Chapter 76
Chapter 76
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Astonishing the Magistrate
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hefei Magistrate An Hyeon-seung gaped at the massive clumps of thugs being dragged into the courthouse in chains.
“What in the world is this?!”
Even for someone with twenty years as a magistrate, the sight of these blood-soaked bastards being hauled in like dogs was an unprecedented spectacle.
Not a single one among the captives looked intact.
Some had broken limbs—that was commonplace—but others had limbs outright severed.
One even frothed at the mouth and collapsed with a gurgle while being transported...
An Hyeon-seung flew into a rage as the courthouse turned into a chaotic funeral parlor in an instant.
“You bastards! What the hell do you think...”
“I’m from the Nangong Clan.”
“What?”
“L-look at their clothes! Aren’t those the uniforms worn by Nangong Clan warriors?”
“These mountain bandit-looking thugs are from the Nangong Clan...?”
An Hyeon-seung fell into confusion, wondering if his memory had failed him.
These guys, who looked like they’d just burst straight out of a bandit lair, were Nangong Clan warriors?
Their clothes were so caked in blood that it was impossible to tell their original color, blackened and filthy, and why were they carrying such vicious weapons?
“...They’re holding iron maces?”
“...”
“Has the Nangong Clan abandoned swordsmanship for iron maces while I wasn’t looking?”
“N-no, that’s not it. Anyway, those guys are definitely Nangong Clan warriors. And that one over there is the Family Head’s second son...”
“The Family Head’s second son?”
“Yes, exactly. The one who caused that huge uproar in Hefei not long ago...”
Ah?
That second son?
“F-fine, whatever. B-but why exactly has the Nangong Clan come here...”
From An Hyeon-seung’s perspective, the anxiety swelled because he couldn’t imagine martial artists—who caused trouble with their blades day in and day out—helping out the government.
The notion that government and the martial world were inviolable realms was utter bullshit.
Everyone was the emperor’s subject, feet planted on the same soil—what nonsense was that?
Government couldn’t catch martial artists, and martial artists ignored the government?
He didn’t know who spread that bullshit, but it was pure crap anyway.
If the levels matched, the government could catch martial artists, or martial artists could prop up the government.
Of course, generally speaking, the government ranked above martial artists.
No one was above the law.
But.
If the levels matched—strictly if the levels matched.
And the Nangong Clan was on a whole different level.
Sure, their power had waned compared to their heyday, but even their remaining strength could crush a mere magistrate without breaking a sweat.
With Nangong Clan warriors taking over the courthouse, it was only natural to feel tense.
An Hyeon-seung finally calmed his increasingly complicated thoughts and tilted his head.
Among the thugs dragged in by the Nangong Clan warriors, several faces looked awfully familiar.
Huh?
Definitely guys he’d seen somewhere before.
Where was it...?
Pondering deeply, An Hyeon-seung glanced at the report clutched in his hand.
The page was filled with sketches of their appearances.
As if something had gone wrong with the brush, every sketched face looked utterly menacing.
And those menacing features perfectly matched the ones kneeling right in front of him...?
‘Perfectly matched?’
An Hyeon-seung’s eyes bulged as he scanned the sketches and the kneeling thugs, pointing at them with a trembling finger and shouting.
“T-those bastards! A-aren’t they the Dodong Gang?!”
“What?! The D-Dodong Gang?!”
“Yeah! The Dodong Gang, the Dodong Gang! Look at the sketches behind!”
“N-no, what the hell?!”
His subordinate recoiled in horror at the sketches, then gawked at the captives.
“H-how did the Dodong Gang end up like this?”
Who would’ve thought these guys in front of him were the Dodong Gang!
An Hyeon-seung’s hand, gripping the sketches, trembled harder and harder.
The Dodong Gang was behind human trafficking, usury, and all sorts of illegal activities.
Their scale was far larger and fiercer than known, so they’d been waiting helplessly for reinforcements from above.
And now they’d come crawling in like utter wrecks!
An Hyeon-seung’s gaze shifted to Nangong Hyeok, standing blankly in front of the Thunder Dragon Squad.
Their eyes met as Nangong Hyeok smirked.
It was hard to believe that this small group had taken down a black path gang that even the magistrate couldn’t touch.
But he had no choice but to believe it.
‘As expected of the Nangong Clan—no empty reputation.’
Even if their prestige wasn’t what it once was, they were still the Nangong Clan.
Nangong Hyeok stepped forward, lips curling upward.
“They’re the ones running human trafficking in Hefei territory.”
“...I-is that so?”
