Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Thunder Dragon Squad
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Namgung Jangcheon looked at Namgung Hyeok with a complicated gaze.
‘Sure, I said all that...’
He’d claimed to trust Namgung Hyeok, said he’d do well, that they needed to see what he was capable of going forward. But now that Namgung Hyeok had actually shown up, he just fiddled awkwardly with his teacup.
‘Ah... how do I even explain this?’
From Namgung Hyeok’s perspective, it’d be like a bolt from the blue, right?
He himself was flustered enough, and he had no idea how bewildered Namgung Hyeok would be once he dumped the headache called the Thunder Dragon Squad on him.
“...What brings you here? I was just about to send for you anyway.”
Namgung Hyeok stared intently at Namgung Jangcheon, who trailed off, then blurted out.
“I need men.”
“...Men?”
“I mean, I’m the Second Young Master, but it doesn’t make sense for me not to have a single guard detail.”
“A guard detail?”
“Yes.”
Namgung Hyeok spoke clearly, enunciating every syllable.
“Make it the roughest bunch you’ve got. The kind where you think, ‘This bastard’s beyond saving,’ or ‘I’d feel better if he just keeled over somewhere.’ Gimme those guys.”
“...What?”
Had he heard that right?
Namgung Hyeok kindly added an explanation.
“So, basically, the type nobody would bother looking for if they got buried somewhere.”
The request was so absurd it was ridiculously specific—and utterly baffling.
Wasn’t this basically asking for back-alley thugs?
But why...
‘...Why does it match the Thunder Dragon Squad so perfectly?’
Namgung Jangcheon’s face fell.
He couldn’t fathom why Namgung Hyeok was suddenly volunteering for such lunatics.
But he realized this was the perfect moment to naturally bring up the Thunder Dragon Squad.
“I was just about to talk to you about that.”
Namgung Hyeok’s eyes lit up.
“You have them?”
“...Well, it was decided at today’s elders’ meeting—they’re thinking of putting the Thunder Dragon Squad under you.”
“Oh.”
Talk about manna from heaven.
He had no clue what the Thunder Dragon Squad did, but if they could hand them over right away, that put him in a good mood.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
“Hand ’em over, then.”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking for them.”
“...Those guys are rougher than you think. Even the Sky Bow Squad Leader gave up on them. They fight and brawl all day long...”
“Sounds healthy to me.”
...Healthy?
That didn’t seem like the right word.
Namgung Hyeok beamed.
“Ah, should’ve come here sooner. Good pick.”
It was like watching someone at a market eyeing chickens or ducks in a cage.
Seeing Namgung Hyeok’s lips curl up ominously, Namgung Jangcheon took a sip of tea to wet his mouth.
Then he spoke in a grave tone.
“Don’t take it lightly. Think about why the Thunder Dragon Squad has such a bad reputation. They won’t listen to words.”
“Even better.”
“...Huh?”
“The obedient ones don’t give a satisfying fight.”
“What?”
Before Namgung Jangcheon could shake off his bewilderment, Namgung Hyeok continued.
“Just raise them right and put them to good use, yeah?”
He planned to mold them into limbs that handled the chores on their own and cleaned up his surroundings.
Then he could focus on preparing for ascension.
Perfect the Heavenly King’s Divine Art, snag spirit pills left and right, and walk the path to immortality.
Just thinking about it made him content.
Namgung Jangcheon pondered Namgung Hyeok’s words, his eyes widening briefly before flickering with uncertainty.
‘Raise them? Put them to good use?’
Namgung Jangcheon’s jaw dropped.
“You’ve got some grand ambition!”
Rising from his sickbed with miraculous feats was one thing, but clearly, something big had shifted in his mindset.
‘Is he really ready to spread his wings?’
There had to be some grand vision in Namgung Hyeok’s head.
Tame the Thunder Dragon Squad?
It sounded like a declaration to carve out his place by achieving the impossible.
Namgung Jangcheon stroked his lips.
“Fine, show them what you’re capable of to the fullest! Prove it to the elders. See if you can rein in the Thunder Dragon Squad!”
