Almighty God of War - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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015

Guyang Baek spoke.

“Gang-ah, do you truly not understand what this ‘Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting’ means, what possibilities lie dormant within it? This is not a simple painting. It is the soul of our Guyang Family Estate, the last remaining ember of reconstruction!”

His voice as he continued was complexly mixed with resentment and hope.

“If you could uncover even just one of the secrets in this painting, you could raise up even our declining family again! And yet you still say you will give up the position of Young Family Head?”

His voice simultaneously carried heartbreaking denial toward his son and heavy responsibility toward the family.

Guyang Cheongang met his father’s gaze with unwavering eyes.

“Yes, Father. My intention remains unchanged.”

Guyang Baek spoke with a sigh.

“Huh… Just who did you inherit that stubbornness from!”

“It seems I take after Father.”

At Guyang Cheongang’s answer, Guyang Baek burst into an incredulous laugh.

“Ha, look at this boy. You only inherited the bad traits!”

With a deep sigh and a deflated voice, he asked.

“If you won’t become the Young Family Head, what do you plan to do in the future? There aren’t many things you can do with that body of yours.”

“I’m thinking of learning the Medical Arts.”

At the unexpected answer, both Guyang Baek and Dong Yeonhwa’s eyes widened simultaneously.

“The Medical Arts… you say?”

“Yes. Recently, I discovered a very small clue that could treat my chronic condition, the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.”

At Guyang Cheongang’s words, Guyang Baek and Dong Yeonhwa couldn’t hide their excitement.

Especially Dong Yeonhwa, who unconsciously leaned forward and grasped Guyang Cheongang’s hands.

“Is that… is that really true, Gang-ah? Are you saying you can treat your detestable Nine Yin Severed Meridians with your own hands?”

At her heartbreaking voice, Guyang Cheongang felt a momentary pang of conscience.

In truth, his words contained a mixture of truth and falsehood.

Akasha’s database contained all of Earth’s medical knowledge.

Vast information encompassing Western medicine, traditional Korean medicine, and Chinese medicine was stored in his head—or more precisely, in Akasha’s core.

But this place was not Earth.

The unique medicinal herbs of this world, the distinctive Pulse Diagnosis Methods, and above all, the Murim medical system that directly handled ‘qi’—he had no choice but to learn these directly.

Only then could he fuse Akasha’s knowledge with that to perfectly refine the Transcendent Impermanence Divine Art and find the true solution for treating the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

So ‘learning the Medical Arts’ was also the most plausible disguise for his secret research and training.

Guyang Cheongang pressed forward.

“Yes. For now it’s very complex and fragmentary, but I’m certain the clue is deeply related to my condition. If I properly build up medical knowledge and understand its principles, I believe I can overcome the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.”

Guyang Baek spoke with a trembling voice.

“The Nine Yin Severed Meridians are known to be a disease that only the Divine Physician Hwata can cure. To think you discovered a clue to its treatment… Haha, yes, you’re truly my son! That extraordinary talent of yours must surely be heaven-sent!”

Like a single ray of light discovered at the end of despair, emotion and hope crossed the faces of both people.

“If I devote myself to the Medical Arts, those who suspect I’m aiming for the Young Family Head position will disappear. I’ll become that much safer too.”

Guyang Cheongang shifted his gaze to the ‘Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting’ hanging on the wall as he continued.

“But that Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting seems to contain truly profound depths.”

Fire ignited in Guyang Baek’s eyes.

“Have you discovered something?”

“Not that. It’s a secret art that the First Family Head devoted his entire life to obtain only two Supreme Arts. The current me can hardly even guess at its depths.”

Guyang Baek sighed quietly without taking his eyes off the painting.

“…I see. I too have spent countless nights before that painting for decades, but couldn’t even grasp a thread of the two Supreme Techniques our ancestor uncovered. Let alone the hidden Supreme Arts… they seem so distant.”

His voice was filled with the weight and regret of a lifetime spent as the head of a fallen family estate.

Guyang Cheongang watched his father’s back for a moment, then spoke in a clear voice.

“Though my martial talent is insignificant and this body is also sickly, making me sorry for being a burden to the family, I would like to study the Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting.”

Guyang Baek’s shoulders flinched slightly.

He slowly turned toward his son.

In his eyes was a complex tangle of surprise, doubt, and thread-like expectation.

“You want to study that painting?”

“Yes. Is that an unreasonable request?”

“Not at all. You may study it as much as you like.”

“Thank you. But please don’t have great expectations. I fear you’ll be disappointed.”

“No. If it’s you who discovered a clue to treating the Nine Yin Severed Meridians… if it’s you…”

Guyang Baek’s voice was trembling faintly.

Guyang Cheongang inwardly sighed and said.

“I only want to contribute what little strength I have to the family’s revival.”

Guyang Baek’s gaze watching him rippled like waves.

“Never overexert yourself. Your health comes first above all.”

“Thank you for your concern, Father.”

Guyang Cheongang bowed his head. And once again drove home his earlier decision.

“And my intention to give up succession rights to the Young Family Head position remains my unchanging sincere wish.”

Regret and loneliness crossed Guyang Baek’s face once more, but he no longer tried to change his son’s mind.

