Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Zhongnan's Complaint
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Namgung Chang chattered excitedly about his exploits with a thrilled expression.
"Brothers! I crushed them! I ground those Zhongnan bastards into the dirt!"
His booming voice carried unmistakable pride.
For Namgung Chang, how could he not be excited?
Over the past two years, he'd been at odds with the Zhongnan Three Hounds like bitter enemies, and now he'd beaten them to a pulp. It was impossible not to feel good.
The sight of Haedong shrieking and begging for mercy kept flashing in his mind, filling him with satisfaction.
Never had coming to the Hero Hall felt this exhilarating.
Namgung Chang enthusiastically boasted about his feat of thrashing the Zhongnan Three Hounds.
Watching him prattle on from the front, Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung whispered among themselves.
"You really beat them too hard. Their faces were unrecognizable."
"Kehahaha! Just seeing the Third Young Master from now on will make them piss themselves!"
"Isn't this an achievement? An achievement? The tournament hasn't even started, and we already smashed Zhongnan Sect disciples!"
Even if it was just kids fighting, winning was far better than losing, right?
Namgung Ryong patted Namgung Chang's shoulder with a pleased look.
". . . Good work."
"The youngest, Namgung Chang! I won't let you down!"
"Work hard . . . ."
"I'll work hard!"
Namgung Chang bellowed his response and glanced to the side.
Namgung Hyeok was munching on snacks, looking unimpressed.
"What's all the fuss about something so obvious? You're such a punk—beating Zhongnan Sect is something to brag about?"
Geum Cheomsang scolded him.
"No, but we did win, didn't we? Young Master, you should've seen it. It was no joke. Even someone like me who knows nothing about martial arts could tell it was . . . ."
"What does an ignorant fool like you know to be yapping?"
"That's how amazing it was. Bluntly put, in just ten days—and with an injured body no less—he took down three Zhongnan Sect guys!"
"Hah! What can I even say?"
He wasn't even thinking about how he'd turned a good-for-nothing into a proper person in ten days.
And not just any good-for-nothing?
It was a top-tier idiot who'd been getting beaten by Zhongnan Sect riffraff!
The guy could barely recite the Thousand Character Classic properly, and his only martial art was the Thunderclap Fist.
Among all the martial arts in the Nangong Clan, it was astonishing that he hadn't mastered a single one properly.
He'd turned such a guy into something resembling a human.
Even giving him a beating disguised as acupuncture point interrogation!
Did these fools have any idea how incredible that was?
And on top of that, personality education.
"You punks, listen. Uh? Sigh, forget it. Why bother explaining? Damn it, what's the point."
Namgung Hyeok let out a deep sigh and clicked his tongue.
Seeing Namgung Hyeok like that, Namgung Chang's eyes sparkled.
'This is all thanks to little bro!'
At first, the absurd violence had ground his teeth, but catching the Zhongnan Three Hounds had made him realize something.
His body felt much lighter than usual, and his internal energy flowed faster and more freely.
Anyone, even a three-year-old, could tell it was thanks to the ten days of training with Namgung Hyeok.
'They were guys I couldn't beat for two whole years.'
Just ten days.
In a mere ten days, Namgung Hyeok had elevated him to a level where he could crush the Zhongnan Three Hounds. There was no doubting his ability.
Namgung Chang looked at Namgung Hyeok with eyes full of admiration.
"Little bro! This is all thanks to you! Thank you so much!"
"Did you take the head of a demon?"
". . . Pardon?"
"Don't like it. It's embarrassing, seriously. Any stray mutt passing by could do that much if I taught it, so stop being so grateful. You're making me doubt myself."
Namgung Hyeok clamped Namgung Chang's mouth shut.
Suddenly treated like a dog, Namgung Chang stared blankly.
But he soon gaped in shock.
'He says he could teach even a stray mutt?'
In the world!
He stuck out his thumb.
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue lightly at the sight.
At that moment, Geum Cheomsang cautiously asked.
"But won't the Zhongnan Sect just sit still? Even if it was kids fighting, their disciples got beaten like that. What if they raise a formal complaint . . . ."
