Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Namgung So's Drunken Rampage
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Gulp, gulp!
Namgung So threw back the liquor without a second thought.
Thud!
He slammed the cup down so hard the table shook, then wiped his mouth.
“Ugh! Damn, this booze is harsh.”
He spat out the curse and grabbed some snacks.
After tipping the cup back a few more times, the liquor ran dry.
Namgung So frowned and shook the bottle.
“Hey, waiter! Out of booze—bring more!”
The waiter shuffled over hesitantly.
“Y-Young master.”
Namgung So shook the bottle without even glancing at him.
“Bring booze.”
“Y-You’ve had plenty, sir. Maybe call it a night?”
“What?”
Namgung So glared at the waiter with bleary eyes.
The waiter flinched and dropped his gaze.
Namgung So said it again.
“Bring booze.”
“……Y-Young master.”
“Bring it!”
Namgung So bellowed and hurled the bottle to the floor.
Crash!
It shattered, shards flying everywhere.
The other patrons in the tavern furrowed their brows.
“Can’t he drink like a civilized person?”
“Who’s that guy?”
“Shh! It’s Namgung So.”
“Namgung So? Sword Tiger’s little brother?”
“Yeah. Watch your mouth. He’s from the Namgung Clan.”
“Still, that’s too much. What a disgrace to his family.”
“That’s what the Namgung Clan’s young master does in broad daylight. For real.”
“He’s a total punk.”
At the sound of tongues clicking, Namgung So whipped his head around.
He fixed them with an axe-like glare.
“Hey, you bastards! What’d you just say?”
“W-Who, me, sir?”
“You think I’m an easy mark, huh?!”
Namgung So staggered toward them.
Crash!
He shoved over a table in his path and kicked a chair aside.
Bowls and bottles tumbled from the table, and the patrons shrank back from his savage aura.
Namgung So grabbed one man by the collar and yanked him up.
The man paled at the bull-like strength.
“W-What’s this about?!”
“What?”
Slap!
Namgung So’s hand cracked across the man’s cheek.
Crash!
The table splintered, and the slapped man ended up covered in food.
Namgung So huffed. He scanned the tavern and vented his rage.
“You filthy worms yapping off in front of me! Innkeeper! Where’s the damn innkeeper! I said bring booze—why isn’t it here yet!”
He pounded the table as he roared.
The innkeeper rushed up the stairs to the second floor, face ashen.
He took in the wreckage and the customer lying there bleeding.
“I buy your booze, and this is how you treat me!”
Namgung So scowled at the innkeeper.
The innkeeper sighed deeply, then addressed him.
“Young master, we won’t charge you for the drinks. Please, just go home.”
“What? You disrespecting me too?”
“……If you keep this up, I’ll have to report it to the Namgung Clan.”
Flinch.
Namgung So’s brow furrowed and relaxed repeatedly.
He ground his teeth, snorted, and stormed out of the tavern.
The innkeeper sighed at the mess on the floor.
“O-Owner……”
He ordered the waiter.
“Help the injured customers. And comp them each a bottle of Leaf Green and some snacks.”
“Y-Yes. But this……”
“Damn it, talk about bad luck.”
The damage was extensive.
It wasn’t a small loss.
“……How does a prestigious clan produce a thug like that?”
“Tell me about it.”
“What a piece of work.”
The innkeeper shook his fist at Namgung So’s retreating back.
“Drop dead, you scum.”
Namgung So staggered down the main street.
Passersby gave him a wide berth.
“What’re you staring at? Get lost!”
Thoroughly drunk, he swung his arms wildly and kept walking.
After getting thrashed by the Hefei Ten Swords, he’d holed up in his room without a word until his wounds healed. This was his first breath of fresh air in ages.
He’d drunk to soothe his aching heart, but it hadn’t helped.
He was out of money with nowhere to go, and he sure as hell didn’t want to head back to the Namgung Clan just yet.
