The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 135

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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 196

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After so long, the Hwaseon Inn remained unchanged.
The antique architecture of the building and the vibrant voices of its patrons.
Despite the late hour, the ceaseless chatter of people speaking as loudly as if it were broad daylight in a bustling marketplace filled the air.
Listening to the sounds drifting from outside, I stepped in and quickly made my way toward Baek Jin-hwa’s quarters.
The door opened, and the interior came into view.
At the same moment, I saw Baek Jin-hwa sitting gracefully, her gaze fixed upon me.
“It has been quite some time, Young Master. Nearly a year has passed since your last visit—I thought you had forgotten about me entirely.”
A faint smile graced her lips.
Unlike the days when I visited frequently, nearly a year had indeed elapsed since my last appearance, so her words of complaint were more than justified.
I settled into my seat with a subtle smile.
I noticed the wine table was already prepared and raised a cup to my lips.
“It seems the hospitality has improved during my absence.”
“Hehe—one cannot afford to lose a distinguished guest, after all.”
Her words drew a light chuckle from me.
Baek Jin-hwa’s eyes held a peculiar gleam.
As if she were eager to uncover something hidden.
No doubt she was curious about why Jin Cheon-u, who had returned from Gansu, had not shown himself outside the family for so long.
There were quite a few who sought to spy on the Jin Family of Luoyang, so she likely wished to understand why the Young Master of the Jin Family, who had been so active recently, had suddenly ceased his activities.
“I’ve been occupied with receiving instruction on family governance—the Family Head has been relentless in his teachings.”
“Ah—indeed, since you must lead the Jin Family of Luoyang, such education would be necessary.”
“What is it with that tone of yours? It sounds rather ominous.”
“Hehe—it is nothing. I merely meant what I said. I hope you do not misunderstand.”
At Baek Jin-hwa’s response, I nodded and refilled my empty cup. As I brought it to my lips and observed her for a moment, I could see that while she continued to smile, her eyes told a different story.
She was the woman who had watched over me from my side more than anyone else, so such transparent falsehoods would not easily deceive her.
Yet I chose not to correct her words.
Her suspicions were her own concern, and they had nothing to do with me.
I withdrew several silver coins and placed them on the table before asking, “I have been rather negligent of Central Plains affairs of late. Is there anything I should know?”
“Something you should know… Well, there are a few matters. First, the Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga has collapsed.”
“I have no need for such trivial information.”
“Hehe—it is an affair that occurred because of you, Young Master, yet you show no interest. Then… what of this?”
Baek Jin-hwa’s expression grew subtly alluring, her eyes gleaming with amusement. Her gaze seemed to ask: surely you are involved in this matter as well?
“The Martial Arts Master Ho-yeon of the Mu-dang has gone missing.”
“The Martial Arts Master Ho-yeon of the Mu-dang has disappeared?”
“Yes, were you not aware?”
“When I returned from Gansu, I came in haste and had no time to inquire. As I mentioned, I have been confined within the family, with no opportunity to hear or see anything else. So then, what became of him?”
“I didn’t check because I hurried back from Gansu, and as I said, I was cooped up inside the temple and didn’t have time to hear or see anything else. So? What happened?”
“It was discovered quite far from the Gongdong Sect. The problem is, there’s apparently nothing left to identify.”
At her words, I paused mid-sip of my wine cup, my expression turning puzzled.
From her tone and the look in her eyes—as if I had never heard of this—I inferred the meaning.
“He’s dead?”
“Yes. But by misfortune, an earthquake struck where the body lay, creating a crevasse, and it fell through. It took quite some time to find and recover what remained.”
“So that’s what you meant by the body being unidentifiable.”
“Yes, the humid and hot weather accelerated decomposition. And falling through, it struck against the rocks repeatedly and shattered.”
I nodded and raised my wine cup again with a smile.
