The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 57

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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 57

The girl frowned at Xie Baowei’s cold words.

“I’m pretty and delicate, with tears welling up in my eyes, and that’s what you say?”

As expected, they were fake tears.

Xie Baowei shook his head.

His eyes quickly turned cold.

It was a trivial matter.

Not even worth being annoyed about. How hard could it be to shake off one kid?

The boy seemed to read his mood immediately.

“How dare you…!”

“How dare I?”

“…How dare I think I could be of help!”

A quick-witted kid.

The boy’s attitude changed like flipping a palm at Xie Baowei’s intimidating presence.

“I brought money too, and I know the roads! I know the roads well!”

“I have plenty of money. I can just ask for directions.”

“At this time, with this suspicious appearance, you’re going to ask your way to Yibin? Even if you know the roads, there’ll be problems, won’t there?”

Xie Baowei quietly turned his gaze away.

It was true that he had wandered around a bit.

Seeing his expression, the boy eagerly continued speaking.

“If I’m with you, they’ll be much less suspicious!”

“Why.”

At the somehow desperate look, Xie Baowei looked at Dangyeonhwa.

Why on earth. Looking at how immature and ill-mannered she was, she had clearly been raised with plenty of affection.

“You, who seem to lack nothing in particular, insist on this. Why. Does our way of living look fun to you?”

Xie Baowei leaned his arm on the chair and spoke sarcastically. He had no intention of getting into a battle of wills with a kid.

He planned to just humor her with some conversation and then send her away.

“…Anyway, even if I left home, they probably wouldn’t even notice I was gone.”

Ah.

Something like attention-seeking?

What a pitiful reason indeed.

Xie Baowei nodded his head halfheartedly.

Taking that as some kind of signal, Dangyeonhwa continued chattering on.

She was the third child, with two more younger siblings below her, and her older sisters and brothers were like this and that…

If Namgung Seol had been there, he would have listened well.

As the lengthy complaints dragged on and Xie Baowei was thinking of getting up now, listening with one ear and letting it out the other.

“Excuse me, innkeeper.”

Suddenly.

Two guards crossed the threshold and entered the inn.

“Oh my? What brings busy guard masters here at this hour? Drinking in broad daylight? If the magistrate finds out, you’ll get a beating.”

Jangkye, who had been sitting at the entrance worriedly looking inside, ran out with a troubled expression, pretending to be friendly.

Being a small village, they seemed to know each other normally.

The guards spoke with stern expressions, unlike usual.

“We heard outsiders stopped by.”

“Well now, are there just one or two outsiders who stop by this town? Just yesterday a merchant group passed through noisily, and another one is supposed to come in today.”

Jangkye stood blocking their way, looking troubled.

It was already a small village whose only customers were a few regulars who came to drink.

With inspections becoming stricter, even the occasional merchant groups often complained of inconvenience.

He whispered quietly.

“Why are you all acting like this? Those guys who left yesterday are already considering moving to another village. The outsiders here are just simple folk. Please spare us.”

While saying this, he slipped a few coins to them. The guards answered with troubled expressions.

“What place isn’t like this these days? Everyone says the same thing. We’ll just check quickly and go.”

Even so, they didn’t refuse the coins Jangkye had slipped them and pushed past him to enter.

The guard’s eyes swept the interior and met Xie Baowei’s gaze. It was natural for them to look toward Yingying too.

Dangyeonhwa slightly turned her head to avoid their eyes.

Xie Baowei frowned as he watched her. It seemed she couldn’t rely on the Dang Family’s influence.

Jangkye tried to block them, but when the guards made stern faces, he backed away helplessly.

“Where are you from?”

“I came from Shandong.”

Xie Baowei naturally stood up, blocking their gaze toward the child.

The guards were startled seeing Xie Baowei’s large body and rough scars.

“Where in Shandong?”

“My hometown is Taian, but I currently live in Jinan.”

Xie Baowei took out his identification tag and handed it over.

The Hwangbo name was prominently engraved on it.

The guards’ attitude became somewhat more cautious.

“Are you coming from Chengdu?”

“Yes. I’m on my way to Emei Mountain.”

Emei Mountain.

The guards’ expressions became stern again. The route from Chengdu was different.

The guards examined the identification tag again.

Their hands fumbled for the iron clubs at their waists.

“You served in the military at Shuzhou.”

“I was discharged after achieving a small merit.”

