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Chapter 12
The Youngest Son of the Nakyang Family
“Is it true?”
“I’m telling you, it is! The Nakyang family has opened rooms!”
“Wow… how long has it been?”
“As far as I know, over five years. Hahaha! This time, I’ll definitely get into the Nakyang family!”
The streets of Nakyang, already noisy, became even louder.
From the mouths of the gathered crowd, the same story kept spilling out.
It was about the rooms opened by the Nakyang family.
Not just Nakyang, but the entire Hanan region was stirred.
The news spread quickly across the central plains.
It was a dreamlike opportunity for ordinary people.
It was said that once you entered, your fortune would turn around. Naturally, people from all over the central plains began moving toward Nakyang, like travelers heading to Beijing for the civil service exams, preparing to earn a fortune.
Nakyang Family – Job Announcement
The Nakyang family is looking for people to work joyfully, as if part of the family.
Positions:
- Bodyguards and general tasks.
Please note that ranks may change at any time.
Supervisor: Yoo Hyun | Head of Security: Baek Ja-hyun | Chief Steward: Hong Gu-hyun
Work all day with no days off.
The conditions were absurd, but there was a reason people flocked to them.
The pay was overwhelmingly high.
If someone could endure ten years, they could earn enough to live comfortably anywhere. That’s why people didn’t hesitate, no matter how tough the work.
“Sometimes I think the young master is crazy.”
Cough “You’re saying something funny.”
In the side building’s training hall, Jang Chu-hyung stood at the center, dripping with sweat as he threw punch after punch.
Every time his fists sliced through the air, the sound hit like a sharp crack, striking the ears.
It felt as if he were striking the air itself.
He looked at me, sitting and watching, and stuck out his tongue.
“Opening rooms at a time like this… what if weird people come in?”
I nodded, understanding. Anyone would think the same.
They had opened rooms while things were still unsettled from the previous incident. It was natural to feel doubt.
I couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“We are the Nakyang family. We must always show ourselves as strong and stable.”
“But this… if the head of the family finds out, there’ll be an uproar.”
“No need. He hasn’t been informed.”
“Exactly! Why? There’s been a huge incident in the family, and you’re not telling him? If it were me, I’d run straight to him crying and shouting.”
Jang Chu-hyung looked at me like I was insane.
The head of the Nakyang family, my father, had power beyond imagination.
He could negotiate with the royal family or martial arts leaders alike. Controlling the central plains’ wealth was no small feat.
Naturally, a child in such a family would run to their father the moment someone threatened them.
But I didn’t. I never had.
My father had to deal with the bandits. If I sent a report from here, he might make a rash decision in panic.
So I kept quiet. Things had to flow as they were.
“Be noisy and throw your fists. Your posture is off.”
“Ugh?!”
Three days had passed since the rooms were announced. I had been observing Jang Chu-hyung’s martial arts. While it was mainly about correcting his form, the progress was noticeable.
His punches became more stable, and compared to a few days ago, he almost seemed like a different person.
His growth was steep.
Whether due to natural strength or talent, if he could properly form his energy center, his growth would skyrocket.
He was impressive enough to make anyone envious.
I couldn’t help but smile as I picked up a wooden sword and stood before him.
“What are you doing?”
“Fighting. Let’s go easy.”
“With you, young master? Nonsense…”
I swung the sword at him.
Swish!
The sword grazed the edge of his hair. If he hadn’t leaned back, it would have struck him.
“…What!?”
“It’s just a light spar.”
“…!”
He looked at me as if I were talking nonsense. I aimed again at his shoulder.
He stepped back, and I swung the sword sideways.
Shing!
“Ah!?”
Surprised by the sound, Jang Chu-hyung stumbled backward. I didn’t stop, continuing my thrusts.
By shaking the sword slightly during fast movements, I created variations.
Jang Chu-hyung tumbled across the floor.
Thud!
The wooden sword hit the floor, splintering into pieces.
“I’m dead!”
“Hmm…”
The sword technique I used, both now and in the past, was called Su-Wol Sword Technique.
Originally created by the Nakyang family, who had purchased numerous martial manuals to develop unique techniques.
I had broken it down and reconstructed it while living a life of constant pursuit.
But it was incomplete.
Because it was incomplete, death was unavoidable.
Despite all my efforts to break the peak, I couldn’t reach it. It wasn’t just a matter of enlightenment.
There was a flaw in my martial art that prevented realization.
I had been examining my technique thoroughly in recent days. Unlike before, doing it alone without anyone’s advice was much harder.
I had to create it myself.
Thinking that, I gripped the wooden sword again.
“Again.”
“Ah! Not going easy!”
“Good choice.”
Thud!
I struck him on the forehead as he charged like a wild boar.
He fell while trying to block, leaving openings everywhere. I lightly hit his torso.
Thump thump thump!
“Argh!”
He screamed and curled up, clearly in pain, though he tried to hide it.
“Clumsy. In a real fight, the opponent wouldn’t hold back.”
“If it were real, I’d have died on the first strike!”
Jang Chu-hyung rubbed his head, pouting, but slowly got up to prepare again. His eyes showed determination, ready to try once more.
At that moment:
Cough!
He was already drenched in sweat despite minimal movement.
I frowned at my own body’s weakness.
I threw down the wooden sword and looked at him.
“That’s enough. Next time, try to respond better.”
“Oh, I’m dead. I’m dying.”
He slumped, moaning, but I knew it was an act. He had taken down Kang Cheong-woon with a single punch before.
He wouldn’t be affected by a light spar.
Seeing him pretend to collapse, I shook my head.
Jang Chu-hyung rubbed his sore body and glanced at me like a child wanting something.
“Let’s eat first. The sun’s already high.”
I looked up. Sure enough, the sun was high in the sky.
Perhaps realizing it, his stomach growled. I smiled awkwardly.
“Good idea. Let’s go. I want some street food for a change.”
“Again? Hah…”
Jang Chu-hyung sighed, but I ignored him. Eating out might be better now than at home, with nothing to worry about.
The market streets were always bustling.
Countless people filled the streets, and it wasn’t just a feeling—there really were more people than usual. Villagers from surrounding towns had come, making the streets livelier than ever.
This was the power of the Nakyang family’s name.
Those who benefited were clear. From the moment the Nakyang family announced the rooms until the recruitment ended, the streets were like a festival.
Performers drew attention with acrobatics. Inns charged double but were fully booked. Nearby residents rented out their rooms for money. Street vendors prepared extra food, selling at higher prices. It was literally a festival.
Seeing this, I laughed at the absurdity. The performers did the work, but people made the money—just as the saying goes.
No wonder the townsfolk eagerly awaited the Nakyang family’s recruitment periods.
I bit into a skewer.
“Shouldn’t we be the ones making money from this?”
“I think the same.”
“It feels like we’re being used, doesn’t it?”
“We are. But ultimately, the money comes back to the Nakyang family anyway.”
I nodded. People naturally want to spend when they earn large sums. Eventually, it all trickled back to the Nakyang family. It was mutual benefit.
Chewing the skewer, I scanned the crowd.
Among the people, a familiar face caught my attention. Blending in, he seemed ordinary at first glance. But his face was too familiar.
I looked at him briefly before turning away. He had noticed me, but showed no suspicion and disappeared into the crowd.
I continued walking, thinking about him. He was fast. Even though only a few days remained until the full moon, he was already in Nakyang.
Gyeongsaldae (Shadow Assassin Squad) – Division 10 Leader: Gu Yang-cheol.
I smiled unknowingly and stepped into the street. This was the second target.
