Chapter 102
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Day After the Banquet
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The day after the banquet ended.
“Ow, my head.”
Yu Hyun clutched his head and hurriedly gulped down the water beside him.
He’d gotten smashed all night, figuring the Eight-Tailed Chicken must have some effect since it had broken Drunken Fire’s abysmal tolerance—which was so bad he crawled on the floor—and let him drink like a champ.
But screw the effect. His stomach churned, his head throbbed like it might split open. It was just a perfectly ordinary hangover extravaganza.
“Leader! Did you cough?”
“…….”
Huh? That’s Drunken Fire’s voice… What’s with this crystal-clear tone that doesn’t even feel a hint of hangover?
Could the Eight-Tailed Chicken only cure hangovers for him?
Damn. Well, whatever. At least he drinks well now, fitting his name as Drunken Fire.
“Seong, you get up too. The sun’s already high in the sky!”
Drunken Fire was making a huge fuss, waking not just Yu Hyun but Nangong Seong as well.
But what the hell was going on?
Creak!
“What’s with the racket this early?”
“Hehe. You’re up, Leader!”
When Yu Hyun opened the door, Drunken Fire plastered a sly grin on his face and bent at a perfect right angle.
“Here…”
“……?”
Yu Hyun scowled as he stepped outside, and Drunken Fire pulled something from his bosom and set it down.
“Worried your feet might get cold, your loyal Drunken Fire warmed these in his bosom since dawn with all his heart, Leader!”
“…….”
Yu Hyun stared blankly at Drunken Fire, who grinned like a puppy wagging its tail.
He gets I feel bad for him… but is he a bit slow?
It’s already hot in Haenam, and he warmed my shoes?
Sigh, what am I supposed to do with you, Drunkie?
“Oh, you’re up too? Your shoes are here. Nice and toasty.”
As Nangong Seong opened his door next, Drunken Fire scurried over, set down the shoes, and grinned again.
“…….”
Nangong Seong stared down at the shoes, then glanced at Yu Hyun as if asking permission before kicking them away on the floor.
Boom! Wheeek, thunk, rattle-rattle…
“…….”
Drunken Fire stared blankly at the rolling shoes, forced a smile onto his furrowed face, and said,
“Hey, Seong. What’s that about?”
“……What do you mean? I’m worried fleas jumped from your bosom. Gonna wear new ones.”
“…….”
Drunken Fire’s face froze in a forced grin at the merciless jab.
“Haha, good one.”
“Not a joke?”
“…….”
This bastard. He knows my position full well.
“Uncle, you too. Don’t wear those and wait a sec.”
Nangong Seong dashed barefoot, returned with two pairs of shoes in hand.
“Hyah!”
Boom! Wheeek, thunk.
He kicked away the shoes in front of Yu Hyun and set down the new ones.
“Wear these.”
“Thanks. If not for you, my feet would’ve gotten fleas for sure.”
“Exactly.”
“…….”
Drunken Fire’s mouth twitched as he forced another smile at the well-matched duo.
What could he do?
He deserved the scolding, deserved the teasing. It was all his fault.
“Haha, I almost made a huge mistake. Right, can’t get fleas. Of course not.”
“…….”
“But, Leader.”
“Yeah?”
“Could you forgive me just this once?”
“Don’t have a hobby raising rats.”
“…….”
As Yu Hyun cocked his head, Drunken Fire dropped to his knees in front.
“It’s all my fault. I won’t do it again. Really. I swear on my name—no, on the great elders of the Beggars’ Sect! Yes! Absolutely!”
“…….”
Yu Hyun just stared as Drunken Fire groveled until his palms were raw. Nangong Seong chimed in slyly from the side.
“Ahem, Uncle.”
“Yeah?”
“He’s going this far. Forgive him. He even swore on the Beggars’ Sect investigators’ names—think he’ll mess up again?”
“Hmm…”
Yu Hyun crossed his arms and furrowed his brow. Drunken Fire pleaded with the world’s most innocent eyes.
Please. Just once. I won’t do it again. I swear loyalty to you, Leader. I’ll do anything you say from now on.
Yu Hyun smirked inwardly at the teary begging, then softened his expression and called,
“Drunkie.”
“Yes?”
“No second chances.”
“……Yes! Yes! Second chances? Never gonna happen!”
“Good. Then promise one thing.”
“Say it!”
Drunken Fire’s eyes burned with loyalty, ready for anything.
“From now on, obey my words without question. No backtalk.”
“Obey?”
“Don’t like it?”
“N-No! Got it. I swear.”
“And no snooping behind my back, obviously?”
“Yes!”
“Good. Break it and?”
“I’ll carve out my family name.”
“No need to go that far.”
……He kinda liked it when called “Ga”—sounded a bit like a curse.
“Fine. Forgiven, just this once.”
“Thank you, Leader! I’ll never forget this boundless grace!”
Drunken Fire bellowed.
What grace? It’s my fault for making him do that crap in the first place—he’s not really at fault… Anyway, Drunken Fire won’t disobey me now.
That’s the kind of guy he is.
But…
“Then sign it.”
“Huh?”
“Bond.”
“…….”
“Write it in blood. Seal it too. Got it?”
“…….”
Drunken Fire gawked up at Yu Hyun in disbelief. Nangong Seong strode forward.
Shing.
The raised blade over the kneeling Drunken Fire’s head gleamed in the sunlight.
Hey, hey. What’re you doing? Put the sword down?
Nangong Seong spoke over Drunken Fire’s terrified face.
“I’ll draw the blood. Just slice a fingertip.”
“…….”
Damn bastard, scaring people.
A simple finger poke would do? Sheathe the sword.
