I Became A Disciple Of The God of War

The appearance of the family estate, which he had returned to after a long time, had changed more than he had thought.

The original main building had been expanded, and two annexes had been splendidly completed around it.

Furthermore, with three more annexes still under construction, although it couldn't compare to the Namgung of Anhui or the Tang of Sichuan, it was not lacking as a martial family of the martial world.

'If the ice spirit stone business hits the jackpot... I can build even wider and better buildings. Then we'll really be number one in the Central Plains!'

So-ah felt an indescribable sense of pride, and at the same time, he began to harbor an even greater dream.

It was when he was lost in such a sense of overwhelming change.

The members of the Moyong clan, who had gathered from all directions after hearing the official notice and rumors of the clan recruitment, greeted So-ah through Moyong Baek's introduction.

"I have heard much of your fame. You worked hard to gather the scattered relatives from all over the world. Thanks to you, our family can now live in this vast family estate!"

"Young Master Jin! Now that I have become a member of the family, I will do my best for the prosperity of the family! Thank you!"

"You are the top disciple of the great hero Moyong Cheon, who was a great elder of the family. As I have heard, your appearance is also outstanding. I look forward to your guidance in the future!"

Regardless of their age, most of them were consistently polite to So-ah.

So-ah also bowed his head in return and said.

"I don't know what to do with myself with all your praise. I am the one who should be asking for your guidance. As an external disciple and the great disciple of the family, I will be faithful to my role."

At that.

'Hah... this is unfamiliar, so unfamiliar.'

'They'll probably faint when they find out So-ah's true colors, right? Hoho.'

'Our Young Master's acting skills are amazing. Kehkehkeh!'

Not only Moyong Baek and Yeon So-so, but also the chief steward clicked their tongues at So-ah's serious appearance and then burst into laughter.

As expected.

'Hmm... that friend over there has good bones! And that friend over there has a sparkle in his eyes, he looks quite smart. The elders are all gentle too... this is great!'

In So-ah's eyes, the new family members were seen as 'military strength' and 'labor force'.

"It's good to see that everyone is full of spirit and has an extraordinary resolve. That heart to devote yourselves to the family, I am truly grateful. So..."

'Here it comes.'

'What is it?'

'Could it be...'

Seeing the corners of So-ah's lips curl up into a smirk, Moyong Baek, Yeon So-so, and the chief steward felt a sense of unease...

That sense of unease soon materialized and unfolded right before their eyes.

"From today, the children among you who have not yet reached the age of twenty will have to train in martial arts. Our family, before being a clan of the Moyong surname, is a martial family. This is a duty. My junior sister and junior brother, who are active in the Martial Alliance, including my uncle and I, will provide flexible guidance."

"Oh! Martial arts."

"Good. My son can also learn martial arts, so it's a new feeling."

"Hohoho! My daughter will be learning martial arts from Young Master Jin. I don't know if this is a dream or reality!"

So far, so good.

From the beginning, a considerable number of them had knocked on the family's door with the thought that they could teach their children martial arts for free.

But the problem was So-ah's next announcement.

"Yes, yes! And now, the role of those who are thirty years of age or older remains..."

'Huh?'

'Is he planning to teach us martial arts too?'

'I heard that if you're old, it's hard to achieve great success even if you learn martial arts...'

The new members of the Moyong family tilted their heads in question.

"Our family is still building annexes to accommodate additional Moyong members and external disciples who will be joining. An astronomical budget has been invested. So, from today, it would be good if you could each take on a role and work hard!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

Only then did they realize that something was wrong.

Of course, they hadn't thought that becoming a member of the Moyong family meant they could play and eat for the rest of their lives.

But when they witnessed the momentary flash in So-ah's eyes, a certain sense of unease washed over them.

"Young Master Jin. What kind of work are you talking about? Surely, you're not asking us to work as laborers at the construction site...?"

"No. I've already talked with the construction contractors, so you can do other work."

"For example?"