During the battle with the Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga, I had felt a tremendous earthquake occur—likely the same one that created the crevasse.
Hoyeon’s corpse had been sucked into it.
I had nature to thank for this mercy.
“Have they found the culprit?”
“No. His identity remains unknown. At first, both the Martial Arts Alliance and the Mu-dang searched frantically, but with nothing turning up, they’re gradually losing interest.”
“It seems quite difficult.”
“Yes. Those who weren’t close to Martial Arts Master Ho-yeon have even joked that he simply fell into a crevasse while taking a walk. Nothing has come to light.”
At Baek Jin-hwa’s words, I nodded with satisfaction.
I had wondered if something might be discovered, but if they haven’t found anything by now, there’s nothing more to be gained.
“Anything else?”
“Other matters… there are various minor things, but nothing particularly worthy of your attention. Oh! Moryeong Hyeok has been able to eat again these past few days. How is that?”
Baek Jin-hwa burst into giggles.
As if finding it absurd and hilarious that one once called the Orthodox Sect’s greatest prodigy, once lauded as the next Sword Emperor, had fallen to such a state.
She seemed quite pleased by his downfall.
“You seem amused.”
“Yes. I dislike how that clan boasts about being the Number One Sword Sect and such things.”
It was hardly an unfair assessment.
Most of the Moyong Family, known as the Number One Sword Sect, carried pride and confidence in such matters, displaying a sense of privilege.
Moryeong Hyeok, whom I had seen in Anhui, spoke without restraint before me for precisely this reason.
While some bowed their heads because of this, it was natural that those like Baek Jin-hwa developed resentment as well.
I smiled at her and, recalling the true reason for my visit, withdrew a single painting from my robes and showed it to her.
The one I had discovered in the Demon Sect.
I prided myself on remembering every detail meticulously and reproducing it faithfully, though some elements might still be missing.
However, since I had captured the essential features accurately, anyone who knew the location would surely be able to identify it.
“What is this?”
“A landscape painting of somewhere. Do you recognize the place?”
“Hmm— let me look for a moment.”
Baek Jin-hwa let out a soft sound as she examined the painting.
She studied it carefully, her mind working intently to identify the location, but ultimately shook her head as nothing came to mind.
“I don’t recognize it, Young Master. Are you certain this place is in the Central Plains?”
“Perhaps. Would it be impossible using the Ha-o Sect’s information network?”
“We’d need to distribute copies of this painting and show it to information brokers, but if you’re willing, I can attempt it.”
At her words, I furrowed my brow.
Certainly, this was neither about finding a person nor gathering information about something specific. Since I needed to locate a place, it would be impossible without showing it to someone.
However, if the Ha-o Sect members went around showing this painting to find the location, it was inevitable that word would reach those bastards’ ears.
It was decidedly not a good choice.
“So you’re saying finding it isn’t easy.”
“Yes, but does such a place actually exist? No matter how I look at it, it feels like a landscape painting drawn from imagination….”
At Baek Jin-hwa’s words, I nodded while wearing a bitter smile. The scenery depicted in the painting was indeed so beautiful that one could hardly believe it existed in this mortal world.
However, since there were no distinctive landmarks to identify it, and it was merely a mountain landscape, it seemed difficult to find without seeing it with my own eyes.
I exhaled a sigh and rose from my seat.
“Are you leaving? Is there nothing else you wish me to do?”
At the voice that reached me then, I fell into thought for a moment.
Soon, I withdrew several silver coins from my pocket and handed them to Baek Jin-hwa, along with the names of those I most needed to be wary of in the current situation.
“I’d appreciate it if you could slowly leak this to the Martial Arts Alliance.”
“Information…?”
“Yes, very slowly. Something that feels oddly true but blurred enough that they’d have no choice but to verify it themselves—that degree would be perfect.”
“What on earth….”
Baek Jin-hwa stared at me with an incredulous expression, her brow furrowed.

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One day, two days, three days, four days.
