Chapter 81
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: What the Hell Are You Doing?! (2)
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"Our son needs to get stronger too, right? You're coming along, aren't you?"
Hearing those words, Cheol-ho's eyes rolled back in his head. He vented his frustration at his second master's blatant favoritism toward his own son.
Why take only your kid and shower him with elixirs?! I'm your disciple too, damn it.
That was his mistake.
"I was wrong."
His second master was not the type to apologize. The moment he did so willingly, danger loomed.
Damn it! No take-backs.
Once the words were out, there was no picking them up.
"Let's go together."
The master struck first the instant he sensed hesitation. There was no escape. It was like slamming a thousand-pound axe down on his own foot without mercy.
"A real man doesn't need things repeated twice. Your first master must have told you the same."
He drove the nail in deep, then poured molten lead over it to seal it forever. The cunning second master invoked the first master, leaving no room for argument.
"We'll fetch your first master soon. He's been struggling. It's time he lived comfortably."
Keeping me from slacking off? That's a clear hostage play. Master, I've committed a grave sin.
'That damn bastard!'
He wanted to curse up a storm but couldn't hesitate. Refuse, and he'd be thrown off the cliff.
His second master tolerated no dawdling. He'd unleash a barrage of beatings for sure.
"No place beats a cliff for strength training."
For a fist arts practitioner, raw power formed the foundation for unleashing true force. Cultivating only internal energy without tempering the body made full power elusive.
That was the basic principle of fist arts.
"The world's martial studies hail from Shaolin. It's probably written in the first chapter, first verse. Train your fists that way. Deny it, and I'll go carve it there myself."
"Our Cheol-ho's getting stronger every day. Nice. Meanwhile, my boy's just playing at home. Poor kid."
Mujin's mutterings rang crystal clear in Cheol-ho's ears.
'Monster of a man!'
Cheol-ho had heightened his senses to the max while descending the cliff at breakneck speed. Any slack, and death by fall was guaranteed.
"Lions push their cubs off cliffs, right? I'm a lion through and through. My boy would love cliff-climbing too."
I wish he wasn't here.
Cheol-ho couldn't even open his mouth.
Why?
Because the master was treading air right beside him.
They said supreme lightness skills let you walk the air like flat ground, but this guy showed no sway even in the cliff's swirling winds. And he claimed it wasn't martial arts—just simple physics.
'Since when is he "our" son?!'
Cheol-ho had a shred of conscience left.
With all the eyes at home, how could he spout such nonsense openly? Comparing the master's doting on his wife and Mijoo to Taejin's treatment made the latter seem abandoned.
Martial arts aside.
Thud!
The faster they descended, the more Cheol-ho's tendons bulged across his body. His physique alone would thrill women, but his face ruined it. He shouldn't even dream of peers his age. With that mug, chasing girls his age would earn him rocks.
Married women with kids? Fair game.
"I'll craft you the perfect body. Sure, some women only care about looks, so it won't be easy."
Cheol-ho was tempered not just physically but mentally. Normal insults barely registered anymore.
No rival had ever matched his second master's savage tongue. It was the unrivaled weapon of the world—mouth invincible under heaven.
Unbeatable mouth, descent into hell.
Shun the master's flapping jaws. Hell awaits those who don't.
"Face reality. Beauties who ignore looks always check wealth and skills. Otherwise, they're con artists or snake-women who love flowers."
"Lady Boss is different!"
"Big dreams. Good— a man needs 'em big. But you'll need to surpass me first."
"...I will!"
Mujin was deeply satisfied, purely thrilled by his disciple's ambition. True master-disciple bonds weren't easy. Theirs had a solid start.
"In two hundred years, the seat's yours. Sound good?"
"...!"
Two hundred years? What, marry then?!
Does the seat even exist? He was a nobody in the sect, idling away with nothing to do—that was his second master.
"You just loaf and eat!"
"What better job than this?"
Mujin despised titles and duties. Idling without any? Perfect life.
'Laozi would envy this inaction. Probably.'
—That's Laozi.
'Who's Xunzi?'
—The guy who said humans are evil by nature. Basically, punks like you need a good beating.
'Unique taste.'
Mujin didn't care for the Demon King's knowledge flex, but let it slide this time. Knowledge battles just flaunted ignorance.
Life taught him: learning tons didn't equal happiness. Those types yapped most and died first.
"Miss you, Yujin."
"...?"
How long's it been?!
Anyone'd think it'd been a decade. Barely two weeks.
Cheol-ho wanted to plug his ears.
He vowed to surpass his second master and shut that useless trap.
Melt iron and seal it first.
"Wonder if Mijoo's crying without Daddy."
Cry? That little devil?
She's a heavenly child to adults, but to us, a thousand-year sly fox—nothing more, nothing less.
Of course, she's insanely cute. One look sparks the urge to grant any wish.
But don't fall for it.
Like father, like daughter.
Blood ties don't lie.
No doubting Lady Boss.
Thonk!
A rock from the cliff top bonked Cheol-ho's head. Offended, he glared up and gnashed his teeth.
"Fuck!"
"Hey now, cursing like that? You're still a grown-up."
Mujin gently scolded Cheol-ho as an example, teaching manners. But he didn't push further.
Crack!
The middle-aged man sweating bullets while descending the cliff wanted to scream.
'I'm insane!'
Narung had tagged along to dodge post-meal bloodshed, but now regretted it deeply. He'd known the guy's sanity was off from the start, but not this crazy.
'What the hell... Gah!'
Narung paled.
Even cursing inwardly risked a fall to death. The lingering energy inside him missed no openings. Emotional control restricted, total obedience was his pathetic reality.
'When does this end?!'
He'd asked before; the answer was obvious.
Would you release yourself?
Hit the nail on the head.
