TGRMA 06

Chapter: 06

Let’s look back at everything that has happened so far.

He had been scammed out of the estate he bought by pouring in his entire retirement fund.

Then it turned out that the estate had actually belonged to an older brother he knew from his hometown.

That older brother’s family had gone completely bankrupt, leaving behind only his children.

And on top of that, those children were now locked in a property dispute over whose land and whose house it really was.

Amazingly, all of this had happened in the span of just two days.

How in the world did I end up here?

Wasn’t retirement supposed to be peaceful? A carefree life, taking it easy and enjoying one’s later years?

After working himself to the bone under a tyrannical superior and spending his youth protecting the martial world, why had his retirement become a series of disasters, shocks, and utter despair?

Unless someone was secretly cursing his future with some sinister dark art, none of this made any sense.

Surely it isn’t you, Alliance Leader? Are you secretly performing some horrifying ritual in your office using the secret arts of the Demonic Cult?

“…You’ve been muttering to yourself this whole time. Alliance Leader? Horrifying ritual…?”

“You don’t need to know.”

Jin Cheong-un deliberately looked up at the sky and sighed.

“…Sigh. Don’t ever retire.”

“…?”

Ever since she had called him “Uncle,” Jeong Soso had been avoiding his gaze. Only now did she finally look at him, though she still gave him a suspicious glance as if he were a strange man.

Thinking about it carefully, though, this wasn’t simply an unbelievable coincidence.

His older brother had been the eldest son of a prosperous merchant family. Naturally, the Jeong Estate had been the finest residence in the village.

So it was only natural that when he searched for a decent estate in his hometown, he ended up buying the Jeong Estate.

The only thing I never expected… was that my brother had stayed in the village, and that after the family went bankrupt, the deed had somehow fallen into a swindler’s hands.

And so, fate and coincidence intertwined…

Bringing him together with the Jeong siblings.

Jin Cheong-un looked at Jeong Soso with a complicated expression.

They say daughters resemble their fathers. Looking at her now… she really does.

Honestly… if things had gotten this bad, he should have contacted him.

No… he probably hadn’t even known how to reach him. And even if he had, he likely wouldn’t have.

I came back too late.

He had deliberately cut himself off from Cherry Blossom Village.

He had always assumed he would return someday in the distant future, and so he turned his back on everything connected to the martial academy.

Perhaps the others had done the same…

…The others?

“That.”

Jin Cheong-un pointed toward the memorial altar.

“The dried flowers, incense, and wine in front of those spirit tablets. What’s the story with those? Did you leave them there?”

“Huh? Oh… Every once in a while, starting a few years ago, someone would leave those things here. I thought maybe one of the former instructors had quietly stopped by while I wasn’t around… So whenever I came to clean, I would just tidy things up.”

For a brief moment, Jin Cheong-un stood there in stunned silence.

Slowly turning toward the altar, he let out a faint laugh.

I thought no one would ever come…

How many of them had visited?

He didn’t know who they were, but if he stayed here long enough, perhaps one day he’d meet them again.

Whether it would be a joyful reunion or not…

Only time would tell.

“Anyway… the academy…”

Jin Cheong-un slowly looked around before letting out another quiet sigh.

It was in terrible shape.

The floor creaked with every step.

The air smelled damp and moldy.

Paint had peeled away from the walls and pillars, and cracks spread across them in every direction.

“You’ve been taking care of this place all by yourself?”

“Yes. Well… I’ve only been doing it alone for about four or five years. Why?”

“It’s more worn down than I expected. Somehow it’s even worse inside than it is outside.”

At his casual remark, Jeong Soso suddenly felt a lump rise in her throat.

She had always squeezed out whatever little free time she had to clean the place with all her heart.

There had been countless times when she couldn’t afford repairs, so she picked up a hammer and nails herself and struggled to patch things together.

Ever since her father disappeared, she had fought desperately to protect the academy all alone.

“…Even so, I did my best to take care of it.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

She froze.

“…What?”

“I said you’ve worked hard. People say a house can last a hundred years if it’s maintained properly. But if no one looks after it, it falls apart surprisingly fast.”

Squatting down, Jin Cheong-un pressed firmly against one of the cracked walls.

“Making money at your age, doing all the housework, taking care of your sick younger brother, and trying to maintain a place this old… There’s no way that was easy.”

