I'm The Lowest-Ranking Daughter Of A Martial Arts Villain (2 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 8
Na Rin pretended not to notice and quickly glanced over the dead man while holding a candied fruit in her mouth.
Man. Forties. Righteous sect. Dark blue Taoist robe.
‘Probably a first-generation disciple of Qingcheng Sect.’
Though part of the Nine Sects and One Alliance, Qingcheng Sect wielded little influence.
They were more a Daoist religious order than a martial sect.
Unlike Huashan Sect, whose members had strong worldly tendencies, Qingcheng was more like a gathering of people truly studying to become immortals.
‘Bullying the weak. Ugh, such a loser. Pathetic.’
Na Rin instantly dismissed the long-haired young man, who exuded a carefree air, as simply pathetic.
It wasn’t even wartime—why not just gently persuade and let him go? Yet this man not only insisted on killing him but had also dragged the corpse all the way to Shipman Dae Mountain, which looked anything but admirable.
“Hey, kid. Just ahead is a building called the Administration Hall. Would you go there for me and ask someone to come move this body?”
Already having formed a bad first impression of the man, Na Rin spat out the candied fruit skewer with a “pah!” and asked back defiantly,
“With my bare mouth?”
“Huh? Ah—no, of course not. Hmm.”
Though it clearly seemed he’d intended for her to go empty-handed, the man briefly patted himself down and then handed her a sandalwood folding fan that looked expensive at first glance.
“I’ll give you this.”
“Okay!”
Though the reward seemed excessive merely for delivering a message, Na Rin saw no reason to refuse.
She snatched the fan the man offered with a sharp “tak!” sound and ran off toward the Administration Hall.
“Hey, kid!”
Perhaps unsettled by her lack of hesitation, the man called out to her.
Na Rin swiftly spun around.
“What are you going to tell them?”
“I’ll say the first-generation Qingcheng disciple was found, so come get the body.”
The man was speechless at Na Rin’s utterly casual reply.
“Right?”
As if a mask had been lifted, the man’s lips slowly curved into a gentle smile.
“Yes. Right.”
“Then I’m off.”
Na Rin turned again, wearing a faint smile.
Got you good, you rascal.
‘For a Demon Sect brat, how dare you act so arrogant and surprise me like that?’
She completely forgot that by the end of today, she herself would officially become a Demon Sect brat.
“An interesting kid has shown up.”
The man covered his rising lips with his hand and chuckled.
“Heavenly King Jiguk?!”
Goddess Ilwol appeared with a sharp cry and immediately dropped to her knees in shock.
The man greeted her joyfully, spreading his arms wide. “Ilwol! You’re finally here! Because of you, I just lost a fan.”
What fan?
Though puzzled, Goddess Ilwol didn’t press further.
“My apologies. How come you came without even a single sparrow?”
“Oh! Ah—so that’s why you weren’t there. My mistake.”
The man, addressed as Heavenly King Jiguk, ruffled his already disheveled hair and let out a low groan.
It was a fan I treasured.
But whatever. I can always make another.
Goddess Ilwol looked at the corpse lying in pitiful disarray and asked, “Who is this one?”
“Don’t you recognize him?”
“How would I know?”
“Right. That’s perfectly normal.”
Yet that little one recognized him.
Just from a quick glance.
“I’ll say the first-generation Qingcheng disciple was found, so come get the body.”
“But…”
The man leaned casually against the Ilwol Gate pillar and whispered softly,
“It’s disappointing that you don’t know who I am.”
The Guardian of the East,
Heavenly King Jiguk—Gong Son Woo.
This was the first meeting between Na Rin and the sole Dharma Protector who hadn’t participated in the Great Demon Sect Tournament.
[This is the timeline separator]By the time Na Rin returned to Ilwol Gate after running her errand, both the casually dressed young man and the corpse of the Qingcheng Sect’s first-generation disciple had long vanished.
“I took care of it. Don’t worry about it. It was my responsibility from the start.”
“Okay.”
Though Goddess Ilwol spoke lightly, Na Rin was impressed—even within that brief time, she’d completely cleaned up the blood soaked into the earth.
‘I guess I can just keep the fan, right?’
Na Rin fiddled with the folding fan she’d received as payment and pondered.
Honestly, I didn’t really help at all. Should I give it back?
‘No way! Why should I return it? I did exactly what I was asked! I have every right to keep it!’
Whenever Na Rin internally justified herself like this, it usually meant her conscience was pricking her—but since she didn’t want to return the fan, she deliberately ignored that feeling.
While Na Rin wrestled with her conscience, Goddess Ilwol studied her closely.
