Chapter: 20
Danyu-seon and Jin Yeon-gyeong were overjoyed.
Hwayuhwa had come to live at the Dan household.
They had thought their son was as stubborn as a rock, but now it seemed like some progress was finally being made.
Danyu-seon had been worried.
He had worried that his son, who had been wandering through Gangho and Dosan Sword Forest, might have suffered damage to some vital part of his body.
And maybe that was why he wasn’t interested in women.
“No, that’s not the case.”
Danhyeon-woo said firmly.
Just by looking at his father’s expression, he could tell what he was thinking.
Danyu-seon moved and spoke.
“This is quite strenuous. A cultivation method called Haegang Qi Circulation Technique, right?”
“Start slowly at first. It will take time for your strength to return, so don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I’ve been lying down for too long. Now I must move quickly. I can’t leave the Dan Flower Points neglected forever.”
It was obvious that his father was pushing himself.
After a long time, having finally gotten up, Danyu-seon practiced the morning Qi circulation method that the family did together daily, even while Hwayuhwa tried to stop him.
Because of that, Hwayuhwa watched over him with a worried expression.
Danhyeon-woo smiled at Hwayuhwa.
Of course, he only smiled inwardly; outwardly smiling would make her cling to him like glue.
‘I was worried when he said he’d settle down here, but thanks to him, the household atmosphere has improved. But… why is he dressed like that?’
Usually, he wore clothes that fully exposed his thighs, but when meeting his parents and family, he dressed modestly.
Yet when he sneaks into my room, why does he wear something exposing even more of his thighs than usual?
A normal question.
Anyway, Hwayuhwa, who was diligently caring for the family’s health, looked beautiful for the first time, except when she was asleep.
Not as a woman, but as a doctor.
Since Hwayuhwa had come to the house, the previously stiff atmosphere had softened, probably because of her natural disposition.
Her graceful and pure aura made the family naturally warm toward her.
Perhaps they had not seen her as a madwoman before, so they didn’t judge her that way.
‘Since I called her, I have to take responsibility. As her superior and as her doctor.’
Even if Hwayuhwa hadn’t been called, she probably would have followed eventually.
She would have found out his whereabouts even if she had to buy the entire Hao Sect.
Or perhaps she would have roughed up the sect leader to get her information.
Her obsession was overwhelming, but the family’s laughter diluted that burden.
In any case, since Hwayuhwa arrived, the family’s health had improved.
There was no denying that fact, and Danhyeon-woo, with a bitter smile, approached Eun Hyun-gyeom.
In addition to the Haegang Qi Circulation Technique, he practiced martial arts every morning.
“You should quit the courier service.”
“If I quit the courier service, how will I make money?”
“If you keep doing courier work with your martial arts, my sister will end up a widow. Maybe in a year at most.”
“Thanks for saying something so terrifying with a smile, my friend.”
“What’s the name of your martial art?”
“Cheonho Ji-gang (Heavenly Tiger Supports Strongly).”
“The heavenly tiger cleaves with strength? Was there really a martial art named like that?”
“The name is grandiose, but it’s a martial art written in the books sold at the courier office. To enter the courier service, you either have to know certain martial arts, or learn from the books they sell to qualify.”
“Can I see the book?”
“It’s in my room. Wait a moment.”
Eun Hyun-gyeom quickly fetched the book.
Danhyeon-woo recognized the nature of this martial art from the first page, and by the time he had read halfway, he felt a strange sensation.
‘They mixed the Three-Calamity Sword Technique with Tai Chi from the marketplace. And there’s even martial arts I saw in the Imperial Library? That art was called Cheonhwa Giryu.’
Cheonhwa Giryu is a lost martial art, a divine technique.
Danhyeon-woo had once been interested.
But since the principle of Cheonhwa Giryu was already included in the Manmu Divine Art he had learned, it was passed to Hwayuhwa to become part of her.
He judged it suited her best.
Cheonhwa Giryu, one of the seven martial arts she mastered, massacres enemies fearsomely in battle.
How could such a martial art appear in a courier office manual?
