Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Humbling the Thunder Dragon Squad
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Geum Cheomsang fumed beside him.
"You bastards! Look at that! It's a total shitshow, isn't it? Right in front of a superior! I'll handle this, Young Master. You just stay put!"
The infamous ferocity of the Thunder Dragon Squad made him tense, but it also pissed him off.
The Second Young Master of the Namgung Clan was standing right there—men who should be rushing over from ten li away just to bow their heads were holding their chins high with that insolent attitude!
'Are these fuckers looking down on our Young Master?'
No matter how sickly he was or how little standing he had in the family, how could they be so brazen right in his face!
Swallowing hard, Geum Cheomsang steeled his resolve and stepped forward toward the Thunder Dragon Squad without even waiting for Namgung Hyeok's response.
"Halt!"
The Thunder Dragon Squad stopped and eyed Geum Cheomsang.
Geum Cheomsang put some steel into his voice.
"This is the Namgung Clan's Second Young Master, Namgung Hyeok! Hurry up and show some respect—what are you... Khek! Young Master?"
"Out of the way. Why are you making a fuss?"
Namgung Hyeok grabbed Geum Cheomsang by the scruff of the neck and yanked him back.
Geum Cheomsang choked and stumbled backward.
Namgung Hyeok stepped forward naturally and flashed a bright smile.
Geon Cheon-hwi, who had been leading the group, saw this and casually raised a hand.
The Thunder Dragon Squad spotted the hand signal and halted.
Geon Cheon-hwi sauntered forward.
Clank! Clank!
With every step, the sword slung haphazardly at his waist clanged noisily.
Standing at a cocky slant, Geon Cheon-hwi looked Namgung Hyeok up and down.
"You probably already know who we are, and we were sent from above to escort you, so we figured we'd come get a look at your face... I heard you only just got out of bed, but you look healthier than expected?"
"Eating well and resting up."
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyebrow twitched slightly, but he kept his composure.
"We don't have much experience escorting important people like you."
"Yeah?"
"That's why... We're a rough bunch, and we wouldn't want to make a mistake and break a limb or something. That'd be a disaster, right?"
"You're worried about the weirdest shit. Then just drop dead."
"...Pardon?"
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyes went wide as he stared at Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok shrugged.
"What can you do? This body's got noble blood."
Geon Cheon-hwi was left speechless for a moment, watching Namgung Hyeok smirk.
He's right.
He's right, but...
Goddamn, he says it in such an infuriating way?
'No, this isn't how it's supposed to go.'
By now, the guy should be scared shitless, but he was overflowing with leisure—like a river in flood.
Geon Cheon-hwi's brow furrowed.
"You seem to be misunderstanding me."
"Then say it right."
"..."
Geon Cheon-hwi's face flushed faintly.
"What I mean is, to avoid any such incidents, we shouldn't interfere with each other. That way, we're both better off, no?"
"Ah, no interfering."
"Exactly."
"Nah, I don't like that."
"Yes. Of course you'd... What did you say?"
"I said no."
"..."
Geon Cheon-hwi stared at him in disbelief, then his expression shifted in an instant.
His aura sharpened abruptly.
Geon Cheon-hwi bared his fangs.
"You seem to think we're joking, but if you push it, neither of us will like the outcome."
Namgung Hyeok blinked at Geon Cheon-hwi.
Is this a threat?
Huh? Yeah, this is a threat, right?
Kinda underwhelming, though?
"No way that's all you've got?"
"Pardon?"
Namgung Hyeok scratched his head and let out a sigh.
"Hoo, where do I even start? Should I teach you how to threaten someone first?"
...What? What the hell did this punk just say?
Teach me how to threaten?
Does he think I'm fucking around?
Geon Cheon-hwi's face twisted viciously.
"You just don't get it."
His gaze grew even keener.
Shing.
The sword at his waist slid out slightly, gleaming coldly.
"...Understand now?"
Most people would flinch at this point.
The outer court warriors and even the squad leaders Geon Cheon-hwi had dealt with all backed off around here.
But Namgung Hyeok reacted completely differently.
"Hahaha! Hahahahaha!"
Namgung Hyeok burst out laughing at the drawn blade.
Geon Cheon-hwi scowled, and Namgung Hyeok's laughter only grew louder.
"Not pulling your sword all the way? Is that really it?"
All bark and no bite—these guys are like water pretending to be booze.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
"Aw, you're such a softie. Fine, I'll teach you."
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyebrow twitched.
What the fuck has this brat been babbling about?
Is his head screwed on right?
Talking to this guy any longer won't end well.
"We'll do our job and provide an escort. As long as we keep things clean between us, you won't have any issues... Huh?"
Why's he coming forward?
Namgung Hyeok strode toward Geon Cheon-hwi.
"Young Master?"
Namgung Hyeok smiled brightly.
"You're the ones who don't get it."
"...Pardon?"
As Geon Cheon-hwi tilted his head, Namgung Hyeok's fist slammed into his face like lightning.
Crack!
"Urk?"
With a sound like splitting rock, Geon Cheon-hwi's neck snapped back.
Still not satisfied, his body spun and crashed to the ground.
Boom!
A heavy thud fell, and silence blanketed the area.
The Thunder Dragon Squad members, who had been encircling them with cocky stances to set the mood, went wide-eyed.
"Huh?"
"W-What?"
"Gasp?"
Stunned by the sudden event, the Thunder Dragon Squad froze.
What the hell just happened?
...Did the Second Young Master just ambush him?
The Namgung Clan's Second Young Master just dropped their squad leader?
