Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Persistent Escape Attempts
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Nangong Hyuk, who had been circulating his energy on the bed, slowly opened his eyes.
A clear light gleamed in the darkness.
His gaze swept left and right.
He had started meditating from evening, and before he knew it, pitch-black darkness had enveloped everything.
‘Peng Clan.’
The atmosphere in the Hebei Peng Clan wasn’t great, but that was for Nangong Ryong to worry about.
After all, Nangong Ryong was the leader of their group.
All he had to do was attend the birthday banquet for the Peng Clan’s young lady.
‘There’s still time until the banquet.’
So, it was time to get to what he needed to do next?
Glancing out the window, even the moon was hidden behind clouds, as if a black curtain had been drawn across the sky.
‘Perfect night for scaling walls.’
Nangong Hyuk let out a low chuckle.
So Hye-yeon, who had been swinging her sword in the training grounds all day, was nowhere to be seen now, and the Thunder Dragon Squad was quiet.
Geum Cheomsang had passed out long ago.
‘Time to go look for that pill refining manual, then?’
When the Great Demonic Blood Calamity broke out, orthodox experts had fled from the demon cultists all the way to Beijing, and Hong Mok had been among that group.
Nangong Hyuk was certain that Hong Mok had left behind his secret manual at the place where the orthodox group had hidden until the very end.
Hong Mok had been obsessively devoted to recording and preserving pill refining techniques.
There was no way a guy like that would let his final insights just be buried.
It had to be there.
And he’d already roughly figured out the location through his black spot.
‘Just have to go there.’
Nangong Hyuk quietly rose from his spot.
He opened the door silently and took a few steps outside when he suddenly froze at a strange sensation.
It felt like his nape was prickling.
Nangong Hyuk’s gaze slowly turned to the side.
Turning his head, he saw two eyes gleaming with clear light in the darkness, looking down at him.
It was Nangong Ryong.
“……Damn, you scared me.”
He’d thought it was a statue standing there so still.
‘Is he a real ghost? No presence at all.’
He even had the illusion that he couldn’t hear the guy’s heartbeat or breathing.
Nangong Ryong stood utterly motionless and spoke quietly.
“Go back inside.”
Go back inside? Me?
Ha!
“I was just heading to the outhouse. The outhouse is over there…….”
Without a word, Nangong Ryong grabbed Nangong Hyuk by the nape.
It felt like his nape was being pulled, then his body was yanked straight up.
Nangong Hyuk’s eyes went wide.
“Hey, hey, this is kinda embarrassing! What’s with that cloth?”
Nangong Ryong stood on tiptoe and bound the flailing Nangong Hyuk with the cloth in an instant.
It was swift and precise, even in the darkness.
Nangong Ryong said bluntly.
“It’s cold outside.”
Hey, that’s overprotective.
Cold my ass……
Whiiiiiish!
A biting gale like the fierce winds of Anhui turned into a mere breeze made Nangong Hyuk shrink back.
Wait, was it always this cold here?
But it wouldn’t break Nangong Hyuk’s will.
He couldn’t yield to a little cold.
“I need the outhouse…… ugh, mmph!”
“You’ll catch a cold.”
As soon as Nangong Hyuk shivered, Nangong Ryong wrapped cloth over his face too.
While he struggled muffled, Nangong Ryong hoisted him over his shoulder.
“Mmph! Mmph!”
‘……No, I need to get out! Damn, he’s my brother, can’t hit him.’
Nangong Ryong placed Nangong Hyuk back on the bed.
Creak, thud.
After setting Nangong Hyuk on the bed, Nangong Ryong quietly left the room as if his task was complete.
Nangong Hyuk stared blankly at the door.
“Does that guy not sleep?”
……But how did he know I was planning to sneak out tonight?
It felt weird, like his intentions had been seen through.
‘Hah, does that matter?’
You think that’ll stop me from going?
There are plenty of doors and windows.
Nangong Hyuk twisted a few times, and the bindings came loose.
Heh, smirking, Nangong Hyuk hooked his foot on the windowsill.
Just leap out like this……
Huh?
“…….”
“…….”
Outside the window, Nangong Ryong stared at him with an expressionless, blunt gaze.
