Chapter 169
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: As Taught (2)
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It was like offering private one-on-one training. It meant that training alongside the family's warriors would inevitably damage their reputation.
To Guo Cheol-yong and Guo Cheol-woong, it sounded like a threat.
Did they want to endure brutal training while being utterly humiliated in public, or train quietly where no one would see?
The choice was theirs, but the prestige and honor they had built within the family held Guo Cheol-yong back by the ankles.
Yet there was a reason they couldn't answer readily.
"How much for that?"
"One-on-one training usually costs a premium. But this time, I'll make it a special deal at one hundred thousand nyang."
Mujin had finally squeezed out the full one hundred thousand nyang.
Guo Cheol-yong and Guo Cheol-woong were left dumbfounded by the whole exchange. Who knew how much he'd fleeced them right there in their seats. He hadn't wielded a blade, but it was no different from robbery.
Unfortunately, they had no choice.
"If it's too much, you don't have to. Is money more important, or honor? They say it's better to live a wretched life in this world even if it means public disgrace."
Enough, you bastard!
Guo Cheol-yong and Guo Cheol-woong nearly lost their tempers and drew their swords. But reality was not just cold—it was cruel.
"We can do three-year installments."
Five years, and the interest triples.
They desperately wished they could punch that smug face at least once. Damn it! They were learning the hard way just how difficult it was. He wasn't someone they'd stoop to engaging, and his temper was foul besides.
"Do we just accept?"
"Of course."
"This is the end of it, right?"
"I'm not that much of a thief."
If you're not a thief, then who is in this world!
Does someone have to climb over a wall at midnight to count as a thief!
It was a horrific contract that would haunt Guo Cheol-yong for the rest of his life. But what could they do? They had no choice. At the bottom of the contract, in tiny print, it stated that if the promise wasn't kept, the family manor might mysteriously catch fire one day.
Pay up, or we'll sneak in at night and torch the place.
Who in the world puts that in a contract? And yet, here he was.
A monster of a man.
He wanted to tear the contract to shreds right then and there, but it was the Guo Family's one and only lifeline. Of course, the lifeline's effectiveness would depend entirely on the money paid.
Thud thud thud!
Guo Cheol-yong and Guo Cheol-woong, the brothers who wanted to hear no more and speak no more, hurriedly fled the annex. They'd only come to inquire, and yet one hundred thousand nyang had been ripped from them in an instant. Even if left alone, the family's assets were dwindling. The annex alone devoured a month's budget in mere days—what madness was this?
Planning to switch professions now?
'Money matters more than people, especially strangers.'
He had delivered the essence through the elder brother's son, taking the young one's rapport into account. They should have been grateful, but instead they tried to test him. If they hadn't pulled that stunt, he might have settled for fifty thousand nyang. In the end, you reap what you sow.
You slyly swindle them and speak like flowing water. These days, you call mediocrity 'potential'?
'Roll it enough, and the potential explodes.'
Calling the Guo Family's potential high was pure flattery. In truth, their martial arts were so abysmal that the room for improvement was endless. In such cases, just reforming their lazy mindsets created the illusion of rapid progress.
'Cut the nonsense and get to work.'
What if I don't? I too am guaranteed six hours a day.
'Come to think of it, that Peng family was suspicious.'
Don't pin it on random things! That's not fate! It was just... targeted!
The Demon King was displeased for entirely different reasons. The Demonic Cult of the Demon God had researched for ages to perfect their century-long plan. And yet, why did Mujin's lack of planning ruin it? It had succeeded, thankfully, but it still soured his mood. No news was no longer good news—carefree improvisation was becoming the shortcut to success.
'They say no plan is the best plan.'
Some bastard must have said that!
What did it matter? As long as it worked. If it didn't, there was always the righteous fist to make it work.
Mujin roughly scanned the sword manual before sending the Demon King his full trust.
It was a perfectly mediocre sword manual that wouldn't even reach peak supreme level. Even if mastered, few had the talent, and it wasn't something you could carry around like Iron Tiger.
The Guo Family's biggest issue wasn't even the sword manual. Without fixing their chronic third-rate sect ailments, improving the manual wouldn't help in real combat.
He called Nangong Yeon-hwa, Taejin, and Yukchil.
"You want us to teach them?"
"Yeah."
"Even so, how do you expect results in a month?"
"Just teach them what I taught you."
"What exactly did you teach us?"
"You learned plenty on the way here. Time to spread the love, right?"
Top-down love was still love, probably.
Did they really need premium talent like him to teach the rabble? He trusted his comrades to faithfully execute what they'd learned.
Friends, sons, beggars—together, they could accomplish anything. If not, then the love was misplaced.
Having grasped Mujin's intent, Nangong Yeon-hwa, Yukchil, and Taejin brimmed with motivation.
"So that's it. Yeah, we should spread the love."
