"That Seongho dared to show his face in front of me. He had the audacity to march up to me and demand that I sell our prized essence carrots for 2 coppers each. I had the urge to hit him myself - I wouldn't be able to sell these to the clan elder for 2 silvers, let alone 2 coppers to a traitor's son. Choi Hwan, teach him another lesson, due to not having a Father he seems to be lacking proper etiquette." Choi Ho shook his head while banging his fist on the shoddy wooden table in front of him.
Choi Hwan winced as he had used his last month's salary to fix it just last week. "I don't think I should get involved with him anymore Father," he said resolutely. "He's just a non-cultivator. I've already put him in bed for a week which was too far. If Jisoo didn't steal our family's heirloom, I would have surely bowed and apologized."
Choi Ho slammed his hand on the table again. "Does our family name mean that little to you? That traitor stole everything from us. Your mother is permanently in bed because of that wench."
"I understand Father, but Master Joon will get angry again if I start trouble. And I need to work hard to rebuild our fortune and restore Mother's honor. Wasting time on a non-cultivator won't help me with my goals."
The two sat quietly in the wooden hut. The pale moonlight glistened through the holes in the roof, and a faint coughing noise could be heard from the bedroom behind them. Silently Choi Hwan poured his father some more tea, making sure to collect the leaves to reuse.
"Do you know what the traitor sent us today?" Choi Ho grinned while gritting his teeth. "I don't know whether to laugh or cry - the inheritance ring that belonged to your mother, that traitor asked for it back to cover her son's hospitalization fees."
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Choi Hwan's eyes hardened. "She dares to... That's unacceptable. It seems I will need to send a message to her."
"You better not have any ideas about touching her you brat, that's still the Head's daughter. His grandson is worthless being a non-cultivator but she can kill you easier than slicing bread. Don't forget that she was called the Ryo Clan's Tempest Storm. Cripple her son's cultivation - I've heard rumors that she's been buying some rather interesting pill ingredients recently. We can't allow that traitor to restore her honor."
"He would have to have at least a B level aptitude in order for the Clan to take notice, it's too late for him." Choi Hwan shook his head.
"Just do as your Father tells you to do. Even if there's a 1% chance, it is 1% too high."
"Father," Choi Hwan said stubbornly. "You shouldn't let other people get to you like that. Remember, Practioner Do told you to take it easy." He got up and collected the teapot from the table. He got up, paused, looked behind his father's back, and snatched a wine bottle out of his hands. "Where did you even get this..." he sighed.
Choi Ho looked away, mumbling incoherently.
"Father..."
"How dare you treat me like this! What, can a man not even have a drink? My body hurts too, you think all those years of paying for your mother's medical bills was easy?" Choi Ho turned red in the face and started screaming. "It's not enough that my family has been disgraced and turned into a scapegoat, my own son thinks I'm crazy." He got up and started laughing maniacally. "Tell me, I know you think it. Tell me I've lost my mind."
It was Choi Hwan's turn to avert his eyes. "I'll speak to Seongho. He will not bother you anymore." He gently guided the man who was once his hero into a small dirty room. Gone were the wide back and bulging muscles Choi Ho was so proud of after his meridians were forcibly destroyed. As Choi Hwan saw how frail and vulnerable his Father looked stumbling around, he swore to work even harder. Though the Choi family had once gained fame as legendary bodyguards and servants, he would bring them to a new era. An era where they would lead, not serve.