The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 14

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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 14

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“Ha, I passed! I actually passed!”
“This is insane! How is that possible?!”
“…Did I really fail?”
“Ahahaha! I passed—!”
A few days later, when the notice board was posted again in front of the Nakhyang Jin Family, those who checked their names experienced a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.
Some cried out in joy, while others erupted in fury.
The problem was that there were clearly some passes and failures that no one could justify.
Those who carried swords as bodyguards could perhaps be excused.
After all, their abilities couldn’t be measured directly against one another, so there was no way to determine who was stronger or weaker.
However, the real issue was that most of those who passed for menial positions came from lowborn backgrounds.
Scholars who had clearly studied far more extensively had been rejected, and their voices of anger were growing louder by the moment.
“What kind of selection process is this?! Are you saying I’m inferior to them?”
“Exactly! I know those bastards—they’re nothing but thugs! How could mere thugs possibly pass?!”
As a result, both the person who posted the notice and the gatekeeper found themselves in an awkward position.
With crowds swarming and demanding explanations, their ears were practically ringing from the noise.
Some even tried to grab people by the collar, creating such a tense atmosphere that it seemed violence might erupt at any moment.
However, the Nakhyang Jin Family had their own justification.
“Listen here! This decision was made entirely by Young Master So. We have determined that these individuals are suitable to work for our family, and that is why this decision has been made. Regardless of your individual merits or shortcomings.”
“But still, that doesn’t seem right…!”
“And… if you have any objections to the Nakhyang Jin Family’s proceedings, step forward and voice them to me directly.”
A chilling warning pierced through the air.
Though they were merely gatekeepers, these men were nonetheless considered skilled warriors who could hold their own if they drew their swords and stepped outside.
As such a person exuded killing intent and applied pressure, the cacophony of voices from all directions died down in an instant.
“Those who passed, proceed inside. Rest for a while, have lunch, and then take the next examination. I trust you all understand that you must pass the examination to become a member of the Jin Family.”
At the gatekeeper’s words, those whose names were listed hurried inside. The others watched with envious eyes, their faces contorted in anger as they cursed under their breath, but none dared to raise their voices again.
The gatekeeper’s warning had struck deep.
Thus, fifty people had passed the first examination.
After two more rounds of filtering, those who remained would become members of the Jin Family.
“Those who applied for bodyguard positions, follow me. Those who applied for menial work, follow that person over there.”
At that moment, the gathered crowd split into two groups.
Those who had applied for bodyguard positions moved along the left path, while those who had applied for menial work disappeared down the right path.
As Gu Yang-cheol followed one of the guides, he continuously glanced around, committing the interior layout of the Nakhyang Jin Family to memory.
Where the walls were located and where the main halls stood. Also, which areas had many people and which were sparse.
Every path that lay before him, every shadowed corner and illuminated space.
He was assessing which routes would allow him to move about while avoiding the sight of others, and which locations were far too conspicuous.
Gu Yang-cheol, who had been observing his surroundings, came to a halt.
He had stopped before one of the main halls without realizing it.
“The maids here will show you to your rooms. Rest for a while, take a meal, and then we shall resume the trials. Keep this in mind.”
As the man who had spoken turned away, the other men began filing into the main hall behind the maids.
Even amid the peculiar tension that hung in the air, Gu Yang-cheol’s eyes never ceased their vigilant movement.
Then, a voice pierced through his mind.
-Everyone has arrived.
-As expected, then. But… Hong Gu-hyeon is nowhere to be seen.
Ordinarily, it should have been Hong Gu-hyeon who guided them. Yet with someone entirely different present, unease was only natural.
When circumstances deviate from expectation, one must remain vigilant to the utmost degree.
-I made inquiries about the situation. Hong Gu-hyeon is currently away on an errand.
-Away? At a time like this?
-Yes. According to the servants, Young Master So’s condition has become grave, and by the Chief Administrator’s orders, he went to fetch a physician.
-…I see.
-The other servants speak of the same matter, so it appears to be true.
Gu Yang-cheol nodded, accepting the explanation.
It concerned none other than Young Master So’s health.
Should his condition have grown critical, it would not be unusual for the Chief Administrator to dispatch the most trustworthy person.
