Heavenly Martial God - H.M.G Chapter 10 (Part 2):

“He didn’t come to the King’s Pavilion today either?”

Namgoong Jang Cheon rose from his seat upon hearing the words of the Head Butler, Geum Kwang Mo.

“I told him not to overdo it. He must’ve collapsed.”

He’d heard Namgoong Hyuk had stayed up all night, so his stamina must have hit rock bottom.

Otherwise, there was no reason for him not to show up for two days despite being granted access to the King’s Pavilion.

“I told him not to push himself so hard.”

“The Young Master’s enthusiasm must have gotten the better of him.”

“Excess is as bad as deficiency. He needs to think about his body!”

More than anger, a sense of pity washed over him.

‘How frustrated must that young child have been.’

Even a minor finger injury is inconvenient, so one couldn’t even begin to fathom the frustration and helplessness Namgoong Hyuk must feel, having possessed a porcelain body since childhood.

It made sense that he would even show interest in martial arts.

“I wonder if he’s collapsed and is ailing again. Summon the Head of the Medical Hall.”

“Are you planning to go yourself, My Lord?”

“Is there a choice?”

Namgoong Jang Cheon exited the Family Head’s quarters. As he moved, his close aides, including Geum Kwang Mo, followed.

With the Head of the Medical Hall and five physicians from the Medical Hall joining them, the group numbered twenty.

Namgoong Jang Cheon headed towards Namgoong Hyuk’s quarters with a grave expression.

Sensing the heavier, more subdued atmosphere than usual, the aides held their breath.

‘The Second Young Master has been causing so much trouble lately, the Family Head must be displeased.’

‘He seems even colder today.’

‘What if he erupts in fury like last time?’

‘I just hope the Second Young Master isn’t sick. The Family Head is so worried…’

The aides exchanged glances, trying to gauge Namgoong Jang Cheon’s mood.

Namgoong Jang Cheon entered Namgoong Hyuk’s quarters.

“Gasp! Family Head!”

“Family Head, what brings you here?”

“We greet the Family Head!”

The maids working in Namgoong Hyuk’s quarters were startled.

Namgoong Jang Cheon walked past them towards Namgoong Hyuk’s room.

But a strange sound came from within the room.

‘Good heavens! Is he groaning in pain this loudly?’

What condition could he possibly be in this time?

Namgoong Jang Cheon’s heart grew anxious.

The sounds coming from the room were unusual.

However, mindful of the senior members behind him, he couldn’t show his agitation.

Though his heart raced, his actions betrayed nothing.

Geum Kwang Mo opened the door.

*Fling!*

Namgoong Jang Cheon’s gaze pierced through the crack in the door, then flickered slightly.

‘Hm?’

Through the gap, hazy steam and palpable heat billowed out.

Staring intently into the room, which resembled a steam sauna, Namgoong Jang Cheon unconsciously let his mouth fall open slowly.

An utterly unimaginable scene unfolded before his eyes.

A dumbfounded sound escaped Namgoong Jang Cheon’s lips.

“Uh…”

His gaze fixed on the center of the room.

At the end of his line of sight, Namgoong Hyuk was captured, sweating profusely and struggling on the floor.

‘Tha-that’s?’

With thin arms trembling violently, Namgoong Hyuk’s upper body was rising.

The familiar motion performed by an unfamiliar figure made his mind freeze for a moment.

“Huh! Huh! Huh!”

Rough breaths burst from Namgoong Hyuk’s mouth.

After taking three breaths, Namgoong Hyuk’s arms bent again.

“Haaaargh!”

With a sound that was hard to tell if it was a groan or a scream, Namgoong Hyuk’s chest lowered as if to touch the floor.

Namgoong Jang Cheon blinked.

Surely that wasn’t…

‘Push… ups?’

Push-ups?

Hyuk?

My son?

My son is doing those right now?

Namgoong Jang Cheon rubbed his eyes vigorously and looked at Namgoong Hyuk again.

A deflated sound escaped his lips once more.

“Uh uh…”

Still unable to believe it, he quietly asked Geum Kwang Mo, who was standing beside him, equally stunned.

“Is that boy… really doing push-ups right now?”

Good heavens.

How on earth was the boy who struggled even to lift a spoon under his own power doing that?

Geum Kwang Mo nodded his head as if possessed.

“Y-Yes, the Second Young Master is currently doing push-ups.”

Namgoong Jang Cheon’s eyes widened.

He wasn’t seeing things.

“Hyuk is?”

“Yes, the Second Young Master…”

“H-Hyuk? Our Hyuk?”

“Yes, the Second Young Master is…”

Unbelievable.

A miracle was happening.

One, two, three…

The number of times Namgoong Hyuk bent and straightened his arms was increasing.

