My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 44

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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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Chapter 44. Passing On Credit
“If there’s something you want to say, go ahead.”
They had left the village some time ago and were making their way back down the mountain toward the Peng House.
The Baekrang-dae’s gaze toward Yeo Un-hui had transformed completely from the moment they’d turned away from the village.
It was only natural. They had witnessed with their own eyes that tremendous spectacle—how could their regard possibly remain unchanged?
So it was that they found themselves stealing glances at Yeo Un-hui again and again, almost without realizing it.
The same was true for O Chae-mu, Gu Tae-san, the twin brothers, and Do Gyeong.
At Yeo Un-hui’s words, O Chae-mu carefully opened his mouth.
“Might it be that the House Master also knew about you, my lord?”
O Chae-mu no longer hesitated in addressing Yeo Un-hui as “my lord.”
In the world of martial artists, strength in martial arts itself was something that commanded tremendous respect.
And Yeo Un-hui had saved every single member of the Baekrang-dae from an absolute annihilation that would have claimed their lives.
He had done so by facing Geuk-ak Soma, one of the Absolute Evils, and severing his head.
So how could O Chae-mu and the other members of the Baekrang-dae possibly deny Yeo Un-hui?
Though they were prone to excessive rigidity, they were conversely just as uncomplicated.
Yeo Un-hui was their benefactor.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Then what of the young lady?”
Yeo Un-hui shook his head.
“Is it possible that no one knows? Could it be that the martial arts you’ve learned are heterodox arts, or demonic arts, or something of that nature…?”
“Ha! Does it look that way?”
“No, it doesn’t appear so at all.”
This time it was O Chae-mu who shook his head.
“Right. That isn’t it.”
“Then what on earth is the reason?”
“Truth be told, there was simply no cause or circumstance to reveal it before now. Besides, I find such matters tedious at the best of times.”
Though it hardly felt like a complete answer, O Chae-mu nodded along, then looked at Yeo Un-hui again with a face that clearly showed he didn’t quite understand.
“Then, my lord, why did you reveal it this time…?”
“Well, I’ve only just become a lord, and I couldn’t simply stand by and watch my own men die at the hands of the Great Demon Horse.”
……
My own men.
All of the Baekrang-dae, including O Chae-mu, were deeply moved by his words.
At the same time, they felt a sense of awe.
They already knew the story well.
They knew how he had been treated since arriving at the main house.
Though he had been called nothing but a useless scholar who knew only books, enduring ridicule and contempt from all sides, yet had concealed that power until now—and he had gladly revealed it for them.
And they themselves had shown him such disdain and disrespect.
Had this very expedition not been arranged to humiliate him and drive him away?
Then they had encountered the Great Demon Horse and nearly perished.
The more they heard of Yeo Un-hui’s words, the more the Baekrang-dae wished to disappear into the earth.
Moreover, they already knew the truth about the martial arts Yeo Un-hui used—they were neither heterodox arts nor demonic arts.
Martial arts of those kinds always exuded a peculiar aura the moment they were unleashed.
They would certainly have recognized it at once.
In any case, by any measure, Yeo Un-hui was now the benefactor of all the Baekrang-dae.
And the Baekrang-dae never forgot their debts.
“Ah, and regarding this matter—let it be recorded that the entire Baekrang-dae combined their strength to capture Geuk-ak Soma. Given the difference in martial cultivation, he must have been wounded by someone and was recuperating in a hidden retreat when he happened to cross paths with us. What do you think?”
“Pardon?”
Not only O Chae-mu, but all of the Baekrang-dae voiced their astonishment.
“But why would you do such a thing?”
Gu Tae-san, who had been listening quietly from behind, stepped forward and asked.
He was not alone in his bewilderment.
All of their faces showed incomprehension.
It was only natural.
For martial world figures, severing the head of the Great Demon Horse was the finest opportunity to make a name for oneself.
