The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 20

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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 20

The martial arts of the Dongpyeong Family, which originated from the Yellow River downstream, developed not by maintaining balance based on a solid lower body, but by utilizing the advantages of long weapons such as meteor hammers, hooks, and long spears.

Therefore, this fight would ultimately depend on how well Buyeonsu could block Xie Baowei’s charge.

Since he had the advantage in both stamina and distance, it was obvious to anyone that Buyeonsu was in a favorable position.

Xie Baowei let out a long sigh and loosened his arms.

Damn it.

He wasn’t aiming for honor or anything like that.

Thud. He took one large step forward.

“Come!”

Buyeonsu shouted with great vigor.

Xie Baowei’s body bent greatly, and he pulled his arm back to the limit.

Whoosh!

A sound louder than the rotation of the meteor hammer rang from Xie Baowei’s arm, and the wooden sword cut through the air.

“You bastard!”

Crack!

The meteor hammer cut through the air and split the wooden sword.

The solid wooden sword was broken in half by the power of the iron ball concentrated at one point.

Wood fragments scattered before his eyes.

Thwack!

Piercing through those wood fragments, a stone that Xie Baowei had secretly thrown from behind the wooden sword struck Buyeonsu’s forehead.

He had secretly picked it up while gripping the wooden sword.

Even though Buyeonsu’s head snapped back from the impact, he gritted his teeth and straightened his head, but then,

“Sorry, young friend.”

Xie Baowei was right in front of him.

Thud.

“Ugh.”

Buyeonsu collapsed, clutching his abdomen and jaw, and no one could say a word.

Xie Baowei stood with an embarrassed expression and looked back at Jang Sahyeon.

Now. What more is needed?

“Do you need more qualifications?”

“You bastard. You’re trying to ruin the sacred Bimureon with heretical tricks and schemes.”

Jang Sahyeon said through gritted teeth.

Xie Baowei merely shrugged his shoulders.

What more was needed for victory or defeat?

Jang Sahyeon stepped forward and spoke.

“Is there no one else who will challenge?”

No one answered.

“Are you going to cower and run away from this ignorant fool like this?! Is this the spirit of you who are called the rising stars of Shandong?”

Jang Sahyeon stepped forward again and scolded them sternly.

Not only the children but even the adults around frowned.

They disliked his words more than Xie Baowei.

“…He has already won three times. Moreover, we don’t know about the matter between Branch Manager Jang and Master Xie. How about each party resolving their own affairs?”

Seolmujin of the Blue Cauldron Sword stepped forward on behalf of the children who couldn’t speak up in front of the adults.

The children nodded at his words.

Xie Baowei joining where kids were playing?

Strange, but whatever.

Akmungi and Hoxiong having a match?

That was also ambiguous, but whatever.

Buyeonsu stepping forward and instigating?

They were also uncertain about that, so whatever.

Besides, hadn’t Xie Baowei been modest about it?

But then Jang Sahyeon suddenly interfered, talking about qualifications and whatnot, and instigated Buyeonsu?

Wasn’t this a bit strange?

“I roughly heard the reason for inviting Master Xie… but what are these qualifications and what is this situation? We need an explanation too.”

“That’s right! Come to think of it, you didn’t tell us why you specifically invited Master Xie to Bimureon.”

Muk Sword Sage of the Taishan Sect asked in a quiet voice.

The Bugang Head beside him stepped forward and raised his voice.

People from other martial families and trading companies nodded in agreement.

Gok Jangno of Pahosam Gate just kept his mouth tightly shut.

“…As I mentioned, that Xie fellow was being persistent about old connections, so I told him to come to Bimureon if he wanted to come. I said I didn’t know he would shamelessly actually show up.”

Jang Sahyeon spat out with a hardened face as if chewing his words.

Those bastards who know everything.

Jang Sahyeon gritted his teeth.

Those bastards who had eyes and ears there and reported every detail were now pretending not to know.

