Return of the War King Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“So, come here.”

Next to Tae-jin and Mi-joo was always a cat with snow-white fur and a slow, heavy gait, lazily padding along. No matter where they went, it trailed behind them, its face exuding pure lethargy. It followed them everywhere but rarely moved of its own accord.

Swoosh—!

Its name was So.

Because it never made a sound, it was sometimes called So-Aja. It looked lazy, yet its fur gleamed, which was oddly fascinating. The fur was soft and fluffy, giving it an exceptionally pleasant texture. Not only did it receive the love of Tae-jin and Mi-joo, but it also drew the attention of everyone in the sect.

Lick, lick!

Nestled in Mi-joo’s arms, So licked lazily, acting all haughty. Though it did nothing but eat their food, no one complained. Its adorable looks alone were enough to pay for its keep.

Watching So sleep in Mi-joo’s arms, Mujin clicked his tongue. To the eye, So looked like a cat, but in truth, it was the king of the mountains, a white tiger.

‘Where in the world does that look like a white tiger?’

—Do you finally understand the greatness of the Demonic King’s Eye of Demonic Insight?

‘You always have to brag. That’s a sickness.’

—Shall I cure it, then?

‘Don’t overdo it.’

Though he gave a sharp retort, the Demonic King’s Eye of Demonic Insight was indeed formidable. It possessed powerful psychic arts that could subdue and imprint upon its target. Of course, the one who had truly broken the white tiger’s will was Mujin. No matter how strong the Eye of Demonic Insight was, a white tiger was revered as a divine being, a monarch of the mountains. Its spiritual power was so overwhelming that one had to crush its spirit first.

‘It feels like just yesterday it was rampaging like crazy… Now it’s completely turned into a house cat.’

—Even so, a white tiger is still a white tiger.

It only looked small because its body size had been reduced. In reality, its true form was as big as a house. The ability to shrink itself at will made it easy to bring along.

‘In the future, it’ll be even more dangerous, I bet.’

—Well, they did say it was once called the Fiend God.

This was before the white tiger had earned the title of Fiend God. Later, martial artists seeking the legend of the Three Kings invaded its domain. At that time, the white tiger lost its cub. Enraged, it began indiscriminately attacking humans, tearing martial artists limb from limb. Having acquired a taste for slaughter, it grew ever more ferocious, eventually being feared as the Fiend God.

—Back then, you killed it, and now you’re living with it.

‘The humans were at fault, but the white tiger was the one punished.’

Even top-class martial artists couldn’t handle it. Even a peak-level master found the mountain terrain troublesome. Without any formal training, a single kick from it could split a boulder.

And it was such a white tiger that Mujin had slain.

It had happened after Mujin had mastered the martial arts of the War King. Coming face-to-face with the beast had forced him into a desperate life-and-death struggle. Only after narrowly surviving did he manage to cut off the white tiger’s breath.

It was only afterward that Mujin learned of the beast’s tragic reputation. Though he had not personally killed its cub, he felt a faint sense of responsibility. Had they not been greedy, the white tiger would not have lost its cub, nor become the Fiend God.

—Then you should’ve set it free. You’re not making sense.

‘All I have to do is protect my children like they were its cubs.’

—So in the end, you’re saying only your own kids matter.

‘That’s just how a parent’s heart works. Who treasures someone else’s kids more than their own?’

It was an uncharacteristic thing for the Demonic King to say, but it was true. Still, Mujin valued his own children’s lives over that of the white tiger. As the battle with the Demonic Cult loomed closer, he needed a safety measure to avoid the worst-case scenario. It was convenient to have a protector nearby who wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

Before Mujin stood a two-horse carriage.

Its design was simple, but the horses looked sturdy and strong. While not pure-blooded, they carried Mongolian horse lineage, boasting exceptional strength and endurance. One could tell from their sleek, dark brown coats that they were well cared for.

“Come on, hop in.”

“Did you get this, Dad?”

“Of course.”

“Dad, are you rich?”

“I don’t know about rich, but I can certainly buy my Mi-joo anything she wants.”

