Chapter 56
Chapter 56
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: A Son's Generosity
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Namgung Hyuk strolled into the family head's chamber at a leisurely pace.
"You've worked hard! Truly worked hard!"
Namgung Jangcheon's voice brimmed with joy.
In a rare display(?), he let his emotions run free, laughing heartily.
"Thanks to you, Hyuk, I've shed one big worry."
With a hundred elite steeds returned from the Silver Form Horse Ranch, the Namgung family's financial woes would ease somewhat.
It meant money flowing into the family head's coffers, which had been locked tight!
Of course, it would take time, but for Namgung Jangcheon—whose throat had felt as parched as a drought-stricken field—this was news worth welcoming with open arms.
Pat pat.
Namgung Ryong sidled up quietly and patted Namgung Hyuk's shoulder, nodding his head.
"Ryong says you've worked hard too."
……He'd only heard breathing just now—how did he understand that?
'Whatever. What does it matter if he gets it?'
Namgung Hyuk turned his head and scanned the surroundings.
"No brazier? It's drafty in here."
More than drafty—the room felt colder than outside.
As Namgung Jangcheon pulled out the tea caddy, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem! A bit of chill is good for the health, they say."
"It's early winter already."
"I'll have one set up again soon."
"Ah, yes."
Namgung Jangcheon opened the tea caddy as he spoke.
"Bear with the cold just for today. Warm up with some tea first."
Namgung Jangcheon took out some tea leaves from the caddy.
A pinch……
Hyuk flinched.
'……A pinch for a son who's worked so hard. Isn't that too stingy?'
They had to tighten their belts until finances improved, but not anymore.
With great resolve, Namgung Jangcheon grasped the tea leaves with trembling hands.
One pinch, two pinches.
The leaves sprinkled lightly over the teacup.
Namgung Hyuk swallowed a dry laugh as he watched.
He knew nothing of tea ceremony, but even he knew you didn't sprinkle leaves like that.
Was this broth? Sprinkling them like salt?
Crunch crunch crunch crunch.
He turned at the noise from the side—Namgung Ryong was gnawing away at some unidentified root.
Heavens, this was a slum.
'It's gotten worse, hasn't it?'
Namgung Hyuk clicked his tongue at the heartbreaking sight that made his head shake involuntarily.
He wondered what the Sword King would say if he saw this.
The Namgung family head and young master living like beggars from the Beggar Clan.
How pitiful.
Oh, so pitiful.
As Namgung Hyuk shook his head, Namgung Jangcheon offered the water with sprinkled leaves.
"You have no idea how worried I was when I first got your letter. Saying you're righteous, benevolent, and all that…… Ahem!"
Namgung Jangcheon cleared his throat again, as if the mere thought was absurd, and sipped his tea.
"I was on pins and needles wondering if your eldest uncle had a hand in this. Anyway, nothing else happen on your way back?"
Plenty had.
Namgung Hyuk gave a meaningful smile.
"The Heaven-Earth Sect was in on the banditry."
"……What? Banditry? Those bastards from the Heaven-Earth Sect?"
"Yes. Posing as bandits, stealing horses, even trying to kill me."
"What?! The nerve!"
A heavy, suffocating pressure erupted from Namgung Jangcheon's shoulders.
"The Heaven-Earth Sect dares to raid the main house and orchestrate this?!"
It was absurd and infuriating.
No matter how weakened the Namgung family had become, to be toyed with by a minor sect that couldn't even remember their name properly.
Namgung Hyuk nodded and said,
"Pull out their fingers, sever their meridians, and feed them to the dogs."
"Naturally…… Huh?"
"And sell their families at the slave market or just bury them quietly—no loose ends that way. Debts and grudges settle clean like that."
"Hyuk, that's a bit……"
This is our Namgung family, you fool.
Even punishment like feeding to dogs would draw condemnation from the world.
At Namgung Jangcheon's words, Namgung Hyuk smacked his lips.
'Tch, it'll nag at me otherwise.'
The Sword King of old would have at least wiped out their sect.