Truth be told, he wouldn't either. That's what frustrated him. The guy just said minimize the seal's effects and call it good.
'What if I get Heavenly Martial?'
With Mythic Demon Spirit Armor and Heavenly Martial, could he escape Mujin's grasp? Doubt gnawed strong.
Look at that.
Treading air on the cliff like Three Calamity Sword. What level of qi sustained that endlessly?! Not a drop of sweat, casually toying with his disciple.
Heavenly Martial's fame filled a spot among ancient and modern seven thousand elites, but not like Mujin. Otherwise, it'd be unrivaled under heaven.
'That's why he's dragging his feet!'
Normally, he'd rush for the Mythic Demon Spirit Armor. But Mujin stalled more when pressed. Near-zero interest.
Why so sure?
If his father-in-law hadn't come via Jeongun Merchant Group relay, he'd still be holed up at home.
'Why live like that?'
That's what baffled Narung most. Mujin's power could rival the world of murim. Top-tier among Shinju Twenty-One Strong, at least.
'There must be some scheme!'
Not greedless—filthy rich with money, yet splashed it on family like water.
Clear cause and effect brought the father-in-law.
Switching Jeongun's order to Baemun would've netted huge profits. Reason for Jeongun? A surprise gift.
Brain-dead for sure. Normally, scold him—but his strength deterred thoughtless action. No countermeasures.
'Everything's fine, huh.'
Please, go straight!
Why torment folks on crooked paths?!
Sneak around, he says!
Leaving traces everywhere—who cleans up? Culprits and fixers separate.
"Too slow."
"...Coming!"
Mujin didn't match pace. He quickened his air-step to save time. Lag behind? Trial by landslide.
"Perfect day for one."
Such days exist?
Crisis hit; Cheol-ho and Narung went all-out. All talk, but he kept his word—stubbornly so.
Rumble, crash!
To live, unleash potential's limit. Late? Buried alive.
Roooar!
Life flashed before their eyes as they barely escaped the cliff.
Haaa!
Relief mixed with ragged breaths. The landslide-smashed cliff now sloped gently.
"Not far to Wuhuan now."
"...!"
Then take a damn boat.
Cross mountains? Bullshit!
Shortest from Qingyang to Wuhuan? Boat.
"To what do we owe... You should've sent word; I'd have come to greet you, in-law."
"Ahem, sorry for the lack of contact."
"Don't say that. I'm endlessly glad you came."
"Thank you for the warm welcome."
Showing up unannounced at your in-law's was rude. Proper etiquette: notify first.
Especially between in-laws—no visits till now. No aid to Pine Tiger Sect post-marriage either. Reasonable to take offense, yet the sect leader welcomed him.
Kang Muho and Taejin beamed too.
"We sincerely welcome your visit, sir."
"Grandpa, why so late?! Stay long!"
Kang U-gyeong, Kang Muho, Kang Taejin.
They shared knowing looks. In-law's arrival freed them from Mujin's clutches.
'Finally, some rest!'
'Hope it's forever!'
'Dad, never come back!'
For sect safety, they'd endured Mujin's brutal drills. Trivial to him, life-threatening to them. Son, brother, father—they prayed for his long journey.
Hmm!
Overly warm welcome puzzled Baek Woong-cheol.
'What's up?'
Merchant instincts prickled. No malice suspected—no need.
"Grandpa~!"
"Oh my, our Mijoo!"
Classic cute granddaughter: spotless face melted Baek Woong-cheol's sternness. Rushing into arms? Impossible not to love.
'Good girl!'
'That's our Mijoo!'
'Hooked again!'
Mijoo's every huggy plea softened his heart. Nearly forgot his purpose, her charm addictive.
"You're here."
"Yes. Where's Kang?"
"Out on business."
"When back?"
"Takes time."
Now he spotted the culprit behind the unease.
Baiting him with hospitality to hide.
But no outburst before all. Target gone left him deflated.
Post-dinner, Baek Woong-cheol summoned his daughter to her quarters.
"Not surprised."
"Knew you'd come."
"You hid him ahead."
"Was it necessary?"
Her bold, firm stance furrowed his brow. Unlike her last visit.
"You negotiated with Jeongun Merchant Group."
"His decision."
"Why?"
"Baemun's respected locally, but can't compete with Jeongun."
Yujin answered as chief steward managing Pine Tiger finances—not daddy's girl. Husband's call too. Even if wrong, she'd back him.
"Jeongun's losing ground to rivals."
"No worries. Reversal soon."
Baek Woong-cheol realized: not simple. Could shake Anhui merchants.
But how? Baemun lacked edge against the other two.
"Mine development succeeded?"
"Can't say."
Jeongun's mine was secret—but open to operators. Huge investment, but success flipped rankings instantly.
'He said Father-in-law's coming.'
Husband explained pre-departure: investing in Jeongun for father-in-law visit. Baffling at first, but mine success made sense.
"It worked. But why?"
"Baemun lacks funds or experience for mines."
Her cool precision twisted his face.
Deny it? His wisest daughter knew best—not handed reins lightly. Hence deeper grudge against son-in-law.
Still.'
Her ironclad responses felt alien. Boundaries clear, yet most affectionate. Talking to father like this? Like a child robbed of treasure.
"You don't mean...?"
"Absolutely not!"
Liar—spot on.
Mujin left pre-father-in-law. Flip: fled after arrival.
Denied, but Yujin adored him. Passion fiercer lately, day and night bliss.
"Yujin, I came far for you—treat your dad like this? You weren't like that!"
"He's just around the corner."
Kuh!
Pure violence!
Baek Woong-cheol sweated at her fortress. Needed info, hard to rage. Angry daughter? Ice cold.
'Rotten punk!'
All son-in-law's fault.
Should've spoken sooner!