A voice called out from somewhere, and Wi Jeong-han's face twisted into a grimace. In contrast, Wi Yeon-ho's face lit up.
"Mom!"
Han Sang-a.
Wi Jeong-han's wife and Wi Yeon-ho's mother was walking toward them.
Yeon-ho glanced at Jeong-han anxiously.
But in truth, it only looked like he was gauging his father's mood—what he was really doing was giving a silent explanation of the situation to Han Sang-a.
Nod.
Han Sang-a caught on to Yeon-ho's intentions and gave a small nod.
Clicking her tongue, she looked at Jeong-han.
"Really impressive behavior."
"Ahem."
Jeong-han cleared his throat loudly, visibly displeased.
"Why are you making such a racket in the middle of the night? What are you even doing?"
"There's no night and day when it comes to raising a child!"
"But there is a time and place for raising a ruckus."
Jeong-han was at a loss for words.
"Yeon-ho."
"Yeah?"
"It's late. Go back inside now."
"Okay!"
Yeon-ho cheerfully turned toward his room, but Jeong-han shot him a murderous glare.
Yeon-ho shrank back and froze in place.
"But Sang-a!"
Jeong-han's voice rose again, and Han Sang-a's eyes narrowed.
"There's a time for learning too. If you nag a lazy child this late at night, what do you expect tomorrow to look like? If you truly intend to discipline him, do it early in the morning."
"But…"
"Am I wrong?"
"No."
'Damn it. I was going to fix that brat's attitude today, no matter what!'
Jeong-han glared at Yeon-ho and shouted:
"This ends here for now! But don't think this is over! Tomorrow! If you're not training by the time I return from my trip, I swear I'll knock that laziness out of your bones! Got it!?"
"When are you coming back?"
"And why do you need to know that?"
"So I can make a plan…"
Jeong-han picked up the switch that had fallen on the floor, and Yeon-ho quickly cut himself off and said awkwardly:
"Actually, I don't really need to know. Sure, let's go with that."
"Ugh…"
Jeong-han clutched his forehead.
---
The next day.
Jeong-han strode quickly toward the main gate.
The sun had already begun to set behind the western hills.
He had just returned from attending a friend's sixtieth birthday celebration.
But his mind was filled with only one thought: Wi Yeon-ho.
'He has to be training today! No matter how lazy he is!'
Jeong-han thought so, though deep down he also knew it was probably a foolish hope.
He knew his son.
Of all people, no one crushed expectations like his son, and no one surpassed him in the art of laziness.
'Still… he must at least be pretending. Or maybe he's at the training hall at the very least.'
Surely, after the scolding he'd given yesterday, the boy wouldn't be that brazen. No decent human being could be lying around doing nothing after all that.
"You've returned, sir!"
The gatekeeper bowed.
"Open the gate. Quickly!"
"Yes, sir!"
Creeeak!
The gate opened, revealing the training grounds. Jeong-han's eyes darted left and right.
'He's not here!'
A vein popped on his forehead.
"Where is he!?"
"I… beg your pardon?"
"Yeon-ho! Wasn't he out here training!?"
The guard smiled awkwardly.
"I haven't seen him today…"
"Grrrr…"
Clenching his fists, Jeong-han stormed toward Yeon-ho's quarters.
'No… it can't be.'
Surely not.
He's still human. He wouldn't be sleeping so soundly after seeing me that angry.
Surely not!
SLAM!
Jeong-han burst through the door to Yeon-ho's room.
And at that moment, he realized his hopes were utterly misplaced.
Yeon-ho was human—just not the kind of human who would train.
He wasn't asleep. No, that would be too bold.
The problem was that he was awake… but still lying in bed.
"You're home early!"
"…!"
Jeong-han was completely drained of strength at the sight of Yeon-ho, sitting up halfway and clutching his blanket.
Yeon-ho, clearly flustered by the situation, gave an awkward smile. He had intended to time his appearance to look like he was in the middle of training when Jeong-han returned—but he had miscalculated.
Jeong-han closed his eyes.
If he didn't calm himself, someone might actually die here.
"Did you not hear what I said yesterday?"
"Of course I heard you. I have ears."
"Then?"
"I was going to train…"
"And?"
Yeon-ho gave another awkward smile.
"It's just… I thought I'd rest a little first, and before I knew it…"
"RAAAARGH!"
Jeong-han lunged at him.
"AAARGH!"
Jeong-han grabbed Yeon-ho by the back of the neck and lifted him into the air.
"You're hopeless! I'll beat that laziness out of your bones!"
"P-please, calm down!"
"Calm down!? Did you say calm down!?"
"Yes, Father! Please think about your health! You're not young anymore!"
Without another word, Jeong-han slammed Yeon-ho onto the bed.
Thud!
"Aaagh!"
Jeong-han raised his hand.
"You're getting a beating today!"
"Seriously, calm down!"
That night, the entire Guangdong Wi family estate echoed with the sounds of a pig being slaughtered.
---
"Let me see…"
"Ow!"
"Quiet!"
Han Sang-a pressed a bruised spot on her son's swollen eyelid.
"Oww!"
She smacked his back.
SMACK!
"Ow! What was that for!?"
"You deserved it! I told you to stop being so lazy!"
