Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Unexpected Sparring
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The guests gathered in Hunwon Hall stared at Namgung Hyuk with baffled expressions.
A figure so ragged even the Beggar Clan beggars would avoid him had suddenly kicked open the doors to Hunwon Hall, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
What was even more absurd was that Namgung Ryong and the thirty Thunder Dragon Squad members trailing behind him looked no different.
They appeared to have rolled around in the dirt as a group, their hair disheveled topknots and bodies covered in filth and sweat.
‘Did they just come from a battlefield or something?’
Yet strangely, the only thing visible through their messy hair was eyes gleaming with fierce intensity.
‘Isn’t that Namgung Ryong in the back? What the hell happened?’
‘No way they showed up like that just to make an excuse for being late to the banquet.’
‘They don’t look right in the head.’
‘Damn, what did they do to end up looking like that?’
The crowd’s reactions varied wildly.
Namgung Hyuk ignored the stares pouring down on him and strode boldly through the throng toward the head table.
Peng Junghyuk scowled as he glared at the incoming beggar scum(?).
‘Namgung Hyuk?’
Behind him, Namgung Ryong and their escort warriors followed with flashing eyes.
“What? Ten moves?”
Namgung Hyuk glared and opened his mouth.
This little punk thought he could take care of someone in just ten moves?
‘Perfect timing, you bastard.’
He’d been in a foul mood ever since nearly crossing the River of Three Roads when the tunnel collapsed, but this fool was poking him just right.
“Show me.”
“……What?”
“I said, show me if you can do it in ten moves.”
Namgung Hyuk cocked his head sideways and looked up at Peng Junghyuk from below.
Peng Junghyuk stared back at him with a momentarily flustered face.
Geum Cheomsang’s mouth gaped open as if to scream while watching the bizarre standoff.
‘W-what the hell are you saying!’
What did he mean, do what?
Spar?
Here?
Geum Cheomsang was speechless at Namgung Hyuk’s attitude that defied all common sense.
‘Oh no, Young Master. What are you doing!’
But oblivious to Geum Cheomsang’s anguish, Namgung Hyuk’s forehead throbbed with veins, his body twitching as if he’d charge at Peng Junghyuk any second.
Just as he was about to leap like an enraged bull.
Grab.
“Huh?”
Namgung Ryong, standing behind him, yanked Namgung Hyuk by the collar.
“Hey, what!”
“No.”
“What! Don’t stop me—I’m seeing blood today! Didn’t you hear that punk?”
“Still no.”
“Why not?”
“I’ll do it.”
“So…… what?”
What did he just say?
“I’ll do it. Move.”
Namgung Ryong lightly pulled Namgung Hyuk aside.
Namgung Hyuk’s body was tugged away and shoved backward.
Whoa, the medicine really kicked in—his strength’s up too?
Namgung Hyuk blinked and stared at Namgung Ryong’s back.
He’s pissed?
Our young master knows how to get mad too?
Namgung Hyuk let out a low “Oh” of admiration.
Geum Cheomsang was stunned again at the sight.
‘W-what’s the Young Master doing now!’
First sparring with Wol Dam, and now he’s really influenced?
Geum Cheomsang quickly checked the Peng Clan side.
In his view, Peng Junghyuk was glaring at the brothers with fury.
‘It’s over.’
Done for. Already.
Peng Junghyuk narrowed his eyes and glared at the Namgung brothers bickering over who would spar.
‘Are they insane?’
Did they think he was a joke?
As he stepped forward, his eyes met Namgung Ryong’s.
Namgung Ryong’s eyes blazed with terrifying light.
“Spar.”
Peng Junghyuk flinched at Namgung Ryong’s aura, hand resting on his sword hilt as if to draw it any moment.
‘……So the Sword Dragon lives up to his name?’
Though slightly rattled, Peng Junghyuk didn’t show it and raised his own aura in response.
The two auras clashed in the air.
The tension stretched taut, silencing everyone in Hunwon Hall as they held their breath and watched.
It was then that Peng Cheonwi, who had been observing, stood up.
Thud!
He lightly struck the table, producing a strange resonance that instantly shattered Peng Junghyuk and Namgung Ryong’s auras.
“Tsk tsk. Doesn’t all that posturing make people uncomfortable?”
Peng Cheonwi murmured lowly as he walked over leisurely, prompting Peng Junghyuk to bow his head and step back.
The air shifted once more the instant Peng Cheonwi appeared.