“Uh…”

“Tsk, tsk. You’ve been through a lot. Wow… there’s dust everywhere.”

“I-It’s nothing…”

Her throat suddenly tightened.

Jeong Soso clenched the hem of her skirt with both hands.

It was the first time anyone’s words of “You’ve worked hard” sounded like genuine praise instead of pity.

He had said it so casually…

Or perhaps that was exactly why.

Her nose suddenly stung.

“Thanks to you, I’ll have a little less work to do. I thought the place would’ve completely collapsed, but at this rate…”

Dusting off his hands, Jin Cheong-un stood and slowly surveyed the building.

“I won’t have to rebuild it from scratch. A thorough renovation should be enough.”

If rebuilding became necessary, then so be it.

But if the place could still be saved…

He wanted to preserve it.

After all, this place held precious memories for him too.

More importantly…

Jin Cheong-un clenched his fist.

It’ll save me money.

That was the most important issue!

Now that he no longer had any source of income, he needed to save every coin he possibly could.

Jeong Soso’s face brightened.

“So… you really are planning to reopen the academy?”

“Just reopening it isn’t enough.”

“Then?”

“If we’re going to do it… why not make it the greatest martial academy under heaven?”

Jin Cheong-un looked up at the sky.

The lush green mountain behind them and the clear blue heavens above made his heart feel unexpectedly light.

Cheong-un… Will you protect the children… and our academy now?

I know I’m late…

But that’s exactly why I came back.

Yes.

He had a responsibility to carry on Cheong-un Martial Academy.

And yet…

He had abandoned that responsibility.

For more than ten years.

No excuse could ever justify that.

If he wanted even the slightest chance of avoiding criticism someday…

Then he would have to rebuild Cheong-un Martial Academy into something far greater than it had ever been before.

“The greatest martial academy in the world? But… we’re just an ordinary academy in a small country village…”

“Who says a village academy can’t become the greatest in the world?”

After all, Jin Cheong-un himself had come from that very village academy.

He had surpassed disciples from prestigious sects and famous clans who had looked down on him, eventually becoming the Martial Alliance Leader’s closest aide.

Of course, he was retired now.

He had defeated the Demonic Cult…

Yet somehow been swindled by a common con artist.

The academy itself was practically a collapsing ruin.

But still!

If he could take down the Demonic Cult Leader himself…

Surely becoming the best martial academy in the world wasn’t impossible!

“Soso, you said your dream was to reopen our academy, didn’t you? Now that I’m here, that dream is guaranteed to come true. So it’s time you started dreaming even bigger.”

“…Ah!”

The certainty shining in Jin Cheong-un’s eyes filled Jeong Soso with excitement.

Seeing that unwavering confidence made her own heart burn with determination.

“Yes! I’ll help however I can!”

“That’s the spirit!”

“The greatest martial academy under heaven—Cheong-un Martial Academy!”

“Ha! Now that’s enthusiasm!”

“Just tell me what needs to be done first!”

“We start with repairs.”

“Right!”

“Then we recruit instructors.”

“Of course! And after that?”

“Hmm…”

“…?”

“…”

Silence filled the room.

“…Don’t tell me you don’t actually have a plan…”

Creeeak… creak…

The tattered paper windows rattled in the wind.

A decaying building.

A courtyard overrun with weeds.

A shattered front gate.

As Jeong Soso stood there blankly…

The light gradually faded from her eyes.

Back at the Jeong Estate.

Seated at the dinner table, Jeong Soryong quietly glanced toward Jin Cheong-un.

So he really did know Father…

Who could have imagined such an unbelievable coincidence?

His older sister could be absent-minded sometimes, but she was naturally suspicious and rarely trusted anyone.

If she said someone was trustworthy…

Then he truly was.

He healed my body… and he’s going to reopen the martial academy my sister has always dreamed of.

Jeong Soryong’s eyes sparkled.

They weren’t related by blood.

But compared to the real relatives who had coldly abandoned the siblings…

Wasn’t this man someone they could trust far more?

I finally have a dependable adult… an uncle.

But…

Something about this felt strange.

“A plan! You need a plan for everything!”

“If we just pay people, won’t they handle it? Why do we need a plan…”

“That’s exactly how accidents happen. We need to be thorough. I know a carpenter. It’ll be cheaper to hire a separate stonemason…”

“…”

“You’re listening, right? Oh, and I’ll find someone to handle the interior furnishings too.”

