Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Thunder Dragon's Grueling Run
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Clank.
Geon Cheon-hwi stared quietly at the handcuffs locked around his wrists.
Hanging from the chain extending down from the cuffs was an iron ball the size of a man's torso.
It looked like it easily weighed over a hundred jin.
"You looked like you had weak strength. Take it easy."
"......"
"Does having just one hand feel empty?"
"......I shall serve loyally."
"Then run."
Namgung Hyeok waved his hand dismissively, as if it were a hassle.
Geon Cheon-hwi turned his head toward the courtyard.
Pa-pa-pa-pa-pat!
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
With every leap, the iron ball trailed behind him, slamming powerfully into the ground.
Clank-clank!
Following him were Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Ung with their own iron balls chained to them, along with the rest of the Thunder Dragon Squad.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-boom!
Gray dust billowed up as the Thunder Dragon Squad began circling the courtyard.
Namgung Hyeok stretched languidly with a yawn and plopped down on the porch bench.
"Have some tea."
"It's Dragon Well?"
"Yes! The finest quality."
Namgung Hyeok nodded and took a sip.
"Nice."
"Yes, sir!"
"If you'd trained in martial arts too, you could've come along wherever I went."
Namgung Hyeok smacked his lips.
It was a shame. With Geum Cheomsang's talents in serving and tending, if he'd learned martial arts as well, he could've been dragged along to the deserts or the North Sea.
"Oh dear! Young master, I'm happy just like this. I've never dreamed of overstepping my station like that. Of course not!"
"Bring some jerky."
"Yes, sir!"
Geum Cheomsang patted his chest in relief and scurried back to his quarters.
Namgung Hyeok chuckled at the fleeing Geum Cheomsang, then shouted toward the Thunder Dragon Squad.
"I can see your soles. Run faster!"
* * *
The elders let out exclamations as they watched the Thunder Dragon Squad kicking up clouds of dust.
"I can't believe my eyes! Are those bastards actually jogging?!"
"Did you see? They moved at the Second Young Master's word!"
"Is that really the Thunder Dragon Squad? I thought a fight would break out, but they're obeying so meekly!"
The Thunder Dragon Squad rivaled the Nangong family's fiercest in savagery.
How nasty were they that even battle-hardened captains had thrown up their hands in frustration?
Yet now, at a single gesture from Namgung Hyeok, they were sprinting across the courtyard.
Great Elder Namgung Wi-gyeong gazed at them fondly.
"Ha ha ha! I thought this would be tough, but I clearly underestimated Hyeok! To handle those troublemakers so easily!"
Fifth Elder and Seventh Elder chimed in.
"The Second Young Master's talents are truly multifaceted."
"Those feral jackals turned into lambs in half a month. Ha ha ha, who would've thought!"
"The term 'crouching dragon' isn't for nothing."
The elders nodded in agreement.
Nothing but admiration and praise escaped their lips.
"Family Head! What great fortune, what fortune! No doubt about Hyeok's abilities! Not just martial talent, but leadership too!"
Twitch.
Namgung Jangcheon's lip twitched, then quickly settled.
He lightly stroked his beard and smiled faintly.
"You're too kind."
"Too kind? Leading men is as hard as martial arts itself! Controlling and moving warriors with a single word so swiftly—only the extraordinary could do it! You know that too, Family Head."
Twitch-twitch.
Namgung Jangcheon's lip quivered.
He barely suppressed his shoulders from rising and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem! Hem-hem! We should watch a bit longer."
"Come now, Family Head! Your modesty is excessive. Anyone can see Hyeok is exceptional. No, outstanding and innately gifted! His long-suppressed talents are finally shining!"
Namgung Wi-gyeong was genuinely impressed.
For a child born with a porcelain body and blocked meridians to learn martial arts and win a spar was amazing enough, but now he was commanding the notorious Thunder Dragon Squad.
If this wasn't extraordinary, what was?
"Indeed, Family Head. Our worries were unfounded."
"Who knew the Second Young Master could pull this off! Congratulations, Family Head!"
"Ha ha ha, why did such a lucky charm take so long to show his stuff?"
The elders' praises continued, and Namgung Jangcheon's lip soared sky-high.
'Hyeok really is exceptional. Hem-hem!'
