The Invincible Commander – Chapter 14

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HwasanSect

[Translator: Chyluck]

[Proofreader: Chyluck]

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Chapter 14

“Haa…”

Cheon Sinwoo sighed deeply.

Days had passed, yet Yoo Ji-in’s promissory note haunted his mind.

It shimmered like a mirage.

To think she’d refuse it.

“Damn it, I should’ve pocketed more.”

Regret gnawed at him.

He even resented those who reclaimed their stolen goods.

Should’ve taken receipts.

That guy who swore the silver spoon was his late father’s—definitely lying.

He saw it in his eyes.

Should he demand it back… would that work?

Another sigh escaped.

At least the roof was being fixed.

Though Sohyang declined payment, carpenter Im Gil-hyeon, grateful for saving his trade, insisted on replacing the tiles for free.

Jeongyang’s wife convinced her that further refusal was rude, and they agreed he’d get meals while working.

The fabric shop was similar.

How could Jeongyang’s Seoga master look shabby? They forced several tailored outfits on her.

Sohyang, unable to refuse lest they be discarded, accepted.

Her elegance was unmatched.

In new clothes, she was a celestial beauty.

And Chang?

Overflowing with grace.

“Oh, you even got us new clothes. Thank you, my lady.”

Jeongyang’s wife beamed in her new outfit.

Twirling to admire herself, she proved women remain women, no matter their age.

“How do I look, Mother?”

“…”

Not him.

Candy costs aside… some bodies just don’t suit new clothes.

Why give fresh ones to a guy sweeping yards and chopping wood?

They’d get dirty.

Torn.

What a waste.

Cheon Sinwoo’s eyes narrowed.

Rip them before they tear.

Soil them before they’re dirtied.

“Woosaeng.”

“Yes! Big brother!”

“Come here.”

Smirking with slit eyes, he beckoned, and Woosaeng scampered over.

“I’ve been thinking for a while.”

“Yes?”

“Your body seems naturally gifted.”

“Huh?”

“With martial arts, you could become the greatest external master.”

“R-Really?”

Woosaeng’s eyes widened as Cheon Sinwoo, arms crossed, nodded seriously.

Not “will,” but “could.”

If not, oh well.

“If I teach you a bit…”

“Teach me! Please!”

Woosaeng dropped to his knees.

His simplicity was endearing.

Having seen Cheon Sinwoo fight the Huangdu Gang and taken his hits, it was a natural reaction.

With such eagerness, how could he refuse?

Grinning slyly, Cheon Sinwoo gripped Woosaeng’s shoulders, still chest-high despite kneeling.

“With such desire, I can’t say no.”

“Big brother!”

His teary, awestruck eyes trembled with gratitude.

Yes, I’ll teach you.

As planned, for times he’s absent.

With Woosaeng’s resilience, he’d make a fine shield.

“First, a check.”

“Huh?”

“Can you read?”

“No. Should I learn?”

“No, I was worried you could.”

“What?”

“Teaching the illiterate is my specialty.”

He couldn’t read either.

No literacy, no teaching it.

“Oh!”

“Follow me.”

“Training starts today?”

“Of course! Acting on resolve is my creed.”

“Understood. This brother will diligently learn all you teach!”

“Good attitude!”

Cheon Sinwoo led them away from prying eyes, Woosaeng following with fervent anticipation.

The Seoga manor, though old, was vast, retaining past grandeur.

Sohyang and Chang stayed in the main pavilion, Woosaeng and Jeongyang’s wife in the adjacent guest house.

Plenty of secluded spots.

At a neglected rear garden, far from the main pavilion, Cheon Sinwoo scanned the area.

Overgrown with weeds, but fine.

The wall hid them.

Especially from Jeongyang’s wife.

“Big brother, what’s first?”

“Hmm, first… dodge.”

“Huh?”

“My training’s practical.”

“What?”

Woosaeng’s puzzled eyes widened as Cheon Sinwoo’s fist filled his vision.

Thwack!

Struck in the face, Woosaeng stumbled back, falling on his rear.

“Ouch, big brother, that was sudden…”

Shaking off the daze, he noticed a shadow and looked up.

Cheon Sinwoo, soaring like a bird, blocked the sun with a ghastly grin.

Shivering, Woosaeng rolled aside desperately.

Boom!

The ground shook.

“Ho? Well done. That’s how you dodge.”

“…Huh?”

Cheon Sinwoo’s sudden praise made Woosaeng blink.

“Keep doing that.”

“Keep?”

“Yeah.”

Woosaeng glanced at the ground where Cheon Sinwoo stood.

