Chapter 5

Chapter 5:

The evening meal proceeded in a somewhat subdued atmosphere. It wasn’t particularly heavy, one could say.

But for Wei Yan-ho, it felt like dining with demons from hell.

The grains of rice seemed like dry grains of sand, and the cool tea turned his stomach upside down as if he were drinking lye.

‘I’m going to get indigestion. I’m definitely going to get indigestion.’

Wei Yan-ho glanced around cautiously, but Wei San-ho paid him no attention.

Wei Jeong-han smiled gently.

“How is life at the academy?”

“It’s fine.”

“Are there no difficulties?”

“If there were no difficulties in training, it wouldn’t be training. I think these are challenges I must overcome.”

Wei Jeong-han nodded repeatedly.

Looking at Wei Yan-ho and then at Wei San-ho, his eyes brightened and he felt as if a warm breeze was blowing from somewhere.

Look at that.

Didn’t it seem like there was even a subtle halo visible there?

“You must have suffered much while this father was away.”

“Father, you’re the one who suffered during the long martial journey.”

“No. How can a martial artist call a martial journey suffering? You must have had a hard time acting as the eldest son. If I had returned a little earlier, I would have been able to watch you enter the academy…”

When the talk of the martial journey came up, Han Sang-ah’s eyes became slightly sharp.

Wei Jeong-han flinched and quickly closed his mouth.

Han Sang-ah opened her mouth.

“Is there nothing you need for your training?”

“It’s fine.”

“Are you not short of money?”

“I have plenty left over. I think you don’t need to send living expenses this year.”

Han Sang-ah shook her head.

“A man should always be prepared for any situation. If you have extra, you should keep it. It will be useful when you need it urgently.”

“Yes. I will do as you say.”

A warm smile bloomed on Han Sang-ah’s face as well.

What a dependable son he was!

Thinking this was the moment, Wei Jeong-han opened his mouth.

“Sang-ah, I’ve been a bit strapped for cash lately too.”

“You should keep your mouth shut.”

“…”

Han Sang-ah glared at Wei Jeong-han as if she would devour him, then turned her head again to look at Wei San-ho with a warm smile.

It was truly a reaction of extremes.

“Well then, are there no problems?”

“There is one.”

“Hmm?”

Han Sang-ah tilted her head and asked.

“What is it?”

“It’s about Yeon-ho.”

Wei Jeong-han’s face scrunched up. Han Sang-ah’s face also stiffened slightly. Wei Yan-ho’s neck sank into his shoulders.

“What about Yeon-ho?”

Wei San-ho spoke without hesitation.

“I need to take Yeon-ho to the academy.”

“To the academy?”

“Yes.”

Wei Jeong-han opposed.

“Yeon-ho is still too young.”

“Twelve is plenty old enough to enter the academy. There are cases of ten-year-olds entering, and people who enter after turning twenty. If one reaches a certain level, age doesn’t matter. What’s important is not age but level. I believe Yeon-ho’s current level is not insufficient for entering the academy.”

“But didn’t you also enter only after turning fifteen?”

“That’s because I thought it was right to prepare more before entering. But…”

Wei San-ho glanced at Wei Yan-ho, then opened his mouth.

“Yeon-ho is different.”

At Wei San-ho’s firm words, Wei Jeong-han ended up nodding.

More preparation here?

It would be fortunate if he didn’t forget what he already had.

This time Han Sang-ah opposed.

“Still, it’s too early for Yeon-ho. Above all, I’m worried whether that boy can endure academy life well.”

“The boy’s laziness would be the problem.”

At Wei San-ho’s words hitting the mark, everyone fell silent.

Honestly, if Wei Yan-ho were sent to the academy like this, there would be no greater family disgrace.

“Right. If we send that boy to the academy without fixing his laziness, others’ eyes will be frightening. And I’m worried about what he’ll learn and bring back from there.”

Wei San-ho shook his head.

“Being lazy at the academy has its limits. And since I’ll be there too, he won’t be able to act as insolently as he does here.”

“Hmm…”

“He might be disgraced at the academy. But if Yeon-ho stays only at home, it might not be a matter of disgrace but of ruining the child. Is the family’s prestige important, or is it important that the family’s successor stands properly?”

The latter inevitably had to take priority.

“The… latter, I suppose.”

Wei San-ho nodded.

“I think so too. As you know, the boy’s talent is exceptional.”

Wei Jeong-han snorted.

“His talent for being lazy is the greatest under heaven! Hmph!”

When Han Sang-ah’s eyes sharpened, Wei Jeong-han flinched and turned his head slightly.

“That’s not what I mean. The boy’s talent is beyond comparison with mine. If properly taught, he’s a boy who could spread the family name throughout the world.”

“Well, that’s going too far.”

Wei Jeong-han was dismissive.

Even Han Sang-ah nodded.

No matter that he was her child, humanly speaking, Wei Yan-ho was a person she couldn’t possibly view favorably.

Wei San-ho sighed quietly.

Wei Jeong-han didn’t know Wei Yan-ho’s abilities because he hadn’t watched him grow, and Han Sang-ah didn’t have deep knowledge of martial arts.

In a way, this reaction was natural.

But Wei San-ho, who knew the truth, couldn’t give up so easily.

“In any case, I think having the boy enter Hidden Dragon Martial Academy is the best method.”

Wei Jeong-han nodded slightly.

“Yes, that would be a method too.”

But Han Sang-ah still opposed.

“Yeon-ho is still young!”

“But we can’t just leave him like this, can we? Don’t we know exactly what will happen if that boy stays at home like this!”

Han Sang-ah sighed and looked at Wei Yan-ho.