Namgung Jangcheon stroked his beard as he watched the Thunder Dragon Squad diligently running laps in the courtyard.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
'...But how long will they keep running? Dragging those iron balls must be a huge burden.'
As the Thunder Dragon Squad picked up speed, the ground shook violently.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-boom!
'...Even faster? Th-the method is a bit rough.'
Namgung Jangcheon watched awkwardly as the Thunder Dragon Squad broke into a full sprint.
The iron balls flew up.
Rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-rumble-boom!
'Hy-Hyeok? Those guys are foaming at the mouth, Hyeok.'
......Why aren't you stopping them?
Namgung Jangcheon stared in bewilderment at Namgung Hyeok, who smiled calmly.
'...Hyeok?'
Clatter-clatter.
The teacup in Namgung Baek's hand trembled violently.
He regulated his breathing and returned to his quarters.
Thud!
Sitting down, Namgung Baek stared into space before grabbing the inkstone on the table.
"Arrrghhhh!"
Boom!
The inkstone slammed into the center of the table.
Spiderweb cracks radiated from the shaking inkstone across the rosewood surface.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As Namgung Baek pounded the inkstone repeatedly with his fist, the table shook as if it might shatter.
The force traveled down the legs, vibrating the floor.
"Huuuuh!"
After fuming for a while, Namgung Baek exhaled deeply.
"You keep getting on my nerves."
Namgung Baek's eyes grew icy.
"It's you again this time."
Until recently bedridden, Namgung Hyeok kept catching his eye.
Like a pebble sticking up from a laid carpet.
Irritating, nagging at him endlessly.
'Fine, you want to keep jumping into my sight.'
Thrashing about to soar higher, again and again.
Right in front of my eyes, no less.
Provoking him as if on purpose.
'Touching Namgung So was one thing, and the spar too.'
Grating like sand in his mouth.
Namgung Baek let out a hollow laugh.
"If you want to thrash around that badly, I guess I need to give you a proper look."
* * *
Staggering.
Stumbling.
The Thunder Dragon Squad, limp like rags battered by the wind, headed to the outer courtyard dining hall.
The warriors eating there froze as the squad burst through the doors.
"Thunder...... Dragon?"
"Why are they like that?"
"Did they catch some disease? Their faces look wrecked."
The warriors glanced at them furtively.
"Whoa, they look ready to collapse."
"Where'd they get beat up? Faces all rotten."
Confusion spread across the warriors' faces.
The Thunder Dragon Squad they remembered had venomous glares, hackles raised, picking fights like street thugs everywhere.
But now, they looked like they could drop dead any second without raising an eyebrow.
The outer courtyard warriors muttered.
"Heard they went under the Second Young Master. Turned into total sheep."
"Rumors were true. They've been rolling around everywhere lately."
"Didn't you hear? The other day they were buried in the ground, squealing 'save us' like pigs."
"What? Them? No way."
"More than one or two saw it."
"For real? Heh, must've been a sight."
"But the Second Young Master really tamed them?"
"Can't you tell? Look at their eyes—no more venom. Big uproar from above. They drop dead at his word."
"Seriously?"
The warriors buzzed among themselves.
Taming the insane Thunder Dragon Squad's tempers and making them submit—it was shocking.
"Even Sky Bow Captain gave up on them, and the Second Young Master did it?"
"Wow! Keeps surprising us. Took down Sword Tiger, now commands Thunder Dragon like limbs!"
"How the hell did he tame them to make them like this?"
"Mysterious man."
"Family Head must be thrilled. Great Young Master is outstanding, and now Second Young Master too...... Wow."
The warriors whispered, then averted their eyes when meeting the Thunder Dragon Squad's gaze.
The squad shuffled around looking for seats, then clustered at one spot.
Thud.
Thirty men collapsed in a row atop the tables.
"Uuuuugh."
"Huuuugh."
Drool poured from their gaping mouths.
Namgung Hyeok's brutal training felt like it was shattering their bodies beyond ugliness into horror.
Geon Cheon-hwi lay sprawled on the table, rolling only his eyes.
"Huu...... How did I end up like this?"
"......Captain, can we go back to how we were? W-we're not the type to stay cooped up in one place, right?"
"......There was a time like that."
A time of roaming freely and leisurely through the Nangong family, poor but unbound.
Ah, nostalgic.
Thought it'd last forever.