Those arms, which he’d been grateful just to see stay intact without breaking or dislocating, were now bending and straightening in exercise?

Namgoong Jang Cheon couldn’t believe it even as he watched.

When had his second son ever shown such a vibrant and energetic side?

For some reason, Namgoong Jang Cheon felt something welling up inside him, a surge of emotion.

The aides who had followed also stared at Namgoong Hyuk with shocked expressions.

“G-Good heavens! The Second Young Master is doing push-ups?”

“H-How many has he done already?”

“Isn’t even his form perfect!”

“His arms aren’t breaking!”

Everyone watching was astonished by the sight of Namgoong Hyuk that no one had ever imagined.

They gazed at him as if witnessing a phoenix from legend, utterly captivated.

Namgoong Jang Cheon clenched his fists.

Biting his lip, he was overcome with emotion.

Namgoong Hyuk, regardless of whether people came or not, continued what he was doing.

*Tremble tremble tremble.*

Like a bee flapping its wings, Namgoong Hyuk’s trembling body suddenly gained momentum, and he began doing push-ups at a frenzied pace.

“Hup! Hup! Hup!”

*Crack!*

As Namgoong Hyuk rapidly lowered himself, his shoulder momentarily dislocated with a loud noise.

*Clunk! Snap!*

“Ah damn it, this blasted body is acting up again.”

Namgoong Hyuk muttered.

Then, he nonchalantly grabbed his dislocated shoulder and popped it back into place.

So natural was the motion that it took a moment to process what had happened.

*Creak, Crack.*

“…”

“…”

Silence fell.

Namgoong Jang Cheon, who had been steeped in emotion, gaped his mouth wide again.

The casual way he had popped his shoulder back was so nonchalant it was absurd.

The watching aides looked like their eyeballs were about to pop out.

“……Did his shoulder just dislocate?”

“He put it back in?”

“Y-Young Master?!”

“G-Gaaah!”

As the commotion continued, Namgoong Hyuk glanced towards the doorway.

He saw the senior members who had shown up unexpectedly, making a fuss amongst themselves, beating drums and gongs metaphorically speaking.

His brow furrowed automatically, feeling inexplicably irritated.

‘What, am I a circus act?’

Had they never seen a dislocated shoulder before? He’d shown them plenty!

Paying them no mind, he finished resetting his shoulder and rotated it a few times.

*Crack!*

“…!”

“…!”

The people froze as if turned to stone, staring at Namgoong Hyuk.

“Ah, I’m fine. Really. Not dying.”

Namgoong Hyuk waved his hand, momentarily turning the onlookers into spectators.

Witnessing his composed demeanor, Namgoong Jang Cheon was rendered speechless.

“Wh-What is this…”

Before the bewilderment could even subside, Namgoong Hyuk this time turned over, lay on his back, and then began to lift his upper body.

‘…S-Sit-ups?’

Now he’s going to do sit-ups?

Push-ups weren’t the end.

Namgoong Hyuk was truly doing sit-ups.

“One! Two! Three! Four…!”

The sight of him resetting his shoulder and proceeding with flawless sit-ups made the onlookers gulp.

‘This can’t be real!’

Again, with perfect form and perfect breathing, he continued the precise movements.

But they couldn’t simply rejoice.

Because they had already witnessed his arm dislocating once.

A strange silence descended upon the area.

Only the sound of Namgoong Hyuk counting echoed quietly in the room.

He pulled his body up with such effort it seemed his ribs might not survive.

There was even concern that his internal organs might get displaced.

Namgoong Jang Cheon turned his head, issuing a silent order for them to leave.

One by one, the aides stealthily excused themselves.

Until they disappeared, their gazes remained fixed on Namgoong Hyuk doing sit-ups.

Confirming that the presence of the others had faded, Namgoong Jang Cheon hastily grabbed Namgoong Hyuk.

“Hyuuuuk! Stop it, stop! Your insides will fall out!”

Namgoong Hyuk glared at the uninvited guest.

‘For heaven’s sake, I said I’m fine! If you want to be here, just watch quietly!.’

Even cheering would be annoying, so why the interruption?

“I’ve got a hundred to finish starting now. Don’t interfere and just go.”

“A hundred what! You brat, I gave you secret manuals, why are you doing physical training?!”

“Because you gave me secret manuals, I have to do physical training!”

“No, Hyuk! Head of the Medical Hall! What are you doing! Hurry and check his pulse, check his pulse!”

Namgoong Jang Cheon yelled, holding onto Namgoong Hyuk and calling for the Head of the Medical Hall.

The Head of the Medical Hall rushed into the chaotic scene.

“Y-Yes! Family Head!”

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