Namgung Hyeok gave Namgung Jangcheon a strange look.
‘Why’s he acting like this all of a sudden?’
Whatever. They were handing them over.
As Namgung Hyeok rose from his seat, he paused.
“But.”
“Speak.”
“They know martial arts, right?”
“...Huh?”
“Nothing. I’m off.”
Namgung Jangcheon watched Namgung Hyeok stride away, his face full of confusion.
‘...Hmm!’
A strange foreboding stirred, but he pushed it aside.
* * *
Thunder Dragon Squad’s youngest, Jang Woong, came rushing in breathless.
“Big bro! You hear?! They’re telling us to go under the Second Young Master!”
Geon Cheon-hwi, the Thunder Dragon Squad Leader chugging booze, furrowed his brow.
“What?”
“The Second Young Master! Elders’ meeting decided it!”
“Who?”
“The Second Young Master!!”
“...That ‘drop dead, you maniac’ guy?”
“Yeah!”
Geon Cheon-hwi slammed his cup down after another gulp.
Thud!
“What kinda crazy bullshit is that?”
Glare from Geon Cheon-hwi’s baffled face made Jang Woong scratch his head.
“Dunno. Orders from above say go.”
The Thunder Dragon Squad members snickered at flustered Jang Woong.
Jang Woong scratched his head, then suddenly thrust up a thumbs-up.
“But the Second Young Master’s got a bright future, right?”
“Bright future, you idiot.”
“Same difference. Guy’s got skills, ain’t he?”
Geon Cheon-hwi sneered as Jang Woong waggled his raised thumb.
“Bright future for the guy who was whimpering with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians... Guy who was waiting to croak in a coffin not long ago, and now we’re going under him? The Namgung family must be on its last legs.”
“But they say he overcame the Nine Yin Severed Meridians—that’s why expectations are high.”
“Pfft, big deal.”
Geon Cheon-hwi leaned back in his chair and scoffed.
“No matter the talent, the time he wasted ain’t coming back. What’s gonna change if he starts training now?”
“But he smashed that Namgung Jeong guy. Sword Tiger, no less.”
Geon Cheon-hwi looked at Jang Woong pitifully.
“Just ’cause a junior stands out doesn’t mean they’ll make it big. The world’d be crawling with peak masters if every promising junior succeeded! Juniors are just juniors. No telling when or how they’ll flop.”
“Monthly stipend’ll go up, though?”
“Stipend. Great. But bending the knee to some greenhorn for a few extra coins...”
Jang Woong shrank back under Geon Cheon-hwi’s glare.
Geon Cheon-hwi smirked faintly.
He scanned the room. The Thunder Dragon Squad members grinned knowingly too.
This was the best part of the Thunder Dragon Squad.
They’d all ended up here because of their fucked-up tempers, so they saw eye-to-eye on a lot.
Geon Cheon-hwi bared his teeth.
“They’ve bestowed the honor of serving nobility, so we should at least pay our respects out of gratitude.”
“Hahaha, he’s still frail from just getting out of bed—gotta go easy, right?”
“A Namgung scion who knows how to have fun? Snagging a drink off him shouldn’t be hard. Let’s grab some good booze while we’re at it.”
Geon Cheon-hwi stood.
Clank!
The sword slung carelessly at his waist clinked metallically.
Clank clank!
The Thunder Dragon Squad, gripping weapons in hand, grinned and rose to follow.
“Let’s go pay our respects to the young master.”
“Yeah, Big Bro!”
* * *
“Y-Young Master!”
Geum Cheom-sang limped in.
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue at the pained scrunch between his brows with every step, despite the shocked expression.
It’d been days since he’d rolled around once, and he was still like this.
“B-Big trouble!”
“You’re the bigger trouble. Still like that?”
“I-It hurts.”
Geum Cheom-sang gritted his teeth, recalling the agony of training.
If he weren’t above me... he muttered inwardly, then yelped in shock.
“N-Now’s not the time! It’s big trouble!”
