The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 105

—————
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 105

* * *

The morning of the next day.
I remained lying in the bedchamber, still unable to properly support my own body. Chaeseoha, who had not even returned to her own quarters and had been tending to me, had fallen asleep with her head buried against one side of the bed.
I gazed at her quietly before assessing my physical condition.
Certainly, compared to the first day, I had improved considerably.
While moving my body remained difficult, the pain I felt had diminished, which seemed like evidence that I was making progress.
Indeed, Chaeseoha’s skill was not to be underestimated.
I drank the medicinal broth she had prepared in advance and closed my eyes once more.
Nothing could accelerate physical recovery quite like sound sleep.
However, there was an interruption.
The door suddenly opened, and a familiar face entered.
“You’re awake?”
“I was thinking of going back to sleep.”
“Huh? Really? Then I’ll just send them away.”
“…Who has come to visit?”
“Yes, that Moyong Hyeok or whoever. He’s shown up.”
At those words, I let out a soft chuckle.
How long had it been since he arrived with the Sword Emperor, and now he returns?
It seemed he wanted to discover something.
In the end, I could not avoid meeting him.
I tapped Chaeseoha’s shoulder as she slept, waking her.
“Young Master?”
“A guest has arrived. I need you to prepare me.”
“…This cannot continue like this.”
“I must appear presentable.”
Realizing my resolve could not be broken, Chaeseoha released a short sigh and shook her head.
Soon after, she withdrew needles from her pouch, unfastened my upper garment, and began inserting them into the acupoints.
As time passed, I felt the dulled sensations returning, and my body recovered swiftly enough that I could move again.
I then rose from the bed and gazed into the mirror.
Confirming that the pupils reflected in the mirror had regained their clarity, I groomed my hair, changed into fresh clothes, and left the room.
I headed toward the Guest Hall within the Annex.
As I opened the door and stepped inside, I saw the faces of familiar people.
Namgung Baek and Namgung Yeon, standing with stern expressions, came into view first, and before them stood Moyong Hyeok, bearing a subtle smile.
He acknowledged my presence and offered a warm greeting.
“It has been a while, Young Master So. I came because I was troubled by not properly greeting you last time. I would like to believe no offense was taken… Is that correct? Haha.”
“Not at all, I am fine. In fact, I had intended to see Sohyeop before departing, so I am grateful you have come.”
I sat down in the seat across from Moyong Hyeok with a casual expression.
I noticed his face had stiffened slightly.
Unlike before, when he had spoken of Dae-hyeop and Geom Ryong with great praise, now that I referred to him as So-hyeop, he must be feeling a sense of distance mixed with displeasure from his perspective.
I deliberately fouled Moyong Hyeok’s mood a bit more.
“It seems you’ve recovered quite well. I visited you shortly after the Pyohyeong Sword incident, and you were wrapped in bandages from head to toe, which worried me greatly, but it appears my concerns were unfounded.”
“Ha, haha, I received some help from a skilled physician. Thanks to that, I’m quite vigorous now, so there’s no need to worry.”
Moyong Hyeok smiled with a somewhat awkward expression, but upon hearing that I had been worried, he seemed pleased and changed his expression as if it were nothing.
Then he gazed at me quietly.
“But I’m more concerned about Young Master So than myself.”
“You mean me?”
“I heard that ever since the Chohyeon Family incident, you haven’t left the inn even once. I was wondering if perhaps you were ill.”
“I’m not ill. I’m simply preparing to depart soon, and given the ominous atmosphere and poor security following the Chohyeon Family matter, I’m being cautious. I’m not nearly as strong as So-hyeop, after all.”
“Ah—is that so? The atmosphere outside is certainly ominous. I hadn’t thought that far ahead. Hahaha.”
My answer didn’t seem to satisfy him. Though he laughed, his eyes were filled with disappointment. It was clear he was making an effort to extract something, anything, from this conversation.
Just as he seemed about to persist with questions or say something more, I yawned as if bored, and Moyong Hyeok hastily changed the subject, turning his gaze toward Namgung Baek.
