Chapter 196
Chapter 196
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Guest (3)
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In this hardboiled martial arts world I live in, there exist four kings who are said to have reached the pinnacle of their respective fields.
First is the Dark Poison Star King, Dang Cheong, the emperor of poison and hidden weapons.
He is also the Lord of Nine Dragons and the Grand Patriarch of the Green Dragon Hall.
Second is the Merchant King, Jin San-cheong, head of the Shanxi Merchant Guild—a legendary merchant who rose from slavery to become the emperor of commerce.
Third is Cheong So-so’s father, the Medicine King of Clear Water, Cheong Chu-san, whose medical skills are said to reach the heavens.
The very man standing before my eyes.
Ah, and the last of the four is Master Bukgung.
They call him the Heaven and Earth Combat King for winning over a thousand battles. Or something like that.
‘I’m pretty sure he’s lost a few times.’
It seems there must have been some public opinion manipulation by a shadowy organization.
In any case, to think I’d be face to face with the renowned Medicine King of Clear Water.
And right when I was about to pass judgment on that old man, Yuk Hak.
“Ahem, what brings the Medicine King here…?”
“What do you think? I came to see my rascal of a daughter.”
He answered with a cheerful laugh.
‘…But why is this man so handsome?’
From what I’d heard from Yuk Hak, the head of the Cheong family was fifty-three.
An age where one in three ordinary peasants would have died of old age, yet his skin was as flawless as if it had been preserved, and his features were as if carved from stone.
Hmm… I’d say he was on par with a famous actor.
Social standing, fame, money, a happy family, and even looks.
I felt a pang of jealousy, but I’m no slouch myself.
“Ahem, I see. Well, if the Medicine King was coming, you should have said so. Why make things so misleading?”
“…”
As I acted as confident as possible, sparks flew from Yuk Hak’s eyes.
How dare he give the Sect Master such an irreverent look.
It seemed a lesson in hierarchy was in order soon.
“Haha, my apologies. That was thoughtless of me.”
“…Well, as long as you know.”
“Let’s not stand here. Let’s go inside and talk. I was just about to order some drinks and appetizers.”
Hmph, as if he could tempt me with mere alcohol…
“Have you ever tried Honghwa-ju? I heard it’s a specialty of Hanzhong, so I ordered some…”
“Let’s go in before it gets cold.”
I can’t say no to Honghwa-ju.
* * *
Thanks to the Cheong Family Head’s cheerful personality, the gathering turned out to be quite enjoyable.
Moreover.
“So, you’re Master Yuk’s niece?”
“Yes. To be precise, Great Warrior Yuk is my sworn uncle. The Cheong Family Head is also my sworn uncle.”
With a beauty whose heart was as vast as the Atlantic Ocean sitting before me, it was the icing on the cake.
“Ahem, I don’t know if you’re aware, but my name is Jin Mujeon. My comrades in the martial world call me the Fighting Dragon…”
“My apologies, but there should be a distinction between men and women. I will take my meal at another table.”
“…”
Well, it seemed more time was needed.
“Hahaha, they say heroes love beauty. It seems Sect Master Jin has taken a liking to Cho-a.”
“I’m not that kind of lecherous man. I value things like single-minded devotion, purity, and matters of the heart.”
“How can such a man live with three women? And our So-so is even one of them.”
A chill ran down my spine.
The moment the Cheong Family Head finished speaking, killing intent shot out from the warriors seated around us.
Now that I looked, it seemed everyone in this tavern was one of his people.
A sharp glare.
The beauty called Cho-a even looked at me as if I were an insect.
“It’s not like that…”
“It’s fine. I understand completely.”
“No.”
What kind of father ruins his own daughter’s marriage prospects?
In the midst of this chaotic mess, the Cheong Family Head nonchalantly downed his drink.
Gulp.
“The taste and aroma are beyond compare. Truly worthy of being called a fine liquor.”
“Ah… yes.”
Well, it is expensive.
“By the way, the moon is quite bright. How about a stroll outside the fortress walls?”
