The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 102

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Nakhyang Jin Family — Chapter 102

* * *

Mo Yong-cheon, who had entered Hapbi, found himself struggling to form words at the sight before him.
The Chohyeon Family was a force that had virtually seized control of Anhui itself.
He had visited this place several times in the past and knew well how magnificent and beautiful it was, yet now only ruins remained.
The towering, formidable walls had vanished without a trace, and the splendidly constructed halls of the manor lay in complete ruin, reduced to ash.
The collapsed Namgung Family looked better by comparison.
And the corpses being carried away one by one by the Martial Arts Alliance Branch personnel—how ghastly was their condition?
Most bore no semblance of their original form, and even those that retained some human shape were burned beyond recognition.
This was the Chohyeon Family.
Not a single soul had survived.
Whether direct lineage or collateral branches, everyone within the Chohyeon Family had perished.
“How could this…”
“Whose doing could this be?”
“…”
Mo Yong-cheon offered no response to Moryeong Hyeok’s question.
The question of who was responsible mattered less than understanding their purpose.
Was it merely the Chohyeon Family?
Or was it Yeom Ji-hak and the Blood Demon Squad within it?
And who, exactly, had reduced Yeom Ji-hak, the Snake Horn Sect Leader, to such a state?
Judging solely from the devastation before him, it was undeniable that a master of impossible caliber had appeared.
Sigh—
Mo Yong-cheon exhaled heavily and turned his gaze toward one figure.
The Section Leader of the Anhui Martial Arts Alliance Branch.
He addressed him directly.
“Were there no traces left behind?”
“My apologies, Family Head. We are searching as thoroughly as possible, but given that everything has been destroyed and burned, there is simply…”
The Section Leader shook his head with an awkward expression.
There was nothing to find when nothing remained—most of the crucial evidence had been shattered or incinerated beyond recovery.
“What we have confirmed is that this was the work of two people.”
“Two of them?”
“Yes. According to witnesses, one person was engaged in combat with another, sustained severe injuries, and fled. Then a second figure appeared and collided with him, resulting in this devastation. It was as though a natural calamity had struck.”
At these words, Mo Yong-cheon stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The one who had been wounded and fled—could that have been whoever was confronting Yeom Ji-hak? If so, then the one who appeared later must be the master who had reduced Yeom Ji-hak to his current state.
As he pondered this, Moryeong Hyeok, who had been searching the surroundings for clues, approached cautiously and turned to the Section Leader with a question.
“Were there any suspicious individuals in the vicinity?”
“Suspicious individuals? I have inquired in various places, but nothing unusual was reported. Ah—! It is not suspicious per se, but I heard that Young Master So of the Nakhyang Jin Family is staying at an inn.”
At those words, Mo Yong-cheon’s head turned.
When the Pyohyeong Sword incident occurred, that man had been present.
And now, at this very moment when this situation unfolded, he was nearby as well.
Moreover, considering the extraordinary martial prowess that Jin Cheon-u possessed, I couldn’t help but suspect he might be deeply connected to this matter.
‘Or perhaps that fleeing man is him.’
No matter how exceptional Jin Cheon-u’s skills were, he couldn’t possibly defeat Yeom Ji-hak, so it was highly likely he had suffered grave injuries and escaped.
Mo Yong-cheon turned his head.
The Yunlong Inn came into view at a distance.
“Are you thinking of going there?”
“Yes, at the very least I intend to hear something of what happened.”
Mo Yong-cheon nodded and moved toward the inn.
Walking that way, I recalled Jin Cheon-u.
I had seen him only once.
Yet strangely, he wouldn’t leave my mind.
The way he spoke while meeting the Sword Emperor’s gaze directly, seeming to lay bare his inner thoughts, yet carefully concealing what truly mattered—that peculiar sensation lingered.
As a descendant of the Central Plains’ greatest merchant family, it was certainly plausible, but I couldn’t help but feel oddly unsettled.
Lost in such thoughts, I arrived at the Yunlong Inn before I knew it.
Opening the door lightly and stepping inside, countless gazes from guests poured down upon me.
“…It’s the Sword Emperor!”
“Really! It’s truly the Sword Emperor!”
“…Did you come because of the Chohyeon Family matter? That seems far too quick for that?”
The clamorous voices of the crowd reached my ears.
As a result, the innkeeper who had been at leisure inside was startled and had no choice but to come out, and Mo Yong-cheon glanced at him before moving toward the annex.
“Oh my! Family Head! That place is currently occupied by the Young Master, so you cannot enter.”
“I’m aware. I’ve come to meet him, so don’t concern yourself.”
“B-but, with all due respect, even as Family Head, you cannot enter at this moment.”
“You’re telling me I cannot see Young Master So?”
Mo Yong-cheon gazed at the innkeeper intently.
Though he released no overt pressure, his eyes alone seemed capable of tearing the other apart.
As a result, the innkeeper blocking the way flinched and retreated.
Confirming this, Mo Yong-cheon naturally swept his hand forward, pushing the innkeeper aside, who could offer no resistance and was simply shoved away.
With a stern expression, Mo Yong-cheon advanced toward the annex without hesitation.
The very fact that someone would block his path and prevent him from entering only confirmed his certainty that something was indeed happening.
Soon, detecting a presence in a room, he opened the door without restraint.
Click—