"I will decide on that later and notify you, but for instance, our family is currently short of manpower due to the ice spirit stone distribution business. Moreover, we have invested in quite a few businesses in Liaoning. From entertainment districts to battle arenas and drapery stores, there are more than one or two. I will give you appropriate work according to your respective specialties, so please work hard for the prosperity of the Moyong family! Ah! Of course, I am also doing my utmost right now. Hahahat!"

'...!'

'...!'

'...!'

A blue tint appeared on their faces.

In a word, it was an order to work like a dog.

But no one in the hall could refute it.

It was logically correct, and wasn't So-ah himself working harder than anyone else for the family, running around here and there?

In this regard, even the family head, Moyong Baek, could not reprimand So-ah.

'Tsk tsk... they've all fallen for So-ah's trap.'

Moyong Baek thought so and covered his face with his hands.

'As expected! He's so thorough! That's how you get rich. Kekekeke!'

The chief steward, who had been struggling with the budget due to the increased number of family members, rejoiced.

'Ah! Master is just like my father!'

The disciple, Yi Baek, was reminded of his father, Chairman Lee Kun-hee, who had even made the eldest son of the family work as a laborer under the banner of 'He who does not work, neither shall he eat!'.

***

—Kik-kik!

—Keo-heung!

"Wow... isn't Geomdung afraid of Huidungi? Originally, all beasts would wet themselves and run away just by hearing a tiger's roar."

"Master. I don't know much about the ecosystem, but it seems that great ape is no ordinary spiritual beast. It's the first time I've seen an animal that doesn't flinch at the sight of a tiger."

So-ah, accompanied by his disciple, Yi Baek, went on a mountain hike with Huidungi for the first time in a while.

But the baby great ape, Geomdung, instead of being scared of Huidungi, was clinging to Huidungi's back with curious eyes and chattering away.

What was even funnier was Huidungi's reaction.

Huidungi, as if taking care of its own cub, was constantly licking Geomdung and showering it with affection.

"Someone said that if you raise a tiger and a dog together, they live like brothers. Will those two become like that?"

"They look more like a father and son than brothers."

"Aish! It's all good. Look at them. They're playing so happily. Hahaha."

"That's right."

In fact, the background of Huidungi's growth was at the root of this strange phenomenon.

Huidungi had been raised by So-ah and Moyong Cheon since it was a cub, so its wild nature had almost disappeared.

Moreover, after Moyong Cheon passed away, it had been handled by many people in the family, so its disposition had become even more gentle than that of a bad-tempered neighborhood dog.

It was like a large pet dog.

"I really need to make a lot of money. Someday, I'll have to build a super-large estate where Huidungi and Geomdung can run around freely, plant all sorts of large trees, and create an environment no different from the mountains."

"Master. To do that, you'll have to become a chaebol."

"A chaebol..."

"You can do it. Until then, I will take Huidungi and Geomdung on mountain hikes day and night."

So-ah was inwardly impressed.

When he first saw Yi Baek, he was so frail that he was worried, but...

His burning will was not a three-day-old resolution, but a tough and unchanging, sincere determination, a hot conviction.

"Baek-ah."

"Yes, Master."

"It seems I saw you well."

"Why do you say that..."

"I had a prejudice. Since you're the son of a chaebol family, I had the prejudice that you were raised preciously. But I think I was wrong."

"I was raised preciously. I didn't have to worry about food, I studied, I wore good clothes, and I lived in a house like a palace."

"...Hah. Look at this young brat being so mature. Haha. Anyway, since the year has changed, you're also of age now."

"Yes. You're twenty-two now, right, Master?"

"Yes. Your fate of having to serve a friend-like person as your master is truly strange."

"Age is just a number. The moment I became a disciple of the Moyong family and performed the nine bows to you, Master, I am forever your disciple."

As Yi Baek spouted a bunch of cool words, So-ah couldn't help but be surprised again.

'Wow! At this point, it feels like an act, an act. What did he eat to have such good conduct and speak so well? Hah, really!'