Despite being only four years old and already possessing striking beauty, the child radiated a dignity that made her feel untouchable.
‘Indeed, there’s definitely something extraordinary about her aura.’
There was a reason Goddess Ilwol now scrutinized Na Rin anew.
The long-haired young man who’d given Na Rin the fan—
Before leaving, Heavenly King Gong Son Woo had hinted to Goddess Ilwol about Na Rin.
“Ilwol, do you know where this little one will be assigned?”
Goddess Ilwol replied as she’d heard from the guide—that the child was slated to become an ordinary lay follower.
Gong Son Woo then, with an ambiguous expression—neither clearly regretful nor pleased—suggested that if the child had nowhere suitable to go, she could be sent to Dongcheon Palace, where he resided.
‘For Heavenly King Jiguk himself to say such a thing…’
Hearing this, Goddess Ilwol now felt obligated to send Na Rin to Dongcheon Palace.
Of course, placing new disciples was solely the guide’s prerogative, and she shouldn’t interfere recklessly.
But that didn’t mean there were no workarounds.
“Come to think of it, you’re becoming a lay follower, right?”
“No way?! It’s mine!”
Had she been too lost in thought?
Na Rin absentmindedly clutched the folding fan tightly and blurted out something completely irrelevant.
“What do you mean, ‘no’?”
“Ah—no, I meant… it’s not that it’s not mine…”
“If it’s not ‘no,’ then doesn’t that mean ‘yes’?”
Na Rin felt strangely dizzy.
Deciding it was pointless to dissect every word, she erased the prior exchange from her mind and answered the original question.
“Lay follower. Yes.”
“If you don’t have a specific placement in mind, how about Ilwol Gate?”
Goddess Ilwol smiled warmly at Na Rin.
“I quite like you, you know.”
Na Rin hadn’t yet been officially assigned anywhere.
Moreover, since she was expected to become a lay follower, there were no real rivals for her.
Thus, sheltering her temporarily at Ilwol Gate—away from the guide’s notice—and sending her to Dongcheon Palace at the right moment seemed a viable plan.
‘It’s all to fulfill Heavenly King Jiguk’s wish.’
Sensing something oddly clingy in Goddess Ilwol’s demeanor, Na Rin stepped back half a pace and scrutinized her up and down.
“I don’t like it.”
“…”
Goddess Ilwol forced a calm expression and spoke gently,
“Child, you probably don’t realize—being a lay follower isn’t easy, especially for a young new disciple like you.”
“Oh, really?”
“Nothing is simply given to lay followers. Even a child must earn demon coins—the Demon Sect’s currency—through their own work to buy clothes and food. How can it be easy for someone so young to earn their own livelihood? I wouldn’t want you to suffer hardship.”
Goddess Ilwol earnestly elaborated on the difficulties of living as a lay-follower orphan.
How exhausting it was, how heart-wrenching, how pitiful!
But…
‘So what?’
Having grown up an orphan herself, Na Rin didn’t find this particularly moving.
‘Isn’t the world just like that?’
Wasn’t this the Demon Sect? Was I the only one suffering? Only me…?!
Na Rin suddenly felt her nose sting and tears well up.
‘Now’s my chance.’
Convinced Na Rin’s heart was wavering, Goddess Ilwol summoned all her maternal instincts and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Come to Ilwol Gate. I’ll feed you, clothe you, and give you shelter. I’ll cherish you like my own daughter. And when the time comes…”
I’ll send you straight to Dongcheon Palace.
Goddess Ilwol’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Oh? Lady Goddess? What are you doing with Na Rin?”
“Dae Heung!”
“It’s Dae Heung. Dae Heung.”
Dae Heung—the large, level-headed member among the trio of guides—had returned in a carriage from Sword King Hall.
‘Tch. Just a little more, and I’d have succeeded.’
Hiding her disappointment, Goddess Ilwol stood up naturally as if nothing had happened.
“I’ve taken a liking to this child. How about entrusting her to Ilwol Gate?”
“What? Na Rin to Ilwol Gate?”
The moment he heard this, Dae Heung immediately looked at Na Rin’s face.
Normally, one wouldn’t check a child’s reaction in such a situation—but having spent the last six months catering to Na Rin’s whims, it was a natural reflex for him.
“I don’t want to.”
“She says no.”
“…”
Goddess Ilwol felt slightly irritated.
“A child’s judgment is immature and lacks foresight. Isn’t that exactly why guides decide their placements?”
“Not necessarily. It’s also part of a guide’s duty to honor a disciple’s personal wishes whenever possible.”