And if the opponent was Geuk-ak Soma, one of the Absolute Evils, this was an opportunity no one would willingly surrender—a truly magnificent chance to elevate one’s own reputation.
Yet the man who had dragged them out to this remote mountain to humiliate and expel them wanted to hand over his own credit to these subordinates? For what possible reason?
“That is something we cannot accept,” O Chae-mu said, with absolute firmness.
“You alone faced him and severed his head. We will not seize your achievement.”
The other members of the Baekrang-dae seemed to feel the same way.

Yeo Un-hui smiled slightly and spoke.
“It’s fine. When you think about it, all of this happened because of you, so it doesn’t matter.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“After all, you decided to undertake this dangerous task, which is why we came here in the first place. Though I suspect making a fool of me was a large part of the motivation.”
“Ah, you knew?”
“Of course. I’m not an idiot, you know. Ha ha.”
O Chae-mu and the other members looked embarrassed.
“Ahem. Our apologies.”
“No need. I think it’s perfectly understandable. I can see the reasoning behind it, and besides, I wasn’t bringing it up to blame anyone. Don’t give it another thought.”
Yeo Un-hui shook his head.
“In any case, the truth is that your decision ended up saving countless villagers. Isn’t that so?”
“Ha ha… I suppose that’s one way to look at it.”
“Exactly! And because you brought me here, I was able to sever the head of Geuk-ak Soma.”
It seemed both right and somehow not quite right at the same time.
“And more than anything, if this business becomes known as it actually happened, I fear I’ll become far too busy. So I’d appreciate your help in that regard.”
……
Help? What was he talking about?
These men ought to be prostrating themselves a hundred times over, a thousand times over, in gratitude.
How could they possibly refuse the request of a man who had saved his subordinates’ lives and was so generously surrendering credit to them?
And he was asking them so earnestly!
“Well, I’ll be.”
Never did he think the day would come when he’d be asked to accept credit.
O Chae-mu exchanged a quick glance with the other Baekrang-dae members, then let out a deep sigh and nodded.
“If any of the Great Demon Horses should come looking for those who brought down Geuk-ak Soma…….”
“I’ll personally kick their backsides for you.”
“You speak such terrible things with such ease.”
“Do I?”
“Well, since you’ve made such a promise… we’ll do as you say.”
Though O Chae-mu couldn’t shake the feeling that this was somehow wrong, he had given his word, so there was no taking it back now.
O Chae-mu turned to the Baekrang-dae members and spoke.
“Steel yourselves, all of you. From now on, we’ll be known as the ones who severed the head of Geuk-ak Soma!”
“Yes!”
The Baekrang-dae members answered enthusiastically, though their expressions remained bewildered.
Well, things would work out somehow.
Their horses galloped ever faster toward the Peng House.
***
“You hear the news?”
Someone rushed into an inn, breathless, and spoke to a group of familiar faces.
The men who had been drinking looked up at him with curious expressions.
“What news are you talking about?”
“The Baekrang-dae.”
“Baekrang-dae? Where was that again?”
“Ah, you mean the military force of the Peng family? The ones always causing trouble?”
“That’s the one.”
“What, did they cause more trouble? Last I heard, they beat some rich man’s son half to death for harassing a woman in the street, and they didn’t even get disciplined.”
“What? They did the right thing, so why would they be disciplined?”
“Because they broke both his legs and both his arms, apparently. Left him unable to move for at least a year. It was considered excessive.”
“Ha. Those folks really are something.”
“No, that’s not the important part!”
“The Baekrang-dae went to suppress bandits and encountered Geuk-ak Soma…….”
“What? Geuk-ak Soma? You mean the Great Demon Horse?”
“Lord have mercy. They must all be dead. For all their troublemaking, they were righteous people.”
“No, that’s not it. They say they slew him.”
“What?”
“What are you saying? Who slew whom?”
