Chapter 83
"Family Head, they will arrive soon," said Chief Steward Ha Doyeong.
Peng Mugang, the Family Head of the Peng Family who had been reading something intently, brightened at these words.
"Oh, is that so? They're finally coming. Haha."
"Yes. The Deputy Commander of the White Martial Squad has gone out to greet them."
"I see. He must be the most excited, having worked so hard to fill that vacancy all this time. Heh heh."
"In any case, it's reassuring to have Elder Gu back."
"Indeed. Indeed. Haha! I feel the same."
Peng Mugang smiled pleasantly as he looked out the window.
"So, time has already passed like that. Haha."
"Welcome back."
Nak Seok-do, the Deputy Commander of the White Martial Squad, bowed respectfully to the man standing before him.
"Yes, have you been well?"
The one receiving his greeting was a middle-aged man.
With a build much larger than an average person, he exuded an extraordinary aura at first glance.
However, despite the man's aura that would make most people stiffen, a smile spread across Nak Seok-do's face.
It was certainly an unusual expression for this taciturn man who always quietly and diligently carried out his duties.
"With the Commander gone, I've been swamped with work lately."
"Hahaha! I'm sorry about that. But you know, I didn't take a break because I wanted to. The Family Head practically forced me to rest, so if you have any complaints, direct them to him."
"You know I don't have the guts for that. Anyway, shall we go? They're waiting for you."
"Alright."
The large-built man entered the Peng Family compound, guided by Nak Seok-do.
Soon after entering the Family Head's room, he spoke in a booming voice:
"Family Head! I hope you've been in good health. I, Gu Wang-pyo, have returned after fully enjoying my vacation days, thanks to you."
"Hahaha! You've finally returned."
Peng Mugang welcomed Gu Wang-pyo with an extremely delighted face, laughing heartily.
This was Gu Wang-pyo, one of the Elders of the Hebei Peng Family and the Commander of the White Martial Squad.
"So, did you enjoy your vacation?"
"Yes! I ate delicious food to my heart's content, saw many wonderful things, and did things I've never done before in my life. Above all, my wife was so happy. Thanks to you, I got to play the role of a proper husband for once. Haha!"
"Don't you ever forget that it's all thanks to me."
"Yes, yes. My wife kept thanking you every time we ate something good or saw something nice. I had to scold her to stop mentioning it so often. Heh heh."
"What? This guy. Hahaha!"
Peng Mugang burst into hearty laughter.
Gu Wang-pyo laughed along with him.
As the laughter subsided, Peng Mugang looked at Gu Wang-pyo with a smile still on his face.
"So, how's your body now? Are you feeling better?"
"My body is always fine. It was fine then, and it's fine now. I only took a break because you ordered me to, didn't I?"
As Gu Wang-pyo confidently replied while thumping his rock-hard muscles, Peng Mugang clicked his tongue and said:
"Tsk! Nonsense. Back then, you looked so exhausted that you could have collapsed at any moment. It wasn't just me who thought so, you know? All the Elders came to me, saying we should let you rest for a while. They all said the same thing."
"Come on, look at this body of mine. Do you think I'd collapse from a little fatigue? You're worrying too much."
"We're not young anymore, my friend. Do you think we're still in our prime?"
"I'm still in my prime."
"There's no subordinate as stubborn and disobedient as you. Tsk!"
"Haha. That can't be true. I do my job well, don't I?"
"Except for taking care of your own body, that is."
"Haha. Are we back to this again?"
Gu Wang-pyo had been handling all of the Peng Family's internal affairs as the Chief Steward, and external matters as well.
His role in the Peng Family was more significant than anyone else's.
Letting such a person rest for half a year was quite a big decision for Peng Mugang.
That's how precious Gu Wang-pyo was to Peng Mugang.
Soon, Gu Wang-pyo's face turned serious.
"By the way, there seems to have been a lot going on while I was away."
"Hmm, indeed. Especially recently."
"Above all, it's great that Seo-yeon has returned, isn't it?"
As Gu Wang-pyo grinned, Peng Mugang replied as if to say 'don't talk nonsense':
"Hmph, I'm not sure if it's really a good thing or not."
"Huh? What do you mean by that, Family Head? I clearly remember seeing you go to Seo-yeon's room every day, sobbing after she ran away. Your back looked so pitiful that I couldn't bring myself to say anything..."
"Ahem! I have no idea what you're talking about."
"How can that be? I clearly saw it with these two eyes of mine..."
"Hey, enough of that story already. Sometimes I think you live for the joy of teasing me."
"Hahaha! How could that be? I pride myself on having the strongest loyalty to you in the entire Peng Family."
And it was true.
Gu Wang-pyo's loyalty to Peng Mugang was so strong that he would willingly jump into hell if Peng Mugang ordered him to.
Peng Mugang knew this fact better than anyone else.
He felt the same way about Gu Wang-pyo.
Gu Wang-pyo was Peng Mugang's right-hand man and the person he trusted more than anyone else.
To the extent that he would confide worries to Gu Wang-pyo that he couldn't share with anyone else.
"By the way, I was really surprised by the news about the White Wolf Unit."
Even during his vacation, Gu Wang-pyo had been receiving updates about the Peng Family through the Deputy Commander.
In fact, until very recently, there hadn't been anything particularly special happening in the Peng Family.