Goddess Ilwol wanted to snap, ‘This isn’t the time for such talk!’ but held it in.
Assigning new disciples appropriately was the guide’s exclusive right.
No matter how esteemed she was, Goddess Ilwol couldn’t openly snatch a child away.
‘If only she’d volunteer to come, things would be easier.’
Smiling sweetly as if she were the kindest person alive, Goddess Ilwol spoke gently,
“But isn’t she destined to become a lay follower? That doesn’t seem like a firm career aspiration to me.”
“That’s true.”
Dae Heung paused to consider.
Indeed, becoming Ilwol Gate’s next goddess would offer far better conditions than being a lay follower.
But that comparison only held if Na Rin remained a lay follower indefinitely.
Dae Heung saw far greater potential in her.
‘Starting as a lay follower means she could become anything—but if registered at Ilwol Gate, she’d be stuck as a gatekeeper forever.’
To dare call guarding the grand entrance of Shipman Dae Mountain mere “gatekeeping” was blasphemous—but it wasn’t entirely wrong, either.
Though the title “Goddess Ilwol” came with prestige and rank, it was honestly a dead-end post.
“Still, I can’t allow it. I’m sorry, Lady Goddess.”
“What? No? What do you mean?”
“Na Rin, I’ve brought the carriage—hurry and get in. We must reach Seventh Elder’s estate before sunset.”
“Alright!”
Na Rin ran off toward the carriage, leaving Dae Heung and Goddess Ilwol behind.
“So she truly insists on going this way?”
The moment Na Rin disappeared, a demonic glint flickered in Goddess Ilwol’s eyes.
Though assigning disciples was the guide’s prerogative, that authority didn’t erase the resentment it might create.
‘She really must adore Na Rin. Well, it makes sense—this child is destined for greatness, after all.’
Unaware of Goddess Ilwol’s inner thoughts, Dae Heung felt oddly proud and generous.
“Ahem. If Lady Goddess truly desires Na Rin, there is a way.”
“What way?”
“It’s simple. Ilwol Gate can purchase Na Rin’s time. If she can earn her living expenses through occasional work, she’ll likely welcome it. While she’s working, you can gently persuade her at your leisure.”
Goddess Ilwol fell briefly into thought.
‘Pay her to come?’
She didn’t actually need Na Rin.
She’d only intended to temporarily house her before sending her to Gong Son Woo.
There was no reason for her to spend money securing the child’s presence. Yet…
“What do you propose?”
A child who’d drawn a Dharma Protector’s interest—
That alone was enough to pique Goddess Ilwol’s own interest.
‘Fine. If it comes to it, I’ll just demand payment when I send her to Dongcheon Palace.’
She recalled the sandalwood fan Gong Son Woo had given Na Rin—
A luxurious item, decorated with intricate perforated patterns on wide fan ribs, crafted not so much to generate wind but to enjoy its elegant, lingering fragrance.
Though Gong Son Woo wasn’t stingy, if he’d so readily gifted such an item, he must hold the girl in especially high regard—and might pay whatever price was asked.
“I’ll do it.”
Yes. This is an investment.
Goddess Ilwol changed her mind.
No longer just fulfilling Heavenly King Jiguk’s wish—but acting for her own gain.
With that mindset, the money no longer felt so precious.
“Would five foon be enough for a day’s wage?”
“Ah, you’ll need to give at least two lyang. You must cover her carriage fare back and forth, after all.”
Before Goddess Ilwol’s expression could even shift, Dae Heung spoke up.
“And to win her over, you’ll need to offer generous pay.”
“Fine. Two lyang it is.”
“A deposit would be appreciated as well.”
“…”
It’s all money I’ll get back anyway.
She knew that—but it still burned her up inside.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
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Chapter Comments (464)
Inline Comments (243)
Golden Moon Caravan.
What a nice name What a nice name What a nice name
A small whirlwind began to swirl beneath Na Rin’s feet, and her hair stood on en
I wander if circulating the energy unprepared might harm her body. We didn’t read about her preparing meridians or opening her own acupoints, etc. Or was she already born with the fully cultivated body? 🤷🏻♀️
Small, round, and soft—her forehead.
Oh my God, what is this? I hope he finds out she’s his daughter soon. I’m so excited! 💗💗
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I was visualising all special effects during their fight. It might have been spectacular! Pink plum flowers from the 4y.o and demonic purple from the Heavenly Demon. 🔥
Their interaction with each other and his attachment to her is so sweet. I hope he knows she’s his daughter. 🦋💗
How vile is this bloodthirsty demon, plotting to kill a child and preying on the weak.