Chapter 147
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: A Glimpse (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It was before heading to the Jeong Un Merchant Group.
Mujin had received a summons from his mother. He'd been so caught up spending time with his wife that he'd neglected his mother.
They say filial piety should be shown while one's parents are alive, and a pang of guilt tugged at his heart. He'd tried not to be an unfilial son, but before he knew it, he'd grown accustomed to everyday life as if nothing had happened.
"I've been so thoughtless all this time."
"You knew that much, huh? It hurt my feelings, son!"
"Even if I fall short, Yujin does a great job."
"It's not just about you boys."
No matter how old he got, Mujin turned into a spoiled child around his mother. He wondered what expression someone from the future would make seeing this. The mighty War King throwing a tantrum would surely leave them speechless.
-……!
The Demon King, who had experienced the Life-Death Duel, shut the door. Unable to bear watching, he blocked it off himself.
"I'm kidding. As long as my son keeps being like this, that's all I could ask for."
"Mom, I'll make sure we live in a grand palace one day."
"Forget the palace. Can't you stop tormenting my husband—your father?"
"Tormenting? Who? I've only been wholeheartedly helping Father improve his martial prowess."
"He grinds his teeth every night!"
Was it an unconscious reaction in his sleep? Mujin's training had been that grueling. But as the sect leader, it was his way of setting an example. To think he harbored such petty grudges even unconsciously—he might need to train his subconscious too.
"Again, again! I told you to ease up. Do you want me to get mad?"
"What did I do?"
"You think I don't know my own son?"
"Tch, fine, I get it."
He'd thought she didn't know, but she'd just been pretending. As expected, Mom was strong and wise. No wonder Father caved to her words. That meant he had to nip any lurking schemes in the bud.
"Mother."
"What scheme are you cooking up now, my son? It won't work this time."
"Let me give you a massage."
"You can't win me over with a massage."
"This one's different. Try it and decide."
Mujin laid his mother down and struck the air, activating the Probing Pressure Point. Since she hadn't learned martial arts, he had to be careful.
But it wasn't difficult. For years, he'd been giving her spirit elixirs and tending to her body in preparation for this moment.
Now was the time to spread the fully accumulated elixir energy throughout her body. Without a cultivation method, he'd circulate it through her flesh to draw forth innate true energy. Even this alone guaranteed a long, healthy life free of illness.
Papapapapat!
He made it look like a simple massage. He'd laid the foundations, strengthened her channels and meridians, and gradually cleansed the impurities. Now, with the final touch, his mother would return to her original, youthful state.
Creeeeng!
At the faint resonating hum that pierced through, his mother twitched slightly. She awoke unconsciously. She'd dozed off from the relaxing massage, only stirring at the subtle pain.
"My son, you're amazing."
"Who do you think I take after?"
She could have warned him not to get cocky, but Lee Seon-mi couldn't help but marvel. The difference before and after the massage was night and day. She often heard she looked young for her age, but the body's changes with time were natural. She'd accepted that—yet now she felt reborn. It reminded her of the days when she first met her husband.
His massages always left her refreshed, but never had she felt this renewed.
"Here."
Mujin held up a bronze mirror so she could see her reflection.
Ah!
Lee Seon-mi gasped at her face in the mirror. Was her heart still young? It might have been wishful thinking. But seeing herself now, it was like the days when men's gazes followed her everywhere.
"Check your pores, Mom."
"Gah! They're gone. There were at least some tiny ones."
Her face had grown youthful, and so had her spirit.
Lee Seon-mi was in awe of her firm, elastic skin and vanished pores. What magic had her son worked to turn back twenty years? It was a miracle she could scarcely believe.
"I've only been working tirelessly on Father's behalf in every way. If he doesn't like it, what can I do?"
"Do as you like, my son. I'm always on your side."
"Is that okay?"
"Of course! You're such a good boy!"
His mother was strong, but still a woman. No matter the age, it was instinct to crave recognition as a woman, not just a mom.
"You have to stay healthy and live long. That way you can see more good things and eat all the delicious food."
"You're the only one who thinks of me like that, my son."
The medicine had worked perfectly.
She was always on his side, so he'd let his guard down a bit. But his father shared a bed with her—they were husband and wife. He'd overlooked their intimate marital affairs.
After securing his mother as an ally, he went out and found his father handling official sect duties in the office.
"I heard your sleep-talking's gotten worse. I'll take responsibility and fix it for you."
"You're the one sleep-talking. Don't drag innocent people into this."
Kang U-gyeong didn't waver under his son's probing. Their father-son bond was too solid to fall for such tricks. He couldn't give his son any openings.
"Mom's pushing harder."
"No way... Oh no!"
This is Kang Mujin, your proud son and former Vice Sect Leader.
Sleep-talking won't excuse you from training. Remember, I'm right on top of your head.
'Seon-mi wouldn't...'
Kang U-gyeong tried to play it cool, but he bowed his head at his son's sly smile. Trying tricks was a mistake from the start. His son was far more cunning in that arena.
Time for a change of tack.
