The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 4

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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 4

Power abhors a vacuum.

While the Hwangbo Family Estate reduced its external activities, there were places that rapidly expanded their influence.

Taean Gate was one of the most representative among them.

The head of Taean Gate, Guieosal , Wei Chi , was a man who constantly faced rumors of being a former pirate from the East Sea.

He began making a name for himself by absorbing a faction of water bandits from the Yellow River tributaries, and with bold moves and cruel methods that dispelled those rumors, he quickly expanded his business ventures one by one.

Now he even coveted Daming Street in this Jinan region.

“…Hmm.”

He had clearly rushed here in haste.

Wei Chi, who had been momentarily speechless and choosing his words after Hwangbo Yeonhwi’s sharp rebuke, stammered as he opened his mouth.

However, upon seeing the pitiful dozen or so people gathered before him, his voice began to gain strength as he realized what he was facing.

“…I have urgent news to inform the Huangbo Family, so I came here.”

Hwangbo Yeonhwi frowned deeply and responded.

“There is nothing urgent you need to inform us of.”

“There is.”

“If we say there isn’t, then there isn’t.”

Decisive. Hwangbo Yeonhwi spoke firmly.

It was only natural.

A newly rising sect? The power struggles making Jinan noisy?

This was the Hwangbo Family Estate.

“We already returned the marriage proposal sent by Guiwen. Knowing that level of rudeness, we even sent word never to send another, yet did they fail to understand even that?”

And Hwangbo Yeonhwi was the eldest grandson of that great family, displaying arrogance truly befitting him.

Xie Baowei found that sight rather welcome.

Yes. That’s how my brother-in-law from the Hwangbo Family Estate should be.

The head of Taean Gate’s eyebrows twitched. Sarcasm mixed into his voice.

“Haha… The Huangbo Family’s pride is truly high. However. Look here, Paegum. This Wei has always admired the Huangbo Family’s name. How can you tell me to just stand by and watch the Huangbo Family’s halls decay?”

“Do rats worry about crumbling walls?”

Suddenly, Yunlei Huangbo Lüli interjected.

It was speech truly befitting Huangbo Lüli, so Xie Baowei felt at ease once again.

At least these two didn’t seem to have changed much.

However, Wei Chi trembled and flinched again. He looked like he wanted to grab a harpoon immediately.

His lips twisted.

“…Well then. That proud Huangbo Family wouldn’t accept charity, would they? Instead, we’ll give you face. My son says he’ll take in that lacking and flawed tomboy from Guiwen. Though I find it disagreeable, what can I do?”

Deliberately ignoring Yunlei Huangbo Lüli’s interruption, Wei Chi continued speaking.

His mouth twisted as he finished his words.

“Even for rotten fruit, we’ll pay a high price.”

With that, the atmosphere changed completely.

The faces of the family members hardened.

Menacing auras emanated from both Hwangbo Yeonhwi and Yeon-gung.

“How dare you.”

“How dare, you say. How dare. Yes, that’s exactly why.”

Meeting that aura head-on, Wei Chi extended his hand.

It was directed toward Xie Baowei.

“Because that swindler dares to prevent cutting out that rotten part. I came personally. That’s what I mean.”

As soon as those words ended, rough killing intent flowed from Wei Chi and the Taean Gate warriors.

The meaning was clear.

Whatever Xie Baowei’s identity, he would die as a swindler.

Thus, they would finally pluck the Huangbo Family’s flower and claim fame.

That was the reason they had rushed here so urgently.

“…The family’s name has fallen to the ground.”

“Didn’t you know? While trying to save the rotten part, the entire family has festered? We’ll help with that.”

When Hwangbo Yeonhwi muttered lowly, Wei Chi shouted triumphantly.

Unlike the massive hall, the mere dozen servants fueled their confidence.

Even though those before him were Paegum and Yunlei, he trusted his own reputation and the hundred Cheongnaeui guards he had personally trained.

“Hand over that swindler immediately. If you can’t do it, we’ll do it for you!”

Wei Chi shouted.

The Cheongnaeui guards roared together in unison.

Untimely fighting spirit surged within the desolate hall.

Shing.

Before them, Hwangbo Yeonhwi slowly drew his sword.

“Your arrogance goes too far, Guieosal. I must personally teach you what manners are.”

He took just one step forward.

However, with that single step, Taean Gate’s momentum that had been soaring to pierce the heavens was dampened.

Wei Chi’s eyes glinted cruelly as he watched this.

Indeed, Paegum, Hwang Ilbo.

There was treasure in the depths of the Huangbo Family, which the family head trusted and entrusted with affairs.

But Wei Chi trusted in numbers.

“Guards, form the Fish-Killing Formation!”

With those words, over a hundred Cheongnaeui guards spread out widely.

Surrounding the family members, they all raised their harpoons in identical stances.

Once again, the formation of Guisaltouhon was deployed.

Though their levels weren’t all uniform, since those spear points weren’t aimed solely at Xie Baowei and them, Paegum’s face hardened.

“…No different from black path ruffians.”

“Oh my. We’re an orthodox sect officially registered with the Wulin Alliance. How can you insult us so?”

Wei Chi smiled crookedly.

Before long, Yunlei stood beside Paegum with a hardened face.

If it were just the two of them, they could have caused a massacre even if wounded.

Tigers don’t fear flocks of sheep.

But their eyes couldn’t help but turn toward their family members.

“Do you plan to kill and silence witnesses?”

“How could we? How dare we harm the in-laws’ elders? We’ll simply withdraw if you hand over that swindler.”

“Do you think we’ll hand him over?”

“Then there’s no choice. People will come to know then. That this Wei Chi’s name stands above the Huangbo.”

Wei Chi smiled cruelly. He was truly like a bandit.

