The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 110

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Youngest Son of the Nakhyang Jin Family — Chapter 110

The carriage came to a halt in a secluded area.
The space was wide enough that one could camp without raising suspicion, making it an ideal location to witness a duel between two people.
We descended from the carriage and settled into position.
I leaned my back against the largest tree trunk nearby and sat down, whereupon Chaeseoha took a seat beside me, while Namgung Yeon stood behind us in a protective stance.
Baek Ja-hyeon and Chu Hyeongi, however, were different.
They stood several paces apart in the wide open space, facing each other.
“Young Master! Are you really going through with this?”
“You want to show me your skills, don’t you? Display them freely.”
“Someone’s going to get hurt!”
As Chu Hyeongi cried out with a worried expression, it was Baek Ja-hyeon who looked bewildered.
Who was going to get hurt?
Himself, or Chu Hyeongi?
He seemed to be pondering exactly that.
“You fool! How long have I wielded a sword? I won’t be injured by the likes of you!”
“Ugh, how frustrating! No, it’s not about how long you’ve been doing this—it’s about who your master is. Do you not know who my master is?”
“This insolent brat.”
“Ah, don’t curse at me!”
In response to Chu Hyeongi’s consideration, Baek Ja-hyeon ground his teeth and drew his sword.
An ominous aura began to radiate from him.
Even Chu Hyeongi, who had been bickering moments before, couldn’t help but tense up, his pallid complexion from earlier gradually returning to normal.
Soon after, he casually scratched his ear.
“Phew— Are you really going to do this?”
“Maybe you need a beating to come to your senses!”
“No, it’s funny that you’re telling me to be intimidated by an aura inferior to my master’s glare!”
Ha—
I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at those words.
It was true enough, but he’d said it far too bluntly.
As expected, Baek Ja-hyeon’s face flushed crimson. He possessed the pride of being the Nakhyang Jin Family’s strongest warrior, and he’d been eating and breathing the sword since childhood.
Even as a disciple of Gu Gunbaek, he was not someone to be disrespected by Chu Hyeongi.
“Who do you think will win?”
At that moment, Namgung Yeon’s voice came cautiously.
I didn’t bother turning my head.
I took the dried meat Chaeseoha offered me and smiled faintly.
“What’s your assessment?”
“The difference in experience and skill level seems far too great, no matter how I look at it.”
Naturally, the gap in experience and years of training between Baek Ja-hyeon and Chu Hyeongi would be extreme.
In ordinary circumstances, Chu Hyeongi would have no chance of winning, just as Namgung Yeon suggested.
However, the martial arts of Gu Gunbaek that I had experienced firsthand surpassed the ordinary.
Moreover, what Chu Hyeongi was cultivating was the new martial technique that had once forced the Sword Emperor to his knees.
With the passage of years, it had been refined and honed even further, so even Baek Ja-hyeon would find it far from easy.
“Here I come!”
With a thunderous shout, Chu Hyeongi moved.
First and foremost, he kicked at the ground beneath his feet.
Boom—!
The earth erupted with a tremendous sound, fragments scattering and flying like weapons, obscuring Baek Ja-hyeon’s vision as they rained down upon him.
Clang clang clang clang—!
Baek Ja-hyeon, startled, retreated while moving his blade.
He deflected the incoming fragments while rapidly scanning his surroundings.
He seemed to be searching for where Chu Hyeongi would come from.
Yet he could not see him.
For Chu Hyeongi had already moved the instant he kicked the ground.
“…!”
“Hyah!”
Chu Hyeongi suddenly appeared, his fist clenched. With movements as savage as a beast came an overwhelming tempest of raw power.
Even Baek Ja-hyeon could not fail to recognize how threatening it was.
He twisted his body abruptly to evade.
Boom—!
The unleashed force shattered the ground, rippling outward.
The moment Baek Ja-hyeon felt the earth beneath him trembling and launched himself into the air, the ground where he had stood exploded with a deafening crack.
“What kind of martial technique is this—!?”
Watching him cry out in astonishment, I could not help but smile.
When I first experienced it, I felt exactly the same way.
It was martial technique that defied the very definition—pure, relentless offense.
Yet there was no doubt that the essence of the Demon King resided in every single move.
It resembled the martial arts of Namman, yet it was not the martial arts of Namman.
One had to possess the ability to unleash overwhelming force while controlling one’s inner energy precisely, and a body capable of withstanding and surviving the release of power that seemed as though it should burst apart.
Combined with the keen insight to see through one’s opponent and the agility to execute the movements of a predator.
