Even the Sword God Needs Paternity Leave

Chapter 94: First Enemy in Life

While the banquet at the Kaifeng noble clan manor was in full swing.

In other parts of Kaifeng as well, they were sharing stories about the previous night.

“Remarkable. You mean the Ink Sword Hero overwhelmed the Water Demon's sworn brother?”

In the back alleys of Kaifeng's great market, right at the Beggar's Gang headquarters.

The Grand Elder with Divine Ear was receiving a report from Divine Fist Beggar Jang Gangcheon.

They had exterminated all the Demonic Cult members who had tried to cause disturbances throughout Kaifeng the previous night. He had only received a brief report then, and now he was hearing the details.

“Yes, the Ink Sword Hero's swordsmanship was truly profound.”

Jang Gangcheon explained the course of the duel.

“The wife's hidden weapon struck the Lord of Heavenly Slaughter?”

“Yes. The Lord of Heavenly Slaughter, who was being pushed back by the Ink Sword Hero, threw hidden weapons first, but the wife blocked them all and even counterattacked.”

“So the wife's martial arts are also profound.”

“Indeed. The momentum of the hidden weapons was extremely fierce, so the Lord of Heavenly Slaughter couldn't dodge in time. Her inner power must be deep.”

These two people had no way of knowing.

That the one who had thrown the hidden weapon at the Lord of Heavenly Slaughter was not Jayeong.

The expert who had hidden in the darkness—no, hidden in the swaddling clothes and thrown the hidden weapon did not put herself forward.

That expert, Taebok, was just wriggling and crying wah-wah today as well.

“A heroine indeed. Thanks to her, we saved face too.”

“A conspiracy was unfolding right under the Beggar's Gang's nose. We had no idea even in our dreams.”

The very fact that Demonic Cult members had infiltrated was a loss of face.

But since the Beggar's Gang had stepped up and wiped them out, it was like cleaning up their own house.

“It was a matter of face now, but it could have grown bigger. What if the Demonic Cult members had succeeded?”

It could be called complacency.

He had been concerned because he couldn't obtain information due to the Hyeonmo Hoe's strict management.

But only to that extent.

He had not paid more attention than that.

Because he had considered it unrelated to the martial world.

However.

“The Demonic Cult could have used the manor as a base to assault the headquarters.”

The Demonic Cult crawled into places like cockroaches here and there.

Any place seized by the Demonic Cult inevitably turned into a harm to the martial world.

“Tsk tsk tsk. We owe the Ink Sword Hero our thanks.”

“We already told him the Beggar's Gang would help with anything.”

“Well done. You lending a hand was also very good.”

“Would I have helped on my own? I went because he called.”

Even so, it was a good deed.

The Beggar's Gang had assessed that even within the beast meridians, the Lord of Heavenly Slaughter had high demonic arts.

And he had beheaded that Lord of Heavenly Slaughter.

In Luoyang, they called the Ink Sword Hero the foremost swordsman.

At this level, it was not limited to Luoyang.

There was nothing better than becoming friends with such a martial artist for the Beggar's Gang.

Moreover, it was not just inaction.

Jang Gangcheon tilted his head.

“The Ink Sword Hero is not just great in martial arts; he's extremely mysterious. He finds Demonic Cult members and even guesses what beast they are. He detects turbid energy or demonic pills and treats them. Even though the Beggar's Gang has many with special abilities, it's rare for one person to accomplish all this.”

The various feats he had shown since entering Kaifeng were not things that could be done just by being strong in martial arts.

In particular, his ability to handle qi was such that even the Grand Elder with Divine Ear could only marvel upon hearing it.

The search and operation of energy sounded almost freewheeling. It was questionable whether even high-generation masters could do that.

He had met him when he visited the headquarters, but he hadn't recognized him as this level then.

There was another harvest that Jin Yeomyeong had brought.

He had uncovered the traitor who had infiltrated the Beggar's Gang.

They were quite capable people, so if he hadn't known, their knot counts would have gradually increased.

Who knows how much harm they would have caused.

