Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Unexpected Rescue
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Thud. Boom. Rumble.
Nangong So jerked his head up at the noise coming from outside.
‘What the hell?’
It hadn’t been long since the thugs had left, so his heart couldn’t help but race.
‘Please let it be Nangong House. Nangong House.’
He didn’t know why the Black Path rabble was looking for him, but it was obvious as daylight that even ten cartloads of those scum couldn’t take on these assailants.
So he prayed and prayed that the source of this commotion was Nangong House.
‘Father, please save me! Big Brother, I’ll be good from now on. Please!’
As he pictured Nangong Baek and Nangong Jeong’s faces, Nangong So glared with bulging eyes.
Not long after.
Ruuuumble! Craaaash!
“Huh?”
A vibration shook the pillar like it might collapse, and the ceiling heaved.
Dust and debris rained down from above, startling Nangong So.
‘F-Fire bombs?’
He gulped dryly at the ongoing tremors vibrating through the floor.
Then silence fell.
Nangong So’s mind tangled in confusion.
In the quiet, waves of terror kept crashing over him.
What if things went wrong and the thugs came back?
What would happen to him?
Thud! Clatter clatter!
He flinched.
Spotting the door rattling along with the noise from outside, Nangong So jumped in fright.
‘Damn, you scared me!’
What was that?
Someone was at the door...
Even with his acupoints sealed and unable to circulate inner energy, he could sense the presence outside.
Gulp.
He swallowed hard.
Creak! Bang!
The door flew open with the short, sharp scream of rusty hinges.
The face of the man standing there came into view.
‘Huh?’
“Mmph?”
...Why the hell was this guy here?
The face of the man who had opened the door and was staring straight at him was extremely familiar.
It was Nangong Hyeok.
The guy was tilting his head, peering intently this way.
Was Nangong Hyeok the one those Nangong House warriors had supposedly been searching for him?
Why?
Why me...
He had his questions, but relief washed over him anyway.
Whatever the reason, Nangong House had come to save him!
“Uh uh?”
Nangong Hyeok’s eyes widened, and he blinked a few times.
As if confirming whether he was seeing this right.
Thud.
The door slammed shut with a heavy sound.
Nangong So’s eyes bulged like saucers.
‘Hey! Hey, hey!! Why are you leaving? Hey!!’
“Mmph! Mmmp mmph!”
Bang!
Nangong Hyeok opened the door again.
‘Don’t close it, don’t close it! Don’t go, untie me!’
“Mmmph mmmmph! Mmph—!”
Nangong So thrashed his neck, shrugged his shoulders, and struggled desperately.
Nangong Hyeok approached with a genuinely puzzled expression.
“...Why the hell are you here?”
“Mmph?”
You’re not here to save me?
Scratch scratch.
“Didn’t you run away from home?”
Does this look like I ran away, you bastard!
“Mmph mmph mmph—!”
“You just cursed at me, didn’t you?”
“Mmph mmph?”
No, no. I was begging you to save me?!
Nangong So rolled his eyes desperately.
Nangong Hyeok let out a low hum.
“Got it. I’m out.”
‘Hey! You bastard!’
“Grrrmph!”
Untie me, please!
I can’t feel my hands!
Even as saliva dripped down, soaking his collar, Nangong So screamed.
Nangong Hyeok casually lifted the gag.
“...Save me! Please save me!”
“Who kidnapped you?”
“I don’t know, they grabbed me out of nowhere... Mmmp!”
Nangong Hyeok stuffed the gag back in. Nangong So’s pupils shook.
Nangong Hyeok removed the gag again.
“...Save me. I really don’t know. Those guys just suddenly...”
“Get to the point. Short and sweet.”
Nangong So calmly gathered his thoughts.
This was undoubtedly the first time in his life he’d ever summarized so calmly.
“An old fox was looking for me. Some Black Path thugs too, and Nangong House... The leader said the old fox was slow to act and only decides after results are in, and then...”
Nangong Hyeok eyed Nangong So with a strange look.
“And?”
