Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Kids' Fight (1)
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Baek Yucheon, who had come to the annex to see Yujin, spotted two of his younger sisters emerging from her room along with some kids. Spotting the girl among them brought back memories of Yujin's childhood.
But something felt off.
'She offered to guide them?'
The friendly way Yuhwa and Yugyeong were treating the kids rubbed him the wrong way. He had no intention of getting angry or keeping his distance just because they were his little sister's children. After all, his sister was now an outsider in the family home. Treating her like a guest from the merchant group was perfectly fine.
Yet here they were, excitedly chattering even about the night market. His two sisters had always loved sneaking out to the market for snacks. Mentioning that meant they were ready to share even their little secrets.
'Why?'
Their attitudes alone were suspicious. Come to think of it, calling him "brother-in-law" from inside the room had already thrown him off. He'd expected his sisters—who had screamed that Yujin had been stolen by a bandit—to give him the cold shoulder and make his face burn with embarrassment.
Even their father, who had hurried off on business, hadn't looked upset. If anything, he'd seemed pleased, like fortune had rolled in on a vine.
'No way.'
For a moment, their unexpected behavior sparked a bizarre thought in Yucheon. He felt resentment toward his sisters for betraying his expectations, but their father would never accept a wastrel from the Pine Tiger Sect. As a merchant, he wouldn't simply welcome someone who'd caused such serious losses as a son-in-law.
Yucheon frowned as the situation twisted in strange ways. When his restless sister had returned home, he'd planned to help her as her big brother.
'What tricks did he pull?'
But jumping to conclusions wouldn't get him answers.
He headed to the annex and opened the door.
His sister and her wastrel brother-in-law rose to greet him.
"Have you been well?"
"What trouble could there have been? It's been a while, though."
Mujin offered a formal greeting and waited silently as his brother-in-law reunited with his wife. As expected, the conversation felt awkward and strained. He seemed to be holding back, but his words carried a sharp edge. There was no brotherly longing for a sibling he'd been apart from for so long.
-I sense some inferiority complex.
'So?'
-Still.
'Me too.'
Mujin had done some investigating through the Afternoon Gate before arriving at the Baemun Merchant Group. There weren't any major internal issues. His brother-in-law had solidified his position in the group by borrowing the Guo Family Manor's power.
He hadn't delved into the details of that process. But his wife had shouldered far too many of her father-in-law's expectations. Great expectations led to great disappointments, and she'd endured harsh times. In the midst of that, he might have felt sidelined as the eldest son.
'He hasn't crossed the line.'
-Petty for a man.
'Are you insulting me?'
-Never said it was you.
'Beating around the bush.'
Mujin couldn't blame his brother-in-law for feeling inferior toward his younger sister. He'd envied and resented her himself. Even blood ties didn't erase rivalry. But crossing lines out of envy and jealousy was another matter. Especially when he'd essentially stepped aside himself. His wife held no real power in the Baemun Merchant Group.
Mind reform was an option in times like these.
-Gonna beat him?
'If I could.'
-Fitting for the War King.
'You'd kill him.'
-People aren't disposable.
'You wanna die?'
-I was just brainwashed. My heart's that of a Buddha.
'Such bullshit!'
Showing overwhelming strength could establish dominance and set the tone for getting along from here on out. But his wife wouldn't want that. He had no desire to make Yujin, now an outsider by marriage, uncomfortable.
The conversation with his wife ended.
Only then did his brother-in-law look at him. The gaze lingered long. It had been ages since Mujin had felt that sense of kinship from someone. Back when he was making waves in the martial world as the War King, he'd seen that look from the brats of prestigious sects. They probably thought some unheard-of punk had popped up out of nowhere to strut around, since he never mentioned his vanished sect.
"Today's the first time we've faced each other, right?"
"I'll visit often."
"But as the eldest grandson of the family, don't you have a lot on your plate?"
"The vice sect leader of the main branch is my younger brother."
At Yucheon's question, his wife's expression stiffened briefly before relaxing. The fleeting change would go unnoticed by most, but Mujin read her shift in emotion.
