The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 133

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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 Jin Family of Luoyang – Chapter 194

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“Refreshing.”
The moment the carriage, led by the coachman, entered Luoyang, I felt as though the very air had transformed.
The air of my homeland after so long away.
Drawing it in deeply and exhaling, I finally felt the weight of the long journey lift from my shoulders.
Turning my gaze to survey our surroundings, even those who had been slumping their shoulders in exhaustion now brightened their eyes and stirred with excitement.
It had been such an arduous journey.
Of course, not as grueling as the outbound trip, but spending entire days confined within the carriage, counting down the days until arrival, was considerably taxing.
Moreover, the circumstances themselves were deeply troublesome.
Since Jin Cheon-u had already returned to Luoyang from Gansu, I could not afford to appear in crowded places again.
Thus I had taken the most desolate routes possible, sleeping either in the carriage or under the open sky.
That explained why everyone’s appearance was so disheveled.
Though it seemed we had successfully avoided drawing attention.
It was while entertaining such thoughts.
After gazing out the window for some time, Chaeseoha, who had been feeling at ease, quietly approached me and clasped both my hands firmly.
Then, with eyes brimming with earnest pleading, she beseeched me.
“For a while, you absolutely must rest at home, no matter what happens!”
“That was my intention.”
Seeing her expression and eyes so desperate they bordered on sorrowful, I couldn’t help but offer a bitter smile.
Yes, she must have endured much hardship.
Especially since, unlike the others, she had not been learning martial arts, so though she didn’t show it outwardly, the burden must have been several times greater for her.
“But you won’t be learning martial arts?”
“Oh, you mean what was given to me? I’ve looked at it, but it seems a bit difficult. And I… don’t really like sweating.”
The Demonic Sect’s spirit elixir had already been secured and hidden away somewhere, and I always carried the Soul-Piercing Needle in my robes.
But the reason she wouldn’t even glance at the secret manual was this.
She fundamentally disliked exerting her body.
Sweating while treating others was acceptable, but sweating from physical exertion was something she claimed she could not endure even unto death.
I chuckled softly.
“Then I may as well take it.”
“Do you need it? I can lend it to you. But it’s a debt our ancestor must repay, so I cannot hand it over permanently.”
“I merely wish to examine it briefly.”
“Then do as you please.”
Though she harbored no great interest in martial arts, it was a debt the family must bear. Transferring it to another was somewhat distasteful, but merely glancing at it seemed acceptable to her.
At such absurdly reasonable words that no martial artist could fathom, I let out a hollow laugh and turned my gaze away, only to hear something equally unbelievable from Namgung Yeon, whose expression was one of shock as she stared at Chaeseoha.
“But Lady Namgung, what about you? The secret manual has returned, hasn’t it? Truly, not a fake.”
“Yes, I have verified it multiple times. It is undoubtedly the Imperial Sword Form.”
“Why was that in the Demonic Sect?”
“According to Grand Master Baek-gong, they sent people to destroy the Namgung Family in secret. But when they arrived, someone had already finished the assault. He discovered it while tracking those traces.”
More precisely, he obtained it after defeating the one who stole the secret manual in a fierce battle.
Whether that person belonged to the Divine Sect, the Moyong Family, or someone else entirely remained unknown, but the Demonic Sect must not have been pleased.
They had lost the opportunity to bring down the Namgung Family with their own hands.
Yet fortunately, they obtained the Namgung Family’s secret manual.
They must have been conflicted about whether to celebrate or lament.
“Is it a different style of swordsmanship from the Spear Palace?”
“Yes, moreover, this Imperial Sword Technique compensates for what was lacking in the early stages of the Spear Palace Unobstructed Form. It seems it will be of great help.”
I nodded at her words.
Despite obtaining the Imperial Sword Form, I had not seen her master it during our return journey.
There was only one reason.
The Imperial Sword Form could be called the supreme swordsmanship representing the Namgung Family, and I had heard that the roots of this martial art lay in the Spear Palace Unobstructed Sword Technique.
Naturally, to master the Imperial Sword Form, one had to perfect the Spear Palace Unobstructed Form to its zenith, so she could not touch it immediately.
“Young Master! We’ve arrived!”
At that moment, along with Jang Chuchyeong’s excited voice, the familiar scenery of the Jin Family of Luoyang came into view.
The carriage stopped before the gate, and the gatekeeper cautiously approached to confirm my appearance through the window.
Startled, he quickly moved to open the firmly closed gate, and only then did the carriage resume its movement, finally entering the interior of the Jin Family of Luoyang.
I spent some time gazing at the interior landscape I had missed so dearly, when the carriage soon came to a halt and the door opened as if waiting for this moment.
“Good.”
“It’s been so long…”
“Hahaha! Jang Chuchyeong has returned!”
“My apologies. It seems I must first report to my older brother.”
At the same time, each person spoke differently.
Chaeseoha seemed to savor the scenery as if the place felt like a comfortable home, while Jang Chuchyeong spread both arms wide and shouted loudly.
Thanks to him, not only the servants working but also the maids noticed his presence.
The only one showing reason was Namgung Yeon, perhaps?
She bowed her head hastily, sought permission to find Namgung Baek, and hurried away.
She had found the lost Imperial Sword Form.
Her lips seemed to itch with the desire to inform Namgung Baek of this fact immediately.
I let out a quiet chuckle and turned away.
I should report to Father first, but for now, washing myself and changing into clean clothes took priority.
During the long journey, I had to conceal my identity as much as possible, so I had maintained a somewhat disheveled appearance throughout.
As a result, I felt quite uncomfortable.
I hurried toward my quarters.
Opening the door and entering, the first thing I did was remove my clothes.
Becoming naked in an instant, I sank into the bath, and the accumulated fatigue seemed to vanish immediately.
