Chapter 131
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Counter-Kidnapping Scheme
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For a moment, everyone doubted their ears.
What did he just say... he'd do?
“Why? Breaking through is impossible anyway. So we kidnap someone of equal value to those two and swap them straight up. How about it? Brilliant, right?”
“…….”
Nangong Hye stared at him blankly at the so-called strategy he’d tossed out.
Sure enough, she’d never even dreamed of such a crazy idea.
“Hmm, not bad.”
“Good plan.”
“Intriguing.”
“Never would’ve thought of it.”
“…….”
Even Sa-ryong chimed in one after another, and Nangong Hye’s face flushed with absurdity.
Fine, the others could be excused, but you too, brother?
Have you lost your mind? Taken some bad meds? You’re the young lord of the Nangong Clan! We’re the righteous faction!
Meanwhile, Gye Du-sin started actively listing off kidnapping targets one by one. From his expression, he genuinely thought it was a great plan.
“So, who should we go for? To match that Jeon-gol fellow... hmm, maybe the family of the Northern Sword Lord...”
“Oho, that’s not a bad idea either?”
These guys right now!
Worried they might actually go through with it if left alone, Baek Yeo-pyeong waved his hands and cut in.
“L-let’s think this through first. Kidnapping?”
“What’s the problem?”
Yu Hyun looked at him with wide, innocent eyes.
“Of course there is!”
The real problem was that they weren’t even seeing this as a problem!
She had no idea what was going through the Latent Dragon Squad members’ heads to make them agree, but this went against all reason.
As Yu Hyun said, if the Northern Sword Group had kidnapped the two to use as hostages, their safety wouldn’t be an issue—but kidnapping?
How could a warrior walking the righteous path stoop to the same methods as the unorthodox?
“Squad Leader, even in war, there are lines we mustn’t cross.”
“You’re not about to lecture me on righteousness and all that, are you? You know by now this is a battlefield where lives are on the line.”
“That’s not exactly it, but first we should get permission from the Alliance...”
“…….”
Yu Hyun gazed silently at Baek Yeo-pyeong, then pulled a folded paper from his bosom.
“See this?”
“Yes?”
What Yu Hyun pulled out was the standard employment contract he’d received upon accepting the Latent Dragon Squad leadership.
Beyond the pay and hours, it spelled out the squad leader’s duties, responsibilities, and authority.
Yu Hyun’s finger tapped one clause in particular.
“...‘Independent judgment on-site permitted, so long as it does not harm the sects under the Righteous Alliance’?”
“Yes, that’s it.”
“…….”
“And look at the bottom.”
“The Leader’s...”
“Seal. Meaning, as long as I stick to the preconditions, any decision I make is fine.”
“…….”
“Would this kidnapping harm the Righteous Alliance?”
“Ugh.”
There was nothing to say.
It could be called underhanded, but not harmful.
He’d get some finger-pointing...
“I’m the one doing it, and I’ll take the blame.”
“H-ha, but it’s too dangerous. And it could fail? The backlash won’t be light!”
“Vice Leader.”
“…….”
“You’re underestimating the Latent Dragon Squad.”
“Pardon?”
Yu Hyun smirked at Baek Yeo-pyeong, then turned to his squad.
“We may be newly formed with a young average age, but we’re an elite unit of warriors.”
“…….”
“The Beggars’ Sect’s youngest disciple who grasps all the Central Plains’ intel, the Little Beggar Dragon—er, Gye Du-sin!”
Gye Du-sin, singled out by Yu Hyun, shrugged with a proud grin.
“His personality’s a bit warped from his training, but the Sword Ghost Dragon, soon to reach the peak, Nangong Seong!”
“…….”
“Arrogant show-off aside, the Hidden Dragon acknowledged for his exceptional hidden weapons and poisons, Tang Sa-duk!”
Each time Yu Hyun introduced them with dramatic flair like a tournament announcer, the pointed-out dragons puffed up their chests.
“And!”
Un-hyun, sensing his turn, stepped forward expectantly.
He’d once earned the title Immortal Dragon, and as a side skill, hadn’t he learned all sorts of seduction arts from Ok-hyun?
“With a father who enjoys the Emperor’s full trust and wields influence across the bureaucracy as his backing! I, who became a squad leader in the Righteous Alliance solely through my own power.”
“…….”
Un-hyun flinched, his face flushing red as he hastily withdrew his foot.
Well, it was true he hadn’t accomplished much yet as a Latent Dragon Squad member...
As Un-hyun vowed silently to prove himself someday, the shameless Yu Hyun, who’d just boasted about himself, asked Baek Yeo-pyeong.
“Does that sound impossible?”
“W-well...”
Baek Yeo-pyeong furrowed his brow slightly, trailing off.
With the Alliance Leader’s permission to act independently, he had no way to stop them.
Their ability... he acknowledged it.
Even if their forces had been weak, hadn’t just the five of them collapsed the front held by the Northern Sword Group?
“It might be presumptuous coming from me, but failure isn’t in our vocabulary.”
“Ah, yes. Haha.”
Baek Yeo-pyeong let out an unwitting chuckle at their overwhelming confidence.
“But!”
“...?”
“No matter how skilled, there are always variables. So I’ll need your help, Vice Leader.”
“M-my help?”
“Of course.”
“With what?”
When Baek Yeo-pyeong asked blankly, Yu Hyun sighed deeply.
“The assault.”
“Pardon? Assault?”
“Yes. Once we infiltrate their camp, you draw their attention. If they’re distracted by the diversion, won’t we move more easily?”
