Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The Awaited Moment
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“Heh heh. Heh heh heh.”
Namgung Hyuk leered at the large box sitting on the table.
Clink clink.
He rummaged through the box and pulled out one of the items inside.
A clean, shiny lump of silver emerged.
A massive silver ingot shaped like a horseshoe.
His cheeks nearly rose to heaven at the sight of this hefty chunk that looked worth at least a hundred taels.
Rub rub.
He blew on it and polished it with his breath, and the reflective gleam was killer.
“How long has it been since I last held a lump of silver like this?”
Kuh, this is what money smells like!
What about the meat?
How many jars of liquor?
Ha Taegon ground his teeth inwardly.
‘That bastard… that’s my hard-earned money…!’
Seeing the fortune he’d scrimped and saved vanish into Namgung Hyuk’s hands in an instant turned his stomach.
‘…No. This is an investment. I can recover that money anyway.’
Once he dealt with Namgung Hyuk, the fortune would return to his control.
And with Elder Namgung Baek’s wings, he’d soar high!
“But… doesn’t it seem like a shame?”
A shame, what a pity. It’s killing me!
Grit.
Ha Taegon clenched his teeth hard, managing his expression.
“No way. Not a bit.”
“Right? I heard the Heaven-Earth Sect is the biggest in the Huabei Plains? You can easily cough up this much, yeah?”
“It’s my personal funds.”
“Oh, personal funds?”
“Yes. Just because I’m the sect leader doesn’t mean I can touch the sect’s coffers freely.”
“Ah, so the Heaven-Earth Sect’s assets are intact?”
“Yes!”
“Reaaally?”
Namgung Hyuk lifted the corner of his mouth and nodded slowly.
‘But why is this punk suddenly smiling?’
His gut twisted oddly, but he didn’t show it.
Ha Taegon bared his yellowed teeth in a smile.
“If we succeed in wiping out the bandits, I’ll offer additional compensation.”
“Additional compensation?”
“Yes! So let’s get going!”
“Oh my, Sect Leader Ha! As expected of a true man with a big heart.”
This bastard’s speech got all polite?
Feeling the power of money anew, Ha Taegon grabbed Namgung Hyuk’s hand.
“Let’s go fulfill the righteous way of the martial world!”
“Of course! I’ve gotta tag along with our sect leader and try this escort duty! You know? This is my first time doing an escort.”
In his past life or this one.
Veins bulged on Ha Taegon’s forehead.
“Uh, ha, ha, ha. You’ll get plenty of chances from now on.”
“Hahaha! For an escort like this, I’m all in.”
“……Let’s go already.”
“Hold on.”
Namgung Hyuk closed the box and handed it to Geon Cheon-hwi.
“Take good care of this.”
“Yes! Young master.”
“If you lose it, you lose your life too. Got it?”
“……My life too?”
Geon Cheon-hwi hugged the box to his chest with a grave expression.
Namgung Hyuk rolled up his sleeves and turned to Ha Taegon.
“Alright! Let’s go smash some bandits!”
“Yes!”
“But how long’s the trip?”
“One day and you’ll…….”
“Huh? A whole day?!”
Namgung Hyuk, who had half-risen from his seat, scowled and plopped back down.
“No, you’re saying it takes a full day to walk? You serious?”
A thousand taels of silver and you can’t walk a day, you punk!
“The meat?”
“…….”
“No booze either?”
Namgung Hyuk sighed as he eyed Ha Taegon.
Say something if you’ve got something to say.
That was the look on his face.
Feeling his patience reach its limit, Ha Taegon bit his lower lip raw.
So hard it might draw blood.
‘Should I just kill him right here?’
Dump him in acid, bury the whole mess.
The impressionable warriors behind him were a bit annoying, but once he scraped up every last bandit from the lair, what could these guys do?
‘……No, don’t escalate things.’
This was Silver Shadow Stables territory.
Too many eyes and ears, and more bodies meant more traces.
He had to slit his throat quietly, somewhere deserted.
Then clean up the bandit lair neatly and disband—everything would be over.
Calming himself, Ha Taegon smiled and spoke.
“Of course it’s prepared. I’ll bring plenty, even for the Thunder Dragon Squad warriors.”
“Really?”
“I’ll raise the compensation too. Ha, hahaha! You protected the peace of the Huabei Plains, so it’s only right!”
