Almighty God of War - Chapter 24

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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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024

Returning to Bamboo Forest Manor, Heo Choryeong looked at Guyang Cheongang’s expression and spoke with a worried tone.

“Gang-je, are you really alright?”

“Don’t worry. I’m fine. And… Elder Sister, we need to tell Uncle about this incident right away.”

“I know.”

“This incident isn’t just Hwa Doryeong’s personal misconduct… there might be more complex intentions hidden behind it.”

Not understanding what he meant, Heo Choryeong asked with a puzzled expression.

“What do you mean by that?”

Guyang Cheongang answered with a bitter smile.

“Just… talking to myself. I’ll go to the Separate Building.”

“Alright. Rest well.”

After sending Guyang Cheongang to the Separate Building, Heo Choryeong headed to Heo Ilbi’s study.

Heo Ilbi, who had been reading books, immediately sensed that something serious had happened upon seeing his daughter’s stern expression.

“Choryeong, what’s the matter?”

Heo Choryeong suppressed her anger and began recounting the events that occurred downtown in a calm voice.

However, as she described the despicable trap he had set and his rude behavior, her voice grew louder with time.

Heo Ilbi’s face hardened coldly.

When the story reached the part where Guyang Cheongang stepped forward, Heo Choryeong paused and took a deep breath.

She looked at her father with confused eyes, as if she couldn’t believe what she had witnessed herself.

“Father, but Gang-je was strange. He displayed martial arts I’d never seen before and defeated all dozen or so of Hwa Doryeong’s subordinates.”

Heo Ilbi’s eyes widened.

“What? Gang-a displayed martial arts? How is such a thing possible?”

“I don’t know either. His movements were like a ghost, and with just a gesture, the men collapsed covered in white frost. It looked like Cold Yin Arts, but I couldn’t tell what it was.”

A puzzled expression appeared on Heo Ilbi’s face.

‘Martial arts using Yin Cold Energy… that’s an extremely rare type in orthodox sects. What could have happened to that boy during the years we didn’t meet…’

Opening his mouth, he muttered incomprehensible words.

“Hwa Family Trading House master Hwa Seokdae… that old fox is finally trying to cross the line.”

“What do you mean?”

Heo Ilbi’s eyes gleamed coldly.

“Father thinks that Hwa Doryeong’s reckless actions toward you weren’t simply to satisfy his lust.”

“Pardon?”

“Your kidnapping, whether it succeeded or failed, was the worst method that would inevitably lead to a direct confrontation with the Main Villa. Though Hwa Doryeong is a scoundrel, he’s not a fool, and his father Hwa Seokdae is craftier than a snake.”

Heo Ilbi continued with a stern expression.

“And isn’t it well known how much Hwa Doryeong fears Hwa Seokdae? The possibility that he committed such a grave act without the Hwa Family Trading House master’s knowledge seems almost nonexistent.”

Heo Choryeong’s complexion stiffened as she realized what Heo Ilbi was saying.

“Surely… Father, are you saying there was another scheme behind his attempt to kidnap me?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“Ah…”

“I suspect this incident might be Hwa Seokdae’s scheme to provoke a direct confrontation with the Main Villa.”

Heo Choryeong tilted her head and said.

“Father, I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“Though the Hwa Family Trading House has accumulated wealth comparable to the Main Villa, they can’t compare in terms of military power. They have no martial artist who could face you, Father, and the quality of their disciples and warriors is overwhelmingly inferior to ours.”

“You’re right. But if he’s acting this way despite that, it means he has something to rely on.”

“Ah…”

“We need to find out if he has backing, and if so, who it is. Don’t they say ‘know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated’?”

Heo Choryeong bowed her head.

“I was blinded by anger and didn’t think deeply. I’m sorry, Father.”

“It’s natural for you to react that way. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

Heo Choryeong suddenly muttered with a half-dazed expression.

“Earlier, Gang-je said something strange… perhaps he also…”

Heo Ilbi asked.

“What did he say?”

“Earlier, before Gang-je went to the Separate Building, he said ‘this incident might not be Hwa Doryeong’s personal misconduct, but something with more complex intentions hidden behind it.'”

Heo Ilbi’s eyes widened.

“Gang-a said that?”

“Yes.”

After being lost in thought for a moment, Heo Ilbi looked at his daughter and said.

“First, what happened today must not be told to anyone other than you, me, and Gang-i.”

“Yes.”

Heo Ilbi spoke in a resolute tone.

“This father will definitely make them pay for this incident. However, now is not the time. First, we need to understand Hwa Seokdae’s true intentions and backing, and…”

His gaze turned toward the Separate Building where Guyang Cheongang was staying.

His deeply sunken eyes showed that he no longer saw Guyang Cheongang as merely a sickly nephew.

‘Knowledge and wisdom in making Dragon Nourishing Pills, martial arts of unknown origin, and even the ability to read the flow and intentions of schemes… I need to learn more about that child…’

* * *

Returning to the Separate Building, Guyang Cheongang felt his tension release as he slumped into a chair.

Elder Hwang, who had been by his side since arriving at the Separate Building, watched him with worried eyes.

After catching his breath for a moment, Guyang Cheongang asked him in a casual tone.

“Elder Hwang, you secretly followed me downtown the entire time, didn’t you?”

