My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 110

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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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Episode 110. And so time flowed on.
Of late.
“I mean, really.”
The principals themselves might not have realized it, but there was another place buzzing with talk of the Baeklang Dae.
“I just don’t understand why they all insist on it.”
Gu Wangbyo spoke as though genuinely baffled.
And with good reason—it stemmed from the demands of the very people standing before him.
“We’d like to undergo Hell Training just like Baeklang Dae does!”
“But why, exactly?”
“Because no matter how much we think about it, that’s the only reason Baeklang Dae has been doing so well lately!”
“What?”
“Isn’t it true? Of course we know he’s a good man, but the Baeklang Dae Master doesn’t even understand Martial Arts well, so that can’t be why Baeklang Dae has gained such renown recently. The only real change has been that absurd training—day after day!”
“So that training really is absurd, then?”
“But we still want to do it!”
Ha!
Watching the Baekmu Division members who had shown up recently and were now throwing this petulant tantrum, Gu Wangbyo couldn’t help but laugh hollowly.
“You lot! The Master himself has advised against it—and yet you cling to this stubbornness!”
“But—!”
“No, you’re really going to persist!”
In place of the perplexed Gu Wangbyo, Nak Seokdo, the Vice-Master, was about to rebuke them severely.
But Gu Wangbyo stopped him.
“Master.”
Hmm….
Gu Wangbyo, who had fallen into thought, soon spoke with hearty resolve.
“All right. I agree!”
“Yes! Master! Thank you!”
“However.”
Gu Wangbyo swept his gaze across all the members who had come to seek him out and spoke.
“Let’s observe Baeklang Dae’s training properly one more time before we decide.”
There was a world of difference between catching a glimpse while passing through and watching it while imagining yourself actually doing it—the opinion could well change.
But the members shook their heads in assent, their faces alight with certainty that this would never happen.
“Yes, we understand.”
“Then, Vice-Master, give the Baeklang Dae Master advance notice.”
“Understood.”
Nak Seokdo answered with a deep sigh.
And so the Baekmu Division soon set out toward Baeklang Dae’s training grounds.
Their hearts swollen with dreams and hopes of growing stronger.
But then—
Ahhhhhhh!
Uhhhhhhhhh!
Hup-ch—uoooooh! N-noooooo!
The training grounds they arrived at looked vastly different from what they had imagined.
The practice field was filled with screams and groans far more terrible than anything before.
Huh? This… wasn’t the atmosphere at all?
All the Baekmu Division members stood with vacant expressions.
They had occasionally glimpsed Baeklang Dae training.
Certainly, in recent days, Baeklang Dae had been handling their training with remarkable ease.
Which was precisely why they had grown nervous.
Watching them adapt to such grueling training and execute it without strain made it seem as though the gap between them was widening steadily.
Of course, individual Martial Arts proficiency mattered greatly, but in group combat, stamina was equally vital.
Only with it could soldiers respond swiftly to commands in the chaos of battle, execute formations, and strike-and-retreat tactics.
In that respect, Baeklang Dae had shed the old air of a wanderer’s band entirely and was now taking on the shape of a truly formidable fighting force.
So they had pestered their Master, insisting they too undergo this Hell Training so as not to fall further behind.
And yet….
Ahhhhhhh!
Uooooooh!
The screams continued without respite, and even as members rotated through and retched during the training, they threw themselves back into it without pause.
This wasn’t Hell Training—this was actual hell.
….
The resolve they had carried wavered and crumbled away.
Hmm. I must have misunderstood something…….
“Ahem. Splendid, truly.”
For a moment, I thought I’d heard wrong.
The heads of the Baekmu Division members snapped toward Gu Wangbyo.
Gu Wangbyo nodded slowly as he watched the Baeklang Dae training.
“So that’s what you all want to do. What remarkable courage you have.”
“Sir?”
“I shall steel myself to repay your bravery in kind.”
“No, that’s just it, sir. I think we’ve made a mistake in explaining——”
But it was already too late, and Gu Wangbyo’s eyes were gleaming with amusement.
The color drained from the faces of the Baekmu Division members.
Deputy Commander Nak Seokdo shook his head at the sight of them.
“So you pestered me so relentlessly because you wanted that training?”
“No, sir——”
“I was wrong. I had no idea your passion ran so deep.”
…….
“Come now. My blood stirs with memories of my youth. I was foolish. Let us return at once and train ourselves so we don’t fall behind. Ha ha ha!”
“Sir, sir! Wait a moment, please!”
The Baekmu Division members lunged frantically to stop Gu Wangbyo.
But as though he’d employed the Chukji Method, he was already gone.
A booming, delighted laugh rang out across the distance.
No, no! This wasn’t——this wasn’t what we meant!
In that moment, the Baekmu Division members realized:
Something had gone terribly, catastrophically wrong.
And from that day forward, screams and wails echoed from yet another corner of the Peng Estate.
Unwittingly, the future of the Peng Estate had grown all the brighter.
***
The sky began to slowly stain itself crimson.
Today, Yeo Un-hwi had ended Baeklang Dae training early.
Not everything hinged on pushing through grueling drills every single day.
Proper rest accelerated growth in skill far more than constant exertion.
And so Yeo Un-hwi, having sent back the Baeklang Dae members—who whined despite their glassy eyes that they wanted more training—with measured laughter and stern warnings, was himself returning home at last after so long.
At last reaching his chamber, he gently opened the door and stepped inside to find Peng Seoyeon greeting him with a smile.
