The World’s Greatest Spear Family. (2)

“Why won’t you eat it!?”

Yang Cho-mi kept offering a heavenly peach right in front of him.

Yu Jinsan didn’t like sour fruit, so he had no intention of eating it.

“If you won’t eat it, you won’t, so why keep asking? Go play somewhere else.”

Yu Jinsan turned his back and resumed his stance.

It would soon be time for his granddaughter to appear, so he intended to focus on warming up.

He swung his bamboo staff through the air a few times when it happened.

“Hey you!”

It was the sharp voice of a little girl from behind.

When he glanced back, Yang Cho-mi, clutching a bamboo staff, was rushing at him.

It was an awkward situation. The tiny thing audaciously lunging at him.

He couldn’t stoop to deal with a brat.

Yu Jinsan didn’t meet her head-on; he twisted his torso and casually avoided the attack.

Pa-ang! Pa-ang!

Yang Cho-mi’s spear technique had solid basics, but only by a child’s standards.

The attacks weren’t threatening; he could have dodged them with his eyes closed.

Yu Jinsan shouted with a bewildered expression.

“Why on earth are you doing this to me?”

The tip of the bamboo staff brushed past his chest again.

“If you won’t eat it, I’ll make you eat it!”

She meant to overpower him and force-feed the peach.

“What a funny kid. I’m not going to eat it, so go play somewhere else!”

“Eat!”

Yu Jinsan twisted his body without pause to evade her strikes.

He was pondering a solution in mixed feelings when

Fortunately, reinforcements arrived.

“Cho-mi, you! Your father told you not to tease the guests!”

Yang family head Yang So-cheon was walking over.

Yang Cho-mi, full of mischief, tossed the bamboo staff aside with a flick.

“He says he won’t eat the heavenly peach.”

“How dare she speak to our elder like that? Apologize at once.”

“What elder is this brat talking about?”

Her cheeky, precise retorts showed she had quite the temper.

Unable to tolerate it any longer, Yang So-cheon frowned and lowered his voice.

“Cho-mi, you’re going to be disciplined today.”

Perhaps sensing trouble, Yang Cho-mi, who had been feigning innocence, darted off to the other side.

She didn’t forget to leave one parting remark.

“You just wait and see later!”

To be disrespected even by that tiny nut of a kid.

Yu Jinsan sighed at the indignity brought by the Age Revival.

“Well, well. Being singled out by such a bold little heroine, that’s a problem.”

At Yu Jinsan’s banter, Yang So-cheon, unsure how to respond, approached him.

“I’m sorry, Elder. My child causes so much trouble, it’s truly a headache.”

“I’m fine, no need to worry. Raising children is like that, isn’t it?”

“Sigh. I don’t know who she takes after to be so fierce. Even when we discipline her she only rebels more and can’t be controlled.”

His expression made it clear he meant every word.

No parent can win against their child, and no grandfather can outwin his granddaughter.

Experienced as he was, Yu Jinsan nodded as if he understood.

“If scolding fixed everything, raising a child would be easy. It seems she has no friends; perhaps she’s acting out from loneliness.”

“We tried, but she beats and torments peers until they all run away. Isn’t there any good method?”

“Hmm. In cases like that, giving her a hobby helps. Try various things; see what sparks her interest.”

Yang So-cheon’s face brightened a little as if he’d found an answer.

“Thank you, Elder. I’ll be sure to try. But you said you were leaving this morning, right?”

“That’s right. I’m headed to Shaanxi. It’s a long way, so I must be diligent.”

“What a pity. How about walking together for a bit before you go? I’d like to introduce you to the Yang family.”

It seemed he had something more to discuss privately.

Yu Jinsan accepted the offer without hesitation.

“Then there’s no reason to refuse. Let’s take a look together at what the Yang family, the world’s greatest spear house, is like.”

Yu Jinsan and Yang So-cheon walked side by side through the manor grounds.

“You’re flattering me. The world’s greatest spear family? We’re no longer that.”

“Because I beat you at the spear tournament? Don’t hold onto it. I too once lost to your father.”

The one who first handed him a defeat long ago was Yang Yeon-jeong, Yang So-cheon’s father.

Of course, he was now deceased and no longer in the world.

“Not at all, Elder. That defeat was, beyond winning or losing, a very precious experience. It’s just…”

Yang So-cheon wanted to ask something but hesitated.

Yu Jinsan was someone who could read his feelings.

“You’re curious about my spear technique.”

“Yes. I’ve never seen such marvelous and unorthodox spear technique. If it’s not rude, may I ask about it?”

As head of a famed spear family, he naturally wanted to know what he had lost to.

To answer would mean revealing his identity.

But his hesitation did not last long.

For a neutral house like the Yang family, nothing would change even if it were known.

“It’s called the Wind Slaying Spear. It’s a secret spear method passed down in the Yu family.”

“The Yu family…? Isn’t that the spear house that was in Shaanxi? I heard they were formidable in the past.”

“I’m honored you know of us. I am the head of the Yu family.”

Yang So-cheon blinked repeatedly as if greatly surprised.

He apparently hadn’t imagined it.

“The Yu family was part of the Justice Faction, wasn’t it? Then why…”

“Why would they side with the Heterodox factions and fight the Murim Alliance? Why do you think that is?”

“Could it be… that the ones who ruined the family are connected to them?”

“Hm. It’s best I spare the details. Even knowing could bring trouble to you.”

