TL: FoodieMonster007
"Where is that scoundrel right now?" Mae Geuklyom asked, his voice soft but cold as ice. His knuckles, heavily calloused and rock hard from decades of rigorous training, cracked ominously as he rhythmically tapped the hilt of his sword.
Looking at those hands, Baek Suryong gulped nervously. More than a dozen villains fell to those very hands in the Valley of Evil…
"Baek. Mu. Heun…" Mae Geuklyom uttered each syllable viciously, his killing intent overflowing as if he was calling out the na of his mortal enemy.
"G-Grandpa…" Baek Suryong stamred, his hair standing on end. Mae Geuklyom was a swordmaster who could cut down whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted. The thought that the old man's sword, which had slain countless enemies, might be used in a family dispute sent shivers down his spine.
"Stay out of this, Suryong," Mae Geuklyom snapped. "You, the fierce-looking one. I'll ask you again. Where is that scumbag Baek Muheun right now?"
"Why are you looking for him?" Hyonwon Su asked, narrowing his eyes warily. He had only shared a few drinks with Baek Muheun, but the man had given him the courage to stand up to the Seonwoo Patriarch. If possible, he didn't want his new acquaintance to mysteriously co to harm.
However, Mae Geuklyom ignored Hyonwon Su and slowly stroked his sword, smiling villainously as if promising it blood. "That accursed miscreant ca here. The worst scum under the heavens. Not even cutting that thieving cur into small pieces and feeding him to the dogs would be enough…"
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"Elder! Don't you think you're being too harsh?"
"Harsh? ? Do you even know what that stinking wastrel did?"
Panicking, Baek Suryong urgently contacted Hyonwon Su through telepathy, hoping to defuse the situation.
[He's the father-in-law!]
[…What? You're married?]
[No, I an he's my father's father-in-law. In other words, my maternal grandfather. He's not on good terms with his son-in-law because my dad eloped with my mom.]
Baek Suryong tried to explain quickly, but his words ca out jumbled. Fortunately, Hyonwon Su grasped the situation imdiately. Bad relationships between fathers-in-law and sons-in-law were common, after all.
Quickly adjusting his deanor, Hyonwon Su replied politely, "Oh, um… I parted ways with Baek Suryong's father after we watched the duel together yesterday and haven't seen him since. It was my first ti eting him, so I didn't ask where he was staying or how to contact him."
For a mont, Mae Geuklyom stared intently at Hyonwon Su as if to determine the authenticity of his words, but in the end, he sighed and nodded. "I see. My apologies. Whenever I think of that blasted hoodlum, I lose control of my emotions. I am still lacking in self-discipline, it seems."
"No, it's not your fault. Recalling Baek Muheun's face, I completely understand how you feel, Elder," Hyonwon Su replied, nodding empathetically.
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"I appreciate the sentint, but you shouldn't claim to understand others so easily…"
"I also have a daughter."
"Oh?" Mae Geuklyom's eyes lit up.
A silent understanding passed between the two fathers with daughters, and with a brief nod, an unspoken bond ford between them.
"I could never give my daughter to a pretty boy like that," Hyonwon Su began, his tone dripping with disdain. "Can you imagine the worry and heartache she'd suffer, wondering if he's faithful every day of her life?"
"You seem to know a thing or two. One day, my daughter brought ho a debaucherous delinquent whose alias was the Handso Prince and said she wanted to marry him."
"Good heavens! If it were , I would have killed him on the spot."
"I tried, but my daughter stopped , and then… she ran off with him. That's how my grudge with that scoundrel began."
"Oh dear…"
"Master Hyonwon, you must always stay vigilant. There are always wolves lurking around the murim, eyeing our precious daughters. We must keep our eyes sharp, guard them closely, and protect them from all potential threats."
Baek Suryong shook his head as he watched the two old n join forces as if all n, especially handso ones, were their mortal enemies. Are all fathers with daughters like this? he wondered.
Suddenly, Mae Geuklyom smoothly changed the topic. "By the way… How old is your daughter, Master Hyonwon? My grandson is of marriageable age and I'm worried because he still doesn't have a suitable partner."
"Well… I'm sorry, but she's only twelve."
"Well, my grandson's martial arts skills are exceptional, so he'll still be young and healthy in six years. Besides, as an Azure Dragon Academy instructor, he has a steady inco. Oh, and he's not one to chase grand ambitions in the murim, so you can rest assured that he's not in much danger of losing his life far from ho."
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"…Grandpa!? Why are you steering the conversation in that direction?" Baek Suryong exclaid, caught off guard by the abrupt turn of events.