Now it seemed he was someone the Beggar's Gang must definitely keep as a friend.

“What did he request?”

“He doesn't like the Demonic Cult's eyes focusing too much on him, so he asked to make this incident one done by a secret inspector of the Murim Alliance.”

“Indeed. If he fights the Demonic Cult again, the Ink Sword Hero will surely establish great merit as a martial artist. It's right to hide him for now.”

He was someone the Beggar's Gang must keep as a friend, and as a treasure of the White Path martial world, someone who must be protected.

“You, from now on, execute two things.”

“Two things? His request was one.”

“That request is the first. Spread rumors through the branches across the world. That there's a secret inspector of the Alliance skilled in both hidden weapons and swordsmanship. Like that.”

“Yes. Then what's the other one?”

“Reinforce the branches in Luoyang. Especially, have the elites among them focus on the safety of the Ink Sword Hero's family.”

“I see. He would be pleased with that.”

“You go back and forth often too.”

“Yes!”

Jin Yeomyeong was a treasure of the White Path martial world.

His wife was also an expert.

But he had heard there was still a young baby.

Fighting while protecting a baby was difficult.

It was only right for the Beggar's Gang to help.

* * *

“Taebok-ah, shall we throw a hidden weapon?”

There was no sign of that.

Taebok in the swaddling clothes stared at me, his father, with wide eyes.

Of course, he couldn't yet recognize the shapes of things.

Still, I didn't want to make a frowning face. I looked at Taebok with a smiling face and brought up the words again.

“Taebok-ah, throw the hidden weapon-”

“Stop it, dear. What's with hidden weapons to a baby.”

Jayeong stopped me from the side, but I couldn't let go of my regret.

Hidden weapons, weren't they cool.

“I'm saying it because he actually threw it. That long distance, with such force.”

“But still. Now, no matter how much I ask, he doesn't do it.”

“Hm. Back then, you didn't forget to throw the hidden weapon, did you?”

“Say something that makes sense.”

How surprised she must have been on the battlefield.

After that, while recovering his tired body and attending the banquet in between, I had asked Taebok to throw a hidden weapon like then.

But there was hardly any reaction.

“Did father's intent get conveyed clearly?”

I had said it inwardly and said it again, so resonance must have occurred.

This, I had to admit.

Now, it wouldn't work.

“Perhaps back then, it was because his mother, you, were under attack. Yes, before that, he barely lifted a piece of paper, but suddenly throwing a hidden weapon would be a bit much.”

“Is that so? I wasn't scared or anxious at all?”

Jayeong smiled broadly.

“Oh, our Taebok, did you think mother was in crisis? So you protected mother?”

Hm.

Protected his mother.

“No, why are you crying again?”

“Sniff. Taebok's feelings are grateful....”

“Grateful, yes. But is it something to cry about? Lately, you've been tearing up easily.”

If you went through the same time as me, you would be the same, Jayeong.

He was the child you and I had struggled for ten years to save.

But he still hadn't fully shaken off the sickly constitution. Dıscover more novels at novel⁂fire.net

And now?

Because someone attacked his mother, he throws hidden weapons deftly.

“Wahh.”

“Aigoo, really.”

Hoo, hoo.

With deep breaths, I barely calmed the tear glands.

Then I tried holding Taebok's small hand.

“Taebok-ah, you were surprised, right?”

He was a baby whose eyesight hadn't fully developed yet.

I thought about how he had aimed at the distant Lord of Heavenly Slaughter and thrown the hidden weapon.

He could move things with natural paths, but he wouldn't yet be able to sense the Lord of Heavenly Slaughter at that distance.

The conclusion was resonance.

First, he must have felt his mother was different from usual.

He must have received the inner power and emotions I raised while drawing the hidden weapon.

He must have first felt Jayeong's competitive spirit and confidence as she faced the Lord of Heavenly Slaughter's hidden weapons.

The Iron Bead of the Rogues' Guild holding the steel abacus had no retreat.

“Mother is a strong person. As a martial artist, she traveled the world. It's old news, but she even fought with father once.”

