The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 2

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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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Chapter 2

Conversations about Hwangbo this and Taean that could be heard everywhere.

The deliberately scratchy voice was full of mockery. Who in all of Jinan would dare speak ill of Hwangbo Ok?

“She’s well past her prime, nearly in her late twenties, and she’s a sick widow who’s been touched by a filthy, lowly man? Hwangbo Ok, my foot. It’s the Huangbo Family’s fortune that our young master is so pure-hearted.”

However, if this was the talk of Taean Gate’s disciples who had been stirring up Jinan lately, the story would be different.

Long shadows fell across the tea house.

Five or six warriors in sleeveless robes embroidered with Taean entered and blocked the way.

Indeed, several thin, short harpoons hanging from their waists clinked against each other, making noise.

The noisy tea house instantly turned cold.

The three or four men who had been running their mouths turned pale and trembled, while those near the door tried to leave but found themselves blocked.

The tea house owner rushed out in panic.

“It’s… it’s an honor to serve the heroes of Taean Gate. Since… since these ignorant fools have offended you with their thoughtless words, as the owner, I wish to offer fine tea to comfort the hearts of you noble heroes…”

“Move aside.”

“Oh my!”

One of the men gave him a light push, and the owner was sent flying before falling dramatically.

It seemed like an act to appease the warriors, but it wasn’t very effective.

“I am Busojeong, known as Soparang (Small Wave), a first-rank disciple of the 2nd Division of Taean Gate’s Cheongnye Guard. Let’s see if you can finish the story you were telling in front of me and my guards. If you speak boldly, I’ll acknowledge your courage.”

One man stepped forward and raised his voice.

The man who introduced himself as Busojeong spoke these words but didn’t wait and began moving.

Clatter. Clatter.

With each step he took, the harpoons at his waist danced.

Meanwhile, the Cheongnye Guards each placed their hands on their waists and stood before the tea house entrance.

The meaning was clear, so the customers’ faces turned ashen.

The three men who had been talking loudly were in the most dire straits.

Having dared to spout nonsense in front of Taean Gate’s disciples, only misfortune awaited them.

With a chilling scraping sound, followed by a sharp crack, a sharp harpoon embedded itself in the wooden table.

Busojeong had thrown it without hesitation as he walked over.

“My… my lord. We… we ignorantly spread rumors about that person…”

“Rumors? From what I heard, it sounded more like your opinions than rumors.”

“That… that is… well…”

There was no way they’d be forgiven for claiming ignorance.

Even if Taean Gate wasn’t exactly a criminal organization, their brutal methods toward both commoners and martial artists were well known.

They might have their courage acknowledged, but that wouldn’t save their lives.

Immediately, two of the men who had been looking at each other fell to their knees.

“We’re sorry, my lord. Our mouths ran wild, please show mercy.”

“I… I never said such things, my lord. Rather, the one who said Hwangbo Ok had flaws was…”

Even in this situation, there was someone trying to save himself, but the important thing was turning the point of that harpoon away.

However, one man was different.

“I… I may have spoken harshly, but this is the front yard of the Huangbo Family. No matter how powerful your noble gate has become, you cannot act so recklessly here!”

At this, Busojeong smiled and shook his head.

“Is your so-called spirit nothing more than borrowing the Huangbo Family’s authority?”

“…I… I may not look like much, but I have connections to the Huangbo Family.”

“Oh? Connections? It seems I’ve misjudged you. What kind of connections might those be?”

Busojeong looked the man up and down and shrugged as if he understood.

The Cheongnye Guards laughed mockingly.

It was clearly bluffing to anyone who heard it, but their confident demeanor even after hearing the Huangbo Family’s name clearly showed what they thought of the family.

Just watching him push the man’s shoulder with the tip of his harpoon made this obvious.

Anger flashed in people’s eyes, but no one had the courage to express it in this situation.

However, seeing several people running off urgently, it was clear where they were headed.

“Let’s hear it then. Yes, what connection do you have with that great Huangbo Family you’re so proud of?”

Push. Push. Press.

“Ugh… urgh.”

Each time Busojeong pressed, the man was pushed back two or three steps.

Yet the harpoon stuck to his shoulder as if glued there, digging into the wound.

Everyone just watched the scene. Busojeong’s eyes gleamed.

More people gathered outside the tea house. The murmuring grew loud enough to be heard inside.