'Well, that was during the Demonic Blood Tribulation.'
A brutal era where mercy turned into a dagger.
"I'm kidding."
"……Please tell me you are."
"Nah, I don't like that sort of thing."
Namgung Hyuk waved it off and turned, only to lock eyes with Namgung Ryong.
Grrrrr!
Crack!
Namgung Ryong shrugged his shoulders, his killing intent rising.
He looked ready to charge out and sever the Heaven-Earth Sect's heads right then.
'……He just might.'
Given how he'd beaten those thugs before.
"Ryong, it's over now—calm down."
Namgung Ryong glanced around before stuffing some herbs into his mouth.
Munch munch.
As Namgung Ryong seemed to calm a bit, Namgung Jangcheon cleared his throat.
"Right, did you interrogate them separately?"
Namgung Hyuk scratched his head.
"Why would I do that?"
"……You didn't?"
"Nope. Why?"
"Ahem! I was wondering if this was tied to the Black Dragon Sect or someone else."
It wasn't ordinary for a minor border sect to target the Namgung family's wealth and bloodline.
It was reasonable to suspect the Heaven-Earth Sect hadn't acted alone in something this massive.
But hearing that, Namgung Hyuk tilted his head.
'What minor sect is that?'
Sounds like an unorthodox faction.
Seems to have some grudge against the Namgung family.
Namgung Hyuk's expression turned subtle.
'Hmm.'
Namgung Jangcheon ended his deep contemplation and relaxed his face.
"Ahem, then Father will handle this matter."
"Yes."
"Anyway, you've done a huge service. So glad you came back safe!"
"Yeah, sure."
"I've talked too long. The tea's getting cold—drink up."
Namgung Hyuk pushed the cup forward slightly and shook his head.
"I'll just have water."
"It's still got a strong aroma……"
Namgung Hyuk let out a wry chuckle at Namgung Jangcheon smacking his lips.
His gaze passed over Namgung Ryong, pitifully munching roots nearby, then snapped back.
"Hahaha, jeez. Breaks my heart."
"Hm?"
"Pocket money."
Namgung Hyuk pulled a money pouch from his bosom and plunked it on the table.
Namgung Jangcheon's eyes widened at the hefty pouch on the table.
It bulged with a hundred taels of silver.
"……Where'd this come from?"
"Found it on the way."
"……You didn't……?"
"Ah, if you don't want it, don't use it."
As Namgung Hyuk reached to take it back.
Snap!
Namgung Jangcheon's hand shot out like lightning, grabbing his wrist.
Heh.
"Hahaha! To think the day has come when I receive pocket money from my own son! Haha!"
"……"
"Let go."
Namgung Jangcheon snatched the pouch from Namgung Hyuk's hand, cleared his throat with a hum, and stroked his beard.
It was too large a sum to refuse.
"Been ages since I've had Dragon Well tea, heh-ahem!"
Namgung Hyuk let out a hollow laugh.
He tossed another pouch to Namgung Ryong beside him.
"Stop eating roots and get some meat."
O……oh. Crunch?
"Say something first."
Namgung Hyuk patted Namgung Ryong's shoulder a couple times and rose from his seat.
'Tsk tsk, live long enough, you see everything. Me, giving pocket money to the Sword King's descendants.'
He trudged out of the family head's chamber.
* * *
Led by Great Elder Namgung Wigung, the elders had gathered.
"Wonder what they're talking about in there?"
"Can't we go in and listen? I'm curious. Seemed like there was more to discuss. Want to hear his tales from the Hwahuk Plains too."
Namgung Wigung shook his head.
"It's father-son talk, isn't it? You'll get the report on the Hwahuk Plains."
"Ah, feels a bit unfair."
Fifth Elder clicked his tongue from the side.
"Seventh Elder, don't cross the line. It's family talk."
"Are we not family with Hyuk? Huh? Aren't we? We can listen! After such a feat, it'd be great to hear and praise him together!"
"Since when is our Hyuk 'Seventh Elder's Hyuk'? Strictly speaking, I'm closer by blood than you, Seventh. If anyone's going in, it's me!"
