My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 126

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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 126. The One Who Reads Heaven
A figure appeared at Yul-i’s birthday celebration, her laughter filling the room, erupting into hearty laughter himself.
Despite his shabby appearance, he was a middle-aged man with unusually clear eyes and a distinctive presence.
The moment Peng Mugang saw him, his face brightened with recognition.
“Sim Ho-bang! You’ve come!”
Sim Ho-bang, the One Who Reads Heaven.
A man belonging to the Gae Bang, known for his severe wanderlust and rarely encountered—that was him.
There was good reason why he was called the One Who Reads Heaven despite being a beggar of the Gae Bang.
He possessed a singular gift: the ability to glimpse fragments of the future.
No one knew how such a thing was possible.
All that was known was that it was a talent he had been born with.
But once word of the One Who Reads Heaven’s ability spread, many sought him out, trying to exploit his gift.
Some, learning of his extraordinary power, feared him.
Eventually, he began to wander the Martial World alone.
So that no one could easily ask him about the future, so that he would not be used by anyone.
Of course, this was only possible with the permission of the Gae Bang’s leader.
Thus he became one of the hardest people to encounter in the Martial World, counted among the few alongside the Divine Physician.
Moreover, despite his martial arts skill being unremarkable, his Lightness Martial Arts was spoken of as unparalleled under heaven, which only added to his legend.
Yet such a man now appeared unexpectedly at the Hebei Peng Estate.
“Ha ha ha! How have you been?”
“Well! As you can see, I’ve been well! How about you?”
“As you can see, I’ve been living like a beggar. But somehow I felt drawn to come here—I suppose I was fated to enjoy a good meal?”
“Ha ha! You haven’t changed a bit. Well met, well met indeed!”
Peng Mugang and Sim Ho-bang were men who had bonded by chance in their youth and remained close friends ever since.
Whenever anyone learned the identity of the One Who Reads Heaven, the question they asked was always the same.
What does my future look like, or whether there was any way for them to gain greater martial arts skill and wealth.
But Peng Mugang was different.
‘Ah, so you’re the famous One Who Reads Heaven? You must have had it rough.’
That was all he said.
When asked if he wasn’t curious about the future, he had merely snorted dismissively.
‘What’s the use in knowing? Whether the future is good or bad, where’s the fun in it if I know beforehand?’
It was the first time.
Moreover, it seemed to come from genuine sincerity, not merely polite words.
His attitude and response were utterly refreshing and gratifying to the One Who Reads Heaven.
And so from that point on, the two became quite close friends.
Even if they rarely saw each other.
“Huh? The One Who Reads Heaven!”
It was Hwangbo Gyun.
Having returned grumbling with an Internal Cultivation Method book that Peng Mugang had flung somewhere far away, he brightened at the sight of Sim Ho-bang.
“What, you don’t visit our Hwangbo household? You haven’t even shown your face to us once, yet you’re said to visit here every few years or so! Why are you being so cold to us, huh?”
“Ha ha. The Hwangbo household isn’t a place where one can stay quietly, you see. It’s not that I dislike the Hwangbo clan in particular.”
“Hm? Why can’t one stay quietly? Our Hwangbo clan is such a peaceful place.”
“That’s because there’s someone in all the Martial World with the most mischievous spirit.”
“Huh? Who are you talking about?”
“Isn’t it you? Don’t play dumb.”
Unable to watch further, Peng Mugang stepped in.
At that, Hwangbo Gyun wore an expression of protest, as if to say what nonsense that was.
“Me? Pfft, saying I have a mischievous spirit! What kind of ridiculous thing is that to say? You all just haven’t met our grandfather! Compared to him, my mischief is on a very ordinary level!”
…….
There seemed little need to bring up the late grandfather in such a discussion.
“Anyway, it’s truly wonderful to see you after so long, ha ha! Come now, we shouldn’t linger here—let’s go inside!”
Soon Sim Ho-bang and Hwangbo Gyun joined Peng Mugang and Dan Hee-young as they began their meal.
They too had been busy attending to the birthday celebration and were beginning to feel hunger.
Before long, Peng Seo-yeon and Yul-i entered the room together.
Peng Sejin followed after them.
“Uncle.”
Thanks to occasionally stopping by the Peng Estate and staying for days at a time, Sim Ho-bang was already well acquainted with Peng Seo-yeon and Peng Sejin.
This time, with so much time having passed since they last met, the One Who Reads Heaven’s face was filled with genuine joy.
“You’ve all grown so much.”
The last time he had seen Peng Seo-yeon and Peng Sejin, they had been just shedding their childhood innocence, their faces still youthful.
Now grown, she’d transformed into someone he barely recognized—and he found that rather remarkable.
His gaze shifted to the small child holding Peng Seo-yeon’s hand, eyes wide and sparkling as she gazed up at him.
“Ah, so you’re the guest of honor at today’s celebration?”
“Yul-i, you should greet him properly.”
Yul-i tilted her head, looking up at the grandfather who’d just appeared with her large, luminous eyes, then pressed her small hands together and bowed respectfully.
“Hello, sir.”
“Haha, that’s right. Lovely to meet you, Yul-i.”
Sim Ho-bang, amused by the child’s charming manner, soon wore an expression of keen interest.

