The Hwangbo Clan’s Beloved Live-In Son-in-Law - Chapter 83
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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 83
“What are you doing?”
“Please lead the way, Captain.”
“….”
Unlike her bold entrance, Dangyeonhwa was standing right in front of the side door.
Xie Baowei looked at her quietly before finally taking the lead.
Dangyeonhwa followed closely behind him.
The manor was quiet and seemed empty.
“…Is anyone there?”
Entering through the side door, they found themselves in a courtyard.
Like any merchant building, the spacious courtyard that would occasionally be used to stack goods instead of warehouses was empty.
It wasn’t neatly cleaned either – there were traces of rough sweeping and wiping, yet it remained cluttered.
Large buildings lined the corridors on the east and west sides.
The east side had accommodations for quite a few people, while the west side had buildings that would have been used as storage along with belongings of those doing odd jobs, now completely empty.
No, not just empty but thoroughly destroyed.
Traces of incomplete repairs were scattered everywhere.
This wasn’t from long use or an accident.
Someone had smashed it up.
“I called but received no answer, so please forgive the rudeness of entering uninvited.”
As they carefully crossed the spacious courtyard, gazes poured down on them.
Whatever had made them so angry, the stares were piercing.
Each person glared with sullen expressions but gave no response.
It was an atmosphere that would intimidate anyone, but Xie Baowei stepped forward as if nothing was wrong.
Rustle.
Debris that hadn’t been fully cleared crumbled under his feet.
“Wulin Alliance?”
In the center stood the main hall.
The interior of the main hall, larger than any other building, was clearly visible.
That was because what should have been the main gate had been smashed to pieces.
There seemed to be many rooms inside as well, and in the center of what appeared to be a corridor stood a man.
He was around Xie Baowei’s age.
No, he looked about ten years older.
A bit more because of the deep wrinkles around his eyes?
His face bore many scars. His lips were deeply split, and his cheeks and nose were marked with age spots and freckles like stains.
He wore a headband, and his skin was so darkly tanned that at first glance he could have been mistaken for a foreigner.
He squinted slightly as if frowning or simply dazzled by light.
Solid muscles were visible beneath his loose, short upper garment, with particularly thick forearms and calves.
His expression was fierce, and his aura matched that fierceness.
Had he grown up weathering storms until even his temperament came to resemble the sea?
“I am Xie Baowei, Captain of the Three Absolute Squad of Cheongjukrim under the Wulin Alliance.”
Xie Baowei bowed politely with cupped fists.
The man looked at Xie Baowei without responding, then slowly nodded.
“Zhang Jing.”
“Are you the owner of Hwaheng Mulssan?”
“No.”
The man shook his head lightly.
His lips twisted into something resembling a smile, but his eyes weren’t smiling at all.
Resentment, perhaps, or indignation.
It was a familiar expression.
“Then?”
His legs were spread wide in a solid stance. He had his arms crossed, and his thick forearm muscles twitched constantly.
It was as if he were restraining himself with his own hands.
He looked ready to charge at any moment, yet showed no sign of moving.
Similarly, between the surrounding buildings, leaning against walls, sitting on benches, sometimes standing askew, there were many others like the Four Heavenly Kings.
They had been watching motionlessly since the visitors entered.
All wore the same expression.
“I am Zhang Jing, Third Captain of Biewo Camp under the Southern Dragon Alliance. My comrades usually call me Naksu.”
“The Ever-Victorious Sea Hero! The Net-Binding Ghost Hand!”
“Ho. There’s someone who knows me? Well, that saves face.”
Dangyeonhwa exclaimed softly.
Glancing back, even Akmungi seemed to recognize the name.
“…You know about Biewo Camp, right?”
Dangyeonhwa, reading Xie Baowei’s face, whispered quietly.
Biewo was the blue turtle from mythology that supported heaven and earth, and Biewo Camp, named after it, was both the main force and banner of the Southern Dragon Alliance.
This was because all its warriors had devoted themselves to defending against Japanese pirates.
It was also why, despite the Southern Dragon Alliance’s loose organization, no one dared to covet the South Seas.
When Xie Baowei nodded at Dangyeonhwa’s sighing question, the girl quickly continued with another sigh.
“All four captains of Biewo Camp are famous, but among them, Naksu made his name known more widely in the martial arts world. It’s said he does this not out of personal desire for honor, but because he wants to strengthen the Southern Alliance.”
Though the Southern Dragon Alliance was large, the South Seas were even vaster, and the Japanese pirates more numerous.
