Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: A Deer with the Fangs of a Beast
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Crash!
He kicked over a noodle stall with his foot.
The middle-aged couple selling noodles jumped in fright, clutching their ladles and staring blankly.
"What are you looking at!"
The attention of everyone in the market street turned to one spot.
Nangong Mubaek had pulled off this stunt and was now eyeing me, as if asking what I planned to do about it.
The moment I dodged or avoided handling this, I could kiss my job as his tutor goodbye.
It was certainly the bold spirit of a true scoundrel.
I liked how he treated his family's honor and his own reputation as if they were nothing.
So, I needed to match that boldness with some of my own.
If he thought I was just some timid scholar, that was his mistake.
I was a deer with the fangs of a beast.
"I'm causing this ruckus because I don't like this scholar. So, this scholar will handle it."
In other words, he was throwing me to the merchants and passersby in the market as a scapegoat.
Someone had to take responsibility, and I was the sacrificial lamb.
It was as good as telling them they couldn't curse the Nangong Family outright, so they should curse me instead.
'What a nasty piece of work.'
Nangong Mubaek crossed his arms with a look of smug satisfaction.
'A penniless scholar like you won't be able to pay in cash, and all you've got is that mouth of yours. Let's see you talk your way out of this.'
The sight of that martial artist politely bowing before leaving had irked him no end.
Like a fly buzzing right in front of his face.
'Flies are just for swatting. No need to overthink it.'
Having lived the scoundrel life for so long, Nangong Mubaek knew exactly where to poke to make people squirm.
People started shooting resentful glares my way.
No matter the reason, he'd caused the disturbance because of me, so I was the root cause in their eyes.
Market folk weren't the type to carefully weigh the circumstances anyway.
I could already hear the murmurs starting.
If things went like this, my reputation in this street would hit rock bottom, and it'd haunt me for ages.
I might not even be able to grab a bowl of noodles or a steamed bun here without hassle.
I scanned the surroundings and spotted a group that had rushed out amid the commotion.
'When responsibility gets pushed from above, shove it down below.'
A golden rule etched into my bones for surviving in the Murim Alliance.
"From now on, the Nangong Family's Nangong Mubaek will manage the stall fees for this noodle stand and every stall on this street!"
My absurd shout turned those resentful stares into baffled ones.
"Who collects the stall fees on this street?"
I asked the noodle-selling couple, and the man hesitated.
"Answer me! In the name of the Nangong Family!"
"The Dusik Gang."
I raised my voice.
"Hear this, Dusik Gang! From now on, Nangong Mubaek of the Nangong Family will collect the fees here! Nangong Mubaek will charge just one pun per month!"
The crowd buzzed in excitement!
One pun was basically free.
"If the Dusik Gang tries to collect fees, the Nangong Family will punish them! If they show up for fees, come tell us at the Nangong Family!"
Caught off guard by my sudden declaration, Nangong Mubaek stormed forward like he was about to slap me.
"This man here is Nangong Mubaek! It's proclaimed in the name of the Nangong Family!"
Nangong Mubaek, hand raised to strike me, froze at the cheers erupting from the street.
"Hooray for Young Master Nangong Mubaek!"
"As expected of the Nangong Family!"
"Hero Nangong Mubaek!"
Suddenly hearing his name chanted, Nangong Mubaek awkwardly waved the hand he'd meant to hit me with.
Then he shot me a glare.
"You're begging to die. I'll expose your lies."
"Go ahead. If you want the Nangong Family known as worse black thugs than the Dusik Gang."
"What?"
"It's already been proclaimed in the Nangong Family's name. And the young master just waved to confirm it. Think about what happens if you take it back now."
I wanted to smack that smug scholar's face as he replied so innocently, but with merchants chanting my name, I couldn't bring myself to do it.
'This bastard!'
I was about to lash out like the scoundrel I was when something twitched deep in my chest.
I'd only ever gotten finger-pointed at, never cheers from people in my life.
And damn if it didn't feel kinda good.
I'd never noticed because people always avoided me like dog shit on the road, but this made my neck stiffen with pride.
I chuckled inwardly watching Nangong Mubaek's expression shift a dozen times in moments.
Scoundrels weren't born scoundrels; they became them.
Most were kids starved for attention who started bullying for notice, only to discover the thrill of abuse.
In other words, I'd self-diagnosed scoundrel behavior as a mental disorder from lack of attention.
All those Murim Alliance brats were my test subjects.
"You there! Dusik Gang?"
I pointed at the guys covered in tattoos.
They'd been scowling ever since I mentioned stall fees.
"That's right!"
"This is Nangong Mubaek's doing, so the Dusik Gang needs to hear it! If!"
I paused mid-sentence and looked at Nangong Mubaek.
"Say a word, young master."
"Me?"
"It's been declared in the Nangong Family's name. Backing out now would shame the family."
Nangong Mubaek gritted his teeth.
Clashing with black thugs like the Dusik Gang was no worry.
What pissed him off was being led around by this scholar into doing something stupid.
But even a scoundrel couldn't disgrace the family itself.
That might mean more than just ten days of secluded training.
