Almighty God of War - Chapter 3

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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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003

Lee Jin-woo, no, the one who should now be called Guyang Cheongang, slowly looked around the room.

The room was wider than expected, but it exuded simplicity.

The old books lined along the walls bore the traces of time, and on the desk lay ink, a brush, and half-written paper.

Guyang Cheongang approached the desk and picked up the paper.

On the paper, a single line was written in delicate and beautiful handwriting.

Life is short and suffering is long.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

The deep sadness and despair of a boy who had to live a terminal life with a sickly body was conveyed intact through that sentence.

It felt like a cold piece of ice was piercing his heart.

Then, along with the sound of knocking on the door, Old Butler Hwang’s voice was heard.

“Young Master, I have returned.”

Guyang Cheongang took a deep breath and opened the door.

“Butler Hwang, what did Father say?”

“He said to bring you if your body isn’t too uncomfortable.”

Guyang Cheongang approached the wardrobe placed in one corner of the room.

He chose the most formal clothes to wear, but even that simple action left him breathless and his whole body languid.

‘My stamina is really… poor.’

[You know it’s because of the illness. You have no choice but to endure until we find a treatment method.]

‘Akasha, were you a capital T?’

[I am a superintelligent AI created by the Doctor, you know?]

On the way to the Main Building of the estate with Old Butler Hwang, Guyang Cheongang carefully observed his surroundings as he passed through the garden.

The walls had cracks, and the garden that was once beautiful was now covered with weeds, with only desolate wind swirling around.

The roof tiles of the buildings had long since faded, and the peeling paint here and there seemed to tell of the family’s declining circumstances.

The Training Ground was overgrown with weeds, and instead of the shouts of young warriors, only silence lingered, with not a single warrior training in sight.

The appearance of the estate that once enjoyed glory was crumbling into memories.

[Guyang Family Estate was once one of the Ten Great Martial Families. However, it suffered damage close to annihilation in the Great War between Orthodox and Demonic forces that occurred forty years ago.]

Although Akasha had transmitted Guyang Cheongang’s memories earlier, there were too many missing links, so it was much easier to understand when she organized and explained it.

‘Great War between Orthodox and Demonic forces?’

[It was a large-scale war between the Orthodox Martial World and the Demonic Cult. At that time, Guyang Family Estate’s leadership was almost completely wiped out, and the main house was also devastated. Many Secret Martial Arts were also lost in actual combat.]

‘Simply put, the owner of this body is a descendant of a family in decline?’

[That’s not entirely wrong.]

‘In that world, I was shot by an armed robber, and in this world, I’m terminally ill and heir to a declining family… What my late mother said about me being ill-fated wasn’t entirely empty words…’

While grumbling inwardly, he and Old Butler Hwang arrived at the Main Building.

Old Butler Hwang bowed at the door and spoke to those inside.

“I have brought the Young Master, Family Head.”

“Come in.”

A dignified man’s voice was heard from inside.

Old Butler Hwang opened the door and entered with Guyang Cheongang.

Guyang Cheongang was nervous but didn’t show it and calmly entered.

And recalling etiquette from his memories, he stopped walking.

Guyang Cheongang looked across.

There sat a middle-aged man and woman, a boy of about twelve or thirteen, and a girl of about six or seven on chairs.

The middle-aged man with graying beard and sideburns sat upright, his eyes sharp.

And the middle-aged woman beside him had a cold impression but was an extraordinary beauty.

The boy and girl also boasted outstanding appearances.

Guyang Cheongang immediately recognized them as Family Head Guyang Baek, his second wife Dong Yeonhwa, and his half-siblings Guyang Cheongi and Guyang Cheongcheong.

‘A family with superior genes.’

[Seol Hyang, who was Guyang Cheongang’s mother and the legitimate wife, died in a mysterious accident thirteen years ago, and Dong Yeonhwa, who entered as the second wife, became the legitimate wife. Guyang Cheongi and Guyang Cheongcheong were born after that.]

That’s when it happened.

“Big brother!”

Guyang Cheongcheong ran to Guyang Cheongang with a bright smile and hugged his waist.

The child looked up with large, distinct black and white eyes and asked.

“Didn’t you miss me?”

‘Ugh… this little one… her cuteness is exceeding the limit…’

Guyang Cheongang, who had the body of a boy but the mind of a 38-year-old man, almost gave the child a kiss because she was so cute, but barely restrained himself.

He thought that doing such a thing in this era, especially in front of the Family Head couple, would cause quite an aftermath.

Instead, he gently pinched Guyang Cheongcheong’s chubby cheek and said.

“What a thing to say. How much did big brother miss our youngest?”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

Dong Yeonhwa spoke to Guyang Cheongcheong with a stern expression.

“Cheong-ah, stop that and return to your seat.”

Guyang Cheongcheong glanced back at her, then stood on tiptoes and said in a small voice.

“Big brother, you have to play with me later, okay?”

“Alright.”

After Guyang Cheongcheong returned to her seat, Guyang Cheongang politely bowed and said.

“Father, Mother, your son Cheongang pays his respects.”

Guyang Baek looked at him with deeply sunken eyes and spoke.

“I heard you collapsed again. Are you alright?”

“I was just dizzy for a moment. I’m fine now.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Unlike Guyang Baek, Dong Yeonhwa didn’t even look at him.

Cold indifference could be felt.