Once he severed this fool’s shoulder and cut out those two idiots’ tongues, no one would dare run their mouths carelessly again.

This was how Taean Gate controlled the streets.

“Urrrgh.”

Finally, the harpoon tip was half-embedded in the shoulder. If it went deeper, pulling it out would be even more troublesome due to the barbs.

Scrape.

A small sound of something being dragged.

But in a place filled only with the man’s groans, it was enough to draw attention.

Naturally, people’s gazes gathered.

Busojeong was the same.

The harpoon that had been piercing skin stopped.

“There was someone with spirit after all.”

“I don’t understand.”

“…Was it not spirit but stupidity?”

Busojeong only turned his head to look.

Worn martial robes, rough face. A short sword.

His scarred hands were missing a pinky finger, and looking closely, his stance was subtly awkward.

He looked like a discharged soldier at best, or just a ronin.

Though he was quite large in build.

“Has it declined so much in just a few years?”

“What are you talking about!”

At these incomprehensible words, one of the Cheongnye Guards who had been guarding the door glared and stepped forward.

Busojeong shook his head and put more force into the harpoon in his hand.

There were always such fools everywhere. Having more examples wasn’t a bad thing.

However.

“Stop.”

Flinch.

“Stop it.”

It was too much dignity for a mere ronin.

Busojeong, who had almost dropped his harpoon without realizing it, turned his head again.

The ronin with an still unreadable expression stood there blankly, and in front of him, a guard had somehow fallen.

What an idiot.

Busojeong’s eyes narrowed sharply.

The guards hardened their faces and moved frantically. Tables fell and chairs scattered.

Five guards’ harpoons pointed toward the ronin. Only then did Busojeong turn his head back.

Seeing the stupid man holding his breath made his anger flare up.

Just as he was about to put strength in his arm to pierce through the man’s shoulder.

“You.”

At that small thunderclap, the tea house seemed to shake with a thud.

Instantly, Busojeong’s heart sank.

His back was soaked with cold sweat.

He dared say he had never felt such overwhelming pressure before anyone.

Busojeong unconsciously released his harpoon and stepped back.

“B… brother.”

When he came to his senses and looked around, the previous aura had vanished without a trace.

Was it my imagination? But the guards of Cheongnaeui also seemed to sense something, trembling like mice before a tiger.

Even though they now bore the name of a sect, these were people with filthy characters who had once lived by banditry.

So instead of calling him master, they were ready to call him big brother.

Yet despite all this, he remained calm as if nothing had happened.

Busojeong bit his lips hard.

“What kind of bastard are you?”

“As you can see. A discharged soldier who returned to his hometown.”

“For what reason do you interfere with Taeamun’s business?”

“That’s not right.”

“What?”

“Your sect interfered with my peace first.”

“Are you trying to play word games!”

“Well.”

The man shrugged his shoulders.

Then he tilted his head to the side.

His face still showed no hint of what he was thinking, but something felt chilling.

“I’m pondering. Should I have simply said, ‘Calmly, I have come.’ Or instead.”

I had wanted to watch secretly, but if I was going to watch anyway

“Would taking your heads be somewhat helpful?”

Gulp.

Busojeong drew another harpoon and gripped it.

Without realizing it, he drew up his internal energy.

The guards of Cheongnaeui did the same.

With hardened expressions, they slowly increased their distance from the ronin.

Why did they increase the distance?

Harpoons aren’t just for stabbing.

They were going to ‘throw’ them.

The formation of Taeamun’s secret technique, Ghost Kill Soul Throw, unfolded as one body.

The discharged soldier, Xie Baowei, quietly gripped his short sword and nodded his head slightly.

Just as the harpoons were about to fly through the air at that arrogant gesture.

Crash!

“Stop! Stop this!”

-It’s Yunlei! The Huangbo Family! The Five Elements Master of the Hwangbo Family Estate has come!

Breaking through the crowds that had gathered outside the tavern, a man entered.

A body so robust it seemed bloated, befitting that family’s reputation…

“Busojeong! You bastard! Do you think you’ll be safe after causing such a commotion on Daming Street!”

He was a tall man with a voice as large as his stature.

But this wasn’t the Yunlei of old.

Where had that man gone – with his robust build and hearty laughter, slow like clouds but harboring a streak of lightning within? Instead, someone thin as dried kindling had entered.

“Oh my. We meet again, Brother Huangbo.”

