Chapter 44
Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Boiled Eggs and Broth Rice
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crunch! Crunch crunch!
The corner of the zitan wood table screamed in Nangong Baek’s grip.
The grain twisted and splintered until it finally tore free, unable to withstand the force of his hand.
Crack!
“Urghhhhh!”
Blood vessels bulged in his eyes, his face flushed red, and his body trembled uncontrollably, but he couldn’t calm down.
Nangong Baek forced down his boiling rage.
‘This Nangong Baek! To suffer such humiliation from a mere worm!’
He couldn’t offer any rebuttal in front of the elders. Instead, he’d only made his own position awkward and drawn their ridicule.
The situation wasn’t merely twisted—it had flipped completely.
He’d been made to dance like a puppet in Nangong Hyeok’s hands.
Yet what truly flustered Nangong Baek was something else.
Plans could go awry at any time, and situations could shift.
Even if things were growing more difficult, that was tolerable.
The real issue lay elsewhere.
Nangong Baek’s gaze darkened deeply.
‘The elders are starting to side with Nangong Hyeok.’
Some had begun subtly defending him.
Others were openly taking his side.
The fear that they might turn their backs on him outweighed any ridicule he faced or sneers from the elders.
Nangong Baek’s worries dragged on.
The elders were the Nangong family’s leadership.
They handled major and minor family affairs and played key roles in the Family Head’s decisions.
They were people he could never stand against.
To realize his plans, he needed to win them over.
But if the elders weren’t supporting him and were instead shielding Nangong Hyeok?
They’d become more than mere obstacles.
Nangong Baek’s mind raced.
If the situation had flipped, then the plan needed changing too.
‘...Eliminating the elders isn’t feasible.’
Removing them would weaken the family’s power.
He’d have to turn their hearts some other way.
‘I don’t have many cards left.’
Everything he’d tried had fallen flat.
His son Nangong Jeong had lost his value as a late-generation talent, while Nangong Hyeok had subdued the Thunder Dragon Squad and was riding high.
On top of that, with the Family Head and elders protecting him, pushing Nangong Hyeok within the family was pointless.
The bastard had a solid barrier shielding him.
‘But what about outside the family?’
A strange smile tugged at Nangong Baek’s lips.
A chill glint formed in his eyes.
“If those defending him vanish, we can start over, no?”
Nangong Baek called out toward the door.
“Are you out there?”
“Yes!”
“I’m stepping out briefly. Prepare.”
“Yes! I’ll prepare!”
* * *
Winter had fully settled in before long.
The air was so cold that even a light breeze felt like it would freeze one’s lungs solid.
Nangong Hyeok gritted his teeth, bundled up in thick furs.
“...Damn it, the chill’s rising from inside me.”
He’d seen signs when winter first hit, but as the weather turned bitter, the Nine Chill Severed Meridians’ cold qi was starting to rear its head.
Even huddled by the brazier, the chill wouldn’t retreat.
With his hands and feet numb as if frozen stiff, Nangong Hyeok rubbed them together and huffed warm breath on them.
“Why’s it so damn cold? Pile on more charcoal. It’s not dying out, is it?”
“Why would the fire be out? It’s burning fine.”
Geum Cheomsang bantered as he brought in the meal tray.
“More importantly, time to eat.”
“I’m freezing to death. How can I eat...”
Nangong Hyeok stared sullenly at the spread before him.
Veggie stew.
Veggie stew.
And more veggie stew.
“...Am I a rabbit or what?”
He looked up at Geum Cheomsang, who’d brought the tray.
Come to think of it, his meals had been off lately.
“Lately, it feels like nothing but grass is showing up.”
“Here, there’s meat too.”
“...Is this chicken? A chick?”
“Somewhere in between, I’d say.”
“Fine, whatever.”
Nangong Hyeok chewed on the meat grudgingly.
Sweet, fragrant aroma...
Wait, why no aroma?
No umami either?
This is just plain boiled meat in water?
“...Where’d you sell the spices?”
“You need to watch your health. I asked the head chef personally.”
“Why do extra shit I didn’t ask for, you overachieving bastard?”
“Thank you.”
Nangong Hyeok poked through the side dishes, then let out a sigh.
“Let’s at least spare the meat out of principle.”
“Grass is pricier, Young Master. You should eat the expensive stuff.”
“No. I don’t need expensive. I want tasty.”
“It’s winter, so extra care for your health.”
“I’m sturdy. The Thunder Dragon Squad can vouch.”
“You’re surrounded by braziers, whining about freezing.”
Five braziers radiated hot waves at Nangong Hyeok’s sides and back.
Nangong Hyeok smacked his lips.
‘Damn this Nine Chill Severed Meridians.’
He’d cleared one meridian, improving things a lot, but deep winter had its yin qi flaring up again.
“Fine, whatever. All good. Less meat, more grass. Great.”
“Yes.”
“But why’s there wild ginseng masquerading as regular on my bowl?”
“...”
“Fine, winter makes wild ginseng hard to get. I get it. Winter’s harsh.”
“As expected of Young Master, so magnanimous.”
“But since when did my snacks turn into boiled eggs?”
“...Yesterday?”
Nangong Hyeok’s fists trembled.
Crack.
The eggshell burst, bits floating in the air.
Geum Cheomsang flinched back a step.
“...Young Master, calm down.”
“Explain why it’s like this.”
“...The family’s tight on finances lately.”
“Winter hits everyone hard.”
Yeah, winter’s tough.
Brought back memories.
Childhood days digging dirt for grass roots when food was scarce.
Ah, tears.
“So?”
“The family’s revenues are down on their own, but Young Master’s food and medicine expenses are substantial too. And with winter, living costs are up a bit...”