“By the way… is it true that you’re taking the Evaluator as an Imperial Guard?”
“As I said that day, the Imperial Guard is someone else. Namgoong So-hyeop is coming with me as a servant to where I stay.”
“Huh? You mean he’s not an Imperial Guard?”
“Yes, as you know, the Nakhyang Jin Family has warriors far stronger than Namgoong So-hyeop in abundance. If I were thinking of guards, I wouldn’t have chosen him.”
“Haha… hahahaha! That’s certainly true, but merely a servant? Hahaha.”
A scornful laugh burst forth, clearly tinged with mockery toward the other party.
He laughed with such hearty, booming laughter that it could be heard both inside and outside.
Because of this, Namgung Baek’s face, which I glanced at, flushed crimson.
Meanwhile, Namgung Yeon hardened his expression but remained composed.
Only his eyes burned fiercely.
I offered Moyong Hyeok a more amusing story.
“During the Pyohyeong Sword incident last time, Namgoong So-hyeop and I remained behind, didn’t we? Back then, his care for me was far superior to my current servant. So I made the proposal, and he accepted it yesterday.”
“Haha, is that so? He is quite good at handling chores. But is his younger brother going with you as well?”
Moyong Hyeok stared directly at Namgung Yeon.
Despite meeting her gaze head-on, which seemed somewhat displeased, he responded with mockery as if he found it amusing instead.
I opened my mouth as I observed this spectacle.
“Yes, well, that’s how it turned out. As you know, since he takes exceptional care of his younger brother, I couldn’t very well leave her behind, could I?”
“Haha, I see. I hope my unnecessary words aren’t burdening Young Master So. Haha, oh right! But where are the others? Security is poor, yet I don’t see any guards….”
Moyong Hyeok asked, glancing around.
It was natural to question this—he said he wasn’t leaving the inn due to poor security, yet he wasn’t even bringing guards in such circumstances.
However, it didn’t feel like a simple question.
It seemed he had already grasped how many people were staying in the Annex.
Apparently, his purpose was to confirm their faces.
I let out a small laugh.
“Moyong So-hyeop… are you perhaps sitting there thinking that whenever So-hyeop asks, I should answer everything…?”
“…!”
I watched Moyong Hyeok’s expression shift subtly.
I curled the corners of my mouth upward in a slight smile, held his gaze without wavering, and opened my mouth.
“So-hyeop and I share an equal relationship, not a hierarchical one. Even if it were the Sword Emperor sitting here instead of Moyong So-hyeop.”
“…!”
“Gasp!”
My single statement sent shockwaves through the room.
Moyong Hyeok shot to his feet and glared at me with piercing intensity, while Namgung Baek and Namgung Yeon standing beside him stared at me as though their eyes might burst from their sockets.
After all, I had dared to speak the Sword Emperor’s name aloud.
As expected, Moyong Hyeok trembled violently.
In any other circumstance, he would have unsheathed his blade without hesitation.
Yet Moyong Hyeok lacked the courage to do so.
Though the Moyong Family’s financial power was considerable, compared to the Nakhyang Jin Family it was merely a drop in the ocean, and their wealth, when traced to its source, inevitably connected to the Nakhyang Jin Family.
But did he possess pride?
Unable to draw his sword, yet unwilling to lose in this moment, Moyong Hyeok unleashed his aura to pressure me.
Sensing it, I narrowed my eyes.
Hum—!
In an instant.
I saw Moyong Hyeok’s body tremble as he faced me directly. In that same moment, I subtly shifted my gaze away.
His aura vanished at that very instant.
“I shall take my leave.”
“I will not see you out. Please, depart at your leisure.”
Though he had failed to achieve his purpose, his pride remained the issue.
Having mentioned the Sword Emperor’s name, he apparently could not bear to remain seated any longer. Moyong Hyeok rose abruptly and departed in a flash.
Outside, the sound of his angry footsteps echoed loudly.
“Is this truly wise? You may provoke the Sword Emperor’s displeasure.”
Then, Namgung Baek, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke with a trembling voice.
It was a name feared to that degree.
Yet I smiled as though it were of no consequence.
“What is there to fear from someone who eats dog dung?”
“Pardon?”
“What?”
I left the Guest Hall, observing the bewildered expressions of the two men who did not understand my meaning.
A clear sky welcomed me.

