Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: A Lavish Meal and an Accusation
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‘Huh, he’s here too?’
Not only was the Family Head in the patriarch’s chamber, but Nangong Ryong was there as well.
‘Oh, right. Family.’
Then it wasn’t weird to share a meal together.
“You’re here.”
“Yes.”
“Sit.”
Nangong Hyeok took a seat without a word.
As Nangong Jangcheon poured tea, he said,
“It’s Tieguanyin.”
A subtle tea aroma rose from the cup.
The deep, lingering scent was quite to his liking.
Nangong Hyeok sipped his tea while gauging the right moment to ask for more spirit elixirs.
While he pondered briefly, the food arrived.
Delicate dishes gradually filled the round table.
“Wow…….”
Nangong Hyeok couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
He’d eaten plenty of fine cuisine and indulged in luxuries over the past month, or so he thought—but clearly not.
The splendid array before him consisted of dishes he’d never even heard of, let alone seen.
They looked exquisite, ornate, and outrageously expensive.
‘As expected of the boss.’
The meals he’d had daily were impressive enough, but compared to this table, they were nothing.
‘The emperor would be jealous.’
Was it just the food that was top-tier?
The bowls and platters holding it gleamed brilliantly.
No way you could buy those for just a tael or two of silver.
“Let’s eat.”
Nangong Jangcheon and Nangong Ryong began eating in silence.
Nangong Hyeok eagerly picked up his chopsticks.
After hesitating briefly over what to try first, they darted toward a nearby steamed chicken dish.
“……!”
Nangong Hyeok’s eyes widened.
The tender chicken melted with sweet-and-sour notes hitting his tongue first, followed by a fiery spiciness that set his mouth tingling.
The umami lingering at the end was immense.
Each burst of broth in his mouth drew nonstop exclamations from him.
Crunch crunch!
His chopsticks danced swiftly through the air.
Slurp!
Noodles defied gravity, sucked straight into his mouth.
The chewy texture paired with the heavenly broth left him dizzy.
His stomach filled steadily, layer by layer.
Ahhh!
Nangong Hyeok patted his full belly with a small sigh of satisfaction.
‘I was a frog in a well.’
The world of cuisine had no end.
He’d been content with fine food, only to discover supreme delicacies beyond.
Even after sampling the variety, his tongue remembered each distinct flavor.
It was the kind of transcendent taste that made you lose your senses.
‘Good. So good.’
Nangong Hyeok felt bliss beyond mere satisfaction.
He’d just adapted to Nangong clan cuisine, and now this new delight.
He smacked his lips.
The aftertaste hadn’t faded yet.
“I’ll allow you one outing per month.”
Nangong Hyeok, staring dreamily at his empty bowl, turned his head.
“……One per month?”
“Your condition seems stable enough for that.”
Nangong Hyeok smirked.
He was the Undefeated Under Heaven.
He went where he wanted, ate what he craved.
Who in the world could stop him if he decided?
‘Fine. Whatever. I’ll just hop the wall again if needed.’
How hard could scaling one wall be?
He’d do it ten times a day if he had to.
Nangong Hyeok curled his lips and downed his Tieguanyin.
“Just so you know, don’t even think about hopping walls again.”
He flinched.
“I’ll let it slide this time, considering how cooped up you’ve been. But not next time. The clan has rules.”
Nangong Jangcheon scolded him sternly in a low voice.
Defying the patriarch’s order and sneaking out was a clear violation.
Nangong Jangcheon exhaled lightly.
“The clan’s elites mobilized to find you. What do you think you did wrong?”
Uh…… wasn’t the overprotection the real issue to begin with?
Just recently, he could barely run.
They’d made a fuss over him reading a single manual, so no way they’d casually permit outings.
He was lucky they hadn’t chained him to his quarters upon dragging him back.
Hopping the wall had been inevitable.
But saying that wouldn’t fly.
“I can run laps now, so why not let me go out?”
“Hm.”
“I’m eighteen. Almost twenty. Can’t stay cooped up forever, right?”
“That’s why I’m allowing one outing a month. Your body still isn’t fully…….”
“One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups, twenty-five li runs. Every day without fail. How much healthier do I need to be?”
Nangong Jangcheon’s eyes widened slightly.