* * *

Creak—!
The door burst open suddenly, and someone emerged into view.
My hand, which had been reaching for food, froze mid-motion, and the gazes of everyone seated at the table naturally shifted toward the entrance.
The figure before us was unmistakably Mo Yong-cheon.
He stared at me with trembling eyes.
I had anticipated someone might come looking, but this exceeded my expectations.
The Sword Emperor himself had come seeking me?
Yet this encounter revealed that the Moyong Family’s connection to these people ran far deeper than I had imagined.
I rose slowly from my seat.
“Moyong Family Head, is it not? And….”
I trailed off deliberately, my gaze drifting toward the figure behind him.
There stood a familiar face.
Moyong Hyeok.
I had believed he would be immobilized for at least a year, yet he appeared far more intact than anticipated.
The shattered bones, the fractured spirit—both seemed to have healed completely.
Such recovery should not have been possible in so brief a span.
Since I had personally inflicted those injuries, I knew the severity with certainty. Only two individuals in the Central Plains possessed the ability to achieve such restoration.
One was Chaeseoha; the other was the leader of the Shin Horn Sect.
He must have received assistance from that man.
“Namgoong So-hyeop as well? I’m relieved to see you’re doing well.”
“It’s good to see you again.”
For reasons unclear, Moyong Hyeok, upon meeting my gaze, seemed to feel uncomfortable and averted his eyes while responding.
Though he attempted to project confidence, an unmistakable sense of intimidation clung to him.
Was that the reason?
Mo Yong-cheon’s gaze flickered toward his son for a moment before returning to me, and he posed his question.
“I never expected to encounter you in a place like this. What brings you here?”
His question carried layers of meaning beneath its surface.
Nor was it mere imagination that his tone carried an edge of sharpness.
He clearly suspected me of involvement in the collapse of the Chohyeon Family and the matter concerning Yeom Ji-hak.
I smiled faintly and gestured toward one of the seated figures.
“I came to meet Namgoong So-hyeop.”
“Namgoong… Baek? For what purpose?”
“During the Black Crow Society incident last time, we attempted to recruit So-hyeop into our clan but failed. I’ve come to persuade him again. And incidentally… to treat him to a meal.”
At my words, Mo Yong-cheon turned his gaze toward Namgung Baek.
The man sat before an elaborately laden table, chopsticks set down, his head bowed deeply.
Mo Yong-cheon’s stare and my voice were nothing short of terror to him in that moment.
In contrast, Namgung Yeon beside him stared intently at Moyong Hyeok—the gaze of one appraising a future rival. Sensing my attention, he turned his head away.
It was then that Mo Yong-cheon’s gaze returned to me.
“Namgung Baek for the Nakhyang Jin Family? And you yourself, no less?”
“Yes, and we happen to need an additional servant anyway. Namgoong So-hyeop is quite attentive to people’s needs—an excellent choice. But what brings the Family Head here?”
I approached him quietly.
Closing the distance naturally, I positioned myself before him.
Then I extended my hand lightly, gesturing toward the empty seat.
“If you don’t mind, would you care to join us for a meal?”
“No, that won’t be necessary. Rather, do you know anything about the commotion that occurred last night?”
“Now that you mention it, there was quite a bit of noise. When I woke this morning, I heard something had happened, but I didn’t know the details… Is that what you’re asking about?”
“I see. You truly know nothing of it?”
Mo Yong-cheon, who had been studying my face intently, withdrew his gaze and examined the others seated at the table.
However, when everyone present shook their heads in denial, the furrow between his brows deepened noticeably.
I turned away as I observed this.
“Please, sit down, Family Head. Allow me to offer you hospitality. This wine here is quite exceptional.”
I lifted the wine bottle from the table and extended it toward Mo Yong-cheon.
Even the aroma alone would reveal its quality immediately.
Yet Mo Yong-cheon showed no interest and shook his head, so I nodded in resignation and set the bottle down.
“Very well, then. So you know nothing of any of this.”
“That’s correct. If you require information, shall I make some inquiries?”
I spoke with a subtle smile, but Mo Yong-cheon shook his head. The Moyong Family had already drawn upon the Nakhyang Jin Family’s intelligence network for matters concerning Pyo Hyeong-geom.
He would have no desire to incur further debt.
As expected, Mo Yong-cheon turned away, his interest clearly exhausted.
“Should anything come to mind during your stay, seek me out. That applies to all of you as well.”
“We shall remember your words.”
With nothing more to say, Mo Yong-cheon and Moyong Hyeok hastily departed from the annex.
I watched silently as the two figures disappeared, a smile playing at my lips.
They had come with such certainty, yet left empty-handed—they must be thoroughly frustrated.
The moment that thought crossed my mind.
Agony flooded through my entire body.
“Ugh!”
“Young Master!”
With Chaeseoha’s cry, everything fell into darkness.