“Th-That’s it. Really! Anyway, I’m so glad you came. Truly! I always meant to tell you how grateful I...”
“Yeah, sure.”
Plop.
Nangong Hyeok smirked and shoved the gag back into Nangong So’s mouth.
Nangong So flailed, but Nangong Hyeok ignored it completely.
“Hooomp! Woo woo woomp—!”
Nangong So glared with resentful eyes, but even that was neatly dismissed.
Nangong Hyeok scanned the surroundings.
The area was already cleaned up.
He turned and headed toward the assailant he had subdued in the corner.
“Time to head home and...”
Nangong Hyeok’s expression hardened as he paused mid-step.
He grabbed the hair of the assailant lying face-down on the floor and yanked his head up.
“Cough! Cough!”
The man was spewing blood from his mouth.
His eyes rolled back, his body twitched, then his head lolled lifelessly.
Nangong Hyeok stared at the fallen man.
“...These bastards.”
He had sealed the man’s meridians against possible poison pills, but the guy had severed his own heart meridian.
Even he couldn’t do anything about that.
Severing the heart meridian wasn’t something achievable with ordinary poison techniques.
“Ha. Unbelievable.”
Nangong Hyeok was dumbfounded.
He had planned to take them back to Nangong House for interrogation, but they had severed their heart meridians.
Commotion stirred outside as well.
It seemed they had all done the same.
Nangong Hyeok’s brows furrowed.
Several keywords flashed through his mind.
Silver Shadow Horse Gang, assailants, poison pills, old fox, decision...
‘Was Nangong So’s kidnapping planned too?’
The old fox had to make a decision, and the old fox was looking for Nangong So.
The assailants all suicided upon capture, with the temperament of unorthodox sect members.
They wouldn’t have been trained to that level just to kidnap Nangong So alone.
“Something’s up.”
Something big was happening. In my territory, no less.
Nangong Hyeok stood.
Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung dragged assailants in from outside.
“Young Master! These guys all...”
As expected, they were already dead.
Nangong Hyeok said nonchalantly.
“Cart the bodies away, and untie that one.”
“Yes!”
“Gasp, Young Master Nangong So?”
The three spotted the bound Nangong So inside and jumped in surprise.
“Mmph... mmph.”
Nangong So mumbled weakly, drained of strength.
Jang Ung hurriedly hoisted the exhausted Nangong So onto his back.
Geon Cheon-hwi quietly approached Nangong Hyeok.
“...Young Master.”
“What.”
“Something unnatural seems to be afoot. These guys look very much like the ones from the Silver Shadow Horse Gang, so they must be connected.”
Geon Cheon-hwi looked at Nangong Hyeok with serious eyes.
He too sensed how unnatural all this was.
Nangong Hyeok shrugged.
“Let’s head back to Nangong House first and figure it out.”
“...Yes.”
Nangong Hyeok rubbed his chin and muttered.
‘Better to prepare ahead. Can’t hurt.’
Letting this slide openly would make him a pushover.
And a nagging unease lingered, refusing to fade.
Nangong Hyeok trudged out of the ruined building.
His gaze suddenly flicked in one direction before turning away.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
Watching from afar, Gwi Yeong’s brows furrowed.
‘Did he spot this way?’
The distance was at least three hundred zhang, yet it felt like their eyes had met across it.
‘Impressive, whatever it was.’
Coincidence or not, Nangong Hyeok had something special.
His martial arts were extraordinary.
Far too refined and ferocious for a brat not even in his thirties.
‘What martial art is that?’
Did Nangong House have a sword technique with that kind of destructive power?
If so, it would have to be at the level of the Family Head’s signature Emperor Sword Form.
But it was clearly different from that.
‘...It resembles Lightning Thirteen Thunders, but.’
The form was somewhat similar, but it had power beyond what the swift Lightning Thirteen Thunders could possess.
He must have reached some profound realm, or Nangong House had newly developed the technique.
‘To think they had a card like this.’
Gwi Yeong watched Nangong Hyeok’s receding figure intently.
Then he quietly turned and vanished like the wind.