He swept his gaze over Namgung Ryong and Namgung Hyuk.
But his words were slightly different from what the Namgung brothers expected.
“My son’s words were a bit excessive.”
“…….”
“I apologize. It’s not the act of a true man to speak of others behind their backs like that. Forgive my son’s rudeness.”
Peng Cheonwi bowed politely toward Namgung Ryong and his group.
“Oh…….”
Peng Cheonwi straightened his dignified posture and smiled lightly.
“But there’s one thing you all should know.”
“What……?”
“My son misspoke, yes, but no one denied those words.”
Namgung Ryong’s brow twitched faintly.
Peng Cheonwi’s lips curved into a subtle smile as he noted the reaction.
“Rumors from Anhui Province lately aren’t exactly flattering, after all. It’s only natural to think that way.”
At his words, Peng Junghyuk and the seated nobles snickered.
It was common knowledge among those in the know that the Nangong Clan was on the decline.
Namgung Hyuk tilted his head at the crowd’s reactions.
‘Typical righteous faction bastards. Tongues long enough to jump rope with.’
Just say if you wanna fight or not.
That’s all it takes.
Always laying the groundwork, same as ever.
Fed up, Namgung Hyuk twisted his lips and cut in.
“Hey, that sounds kinda off.”
“Hm?”
Peng Cheonwi narrowed his eyes slightly at Namgung Hyuk.
“So what’s your point?”
“Hahaha! Looks like the Nangong Clan’s second son is a real man!”
Peng Cheonwi laughed heartily and nodded.
“Yes, to the point. I apologized for the rudeness, but not for stating facts. Do you intend to prove my son wrong?”
Prove?
Was all this buildup just for that?
Namgung Hyuk sighed deeply.
“What’s so hard about that? Shall we start now?”
“No need to rush.”
“……Why not?”
Peng Cheonwi smiled faintly.
“Even if you beat my son, that proves your strength, not the Nangong Clan’s.”
“…….”
“One can’t judge a clan’s power by individual sparring. A clan’s might comes from its warriors, so how about pitting your escorts and main house guards against ours as well?”
Hunwon Hall buzzed at Peng Cheonwi’s proposal.
“If the Nangong Clan wins, you’ll not only prove your clan’s strength but gain fame for defeating our house warriors.”
Peng Cheonwi’s lip curled slyly.
He regarded Namgung Hyuk and Namgung Ryong with utmost leisure.
They couldn’t refuse.
With over a thousand eyes watching.
Backing down meant humiliation as they tucked tail; accepting meant perfection.
It would clearly show the gap between the Hebei Peng Clan and Nangong Clan.
“What say you?”
At Peng Cheonwi’s words, Namgung Hyuk’s lip curled into a grin.
What do I say?
Hell yeah, thanks.
Namgung Hyuk nodded vigorously at Namgung Ryong.
‘Crush them. Crush ‘em!’
Namgung Ryong’s brow trembled faintly.
He let out a small sigh of resignation and answered curtly.
“……Yes.”
Peng Cheonwi’s face bloomed with triumphant glee at Namgung Ryong’s reply.
Peng Junghyuk smirked bitterly from the side.
‘Idiots.’
He’d worried things might go awry without them showing, but it fell into place perfectly, leaving him satisfied.
His gaze swept over the Nangong Clan warriors.
All sloppy and pathetic.
No way they looked like proper warriors in their beggar rags.
Peng Junghyuk twisted his lips and glanced at Little Sword Princess So Hye-yeon in the nobles’ seats.
‘Foolish Sword Pavilion. You dare compare the Nangong Clan to our house?’
He didn’t like Sword Pavilion’s attitude either.
A minor sect huddled in a corner daring to act superior to his house? Unacceptable.
He ground his teeth inwardly, vowing to deal with that wench too.
Peng Yeonhwa, watching from the head table, bit her lower lip.
‘So this was the plan from the start!’
She’d suspected her father was scheming something at the banquet, but never imagined he’d push for a spar like this.
The conditions were overwhelmingly against the Nangong Clan.
The Hebei Peng Clan could deploy elite warriors, giving them a huge edge over the outnumbered Nangong Clan.
But there was nothing she could do.
The people in Hunwon Hall were already watching with rapt interest.
A match between Nangong Clan and Hebei Peng Clan? Of course they’d be hooked.
And so, at Peng Yeonhwa’s birthday banquet, a sudden spar between the Hebei Peng Clan and Nangong Clan was decided.