This is what they’re tripping over?
Or should I just die?
Gonna eat to live, but too stingy.
“But that’s not much, is it? For the Nangong family?”
“Didn’t you scarf down those spirit pills recently?”
“Spirit pills? When? Oh, those?”
Remembering the spirit pills he’d wolfed at the medicine hall, Nangong Hyeok paused.
Geum Cheomsang continued.
“Some was family money, but mostly the Family Head’s personal funds. A lot.”
“And?”
“We’re in emergency austerity now.”
“Then the Family Head should go broke, not me tightening my belt.”
“Because the Family Head covers your food as pocket money.”
Nangong Hyeok blinked.
Heard a weirdly unfamiliar word just now.
Did I mishear?
“Pocket money?”
“Precisely, this pavilion’s operating budget.”
“...I don’t recall getting any pocket money.”
“It all goes to snacks, herbs, living expenses, and luxuries.”
“No dodging. I never got that money.”
“Of course. I handle it.”
“...”
Nangong Hyeok eyed the boiled egg on the table.
“This is all pocket money?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Thought you knew.”
After blinking speechless for a moment, Nangong Hyeok grabbed Geum Cheomsang’s collar.
“Hey, you crazy bastard! Why’re you managing my pocket money?! And when it runs low, tell me, don’t spend it however you want!”
“Gack, gack! Why take it out on me! When you were too sick to go out, you left it all to me! And you said you’d kill me if food wasn’t provided!”
“That was Nangong Hyeok!”
“You are Nangong Hyeok! Nangong Hyeok!”
No, man.
That’s subtly different.
“So... the Nangong family’s so broke they can’t even give pocket money? Beggar bastards?”
Geum Cheomsang wheezed.
“Th-the austerity’s the Family Head’s call. Insult him and...”
Nangong Hyeok clutched a boiled egg.
‘What crazy talk is this!’
A few spirit pills shook the Nangong family’s finances?
‘No money? The Nangong family?’
Ridiculous.
What is the Nangong family!
That Sword King sang that even if emperors changed a hundred generations, no money worries!
What would the Sword King—who melted spirit pills into green tea daily—say to this?
‘This can’t go on.’
All plans of living lavishly off Nangong support until ascension were crumbling.
Why?
Because the Nangong family was broke!
“No money? Then what about my future spirit pills? My Nine Chill Severed Meridians?”
Good lord.
Thought this life no money worries!
No, why does past life seem better?
Back then, money-bearers lined up like the Great Wall, so at least no running out.
“...Knew things were a mess, but finances being a mess too? First time hearing today.”
Sigh.
Strength drained from his shoulders.
As Nangong Hyeok slumped like a soulless man, Geum Cheomsang spoke.
“Young Master, you’ve taken plenty of spirit pills lately, so wait a bit. Austerity might lift soon.”
“Lift? For sure?”
“...Not sure, but gut feeling.”
“No good. I want candied hawthorns. Not these throat-clogging boiled eggs!”
Nangong Hyeok glared at the egg basket.
“Can’t go on like this. Give up anything but spirit pills.”
“...Is that ‘giving up’?”
“Shut it.”
Nangong Hyeok grabbed the basket and stormed out.
“Wh-where you going! It’s freezing!”
“I’ll secure my rights and survival.”
“Huh?”
“They exist!”
Nangong Hyeok strode outside.
The knife-sharp wind couldn’t stop him.
‘Damn, how broke are they to cut even a son’s pocket money?’
What if meds get cut too, no more spirit pills?
‘Sucking fingers till ascension? Once was enough.’
Crawling from mud to learn martial arts? Pass now.
If born Nangong in past life, he’d have ascended ten times over.
Risked death countless times for one technique.
“Absolutely not!”
Family Head starves fine, but not me!
I’m growing!
Nangong Hyeok beelined for the Family Head’s quarters.
“Y-Young Master?”
“What brings you?”
Maids called out in surprise from all sides, but he ignored them all and flung open the door.
Nangong Hyeok bulged his eyes stepping in, then froze.
Through the wide-open door, his eyes met Nangong Jangcheon’s—spooning soy sauce.
“...”
“...”
Drip, drip.
Black liquid dripped onto steaming barley rice.
Nangong Hyeok’s gaze shifted to Nangong Jangcheon’s pitifully simple meal.
The sides...
“Where’re the side dishes?”
“Right here.”
“Soy sauce?”
“...What brings you?”
Nangong Hyeok stared at the funky-smelling soy sauce, muttering.
“...Was there, but seems gone now.”
“What’s that mean?”
“Nothing...”
Seeing Nangong Jangcheon at fasting-level austerity, asking for pocket money would go over great.
Felt less like demanding and more like he should help.
Nangong Hyeok subtly lifted the basket in his hand.
“...Want some of this?”
A storm brewed in Nangong Jangcheon’s eyes.
He set down his spoon with a clink and cleared his throat.
“...Mind if I have one?”
“Take them all.”
“That precious stuff... You sure?”
“...Got meat sides too. Want some?”
“Ahem! Was thinking of dinner together anyway. Let’s eat at your place.”
Nangong Jangcheon slyly stroked his beard.
“Hem! So what brings you? Delivering eggs?”
“...Yeah, something like that.”
Emotion lit Nangong Jangcheon’s face.
“But Eldest...”
“Ryong-i’s up the mountain now.”
“Oh.”
“Said good herbs there. Might bring back pheasant on way down. Let’s eat together.”
...Is this Nangong family or a backwoods sect?
Nangong Hyeok just laughed.
“Hahaha! Yes, yes, together! Hahaha!”
Damn.
Hell, where to get money?