Vol. 1 Chapter 5.2

“Father! Father!”

“Huh? That’s Yeon-ah’s voice!”

The voice soon reached the door of the clan leader’s office. He could hear her talking with the guards.

“Hello, uncle. My father’s inside, right?”

“Yes, please wait a moment, young lady.”

Soon, with a report, the door swung open. Seeing his daughter after so long, Hwangbo Jeong-gun hurried over to greet her.

“Yeon-ah! It’s been so long! And this young master came too. Young master, have you been well?”

“I’ve been well, thanks to the clan leader.”

The polite greeting from the young, talented man pleased him. But when he casually turned his eyes, he saw another face he hadn’t expected.

“No way, Elder…?”

With an awkward expression, it was Hwangbo Hong.

“Yes, I’m back. So what?”

“Oh… welcome, Elder.”

“Hmph! Spare me the insincere words… I was dragged here against my will because Yeon insisted. Once my business is done, I’ll return to seclusion immediately. So don’t you worry.”

“What seclusion? You didn’t even want to do it.”

At Yeon’s words, Hwangbo Hong jumped.

“Who said that? I went into seclusion on my own two feet!”

“Fine, fine. Anyway, seclusion can be undone. I’d like you to stay in the family from now on. What do you think, Father?”

“W-well, if the Elder wishes…”

As Hwangbo Jeong-gun floundered, Yeon called out to him again.

“Father.”

“Hm?”

“This time, I owe Grandfather Hong a great debt. He even accepted me as his official disciple.”

“Official disciple? You mean the Elder?”

Now that he looked, the energy emanating from his daughter was unusual. Not enough time had passed for her to have achieved this much just from being away. He would have believed it if she had stumbled upon some heavenly fortune.

“Heavens…”

“Clan Leader, I too have learned a great deal.”

“Even this young master?”

As Hwangbo Jeong-gun stood there speechless, Hwangbo Hong let out a snort.

“Hmph!”

Hwangbo Hong’s small eyes turned toward Hwangbo Jeong-gun. His gaze, filled with old resentments and reproach, was silently protesting.

You see how much Yeon has improved. You should have entrusted Hwa-yeong to me as well!

Hwangbo Jeong-gun understood that message perfectly. He swallowed a bitter sigh.

He still thinks Hwa-yeong died because of me.

Just then, Yeon spoke. This time, she was addressing Hwangbo Hong.

“Grandfather Hong, I was able to become your disciple because Father allowed it.”

“What?”

“If he had opposed it until the end, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything. Father knew all along.”

Hwangbo Hong grumbled quietly, but that was it. After all, Hwangbo Jeong-gun was the clan leader and Yeon’s father. Having taken each side once, she said,

“So please, both of you, stop it. How long are you going to keep this up, family members? You’re not children.”

“Y-Yeon-ah?”

“Grr…!”

“Come on now. We’re going to be living together, so hug each other. You should get along.”

As if handling children, Yeon reached out. Hwangbo Hong flinched and backed away in shock.

But Hwangbo Jeong-gun didn’t. He was wary of Hwangbo Hong, but he didn’t hate him. He also felt sorry for Hwangbo Hong, who would spend the rest of his life alone.

Yeon isn’t wrong. How long will this go on? The Elder is also a member of the Hwangbo family.

“Elder.”

Taking the initiative, he stepped in front of Hwangbo Hong and bowed his head politely.

“I’m sorry for everything.”

“What?”

“Whatever misunderstandings there may have been, I want to resolve them here.”

At his sincere attitude, Hwangbo Hong looked surprised. Seeing the old man flustered, Hwangbo Jeong-gun even brought up his wife’s name.

“Hwa-yeong wouldn’t want this either, Elder.”

“You brat! How dare you mention Hwa-yeong in front of me! You vile ”

“Grandfather.”

At Yeon’s chiding voice, Hwangbo Hong ground his teeth. He seemed to be holding something back, then finally let out a hollow, long sigh.

“Heh heh… In all my years…”

After a moment of silence, he asked Hwangbo Jeong-gun in a low voice,

“You know about the Thunderstrike Divine Art, don’t you?”

The Thunderstrike Divine Art? He still hasn’t given up on that.

Hwangbo Jeong-gun managed his slightly furrowed expression and asked,

“You mean the martial art you were researching before?”

“Yes. If Hwa-yeong had mastered it, the Hwangbo family’s status would have been elevated long ago.”

“…Yes, Elder.”

If it could have actually been realized.

Just as Hwangbo Jeong-gun was thinking that to himself, Hwangbo Hong suddenly shouted.

“You brat! You still don’t believe?”

“Elder, it’s not that.”

“I came down because I knew this would happen. Because Yeon proved it herself. The potential of the Thunderstrike Divine Art!”

Hwangbo Jeong-gun absentmindedly turned his head. Yeon nodded.

Hm?

At that moment, electricity crackled around Yeon’s raised fist. The blue energy was unmistakably lightning energy.

“Y-Yeon-ah! Did you just- ”

“Yes, Father. Grandfather Hong taught me.”

Hwangbo Jeong-gun’s face went white. A massive shock struck his mind.

Was the Thunderstrike Divine Art actually possible?

At the same time, the memory of making his wife give up on martial arts flashed through his mind.

Then does that mean it was all my fault?

He had asked his wife, Hwa-yeong, to focus on supporting him from within. But if she truly had the talent to control lightning energy, who exactly was supporting whom?

It can’t be…!

Only now did he think he understood why Hwangbo Hong hated him so much. As a husband and as the clan leader, it was clearly the biggest mistake of his life.

Could it even be true that Hwa-yeong died because of that? No. That can’t be!

As he fell into confusion, Hwangbo Hong’s voice reached his ears.

“So now you’re finally listening. Tch. Listen, Jeong-gun brat Yeon is an even greater genius than Hwa-yeong. Do you know what that means?”

“…”

“It means that if you truly care about the future of this family, you won’t even think about burying that talent.”

At the cold voice, Hwangbo Jeong-gun felt like clutching his head. All he could manage was a barely audible reply.

“…I will keep that in mind, Elder.”