At this, Xie Baowei stepped forward.

“I’ll go.”

“Impossible. Jin Seo, don’t step forward.”

“Ilcheon Gakju.”

“…Brother Jin. How about… calling me brother?”

No.

Even in this urgent situation, Hwangbo Yeonhwi looked back at Xie Baowei.

That gaze full of disappointment made even Xie Baowei flustered.

Where had that cold and stern heir gone?

“…I will.”

“Don’t step forward. It’s already a sin to have cast you out; I can’t fail to protect you as well.”

“Right. Brother! I’ll protect you no matter what happens. Step back.”

Unable to call him brother, he stammered and opened his mouth again.

Hwangbo Yeonhwi smiled bitterly and turned his head with a hardened face.

Yunlei Huangbo Lüli was the same.

No. That wasn’t all. Even the family members who had been flustered slowly came over and blocked Xie Baowei’s path.

Not everyone would share the same feelings, but….

‘What in the world.’

And this seemed to be a bewildering situation for the guard as well.

“…So it was true that the family was shaken just to find that fool?”

“Take back that word. Calling him a fool.”

Hwangbo Yeonhwi spoke solemnly.

“Guiwen has dared to forcibly open the gates of our family. They have openly insulted the bloodline of the Huangbo Family and branded a member of Hwangbo as a fraud. Therefore, the family judges Guiwen as an enemy. Now there is nothing left between you and us but life and death. Do you acknowledge this?”

“…You’re doing all this just to protect that cripple?”

It was when the guard glanced at his advisor’s face with a somewhat dismayed expression.

Though no wind blew, the air could be felt changing.

Since when had it been?

One enormous presence suddenly.

Emerged.

“That cripple you speak of is the family’s one and only son-in-law.”

“…Grandfather.”

The head of the Hwangbo Family Estate. Shandong’s One Fist. The Eastern Hegemon. Hwangbo Seungjeong had appeared.

***

Shandong had always been on the periphery of the martial world.

Perhaps it was because they were close to the imperial family.

The Hwangbo Family Estate was the same.

Even their very name was Hwangbo , wasn’t it?

There was a time when such people stood at the center of the martial world.

About fifty years ago.

That is to say.

When Shandong’s One Fist single-handedly defeated the Blood Spear that had stirred up the Central Plains and his followers, becoming the Eastern Hegemon.

There was a time when everyone in Shandong looked up to him.

“Wei Mo pays respects to Shandong’s hero, the Eastern Hegemon.”

The guard said while cupping his fists.

It was a respectful posture.

Wasn’t the aura generated by a single old man too overwhelming?

For that very reason, the guards’ hands could not let go of their weapons.

The hands gripping the spears were colored with tension.

“…I heard stories of your poor health and couldn’t help but worry day after day, but you look quite vigorous. Indeed.”

Hwangbo Seungjeong had been secluded for several years now.

Even insolent rumors had been circulating that he had already ascended to heaven but was being hidden for the family’s prosperity.

Even if he were alive, his mobility would surely be inconvenient. They had gambled on this assumption.

The guard’s eyebrows twitched.

“Withdraw.”

The old man spoke firmly, as if he didn’t care about the guard’s greetings.

“He is merely a fraud. Elder.”

“Though I may be old, I am still the hegemon of a region. Do not test my patience further.”

His age was already close to eighty. His once robust body had withered and deep wrinkles spoke of the years.

Yet his bones were still straight, his voice still had strength, and his eyes still blazed brightly.

The guard looked around at him, Hwangbo Yeonhwi, and Yeon-gung, finally settling his gaze on Hwangbo Seungjeong.

Indeed, so this was Shandong’s One Fist.

…Even so, he was old.

If they pressed forward with numbers and momentum, they could break him….

He couldn’t dare guarantee it.

Who knows. If they used all their strength recklessly. Also.

But breaking Hwangbo and breaking Hwangbo Seungjeong were different stories.

The former would be proof of hegemony, but the latter would become a symbol of evil.

Still. Shandong had not forgotten the Eastern Hegemon.

The guard nodded his head.

At least he now knew that the Eastern Hegemon was still alive.

If he had learned this in a more dramatic scene, he would have suffered a greater defeat.

“I have always admired the Huangbo Family and merely wanted to lend a humble hand. I have no other intentions. Having seen that the family head is in good health, Wei Mo will now withdraw.”

The guard cupped his fists again and gestured toward his subordinates.

Then those who had rushed in like waves retreated like an ebbing tide.

In the place they left behind, only empty wind swept through, cooling the cold sweat on the necks of those who had been tense.

Even so, those shark-like eyes seemed to still remain, making their hearts uncomfortable.

“Mmm.”

“Grandfather!”

Only after they had disappeared.

Hwangbo Seungjeong let out a groan.

Indeed, his body wasn’t in very good condition, as the oppressive feeling that had seemed to hold even the wind vanished completely, and not only Hwangbo Yeonhwi and Yeon-gung but even the household members rushed over to support the elder.

Hwangbo Seungjeong raised his arm and waved them away.

“That’s enough.”

Then he let out a long breath with a “huh,” and walked step by step to stand before Xie Baowei, who was still standing there dumbfounded.

“…Grandfather.”

“Worthless fool.”

What should he say to him?

-…Insolent boy. I wondered who dared to steal away my treasure. So it was you.

“Well. Was it good after leaving?”

-There’s not a single thing I like about you. But what can I do? My treasure likes you.

“How could that be?”

-So then.

“Leaving home means hardship.”

-Now this is your home.

“You have returned well.”

Then as now.

Faced with the affection held within those stern eyes, Xie Baowei had only one thing to say.

“I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head deeply.

Finally, it felt like he had returned home.

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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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