* * *
Geon Cheon-hwi stared blankly at Namgung Hyuk.
‘……What the hell is going on?’
Sparring with Hebei Peng Clan warriors out of nowhere?
How long had it been since they barely escaped alive through that tunnel?
And now, representing the Nangong Clan.
‘Everyone’s lost their minds.’
It’s all that tunnel’s fault.
The collapse drove them nuts.
Such an impulsive decision.
‘……But damn, it’s for the best. Those damn pricks rubbed me wrong from the start!’
Recalling their arrogant attitudes upon arriving at the Hebei Peng Clan, something bubbled up inside him.
“Kraha! Those morons. No one to fight, so they pick on Second Young Master! They’ll be buried underground crying before they come to their senses!”
“…….”
While Geon Cheon-hwi chuckled dryly, Namgung Hyuk patted Tak Hyukdong’s shoulder.
“You go first.”
“Yes, I’ll go first…… Yes?”
“Spar.”
“……W-why me?”
Tak Hyukdong jumped in alarm and looked at Namgung Hyuk.
“Didn’t you hear? They wanna see your skills too.”
“Can’t Second Young Master just go and smash them all?”
“Yeah, and then I’ll smash you.”
“……I’ll head out now.”
Tak Hyukdong tucked tail immediately.
Namgung Hyuk nodded with a pleased smile.
“Lose and you’re dead.”
“…….”
“Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Go.”
Namgung Hyuk jerked his chin.
Tak Hyukdong trudged to the sparring area with eyes full of grievance.
The onlookers’ eyes widened.
“……A Peng Clan warrior?”
“No…… Nangong Clan?”
“Why’s a Peng Clan guy in Nangong Clan?”
Basking in the fervent attention, Tak Hyukdong scratched his head.
A Fierce Tiger Squad warrior stepped into the sparring ring set up in Hunwon Hall.
A muscular brute radiating an ominous aura at a glance.
Truly a fittingly massive specimen of the Hebei Peng Clan.
The Fierce Tiger Squad’s Number Seven Squad Leader eyed the Thunder Dragon Squad arrogantly.
‘Never heard of these guys.’
Even he, who knew the Nangong Clan’s elites inside out, was clueless about the Thunder Dragon Squad.
“With that bulk, he’ll just flail around with a toothpick sword.”
Real men wielded blades, after all.
The Fierce Tiger Squad’s Number Seven Squad Leader drew his saber and glared at Tak Hyukdong.
Shing!
Tak Hyukdong reached back.
“……Huh?”
An axe the size of a man’s torso popped out, bulging the Fierce Tiger Squad warrior’s eyes like eyeballs.
W-what?
Why an axe?
The Nangong Clan doesn’t use swords?!
The Fierce Tiger Squad’s Number Seven Squad Leader gawked blankly at Tak Hyukdong.
“Y-you’re using that?”
“Why not?”
“Aren’t you the sword clan?”
“Can’t just eat and live! Being a sword clan doesn’t mean we only use swords!”
……What nonsense is that?
As everyone stared blankly at axe-wielding Tak Hyukdong.
He contorted his face viciously and raised the axe blade.
“……B-begin!”
With the call to start, Tak Hyukdong swung the axe wildly.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
“Huh, hup!”
The Fierce Tiger Squad warrior hastily raised his saber to block.
Clang!
“Huhuk!”
The immense strength shocked the Fierce Tiger Squad warrior.
Each clash shoved him back in leaps, chipping his blade’s teeth away.
Meanwhile, Tak Hyukdong’s axe swings grew blindingly faster and fiercer with time.
Whoosh! Boom! Whoosh-bang!
Strength filled Tak Hyukdong’s eyes.
Unprecedented vitality surged through his body.
Inner energy poured endlessly from his dantian, making the axe handle feel like it could split Mount Tai.
Feeling great, Tak Hyukdong grinned and shouted.
“This is looking pretty flimsy!”
“Urk, grr!”
“KraHAHA! Weak! Weak!”
His brutish axe strikes hammered down on the flustered Fierce Tiger Squad warrior’s saber like chopping firewood.
Craaaang!
With a deafening crash, the blade shattered and scattered everywhere.
Whoosh!
The axe halted before the Fierce Tiger Squad warrior’s eyes.
“Huuuuh!”
The warrior gulped deeply, stared dazedly at the axe blade, then collapsed.
The match ended in a flash.
Hunwon Hall fell into a suffocating silence.