Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Thunder Dragons' Resolve
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Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung gathered in a warehouse built off to one side of the training grounds.
Geon Cheon-hwi fiddled repeatedly with the saber at his waist, his face lost in thought. Tak Hyeok-dong chuckled from beside him.
"Ain't we got 'em in line roughly? They listen well enough now. And those Inner Court bastards got some backbone, so it's fun breakin' 'em in!"
Tak Hyeok-dong cracked his neck side to side and twirled his hand in circles.
"We must've gotten strong! Who knew the Inner Court warriors would feel this weak?"
"Strong?"
"Keheheh! Ain't it so? We've probably laid out a hundred of those Inner Court warrior bastards already! Nah, they're still gettin' drilled hard right now, so maybe more?"
Tak Hyeok-dong glanced at the Crimson Wind Squad, who were foaming at the mouth as they ran with iron balls chained to them, and burst into laughter.
In just half a shichen, after they'd been beaten into submission(?), the Crimson Wind Squad had since been actively joining in the training.
Not just them—the Inner Court warriors who'd been throwing their weight around arrogantly were now all training under the Thunder Dragon Squad's orders.
It was something that never could've happened in the past.
The Thunder Dragon Squad had always been treated like good-for-nothings, so whipping the Inner Court warriors into shape was basically the same thing.
Tak Hyeok-dong's excitement was plenty understandable.
But Geon Cheon-hwi furrowed his brow.
"You call this strong?"
"We ain't finally gettin' proper recognition? The Second Young Master handin' us the flat warriors' training is basically the same thing! Keheheh, hell, we ain't bowin' to any sect's elites anymore."
"What have we even done?"
Tak Hyeok-dong flinched at Geon Cheon-hwi's curt tone.
"Well, we've been followin' the Second Young Master around and..."
"Why do you think the Second Young Master has them training?"
"'Cause they're weak, obviously..."
"Then are we strong? When shit actually hits, we're just scrambling to survive."
At Geon Cheon-hwi's words, memories of Sichuan flashed through Tak Hyeok-dong's mind.
Up on Cheonjang Cliff, fighting over the Millennium Crimson Crane—they hadn't been able to do a damn thing.
They'd just lost their minds to Demon Shadow's prowess and barely scraped by without dying.
"Eh... let's forget Sichuan. Those bastards were too strong. If it weren't for the Second Young Master..."
"You think 'if it weren't for the Second Young Master' is gonna fly forever? You wanna regret it after you're dead?"
The laughter faded from Tak Hyeok-dong's face, who'd been chuckling away.
Even he couldn't just laugh it off now that the truth he'd been ignoring had bubbled to the surface.
They couldn't have handled it without the Second Young Master.
In other words, without him, they might've died.
Even oblivious Tak Hyeok-dong knew that much deep down.
Geon Cheon-hwi let out a light breath.
They could laugh and brag about merits just because they'd survived, but in truth, the one who'd earned them was Namgung Hyeok.
The Thunder Dragon Squad had been there, but in the end, Namgung Hyeok solved everything.
Geon Cheon-hwi knew that without Namgung Hyeok's help, they'd have died a dozen times over.
It'd been the same with the Black Dragon Sect, the Sacheon Tang family, and even before that.
"Luck can't hold out forever."
Up till now, the only way to see it was that they'd just been lucky to survive.
Geon Cheon-hwi exhaled.
"The enemies are out there. We can't stay frogs in a well forever."
"Well, sure..."
"We gotta get stronger. At least not be a hindrance."
He knew chasing after Namgung Hyeok was impossible.
But at minimum, they couldn't be dragging at his ankles.
At least if the Thunder Dragon Squad wanted to remain as his bodyguard detail.
'We can't rely on the Second Young Master forever.'
Geon Cheon-hwi's expression hardened slightly.
The Sichuan incident had given him much to think about.
The appearance of an opponent Namgung Hyeok struggled against had been a massive shock.
