My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 124

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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 124. Isn’t it infuriating, my husband?
“Ugh. Good morning.”
“Rising at this hour every day is torture, truly.”
“Hmm? But why do you look like that? Didn’t you sleep?”
“Oh dear. I drank so heavily last night I thought I’d die—I really did. My body’s not what it used to be. Back then, no matter how much I drank, a little sleep and I’d wake up fresh as ever.”
“Well, you should think about your age, man. Did you think you’d stay young forever? Anyway, we’ve got plenty to do today—hurry along.”
“Right, I will.”
It was early morning when workers who had just left their homes gathered with tired faces, chattering idly before moving to begin their labor.
Whoooosh!
Flash!
Suddenly, a brilliant golden light erupted from the distant Mountain Peak above them, only to fade away moments later.
One man among the workers—the only one who had seen it—started in alarm.
“What kind of sun is rising over there?”
“Huh? What are you talking about? The sun’s just starting to appear from over there.”
As another worker pointed to where the sun was breaking above the opposite side of the Mountain Peak, the man who had alone witnessed the brilliant golden light fell silent, his expression vacant.
“Wait… I could have sworn I saw a bright light over there…”
“You still haven’t shaken off sleep, have you?”
“No, I really did see—”
“Stop wasting time and get moving. If we’re late, we’ll lose all the work and only we’ll suffer for it.”
“Y-yes. Right, yes.”
The workers then led the still-bewildered man away and vanished into the distance.
The sun was just beginning to rise in the dim sky.
The way the sunlight slowly illuminated the ground below was truly beautiful.
***
On a high mountain peak, Yeo Un-hwi sat alone in a cross-legged position and slowly opened his eyes.
‘I’ve finally reached the sixth stage of Cheonmu Shingong.’
Yet Yeo Un-hwi’s face was filled not with joy but with astonishment and confusion.
Even accounting for the far greater time he was dedicating to Cheonmu Shingong training compared to before the Regression, this was far too fast.
In fact, he wasn’t even sure it could be called training in the traditional sense.
Yeo Un-hwi did nothing more than perform Yungi Josik breathing exercises each early morning atop the highest Mountain Peak near the Peng Estate, allowing the Martial God’s energy that had taken root in his body to spread evenly throughout.
Despite it being merely that, Yeo Un-hwi’s Cheonmu Shingong was advancing at a frightening pace.
“Cheonmu Shingong at the sixth stage.”
Thinking of all he had accomplished at the fourth and fifth stages until now, he could scarcely imagine what kind of power the sixth stage possessed. He wanted nothing more than to test this strength immediately, but doing so might send the mountain flying whole, so for now he held back.
It is always a joy when one’s martial arts reach a higher realm.
Yet Yeo Un-hwi felt a creeping fear.
He was growing stronger at a pace incomparably faster than before the Regression.
Why was this?
Unlike before the Regression, why was he devoting this time every early morning?
Of course, there must be reasons for it as well.
But,
‘That’s not all.’
A conviction formed within him that there might be another reason altogether.
A reason he needed to grow stronger more quickly.
It was as if some premonition whispered that entirely unforeseen events might unfold ahead.
Events that had not occurred before the Regression.
But did that even make sense?
After all, the very fact that he had undergone the Regression was something that should not have been possible.
What could it be, then?
What was happening?
Until now, the security of knowing what was to come had given him no small comfort.
But as that certainty slipped away, a creeping unease was inevitable.
Then,
‘No. No, that’s not it.’
The moment of doubt passed, and Yeo Un-hwi quickly steeled his resolve.
He possessed the Cheonmu Shingong—the Martial Arts of the Martial God known as the First of All Ages.
The very techniques that even the masters who had opposed him when he was the Blood Demon before the Regression had coveted.
There was no reason to fear.
‘Let anything come. I’ll crush it all.’
And so Yeo Un-hwi’s eyes blazed with determination.
Whatever enemy, whatever crisis—he would overcome them all and protect his family without fail.
That much, at least, he would never abandon.
A long exhale.
