The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 136

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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 197

It was an entirely natural situation.
If Shanxi was the sacred territory of the Demonic Sect, then Henan was no different. With the Martial Arts Alliance present, they would never permit the Demonic Sect’s intrusion.
Thus, the Orthodox Faction maintained what amounted to a non-aggression pact, never setting foot on the lands of Shanxi and Henan. Yet now, into these Henan lands came not merely a simple Demonic Sect member, but the successor of the Death Emperor who would lead the next generation of the Demonic Sect.
Cheon Yul had arrived.
And in Nakhyang, no less—one of Henan’s three great cities.
Since the Martial Arts Alliance would certainly know of this information, such a confrontation was entirely predictable.
I regarded the Martial Arts Alliance contingent with an unbothered expression.
Given the caliber of the opponent, these were not members of the Changrong Unit.
They were the Azure Heaven Squad—the Martial Arts Alliance’s core fighting force.
It felt as though they had been deliberately dispatched.
Composed of elite warriors drawn from the Nine Great Sects and the Renowned Clans, each individual possessed strength that would undoubtedly rival Cheon Yul’s.
I observed them as they stared silently at one another.
A situation on the brink of eruption.
The moment any one of them moved, blades would clash.
Watching them, I asked a question.
“What business do you have standing before another’s home?”
The first to respond was none other than the bald-headed man.
A disciple of Shaolin.
After glancing cautiously at Cheon Yul and his guards, he exhaled deeply while lowering the staff in his grip, then asked me a question.
“This humble monk is called Myeong-ryun of Shaolin. Might you be Young Master Jin Cheon-u of the Jin Family?”
“Yes, that is correct. I did not expect to meet a disciple of the Gonghuang in such a place.”
Gonghuang Hye-myeong.
One of the Ten Emperors and a figure comparable to Sa Do-cheon, the Death Emperor of the Demonic Sect, he was regarded as the foremost among the Three Emperors of the Orthodox Faction.
Currently seated as the Alliance Master, he was renowned not for handling major affairs, but for dwelling in Shaolin performing Buddhist devotions.
Though he accomplished nothing of note, the weight carried by his name was so formidable that none dared voice complaint.
Yet this could hardly be called a good thing.
One reason the Martial Arts Alliance could not check the Sword Emperor was precisely because Gonghuang Hye-myeong never descended from Songshan.
This was why the Moyong Family’s influence held such particular sway.
And before me stood Myeong-ryun.
His figure, standing with staff in hand, stood out distinctly from the others—partly due to being the Gonghuang’s disciple, but for a far simpler reason.
He was strong.
Overwhelmingly so.
To even compare him with Cheon Yul would be laughable.
Judging merely by how his guards maintained tense vigilance toward him, it was clear that Myeong-ryun was the true center of this Azure Heaven Squad.
I naturally examined the members of the Azure Heaven Squad and posed a question.
“Might your presence here be because of this man?”
“Amitabha—yes, honored one. However, I wish to know why the followers of the Demonic Sect have come seeking you.”
“I trust you are already aware of the relationship between Cheon Yul and myself. It seems he has come because he cannot accept the outcome. Is that not so?”
I turned my gaze toward Cheon Yul.
His complexion was pallid, likely from abstaining from food and drink.
His lips were bluish and severely cracked—a condition that made me wonder if he could even withstand a proper fight when it came to it.
Observing him in such a state, I let out a subtle smile.
Only then did he react.
“Huh? Ah! Right, that’s it! What are you doing!? Draw your sword at once!”
Cheon Yul, who had been tense, seemed to regain his senses at my question and hastily grasped his sword, urging me to draw mine.
As a result, Myeong-ryun’s gaze deepened further, and the aura emanating from the Cheongcheon disciples became increasingly formidable.
The tension grew unbearably taut.
In such circumstances, I had thoughtlessly raised my blade, as though preparing for whatever might unfold.
Involuntarily, I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
“Lower that, Soocheonchu. If we’re careless, someone will die here.”
“But asking me to lower my blade before an Orthodox sect member is rather….”
“This is Orthodox sect territory, so if you lower yours first, everyone else will follow suit. Will they not?”
I spoke while looking toward Myeong-ryun and the Cheongcheon disciples.
Those who had maintained tension as though ready to swing their blades at any moment seemed flustered by my sudden words, gathering their gazes upon Myeong-ryun.
Under normal circumstances, they would have drawn their swords without hesitation and dragged matters forward, but this was Nakhyang, and we stood before the Jin Family residence.
In truth, the very ground beneath their feet belonged to us, so blood could not be spilled carelessly on Jin Family land.
That is precisely why they have merely restrained themselves and refrained from striking thus far.
Ultimately, Myeong-ryun, receiving their gazes, exhaled a long sigh.
“Amitabha Buddha—very well, might we speak for a moment, Young Master?”
“Of course. Please, come inside.”