Nangong Hyuk looked at him with a blank face.
How did he know about this too?
Nangong Ryong said in a low but firm voice.
“Go back inside.”
“……Yeah. Was just gonna close the window.”
Nangong Hyuk laughed awkwardly, lowered his raised foot quietly, and shut the window.
He flopped back onto the bed and frowned slightly.
‘Ah, looks like I can’t get out tonight.’
Things were getting complicated.
But Nangong Hyuk wasn’t one to give up easily.
He’d already made up his mind to go, so he would.
From the looks of it, though, Nangong Ryong was determined tonight.
Sneaking out right now seemed impossible.
‘I’ll go tomorrow instead.’
He wouldn’t guard all day, right?
And judging by Beijing’s weather, he needed to gear up more solidly.
‘Can’t freeze to death while hunting for that pill refining manual, right?’
My body’s precious.
Nangong Hyuk lay down, postponing his plan to tomorrow.
* * *
The next day, as soon as morning came, Nangong Hyuk sprang up and busily got ready.
He layered on thicker sheepskin clothes than yesterday, then draped a coat made of silken fabric over them.
‘Is this enough?’
He’d felt it briefly stepping out last night, but Beijing’s winds were fiercer than expected.
Anhui’s gales seemed tame in comparison.
Beijing’s wind cut like knives into the flesh.
Geum Cheomsang tilted his head as he poured steaming tea from a cup.
“Were you that cold last night? Shall I check the bedding again?”
“It was freezing. Nearly died. You have no idea what I went through last night.”
“……What happened?”
“Never mind, Nangong…… No. Forget it.”
Geum Cheomsang gave him a strange look as Nangong Hyuk swallowed his words.
“Did something happen?”
“What do you mean? The weather’s goddamn awful. How do people live in a place like this?”
“The emperor does.”
“Oh.”
Nangong Hyuk shook his head and stuffed a shovel and pickaxe into a large sack.
Geum Cheomsang narrowed his eyes and sidled closer.
“Why are you packing those? Going somewhere?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not up to something weird again, are you?”
“Don’t interfere.”
Geum Cheomsang let out a hollow laugh at Nangong Hyuk’s serious face.
“You look just like a grave robber.”
……Not far off.
It was about digging up the secrets left by the dead Hong Mok, after all.
Nangong Hyuk peeked out the window and rolled his eyes side to side.
“No one around?”
“Yes. The Thunder Dragon Squad ate breakfast and went back to their lodgings ages ago.”
“And our young master?”
“No idea.”
“Doesn’t matter, they’re gone. Perfect.”
What else would they do in someone else’s house after breakfast?
Tour the place or hole up in their rooms.
“Alright, let’s go?”
This was striking when they least expected it.
Who’d imagine he’d scale the wall right after breakfast?
Geum Cheomsang tugged lightly at Nangong Hyuk’s sleeve.
“Your tea’s getting cold. Have a cup. It’s cold out, you said.”
“Oh, my loyal servant.”
“Just doing my duty.”
Nangong Hyuk took the cup from Geum Cheomsang and blew on it before sipping.
“I’ll go check on So Hui for a bit.”
“Go ahead.”
“Yes, sir!”
Geum Cheomsang went out.
Nangong Hyuk gulped down the tea.
Feeling his stomach warm up, he steadied his breathing.
He planned to dash to the Hebei Peng Clan’s wall in one go with the Blood Wind God technique.
Fully geared, nothing could stop him.
He flung open the door and charged out energetically.
Swoosh!
Nangong Hyuk vanished like the wind.
The door slammed shut. How much time passed?
Creeeak.
Bang.
Just as the hinges screamed, Nangong Hyuk, who had vanished like the wind, came trudging back.
More precisely, Nangong Ryong was trudging from behind, dragging Nangong Hyuk by the nape.
Drag, drag……
Nangong Hyuk shot Nangong Ryong a dissatisfied look.
‘Seriously, why train right in front of the door?’
Nangong Hyuk stared at him in disbelief.
Thud.
Nangong Ryong politely seated Nangong Hyuk on the bed and left the room as if his task was done.
“…….”
Geum Cheomsang returned, tilting his head.
“Didn’t you say you were going out?”
“……Hah, how do I even slip away?”