“Sect Leader, what’re you doing? Let’s go.”
Namgung Hyuk grinned and slipped outside.
“Escort the young master!”
At Geon Cheon-hwi’s command, Tak Hyeok-dong rushed off to fetch the four-horse carriage, and Jang Woong draped a fur cloak over Namgung Hyuk’s shoulders.
Seeing them load the cart with snack boxes, clothing boxes, and camping gear, Ha Taegon stuck out his tongue.
‘This punk really has zero tension.’
Yeah, enjoy it to the fullest.
It’s your last trip.
“Prepare yourselves!”
Fifty Heaven-Earth Sect warriors lined up, eyes sharp.
The Thunder Dragon Squad surrounded the four-horse carriage like a fortress wall, and soon the group set off for the bandits’ den.
* * *
Namgung Hyuk stuck his head out the carriage window and glanced back.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The Heaven-Earth Sect warriors were diligently tailing them.
Swords at their backs and blades at their waists—an unusual sight.
Namgung Hyuk yawned lazily and turned his gaze forward.
“Let’s go slow, Sect Leader.”
Grit.
Ha Taegon, driving from the coachman’s seat, ground his teeth before forcing an awkward smile.
“Ha, haha. Even slower?”
“Yeah, nice and slow so I can enjoy the scenery. Bandits won’t run off if we’re late.”
“……Enjoying the scenery?”
Namgung Hyuk leaned back against the headrest and slouched.
‘Is that how you enjoy scenery, you punk?’
Namgung Hyuk smirked.
“I feel carsick. Mind if I rest a bit? We’re camping anyway.”
“……Yes, of course.”
“The river’s cold, so let’s head where we can see mountains. Nice view.”
……You on a picnic or what, punk.
As Namgung Hyuk slouched around.
Geum Cheomsang, who’d been checking a sundial beside him, suddenly looked up.
“Young master! Time for your medicine.”
He swiftly pulled a pill bottle and canteen from his bosom and offered Namgung Hyuk the pill.
Gulp!
Glug glug!
“Phew! Did you put the medicine in the canteen?”
“Yes! Nice and hot, right?”
“……Yeah.”
“Candy too.”
“Mm! Good.”
“Hehe, then, young master. Can I head back now?”
Namgung Hyuk smiled back at Geum Cheomsang, who rubbed his hands and grinned.
“We’re almost there. Just go.”
“……No. I can make it back.”
“Who’ll tend to me then?”
“……You dragged me along to the bandit den for nursing?!”
“Yep.”
“Whoa.”
Geum Cheomsang stared at Namgung Hyuk with teary eyes, then yelled.
“It’s not about like or dislike! I’ll die if I go. Die!”
“Wanna die now?”
“……I’ll die by your side, young master.”
Geum Cheomsang made a miserable face and said quietly.
“Young master, I’m a three-generation exclusive servant. More precious than you, handpicked.”
“So?”
“You’ve got the eldest young master and third young master if something happens to you, but me…….”
“You punk?”
Wait, there was a youngest too?
Oh, right.
‘But where’s that kid now?’
Namgung Hyuk grew curious for a moment but shelved it.
He’d see him eventually.
Thwack!
“Guh!”
Namgung Hyuk created a lump on Geum Cheomsang’s head and crunched on his candy.
“Whew, tasty.”
* * *
“Family Head! Cheomsang sent a letter.”
Namgung Jangcheon, portioning out iron pipe tobacco, snapped his head up.
“Yeah? What’s it say?”
He asked Geum Gwang-mo while keeping a stern face.
“Shall I read it?”
“Mm! Hand it over!”
“Yes!”
The fairly thick letter was scrawled messily but readable.
……We arrived at Silver Shadow Stables after just two days of travel. The young master was outraged at the bandits encroaching on your family’s territory and hurried onward……
Outraged?
Did I read that right?
“It says Hyuk was outraged here?”
“The young master’s sense of justice is impressive. Covering that distance in two days!”
Namgung Jangcheon eyed the letter oddly as Geum Gwang-mo smiled warmly beside him.
……The young master empathized with the Silver Shadow Stables chief’s pain, comforting and soothing him. A passage revealing his benevolence and character.
Benevolent character?
‘Was that a phrase that fit my boy?’
