Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Chaos in the Mess Hall
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“You son of a bitch—!”
Geon Cheon-hwi grabbed the Black Tortoise Squad Leader by the collar and hoisted him up without a second thought.
“Gahk! Kek!”
The Black Tortoise Squad Leader tried to resist with the Thousand Catty Pull technique, but his balance was already shot.
Geon Cheon-hwi slammed him down onto the floor with full force.
Kwa-ang!
“Gaaahk!”
The Black Tortoise Squad Leader let out a scream.
Geon Cheon-hwi mounted him.
“Grk, grrrk! You, you bastard, think you can just... get away with...”
The Black Tortoise Squad Leader bellowed, then locked eyes with Geon Cheon-hwi.
...This guy's lost it?
The Black Tortoise Squad Leader's face went pale.
Kwaaang!
A fist loaded with the Ten Thunders Technique crushed his nose bridge.
“Gaaahk!”
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
“Die! Die! Die—!”
Starting with Geon Cheon-hwi pounding the Black Tortoise Squad Leader's face, Tak Hyeok-dong charged at the Black Tortoise Squad warriors surrounding them, eyes rolled back in rage.
“You're all dead today. I'll rip out your guts and jump rope with them, you bastards.”
The Black Tortoise Squad warriors recoiled in terror at the charging bull-like pressure.
Tak Hyeok-dong seized the head of the nearest warrior and hurled him away.
Kwa-ang!
The Black Tortoise Squad warrior flew like a leaf, smashed into the wall, bounced off, and crashed to the floor.
The Black Tortoise Squad warriors cried out in panic.
“Block him!”
“Grab him and beat him down!”
Tak Hyeok-dong barreled forward, shoving three Black Tortoise Squad warriors back to the wall.
Warr-rumble!
Tables flipped over, and chairs tangled up the warriors, sending them tumbling down in a heap.
As Tak Hyeok-dong rampaged in front, Jang Ung kicked off a table and dashed ahead.
Pa-pa-pa-pat!
Jang Ung scampered across the tables like a flying squirrel and threw himself at the Black Tortoise Squad warriors.
Soon, the entire Thunder Dragon Squad rose like a wildfire, tangling with the Black Tortoise Squad warriors.
Kwang! Puk-puk-puk! Peuk!
The dining hall turned into utter chaos in an instant.
The Thunder Dragon Squad and Black Tortoise Squad grappled and started throwing punches.
“Grab those bastards!”
“Stomp 'em! We outnumber them!”
“Over there—!”
Ujikkeun!
The Thunder Dragon Squad snatched up chair legs, baring their teeth.
The onlookers gaped.
“Hey, hey! Those guys grabbed chairs!”
“These lunatics, where'd they get the clubs from?!”
“Weap...ons?”
Weapons were forbidden.
Even if it was just chair legs, snapping them off made them no different from clubs.
The Thunder Dragon Squad bastards had yanked them out and were aiming at the Black Tortoise Squad.
No way they're gonna swing those, right?
That'd cause a huge uproar.
The problem was that the Thunder Dragon Squad was foaming at the mouth.
Ppa-gak!
Kwajik!
With a heavy thud, the chair leg-turned-club smashed a Black Tortoise Squad warrior's skull amid a puff of white dust.
Blood sprayed out, splattering everywhere.
Thud.
Shock filled the eyes of the watching warriors.
They couldn't hide their horror as their gazes fixed on the Black Tortoise Squad warrior with his cracked-open head bleeding profusely.
Twitch-twitch.
They fell silent, staring at the convulsing warrior.
“......!”
“......!”
Blink-blink.
The Black Tortoise Squad warriors blinked, then twisted their faces in fury.
“You filthy bastards!”
“Using weapons, that's cheating?!”
“Wha, wh-what?”
“You crazy fuckers!”
The Thunder Dragon Squad charged at the flustered Black Tortoise Squad warriors.
Each held chair legs, table legs, or wooden trays.
Kwaang! Kwajik! Ppa-gak!
The Thunder Dragon Squad began clubbing the hesitant Black Tortoise Squad warriors.