Moreover, since the physician summoned by the Nakhyang Jin Family would surely be skilled, it was no oddity for someone of Hong Gu-hyeon’s standing to fetch them urgently rather than send a mere servant.
Hong Gu-hyeon’s words would carry far more weight than those of a subordinate.
Such was the influence Hong Gu-hyeon wielded within the Nakhyang Jin Family.
Gu Yang-cheol let out a soft chuckle and shook his head.
No matter how skilled a physician they brought, this poison could not be easily cured.
Crafted specially by the Sect, attempting to expel it through inner force would require at minimum the inner cultivation of this level, and even then the probability of survival was merely fifty-fifty.
Even if he survived, the likelihood of him becoming crippled was high.
‘Yes, it will likely prove a meaningless endeavor.’
With such thoughts, Gu Yang-cheol dismissed his distractions.
Not everything proceeds smoothly as planned.
Hong Gu-hyeon’s absence would prove considerably fatal to the scheme.
‘Some of them may not even be able to enter.’
Should everyone enter the Nakhyang Jin Family, a perfect situation could be created. Yet without Hong Gu-hyeon’s influence, it might prove impossible.
After all, the Chief Administrator would be the one making the final selection.
With a soft tsk, he turned his gaze toward the window, committing the landscape to memory.
His eyes gleamed with a keen, predatory light—determined to miss nothing of what lay before him.

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At noon, the examination finally resumed.
There was nothing particularly elaborate about it.
Those who applied as bodyguards engaged in light sparring to demonstrate their abilities, while those applying for menial tasks were assessed on how many loads they could carry or which tasks they excelled at.
Just as bodyguards were sometimes dispatched elsewhere, servants too were often reassigned in similar fashion.
For instance, if manpower ran short, one might be selected as a warrior and sent out. Thus, examining these various capabilities was a natural procedure.
However, I paid no attention to the menial tasks section and instead focused on Gu Yang-cheol, visible far beyond the window.
From his position, he wouldn’t be able to see me.
Gripping his sword, he ascended the dueling arena and fixed a sharp, piercing gaze upon his opponent. Since his challenger was merely a common street thug, he could easily subdue him without revealing his true prowess.
“Hyah—!”
The thug bellowed fiercely, swinging a wooden sword with all his might.
Naturally, it never connected.
Had he been struck by someone of such third-rate caliber, the Shadow Assassins would have lost face entirely.
Gu Yang-cheol didn’t even consider dodging—he advanced and swung his wooden sword to meet the attack.
Whoosh!
“Gasp—!”
The moment the wooden sword struck deep into his opponent’s abdomen, the man collapsed and began retching violently.
An entirely predictable outcome.
As Gu Yang-cheol turned and descended from the arena, I noticed several men’s eyes gleaming with interest.
Some were likely his subordinates, while others were watching him warily to prevent his advancement.
I couldn’t help but smile faintly.
The next opponent then took the stage, and another match commenced.
Victory and defeat continued to alternate.
Yet no one defeated Gu Yang-cheol.
The shortest matches lasted ten exchanges, the longest never exceeded twenty.
At an age barely past his prime years, he possessed the exceptional skill befitting a leader of the Ten Elders.
Naturally, mediocre challengers stood no chance against him.
“If he joins, he’ll immediately become a formidable asset.”
“Indeed he will.”
Yu Hyeon, standing beside me, gazed at Gu Yang-cheol with curious eyes. The Sega certainly had many talented individuals within its ranks.
Yang Jachun, counted among the Central Plains’ ten greatest masters, was one such talent, and Baek Ja-hyeon, the chief of bodyguard operations, was renowned as a Powerful Expert at the pinnacle of mastery.
Compared to such figures, Gu Yang-cheol certainly appeared weaker, yet looking toward the future, it was evident that Yu Hyeon believed his strength would undoubtedly become a cornerstone of the Sega.
I found myself smiling faintly once more.
“Go and eliminate the candidates I’ve designated.”
“Ha, understood.”
Yu Hyeon asked no further questions.
Whether he believed I had my reasons or simply acted out of loyalty to me remained unclear, but like someone who trusted everything implicitly, he bowed and withdrew from the area.
Thus the second examination came to an end.
The moment the results were announced, joy and sorrow clashed once more.
“Hahahaha! I passed! This is unbelievable!”