“Wow, then you’re a rich woodcutter!”

“And Mi-joo is the woodcutter’s daughter.”

Horses varied greatly in price depending on the breed, but they were never cheap. In the horse markets, a horse good enough to pull a carriage would cost at least one hundred nyang in silver. That was why ordinary people didn’t ride horses. You needed to be somewhat well-off, with a comfortable life, to afford one.

“Tae-jin, you get in too.”

“What about Mom?”

“She’ll be out soon. You get in first.”

“Okay.”

Five years had passed, and Tae-jin had changed from when he was young. His build had grown sturdy, and he was taller now, at least a head taller than others his age. And he knew his father’s secret.

‘What kind of woodcutter is like my dad!’

In the sect, his father might be treated as a useless burden, but the father Tae-jin knew was strong. In the entire Cheongyang region, not to mention the sect, whenever he sparred with kids his age, no one could match him.

He had won the local preliminaries in Cheongyang for the Young Dragon Tournament in overwhelming fashion, yet he still couldn’t even touch his father’s collar.

‘Even Uncle couldn’t beat him.’

His uncle, chosen as the sect’s successor, was strong just as everyone expected. But even he couldn’t last more than three moves against Tae-jin’s father. Just how strong was he, really? Maybe he could even be counted among the top ten masters representing Anhui Province.

‘Maybe I’m overestimating him?’

In Tae-jin’s eyes, his father was the greatest master he knew, though he’d heard the world was vast and masters were as numerous as grains of sand. Still, it was satisfying to know his father was the best in the sect, even if unintentionally, he had become a hidden master.

‘And Mom loves him too!’

Tae-jin never told anyone that his father was a master. Even if he said so, no one would believe him.

‘Who would believe it?’

But Tae-jin believed it—like a needle hidden in a sack eventually poking through. He wasn’t intentionally hiding it, but when the time came, his father’s name would be known to the world.

‘He’s got quite the temper too.’

When he beat up Uncle, it was no joke.

Even though he claimed he had no emotions, anyone could see there was emotion in those punches. Watching his father keep hitting just because he got angry made Tae-jin lose any thought of rebelling against him.

****

Grandfather and Father were having their usual squabble.

“Father, please stop it! I’m not a kid anymore.”

“And instead of pitying your father for worrying you’ll cause trouble even as a grown man, you’ve got the nerve to—blah, blah, blah!”

“I haven’t caused a single problem since that time!”

“That’s exactly why I’m worried, you fool! You look like you’re ready to cause a huge problem any day now!”

“Why don’t you trust your son a little?”

“Stop spouting nonsense and just say, ‘Thank you,’ and bow your head!”

“Still, doing it unconditionally is a bit…”

“Do it!”

“Yes, sir!”

As expected, Grandfather won the argument. Even though Father hadn’t caused any trouble for the past five years, Grandfather still worried over him like a child playing too close to the water.

‘Sheesh… when will he ever trust his own son?’

—That’s what you get for not behaving better in the first place.

‘Anyone listening would think you were a filial son, you Demonic King!’

—I’m an orphan.

‘…And there you go again, always bringing that up!’

Children were collected to be trained as Demonic Kings, and among them, Cheon-gyeong had been chosen to become one. He had no memory of his childhood. Naturally, he didn’t remember his parents’ faces.

Feeling an odd pang of guilt, Mujin got irritated.

—So treat me better!

‘Look at you, the “Filial Demonic King,” damn orphan!’

—That’s an insult to orphans across the continent. Apologize right now!

‘Oh, please. Since when did you care about the whole continent? Cut it out.’

Sure, the guy didn’t know his parents and was pitiful in that sense, but he was the Demonic King. A merciless killer who smiled coldly while tearing martial artists apart. Not exactly someone fit to make sentimental remarks.

‘So… are you going to look for your parents?’

—Of course.

‘And what will you do if you find them?’

—If they abandoned me, they’ll pay the price. You can’t just live happily after throwing away your child.

‘You crazy bastard!’

—What? Isn’t that normal?

