Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: The Thunder Dragon Squad Sets Out
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The Thunder Dragon Squad bustled about, darting here and there throughout the Nangong Family estate.
They ran around frantically as if hot coals had been dropped under their feet, scurrying east, west, south, and north before finally gathering together.
Puuuhiiiiiing!
Clop-clop-clop!
“Young Master, they say these are the swiftest and strongest ones!”
Geon Cheon-hwi appeared in the courtyard, gripping the reins of four pure white, sturdy steeds.
Bwooooaaang!
A cloud of pale dust billowed from behind as Tak Hyuk-dong dragged a massive four-horse carriage into view.
“Young Master, we’ve brought it as ordered! Kahahaha! This is the finest four-horse carriage from Anhui Province’s top stables!”
Click! Click! Click! Click! Click!
Off to one side, Jang Woong was busily dividing up stacks of luggage and loading them onto carts.
The Thunder Dragon Squad members pitched in, each carrying bundles of gear to load on, while checking everywhere to ensure nothing was amiss.
Passing retainers caught sight of it and let out gasps of amazement.
“Wow, is that really the Thunder Dragon Squad?”
“Unbelievable. Those lunatics are doing menial chores without complaint.”
“Yeah. But where are they headed? That’s a ton of luggage.”
“I heard they’re going to the Huabei Plains.”
“Huabei Plains? No way! Are they deploying out there?”
“The Thunder Dragon Squad heading all the way to the Huabei Plains! Incredible!”
“The Second Young Master must have them firmly under his thumb!”
Geon Cheon-hwi let out a heavy sigh as he overheard the murmurs.
‘...You bastards, you think we want to do this? Spend even a day with that guy, and you’d see there’s no choice.’
Geon Cheon-hwi glanced at Nangong Hyeok, who was sitting on the porch clutching a portable brazier.
Just looking at his face made it hard to breathe, lips parched dry.
‘Staring too much is bad for the heart. Back to work.’
With an inexplicable sigh, Geon Cheon-hwi tied the reins to the carriage.
All the while, he quietly harbored some anticipation for the Huabei Plains.
Beside him, Tak Hyuk-dong hummed cheerfully while shifting rice sacks, and Jang Woong chuckled from atop a cart.
Good.
Feels pretty good.
They were heading outside, after all.
“...Since when have I liked that sort of thing?”
Life had been so harsh that even an outing felt exciting.
Was this finding peace and pleasure away from home?
There was a mission, sure, but escaping this residence felt utterly delightful.
“Ahem.”
Before long, a smile bloomed on Geon Cheon-hwi’s face too.
Geum Cheom-sang fussed beside him.
“Make sure to take this one too, and don’t forget this. One pill a day for this, three times a day with meals for that one. Oh, and one before bed for this.”
“What’s with all that?”
“It’s not that much! I rushed to prepare since you’re suddenly heading to the Huabei Plains, and this is all I could manage. Sigh, what a mess this is.”
Geum Cheom-sang shook his head as he earnestly explained the medicinal pills to Nangong Hyeok.
“You have to take them. The Medical Hall prepared them with care.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Oh, and that box has clothes for you to wear while you’re gone. Didn’t know how long you’d be away, so I packed as much as possible. Oh right! And that box has snacks for you.”
Nangong Hyeok stared blankly at Geum Cheom-sang.
“You got paid, huh?”
Geum Cheom-sang’s lips curled up, cheeks bulging.
“Was it obvious?”
“You think it wasn’t?”
“The family gave me a fat payout for mission expenses since you’re heading out.”
“Ecstatic, are you?”
“Of course! It’s like rain in a drought!”
“Something else, though?”
“No way.”
Nangong Hyeok’s lip quirked up as he watched Geum Cheom-sang deny it vigorously.
“Nothing else?”
“Oh, packed the portable brazier too. Lined the carriage interior with sheepskin, so it shouldn’t get too cold.”
“Hard at work, huh.”
“It’s my job.”
Geum Cheom-sang let out a sigh.