She had heard that he would come out at dawn claiming to train, swing his sword a few times, then go back in and sleep. Certainly, if he stayed at home like this, Wei Yan-ho would be ruined.

“I…”

Just then, Wei Yan-ho opened his mouth.

“Isn’t my opinion reflected? I think I’m still not quite ready…”

“Be quiet!”

“Stay silent!”

“Shut your mouth!”

At the consecutive attacks in the order of father, mother, and older brother, Wei Yan-ho cleanly raised the white flag.

Han Sang-ah also finally surrendered to Wei Jeong-han’s persuasion and Wei San-ho’s gaze.

“Alright, let’s send him. That would be the path for Yeon-ho.”

‘No it’s not, Mother!’

Wei Yan-ho screamed inwardly, but those words couldn’t come out of his mouth.

Thus, that evening, the entrance of the Guangdong Wei Family’s second son Wei Yan-ho into Hidden Dragon Martial Academy was decided.

But even up to this point, none of them could guess what results this decision would bring. It would take a very long time to know how tremendous the events this small decision would bring to the martial world in the future.

“Ugh…”

Wei Yan-ho’s face was like that of a warrior going to battle.

The difference was that while warriors going to battle usually have resolute faces prepared for death, Wei Yan-ho had the face of a soldier participating in war for the first time, trembling with fear.

“Why do I have to go there!”

His older brother had only entered at fifteen, but Wei Yan-ho was barely twelve.

Wasn’t this too unfair!

But since even his mother, whom he had trusted last, had surrendered, there was no one left to take Wei Yan-ho’s side.

No, there was exactly one person.

“Can’t you not go?”

Wei Su-ryeon grabbed Wei Yan-ho’s sleeve with tears welling up in her eyes.

If Wei Yan-ho left, Wei Su-ryeon would be left alone at home.

Wei Su-ryeon hated that very much.

“I don’t want to go either.”

Wei Yan-ho answered honestly.

“You’re not even old enough to go yet, so why are they making you go so urgently! Big brother is mean too!”

“I know…”

Wei Yan-ho was powerless.

It had already gone too far to change the situation with Wei Su-ryeon’s tantrum.

Wei Yan-ho shouldered his packed luggage and trudged out.

With a frustrated heart, he looked up at the sky.

“Haah… the weather… shouldn’t it be nice!”

The dark clouds rolling in from the distance seemed to hint at Wei Yan-ho’s future.

When he went out to the training ground, his family and retainers were waiting for him.

“Hmm.”

Wei Yan-ho approached into the gazes that greeted him.

“Did you sleep well?”

At Wei Jeong-han’s words, Wei Yan-ho answered listlessly.

“So-so.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

Wei Jeong-han, who would normally have exploded, didn’t particularly get angry this time.

It wasn’t a situation to get angry about either.

Han Sang-ah approached and grabbed Wei Yan-ho’s hands.

“When you go to the academy, always be careful. You must make sure to eat your meals. And wash yourself there. I’m worried you’ll just bring family disgrace. If you get injured during training, don’t suffer alone—go to the medicine hall right away. Your older brother will take care of things well, but still don’t neglect your training. That region is colder than here, so make sure to cover yourself with blankets when you sleep at night. If you sleep carelessly dressed like you do here because it’s hot, your body will be harmed! You must wash your hands and feet cleanly…”

“I’m not going to war…”

Wei Yan-ho interrupted Han Sang-ah’s lengthy speech.

Han Sang-ah’s heart seemed to ache as she secretly wiped away tears, then bowed her head and kept holding Wei Yan-ho’s hands.

Thanks to this, Wei Yan-ho had to walk with Han Sang-ah hanging on one side and Wei Su-ryeon on the other.

“If you’re worried, then don’t send me!”

When Wei Yan-ho exploded, Han Sang-ah flinched and turned her head.

But what could be done?

He had to go.

“Ugh.”

Wei Yan-ho kept sighing with his frustrated heart.

Wei San-ho approached Wei Yan-ho.

“Are you all prepared?”

Wei Yan-ho poked at his bundle.

“I packed everything roughly.”

“Then let’s go.”

Wei Yan-ho cursed his heartless older brother inwardly.

This was the first time in his life leaving home—wouldn’t it be okay to give him a little more time!

But Wei San-ho was just cold, as if he had buried human feelings somewhere.

“You’re late because you overslept. So we must depart quickly.”

“I know, I know.”

Wei Yan-ho grumbled and followed where Wei San-ho led.

Two fine horses that looked splendid at a glance were tethered there.

“Hmm…”

When Wei Jeong-han looked at the horses with dissatisfied eyes, Han Sang-ah’s gaze became menacing.

They weren’t horses to keep raising, but horses to ride once and sell, so he seemed displeased that expensive money was spent to buy them.

But Han Sang-ah, who pitied her son’s departure, couldn’t bring herself to buy ordinary horses.

“Do I have to ride this?”

Wei San-ho nodded.

“I’ve never ridden one before.”

“Just hang on.”

“…Will that work?”

“As long as you don’t fall off.”

“…”

Actually, Wei San-ho had no need for horses.

If it weren’t for Wei Yan-ho, Wei San-ho would have used lightness techniques to head to Henan.

But Wei Yan-ho was still young and lacked the stamina to endure the long journey to Henan.

Wei Yan-ho carefully mounted the horse.

The horse shook its head, but when Wei San-ho soothed it a few times, it soon became docile.

“…Does it discriminate against people…”

Wei Yan-ho was displeased, but couldn’t fight with a horse.

Wei San-ho soothed Wei Yan-ho’s horse and mounted his own.

“Well then, we’ll be going.”