His slack eyes blankly scanned the ceiling.
"......Maknae, get the food."
"......"
"Maknae, get the food."
Grind.
......Huh?
Did I just hear a grinding sound?
Geon Cheon-hwi perked his ears, but Jang Ung was already up fetching trays.
'Must've misheard.'
Of course.
How devoted our maknae is.
Geon Cheon-hwi propped up his torso with hollow eyes.
Bile rose, but he had to eat.
Or he wouldn't survive tomorrow's torment.
Jang Ung brought the food, and Geon Cheon-hwi picked up his chopsticks.
Tremble-tremble.
"......I'm done for."
Staring incredulously at his shaking hands like palsy, he tried to eat.
Thud!
A shock to his shoulder made him drop the chopsticks.
Geon Cheon-hwi scowled and turned.
The Black Tortoise Squad captain smiled at him.
"Hey, why grip so tight? Kid's got no strength."
"......"
"Heard you've been meek lately. How's it under the Second Young Master?"
Geon Cheon-hwi stared at the chopsticks on the floor, his brow twitching.
'......Some lowlife comes picking a fight. I'm sitting quiet, and he hits my shoulder?'
Black Tortoise—we crushed them before.
This guy who begged for mercy then is picking a fight now?
'......Endure. No need to make noise and reach the Second Young Master's ears. Who knows what'll happen.'
Causing trouble in the outer dining hall wouldn't help, Geon Cheon-hwi judged.
As he bit his lip, the Black Tortoise captain burst out laughing.
"Oh, holding back? Really holding back?"
Grind-grind.
Geon Cheon-hwi ground his teeth, glaring at the captain.
The Black Tortoise captain snickered.
"What, wanna hit me? Like before. You swung first back then. Oh, under Second Young Master so you can't? Cause trouble and you're screwed?"
"Do. It."
"You're total mutts now, right? Flip belly up at a finger point. Heard you lick his feet under him!"
......Well, if ordered to lick, what choice?
'Fuck, not like this.'
As Geon Cheon-hwi lightly rubbed his face, Tak Hyeok-dong tapped the table and glared at the captain.
"Black Tortoise Captain. D-don't wanna burst like last time? Get lost nicely."
"Burst?"
"We're holding back plenty while pissed! Get lost!"
"What if I don't?"
Tak Hyeok-dong growled at the captain.
Boom!
"Like last time, fold you up?!"
The moment Tak Hyeok-dong tapped the table.
Whoosh!
Rumble!
Black Tortoise warriors rose from their tables behind their captain.
Geon Cheon-hwi ground his teeth, glaring at the captain.
'This bastard for real.'
If not for Namgung Hyeok, he'd pickle him in brine.
Geon Cheon-hwi suppressed his boiling rage.
The Black Tortoise captain slammed the table.
Bang!
"That's why you're called mongrels! Cursing a captain when you're lower rank? That's why you tarnish the family's name!"
Tak Hyeok-dong shot up, glaring.
"Mongrel?! Fuck off, I said!"
Black Tortoise lunged, surrounding Thunder Dragon.
Geon Cheon-hwi scowled and stood.
"You fucking dogs!"
The moment Geon Cheon-hwi grabbed the captain's collar.
"Hey, fighting?"
Geon Cheon-hwi froze like stone at the sudden voice.
Step-step.
Feeling footsteps from the side, he gulped dryly.
He slowly turned to see the crowd parting left and right as Namgung Hyeok walked in.
......Why is the Second Young Master here?
Ah, so this is pitch black despair.
'We're screwed.'
Warriors hastily bowed and scattered.
Geon Cheon-hwi paled and blurted urgently.
"Y-Young master, misunderstanding. Th-this guy's clothes were messy, so I was straightening him......"
The Black Tortoise captain, delighted, chimed in eagerly.
"Young master, look! This scum suddenly grabbed my collar......"
"No, keep going."
"......Pardon?"
"Weren't you about to fight? Fight."
"F-Fight......?"
What the......
Ignoring the flustered captain, Namgung Hyeok said.
"Started it, see it through. But if you lose and come back, I'll grind you till you wish you'd bitten your tongue and died. I'm out."
Geon Cheon-hwi smirked at the captain.
Namgung Hyeok grinned and turned to leave.
Thud.
The dining hall door closed.
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyes rolled back.