“…”

“We have a blacksmith in our village, but the Jeong Family Forge in the neighboring town has a much better reputation. We should go with them…”

“Alright, alright. How about we eat first?”

“You can listen while you eat.”

“…”

Jeong Soryong looked back and forth between his sister and his uncle.

Why was his uncle completely unable to say a word against his sister?

Shouldn’t it have been the other way around?

“I think we should draw up a budget first. Have you already reported the academy’s reopening to the local authorities? You didn’t forget… did you?”

Jin Cheong-un cleared his throat and answered with feigned dignity.

“As the saying goes, ‘The well water does not interfere with the river water.’ Government and the martial world each stay out of the other’s affairs.”

“I thought you said you were retired.”

“…”

From the moment they left the house…

To arriving back at the Jeong Estate…

Even now, seated at the dinner table…

Every word from Jeong Soso pierced him far more sharply than any master’s sword.

Isn’t she supposed to be at an age where kids don’t know anything yet?

This wouldn’t do.

At this rate, he’d completely lose his dignity as both the academy master and her uncle.

Taking a deep breath, Jin Cheong-un suddenly shouted,

“You insolent girl!”

“…?”

“Is that any way to speak to your elder? I’ve listened long enough! You’re showing your own uncle no respect!”

“But earlier you told me not to treat you like an uncle just because you look older.”

“…”

His devastating counterattack collapsed instantly before Jeong Soso’s single reply.

A complete defeat—in one move.

Jin Cheong-un suddenly felt rather miserable.

So this is why they say to be wary of children, women, and the elderly.

Jeong Soso happened to be both young and a woman.

An invincible combination.

“Stay strong.”

“…?”

Still eating quietly beside him, Jeong Soryong offered a calm word of encouragement.

Jin Cheong-un’s expression grew even more complicated.

Brother… why are your children like this?

He had heard the boy was only ten years old.

Was this really normal?

The Jeong siblings…

To be honest…

Were starting to scare him.

“By the way, Uncle, what exactly did you do at the Martial Alliance?”

The unexpected question made even Jeong Soso glance over.

Jin Cheong-un answered indifferently.

“I was a bodyguard.”

“Were you very skilled?”

“Good enough.”

“Then… why did you retire so early? The Martial Alliance is where every martial artist dreams of going.”

A dream?

Was it?

I wouldn’t know.

Perhaps it was for others.

It never had been for him.

“Nine out of ten martial artists retire because they get injured.”

He had actually decided to retire long before that, but this explanation was easier.

Jeong Soso’s eyes widened.

“You were injured? How?”

“I fought one bad guy… and several hundred of his followers.”

“…What? Several hundred?”

“Enough to cover an entire mountain. There were only twenty of us left. I was cutting down three or four men with every swing…”

“Oh… I see.”

“I’m telling the truth.”

“I believe you!”

“…”

Several hundred?

How could twenty people possibly fight hundreds?

“I’ve got something I’d like to ask too.”

“Go ahead.”

“Where exactly is your father? Why are only the two of you here?”

The room instantly fell silent.

A moment later, Jeong Soso calmly resumed eating.

“He ran away.”

“…Ran away?”

“Yes. In the middle of the night. He left the two of us behind.”

In a calm voice, she explained everything that had happened.

“So…”

“Yes.”

“The debts piled up… your father ran away… and then the creditors became increasingly aggressive?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

He wasn’t the kind of man who would do something like that.

The thought almost escaped his lips.

But he immediately realized…

These children had undoubtedly thought that countless times themselves.

It’s not my place to say it.

Compared to someone like him, who hadn’t seen his old friend for over ten years…

These children, who had lived with him since birth, knew him far better.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Jin Cheong-un folded his arms and lightly drummed his fingers.

Even so…

Debt…

Debt?

Wait.

Debt…

Against this house?

“Hold on. Don’t tell me the collateral for those debts is…”

“Ah… well…”

“…Surely not.”

Jeong Soso slowly nodded.

The land has been mortgaged?

Now this too?

They were buried in debt?

A sharp pain suddenly shot through the back of his neck.

And then—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Violent pounding erupted from the front gate.

“Jeong Soso! Come out! We’re here from the Black Tiger Gang!”

Jeong Soso’s head snapped toward the sound.

The color instantly drained from her face.