The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 126

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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 126

Ho Yeon-jin.

Merely by virtue of being the current head of the Taoist Priests, he enjoyed favorable regard throughout society, yet in truth, he was one who had submitted to the Singyeo and belonged to the Twelve Angles.
Though not quite at the rank of Gak-ju, his position was sufficiently elevated that he could move others as his hands and feet.
Since he had stood beside Yeom Ji-hak at the final moment, the likelihood of his belonging to the Snake Horn was high.
Such a man now stood before me.
He regarded me with benevolent eyes and addressed me in a gentle tone.
“Who could have known the subject of such rumors would be this handsome? Hahaha.”
“You flatter me. Surely Moyong Sohyeop is far more impressive than I.”
At my words, laughter erupted from various quarters.
It was merely a remark meant to lighten the atmosphere, so the reaction was natural. Yet Moyong Hyeok, the very subject of my praise, seemed displeased, snorting dismissively and turning his head away.
It appeared that no matter how kind my words, when they came from my lips, they sounded like insults.
The others who had been laughing, noticing Moyong Hyeok’s reaction, wore awkward expressions and subtly shifted to create a wall between him and me.
This strange current was not lost only on those beside Moyong Hyeok.
Eon Garyeo, standing beside Paeng Dohan, also stiffened his expression with an awkward smile.
Only the oblivious Paeng Dohan seemed unaware of the situation.
In such moments, it was best to use such a man to shift the atmosphere.
“By the way, Paeng Sohyeop, what brings you to this place? And with the esteemed members of the Alliance’s leadership, no less.”
“Ah—we are currently heading to the Allied Faction. The previous head of our sect ascended to immortality, and Elder Gam Cheong-u has assumed the position of sect leader.”
“That is indeed welcome news. Elder Gam is renowned for his righteous spirit.”
“Haha, is he known even in the Merchant District?”
“Not in great detail, but to some extent. It is not a position one can ignore, no matter how one tries.”
Even without the title of Young Master So, those who led the enterprises of the Nakhyang Jin Family could not afford to remain ignorant.
A single small matter in the Martial Arts World could often turn losses into profits or vice versa.
Thinking thus, I smiled slightly and naturally turned my gaze toward Ho Yeon-jin, following the attention I felt upon me.
“But where is our Young Master So headed? It appears you are conducting an escort service of some kind?”
“Indeed. It is an important escort, so I am undertaking it personally.”
“Haha, for the Young Master to go in person, it must be quite a significant matter. How about this—if our paths align, shall we travel together at least partway?”
At Ho Yeon-jin’s proposal, all present on both sides brightened, their eyes gleaming.
For the Martial Arts Alliance side, it was the thought of an opportunity to forge a connection with me, while for our side, receiving aid from the Changryongdan would bring various conveniences.
However, the expressions of Namgung Baek and Namgung Yeon were unfavorable, and though Chaeseoha’s face was obscured by a veil, she too seemed reluctant.
From my perspective, either way made no difference.
If we traveled together, I would have the opportunity to discern what Ho Yeon-jin was truly thinking.
But that would likely be equally true for him.
There was no need to cross such a dangerous bridge.
“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline. Since the cargo is precious, our pace will be considerably slow, and it would be tedious for you. It would be better for you to proceed first.”
“Hahaha, is that so? What a pity. Well, we have far to go, so we shall depart first. Perhaps we shall meet again if fortune allows.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Had I dismissed Jang Munin’s proposal far too readily?
A flicker of intrigue crossed the eyes of those from Changryongdan and the others.
Ordinarily, acceptance would have been the expected response in such circumstances.
Of course, such conventions held sway only among martial artists themselves—for someone like me, a figure of the merchant class and distant from the martial world, they carried no weight whatsoever.
Thus, Ho Yeon-jin’s expression revealed nothing.
Though he had clearly intended to accompany us to gather intelligence or conduct surveillance, not the slightest hint of disappointment showed when such efforts failed.
This pointed to a single conclusion.
This man already knows where we’re headed.
Since we’ll meet at the Allied Faction, he sees no need to press the matter now.
By then, refusal would prove far more difficult, and he could assess the situation in a far more relaxed atmosphere than the present.
I watched silently as Ho Yeon-jin led his people away.
A soft chuckle escaped my lips.