He veered off the main street into an alley.
“Damn it, how’d I end up like this?”
Gulp, gulp!
He poured the strong fire wine down his throat and groaned.
“I’ll kill them all—Namgung Hyeok, that bastard, Jusa-cheol, every last one!”
He vowed revenge on everyone who’d humiliated him, grinding his teeth.
He stormed through the alley, huffing.
“That dog Namgung Hyeok……”
Thud!
He bumped shoulders with someone while staggering.
Namgung So’s face twisted instantly.
He whipped around with a growl.
He grabbed the man who’d stopped after the bump.
“What kind of bastard are you?! Hey! Apologize right now! Do you even know who I……!”
The man turned his head.
In that instant, the man seized Namgung So’s throat with blinding speed.
Crunch!
Namgung So’s eyes bulged as he thrashed.
“K-Kek!”
The man slowly lifted him off the ground.
Namgung So flailed wildly, but the man didn’t budge.
In his blurring vision, the man’s face came into view.
The corner of the man’s mouth curled up.
“Namgung So?”
Namgung So’s mind went hazy.
* * *
“Do you know them?”
From the top floor of the Heavenly Pavilion, overlooking the alley.
A group was moving down there.
Namgung Hyeok’s eyes slowly tracked the black-clad figures.
Do Dae-ung tilted his head beside him.
“……Never seen those guys before.”
“You either?”
“Yeah, I’ve got this district locked down tight…… but those are new to me.”
“Not just ones we missed till now?”
“No way. This scene’s all the same—spot ’em once, and they stick out like sore thumbs.”
“Huh, alright.”
Namgung Hyeok’s gaze kept following the black-clad men.
Soon, they vanished into the maze-like alleys.
Namgung Hyeok’s eyes narrowed.
‘Guys even the local Black Path thugs haven’t seen.’
That meant they’d arrived in Hefei recently.
‘Stirring up trouble in someone else’s turf.’
Namgung Hyeok rose quietly.
“Where you headed?”
Geon Cheon-hwi, who’d been prodding Jang Ung’s shin, asked.
“Territory check.”
“Huh?”
Namgung Hyeok leaped out the window without answering.
Whoosh!
Geon Cheon-hwi’s eyes widened.
“Y-Young master, this is the seventh floor……!”
Everyone in the Heavenly Pavilion jumped to their feet in shock.
They gawked out the window.
“G-Gasp!”
“Young master!”
“Boss!”
Namgung Hyeok landed lightly on a rooftop after jumping from the seventh floor.
Tap!
His eyes swept the area sharply.
He dashed toward where the black-clad men had gone.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
He rode the wind, slicing through space.
It was the Blood Wind Swiftness lightfoot skill unleashed via the Soaring Heaven Bright King Art.
A divine technique boasting top efficiency—one handful of inner energy could cover a hundred li.
With each leap, Namgung Hyeok’s form shot forward.
The air cracked from the Soaring Heaven Bright King Art as he crossed distances.
The crowd gaped as he shrank to a dot and vanished.
“What’s that speed?”
“……He’s gone!”
“Can a person move that fast?”
He’d vanished like a bird in flight.
Geon Cheon-hwi moved at once and shouted.
“Show’s over! What’re you waiting for—follow him!”
The Thunder Dragon Squad and Black Path leaders scrambled after Namgung Hyeok.
Tap!
Namgung Hyeok landed at the alley mouth.
His eyes scanned sharply all around.
He headed where the black-clad men had vanished but soon scowled.
He extended his senses, but nothing registered.
“……Lost ’em.”
‘They slipped my senses?’
Namgung Hyeok chuckled wryly.
Ordinary foes couldn’t escape his perception.
These weren’t ordinary.
‘And they’re prowling Hefei.’
Same as those at the Silver Phantom Horse Stable.
‘What’re they after?’
He smacked his lips, glanced at where they’d disappeared, then turned back.
He shook his hands and walked toward the Heavenly Pavilion.