"If the Dusik Gang collects fees, I, Nangong Mubaek, won't let it slide!"
Infusing his voice with inner energy, it echoed through the streets.
"Hooray!"
"Nangong Mubaek!"
"Nangong Family!"
As people cheered joyfully, Nangong Mubaek's face was a sight—grinning one second, scowling the next, like he had a toothache.
I immediately pulled out my writing kit and scribbled a promissory note for the damaged noodle stall.
"Young master, put your seal here."
"Hmph."
His hand trembled slightly with rage as he gripped the brush. Inside, he was probably dying to grab my collar.
"Ugh!"
As he sealed the paper, biting his teeth, Nangong Mubaek nicked his tongue.
"Ah, no need for a blood oath."
He glared at my snide remark, but I ignored him and turned away.
"Take this to the Nangong Family's steward office, and they'll compensate you."
"Thank you, Scholar."
"No, this is all thanks to Young Master Nangong Mubaek. Spread the word far and wide."
I leaned in and whispered to the man.
"You can charge three or four times the amount. Got it?"
Prestigious families like this often overcompensated to protect their reputation, but common folk didn't know and thus never took advantage.
"Understood. Thank you, Scholar."
I slipped away, leaving the merchants bowing in thanks to Nangong Mubaek.
'A pup whose milk teeth haven't even grown in properly, trying to bite someone's artery.'
I looked at Nangong Mubaek with a pleased smile.
"Do you know that scholar?"
A woman enjoying tea at a teahouse across the way asked the woman sitting opposite her.
The woman watched the market spectacle with the thrilled expression of someone at a street performer's show.
"First time seeing his face around here. Probably a new scholar hired by the Nangong Family."
"And he handles a scoundrel that well? He doesn't look much older than one himself. Makes me curious. Have him investigated."
"He's just a scholar. Not worth the Little Palace Lord's attention."
"Nangong Mubaek's a headache even for the Nangong Family. Famous around here too. If he can handle that one so easily, doesn't it mean he's beyond ordinary? Doing the hard things effortlessly means mastery. Even the Third Protector couldn't tame an untamable scoundrel like that. Someone like him warrants investigation, if only for our cause."
The woman thought for a moment and shook her head.
"Honestly, I have no confidence in handling a scoundrel that smoothly. I'll look into him thoroughly."
"Personally, I'm curious too. Even if we're lying low because of the treasures and elders, we can afford a little fun like this, right?"
"I understand, Little Palace Lord."
"By the way, where's the treasure?"
"Stored in the mountain stronghold."
"No issues?"
"It's the safest place right now."
"I figured with the Nangong Family here it'd be boring, but there's fun in unexpected places. Guess I'll have to play doctor a bit more."
The woman's gaze lingered on Nangong Mubaek and the scholar.
Clang!
Nangong Mubaek tossed a heavy money pouch in front of me like it was trash.
The fact he didn't throw it in my face was nearly a victory for humanity.
I understood his feelings well enough not to complain.
"Rip up the note in front of me."
I tore it up without a word.
"One bill of exchange would've been cleaner, but you had to give me a hundred nyang in coins?"
"Can't stand seeing you comfortable."
For petty revenge, I could retaliate with equal pettiness.
"Where are you off to? You should watch me count it all."
"What?"
"Might be short, right?"
"You, really!"
"One, two, three..."
I counted every last coin before looking up.
"Three short."
Nangong Mubaek glared like he wanted to kill me, then pulled three nyang of silver from his sleeve and slammed them down.
"Take it and scram, you damned scholar! Get struck by lightning on your way and drop dead!"
I picked up the scattered coins and bowed.
"For lightning, you'd need storm clouds, but the sky's clear today. Doesn't look likely. I'll put this money to good use."
As I left his residence, a barrage of curses followed, but then the maid Eunbi approached, concerned for my mental health.
She was the one who'd broken the water bowl earlier.
"The young master's cursing can leave you dazed for days. Steel your mind."
What a beautiful soul.
A maid worrying about a scholar like me.
I smiled at her.
"I'm fine."
She shook her head.
"Over five scholars have come and gone here. Some lost their minds from his curses."
He'd tormented them with verbal abuse as psychological torture.
"Where would a scholar hear such filth in his life? We're used to it as lowly folk."
"Do you understand what a passing dog says?"
"How could a human understand a dog? Ridiculous."
"Exactly. I don't understand dogs either. So it doesn't hurt my feelings at all."
She tilted her head at my sudden dog talk.
"Sounds profound. What does it mean?"
She pondered, then gasped, covering her mouth.
"Son of a dog, Nangong..."
She'd finally caught on.
Her face flushed like she'd uncovered the world's greatest secret.
'Never imagined someone would call Nangong Mubaek a son of a bitch to his face.'
"By the way, I know a bit of medicine. If anyone working here or their family is ill, let me know. I'll take a look."
"Really?"
Only the wealthy saw physicians; day laborers couldn't even dream of it.
"Ask around. I can even do acupuncture—it'll help."
Eunbi trembled.
She seemed lost in thought about sick family.
"I'll check. There's someone unwell right now."
To fully win over everyone around Nangong Mubaek, I resolved to act more proactively.