Having settled his thoughts in rough order, Yeo Un-hwi slowly gathered his energy.
It was time to make his way down.
But then—
Hmm?
Near the mountain peak where he stood, he sensed a presence.
A thin smile crossed Yeo Un-hwi’s lips at once.
He knew this aura well.
Not long after, someone appeared at the mountain peak where Yeo Un-hwi was standing.
“I always wondered why you scaled this treacherous place every morning without apparent reason—but the view truly is splendid from here.”
It was Jin So-baek.
How had he found this place?
The answer was simple enough. Was he not the Master of Hao Wen?
He had already grasped every move and gesture Yeo Un-hwi made.
Naturally, he knew as well that each early morning, Yeo Un-hwi sought out this solitude, undisturbed by anyone.
Though more precisely, Yeo Un-hwi had allowed himself to be tracked in this way.
So that Jin So-baek could come find him whenever business demanded it.
Like today.
“Our next meeting wasn’t scheduled for some time yet. What matter brings you here?”
“Ah, I’ve come with urgent news that couldn’t wait to be delivered.”
Jin So-baek, who had been admiring the vista spread below the mountain peak, turned to face Yeo Un-hwi with sudden gravity in his expression.
Yeo Un-hwi raised one eyebrow slightly, meeting his gaze.
“And what news is that?”
“There has been an incident at the Sichuan Dang Family.”
“The Sichuan Dang Family?”
“Yes. Dang Gu-hwi—that mad creature—has finally made a spectacle of himself.”
Yeo Un-hwi’s eyes went cold in an instant.
Some time ago, Yeo Un-hwi had instructed him to maintain a steady watch over the broader movements of the Martial World and the activities of the Five Great Clans, and to report regularly.
Beyond that, there were a few suspicious individuals whom he wished monitored with highest priority.
But Dang Gu-hwi was not among them.
He had already been reduced to complete uselessness—unable to speak or move at all, capable only of rolling his eyes and opening his mouth to accept food so he might continue breathing—and so there seemed no need to place him under highest watch.
It was Jin So-baek’s own judgment to classify this matter as urgent priority.
After learning that the one who had crippled Dang Gu-hwi was Yeo Un-hwi himself, he had sensed the connection between them was no ordinary matter, and had chosen to monitor the situation carefully just in case.
And when the Sichuan Dang Family was thrown into utter chaos because of that Dang Gu-hwi, how could he do otherwise?
So it was that the moment the incident unfolded and he learned its nature, he had hurried to find Yeo Un-hwi with news that had not yet reached the Hebei Peng Clan.
Yeo Un-hwi had hired Jin So-baek precisely for moments like this.
In that regard, Jin So-baek was fulfilling his role exactly as Yeo Un-hwi had anticipated.
“Tell me the full story.”
At Yeo Un-hwi’s command, Jin So-baek nodded and relayed the terrible incident that had occurred at the Sichuan Dang Family exactly as it had happened.
As Yeo Un-hwi listened, his eyes grew heavy and dark.
When Jin So-baek finished his account, Yeo Un-hwi’s face registered confusion as he asked, “But how could someone whose Dantian was destroyed and who couldn’t move have possibly risen up, killed members of the family, and vanished?”

“In truth, I myself find that the most puzzling aspect. Yet nothing reliable has come to light. It appears even the Dang Family will have difficulty uncovering the truth. But in my estimation, there is only one possibility that could account for such a thing.”
“And that is?”
“Most likely, Demonic Arts.”
“Demonic Arts.”
“But that too is merely conjecture on my part, hardly certain.”
Yeo Un-hwi made a small sound of consideration.
He fell silent, thinking.
Dang Gu-hwi had spoken such words when he disappeared, or so the account went.
He swore to destroy the accursed Sichuan Dang Family with his own hands, in the most terrible manner imaginable.
It was unexpected.
Had he truly recovered, the one he should hate most would be Yeo Un-hwi himself.
So why?
Of course, he had no intention of taking such words at face value.
‘Troublesome.’