I remained in the water for quite some time.
After some time had passed, I emerged, changed into fresh clothes, and groomed myself as neatly as possible.
The sensation of soft silk against my skin felt strangely unfamiliar after so long.
I let out a bitter smile at the awkward rustling and moved first toward Father’s study.
By now, he would surely know of my return.
I stood before the door and naturally announced my presence.
“Father, it’s Cheon-u.”
“Come in.”
At the sound of his voice, I opened the door without hesitation.
The sight that greeted me was quite the spectacle.
Father’s once-vibrant face was now shadowed by deep exhaustion, and his desk was piled high with stacks of documents.
Moreover, the medicinal bowls visible in one corner of the room numbered well over thirty—an overwhelming quantity.
Seeing this, I came to understand one thing.
Ah, my older brother and sister who had returned have left again.
Given how much time had passed, it was certainly reasonable for them to depart.
As a result, Father was handling all the remaining duties alone.
I asked with a bitter smile on my lips.
“Are you managing alright?”
“I’m fine. This much is nothing. If I endure a little longer, the second son will return, they say… it’s bearable. But you—your face looks brighter. Did something good happen?”
“It was a journey of observation and reflection. I learned much.”
“Haha… well, that’s fortunate.”
As I spoke with a slight smile, I noticed Father’s brow twitch.
Yet he seemed to have no intention of saying anything, simply steadying his breathing and calming his mind.
“By the way, where is Grandfather? I heard he’s not around.”
“He’s in Namman. It seems he’ll be handling affairs there for some time.”
“Haha, so even Grandfather keeps himself busy…”
Father’s gaze turned toward me as his words trailed off. His eyes seemed to ask: even Gu Gunbaek works, so why don’t you? But I deliberately averted my gaze, pretending not to notice.
Was that the reason?
Father let out a small sigh, and his voice came again.
“I’ve heard of recent events. Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan… and what happened in Gansu. And you’ve completely made an enemy of the Moyong Family?”
“I haven’t made an enemy. It was merely a light sparring match.”
“I heard you shattered someone’s jaw. As I continued to gather information on that boy, I learned he’s only recently been able to eat solid food again.”
At those words, I nodded.
Indeed, more time had passed than I’d anticipated.
With Chu Won dead, there was no one left to easily mend his body. He’d survived on gruel all this while, and only now was his body recovering somewhat.
But that humiliation—he’ll never forget it until death.
Without realizing it, I let out a scoff, and Father’s brow furrowed.
“Because of that, I couldn’t remain idle either. My son made him that way, so what could I do? I sent fine medicinal broths and medicine. I provided appropriate compensation as well.”
“You did well.”
“But I don’t think the Sword Emperor’s anger will subside with just that. The Moyong Family has sent people to find you several times.”
“What did you do?”
“I said I was too busy to see them. One cannot present someone who isn’t here, after all.”
The Moyong Family’s search for me wasn’t solely because of Mo Yong-cheon. They were using it as a pretext to see my face and judge whether I was truly at home.
However, since he has not shown himself until now, I cannot help but harbor some suspicion.
Yet I do not concern myself greatly with it.
Whether I like it or not, I must see him at least once.
And I too have things I wish to confirm.
“Will you surrender so easily?”
“Not at all. He has even sent others several times to spy on us.”
Father shook his head with a faint smile.
This reaction came from never imagining that the one called the Sword Emperor of all under heaven would resort to such tactics.
How amusing it must be that a being who is always confident, never bows before others, and rules all under heaven with a single sword, would scheme behind the scenes to gather information about me?
“Tsk tsk, now I understand why you keep your distance from the Moyong Family. But some time ago, they stopped making any moves, so I gathered some information. It seems they are either busy or have disappeared from sight.”
“Disappeared, you say?”
“Yes, well, since I have no interest in their affairs anyway, I am satisfied that they no longer trouble us.”
Father smiled gently and seemed genuinely content with that outcome.
Had Mo Yong-cheon’s spying continued, I would never have tolerated it. Even if he is the Sword Emperor, he cannot ignore us.
It occurred to me that this was likely due to the belated realization following Chu Won and Yeom Ji-hak’s deaths—a timing that made sense.
The suspicion that perhaps the Sword Emperor himself has ascended to a new position is precisely what made me unable to shake off an uneasy feeling.
Yet I cannot leave this unconfirmed.
Whether he has become a new power or not, obtaining information could shift the tide in this situation.
I organized my thoughts while observing Father’s expression, then withdrew a single sheet of paper from my robe and showed it to him.
Father gazed at the paper that suddenly appeared before him, confirmed the elaborately drawn landscape painting, and his expression turned to surprise.
“What a magnificent painting. Where did you obtain it?”
“I acquired it by chance. But do you perhaps have any idea where this place is?”
Father has traveled throughout the Central Plains since childhood.
Not only through merchant routes but also through bandit paths.
With the small hope that he might know a place even I do not, I showed it to him.
But he soon shook his head as if he had no recollection.
“No, this is the first time I have seen this place. But is it a real location?”
“I am not certain… I wish to confirm it myself.”
When the desired answer did not come, I offered a bitter smile.
If even Father does not know this place, it seemed I would have to seek out Baek Jin-hwa.
It was then.
“Young Master! Young Master!”
A small commotion erupted from outside.
Furrowing my brow, I opened the door to find the gatekeeper who guards the family’s main gate.
He spoke in a flustered manner.
“What is the matter?”
“Disaster has struck! You must go out and see at once!”
In the moment Father and I exchanged bewildered glances at his sudden words.
Crash—!
An enormous sound suddenly pierced through our ears.
That was undoubtedly where the main gate of the Moyong Family stood.
Without giving anyone a chance to protest, I hurled myself forward with desperate urgency.

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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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