Chapter 22
Unconsciously, he turned his face away—his teeth and nose weren’t broken, but the impact must have been tremendous. Yet that wasn’t the end. Mujin swept his leg across the floor like he was brushing it clean, hooking Gwak Cheolung’s legs.
Tuk!
As Gwak Cheolung’s body was swept aside and toppled sideways, it created the perfect angle for a downward strike. Without hesitation, once the position was optimized, Mujin brought his attack crashing down.
Puaak, Kwaa-dang!
Slamming into the floor, Gwak Cheolung was on the verge of losing consciousness. The shock was too severe to shake off and stand again.
Barurur!
His body convulsed, eyes rolling back to expose only the whites. Even so, watching him struggle to rise showed just how strong his willpower was.
In recognition of that—
Mujin didn’t stop. He kicked him square in the head.
Puaang!
His body ricocheted away, tracing a grotesquely beautiful arc before crashing to the floor. The ground where he tumbled was smeared with streaks of blood.
Keururur!
Gwak Cheolung was finally knocked out.
Thud!
Everyone who had witnessed the sequence of events could do nothing but gape with their mouths hanging open. Something utterly unbelievable had just happened. Gwak Cheolung was one of the proud swordsmen of the Gwak Clan.
Even if he had only just reached the threshold of the Absolute Realm, his skill wasn’t something ordinary martial artists could compare with. While Gal Hyomyung had been beaten one-sidedly, he was still no match for Gwak Cheolung.
And yet, before Gwak Cheolung could even draw his sword—let alone swing it properly—he had been completely crushed.
Sseuk!
Mujin swept his gaze over his brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and Gal Hyomyung.
Only then did they snap back to their senses. He was smiling, but beneath that smile was a beast hiding its claws. The murderous aura radiating from him went far beyond ordinary reason. Even without a growl, their bodies refused to obey them.
Ssiik!
Mujin grinned.
“Anyone else?”
His attitude made it clear—if there were, he had no problem starting right away. But there couldn’t possibly be anyone else. Gal Hyomyung was still injured from the wounds he had suffered three days prior. He could barely move at all.
“…No.”
“Then may I leave?”
“Go.”
“You’ll likely see him again once he recovers.”
Baek Yucheon staggered back under the crushing pressure.
If they pulled this kind of stunt again, it wouldn’t end as just a game. No—it couldn’t even be called a game now. Gwak Cheolung’s injuries were serious. His sternum was broken, his face severely damaged. These weren’t wounds that would heal with a few days of rest. If this was still considered “play,” then next time, he might very well crush their throats.
“Father-in-law, shall we finish the match we left undone yesterday?”
“…Fine.”
Baek Woong-Cheol felt a storm of thoughts whirl in his head at his son-in-law’s calmness. When he’d first heard that Mujin had defeated Gal Hyomyung one-sidedly, he had doubted it. But the power he had just displayed was beyond imagination. It had ended so quickly that the eye could not even follow. That was how fast—and destructive—it was.
And on top of that, he was brazen to an astonishing degree.
After reducing his opponent to such a state, he could still turn his back as though nothing had happened and suggest they continue their game of Go. How many men in the world could do that? Any ordinary measure of reason or decency was meaningless here.
“Is it alright to just leave him like that?”
“He’ll be fine. Injuries like that won’t kill him.”
“He looks like he’s coughing blood.”
“Bleeding a little doesn’t mean death.”
He didn’t even spare a glance for someone else’s blood.
Cheolung realized he needed to reevaluate his son-in-law. He had thought the man had simply shaken off his past and come to his senses. But this wasn’t a matter of just waking up. He was someone entirely different now.
And yet… he’s not even supposed to be the successor!
He had supposedly given up the position of heir because of “lack of ability.” But from what he had just seen, lack of ability had nothing to do with it. Unless, of course, the evaluation was based on something other than martial skill… or it meant his younger brother’s talent was far greater still.
“Come on now, let’s go. A man who draws his sword should at least cut a radish with it. Don’t waste time worrying about trivial matters.”
“…Fine.”
Mujin led his father-in-law away from the scene, leaving the aftermath to those who remained. In truth, cleaning up was the most troublesome part, and it was better to let them sort out their own mess—whether they argued among themselves or fought again.
Hmph. That’s how children’s fights always end up.
But now that they had turned a children’s fight into an adults’ fight, the consequences were inevitable. They should count themselves lucky he hadn’t killed anyone. Truthfully, he had expected them to pull something like this—but pettiness, he could never forgive. Even if it was his wife’s family, he wouldn’t soften his blows anymore.