Taebok, who resonated with his mother, also resonated with me, who was in Jayeong's line of sight.

“When father and mother combine strengths, there is no enemy they can't defeat.”

In truth, there are many enemies we can't defeat, many, but.

Now, I wanted to say it like this.

At this moment, in front of Taebok, I wanted to be the world's best.

“But you know.”

Earlier, mother said she wasn't scared or anxious, but.

“I think even such a mother had a thread of anxiety.”

Because you were in her arms.

Hidden weapons that couldn't even reach her, but still, because of you, she must have had a thread of anxiety.

“Isn't that right?”

Jayeong realized what anxiety I was talking about and just smiled.

Taebok reacted to such a mother's heart.

“In truth, father was the same.”

When I saw the Lord of Heavenly Slaughter throwing hidden weapons—not even his main weapon—at Jayeong, I thought there was no way.

I trusted Jayeong, and in the next moment, I pictured in my head the path Mukheun would advance.

But there was exactly one thread of anxiety.

That Taebok was behind.

Taebok resonated with such a father's heart too.

That's how it was.

Parents love their child, so they become anxious and worried.

Even knowing nothing will happen, the heart just worries.

The heart worries a lot.

“Did you feel such a heart of father and mother.”

Taebok, who resonated with both of us, shared even our senses.

At that moment, the Lord of Heavenly Slaughter, who entered my senses, was also detected by Taebok.

The root that caused anxiety to father and mother.

In other words, the first enemy in life.

“Were you very angry at the enemy.”

And.

This tiny fellow inflicted the punishment he could.

A fellow with small hands that couldn't even grasp one of my thumbs.

He had thrown a steel abacus bead across the entire battlefield with tremendous force.

He struck at the enemy of father and mother, the enemy of our family.

“That heart is grateful.”

Fiddle.

I counted Taebok's fingers.

Soft and small.

He wasn't even big enough to hold an abacus bead yet.

“Father is fine.”

Because he was becoming stronger even faster than before.

Not only the achievement of the Eight Trigram Unity Technique, but the operation of inner power was developing day by day.

“If someone threatens mother again, do like then.”

Jayeong smiled faintly.

I also smiled faintly.

“Of course, I won't give you, Taebok, a chance to step up. This father will resolve it first.”

Protecting is our share,

Not yours, Taebok.

Grow up being protected.

And when you have someone you must protect, protect them then.

By continuing the heart of protecting someone like that, that is enough.

I still smiled and met the fellow's eyes.

“Got it?”

Taebok, whether by coincidence, looked at me and hee, smiled.

Yes.

If he got it, that was enough.

“Madam, now let's go to Luoyang.”

It was time to return home.

Shall we float lightly and go home, Taebok-ah?

.

.

The next day.

In front of Kaifeng's city gate.

Into this place still endlessly bustling with people, a man entered leading his subordinates.

On the white clothes he wore, the character for Alliance was clearly visible.

“The Ink Sword Hero came here?”

Hwangbo Daejin, the inspector the Alliance Leader had sent to investigate the Hwangbo Gak incident, entered.

He had not met Jin Yeomyeong in Luoyang.

He had first investigated the personnel of the Luoyang branch and hurriedly moved to Kaifeng.

“Yes. The head of the Murim Alliance Kaifeng branch sent a letter.”

“Did he say he met him in person?”

“No.”

Hwangbo Daejin smiled slyly.

He could guess the inside story.

The Kaifeng branch head was closely tied to the Hwangbo Clan.

He would not want to get involved at all with Jin Yeomyeong, who had crippled Hwangbo Gak's dantian and caused a scandal.

Once he met him, he would have to either scold or show courtesy.

Scolding was a bit scary,

And showing courtesy might lead to misunderstanding him as favorable to him.

So he decided not to meet at all.

But Hwangbo Daejin was an inspector.

He had no qualms about meeting Jin Yeomyeong. By position, he had to meet him.

“Find out where he's staying first!”

He sent his subordinates out in high spirits.

And thanks to his capable subordinates, he soon received a report.

“He returned to Luoyang.”

“....”

It was an accurate report.