"How many degrees is the difference?"
"How many are you?"
"Already counting degrees? Sigh, what a lamentable state."
"Praise should come from elders! Ahem!"
As Seventh and Fifth Elders bickered, the other elders exchanged glances and chimed in.
"Might as well send some tonic herbs."
"Heh, such a day has come. The second young master saving the family from crisis!"
"Managed the Thunder Dragon Squad too, and completed the mission perfectly. Can't just praise with spit!"
"Showing your age. He eats plenty of tonics already. Nothing beats cash at that age. Cash is king, I say?"
"Forget it—I'm closest by degree, so send it all in my name at once!"
The elders' mood was heating up.
"Enough! Squabbling over this?"
At Namgung Wigung's low voice, the elders coughed awkwardly and looked away.
Namgung Wigung spoke in a stern tone.
"As the eldest and Great Elder, I'll commend Hyuk myself—so stop competing."
"……Pardon?"
"Ahem! Merit is merit, private is private."
……Feels just like private to me.
Namgung Wigung beamed with satisfaction.
"I always worried because he was sickly, but who knew our Hyuk would grow like this."
"……"
"Strictly speaking, he's my grandson."
Ah, pushing with seniority and blood ties—nothing to say to that.
The elders smiled awkwardly and nodded.
They faced each other and chuckled.
"Indeed, haha."
"Our Hyuk's grown so well."
"That frail kid earning such acclaim—makes me proud for no reason."
"At this rate, he might even…… Um!"
As the elders nodded, Namgung Wigung declared,
"Then it's decided: the elders' council commends Hyuk in the Great Elder's name. Ahem!"
Namgung Wigung stroked his lush beard, while the elders stared at him with deflated expressions, then looked into space.
And thought to themselves.
'No need to pool gifts.'
'I'll send separately.'
'Soon as I get back, deliver the gift first?'
The elders exchanged glances and quietly dispersed.
Silence returned before the Heavenly Bow Hall.
* * *
"Get up."
Ha Taegon lifted his swollen face.
"Uh, huh?"
Confirming the jailer's face, he widened his eyes and clung to the bars.
"E-Elder……"
"Shut it."
"D-Did he send you? S-Spare me! Please tell him to spare me! There's no law for this! I did as ordered!"
"Quiet. Swallow this."
The jailer held out an item.
A pill wrapped neatly in paper.
The fragrant scent made Ha Taegon feel dazed for a moment.
"Wh-What's this?"
"Swallow."
"I-I should know what it is first."
"It's a drug that stops your breath temporarily. Take it now, fake death till the execution, and you can slip out."
"Ah! R-Really? Haha, no one just dies without a way out!"
Ha Taegon swallowed the pill paper and all without hesitation.
"Th-Then the settlement gold too, right? R-Right?"
The jailer gave Ha Taegon a cold look, then walked off wordlessly.
"H-Hey!"
Ha Taegon called, but the jailer had vanished into the darkness.
The jailer went to another cell and knocked on the iron door.
Gwisoo, curled in the corner, opened his eyes.
Gwisoo breathed raggedly, staring through the bars.
A single jailer stared back.
The jailer glanced outside briefly, then tossed something through the bars from his bosom.
Thud.
Gwisoo's eyes flicked briefly to the paper-wrapped item before returning.
"Swallow now, and three days from now, the poison pill dissolves with the paper."
"……His will?"
"Whose matters?"
"……"
"Follow the iron rule."
Gwisoo gazed at the paper with a despairing face, then gritted his teeth. He swallowed the poison pill paper and all in one gulp.
Then curled up as if nothing happened.
The jailer looked around briefly, then slipped out when the relief arrived.
The relief guard glanced into the cell and muttered.
"Hah, laid-back bastard. Sleeping like a log. Got some guts, I'll give him that."
The nerve to touch a hundred elite steeds headed for the main house.
Suddenly irked, the relief spat into the cell.
"Ptoo! Rotten punk."
Clicking his tongue, the jailer began his shift.
Silence returned to the prison depths.