Heads cracked open, legs buckled, jaws dislocated.
Tables overturned, chairs flew.
It was total mayhem.
Wild colts were tearing through the dining hall.
Foaming at the mouth, the Thunder Dragon Squad lunged at the Black Tortoise Squad warriors, eventually landing their clubbing blows no matter what.
The onlookers shouted in panic.
“Those maniacs are gonna kill someone!”
“Wh-what do we do?!”
Even as one of the outer court's elite squads, the Black Tortoise Squad couldn't handle bare-handed the club-wielding madmen.
The situation wrapped up in seconds...
No, the Thunder Dragon Squad didn't stop.
“Why! Are you! Messing! With us! While we're! Just eating!”
Geon Cheon-hwi, face twisted, turned the Black Tortoise Squad Leader's into a bloody pulp.
Puk-puk-puk-puk!
A strange thrill coursed through his body.
'How long's it been since I felt this rush!'
Lately, he'd taken so many beatings he'd forgotten the sensation.
Cheolpeok-cheolpeok!
“Grk, grrrk... St-stop. You'll... kill me...”
“Kill you?”
“I-I swear... I'll never...”
“Nah, you won't die.”
“......Huh?”
“You haven't even foamed at the mouth yet, so why would you die?”
“Wha-what?”
“I know from experience, punk. Quit exaggerating.”
Kwajik!
Geon Cheon-hwi's fist smashed into the Black Tortoise Squad Leader's jaw.
“Kraaaah!”
“St-stop!”
“Gaaahk!”
Horrific screams echoed from the Black Tortoise Squad in the back.
* * *
“...The Thunder Dragon Squad has five minor injuries, while the Black Tortoise Squad has thirty-four severe casualties out of forty. The other six also need rest.”
As the report continued, groans erupted throughout the Heavenly Palace Hall.
“Heavens.”
“Hmm!”
“Thirty-four severe?”
“...A one-sided beatdown. Hmph!”
The damage gap was absurdly wide.
Grand Elder Namgung Wigyeong asked,
“Where's the Thunder Dragon Squad now?”
“They're locked in the Disciplinary Hall's cells. Due to flight risk... apologies.”
“Did they resist?”
“No, they surrendered peacefully.”
“Well, that's new.”
It was the first time the Thunder Dragon Squad had gone quietly into the cells.
Namgung Wigyeong glanced at Namgung Jangcheon.
Since entering the hall, he'd been stone-faced, silent.
He seemed calm, observing for now.
Namgung Wigyeong turned to the other elders.
“What do you all think?”
The elders exchanged uneasy glances.
“Shouldn't we leave it to the Disciplinary Hall?”
“Isn't that why they're asking our opinions?”
“No need to deliberate. Punishment is obvious.”
“Hmm, isn't that too harsh? It was just a fight.”
“Just a fight with thirty-four severe injuries? The infirmary's overflowing!”
“The Thunder Dragon Squad got hurt too.”
“They used weapons! Weapons! Fistfights between warriors might warrant light discipline, but weapons? No!”
“The Thunder Dragon Squad's at fault, but do we need heavy punishment? No critical injuries...”
The elders' opinions split.
Namgung Wigyeong narrowed his eyes at the sight.
'Sides are forming.'
Less a clash of views, more splitting into those subtly backing Namgung Hyuk and those not.
Watching the elders bicker, Namgung Jangcheon rubbed his temples.
'These idiots had to fuck up right when things were going well!'
They'd just earned the elders' favor, and now old habits die hard!
'This might turn into a fight here too.'
As Namgung Jangcheon opened his mouth to calm the heated elders,
“Isn't that missing the point?”
All eyes turned to the low voice.
Elder Namgung Baek met their gazes with a relaxed expression.
Namgung Wigyeong asked, puzzled,
“What do you mean?”
Namgung Baek sipped his tea slowly before speaking.
“If the Thunder Dragon and Black Tortoise Squads caused trouble, we should summon their leader for questioning. Why skip that discussion?”
“Leader?”
“Yes.”