"The love Great Hero Kang bestowed upon me is unforgettable, even in death."
"I'll share Father's grace and love with the Guo Family!"
When love was mentioned, Nangong Yeon-hwa, Yukchil, and Taejin's faces mirrored Mujin's. Taejin was understandable, but this bond transcended blood.
Kuhuhu!
Laughter echoed in the room even without smiling.
'Love's hurdle-jump is basic. Kuhuhu!'
'Where was that lovely cliff nearby? Kuhuhu!'
'Gotta go to the dock where love blooms. Kuhuhu!'
Nangong Yeon-hwa, Yukchil, and Taejin had undoubtedly grown stronger on the way to the Guo Family. Learning knows no hierarchy, nor does teaching hoard itself. They resolved to teach properly.
We can't suffer alone.
They pretended otherwise, but resentment had built up inside. If bottled too long without release, it might explode someday. For mental health, they needed to spread the love.
Hm.
A bit dangerous.
Mujin sensed something off from his friend, son, and beggar. The essence of the love he'd instilled seemed distorted. It could lead to disaster.
"Don't swing sword qi recklessly."
"Why?"
"Tie ropes at the cliff."
"Ah!"
"Don't go to the Yangtze."
"Gasp!"
What were they thinking? Yukchil was ordinary but a beggar; Nangong Yeon-hwa and Taejin were geniuses. Ordinary folk could die from the same training.
"Too harsh."
"Father, we must give them a chance to grow strong."
"Uniform training is essential."
What nonsense!
Mujin imposed restrictions before trouble brewed and sent the kids off. Letting them go unchecked would surely bring funerals.
'Can't let them twist love.'
If love means that, who would want it?
Don't misconstrue love.
The sword manual revision for the worthless scrubs ended at a glance, but he held off. Improving their constitutions was more crucial than the manual.
Nangong Yeon-hwa, Yukchil, and Taejin took thirty familiar faces from the training grounds and headed to the nearby mountains.
The perfectly natural question of 'Why us?' was swiftly resolved with kindly violence. Having been hit once before, the second time went smoother.
"Everyone's so slow!"
"Did you all boil slugs for breakfast!"
"Sword qi incoming from the rear now!"
It was at least thirty li from the Guo Family to the mountains. They were sprinting full throttle. Even jogging while regulating breath left them gasping. They needed a break.
Swish, slash!
Jang Heung, lagging behind, had his neck grazed by a hair's breadth. Flesh parted slightly, blood trickling down.
What the hell?
Are they insane?
I wanna go back!
Only then did they realize it was no joke. Not full speed meant not just grazed—they'd be sliced.
Kaboom!
The rear barrage of sword qi and fists turned their faces pale as ghosts. It was too lethal for play.
Huff, heave!
Lungs burned. Limits approached. But the desperate struggle on the line between life and death shattered those limits. An explosion of potential even they couldn't believe. The realization that they had room to grow was hellish.
"...I'm gonna die!"
"You won't."
"...Can't go further!"
"You can."
"...Can't breathe!"
"Keep mouth and nose open."
Nangong Yeon-hwa, Yukchil, and Taejin spurred the trainees right beside them. Of course, words weren't enough. Stragglers faced separate discipline. Those who'd endured it once thrashed to avoid it again.
"...Cliff!"
"Tie ropes."
"...Still a cliff!"
"I didn't hesitate."
"...Save me!"
"You won't die."
The Guo Family's elite forces, the Wind Tiger Squad and Fury Tiger Squad members, were dying inside. Was this even human? A valid question. Yet they pursued even at cliffs, testing limits.
Gasp!
The squad members were horrified.
No ropes?
Are they human?
How are they so fast!
They thought they were being pushed to death off the cliff, but the trio followed. Without ropes, executing wall-climbing as if on flat ground. They'd known they were off from the start, but these mad bastards grew madder by the sight.
Rumble rumble!
A minor landslide occurred.
For the laggards, they lightly tapped the cliff wall. A small disturbance calibrated to their level. Mujin wouldn't have held back.
"Be grateful."
"We added more."
"Strive to live, and you will!"
Guo Cheol-yong's sons, Guo I-jeong and Guo I-cheol, joined too. Forced by their father, they regretted it now. But once in, no backing out. Hiding in rooms got them dragged out by the hair like dogs.
This is too much!
Monster allies!
Charging at such monsters to test them—surviving was lucky. Above all, they were training veterans.
Then these allies endured this absurd crap nonchalantly?
Dad, why me?
Guo I-seon, who had protested from the start and been forced in, resented her father. This wasn't training—it was torture. A whole month of this!
"Just kill me... Ack! Spare me!"
"Won't kill you."
She'd nearly died seconds ago, and that was his response!
I'm a girl! A pretty one!
Guo I-seon shuddered at her torn hem. These people showed no mercy. And yet they claimed they were.
Mad bastards!
Dad, I hate you!