Out of nowhere, without even talking it out?
If the onlookers were shocked, Geon Cheon-hwi, who took the hit, was even more baffled.
Flat on the ground, Geon Cheon-hwi's eyes snapped open.
'Why am I on the floor?'
Did that Second Young Master punk just knock me down?
That little shit hit me?
In the middle of a conversation? Suddenly?
Drip.
"Blood?"
Seeing the blood flowing from his nose, Geon Cheon-hwi ground his teeth.
"I went easy because you're some precious body, and you dare! Manners... Huh?"
Crunch!
As he tried to rise, Namgung Hyeok reached out and roughly grabbed a fistful of his hair.
Crack.
His neck twisted as if it might snap, head jerking against his will.
In his panicked vision, Namgung Hyeok's smiling face appeared.
Smirk.
"You're still lying down? Let me help."
"Let go! I said let go! You're really gonna regret...!"
Crack!
With a heavy crunch, Geon Cheon-hwi's jaw twisted around before snapping back.
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyes bulged in disbelief.
"You... You bastard..."
Crack!
Namgung Hyeok's fist plunged into his face again.
Geon Cheon-hwi's pupils shook.
"W-Wait! Just let go and talk, let go for a sec...!"
Namgung Hyeok smiled and swung again.
Thud!
"Kuhk! You, son of a biiitch!"
Thud! Thud! Thud!
"If you don't wanna die, let... Kuhk!"
Thud thud thud thud!
"W-Wait...!"
Thud thud thud thud thud!
"S-Spare... Kek!"
Geon Cheon-hwi, grabbed by the hair and beaten one-sidedly, foamed at the mouth and went limp.
The Thunder Dragon Squad watching from behind couldn't hide their shock.
Their eyes bulged like saucers, jaws dropping.
The dull thuds now mixed with wet slaps.
The Second Young Master was pounding him like dough, and the guy was turning into actual dough.
It was so brutal, you had to wonder if his bones were intact.
Solar plexus, groin—no spot was spared.
To think the one using such filthy, cruel methods was none other than the Namgung Clan's Second Young Master.
The Second Young Master was doing shit straight out of the black path playbook.
Twitch twitch.
Geon Cheon-hwi's sprawled body convulsed on the ground.
As the Thunder Dragon Squad struggled to process the scene, Namgung Hyeok stood up with a smile.
He shook the blood off his hands and grinned refreshingly.
"Whew! That's the stuff."
Snapping out of their daze at the unbelievable sight, the Thunder Dragon Squad came to.
"You fucking asshole!"
"Quit gawking! Grab him and tear him apart!"
"You crazy young master fuck, you touch our squad leader?!"
"Hey, you little shit, we were trying to play nice!"
The Thunder Dragon Squad charged at Namgung Hyeok.
Seeing them rush in, Namgung Hyeok's lips curled higher.
'Ha, takes me back.'
He recalled the guys who had hunted him relentlessly for three months with a dragnet.
Savoring the nostalgia, Namgung Hyeok happily leaped toward the Thunder Dragon Squad.
"Let's beat you till just before you croak."
Namgung Hyeok pulled his fist back.
Boom!
"Kaaaaagh!"
"Keeeeurk!"
The Thunder Dragon Squad's agonized screams pierced the sky.
* * *
Whistle hum.
Namgung Hyeok hummed as he tied the knots.
"Young Master."
Geum Cheomsang called out while tying knots beside him.
"What?"
Unable to get used to Namgung Hyeok's radiant smile, Geum Cheomsang hesitated before speaking.
"...Won't they die like this?"
"You don't know till you try."
"...I kinda do."
"Human life's tougher than that. No way they die from this."
"Uh..."
Geum Cheomsang trailed off and averted his gaze.
Namgung Hyeok hummed as he tied a knot around Geon Cheon-hwi's ankle, with heavy stones dangling from the rope's end.
His hands were bound behind his back...
And in front of them was an artificial pond.
Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly.
"Been a while—got me excited."
"You're not really throwing them into the pond, right?"
"Should I bury 'em instead?"
"..."
Just kill them outright, why don't you?
Geum Cheomsang swallowed dryly.
It didn't sound like a joke at all—sweat beaded on his skin.
Just looking at the Thunder Dragon Squad's bloodied, mashed-up faces, it was a miracle they were still breathing.
No righteous clan's disciple would ever fight like that.
It was his first time seeing someone beaten that savagely.
He wondered if the Namgung Hyeok beside him was really the same frail, soft-hearted one he knew.
Gulp gulp.
The guy who was weak in body and spirit...
This was like the black path scum the warriors talked about.
'Unholy thoughts.'
Geum Cheomsang shook his head and hastily tied the knots.
"All tied up."
Namgung Hyeok nodded.
Seeing the neat knots and the potato-vine-like cluster of stones brought back memories.
'Back in the day, I'd have chopped off their hands and feet first.'
"Ha, I've mellowed out a lot."
Geum Cheomsang clamped his mouth shut and looked away at Namgung Hyeok's mutter.
"Up you go!"
Namgung Hyeok grabbed Geon Cheon-hwi by the scruff and hoisted him.
Geum Cheomsang was impressed again by the raw strength.
"Which part's deepest?"
"...The central area. About a zhang deep, I think."
"Nice, that's plenty."
Namgung Hyeok grinned and finished up.
Clank clank.
"...The chains too?"
"If they come up too easy, right?"
Geum Cheomsang got chills watching Namgung Hyeok carefully wrap the chains around him like gift-wrapping.
"Go fetch a big pulley."