Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: I Didn't Expect This (2)
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There was a gaze fixed intently on the man laughing toward the sky like a madman.
Should I approach or not? He hesitated. His grip tightened on the hand he was holding at the unfamiliar sight he'd never seen in his life.
'What do I do?'
In his not-so-short life of eight years, this felt the most dangerous, sending chills down his spine. Maybe it was best to go around on a day like today? No need to face a raging typhoon head-on.
'Why don't you have any sense... or do you?'
Watching his innocently smiling little sister made him frustrated. Maybe she was doing it on purpose? But when she stared back blankly as if she knew nothing, he had no answer.
"Mom, I have training today too. Can't we see him next time?"
"Daddy! It's me, your daughter!"
Damn it!
No way.
'You!'
Hehe!
His pure, innocent little sister—couldn't he just smack her once? Just once for real, then live properly as her big brother from then on.
Where do you think you're going?
Gasp, Mom!
"My son, is it really because of training? You're not making excuses because you don't want to see your beloved husband and your sky-like father, right? Of course not. Of course. He's my son, after all."
His mother smiled kindly, but looking at her gave him goosebumps. She spoke softly with that smile, but refusing would be dangerous.
You're putting your big brother in danger, and you're fine with that!
Huh, she really seemed fine.
Her face showed she truly didn't care.
"Daddy, Daddy!"
"Yes, Daddy's here. My Mijoo."
Baek Yujin had said it was fine for her son and daughter, but even she was a bit confused herself. The husband she saw when she woke up that morning felt different from before. It couldn't be anyone but him, yet something had changed.
'Clumsy, too.'
But it was intense.
As if embracing a different man.
Scandalous.
Yujin shook her head, her face flushing red. Anyway, the man laughing like a maniac was definitely her husband. After years of living together skin-to-skin, how could she not know her own husband? No one else.
How could she not know the taste of her man?
"Go greet him good morning."
"I'm scared."
At her son's hesitation, Yujin furrowed her brow. Seeing the crack in her kindness, Taejin hurriedly nodded. He was eight, but allowance and meals were important.
"I'll go, okay?"
"Be affectionate."
"I know!"
"Don't be prickly. Son."
To Taejin, his dad was a stranger. He never acted warmly, was always out and about so rarely seen, and barely spoke, making things awkward. Dad was scary, awkward, unwelcome. Mom was scary sometimes too, but way better than Dad.
"Mijoo, let's go."
"Okay."
Taejin took Mijoo's hand and cautiously approached his dad. With their kindly mom quietly following, he mustered his courage.
"Dad."
"Dad!"
Mujin, who had been roaring with laughter toward the heavens, suddenly stopped! and turned to his son and daughter.
His fierce gaze shot out.
They flinched!
Those who had witnessed the War King in his bloodthirsty state trembled in their legs, unable to even speak. Unless one had exceptional courage, facing that embodiment of presence was nearly impossible.
But now it was different.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Taejin and Mijoo were airborne.
"My Taejin, my Mijoo~~~~~!"
Taejin flailed about at his dad's sudden action, unable to grasp what was happening. He knew it wouldn't change anything. Unable to accept his dad's unfamiliar behavior as it was, he thrashed around.
Flail, flail!
Unlike the panicking Taejin, Mijoo was already giggling happily in her dad's arms as if nothing had happened. With no thoughts in her head, she was just enjoying it. Her eight-year-old brother's worries weren't even on her radar.
'Dad's changed!'
In a weird way.
He's really gone mad!
Mujin finally understood the feelings of parents reuniting with children they hadn't seen in ages. He'd neglected his son and daughter who still needed their dad, not even weaned yet.
"Dad's sorry."
He only murmured lowly, but his throat tightened.
My son, who looks just like me, and my daughter whose eyes take up half her face.
Why had he made such a pointless choice, leaving them behind? Ambition or whatever, he could've lived without it.
He wouldn't let go again.
My son and daughter—I'll protect you, this dad will.
Rub, rub!
Mujin rubbed his cheeks against Taejin and Mijoo's faces to his heart's content. Along with a vow never to part again.
Trickle!
Tears flowed endlessly without sign of stopping.
The War King dominated battlefields as an absolute being. Who could imagine tears from the cold-blooded man who tore demonic flesh alive while laughing?
Mujin didn't bother hiding his tears.
It's fine if he looks ugly.
Let others sneer.
So what?
He was happier than ever. Glad to be back, and he'd never part again.
"Dad! Crybaby? Stop!"
"Yeah, stop!"
At his daughter's patting, Mujin halted his tears and filled his eyes with loving warmth.
Taejin felt immense mental pressure from the burdensome stares and his dad's unusual behavior.
'Dad! Why are you like this?'
He even missed the old dad.
Mijoo laughed innocently without a care, but to Taejin, it was a cultural shock beyond mere freshness.
Yujin silently approached despite her husband's sudden change and lightly gripped his waist.
"Forgot about me already?"
"Forget you? Never."
The Pine Tiger Sect originated from its founder, Qing Shan Sword Jang Cheon-gyeong. He ranked among the top 100 masters of his era and created the Pine Tiger Ten Swords.
Inheriting the swords of their ancestors, the first three generations fared decently. But as time passed without change or progress, they failed to keep up with the world's advancement.
The Pine Tiger Sect was aware of this.
They poured their blood and sweat into establishing stagnant heart arts and sword techniques, but even after three hundred years, it remained an unsolved problem.