Time continued to flow.
During that time, I shut myself away at home and tried to learn about the landscape painting.
Since most of the warriors of the Jin Family of Luoyang were those who traveled to various places and worked, I thought there was a possibility they might know of a place that even Father or Baek Jin-hwa didn’t know.
But even this proved difficult.
It wasn’t easy to meet and ask hundreds of people one by one, but contrary to my expectations, not a single person mentioned a similar location or a place with a comparable feeling.
Everyone said the same thing as Baek Jin-hwa.
That it was a place that didn’t exist, or a location from imagination.
Because it was such a beautiful place.
I wondered if it might simply be Nam Tae-cheon’s prized possession, but the painting had been there in that place where nothing existed except for Ho-gak’s martial arts and the Divine Sect’s information.
There was no way it had no connection to those bastards.
I turned my head as if shaking off my complicated thoughts with a sigh.
In the scenery visible through the window, I caught sight of Chu Hyeongi’s figure.
The fellow, whose physique had grown to a degree incomparable to before meeting Gu Gunbaek, was sweeping the courtyard with a remarkably peaceful expression for some reason.
“Seems like you’re enjoying it.”
“Indeed, I think this truly is my calling, Master.”
At that fellow’s words, I found myself laughing despite myself.
Without a mirror, he couldn’t see his own appearance.
Look—the muscular frame was so pronounced that I could hardly recall his appearance before meeting Gu Gunbaek.
Though it was merely sweeping the courtyard, the overwhelming musculature was enough to startle the servants and maids who passed by.
The servant Chu Hyeongi was nowhere to be found anymore.
In fact, whether he knew it or not, the gleam in his eyes as he trained his body, drenched in sweat, shone brighter than ever before.
But I chose not to voice such observations.
He seemed perfectly at peace.
“More importantly, is that fellow still sprawled out at the gate?”
“Yes, I saw him earlier. He wasn’t eating or drinking, and his face had turned pale. It’s already been two weeks, hasn’t it?”
“A persistent one, isn’t he? Does he truly intend to see this through to the end?”
“Ah, I think he’ll die before he manages to endure it.”
“He’ll last a full month without issue. We’re still far from the end.”
Thinking of Cheon Yul, I let out an exasperated laugh.
Already two weeks had passed, and he lay sprawled before the gate, refusing all food and drink.
Though he frequently called out my name and caused a commotion, everyone had grown accustomed to the noise and paid him no mind.
I was certain he would soon exhaust himself and collapse.
“Wouldn’t it be simpler to just fight him once?”
“I have no desire to become someone’s stepping stone.”
“Huh?”
“If that fellow were the type to become my stepping stone, I wouldn’t have refused. But since it’s the opposite, I simply don’t want to.”
As I spoke with a slight smirk, Chu Hyeongi looked at me with an expression of exasperation.
One could say that another’s growth is a good thing, but if it doesn’t benefit me in any way, what meaning does it hold? And for such a person to grow one step further because of me?
I had no intention whatsoever of becoming the soil from which they would flourish.
As I shook my head and turned my gaze away.
I caught sight of the gatekeeper rushing toward us from a distance.
“They’ve arrived.”
“Who?”
I left the room without answering Chu Hyeongi’s question.
The moment I stepped outside, the one who had rushed over while breathing heavily tried to say something, but I silenced him with a gesture, then leisurely made my way toward the gate.
With each step I took, I sensed their presence.
Not just one or two.
Dozens of presences gathered together, emanating killing intent in waves.
Sensing this, I pushed open the massive gate.
I saw them.
Numerous figures presumed to be from the Martial Arts Alliance, Cheon Yul standing in confrontation, and Sadocheon’s warriors guarding him.
The two forces stood facing each other in silence, swords drawn.
At any moment, they would unleash their blades upon one another.
Looking upon them, I asked.
“What are you doing in front of someone else’s home?”

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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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