My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 85

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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85.

‘There’s no way Hwa Luju would push me into danger.’

With that thought, he silently followed behind her.

Setting foot on the second floor, she went to the deepest room in the corridor.

‘Since it’s a secret meeting, they’re doing it in this secluded corner rather than the finest room.’ That thought occurred to him.

Hwa Seonhwa opened the door without even announcing their arrival.

The room with only an empty dining table and folding screen sitting there had no one in it.

He had expected someone to be waiting, but it seemed they had arrived first.

“I guess they’ll come a little later.”

“It seems like we came right on time though?”

Just then, suddenly a loud Bang! Pop-pop-bang! sound erupted.

“Hueok!”

Go Bongsu, startled, stumbled backward and fell on his bottom.

From behind the folding screen, Bang Donguk and five other government officials jumped out.

“Sir! Congratulations on your marriage!”

“Live happily!”

Colorful paper fluttered down gently over Go Bongsu, who was looking at the officials with dazed eyes.

When Hwa Seonhwa burst into laughter, Go Bongsu also let out a chuckle.

“What terrible people you all are. I thought my heart was going to fall out. Especially Hwa Luju is even worse.”

Hwa Seonhwa brushed off the paper stuck to Go Bongsu and said,

“Living with me, you’ll experience many more surprising things than this. So prepare yourself.”

A moment later, workers brought in loads of alcohol and food.

The alcohol was that precious Seolbaekju, making the officials’ mouths stretch from ear to ear.

“I’ll send courtesans too.”

Oh Cheongun asked,

“Courtesans…!”

“The courtesans will be paid for with your own money after Oh Pokwae succeeds.”

“Yes!”

Seolbaekju and even music from courtesans.

Just that much was luxury enough.

Go Bongsu was about to take a seat too, but Hwa Seonhwa grabbed the back of his neck.

“If the magistrate joins in while the officials are eating and drinking, it’ll ruin the atmosphere.”

Oh Dongwoon hastily said,

“We’re fine with it!”

Go Bongsu waved his hand.

“No, no. You all eat comfortably.”

As Go Bongsu left the room, he said, “I was so nervous thinking it was some meeting, but it was this kind of thing. Hwa Luju really…”

Go Bongsu, who had been laughing, gradually stopped laughing when he saw Hwa Seonhwa’s stern face.

“Is there really something like an actual meeting?”

“It seems your tension has loosened up a bit, so let’s go.”

Hwa Seonhwa stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor.

Go Bongsu immediately looked dejected.

“You’re really toying with people.”

Hwa Seonhwa guided Go Bongsu to Yeonhwa Room, the most splendid room in Yeonji-ru.

As she took a deep breath to compose herself, Go Bongsu also took a deep breath along with her.

When Hwa Seonhwa asked with her eyes ‘Are you mentally prepared?’, Go Bongsu briefly nodded, then looked dejected again and shook his head.

‘I don’t even know what I should be preparing for!’

Creak!

Mercilessly, Hwa Seonhwa opened the door.

As Seol Mujin became visible through the slowly opening gap in the door, his heart calmed down to a miraculous degree.

Someone who could always be on his side.

If that person was the most trustworthy person in the world, he could maintain his composure even on a hellish battlefield.

Hwa Seonhwa pushed Go Bongsu’s back, sending him into the room.

“Then have a good time.”

Hwa Seonhwa, who had greeted them gracefully, closed the door.

Go Bongsu, left alone, stood there awkwardly when Yeon Daebang spoke.

“So you’re the magistrate of Jinan.”

And who might you be?

Seol Mujin provided the answer.

“This is Minister of Justice Yeon Daebang, Your Excellency.”

An unrealistic high-ranking title had emerged.

Minister of Justice?

One of the heads of the Six Ministries, and the Minister of Justice who influences the nation’s affairs – why was he in a backwater place like Jinan?

Questions were questions, but his body automatically reacted.

Just as he was about to kneel, Seol Mujin continued speaking.

“And the magistrate will soon become my adoptive father.”

Yeon Daebang was startled.

“Oh my! If you’re going to become Seol Podoo’s adoptive father, I can’t treat you carelessly. Please take a seat.”