I found myself laughing without quite meaning to.
As I stood watching those figures disappear one by one.
The voice of Paeng Dohan, who had lingered hesitantly, reached my ears.
“My apologies, Young Master! I promised you a drink next time we met, but circumstances being what they are, it seems I’ll break that promise again.”
“There’s no need to worry. We’ll meet again soon enough, and I’ll make sure to collect then. Generously, at that.”
“Ha ha ha! Now that’s a fine thing to say! Understood! If my purse runs short, I’ll empty Ga-ryeo’s pockets to treat you.”
“Thank you.”
“Then I’ll be off!”
Paeng Dohan waved his hand with a broad smile, then unfurled his lightness technique to chase after his companions, who had already vanished into the distance, until he too became nothing but a distant speck.
As I observed his departure, Chaeseoha’s voice reached me.
“They seem like… quite extraordinary people.”
“They are the talents the Martial Arts Alliance leads and will continue to lead. Each one is undoubtedly remarkable.”
“Then why did you refuse such a person’s proposal?”
“Whatever the case, traveling at ease is paramount. When people mix, complications inevitably arise.”
At my words, Chaeseoha glanced subtly at Namgung Baek and Namgung Yeon.
Her gaze toward Moyong Hyeok, now vanished from sight, was far from favorable.
Particularly in Namgung Yeon’s eyes, an invisible flame seemed to flare.
“And besides… we cannot train if we travel together.”
“Ah, you mean Lady Namgung?”
“You catch on quickly.”
“What do you take me for…?”
Though discontent tinged her voice, I let it pass through one ear and approached Yang Jachun.
Even in such circumstances, the way he remained vigilant and never relaxed his guard spoke volumes about why he was counted among the renowned escort masters.
“Yang Jachun, it seems we should maintain some distance from the Martial Arts Alliance. If we continue to entangle ourselves with them, matters will grow troublesome.”
“Ah, so you think the same, Young Master So? I share that sentiment. Shall we take a different route?”
“Is there a suitable path?”
“It will take another two days, but it seems preferable to becoming entangled with bothersome individuals.”
I nodded at Yang Jachun’s words.
If I continued moving along this path, the chances of encountering them repeatedly were undeniably high.
Eventually, we would naturally realize our destinations were the same, and at that point, I would have no grounds to refuse.
Continuously declining while remaining wary of the Righteous Faction’s Myeong-suk seemed more than sufficient to offend them.
Therefore, it would have been wiser to maintain distance from the start or find an alternative route.
“But Young Master, might there be some matter between you and Moyong Sohyeop?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Well, the way you look at the Young Master is… how should I put it…”
“Jealousy? Inferiority complex? Something like that?”
“Exactly that… It seems excessive to attribute it merely to the matter of Sadocheon’s Junior Heavenly Lord.”
Yang Jachun’s judgment was not mistaken.
Though I was making considerable effort to conceal it, anyone with even a modicum of perception could not fail to notice.
I was still young, in the later stages of youth, unable to properly compose my emotions.
Yang Jachun had seen through it.
Laughter escaped me unbidden.
“It’s not so much because of Cheon-yul, but rather… it seems to stem from what happened in Anhui.”
“No, sir. Rather, it’s likely because of the rumors that you defeated the Junior Heavenly Lord.”
At that moment, Namgung Baek, who had been listening quietly, interjected.
Having been entangled with Moyong Hyeok more than anyone, he possessed the confidence to discern matters concerning Moyong Hyeok through mere glances and expressions.
“Moyong Hyeok has always harbored inferiority toward Cheon-yul, who is regarded as superior to him. Yet you, Young Master, accomplished what he could not…”
I could understand the rest without hearing it spoken aloud.
What he had desperately ground his teeth to pursue and catch up with, yet found impossible—I had accomplished it effortlessly, I whom he had believed to be far beneath him.
For one with such pride, inferiority was inevitable.
Moreover, with such skill demonstrated, it was only natural for him to conclude that I had been stronger than him even during the Black Crow Association incident.
How humiliating and infuriating it must be, to realize he had been looked down upon while pretending to show respect on the surface?
It would not have been strange for his teeth to grind away entirely.
Unaware that such resentment hastened his own demise.
“Perhaps I should crush him once more soon?”
At my words, spoken with a faint smile, Namgung Baek flinched.
He understood the meaning well enough.
The pallor that drained his face revealed his fear of how catastrophically the Moyong Family would explode should such an incident occur again.
But what did such things matter?
An ill-mannered cur always needed the hawk’s discipline.

