The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 62

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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 62

“…My lord.”

Hahee blinked her eyes several times, squeezing them shut.

But no matter how much she squeezed, tears kept flowing endlessly, blurring her vision.

“…My lord.”

She took one heavy step forward.

The next step felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

But the strength to lift it was even stronger. Even if it had weighed ten million pounds, she would have walked forward.

“My lord.”

Only when she came right up close could she finally see his face.

His chest, which had been broad before, had grown even larger, and his once-thin shoulders had become solid.

It was like looking at the people from home.

That thought made her sad, and she shed tears once again.

“…My lord.”

No matter how much she wiped her tears, she couldn’t see clearly.

The person she had longed for so desperately just stood there like a wife-waiting stone, unable to do anything.

Hahee quietly raised her hand and traced up his arm, shoulder, and neck.

Her hand trembled like an aspen leaf, but she didn’t even realize it was shaking.

She was just focused on holding onto her fading consciousness, as her breathing was labored and her strength was failing.

“How could this…”

Ah.

Her hand stopped abruptly.

Her tears stopped too.

Finally, the hazy fog cleared.

In that clear vision, wounds were embedded painfully deep.

“…How, …how.”

She gasped, her words caught in her throat.

His chin felt rough. When she tried to touch it with her finger, her hand shook so much she could barely make contact.

Where she finally managed to touch, there were several deep, carved wounds.

Why were his lips split?

Why the scar on his cheekbone?

Why was half his earlobe missing, and why was that thick black eyebrow cut and gouged in the middle?

“How could this…”

Like a scream, like a sigh.

A hoarse voice that seemed about to break flowed out as if it weren’t her own.

When she staggered back a step, his hand grabbed her arm and he stepped forward.

Limping.

“Ah!”

Hahee finally let out a scream.

The tears she had barely held back burst forth again.

The hand gripping her arm was missing its little finger. And why were there so many scars on his hand?

His leg, too,

why.

“…Aah.”

Finally, her strength gave out and she collapsed to her knees.

Following her as she crumpled to the ground, the man also bent down.

“Brother…”

Hahee clutched his leg and wailed.

Like she had become a little child again, wailing.

Like that day long ago when she had returned without him.

Like that night long ago when he had left.

“Brother…”

Shaking her body pleadingly, clutching his thigh, unable to close her mouth.

She just wailed.

The man’s hand patted her back.

“It’s alright. …I’m alright.”

However, the man saying those words was the same.

Tears flowed endlessly from the grown man’s eyes.

Whether he was trying to hold back forcibly, his nostrils flared and his mouth trembled, but he couldn’t hold back at all, so snot and saliva flowed together.

He said he was alright, but in truth, you couldn’t even tell if those words meant “alright,” so it only sounded like crying.

His hands kept stroking the wounds on the woman’s face and hands.

“Hee-ya. Hee-ya. My Hee-ya.”

“Brother…”

Then finally he pulled her into an embrace and they cried together as one, wailing.

Both of them continuously muttering words that no one could understand…

Namgung Seol, Peng Sohui, and Hwangbo Yeonghil, who were watching from right beside them, quietly wiped away tears.

…But the rest were simply dumbfounded.

“…That crazy bastard! What, what is that guy!”

Among the soldiers who clumsily gripped their spears and swords, not knowing what to do, one horse burst forward.

“You! Who are you to harm the imperial army!”

It was Maun, a centurion of the Uibin Guard’s Qingshi Bureau.

Even though two of his comrades had fallen, there was no movement from the main force.

Thinking of his usual superior, it seemed natural.

Someone with no sense of responsibility whatsoever, only busy blaming his subordinates.

Even now, he would be cursing at them.

“To interfere with official business! Don’t you know that’s tantamount to treason!”

So, somehow managing the situation was his responsibility.

“What are you doing! Charge at once! He’s already exhausted! What’s there to fear from a cavalryman who’s dismounted!”

At his angry command as he waved his sword, the surrounding soldiers cautiously stepped forward again.

Then the man who had been crying while stroking each other suddenly stood up.