"All the recent incidents—they're all your doing, right?"
"They are."
"You shouldn't act without order... Wait, what?"
"I told my little brother to test the waters."
He should have denied it diplomatically to avoid severe scolding, but the boy admitted it outright. Was it refreshing that he didn't hide it?
Shifting gears was tough, but Kang U-gyeong hadn't wasted his years.
"Didn't I tell you not to act rashly? The Black Dragon Fortress could use this as an excuse to make trouble."
"Gushan Hall wants the Pine Tiger Sect. The earlier clash was just to create a pretext. Even if we stay quiet, they won't stop once they've shown their greed. Besides, as martial artists, it's instinct to show results. We can't cling to fragile peace forever."
His fox of a son was perfectly prepared. It was as if he'd anticipated this exact response.
Kang U-gyeong wasn't blind or deaf.
Mujin hadn't trained the martial force himself, but their power had clearly surged compared to before. That explained the elders' changed attitudes. Their eyes were on the martial force's overwhelming victory, not the fallout from clashing with Gushan Hall.
"Even so, you should have convinced me and the elders first. If you were going to decide unilaterally, you shouldn't have taken the Vice Sect Leader position."
Good, very logical.
Kang U-gyeong drew on his experience as sect leader. This time, his son wouldn't slip away. He shot him a challenging look—try wriggling out like a sly weasel now.
"Father, would you really want me as Vice Sect Leader, and Sect Leader someday?"
……Ah!
His son was strong—incredibly so, beyond measure. But a sect leader needed character and virtue recognized by the disciples. The Five Great Families might differ, but the Nine Great Sects showed the truth. The strongest warrior didn't have to be leader. A focal point required not just strength, but the qualities to lead a group.
Ahem.
It scratched at an old wound.
He couldn't imagine the chaos if his son became Vice Sect Leader. Cool logic evaporated. One sentence from his son shattered his prized argument.
"Muho will do great. Trust him and rest easy."
"Treating me like some retired old man... Ah!"
"As expected of my father."
"You brat, toying with your own dad!"
"I prepared a gift for you, but you're getting mad first. How hurtful."
"When did I ever get mad?"
The power of the Clear Spirit Oil was terrifying. A few drops made other elixirs pale in comparison. Above all, as a father, he couldn't ignore his son's sincerity.
"Check your room."
"My room?"
"Mom's waiting."
"What are you even saying?"
"Think we'll get a new sibling?"
"Nonsense. Get out if that's all you have."
"You know, to get younger?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, you punk!"
He wouldn't fall for vague ramblings again. He told him to quit the nonsense and leave the office. Duties were done, but talking to his son was a losing battle. Strangely, unlike before, the boy kept dragging it out.
Still, just in case.
Kang U-gyeong headed to his wife's room.
Opening the door, he found her fresh from a bath, primping her hair and clothes in the mirror. Why today of all days? He'd even sleep-talked lately, begging her to rein in their son. Hadn't she gotten the message?
Husband and wife should share a telepathic bond.
"You're here?"
"……?"
Who are you?
No, he knew that face.
It was her as she'd been the day they first met. How could this be? Had he alone aged? Memories of meeting his fresh-faced wife flooded back, and Kang U-gyeong could hardly hold himself together.
Eek!
His son's scheme was obvious.
A third child? Fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh... Whatever! He didn't care.
Let's build that martial force squad.
The sun was setting.
Mijoo was playing with the neighborhood kids on a ridge not far from the village. The children came from all walks—sons of local notables, commoners, even those of lowly status.
But here, there was no discrimination. All were equal below Mijoo. That was the unspoken rule she'd set. Violate it, and she'd drag you up the mountain. Those who came back preached unity.
The other kids were a bit older, but they followed her without question, as if it were natural.
"It's late—everyone go home! We'll play again later."
"Okay."
She told the last lingering child to grab the bundle by the fence. Their family was poor; they went hungry sometimes. She never mentioned it around the others, of course.
"Seong-i, come to our house."
"Thanks."
At Mijoo's word, the swarm scattered to their homes like startled bees. They ignored others, but obeyed her instantly.
When village kids caused trouble, adults sometimes sought her out. It always resolved cleanly after, and they'd leave praising her straight upbringing.
"You have to manage them from young if they're assets, right, So?"
Meow (Rewards are a must).
As she grew, Mijoo managed their eye level carefully. She knew her mental age outpaced theirs. So she kept it separate, tailoring her approach.
"We're late. Let's go."
Meow (These punks!)
So scowled, sensing approaching figures.
Mijoo asked,
"What's wrong?"
Meow (Punks!)
Hmm.
Mijoo and So headed home as if nothing happened.
A while later.
The hidden men emerged. They'd frozen solid, staring at their goosebump-covered hands. They couldn't explain it, but it felt like standing before a starving beast.
"What now?"
"What do you mean? We'll try again next time."
The hall master wouldn't tolerate failure. They had to kidnap the girl, no matter what. But that ferocious aura lingered heavily in their minds.
'Must've been my imagination.'