“Suddenly? Just the two of us men?”
“Why not? We might become family in the future.”
“Um… Family Head, I think you’re misunderstanding something…”
“Follow me.”
He spoke firmly and rose from his seat. The gazes from those around me seemed to ask why I wasn’t following him out quickly.
“Damn it all.”
How am I supposed to live with everyone staring at me?
I quickly got up and went outside, where the Cheong Family Head stood alone.
“What about your escort…?”
“What is there to fear when I have the master who defeated the Blood Killing Hegemon by my side?”
“…”
He was the Medicine King, known as a walking elixir factory.
Naturally, there must be countless people after his life.
Yet, he was going for a walk with someone he’d just met for the first time.
And outside the fortress gates, no less.
I couldn’t tell if he was careless or simply unaware of his own position.
“You must have questions, I presume?”
The Cheong Family Head, who had been walking ahead, turned his head.
“Of course, I do.”
“Speak.”
“Why on earth aren’t you taking Lady Cheong with you?”
“Ah. That?”
The Cheong Family Head gave a slightly bitter smile.
“The Cheong estate isn’t safe, so I had no choice.”
“What?”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard and cleaned my ears with my finger.
The Cheong estate, of all places, wasn’t safe?
The number of people who worked for the Cheong family without pay exceeded five hundred.
Half of them were warriors, and half of that half were skilled enough to be called masters.
Their standing forces were comparable to any major sect, and with a single word from the Cheong Family Head, masters from all over the world would flock to him.
His network of connections was that formidable.
Yet, for him to worry about his daughter’s safety meant one thing.
“It seems you’re in conflict with one of the Five Hegemons.”
“That’s right. In fact, that’s why I pushed for the marriage with the Martial Emperor Fortress. Though that wild filly of a girl ruined it all.”
It meant there was a conflict with a power capable of trampling over everything he had built.
And considering their location and history, that power was most likely the Lion Alliance.
“How are things now?”
“Much better.”
“Then why are they targeting the Cheong family?”
“It’s not a matter I can disclose to anyone just yet. When things are settled, you’ll find out naturally. To be precise, you won’t be able to not know.”
The Cheong Family Head said with a subtle smile.
‘I smell something.’
The smell of a conspiracy.
It seemed I would have to meet with Yang Gang soon.
“So, you came here to take Lady Cheong back…”
“I just came to see her face after so long.”
“…”
As I remained silent for a moment, he nodded as if he understood.
“It seems you’ve had a hard time.”
“You know her personality, don’t you?”
“…She does have a bit of a wild filly feel to her.”
“‘Wild filly’ is putting it mildly.”
She started fights just to get rid of that toad Lee Jeok-ha.
She dragged me to gambling dens.
I only put up with it because I’m a living saint; any ordinary person would have kicked her out long ago.
“Well… still, there were many times I was glad to have Lady Cheong around.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Yes. Honestly, when it comes to medical skills, she’s a better physician than anyone in the Nine Dragons Fortress.”
“…There’s no need to praise her in front of her father. I know her skills aren’t at a level to be called a renowned physician.”
“Family Head, it seems you’re the one who doesn’t know Lady Cheong well. In the Nine Dragons Fortress, she has a reputation as the Divine Maiden Cheonghwa, said to be able to bring back the dead. In fact, she saved my life several times when I was on the brink of death.”
“Hmm?”
“Yes?”
I felt like we were talking past each other.
Seeing the Cheong Family Head’s disbelief, I recounted Cheong So-so’s exploits in detail.
“…To think I didn’t even know she was hiding her skills. I’m a failure as a father.”
What kind of physician hides their medical skills?
When I asked why she would do such a thing, I received an unexpected answer.
“It’s obvious. She was worried about her older brothers. Otherwise, there’s no reason for her to hide her abilities.”
“…I suppose that could be true.”
It was the first time I’d heard it, but it was an all-too-familiar story.
A talented individual giving up their gifts for the sake of the eldest son who would inherit the family.
