Chapter 43
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Martial Arts Instructor (2)
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After finishing the dishes, Gwang-u crept up beside the porch where I was sitting, sneaking glances around cautiously.
"Got something to say?"
I spoke first, and Gwang-u promptly plopped down on the porch as if he'd been waiting for it.
"Hyung, what do you think of what Seok Family Head said?"
Gwang-u, this fool, had apparently spent the whole day gauging my mood just to ask this.
Before spilling my own pent-up thoughts, I wanted to gauge his true feelings.
"What do you think?"
"We have to help, of course. Master always said that failing to repay a debt to others is no different from being a beast."
"We've already repaid them more than enough."
Gwang-u wouldn't back down.
No, from the start, his heart had been stolen by Seok Su-a, and my words were going in one ear and out the other.
"Hyung, Master taught us that those who cultivate martial arts must always harbor compassion. So helping the Seok Family is following Master's teachings too. Plus, it's been half a year since we came down from the mountain, and we've just been idling around."
Since when did this guy get so good at talking?
I was so flabbergasted that I just stared at his face.
"What? Something on my face?"
"Nah. Just wanna punch you one."
Normally, Gwang-u would've flinched or bolted from his seat.
But this time, he showed a different side.
"Hyung, let's help them. Please?"
"Because of Seok young lady?"
"N-no. What does Seok young lady have to do with this..."
This fool was so innocent that his emotions shone plainly on his face.
"For real? She's got nothing to do with it? Then it's fine if I like her?"
Gwang-u's cow-like huge eyes bulged as he glared at me.
They were so big, it looked like they'd roll right out.
"Why? ...Why? ...Why? H-hyung, you're not that kind of person, right? You've never shown any interest in women."
This fool was so tense he didn't even realize I was messing with him.
"I like women too, you idiot. And Seok young lady's pretty attractive."
"Hyung, don't. You and Seok young lady would never match. Besides, she has high standards."
In his panic, the fool was spouting ridiculous excuses left and right.
"Doesn't matter. Tomorrow, I'll go straight to Seok Family Head and say I've got my eye on her."
"Hyung..."
Gwang-u stared at me blankly, as if his soul had fled, then suddenly dropped to his knees on the ground from the porch.
"I've been lying all this time. I like Seok young lady. Truth is, I've had my eye on her for a while."
Kukukuku...
At my mischievous chuckle, Gwang-u snapped his head up and looked at me with puzzled eyes.
But then his face twisted, and he sprang to his feet.
"Hyung! You've been toying with me this whole time?"
"Gwang-u."
I turned serious, and Gwang-u, who had been flushing red and about to snap, quickly lowered his voice.
"Why, hyung?"
"Join the Seok Family."
"...Huh? What did you just say?"
"I said join the Seok Family."
Gwang-u's jaw dropped lower and lower until it seemed to reach his ears.
Haha... Hahaha...
"Hyung! Thank you! Really, thank you! You're the best, hyung!"
Overjoyed beyond measure, Gwang-u dashed into the room.
"Gotta pack quick. Honestly, living by the river was starting to get old. You pack too, hyung. Once we join the Seok Family, it'll be way better than here..."
His excited voice echoed from inside.
"I'm not going."
The voice from the room cut off abruptly.
"What? Hyung."
Gwang-u came out with a stiff face.
"You heard me. Join the Seok Family alone."
"How could I... leave you behind, hyung? You think that makes any sense?"
Tears looked ready to spill from Gwang-u's eyes any second.
But I had no intention of joining the Seok Family with him.
It was time for him to decide his own path in life.
"Join the Seok Family, win Seok young lady's heart, get married, have kids, and live happily ever after."
"If you don't come, I won't go either."
"You might regret it later. Even if you do, follow your heart."
Tears finally streamed from Gwang-u's eyes.
"Hyung..."
I forced a smile for him.
"But hey, you think you can teach martial arts to the Seok Family ladies with just a manual?"
Gwang-u, mid-tears, stared at me blankly and plopped down right there.
"Can't."
Kukukuku... Kuhahaha!
Namgung Hye, returning to her clan, first paid respects to Namgung Jak.
In the room, Namgung Jak and Namgung Hu sat facing each other, sipping tea and talking.
"I'm back, Father."
Namgung Jak regarded her with a faint anger.
"Why were you so late?"
Namgung Hye flashed a bright smile and stuck out her tongue playfully.
Her cuteness melted his ire, and he let out a hollow laugh.
Heh heh...
"You rascal. Did you enjoy your journey through the martial world? I heard there was an attack by the Hanam Jo Clan."
Ten days ago, upon receiving the letter from the Zhuge Family, Namgung Jak had nearly grabbed his sword to storm the Hanam Jo Clan.