‘Interesting. Though only a little, it allows for significant martial advancement. But as it stands, it cannot make someone truly strong. It seems like they deliberately excluded divine techniques to keep selling the book.’
If studied for a hundred years, one could become stronger.
If they survived that long, they could be a mid-tier martial artist in Gangho—barely earning a reputation.
“Cheonhwa Giryu, right?”
Hwayuhwa, peeking at the book, approached and spoke, her face showing interest.
“Shall I teach him this martial art? If the master says so, I’ll do it.”
“The essence of Cheonhwa Giryu is already in Hyun-gyeom’s body. You are indeed the right person to teach it.”
Eun Hyun-gyeom joined the conversation.
“You’ll really teach him martial arts?”
“I’ll start teaching tomorrow morning. Within six months, I’ll make him a famous martial artist.”
“Ah…”
To turn a blank-slate Hyun-gyeom into a renowned martial artist in six months meant nearly killing him in the process.
‘Survive strongly. Don’t turn my little brother into a widow.’
At that moment, the family, having finished the Haegang Qi Circulation Technique, wiped sweat from their faces with bright smiles.
They had already mastered the seventh of the twenty forms, and their bodies radiated clear energy.
Danhyeon-woo smiled.
Everything was falling into place.
Regaining health with the Qi circulation method, having Hwayuhwa heal all ailments with medicine.
She treated Eun Hyun-gyeom’s chronic ankle problem.
She healed Dan Seoyeon’s wrist pain, acquired while working at the inn.
And his father was improving daily, soon to completely recover.
Jin Yeon-gyeong said:
“Let’s all have breakfast together. I enjoy meals with everyone the most these days. Every morning, having the family gather—sometimes I wonder if it’s a dream or reality…”
Every morning, his mother repeated the same words.
They listened every day, and each time the family laughed.
This was happiness.
Happiness felt within the bounds of family.
Hwayuhwa had entered that circle, but nothing changed.
Hwayuhwa was family too, though being alone with her was still awkward.
Dreaming of such a harmonious family, Danhyeon-woo thought it was truly good to have returned to Hangzhou.
He felt a slight moistness at the corner of his eyes and turned away.
“Hyun-gyeom, I’ll go tell the courier service I’m quitting.”
Before warm tears could flow, Danhyeon-woo quickly left the Dan household.
It reminded him how tears could come even from too much happiness.
At the same time, Jeon Ak-kwan asked Yoo Suchun:
“What should we make for lunch today?”
“Sweet and sour pork, Jingjiang shredded pork, and Kung Pao chicken. Three dishes.”
“That’s a lot of ingredients. Lately, mother-in-law even complains about the ingredients, so we must choose carefully.”
“Let’s hurry to avoid trouble. Did you finish cleaning the fence?”
“I had Cheon Il-seong do it.”
“If he slacks off, beat him.”
“That’s my specialty.”
They entered the familiar market together.
When did this market become so familiar?
A woman selling fresh vegetables looked troubled as they arrived.
“What’s wrong? You look upset.”
“Oh? Isn’t this Master Yoo? Look at those guys. Can you believe it?”
Yoo Suchun and Jeon Ak-kwan turned toward her.
A familiar man was grabbing merchants roughly.
‘Gang Podu from the Hangcheong?’
The others were thugs, unknown faces. But Gang Podu was well-known.
Gang Podu yelled at a merchant:
“This is fraud!”
“But, Master Podu, how is this fraud?”
“This is called Chrysanthemum Bread, yet there’s no chrysanthemum in it. That’s fraud!”
“It’s called Chrysanthemum Bread because of its shape. Who would actually put real chrysanthemum in it?”
“Enough. Take him away. If you don’t want to be dragged, pay extra tax. He earned this dirty money by lying, so it’s only right to pay extra tax.”
“Extra tax?”
“Two silver coins. Pay quickly, or you’ll be taken to Hangcheong!”
The Chrysanthemum Bread seller endured, trembling, knowing he had no choice but to pay.
Normally, taxes were collected by the city’s administrative office, not Hangcheong.