With a fierce glint in his eye, Mae Geuklyom snapped, "Be quiet, punk. Since you seem to have no interest in won despite your looks, I have to step in if I want to see my great-grandchildren in this lifeti. Master Hyonwon, please consider my proposal seriously."
"Hmm…" Hyonwon Su carefully studied Baek Suryong with a sowhat troubled expression. "I know Mr. Baek is an excellent prospective husband, but I'm worried because he has the kind of pretty face that makes many won cry…"
"Don't worry, my grandson takes after his mother and is a total dork when it cos to dating. Occasionally, flies may hover around him, but I'll make sure he keeps his lower half in check."
Hyonwon Su's eyes sparkled greedily. "Oho! In that case…"
Baek Suryong shuddered. At this rate, if he didn't do anything, he was going to end up engaged to a twelve-year-old girl. Desperately trying to change the subject, he blurted out, "Enough of this, please! Anyway, Master Hyonwon, you said you ran into my father yesterday?"
"Yes, he sat next to during Wonkang's match…" Hyonwon Su recounted his brief encounter with Baek Muheun. They hadn't talked much, so there wasn't much to tell. "He seed extrely proud of you, Mr. Baek. From the affection in his eyes, I can tell that he loves you deeply."
"Hmph!" Mae Geuklyom snorted, clearly still displeased.
Noticing the old man's expression, Hyonwon Su quickly added, "Alright then, I'll leave you two to your family discussion. I'm heading back to the party."
"See you later, sir," Baek Suryong said.
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Hugging the Earth Shattering Blade manual like it was the world's greatest treasure, Hyonwon Su hastily scampered back to the manor, leaving Baek Suryong and Mae Geuklyom alone outside.
"Hoo…" Mae Geuklyom sighed deeply.
Baek Suryong waited patiently for his grandfather to speak.
After a while, Mae Geuklyom gazed up at the night sky, his expression troubled. "If you have any conscience, you wouldn't et while I'm sober," he muttered to himself.
Baek Suryong remained silent. It was clear that Mae Geuklyom was speaking to Baek Muheun, the scoundrel who had eloped with his daughter thirty years ago.
Even though Mae Geuklyom was the one who had first suggested that they cut ties, he had never imagined that Mae Yakbing would actually leave like that. In the end, his frail, sickly daughter wandered around the murim with Baek Muheun and eventually died in a foreign land. He didn't even attend her funeral.
No, it's not that I didn't want to attend her funeral, I just… couldn't…
In the old man's eyes, a mix of deep regret, anger, sadness, and pain swirled together.
"Still, I must et you. Whether I kill you in one strike, or…"
After muttering to himself for a while, Mae Geuklyom turned to his grandson. "Suryong."
"Yes, Grandpa?" Baek Suryong replied obediently.
"Is it okay if I stay here for a few days?"
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"Pardon?" Baek Suryong blinked in confusion. When he saw Mae Geuklyom's face, however, he understood that his grandfather had already made up his mind and wasn't about to accept no for an answer.
"That damn bastard must have co to visit you. He's probably planning to et you in secret and then leave," Mae Geuklyom reasoned.
Baek Suryong agreed with his grandfather. After all, back when he left the Baek Academy, Baek Muheun had warned him about Mae Geuklyom.
"Therefore, to have a chance to et him, I'll need to stick close to you for a while."
"Huh? A-About that…"
"Do you object?"
Baek Suryong shook his head. It wasn't that he didn't like the idea. He was just worried that his grandfather, with his strict, reginted lifestyle, might find his own late and unpredictable working hours unpleasant.
"Don't worry, I won't interfere with your work."
"Understood. There are plenty of spare rooms in the White Dragon Manor, so please choose one you like."
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"Before we go back, could you take a walk with ?"
For a while, grandfather and grandson strolled around the manor grounds, chatting about various things.
"By the way," Mae Geuklyom began, "do you really have no thoughts of marriage?"
"Even if I had such thoughts, I would never prey on a twelve-year-old, Grandpa. That's a cri."
"Hmph, don't try to fool . With how much you work, you won't be able to get married or even get a girlfriend for at least five years."
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"……"
"You rascal, are you not even going to deny it? Sigh, how is it possible that such a fine young lad was born from that blasted playboy's seed…"
"Is that a supposed to be complint or an insult?"
Mae Geuklyom chuckled, "Hoho, I wonder. Anyway, all your best qualities co from your mother."
Baek Suryong fell silent. Although Mae Geuklyom had laughed out loud, for so reason he felt that the old man's laughter sounded hollow.
He must have a lot on his mind.
Baek Muheun and Mae Geuklyom. What would happen if they actually t? Not even Baek Suryong could foresee that.
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