The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 114

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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 114

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The Death Emperor.
Cheon Gong-hak was famous enough to earn such a title.
From the moment of his birth, he had been raised as nothing more than a puppet for slaughter, and wherever his footsteps fell, corpses littered the ground.
In his younger years, whenever a prominent figure of the Righteous Martial Arts World fell, Cheon Gong-hak was the first suspect—what more need be said?
The epithet “Death Emperor” had not been bestowed without reason.
He was undoubtedly treading a different path than Gu Gunbaek.
Watching him radiate that thick aura of death in all directions, memories came flooding back—the moment I plummeted from the Thousand-Zhang Cliff, my life ending.
A long breath escaped me.
But only for a moment; I swallowed hard and steadied my mind.
Then I fixed my gaze directly upon Cheon Gong-hak.
“Heavenly Lord! What brings you to this place?”
“Tsk tsk, what brings me? I heard an interesting child had arrived, so I came to have a look.”
Cheon Gong-hak regarded me with an expression and eyes full of nothing but curiosity, as though he had no other purpose.
I could not say when he had arrived, but it was certain he had heard most of the conversation.
Cheon Gong-hak was more dangerous than the Sword Emperor.
The Sword Emperor possessed at least some discernment, but Cheon Gong-hak was one whose hands moved faster than his thoughts.
The expression visible on his face and the light in his eyes.
One must not be deceived by such things.
I offered a light bow and spoke carefully.
“I am Jin Cheon-u of the Nakhyang Jin Family. It is an honor to meet the Heavenly Lord of Sadocheon.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, spare me. I can see it written in your eyes—’Why is this damned old man here?'”
Cheon Gong-hak waved his hand dismissively and took a seat across from me.
With that, Ryu Hyeok-sang, who had been the original occupant of that place, had no choice but to remain standing.
I carefully sat down across from him, controlling my breathing.
“I had not planned to meet the Heavenly Lord…”
“I move quickly in such matters. That one thinks too much—it’s his weakness. Tsk tsk.”
His glance toward Ryu Hyeok-sang was peculiar.
At the same time, Ryu Hyeok-sang lowered his head as if apologizing, and I could see cold sweat dripping down his face.
He too seemed to find Cheon Gong-hak quite difficult.
Though I could hardly claim otherwise.
“So, what business brought you here?”
“The matter concerns the relationship between the Hyangun Se Family and Sadocheon.”
“Ah—yes, that’s right. The Hyangun Se Family… the Hyangun Se Family…”
“Heavenly Lord, they are a merchant guild that donates to us every year.”
At those words, Cheon Gong-hak’s brow furrowed slightly.
There were countless donors, and Cheon Gong-hak was not the sort to remember each one individually.
To him, they were no different from livestock.
After pondering for a while, finding nothing in particular came to mind, so Cheon Gong-hak smiled casually.
“Since my memory fails me, it seems they were not worth my attention.”
“Heavenly Lord… they are—”
“However, the name of the Nakhyang Jin Family is etched clearly in my mind. Thanks to Young Master So today, I have come to understand that place far better. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
“Thank you.”
It was Ryu Hyeok-sang who was taken aback by Cheon Gong-hak’s words.
The Hyangun Se Family made quite generous donations, yet he showed no concern for that whatsoever, and despite having made threats against Sadocheon, he was dismissing even that without hesitation.