“…….”
That was why Yu Hyun had pulled out the contract and “persuaded” him.
They were deep in Northern Sword Group territory—who knew what dangers lurked? They needed a ruckus to scatter the enemy’s eyes.
The Phantom Dragon Unit, which had pulled back for now, and the Righteous Alliance warriors at the front needed to attack. As flashy as possible.
“Hmm, a voice east, strike west tactic. Impressive. To think you’d planned this far ahead—I had no idea...”
“No need to mention it.”
He wasn’t some hopeless case after all.
Yu Hyun grinned at the genuinely impressed Baek Yeo-pyeong.
Anyway, he got it—now they just had to move...
“Uncle? On second thought, wasn’t Hye also on the Latent Dragon Squad’s reserve list?”
“Hm?”
Nangong Seong, who’d been watching quietly, spoke up cautiously as if it had just occurred to him.
Yu Hyun narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Nangong Seong.
What’s with this guy?
His expression looked fishy... maybe?
“Ahaha, why stare like that? You’d think there’s something on my face.”
“…….”
As Yu Hyun’s gaze sharpened further, Nangong Seong averted his eyes and grumbled.
“W-whatever you’re thinking, it’s not that.”
“How’s that make sense? ‘Not that’ when you don’t even know what I’m thinking?”
“It’s really not about the engagement or anything. You don’t think I’m some scoundrel sent by Grandfather to pair you two up, do you?”
“...Yeah.”
Anyone would think so.
Hadn’t he joined Yu Hyun precisely because Nangong Chang-seon had pushed his back for that reason?
“Misunderstanding, pure misunderstanding. I’m purely thinking of bolstering the squad’s strength... haha.”
Do something about that cold sweat.
“Uncle!”
“What? Spit it out!”
Yu Hyun whipped his head toward Nangong Hye, who’d called him while he glared at Nangong Seong.
“If it’s all right, I’d like to join you.”
“...?”
What’s with her now?
Perhaps because of what Nangong Seong had let slip, Nangong Hye suddenly cut in.
Truth be told, she still couldn’t quite wrap her head around the situation.
But for some odd reason, she’d grown intrigued by this Yu Hyun fellow.
She couldn’t fathom why the Alliance Leader or Grand Strategist had appointed him squad leader, nor why the Sa-ryong followed him blindly.
From the earlier events, he seemed to charge ahead for the righteous faction—but his tongue was serpentine in its cunning, his proposals sly. Righteous or unorthodox? Impossible to tell.
Yet she envied how he boldly voiced his will and saw it through. Having always struggled within the limits of being a woman, the daughter of a famed house, it hit her all the harder.
It wasn’t some romantic affection between betrothed man and woman. Beyond gender, she was curious about him as a warrior.
“Th-then do as you like, Uncle.”
“Cut the nonsense. Even if you’re on the list, selecting Latent Dragon Squad members is my call alone.”
With Nangong Seong backing her, Yu Hyun irritably furrowed his brows.
“Why? Does our engagement bother you?”
“...?”
“The engagement is just the elders’ whim. I have zero interest in marrying.”
“What?”
“My tastes run to older women.”
“…….”
No, he hadn’t particularly asked about her tastes...
In any case, Nangong Hye’s words made the atmosphere around them turn awkward.
Of course she was on the Latent Dragon Squad list, but Yu Hyun saw no need to recruit her.
The Righteous Six Saints were all that mattered to him.
“Oho! So that’s how it is? Neither of you wanted the engagement? Then I’ve got a shot too! Fine. Time to show how charming the Tang Clan’s Hidden Dragon can be. I’m all for it.”
“Hm, I wouldn’t know about this slimy guy’s charm, but I approve too. I’ve watched Hye for years—I know her skills well.”
Shut up, you lot! Who asked for your charm contest? Your opinions mean squat.
“Hm, as for me, I’m an ascetic... immeasurable merits to the Buddha.”
Ascetic my foot—why sneak peeks at Nangong Hye’s face, why blush like that?
Yu Hyun scowled at the four chiming in unasked like fools.
“Take her. I vouch for Third Platoon Leader Hye’s skills. Too good a talent to reject over some engagement. She even came to the Alliance to join the Latent Dragon Squad.”
Even you, Baek Yeo-pyeong?
“…….”
Refusing here would make him look like he was agonizing over the engagement.
Grinding his teeth in annoyance, Yu Hyun finally sighed.
...Fine. Your choice.
He pulled out the contract again, tore off the last page, and held it out.
“Sign under the other squad members’ names.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s the contract.”
“Contract...?”
“Stop repeating. See that last clause?”
“…….”
“‘Will never disobey orders under any circumstances.’ Agree, then seal it.”
“You’ll take me if I do?”
“…….”
Nangong Hye’s face lit up as she abruptly bit her finger, drew blood, and scrawled her seal with a flourish.
H-he didn’t say use blood...?
Staring at the vivid red, poison-tinged seal with a slightly queasy look, Yu Hyun spoke again.
“If you become a burden...”
“Cast me out anytime. I’m prepared.”
“Don’t expect kid gloves because you’re a woman. I’ll treat you all equally.”
“That’s what I want.”
Nangong Hye answered confidently.
Haa, somehow his head already ached...
“Congratulations!”
“Heh heh, if you ever fall for my charms, you can always marry into the family.”
“Immeasurable merits to the Buddha...”
You three, shut it, you damned idiots.
In any case, these future six dragons who should soar had suddenly become four dragons and a phoenix.
Just you wait. He’d permit it for now, but he’d work her ragged until she quit.