The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 12

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

Chapter 12

The Hwangbo Family has three martial groups: the Bielian, Taoshantan, and the Five Elements Martial Arts Stage.

Taoshantan was dispatched to various places in the Central Plains, and the Bielian had been stationed near Shandong but recently returned.

Hwangbo Yeontak, the leader of Bielian, was Hwangbo Yeon-gung’s older brother from the same mother and the same age as Hwangbo Yeonhwi, the Ilcheon Gakju.

If there was a difference, it was that he was even more rough and tumble than Hwangbo Yeon-gung.

“Die, you bastard. Just get beaten to death!”

The sword Hwangbo Yeontak wielded made continuous whooshing sounds.

That large, thick blade looked so vicious that even being hit with it while sheathed could break something.

“Brother! Ah! Brother! Please listen to what I’m saying! Seriously!”

Unlike Yulhui, who received plenty of affection from his brothers, Hwangbo Yeon-gung was just the youngest brother.

That meant he lived getting beaten up for the slightest mistake.

Yet he grew up so spirited despite all this – should one praise his bloodline or his nature?

Only after a proper scuffle (meaning he got thoroughly beaten) did Hwangbo Yeontak finally calm down.

Hwangbo Yeonhwi, the Ilcheon Gakju, just glared at Yeon-gung with a cold expression, while Hwangbo Seungjeong, the family head, remained silent with an unreadable expression.

“I apologize.”

“For what?”

Xie Baowei cautiously opened his mouth after reading the mood.

In Sashaheon, the conference room of Tianhou Palace which served as the family head’s hall, there were still only a few people present.

The Hwangbo Family was thoroughly centered around blood relations.

Guests remained merely guests and could not rise to the center.

They only invited outsiders like the head of Taehakdang which taught academics, the head of Banggeundang which prepared meals, or the deputy head of Bogeumdang which managed finances.

So for light matters, family members would gather first.

“You did well. It’s better than just staying still.”

“Brother!”

“Yeontak.”

Even now, they had hurriedly gathered to discuss last night’s events.

Therefore, their forms of address were also casual.

“But you see, big brother?”

“Mm.”

“Our son-in-law has come back after a long time. Are we just going to keep him close and coddle him? Lock him up and raise him like before?”

“Your words are excessive.”

“This situation turning out this way is actually good. We were already sick of watching those bastards act up in our front yard anyway. Let’s charge at them this time.”

Hwangbo Yeontak glared fiercely.

Even so, it would have been a coldly calculated statement. His cold eyes looked down at Xie Baowei.

He still didn’t particularly like Xie Baowei.

Xie Baowei knew this well too.

It was mutual, after all.

“Are you worried about our son-in-law participating in the martial competition? So what if he gets his arm broken once. It’s just kids playing around anyway. If he gets injured, I’ll raise hell for him. How about it, son-in-law. You can handle that much, right?”

Hwangbo Yeontak spoke with eyes that actually hoped for such a thing.

He was always someone who put the family first.

That’s why he never left Shandong, and his reputation in Shandong rose endlessly.

Even if they ignored the Hwangbo Family, they wouldn’t dare ignore Hwangbo Yeontak, known as Bieliang Dazhu, the Thunder Blade who pierces through lightning.

Being such a person, he still didn’t like Xie Baowei.

Xie Baowei understood such a man.

“Instead, let’s properly raise hell. Act like the master and rampage like a guest. Since our son-in-law has returned anyway, we can stretch our limbs again, can’t we?”

Saying this, Yeontak looked at the family head with fierce eyes.

Beside him, Hwangbo Yeonhwi twitched his eyebrows and opened his mouth.

“Show restraint, Bielian leader. The family head’s command is stern, so how dare you try to lift the house confinement so carelessly?”

“…Ilcheon Gakju. I am merely offering counsel as the Bielian leader right now.”

“That’s exactly the point. It’s not something you can decide. And.”

Hwangbo Yeonhwi spoke with the strict expression of an Ilcheon Gakju.

