Chapter 176
Ah. No!
This won’t do. It’s dangerous to leave things as they are!
Peng Mugang subtly stepped forward, overcome by a creeping sense of crisis.
“Haha. That child is my granddaughter. My granddaughter is just my granddaughter, so please turn your attention away from someone else’s granddaughter and go have a meal.”
Whatever that meant, Peng Mugang emphasized the words “my granddaughter” as he urged Dokgo Yeong, who was facing Yul-i.
At that, Dokgo Yeong grinned and shook his head.
“There is no rush for a meal, so take your time. Before that, I would like to have a chat with the Patriarch’s granddaughter.”
“No, why…”
Peng Mugang’s face contorted.
Damn it! Why do all these old men act like this whenever they see my granddaughter!
But even so, with Dokgo Yeong speaking like that, he couldn’t just drag him away and tell him to hurry up and leave.
No matter how much his guard had lowered, wasn’t the other person an Absolute of the Unorthodox Faction?
In the first place, Dokgo Yeong was a person with his own distinct thoughts and pace.
He wasn’t someone who would listen just because someone else rushed him.
Anyway, he was taking back what he said about feeling like he had met a kindred spirit for the first time in a while. Canceled!
“Is she your daughter?”
“Yes. She is.”
Yeo Un-hwi smiled gently and nodded.
“Now that I look at her, you two look a lot alike.”
“She looks more like my wife.”
“Is that so. Haha.”
Soon, Dokgo Yeong looked at Yul-i.
Did he like children?
Not particularly.
No, before that, he couldn’t even get close to them because they would cry in fear.
Black Emperor Dokgo Yeong had possessed a faint Killing Intent since birth, and because of that, he was always alone during his childhood among peers who feared him.
But for some reason, Yul-i wasn’t afraid of Dokgo Yeong at all; instead, she was smiling and looking at him with bright, clear eyes.
How fascinating and pretty that sight was.
Dokgo Yeong didn’t know.
The fact that the countless grandfathers who cherished Yul-i had all fallen for that very smile.
“Right, child. What is your name?”
“I’m Yeo So-yul.”
“Hoh. Yeo So-yul. That is a truly pretty name. Moreover, you are brave, wise, and bright. Brimming with courage, too. You are a child who will achieve great things.”
“…Pardon?”
Yeo Un-hwi put on a dumbfounded expression.
Excuse me, I know she’s my daughter, but all she did was introduce her name - is that really necessary?
Then what about all the children in the world who know how to answer with their own names?
He wanted to ask that, but looking at the man’s expression, it seemed he wouldn’t even pretend to listen to what he had to say.
It seemed Dokgo Yeong had taken a great liking to Yul-i.
A pleased smile spread across his face, as if he were looking at his own granddaughter.
“Hoh.”
Soon, Dokgo Yeong looked at the Wooden Saber in Yul-i’s hand and asked.
“Are you learning Martial Arts?”
“Yes! I’m learning from my grandpa!”
Peng Mugang was needlessly moved by the words “my grandpa.”
Even though it was such an obvious statement.
It was all because of the other old men who were trying so hard to look good in front of Yul-i.
Even though it was impossible, he was constantly anxious that his position as Yul-i’s favorite grandfather would be stolen.
Honestly, to the point of having nightmares about it in his sleep.
But right at this moment, Peng Mugang was getting a strong, ominous premonition that another competitor was about to be added.
“I see. Is learning Martial Arts fun?”
“Yes. It’s fun! Though it’s a little hard.”
“I suppose so. Then why do you insist on continuing something so hard? There must be many other fun things to do.”
“Hmm. There are two reasons!”
Yul-i seemed to think for a moment before holding up two fingers.
“What are they?”
“First is the sky! The sky!”
“Hmm? The sky?”
“Yes! If you learn Martial Arts diligently, you can fly swoosh-swoosh through the sky!”
As Yul-i answered with a bright smile, Dokgo Yeong’s eyes widened slightly.