As expected of the Demonic King. For a moment, Mujin had foolishly thought he might be normal. He shook his head. Pity was a luxury. He should’ve just treated him the same as always. Any “human” side of the Demonic King was nothing more than pretense and disguise.

‘You’re just too young to know the ways of the world. Tsk, tsk, tsk.’

—That’s rich coming from you. Did you run away from home because you were living like a total scumbag?

‘Why are you bringing that up now? I’m doing fine these days.’

—Don’t forget that it’s all thanks to me.

Tsk!

…Annoyingly enough, that was true.

If Mujin hadn’t returned to the past, he wouldn’t have dared dream of the benefits he now enjoyed. Considering how aimlessly he’d lived before, he had no right to lecture anyone, he should be grabbing his own crotch and repenting instead.

****

“How long are you going to stand there spaced out?”

“Ah— I’ll be going, then.”

“Tsk, that attitude… Look at Tae-jin. See how dignified he is?”

“Father, please!”

“Quiet! If you don’t do well, don’t even think about coming back.”

“What about my wife?”

“Only you.”

The fact that his father still couldn’t trust him even now became a reason for Mujin to reflect on his past conduct. He vowed to become a truly exemplary son, one who wouldn’t roam outside the home again.

‘Not that going out is anything but a pain in the ass.’

—And the world?

‘Don’t care.’

—What an admirable son you are.

‘Don’t be sarcastic. I’ll hit you.’

—Go ahead, try!

The journey was smooth.

It wasn’t far—certainly not the kind of trip that would take several days from the sect. In truth, it was within arm’s reach. And yet, he hadn’t visited in ten whole years.

‘Yu-jin must have missed her parents too.’

No matter how young you were or how many years passed, to your parents you were always their child. After marrying and having children of her own, her longing for her parents must have grown even stronger. Harsh words from the past might have left scars, but ten years was long enough for even mountains and rivers to change—surely, people could too.

“Are you cold?”

“Not at all.”

“My daughter’s so brave.”

“Of course! Whose daughter do you think I am?”

“Right, my daughter indeed.”

Sitting beside Mujin on the driver’s seat of the carriage was Mi-joo. Winter was just beginning, after autumn had passed. For the children, it could be a bit chilly. Mujin had wanted her to stay inside the carriage to avoid catching a cold, but he couldn’t bring himself to dampen her enthusiasm. She wanted to take in the sights of the world outside, something rare for her.

“It’s getting chilly. Should we go inside?”

“Daddy, I need to keep watching.”

“Watching? Watching what?”

“Oh, Dad. When we’re passing along some remote mountain road, you know someone in trouble or some bandits might suddenly appear.”

…Huh?

Wasn’t the whole point to see the new world?

For a moment, Mujin wondered if this was really his daughter. Still, he couldn’t help but be amused, what a whimsical imagination! She must have read a lot of novels. True, the world could be dangerous, but people in distress or random bandit ambushes didn’t just happen at every turn. How could anyone survive in such a world?

‘I don’t even go near places where trouble might break out.’

While driving the carriage, Mujin kept his senses wide open to monitor the surroundings. The basic rule was not to get involved in unintended incidents or accidents.

Even if a fight broke out, it was hard to tell who was good and who was evil. Any incident could create grudges, and those grudges could later turn into troublesome entanglements.

‘A debt of gratitude, my ass.’

Sure, some people might try to repay a kindness, but you’d be lucky if they didn’t stab you in the back later. That’s why it was best not to form unnecessary ties at all.

A half-baked sense of justice could endanger not just you, but everyone around you. Even an absolute master might be able to change the flow of the world, but couldn’t perfectly shield everyone close to them.

‘Avoiding trouble is the wisest choice.’

—That doesn’t sound like the War King I know. You caused trouble everywhere you went. Don’t even try to deny it—I know your past. Should I list it out for you?

‘Stay out of it.’

—You can’t just avoid it. You’re a walking catastrophe.

‘Say that one more time and I won’t let it slide.’

—You’re not a needle in a sack—you’re a royal greatsword stuffed in a pouch.

‘Enough with the curses.’

---The End Of The Chapter---

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