Heroic Sword Kang U-gyeong, the current Sect Leader of the Pine Tiger Sect, was a hero and swordsman thick with prestige and trust in Qingyang.
He aspired to reach the peak realm but had barely stepped into first-rate. Still, he was counted among Qingyang's top five fingers.
Lately, he'd allied with the Baemun Merchant Group to revive the declining sect. Tough times, but he'd solidified the sect's foundation and achieved some results.
However, their conservative, content-with-one's-lot nature lacked ambition, satisfied with the status quo.
To Kang U-gyeong, his firstborn Mujin was a sore spot.
His second son, Muho, was a genius who had mastered the family arts, surpassing the 6th star. In contrast, Mujin lingered at the 3rd star despite elixirs, proving inadequate.
Yet inadequacy didn't erase fatherhood.
As a father, he should embrace his son—but not endlessly. With constant mischief and accidents big and small, what good words could come?
Unless you're Buddha incarnate, shut it.
It gnawed at his insides terribly, but knowing the boy struggled to improve made it all the more pitiful.
Yesterday, another incident.
Drunk, he rampaged, smashing inn items and injuring a waiter. Luckily, the waiter wasn't badly hurt, so they settled with fair compensation.
And this damn kid! The sun was high, yet he hadn't shown up.
Fuming, Kang U-gyeong summoned his son.
Mujin arrived late.
This brazen punk!
Today, no excuses would work. If he feared his father at all, he'd at least pretend.
Steel himself, ready to shout—
Grab!
Just as 'you punk' was launching, his son ambushed. Caught off-guard on a day like no other, U-gyeong's first-rate defenses were useless. Had he been this sloppy? A strange feeling hit.
"...You punk!"
"I missed you, Father!"
Taking the initiative.
"You know I love you, right?"
"...What?"
He needed to curse a bundle to vent.
Terrifying shock circled his throat.
Kang U-gyeong just listened to his son's ravings. Words failed him on how to retort.
"Live long and prosper!"
"...?"
Hey, neighbors! My son's gone mad!
Never heard such nonsense in life. Worried for his son, even his wife nearby just blinked.
Is this my son? Begone, evil spirit? Exorcism? He seriously pondered.
What situation is this? Did the punk drink poison? His gaze-handling was perfect.
Unless fully resolved.
Swish!
Only then noticing his mother, Mujin teared up and tried to hug her.
Whoosh!
Mujin's mother and the Pine Tiger Sect's matriarch, Lee Seon-mi, recoiled in shock at her son's sudden attitude shift. He seemed like her son yet not. Still drunk from yesterday? Or scheming to avoid dad's beating? Both plausible, confusing her.
Regaining composure, Kang U-gyeong raised his voice.
"You punk! Where'd you learn these tricks? Think your wrongs vanish like that?"
"All my fault! I'll take whatever punishment! So please, hit me! Father!"
"...What?"
Forgive me once, don't hit—just days ago, the grown boy clung to his pant leg.
The proper order was scrambled.
U-gyeong had planned to let it slide mildly despite displeasure. Love or hate, he couldn't be too harsh on his son.
But what now?
Gladly accept punishment!
Hesitate!
As his son approached, U-gyeong forgot his position and reacted like his wife.
Suddenly lunging, disrupting a warrior's senses—odd.
Now begging to be hit. Those eager eyes didn't seem his son's.
"Father, Mother! I really missed you!"
Truly mad!
Unlike his flustered father, Mujin was purely happy.
The two he'd longed to see even in dreams were alive. As a kid, Dad annoyed and scared him, rebellion dominant: why pick on me?
Disapproved of everything, compared to brother, hurting his pride. Yet indulged his spoiled whims reluctantly.
'Should've taken the beatings and wised up!'
Should've pushed harder back then. Half-hearted hits only made him stray more cluelessly. That's why he missed Dad's discipline now. Harsher, more—might've straightened him early. Much regret.
Twitch!
Kang U-gyeong realized he'd been dragged along by his son's bold opener, mind scattered. Maybe the punk learned evasion tricks somewhere.
Half-successful.
Admit it.
Confounding enough.
But a century too early. Think I won Heroic Sword in a gamble? Qingyang's top sword. Must punish strictly, or he'll slack.
"Think I don't see your evasion ploy? Get down now!"
"Thank you, Father!"
Oh, to the end.
No way, punk!
"Fool me once, shame on you; twice? No. This time, I'll beat sense into you proper."
"As much as you want. Hehe!"
"This kid!"
Drunk on daytime booze? U-gyeong kept suspicious eyes.
Drugs? Sniff—no, good.
Anyway, until his head cleared, go hard today.
'Should've wised up after marriage?'
Beating a grown son—what parental heart? U-gyeong steeled his weakening resolve, gripping firm.
At least butt won't show. Son's lacking, but can't broadcast beatings—safest spot.
Smack!
Swung the staff with decent force.
Wincing sound made wife squeeze eyes shut. Beyond deserving punishment, she worried for her son.
Hoping he'd wise up—mother's earnest wish. Or no mischief, stay home quietly.
'One hit should do.'
U-gyeong figured one would spring him up begging 'never again.' Set limit at that. Son lacked endurance anyway. Took three years for Thousand Character Classic—obvious.
How'd they get such a child? Who wants to wield the rod? This time, earnest hope he'd change. Then pretend reluctance, accept.