Well, it used to. Back then, yes.
But hadn’t his character flown out the window along with his illness?
Namgung Jangcheon tilted his head and continued reading.
……When he revealed his concrete thoughts and resolve on subjugating the bandits, the Silver Shadow Stables chief was so moved by his intent that he treated us lavishly for three days.
When discussing the bandit subjugation with the Heaven-Earth Sect Leader who came upon hearing the news, he commanded the situation like a general leading a hundred thousand troops.
Oh, and I wasn’t the only one awed by the young master’s demeanor.
Even the Heaven-Earth Sect Leader recognized his extraordinary nature and begged him to lead……
……Something’s off. This can’t be right?
“Doesn’t it seem like Second Young Master is handling things better than you worried?”
“……Well.”
“His capacity seems bigger than I thought.”
“Ahem!”
Namgung Jangcheon cleared his throat awkwardly and read the last line.
The characters were smudged beyond recognition, like a scrawled signature.
He strained to make it out.
The young master just left! Family Head! The young master…… is going mad…… rampaging…… save us.
What? This.
“Urk?!”
Namgung Jangcheon’s eyes nearly popped out.
‘What the hell’s going on?’
* * *
“A bit further in and we’ll reach the bandit lair, young master! Can’t take the carriage from here. We’ll have to go on foot.”
Ha Taegon said quietly, and Namgung Hyuk replied indifferently.
“Get down?”
“Yes!”
“Sigh, what a hassle.”
Namgung Hyuk yawned as he stepped out of the carriage.
Ha Taegon explained.
“Be extra careful from now on. There might be sentries, so stay as quiet as possible…….”
“Sentries?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Oh boy! Guys. There’s sentries, grab ’em!”
“Huh?”
While Ha Taegon processed the situation.
“We’ll grab them right away!”
“Yes, sir!”
The Thunder Dragon Squad rookies bolted out.
Jang Woong dashed ahead with nimble feet, ambushing the bandits hiding on the hill.
“Huh, h-heck!”
“E-enemy……!”
Thud thud thud!
The bandits collapsed without a scream under the Thunder Dragon Squad’s kicks.
Jang Woong and the squad dragged three bandits back by the scruff, like hunters with rabbits.
Ha Taegon’s jaw dropped.
‘……Wh-what?’
Even the Heaven-Earth Sect disciples gawked at the Thunder Dragon Squad, stunned that they’d cleared the sentries in a blink.
But Namgung Hyuk was nonchalant.
“Let’s go.”
“……Y-yes, yes!”
Ha Taegon stared blankly at him before starting the march.
Thunder Dragon Squad up front, Namgung Hyuk and Ha Taegon in the middle, Heaven-Earth Sect warriors bringing up the rear.
Thud thud.
Namgung Hyuk yawned widely as he eyed the bandit lair ahead.
‘Man, they built it so sloppily.’
The stockade was sparse, the buildings half-assed.
It almost looked like abandoned shacks.
‘This is a bandit lair?’
If the punks were gonna build, they should’ve done it right.
Namgung Hyuk snickered and glanced back.
As he moved a certain distance, the Heaven-Earth Sect disciples subtly closed in.
Namgung Hyuk smirked faintly, watching the situation unfold.
It was the exact moment the Thunder Dragon Squad entered the lair.
“Grab them—!”
“Enemies!”
“Waaaaah!”
Bandits hidden around the fence sprang out like lightning, blocking the carriage and Thunder Dragon Squad.
Clad in leather, wielding massive nanga swords and axes, they glared ferociously at the Thunder Dragon Squad.
“Y-young master!”
Geum Cheomsang flinched and hid inside the carriage, while the Thunder Dragon Squad tilted their heads and stared down the bandits.
They slowly spaced out, facing off against them.
Right then.
Shiiiing!
“Block the retreat!”
“Surround them!”
“Kill anything that moves!”
With booming shouts, the trailing Heaven-Earth Sect disciples drew swords and cut off the escape.
And.
Flash!
Ha Taegon whipped out the sword from his back like lightning, aiming at Namgung Hyuk’s neck.
“Heh heh heh! You scum! This is your grave!”
Namgung Hyuk grinned.
“My grave?”
Yeah, it’ll be a grave alright.
Just gotta wonder whose.
Finally, the awaited moment had arrived.