* * *

“Have you discovered something, Father?”
Mo Yong-cheon, making his way out of the inn, furrowed his brow at the sound of his son’s voice beside him, shaking his head.
Whoever looked at Jin Cheon-u would certainly find him suspicious, yet oddly, nothing incriminating surfaced.
Had he truly suffered at Yeom Ji-hak’s hands, such damage would have been written across his complexion and eyes.
No matter how hard one tried to appear unscathed, a Powerful Expert’s strike would leave unmistakable marks upon the body.
Yet Jin Cheon-u bore none of these signs.
His eyes gleamed with vitality, and his complexion remained ruddy with health.
He appeared utterly untouched by injury or suffering.
“If all of this is truth, there is no problem.”
Mo Yong-cheon muttered, his brow twisting with doubt.
In that moment, he felt his son’s gaze turn toward him.
“And if it is falsehood, Father?”
“Then he becomes someone who must be killed before all others.”
Mo Yong-cheon murmured, his thoughts returning to Jin Cheon-u.
Throughout everything that had transpired, he harbored suspicions that Jin Cheon-u might be orchestrating it all. Yet the evidence mounting before his eyes pointed elsewhere, away from Jin Cheon-u.
But what if all of this were a game board constructed by Jin Cheon-u himself?
Nothing could be more threatening than that.
He halted mid-stride, turning his gaze back toward the inn.
Presently, he recalled the image of that young man in his mind and spoke.
“I pray it is not so.”
His voice carried across Hapbi.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————