Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Namgung So-hye had often thought that words, in their way, were deeply absurd.
Her current circumstances proved the point well enough.
She stood in an enormous estate.
It was remarkably beautiful—so much so that it seemed almost improbable to find such a place near Dongjeong Lake.
The pillars and walls gleamed, newly built; not a blemish marred their surfaces.
With the lake spread before it, the view was beyond description, and every ornament adorning the grounds seized the eye with grace and intention.
Yet none of that was the problem.
No—the problem was her.
“Ugh…….”
She scrubbed at a garment with hands that had never known such work, pressing pale knuckles against the fabric.
For all her life, she had never done housework. Now she was doing it.
Dressed in rags identical to the laundresses by the stream, she was unrecognizable—no one would ever imagine her to be Namgung So-hye, master of the Phoenix Unit of the Martial Alliance.
Thwack!
She struck the washing board with force.
Each blow came with a sharp, vicious sound, as though she were venting fury itself.
“My fate…… my fate…….”
She cursed her predicament silently.
Here she was—master of the Phoenix Unit, the precious jewel of the Namgung Clan, apex of the Eight Major Families, destined perhaps to bear the title of Sword Lord—and how many would once have prostrated themselves at her feet. And yet.
‘I only asked for help…….’
A deep sigh escaped her.
For the first time in her life, she had begged assistance from another soul.
The alternative was starvation, or being carted away by a vagrant. She had seen no other choice.
Thanks to a child named Hwa So-mi, she had been brought to this estate.
A few silver coins in alms would have sufficed; once she returned to the Clan or the Alliance, she could repay it at once.
But Dang Woo-hyeon refused to simply hand over the money.
‘Work while you stay here,’ he had said.
And so she wielded the washing board.
He had promised payment upon completion, leaving her no choice but to endure this grueling labor.
Her patience snapped.
It was thanks to her that Dang Woo-hyeon had claimed such a tidy sum from those bandits. She had not forgotten that.
“Come now, work faster! How long does one need to wash clothes? This is taking all day!”
“What did you say?”
“I mean, am I wrong? You’ve been at that laundry for an hour—how is this acceptable? There’s a mountain of work left to do!”
“What do you want from me? The stains won’t come out!”
“Harder! Strike harder—how many times must I tell you? Where did all your strength from breakfast go?”
Bubble-bubble!
There was another source of her suffering.
Jang Sam-tae—a man who had abandoned all sense of shame.
He followed her throughout the day as though standing watch, hovering nearby. The moment Dang Woo-hyeon appeared, he would seize a broom and mime sweeping the courtyard or pretend to labor.
His transparent antics made her so furious that her eyebrows twitched and she opened her mouth.
“Then why don’t you do it yourself!”
“Ah, but that’s your work, not mine. Do you think begging for food is easy? This is how one earns one’s keep. Tell me—what is it you can actually do?”
“Ugh……!”
Her pride flared.
Since childhood, she had excelled above all others, and she loathed falling behind anyone.
Rage boiled up in her throat, and she resolved to complete this task flawlessly.
She struck the board harder, faster.
“Where does that man keep disappearing to!”
“Stop your chatter and keep working!”
“I know!”
“Why are you shouting?”
“You started shouting first!”
For the first time in her life, Namgung So-hye trembled with the desire to beat someone weaker than herself senseless.
Had the situation been different, Jang Sam-tae would have tasted her wrath by now.

