NABC Book 3: Chapter 10
Book 3: Chapter 10
Book 3: Chapter 10
Upon entering the gates of Wongak Pavilion, the Medicine King spotted 4th Young Master and his followers emerging from the forest path.
“Grandfather Medicine King!”
The 4th Young Master ran up to him with a smile and hugged him.
“Oh my, this child. Acting like a kid when you’re all grown up. You’ll break this old man’s back.”
Contrary to his words, the incredibly vigorous Medicine King effortlessly lifted the 4th Young Master in a warm embrace.
“But are you leaving already? Won’t you stay and play with this old man a bit longer?”
The 4th Young Master sprang out of the Medicine King’s arms.
With an innocent smile, the boy said, “I really wish I could, but suddenly I have so much to do, I’m sorry.”
The Medicine King affectionately stroked the 4th Young Master’s head.
“That’s alright, that’s alright. Then next time, come to see this old man instead of that damn disciple of mine, got it?”
The 4th Young Master laughed brightly.
“Ha-ha, Grandfather Medicine King. That’s a boring joke.”
“...It’s not a joke, though.”
The Medicine King muttered, but the 4th Young Master had already reached the gate.
“Then, Grandfather Medicine King! I’ll see you next time!”
The Medicine King laughed heartily, waving his hand in farewell.
He watched as the 4th Young Master and all his followers politely exited through the gate.
“Goodness me.”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“It must be that So-Hyeon scoundrel who’s stirred the winds this time.”
He rubbed the goosebumps that had risen on his forearms.
“Overflowing with ambition, and even the aura of killing intent is brimming. Indeed, you can’t deceive your own blood.”
He began to amble down the forest path again.
“Well, then I should also muster some more strength.”
* * *
The 4th Young Master walked along the dimly lit corridor.
It had been a long time since sunset, but not a single oil lamp could be found in that hallway.
There were no maidservants or housemaids in sight either.
It was a place completely devoid of any signs of life.
If not for the immaculate floor and the ornate interior decorations that barely made themselves visible in the dark, one might mistake it for a ruin.
The 4th Young Master reached the end of the corridor with respectful steps.
“The little one, Bi, has arrived.”
With no warmth in the air, his breath formed a white mist as he spoke.
“Mother.”
Then, from beyond the paper door, a woman’s voice was heard.
“Come in.”
Her voice carried no warmth either.
Normally, a maidservant would naturally open the door, but in the residence of the Grand Consort Tang, there were neither maidservants nor housemaids.
“Then, this child will enter, Mother.”
Stepping inside, the 4th Young Master could feel a chill colder than the north wind outside.
He did not approach further but knelt near the closed door.
“You look lively. Is there good news?”
What appeared as murderous intent to the Medicine King seemed to be vitality to the Grand Consort Tang.
“Yes, Mother. My elder brother has finally decided to settle his heart and end his seclusion.”
There was no answer.
But the 4th Young Master had said all that he wanted to say.
“So, this child also intends to start taking action.”
Still, there was no response.
The 4th Young Master respectfully brought his hands together and waited for his mother’s words.
After a long while, the Grand Consort Tang’s voice came through the darkness.
“...That child, So-Hyeon, has he decided to become the young family head?”
There was a faint surprise and shock in her voice.
The 4th Young Master was surprised to hear this from his mother.
But the boy did not show it and calmly replied.
“Yes, that is so. This child will do his utmost to support my elder brother as the young family head.”
Silence fell again.
“Is that so?”
The boy wore a pleased smile and spread his hands wide.
“With elder brother ending his seclusion, the position of the family’s young head is essentially his.”
He stood up on the chair and clapped his hands.
“Then, our task is clear.”
The gazes of the subordinates gathered there turned towards him.
The boy grinned, looking down at them.
“The day elder brother ascends as the young head, we will stand closest to him!”
Everyone brought their hands together and shouted in unison.
“Loyalty!”
There was no dissent, no disobedience.
Their voices echoed as a chorus throughout the underground space.
Of course, there were those who could not bring their hands together, who could not respond.
The boy hopped down from his chair and approached one of them.
“...What do you think?”
There was a maiden with her face covered.
Seated in the chair, all tied up, she writhed and cried out something, but her words were muffled by the gag in her mouth, making her unintelligible.
“Yes, yes. You agree with me as well.”
The 4th Young Master himself removed the cloth covering her face.
Revealed was the plump servant girl who had attended to him all day.
With her face smeared with tears and snot, she pleaded with him.
“Eh? What did you say?”
He removed the gag that had been silencing her.
“Master! Master! It’s not me! I am innocent! How could I ever dare to... to you...!”
The 4th Young Master’s delicate finger pressed against her lips.
“It’s alright. I know. You have nothing to worry about.”
His lips covered her plump ones.
Though she did not understand, she responded to him as best as she could.
Their tongues intertwined, saliva following.
When the 4th Young Master pulled away, a silver thread glistened between their lips.
“Heh, how cute.”
He stroked her affectionate face.
“Master. I am...!”
Her eyes widened to the point of bursting.
Blood vessels protruded, and with a popping sound, they burst, tears of blood streaming down.
“Cough...?!”
As she coughed, blood poured from her nose and mouth, staining the boy’s face.
But the boy, unfazed, simply stroked her soft cheek.
Her body trembled uncontrollably, convulsing.
The veins in her entire body stood out starkly, her skin turning a deep purple.
Eventually, her skin melted away emitting a yellowish smoke, her skin bubbled and boiled, and her blackened skeleton underneath was exposed.
Thus, her once full figure collapsed, leaving behind only a puddle of oddly colored blood.
The boy, smelling the foul odor, ordered his subordinates.
“Execute all the spies.”
“Loyalty!”
Before the echo had faded, the necks of those who had been bound to the chairs were severed, and blood spurted forth.
Among them were servants, maids, a steward, and warriors.
As the boy looked around at the scene that had become a sea of blood, he smiled broadly.
“Now that we’ve decided to step forward, we can’t spare these rats.”
Up until now, these were the ones left untouched to avoid unnecessary provocation of the second and third young masters.
He climbed atop the chair where a maid had been seated and declared, “This is a warning to those who have underestimated me.”
Just as his mother had advised, he remembered the lineage coursing through his veins.
“I am the descendant of the cruelest family that once ruled Sichuan with terror, and the legitimate successor of the most renowned family under the great central kingdom.”
It was an awakening, a ritual.
“Now, the Sword House cannot ignore our existence!”
A roaring cheer, a mix of madness and murderous intent, followed.
A small bird[↩]