‘Next time, I’ll kill them.’
—Brutal.
‘And you?’
—It wasn’t my will.
‘Oh, what an accomplishment, you bastard!’
Those left behind could only stare.
It took some time before they could snap out of their panic. For a while, they simply stared blankly at the fading afterimage.
Kheok!
If not for the blood coughed up by Gwak Cheolung, born of sheer will to stay alive, they all might have continued dazed and vacant. The sequence of events had been too shocking. It was overwhelming to the point that they wondered—was such a one-sided difference even possible? Even if there had been no carelessness, the outcome would likely have been the same.
When he had declared in front of everyone that he had no interest in the merchant guild’s leadership and told them not to speculate pointlessly, it had left a sour taste. It had made him look like he was cowering because of his younger brother. That was why they had hoped Gwak Cheolung would set him straight. Instead, it had only emboldened him further.
Nothing was going their way.
“Brother-in-law, that was incredible!”
“Yeah, totally awesome!”
At Yuhwa and Yukyung’s tactless remarks, Yucheon nearly clutched the back of his neck. Do they really have to say that now? he thought. Meanwhile, trembling in the limbo between consciousness and unconsciousness, Gwak Cheolung convulsed.
After subduing Gwak Cheolung in such a show of force, Mujin made himself at home in his in-laws’ residence as if it were his own. He didn’t hide his victory; in fact, he kindly informed anyone who hadn’t yet heard.
‘This is who I am.’
Especially each morning, he made sure to greet his elder brother-in-law and sister-in-law—bringing his wife and children with him. He even suggested they share meals together.
All in the name of family harmony.
During those meals, not only his brother- and sister-in-law but even the children couldn’t help but tread carefully around Mujin.
Meanwhile, he insisted that boys grow up by fighting, and he pitted Tae-jin and Cheonun against each other day after day.
‘My son’s pride is important.’
Other people’s children? They could look after themselves.
Each time, Cheonun glanced anxiously at his father, but his father could only grit his teeth and close his eyes. The anguish of a father unable to grant his son’s desperate plea was clear as day.
Gwak I-yeong trembled with fury at Mujin’s brazenness, but there was nothing she could do. The uncle she had trusted had been beaten like a dog, leaving them with no options. Reporting it to the clan’s main house would not solve anything.
At worst, it could sever ties with the Gwak Clan entirely.
Well, who told you to provoke him in the first place?
Surely his brother and sister-in-law realized that Mujin was deliberately goading them. Yet they couldn’t say anything out loud. Every encounter left their hearts parched.
“Soon, our time together will be over.”
“I also regret that.”
“If you’re really regretful, why don’t I just move in permanently?”
“What?”
“I’m joking—no need to get so serious.”
He was, after all, the heir of a trading guild, yet his facial control was abysmal.
At those words, not only his brother- and sister-in-law but even the children were visibly shocked.
Tae-jin and Mi-joo, however, stood proud and unyielding. After all, with such a formidable father, what did they have to fear? Once someone had crossed them, the price had to be paid—and paid for a long time. Forgiveness would only come when their children were satisfied.
Children or not, it doesn’t matter. Commit a crime, pay the price.
Too young? Too old? A woman? Too pitiful? If one were to grant leniency for all those excuses, then who in the world would ever be punished?
‘I didn’t realize it before, but she really holds grudges.’
Of course, his intelligent wife knew exactly what was going on. And yet, she acted as if it had nothing to do with her—pretending ignorance. Perhaps it was because of grievances built up since childhood, but she almost seemed to enjoy it.
‘That’s my wife.’
He would never allow her to be treated like a pushover anywhere. She had to live with her head held high. He would make sure she stood above everyone else, and that riffraff dared not run rampant.
But at this rate, ties will be completely severed.
Even if she pretended to enjoy it, his wife and her brother were bound by blood. If things broke completely, they would remain strained in the future. He wanted her to be able to approach them freely, even if he himself could not.
“Show me. I’ll watch.”
“Watch what?”
“What else? Your swordsmanship.”
“Really?”
When Mujin offered to watch, both his brother and sister-in-law looked surprised. But soon suspicion filled their eyes. Anyone could see the relationship wasn’t good. Still, it was difficult to outright refuse his show of “sincerity.”
What—do you not trust me? Mujin could very well press the issue like that. In fact, he was exactly the kind of man who would. To avoid giving him another reason to nitpick, they had no choice but to agree.
“Next time we meet, shouldn’t you try to beat Jin?”
“…Can I even win?”