“Didn’t expect you to head out so far so suddenly, Young Master. Ah, I’m really worried. Thinking of you suffering out there in this cold...”
“No need to worry.”
“No, that’s not proper for a servant. How could I not worry about you? I should’ve taken better care...”
“We’ll handle it on the way.”
“Yes, I’d love to tag along and take care of... what?!”
Geum Cheom-sang’s eyes widened, mouth agape.
“What do you mean, handle it?”
“You’ll handle it right beside me. Your brewed medicine tastes the best.”
“...You want me to brew medicine too?”
“What else?”
Geum Cheom-sang’s eyes welled up as Nangong Hyeok stared.
“...Young Master, bandits could pop out anywhere. You know me—I haven’t learned a scrap of martial arts. My body’s cursed! Absolutely riddled with curses!”
“Want me to really curse you?”
“...Even in these awful conditions, a true servant follows his master. I’ll pack.”
Tears rolled down Geum Cheom-sang’s cheeks.
Nangong Hyeok’s eyes widened.
“Crying?”
“...Just too happy.”
“Get in, you punk. I’ll let you check out the carriage.”
“Yesss!”
Geum Cheom-sang wiped his face and hopped onto the four-horse carriage.
* * *
Nangong Baek gazed down from the top of the main hall as the Thunder Dragon Squad exited through the Nangong Family’s front gates.
They’d prepared in a flash since morning and were departing without even a proper send-off.
He stared at the bulging four-horse carriage and twitched his lips.
“Hmm, so Nangong Jangcheon made that call after all.”
Suppressing bandits could build fame, or contribute greatly to the family—nothing bad about it from the Family Head’s perspective.
“Didn’t expect him to bite so eagerly.”
Once the carriage shrank to a black dot and vanished, Nangong Baek turned away.
He spoke to his subordinate.
“I need to head to the Huabei Plains.”
“Where to, sir?”
“Deliver this letter to the Heaven-Earth Sect Leader.”
“Yes, sir!”
The subordinate took the letter from Nangong Baek and vanished swiftly.
Nangong Baek stared after him, his expression frosting over.
“No helping it. If he keeps getting underfoot, better to rip him out even if it hurts.”
* * *
Thud-thud-thud-thud-!
The four-horse carriage raced ahead.
Tatata-tat!
Geum Cheom-sang sat at the driver’s seat, cracking the whip vigorously.
Puuuhiiiiiing!
The four horses neighed powerfully and charged forward, while Geum Cheom-sang bellowed just as loudly, urging them on with fierce lashes.
“Ease up already, you idiot.”
“...You gave me the chance to sit up here, I’m just that thrilled. It’s freezing out there—don’t open the door or I’ll freeze to death!”
“Ha, so you want to switch?”
“No, no. Sigh, damn it, why’s the Huabei Plains so damn far?”
“Wanna die?”
“My breathing’s always kinda heavy.”
Geum Cheom-sang grinned awkwardly and turned his head.
He jolted in surprise at what he saw.
‘W-what? Even after coming this far?’
Geum Cheom-sang panicked at the sight of Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyuk-dong, and Jang Woong kicking up dust alongside.
They’d been running since leaving the Nangong Family—fifty li straight, like dogs.
They ran.
Kept on running.
Not just running—they held their hands high, hoisting massive carts overhead as they went.
The elevated carts were loaded with huge piles of luggage.
Geum Cheom-sang stuck out his tongue at the superhuman pace.
Boom-boom-boom-boom! Crash-clang-smash!
“Kraaaagh! Keuheugh! Kraaaaagh!”
“Keeeeeack!”
“Kaaaaaaaak!”
Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyuk-dong, and Jang Woong ran while howling monstrous cries.
Their speed shook the earth.
Eyes half-rolled back, foam at their mouths, yet they didn’t stop.
‘What the hell is this?!’
‘W-why train like this?!’
‘Can’t we just walk like normal people? Huh? No?!’
White-hot minds filled with questions, the three kept running.