“Well, well. I never imagined such a thing.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Your granddaughter is quite extraordinary, you know. Here I am, meeting the future Daohou.”
“What are you talking about? Daohou?”
“I mean it literally. Your granddaughter shows every sign of becoming a truly exceptional martial artist.”
Before his eyes rose a vision: a peerless beauty, as if all the world’s elegance had been poured into one form, wielding a dao inscribed with a dragon, gazing down upon creation itself.
And beside her stood a young man of similar bearing.
Peng Mugang’s eyes widened at Sim Ho-bang’s words, and he burst into delighted laughter.
“Kahahaha! Of course she will! I’m teaching her martial arts myself, after all. Haha! Daohou, you say! By then, she’ll cast aside that wretched Daohuang and make a name for herself!”
“My, my. Look at this stubborn old fool, expecting his granddaughter to accomplish what he himself couldn’t.”
Hwangbo Gyun was pleased to hear that Yul-i would become a great martial artist.
But seeing Peng Mugang’s self-satisfied demeanor, which he found utterly distasteful, Hwangbo Gyun couldn’t resist needling him. Peng Mugang faltered slightly, his words becoming hesitant.
“Ahem, well, I mean—that’s not quite what I meant, is it? Besides, if I’d had the chance back then, things would’ve been different next time. When that day comes, the seat among the Twelve Supremes will be mine, and the title of Daohuang as well.”
“Indeed, indeed. I do hope you’ll avenge your previous defeat, brother.”
“You damnable old mule!”