A crack…

“N-No way? You’re trying to kill me?”

“Who, me? It’s training! Hahaha!”

Grinning, Cheon Sinwoo charged, stomping the ground.

Crack!

Woosaeng dodged frantically, but the relentless fists, like magnets, hit him, sending him rolling.

Not about candy or new clothes.

Cheon Sinwoo held no grudges.

Really.

Purely for training.

Training!

Thwack!

Training!

Crack!

Fists and kicks swung wildly, rocking Woosaeng’s body side to side.

But what’s with this guy?

Hitting him didn’t feel like hitting.

Right!

No satisfaction.

He’d trained subordinates this way before.

Back then, it was partly venting, but never like Woosaeng.

Knowing his resilience, still…

“What’s this?”

Cheon Sinwoo alternated between Woosaeng, sprawled on the ground, and his fist.

“Woosaeng.”

“Huff, huff… Yes, big brother.”

“Did you dodge?”

“I got hit.”

Wrong question.

Why ask a guy who’s been pummeled if he dodged?

“Did you try to dodge?”

“You said to! You told me to. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t. It hurts so bad, I might die.”

Woosaeng whined, scratching his head, and Cheon Sinwoo let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha!”

He tried?

Just try and succeed?

No, he did.

It clicked.

The source of Woosaeng’s incredible resilience.

He knew how to take hits.

Those beaten often learn to absorb blows instinctively.

And this stubborn guy kept trying despite the hits.

“This is… unbelievable.”

Having lived as a top-tier master in his past life, Cheon Sinwoo was stunned.

This guy… a natural shield?

“Woosaeng, get up. Again.”

“Can’t I rest a bit?”

“Shut up! Rest, my ass!”

Too intrigued to stop, Cheon Sinwoo had no mercy.

Leaping like a panther, he swung, and a startled Woosaeng rolled to escape.

He slowed his moves this time.

Wanted to test Woosaeng’s reflexes.

But—

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Gah!”

“Damn…”

He dodged.

Both Cheon Sinwoo, mid-punch, and Woosaeng, barely grazing the hit, froze in shock.

Even slowed, he hadn’t expected a dodge.

Then Woosaeng’s eyes flashed, and he bolted.

“Huh?”

“What?”

“…Attack.”

“You said dodge.”

“Oh.”

This guy, really.

Couldn’t help but laugh.

Born with a gifted body, but not a brain.

Does exactly as told.

“Woosaeng. From now on, dodge and attack.”

“How? Dodging’s already too much.”

“Then attack while getting hit.”

“What?”

“You’ll learn to dodge and attack.”

“How do I attack while getting hit?”

“Your resilience can handle it!”

Training resumed.

At a speed he could just dodge, as punches increased, Woosaeng changed.

He started attacking occasionally.

Whoosh!

“…”

Can’t block that.

His fist was like a flail, whistling through the air.

But Woosaeng seemed thrilled.

Despite hits, he grinned; rolling, he rose persistently.

Sometimes, he struck first.

He was learning.

For the first time.

Tasting the joy of training.

Jeongyang’s wife stared blankly at her son.

His new clothes, soiled…

Smack!

Her backhand was a mother’s secret art, unmatched by any martial master.

No resilience could withstand it.

“Argh!”

Woosaeng yelped, recoiling from the stinging slaps.

“You wretched boy! Look at your clothes! A grown man playing in dirt? These were gifted by my lady!”

“No, it’s not that! You don’t get it! It’s to become the greatest external master!”

“Don’t know? You’re the world’s biggest fool! When will you grow up, rolling in dirt like a child?”

“No, really, it’s training! Training! Big brother trained me! Big brother, say something… huh? Big brother?”

Fleeing his mother’s hands, Woosaeng looked for Cheon Sinwoo’s support.

He was gone.

“You liar! Dragging Young Master Cheon into this? Get lost, you fool!”

Smack!

Woosaeng dodged Cheon Sinwoo’s fists but not his mother’s slaps.

Maybe he took them on purpose.

“Strip! You brat! Not a speck should soil these precious clothes! Never wear them again unless it’s special—stick to rags!”

Jeongyang’s wife kept smacking, and Woosaeng only resented the vanished Cheon Sinwoo.

Meanwhile, Cheon Sinwoo hid on the roof, watching the mother and son.

“Hm. Greatest in the world.”

Fitting Woosaeng into that thought, he smirked.

It was a throwaway line.

But it seemed fun.

Training Woosaeng.

And someone’s eyes watched him.

“Training? Martial arts?”

Chang, somehow sensing Cheon Sinwoo’s presence on the roof.

His eyes gleamed with envy.