'How childish.'
Mujin didn't think his brother-in-law was unaware. Even if they'd cut ties, he'd have kept tabs on his sister. Asking despite knowing raised questions. Why?
If he'd always harbored inferiority toward her, this was likely an attempt to remind her of her place again.
In a world where a spouse's background measured one's worth, it was brutally true—and it wouldn't change in a hundred or a thousand years. Connections mattered everywhere.
"That's a shame. How did that happen?"
"The vice sect leader position is for the next generation of the sect. Naturally, it requires both talent and ability. Handing it to the eldest son without the skills would be a sure path to ruining the sect."
It was logical, utterly reasonable.
The implication: Mujin lacked the ability, so his brother took the seat. To Yucheon, it grated intensely. As if being born first and male entitled him to the position without talent.
'This bastard!'
The words had thorns, but he couldn't call him out on it. Pointing it out would just spit in his own face.
'Don't cross the line.'
This was the gulf between one who had let go and one who clung tight. The more you grasped for a position beyond your station, the more pathetic you looked.
Mujin lived true to his nature. He didn't strain to meet everyone's expectations.
"Ah, this is a gift. I hope it suits your taste."
Yucheon unwrapped Mujin's present and nodded.
It was White Tip Silver Needle tea, a premium white tea. The aroma marked it as top-grade among its kind. Not quite on par with the emperor's Dragon Well, but far from cheap. Overly generous for a gift.
Yucheon wasn't thrilled with the conversation, but he tried not to show it. Raising his voice here would damage his own reputation.
-He'll get mad later when he finds out.
'So what?'
-Favoritism is bad.
'People aren't equal to begin with.'
Forcing effort where there's resentment just builds up rage until it festers. Mujin had no interest in going that far.
'The in-laws are just in-laws.'
He'd protect her to the extent she wasn't uncomfortable. His life partner was his wife, after all. Without a solid family of his own, birth family or in-laws meant nothing. He'd only realized that after becoming the War King.
'My family comes first.'
Taejin and Mijoo had toured the serene Qingjing Garden in the Baemun Merchant Group's inner courtyard with their aunts, and were heading back to the annex. Along the way, they ran into Baek Cheon-un and Baek Cheon-yeong, Yucheon's children.
After exchanging greetings, as they turned to leave, Cheon-yeong and Mijoo compared their brothers, sparking an unintended spar.
It went like this.
-My brother's stronger.
-My brother's tougher.
-Hmph. If my brother wins, give me that cat.
-No way on So.
-See? My brother's stronger.
-Nuh-uh. Bro! Beat her up!
The timeless war of siblings.
No dodging it.
Especially since Cheon-yeong coveted So's cuteness and planned to claim him if her brother won.
Taejin wanted to stop Mijoo there, but mentioning the Little Dragon Tournament sealed it. Turns out, Cheon-un had qualified too. Different preliminaries meant they hadn't met yet.
They agreed to settle it at the tournament, but her taunt about being scared made Taejin bristle, and he accepted the duel.
Cheon-un practiced the Lightning Sword, the Guo Family Manor's signature art. It was swift swordplay built on explosive power. Fittingly, his build was bigger and sturdier than his peers.
Yuhwa and Yugyeong were at a loss over their nephews' duel but figured nothing too bad would happen with them watching.
Then disaster struck suddenly.
Cheon-un, three years older, had assumed victory and gotten cocky. But the fight went the opposite way. Taejin dominated unilaterally. After yielding the first strike, Cheon-un couldn't swing properly. Having lost his sword to a hand strike, it should have ended—yet he charged at Taejin's unguarded back.
Cough! Crash!
He snatched the fallen wooden sword and aimed for the back, but Taejin's turning thrust struck below the solar plexus. Rolling on the ground, Cheon-un convulsed violently, barely breathing.
Gasp, shudder!
Taejin had overdone it a bit in response to the sneak attack. But even for a kid, targeting a warrior's blind spot demanded consequences. An adult would've died.