Without these qualities, one could not master this technique.
Therefore, it possessed both blinding speed and overwhelming destructive power.
Every move was lethal.
Boom—!
“Ugh—!?”
Baek Ja-hyeon’s body flew backward.
Feeling himself pushed back, he barely managed to regain his balance, but such a brief opening would not be left unused.
Crash—!
The moment the distance widened, Chu Hyeongi snatched up a stone and hurled it.
With a terrifying whistling sound that pierced the ears, it flew with the speed of an arrow, aimed directly at Baek Ja-hyeon.
Clang!
I hastily swung my blade to block the incoming strike.
Fortunately, I managed to deflect it, but the brute force still drove me back several steps, and though the blade didn’t break, the impact was so fierce that it trembled in my grip, sending sharp pain through my wrist.
“Such crude strength!”
Baek Ja-hyeon growled harshly, his brow furrowing.
I had witnessed countless martial techniques, but never one so overwhelmingly powerful. Because of this, formulating a countermeasure proved remarkably difficult.
Yet, he was also a seasoned swordsman.
An attack seen once would not succeed twice.
Clash!
“What?!”
I read Jang Chuchyeong’s intention to use the same technique and moved first, sweeping my blade forward.
Jang Chuchyeong gasped in alarm as the incoming blade sliced through his collar, retreating a step, but as if anticipated, my sword thrust forward again.
Clash!
It grazed his cheek.
Since I harbored no intention to kill, it merely grazed his cheek—otherwise, that strike would have found his throat.
At last, the situation began to grow more balanced.
Or rather, had Baek Ja-hyeon regained his composure?
Clang-clang-clang!
As he swung his blade, he gradually began to find his rhythm.
Jang Chuchyeong, who had been launching relentless attacks in succession, now clearly displayed his lack of experience, and Baek Ja-hyeon, who could not fail to notice this, continued to press his advantage.
Thud—clash! Bang-crash! Boom!
Every conceivable sound echoed in the brief span of time.
Baek Ja-hyeon was undoubtedly dominating, yet like a beast with its fangs locked upon its prey’s throat, Jang Chuchyeong refused to yield.
I observed this intently, my eyes darting between them.
Namgung Yeon’s gaze never left the two combatants.
As if there were something to be learned from every moment, he seemed intent on absorbing everything into his eyes and mind.
It was as I confirmed this that I smiled faintly.
A deep resonance erupted!
The momentum of both fighters exploded outward in a surge of power.
Baek Ja-hyeon’s resolve not to lose to some mere novice, and Jang Chuchyeong’s unwavering determination as he thought of me and Gu Gunbaek—their auras clashed.
Then, just before they collided.
I moved.
“…!”
“Huh?!”
Yet the collision never occurred.
Using my sword guard, I pulled Baek Ja-hyeon’s blade and twisted it aside, while simultaneously extending my left hand to grasp Jang Chuchyeong’s arm, swapping their positions as I channeled my spiritual energy through them both.
Boom!
The released energy erupted, the sound ringing in our ears.
Judging by the tremor that shook the ground, I had poured considerable force into that release.
“That’s enough. Let’s stop here.”
At my casual remark, Chu Hyeongi smacked his lips in frustration, while I noticed Baek Ja-hyeon and Namgung Yeon trembling as they stared at me.
The way I had instantly dispersed the colliding spiritual energy without suffering any impact was something that could not be seen anywhere else.
Those who had trained in martial arts would certainly understand how difficult such a feat truly was.
“… You….”
“Uncle won the match. If we had collided directly, Chu Hyeongi would have been sent flying.”
“Huh? Really? But I thought I won?”
“That’s a delusion. You’re still far from being able to defeat your uncle.”
“Tch… But I fought well, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did well. You’ve improved considerably.”
“Hehehehe.”
At my light praise, the boy’s expression brightened as he broke into a pleased grin.
Seeing him like that—reminiscent of my own master—I found myself shaking my head with a wry smile.
Just then, Baek Ja-hyeon’s voice came with a somewhat awkward cough.
“Ahem-! You, are you really unharmed?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, just now….”
“I simply let it pass through. It had no effect on me.”
“…I see. You just… let it pass through?”
As I nodded in confirmation, Baek Ja-hyeon offered an awkward smile. He then wiped away the cold sweat trickling down his face, and I could see his eyes trembling faintly as he regarded me.
He had clearly received quite a shock.
I acknowledged this with a subtle smile playing at my lips.
“We’ve warmed up sufficiently. Let’s have a meal and then depart.”
At my words, Baek Ja-hyeon carefully nodded his agreement.