Hwangbo Gyun and Peng Mugang were bickering again.
Ever since the Yul-i succession dispute began, the two of them had taken to squabbling twice as much.
By fortune or misfortune, Gu Wang-pyo still had business outside and hadn’t involved himself in their quarrel.
Just then, Yeo Un-hwi arrived, having finished his work outdoors.
Peng Seo-yeon smiled and introduced him to Sim Ho-bang.
“This is my husband.”
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Yeo Un-hwi.”
“Ah, so you’re the one who captured our dear little Seo-yeon’s heart.”
Sim Ho-bang, who had been gazing at Yul-i with affection, slowly turned his head to regard Yeo Un-hwi.
In that instant, Sim Ho-bang’s eyes widened as if struck by lightning.
A vision seized him.
A colossal golden dragon gazing down upon him.
The sight overwhelmed Sim Ho-bang entirely.
“You… you are…….”
Sim Ho-bang stared at Yeo Un-hwi, speechless.
Yeo Un-hwi tilted his head curiously.
“Is something the matter?”
“Ah? No. I apologize. The long journey has left me rather fatigued, it seems.”
Observing Sim Ho-bang’s awkward evasion, Yeo Un-hwi understood.
The man had glimpsed something within him.
Yeo Un-hwi’s lips curved into an enigmatic smile.
It was a smile laden with profound emotion.
Deep sorrow and rage coexisted there, alongside feelings entirely opposite and contrary to those—utterly transformed.
That smile pierced Sim Ho-bang’s heart.
What manner of life had this man endured?
“Hmm? What is it, my friend? Is something wrong?”
Sensing that Sim Ho-bang’s reaction to Yeo Un-hwi was unusual, Peng Mugang interjected with a puzzled expression.
Only then did Sim Ho-bang withdraw his gaze and offer another smile.
“Nothing at all. Your son-in-law is simply quite striking in appearance.”
“Striking? Nonsense!”
Peng Mugang scoffed at Sim Ho-bang’s remark.
Yet unlike before, there was no real venom in his rejection of praise for his son-in-law.
Only in his words.
Meanwhile, Sim Ho-bang, having narrowly calmed his unexpectedly shaken nerves, fell deep into thought.
‘That was… I cannot quite describe it. But one thing is certain: a golden dragon that burns away all the world’s darkness. Yes, that is what it was.’

But what he had witnessed was far from all there was.
Soon enough, fragments of a future yet to unfold at the Hebei Peng Estate flickered through his mind.
‘Perhaps this is why I came to this place.’
He had been drawn here today by something he could not name.
And Sim Ho-bang had come to understand what it was.
It seemed a task had presented itself.
As the meal drew to a close, Sim Ho-bang called Hwangbo Gyun away privately.
“What is it?”
Hwangbo Gyun, having stepped outside, asked him the question.
“It’s nothing much, but I have a favor to ask of you.”
“A favor?”
“Yes. And until that day comes, you must keep it as quiet as possible.”
Sim Ho-bang’s eyes were grave beyond measure.
Seeing that gaze, Hwangbo Gyun nodded, his expression turning serious as well.
And shortly after.
Peng Mugang, watching the two men return, wore a puzzled expression.
“Where have you two been, leaving me behind?”
“Ha. Just a small matter. Well then, I should be on my way.”
Sim Ho-bang deftly changed the subject and, as soon as he returned to his seat, gathered his things.
“What? Already? Stay a few more days. You’ve only just arrived.”
“I had meant to, but more work has come up than I expected.”
“Work? What kind of work?”
“I’m afraid I cannot speak of it just now, and I trust you understand. But I suspect I shall return before long, so we can finish catching up then.”
“Well, I suppose so.”
Soon Sim Ho-bang offered a warm smile and hurried away from the Peng Estate.
He had appeared like the wind, and like the wind he vanished.
“Remarkable—he hasn’t changed since his youth,” Peng Mugang murmured.
He gazed after him with a trace of regret, then turned to see Yul-i with bright, eager eyes. In a flash, he swept her up into his arms.
“Eee!”
“Ha ha ha! What a bright future our granddaughter has ahead! This old man is practically bursting with pride! Shall we work especially hard at our training again tomorrow?”
“Yes! I’d love to!”
“Ha ha ha! That’s the spirit!”
Yul-i’s and Peng Mugang’s laughter filled the Peng Estate.
Watching them, Yeo Un-hwi and Peng Seo-yeon, Dan Hee-young and Peng Sejin all wore contented smiles.
Among them, mingled with the gentle warmth, were the cunning glances of Hwangbo Gyun and Gu Wang-pyo, who kept eager watch for an opportunity to present their newly crafted Internal Cultivation Methods and Blade Techniques, but in any case.
So Yul-i’s birthday celebration came to a happy end.
It would take days to examine all of Yul-i’s gifts piled high in her room.
Yet her family had nothing but happiness in their hearts.
But what future had Sim Ho-bang truly glimpsed?

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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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