Interlude: A Day in the Nangong Household (1)
The Nangong family. A house envied by all, revered by all. Thus, every member of the Nangong family carried a fierce pride in their lineage.
Namgung Ji was no different.
But in truth, the Nangong family estate—the main household itself—felt suffocating and uncomfortable to Namgung Ji, like a noose around his neck.
The root cause was undoubtedly his stepmother, the woman he feared most.
There was also his half-sister, who never hid her disdain and belittling gaze.
Yet that wasn't all.
If it were just fear of his stepmother, he could avoid her. The same went for his half-sister.
The real problem was that nearly everyone in the family grated on his nerves, mentally tormenting him.
"The eldest young master is truly pathetic. Lacking talent, petty and narrow-minded—no different from a commoner despite his noble birth."
"Indeed. It would've been better if the second young master were the eldest."
"No doubt. He's already fallen from the family head's favor, so he'll never be heir, but at least he hasn't shamed the family name beyond repair."
The family members openly badmouthed Namgung Ji behind his back.
But gossip was preferable. Even an emperor gets torn apart freely in whispers—that's human nature.
What truly crushed Namgung Ji was their attitude to his face.
Emotions they tried to hide but couldn't: contempt, scorn, pity. An endless parade of negativity that followed him everywhere, making the estate unbearable.
Until yesterday.
Creak.
Namgung Ji grinned broadly at his reflection in the mirror. Today, he looked like a dashing, handsome rogue.
No illusion. It couldn't be.
Why? Because he was special.
"Heh, who do you think I am?"
Who am I?
"The eldest young master of the great Nangong family."
Yes. The firstborn son of the Nangong family, leader among the Five Great Families. A status everyone envied.
Of course, until yesterday, he hadn't grasped its true worth. He'd been treated like cold leftovers, openly scorned.
But his life had changed miraculously.
After meeting Bang So-un.
Now he knew how pitiful he'd been—unworthy of his position as eldest young master. Avoiding people, lingering on the fringes, barely able to speak to his siblings. Holed up in his room like a fool.
But he had changed.
Now he had confidence. To face people. To not be sidelined. To speak boldly and clearly, even to his siblings.
He finally understood the true value of being the Nangong family's eldest young master—and the dignity it demanded.
"Hahaha!"
Just thinking about who he was made laughter bubble up. This must be what they meant by "position makes the man."
"Alright, let's go."
With a final check of his appearance, Namgung Ji stepped out, ready for a day befitting the Nangong family's eldest young master.
The training grounds.
True to the prestige of one of the Five Great Families, the Nangong family boasted not one, but ten training fields.
Among them, the fifth training ground buzzed with activity as the Clear Wind Unit sweated through their drills.
It was early morning group training—a daily routine for them, unchanging as the seasons.
The Clear Wind Unit's regimen was infamous for its brutality, even among the Nangong family's forces.
Yet that rigor had elevated them from a middling lower-tier unit to one proudly representing the family.
At its center stood their leader: Clear Wind Unit Commander Nangong Su-ryeon.
A tall beauty with a fiery temper ill-suited to her elegant looks, she had transformed the unit since taking command.
"Hey! You're slowing down—slowing! Can't you pick up the pace, you worthless bastards?!"
Even now, she bellowed at her sweating subordinates.
She mercilessly prodded those struggling to circle the field on handstands, balancing on their palms.
"Huff... huff... What... what do you mean slowing...?"
"Speed up now, or I'll kick your asses without mercy!"
"W-wait a second!"
The subordinates paled, but it was too late. Nangong Su-ryeon never joked about such things—she proved it with action.
Thwack!Thud!
She closed in and kicked their rears viciously.
"Oof!"
"Ack!"
Thud! Flop!
Kicked mid-handstand, they toppled inevitably.
"Ugh... That's too much, Commander."
"Too much? You think the battlefield will go easy? Try begging for mercy—see what happens."
"......"
The Clear Wind Unit members fell silent.
"If you get it, get up and resume position! What are you waiting for? On your feet!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!"
As they scrambled to stand and handstand again, an unexpected intruder halted them: the family's fool of an eldest young master.
"Haha, looks like intense training. Impressive, Clear Wind Commander."
Namgung Ji's voice boomed with unusual poise and leisure.
The unit froze, faces tense—not from his status, but because Nangong Su-ryeon hated interruptions during training.
With a passion.
It was common knowledge; anyone with business at the Clear Wind Unit avoided training hours like the plague.
Yet this idiot eldest young master had barged in anyway.
'Oh shit, trouble.'
'Damn, why's this moron showing up out of nowhere to stir crap?'
'This is gonna blow up.'
'Should we stop it?'
The members exchanged frantic glances, united in dread—especially since it was the pathetic eldest young master they'd always scorned.
