Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Bound by Loyalty
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“Ha! Is that really you, Young Master?”
“…….”
Even after all that lengthy explaining, you wanna ask again?
Yu Hyun narrowed his eyes and finally nodded, glaring at the astonished Guard Huang.
“Haha, how can this be? Ha ha ha! In the time we haven’t seen each other, you’ve become quite the handsome young man. Truth be told, I had a feeling it might be you from the start.”
“…….”
Handsome young man I get, but why stick that ‘beauty’ character in front?
Sweating bullets and all...
“By the way, what was that earlier?”
“Pardon?”
“Rogue? Arrogant? Stubborn as hell?”
“……Ha ha ha!”
Guard Huang suddenly burst into noticeably loud laughter, then shifted to a serious expression as he changed the subject.
“To think you took down those bandit scum. Truly impressive.”
“......”
This guy...
Haa, fine. Whatever. He came looking out of worry, so no need to treat him harshly.
“Did you come alone?”
“No, sir. I arrived first, but... Ah, there they are. The Nangong Clan’s Azure Heaven Troops.”
Following Guard Huang’s gaze, Yu Hyun turned his head and saw swordsmen in blue martial robes racing toward Pagoda Peak.
“We greet Young Master Yu. I am Nangong Chu, in charge of the Nangong Clan’s Azure Heaven Troops.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Yu Hyun.”
Yu Hyun responded with polite formality to match the courteous greeting.
Though there was a significant age gap, it was only natural for Nangong Chu to show respect first.
The Yu Clan Manor of Hebei might be a family of civil officials, but they had formed a sworn brotherhood with the Nangong Clan’s predecessor, the Sword King—and Yu Hyun was practically the current patriarch’s younger brother, wasn’t he?
“Truly remarkable. I heard of your prowess from Jeok Seong under my command, but...”
“Ah, I apologize for what happened with him. It was all a misunderstanding.”
“Oh, no, not at all. I wasn’t blaming you. Jeok Seong was at fault first.”
Nangong Chu waved it off with a smile.
“Still, what a feat you’ve accomplished. To single-handedly wipe out the Nine Dragon Stronghold, when even we had to sit on our hands... Though your methods were a bit... excessive, how can there be mercy when punishing evildoers? On behalf of the Nangong Clan, I thank you for your righteous deed.”
“No need for such words. I merely heard rumors of their villainy while admiring the snowy landscape...”
As the two exchanged polite words, Guard Huang subtly signaled the Azure Heaven Troops’ warriors.
“Ha ha, come now, Young Master. Now that even the Azure Heaven Troops’ commander is here, let’s put an end to this dangerous business and head back to Anpyeong County with me.”
“Huh?”
“......Why?”
“Why? The bandit chief’s still out there. We have to catch the bastard at the mountain’s peak to wrap this up. He’s got a real bad rap, you know.”
“True. He’s a bad one, all right. But why are you getting involved, Young Master?”
“What? Of course I have to...”
“Who said that’s obvious?”
“......”
Well...
No one actually said it.
“Young Master.”
“......”
“It’s about Anhui Province. Leave it to the Nangong Clan and come home now. The elders are worried sick—why keep staining those fine hands with blood?”
As Guard Huang casually rolled up his sleeves, Yu Hyun shifted into a stance and subtly backed away.
“Ha ha, Young Master. I fell for it once before, but you don’t think I’ll fall for it again, do you?”
“......”
“Do you know how awkward this makes me? Not just me—your brother-in-law, the Grand Steward, is in a real bind too. You know the patriarch’s temperament, right?”
With the same smiling face, Guard Huang drew closer and closer.
“Ha ha, Guard Huang. You’re not thinking of using force, are you? That’d be insubordination.”
“Heh heh, better a scratch on you than losing my head to the patriarch, no? I’m at the point where I have to drag you back tied up if need be.”
“......”
Damn this escort. No backing down.
That’s why I ditched him in the first place...
“Guard Huang... It’s not just about the Nine Dragon Stronghold’s chief, Gwak So-san. I have something I need to do.”
“Something? What?”
“Well...”
Yu Hyun was at a loss for words.
How the hell do I even explain this?
“G-Guards Huang. Don’t do this. If you push me, I won’t hold back for real.”