The startled Yuhwa and Yugyeong snapped to and checked on Cheon-un. Fortunately, his airway cleared, and breathing stabilized.
"You brat!"
A roar erupted.
It was Gal Hyo-myeong, from the Guo Family Manor, staying at the Baemun Merchant Group as Cheon-un's instructor. Seeing his prized nephew—the heir to their prized techniques—humiliated without landing a blow was unbearable.
Crackle!
As Gal Hyo-myeong pushed off the ground—
"That's far enough."
The interrupting voice hit at the perfect moment.
Gal Hyo-myeong froze, rage boiling. Whoever it was, he'd make them pay. But facing the man, his fury melted like ice in a blizzard. The indifferent eyes pierced his mind with raw killing intent.
'...What kind of gaze is that!'
Gal Hyo-myeong was dumbfounded.
Was he so weak that a mere look subdued him? He was top-tier first-rate in the Guo Family Manor. To dominate a first-rate with eyes alone required at least peak mastery. Such experts numbered on one hand even in great sects.
Who the hell was this?
"Daddy!"
'Daddy?'
Only then did Gal Hyo-myeong recognize him. Kang Mujin, eldest son of the Pine Tiger Sect, infamous wastrel. Cringing before such a scumbag that he couldn't even step forward? Infuriating. His pride shattered, patience vanished.
Besides, Guo Giyeong doted on Cheon-un. Ignoring his injury could bring backlash later. He had to show some effort.
'Just say I didn't know.'
Pretend ignorance of the identity, and he'd back off. Even if complained to, the Pine Tiger Sect wouldn't dare protest to the Guo Family Manor.
Huh?
As Gal Hyo-myeong stepped forward to draw his sword—
Click!
The sword wouldn't budge.
"...How?"
"You don't listen worth a damn. I clearly said don't move. From here on, it's all on you."
"What... Ack!"
"Shut it."
Mujin gave no second warning. He closed the gap in an instant and seized the man's wrist.
Crack!
The brutishly gripped wrist snapped like a twig. Not even chopsticks broke that easily. Gal Hyo-myeong, screaming in agony, blacked out with a gasp.
Boom, boom, boom!
Deafening impacts punched holes in the ground! Like hammering nails with a sledgehammer, Gal Hyo-myeong slammed face-first repeatedly as the world spun. No resistance, not even a twitch allowed.
Gurgle!
After six slams, Mujin hurled him into the wall.
Crashing against it and rolling, Gal Hyo-myeong's eyes rolled back white, foaming blood at the mouth.
"Daddy!"
"Hey, my girl."
"That was scary!"
"It's fine, Daddy's here."
"Daddy's the best!"
Having turned a man into a ragdoll, father and daughter remained utterly nonchalant. As if it had nothing to do with them. Unbelievably calm. A symbolic display of terror passed down from father to daughter.
Gasp!
Yuhwa and Yugyeong finally snapped back to reality. Too busy tending Cheon-un to stop Gal Hyo-myeong. By the time they tried, he was already a rag.
'Gal Hyo-myeong's a first-rate expert.'
'Was brother-in-law always that strong?'
Chaos piled on chaos.
Cheon-un crushed by Taejin, Gal Hyo-myeong smashed by brother-in-law. And he'd breached the gap in a blink. Yuhwa and Yugyeong hadn't even thought to intervene.
Mujin flashed a bright smile at his stunned sisters-in-law.
"Mind cleaning up?"
"Pardon?"
"He's a guest. Can't have me doing it."
"...Got it."
Dumping the hassle, Mujin took Mijoo and Taejin to his wife's old room—she'd given up the annex for her original quarters. A sign her father-in-law's treatment had changed.
"Daddy, we can just go?"
"Trust your aunts."
Mijoo was thoughtless by nature, and Taejin shrugged it off. Nothing compared to the daily beatings from Dad on Uncle.
Cuddled in Mujin's arms, Mijoo smirked at the pale-faced Cheon-yeong.
'You're screwed.'