Almighty God of War - Chapter 215

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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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215

Silence filled the spacious main hall of the family estate, but the air within was warmer than ever before.

Guyang Baek sat in the seat of honor, with Dong Yeonhwa beside him, watching her son with eyes filled with complex emotions.

Below them sat Guyang Cheongi and Guyang Cheongcheong, who had grown considerably.

The younger siblings who had seemed like mere children when he left now possessed the dignified bearing of a handsome young man and beautiful young woman.

Elder Hwang and Du Jinseong could also be seen standing to one side of the main hall.

Guyang Cheongi approached with uncontainable joy.

“Brother! You’ve really returned safely! Do you know how long we’ve been waiting!”

His voice was bright and spirited.

Following him, Guyang Cheongcheong also grabbed her older brother’s sleeve and smiled brightly.

“Big brother, I missed you.”

Guyang Cheongang gently patted the shoulders of his two admirably grown younger siblings.

After the warm reunion greetings, introductions of the accompanying group began.

Neungnam Gwang first heartily introduced himself, followed by O Gwi in turn.

Mukyongsan-in, Cheongtong Noein, Sosumilang, and Pokgwangryong.

The moment their names echoed through the main hall one by one, Guyang Baek turned pale with shock and bolted upright from his seat.

“Could you possibly be the renowned Murim Five Eccentrics whose fame resounds throughout Gangho?”

The family head’s voice trembled slightly.

And rightfully so, as the Murim Five Eccentrics were names Guyang Baek had heard since childhood.

They were figures with even higher seniority than his father, the previous family head Guyang Beom—living legends of Gangho no different from historical monuments.

Even as the head of a family, they were great seniors before whom he should properly bow his head.

Neungnam Gwang burst into hearty laughter and waved his hand dismissively.

“That’s correct, Family Head. But there’s no need for such formalities.”

Though Guyang Baek remained stiff, Neungnam Gwang and O Gwi were unconstrained.

Having already shared life and death with Guyang Cheongang and become sworn brothers, receiving excessive treatment from his father felt rather uncomfortable.

“Think of it casually. We’re people who absolutely detest troublesome formalities.”

At Neungnam Gwang’s unpretentious attitude, Guyang Baek barely managed to compose his emotions and sit back down.

“If that is truly so… I shall commit the rudeness.”

Once titles and relationships were settled, introductions of Baek Muok and Sama Yuhon followed as well.

When all greetings were finished, Guyang Baek gave stern instructions to the servants.

“Escort our guests respectfully to the separate building. There must not be the slightest negligence in attending to them. Gang-a, you remain here.”

The group withdrew one by one.

Neungnam Gwang glanced at Guyang Cheongang one last time but added no further words.

He understood better than anyone that the father and son reunited after two years needed their own time together.

Only Guyang Baek and Guyang Cheongang, the two father and son, remained in the spacious main hall.

Guyang Cheongang quietly gazed at his father and spoke.

“I congratulate Father on surpassing the wall of the pinnacle realm.”

Guyang Baek closed his eyes briefly with an expression full of deep emotion.

Two years ago when he parted with his son, his martial arts had been stuck at the threshold of the pinnacle realm.

While countless martial artists despaired at being unable to take that final step despite decades of training, he had broken through the stagnation and stepped into a new realm.

“It’s thanks to you solving the secret of Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Island. Without the family’s secret arts, I could never have reached it.”

Guyang Baek added with a smile.

“Training based on your interpretation, I was finally able to break through the boundary. The fact that this achievement began with you is what makes me most proud.”

A warm silence flowed through the main hall.

Even without adding words, the trust flowing between the father and son was solid.

After examining his son’s energy once more, Guyang Baek asked.

“Would you tell me about what you experienced during your time away?”

Guyang Cheongang began recounting everything from what happened at Dongryeong Salt Works.

The process of laying foundations with new salt-making methods, joining hands with Shangguan Wana to build up the salt works, and stories of nurturing Jupyo and the Jagang Corps while growing their influence continued.

From the Donggyeong Island battle where they allied with Sahae Bang to defeat Baekgyeong Bang, to the life-and-death struggle at Pungrim Valley on the way home, every moment of his journey had been at the crossroads of life and death.

As the story neared its end, Guyang Cheongang revealed that his realm had reached the intermediate stage of Transformation Realm.

Guyang Baek, who had been listening calmly, instantly turned pale.

“…Intermediate stage of Transformation Realm, you say?”

He couldn’t continue speaking for a while.

He was so shocked that his son had returned as an unimaginably skilled master after just two years that he worried his heart might stop.

Even in prestigious family estates and great sects where the world’s prodigies gathered, there were no cases of reaching Transformation Realm in one’s early twenties.

A monster capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Murim’s great figures had been born from the declining Guyang Family Estate.

“Is this truly fact?”

“It is. However, there is one puzzling point.”

“What is it?”

“During my travels, I clashed with great figures like Yohwarang and Elder Geumjong. But Father seems to have heard no rumors about it at all.”

“That’s right. If someone of Elder Geumjong’s caliber had moved, all under heaven would have been stirred, yet there were no such rumors.”

A bitter smile formed on Guyang Cheongang’s lips as he guessed the inside story.

“It seems Cheonsa Bu and the Gunma Alliance are continuously controlling rumors to prevent the disgrace of their elite being defeated from becoming known.”

Guyang Baek fell into deep thought.

The fact that great powers were wary of his son’s name meant that the Guyang Family Estate had risen as a variable that could no longer be ignored.