“You’re the one who shouldn’t commit blasphemy, Young Master. Just come quietly.”
“......”
Come quietly? Am I a criminal?
That’s the real blasphemy!
As Guard Huang grinned sinisterly and closed in, Yu Hyun kept retreating step by step.
“I might do something you won’t like!”
“Hmph, you’ve done worse plenty of times.”
“You bastard!”
Yu Hyun spun to run, but in that instant, something whipped through the air and wrapped around his ankle.
A rope?
Thud.
He face-planted before he could even take a step.
Damn, didn’t see that coming...
“Heh heh, Young Master.”
“......”
“Forgot, have you? I’m a former Dali Temple Censor. Know what my specialty is?”
Guard Huang yanked the binding rope taut with both hands and grinned.
“Capturing criminals. That’s what.”
“......”
“Not a single one’s ever escaped me! Ha ha ha!”
“......”
You son of a bitch!
I’m not a criminal!
Damn it, no choice but to fight dirty then.
Grip.
With a sly expression, Yu Hyun grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground, sprang up, and hurled it straight at Guard Huang’s face.
Perfect, blinded him—now just bolt...
Huh?
Rustle.
“......Azure Heaven Troops, why are you...?”
Somehow, the Azure Heaven Troops’ warriors had moved to block his rear completely.
“Young Master.”
“......”
“You think I’m an idiot? That I’d fall for it again? I told them to block you if you tried to run. Now, time to go home!”
As if he’d anticipated it, Guard Huang easily dodged the dirt Yu Hyun threw and leaped forward.
Rope in hand...
“Damn it!”
Guard Huang ahead, Azure Heaven Troops behind.
Trapped with no way out, Yu Hyun clicked his tongue and charged at Guard Huang.
No choice now—gonna take him down.
Ally or not, if he’s forcing me with brute strength, I’ll clench my fists and fight back!
Pow! Thwack! Pow!
Their strikes intertwined rapidly.
“Ha! Young Master Yu’s skills have reached such a level?”
Nangong Chu’s eyes widened in shock as he watched the two exchange dozens of blows in an instant, trading evenly.
He knew exactly who Guard Huang was.
Once called a butcher in the bureaucracy, he was a well-known figure in the martial world.
A warrior of upright valor not inferior to Nangong Chu himself, even.
Yet astonishingly, the delicately raised Yu Hyun was overwhelming him.
Going easy? No way.
Guard Huang was clearly giving his all.
“Hah!”
And in one moment, the even match broke.
Yu Hyun had exploited Guard Huang’s loyalty, shoving his face into the man’s attack.
The instant Guard Huang hesitated, Yu Hyun’s fist slammed into his gut.
“Guh!”
Not missing Guard Huang stagger, Yu Hyun leaped to vault over him.
Just leap over... leap and I’m gone...
“......And why are you...?”
Yu Hyun was blocked again before he could jump. By Azure Heaven Troops’ commander Nangong Chu.
“Sorry, Young Master Yu. I have orders too...”
“Or-Orders?”
“That’s right. Grand Steward Dam Cheon-u even sent a letter with special instructions.”
“......B-Brother-in-law?”
“Yes. Said it’s fine to break a few bones if you don’t listen. But even without that, seeing your skills stirs my fighting spirit.”
As Nangong Chu smiled and leveled his sheathed sword, a deflated laugh escaped Yu Hyun’s lips.
“Ha, ha ha, ha ha ha.”
That damn insane brother-in-law... Daring to send a letter like that? Telling them to catch me?
No, the Azure Heaven commander too. If you’re here for bandits, catch bandits—what’s with getting a fighting itch?
“Move. You’ll regret this if you don’t.”
“Regret? No chance.”
“What?”
“Heh heh, after seeing you take down Guard Huang, how could I underestimate you?”
“......”
As Yu Hyun frowned in confusion at Nangong Chu’s words, Guard Huang—having shaken off the abdominal pain—took up a stance beside him.
“Y-You guys wouldn’t dare? That’s dirty...”
“Heh heh, just staying true to our goal.”
“......”
Goddamn it...
Fell for it good this time. Two warriors with top-notch integrity and real combat experience.
“Screw it!”