It was his usual self and usual face.

“Don’t you still know that the house confinement wasn’t our son-in-law’s fault?”

When he started speaking, he glared at Hwangbo Yeontak, but when he finished, he looked back at Xie Baowei gently,

So Xie Baowei became a little scared.

That wasn’t the kind of person you were…

“…I know. The family head’s command for restraint was to look after us. However.”

At least being the Bielian leader, he could add more words.

But even he had such a serious and respectful expression that one wondered where his earlier fierceness had gone.

“How long must we show restraint?”

The Bielian leader asked.

The Ilcheon Gakju didn’t press further and cut his words short.

The authority to decide didn’t dare rest with him.

Naturally, all eyes turned to the family head.

The family head pondered for a moment.

His gaze settled on Xie Baowei, then moved away.

“When is the martial competition?”

“Mid next month.”

About a month remained.

The family head groaned “Mm” and opened his mouth.

“It’s cutting it close. Ilcheon Gakju.”

“Please give your command.”

The eyes of the Ilcheon Gakju, Bielian leader, and Ohaeng Daeju all focused on the family head.

“We will hold the Taigao Assembly.”

The three men’s eyes wavered.

Xie Baowei thought.

The mountain is stirring.

***

Taigao Assembly.

Meaning “announcing to Mount Tai,” it referred to a meeting held once a month where the family’s leaders gathered.

Simply put, it was a monthly family meeting.

However, since it hadn’t been held even once in the past nine years, this Taigao Assembly was quite bustling.

“Mm. Nice weather.”

The sky was clear.

Xie Baowei sipped his tea while feeling the leisurely flowing breeze.

Though it had grown cold, it tasted good.

While people would be busily coming and going outside, Xingyaoshengshe (Xie Baowei’s residence) was quiet, living up to its name meaning “a place where the heart is tranquil.”

This was because it was located on the outskirts even within this vast hall.

Looking around, spring energy was in full bloom.

Taking a breath like this, it finally felt like winter had ended.

Finally.

Xie Baowei’s last war couldn’t make it past winter.

Considering who he had faced, it was only natural.

In fact, in the final battle, there was no need to swing his sword even twice.

It was truly a sorrowful matter.

Carp were opening and closing their mouths in the clear water of Yuseoji.

Xie Baowei quietly enjoyed this tranquility.

“I say, is our son-in-law there?”

“Yes.”

He couldn’t enjoy it.

Xie Baowei could not appreciate the clouds flowing across the sky or the flowers floating on the pond.

He could neither bury himself in the past, enjoy the present, nor plan for the future.

That was right.

Xingyaoshengshe, which had remained quiet even amid everyone’s busyness, was no longer quiet.

The current Xie Baowei was truly sought after by many.

There were welcome family members and unwelcome guests, but they all wanted to see Xie Baowei’s face.

“Have a cup of tea.”

“Yes.”

“Shall we eat together?”

“Yes.”

“I got some good liquor. Will you join me?”

“Yes.”

Was this a new form of torment?

Were they trying to send him away again like this?

Xie Baowei was truly in agony.

Elders, elders, elders.

It was a continuous stream of elders.

And they were his in-laws’ elders at that!

Ah. Those who have never married would not understand.

“Brother-in-law! Let’s train, let’s train!”

“I refuse.”

Therefore, being able to refuse so sharply was actually Xie Baowei’s expression of great familiarity.

Of course, Huangbo Lüli, who was the target of this refusal, was simply disappointed.

“No. Why! Only me! Didn’t you refuse everyone yesterday and the day before too!”

“The second grand-uncle just left.”

“Ah! The younger grandfather!? He’s such a pleasant person! Isn’t he an amusing fellow?”

“…Before that, I had tea with my cousin-uncle.”

“Oh! A cousin-uncle came? Who? Uncle Sangjung, Uncle Hyeonsang?”

“The one who deals in salt…”

“Ah! Uncle Sangil came the day before yesterday! He’s a good man, a good man! He talks a bit much, but he gives good pocket money and all.”

