Chapter 201
“You’re really that happy?”
At Listening-Eye Beggar’s question, Zhuge Ho gave a faint chuckle.
“You couldn’t possibly understand. Do you know what it feels like when something that’s been blocked for years suddenly breaks wide open?”
“Ugh.”
The sheet of paper in front of Zhuge Ho was covered in symbols and numbers so strange that Listening-Eye Beggar could not even tell what they were supposed to be.
“A problem I wrestled with for years was completely resolved thanks to Young Master Jeok. I’ve advanced another step because of it. If that isn’t a fortuitous encounter, what is?”
“I don’t understand a word of that, but congratulations on your fortuitous encounter.”
“Hohoho. And congratulations to you as well.”
“For what?”
“For finally becoming human.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Hohoho. Mock you? I’m simply in a good mood. I gained a teacher and reunited with an old friend. How could I not be happy?”
“If only you couldn’t talk...”
Listening-Eye Beggar glanced around.
“Still, the level around here seems to have risen quite a bit.”
“What? Ah! You mean our people? Hohoho. It seems fortune has finally smiled on the Zhuge Family. We recently brought in an extraordinary martial arts instructor. Thanks to that, not only the youngsters but the family’s martial artists as a whole have improved by one level—no, closer to two.”
Listening-Eye Beggar nodded.
He probably has no idea that martial arts instructor is one of the Four Divine Demons.
They had truly hired someone extraordinary.
“Young Master Jeok seemed quite interested in martial arts as well. He said he wanted to meet the instructor.”
“So that’s why he disappeared?”
“I told him where the family training grounds were. He’s probably there by now, watching the instructor teach the children.”
“Where is it? I think I’ll go have a look too.”
“You as well? Hmm. I’d like to go with you, but...”
“I know you’re busy. Go do your work. I’ll find the place myself.”
“Very well. You there. Please escort this gentleman to the family training grounds.”
“Yes!”
*****
Beneath the shade of a tree, Jeok Wigang sat with Ye Yahyeon, Jin Muryang, and Baek Ryeongso, watching the Zhuge Family martial artists train.
At the center of the training grounds stood a tall, handsome man, passionately instructing everyone around him.
“That bastard. He used to say his lifelong wish was to become handsome. Looks like he finally got it.”
“Maybe that’s why he looks so pleased with himself.”
“What does a face matter?”
Jeok Wigang cut into the conversation.
“Out of the four of you, Kang Mujin looked the best.”
“What?”
“What are you talking about, Elder Brother? I’ll concede just about anything else, but not that.”
“I am the man who married Jiangxi’s greatest beauty, Cheon Hyanghwa. I refuse to accept that as well.”
“Hey, Cheon Hyanghwa likes ugly men! That just proves your face is definitely ugly!”
“How dare you call your sister-in-law by name like that? Want to die?”
“Quiet. Keep it up and Kang Mujin will notice us.”
All three immediately shut their mouths and returned their attention to the training grounds.
“He’s seriously giving it everything he has.”
“That’s why the Zhuge Family has improved so much.”
“We’ve all changed a lot.”
“No kidding. Who would look at us now and think we were once the dreaded Four Divine Demons?”
At first, they had only taken on their respective roles so they could hide from Jeok Wigang.
Yet somewhere along the way, they had begun to care sincerely about what they were doing—and about the people who shared those lives with them.
“Should we say this is thanks to Elder Brother too?”
“If it weren’t for him, would any of us ever have known what this feels like?”
𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎
They all turned toward Jeok Wigang.
“Elder Brother. Thank you.”
“What’s with you idiots getting sentimental all of a sudden?”
Seeing Jeok Wigang look faintly embarrassed, they all burst out laughing.
“Enough. Just watch Kang Mujin.”
“Yes.”
*****
“Who taught you to swing a saber like that?! A little girl could swing one with more spirit than you! Put some force into it!”
Kang Mujin’s roar rang across the training grounds.