* * *

The reception hall within the separate residence.
As those gathered there took their seats, the expansive space felt suddenly crowded.
The Blue Heaven Sect numbered thirty.
In contrast, Cheon Yul’s forces barely reached twenty.
Yet the reason this vast chamber felt so suffocating was the relentless collision of auras emanating from both sides.
“This wasn’t what I had in mind….”
At that moment, Cheon Yul, seated among us, scratched his head while surveying the surroundings. The situation had taken an unexpected turn with the Blue Heaven Sect’s arrival, and he seemed uncertain how to proceed.
Soon after, he leaned toward me beside him and whispered.
“What if we just told them to leave? The killing intent is absolutely-.”
“Had Soocheonchu not come seeking us, this situation would never have arisen.”
“Ha ha ha, you said we can’t live without competing. Besides, aren’t we friends?”
Whether or not Cheon Yul truly grasped the gravity of the situation, he laughed heartily and patted my back.
The casual familiarity on display was so evident that the expressions of the Blue Heaven Sect members continued to harden.
It was already shocking that Soocheonchu of Sa Do-cheon had entered Hanan territory without hesitation, but his unguarded demeanor with the Young Master of the Jin Family of Nakhyang was certainly a blow.
They must be concerned that the Jin Family’s power might shift toward Sa Do-cheon.
I smiled faintly and ignored Cheon Yul.
Soon after, I turned my gaze toward Myeong-ryun.
“Have you come to apprehend this man, Myeong-ryun?”
“Amitabha Buddha—yes, that is so, sir. The presence of Sa Do-cheon’s followers cannot be permitted. How could one who walks the righteous path remain idle? I must ask you, sir. Why does such a person remain within the Jin Family?”
His voice carried benevolence, yet it was laced with resolve. Moreover, his gaze upon Cheon Yul as he spoke was far from favorable, his eyes heavy with weight.
Yet there was no killing intent emanating from him, as though he harbored no attachment to taking lives.
Of course, the absence of killing intent should not be mistaken for an absence of lethal intent.
I smiled slightly.
“First, I ask that you understand—Myeong-ryun walks the path of the Buddha before the path of righteousness, and upon that path, there exists no distinction between right and wrong.”
“….”
At those words, bewilderment crossed Myeong-ryun’s face.
The Blue Heaven Sect members too seemed considerably taken aback.
The tone embedded in that single statement—that the Buddhist path recognizes no distinction between right and wrong, so do not attempt to debate such matters here—was resolute.
Nor were only the Blue Heaven Sect members surprised.
Cheon Yul and even his bodyguards showed signs of astonishment.
“As I mentioned earlier, Soocheonchu could not accept defeat in the martial contest held at Sa Do-cheon and thus came to be in this state. I suspect his strong competitive spirit led him to act on youthful impulse.”
At those words, Myeong-ryun closed his mouth.
The statement that one who walks the Buddhist path should not debate right and wrong seemed to strike quite forcefully.
To speak would be to deny the Buddhist path; to remain silent would be to deny the Blue Heaven Sect, and by extension, the Martial Arts Alliance and the righteous path itself—he had no choice but to hold his tongue.
But the others were different.
“We understand the circumstances. However, having entered Hanan territory, we cannot simply remain idle.”
“Even if I asked you to leave quietly…would that change your mind?”
At my question, the man nodded.
They had seized an excellent opportunity.
While they would not kill him given the prospect of all-out war with Sa Do-cheon, they could certainly capture him and drag him away to humiliate him.
That is precisely why I do not yield.
“What else can I do? I have made a covenant with the Death Emperor, and therefore I cannot overlook any harm coming to this person.”