“Young master!”
Geon Cheon-hwi rushed into the alley, yelling.
“What.”
“Did you catch them?”
“Lost ’em, so I came alone.”
“Want us to search?”
“Where?”
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue again.
Then Do Dae-ung came panting up.
“Boss! You jumped like that—I thought something happened!”
Ugh, how touching.
Namgung Hyeok waved him off.
“You know the layout here?”
Do Dae-ung glanced around and laughed heartily.
“Boss! Like I said, this is my turf. I know it like the back of my hand. Give the word, and I’ll dig up yesterday’s lost ant pups! Heh heh heh!”
Do Dae-ung beamed with confidence.
Namgung Hyeok nodded.
“Then report any suspicious types lurking around.”
“Yes, suspicious types…… Wait, suspicious how?”
“Like those black-clad guys with tall hats. They scream shady.”
“Ah, got it. Super shady crew.”
Super shady, huh.
Do Dae-ung’s face fell as he bowed his head.
The Black Path leaders behind snickered, looking pleased.
As Namgung Hyeok exited the alley, he added,
“They know martial arts, so don’t pick fights you can’t win.”
“……Yes, sir!”
“Heading out.”
“A-Already?”
“Got more to do?”
“Take care!”
Namgung Hyeok patted Do Dae-ung’s shoulder and stepped onto the main street.
The Thunder Dragon Squad followed.
“Come back safe, boss!”
“Safe travels!”
The Black Path leaders bowed deeply.
* * *
Namgung Hyeok sat cross-legged, scratching his cheek.
“What the hell are those guys?”
Those men from three days ago still bugged him.
“They reek of trouble. Total stink of it.”
Taken one by one, nothing connected clearly.
Coincidences could happen.
Namgung Hyeok’s suspicion was pure gut.
But he trusted his instincts above all.
How else had a nobody survived among ronin?
How else had he reached the top in a world of schemes and strife?
Experience from his Poison King days backed his instincts.
“Lost ’em, so now it itches more. Tsk!”
He shook his head, clicking his tongue.
Pa Ho-un, watching from the side, clenched his fists, cheeks quivering.
‘……Damn it, why’d he come here and cramp my style! And what’s with dumping his crap in the branch? This ain’t a warehouse!’
Pa Ho-un trembled at the stacked crates nearby.
As he stewed inwardly,
“Hey.”
“……Branch Head Pa Ho-un!”
“Any word on suspicious types in Hefei?”
“No reports like that.”
“None?”
Pa Ho-un flinched and shrank as Namgung Hyeok glared.
“……With Hefei’s floating population, we can’t check everyone. Unless they’re special targets, it’s tough.”
“Black Dot Hall’s all dead. They used to handle it.”
“……Sorry.”
Namgung Hyeok shook his head.
“But you can find people, right?”
“Huh? Who?”
“Suspicious guys around the Heavenly Pavilion lately. Dig into where they are.”
“……Uh? That’ll take manpower. As you know, the branch is short-staffed…… Sure, hire help and it’s easier, pour in cash and it’s fast and deep……”
“No worries then.”
“Haha, knew you’d say that, young master! I’ll throw a hundred guys at it and……”
“I started the First Line Society, remember?”
“Huh?”
“You know, the local Black Path thugs. They’re my crew now. Use ’em freely. Cool?”
Pa Ho-un’s forehead vein throbbed at Namgung Hyeok’s grin.
This vicious bastard—gonna work ’em for free?
“……Yes, perfect. Thanks a lot. Young. Master!”
Namgung Hyeok chuckled and rose, approaching Pa Ho-un.
“I’ll collect fast.”
“Huh?”
“You use my guys, I get paid.”
“……”
……Worse than the Hell King Branch?
Pa Ho-un forced a laugh.
“Y-Yes, of course! Right away!”
Tears welled in Pa Ho-un’s eyes as he pulled out his emergency funds.