Almighty God of War - Chapter 58

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

058

The tavern owner lined up five wine jars on the table.

No Hae smiled and pushed one wine jar toward Guyang Cheongang.

“There’s a saying: never become friends with someone who doesn’t drink.”

“I’ve never heard that before.”

“That’s because your knowledge is shallow. If you can become drinking companions with this old man and empty all the wine jars in this tavern, then I’ll be willing to listen to your story.”

Guyang Cheongang clicked his tongue and grabbed a wine jar.

There was nothing on the table that could be called a cup.

So he had no choice but to drink straight from the jar.

He brought the wine jar to his lips and spoke to Akasha.

‘Akasha, please break down the alcohol components entering my body in real time.’

[Understood, Doctor.]

Guyang Cheongang drank continuously like a bottomless pit without getting drunk at all.

No Hae’s face, which had initially mocked him, gradually changed to shock.

“Hehe, well I’ll be… I’ve met my match today…”

When dozens of wine jars filled the area around the table, No Hae acknowledged that Guyang Cheongang was an equal, no, superior ‘wine immortal’ and stuck out his tongue in amazement.

“Enough, enough. You, I really like you.”

Guyang Cheongang wiped the traces of alcohol from his lips with his sleeve and asked.

“Will you tell me now?”

No Hae set down the empty wine jar.

The drunken haze had completely disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a sharp light that seemed to see through a person’s inner thoughts.

“I’ve confirmed your martial arts and drinking capacity, so now it’s time to see your heart. What exactly makes you want to find Elder Brother Ju, who has been treated as dead for decades?”

Guyang Cheongang straightened his posture and began speaking in a calm tone.

“As you know, Elder Master, the current Guyang Family Estate is nothing but an empty shell. All past glory has disappeared, and we’re barely surviving under the shadow of our in-laws.”

He paused briefly before continuing in the same calm tone.

“I want to resolve my father’s resentment and leave my younger brother a proud family that will never be looked down upon by anyone again.”

His gaze looked straight into No Hae’s drowsy eyes.

“For that, I desperately need the help of Master Jupyo, who left during the turmoil of the Orthodox-Demonic War. I’m not seeking him for wealth and honor. I only wish to borrow his strength and wisdom to rebuild our declining family. Please tell me where he is.”

After finishing his words, he bowed his head.

Silence fell over the tavern for a moment.

No Hae silently fidgeted with his wine cup.

He was someone so uninterested in fame and profit that he had even refused an elder position in the Beggar’s Sect.

The reason such a person had ignored the main sect leaders clinging to his pants and secluded himself in this beggar’s den in Gugang was because he was disgusted with human greed.

He had seen countless greedy people who threw away loyalty like old shoes for their own benefit and stabbed colleagues in the back for honor.

But Guyang Cheongang before his eyes was different.

There was no personal greed in his eyes.

Only a desperate and pure heart to rebuild his family was contained within them.

No Hae felt a corner of his heart, which had been hardened like stone for decades, begin to move at the sight of Guyang Cheongang.

Guyang Cheongang waited for No Hae’s answer.

But the old beggar wasn’t looking at him.

His gaze was directed toward the shabbily dressed tavern owner.

No Hae shouted loudly.

“Elder Brother Ju, did you hear? The eldest son of the family you abandoned has traveled a thousand li to find one old retainer. What will you do now? Will you continue dealing with old drunkards like me in this remote tavern, just waiting for the day to cross the Three Path River?”

“…!”

Goosebumps rose all over Guyang Cheongang’s body.

His shocked gaze turned toward the tavern owner.

He saw regret accumulated over long years rippling like waves in the owner’s eyes.

Guyang Cheongang rose from his seat and bowed deeply toward him with a cupped fist salute.

“Guyang Cheongang, eldest son of the Guyang Family Estate, pays respects to Master Ju Pyo of Heaven and Earth One Hand.”

The tavern owner’s aura began to change.

The murky energy completely cleared from his ordinary, aged-looking eyes, replaced by a sharp gleam that flashed like lightning.

His hunched back straightened, and his shoulders broadened like mountains.

He was indeed Jupyo of Heaven and Earth One Hand.

Jupyo asked in a voice as hard as steel.

“Are you truly the eldest son of the family estate, Young Master Guyang Cheongang? I heard that the Young Master was destined to die before reaching adulthood due to Nine Yin Severed Meridians?”

“It seems you’ve continued to take interest in the family estate even from afar.”

“Just answer the question.”

“You seem to find it hard to believe that I am Guyang Cheongang.”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if I believed you immediately based only on your word?”

Guyang Cheongang smiled calmly and said.

“Through fate, I was able to learn medical arts from a sage. Adding a bit of my own understanding to that, I found a treatment for the severed meridians. Though there’s still a long way to complete recovery, I was able to make a body that could endure traveling this far.”

No Hae interjected slyly.

“Elder Brother Ju, this fellow is a master. Even when I used Drunken Eight Immortals Steps and Dog Claw Capture Hand, I couldn’t touch a thread of his clothes.”

A surprised expression appeared on Jupyo’s face.

“You learned martial arts even though Nine Yin Severed Meridians wasn’t completely cured?”

“Yes.”

“If it’s enough to avoid the Branch Master’s attacks, it can’t be ordinary martial arts?”

Guyang Cheongang answered without hesitation.

“I’ve restored all of the family’s lost Five Ultimate Techniques.”

Jupyo’s complexion changed dramatically.

“Is… is that really true?”

“Why would I deceive you at this point, Elder Master?”

“Can you show me?”

“Of course.”

Guyang Cheongang slowly moved his hands while seated.