In dealing with Dang Gu-hwi that day, while he had chosen not to kill him outright—out of regard for Dang Mu-jun—there had also been a desire to watch him suffer the cruelest agony and die slowly.
And yet something like this had occurred.
Perhaps he should have killed him after all.
No. If he’d acted then, the Sichuan Dang Family—and his relationship with Dang Mu-jun—would have become an irreversible blood debt, whatever the truth of the matter.
This was why human relationships were such a headache.
But then again,
‘Perhaps it turned out for the best after all.’
In that instant, Yeo Un-hwi’s eyes glimmered.
He’d always harbored an uneasy feeling about leaving it unresolved.
Now that circumstances had shifted, he could deal with Dang Gu-hwi without hesitation.
‘This time, I’ll make sure you die in greater agony than anyone else in this world, Dang Gu-hwi.’
The killing intent flowing from Yeo Un-hwi in that moment made Jin So-baek’s body tremble violently.
“Ack—”
What manner of killing intent was so terrifying? Even breathing felt like a burden.
Seeing Jin So-baek struggle, Yeo Un-hwi swiftly withdrew his killing intent.
He fell silent for a moment in thought, then made a request of Jin So-baek.
“Pardon?”
After hearing everything, Jin So-baek’s eyes widened.
“But to bring in that many people, we’d need quite a substantial sum.”
“As I always say, don’t worry about money. And this is the surest method, so it’ll have to do.”
“Ha. If that’s what the client says.”
The way those words—don’t worry about money—made his heart race. Jin So-baek grinned as if he’d never been gasping for breath moments before.
“Then I’ll rely on you alone.”
As Yeo Un-hwi’s eyes gleamed with newfound resolve, why did his expression remind Jin So-baek of a tiger that had just begun its hunt?
Gulp.
Jin So-baek made a mental note: no matter what happened, this man could never become his enemy.
***
Hmm.
At the same time.
For some reason, Peng Mugang had worn a troubled expression since morning.
Watching her husband, Dan Hui-yeong tilted her head curiously.
“Is something wrong?”
“Hmm? Oh, it’s nothing at all.”
“Nothing at all. You’ve got that worried look plastered all over your face. Don’t I know you?”
“Ahem. Well, it’s Yul-i’s birthday coming up soon, isn’t it?”
“Our granddaughter’s birthday troubles you that much?”
“It’s just… I’m not sure what to give her.”
Normally, he could simply give whatever came to mind or whatever looked fine, but this birthday was different.
Peng Mugang wanted to make this birthday—one he’d never had the chance to celebrate before—truly magnificent.
So he’d decided to throw the grandest, most lavish birthday celebration yet.
But the more he thought about whether there might be something more, the more it felt endless.
That’s how it is when love runs deep.
Rather than delighting in what you might give, you find yourself fretting over what would make the other person happier.
“Now that I think of it, what did I give Seo-jin and Seo-yeon back then?”
“You don’t remember?”
“It’s a bit hazy.”
“You gave them swords.”
“Swords?”
Peng Mugang’s face went blank for a moment.
“Yes. Quite gruffly too, if I recall. And not just once.”
“E-every year?”
Surely he hadn’t meant to give nothing but swords every year…?
“Yes. Every year, you gave them a larger sword tailored to their growing frames.”
“….”
“Quite the father, aren’t you, my dear?”
Why had he done that?
To have given birthday gifts with so little thought.
Peng Mugang suddenly felt ashamed of his past self.
Dan Hui-yeong smiled softly and continued.
“Still, our children turned out well enough, didn’t they? Even so.”
“….”
True, one had run away without warning and returned years later, and the other earned the title of Jade Dragon the Madman in the Martial World because of her temperament. But well, all things considered.
After a moment of reflection,
Peng Mugang resolved once more to celebrate Yul-i’s upcoming birthday in grand style.
Of course, he intended to prepare a proper birthday gift as well.
This time, something other than a sharp blade or weapon.
But nothing came to mind, and Peng Mugang found himself genuinely at a loss.
Yet did he know it?
That he was not alone in wrestling with such a concern.

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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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