What came before joy was worry about the burden his son would have to bear, but Guyang Baek could only swallow his sigh inwardly.

It was an inescapable fate for anyone in Gangho.

He spoke.

“Many things happened at the family estate while you were away as well.”

Strength entered Guyang Baek’s voice.

“We organized the sales system for Yangryong Pills and Eumryong Pills. Particularly, indirect sales through Bamboo Forest Manor and Miss Shangguan got on track. Adding the salt dividend payments sent from Dongryeong Salt Works, the family’s wealth has grown to tens of millions of nyang in just two years.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes brightened.

The news that sufficient funds for the family’s revival had been prepared was more welcome than anything.

“Where is all the wealth kept?”

“Mangeum Exchange.”

Guyang Baek continued with a satisfied expression.

“Following Miss Shangguan’s recommendation several months ago, we moved all funds to be managed at Mangeum Exchange. There’s nowhere as reliable as that place in terms of security and liquidity.”

A smile appeared on Guyang Cheongang’s face.

While he was isolated at Pungrim Valley, Shangguan Wana had perfectly completed all necessary measures.

‘She really is a capable woman.’

Guyang Cheongang felt deep relief at his father’s patience in protecting the family and Shangguan Wana’s assistance.

That night, at Guyang Cheongang’s quarters.

Baek Muok was receiving martial arts instruction from Guyang Cheongang.

It was a process of having each movement corrected, breathing patterns adjusted, and internal energy flow straightened.

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes shone brilliantly.

The mind’s eye gained from opening the upper dantian showed him where energy was blocked and where it scattered within Baek Muok’s body like a precise map.

“Here, the flow is cut off at this meridian point. Adjust your posture just a little more…”

Guyang Cheongang, who had been continuing his teaching, suddenly stopped speaking and frowned.

Noticing this sign, Baek Muok looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Just as he was about to speak, having sensed that something unusual had happened to his master.

Guyang Cheongang’s gaze pierced through the darkness outside the window.

Five zhang away, on a thick tree branch.

An extremely faint aura was flickering within the dark blue curtain of night.

Though they had hidden using stealth techniques while suppressing their energy, they couldn’t deceive Guyang Cheongang’s eyes that projected the essence of energy.

Just as the opponent was settling into position and about to begin observation, a chilling smile appeared on Guyang Cheongang’s lips.

“If you’ve spied on someone’s private life without permission, you should pay the appropriate price.”

His low voice cut through the night air like cold frost.

The masked shadow in the tree was shocked to realize he had been discovered.

He had just completed his concealment and was about to enter standby mode.

Among the martial artists dispatched from Golden Tower Manor to the Guyang Family Estate, he prided himself on having the highest level of Stealth Art.

His skills would not be doubted anywhere in Gangho, yet Guyang Cheongang had detected his presence before he could even assume his position.

‘This is impossible. How did he notice me so quickly?’

An ominous premonition flashed through his consciousness.

He immediately tried to leap away and flee into the darkness, but it was already too late.

Like a phantom, a seven-chi long blue-green flying sword silently revealed itself behind his back.

It carved through midair in a lightning-like arc.

Swish-!

As the flying sword completed a circle around his neck, the corpse with head separated from body spurted blood like a fountain and plummeted below the tree.

Guyang Cheongang watched the scene indifferently and lightly waved his right hand.

A red flash flickered from his palm.

The fire qi that flew toward the corpse instantly transformed into fierce flames.

The red flames turned all traces to ash before the corpse could even touch the ground.

As Guyang Cheongang brushed off his hand, the flying sword had already vanished without a trace.

He turned his gaze back to Baek Muok as if nothing had happened.

The boy instinctively sensed that some tremendous force had swept through, but he couldn’t even dare to guess what its true nature was.

“Let’s continue.”

His voice was calm.

It was Guyang Cheongang’s own Ki Sensing that had detected the watcher, but even if he had missed it, Akasha would have immediately warned him.

No stealth art of this era could neutralize Akasha’s constant surveillance network.

How could mere martial artists from Golden Tower Manor possibly overcome such a thing?

“Muwok, we need to adjust this part of your stance a bit more.”

Baek Muok assumed his position again.

In his eyes looking toward his master was an even deeper reverence than before.

He was realizing deep in his bones that the young master before him was an existence on a completely different level from any martial artist in Gangho.

Outside the window, there was only silence as if nothing had happened at all.

The next morning, Guyang Cheongang entered the room where Neungnam Gwang and Sagwae were gathered.

A subtle current flowed through the room.

As Guyang Cheongang took his seat, Neungnam Gwang spoke first.

“Younger brother, it seems time we decided how long we’ll remain in this place.”

His voice was calm, but it hinted that a conclusion had already been reached among O Gwi.

Guyang Cheongang asked back.

“Are you thinking of leaving, Elder Brother?”

“No, I will stay. But the other brothers…”

Neungnam Gwang’s gaze turned toward Sagwae, including Mukyongsan-in.

Mukyongsan-in smiled and picked up the conversation.

“Youngest, as you know, we are people whose entire life is drifting like clouds and cultivating. Putting down roots in one place doesn’t suit our nature.”

“That’s right.”

Cheongtong Noein nodded, and Sosumilang also gently added with a troubled expression.

“This place is nice, but staying here continuously would be rather difficult after all.”

Pokgwangryong also silently shook his head.

It seemed impossible to keep these eccentric individuals who had wandered Gangho without ties within the confines of a family estate.

However, Guyang Cheongang possessed a secret weapon that could turn their steps around.

“I formally request of you four. Please remain as retainers of the Guyang Family Estate.”

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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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