Even average men couldn’t manage that easily.
For Nangong Hyeok—who’d had Nine Yin Severed Meridians and a body frail as porcelain, barely able to walk—to achieve such a miracle stirred overwhelming emotion.
“Ahem!”
Nangong Jangcheon turned his head and cleared his throat.
After a brief cough, he composed himself and spoke.
“Hm! We’ll consult the Medical Hall Head and decide on the outings.”
It wasn’t a firm answer, but Nangong Hyeok didn’t press.
Worst case, he’d hop the wall anyway.
He had one reason for coming here.
“Then, can I ask one favor?”
“What favor?”
The moment Nangong Jangcheon spoke, Nangong Hyeok bowed deeply.
“I want more spirit elixirs.”
“Spirit elixirs?”
“Yes. They seem to be working, so I’d like even better ones if possible…… There’s that saying: when you give, give big, right?”
Nangong Hyeok tacked on a plausible excuse, and Nangong Jangcheon nodded calmly.
“Fine. If they’re effective, you should take them.”
Huh? Easier than expected?
‘Oho, as expected of the Nangong clan.’
They could procure top-notch elixirs like it was nothing.
Sword King, you raised your descendants well.
Nangong Hyeok nodded contentedly.
“Yes, thank you.”
Nangong Jangcheon nodded.
“I’ll get them soon.”
“Thank you.”
Fine, you’re the old man, so I’ll bow once. Dad.
As Nangong Hyeok chuckled inwardly, fostering a warm atmosphere,
“No, you can’t do this!”
“Out of my way!”
A commotion erupted outside the door with rough shouts.
Nangong Hyeok sipped his tea indifferently.
‘Whoever it is, they’ve got guts. Making a scene in front of the patriarch’s chamber.’
Bang!
The door to the patriarch’s chamber flew open violently. It almost seemed like it might shatter.
Nangong Hyeok’s gaze turned to the door.
A middle-aged man with graying beard and a striking sword scar across his right eye stepped in.
His fierce eyes swept over everyone in the room.
‘Who’s that?’
As Nangong Hyeok wondered, the newcomer glared at Nangong Jangcheon with bulging eyes.
“Patriarch!”
His booming voice carried rage on the verge of explosion.
He looked ready to flip the table and draw his sword any second.
Nangong Jangcheon, mid-sip, turned his gaze.
“What’s the matter, Brother?”
Oh, brother?
Come to think of it, the patriarch had siblings, and Nangong Jangcheon was the younger one?
The younger brother overtook the elder to become patriarch!
Damn, more capable than he seemed?
‘No, that’s not the point.’
What mattered was why this guy burst in fuming.
‘What was his name again? Cheom-sang mentioned him…… Ah, Nangong Baek.’
Oho, that’s Nangong Baek. What a face.
‘But why’s he glaring at me?’
Nangong Hyeok tilted his head as their eyes met Nangong Baek’s murderous stare.
Nangong Baek’s face twisted, teeth grinding as he pointed at Nangong Hyeok and bellowed,
“Patriarch! Do you know what this brat did to my son?”
Slurp.
Nangong Hyeok pulled his lips from the cup and looked at Nangong Baek.
‘Huh? Me? What did I do?’
Is eating a crime now?
Nangong Hyeok stared in bewilderment, and Nangong Baek’s face flushed red.
“You little shit! Think you can play innocent!”
As Nangong Baek advanced like he’d lunge any moment, Nangong Jangcheon stood and calmly blocked his path.
“Move, Patriarch! I need answers from this brat!”
“Calm down and explain from the beginning.”
“No explaining needed! See for yourself!”
Nangong Baek shouted outside.
“What are you waiting for? Get in here!”
As Nangong Baek yelled, everyone’s eyes turned to the door.
Someone stepped across the threshold.
But their gait was off.
Thump, clunk. Thump, clunk.
All eyes fixed on the source of the footsteps.
Nangong So hobbled in, arms and legs wrapped in splints and bandages, crutches under his arms.
Nangong Hyeok’s gaze shifted to him.
‘Ah. That kid whose shoulder I bumped earlier is his son?’
Now Nangong Hyeok understood why Nangong Baek had stormed in.
