Almighty God of War - Chapter 48

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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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048

As the short journey to the Guyang Family Estate was coming to an end, time had already reached sunset.

The western sky began to burn like red silk, and long, dark shadows fell across the mountain path.

When they rounded the last mountain bend, Yeom Pung pulled the reins and stopped the group.

Following his gaze, Guyang Cheongang also looked at the familiar scenery situated far below in the valley.

Old tile roofs glowing peacefully in the sunset light.

It was his home, the Guyang Family Estate.

The sight of the main estate after so long was welcome, yet at the same time somehow lonely, as it seemed to show the reality of a declining family.

Guyang Cheongang asked Yeom Pung.

“What made you stop the horses?”

Yeom Pung replied.

“Young Master, we’ll soon arrive at the estate… If our identities are exposed, great disaster could befall the Guyang Family. So it would be best to change the appearances of this old man and Wan-a before we arrive.”

Since it wasn’t wrong, Guyang Cheongang nodded.

“Do as you see fit. But how do you plan to change your appearances?”

Yeom Pung immediately took out two intricately made human skin face masks from his chest, thin as paper and translucent.

They were crafted by a master of Gangho, and once worn on the face, it would be nearly impossible for even the sharpest-eyed person to recognize their true identity.

When Yeom Pung and the woman put on the human skin face masks, their faces completely transformed into an utterly ordinary middle-aged merchant and a young woman with a sickly complexion.

Half an hour later, the group arrived at the Guyang Family Estate.

Unlike the prosperous Bamboo Forest Manor, an old gate bearing clear traces of time greeted them.

At news of their arrival, Guyang Baek and Dong Yeonhwa, along with Guyang Cheongi and Guyang Cheongcheong, all rushed out to the front gate.

“Big brother!”

The first to run over was the youngest, Guyang Cheongcheong.

The child wrapped her arms around her big brother’s right leg, which had grown stronger over the past few months.

“Haha. Our youngest has gotten even prettier.”

Guyang Cheongang smiled brightly and patted the girl’s head.

“Elder Brother! You’re safe!”

Guyang Cheongi, who ran up next, also widened his eyes at his brother’s appearance, incomparably healthier than before.

Guyang Baek and Dong Yeonhwa couldn’t hide their amazement at their son’s remarkable transformation either.

However, unlike the children, they deliberately suppressed those emotions.

Because the watching servants and guard warriors were all people from Golden Tower Manor.

Guyang Baek maintained a stern expression outwardly, but inwardly let out a sigh of relief and strongly patted his son’s shoulder.

His overwhelming emotions were fully conveyed through that rough touch where he failed to control his strength.

Their gazes turned toward the two strangers, Yeom Pung and Shangguan Wana.

Guyang Cheongang spoke in a calm tone.

“Father, these people are a merchant and his daughter whom I happened to meet on the road. Unfortunately, they encountered bandits and were severely injured, so I brought them to recover at our estate for a while.”

Guyang Baek quietly looked over his son and the unidentified people he had brought.

‘This child wouldn’t bring them into the household without good reason.’

He read a depth and confidence in his son’s eyes that he had never seen before.

“Would you allow these two to stay comfortably?”

“They are honored guests saved by my son, so of course we should.”

Guyang Baek said to Yeom Pung.

“Please recover comfortably as if this were your own home.”

“Thank you. Please understand that my daughter still hasn’t regained consciousness and cannot pay her respects.”

Just as Guyang Baek permitted the merchant father and daughter to stay and the heavy atmosphere at the front gate momentarily relaxed.

The large eyes of youngest Guyang Cheongcheong, who had been clinging tightly to Guyang Cheongang’s sleeve until then, turned toward his shoulder.

There sat a strange yet adorable creature, small as a cotton ball and covered in golden fur all over, looking down at the child with jewel-like red eyes gleaming.

“Oh… brother!”

Cheongcheong pointed at Golden King with her small finger.

“On your shoulder… what is that?”

At her words, everyone’s gaze turned to Guyang Cheongang’s shoulder.

Guyang Cheongcheong’s eyes began to sparkle like stars.

“Kyaaaah! It’s so cute!”

The child, who let out a scream-like cheer, began pestering Guyang Cheongang as if clinging to him.

“Big brother, can’t I touch it just once? Please? Just once!”

At that moment, panic, shock, and anger that seemed to say ‘How dare you!’ flashed across the face of Golden King, who had been sitting proudly on Guyang Cheongang’s shoulder.

The creature made a sharp sound as if disgusted by the sight of the child jumping and gesturing toward it.

Kiek!

Then it kicked off Guyang Cheongang’s shoulder like lightning and began to flee.

“Ah! Wait!”

Guyang Cheongcheong didn’t give up and chased after it.

From then on, quite a commotion unfolded in the wide front courtyard of the Guyang Family Estate.

Golden King nimbly climbed pillars like a flying squirrel and bounded across rooftops, looking at Cheongcheong and screeching as if teasing her.

Kkeek!

“Let’s play together!”

Guyang Cheongcheong bounced around, constantly chasing after the creature.

At that sight, faint smiles unconsciously appeared on the lips of Guyang Baek and Dong Yeonhwa, who had been forcing themselves to remain expressionless.

For the first time in a very long while, a child’s lively laughter echoed through the estate that had been shrouded in silence.

That evening after dinner, Guyang Cheongang sat alone with Guyang Baek in his study.

