My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 25

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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 25. What in the world is this man?
How much time had passed?
“Huff, huff! Huff…….”
The hellish Gubo run had already carried them over the mountain’s highest ridge.
Even the warriors who sprinted this hill every day were gasping for breath.
Today’s Gubo was far more grueling than usual.
The Jojang leading the run had deliberately chosen only the most treacherous and difficult paths.
‘What is he doing?!’
‘Someone stop this lunatic, please!’
‘This is way too much, no matter how you look at it!’
They could tell that Noh Il-bong had made up his mind today, but none of them had imagined he would go to such lengths.
As a result, only the running warriors grew more exhausted.
One moment of lost focus and they might Dropout without warning.
“Huff, huff, gasp…….”
His heart felt ready to burst.
And yet,
‘This can’t be real.’
‘How is this even possible?’
‘Is that man really just a scholar who buried himself in books?’
Among them all, only Yeo Un-hwi ran with perfect ease, even as the others struggled.
More than that—even on the steep slopes and sharp descents, he took in the surrounding scenery with unhurried composure.
‘This is pure madness!’
Everyone felt as though they’d been cursed by a ghost.
And then there was the man who saw it all.
Grrrrr.
Noh Il-bong’s face twisted savagely at the front of the pack.
Though he was already drenched in sweat, the sight of Yeo Un-hwi’s effortless running irritated him so much that he kept pushing toward even harsher terrain.
But by the time they’d circled the entire mountain and began the descent, he had not once seen Yeo Un-hwi gasping for breath.
The run was drawing to an end.
The Peng Family Estate came into view in the distance.
Once they passed through the gates and returned to their starting point, today’s Gubo would be finished.
It had always been that way.
“Wheeze, wheeze wheeze…….”
As the warriors wheezed harder than ever before, Noh Il-bong—who had orchestrated this entire ordeal to humiliate Yeo Un-hwi—turned back with a look of genuine shock.
‘It can’t end like this…….’
This was nothing like the picture he’d imagined.
In that moment, Yeo Un-hwi caught Noh Il-bong’s eye and flashed him a grin.
Crack.
That smile unraveled something in Noh Il-bong’s mind.
From Yeo Un-hwi’s perspective, it had been nothing but a light, grateful smile—a simple expression of thanks for being invited to this morning’s run.
The drenched warriors, however, no longer cared whether Yeo Un-hwi was being mocked or tired.
They only felt relief that the Gubo was nearly over.
‘I need to get some cold water.’
‘I’m going for a cold bath. That’ll be perfect.’
‘I’m drinking water and lying down for the entire rest period. Don’t anyone touch me.’
But then.
“One more lap.”
“Excuse me?”
Wondering if they’d misheard, the warriors turned to Noh Il-bong with confusion written across their faces, and the Jojang leading the run suddenly bellowed.
“One more lap! Let’s go!”
“Wha……?”
At his words, every face went pale.
‘Is he insane?!’
‘What’s gotten into him?!’
But no one dared stop him.
Not even the other Jojangs.
Their code was to obey the Jojang leading that day’s run without question.
Though it had never been meant for situations like this.
‘Noooooooo, I can’t!’
Every warrior screamed silently inside.
But Noh Il-bong, his eyes gone wild, simply turned his head back toward the mountain and took off running again.
‘Oh ho. Once more? I like it.’
Yet even in that hellish chaos, Yeo Un-hwi alone remained composed.
As if he were out for a morning stroll.
And so… true hell’s Gubo began.
How much time passed then?
“Graaaaaahhh…….”
“Hnnngh… uuuugh…….”
They were already completing the third lap.
Thump. Thump.
One by one, the warriors collapsed in front of the Peng Family Estate’s main gate.
They lay scattered about in a state too pitiful for the eye to bear.
It wasn’t as though they’d fought some battle to the death—just a simple Gubo training—and yet the sight was devastatingly wretched.
“Ghhhh… hah, one… one more…….”
“Please, stop! They’ll all collapse at this rate!”
Nearly a third had dropped out or fallen; the rest, retching violently, seemed to have not a shred of normalcy left in them.
One of the warriors, unable to hold back any longer, shouted at Noh Il-bong, who had turned the morning Gubo into a living hell.
His face had already grown gaunt, and his legs trembled like aspen leaves.
He looked as though he could collapse and lose consciousness at any moment without the slightest surprise.
And yet—
“Don’t talk nonsense… Look at that one over there… still fine, isn’t he? I, I… absolutely… cannot… accept… this.”
He still hadn’t come to his senses, clinging stubbornly to pointless pride.
Then Yeo Un-hwi approached.
“Whew, now I’m finally starting to work up a proper sweat. This is good. I haven’t done morning Gubo very often before, I must say. Ha ha!”
He bounced lightly in place as he spoke.
“Then I’ll see you all again tomorrow morning. Good work today, everyone.”
“What? Tomorrow morning? Wait, just a moment…….”
But Yeo Un-hwi had already said what he came to say and vanished into the distance.
He still looked full of energy.
Everyone stood dumbfounded.
“This, this, this can’t be… wuuuuurgh!”
In the end, even Noh Il-bong, who had clung to his stubborn pride until the last, couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed forward, heaving out the contents of his stomach.