The servant he’d clashed with on the way here must be Nangong Baek’s son.
But he came all this way for that?
These things happen in a chat.
No bloodshed was a win.
‘Ahem.’
Nangong Jangcheon’s eyes widened in shock.
“What happened to So? Why is he like that?”
Nangong Baek shouted triumphantly.
“Ask that brat why!”
“Hyeok did it?”
“This punk, still feigning innocence? Didn’t you break my son’s limbs!”
Nangong Baek’s neck veins bulged.
He radiated a vicious aura like he’d beat Nangong Hyeok to death on the spot.
Nangong Jangcheon, who’d been seriously blocking him, paused.
He glanced at Nangong Hyeok, then back to Nangong Baek.
“……Who?”
“I said this brat beat my son!”
“Hyeok beat So?”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
“So…….”
Nangong Jangcheon eyed Nangong Hyeok dubiously.
“You’re saying this boy broke So’s limbs?”
“Yeah, that’s right!”
Nangong Baek ranted wildly, but Nangong Jangcheon had only one thing to say.
“……How?”
“……Huh?”
Nangong Baek froze, while Nangong Jangcheon expressionlessly alternated glances between Nangong So and Nangong Hyeok.
“Brother, calm down and think rationally. How could our Hyeok break anyone?”
“Nangong Hyeok hurt my boy…….”
“Hyeok’s the one whose limbs would break, not break others’. Brother!”
“…….”
Nangong Baek’s eyes trembled faintly.
“No, but…….”
“A kid with Nine Yin Severed Meridians and an frail body did that to So? Brother, how absurd is that?”
“I know, but…… No, it’s not that I know…….”
“So you’re saying Nangong So, a martial artist, lost to our Hyeok, who’s weaker than a commoner?”
“…….”
Nangong Baek’s eyes darted around. Glancing back and forth between Nangong Hyeok and Nangong So, he grew confused.
Nangong So shook his head vehemently.
No, absolutely not!
His eyes and gestures screamed it.
Nangong Baek grimaced at the sight, thrusting a finger toward Nangong Hyeok.
“You explain. No dodging…….”
“Ahem!”
“Speak up! You and my son’s……!”
“Ahem! Ahem!”
“Limbs……!”
“Cough! Cough!”
“You broke them, didn’t you!”
“Cough, cough!”
“You brat! Why are you coughing on purpose……!”
“Hack! Hrrk!”
Nangong Hyeok’s torso heaved repeatedly.
Nangong Baek stared in bafflement.
“What’s with this punk…….”
“Hrrk! Haaack!”
As Nangong Baek opened his mouth to yell, he gaped.
Nangong Hyeok, coughing as if vomiting blood, actually spat blood.
Spurt! Splatter!
Nangong Baek’s pointing finger curled, his pupils losing focus.
“……A-Are you okay?”
“Haaaack!”
Nangong Hyeok’s vomiting blood peaked, and Nangong Jangcheon steadied him from the side.
“Hyeok, breathe! Breathe!”
Pressing pressure points, Nangong Jangcheon glared at Nangong Baek and his son.
“Brother!”
The father and son’s eyes wandered aimlessly.
Seeing Nangong Hyeok gasping, Nangong Baek stammered,
“W-Wait. Let me check something and come back. No, kid, if you’re suddenly vomiting blood…… Just wait!”
“Uh, Father?”
“What are you doing? Hurry up and follow!”
Nangong Baek dragged Nangong So out.
Thump, clunk, clunk clunk clunk!
Nangong So’s crutches pounded the floor vigorously as they vanished quickly.
Nangong Hyeok glanced at the waddling pair, then straightened up.
“Phew.”
He calmly wiped his mouth with a cloth.
‘Whew, thought I was done for.’
He dabbed the sweat beading on his forehead.
Opening his eyes slyly, he saw Nangong Jangcheon staring blankly at him.
“……You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“T-That wasn’t a light cough…….”
Nangong Hyeok chuckled dryly.
“Just something caught in my throat.”
Something caught in your throat and you spew that much blood?
That sounds serious?
Reading Nangong Jangcheon’s mind, Nangong Hyeok grinned.
“Just one bowl of spirit elixir and I’ll be good. They’re working these days.”
“…….”
“Really.”
“…….”