He simply nodded silently.

Dong Yeonhwa watched the conversation between the two while holding her breath.

Guyang Cheongang looked at Guyang Baek and Dong Yeonhwa in turn as he continued in a calm tone.

“Since I’ve given up my rights, the responsibility to lead this family will now shift to Cheongi’s young shoulders.”

“That’s how it will be.”

“I want to help Cheongi and the Youngest grow safely into excellent successors who can rebuild the family. I think using my abilities that way is the best I can do for the family.”

His words contained no resentment or resignation.

Faint moisture gathered in Guyang Baek’s eyes as he looked at Guyang Cheongang.

He spoke in a low but warmer voice than ever before.

“You’re truly more mature than this father, Gang-ah. I understand. That deep heart of yours that cares for the family and us—I will never forget it.”

Dong Yeonhwa could no longer hide her emotions and quietly wiped away tears.

Each and every word from Guyang Cheongang was resonating in the deepest part of her heart.

Guyang Baek watched Guyang Cheongang for a long time, then suddenly asked a practical question.

“You said you would learn the Medical Arts, but in truth our Guyang Family Estate has almost no medical-related book collection or connections. It would be difficult to properly learn the Medical Arts here—do you have any plan in mind?”

His voice contained worry instead of the earlier passion.

“I’ve heard there are many hidden extraordinary people and renowned physicians in All Under Heaven. I’m thinking of seeking out famous doctors and asking to enter their tutelage.”

Guyang Baek’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

It was hard to even imagine how arduous a path it would be for his son’s sickly body to wander foreign lands searching for a master.

Dong Yeonhwa’s eyes, listening nearby, also wavered faintly.

She felt momentary relief that Guyang Cheongang wouldn’t leave the family estate immediately, but worry soon took precedence at his words about taking the difficult path of Medical Arts.

“Then when do you plan to leave the family estate?”

Guyang Cheongang smiled gently as if to reassure his father.

“Didn’t Father tell me about the secret of the ‘Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting’ that might be the family’s last hope? How could I turn away from that and leave seeking only my own survival?”

At his words, Guyang Baek and Dong Yeonhwa’s expressions brightened.

Guyang Cheongang continued.

“For the time being, I plan to stay at the family estate and devote myself to studying the Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting. If I can solve its secrets, only then will I be able to set out seeking a new path.”

His words contained both responsibility toward the family and determination for new challenges.

“So you have no immediate plans to leave.”

“Yes.”

Guyang Baek silently watched his son’s face for a while.

Various emotions crossed his gaze, but soon he nodded with an impassive expression.

“I understand. Since it’s the path you’ve chosen, this father will simply trust and wait. Whether it’s studying the Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting or eventually entering a physician’s tutelage, you must have your reasons and resolve.”

Strength entered Guyang Baek’s voice as he continued.

“However, whenever you face difficulties, don’t hesitate to consult with this father. Even if I can’t be of help, I can at least be on your side.”

“I understand, Father.”

Guyang Cheongang quietly bowed his head to express his gratitude.

A while later, having returned to his quarters, Guyang Cheongang reflected on the conversation he had just had with his parents.

Not revealing the truth about the secret of the Transcendent Impermanence Divine Art, and saying he would learn medical arts.

He felt somewhat troubled about not honestly explaining the meaning behind these things.

However, to avoid drawing Dong Hyeondo’s attention, it was better to have fewer people who knew about the secret.

Even if those people were his parents.

‘Akasha, you properly scanned the “Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting” that was in the training room, right?’

[Of course, Doctor. I completed a precision scan of the “Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting” from its surface to its internal structure, even down to the microscopic components of the pigments used, and perfectly stored all the data.]

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes lit up.

‘Well done. But is there something special within the painting?’

[Yes. I discovered numerous repetitive and highly complex symbolic patterns in the painting’s composition, brushwork, and especially in the arrangement of the nine dragons and landscape.]

‘Really?’

[As Guyang Baek said, there’s a very high possibility that it’s a kind of iconographic expression that encrypts the profound principles of martial arts. I’m currently conducting cross-analysis with the data from the secured “Transcendent Heart Method” and “Hologram Pupil” to decode its meaning.]

‘Since I received permission to freely enter and exit the training room from now on, research should be easier.’

[Then I’m really happy about that!]

At Akasha’s words, Guyang Cheongang smiled.

The Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Painting and the Hologram Pupil within the jade statue that Dong Hyeondo had sent.

These had great potential to become the keys that would allow him to overcome the Nine Yin Severed Meridians and, furthermore, survive in this Murim world.

The anticipated future ahead was still treacherous, but at least he could see clear goals and hope.

The next day, Guyang Cheongi’s appointment ceremony as young master was held in a solemn atmosphere at the main building of the Guyang Family Estate.

Guyang Cheongang watched the scene calmly.

Thinking about the weight of the family placed on young Guyang Cheongi’s shoulders made one corner of his heart ache, but he had no regrets about the path he had chosen.

After the modest but solemn appointment ceremony ended, Dong Hajin and Dong Seola returned to Golden Tower Manor as if they no longer had any reason to stay.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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