“I am, ahem.”

Having cried so much, Xie Baowei wiped his face while clearing his ridiculously cracked voice.

“I am Jin So-and-so, who served as a battalion commander under the Shaanxi-Gansu Governor-General and then retired. I apologize for a civilian interfering in military business and causing trouble, but there seems to be a serious misunderstanding, so I rushed here urgently. Please understand. Here are His Majesty’s edict and command token.”

“Eh?”

His voice was serious and heavy, as if he had never cried at all.

He fumbled in his chest and pulled out the edict and command token to hand over.

Maun accepted the edict with a bewildered expression.

“Gasp!”

Then he exclaimed in shock.

“G-Grand Master for Splendid Happiness!”

The long list of achievements was extraordinary.

Moreover, wasn’t this someone who had even received a promotion in rank upon retirement?

Maun’s face turned pale as he mounted his horse and immediately began galloping toward the rear.

Soon, there was commotion from the main force, and a group came galloping forward on horseback.

“…This is Wang Yong, battalion commander of the Uibin Guard’s Qingshi Bureau.”

The commander of a thousand men had come running, leading his subordinates in a line.

Wang Yong dismounted with a deeply furrowed brow and bowed his head.

“…What brings the Grand Master here?”

Grand Master for Splendid Happiness was equivalent to a senior fourth rank honorary position.

Even without practical authority, it was a position the nation gave to those who had rendered meritorious service.

They dare not be underestimated.

However, as a frontline commander on the scene, this was not a welcome greeting at all.

Moreover, this matter was…

“We are people of the Wulin Alliance pursuing bandits!”

“Shut up. How dare a bunch of civilians interfere in military affairs and make such a racket.”

Wang Yong sternly lectured Peng Sohui in response to her words.

Normally he would have shown proper courtesy, but right now he had no such leisure.

His uncomfortable mood spread out in all directions.

“These are all children of great families who merely discovered suspicious individuals. We are sorry for any misunderstanding, but fearing that this misunderstanding might bring trouble to the Commander, we came here. Please look into this matter.”

Xie Baowei stepped forward before Wang Yong and continued speaking.

Wang Yong bit his lips.

Even now, he felt the urge to force the issue and bury them.

If three hundred was difficult, wouldn’t it be possible with a thousand soldiers?

However, if word leaked out, there would be no answer.

The very forces he had brought to leave evidence of suppressing bandits had instead become witnesses who must keep these people alive.

“…Hmm.”

Wang Yong’s eyes turned toward the group from Chenggu who were standing far away, staring blankly at this place.

He also looked back at his own subordinates who were standing stupidly, just staring at him.

Especially that fool Maun – he had sent him to clean up shit, but he came back covered in it.

Damn it.

Far from crossing spears with the enemy forces whose defeat was guaranteed with a thousand troops, he couldn’t even defeat a mere six and return. Forget the mockery of his fellow Commanders, he couldn’t even face the Wei Commander.

“Fine. Since you guarantee it, I’ll trust your word and overlook this. Quickly clean up and withdraw. Don’t carelessly interfere in official business again.”p>

Lest you fall victim to a blind blade.

Wang Yong spoke through gritted teeth.

“How dare…”

At words that were practically threats and his arrogant tone, Hahee’s eyebrows twitched – he knew enough about military hierarchy – but they returned to normal when Xie Baowei looked back at him.

“Hmph.”

Wang Yong turned his head fiercely even after seeing this.

He didn’t know what these people would say when they left alive, but there was nothing he was more confident about than burying and covering things up.

In any case, the bandits would be suppressed today, and this would spread through the Steward’s reports and the soldiers’ mouths.

The lazy Regional Commander wouldn’t leave Chengdu to come all the way here,

So it would be good for everyone – them, us, and even the soldiers who would get wine, rice, and military achievements to boast about to their neighbors.

So. Shut up and go.

Just as Wang Yong was cursing with his eyes while tossing over the imperial edict and command token,

“Uh, over there.”

Someone’s stupid voice broke the silence again.

A small horse came running straight from the mountain side where Xie Baowei had come from.