“…Yes, Young Master.”

“But when I was fighting Hwa Doryeong’s group in the alley, why didn’t you intervene immediately?”

Elder Hwang opened his mouth with an impassive expression.

“Of course, if Young Master had appeared even slightly in danger, this old man would have stepped in immediately. However, after seeing Young Master’s first strike, I instinctively knew there was no need to intervene.”

“You wanted to confirm that I had learned martial arts?”

“That’s right. I dared to commit the rudeness of wanting to observe Young Master’s martial arts skills and potential to the end.”

Guyang Cheongang looked at Elder Hwang silently.

Instead of anger, complex thoughts flickered through his eyes.

‘He’s still someone with many secrets, but at least his loyalty toward me is beyond doubt. For now, I’ll have to be satisfied with that…’

Guyang Cheongang said.

“It’s fine. I understand your intentions.”

Elder Hwang bowed deeply to express his gratitude, then asked what he was most curious about.

“Young Master, have you completely cured the Nine Yin Severed Meridians?”

Guyang Cheongang shook his head and replied.

“No. Though it’s much better than before, there’s still a long way to go. However, I’ve found a method for complete recovery, so from now on it will be a race against time.”

“Is complete recovery really possible?”

“Yes, it’s possible.”

At Guyang Cheongang’s resolute answer, Elder Hwang’s eyes reddened.

“Then that’s enough. This old man desires nothing more. I’ll simply wait for that day.”

At his words, Guyang Cheongang felt a corner of his heart grow reassured.

Looking at Elder Hwang, he felt like he understood what it meant to have someone trustworthy by his side.

“I know you’re harboring a great secret. Can’t you tell me that secret now?”

Elder Hwang sighed silently and shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Young Master. Until you completely cure the Nine Yin Severed Meridians and gain the power to protect yourself from any strong warrior in All Under Heaven, it cannot be done. If that day doesn’t come, this old man will take this secret to the grave.”

“You’re stubborn.”

“Thanks to that stubbornness, I was able to serve the late Lady Mother until the very end.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes intensified at Elder Hwang’s response.

“What kind of person was my mother? She passed away when I was too young, so I have almost no memories of her.”

Akasha had also been unable to recover much information about his birth mother Seol Hyang from the fragments of erased memories.

A light filled with deep longing appeared in Elder Hwang’s weathered eyes.

“She was beautiful… and stronger than anyone else in the world.”

He continued with a contemplative expression.

“Especially the look in her eyes when she gazed at you as a young master – it was warmer and more loving than anything else in the world. This old man will never forget that gaze for as long as he lives.”

When Elder Hwang finished speaking and closed his mouth, Guyang Cheongang asked.

“Is that… all?”

“Any story beyond that, I will tell you in detail along with all of this old man’s secrets after your illness is completely cured, Young Master.”

As Elder Hwang was about to withdraw after finishing his story, Guyang Cheongang called him back.

“Elder, there’s something I’d like you to do.”

“Please give me any order, Young Master.”

“Hwa Doryeong doesn’t seem like he’ll simply endure today’s humiliation. From now on, please secretly monitor the movements of the Hwa Family Trading House and report any unusual activities.”

“I must protect you, Young Master.”

“You saw earlier, didn’t you? I’m capable enough to protect myself.”

Knowing that Guyang Cheongang wouldn’t change his mind, Elder Hwang bowed his head with a resigned expression.

“Understood, Young Master. When it comes to monitoring the Hwa Family Trading House, I won’t miss even a single mouse coming or going.”

He bowed deeply and left the room.

Left alone, Guyang Cheongang gazed at the darkness outside the window for a while.

‘Manor Lord Heo will summon me…’

He guessed that Heo Choryeong would have reported everything to her father, and that he would call for him shortly after.

A moment later, as expected, Heo Ilbi’s summons came.

He immediately headed to the study in the main building.

Inside the study, Heo Ilbi was waiting for him with a calm expression.

“Sit down.”

As Guyang Cheongang took his seat, Heo Ilbi spoke first.

“I heard everything about today’s events from Ryeong-ah. I won’t bother asking what happened to you during this time, or what martial arts you displayed. The weight of secrets a man carries in his heart is something he must bear on his own.”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes deepened.

He had thought Heo Ilbi would naturally question him about his martial arts.

After all, martial artists couldn’t resist their curiosity about martial arts.

But Heo Ilbi was different.

‘He knows how to suppress curiosity with reason. This man has a much greater capacity than I thought.’

Heo Ilbi paused briefly, then continued with an even deeper gaze.

“Your insight in seeing through the Hwa Family Trading House’s intentions was truly remarkable. However, the mudslinging that follows is this uncle’s domain. I don’t want you to get involved any further.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re still a patient who needs to recover, and you’re my elder brother’s precious son. I don’t want you to get your feet dirty in this filthy fight. Leave this matter to me.”

His words contained both respect for Guyang Cheongang and the will to protect him from danger.

Guyang Cheongang could easily guess his deeper intentions.

‘I’m grateful for his desire to protect me, but… this problem won’t end as just Bamboo Forest Manor’s affair…’

He bowed his head without revealing his thoughts.

“I understand. But if there’s anything I can help with, please let me know anytime.”

Heo Ilbi smiled slightly and nodded.

“I will.”

No more words were needed between the two men.

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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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