“Why bother slipping away at all? It’s insane weather—stay inside.”
“Shut up. I’m going out no matter what today.”
“Yes, yes.”
“This punk, mocking me now that I’m caught?”
“As if.”
Nangong Hyuk glared at the door with a sullen face and steeled his resolve.
“I’m definitely getting out today.”
* * *
Drag, drag……
Before lunch, Nangong Hyuk attempted another escape, only to be dragged back by Nangong Ryong as expected.
After getting caught a few times, he’d even figured out how to angle his body for the least discomfort.
Nangong Hyuk let out a hollow laugh.
“……How do you always run into me right at the wall?”
This time, it was like he’d been waiting—right at the wall. It was maddening.
As Nangong Hyuk laughed hollowly, Nangong Ryong set him down on the bed.
“Cold. Stay here.”
“…….”
“Be still.”
With those curt words, he turned and left as if his task was complete.
Nangong Hyuk exhaled in dazed defeat.
‘How does this guy find me every time? His senses can’t be better than mine.’
Well, maybe.
Thanks to Beijing’s knife-like winds, this damn body was going haywire.
Senses naturally picked up on anomalies from minor things.
Like how prolonged immersion in cold water numbed the senses—Beijing’s weather had indeed dulled his movements somewhat.
So Nangong Ryong might be tracking his presence.
Or his own senses were weakened.
But……
‘How does he know exactly when I’m escaping to lie in wait?’
He wasn’t watching him 24/7.
‘Watching?’
Nangong Hyuk eyed suspiciously the direction Nangong Ryong had gone, then whipped his head around.
Geum Cheomsang, who’d been watching him, flinched and looked away.
Nangong Hyuk’s eyes narrowed.
Geum Cheomsang poured fresh tea and said.
“Have some to warm up. Goodness, it’s getting colder by the day here.”
“Hmm.”
“I’ll fetch some snacks.”
“Sure.”
Geum Cheomsang went out as Nangong Hyuk sipped his tea.
Looking around furtively, he scurried off to find Nangong Ryong.
“Young master! Good work.”
“…….”
“Right? But what can we do? The Family Head said absolutely no mishaps until the schedule’s done.”
“…….”
“Anyway, he announced he’d escape today for sure, so no slacking. I told the Thunder Dragon Squad too—report if they spot him.”
Geum Cheomsang continued as Nangong Ryong nodded.
“His escape routes are predictable anyway. Just guard the walls well. He’s addicted to wall-scaling, so that’s key. Spread the Thunder Dragon Squad to block paths.”
“Got it.”
“Phew, really. Just tough it out a few days. I’ll keep watch too. Alright!”
Geum Cheomsang bowed and headed to gather snacks from the storage.
As he hummed and picked them out.
A voice that shouldn’t have been there came from behind.
“Wow, I suspected, but didn’t expect a traitor in our midst.”
Tap.
Geum Cheomsang dropped the candy box he was holding and stiffened.
Huh?
Huh?
What?
Geum Cheomsang turned with a face like stone.
Nangong Hyuk stood right behind, smirking with one corner of his mouth curled.
Geum Cheomsang swallowed hard.
“……Young master. I was just worried about you.”
Nangong Hyuk smiled thinly.
“They say you can’t trust anyone in the world. Fell for it hook, line, and sinker?”
“H-Hook, line? As the one responsible for your health, the Family Head specially instructed me…….”
“Cheomsang.”
“Yes?”
“We have a lot to talk about.”
“Y-Young master?”
Nangong Hyuk grabbed Geum Cheomsang by the nape and lifted him up.
Flail, flail.
“Y-Young master!”
“Even with the Thunder Dragon Squad watching? You despicable traitor!”
“Y-Young master, I was just doing my duty…….”
“In the unorthodox sects, betrayal means death.”
“W-We’re the Nangong Clan! Young master, young master?!”
No matter how Geum Cheomsang flailed, he couldn’t escape Nangong Hyuk’s iron grip.
With a pale face, Geum Cheomsang cried out desperately.
“Sp-Spare me! Spare…….”
Drag, drag……
“Spaaaare meee! Kaaaaah!”
Geum Cheomsang’s pitiful screams echoed through the annex.