But lately, the Peng Family had undergone and experienced many changes.
It was surprising even for Gu Wang-pyo, who had been hearing news about the Peng Family from afar.
Among these, the story of the White Wolf Unit was especially so.
"It seems your son-in-law is doing better than expected. I'm sure you intended to give him a hard time, but how do you feel about it now?"
He knew Peng Mugang's psychology better than anyone else.
Gu Wang-pyo could guess without being told why Peng Mugang had assigned the position of Commander of the White Wolf Unit to Yeo Un-hwi, who supposedly knew no martial arts.
It was clearly meant to give him a hard time.
But from what Gu Wang-pyo knew, the White Wolf Unit's achievements had started after he took over as Commander.
It was certainly an impressive feat, though he didn't know how a man who knew no martial arts had managed to whip those rough and disobedient fellows into shape.
Perhaps Gu Wang-pyo was the most surprised of all.
After all, it had been none other than him who had to rush in to clean up whenever the White Wolf Unit caused trouble.
It was truly amazing how things had turned out, especially considering how the previous commander had quit and lived like a good-for-nothing afterwards.
"Anyway, I'll go out now and start catching up on the work that's piled up."
"Why the rush? You just got back, so don't overdo it."
"Yes, yes. Of course. This Gu Wang-pyo will keep the Family Head's words in mind."
Judging by his response, it seemed he was going to ignore the advice again.
'Well, I suppose he must be itching to work after being forced to rest all this time.'
As long as he wasn't causing trouble or making a mess, what more could be said about him simply working hard?
In any case, Peng Mugang had a feeling that the Peng Family was about to become lively again with Gu Wang-pyo's return.
"Welcome back."
Nak Seok-do, the Deputy Commander of the White Martial Squad, was waiting for Gu Wang-pyo as he came out of the Family Head's room.
"What did he say?"
"Oh, you know, take care of your body, you're not in your prime anymore, that sort of concern."
"The Family Head cares for you a lot."
"Well, I'm grateful for that, but he's trying to care too much. It makes me feel so restless I could die."
"That's true. Thanks to that, I've been busy to death as well."
"Hahaha. That's right. By the way, before I go to my room, there's one place I'd like to visit."
Nak Seok-do grinned at Gu Wang-pyo's words.
"Yes. I know where you want to go. I figured you'd be curious, so I looked into it in advance."
"Haha! Well done. Shall we go then?"
Just as Gu Wang-pyo and Nak Seok-do were about to move,
"Uncle!"
Someone was running towards Gu Wang-pyo from a distance, having spotted him.
A woman so beautiful it was dazzling even from afar.
A smile spread across Gu Wang-pyo's face.
His eyes held a gaze as if looking at his own daughter.
It was Peng Seo-yeon.
"It's been a long time! Have you been well?"
"Yes, I've been fine. Are you alright, Uncle? I was worried when I heard you took sick leave."
"What sick leave? The Family Head forced me to rest, so I had no choice. I'm perfectly fine."
"I can guess without even looking. You probably overworked yourself and then insisted you were fine. That's why Father had to order you to rest. I'm glad to see you back and healthy."
Gu Wang-pyo laughed heartily at Peng Seo-yeon's grumbling and eye-rolling.
"More importantly, you brat. You could have at least given me a hint when you left home like that. And not a word afterwards either."
"Ahaha... I'm sorry, Uncle."
"Haha. It's alright. We've met again like this, so all is well."
Gu Wang-pyo had known Peng Seo-yeon since she was born, and she regarded him like an uncle. The same was true for Peng Seo-jin.
Thanks to his generous and kind personality, there were times when they felt even more comfortable with him than with their father, Peng Mugang.
So when Peng Seo-yeon had just returned to the Peng Family and heard that Gu Wang-pyo was resting for a while due to poor health, she had been quite worried.
But today, upon hearing the news of his return, she had rushed over, and seeing him so healthy filled her with joy.
He looked exactly the same as when she had last seen him before leaving the Peng Family.
Gu Wang-pyo also thought of Peng Seo-yeon and Peng Seo-jin as his own children more than anyone else.
His gaze was full of such affection.
Behind him, Nak Seok-do was also watching this scene with a pleased expression.
"So, now that you've returned like this, are you doing well with the filial piety you couldn't show before?"
"Ah, that's quite difficult."
Peng Seo-yeon shook her head and let out a deep sigh at Gu Wang-pyo's words.
Gu Wang-pyo laughed understandingly at Peng Seo-yeon's reaction.
"Well, I'm sure it's not easy. The Family Head can be quite difficult, can't he?"
"Exactly! I feel better just hearing you say that. Really, only you can say such things, Uncle."
"Of course. Haha!"
Who else but Gu Wang-pyo would dare to say that Peng Mugang had a difficult personality?
Even if Peng Mugang himself said it was okay to say so, most people would shake their heads and tremble in fear.
Honestly, even Peng Seo-yeon wasn't confident about it.
Perhaps in this entire Peng Family, the only ones capable of doing so were surely her mother, Dan Hee-young, and Gu Wang-pyo.
"Oh, by the way, were you on your way somewhere? Did I interrupt you?"
"Haha. No, it's fine. Actually, I was just about to go meet someone I've been curious about."
"Who?"
Gu Wang-pyo smiled at the curious Peng Seo-yeon and said:
"The White Wolf Unit."