Countless righteous warriors dreamed of joining Biewo Camp, enlisted, and died.
Thus, even within Biewo Camp, which selected people purely based on skill, the four captains who survived and rose to the top were all called Sea Heroes, and their abilities were recognized throughout the Central Plains without needing demonstration.
Third Captain Zhang Jing, who rarely refused the Southern Dragon Alliance’s requests, was pushed around according to the Alliance’s will, yet no one looked down on him.
Everyone knew his heart lay in chivalry.
“He’s probably someone from the Southern Alliance who clashed most often with Jiangnan Yilian and Guanzhong Yilin. He’s never been defeated, and has never missed a target he aimed for, they say.”
Though not frequent, there were occasions when the Southern Dragon Alliance’s enemies became allies of other organizations, or vice versa.
When that happened, they would naturally clash, often settling matters through duels between representatives.
Sometimes their enemies were the same.
Even then, these large, foolish organizations often competed rather than cooperating.
Victory and defeat were common in warfare – the Southern Dragon Alliance sometimes won and sometimes lost.
But whenever Zhang Jing stepped forward, he always won.
Constant victory.
What words could be more difficult and fearsome than those?
“You are a senior with a renowned reputation. It is an honor to meet you.”
Though ignorant of martial world affairs, rumors of heroes in the South Seas helping the common people had even reached the military.
When he was galloping across the northern grasslands, Japanese pirates were also swarming the seas.
At one point, enemies had penetrated so deep into the south that rumors circulated about whether General Guo should be sent south, but official reports came that they had been repelled with help from a group called the Four Heroes of the South Seas.
It was an exceptional case where they officially acknowledged receiving help from mere martial artists, and he had heard that General Guo Weilong was greatly impressed.
– There are so many heroes in this world, yet this nation lets them wander the streets like common folk. Wei. Wei. Bring me some wine. I must get drunk today.
The general that day looked both joyful and sorrowful.
Xie Baowei remembered the taste of wine from that day.
Xie Baowei bowed his head deeply once more.
Zhang Jing watched the back of Xie Baowei’s head and twitched his eyebrows.
Dangyeonhwa quietly whispered from behind.
“I heard you’re the same age?”
“…No way.”
“Isn’t Master Jin around thirty this year?”
“…No way!”
Xie Baowei quickly raised his head to examine Zhang Jing’s face.
No. That can’t be.
Zhang Jing’s eyebrows twitched again.
He suddenly opened his mouth. His voice was somewhat gruff.
“…I was curious about the Mad Fox who caught Tougui, having seen that monster once before. But I was surprised to hear that a fox, not a tiger, had caught such a beast.”
“…I was just lucky.”
Xie Baowei scratched his head.
Xie Baowei’s nickname, which had been Sandong Daeyun, then Bugwang, then Mad Dog Fox, was recently settling on Mad Fox.
The names he was still most commonly called were Hwangbo Son-in-law, Phoenix Lord, or Hwangbo Rat, Sorrowful Phoenix Chain, and so on, but externally he was known as Mad Fox.
Damn it.
“Hmm. I still don’t understand. How did you catch him?”
“Your ears must have been damaged by the waves. I told you it was pure luck.”
Zhang Jing said while observing Xie Baowei.
Xie Baowei’s response was gruff, as if he had never been impressed.
Behind them, Dangyeonhwa giggled.
Zhang Jing’s eyes narrowed again, perhaps finding Xie Baowei’s reaction unexpected.
With the feeling of ‘I’m the one who should be annoyed, so why are you?’, Xie Baowei also narrowed his eyes.
You don’t know this looks like glaring, do you?
“An interesting fellow. Not very martial artist-like.”
“What’s martial artist-like? Valuing life as much as a single coin?”
“It’s valuing reputation like one’s life.”
“That’s the same thing.”
“Exactly. I quite like that sentiment.”
“I don’t. You seem rather difficult to get close to.”
“Hah.”
When Xie Baowei grumbled, Zhang Jing let out a hollow laugh.
Seeing this, the people around who had been tense began to quietly snicker.
“The boss got schooled there.”
“Look at that mouth run so cleverly. Our boss must be pissed.”
“Can’t we just take that guy and have some drinks? He seems funny.”
Rough Hainan dialect flowed between them.
It seemed they were quite informal with each other, as their voices weren’t particularly quiet.
Just as the giggling was getting louder, Zhang Jing raised his hand.
The laughter quickly subsided.
“…So, why did you come?”
“I came to mediate.”