In that moment, they all shared the same thought.
‘Just who is this person……?’
They should have understood it then.
Yeo Un-hwi never spoke empty words.
From that day forward, he really did come every single day.
The next day, the day after that, the day after that.
The problem was that on that first day, he’d decided that absurd, hellish level of running suited him just fine—and so he kept demanding they do it that way.
“Screeeeaaah!”
“Guuuuurgh!”
“P-please… mercy……!”
Because of this, the warriors experienced a living hell every morning.
Everything they had done before seemed like children’s play by comparison.
In the end, all the rage fell upon Noh Il-bong, the one who had caused this disaster.
“Making a show of yourself like that—ugh! Just kill me, put me out of my misery!”
“How on earth could I bury this bastard six feet under and be congratulated for it? Huh?”
Even the Jojang-rank warriors themselves glared daggers at him, demanding he take responsibility.
“…I know, I know.”
In the end, Noh Il-bong couldn’t endure it and went to find Yeo Un-hwi that very day, begging him earnestly.
And—
“Please, please don’t come out for the morning Gubo anymore. I beg you, I beg you.”
He pleaded with him again and again.
‘Tsk, that was rather fun. A shame it has to end.’
Yeo Un-hwi had no choice but to agree.
Afterwards, the warriors would recall that time and say to one another:
That Gubo with Yeo Un-hwi—that was the true Gubo from hell.
And word of the morning Gubo spread throughout the entire Peng Family Estate.
***
“What’s going on?”
Peng Seo-yeon regarded Yeo Un-hwi with an expression of utter disbelief.
She’d heard the recent rumors well enough—whispers of what her husband had been up to each morning, gossip that drifted through the estate.
“Hmm? What do you mean? What’s this about?”
“What do I mean? When did you get so fit? You used to huff and puff after the slightest exertion.”
“Ha ha, did I really?”
Yeo Un-hwi scratched his head, offering an evasive answer.
At that, Peng Seo-yeon’s eyes narrowed.
“Did you really? Look at you. Getting smoother and smoother with your words these days.”
“Ha ha. Truth is, I’ve just been running quite diligently without you knowing.”
“That’s all it takes?”
“Apparently it does.”
“What? You’re being evasive about this?”
“Ha ha ha! Sorry, sorry.”
As Yeo Un-hwi grinned openly, Peng Seo-yeon let out a laugh.
She knew better than anyone how strong the warriors of the Habuk Peng Family Estate were.
The thought that her frail husband had outdone them all in a long-distance run simply defied belief.
Honestly, something about her husband lately felt off.
There were more than a few suspicious things.
Yet she’d decided not to press him about it just now.
She would wait for him to tell her himself, in his own time.
Because she trusted him more than anyone.
If he wasn’t speaking of it now, there must be a reason for his silence.
And more than anything, this present situation was infinitely better than seeing her husband harassed and humiliated.
So she’d decided to let it be for now.
Yet somehow, letting it pass without comment didn’t sit right with her.
And so,
“Ow!”
Yeo Un-hwi yelped as Peng Seo-yeon pinched his arm with all her strength, turning to look at his wife with a grimace.
“Honey, that hurts. Why? Why are you doing this?”
“Hmm. I don’t know. You’re just being so annoying.”
“What?”
“Dad, Mom says you’re annoying!”
“Huh?”
Yeo Un-hwi, looking utterly confused, rubbed his arm, while Yul watched with a delighted giggle.
Only then did Peng Seo-yeon’s expression soften, her irritation fading.
***
“…Ha ha ha! Is that truly what happened?”
“Yes, sir. The warriors haven’t mentioned Gubo in his presence since, and they’ve been quietly avoiding him altogether.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
Peng Seo-jin burst into continuous laughter at Heo Uk-il’s report.
“That’s amusing. Quite amusing indeed.”
Peng Seo-jin had honestly been wondering if this would be the time Yeo Un-hwi finally struggled.
But he’d never imagined things would turn out like this.
His scheme to torment his elder brother had backfired spectacularly.
‘Strange fellow, after all.’
He’d heard the man only studied hard, yet somehow this had happened.
Perhaps he was more interesting than expected.
Peng Seo-jin stroked his chin, deciding he ought to invite his brother out for a private drink soon.
Of course, without their father knowing.
It was then
that footsteps sounded from outside.
“Daegoongja, it is time to depart.”
“Has it come to that already?”
Peng Seo-jin rose from his seat with a nod, and Heo Uk-il spoke up.
“Would it be all right if I didn’t accompany you this time?”
At Heo Uk-il’s words, Peng Seo-jin let out a soft chuckle.
“Don’t you have duties today?”
It was nearly time for the Baekho Unit’s training to begin.
“Besides, I can’t very well drag the Jojang everywhere I go. Who would oversee the Baekho Unit’s training and management then?”
“Still,”
“It’s fine. Anyone watching would think you’re heading off into rough country. But as I’ve told you before, you worry far too much.”
Peng Seo-jin patted Heo Uk-il on the shoulder with a laugh, and Heo Uk-il nodded in acknowledgment.
“Understood.”
“Then I’ll be off.”
With those words, Peng Seo-jin set out down the road.
He did not know it then.
He did not know what was about to befall him that day.

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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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