* * *

“Haha, quite the catch.”
Hyang Un-sin, the Family Head leading the Hyangun Se Family, gazed at the captured Jin Ji-yak and smiled broadly.
Though many had slipped through their grasp, considering this ambush was orchestrated specifically to seize Jin Ji-yak, the objective had been achieved.
With this, I had secured an opportunity to negotiate with the Nakhyang Jin Family.
Of course, assuming they didn’t draw their blades in a fit of rage.
But even that concern felt distant.
Hyang Un-sin glanced subtly to one side.
Twenty figures gathered closely together.
The Jinpung Sword Sect, the pride of Sadocheon.
In terms of the Martial Arts Alliance, they were equivalent to the Changryongdan.
Though they would eventually lead Sadocheon, there was one crucial distinction between them and the Changryongdan.
Only those who had been deployed on countless missions since childhood, fought for their lives, and survived could enter the Jinpung Sword Sect.
Thus, they were killers incomparable to the Changryongdan in terms of experience.
Indeed, the substantial sums paid to Sadocheon had proven worthwhile.
I had never expected them to dispatch the Jinpung Sword Sect.
While smiling at such thoughts, a man approached and spoke.
“Family Head, our work is now complete.”
“Haha, not quite. We must see the negotiations through, must we not?”
“That doesn’t seem to be our responsibility?”
“Simply remain at my side. Even the Nakhyang Jin Family cannot hold their heads high before Sadocheon.”
“….”
At those words, the man regarded the Family Head with an expressionless face.
In that instant, his body tensed.
Merely being stared at caused cold sweat to pour down and his breathing to quicken. It felt as though the man’s blade was already pressed against his neck.
Thus, the Family Head laughed awkwardly and stepped back slightly.
“Don’t be like that. When this matter concludes favorably, I shall reward Sadocheon generously.”
“Do not forget those words.”
“Of course not! Hahaha.”
As the man bowed and withdrew, he finally released a sigh of relief and turned his head.
In that moment, the Family Head’s expression twisted into something sinister.
‘These murderous beasts who know only how to kill… Tsk!’
Their skills were excellent, but that arrogant demeanor displeased me.
How much did the Hyangun Se Family pour into Sadocheon?
Did they not realize that most of what they ate and wore came from the Hyangun Se Family’s coffers?
Since they knew only how to wield blades, they seemed incapable of such considerations.
Clicking his tongue once more to compose himself, he turned his head. There, he saw his son’s somewhat anxious expression.
“Father, surely the Nakhyang Jin Family won’t involve the Martial Arts Alliance, will they?”
His son’s anxiety seemed rooted in the existence of the Martial Arts Alliance. If the Nakhyang Jin Family drew them in, a major battle would inevitably erupt here.
Perhaps this incident would even spark a great confrontation between the righteous and demonic paths.
“Absolutely not. The Nakhyang Jin Family will never incur a debt to the Martial Arts Alliance.”
Even knowing their opponent was the Nakhyang Jin Family, this choice became possible for one reason alone.
They could leverage Sadocheon, but the Nakhyang Jin Family would not.
They were the kind of people who refused to incur debts to Murim organizations, even if it meant conceding ground.
Hyang Un-sin was banking on precisely this point.
Since the enterprise proceeded under the Emperor’s command, it would inevitably fall to the Nakhyang Jin Family.
So why not negotiate with them and arrange for the Hyangun Se Family to undertake it instead?
By offering a modest profit margin, the Hyangun Se Family could reclaim the Imperial Court’s business ventures, while the Nakhyang Jin Family would simply sit idle and collect their share—a windfall for doing nothing.
Hyang Un-sin gazed at the fierce eyes of the bound Jin Ji-yak, and a figure came to mind.
“Why did you reject my proposal, Jin Family Head?”
In truth, the Hyangun Se Family bore considerable responsibility for reaching this point. As a clan destined for ruin the moment they lost access to Imperial Court contracts, Hyang Un-sin had already extended one negotiation proposal.
But it fell on deaf ears.
The Jin Family Head had dismissed it without a second glance, crushing it entirely.
And so this situation had come to pass.
“If even this fails….”
Then blood would flow.
The Hyangun Se Family, backed against the cliff, bared fangs sharper than ever, prepared to unleash a crimson rain upon the Nakhyang Jin Family with every resource at their command.

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