They were the ones who had been afraid that the Huangbo Family might move because of that pretext, and had united in preparation,

And after yesterday’s incident (when only Xie Baowei and Huangbo Lüli came), they had calmed down again and focused on the power struggle before them.

He closed his ears and spoke to Xie Baowei.

“Right. How does it feel to come and rampage where children are playing? You’ve gained the title you wanted, so you have sufficient qualifications to participate here. Eat well and go back.”

Let’s stop here. Right. Even an ignorant fool like you worked quite hard to climb this far.

I’ll acknowledge that.

But only go that far.

It was a warning, contempt, and disparagement, but

Xie Baowei didn’t care about such things.

“Keep your promise.”

“Isn’t it enough that you’ve gained some petty honor?”

“Keep your promise.”

“Stop it now. I acknowledge that you’ve gained some petty skill.”

“Jang Sahyeon.”

“Oh my. Xie fellow. After wandering outside, you’re only revealing your base nature.”

Jang Sahyeon scolded him like reprimanding a thoughtless child.

Xie Baowei shook his head.

Fire blazed again in Xie Baowei’s eyes.

“Apologize.”

At those words, Jang Sahyeon shut his mouth tight.

People were watching.

He couldn’t understand why he should roll around with someone like that when he had climbed to such a position.

“I’ll send someone separately. Stop this now.”

Jang Sahyeon said through gritted teeth.

Xie Baowei shook his head.

“Otherwise, I’ll seek justice through force.”

“Ha.”

This thunderbolt of a bastard.

He’s following his wife’s reputation exactly.

“You’re quite arrogant for learning a little skill. I’ve seen all your tricks, so stop playing with adults and withdraw now.”

And when he displayed patience once more,

Xie Baowei said.

“Are you going to run away again?”

“You bastard!”

Jang Sahyeon drew his giant saber.

***

“Hmm.”

Hwangbo Seungjeong was receiving acupuncture and moxibustion in the inner chamber of Tianhou Palace.

His age was close to ninety.

His back and waist were also covered with age spots and wrinkles.

“Will you be alright?”

Hwangbo Yeonhwi asked quietly from behind him.

“Of course. There’s no problem.”

Even so, the old household head’s back was still broad.

Hwangbo Seungjeong spoke in a firm voice.

“Cheongjam is a fearsome person. To rise to such a position at that age, he’s ruthless and his methods are excessive…”

“That’s something I already know.”

“Household Head. No, Grandfather.”

Hwangbo Yeonhwi continued with worry.

Even he, who had once been sharp as a blade, had changed greatly.

The Ilcheon Gakju who once coveted the position of household head and decisively cut through everything was no longer there.

Greed could sometimes mask a person’s true nature.

Hwangbo Seungjeong only turned his head to look at his first grandson, whom he truly cherished.

“Are you worried?”

“…Yes.”

“About what?”

“About family.”

Hwangbo Seungjeong smiled warmly.

“Yes. Family indeed.”

Then he turned his head again, closed his eyes, and simply focused on the moxibustion and acupuncture.

He could naturally feel the medicinal effects entering his body, which made him feel good.

“Shouldn’t we take more action? So they don’t dare move recklessly.”

When Hwangbo Yeonhwi worried again, Hwangbo Seungjeong chuckled.

“After getting thoroughly beaten up by that Yeontak fellow, you’re talking just like him.”

“…Is that guy a bit noisy?”

“Yes. That’s certainly true.”

These two had once growled at each other over the position of household head. It had taken a very long detour to reach this comfortable conversation.

Hwangbo Seungjeong smiled again, pleased by this.

“I know that Jang Sahyeon fellow too. In the family, he was suppressed by Yeon-gung. Being expelled was actually better medicine for him.”

“That’s exactly why I’m worried. Even Yeon-gung suffered a defeat…”

“Don’t worry.”

“Grandfather.”

Unlike minor sects, merchant groups, or scholarly families, those sent from major sects couldn’t be the center of their factions.

