The world's most incompetent kidnapping(2)

The cell's door opened and three men walked inside.

"Hmm. It seems like you were telling the truth. He's sleeping. I thought giving 20 gold nyangs to you guys was a mistake, but it seems my father's hunch was right once again."

Chung Myung was shaken to his bones.

'No! You actually gave these idiots 20 gold nyangs for this? And what? Because of a hunch? A huuuuunch?'

He nearly had a seizure from that information, ready to leap to his feet and shake the man while screaming at him.

'If it was like this, I would have just walked to you after eating energy dispersing poison and surrounding myself!! Give me those 20 gold nyangs, you bastards!! I practically walked here myself!! Give me my reward!!!'

"To think father's insight as what is needed to capture a powerful master isn't another powerful master but fools was right!"

'No! I don't think even your father had anticipated fool to this degree. He probably meant idiots who jump at the flame, knowing they will be burned.'

He then reached his hand in his sleeve and brought out a vial.

"For now let's feed him this energy dispersing poison."

He looked at the two kidnappers and handed them the vial.

"We don't know when he will wake up and go wild, so give him this energy dispersing poison once a day with that sleeping poison you had him have at first. It seems to work well."

'Finally! Someone who actually uses his head! No! Uses common sense!!!'

The kidnappers nodded vigorously and exclaimed happily.

"Yes, young master."

"So after we transfer him to the main state, our job is done and we get the additional 10 silver nyang, right?"

"That's right. Now, chain him up and transfer him to the iron cage outside."

Chung Myung was getting more and more excited as he listened to this young master.

'Oooh! So well prepared! As expected of young master!! I'm counting on you, okay? Don't disappoint me!!'

The kidnappers approached the bed.

One of them took out a set of iron chains, while another produced a small porcelain bottle.

"Should we wake him up first?"

"Are you stupid? Why would we wake him up? Just open his mouth and pour it in."

"Ah! Right!"

Chung Myung almost nodded in approval.

'Good! Very good! You're learning!'

The man holding the bottle carefully approached him and crouched beside the bed.

"Don't worry, little master. This won't hurt a bit."

'Little master?'

Chung Myung's eyebrow twitched.

'Who are you calling little?'

The man pinched his nose and attempted to pour the liquid into his mouth.

Chung Myung obediently swallowed.

It was bitter.

Extremely bitter.

He nearly spat it out.

'Ugh! What is this? Couldn't you at least buy something that doesn't taste like boiled tree bark?'

Still, he swallowed every drop.

After all, this was an energy-dispersing poison.

He had been wondering whether these people would actually use one.

The young master watched with satisfaction.

"Good. Now chain him up properly. Don't make the same mistake twice."

"Yes, young master!"

The two men immediately began wrapping the chains around Chung Myung.

One around his wrists.

Another around his ankles.

And then another around his waist.

They even attached the chains to a heavy iron collar.

Chung Myung was starting to feel emotional.

'Wonderful.'

'Absolutely wonderful.'

'Look at that. Look at all those precautions!'

He almost wanted to applaud.

The young master approached and examined the restraints.

"Hmm. That should be enough."

Enough?

Chung Myung's lips twitched.

Young master, my expectations for you are getting higher by the minute.

"Take him outside. The iron cage is waiting."

"Understood!"

The men lifted him.

Or, more accurately, they struggled to lift him.

"Ugh! Why is he so heavy?"

"Use your legs, idiot!"

"I'm using them!"

"Then why aren't you lifting him?"

Chung Myung almost opened his eyes.

'You bastards. I'm a martial artist, not a sack of rice!'

The young master sighed.

"Honestly. How did my father find you people?"

"Young master, we are very capable!"

"Yes, yes. That's why I hired you."

Chung Myung's shoulders trembled slightly.

He was having a very difficult time keeping himself from laughing.

Oh, this young master is something else.

Finally, they managed to carry him outside.

The iron cage was considerably better constructed than the wooden cell. Thick iron bars, reinforced corners, and a proper lock.

Chung Myung examined it through his barely open eyelids.

'Oh!'

His interest increased.

'Now that's more like it!'

The men placed him inside and locked the door.

The young master personally checked the lock before nodding.

"Good. We'll leave him here until the carriage arrives tomorrow morning."

"Young master, what if he wakes up?"

"Then give him another dose of sleeping poison. And don't forget the energy-dispersing poison tomorrow."

"Yes!"

"And don't let anyone approach the cage without my permission. If he escapes, all of you will lose your heads."

The two kidnappers went pale.

"U-Understood!"

The young master turned to leave.

But just before he stepped away, he stopped.

"Oh, one more thing."

The men immediately straightened.

"Yes, young master?"

"Don't touch his sword. My father specifically instructed us to bring him here with all his belongings intact."

Chung Myung's ears perked up.

'My sword?'

He hadn't even noticed they'd taken it.

'Oh, you little rascal. You're quite thorough.'

The young master gave the cage one last glance.

"After all, we're not kidnapping some ordinary wandering martial artist. We're kidnapping the chivalrous sword of mount hua."

He smiled faintly.

"Father will be very pleased."

And with that, he left.

The moment the footsteps disappeared, Chung Myung opened his eyes.

He stared at the ceiling.

Then at the iron bars.

Then at the chains covering his body.

A slow, delighted grin spread across his face.

"...Hahaha."

He turned onto his side, making the chains rattle.

'Well, well. The chivalrous sword of mount hua, huh?'

He hadn't expected someone to go through this much trouble just to kidnap him.

And now there was a father involved.

A young master.

A mysterious household.

Twenty gold nyangs.

Ten additional silver nyangs.

And, most importantly—

'They even prepared an iron cage.'

And not just any ordinary iron. A specially reinforced iron!

Chung Myung clasped his hands behind his head as comfortably as the chains allowed.

"Ah, this is getting interesting."

He closed his eyes again.

'All right, young master. Let's see what your father has planned. I'm counting on you two.'

A moment passed.

Then another.

"..."

Chung Myung opened one eye.

'Wait. Did they say the carriage arrives tomorrow morning?'

His stomach growled.

He hadn't eaten dinner.

His expression darkened.

"...These bastards."

He sat up.

'They'd better feed their prisoner. I'm not going to let twenty gold nyangs go to waste on an empty stomach!'