Chapter 194
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 194
Chapter Title: Family Scam Troupe (3)
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Gulp!
At the table laden with food, Yong Sang-u and Yong Sang-a swallowed hard. Despite their maturity beyond their years, they were still just kids. They were entranced by meat dishes they'd never tasted before.
"Go ahead and eat comfortably. It's fine."
"Is that really okay?"
"They didn't prepare this just for me to eat it all."
"We'll dig in!"
Watching the children devour their meal, Yong Mugil's stomach twisted in pain. As a father who couldn't even fill their bellies on a normal day, all he could do was sigh.
"I don't know how to repay this kindness."
"Everyone hits hard times now and then. Just don't lose heart and take good care of your family. That's how you'll repay me."
Ah!
Exclamations of admiration crossed the air.
While Yong Mugil felt endless shame before this great man's boundless magnanimity, Namgung Yeonhwa and Yukchil stared at him with expressions wondering what the hell he'd eaten to turn out like this.
'Always pulling some crap at every opportunity!'
'Doesn't care about methods or means.'
That was the terrifying side of Mujin that Namgung Yeonhwa and Yukchil had come to appreciate. His social savvy adapted flawlessly to people and situations. He had more than enough flexibility to make up for any absolute master's lack thereof.
"You've been through quite the ordeal. But as they say, fortune turns like a saddle on a sow. Good days will come."
"Will such an opportunity ever come for me?"
"Of course."
"I'm grateful for your words."
Mujin comforted Yong Mugil and his family while introducing his son and Hwangbo Seryeong. At the mention of the Hwangbo family, even Yong Mugil, no warrior himself, showed surprise. Their fame as rulers of Shandong Province preceded them.
Then, a sudden doubt struck Yong Mugil.
Heavenly Fist Kang Mujin?
If connected to the Hwangbo family, it matched the man he'd heard of in the markets. But then it wasn't Heavenly Fist—it was Heavenly Luck Fist.
'This is the Heavenly Luck Fist?'
To the world, he was a laughingstock, a parvenu who'd lucked into fame. But the Heavenly Luck Fist he'd met was utterly different from the rumors. He understood principles and followed the natural order. If the rumors were true, he would've just handled things his own way regardless of them.
"Surprised because I'm not like the rumors?"
"...No, no. I overstepped."
Having harbored suspicions, Yong Mugil immediately apologized in shame. At the same time, he couldn't help but admire Kang Mujin's magnanimity. He'd subtly looked down on this unlearned warrior, only to waver at public opinion—a grace he could never match.
'Whoa, turning it back on him like that.'
Yukchil was genuinely impressed.
He masterfully exploited the gap between facing clueless fools who charged in blindly on rumors and treating humble scholars who valued modesty. Just look at Yong Mugil's awestruck face.
It's gone, it's totally gone!
'Still, this is a scam!'
Turning someone into such a devotee made him no different from a cult leader. Come to think of it, maybe it was a blessing he hadn't started a cult?
"But what brings you here?"
"I'm traveling the world to scout talent for my sect and broaden my horizons. I happened upon Scholar Yong's plight. I hope my meddling wasn't unwelcome."
"Far from it—absolutely not. Without Hero Kang, we never would've escaped those thugs."
Yong Mugil saw in Heavenly Luck Fist a magnanimity he'd never witnessed even among high officials and nobles. And not only that—he'd bestowed irrepayable grace on him and his family in their hardship.
'With a man like this...'
As a scholar, his chance for glory was gone. At his age, waiting for another was unrealistic. He'd squandered his family fortune supporting himself and piled up debts. What good was he to the nation if he couldn't even feed his kids a handful of rice?
"I know it's shameless, but could you take me in?"
"Gladly."
Mujin accepted readily, and Yong Mugil sighed in relief. After receiving help, he'd presumptuously extended his hand—and without a moment's hesitation, it was accepted. He couldn't help but be deeply moved.
As if she'd been waiting for this, Hwangbo Seryeong stepped forward. She strongly objected, raising doubts.
"Father! You can't just hire people willy-nilly like this. Mother won't like it if she finds out."
"Gasp! You're gonna tell Yujin?"
"Character matters, but we can't hire someone without skills."
"He doesn't seem like a bad guy."
"Are you trying to dump more work on Mother?"
"...Ahem."
Mujin looked cornered, tongue-tied, and Yong Mugil felt a bit relieved. Even someone this impressive shrank before his wife—it was surprising.
Now it was his turn to prove himself. Making his future lord look bad was no way for a vassal to act.
"Hero Kang! No, my lord. Give me a chance."
"You sure?"
"Don't worry. This Yong doesn't think he falls short of anyone."