As I nodded in sympathy, the Cheong Family Head stopped walking.
Under the brilliant moonlight, the handsome middle-aged man stood, creating a scene straight out of a movie.
“She is a good child.”
“Now that you mention it, she is.”
“May I entrust So-so to you?”
“In what sense?”
“In every sense.”
“…If you mean protecting her from danger, that’s something I must do. I, too, owe my life to So-so.”
Besides, I still need her to perform the great technique on Whitey.
A grin.
Pleased with my answer, the Cheong Family Head smiled and held out a small box.
I opened the box and saw a pill of iridescent color inside.
“A token of my gratitude.”
“What is this?”
“The Great Luo Vitality Elixir. A life-saving medicine that can save you even if your heart and energy meridians are all destroyed.”
“Gasp!”
Startled, I quickly tucked the elixir into my robes and bowed my head.
“The War King Sect Master, Jin Mujeon! I will fulfill this promise with my life!”
“…”
It was the moment the War-Cheong Alliance between the War King Sect and the Cheong family was formed.
* * *
The next morning.
As promised, the Cheong Family Head led his people to the War King Sect.
I had kept his arrival a secret to surprise her, so when Cheong So-so saw them, she was so shocked she nearly fainted.
And then.
“F-Father!”
The father-daughter reunion finally took place.
“*Sniffle.*”
As someone who had watched over Cheong So-so all this time, it was a deeply moving scene for me.
Even resentment can turn into affection.
That young girl had been away from home in a foreign land for nearly four years.
She never spoke of it, but there was no way she hadn't suffered emotionally.
“This is wonderful. *Sniffle.*”
“It is. It really is… *sob*.”
Jeok Hwa-ran and Myo Hyang, who were standing beside me and knew her situation, also watched the scene with teary eyes.
“You wench! How dare you run away after causing all that trouble?! What am I going to do with you!”
“Aack! Father! Wait! Aack! That hurts!”
“…”
That is, until the enraged Cheong Family Head picked up a switch.
“Umm… Should we go inside and have some tea?”
“Y-Yes. It seems they have things to talk about as father and daughter…”
“I’ll prepare the tea.”
“Aack!”
“Get back here this instant!”
“If you were me, would you stop?!”
It was truly a heartwarming sight.
* * *
After their sharp father-daughter reunion.
Perhaps feeling sorry for getting angry, or perhaps for not having been there for her, the Cheong Family Head transformed into a doting father, sticking close to Cheong So-so and embarking on a massive spending spree.
It was so extravagant that the prices of the finest silks and accessories in Hanzhong’s market district fluctuated because of a single VIP.
He even had her eat all three meals a day at the exorbitantly expensive Wolhwaru.
Watching this, I couldn’t help but ask Jeok Hwa-ran about the Cheong family’s wealth.
“Was the Cheong family always this rich?”
“Of course. Besides the astronomical sums they earn from their medical practice, they own hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile land in Hubei. They might not be as rich as the Gold Dragon Hall, but I’d say they’re far wealthier than the White Dragon Hall.”
Only then did I understand why Cheong So-so had been so into gambling.
When you have an oil well that never runs dry, what is there to fear?
Indeed, one should never judge a person by their actions alone.
‘You have to look at their background.’
In any case, ten days passed like this, and just as I was starting to wish the Cheong Family Head would leave,
*Sreuk.*
Cheong So-so snuck into my room without anyone knowing.
“…So-so? What brings you here at this hour?”
“Shh.”
She placed a finger on her lips, signaling me to be quiet.
Just from that, I got the picture.
There was only one reason a young woman would secretly visit a man’s room this late at night.
‘Hmm… This is awkward.’
There was no other choice. I had to refuse her firmly.
“Hmph. I never thought the precious daughter of the Cheong family could be so bold. However, I have too many responsibilities to accept your feelings.”
Giving her false hope would just be stringing her along.
‘Nailed it.’
Satisfied with my charismatic rejection, I was nodding to myself when,
“You… you crazy bastard!”
*Smack!*
A slap landed across my face.