“We’ve separated the ledgers, so you can verify them.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than courthouse officials swarmed the cart Nangong Hyeok pointed to.
“The ledgers!”
“Yes, here’s the human trafficking list!”
An Hyeon-seung barely kept his gaping mouth shut and nodded vigorously.
“Y-yes, I’ll confirm and hand them over to the higher-ups soon.”
“...All of them?”
Nangong Hyeok showed no reaction, but Geon Cheon-hwi and Tak Hyeok-dong behind him scowled fiercely.
Seeing their menacing faces, the magistrate hastily changed his tune.
“...I’ll hand them over.”
“Yes.”
Still utterly baffled as to why they’d done this, An Hyeon-seung probed Nangong Hyeok cautiously.
“There are bounties from the government on the Dodong Gang, so if you just cooperate with a simple investigation...”
Nangong Hyeok shook his head with a smirk.
“Pocket change like that... No, no. The bounties are fine! I simply couldn’t stand by watching those who disturb the public’s peace, so I acted on chivalrous duty.”
“Chivalrous duty?”
“How could I, as the Nangong Clan’s second young master, stand idly by such injustice?”
To the Thunder Dragon Squad listening behind him, it was obvious bullshit that wouldn’t fool anyone, but An Hyeon-seung had no way of knowing.
Instead, he kept exclaiming in admiration at Nangong Hyeok’s bold declaration.
‘He’s on a whole different level from other martial artists who only disrupt order.’
No need for money—just pure chivalry in capturing these scoundrels!
‘How commendable! And he doesn’t even look twenty yet!’
No arrogance or disdain in his attitude either!
Nangong Hyeok continued.
“You won’t have to worry about the back alleys anymore.”
“W-what do you mean by that?”
Nangong Hyeok grinned.
“Why trouble the magistrate with such matters? From now on, I’ll make sure these kinds of scum don’t appear. Just focus on your official duties.”
In that fleeting moment, dozens of calculations flashed through An Hyeon-seung’s mind.
‘Scum like the Dodong Gang might pop up again. Reporting to superiors for aid every time would just advertise my incompetence. If Nangong Clan warriors help manage public order?’
And if they occasionally wiped out black path gangs like today, adding to his merits? That would be perfect!
It cost him nothing—in fact, he should be bowing in gratitude.
Nose blown without lifting a hand.
‘And from the looks of it, this second young master has strong chivalrous spirit, and rumors say his martial arts are exceptional too.’
A connection with a promising warrior from the Nangong Clan—bright prospects ahead!
Having sorted his thoughts, An Hyeon-seung nodded readily.
“If the Nangong Clan steps up, nothing could be better. I’ll put my faith in you. Tell me anytime if there’s trouble.”
“Is that alright?”
“How could I call myself Hefei’s magistrate if I don’t even help someone upholding chivalry to protect Hefei’s peace? I’ll aid you to the best of my ability.”
Nangong Hyeok’s lips curved into a long arc.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, come now.”
Having achieved his goal, Nangong Hyeok smiled in satisfaction.
‘Courthouse secured.’
Watching from afar, Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung rubbed their goosebumped arms and shook their heads at Nangong Hyeok’s phony act.
‘Now he’s sweet-talking the courthouse too.’
Even a magistrate who should know better couldn’t see through Nangong Hyeok.
In any case, Nangong Hyeok secured the magistrate’s fresh support and seized the back alleys in a flash.
The back alleys were now Nangong Hyeok’s domain.
* * *
“Move it, move it quick!”
The back alleys, dense with brothels, buzzed with activity.
Led by the Silver Flower Brothel, warehouses of over ten brothels were being ransacked.
Carts piled high, again and again.
The endless accumulation of wealth forming mountains was quite the spectacle.
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue.
“These bastards really sucked them dry.”
The riches pouring from the brothels seemed more than what the Heaven-Earth Sect had.
And the Dodong Gang managing them must have taken double that.
Nangong Hyeok shook his head and said.
“Free the people.”
“Yes!”
The Thunder Dragon Squad responded energetically and bustled about searching the brothels for the imprisoned.
“Everyone, come out!”
“Check if you match the ledger entries!”
“Hey, get in line!”
The people sold into human trafficking and confined to the brothels looked bewildered.
Nangong Clan warriors bursting in out of nowhere was shocking enough, and seeing the madams beaten and the ledgers seized had stunned them.
Now they were lining them up.
Nangong Hyeok shook the ledger and said.
“Verify if they’re on the ledger, give them plenty without skimping. And make sure to burn the ledger clean.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Don’t hold back—give generously. Stingy and it turns to shit.”