“Oh? So you do want to win.”
“…No!”
“A man shouldn’t lose his spirit just because he’s been beaten a few times. Back then, I lost every single one of a hundred fights.”
Though he looked doubtful, Cheonun stood up and walked out into the yard. Truthfully, losing every time to a younger brother three years his junior was humiliating. Every time they sparred, the gap only widened. The disparity was so overwhelming that he could hardly muster the courage to keep going. To be beaten over and over in front of his younger brother was infuriating.
“This is the Gwak Clan’s Lightning Sword.”
“Alright. Show me.”
That he was learning the clan’s secret sword art showed Cheonun’s talent wasn’t bad at all. Even if his aunt’s influence had played a part, the clan didn’t pass down its treasured techniques to just anyone. Clearly, the Gwak Clan had invested in him.
The Lightning Sword comprised eight forms: First Slash, Abyss, Skyflash, Azure Bloom, Thunder Blast, Lightning Strike, Nine Dragon Slash, and Thunder God’s Wrath. Each name carried weight. If they had truly been as powerful as their grand names suggested, the Gwak Clan would have reigned supreme across Jiangsu.
“The sword technique itself isn’t bad. But it doesn’t use pure Thunder Qi—it forces one’s internal energy to convert into thunder. Too much is wasted.”
“Eh?”
“Nothing. Just talking to myself. Ignore it and keep going.”
“Alright.”
Thunder arts were notoriously difficult to master. To cultivate Thunder Qi within the human body was already near-impossible. Most legendary masters of thunder arts had only succeeded by sheer luck—surviving a lightning strike and absorbing its essence, or being born with a physique capable of generating Thunder Qi naturally.
Thus, it was inevitable that the art had evolved across generations, morphing until it became what it was now. Unfortunately, those changes had been passed down without being fully integrated into the core mental methods, leaving clear limitations.
“That’s enough. Come at me.”
“Yes!”
Watching alone didn’t solve anything. Mujin corrected Cheonun’s sword technique exactly as he saw and felt it. Sword clashed against hand, yet he showed no concern. He adjusted the footwork, the sword paths, the sword strokes, and the method of execution in turn. To an observer, nothing seemed particularly extraordinary. But to Cheonun, who was receiving the guidance, it was a revelation.
So the Lightning Sword could be this smooth?!
He had always known it was fast, but there were breaks between the transitions. Now, those flaws gradually disappeared. It was only his own immaturity—his failure to grasp the true essence of the Lightning Sword—that remained. The strokes themselves were already incomparable to before.
“Now, show me on your own.”
After a few practice attempts, Cheonun drew his sword again, and the difference was clear. He could feel for himself how he had changed, though it would take time to ingrain that transformation into his body.
“Brother-in-law, I’ll take my leave now.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Yucheon also noticed that his son’s swordsmanship had changed. There was a new strength and speed even he, who knew nothing of the sword, could perceive. If he could tell, his wife certainly could. She had watched the Lightning Sword since childhood. But this—this was different.
What the hell is wrong with this guy?
A headache throbbed in Yucheon’s skull.
***
“Unnie.”
“What is it?”
Cheonyeong’s pupils trembled as Mi-joo sauntered up, brimming with smugness. Though they were eight and ten years old, the difference in age meant nothing now. Since their first meeting, the tables had completely turned.
“Mi-joo wants some candied fruit.”
“So?”
“I don’t have any money.”
“…You do have money!”
“Nope.”
Both Cheonyeong and even the heavens knew there were two silver coins in Mi-joo’s pocket. Her father had given them to her as an apology gift for coveting a cow. And yet, here she was, claiming she was penniless.
“Doesn’t unnie want to buy cute little Mi-joo a treat?”
“…Cute?!”
Cute? Where?! And why say that out loud, in front of her older brother!
Cheonyeong found Mi-joo unbearably detestable. When others were around versus when they were alone—she was completely different. Like she had a hundred foxes stuffed inside her. What on earth is she going to grow up to be?!
“I’ll have to tell Dad we should move in here permanently.”
“…I’ll buy it for you!”
“Ten won’t be enough.”
“I’ll buy you twenty!”
Even two candied fruits were too much!
Cheonyeong’s desperate wails meant nothing to Mi-joo. She even roped in her own older brother and Cheonyeong’s older brother at the same time.
“Unnie says she’s buying.”
“Really?”
“Unnie is so kind.”
“Of course I am.”
This damn brat!
From the mouth of a ten-year-old burst a curse so harsh it was hard to believe. Cheonyeong never wanted to see Mi-joo again.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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