“Brother! We passed too!”
“We’re in—!”
“Woohoo!”
The Thugs from the back alleys cheered with unbridled excitement.
Everyone else watched in disbelief, yet none could voice their displeasure—those who had fallen were simply beneath them.
Still, it was impossible to ignore the irritation.
Mere Thugs standing on equal footing with themselves.
As expected, when Gu Yang-cheol and the other Ten Elders members fixed them with a deadly stare, the cheering Thugs flinched and hastily fell silent.
The way they quietly shrank into the corners made it clear they understood their true position.
With this, just over thirty candidates remained in total.
Everything would be decided in the final test.
All eyes turned toward the Man conducting the examination.
Everyone seemed to be waiting for him to speak.
The Man obliged their anticipation with a smile.
“Then, the final test. It will be conducted tomorrow morning, but I shall inform you of its nature. The Imperial Guards of the Jin Family serve not merely as protectors. You will be dispatched to Pyo Haeng, Sang Haeng, Inns, and even battlefields.”
This is precisely why the Nakhyang Jin Family recruits more guards than other great families. Some protect the clan or bloodline, while others undertake the most varied duties—Pyo Haeng, Sang Haeng, battlefield escort, and Inn assignments.
For this reason, diverse experience is essential.
Laughter escaped before the Man could finish speaking.
“Therefore, tomorrow you shall undertake a Pyo Haeng escort. Managers will accompany you, but I wish to observe your crisis response and situational judgment. The entire Pyo Haeng will proceed according to your decisions alone.”
“What… that’s absurd…”
“Sigh…”
Incredulous laughter erupted from various corners, but the Man paid no mind. This reaction appeared every time he selected people.
Above all, this was a test conducted every time.
The expressions of Gu Yang-cheol and the Ten Elders members, who had clearly heard of this from Hong Gu-hyeon, remained completely unchanged.
The way they naturally nodded, as if they already knew, proved my prediction was correct.
“Confer among yourselves and decide upon a Pyo Du and Deputy Pyo Du. Then I shall see you at dawn tomorrow.”
With those words, the Man turned and departed.
Fifteen had passed the Imperial Guards selection.
Four Thugs, seven others, and the remaining skilled Wanderers from the Red Light District.
They exchanged cautious glances.
The Pyo Du held a critical role in any Pyo Haeng escort.
Naturally, successful completion would earn them a respectable position and salary within the Jin Family.
But from the test just now, the Pyo Du had already been decided.
No one had defeated Gu Yang-cheol.
Moreover, the seven Ten Elders members in the Imperial Guards would support him.
Seven had been assigned to the Imperial Guards.
Eight had been assigned to miscellaneous duties.
And Hong Gu-hyeon, who had ascended to the heavens.
All sixteen Ten Elders members had gathered.
The way they all smiled with satisfaction suggested they hadn’t even realized they had been exposed.
The key was that they had been sworn to secrecy.
Moreover, the way I naturally let slip Hong Gu-hyeon’s whereabouts was equally crucial.
Those who had seen Hong Gu-hyeon’s corpse were mostly individuals who had been tortured for their connections to him. Others suspected his sudden disappearance was linked to this incident, but since I had crafted a plausible explanation and spread it, while they harbored doubts, they chose to believe it.
When those men arrive, Hong Gu-hyeon will be the first thing they search for—this was my contingency for that eventuality.
It had worked flawlessly.
Not a single soul showed any sign of suspicion.
I slowly closed the window I had been watching through and departed.
There was nothing more to see.
The moment I arrived at my residence and stepped inside, I turned my gaze toward the sword hanging on the wall.
Dark as ink overall, with a dragon carved in gold upon the scabbard. It was a sword my grandfather had gifted me in childhood, and even when the Sega crumbled, even in that moment when death loomed before my eyes.
This sword alone remained in my hands.
I drew it forth and unsheathed it halfway.
Shing—!
A sharp metallic ring pierced my ears with intensity.
The moment it touched my skin, that keen edge that seemed ready to tear flesh asunder gleamed with greater brilliance than in that past moment when death had awaited me.
As if blessing my return.
I sheathed the sword once more and smiled.
“Become my strength once again.”
Hummmmm—!
At those words, the sword rang out as if in understanding, its blade singing.

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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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