Namgung Hyeok snorted derisively.
"Pfft, why would they brag about getting beaten?"
"It could be a problem."
"It's not like we cut off their arms or broke their bones. They just got pummeled unconscious—that's all, right?"
". . . That's more than enough to be a problem."
"Oh come on, everything's a problem. You think they'll come complaining? Don't they have anything better to do?"
It was the moment Namgung Hyeok smirked mockingly.
Bang!
The courtyard gate flew open as if it might shatter, and Zhongnan Sect disciples in navy robes poured in.
Leading them, Hyun Gung cleared his throat.
"The Zhongnan Sect has business with the Nangong Clan!"
. . . Huh?
They actually came?
Namgung Hyeok's eyes widened as he stared at the Zhongnan Sect disciples who had appeared in the courtyard.
Geum Cheomsang narrowed his eyes and looked at Namgung Hyeok.
". . . What did I say?"
"Don't they have anything better to do."
"No, that's not the point."
"Damn, they're not dead—why make a fuss?"
". . . ."
"Right?"
Namgung Hyeok shrugged.
Hyun Gung glared at the chuckling Namgung Hyeok.
Hyun Gong stepped forward from the side.
"Are you the Nangong Clan's representative?"
Namgung Hyeok shook his head and nodded toward Namgung Ryong.
"Not me—over there."
The three Zhongnan disciples bristled at Namgung Hyeok's cheeky attitude.
"That guy's . . . !"
"Hah! Talking to senior brother like . . . ."
Hyun Gung furrowed his brow but raised a hand to silence the three disciples.
He turned and looked toward Namgung Ryong.
Namgung Ryong met his gaze with an expressionless face.
In an instant, an intense battle of auras erupted in the air, invisible sparks flying.
'Don't your eyes hurt?'
Namgung Hyeok snickered from behind.
What kind of pointless staring contest was this?
'If you're pissed, just throw a punch.'
Tsk tsk.
Orthodox faction folks only knew how to raise their voices and glare.
Then, Hyun Gong stepped forward again.
"I am Zhongnan Sect's third disciple, Hyun Gong, and this is my senior brother, the great senior disciple Hyun Gung."
Namgung Ryong stared blankly at the two, and Geum Cheomsang quietly stepped forward.
"This is the Nangong Clan's eldest young master, Namgung Ryong."
Hyun Gung swept his gaze over Namgung Ryong.
'Namgung Ryong? The Nangong Clan's heir. He has a pretty solid presence for someone from a declining clan.'
For the heir of the waning Nangong Clan, his aura wasn't bad at all.
Hyun Gong glanced at Hyun Gung and continued.
"We came after hearing that our sect's disciples had an unfortunate incident with the Nangong Clan. What are you lot doing? Come out here!"
Hyun Jong dragged out the Zhongnan Three Hounds.
Their bodies were covered in bruises, limbs wrapped in bandages—a pitiful sight.
Their limping gait only added to the wretchedness.
"We heard the Nangong Clan's third young master did this to these boys."
". . . ."
"Not even a proper spar, but a sneak attack that left our sect's disciples like this—is that true? That's why we're here. The one involved, explain yourself to me!"
Hyun Gong glared at the Nangong Clan members.
Their gazes briefly lingered on Namgung Chang before returning.
Geum Cheomsang swallowed hard.
"It was just a minor scuffle . . . ."
"Minor scuffle? Does this look minor!"
"But we heard the Zhongnan Sect disciples started it."
"Let the person involved speak. Why are you talking for them?"
Hyun Jong glared sharply at Geum Cheomsang, who flinched and hid behind Namgung Ryong.
Namgung Ryong stared at Hyun Gong and opened his mouth.
"Provocation . . . first."
"What?"
"My brother . . . self-defense."
His speech was halting, but his intent was firm.
As Hyun Gong scowled and glared at Namgung Ryong,
Hyun Gung smiled softly and reined him in.
"My junior brother seems a bit agitated, Young Master Namgung Ryong."
". . . ."
"I'll apologize on his behalf."
Hyun Gung bowed politely, and Namgung Ryong nodded faintly.