It was the first time he'd seen Namgung Hyeok struggle, amplifying the impact.
Who could've imagined the ever-leisurely Namgung Hyeok, looking down from the mountaintops, cornered and battered like that?
'At some point, I'd unconsciously started thinking of the Second Young Master as an absolute master.'
For some reason, he'd gotten complacent, assuming Namgung Hyeok could handle anything without setbacks.
In the end, Namgung Hyeok had toppled the colossal mountain that was Demon Shadow, but to Geon Cheon-hwi, it had been a brain-rattling event.
And the second shock was realizing Namgung Hyeok had broken through his own limits even in that desperate situation.
It made him think Namgung Hyeok was still growing—and would soar even higher.
He might not keep pace, but he had to be able to run following his back.
At least prepare enough to chase the path he'd opened.
'The Eldest Young Master trains, Peng Gongzi trains. No need to mention the Second Young Master.'
The Thunder Dragon Squad couldn't become like them.
They didn't have the innate talent or environment.
If they just slacked off and took what was given, the gap would only widen beyond bridging.
'...Either collapse while running or run slow and steady for the long haul.'
Geon Cheon-hwi said gravely.
"We're doubling our training volume too."
"Double?"
"I approve."
Jang Ung, who had been silently maintaining his twin blades off to the side, spoke up.
"Gotta train if we don't wanna die. Every time we stick with the Second Young Master, we barely survive near-death."
"Keheheh, then we just don't stick with him!"
"Even without stickin', shit like that'll happen anyway."
"Huh?"
"Why would the Second Young Master go out of his way for this kinda hassle? Guy doesn't step up unless it's his business."
"...Huh? Yeah, now that you say it."
"Somethin'll blow up, or he'll blow it up himself."
Tak Hyeok-dong blinked vacantly at Jang Ung's shrug.
Jang Ung clicked his tongue at him.
"Sigh, when's he gonna grow up."
"What'd you say, you little shit!"
"Enough."
Geon Cheon-hwi calmed the two in an instant and spoke.
He organized his thoughts.
"From now on, along with the martial arts we've been practicing, we'll learn the Thunder Sword Seven Forms we're teaching the flat warriors."
"Hmm..."
"We need to raise our proficiency in the Ghost Valley Chain Formation too."
Shortcomings in martial arts could be covered by formations.
That was Geon Cheon-hwi's judgment.
It was a formation Namgung Hyeok had passed down for facing superiors to them, and they'd seen real results with it.
'Train the formation, and it'll develop like martial arts.'
As individuals grew stronger and bonds deepened, the formation's efficiency and proficiency would rise.
"I'll talk to the Second Young Master and push the Thunder Dragon Squad's training schedule as much as possible. Better to take the beating first."
It was the moment he started missing Namgung Hyeok's "handiwork"(?).
Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Ung nodded, steeling their resolve.
Then Tak Hyeok-dong suddenly voiced a question.
"But, Boss."
"What."
"Ain't we gettin' further from livin' easy in peace?"
"Shh... fuck."
Thanks a lot.
This oblivious bastard reminding me of my life's goal.
"...Doesn't matter if you're weak."
Geon Cheon-hwi let out a deep breath.
'Alright, decided it, so gotta do it.'
He steeled his heart and resolve.
"So how we trainin'?"
"Practice martial arts while deploying the Ghost Valley Chain Formation. Closest to real combat, and most efficient."
"Oh?"
"Training intensity goes up no matter what, and I already told the Second Young Master earlier that..."
"Ah, but that's pointless worry."
Geon Cheon-hwi slowly turned at the giggling voice.
At some point, Namgung Hyeok was standing in front of the warehouse, giggling while lightly swinging a wooden sword.
His gleaming eyes and faint smile sent chills down the spine.
"...Wh-when did you arrive, sir?"
"From when you lot were huddlin' and talkin' 'bout trainin' this and that?"
...Damn, like a ghost.
Namgung Hyeok spun the wooden sword playfully as he spoke.
"I get how you all feel."
