The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 142

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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 203

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Muyong Jungcheon entered the chamber, his teeth clenched, his brow furrowed. He caught sight of his own reflection in the mirror and struggled to suppress the rage that threatened to consume him.
Yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not extinguish the fury that continued to rise within him.
“Hye-myeong…!”
Crack!
The Family Head of the Number One Sword Sect and the Sword Emperor, Moryeong Hyeok.
Because he possessed such overwhelming strength and standing that anyone would have to acknowledge, the situation that unfolded in the grand hall could not be described merely as humiliation.
Within the Martial Arts Alliance, the name Sword Emperor Muyong Jungcheon wielded absolute influence.
The prestige of being called the Number One Sword Sect and the weight that came with the title of Sword Emperor.
And fortunately, with the Gonghuang absent and even the Taehuang refraining from interfering in Alliance matters, people naturally gathered one by one beneath the name of Sword Emperor.
This was the result.
Though he sat in the vacant seat of Alliance Leader—a seat he should never have occupied—and spoke of a non-existent position as Acting Alliance Leader, no one voiced any complaint.
All that remained for him was to choose the opportune moment to remove Hye-myeong, who had left the Alliance Leader’s seat vacant, and claim the title for himself.
Yet it all shattered in an instant.
With Hye-myeong’s arrival.
Muyong Jungcheon could still vividly see the image of him opening the door and stepping inside.
One could never believe he was someone who had spent so long on Mount Song in Buddhist devotion—he revealed an overwhelming presence and instantly captured the gaze and hearts of all present.
With but a glance, he forced me from the Alliance Leader’s seat, and the long-vacant position seemed to accept Hye-myeong as naturally as if it had finally found its rightful master.
Everyone in the hall bowed their heads to Hye-myeong and paid their respects, their breath catching before his majesty.
Those gathered wore expressions filled with reverence as they beheld the seat that had finally found its master.
So different from how they looked upon me, the Sword Emperor.
It was as if this revealed the absolute difference between Hye-myeong and myself.
As if the eyes and expressions of those present showed that even the Sword Emperor no longer existed, and the seat was naturally filled by Hye-myeong instead.
More solidly than ever.
Unless I could shake and shatter Hye-myeong’s majesty, there seemed to be no future for me.
So I revealed myself.
People needed to know that the majesty and weight of the Sword Emperor’s name was in no way inferior to the Gonghuang’s, so that my authority would not waver.
But I failed.
I was forced to endure humiliation instead.
Because of this, my influence would diminish greatly, and it was certain that the wavering faith in Hye-myeong, which had shaken due to his absence, would solidify once more.
Moreover, if Hye-myeong did not return to Mount Song and remained in the Alliance, all those who had supported me would turn away, and my plans would be utterly destroyed.
What method could overcome this predicament?
Practically speaking, none existed.
“No, there is… one way.”
Muyong Jungcheon smiled at this thought.
The absolute power that the Divine would grant.
The moment I obtained it, I would gain abilities rivaling those of an immortal, and with the birth of the new Twelve Pavilion Lords, I could wield its power as I wished.
A power capable of slaying even Hye-myeong.
Once I obtained it, the game would change entirely.
Mo Yong-cheon had to move swiftly.
Soon, the Dharma Protector of the True Sect would arrive at my residence bearing the Divine Stone to be bestowed upon the new Twelve Pavilion Lord.
I would soon grasp what I had so desperately awaited.
“Wait, Hye-myeong… Soon I shall send you to the Buddha’s side as you so desire.”