Hyun Gung smiled amiably and said.
"We have no intention of escalating a children's squabble."
"Me neither . . . ."
"The tournament is less than half a month away— what's the gain in making a fuss? Don't you agree, Young Master Namgung Ryong?"
". . . Yes."
"But."
Hyun Gung paused and looked at Namgung Ryong.
His amiable smile had turned icy, and the Zhongnan Sect's three great disciples curled their lips.
"No matter how I think about it, something's off."
". . . ?"
"My nephews may be lacking, but they're prodigies among the fourth-generation disciples. But isn't Young Master Namgung Chang the dullard who always ranked last in the Kirin Division and eventually got demoted to the Tiger Hero Division with mid- and small-sect later-generation disciples?"
Namgung Ryong's expression hardened slightly, shifting the mood.
But Hyun Gung pressed on regardless.
"Even if it was a sneak attack, I can't understand how they lost to Young Master Namgung Chang."
"That's . . . ."
"It doesn't make sense, does it? My nephews rank in the top at the Hero Hall, yet all three lost to the bottom-ranker Namgung Chang!"
Hyun Gung raised his voice and swept his gaze around.
Namgung Ryong furrowed his brow, Geum Cheomsang paled and gaped silently.
Namgung Chang behind them bristled but held back, and even the Thunder Dragon Squad stayed quiet.
Hah, that bastard's insulting us while smiling?
Namgung Hyeok stared at Hyun Gung in disbelief.
'I can guess the bullshit he's about to spew.'
Namgung Hyeok stared at Hyun Gung and covered his mouth.
"Pfft."
Hyun Gung's eyes narrowed. His gaze locked onto Namgung Hyeok standing behind Namgung Ryong.
Namgung Hyeok looked off at distant mountains, rubbing his mouth.
Hyun Gung tilted his head, then continued.
"Some say they saw Nangong Clan warriors near the Dragon-Phoenix Division. Doesn't that make it simple?"
". . . ."
"We can't help but think the Nangong Clan used dirty tricks! Isn't that . . . ."
"Pfft!"
Hyun Gung whipped his head around.
Namgung Hyeok's face, rubbing his mouth, bore an unmistakable grin.
One corner of his mouth twisted in clear mockery.
'Laughing?'
This was the punk who'd rubbed him wrong from first sight, so his words came out sharp.
"Young master! What's so funny? Are you laughing right now . . . ."
"People try everything."
"What?!"
"Oh. Just talking to myself. Talking to myself."
Namgung Hyeok chuckled as he looked at Hyun Gung.
Geon Cheon-hwi urgently whispered from the side.
"Young master, you should stop . . . ."
"No, stop what?"
"That guy's head looks like it's about to explode."
"Yeah, let it. I'll give him a round. He's picking a fight, asking for it."
"With the tournament making things chaotic, if it comes to that . . . ."
"It's fine, fine. Where's quieter than here?"
"Ah."
Geon Cheon-hwi let out a light exclamation at Namgung Hyeok's words.
The spot they were in was an empty annex in the corner of the Orthodox Alliance's outer quarters—a place few people visited.
More secluded than a back alley, if anything.
"But still, the tournament's soon . . . ."
Namgung Hyeok rolled up his sleeves and said.
"They're thrashing around begging to get beat—gotta meet expectations."
". . . Since when?"
"Starting now works."
Geon Cheon-hwi was speechless at Namgung Hyeok's wicked grin.
As Namgung Hyeok smirked and stepped forward,
Thud!
The silent Namgung Ryong suddenly stomped.
"Insult!"
His low but heavy voice echoed in the quiet space, drawing all eyes.
"I won't tolerate."
. . . Huh?
Namgung Hyeok's eyes widened.
As he marveled at Namgung Ryong revealing rare anger,
"I'll prove it, myself!"
Namgung Ryong drew his sword from his waist entirely and slammed it into the ground with a thud.
The Zhongnan Sect folk flinched at his boldness.
"Hmm! Yes, respect for elders."
Namgung Hyeok slyly lowered his sleeves and watched Namgung Ryong with keen interest.