"..."
"I'll ease your worries. Was wonderin' if you'd keel over unable to take it, but your resolve is this firm—puts my mind at ease."
Ah... hold up.
Why does "train you" sound like a threat?
'Why does "keel over and die" slip out so easy?'
What the hell is he planning?
Geon Cheon-hwi swallowed the words that nearly burst out.
"You're not jokin', right?"
"...No joke, sir."
"Right?"
"Y-Yes... probably."
Geon Cheon-hwi inhaled sharply, eyes darting wildly.
The resolve and determination solid just moments ago now shook like his eyeballs.
But the words were out, and the wrong person had overheard.
No backing out now.
'Already swallowed the poison—ain't gonna die, right?'
They'd survived near-death multiple times already, and harsher training meant greater gains—that much he'd experienced.
Resolve upon resolve.
"Alright, let's go die."
The warehouse echoed with a voice full of mischief, and Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung flinched.
The three rolled their eyes watching Namgung Hyeok's back as he left the warehouse.
"...Fuck. Shoulda watched my words. Feels like we got screwed."
"You think you get strong without that kinda resolve?"
"Boss, you crossed the line this time."
These bastards?
Geon Cheon-hwi glared at Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Ung.
"What, die then? If we don't grow here, we'll really die next time!"
"Urgh!"
"Let's do it. We've endured this far!"
Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Ung chimed in with Geon Cheon-hwi's confident voice.
"Fine! Let's go!"
"Urgh! Yeah. It's for survivin' anyway!"
"Right, let's show the Second Young Master! How much we've changed!"
Eyes blazing, the three headed out of the warehouse.
* * *
"Kuaaaagh!"
"Save meee!"
"Kill meee!"
Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung screamed, thrashing with bloodshot eyes.
"...Fuck? F-Fuck! What the hell is thiiiis!"
"Guhk, guhuk! Kraaagh, we said endure, you bastaaard!"
"Fuuuck, I said I crossed the line!"
These sons of bitches? They agreed!
No loyalty at all!
Geon Cheon-hwi trembled as he lifted his head. His facial muscles twitched like leaves in the wind.
Veins bulged on his forehead, screaming in agony.
"Oh? Still conscious?"
"Kuh, euk."
"I'll control my strength well, man."
Puk!
Namgung Hyeok's wooden sword lightly jabbed an acupoint.
"Kuaaaaaagh!"
Geon Cheon-hwi screamed like his throat was ripping apart.
He couldn't tell how or what it'd touched, but it felt like thousands of red-hot swords tearing his body.
"I'll make you properly, so just endure well."
"Kuh, kuhk!"
"Man, what kinda superior officer is this? Breathin' raises your martial realm."
"You madmaaaan!"
"Where, praise accepted."
Namgung Hyeok giggled as he tapped Geon Cheon-hwi's acupoints.
Geon Cheon-hwi felt horrific pain even as his eyes rolled back.
Namgung Hyeok's voice reached his ear.
"Was preppin' to make Iron Soul anyway. This is the process, so bear it. Body don't turn steel-like, it ain't Iron Soul Thirteen Paths."
"H-How long..."
"Till it's done, obviously. Stay still, goin' in again."
This damn disease!
Puk!
'Ah... aaaah, fuck! Shouldn't speak carelessly!'
Regret was too late.
Namgung Hyeok's wooden sword was already pounding his body, and excruciating pain enough to make him shriek assaulted him.
Namgung Hyeok grinned at the writhing Thunder Dragon Squad on the brink of fainting.
'Good lads.'
Just the fact they felt the crisis themselves and acted showed the Thunder Dragon Squad had changed.
The desperate grow.
He was certain.
It was bone-deep experience from his past.
Namgung Hyeok raised his wooden sword with a sly smile.
"But that's brutally hard, y'know. So you gotta do it till you keel over—or before."
Namgung Hyeok's wooden sword mercilessly fell toward the squirming Thunder Dragon Squad on the ground.