My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 93

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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 93. Yul-i Receives an Invitation to Her Friend’s Home
An afternoon of perfect peace.
Soryeol Academy once again rang with the laughter of children.
After their lessons in writing had ended and during the rest period, Yul-i and the other children sat beneath a large pavilion in the academy courtyard, chatting away as they enjoyed the delicious snacks Wang Won-pyeong had provided.
Yul-i had grown to love this place, Soryeol Academy.
Whenever she stepped into the courtyard, the chirping of birds and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze sounded wonderfully pleasant to her ears.
The lessons taught by the headmaster, who was unhurried and kind, were never difficult or tedious—always engaging.
All the children studying together were good-hearted as well.
Yul-i got along well with every child at the academy.
There was the round-faced Chu Seol-i, who loved to eat.
There was the small Eon Myeong-i, who was excellent at climbing trees.
And there was Dae-seong-i, who was always smiling—all of them precious friends to Yul-i.
But among them all, the closest was Eun Su-ah.
Su-ah had been the first to speak to her when Yul-i first arrived at Soryeol Academy.
It turned out that Su-ah’s family was quite wealthy.
Yet she never put on airs or boasted about it.
Rather, Su-ah often looked after the other children around her.
Within the walls of Soryeol Academy, it mattered little whether someone came from a poor household or a prosperous one.
They were simply all friends together.
This was also the teaching of Wang Won-pyeong, who had founded Soryeol Academy.
Because of this, the children formed friendships without hesitation or prejudice, creating an atmosphere of genuine warmth.
In any case, the children were having such a wonderful time, laughing and giggling over one story after another.
As they played, Yul-i eventually brought up the subject of learning Martial Arts from her grandfather lately.
“Oh! I’ve started learning Martial Arts from Grandfather recently!”
“Martial Arts?”
Martial Arts—that fascinating, impressive word captured the children’s attention all at once.
Their eyes went wide.
The children, who knew only that Yul-i came from a well-to-do family, found it all quite thrilling and began firing questions at her one by one.
“Martial Arts? So your grandfather can actually use Martial Arts?”
“Yes! Grandfather said he’s been studying Martial Arts for a very long time.”
“You’re silly. If he’s teaching her, obviously he can use it.”
“Oh, that’s true.”
The next question came.
“So then, so then! Your grandfather can just go flying around and stuff, right?”
Yul-i’s large eyes blinked, and then her face grew serious as she shook her head firmly.
“Hmm. No. Grandfather is very big and heavy, so I don’t think he can do that.”
“He’s really that big?”
“Yes. Really, really big.”
“Wow! Really? Then what happens? If he’s that heavy, wouldn’t it be hard to even walk?”
“Oh! But… he seems to be able to walk just fine?”
“No, he might just be pretending it’s fine!”
In that instant, Yul-i’s face registered tremendous shock.
“Oh no. Grandfather…”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. We can just take better care of him from now on.”
“That’s right.”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s take good care of him!”
“Should we give him one of the snacks we ate today?”
What on earth was the context of this? It was a conversation impossible for ordinary adults to follow.
“Oh, speaking of which. Is your grandfather stronger than our teacher?”
Yul-i’s gaze turned toward Wang Won-pyeong, who was carefully carrying fruit and rubbing his lower back.
Yul-i nodded decidedly.
“Yes. That much is certain.”
The Peng Mugang that Yul-i knew gave the impression of someone who would never lose no matter who he fought in the world.
Probably even her father and mother couldn’t beat him.
But then Grandmother could beat Grandfather…
Wait, so maybe Grandmother was the strongest person in the world?
As Yul-i’s mind drifted along this pointless stream of consciousness, Eun Su-ah suddenly poked her.
“Yul-i. Do you want to come play at my house today?”
“Huh? Your house?”
“Yes. All the other friends have already come by once, but you’re the only one who hasn’t visited yet.”
“Really?”
Soon children all around began clenching their fists excitedly, chattering over one another.
“Su-ah’s place is so much fun!”
“It’s amazing!”
“It’s huge!”
“Right? Su-ah, can I come too?”
“No. You’ve already been three times just this week.”
“Ugh. Fine. I guess there’s no way around it.”
“You can come next time. Here, have this.”
Eun Su-ah pulled a sweet treat from her bag and handed it to the friend who’d been about to pout.
The child’s petulant expression melted at once into delighted giggles.
“Yul-i, what about you? You’re coming, right?”
“Hmm. I think I should ask my mother first.”
“Just ask her. She picks you up every day anyway.”
On reflection, Yul-i felt certain her mother would say yes.
This would be the first time Yul-i had ever been invited to a friend’s home.
Yul-i nodded eagerly, her face alight with anticipation.
“Yes! I’d love to!”
***
“Mm. Well done—you must have had quite an ordeal. Are you hurt anywhere? …No? Good, then go rest.”
In the Patriarch’s Hall of the Hebei Peng Manor, a meeting was in full session.
Yet the retainers were all exchanging cautious glances.
It was because of Peng Mugang, who lately had grown strangely indulgent and mild in a way that unsettled them.
“It’s fine. A person makes mistakes now and then—that’s simply how life is.”
The retainers felt only greater unease hearing their Clan Patriarch speak so tolerantly of matters that would have drawn sharp reprimand in the past.
When the meeting ended not long after, the retainers who filed out began murmuring among themselves.
“What on earth could it be?”
“Who knows. In all our years, he’s never acted this way. Gives me chills.”
“It’s frightening. I wonder if he’s about to explode all at once.”
As they spoke, an elder retainer passed by them, shaking his head.