Phew, thought I was getting beheaded…
* * *
After the commotion, Yu Hyun’s group headed straight to Haenam Province’s prison.
Locked there since the Wol Clan’s annihilation were the criminal Gok Ja-seong and the unidentified saboteurs from Whirlwind Squad.
“Did as I said?”
At Yu Hyun’s question, Drunken Fire—whose loyalty had been forcibly maxed, even signing a blood bond—snapped to attention.
“Yes. The Governor said he’ll wait till we interrogate first.”
The Governor’s courtesy was a given.
Yu Hyun had set the trap, caught the ringleader.
“As ordered, the saboteurs and Gok Ja-seong are in separate cells, far apart.”
“Food?”
“None since then. Not a drop of water.”
“Good. That’s it.”
Yu Hyun nodded, but Nangong Seong asked curiously,
“But Uncle? Why starve them three days instead of interrogating right away?”
“Idiot. What are the five human desires?”
“……?”
“Form, sound, scent, taste, touch. Obsession with the five senses—the five realms—is the five desires. Greed for wealth, lust, hunger, fame, sleep. Know the two hardest to endure?”
“…….”
“Hunger and sleep. Others you can give up, but no food or rest means agony.”
Nangong Seong and Drunken Fire followed Yu Hyun into the prison, ears perked to his explanation.
“Unless trained in Turtle Breathing, max two weeks on water alone, five days without. That’s extreme—after three days, hunger turns to fainting pain. Today’s exactly three.”
“Hmm, impressive. You’re amazing, Uncle. Saving Governor Gok Ja-hyeon was thanks to Physician Jang’s skills, but where’d you learn this? In books?”
“…….”
Yu Hyun halted abruptly and turned.
“……Eek! D-Did I mess up?”
“…….”
A chilling glare—poisonous aura? Killing intent?—hit them. Nangong Seong and Drunken Fire flinched, necks shrinking.
Where’d I learn? Who taught me?
Just thinking about it now boils my blood—even mid-shit.
What? You might face extremes in life, so train ahead? Damn bastards…
One month on water, ten days without. Ended up learning Turtle Breathing alone.
By myself! Self-taught! To survive, fuck!
“Uh, why…?”
Nangong Seong asked cautiously, chilled to the bone.
“……Nah, nothing. Just remembered learning this stuff.”
“Oh, yes. Thought you were mad at me…”
“Mad? Haha.”
“…….”
The killing intent melted to joy.
What was that? Emotions shift fast. True creator of the Seven Emotions Cultivation.
I’ve got a ways to go.
As Nangong Seong admired inwardly, Yu Hyun resumed walking, vowing.
I’ll teach you all later.
The same way…
“Alright, shall we meet the starving bastards?”
Buoyed by thoughts of the near future, Yu Hyun grinned wide, halted, and eyed the long row of cells.
“Hey! Anyone there? Food! Please! Gimme food!”
“…….”
First cell: Gok Ja-seong.
Exactly three days—still has strength. He’ll crack soon.
Coward by nature, used till now.
One poke and he’d spill everything, no need to see him first.
“Hey! Hey! Don’t go! Please, don’t! Water! Just a sip! Please!”
“…….”
“Fuck! Water!”
Half-polite, half-crude pleas mixed with curses, but Yu Hyun ignored, heading to the deepest cell.
“Here.”
Drunken Fire opened the saboteur’s cell door.
No reaction like Gok’s—silence.
Flick.
Drunken Fire thrust in a torch, revealing the saboteur sitting rigidly in the center.
“Hey, been well?”
“…….”
The eyes-closed saboteur slowly opened them.
Meridians severed, dantian crippled—yet those eyes burned fierce.
“Alive, huh. Quite alive. Eyes full of venom.”
“…….”
Yu Hyun gestured admiringly; Drunken Fire removed the gag to prevent suicide. A sneer curled the saboteur’s lips.
“……Here to interrogate?”
“…….”
His voice grated like grinding iron through the cell.
“Impressive. True peak strength warrior. Thought you’d at least grimace in pain by now…”
“Hmph, nonsense. This won’t break my will. Kill me already.”
“Whoa, such brutality?”
Yu Hyun grinned and sat a bit away.
“Words are useless.”
“I know.”
“Don’t mock me. Rip my nails, crush my bones—I won’t talk.”
“Figured. Trained for this.”
“Kill me.”
“Why?”
“What?”
“Not that reckless. Son of a scholarly house with backbone…”
“What’s that.”
“Just visiting. Curious how you’re doing.”
“What’s your game?”
“No game. Told you, just visiting.”
“…….”
“We fought life-or-death—normal to wonder, right?”
“Bullshit…”
“Tsk-tsk, always so twisted…”
Yu Hyun chuckled, then winced, rubbing his belly.
“Huh? Didn’t eat breakfast?”
“……?”
“Drunkie.”
“Yes, Leader!”
Drunken Fire snapped to rigid attention.
“Too lazy to leave. Eat here. Prep breakfast.”
“Yes! Huh? Breakfast? Here?”
“Yeah. Lavish spread. Booze too.”
“……Why? Really?”
“Questioning?”
“……I’ll fly till my eyebrows fall off!”
Drunken Fire vanished in Phantom Shadow Step. The saboteur’s face twisted; Yu Hyun smirked wickedly.
Hear food and wanna die, huh?
Too bad. I’m just gonna eat from now on.
Every bite, delicious, slurping…
I know exactly how to torment—been there myself.
Interrogation? Useless on a silent bastard, hurts my jaw. Torture? Just stains clothes.
Let’s see how long you stay stiff, starved three days.
If you can, bust out Turtle Breathing.
If possible.