Yi Baek's disposition shook So-ah's heart.

"Phew... you. I can't let this be. I have to make you a real master."

"Master..."

"This master will get you all the good spiritual medicines for your body, feed them to you, and teach you to make you a first-rate master in three years. Can you follow?"

"I will follow even if I die!"

"Good. I'll make you much stronger than your older brother who entered the Shaolin's secular branch, so believe me."

"Thank you! Master!"

"But it will be so hard you might die. It's no joke. Think of it as about 10 times the training you've done so far."

"I'm looking forward to it."

'...Crazy!'

So-ah felt dumbfounded as he watched Yi Baek answer without a moment's hesitation.

He had taught the Human Division students, his junior brother, and junior sister, who would not fall behind anywhere in terms of will, but...

It was the first time he had seen a brat whose eyes shone with anticipation for the training, instead of complaining.

"Baek-ah. You don't happen to find the training fun or anything, do you?"

"No. Who would think this kind of hard training is fun?"

'Ah... he's not the same type as me!'

So-ah had asked just in case Yi Baek was a 'person who enjoys training with a smile' like himself.

"Then what are you thinking when you endure the arduous training?"

"I entered with the purpose of becoming stronger, and I came to serve you, Master. That's all. Because I have to become stronger."

"No. That's enough."

"Yes."

"Then let's train until we die."

The corners of So-ah's lips faintly went up.

Simultaneously.

'Right. Let's devise a crazy training method that has never been experienced before. A training that will make even that will-filled brat click his tongue. I'll make him beg for his life. Hehe.'

Strangely, So-ah felt a 'competitive spirit' towards his lovely disciple.

It remained to be seen what kind of aspect the confrontation between the hell instructor and the perseverance youth would take.

Just then.

"Master. I have a request."

"Go ahead."

"Could you give me a day off tomorrow?"

"Why? Surely it's not because you want to skip training."

"It's definitely not that..."

"Then? Is it a secret you can't tell? Are you meeting a hidden lover or something?"

"That's not it either..."

"Then?"

"My father will be arriving at the family estate tomorrow."

"???"

So-ah's eyes became as wide as lanterns.

"Why... are you like that?"

"So. Tomorrow. Your father is visiting the family estate as a parent? Is that what you're saying?"

"Well... something like that."

"So! Tomorrow, the head of the Lee family of Shandong, the great hero Lee Kun-hee, is visiting?"

"...That's right."

"Hey! Why are you telling me this now!"

"Pardon?"

"You frustrating brat, you frustrating brat! What's the use of being sincere? What's the use of being diligent! When you have no political sense like this."

"What does that mean..."

"Follow me!"

Upon hearing the news of Chairman Lee Kun-hee's visit, So-ah rushed back to the family estate.

Because in welcoming the wealthiest man in the Central Plains, he wanted to show the well-maintained appearance of the Moyong family, which was more noble, elegant, and had a more majestic spirit than any other martial family.

***

"Uncle! Please issue an order for all family members to start a major cleanup right now."

"Why a major cleanup? Didn't you say that it's unavoidable that it's messy for a while because of the annex construction?"

"Aish! I told you it's not okay. Tonight, we have to sweep and wipe all night! And display the night-luminescent pearls and decorations that are stored in the warehouse splendidly! Uncle and Aunt, you also have to change into the most wonderful clothes! We have to do that!"

Moyong Baek, seeing So-ah making such a fuss, tapped him on the back and asked.

"Hey! You brat. What on earth is going on? Is the emperor visiting our family or something!"

"It would be a relief if it were the emperor, a relief! What's the use of looking good to the imperial family!"

"Then?!"

"Chairman Lee is coming tomorrow."

"What?"

"Yi Baek's father."

"Th-The head of the Lee family of Shandong, the great hero Lee Kun-hee?"

"Yes."

"So-ah."

"Yes."

"...Let's start. The cleaning!"

"Hehe."

"Kekekek.”

(End of Chapter)