58 Chapter 57 (1/2)
”I-I guess that's true.”\t
Shim-gu had further questions.
”So, what on earth am I meant to do? If I just praise them and stop comparing them to others, is that enough?”
”In addition to that, you should be like a steady fence to your children.”
”But how am I meant to discipline them? They'll most probably just walk all over me.”
”Don't you know a fence has thorns on it? When they cross the line, you can simply stick one of your thorns out.”
”Ah!”
”You can just let them grow and roll around within your fence. And, following the rate of their growth, you can increase the size of your fence.”
”But how do I know how much should I increase the fence size?”
”I'm not telling you to widen the fence thoughtlessly. When your sons stop wanting to jump over the fence, and instead wish to protect the fence, that will be the day that you can stop widening it.”
”When will that be?”
”You'll know that when it comes. How would I know?”
”...what?”
”I've already said this much, do you want me to personally feed you as well?”
After this, whilst Shim-gu initially found it awkward, he followed Kang-hyuk's advice, and the results were astonishing. Their achievements grew at a rapid rate, and along with it, their personalities, which had been a little rough around the edges, began to smoothen out.
Many years later, Shim-gu had asked Kang-hyuk.
”Clan Leader, how did you have such good advice on the proper raising of children despite being unmarried, and not having any children?”
Kang-hyuk had grinned at his question.
”Well, that's because I looked into the subject.”
”Sorry?”
”Training all of you was one way, and I also read a book that was in the Clan Library: 'The Battle of Educating Children'.”
”…you were interested in such a book?”
”I read it with the thought that I too would one day become a parent, and so it would be better to study the subject in advance.”
”What? St-study?”
”Do you become a parent by simply birthing a child? If you really want to play the role of a parent, don't you have to study it well?”
”....”
”Studying is a never-ending process throughout life.”
”I see. So, do you have any fair maidens in mind to be your wife?”
*Pok!*
”Argh! That hurt!”
”I hit you so that it would hurt.”
”Why on earth did you hit me this time?”
Kang-hyuk simply sighed.
”I know right? Why would I have to hit you?”
”Huh?”
Leaving the conversation unfinished, Kang-hyuk silently went back to Museongjeon, the Clan Leader's residence while Shim-gu stared blankly at his back.
Time had flowed by since then.
Kang-hyuk had retired, becoming the retired Clan Leader. Shim-gu's wife had passed away from old age, and so he had retired to the outskirts of Nakyang.
Yet Kang-hyuk still remained unmarried.
As Shim-gu played with the morning glory vines, he muttered under his breath.
”Why has elder Hyung-nim remained unmarried till now?”
”I didn't know you were so curious about my marriage.”
”Huh?!”
Shim-gu jumped up to his feet, and turned around at the sound of a familiar voice. By the gate of the residence stood Kang-hyuk.
”El-elder Hyung-nim!”
”Call me Seonsaengnim. I'm a horticulture teacher right now.”
”Yes, Seonsaengnim.”
Kang-hyuk clicked his tongue after scrutinizing Shim-gu's outer appearance.
”Byeonyeongsul and the Hidden Qi stone…tsk tsk.”
It was of course, Kang-hyuk.
Despite Shim-gu having changed his outer appearance with the Byeonyeongsul technique and having worn an earring embedded with the Hidden Qi stone, Kang-hyuk recognized him with a single glance.
”Aren't you wearing the employee uniform?”
”I'm working in the cleaning department.”
”The cleaning department?”
”Yes.”
”It can't be that the reason for that is so you could catch a spy?”
Shim-gu recoiled slightly at Kang-hyuk's intense gaze, and simply confessed.
In his experience, if one tried to hide something, a more severe beating would be received, and so, he decided to confess everything to avoid this.
”Tr-truthfully, it was because I wanted to be beside you. That's why I was in the cleaning department…”
”So, while you were hiding your identity, you happened to find a spy?”
”Exactly.”
Kang-hyuk stroked his chin.
”Well, it's like catching a rat on the back of an ox, but it's still praiseworthy. You did well.”
”Thank you.”
”So…do you intend to keep working as a cleaner?”
Shim-gu looked at Kang-hyuk nervously, and nodded.
He knew that if Kang-hyuk said that he could no longer work, there would be no other option, and he would have to leave.
”I'm asking just in case, but do you want to remain by my side in the hopes of experiencing an electrifying blood-spilling battle like the old days?”
”What do you mean?”
Kang-hyuk sighed at Shim-gu's question, then spoke.
”I'm tired of all of that, and I'd like to live my life peacefully for now.”
Shim-gu scratched his head.
”I'm not a blood-crazed pervert, so why would I have such thoughts?”
”I guess that's true.”
”And I'm tired as well.”
Kang-hyuk looked at Shim-gu. Shim-gu then continued.
”And elder Hyung-nim- I mean Seonsaengnim, seeing as we spent our days of warfare together, now I just wish to spend our days of peace together as well. Is this really...not possible?”
Kang-hyuk could feel the sincerity in Shim-gu's words.
”Well, I suppose there's no reason why it can't be.”
Shim-gu's face lit up.
”Also, I'm uncomfortable with the idea that there are rats lurking around within the school I work at.”
Kang-hyuk had said so whilst recalling his conversation with Mu-jin, in which Mu-jin had said that there were 'rats' with their eyes out for the Academy.
Having Shim-gu at the Academy would mean that his workload in removing the said rats would be reduced by at least half.
'If a talented man like Shim-gu who used to simply play around and eat insists on working, we can't just let him play and eat, he'll have to do some work! Indeed!'
Unaware of Kang-hyuk's thought processes, Shim-gu immediately prostrated.
”Th-thank you!”
Kang-hyuk turned around after having received Shim-gu's gratitude, in preparation of leaving to Yeongyowon.
”Ah! Did you say you worked in the cleaning department?”
”Ye-yes, I did.”
”Now that you're here, you can leave after cleaning my residence.”
”Sorry?”
”I guess I'll see you later!”
Kang-hyuk left for Yeongyowon after having dispatched the work of cleaning his residence to Shim-gu.