They were all outsiders or peripheral figures like Jang Sahyeon. That’s why the Hwangbo Family could embrace and teach them without burden.

So when those relationships fell apart, there were rarely any who showed exceptional talent.

Except for Ak Munheon and Jang Sahyeon alone.

“His natural political acumen and effort in achieving his current position is indeed remarkable. I don’t intend to belittle that. But he’s different from Ak Munheon.”

If Ak Munheon shone purely through martial arts, Jang Sahyeon fought fiercely and won, eventually becoming the head of a faction.

Which of them was more remarkable? That would be debatable.

“But still, he’s not someone to be ignored.”

“Who said anything about ignoring him?”

“Then…”

“Are you worried about your brother-in-law even after seeing what happened with the Taean Faction?”

“…Do you truly believe that incident was something Brother-in-law Xie did?”

“Yes.”

Hwangbo Seungjeong nodded.

“So what you should be doing is not worrying about whether Baowei might get hurt.”

“…Then?”

Then what should he worry about?

The returned Xie Baowei did seem quite seasoned, though there were some suspicious aspects.

But a battle-hardened soldier and a martial artist were certainly different. Moreover, didn’t Xie Baowei even have a limp?

Seeing Hwangbo Yeonhwi’s face still showing confusion, Hwangbo Seungjeong said playfully.

“It might be more appropriate to worry about how to clean up the trouble Baowei causes.”

“How could that be?”

It was obviously a joke, but Hwangbo Yeonhwi found it difficult to easily accept his grandfather’s words.

Brother-in-law Xie, that gentle person causing trouble? What trouble?

No. He had already caused some.

By mixing with those martial arts people and participating in Bimureon.

Thinking about it again, it seemed like he still had affection for the family and his youngest member, which made Hwangbo Yeonhwi feel proud.

But soon he felt uncomfortable.

Tsk.

The family would take care of everything.

This was all because he hadn’t opened his heart yet.

Hwangbo Yeonhwi reflected with a sad expression.

Hwangbo Seungjeong glanced back and chuckled.

“Yeonhwi.”

“Yes.”

“Even so.”

“…Yes.”

The only one to trust was Hwangbo Yeon-gung who had followed Xie Baowei.

…He wasn’t very reliable at all.

***

“Are you trying to run away again?”

This was something he absolutely couldn’t tolerate.

If he backed down now, there might be people calling him a coward.

No, there definitely would be.

Even if he beat down such troublemakers again and again, he couldn’t control all the rumors about himself.

“You refuse the cup of respect and insist on receiving the cup of punishment.”

Jang Sahyeon walked forward, pointing his curved saber at Xie Baowei.

Killing intent rippled from his body.

Since he had descended into this muddy fight anyway, he had to show them.

What happened when someone dared to touch him.

He had to deal with them cruelly so they wouldn’t dare challenge him.

That’s what the curved saber was for, and that’s why he had learned martial arts.

“How dare you.”

The pointed blade, sharp as a shark’s tooth, flashed threateningly as if it would tear Xie Baowei’s throat at any moment.

Once again, the area around Xie Baowei and Jang Sahyeon cleared significantly.

“Damn it.”

Hwangbo Yeon-gung, who could only watch, bit his lips.

He had tried to stop this the day before, no, for several days, but it was useless.

He had wanted to smash that head more than once or twice.

It felt just like his youngest brother had returned.

Even straw sandals come in pairs, they say. Damn bastards.

So please, be careful with your body. If it doesn’t work out, retreat quickly.

Just standing up to him was enough to save face, and you’ve already given that damn bastard a taste of his own medicine, so do it in moderation.

With your actions, we’ve already repaid all the humiliation we received.

He had given that warning countless times already.

“Please.”

If that bastard Jang Sahyeon had any sense, he would know when to stop, but…

If push came to shove, he would have to step in himself.

Ah, damn it. If Master Jin gets seriously hurt, my brothers will beat me to death.

Please be careful with your body.

Huangbo Lüli clutched his head and screamed silently.

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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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