The rest of the Thunder Dragon Squad followed, shouldering carts and luggage at the same insane speed.
It rivaled the finest warhorses.
Nangong Hyeok stuck his head out the carriage window.
“Hey! You think this builds stamina? Run! Run! Speed’s dropping! When are we arriving? Faster!”
Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyuk-dong, and Jang Woong flinched.
They ground their teeth and kicked their feet higher.
The Thunder Dragon Squad broke into full sprint.
“Kraaaaaah!”
“Haaaaaaaak!”
“Hweeeeeeung!”
Geum Cheom-sang gulped dryly at the screams that were half-scream, half-wail.
‘Ah, thank goodness. No martial arts for me.’
What if he’d learned martial arts under Nangong Hyeok too?
Shivers ran down his spine as he turned away.
“Uwaaaaaagh-!”
“Wheeeeeeck!”
“Quoooaaargh!”
On the quiet mountain path, the Thunder Dragon Squad collapsed, vomiting everywhere, half out of their minds.
It was their first such “departure,” and they groaned at the sheer novelty.
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue.
“No use if your stamina’s that pathetic.”
Geum Cheom-sang whipped his head around.
Purrrrlk.
Purrrrrng!
The four horses pulling the carriage had foamed at the mouth and collapsed sideways.
Men laden with gear had outraced the horses—and won.
Geum Cheom-sang was dumbfounded by the unbelievable sight.
Nangong Hyeok tsked.
“Ah, the horses passed out. At this rate, stamina won’t improve.”
“...They’ll die before stamina improves, Young Master.”
“Nah, they won’t die. Does that look deadly?”
“...”
“How can I send these guys anywhere like this? They look ready to foam and drop any second.”
Geum Cheom-sang gave up pondering just how much stamina Nangong Hyeok demanded.
Understanding Nangong Hyeok was as tough as him grasping martial arts.
“Pass around a sip each.”
“Yes!”
Geum Cheom-sang approached Geon Cheon-hwi with a water flask.
Smack!
Tak Hyuk-dong snatched it lightning-fast and chugged.
“Kraaaah! Ahh, I’m alive—!”
Geon Cheon-hwi ground his teeth.
“This punk’s forgotten his place?”
“We’re all just trying to survive—let it slide.”
“...We’ll settle this later.”
“Ahem.”
Tak Hyuk-dong averted his eyes, and Geon Cheon-hwi took the flask from Geum Cheom-sang, chugging deeply.
“Kuhaha!”
His throat cleared wide open, and he let out an involuntary cry of relief.
‘Whew! I survived— it’s finally over.’
The hellish run had stopped.
Ragged breaths steadied, body going limp.
‘The sun’s setting, and the horses are out.’
Perfect spot for camp.
As Geon Cheon-hwi’s face lit up in satisfaction—
“How long you gonna rest? Done resting? Let’s go!”
“...Pardon?”
“Let’s go! While you slack, my assets—no, the main family’s losses are piling up!”
“...What?”
Since when did you care about the Nangong Family like that?
Nangong Hyeok hooked his foot on the carriage step and shouted fervently.
“Let’s go! Half a gak’s plenty rest! My money... no, let’s wipe out those bandit scum and restore justice to the martial world!”
Geon Cheon-hwi gaped.
“Y-Young Master? Horses are spent—w-who pulls the carriage...?”
“You guys.”
“...?”
“There’s a saying, ‘treat men like dogs and horses.’ Run like dogs, pull like horses.”
That’s not what it means.
“Pick up the gear and move.”
The Thunder Dragon Squad flocked to the carts in horror.
They lifted them with blood-tears in their hearts, grabbing the massive four-horse carriage with one hand.
“Load the horses too.”
“...Pardon?”
“How much are they worth to leave behind?”
“...”
“Why the long faces?”
“...We’re just thrilled to escort you.”
The Thunder Dragon Squad wept silently.
Geum Cheom-sang, bundling his belongings, sighed in relief at the sight.
‘...Whew, so glad I have no martial arts.’
He’d felt it countless times today alone.