And behind it, a group of cavalry was in pursuit.

“They’re, they’re coming this way!”

“It’s cavalry!”

It looked like a chase, with over ten horsemen following behind.

The soldiers, whose formation had already been broken by just one person, panicked not knowing what to do.

“What are you doing!”

“What are you doing! Form ranks! You idiots!”

As Wang Yong quickly mounted his horse and shouted, Maun yelled while urging the soldiers.

But these men who usually just played around without any real training couldn’t possibly form proper anti-cavalry formations.

Just as Wang Yong’s group began riding back toward the main force, leaving behind the confused soldiers,

Xie Baowei, who had tucked the edict and command token into his robes, mounted his horse.

“My lord…!”

Hahee quickly ran over and grabbed Xie Baowei’s leg.

Xie Baowei gently wiped her dirt-covered face with his thumb.

He hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“…I really hated hearing you call me ‘my lord.'”

“What?”

“Like before…”

Hahee looked at him with wide, round eyes.

Whatever was so painful, those few words pierced like a dagger.

Xie Baowei turned his head and said,

“Like before, please call me brother.”

“…Ah.”

Like her, Xie Baowei’s dirt-covered face turned peach-colored.

Hahee’s cheeks also reddened similarly.

As she shyly said yes, Chun-gil snorted.

No, was it Xie Baowei who snorted?

“I’ll be back, Hee-mae.”

“Stay safe.”

Normally she would have grabbed and stopped him desperately, but for some reason Hahee let go.

And then, she opened her mouth softly.

Gege.

He might not have heard that faintly uttered word.

But she definitely saw the corner of Xie Baowei’s mouth curve up.

Chun-gil neighed and raised his front legs high, then began to pick up speed.

The soldiers were startled and moved aside to clear the way.

“Go, go for it!”

“Let’s go!”

As if forgetting they had just crossed spears, some began cheering for Xie Baowei.

After all, those who are scary as enemies become reliable as allies, don’t they?

Receiving the soldiers’ cheers, Xie Baowei spun his long mace in circles.

Despite being a weapon with a long, thick six-flanged iron head at the end of a long staff, it spun as lightly as a wooden stick.

Right now my mood feels just like Xie Baowei from several years ago.

It reminds me of the time I rode alongside General Guo.

“Hiya!”

Having seen Lüli, even if I die today I have no regrets…

No, I mustn’t die.

She told me to return safely.

It felt like Heaven’s mandate was with me.

With a long whistle, Xie Baowei charged forward.

“Uncle!”

“I told you to stay put!”

“We’ve been discovered!”

Dangyeonhwa, who had been riding toward them, shouted at the sight of Xie Baowei.

In her arms, Yingying was held tightly with her eyes closed.

A child holding a child!

Anxious that she might fall at any moment, Xie Baowei spurred his horse.

“Chun-gil!”

Neigh!

As if understanding Xie Baowei’s heart, Chun-gil accelerated once more.

In an instant, Dangyeonhwa and the guards following her drew close.

“Duck down!”

The battle began as soon as Dangyeonhwa and her beloved horse Yeongrong passed by.

They were that close.

“Urgh!”

The dagger he had thrown before passing Dangyeonhwa struck the shoulder of the one chasing at the front.

The man who barely managed not to fall quickly turned his horse’s head.

Whoosh!

This time, he leaned his body greatly to the left and extended his foot against a sword swinging from the right.

The speed was so fast that even this much made his opponent stagger.

Clang! Thud.

Whoosh, thunk.

Slowing down, he parried a sword striking from the left and thrust.

He turned only his neck to dodge a spear striking from the right and struck back.

After that, his vision opened up wide. Even without holding the reins, Chun-gil twisted his body on his own.

Enduring the tilting that seemed like he might fall with the strength of his core and thighs, he threw out another couple of daggers.

One bounced off horse armor, but one properly embedded in a side.

That made six.

And when he charged in again, those who had just turned their horses’ heads and regained balance came at him clumsily.

Dropping them to the ground was a matter of moments.

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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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