* * *

I slipped back to the Annex and glanced furtively out the window.
Moyong Hyeok, visibly furious, was disappearing down the road, his lips moving as though he were exchanging silent transmissions with someone.
Around the Inn, I could sense figures positioned to monitor me.
So he couldn’t be certain, yet suspicion lingered?
From Mo Yong-cheon’s perspective, it was entirely understandable.
Whether as the Pyohyeong Sword or now, incidents kept unfolding wherever I appeared—he couldn’t help but harbor doubts.
Yet he lacked conviction because no concrete evidence had surfaced, and more importantly, his pride wouldn’t permit him to believe that a mere merchant family’s bloodline could outwit him.
Had it been otherwise, it would have been Mo Yong-cheon himself who visited today, not Moyong Hyeok.
I opened my eyes slightly and extended my senses.
“Twelve?”
Twelve presences surrounded me.
They all appeared to be elite members of the Moyong Family, their concealment of their auras remarkably skilled.
Yet not skilled enough to deceive my perception.
The fact that they showed no concern about being discovered made it abundantly clear that Mo Yong-cheon viewed me as beneath his notice.
I let out a soft chuckle and closed the window.
As I slowly reclined on the bedchamber, pain began to surge through me from my toes to the crown of my head.
The drawback of this technique was that all the pain arrived at once.
It was the only means of appearing unharmed, so I employed it, but in this moment, the agony was nearly unbearable.
Cold sweat trickled down as I stifled a groan.
Clamping my jaw shut to avoid making any sound whatsoever, the door finally opened and Chaeseoha stepped inside.
“Drink this. It should ease the pain somewhat.”
She, having anticipated this moment, had already prepared a medicinal decoction.
I carefully swallowed the bitter brew, desperate for the pain to subside as quickly as possible.
After confirming the bowl was empty, she glanced at me with a hint of exasperation.
“What were you thinking, meeting with him and putting yourself through this?”
“If I hadn’t met him, suspicion would have deepened. With surveillance closing in from all sides, I had to do this much. How is the Elder?”
“She’s packing her things in her room. She said we’ll be leaving soon.”
“Good. I intend to stay home for a while.”
“That’s the only sensible choice. If you push yourself further in this condition, I can’t guarantee you’ll survive next time.”
Chaeseoha, her hand pressed to her forehead, spoke with exasperation and released a weary sigh.
Her firm tone made it clear that my injuries were severe enough to warrant genuine concern.
I offered a bitter smile.
“Don’t worry. I’ve endured wounds like these countless times before.”
“Have you? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Yes. Many times over.”
I recalled the past.
Chaeseoha was with me now, but she hadn’t been then.
There had been countless moments when my life hung by a thread, instances where my breath had stopped and then resumed—I remembered them all too well.
I had clawed my way through life with that ferocity.
I would not perish from mere wounds like these.
I found myself smiling without realizing it, gazing at her.
“So don’t worry. Besides, there’s somewhere I need to go.”
“Again? Have you lost your mind?”
I offered a bitter smile at her alarmed gaze. Would I be pleased about this situation, where I must move without even a moment to catch my breath?
Yet I cannot afford to remain idle.

“That thing is still in Namman, you know? Hahahaha—”

Before it fell into their hands, I had to retrieve it at all costs.

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