Busojeong greeted him smoothly while biting his lips slightly.

He was a step too late.

Openly conflicting with a member of the Hwangbo Family Estate wasn’t good form yet.

But what to do about this man?

Busojeong pondered briefly, then shook his head as if he had no choice, and suddenly flicked his hand like lightning.

The harpoon that left his hand flew like an arrow, grazing Xie Baowei’s neck before embedding in the wall.

To anyone watching, it would have seemed like a close threatening gesture, but only Busojeong knew.

He had thought it was a perfect surprise attack, but it was easily dodged.

The indifferent gaze of the soldier felt like it was strangling his throat.

Busojeong unconsciously started to rub his own neck, then startled and lowered his hand.

People were watching.

He quickly fixed his expression and opened his mouth as if that had been his intention all along.

“…Your spirit is admirable, so I’ll spare you. From now on, watch where you step before you stretch out your feet.”

Then he looked around and raised his voice.

“Since the owner of the street has arrived, we’ll yield for today. However, if our sect’s name is carelessly bandied about again, I’ll truly cut out tongues.”

As he looked around with those shark-like eyes so fierce, no one could properly meet his gaze.

Wherever Busojeong and the guards passed, the gathered people parted like the Red Sea to open a path.

“Damn it.”

Busojeong, having emerged from the crowd, quietly spat out a curse.

Behind him, the parted waters had merged back together.

No one looked back at him.

Though they shouldn’t dare do such a thing, he merely turned his head silently.

“Sparing me?”

No.

He wasn’t the one who did the sparing.

Only now did Busojeong rub his neck, feeling his damp collar, and quickened his pace.

That sight looked so much like fleeing that it made him feel worse.

“Come now. Let’s clean this up. Everyone go back. Are you all alright? I was late.”

Yunlei turned his back on the disappearing Taeamun warriors and first tended to the people.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch those who dared cause trouble in Huangbo Family territory, but what could he do?

The family head’s orders were strict.

So people got up one by one and left their seats.

But strangely, the gazes of the people looking at Yunlei weren’t particularly warm.

Rather, the tavern owner who had been in distress, and the men who had nearly suffered harm, rushed to Xie Baowei and bowed repeatedly.

It was natural. Without him, they would have suffered great disaster.

Xie Baowei accepted the tavern owner’s greeting, but didn’t accept the greetings of the other men.

Instead, he merely turned his back with a cold expression.

Yunlei, having cleaned up the scene, happened to face Xie Baowei who had turned his back.

He had been wanting to express his gratitude to him anyway.

Without him, they would have faced great disgrace. The family’s name would have fallen to the ground.

“Thank you, brother. Such a great favor…”

His approaching steps stopped. His pupils trembled as he examined the face.

His mouth remained frozen mid-speech, only making an “uh” sound.

Xie Baowei looked at him quietly. He was someone he knew well.

Yunlei. Huangbo Yeongoong.

-That thunder-headed fool. Everyone pampers him so he doesn’t know his place and brought some ignorant worm.

Lüli’s closest cousin and rival who clashed with her constantly. Her greatest enemy and…

Friend.

“You.”

Did he recognize him?

“…You. Truly. Is it you?”

He seemed to have recognized him.

With trembling voice and trembling body, Huangbo Yeongoong approached Xie Baowei.

Xie Baowei just quietly looked at that face.

-What a welcome face to greet. But greetings are… Damn it! Hee-ya. Hee-ya. You troublemaker Hee-ya. You’ve finally caused an incident!

“It’s been a long time, brother-in-law.”

-Brother my ass. How can you call me that without proper form? Just like an uneducated fool. Call me brother-in-law. No. Just call me captain or something. No. Just don’t call me anything!

“No. Now I should call you Master. …Congratulations on becoming the Five Elements Master.”

“Ah. Truly. Truly!”

Tap. Tap.

Yunlei’s weary steps gradually drew closer.

Was the family’s downfall really his fault? It couldn’t be.

However, since they were family members who had cherished Lüli dearly, they would surely resent him.

That’s why Baiwei was prepared to take at least one punch from Yunlei.

He could accept that much as punishment for the immature actions of the young son-in-law who had fled without a word.

So he was flustered.

“Ah! Baiwei. Baiwei! Our dear son-in-law! You came! You came back! You’re here!”

When Yunlei suddenly embraced him tightly.

…What?

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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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