Even local guards in the relatively safe Sichuan region knew that Shuzhou bordered the Northern Barbarians.

Being discharged after achieving merit there was no easy task.

The guards’ hands gripped and released their iron clubs.

After hesitating for a moment, they finally gestured toward the child.

“Could we see the child remove their hood?”

“…The child’s face is severely scarred and cannot be shown. That’s why we’re going to Emei Mountain. I heard the medicinal springs are good…”

At Xie Baowei’s words, the two guards put their heads together and whispered.

The atmosphere didn’t seem like it would flow favorably.

Xie Baowei smiled bitterly and glared sharply at Dangyeonhwa.

“My, my younger sibling is very sick…”

Dangyeonhwa was startled and wrapped her arms around Yingying’s head.

Xie Baowei snorted and sighed as he rummaged through his bundle. The time had come to use what he had kept just in case.

Until now, he hadn’t needed to use it because the Namgung sisters were with him.

“Here are my military documents and merit badge.”

Military documents were papers proving military service and discharge.

A merit badge was something granted only to those who achieved great merit, and only to officers or military officials at that.

“A merit badge?!”

Not only the guards but also Dangyeonhwa and the people in the inn were shocked.

The guard received the military documents and merit badge with a reluctant face.

Soon, their eyes widened greatly as they read through them.

“M-Master Soldier! We apologize for our rudeness!”

It wasn’t something mere local guards could dare to face.

The two guards immediately bowed their waists and clasped their hands.

Looking ready to kneel at any moment, Xie Baowei smiled bitterly and waved his hand.

“Not at all. You work hard.”

Xie Baowei received back his military documents and merit badge while responding with full courtesy.

At this sight, the guards who were about to turn away whispered among themselves again and took a step closer.

“…Sir. Please be careful. There are bandits swarming below these days.”

“I’ve heard that often.”

He had stopped by several other villages in the morning as well.

Though he had only passed through briefly, he could feel the ominous atmosphere with his whole body.

Guards were frequently visible, and people were on edge. It was only because these were small villages that the tension was somewhat less.

“Um… And.”

One guard bowed deeper and approached.

His voice became even lower.

“If you happen to have business going down below, it would be best not to show your official documents and identification badge.”

At the guard’s serious eyes, Xie Baowei showed a momentarily puzzled expression, then nodded with an “Ah” when the guard mentioned official documents… Guizhou…

The official documents would surely contain records of that incident as well.

This was probably why the man was saying such things, and why he was turning a blind eye to Yingying’s suspicious appearance.

The guard continued speaking.

“Especially to merchant group people, even more so…”

“Hey now, this fellow. Are you spreading unfounded rumors?”

“No, I heard it myself! Didn’t my cousin get into trouble for dealing with that side!”

“Well, your cousin brother would have to be someone who knows when to stop for us to believe you. He definitely crossed the line.”

“This bastard?”

The two guards bickered in front of Xie Baowei.

Xie Baowei replied that he understood well enough and nodded with a smile.

The guards bowed deeply again and disappeared.

The remaining people did the same.

The inn became empty in an instant.

Dangyeonhwa looked at Xie Baowei with surprised eyes.

“What are you looking at.”

“…Were you a government official?”

“It’s just borrowed authority.”

Whatever that was, he himself hadn’t changed much.

“I am just me. Do I look different to you too?”

“…Yes.”

“How honest.”

Yingying nodded slightly.

Whatever it was, she seemed to find it impressive.

That was understandable. Especially for someone like her, a government official would seem all the more frightening and imposing.

Xie Baowei smiled bitterly.

“Don’t mind it.”

He didn’t like showing off his authority.

Authority was something worn over clothes – even the most exalted generals, when stripped bare, were often no match for street thugs.

Xie Baowei silently put the remaining food in his mouth.

Dangyeonhwa fidgeted, wanting to strike up a conversation.

But she said nothing.

She’s certainly quick to read the mood.

“Let’s go. We have a long way to travel.”

When Xie Baowei and Yingying stood up, Dangyeonhwa hurriedly followed them out.

Jangkye came out after them to see them off.

After paying the bill, Chun-gil stood outside the tavern looking well-fed.

Beside it stood a short, sturdy horse. Dangyeonhwa was stroking its neck. That must be the horse called Yeongryong or something.

“Travel safely.”

Jangkye came out and bowed deeply in farewell. Xie Baowei pressed a few more coins into his hand.

After seating Yingying in the cart, he spoke.