It looked like child’s play since no internal energy was applied to the movements.

But Jupyo could easily recognize that the form and intent of the martial arts the former family head had last displayed during the Orthodox-Demonic War were completely contained within those movements.

Overwhelming fist intent that suppressed all changes with force.

Jupyo muttered in a trembling voice.

“Explosive Thunder Flame King Hammer…! The very martial art that the former family head last displayed at the Battle of Baeksa Plains…”

Deep sadness and regret were contained in his voice.

After a moment of silence, he spoke.

“You came to find me hoping I would help rebuild the family estate.”

It meant he no longer doubted Guyang Cheongang’s identity.

He continued.

“But I’m already over eighty years old. What help could someone like me be to the family estate?”

“I didn’t come to ask you to personally step forward and fight.”

Jupyo asked with a puzzled expression.

“Then what do you want?”

Instead of answering, Guyang Cheongang asked something else.

“Can you contact those who left the family estate with you at that time?”

“Half have passed away, and the remaining nine including myself meet once every few years. Do you want them to return as well?”

“Yes.”

Guyang Cheongang continued in a calm tone.

“Elder Master, please teach the young people who will become the pillars of the family estate together with them. Your martial arts, experience, and deep wisdom will become the roots of the new Guyang Family Estate.”

Jupyo asked with eyes flashing with sharp light.

“To rebuild the family estate, we must exclude the interference of Golden Tower Manor, which practically controls the family estate. For that, we need at least three hundred first-rate masters. How many years does the Young Master estimate it will take to cultivate such military power?”

“At shortest, two years. At longest, three years.”

Jupyo asked with an incredulous expression.

“Two to three years? Do you think that’s possible?”

“I don’t make impossible plans.”

“Seeing Young Master’s talent, it seems you already have a plan regarding funding, so I won’t ask about that. The problem is pure martial strength…”

Jupyo continued with a sigh.

“Hmm… We could teach the younger generation, but for them to grow into first-rate warriors with excellent martial arts in just two to three years would be difficult.”

“Why do you think so?”

“The Four Great Martial Arts like the Transcendent Heart Method that we nine remaining members have learned can be called first-rate, but they’re not supreme arts. To be acknowledged as having reached a profound level through learning them would require at least twenty years of training. Isn’t this something Young Master already knows?”

His words were extremely realistic.

However, Guyang Cheongang responded with a calm expression.

“Would you believe me if I said I’ve modified them into martial arts that even an ordinary person could reach ten-tenths mastery in one year?”

Silence fell over the tavern.

Not only Jupyo, but even No Hae, who had been drinking alone nearby, was left speechless.

“You… you jest too much.”

“I’m serious.”

“…!”

Guyang Cheongang continued.

“The Four Great Martial Arts can reach ten-tenths mastery in one year, and once they surpass eleven-tenths, they can be called peak masters from that point. So the warriors of the Main Family Estate won’t refuse rigorous training.”

No Hae interjected with an incredulous expression.

“If what you say is true, young people with aspirations in martial arts will all come knocking on the Guyang Family’s door without exception.”

“That’s exactly why I modified them.”

“Hah…”

Guyang Cheongang smiled and stood up from his seat.

“Elder Master, they say seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. If you see it directly, you’ll believe my words.”

He pushed all the tables in the tavern against the walls and began slowly demonstrating the Infinite Thirteen Forms in the center.

It was the same sword forms that Jupyo had trained in his entire life, but it had been completely recreated as a different martial art.

All unnecessary movements had disappeared, the flow of qi continued without obstruction, and each form led naturally into the next—it was perfect martial arts with unity of attack and defense.

When Guyang Cheongang finished his demonstration and sat back down, Jupyo let out a long breath he had been holding.

“Whew…”

He muttered in a tone mixed with admiration and amazement.

“I didn’t know that a genius rare throughout history had been born in the Main Family Estate…”

“You flatter me.”

“Young Master, I’m someone who has never spoken empty flattery in my life.”

No Hae frowned and interjected.

“I can’t understand it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why wasn’t someone as capable as you made the young family head, but instead your younger brother was appointed to that position?”

“You knew about that too?”

“It’s Elder Brother Ju’s main family, so I couldn’t pretend not to know.”

Guyang Cheongang smiled and answered.

“After I see the family house standing on solid ground, I’ll retreat to a deep mountain valley to live while researching medical arts. As I mentioned, my Nine Yin Severed Meridians isn’t completely cured yet.”

“Ah… with your inhuman talent, you’ll probably be able to cure the Nine Yin Severed Meridians too.”

Jupyo, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, spoke up.

“This old man has been like a dead person for the past thirty years. But today, Young Master has shown me a reason to live again and a way to comfort the souls of my dead comrades. I will gladly dedicate this old man’s remaining life to the family house.”

His manner of speech had changed to a respectful half-formal tone.

“Thank you, Elder Master.”

Guyang Cheongang stood up and gave a respectful cupped fist salute.

Jupyo also stood up and returned the cupped fist salute as he replied.

“Since you’ve given an opportunity to this old man who doesn’t have many days left to live, it’s rather I who should be grateful.”

No Hae said.

“Elder Brother Ju, now it seems appropriate to drink the Wolhwahyang.”

Understanding this as a request to bring out the alcohol, Guyang Cheongang immediately placed the gourd bottle on the table.

No Hae, holding it with a reluctant expression, poured alcohol into the three men’s cups in turn.

Gulp gulp-

Jupyo, who had emptied his cup in one go, asked.

“Young Master, are you thinking of returning to the Main Family Estate now?”

“No.”

Guyang Cheongang shook his head and continued.

“My next destination is the Second Family Head in Payang.”

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