If Namgung Hu hadn't stopped him, the Jo Clan would've been massacred by his hand.
"Calm down, Father."
"Those Jo Clan vermin dared attack Hye and the ladies—how can I sit still?"
"Hye and the ladies are unharmed. And since a Zhuge lady was sacrificed, the Zhuge Family will surely hold the Jo Clan accountable. It's right to leave it to them, as they suffered the loss."
Namgung Jak reluctantly stayed, agreeing his son's words made sense, waiting for Namgung Hye's return.
But days passed with no word or sign of her.
Furious, he geared up to rush to Huanin County again.
Namgung Hu blocked him once more.
"She should be on her way back by now. If you miss her on the road, it'll be a wasted trip. Please wait a bit longer."
Another reasonable argument, so he set down his sword again.
Finally, when word came that Namgung Hye had entered the main gate after his anxious wait, he could breathe easy.
"We managed to fend them off, thankfully."
"Tell me everything that happened in detail."
Namgung Hye wove in a few convenient lies as she recounted how Huanin Seok Family repelled the Jo Clan's ambush.
After hearing her out, Namgung Jak nodded.
"Better than the rumors suggested—the head of Huanin Seok Family seems an even finer man."
"Yes. He seemed a rare gentleman in the martial world."
"Either way, no more journeys through the martial world for you. Understood?"
Namgung Hye neither startled nor rebelled.
She had anticipated his reaction.
"Yes, Father."
She meekly accepted.
She already had a plan for her next outing.
"Brother."
Namgung Hu, quietly sipping tea, turned his head.
"What is it?"
"Are you giving up on finding your junior brothers?"
"As if. Now that you're back, I was just about to head out."
Hmm...
Namgung Hye let out a subtle hum and shared her thoughts.
"You said their martial arts are impressive, right? Why not wait at home instead? If they're that skilled, word will spread through the martial world soon enough."
"You don't know our junior brothers. They avoid meddling in others' affairs unless dragged in."
Calming her racing heart, she asked carefully.
"What do they look like?"
"Both tall with jade-like handsome faces. You won't find better-looking guys anywhere."
Namgung Hye felt a twinge of doubt.
The hunter Go Un-san and the hunter Seok Gwang-u were tall as her brother said, but their faces weren't quite "jade-like."
"Any other features? And their names?"
Hahaha...
"Looks like our Hye's interested in my junior brothers, eh?"
Namgung Hu beamed with joy, then grew wistful.
Namgung Jak, listening beside them, showed subtle interest too.
Seeing his brilliant son praise them effusively sparked his own desire to match her with one.
"The first one's named Un-san—Go Un-san. But he's probably using another name now. He didn't like me much; I was the rolling stone who showed up. Still, he's deep-hearted and affectionate. The second is Seok Gwang-u, a massive brute born with overlord strength. Loves meat so much he handled all the hunting in the mountains. Pure-hearted to a fault—gets duped often—but dearer than blood to me."
"They sound wonderful from your words, brother."
Namgung Hye beamed radiantly.
She now knew their exact names—what more did she need?
"When I find them, I'll introduce you for sure. You'll love them too."
"Really... I'd love to meet them."
Three days had passed since Gwang-u left.
I hadn't noticed when he was around, but his absence felt huge.
Druruk... Druk...
As I prepared lunch by catching fish, a strange feeling hit me, and I bolted outside.
Peering over the fence, I saw a young monk walking by.
"That... damn bald fraud..."
This young monk was the con artist who'd fleeced us for silver by claiming to exorcise ghosts.
I charged out the door.
"Hey, you bastard!"
The con monk flashed a bright smile and clasped his hands in greeting.
"Amitabha."
"Selling Buddha himself, and you spout Amitabha? Where's my silver, you punk?"
"Spent it in a good place. Even Buddha was pleased."
His shameless words boiled my blood to the top of my head.
"You punk. Just one punch."
Puhehehe...
The young monk laughed frivolously and subtly widened the distance.
"I don't go getting beat up elsewhere. Calm down and offer some tasty food to this poor wandering monk as alms."
No need to hear more.
I threw a punch at the con monk.
Swae...
Thud.
My fist slicing through the air stopped dead before his face.
It was blocked by the young monk's palm.
I was shocked, but the young monk eyed me with equal surprise.
"So... you've been hiding your martial arts."
As soon as he finished, I hurriedly retreated my stance.
The rage surging from my chest cooled to ice.
Bam!
The young monk, having stepped back, thrust his right foot forward and stomped the ground hard.
A majestic aura emanated from his body, swelling and fluttering his gray robes.
'This guy's no ordinary con artist, huh?'
As I prepared to withdraw to avoid revealing my skills, I caught the fierce glint in the young monk's eyes.
His form, having stomped forward, vanished from sight.