“Tsk, tsk. You’re all far off the mark, all of you.”
“Begging your pardon, sir?”
“The Patriarch has changed because he’s fallen in love.”
“In love?”
“Well, isn’t that its own kind of problem?”
“But how? The Patriarch fears his wife more than anything in the world.”
“That’s not it, you fools!”
“Sir?”
The elder retainer thumped his chest in exasperation and offered his explanation.
At once, the other retainers wore identical expressions of realization.
Ah! they seemed to say.
While the retainers were experiencing this revelation, Peng Mugang finished his meeting and returned to his private chamber.
As he walked, he was humming softly to himself.
For the servants who had attended him all these years, such behavior was scarcely something they could grow accustomed to.
Why was it?
Why had Peng Mugang changed so markedly of late?
It was because he had been teaching his granddaughter martial arts every single day.
In truth, as Peng Mugang had grown older and his friends had begun to acquire grandchildren and grandchildren of their own, he had found their endless boasting about these little ones utterly distasteful.
What was so special about those tiny creatures? They’d reach a certain age and then simper shamelessly—no dignity in it at all.
Just months ago, this was what Peng Mugang had thought.
Now he was the one who understood that sentiment most acutely of all.
When Yul-i held the wooden sword with an expression of utter gravity, or when she nodded earnestly as if committing her grandfather’s every word to memory—
In those moments, she appeared to him so endearing, so precious beyond measure.
Thus it was that Peng Mugang, who was ordinarily grave and solemn during martial training, found himself disarmed by Yul-i at every turn.
He had become, without quite realizing it, a grandfather utterly devoted to his granddaughter.
And then, at that very moment,
Knock, knock.
“What is it?”
“Patriarch, the young lady has sent word for you, sir.”
“Mm?”
Peng Mugang questioned the servant who had just entered the Patriarch’s Hall.
“What is it?”
“Well, it’s… over there…”
After hearing the servant’s account, Peng Mugang’s face darkened visibly.
“What?”
***
Dan Hui-young’s chamber.
Dan Hui-young and Peng Seo-yeon had been sipping tea and chatting for some time.
Then, just as—
“What is this I’m hearing?”
Peng Mugang thrust the door open and strode in urgently.
“Hmm? Husband, what is the matter? You seem so hurried.”
“I’ve heard that Yul-i won’t be attending training today.”
Peng Mugang looked at Peng Seo-yeon with an expression as though some catastrophe had befallen them.
“Ah, yes. She’ll be a bit late today. She’s been invited to a friend’s house to play, you see.”
When Peng Seo-yeon had gone to collect Yul-i after the academy dismissed, and Yul-i had asked if she might visit a friend’s home, she had readily given her permission.
“What? No… then what about her training?”
Peng Mugang did not hide the expression of a man whose world had crumbled.
Dan Hui-young, however, spoke with an unbothered air.
“She can simply rest for a day. It’s the age when children want to play so much.”
“No, then what am I supposed to do?”
“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”
“Ahem. Well, that is to say… martial arts training cannot be neglected like this. One must maintain consistency.”
Realizing his blunder, Peng Mugang cleared his throat and redirected the conversation.
“Do understand. At her age, it’s also important that she spend time with her friends.”
But Dan Hui-young’s words seemed to have no effect whatsoever, for Peng Mugang soon asked his wife sidelong.
“Ahem. Where is this place?”
“Pardon?”
“The house of Yul-i’s friend.”
“It should be right near Omok Bridge, about ten minutes from here. The gate is quite ornate. Why do you ask?”
“Is that so? Then I must go myself. I shall ensure she doesn’t miss her martial arts training today either.”
At Peng Mugang’s words, Peng Seo-yeon shook her head in alarm.
“Pardon? Father, even so, that would be rather… difficult.”
Surely—no, certainly—Yul-i’s friends would be taken aback.
If some massive figure emanating the aura of a tiger suddenly appeared insisting on teaching martial arts to the young mistress, would anyone not be startled?
All the more so if that person were revealed to be the Clan Patriarch of the Hebei Peng Clan!
And yet—
“Hmph. What concern is it of yours if I go?”
Peng Mugang was utterly immovable. Already it seemed he could see and hear nothing else.
There was no stopping him now.
Then—
“Husband?”
Dan Hui-young, who had risen from her seat unnoticed, called to him very softly while gently tugging at his sleeve.
Peng Mugang tilted his head in confusion and turned to face his wife.
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Stop it.”
“No, I’m still going—”
“Enough.”
“Eh?”
“E-nough. That is what I’m saying. You are being far too much right now. Aren’t you?”
Though she still wore a smile, something ominous in Dan Hui-young’s presence made Peng Mugang promptly nod in submission.
“…Very well.”
“From tomorrow onward, I will see that there are as few absences as possible. So please, do understand when she has the occasional outing like today.”
“Yes. Very good.”
For once, Peng Mugang nodded meekly even to Peng Seo-yeon’s words.
Soon his shoulders sagged, and he shuffled from the chamber.
The door closed, and seated once more, Dan Hui-young muttered quietly to herself.
“Really, what is wrong with that man?”
Though he doted on his granddaughter, the sight of Peng Mugang being so stubborn drew an involuntary laugh from both women.
Still, it was fortunate he had relented at all.
The two women soon returned to their tea, launching into idle chatter about this and that.
But they did not know.
“Let me see. The house with the grandest gate nearest the Omok Bridge, was it?”
Peng Mugang had already climbed onto the roof of the Peng Manor building and was surveying the surroundings with a smirk.

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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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