Yeon Daebang pointed to the empty seat across from him.

Still, he had to pay his respects, so he bowed deeply.

“Lowly official Go Bongsu pays his respects to Your Excellency the Minister of Justice.”

Seol Mujin pointed to Ju Cheonmyeong.

“And this person is His Highness the Third Prince.”

“Huh? Third, what?”

“His Highness the Third Prince.”

Go Bongsu just blinked his eyes.

The Minister of Justice had already knocked half his soul out.

But now imperial family was being added on top of that?

Not just any imperial family, but the Third Prince who had the possibility of becoming emperor someday?

Is this kid Mujin playing a prank on me?

Like Hwa Seonhwa just did?

Like mother, like son?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind.

Ju Cheonmyeong said,

“Seol Podoo praised Magistrate Go quite a lot.”

Gulp!

Go Bongsu, who swallowed his saliva, quickly accepted reality.

Originally, extraordinary people associate with extraordinary people.

If it’s Seol Mujin, he should be associating with someone like the Third Prince!

Thud!

Go Bongsu, who had dropped to his knees, bowed toward the Third Prince.

“Humble commoner Go dares to have an audience with Your Highness the Prince!”

“Oh dear, such excessive ceremony in this kind of private setting makes me uncomfortable. Please get up and take a seat.”

“How could this subject dare to sit in the same place as Your Highness?”

“That Seol Podoo over there even looks down on me sometimes.”

“Mujin is originally that kind of guy.”

“Kuk kuk kuk!”

Ju Cheonmyeong, who laughed as if something was amusing, said,

“If you keep doing that, how can I drink alcohol?”

Seol Mujin also urged, ‘Please don’t make this awkward and sit down quickly.’

His legs trembled as he stood up.

He had never even imagined he would meet royalty in his lifetime.

He thought royalty would have faces that glowed like divine beings, but when he glanced at Ju Cheonmyeong, he was just a young man you could see anywhere.

‘We’re all the same people after all.’

With that thought, Go Bongsu tried to shake off his trembling and carefully settled his bottom on the chair.

Seol Mujin proceeded to introduce the other two people.

“This is Master Hwangbo Hunyong, the head of the Hwangbo Family.”

Hwangbo Hunyong cupped his fists in greeting.

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thank you. I’ve heard much about you. I hear you help Mujin-i a great deal?”

Hwangbo Hunyong waved his hands dismissively.

“Oh my! I’m the one receiving help. Our family has already received great favors from Seol Podoo twice. I’m at a loss for how to repay them, so please give me much advice.”

Seol Mujin finally introduced Namgung Bongseong.

“To welcome both a peerless beauty and a dragon among men as family members – there could be no better fortune. Congratulations.”

“Indeed. It’s more than a common man like me deserves.”

After the introductions ended, Go Bongsu suddenly wondered, ‘Why did they call me to this gathering?’

This wasn’t a place for a mere magistrate of Jinan to attend.

Though a mere podoo was also attending.

Yeon Daebang asked Go Bongsu.

“You seem curious about why you were invited here.”

Thinking ‘Did this gentleman learn mind reading?’, he bowed his head.

“It doesn’t seem like a place for a lowly official like me to attend.”

“Seol Podoo here insisted you must participate.”

Go Bongsu looked at Seol Mujin with puzzled eyes.

“Why me?”

“Confusing, isn’t it?”

“Very much so.”

“I hadn’t thought of it either, but I realized it after Hwangbo Cheonak was attacked by assassins.”

Hwangbo Hunyong asked in surprise.

“Cheonak-i was attacked by assassins?”

“Yes. It seems Myeoncheonhoe commissioned people called the Twelve Zodiac Spirits.”

“The Twelve Zodiac Spirits? Good heavens! They hired such people just to kill Cheonak-i? Is Cheonak-i safe?”

“Yes. Cheonak-i is safe and the Twelve Zodiac Spirits are dead.”

“Surely Cheonak-i didn’t kill them.”

“Fortunately, Cheonak-i wasn’t there when the Twelve Zodiac Spirits came. So they met me instead.”

He couldn’t honestly say the Triplets had killed them.