“Oh? You’re home early today? It’s so hard to catch a glimpse of my husband.”
Though he’d come home early today, Yeo Un-hwi was well aware that his usual arrival time was rather late.
An embarrassed smile crossed his face.
“Ha. I suppose so.”
“What keeps you so busy?”
“It simply turned out that way. I apologize.”
It’s alright. But it brings me joy just to see you adapting so well to the Peng Estate.”
Peng Seoyeon’s expression of feigned displeasure soon gave way to a radiant smile.
Having removed his outer garment, Yeo Un-hwi sat beside Peng Seoyeon on the bed.
“Did the Baeklang Dae finish early today?”
“Yes. Daily training is good, but proper rest helps skill grow faster, so——”
“My goodness, how did you know that? Usually those just beginning their Martial Arts studies are too impatient to grasp such things.”
“O Chaemu mentioned it to me. So that’s how I’ve been conducting training.”
“Ah, I see.”
That sounded like something O Chaemu would do.
Before Yeo Un-hwi took command of Baeklang Dae, O Chaemu had been leading it.
Peng Seoyeon, who had been nodding with wide eyes, suddenly wore a mischievous expression as she looked at Yeo Un-hwi.
“By the way, how much Martial Arts have you learned? Shall I assess you?”
Peng Seoyeon had gained confidence from her match with Dan Mok Hwaryeon.
Moreover, her own skill had advanced by leaps and bounds since then, so she felt she could easily evaluate someone like Yeo Un-hwi, who had only recently begun learning Martial Arts.
However,
“No. I’d be so embarrassed in front of you that I might drop my foundation to the ground.”
“Tch. Fine.”
Though she hadn’t expected him to refuse outright, Peng Seoyeon still pouted her lips, displeased at the rejection.
Of course, it didn’t last long.
Yeo Un-hwi gazed at her with affection before his eyes drifted lower, toward her lap.
There, Yul-i lay with her head resting on Peng Seoyeon’s knee, breathing deeply in sleep.
“By the way, Yul-i’s asleep early. She might wake at dawn, don’t you think?”
The sun had only just begun to dip below the horizon.
Yeo Un-hwi’s remark drew a nod from Peng Seoyeon, though her smile carried a hint of helplessness.
“She must have gone on an outing from Sowol Academy today. She came back looking absolutely delighted.”
“Ah, an outing.”
She kept nodding off even during supper, so I couldn’t bring myself to wake her. Ha.”
In recent months, the Peng Estate’s martial officers had been discreetly watching over Sowol Academy in rotation, so there was no cause for worry.
Besides, Yul-i had both a bodyguard her grandfather had specially assigned and the Guardian Mirror that Yeo Un-hwi had given her, so she could venture out on an outing like this in perfect safety.
There was truly nothing to fear.
Yeo Un-hwi smiled gently and stroked Yul-i’s forehead.
“Can’t be helped. If she wakes at dawn, I’ll put her back to sleep.”
“Really? Then I’d better cover my ears and sleep soundly.”
“Ha ha.”
When Yeo Un-hwi laughed at the sight of Peng Seoyeon pretending to cover her ears, she laughed along with him.
Then, as Yul-i shifted in her sleep, they both started and simultaneously raised a finger to their lips.
A small laugh escaped between them once more.
“Mmm….”
Little Yul-i, slightly fretful, slipped back into deep sleep.
Watching her affectionately, Peng Seoyeon spoke in a soft murmur.
“It’s been quite some time since we came here, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, it has.”
“When you first said we should return to the Peng Estate, I was nothing but anxious. But now, looking back, it feels like the right choice.”
“It does.”
“I almost severed ties with my parents for life. I’m truly grateful.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Sometimes, Peng Seoyeon still felt as though returning to the Peng Estate were a dream.
Or perhaps life in Sodam Village itself had been the dream.
“Even so, I miss Sodam Village sometimes. Those were good days.”
Peng Seoyeon murmured, her eyes distant.
Her expression seemed caught between laughter and tears.
Yet Yeo Un-hwi understood the depths of her heart perfectly.
So he spoke with deliberate lightness, smiling gently.
“Then there’s no need to just miss it—let’s go sometime. It’ll be good to see everyone’s faces again after so long.”
“Really?”
“Of course. What’s so difficult about it? And everyone will be delighted to see us.”
“That sounds wonderful. But not right now—let’s go when we have time, definitely.”
“All right.”
Brightened by talk of Sodam Village, Peng Seoyeon beamed and leaned her head gently against Yeo Un-hwi’s shoulder where he sat beside her.
Yeo Un-hwi tilted his head to meet hers.
“Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And a candy… one more….”
In the meantime, Yul-i, sleeping soundly with her head resting on Peng Seoyeon’s lap, began to talk in her sleep.
At the sight of her, both Yeo Un-hwi and Peng Seoyeon broke into quiet laughter.
And so another day passed over the heads of this small family.
***
Time flowed on and several months slipped away.
While the Baeklang Dae devoted themselves to mastering the new martial techniques Yeo Un-hwi had taught them, the days flew by like arrows.
Then one day, a letter arrived at the Hebei Peng Estate.
“Ah, so the time has come already.”
Peng Mugang nodded after finishing the letter.
“Anhui Province this time, then. It’s been too long—everyone will gather. I wonder how they’ve all been faring. Ha ha!”
Peng Mugang let out a chuckle.
A gleam of anticipation flickered across his eyes.

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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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