Harsh words were inevitable from their commander.
All eyes locked on Nangong Su-ryeon's mouth, gauging how bad it would be before deciding whether to intervene.
But...
"Oh my, you've arrived, Young Master."
Her words were impeccably polite.
What?!
The unit's eyes bulged in unison. Unthinkable.
Nothing like Nangong Su-ryeon at all.
And "Oh my"? That girlish lilt from their commander?!
They turned to stone.
Ignoring them, Namgung Ji approached with leisure.
"Salute!"
Nangong Su-ryeon followed her greeting with a crisp warrior's bow: one knee down, hands clasped.
What the—?!
Eyes widened to saucers. Their commander bowing like that to the fool eldest young master?!
Impossible.
Absurd.
They'd always seen him as a joke, not even a proper superior. The family units answered directly to the family head.
So what the hell...?!
"What are you lot doing? Salute the Young Master at once!"
Whoa?!
Her thunderous command chilled like ice.
First time seeing her like this—like facing a mortal enemy.
"You insolent dogs, to the end!"
Ugh, whoa?!
Killing intent so thick it dizzied them. Instinct kicked in; they scrambled.
"S-salute!"
"Salute!"
"Saaa-lute!"
They bowed, shouting till their throats burned—survival instinct they didn't even recognize.
No way she was serious. Right?
"I apologize deeply for my subordinates' rudeness, Young Master."
Nangong Su-ryeon bowed her head low.
"Haha, no need. Intense training makes people lose their minds—it's natural."
"I am grateful for your sky-high magnanimity."
She bowed even lower, nearly forehead to ground.
The unit's eyes nearly popped out.
Namgung Ji chuckled and waved it off casually.
"Enough now. Rise."
"As you command!"
She sprang up crisply.
But... command? "As you command"?
...Were they dreaming?
The members stared blankly at Namgung Ji and Nangong Su-ryeon, too shell-shocked for more surprises.
But she wasn't done dropping bombs.
"Please speak freely, Young Master. I am but a lowly subordinate."
Whaaat?!
Mouths agape, they petrified again.
"Ah, right. Shall I?"
Namgung Ji dropped formalities instantly, as if he'd been waiting. A sly smile curled his lips.
"Yes, as you wish, Young Master."
Nangong Su-ryeon bowed demurely. Her drawn-out "Yees" with a slight lilt felt almost coquettish.
For the first time, the unit glimpsed their commander's feminine side.
Always a tough-as-nails heroine rivaling any man. They'd assumed that was all there was.
Yet here she was, showing it to him of all people.
Shock upon shock. They couldn't even react.
"Haha, anyway—I came to talk briefly."
"Anything at all, Young Master."
"Not here. Let's move over there."
"Yes, Young Master."
Polite to him alone.
"You lot—keep training! Slack off and I'll beat you senseless!"
Her sharp command snapped the unit from their stupor.
"Heh, keep up the good work."
The fool young master tossed in a superior's remark, as if he'd always been one.
But inwardly:
'I'm the Nangong family's eldest young master! I am!'
Namgung Ji roared, venting years of pent-up rage into the void.
A secluded courtyard not far from the fifth training ground. Hidden by foliage, voices would still carry to heightened senses.
To martial experts.
Namgung Ji whispered, confirming:
"Those guys could hear us from the field, right?"
"Yes, Young Master."
Nangong Su-ryeon whispered back, reading his intent.
"Good. Strip. Everything off."
"As you command."
Swish. Rustle.
Without hesitation, she shed her uniform—top and bottom. Done.
Breasts and pussy exposed.
Proof of obedience to her master's eternal command: no nipple covers, no underwear.
"Pfft."
Namgung Ji burst out laughing at the Clear Wind Commander's ridiculous sight.
Undeterred, she stood nude and straight, not covering her breasts or crotch—nor considering it.
"That's it. Proper bitch attitude."
He grinned wolfishly, eyes locking on the silver needle piercing her perineum between pussy and asshole.
Just avoid that. Pussy and ass only.
"On your knees."
"As you command."
Swish.
He dropped his pants, underwear too. His erect cock sprang free.
Looking down at the kneeling Nangong Su-ryeon.
Usually, he'd crane his neck to meet her tall gaze.
Now he looked down; she looked up.
A rush of dominance surged through him. His cock throbbed, hardening further.
"That's right. That's our eye level—you and me. You'll always look up at me forever. Got it?"
"Yes, Young Master. This lowly one will forever gaze up at you."
"Hahat, good. Now suck my cock hard. Make it loud and sloppy so your training subordinates hear every slurp. Understand?"
"As you command."
Schlurp!
Her mouth gaped wider than ever, swallowing his cock whole.