Namgung Hyeok dug in his ear, looking thoroughly annoyed.
“What is it.”
“T-The Thunder Dragon Squad’s coming.”
“They’re quick.”
Geum Cheom-sang’s jaw dropped as Namgung Hyeok brightened.
“Y-You knew?”
“’Course.”
“B-But why’re you happy?”
“Gonna be living together from now on—gotta welcome them warmly.”
“W-Wait a sec.”
What kinda nonsense was this?
Welcome them warmly?
“...The family’s headache—no, I mean, you’re letting those guys stay here?! Why?! Why?!”
Namgung Hyeok snorted at Geum Cheom-sang’s outburst of absurdity.
“You should’ve done better.”
“...N-No, even if I failed, why bring those guys of all people?!”
For god’s sake, if you’re getting guards, get actual people.
Bringing the worst of the family’s rejects?!
Why would Namgung Hyeok take in guys even the main house gave up on?
Geum Cheom-sang couldn’t hide his panic and blocked Namgung Hyeok’s path.
“Y-Young Master, rethink this. Those are beast cubs, I’m telling you?”
“Sounds good.”
“...Their rampages shake the whole Hefei region!”
“I shook the whole country.”
“Ugh.”
Namgung Hyeok grinned and glanced outside.
It was the innocent face of a kid waiting for a toy, oddly stirring Geum Cheom-sang’s unease.
“Young Master, this ain’t funny. Wherever they go, chaos follows! A year ago, they scattered Outer Hall warriors everywhere, turned every spot into a madhouse, sent so many to the infirmary they got kicked out again! Word is they trashed the place...”
“Impressive. I like it.”
Geum Cheom-sang flinched at Namgung Hyeok’s consistent reaction.
...Why’s he so thrilled? They’ve got no respect for rank.
Geum Cheom-sang looked miserable.
“No, they can’t come! We’ve got plenty of warriors in the Namgung family—why those guys for your guard? Send them away now, please...”
“That them?”
“Gah! A-Already here?!”
Geum Cheom-sang whipped his head toward the main gate in shock.
A group was entering the courtyard.
They sauntered in, dragging swords along the ground or slung over shoulders.
They glared intimidatingly all around, gleaming blades dangling from their hands.
A wild, undisciplined aura rolled in.
To a stranger, they’d look less like Namgung family warriors and more like battlefield ronin—and it wouldn’t be off.
The leaders up front spoke.
“Fancy place, befitting nobility.”
“While we rot in pigsties.”
They grumbled loudly, some mixing in curses.
Geum Cheom-sang muttered, face red.
“L-Look at those bastards! How are they family warriors?”
That’s why they’re perfect, you fool.
Namgung Hyeok smiled warmly, eyes fixed on the Thunder Dragon Squad radiating menace.
‘Blades, blades!’
Not just any blades.
Serrated nangdo like bandits would wield, slung over shoulders.
Next to them, iron maces that could cave in skulls, axes swung wildly like they’d hack anything in reach.
Familiar weapons, familiar vibe—Namgung Hyeok’s grin wouldn’t fade.
‘Damn, they look ferocious.’
Look at the crew carrying them.
Bandit stronghold level.
Forehead creases like rivers was baseline; some had thick scars across their faces.
They wore Namgung family garb, but twisted.
Rolled-up sleeves showing ugly arm muscles, torn clothes for “style.”
Some had bizarre belts, others half-unbuttoned fronts.
Sniff sniff—even booze on the breath?
Total opposite of the prim and proper Namgung warriors.
Familiar, familiar—yep, that’s it.
‘This is unorthodox!’
A wave of nostalgia surged.
‘Like eating bland porridge every day and finally seeing seasoned meat.’
Or sniffing the scent of his old homeland.
‘Kinda like the Sa faction kids back then.’
Well, those guys would foam at the mouth and charge with drawn blades on sight, so this was tame by comparison.
Still, they looked the part.
Anyway.
‘Appearance: pass.’
Excitement gleamed in Namgung Hyeok’s eyes.