“You came after everything already exploded. Is the Wulin Alliance always this slow?”
“No! This old man is slow, but we left early!”
I understand Dangyeonhwa’s frustration well.
But in society, such things don’t work.
Xie Baowei bowed his head solemnly.
“This is our oversight, unrelated to the Alliance’s will. I apologize.”
“Hmm.”
Zhang Jing quietly pondered while looking at that bowed head.
A man quick to bow his head.
But even so, the person doesn’t seem frivolous.
He was a curious fellow.
After pondering something deeply, he soon let out a sigh.
“Just withdraw quietly?”
“There’s no need to escalate the fight further.”
“Is that how the Alliance handles things? Hit and apply medicine, then it’s over?”
“That’s an interesting way to express ‘closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.’ I learned something new.”
“You didn’t come here just to play word games.”
Hmm.
Xie Baowei scratched his head briefly.
“I heard Namryeon has prepared an appropriate compensation package.”
Xie Baowei shrugged and subtly gestured toward the maid behind him.
It’s not my money going out anyway, so whatever.
“Hah. Really that level, huh.”
“There’s no need for adults to get involved in children’s fights.”
“If one of those children was beaten one-sidedly, wouldn’t you be angry as their guardian?”
“Maybe the one who got beaten brought it upon themselves?”
“Did Namgung do that?”
Zhang Jing’s face twisted.
Hmm. The faintly spreading killing intent was chilling. He really seems to feel wronged?
However, I couldn’t be certain rashly.
It might be the Southern Dragon Alliance looking for an excuse.
Zhang Jing loosened his neck once and changed his expression.
Anyway, this wasn’t something that would be concluded here.
Whoever started it first, a fight had broken out, and the Southern Dragon had no intention of letting this slide.
His voice hardened.
“Qiulong Town isn’t Namgung’s territory either, so what’s the problem with just one warehouse and one trading company? We even got permission from the authorities.”
Zhang Jing asked stiffly.
His voice drew a line so clearly that what he’d said before seemed kind by comparison.
If that had been kindness, he’d certainly have no friends, I thought briefly.
Hmm. There’s nothing to say.
For them, it was a natural question. What proper answer could there be?
Still, if there was something to say, it would be “You guys do the same thing.” But that seemed…
Xie Baowei pondered for a moment, then answered.
“Doesn’t that mean you’re that afraid of the Southern Dragon Alliance?”
“Hah.”
At that answer, Zhang Jing let out a hollow laugh as if he was momentarily dumbfounded.
The guys who claim to be afraid are pulling this shit?
He thought, but.
“…I don’t know if you’re crazy, but you’re definitely a fox.”
How dare he say such words in Namgung’s territory.
Zhang Jing turned toward the Nangong Family’s Servant.
She still stood there without any expression.
“…Aren’t you even afraid of Namgung?”
“Are you afraid of the Alliance Leader?”
Xie Baowei asked calmly.
Answering a question with a question was a bad habit, but looking at that attitude, it was answer enough.
So Zhang Jing had no choice but to answer as well.
“Of course.”
A brief silence fell.
It wasn’t something that should come from the mouth of the Southern Dragon Alliance’s proud Rising Gorge,
but if the target was Namgung, who would deny it?
“Then, this conversation will be quick. Would you please leave?”
“Sure.”
Zhang Jing answered without even thinking.
It was an excessively clean answer.
Xie Baowei remained silent for a moment as if examining its sincerity, then nodded.
“Good.”
That was the end of it.
Xie Baowei bowed his head and cupped his fists.
“Would you give me some time? I’ll come back with Namgung’s answer.”
This time the answer was delayed.
After a brief but deep silence,
“…Sure.”
Zhang Jing answered.
Xie Baowei turned his head without regret and left the manor.
Two subordinates and the maid followed behind him.
Creak.
Thud.
The door of Hwaheng Mulssan closed firmly.
.
.
.
“…Squad Leader?”
“Mm.”
Xie Baowei pretends to be oblivious, but he’s actually quite perceptive.
The trajectory of his life made him that way.
The reason he goes around pretending not to notice is simply because it’s convenient.
As a result, he sometimes actually becomes oblivious.
Still, this matter was something he couldn’t help but notice no matter how hard he tried.
Not only Dangyeonhwa, but Akmungi would be thinking the same thing.
“…Everyone’s thinking the same thing, right?”
“Yes.”
“…Me too.”
“Then. Let’s go.”
Xie Baowei quickened his pace.
The two people followed hurriedly.
Those guys have lost their minds.
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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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