“…Before that, the former head of Taehakdang came.”

“Ah. So they invited Scholar Gong back after all. Well then. I should go pay my respects too. Haha.”

That gentleman really is quite the endless lecturer. But he’s a good person. Everything he says is for your sake…

Around that time, Huangbo Lüli was rambling while breaking out in a cold sweat.

Could he understand Xie Baowei’s haggard gaze a little now?

His body slowly leaned backward.

“Don’t run away.”

“…Ha. Haha.”

“Please.”

The day before, the cousin-uncle from Jeongyeobu (Department of Orthodox Education: academic and martial studies research) and the cousin-sister-in-law from Sikyakbu (medicinal herbs and physicians) had come, and the day before that, people from Bogeumdang (Financial Management) and Banggeundang (Food Materials and Meals) had…

“…Well. Fine. I’ll at least be your conversation partner.”

“Don’t even talk.”

Ah. Save me.

He almost missed those old days when no one came looking for him.

“…Haha. It seems everyone feels quite sorry toward you…”

Xie Baowei quietly closed his eyes and sat down. It was a rare moment to enjoy the sunlight and leisure.

Ah, but that sunlight was already setting behind the western mountains.

Damn it. Don’t go down already.

Unable to bear the silence, Huangbo Lüli fumbled for words, but Xie Baowei pretended not to hear.

Soon, Huangbo Lüli also sighed and quietly sat down next to Xie Baowei.

Finally, peace seemed to have arrived.

As Huangbo Lüli and Xie Baowei sat side by side sipping cold tea, the servants who had been sneaking peeks at Xingyaoshengshe quietly withdrew.

Had half an hour passed like that?

“Still, thanks to you, there’s vitality flowing.”

Just when they were listening to the sound of insects chirping, Yeon-gung suddenly spoke up.

“How is that thanks to me?”

At least it’s not my fault, which is fortunate.

It was good that the family had become lively.

Even if it wasn’t the prosperity of old, people had increased as if nothing had ever happened.

It was surely a good thing, a joyful thing.

But for Xie Baowei, all of this felt somewhat burdensome.

As if vitality was flowing because they had been waiting for his return.

Didn’t it feel like everything had fallen into ruin because of him, and now prospered because of him too?

What am I supposed to be, really?

“Really, what am I supposed to be?”

“You really like that phrase.”

“…It’s because I can’t understand.”

Xie Baowei sighed and shook his head back and forth.

Huangbo Lüli let out a hearty “haha” and laughed boldly.

“It really is thanks to you.”

“…I heard various sects have gathered in Jinan. There will surely be clashes.”

When Xie Baowei spoke worriedly, Huangbo Lüli looked at him as if he were absurd.

“Weren’t you the one who started the fight?”

“That was just my personal matter, wasn’t it?”

“Your matters are the family’s matters.”

“…Really, what am I supposed to be?”

Huangbo Lüli laughed heartily again.

“People are going to get hurt.”

“Oh my.”

When Xie Baowei worried again, Huangbo Lüli suddenly frowned.

“Good grief. Damn it. Are you really worried about that?”

“What, are all the Huangbo Family people made of steel or something?”

“…Do other sects see us that way too?”

“What do you mean, how they see us?”

Xie Baowei grumbled.

Huangbo Lüli spoke with wounded pride.

“That can’t be. Only you see us that way. You still don’t know us well, whether then or now.”

Tsk tsk. This is why soldiers are like this.

Why do these military fellows always look down on martial families like this?

Huangbo Lüli bared his teeth as he said this.

“Really, what did I look down on?”

“Good grief.”

Huangbo Lüli shook his head and looked straight at Xie Baowei.

It was a completely different expression from when he taught children.

It was similar to the expression he had shown when crossing hands with Jang Sahyeon.

For a moment, Xie Baowei felt like he was seeing Yunlei from before he left.

His eyes blazed fiercely.

“We are martial artists.”

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