He didn’t press for an explanation, but Yang So-cheon was perceptive.

After collecting his thoughts, he didn’t ask further and changed the subject.

“Then who is the identity of the Yin Monster, the great hero? I imagine you were extraordinary even before the Age Revival.”

The identity of the Yin Monster was something many martial artists were curious about.

A peerless master who appeared like a comet some years ago.

All manner of speculation swirled about his pre-Age Revival past.

“Even if I told you, it would be hard to believe, so just think of him as a member of our family.”

“Yes, Elder. Everyone has their story. In any case, from now on the world’s greatest spear house is the Yu family.”

Yu Jinsan slowly shook his head with his hands clasped behind his back.

“The Yu family no longer exists as it did. But if our house rises again someday, it would be good for our descendants to contest each other.”

Until then, it was a way of conceding to the Yang family.

Yang So-cheon felt a strange warmth and smiled quietly.

“You remind me of my father. Before he passed, we used to walk and talk like this all the time.”

“Thank you for saying that. I had a son much like you. He’s gone now, too.”

Yu Jinsan and Yang So-cheon strolled around the manor and chatted about many things.

They were almost back to the spot he had first come to after the solar eclipse.

Suddenly Yang So-cheon flinched in surprise.

“No way, that kid!?”

Not far off, his daughter Cho-mi was visible.

But this time she was teasing another guest.

Of all people, she was playing pranks on the Yin Monster, the Evil faction’s top warrior, who could raze the Yang family if he wished.

He moved to intervene, but Yu Jinsan raised a hand to stop him.

“There’ll be no harm; just leave them be.”

Between the two, Yu Seol looked about a finger or two taller.

Looking closely, his granddaughter held a half-eaten heavenly peach in one hand.

With the other, she was stroking Yang Cho-mi’s head.

She tugged at the ears and pinched the cheeks, evidently finding it adorable.

Watching the scene, Yang So-cheon couldn’t help but be speechless.

“I can’t believe it. It’s the first time I’ve seen Cho-mi so calm.”

And that wasn’t all.

Both wore bright, innocent smiles.

They were clearly giggling, yet no sound reached the ears.

That meant his granddaughter had likely wrapped a qi membrane around them to muffle their voices.

He was curious what amusing things they were exchanging, but there was no way to eavesdrop.

“They look good together. They seem to suit each other.”

“That’s so, but I’m worried she might be rude to the Yin Monster.”

From his expression, he was clearly anxious.

Yu Jinsan snorted and casually waved a hand.

“There’ll be no problem. Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility.”

“Hearing you say that puts me at ease. Will you wait here a moment?”

After watching the children for a moment, Yu Jinsan shook his head once.

Seeing his granddaughter so happy, he wanted to let her enjoy herself a little longer.

“I suppose I’ll be in your care until lunch. Is that all right?”

“On the contrary, it would be our honor. Truthfully, I’d like to keep you here a few more days.”

“This fellow even jokes. Anyway, how about we have a little sparring match ourselves?”

Yang So-cheon cocked his head, as if unsure of what he meant.

“For a murim warrior, nothing is as joyful as meeting a worthy opponent and testing skills. I mean, let’s warm up a bit.”

Yang So-cheon beamed and led him to the training ground.

“An honor. Please lead the way, Elder.”

Yu Jinsan stayed one more day at the Yang estate.

Though his granddaughter wanted to linger, Yu Jinsan himself lost track of time enjoying sparring with Yang So-cheon all day.

It wasn’t until the next morning that the grandfather-and-granddaughter pair could leave the Yang estate.

“You were welcome to stay. If fate wills, we’ll meet again.”

Yang So-cheon and his brothers all escorted them with bright expressions.

“Take care on your journey, Elder.”

“We will not forget your kindness.”

On the other side, the granddaughter and Yang Cho-mi clasped hands and exchanged farewells.

“Sister Seol, you must come visit again!”

“Yeah! You stay well too, Cho-mi~”

Leaving the brief meeting behind, the pair resumed their walk.

They had walked only a short distance when

A shout from behind made Yu Jinsan involuntarily turn his head.

A peanut-sized girl waved at him.

It was Yang Cho-mi, the Yang family’s troublemaker.

“Your name is San, isn’t it? Let’s meet again!”

As Yu Jinsan made a baffled face, Yang So-cheon slipped over, scooped up his daughter and slung her over his shoulder.

“This brat, such disrespect!”

The pair burst into laughter at the sight.

“What a funny kid.”

When they had put some distance between themselves and the Yang estate

Yu Seol giggled again.

“Puhihi. Grandpa is a fool.”

“Cho-mi likes grandpa, that’s why she does it.”

“Ugh. That’s dreadful.”

Yu Jinsan tried to avoid the conversation, but Yu Seol persistently asked as if she found it amusing.

“Grandpa, do you like Cho-mi? Or Ah-ran?”

“Why would you ask something like that?”

“Both of them like you, so when they grow up you’ll have to choose one. Shall I pick for you?”

As Yu Jinsan accidentally imagined it, his shoulders trembled like a trembling aspen.

“Eek, don’t say such disastrous things!”

He couldn’t bring himself to concentrate, teased relentlessly by his granddaughter.

Yu Jinsan deployed his lightness skill to shake his granddaughter off.

But it was futile from the start.

Before a single breath passed, Yu Seol was already grinning beside him.

“Heehee. Why won’t you answer?”