
The length of my limbs wasn't much different from my previous life, but the problem was this physique. Exceptionally handsome, but the body was a mess, completely uncared for. A skinny frame that had clearly never seen a day of training, with murky blood vessels to boot….
'This is the worst.'
Did my master, the Heavenly Demon, hear me cursing him behind his back? Seriously, would it kill him to give me a decent body from the start?
"Hoo—"
What could I do?
'Now that I can walk, I must first build a body that can serve as a foundation for the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon.'
Just as I was steeling my resolve to become stronger.
A soft knock came from the door.
"Young Master, it is time to go."
"Go where?"
"You must attend the Heavenly Dance Festival."
"The Heavenly Dance Festival?"
Wait, I'm still a patient.
Shouldn't they give me time to recover?
"Th-the physician reported your condition to the Family Head, and the Family Head has commanded you to attend the Heavenly Dance Festival."
Physician Jang…! I won't let you get away with this.
The Heavenly Dance Festival was a major event for the Heavenly Dance Family, and all family members were required to attend. There were no exceptions, not even for patients, as long as they could walk.
These people had no basic courtesy for the sick.
As a Divine Doctor, I could not accept this by any stretch of my common sense.
"Tell them I'm not going."
"Y-Young Master. Y-you m-must go."
'Agh—damn it.'
I need to build my strength as quickly as possible so I can go to Blade Leaf Valley and stop Golden Fang Poison Claw….
'Whatever. It should be fine to attend the Heavenly Dance Festival, assess the situation, and then prepare.'