“You mean the Thunder Dragon Squad Leader?”
Namgung Baek sighed lightly at Namgung Wigyeong's question.
“Grand Elder, that's like burying your head in the sand.”
“I'm not in the mood for word games.”
“You all know who manages the Thunder Dragon Squad right now, don't you? The elders and the Family Head.”
Namgung Jangcheon, Namgung Wigyeong, and the elders' eyes wavered.
Namgung Jangcheon's brow twitched.
“Are you saying to hold the Second Young Master accountable?”
Namgung Baek spun his teacup casually and shrugged.
His nonchalant attitude made Namgung Jangcheon clench then unclench his fist.
“A subordinate's failing is the superior's failing. That's the Namgung Family's principle, isn't it? I'm just upholding it.”
The elders exchanged looks.
After a brief murmur, Namgung Wigyeong spoke.
“Fetch Hyuk!”
Namgung Baek sipped his tea, smiling inwardly.
'I wondered how to get him, but heaven helps me.'
With Namgung Hyuk staying quiet, the Thunder Dragon Squad handed him the perfect pretext.
Play this right, and not only punish Namgung Hyuk but cripple his future standing too—an golden opportunity.
Namgung Baek glanced at Namgung Jangcheon.
His darkened expression wasn't imagination.
'Can't wriggle out this time.'
Namgung Baek suppressed a grin and averted his eyes.
He leisurely sipped tea, waiting for Namgung Hyuk.
As heavy tension settled in the Heavenly Palace Hall.
Thud-thud-thud.
Namgung Hyuk shuffled in slowly.
Hair tousled like he'd just woken, clothes half-undone.
He yawned three times on the way, radiating utter annoyance.
Namgung Baek sneered inwardly.
'Arrogant punk.'
Namgung Hyuk rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at the Family Head and elders.
“Yes, what is it?”
Namgung Wigyeong eyed him briefly.
“You've heard. The Thunder Dragon Squad caused a major incident, and we're discussing it.”
“Ah, yeah. So?”
“Hm... The Thunder Dragon Squad clashed with the Black Tortoise Squad in the outer courtyard dining hall. Multiple severe injuries, and they used weapons. You know weapons are strictly banned among retainers.”
...Huh? That happened too?
“You're the one responsible for the Thunder Dragon Squad. Curious about your thoughts.”
Namgung Hyuk scratched his head and looked at Namgung Wigyeong.
“...But what was wrong with it?”
The unexpected response made Namgung Wigyeong pause, and the elders flinch.
Is he really clueless?
Namgung Wigyeong cleared his throat.
“The outer-court Thunder Dragon Squad used weapons in the outer dining hall and fought, causing severe injuries...”
“They picked the fight first, as I recall. When someone starts shit, do we just say 'sure, hit me' and take it?”
“Huh?”
“Look, say you elders go to Hubei and the Peng Clan bastards hassle you. You gonna just take the beating because it's their turf? Would you?”
...Well, no.
Makes sense when you think about it.
“...Can't take a beating from the Peng Clan.”
“Then the Thunder Dragon Squad can't either.”
“Hmm!”
Overstated, but oddly persuasive.
The elders murmured again, and Namgung Jangcheon stroked his beard over his mouth.
'Such morons.'
Namgung Baek stopped spinning his teacup and furrowed his brow.
Why entertain such sophistry?
Tak!
Namgung Baek set down his cup and spoke calmly.
“Don't dodge the point. Trying to cloud the elders' judgment with cheap talk!”
Namgung Hyuk glanced at him indifferently.
“This is about punishing the Thunder Dragon Squad. They used weapons and caused severe injuries! We're holding you accountable.”
“Ah, accountability.”
Namgung Hyuk yawned long and stretched, then picked his ear.
He tossed out a casual line.
“Yeah, go ahead and punish them.”
“......Huh?”
Namgung Baek narrowed his eyes at Namgung Hyuk.
“What?”
“Punish them.”
Namgung Hyuk grinned refreshingly and shrugged.
“It was nothing big anyway.”
“......”
The mood grew strangely awkward.