“That’s fortunate.”

“Even if Cheonak-i had been there, he wouldn’t have fallen so easily to the Twelve Zodiac Spirits.”

He had heard that Hwangbo Cheonak’s martial arts had improved remarkably.

But in Hwangbo Hunyong’s mind, the image of Hwangbo Cheonak as a scoundrel was deeply ingrained.

So only thoughts like ‘How strong could that boy have become?’ remained.

Seol Mujin said.

“Anyway, thanks to the Twelve Zodiac Spirits coming, I think we can find clues about Myeoncheonhoe.”

“What kind of clues?”

“I’ll tell you once it’s confirmed. The outline should become clear after I return from Hubei Province.”

“Hubei Province – isn’t that where Bae Cheonman is?”

Now he didn’t even call him ‘Bae Hyeonjin’s father’ but just used his name.

“Yes. As you might guess, there’s a high probability it’s related to this landslide too. I also have new people to meet there regarding the Twelve Zodiac Spirits.”

Namgung Bongseong asked.

“Are you saying Bae Cheonman was involved in the landslide?”

“Yes. The Hwangbo Family’s surveillance reported he purchased large quantities of gunpowder. According to Lady Hwangbo Ryeoseon’s testimony, the landslide occurred when gunpowder exploded. So it’s certainly a situation worth suspecting.”

“If Bae Cheonman is the culprit, the Namgung Family can’t just stand by either.”

“Actually, the young ladies of both families were likely collateral victims. What they were targeting was probably His Highness the Third Prince’s army.”

Seol Mujin told them about this matter.

He had received permission to inform the two family heads of the facts.

After hearing the inside story of the incident, expressions of incomprehension appeared on both family heads’ faces.

“This kind of fighting… is rather strange.”

Hwangbo Hunyong picked up where Namgung Bongseong left off.

“Indeed. It’s completely different from Murim conflicts.”

When two sects fight with their lives on the line, they don’t nibble away like this.

But the enemy was gradually wearing down Ju Cheonmyeong’s forces under the name Myeoncheonhoe.

Regarding this, Yeon Daebang said.

“They have no choice because it’s still unclear who are enemies and who are allies. They’re only targeting those they consider certain enemies, but since there aren’t just one or two enemies, an all-out war would be foolish.”

Though he didn’t know the detailed inside story, he roughly understood how the political situation was unfolding.

So they could roughly guess the situation from Yeon Daebang’s simple words.

Namgung Bongseong said.

“Then striking that Myeoncheonhoe place should come first.”

“I’m thinking of entrusting that to Seol Podoo.”

“Will he be able to handle it alone? From what I can see, Myeoncheonhoe’s forces are thoroughly hidden in darkness. And their military strength seems considerable too.”

Hwangbo Hunyong said.

“What’s there to worry about regarding military strength? He single-handedly brought down Oryongbang.”

Seol Mujin waved his hands with an expression saying that was impossible.

“How could I have done it alone? You make me too embarrassed with such words.”

“Hahaha! If you killed six dangju and even Bang-ju, you did it alone!”

“Cheonak-i also took down four dangju.”

At those words, Namgung Bongseong was surprised.

“Cheonak-i’s martial arts are at that level? From what I know, Oryongbang’s dangju were skilled enough to be called masters.”

Though Hwangbo Hunyong had heard this from Hwangbo Ryeoseon and Hwangbo Hyeonguk, he didn’t entirely believe it.

There was a high possibility those two had exaggerated out of pity for Hwangbo Cheonak.

“Cheonak-i’s martial arts have improved greatly.”

Hwangbo Hunyong said, “Ah! Didn’t you say you sparred with him when he came to the family estate before?”

“Compared to then, he’s probably twice as strong now. I can’t guarantee that even Lady Hwangbo Ryeoseon would win against him now. He keeps getting stronger these days.”

“Getting stronger? Is he cultivating internal energy at Yeonji-ru?”

“Actually, he’s staying at our house. It was clear Myeoncheonhoe would attack Cheonak-i.”

“You were protecting him. But his martial arts are getting stronger?”

“You should see for yourself sometime.”

Hwangbo Hunyong realized his mistake.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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