***

Akyeong.
The county famous for Dongjeong Lake had now gained someone even more celebrated.
County Magistrate Hong Won-chang—the man who had vanquished the Black Sword Society, which no one had managed to overcome until now—was a hero commanding attention not only from the common folk and martial artists, but from the imperial court itself.
Yet Hong Won-chang spent this day not at the magistrate’s office, but sequestered in his estate.
Seated in his study, his expression betrayed considerable tension, and though cold sweat beaded his brow, he strained visibly to appear composed.
What on earth could this be about?
Across from him sat a man, his gaze perfectly calm and measured.
Dang Woo-hyeon.
The one Hong Won-chang respected most, yet a figure far more formidable than the emperor himself, now occupied his study.
“This is it.”
Hong Won-chang extended a large wooden box with trembling hands. When Dang Woo-hyeon made no move to open it, Hong Won-chang carefully lifted the lid himself.
Inside lay gold coins in such profusion that “dazzling” scarcely did them justice.
“Impressive. You managed to assemble this in such short time.”
“One hundred gold coins. The royal court awarded this as compensation for this matter, so it belongs to you, sir.”
Dang Woo-hyeon nodded and took possession of the wooden box.
The amount matched exactly what he’d anticipated. Had he claimed it as a bounty proper, a larger sum should have changed hands, but with Hong Won-chang’s name attached, not all of it could come directly to him.
Moreover, this was an official award from the royal court.
Knowing that Hong Won-chang would have been entitled to keep it, he accepted the gesture graciously without demur.
“What becomes of them now?”
“Yesterday the royal court came directly and took them away. I suspect they’ve been handed over to Dongchan.”
Hong Won-chang shuddered visibly.
The Gold-Clad Guard was frightening enough, but if one spoke of those most feared by the imperial court, one meant the eunuchs—Dongchan.
Skilled in martial prowess and masters of cruel interrogation, they were terrifying in every respect, and one could only wonder if they channeled such accumulated frustrations through such means.
“Dongchan, you say……”
“Yes. Once they fall into their hands, there is no returning alive.”
“Then this matter is settled?”
“Of course. Haha.”
Hong Won-chang burst into hearty laughter. All the credit from this affair belonged to him alone. The thought alone set his spirits soaring with satisfaction.
He had scarcely slept properly these past days because of those villains, but now he could stretch out and rest easy. His worries were gone.
Sip.
Then Dang Woo-hyeon gazed at Hong Won-chang over his teacup, his stare keen enough that the magistrate’s laughter froze and he turned away uncertainly.
“I hear you might even advance to Buk-gyeong?”
“Haha, nothing has been decided yet.”
Hong Won-chang wiped the cold sweat from his brow, swallowing hard. Advancement to the capital was the dream of every powerful man.
Hong Won-chang had harbored such ambitions since childhood, and they burned no less brightly now.
Yet advancement to the capital was no simple matter.
Moreover, there would certainly be those who sought to check an suddenly prominent Hong Won-chang, and despite receiving the emperor’s reward, he held no certainty that he could rise to the capital with ease.
Besides, many would scrutinize the details of this affair, and truth be told, the prospect of ascending to Buk-gyeong was considerably burdensome for him.
Numerous parties would press him for the truth of the incident.
Then Dang Woo-hyeon spoke.
“It matters little, but still, it’s a pity.”
“Fear not, sir. This Hong Won-chang shall never forget you, should I rise to the capital itself.”
“Is that so… that is kind of you to say.”
Dang Woo-hyeon smiled faintly and drained his tea.
To be remembered by someone is a good thing. After a thousand years, Dang Woo-hyeon could not be found in anyone’s memory.
“Ah, but of late it seems many martial artists have been gathering in Akyeong. I worry some trouble may arise……”
“Understood. In such circumstances, it’s natural for flies to swarm. We have one at home too—a dung fly, you might say.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Hong Won-chang, unable to grasp the meaning, asked in confusion. These past two days had been so hectic he hadn’t visited the estate, so he didn’t even know who was there.
‘A dung fly? Could he mean that fool Jang Sam-tae?’
His brow furrowed in puzzlement.
In Hong Won-chang’s view, there existed no dung fly quite like Jang Sam-tae in this world.
Giggle.
Just then, a child’s laughter drifted in from outside.
Dang Woo-hyeon rose quietly and carefully opened the window. There in the courtyard stood Hwa So-mi, playing alone as she wandered about.
Watching her with a gentle smile, Hong Won-chang too spoke with evident warmth.
“A truly kind child. Rare these days.”
“Indeed.”
Who could know Hwa So-mi’s kindness as well as Dang Woo-hyeon?
That is why they remained together, and that is why he wished to protect her.
As a gentle smile crossed her face, Hong Won-chang’s voice reached her ears.
“Ha, but wouldn’t it be time soon to send the boy to school?”
“School?”
Dang Woo-hyeon tilted his head in confusion.
He’d heard such places existed, but he’d never studied anywhere himself. For that reason, he wondered if it was truly necessary.
In his mind, one could get by in life perfectly well without such things.
Seeing Dang Woo-hyeon’s bewildered expression, Hong Won-chang sprang up eagerly and began to speak.
“School is essential for children these days, absolutely essential! What greater shame could there be if your boy went out into the world unable to read a single character? Moreover, he’d make friends and gain the opportunity to discover his talents — it’s a double benefit, no, a triple benefit, is it not?”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
“Yes, of course it is. Ha, I happen to know a fine school — shall I introduce you to it?”
“…Let me give it some thought for now.”
Watching Dang Woo-hyeon’s hesitant expression, Hong Won-chang clenched his fist firmly. A parent’s heart is the same in everyone: they want their child to eat well, dress well, and not fall behind others.
Though he hesitated now, Dang Woo-hyeon would certainly come around.
‘The boy who’ll become my daughter-in-law — would I let him go through life unable to read?’
Hong Won-chang smiled to himself.
This was the moment his plan to make Hwa So-mi his daughter-in-law was truly beginning to take shape. But as Dang Woo-hyeon’s gaze fell upon him, he quickly looked down and coughed awkwardly.
If his true intentions were discovered, he might as well be dead.
So he had to move as naturally as possible.

***

Hwa So-mi found that though the garden was smaller than the one at her own estate, it was beautifully maintained, and everything around her looked so different that it felt as if she’d stepped into another world.
Because of this, she was all the more delighted.
Dang Woo-hyeon, who was occupied with conversation with Hong Won-chang, showed no sign of coming out anytime soon, but Hwa So-mi didn’t mind. She was used to playing alone.
She gazed at the planted flowers and chased after butterflies.
The fish swimming in the small pond fascinated her.
They weren’t the ordinary fish she saw at home.
Remarkably, their scales shimmered with color and they were quite large.
‘Are these what they call koi?’
Hwa So-mi picked up a small twig and dipped it into the pond. When the large carp startled and fled, she burst into delighted laughter.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
The voice came at that very moment.
Startled, Hwa So-mi jerked her head up and looked straight ahead. There stood a large boy, motionless.
With his hulking frame and oversized fists, he looked less like a boy her own age and more like a small bear.
The boy approached with heavy, thundering steps.
He clearly disliked the fact that a stranger was playing in his home.
Since he’d never seen her before and hadn’t even heard that an important guest was coming, he figured there was no need to be cautious — his movements were unguarded and aggressive.
The boy advanced toward Hwa So-mi with a menacing scowl.
“I asked you what you’re doing.”
“Um…”
Hwa So-mi took a step back nervously.
As the hulking boy approached, fear welled up inside her. She looked around for Dang Woo-hyeon, but he had gone inside and showed no sign of returning.
Meanwhile, the boy drew closer and closer.
“Who exactly are you anyway? This is our house!”
“Oh, I…”
Startled by his loud voice, she stumbled backward once more, her feet tangling as her body lurched dangerously off balance.
With a short cry, Hwa So-mi’s body pitched forward toward the pond.

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