“Then, what is it that Young Master So wishes of us?”
“I ask that the Hyangun Se Family refrain from lending their strength.”
“Hmm, hmm— I see. You mean to say that without us, you could dispose of them whenever you please.”
I neither affirmed nor denied his words.
But that silence was answer enough.
I saw Cheon Gong-hak’s eyes fixed upon me.
Once again, I met his gaze directly.
How long had it been? The time seemed to stretch endlessly, as if merely holding his stare was an eternity.
“Tsk, tsk, the young man possesses admirable resolve. In nearly a decade, this is the first time someone has looked me in the eye and kept their head attached to their shoulders.”
Did that mean he was pleased?
Or was something about me rubbing him the wrong way?
Regardless of which it was, I did not avert my gaze.
The moment one’s spirit falters, interest wanes.
Just as with Gu Gunbaek, such masters desired to witness the sight of a rabbit before a tiger, gritting its teeth and charging forward for survival.
Pleased by this, Cheon Gong-hak laughed once more.
But there was no mistaking his severity.
“However, let me ask you this. We are Sadocheon. Do you not know what Sadocheon is?”
“I do.”
“If a martial organization must abandon something, should there not be adequate compensation for doing so?”
“The Imperial Court’s affairs that the Hyangun Se Family desired— I will share those with Sadocheon.”
At those words, Ryu Hyeok-sang’s eyes widened in surprise.
He grasped the significance of my use of the word “share” rather than simply “give a portion of the profits.”
It meant I intended to manage the Imperial Court’s enterprises jointly with Sadocheon.
Substantial profits would undoubtedly flow in.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, that is naturally expected. What this old man means is, do we not require sufficient justification to turn our backs on the Hyangun Se Family, whom we have been assisting?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I wish to see whether you possess the strength to break Sadocheon’s will.”
“…!”
At Cheon Gong-hak’s words, I frowned, and Ryu Hyeok-sang’s face filled with bewilderment.
Was it not absurd for him to ask a merchant to display martial prowess?
Yet the one before me was Cheon Gong-hak.
The master of Sadocheon and one of the Ten Emperors.
He must have already discerned my level of strength long ago.
He turned his gaze toward Ryu Hyeok-sang.
“Go fetch Cheon Yul for me.”
“…Do you mean the Junior Heavenly Lord?”
“Do I strike you as someone who repeats himself?”
In that instant, Ryu Hyeok-sang’s expression hardened, and he hurried out of the room.
Cheon Gong-hak, who had been quietly observing this exchange, finally displayed a satisfied expression and gleam in his eyes as he turned his gaze back toward me.
“Have you perhaps heard the name Cheon Yul before?”
How could I not know it?
Within the next decade, he would become the new Heavenly Lord of Sadocheon.
He possessed such ruthless tendencies that he would inherit the Death Emperor’s very epithet, and his exceptional talent for uniting people meant he would bind Sadocheon together far more solidly than it was now.
He possessed talents that made Moyong Hyeok seem incomparable.
“That fellow’s arrogance has grown considerably of late… and I suspect someone like you might just be capable of trampling that pride of his…?”
Cheon Gong-hak regarded me with an enigmatic smile and laughed.
This old man.
He had not merely grasped me at a superficial level.
That alone made it abundantly clear he held superiority over the Sword Emperor.
In my assessment, the Sword Emperor’s standing diminished once more.

