Chapter 53
Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: A Lifetime Subordinate
Making that mad genius act had been a resounding success.
But perhaps too successful, because Cheon Seonwoo started spouting utter nonsense.
"Travel... together? Old man, have you eaten something bad?"
Cheon Seonwoo gave me a puzzled look at my horrified expression.
"What's the problem?"
"What's the problem? We just met for the first time today!"
I was planning to meet Moyong Hui and charm her.
And now travel with Cheon Seonwoo?
'It's not like I'm escorting some clan's elder.'
What on earth would Moyong Hui think of me?
No, I had zero intention of traveling with Cheon Seonwoo in the first place.
Yet Cheon Seonwoo opened his mouth with a hint of amusement.
"Even if I follow you, you can't stop me, can you? In that case, wouldn't it be better to just travel as companions?"
He had a point.
I hadn't even noticed him tailing me all the way here.
But looking at his expression, I realized something.
"Sigh... Old man. What do you really want?"
He was poking at me because he wanted something specific.
"What do I want?"
"Cut the joking and get to the point. You're not the type to chase after some kid young enough to be your grandson."
"Mm..."
Cheon Seonwoo let out a groan, as if I'd hit the nail on the head.
Then he nodded belatedly.
"Truth be told, you intrigue me greatly, and I do want to travel together... but as you say, tailing a much younger lad like that would be embarrassing."
"Get to the point."
"Tch, rude brat. Fine, straight to the point. Teach my son martial arts."
"...?"
Was telling a total stranger he'd just met today to teach his son martial arts even remotely sensible?
Besides, what was so special about that Cheon Woojin kid that deserved my teaching?
'First he wants me as a disciple, now this...'
I knew the Martial Emperor's personality was overbearing, but this was excessive.
Suddenly, a perfect response for Cheon Seonwoo came to mind.
"I'm a busy man. I don't want to waste time teaching someone without talent."
There was no need to teach those lacking talent.
Those were Cheon Seonwoo's exact words three years from now.
'He's probably lived his whole life believing that.'
That's why he couldn't outright deny my words now.
Cheon Seonwoo pondered briefly before speaking up belatedly.
"If you're busy, does that mean it's because you're off to meet that Sword Phoenix girl?"
A bad premonition surged up suddenly.
But with what I'd said earlier, I couldn't deny it here.
"Y-Yeah...?"
"Think about it. Wouldn't it be better to take my son instead of me following you all the way there?"
"...You're really going to follow?"
"No reason I can't. Truth is, I was wandering aimlessly myself."
This seemed utterly sincere no matter how I looked at it.
My mind raced quickly.
'If the Martial Emperor's tailing me, there's no real way to shake him. Better to take Cheon Woojin and ditch him midway...'
As if reading my thoughts, Cheon Seonwoo added,
"Your clan is the Mok Family in Shanxi Province, right? Hm, once my son returns, I'll have to visit Shanxi."
This was a threat: if I ditched Cheon Woojin and ran, he'd come for the Mok Family Clan.
Damn, no escaping this.
I let out a deep sigh and said,
"Old man. So what exactly do you want me to teach him? As I said, I'm not interested in teaching talentless brats."
Truth be told, it wasn't about lacking talent—it was just no interest in teaching any 'brat'.
Unless it was a pretty girl, maybe.
"No need to teach much. Just like earlier, show him the Heavenly Apex Sword Technique and point out the improvements to my son."
"Why bother?"
If he was curious about improvements, he could've learned them himself instead of using his son.
Cheon Seonwoo could even fix it on his own just from watching me demonstrate.
'It's a martial art he created himself, after all.'
In my view, there was no need for this extra step.
But Cheon Seonwoo shook his head.
"I acknowledge your exceptional talent, but I've never felt my own skills lacking. Hm, about... a year should do. I'll spend the next year refining the Heavenly Apex Sword Technique myself. Then compare it to your version—what's different, which is superior."
In other words,
He admitted my fixed Heavenly Apex Sword Technique was better, but changing it outright bruised his pride.
So he'd refine it his way, then compare after a year...
'But this is all still the Martial Emperor's revision anyway?'