"I was going to get up before Dad got home…"
Watching her son grumble, Han Sang-a let out a deep sigh.
'It's all my fault…'
She looked at Yeon-ho's pouty face.
Of course, she didn't enjoy seeing her son this lazy.
But the reason she couldn't bring herself to be harsh with him… was because she felt responsible.
When Yeon-ho was young, Jeong-han had left on a martial journey.
At that time, she had just given birth to their youngest, Wi Su-ryeon. So she was raising a newborn while also managing the household affairs of a prestigious clan.
It was overwhelming. Even with ten hands, it wouldn't have been enough. She would collapse into bed each night, exhausted.
She still gave attention to her eldest, Wi San-ho, and the newborn Su-ryeon—but as a human, her capacity was limited. And the one caught in the middle, Yeon-ho, was the one she ended up neglecting.
It wasn't until San-ho left for the martial academy, and Jeong-han returned home to resume his duties, that Sang-a realized her middle child had grown into a hopeless slacker.
And she understood the reason.
It was because he didn't receive enough love and attention during the most formative years of his life.
'It's all my fault…'
She couldn't bring herself to be harsh on him—not when both she and his father had failed him.
So unlike how she treated San-ho and Su-ryeon, Sang-a became infinitely soft with Yeon-ho.
"To beat a child like this…"
Her eyes narrowed.
She had rushed in to rescue Yeon-ho, but it was already too late. His eye was a swollen mess.
"That man…"
She ground her teeth.
Sure, a little spanking during discipline was fine.
But this? How dare he beat up her precious son's face like this!?
"When are you going to stop being so lazy!?"
Yeon-ho flinched and shrank back.
Sang-a sighed deeply.
"From tomorrow, don't be lazy anymore. Okay? We don't want your father to blow up again."
"Okay!"
Looking at Yeon-ho's innocent grin, Sang-a sighed again.
---
"Grrrrr…"
Wi Jeong-han clutched his head and groaned.
"Is it because of the young master?"
The estate's steward, Jo Bang, asked gently.
"What else would I be worried about?"
Jo Bang smiled kindly.
"I'm sure the young master will mature soon."
"Mature?"
Jeong-han shook his head.
"No, no. Have you seen what that boy does? He's not the kind to come to his senses so easily."
"But he is the son of a warrior. He might be lazy now, but he'll walk the path of a warrior in time."
"Ugh…"
Jeong-han held his head.
A warrior? That was easy to say.
This was a kid who'd sleep for four straight days when asked to train. What kind of warrior is that?
"Why did we let him become like this!?"
Jo Bang looked visibly aggrieved.
"How could I possibly intervene when he's under the lady's protection?"
"Ugh…"
Jeong-han let out a long sigh.
"It's all my fault."
He had left on a martial journey when Yeon-ho was just two.
He thought it would take two years at most—but one thing led to another, and eight whole years had passed before he returned.
Sure, he earned the respected nickname Jeonghyeopgeom (Righteous Chivalry Sword), but the cost was too high.
His once gentle wife had become fiercer than a tiger. His son—once precious—was now a disgracefully lazy bum.
"They say, 'Cultivate yourself, manage your family, rule the nation, bring peace to the world.' A warrior's journey for self-cultivation isn't shameful."
Jo Bang tried to console him.
But the words stung.
"So you're saying I cultivated myself but failed to manage my family?"
"I didn't mean it that way."
"Well, you're not wrong."
Jeong-han's sigh deepened.
He never should've left.
He thought he had to go while he was still young. He wanted to solidify his path as a warrior before becoming fully tied to his household.
In truth, perhaps the burden of upholding the family legacy had just felt too heavy.
And that journey ruined his son.
"Sigh…"
Jo Bang smiled.
"Don't worry too much."
"How can I not worry?"
"Sir, the young master is smarter than he appears."
"Huh?"
"It's true. As a child, he was even smarter than the eldest. There was a moment when I wondered if the family succession might be shaken."
"Really?"
Jo Bang smiled.
"He has a solid foundation. So—"
"Foundation, maybe. But that's it."
Jeong-han smirked bitterly.
"What's the use of a great foundation when his attitude is rotten?"
"I wouldn't say rotten exactly…"
"Do you know what people call him?"
"…"
"They call him Nagwi—'Lazy Turtle'! The second son of the Great Guangdong Wi Clan is being called a turtle!"
"Lazy turtle…"
Jeong-han's eyebrow twitched.
"You were thinking it suits him, weren't you?"
Jo Bang waved his hands in denial.
"Of course not!"
"Grrr…"
Jeong-han jumped to his feet.
"This can't go on! I can't face my father in the afterlife like this! I have to fix that boy, no matter what it takes!"
"But… that won't be easy."
"If Sang-a would just stop interfering, I'd beat it out of him!"
Jeong-han choked on frustration.
But after eight years away from home, he became a meek, powerless man in front of Han Sang-a.
"Haah… this is my punishment."
Jeong-han sighed heavily.
Jo Bang smiled gently.
"But… there is a way."
"A way?"
"Yes. Have you forgotten? He's coming back soon."
A spark of hope lit up Jeong-han's face.
"That's right. Yeon-ho is about to meet the Grim Reaper."
He smiled brightly.
The one person Wi Yeon-ho feared more than anyone in the world… was now on his way home.