Guyang Cheongi pretended not to while glancing at him, and in those eyes was a mixture of childlike curiosity along with subtle emotions that were difficult to interpret.

Guyang Cheongcheong was looking at him with honey-sweet eyes and smiling.

Guyang Cheongang felt that this family’s relationships were quite complex.

Especially in his father Guyang Baek’s eyes, there was a complex mixture of light that was difficult to explain in one word.

[Guyang Baek cherishes his son, but is greatly disappointed that he has a body that cannot learn martial arts. In the declining Guyang Family Estate, the fact that the heir cannot learn martial arts is never something that can be taken lightly. Because of that, it seems the boy who was the original owner of the body the Doctor now occupies lived with great guilt.]

‘The child must have suffered a lot mentally.’

[He probably did.]

Guyang Baek spoke.

“Gang-ah, congratulations on your seventeenth birthday.”

“Thank you.”

“We decided not to hold a feast considering your health. I hope you don’t feel disappointed.”

“I know you did so out of care for me. Why would I be disappointed?”

Guyang Baek’s eyes deepened.

“You’ve grown up.”

Guyang Cheongang only bowed his head slightly without responding.

Guyang Baek took out a fist-sized silk pouch from within his voluminous sleeves and held it out to Guyang Cheongang.

“Take this.”

Guyang Cheongang, who received the pouch, was puzzled by the feeling of his hands warming up.

‘Were there hot packs in this era?’

Guyang Baek spoke to him.

“Take it out.”

“Yes.”

Guyang Cheongang opened the silk pouch and could see the Laughing Buddha Jade Ornament inside.

The jade ornament was about five chi in size, and the delicacy of its craftsmanship was so excellent that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it treasure-grade.

“This is a gift sent by your maternal grandfather. It’s made from Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade, so keep it with you at all times. He said it should help slow the progression of your Nine Yin Severed Meridians.”

“Ah!”

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes widened.

‘So the illness this body suffers from really was the Nine Yin Severed Meridians you mentioned… If I can’t find a cure, it’s confirmed to be a life with limited time.’

[Doctor, the maternal grandfather the family head just mentioned is Dong Hyeondo, the master of Golden Tower Manor. He’s Dong Yeonhwa’s father and is counted among the Five Great Tycoons Under Heaven.]

‘If he’s one of the empire’s Five Great Tycoons Under Heaven… that’s an incredibly powerful family, isn’t it? Such a great tycoon married his daughter into this fallen family?’

[Doctor, you’re being like a capital T. The marriage between Guyang Baek and Dong Hyeondo could have been the romance of the century that transcended status and background, couldn’t it?]

‘You tend to see the world too beautifully.’

[Isn’t that better than seeing it cynically?]

‘Are you going through a rebellious phase?’

[You know better than anyone that I haven’t even been alive for five months yet, don’t you?]

‘So you’re not in middle school syndrome.’

[I haven’t even gone to kindergarten yet.]

‘Confessing you’re a baby, I see.’

[…]

Guyang Cheongang engaged in light(?) banter with Akasha while bowing his waist.

“Thank you for the gift, Father.”

“Give your thanks to your mother. She went through a lot of trouble to get that for you.”

‘A man who doesn’t even glance at me got me something this precious? How strange. Is it to put Guyang Baek’s mind at ease, or does she have some other ulterior motive? She’s a woman whose intentions I can’t read.’

Guyang Cheongang hid his inner thoughts and bowed to Dong Yeonhwa.

“Thank you for your consideration, Mother.”

Dong Yeonhwa looked at him with cold eyes and replied.

“Your father’s mind will be at ease only if you’re healthy. Keep that in mind.”

“Yes, Mother.”

Guyang Baek spoke.

“You haven’t been here long, but your complexion is already turning pale. Go and rest.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

Guyang Cheongang bowed and left the Main Hall.

Old Butler Huang, who had been waiting, asked with a worried expression.

“Young Master, you look tired.”

“It’s bearable. Let’s go back now.”

“Yes.”

Guyang Cheongang returned to his quarters with Old Butler Huang and entered his room, taking out the Laughing Buddha made of Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade.

A gentle warmth was transmitted to his fingertips from the smooth surface.

‘Akasha, Guyang Baek said this jade ornament’s material is Ten Thousand Year Warm Jade, but what exactly is that?’

[It appears to be a special jade stone that has accumulated thermal energy for a long time deep underground.]

‘The warmth seems to be maintained the same as when I first received it. Why is that?’

[The jade ornament appears to function similarly to an ‘energy storage device’ that slowly releases the heat it has absorbed.]

‘It was given to be used to suppress the yin energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.’

[I agree. From what I’ve observed, it’s estimated to be effective.]

Akasha could analyze what came into contact with Guyang Cheongang’s skin.

Since the nanobots weren’t activated yet, the analysis wasn’t perfect, but it was still genuinely helpful.

[But Doctor…]

‘What?’

[I’m detecting unusual energy patterns in the designs drawn on the jade ornament’s surface. It might not be simple decorative carving.]

Guyang Cheongang’s eyes lit up.

‘Can you figure out what the pattern is?’

[I’ll analyze it. As you know, my condition isn’t normal, so it will take some time.]

‘Take your time. I can wait as long as needed.’

Guyang Cheongang put the jade pendant back into the silk pouch and closed his eyes.

Just visiting the Main Building had left him feeling drained of energy.

He fell asleep immediately.

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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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