Ultimately, the Heavenly Apex Sword Technique I demonstrated was the future Cheon Seonwoo's revision.
From about 30 years ahead.
'No way he catches up in one year.'
It seemed like a pointless waste of time, but I didn't show it.
"Fine. Not hard, and I can teach that much. But... what's in it for me?"
"You'll learn the Heavenly Apex Sword Technique..."
"Pfft."
I cut him off and spat on the ground, earning a baffled look from Cheon Seonwoo.
But I declared confidently,
"Old man, don't spout nonsense. Do I look like someone who'd work for some mediocre martial art?"
"Hm, what do you want then?"
Unlike before, now Cheon Seonwoo was asking what I wanted.
But...
'Huh? Nothing in particular?'
I hadn't thought of anything specific.
The most I wanted was to part ways and go our separate paths, but Cheon Seonwoo wouldn't allow that.
I hemmed and hawed briefly before speaking.
"Nothing specific, it just rubs me the wrong way. Why should I teach that brat? He's not my disciple or subordinate."
"Then make him your disciple or subordinate."
Cheon Seonwoo replied indifferently, as if it were nothing to him.
Cheon Woojin, who had been silent until now, widened his eyes and raised his voice.
"Father?! What do you...?!"
"Him?"
Cheon Woojin?
'Not a bad idea.'
He might've gotten one-sidedly beaten by me today, but he was a figure tipped to become the World's Greatest Martial Artist in the future.
Even now, his skills far surpassed the later-generation prodigies called the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes.
'His resourcefulness isn't bad either.'
He was the one who unified the orthodox, unorthodox, demonic, and evil factions.
Of course, with the Martial Emperor as backing and 'me' as a major achievement, but still—he accomplished what no one in history had.
Put simply, perfect for exploiting.
"Disciple's a bit much, but subordinate? I could take him."
"Then do that."
Cheon Seonwoo answered indifferently again, as if it weren't his business.
Cheon Woojin wailed for his father once more.
"Father!!"
"Quiet!"
Cheon Woojin clamped his mouth shut in shock at Cheon Seonwoo's shout.
I continued haggling with Cheon Seonwoo, ignoring the kid.
"I work my subordinates hard. If he messes up, I might even beat him."
"As I said earlier, I won't complain as long as you don't cripple him."
"Still, subordinates can cause accidents on missions. Can't just give him safe jobs either."
"I'm not that unreasonable. As long as you're not maliciously interfering, I won't hold it against you."
Blunt and straightforward since it wasn't his issue.
I quite liked that about Cheon Seonwoo.
"What about the term?"
"Until I finish refining the martial art. Hm, let's say one year."
This was a bit disappointing.
'Too short to waste on just one year.'
He'd become quite useful later, but right now, Cheon Woojin was just a green rookie, nothing more or less.
And I wasn't haggling just to boss around some rookie.
"Refining the martial art for him for just one year feels undervalued."
"Who knows? In a year, you might not need your version of the Heavenly Apex Sword Technique anymore."
Cheon Seonwoo showed confidence that a year's investment would yield something superior.
Ridiculous to me, knowing the future 30 years ahead, but I used it as leverage for a new proposal.
"How about this? In one year, we compare my refined Heavenly Apex Sword Technique with yours. If mine's superior, I keep him as subordinate indefinitely."
"Fine. But who judges?"
He responded refreshingly to the indefinite term, brimming with confidence.
Maybe because it truly wasn't his business.
"You decide then, old man."
A Martial Emperor wouldn't renege or deny it later.
Even if he did, no big loss.
'Nothing to lose on my end anyway.'
If Cheon Seonwoo lost, Cheon Woojin became my lifelong subordinate; if I lost, no real harm.
The martial art I was teaching wasn't even my own refinement—it was future Cheon Seonwoo's.
Cheon Woojin, the subject of the deal, looked dumbfounded but kept quiet—probably due to Cheon Seonwoo's earlier shout.
"Good. Take care of my son then."
"Don't worry. I look after my own well."
The deal was sealed, ignoring the principal's opinion.
Thus, I gained a lifelong subordinate.