“We’ll need to hurry a bit. The atmosphere is not normal.”

Xie Baowei’s face hardened.

The vigilance was severe. Strange rumors were even circulating.

It was different from the day before yesterday, and even more different from yesterday.

The further south they went, the more desolate and ominous it became.

“It’ll be difficult to stop at villages again.”

“It’s okay.”

Xie Baowei patted her head as if grateful.

The child closed her eyes and smiled quietly.

“We’re camping out? I’ve never done that before!”

Dangyeonhwa chattered excitedly.

Xie Baowei frowned.

“It will be dangerous.”

“Hmph. I’m Dangyeonhwa!”

So what.

Xie Baowei looked at the girl with pity.

The girl slyly averted her eyes.

…Tsk.

Do as you please.

Securing one piece of luggage to the side, Chun-gil began running again.

***

“Damn it all.”

Hahee spat out a curse.

Hwangbo Yeonghil glanced nervously at his aunt.

“What should we do?”

“What do you mean what should we do.”

Ptui.

She spat sharply and gripped the club at her waist.

“We’ll have to smash all their heads in.”

“…Oh really now.”

Hwangbo Yeonghil shook his head.

What a truly remarkable person when it comes to being reckless.

Has the ghost of someone who died fighting possessed her?

He grabbed and loosened the hand that was gripping the club.

“Get a grip. Do you want to watch me die?”

“Who’s going to die?”

“Thanks to you, I will. Okay?”

When Hwangbo Yeonghil glared at her, Hahee quietly looked at his face.

Smack!

“Ugh!”

“When it’s just the two of us, call me aunt. How dare you look straight at your elder so impudently. Tsk.”

“…Damn it.”

Smack!

Bloody hell.

Yeonghil, who got hit once more for running his mouth unnecessarily, grabbed his forehead and shook his head.

Her hand is too heavy.

Looking closely, it seemed like she had spoken out of anger anyway and wouldn’t actually step forward.

Even knowing this perfectly well, it was Hwangbo Yeonghil’s nature to try to stop her.

“Damn. Who would have thought bandits would be openly running rampant in central Sichuan. To think they’re doing this kind of thing with stolen treasures. No, but even so, with this scale it couldn’t be done with just that…”

Hwangbo Yeonghil rubbed his forehead and grumbled.

Hahee sat quietly with a frown on his face.

“How did things turn out like this?”

“How did they turn out like this, you ask. It’s because of… Aunt’s pointless stubbornness. Really, why are those disappeared bandits so important…?”

Swoosh.

Again, Hahee’s hand rose. In response, Hwangbo Yeonghil’s arm quickly shot up.

Seeing this, Hahee turned his head away in displeasure.

Hwangbo Yeonghil glanced around nervously and continued speaking.

“They are important… Well. In the end, we did discover the fortress disguised as Iri Village…”

This time, thinking Hahee was blaming himself, he changed his words again.

What a caring nephew indeed.

Hahee chuckled silently.

Bang!

At that moment, the door burst open forcefully.

Light flooded into the small, dark storehouse, and a long shadow blocked the doorway.

Both men’s eyes sharpened, and the two hiding in the shadows of the storehouse gripped the clubs at their waists tightly.

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Hwangbo Yeonghil made a foolish sound.

It was because someone unexpected had entered.

“…Brother Dang?”

It was Dang Cheongi.

Why was he here.

Hwangbo Yeonghil welcomed him warmly, then his face hardened again.

Dang Cheongi’s expression was grave.

His face had turned ashen, and his clothes were soaked through.

“Why are you two…! Ah. Aah!”

Dang Cheongi’s eyes darkened deeply upon seeing Hwangbo Yeonghil and Hahee.

Recalling what the two had been pursuing, he seemed to realize something and gritted his teeth.

Soon, he spoke as if sighing.

It was words like a sigh.

“The situation is not good.”

“How bad?”

Hahee asked.

“Very, very bad.”

Dang Cheongi answered.

He rushed in urgently and rummaged through the storehouse where they had been.

At first, things like rice and barley, millet and bean sacks had fallen out.

But then soon,

“This is…”

Hwangbo Yeonghil’s mouth fell wide open.

Salt, tea.

And gleaming sharp weapons were neatly stored.

Dang Cheongi’s pale face kept turning toward the back.

“We need to move.”

Usually in such cases, someone would be pursuing them.

“Right now.”

Shrill!

A whistle sound that tore through the air echoed throughout the village.

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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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