“A covenant? With the Death Emperor, you say?”
“I agreed to undertake imperial business ventures alongside Sa Do-cheon. Since operations are already underway in other regions beyond Henan, I believe you would be aware of this.”
“…Of course, I am aware. The Martial Arts Alliance has much to say about that as well!”
A natural statement met with a natural response.
I nodded lightly and accepted his words with ease. The Jin Family of Luoyang had never collaborated with martial sects before, so it was only natural that the Martial Arts Alliance would harbor suspicions about our true intentions.
I gave a small nod.
“Of course I would expect as much. In fact, I was already planning to visit the Martial Arts Alliance to explain.”
“Amitabha—you intend to visit the Martial Arts Alliance?”
“I am also a person of Henan, so should I not at least explain my reasons?”
As long as the Jin Family of Luoyang maintains its position in Henan, we can never escape the influence of the Martial Arts Alliance.
Naturally, having witnessed the Jin Family of Luoyang joining hands with Sa Do-cheon, the Martial Arts Alliance will undoubtedly attempt to separate us by any means necessary.
I do not concern myself greatly with simple interference.
However, should they resort to methods like those employed when the Uiseon Family collapsed, even I alone would be unable to protect the Jin Family of Luoyang completely without Gu Gunbaek.
Therefore, a visit was inevitable eventually.
It was simply Cheon Yul who accelerated that timeline.
“Then I shall explain everything in detail at that time. Of course, this friend will accompany me as well.”
“Wh—what!? Why should I go to the Martial Arts Alliance!?”
At my sudden remark, Cheon Yul cried out in alarm.
While the Jin Family of Luoyang had followed along without much thought, Cheon Yul clearly had no desire to visit the Martial Arts Alliance, shaking his head vehemently.
But it was meaningless.
These people had come specifically to apprehend Cheon Yul.
Since the Blue Heaven Sect also needed something to save face, there was no point in me going alone.
As expected, Myeong-ryun’s eyes gleamed brightly.
As if he had grasped my intention.
“Then that would be acceptable. However, since we have come this far, we cannot simply return empty-handed, and you must understand that Soocheonchu might break his covenant and flee.”
At Myeong-ryun’s words, I nodded.
The situation progressed in an instant, as if we were exchanging moves in a game.
Most observers, save for a few, seemed to have caught on to the unfolding intent, watching our exchange with expressions of bewilderment or exasperation.
The sighs that followed came from Cheon Yul’s bodyguards, who had sensed the shifting atmosphere.
As expected, Myeong-ryun’s voice rang out.
“I shall take Soocheonchu’s bodyguards with us as a precaution.”
“What!?”
“Please do so.”
“Who do you think you are!”
Though Cheon Yul’s voice rang out loudly, Myeong-ryun and I paid it no mind, letting it pass through one ear and out the other.
After all, the decision-making authority here did not rest with him.
Realizing this, Cheon Yul clenched his teeth and attempted to cause a commotion, but when his subordinate grasped his shoulder and shook his head, he furrowed his brow and sat back down.
Seeing this, Myeong-ryun smiled gently.
However, this was not a moment for laughter.
This stage had been set for this single statement.
“Then, I look forward to meeting the Alliance Lord.”
“…!”
At those words, everyone of the Cheon Gong-hak’s faction, including Myeong-ryun, cast eyes glimmering with astonishment, yet I received it with composure and smiled.
It was a moment when I eagerly anticipated Gonghuang’s descent from the mountain.

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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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