Before beginning the conversation, he briefly closed his eyes and extended his ki sensing to the maximum.

Sixty years’ worth of internal energy made his senses incomparably sharper than before.

‘There’s someone hiding in the tree in the garden five zhang away.’

He confirmed the presence of someone monitoring the study and commanded Akasha.

‘Akasha, take measures so that rat bastard can’t eavesdrop on our conversation.’

[Understood, Doctor. I will now generate a white noise field around the study.]

Akasha’s voice continued to ring in his mind.

[The field is a sound wave barrier of specific frequencies that perfectly blocks eavesdropping on conversations. You may now speak with confidence.]

After receiving Akasha’s report, Guyang Cheongang opened his mouth.

“Father, I made an agreement with Uncle Heo before returning from Nanchang.”

“An agreement?”

Guyang Cheongang first explained about developing the Dragon Nourishing Pill, then continued.

“An agreement regarding mass production and distribution of Dragon Nourishing Pills. Uncle Heo will provide capital and distribution, while I provide the technology, and we’ll share the profits. If this succeeds, the family’s finances will stabilize.”

“You’ve truly accomplished something remarkable.”

Guyang Baek, suppressing his joy as he spoke, habitually listened for signs outside the study and looked around, preparing for important talk.

However, with his abilities, he couldn’t detect the subtle presence of someone hiding five zhang away.

Noticing his tension, Guyang Cheongang smiled faintly and said.

“Father, please don’t worry. No one can eavesdrop on this room’s conversation.”

Guyang Baek was surprised by his son’s words that saw through his inner thoughts and asked back.

“…How do you know that? Don’t tell me you’ve already taken measures?”

After choosing his words briefly, Guyang Cheongang opened his mouth.

“I went to Daeyang Mountain Island and gained a fortuitous encounter, opening two of the nine major acupoints of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians that bound my body.”

“What… what!”

Guyang Baek’s eyes widened.

Crash—

The tea cup in his hand fell to the floor and shattered, but he paid no attention.

“Is that… is that true! Your pulse… let me check your pulse!”

He urgently grabbed his son’s wrist with trembling hands.

Through his fingertips, he felt a strong and stable flow of internal energy that had never been there before.

The meridians that should have been ice-cold and blocked were pulsing vigorously with warm energy.

“Heaven has not abandoned our Guyang Family Estate after all….”

Guyang Baek slowly closed his eyes.

He couldn’t open them for quite some time.

It felt like tears would flow.

The sorrow of being unable to openly rejoice at his son’s remarkable transformation due to the spies’ watchful eyes, and the despair that had weighed on him his entire life, seemed to dissipate like mist.

Watching such a father, Guyang Cheongang continued speaking.

“Thanks to that, I was able to learn martial arts and take measures that the watchers cannot overhear.”

“Ahh….”

“And….”

“Are there still more surprises left?”

“Yes. I confirmed the success of the Dragon Nourishing Pill, but the problem was continuous mass production. I found a way to solve that problem.”

“Huh….”

Guyang Baek couldn’t even speak and just opened his mouth.

Guyang Cheongang continued.

“I plan to install that production facility at the Main Family Estate.”

“How do you intend to avoid the watchers’ eyes?”

“That’s exactly why there’s something I need to ask your permission for.”

Guyang Cheongang looked directly into his father’s eyes and said.

“There’s only one place in this house that’s the safest and has controlled outside access. I want to turn your Training Room into a new Alchemy Room.”

It was a bold proposal that could be considered very disrespectful for a son to make to his father.

But Guyang Baek nodded vigorously without a moment’s hesitation, as if he was pleased with the idea.

“My Training Room! Good, very good!”

He gripped his son’s shoulder firmly.

“What’s a mere Training Room? If it can revive this declining family clan, I’d even give up my bedroom. From today, that place is yours. If you need anything, tell me whatever it is. I’ll stake everything this father has and support you completely.”

A faint smile appeared on Guyang Cheongang’s lips.

“Father, what I’ve told you isn’t everything.”

Guyang Baek’s eyes widened as he spoke.

“There’s still more? I don’t even have the strength to be surprised anymore.”

“There’s more.”

Guyang Cheongang nodded and continued.

“This time, I’ve also completely solved the secret of the Nine Dragons Ten Thousand Mountains Diagram, which was our family’s long-cherished wish.”

Guyang Baek froze in place, unable to move a muscle.

The great achievement that he and his ancestors had devoted their entire lives to but never accomplished.

His son, who had been born sickly, was saying he had achieved it.

Guyang Cheongang took out three Secret Manuals from his chest that he had personally transcribed and organized, presenting them respectfully before his father.

Star Array Great Sword Style, Explosive Thunder Flame King Hammer, Nine Palace Maze Step Technique.

Guyang Baek received those Secret Manuals containing his lifetime’s cherished wish with trembling hands.

Hot tears that he could no longer hold back finally fell from his eyes, wetting the covers of the Secret Manuals.

Guyang Cheongang finished discussing everything including the purchase of the Secret Residence outside the Family Estate and the discreet supply of medicinal herbs that had been arranged with Heo Ilbi, then left the Study.

Immediately after, from the shadows of the tree across from the Study, a shadow seemed to stir secretly before disappearing without a sound.

And when about three counts had passed, on the rooftop overlooking the tree where the figure had been hiding, an old man with a slightly bent back slowly stood up.

After staring at the shade beneath the tree for a moment, he vanished like a ghost fading away.

It was Elder Hwang.

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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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