“Is that so? The sky.”
Soon, he formed a peculiar smile.
For some reason, that smile made Peng Mugang anxious.
“My goodness. Does that make sense? That’s possible?”
“I’ve never seen such a sight in my entire life. As expected of the Twelve Venerables.”
A Training Ground in the Peng Family.
Today of all days, the place was incredibly noisy.
Why?
Because a sight that no one had ever imagined before was unfolding.
An old man dressed in black stood in the middle of the Training Ground.
It was Black Emperor Dokgo Yeong.
Having long been called an Absolute of this era, his Internal Qi was boundlessly deep and profound, thanks to his heaven-sent Martial Aptitude, along with the various Fortuitous Encounters and Elixirs he had obtained since his youth.
Of course, it couldn’t compare to Yeo Un-hwi, who already possessed infinite Internal Qi, but when it came to the sheer amount and depth of Internal Qi, he was confident that he was at the very forefront even among the Twelve Venerables.
Why bring this up?
Swoosh. Swoosh.
Yul-i was flying through the sky, giggling brightly.
“Is it fun?”
“Yes! It’s fun!”
Dokgo Yeong was currently playing with Yul-i using Void Manipulation.
Everyone was at a loss for words at the sight.
Naturally, Void Manipulation required more Internal Qi the heavier the moving object was, and the further away it was.
Furthermore, using it so smoothly and gently like that was an incredibly difficult task.
On top of that, the consumption of Internal Qi was extremely severe.
“To use it like that…”
Out of pride, Peng Mugang didn’t spit out words like “foul play” or “cheap trick.”
In truth, he was capable of that much as well.
Though not for a very long time.
Comfortably playing with Yul-i for a long time while spending Internal Qi like water, as Dokgo Yeong was doing, was still too much for him.
For some reason, he felt like he had lost without even fighting.
Yul-i continued to fly swoosh-swoosh through the sky with a happy and excited face.
Watching that sight, Yeo Un-hwi let out a hollow chuckle.
There had never been a moment where he was so unsure of whether to stop it or let it be.
Meanwhile, thinking that he would lose his spot as Yul-i’s favorite grandfather if he let this continue, Peng Mugang approached Dokgo Yeong.
“Excuse me, on second thought, I’m afraid of hearing rumors that we are associating with the Unorthodox Faction. Please leave.”
“Hoho. It is fine. I am not afraid of gossip about associating with the Orthodox Faction. I am fine, so you do not need to worry so much.”
No, you old man, I’m saying I’m not fine! I’m not fine!
How much time passed like that?
“Yul-a!”
Peng Seo-yeon appeared.
She had just been chatting with Jujak, who had just been assigned a room, about the escort mission that was soon to begin.
“Mom!”
Yul-i waved brightly at Peng Seo-yeon while flying swoosh-swoosh through the sky.
Peng Seo-yeon ran over with a startled face.
At that, Dokgo Yeong slowly lowered Yul-i down.
“My goodness! Yul-a! That’s dangerous!”
“Ung? But it wasn’t scary at all?”
“This child!”
As Peng Seo-yeon-yeon spoke while sweeping a hand over her chest in relief, Dokgo Yeong approached and said with a smile.
“Hoho. It is fine. I may not look it, but I have quite a lot of Internal Qi. Therefore…”
“Excuse me, old man.”
“Hmm?”
Soon, Peng Seo-yeon put Yul-i behind her, slowly stood up, and looked at Dokgo Yeong.
But her momentum was so terrifying that even the great Dokgo Yeong unconsciously flinched.
“I don’t know if you have a lot of Internal Qi or not, and I don’t know who you are either, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t play such dangerous games with our Yul-i.”
“A-Ah, no, it’s not that.”
“Do. You. Un. Der. Stand?”
“I-I will…”
My goodness.
To see the Black Emperor Under Heaven looking sullen at the words of a young mother.
And the one most thrilled by that sight was Peng Mugang.