“Not enough variation! Variation is the life of the sword, and what you’re doing is just flopping it around! Move properly! Turn your wrist more!”
“And what good is mindlessly thrusting a spear like that?! How many times do I have to tell you to give it spring, like a fish swimming through water? I’ve said it until my mouth is dry—the beauty of the spear lies in defending against an attack and countering at the same time!”
He never stopped pointing out flaws, one after another, visibly frustrated by every mistake.
“Draw the bowstring all the way back!”
Nor was he correcting only one kind of weapon.
Sword. Saber. Spear. Bow. Flail. Halberd. Staff. Club. Dagger.
Whatever weapon someone wished to learn, Kang Mujin taught it properly rather than giving them a superficial taste.
His language, however, was another matter.
“Is your arm crippled?! Who swings it like that? Do it properly! You little bastard! If you’re going to keep that up, then quit!”
At first, everyone had bristled at his rough manner.
The Zhuge Family was not a place where such coarse language was commonly heard.
Now, though, they almost felt uneasy when he didn’t curse at them.
When everyone began smiling as they swung their weapons, Kang Mujin stared at them in disbelief.
“Are all of you perverts? Why the hell are you smiling while I’m cursing you out?”
“Your curses give us energy, Master.”
“That’s right. Please give us more.”
“You lunatics. I’ve been teaching a pack of deranged perverts.”
Even as he said it, a slight smile tugged at Kang Mujin’s lips.
“All right, stop!”
Apparently their time was up, because Kang Mujin ended the session.
“You all know what tomorrow is, right?”
“Yes! The day you evaluate our progress!”
“Right. And if I’m not satisfied?”
“Yes! We’re expelled!”
“Good. If you don’t want to get thrown out, make sure you come prepared.”
“Yes!”
He called it expulsion, but not a single trainee had actually been thrown out so far.
Once all the students had left and Kang Mujin was about to walk away with a satisfied expression—
“How about teaching us a move or two as well?”
At the sudden voice, Kang Mujin’s face twisted.
Then he turned and saw who had spoken.
“Huh?”
His eyes moved across the three faces, disbelief spreading over his own.
“Y-you... Is it really you?”
“Yeah. It’s us.”
“H-how did you get here?”
He jumped and hurriedly looked around.
“You snuck in?”
“Why? Are we not allowed to sneak in?”
“Where in the Central Plains could possibly be off-limits to us?”
“You crazy bastards. This is the Zhuge Family, one of the Five Great Families. What are you going to do if you’re discovered?”
“Discovered? Then we wipe them all out.”
“Exactly. We never got to wipe them out back then. Want to do it today?”
“Looking at them, half a day should be plenty.”
Kang Mujin’s expression hardened at their words.
“Are you serious?”
“Of course. Who are we? The Four Divine Demons.”
“Right.”
Kang Mujin’s face grew even colder.
“And if I say I won’t allow it?”
“What are you talking about? You’re betraying us and siding with the Zhuge Family now?”
“What if I am?”
Scorching heat began to rise from Kang Mujin’s body.
“You’ve changed.”
“I have. If you intend to touch the Zhuge Family, you’d better be prepared to deal with me. You remember, don’t you? It takes all three of you together to handle me.”
“We remember. You were the highest-ranked among the Four Divine Demons, after all.”
“Good. Then you understand. Leave quietly. If you came to see me, tell me where you’re staying and I’ll come find you.”
“Sorry, but we didn’t come here looking for you, so we can’t do that.”
“What does that mean?”
“Elder Brother found you.”
At the words Elder Brother, Kang Mujin’s rigid expression loosened.
His pupils began to tremble.
“W-what did you just say?”
“You heard me. Stop pretending you didn’t. Elder Brother found you.”
Kang Mujin slowly turned his head.
Then he saw a familiar face in the distance, waving at him.
“Gasp!”
It was real.
It truly was Elder Brother.
Kang Mujin whipped his head back around.