Mujin stepped back, and Hwangbo Seryeong took his place. Yong Mugil faced her test head-on.
"I'm not as easygoing as Father. And we haven't sworn fealty yet, so use proper titles."
"I'll meet Lady Hwangbo's expectations."
Like a hissing wildcat, Hwangbo Seryeong's questions were razor-sharp. Starting with the Four Books—Analects, Mencius, Great Learning, Doctrine of the Mean—then spanning the Three Classics: Book of Songs, Book of Documents, Book of Changes, and I Ching, extending to vast domains from the Western Regions and India to Liaodong. No one without broad, precise knowledge could answer.
'To amass such vast knowledge at his age.'
To pose such questions rightly required matching scholarship. Yong Mugil hadn't expected a martial family scion to be so erudite. Sure, there were awkward moments here and there, but given his age, genius wasn't too strong a word.
'What is this guy? Hitting every mark without missing a syllable? And backing it with his own logic.'
Hwangbo Seryeong was equally stunned.
These were questions she'd tested occasional scholars with. Most couldn't answer accurately—barely a third, even, and they'd balked.
'Ah, my head hurts.'
Doctrine of the Mean, my ass.
Mujin's head throbbed listening to Yong Mugil and Hwangbo Seryeong's exchange. He couldn't understand a word. Why bother knowing that crap? Wasn't mastering strategy and tactics enough for a strategist?
Just hearing it made his brain scream, eyelids weighing a thousand pounds. Scholars who studied this seemed inhuman.
-Hmph, not bad for a lightweight.
'Don't pretend. You're as ignorant as me.'
-Such outrage! Don't lump me with your level!
'We're one.'
The furious Demon King threw a tantrum, demanding a retraction. That irked Mujin. Overreacting just because of a comparison?
"This year's civil service exam must've been tough."
"It takes more than that."
"Good, you pass basic knowledge."
"Heh, grateful for your leniency."
"Not done yet. To master chief steward duties, you need to be sharp with numbers."
"Test me."
Basic knowledge or not, Hwangbo Seryeong acknowledged him. His erudition surpassed hers. Unbelievable that such talent had failed the exams.
Which made her worry for the nation's future. If they overlooked talents like this, who the hell did they pick?
"Assume Jiangsu Province has a population of 2,789,468. If it grows by that amount yearly for 342 years, what's the total?"
"9,539,980,556."
"...?"
Everyone inwardly tried counting but quickly gave up. It wasn't delayed—he answered instantly, leaving even Hwangbo Seryeong flustered. Double-checking on paper doubled the shock.
'What the hell's wrong with this guy's brain?'
Hwangbo Seryeong lacked confidence in such mental math. She was awed by this absurd computational prowess. Now she understood why Father wanted him.
But it was only natural.
Later, Yong Mugil would corner the Demonic Cult of the Demon God with ghostly strategies, earning the moniker Divine Ghost Strategist as a top contributor.
"Congratulations on becoming deputy chief steward. Speak freely from now on—you're older than me, after all. It's awkward."
"I'll ease into it."
"Contract's a contract, though. Sign here."
"Got it."
Hwangbo Seryeong was thorough to the end. Most terms were as Mujin had dictated, of course.
After signing, Yong Mugil swore fealty to Mujin as his lord.
Watching this, Namgung Yeonhwa and Yukchil were dumbfounded.
'Father- and daughter-in-law pulling this off?'
Father-in-law and daughter-in-law were conspiring in a scam. Mujin's feigned distress? All pre-rehearsed with Hwangbo Seryeong. From the timing of her intervention to testing Yong Mugil—it was all a planned con.
"I greet my lord."
"You signed, so you're family now."
Oh no!
Namgung Yeonhwa and Yukchil swallowed their dismay. Better not to know Mujin too well. The more you did, the more frustrating he got.
And once the mask dropped, no escape. With the seal stamped, Yong Mugil's life was Mujin's collateral. Maybe a loan shark would've been kinder.
-Using the Divine Ghost Strategist as deputy chief steward, not even chief? Are you insane?
'Better than eating side-eye at the Murim Alliance.'
-You've gone and altered history.
'What? History was gonna change the moment we returned.'
If that era's warriors learned the Murim Alliance's brain, the Divine Ghost Strategist, had become Nangong deputy chief steward, they'd freak. Yong Mugil's strategies and tactics were unmatched.
Whether he'd perform at peak here was another matter. People's utility and skill varied by era and circumstance.
"If it's not enough, I'll buy more. Eat up."
"Thank you!"
Oh dear, oh dear!
Fattening the kids for what?
Namgung Yeonhwa and Yukchil felt sorry for them.
You shouldn't just take food from anyone like that.