* * *

“What in the world….”
I glanced around with a bewildered expression.
The Sadocheon Martial Arts Arena.
This wasn’t merely a place for sparring—it was a venue reserved for the Martial Arts Tournament.
Spectator stands ringed the entire arena, testament to that fact.
The numerous stands were packed with all manner of individuals who appeared to be members of Sadocheon.
Every last one of them fixed their gaze upon me.
Some wore sneering smiles, others placed wagers, and still more hurled jeers and mockery in my direction.
What on earth was happening here?
“Haha, my apologies. It seems the Heavenly Lord wishes to humble you.”
At the sudden voice, I turned my gaze forward.
Standing alone with me upon the arena floor was a single figure.
None other than Cheon Yul, the Junior Heavenly Lord of Sadocheon.
His expression was composed, his eyes serene.
His calm tone brimmed with effortless confidence.
It was abundantly clear that he looked down upon me, and his eyes betrayed a faint bewilderment—as if questioning why he should even deign to spar with a mere merchant guild member.
I clicked my tongue and lifted my head.
Seated at the highest point of the arena was a solitary figure.
Still wearing that enigmatic smile as he gazed down at me.
“So this is meant to be a complete humiliation.”
“Haha, I do apologize. But it shall be over in a moment, so there is no need for concern.”
I grasped my throbbing head and exhaled deeply.
This situation wasn’t designed merely to torment me.
Having gauged my abilities, there was no way they could be ignorant of the fact that Cheon Yul could not defeat me.
Then was this situation, as Cheon Gong-hak had suggested earlier, orchestrated to humble Cheon Yul’s arrogance? The question lingered.
But I shook my head.
No matter how towering his pride, my opponent was unmistakably the Junior Heavenly Lord destined to inherit Sadocheon.
What purpose would there be in humiliating such a person in this manner?
“Then, in accordance with martial etiquette, I shall yield you the first three moves.”
At those words, I clicked my tongue and studied Cheon Yul carefully.
His aura was indeed formidable.
Incomparably so compared to Moyong Hyeok.
Should Namgung Yeon continue to grow and gain experience, he would become a far worthier rival than Moyong Hyeok.
I noted that he had yet to draw his blade and asked:
“You’re not drawing it?”
“Should I draw it, you would be rendered helpless. Surely you should at least attempt to wield your sword once?”
At his prideful words, I nodded and assessed my physical condition.
Thanks to Chaeseoha’s painkillers, I felt no discomfort.
My internal injuries had been largely managed, and though not fully healed, I appeared capable of moderately intense exertion.
Above all, I felt it acceptable to demonstrate a reasonable portion of my true abilities against Cheon Yul.
In any case, he’s a member of the Unorthodox factions.
Sling—
I slowly drew my sword.
Then it’s time to loosen up after all this time.
“What a magnificent blade—?!”
Cheon-yul, who had been unable to contain his admiration upon seeing the sword being drawn, suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his pupils trembling.
Somehow, the blade was already at his throat.
“I have won.”
In that single moment, the arena fell into a silence so complete it seemed even mice had died.
The mouths of those who had been hurling jeers and shouting Cheon-yul’s name while mocking me snapped shut.
Only Cheon Gong-hak, observing from the highest vantage point, chuckled softly and shook his head.
I exhaled a sigh and quietly sheathed my sword.
“Shall we go again?”
“…I was so captivated by the sight of my own blade that I carelessly let you slip past. Forgive me, but I ask for one more match.”
I hadn’t expected him to yield after just one exchange.
Proud fellows like this typically behave that way.
Moryeong Hyeok was the same.
I nodded and once again created distance between myself and Cheon-yul.
Gulp—
I could see Cheon-yul swallowing hard.
Then, he quietly drew his saber and calmly steadied his gaze.
He seemed to have accepted that the current situation was not entirely in his favor.
“This time, I will not be careless!”
Whoosh—!
The saber was swung with tremendous force.
Accompanied by an enormous sound, intense saber energy poured forth.
I evaded it while furrowing my brow.
“You still have two moves remaining, do you not?”
“Ugh?!”
I had said I would allow three moves, so two still remained.
Yet judging by how he swung his saber faster than anyone else, Cheon-yul too seemed to be realizing he could not easily claim victory.
Feeling this, I swung my sword.
Clang—!
Sword and saber clashed, but neither gave ground.
He was weak.
Though his saber technique certainly surpassed Paeng Dohan’s, it was not of a caliber to push me back.
Instead, he staggered backward half a step, his form wavering.
He looked at me with an expression of shock, then gritted his teeth once more.
In that instant, he closed the distance and pressed forward.
Slash-slash-slash-slash—!
My sword extends with elegance, beautiful as moonlight on a full night. Soft, somehow conveying a sense of warmth and comfort.
Yet reality is far different.
Cheon Yul, slashed in six places in an instant, gasped out in pain, his entire body drenched in blood.
Gasp—!
Without missing the opening, I extended my leg and swept a kick toward his abdomen.
“Ugh?!”
With a sound as though his entrails might burst forth, Cheon Yul collapsed to his knees.
Trembling—
As I watched him shaking and pointed my sword at him, it became unmistakably clear to all who witnessed it that victory and defeat had been decided.
Once again, a profound silence settled over the arena.
I gazed upon Cheon Yul and opened my mouth once more.
“Will you continue?”

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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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