“Yes!”
Geon Cheon-hwi barked a vigorous reply and directed the Thunder Dragon Squad.
As names were crossed off the ledger and money handed out, the initially bewildered people soon erupted in overwhelming cheers.
They’d been resigned to a lifetime drifting through brothels, buried there forever.
Debts vanished and money in hand—the joy and elation were indescribable.
“I’m alive! Ha, hahaha! Alive!”
“Oh, heavens above. Thank you, thank you all!”
“You’re really giving us money? Ah, aaah!”
Yeon-hwa approached, sobbing.
“S-sob! Y-Young Master! Thank you, truly thank you!”
Nangong Hyeok shrugged.
‘What’s the big deal?’
Just made some money, that’s all.
Yeon-hwa and the courtesans from the Silver Flower Brothel who’d shared their tales wept and wept.
The slave servants were no different.
Sobs filled the courtyard in an instant.
Nangong Hyeok beckoned to Do Dae-ung.
“Escort them safely.”
“Yes!”
“No running or funny business.”
“Yes, we’ll watch them closely...”
“I’m talking about you.”
“Ah.”
Do Dae-ung gained profound realization and shook his head.
“O-of course!”
Seeing Nangong Hyeok glaring, Do Dae-ung patted his chest.
‘...Damn my fate.’
How did I end up running errands like this?
Life was unpredictable.
Still, better than the Dodong Gang thugs headed to the courthouse for execution.
Do Dae-ung sighed and departed.
* * *
“Family Head! The second young master led the Thunder Dragon Squad to wipe out a black path gang running human trafficking and rescued countless people!”
Steward Geum Gwang-mo reported in an excited voice.
Nangong Jangcheon, who’d been stroking his beard with a feigned stern expression, whipped his head around.
“What?”
“The second young master rescued countless people...”
“No, no. Before that! What did he wipe out?”
“A black path gang...”
Nangong Jangcheon’s eyes wavered.
“A black path gang out of nowhere? What the hell is that kid up to?”
Geum Gwang-mo smiled awkwardly.
“At that age, they’re overflowing with heroic spirit, right?”
“Heroic spirit...”
Did that even fit Nangong Hyeok?
“Anyway, so... what happened?”
“Hefei’s buzzing with the news! The Thunder Dragon Squad handed the black path gang to the courthouse, and in the back alleys, they freed the human trafficking victims!”
“...”
“People are going wild praising the second young master! They’re saying a chivalrous hero representing the Nangong Clan has emerged—total uproar!”
“Hmm! Is that so?”
Pretending nonchalance, but Nangong Jangcheon’s lips kept rising.
Stroking his beard, Nangong Jangcheon spoke.
“Ahem! That kid’s personality wouldn’t do this for no reason...”
“He’s been taught chivalry and the righteous path since childhood, hasn’t he? He must’ve stepped up because it felt unjust.”
Unjust?
Chivalry?
...Those were stories from the old days.
Not anymore.
Nangong Jangcheon nearly said it but swallowed with a grunt.
But his lips kept rising.
“In any case, the clan’s in an uproar now. Saying the second young master elevated the main family’s prestige once more!”
Nangong Jangcheon stroked his beard smoothly and chuckled lightly.
“Is that right?”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“I’m in a good mood—let’s have some tea.”
“Ah! Perfect timing, we have something good.”
“Hm? What’s that?”
“Wait a moment.”
Geum Gwang-mo entered and opened a jar he’d brought.
“What’s that?”
The jar brimmed with what was clearly premium tea leaves at a glance.
“It’s tea sent by the Hefei magistrate today.”
“...The magistrate?”
“Yes! He sent it as thanks for the huge help from the second young master. He specifically asked me to tell you that he sees the aura of a great hero in the young master’s demeanor.”
“...”
A great hero?
Hyeok?
Nangong Jangcheon blinked and opened his mouth.
“...When the hell did he even meet the magistrate?”
“Didn’t he drag the black path scum to the courthouse?”
“R-right.”
Nangong Jangcheon kept stroking his beard.
“Well, damn.”
Good things kept coming one after another, but day by day, handling Nangong Hyeok grew harder for Nangong Jangcheon.
“By the way, where’d that Hyeok kid run off to at a time like this?”
“He left a little while ago. Shall I...”
“Nah. Going out often’s no bad thing. Means he’s healthy. Leave him be! Let’s have that tea.”
Nangong Jangcheon chuckled heartily and began brewing the tea.
Seeing Nangong Jangcheon’s face beaming with irrepressible joy, Geum Gwang-mo smiled quietly.