* * *

“Tsk—! Did you see that, all of you? Just like with the Black Crow Society, there’s not a shred of killing intent. What level is he even at?”
“Indeed. If the Solar Plexus is concealed to that degree, then he’s already… at the Peak?”
“Isn’t that common knowledge by now? Cheon Yul himself is a Powerful Expert who reached the Peak. And this man defeated him… Sigh, I can’t even begin to imagine.”
The Changryongdan members advancing with their lightness technique couldn’t hide their astonishment as they recalled Jin Cheon-u, whom they had just witnessed.
They had heard through rumors that he had reached the Peak, but standing before him, they felt not the slightest trace of killing intent.
What this meant was that Jin Cheon-u’s strength had reached a level that overwhelmed the Changryongdan.
Considering that most Changryongdan members were of similar age to Jin Cheon-u, it meant his talent and level had reached truly insane proportions.
“Hahaha! He’s my friend, you lot! A friend who might very well become the greatest under heaven!”
“Ha, I’m not sure if that’s true, but he’s certainly someone who could aim for the rank of Emperor.”
“Yes, if he continues to grow at this rate, he might reach the rank of Emperor within the next decade? Isn’t this the first time in martial arts history?”
“My goodness, are you serious? Emperor? I’d say he’s worthy of aiming for the rank of Heaven itself. Wouldn’t you agree, Paeng Sohyeop?”
“Ga-ryeo speaks the truth! He’s that remarkable a friend, hahahaha!”
There was one thing that reached Moyong Hyeok’s ears as he walked ahead, whether he wished to hear it or not.
None other than a torrent of praise directed at Jin Cheon-u.
When they first saw him during the Black Crow Society incident, those same people had envied him, thinking he was merely a wealthy young master blessed by fortune in his parents. But in an instant, their words had changed.
The victory over Cheon Yul had weighed so heavily in his favor.
Moyong Hyeok clenched his fists.
Before the incident at Pyo Hyeong-geom, such praise had existed solely for Moyong Hyeok.
The finest rising talent of the Righteous Faction, and the son of the Sword Emperor.
And who was Muyong Jungcheon, the Black Emperor?
The youngest among the ten who bore the title of Emperor, and he was already considered extraordinary for that alone.
Gossips believed without doubt that he would one day ascend to the rank of Sword Heaven.
The Young Master of the Number One Sword Sect, the Moyong Family.
The son of Muyong Jungcheon, the Black Emperor.
Among countless rising talents of the Righteous Path, the most outstanding existence.
Yet all of that position had shattered to pieces because of the incident at Pyo Hyeong-geom.
And Jin Cheon-u had wedged himself into that vacancy and surpassed him entirely.
Crunch—!
His teeth ground together, and resentment surged within him.
All he could think of was killing that bastard on the spot.
“Compose yourself.”
“…!”
At the sudden voice, he turned his gaze.
The one who had drawn near was none other than Ho Yeon-jin.
Those eyes, fixed upon him with such intensity, seemed to pierce through everything, so he could not bear to meet that gaze and had to lower his head.
“A magnificent emotion. It is that very feeling that has forged the Moyong Family into what it is today. But such things must not be displayed carelessly. Do you understand?”
“I… understand.”
Ho Yeon-jin listened to Moyong Hyeok’s trembling voice and inwardly scoffed.
Whether he was the Young Master of the Number One Sword Sect or the son of the Sword Emperor—such titles meant little to Ho Yeon-jin.
Then his voice spoke once more.
“You’ve been training recently with the Sword Emperor? You’re learning his techniques?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Haha, I see. So the Sword Emperor has finally made his decision. Learn it well. That technique is precisely what elevated your talentless father to the throne of the Sword Emperor.”
“…I will keep that in mind.”
The response came somewhat deflated, but Ho Yeon-jin paid it no heed. He merely smiled once more at Moyong Hyeok before surging forward in a burst of speed, widening the distance between them.
Left alone, Moyong Hyeok watched Ho Yeon-jin’s retreating figure, his eyes igniting with fierce determination.

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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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