* * *
“Y-Young Master Nangong So has returned—!”
Nangong Baek shot to his feet at the shout from outside.
“Is that true?”
Bewilderment overshadowed joy.
Gwi Yeong had said he wouldn’t release Nangong So until the Harmony Alliance ended.
Nangong So’s return made no sense.
“Father! Hurry!”
Nangong Jeong jumped up beside him and rushed outside.
His missing brother had returned—how could he not be thrilled?
Nangong Baek masked his complicated feelings and headed to Nangong House’s main gate.
Warriors had already gathered at the gate.
Word of Nangong So’s return had spread fast.
Amid the murmurs, a group entered through the gate.
Nangong Baek halted mid-stride upon seeing the figure leading them.
‘Nangong Hyeok...?’
Why the hell was that guy entering through the main gate?
Where was So?
Then, he spotted Nangong So, supported by the Thunder Dragon Squad behind them.
He clearly looked like he’d been through hell these past days.
His disheveled hair, filthy clothes, scratches everywhere, and gaunt face made him look utterly wretched.
No one would think him a scion of mighty Nangong House.
Nangong Baek’s expression grew complicated.
‘...That guy rescued So?’
Nangong Hyeok?
‘Something’s wrong.’
Nangong Baek was certain this wasn’t normal.
Something major had gone awry.
And of all things, Nangong Hyeok was tangled in it.
That fact stung more than joy at Nangong So’s return.
Grit.
He clenched his fist.
“F-Father! Brooo!”
Nangong So spotted Nangong Baek and limped toward him frantically.
His face seemed filled with emotion, but Nangong Baek’s only grew stonier.
“So!”
Nangong Jeong was thrown by Nangong Hyeok’s appearance too, but his brother’s safe return thrilled him more.
Nangong Jeong rushed over and supported Nangong So.
“Brother! These thugs... ugh!”
Overcome with emotion, Nangong So choked up.
Nangong Jeong silently patted his shoulder, creating a heartwarming scene.
“Good work. Rest first, then we’ll talk.”
As Nangong Jeong comforted him, their eyes briefly met Nangong Hyeok’s.
Complex emotions swirled, but he quickly looked away.
Amid the growing whispers, Nangong Baek stood rooted like a nail, staring at Nangong Hyeok.
No—more precisely, at the cart entering behind the Thunder Dragon Squad.
Blood pooled under the large cloth draped over it.
He knew what it was without looking.
And what those corpses meant.
Nangong Hyeok’s lip curled up.
Nangong Baek racked his brain but couldn’t decipher the smile.
He clenched his fist until it bled, then approached Nangong Hyeok.
“Hyeok, you saved our So.”
“What, coincidence.”
“Coincidence... I don’t know how to repay you. But I will repay you, and grant a great reward.”
“Hope it’s a real big one... Got stuff to handle first, so talk later.”
“...Fine.”
He had many questions, but Nangong Baek swallowed them.
No point in saying more.
Nangong Hyeok chuckled.
“See you later then.”
With ambiguous words that could be rude or polite, Nangong Hyeok trudged off.
The Thunder Dragon Squad followed, towing the cart.
Some wounded headed to the medical hall, their gazes oddly fixed on him.
Nangong Baek ground his teeth and turned.
Nangong So hurried after, supported by Nangong Jeong.
“Father! Those guys who grabbed me were up to something...”
“Quiet.”
Cutting off Nangong Jeong, Nangong Baek said.
“Focus on recovering first. We’ll talk later.”
“Y-Yes.”
Leaving the dazed Nangong So behind, Nangong Baek quickened his pace.
Admiring voices from Nangong House servants trailed after.
“Wow! Young Master Nangong So was kidnapped, and Second Young Master rescued him? What’s going on?”
“Saw those corpses? Were they the kidnappers?”
“Crazy bastards! Daring to kidnap our house’s young master.”
“Impressive. Young Master Nangong Hyeok racks up another achievement.”
Grit.
Nangong Baek ground his teeth and quietly returned to his quarters.