He clutched his stomach, wearing the happiest expression in the world as he looked at the sullen Black Emperor.
However,
“You too, Father.”
“Hmm? You mean me?”
“Were you just watching while Yul-i was dangerously flying swoosh-swoosh through the sky?”
“No, I…”
For a moment, not knowing what to do about his daughter’s anger directed at him, he hurriedly searched for Yeo Un-hwi with his eyes.
Because he wasn’t the only one here.
“Where did he go?”
The quick-witted Yeo Un-hwi had already swiftly slipped away the moment Peng Seo-yeon appeared and started nagging Dokgo Yeong.
To think a guy who was both the Martial God and the Heavenly Demon would be so cowardly.
Just then, Yul-i held Peng Seo-yeon’s hand tightly and looked up at her with big, round eyes.
“Mom. It’s not the grandpas' fault. They were all just trying to make me happy.”
Yul-a.
Before they knew it, Dokgo Yeong and Peng Mugang were touched by little Yul-i’s thoughtfulness.
But Peng Seo-yeon-yeon still looked at her daughter with a worried face.
“But Mom is still worried.”
“Okay. I’ll ask them to only do it a little bit next time so Mom doesn’t worry.”
“A little bit?”
“It’s just too much fun.”
“Phew. Alright.”
Watching Yul-i twist her body and act stubbornly cute, Peng Seo-yeon let out a light sigh.
As expected, no parent could win against their child.
But they had to go now.
Because it was time to go to Sowol Academy.
Today was the day they were going on a light picnic from the academy for the first time in a while.
“I’ll get going then!”
“Before that, Yul-a.”
“Yes?”
“If the first reason you learn Martial Arts is because you want to fly in the sky, what is the second reason?”
At Dokgo Yeong’s question, Yul-i went “Ah!” and answered without hesitation.
“Because I want to protect!”
“Hmm? Protect what?”
“A lot of things! Everyone I like! This place here, and the misters and misses far away in Sodam Village. And the Village Chief too. Also this blue sky, the pleasant weather, and the sound of laughter. And the butterflies flying in the garden too, all of it, all of it! I want to protect it all!”
Dokgo Yeong’s eyes widened at the answer Yul-i bravely gave.
It threw something quite heavy at him.
It wasn’t just him.
Even Peng Mugang and the other Warriors present were momentarily dazed by Yul-i’s words.
That little child said she wanted to protect.
Everything she loved. And even this Peng Family and that blue sky.
Soon, Dokgo Yeong grinned and nodded.
“Right. I sincerely hope it turns out exactly like that.”
“Hehe. Thank you! New grandpa!”
“Call me great-uncle.”
No, just how many of those damn great-uncles are there?
Peng Mugang was dumbfounded by the sight of even Black Emperor Dokgo Yeong calling himself a great-uncle, following Hwangbo Gyun.
But it was a fact that Dokgo Yeong was much older than him.
It was as if he had gained an Older Brother without even realizing it.
“Then I’ll be on my way!”
With an incredibly lovely smile, Yul-i disappeared alongside Peng Seo-yeon.
“See, you should have done it in moderation.”
At some point, Yeo Un-hwi had subtly revealed himself.
At that, Dokgo Yeong chuckled.
“It seems you are quite afraid of your wife as well.”
“No? She just looks lovely and pretty in my eyes?”
“Then where were you hiding before coming out just now?”
“Ahem. I just remembered I had some business to attend to.”
“Tsk tsk. You are quite an amusing friend.”
Then, Dokgo Yeong quietly looked up at the sky, lost in thought about something.
Then,
“Hmm. Right. This won’t do. At this rate, it will end up with me being unable to protect anything.”
Soon, his gaze turned toward Yeo Un-hwi.
“Since we have met again like this, would it be alright for this old man to shamelessly ask for one more favor?”
“Pardon?”
Soon, Yeo Un-hwi tilted his head as if asking what he meant.