“The Baekrang-dae severed the head of Geuk-ak Soma!”
“What!?”
The Baekrang-dae had returned to the Peng House in Hebei.
And their exploits had spread throughout Hebei before they even arrived.
The news that they had severed the head of Geuk-ak Soma, one of the Great Demon Horses known as an Absolute Evil, was nothing short of shocking.
And for good reason—who was Geuk-ak Soma, after all?
Was he not the very figure who had sent the martial world trembling in fear?
In the current martial world, only those called the Absolute Beings or the Ten Great Masters could be said to stand a chance against him.
That was how formidable Geuk-ak Soma’s power truly was.
So who had taken whose head?
No wonder so many who heard the news dismissed it as idle rumor and laughed it off.
But those who saw Baekrang-dae arrive bearing Geuk-ak Soma’s head could afford no such skepticism.
And when word spread that Geuk-ak Soma had in fact been gravely wounded in a battle with someone, had hidden himself in a remote retreat, and that Baekrang-dae had stumbled upon him by chance and beheaded him only by exerting their full strength—then the people knew the story was true.
“Hahahaha!”
The House Master’s Hall of the Peng Family in Hebei.
Laughter flowed without pause.
“You’ve done well! You’ve all worked hard!”
House Master Peng Mu-gang gazed upon Baekrang-dae standing before him, his face wearing a deeply satisfied smile.
“I thought you only ever caused trouble, yet here you bring me the head of Geuk-ak Soma. Splendid! Truly splendid! My heart is most pleased. What a tremendous feat you’ve accomplished!”
“We are grateful, House Master.”
O Chae-mu bowed his head.
Beside him stood Yeo Un-hui, a small smile playing at his lips as he stood in support.
Normally, such reports were the duty of the leader to deliver.
But since Yeo Un-hui had now received his formal appointment as leader, he was in the process of receiving the handover from O Chae-mu during this mission, and so he simply stood quietly by, observing.
“My mood today is exceedingly fine. Haha!”
It was entirely fitting that Peng Mu-gang would make such a rare show of boisterous celebration.
Geuk-ak Soma was the very man the Murim Alliance and the Sa-do Alliance had spent so many long years striving desperately to capture, yet never succeeded.
Moreover, Geuk-ak Soma was a master so formidable that even Peng Mu-gang could not guarantee victory against him.
Even allowing for his grievous wounds, he would certainly have remained a fearsome opponent.
And yet Baekrang-dae had taken his head without losing a single soul—how could one not shower them with praise?
Naturally, this deed greatly elevated the prestige of the Peng Family.
Moreover, since the achievement belonged to Baekrang-dae—a group known throughout the entire martial world, not merely in Hebei, as hotheaded ruffians—it was nothing short of fortuitous for the Peng Family.
Admittedly, it might ordinarily be considered cowardly to set upon a wounded opponent with a combined assault.
But the enemy was none other than the Great Demon Horse—the martial world’s public menace, a target for elimination, a murderer—and thus deserved commendation rather than censure.
Had Geuk-ak Soma survived this day, there was no predicting how many more lives would have been claimed by his hand.
And so all praised Baekrang-dae.
They had indeed accomplished something truly extraordinary.
“By the way, House Master.”
As the mood in the hall grew warmer and riper, one of the elders stepped forward slightly.
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Well, sir, having accomplished a deed of such magnitude, the name of Baekrang-dae will surely be spoken of frequently throughout the entire martial world. They may well receive invitations from many quarters.”
“That may very well be.”
“Of course, for us it would be a most welcome development. However…….”
The elder wore a somewhat cunning smile—his name was Peng Gyeong-ho.
He was known as a man of considerable ambition.
He glanced toward Yeo Un-hui, then continued his words.
“I’m afraid the current leader of Baekrang-dae may not be equal to bearing such weighty responsibilities.”
At his words, the entire atmosphere of Baekrang-dae suddenly froze cold.

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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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