“W-what the hell?”
“What do you think? We all got caught. Except you.”
“And now that you’ve been caught too, the set is complete.”
“You damned bastards...”
He wanted nothing more than to punch those faces on the spot.
He restrained himself.
Jeok Wigang had already appeared beside him.
“E-Elder Brother. It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah. You look well.”
“Hahaha... Somehow, I ended up finding work that suits me...”
“Seems that way. You looked like you were enjoying yourself.”
“Yes. I am.”
“Then there’s no need to take you with me.”
“What? Y-you’re not taking me?”
“No. You’re very happy here, aren’t you? Then you should stay. I only searched for you because I wanted to see you. I was curious whether you were doing well.”
Emotion surged in Kang Mujin’s chest.
“Elder Brother...”
“I had business with the Zhuge Family, came over to take a look around, and happened to spot you. Now I know you’re doing well. That’s enough.”
“What? Business with the Zhuge Family? You?”
“Yeah. I’m Merchant Master of the True Martial Merchant Company. They invited me here.”
“What?”
What in the world was he talking about?
Jeok Wigang told him everything that had happened.
“So that pill really was genuine.”
“Yeah. Thanks to all of you, I ended up gaining parents too. They aren’t my biological parents, but they cherish me like their own son. Thank you, all of you.”
At Jeok Wigang’s words of gratitude, the Four Divine Demons awkwardly looked away.
“Now that all five of us are together, we should drink properly tonight. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
“Of course! I’ll pay for everything, so eat and drink as much as you like.”
“No. The eldest brother pays for things like this.”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, Kang Mujin finally relaxed and broke into a bright smile.
“If I’d known it would feel this good, I would’ve gone looking for you much sooner.”
“They all said the same thing. We found each other in the end. From now on, we can just live happily together.”
“Then as soon as my contract with the Zhuge Family ends, I’ll go straight to your merchant company.”
“I might not be there by then.”
“What?”
“I have to go inherit Heavenly Martial Castle.”
“What?”
“The Lord of Heavenly Martial Castle is my grandfather.”
“WHAAAT?”
Kang Mujin recoiled in horror.
“Did you meet those guys too?”
“I did. We even had a proper fight.”
“Y-you fought them?”
Kang Mujin looked at the other three.
“I haven’t fought him yet. I was too busy getting married.”
At Baek Ryeongso’s words, Kang Mujin tilted his head.
“You were busy doing what?”
“I got married. To Jiangxi’s greatest beauty.”
“Huh? Jiangxi’s greatest what?”
“Beauty.”
“You bastard. We haven’t seen each other in ages and you’re already messing with me?”
Kang Mujin clearly thought he was being mocked.
Jin Muryang spoke up.
“It’s true. He’s still deep in the honeymoon phase, but he left his new bride behind just to come see you.”
“I-it’s true? But... how?”
“It’s a long story.”
“R-right. L-let’s go. Sounds like there’s a lot I need to hear.”
“You’re the one who has to show us somewhere good.”
“Oh. Right. Fine. Let’s go.”
******
Jeok Wigang and the Four Divine Demons moved to a pleasure house near the Zhuge Family estate.
The chief steward spotted Kang Mujin and hurriedly bowed.
“Oh! Master! It’s been a long time since you visited!”
“Indeed. Have you been well? Give us your best room.”
“Your best room? I-I’m terribly sorry, but the Young Family Head of the Zhuge Family is currently using it.”
“Tang Un is here?”
“Yes.”
“Then there’s nothing to be done. Give us another room with a good view.”
“Of course. I’ll take you somewhere with a full view of Cheonhyeon Lake.”
“Bring us your finest wine and food.”
“My, it seems you have very distinguished guests today.”
“I do. I’m meeting brothers I haven’t seen in a very long time.”
“Understood. I’ll tell them to make extra preparations.”
“Thank you.”
“What little we can do is nothing compared to the kindness you’ve shown our Cheonhyeon House.”