Yet once a month, Gang Podu came to demand extra taxes.
Those who refused were publicly beaten and banned from doing business.
This was the reality of Hangzhou’s market.
After taking the money, Gang Podu warned:
“Be careful. Be grateful we’re only taking this little extra. Understand?”
“Th-thank you.”
Tears in his eyes, the merchant clenched his teeth.
Two silver coins were roughly a month’s living expense for a family.
To earn that, they worked every day, through heat and cold.
Now they had lost two coins. His wife would have to manage the household this month.
Gang Podu, as if finished with Song, the bread seller, slowly went to Jang, the chicken seller.
“Extra tax: three silver coins.”
“Master Podu! What did I do to deserve more tax?”
“Do you think only one or two people complained that your chickens weren’t properly plucked? Huh?”
“There’s no chicken that isn’t plucked! You know it’s impossible to raise such chickens. Times are hard, business isn’t what it used to be. Please be understanding.”
“This idiot hasn’t learned. Boys!”
Two thugs drew weapons.
The chicken seller trembled blue in the face.
He had no choice. Pay the tax, or borrow, or worse… face the debt collector.
‘This is unacceptable.’
Yoo Suchun and Jeon Ak-kwan, seeing familiar merchants treated this way, felt a surge of anger.
Yoo Suchun spoke:
“Song, the Chrysanthemum Bread seller, recently had twins. If they take two silver coins, how will he feed them?”
“And Jang, the chicken seller, I personally taught him the perfect plucking technique. And Song, remember when he first came to the market and we, along with Danhyeon-woo, beat him? He fed us bread without charging us for our hunger. How could I forget?”
Their faces turned red with anger.
Why were they angry? They weren’t sure, and didn’t want to think too long.
They just acted on their anger.
That was the way of the righteous.
Yoo Suchun stepped forward:
“Gang Podu, stop this!”
“Master Yoo? Why interfere? Don’t you know about non-interference between government and martial folks?”
“Yes, but non-interference doesn’t say we must remain silent.”
“I see… but…”
“As a righteous martial artist, I don’t touch merchants’ pockets. Gang Podu, you know how hard these people work. You know, don’t you?”
“This is… tax! Government business—don’t interfere!”
Gang Podu resisted to the end.
Non-interference between government and martial artists was a mutual shield, difficult to break.
Yoo Suchun gripped his sword tightly, not drawing it, just holding it.
Gang Podu clenched his teeth.
‘He threatens with just the hand on the sword without drawing. Experienced, indeed.’
Cold sweat ran down Gang Podu’s temple.
Hangzhou’s strongest man in the market.
Yoo Suchun alone could wipe out Hangcheong without a scratch.
Just putting a hand on the sword was enough to intimidate.
Gang Podu stepped back.
Yoo Suchun said:
“Return the money taken from Song. Too much was collected.”
“Fine. But remember, interfering in government affairs usually ends badly for people.”
“Understood. Though I may forget after today.”
Gang Podu returned the money to Song, who had been selling at the stall.
“Let’s go, boys!”
Retreating, Gang Podu. Yoo Suchun gave a sly smile.
“No regrets. Never show up again, you bastard. And Song, keep your money safe this time.”
“Thank you, Master Yoo! This is for our twins’ meals! How can we ever repay you?”
“Remember all the bread you fed us when we were hungry. That’s repayment enough.”
“Thank you. Really, thank you.”
Cheers erupted in the market.
All the merchants bowed.
A grandmother selling vegetables held Yoo Suchun’s hand, crying.
A fish seller limped and bowed.
Everyone expressed gratitude.
Cheers continued for a while.
Feeling awkward, Yoo Suchun and Jeon Ak-kwan scratched their heads.
‘Is this why we are righteous heroes? Strange… we are supposed to be villains.’
Their exhilaration did not fade.
The more thanks they received, the warmer their hearts felt.
Unfamiliar, strange, yet comforting.
Yoo Suchun tore at his hair and shouted:
“AAAH! Since meeting Danhyeon-woo, I’ve gone crazy! Really crazy! How can I, a villain, feel like this?”