Charging at them in desperation, Yu Hyun astonishingly held out for dozens of exchanges.
But no matter how profound the insight, stamina has limits.
He’d broken the first seal with the Child Ginseng, but it wasn’t enough to overwhelm two such warriors.
“You cowardly bastards! I won’t forget this humiliation today!”
“......”
“I’ll have my bloody revenge!”
Shouting bitterly with veins bulging in his neck, but Guard Huang ignored it and bound the subdued Yu Hyun head to toe with rope.
Already pressure-pointed and all—why go this far...
“Guard Huang, don’t do this. The martial world’s peace hangs on my hands.”
“Yes, yes, sure it does.”
“Guard Huang, old man! I said stop! For real!”
“Struggling like that’ll chafe your skin against the ropes. I’ll carry you comfortably, so get some rest.”
“What did you... say... to... me...”
As Guard Huang’s hand brushed his nape, drowsiness flooded in.
Damn bastard... pressure point...
Even leaving Gwak So-san aside, I need to get to Sek Dong where I found the Child Ginseng and wait for that chaos pawn.
Wait and... kill him...
He rolled his eyes trying to fight it, but the sleep was overwhelming.
“You’re making a huge... mistake... martial world... chaos... pawn...”
Thump.
Bound in ropes, Yu Hyun collapsed.
“Oh dear, he must be exhausted. Started snoring the moment I hit the pressure point...”
Guard Huang shook his head as he gazed at Yu Hyun, who even in deep sleep kept mumbling about the martial world’s peace.
“What’s this about the martial world’s peace and all that? Always hanging around the Beggars’ Sect branch—what’ve you been hearing...”
“Heh heh, at that age, everyone dreams like that. Hero syndrome, maybe?”
“You’re right. Anyway, thanks to it, we could capture... er, escort the Young Master safely.”
“No need to thank us. Thanks to Young Master Yu, we can finally take down the Nine Dragon Stronghold. We should’ve done it ages ago...”
“Ah! Speaking of which...”
“Yes?”
“When reporting the Nine Dragon Stronghold takedown, leave out the Young Master.”
“Pardon? What do you mean? Such a feat on his martial debut isn’t easy...”
“True enough. But as you’ve seen, the Young Master’s martial talent is unparalleled.”
“......”
“The higher his name rises, the more attention he’ll draw.”
“Hmm...”
“A nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Talent is good, but it breeds envy and jealousy.”
Nangong Chu sensed a faint loneliness in the softly speaking man.
Guard Huang. Even as a promising government warrior, that’s why he’d been discarded.
Framed by envy and jealousy.
That’s what he feared. That Yu Hyun’s brilliance might lead him to the same fate.
“Does it have to come to that? The martial world...”
“Commander, the Young Master may bolt anywhere, but to me, he’s more precious than life itself. He’s not even thirty yet. Still needs protection. It might be needless worry... but I’d rather not even have that.”
“......”
“I ask you.”
Nangong Chu nodded at Guard Huang’s words.
Because the look in his eyes as he gazed at Yu Hyun brimmed with genuine concern.
“Heh heh, Guard Huang really cherishes Young Master Yu.”
“......”
“Understood. Since he’s already used the name Jin Wi-gang in Jianghu, we’ll report it that way publicly.”
“Thank you. Then I leave the cleanup to you.”
“Yes. See you at the main house.”
“Yes.”
Watching Guard Huang depart carrying Yu Hyun on his back, Nangong Chu shook his head with a smile.
“Heh heh, martial fame that every young warrior craves... For some, it’s a worry?”
He turned and murmured softly toward the mountain peak.
“Azure Heaven Troops.”
“Yes! Commander!”
“Bring me the head of the bandit leader.”
“Yes!”
The Azure Heaven Troops’ warriors shot toward the peak in unison.
And that day.
Gwak So-san, the Nine Dragon Stronghold chief who had preyed on Pagoda Peak for three generations, met his end at the blades of the Nangong Clan’s famed Azure Heaven Sword Guards.
All because he got tangled with Yu Hyun, he couldn’t even show a proper villain’s face...
And Yu Hyun missed his first chance to avert the great chaos looming over the future martial world.
Because of Guard Huang’s damnable loyalty, born of love and care...