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By the authority of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Cheon Yul was released.
However, his bodyguards were expelled to Shanxi along with the Blue Heaven Sect, a decision that left the warriors of Jeongdo considerably discontented.
From their perspective, those were people they would not have minded killing.
Yet no one voiced any objection.
This decision had not come from the Sword Emperor, the acting Alliance Leader, but from Gonghuang Hye-myeong’s own resolve.
Naturally, rumors spread like wildfire in an instant.
“So he really did come back?”
“I saw him! Flying like a celestial bird into the Martial Arts Alliance! Ahahaha!”
“I heard he finished the meeting and is now resting in his quarters.”
“Ha! The position was empty in name only, so all that talk about changing things or not will finally make sense.”
“Hahaha, exactly. The Sword Emperor is impressive, but can he compare to the Death Emperor? That man is a legend in Jeongdo’s martial world—a true legend!”
“Indeed. And lately, the Moyong Family has been somewhat… questionable, haven’t they? They groomed Mo Yong Hyeok as the next Sword Emperor, but he falls short of Cheon Yul, and in terms of overall strength…”
“Shh, shh—that’s enough. Don’t bring up old stories. We’ll just invite trouble.”
Throughout Jeongdo, talk of Hye-myeong spread ceaselessly. Now that the vacant position was filled, the warriors of Jeongdo felt reassured, and their voices continued without pause.
Even those who had supported the Sword Emperor gave their thumbs up to Hye-myeong, which made me realize once again that the faith, trust, and reverence people held for Hye-myeong far surpassed what they felt for the Sword Emperor.
Hearing such talk, Cheon Yul and I slipped out of the Martial Arts Alliance and entered the Yunryong Inn.
Cheon Yul, who had remained tense until we opened the door and stepped inside, finally released a sigh of relief and collapsed into a seat.
His face was thoroughly exhausted, showing considerable fatigue.
Then he glanced at me and spoke.
“I nearly died.”
“Being alive is fortunate enough.”
“Ahahaha—wow! Gonghuang is truly terrifying. Grandfather’s anger was nothing in comparison.”
Cheon Yul, recalling the moment he stood before Hye-myeong, began sweating profusely once more.
For a moment, as if his mouth felt parched, he moved urgently to drink water, and only then did he seem to settle, collapsing into his seat with a sigh.
“I never imagined he was such a monster.”
“It is no coincidence that he is called the foremost of Jeongdo’s Three Emperors. The Death Emperor is formidable, but compared to Gonghuang, he falls short.”
“Hahaha, this should itch but why doesn’t it?”
“Because it is the truth.”
At my words, Cheon Yul sighed and furrowed his brow.
But no rebuttal came in return.
I refuse to accept that my grandfather, known as the strongest of Sa Do-cheon, falls short of the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, yet I know all too well that it is the truth.
But if they truly clashed, would the difference be merely a hair’s breadth?
Both are that exceptional.
“Tch, I thought the Sword Emperor might be worth testing, but that man is not. If I provoke him carelessly, only I will suffer losses.”
“Were you planning to wage a full-scale war?”
“No, no, not to that extent. I simply intended for us to seize the territory around Sanmen Gorge. Once we control that waterway, expanding into Shaanxi becomes trivial.”
I wore an expression of disbelief at such words.
Sanmen Gorge was a long river flanked by towering cliffs.
A neutral territory between Shanxi and Henan, it was a strategic chokepoint where one could easily cross into Shaanxi by utilizing the river passage.
Sa Do-cheon would seize that neutral ground?
The Martial Arts Alliance would never stand idle.
He could not possibly be unaware of this, yet he spoke of it so casually—it seemed Sa Do-cheon harbored the judgment that he could somehow manage even the Sword Emperor.
I had no idea how deeply he was being underestimated.
“From now on, the Alliance Leader will fulfill duties befitting his position. Sa Do-cheon must also regain his senses.”
“Will he not return to Songshan? Perhaps he won’t? Then it might be worth attempting something.”
“It would be meaningless.”
I shook my head and recalled Hye-myeong’s appearance.
Though I had not spoken it aloud, his eyes and expression made it clear.
Hye-myeong will not return to Songshan.
Having abandoned his duties and remained cloistered on the mountain, the consequences have accumulated.
He cannot possibly be ignorant of this.
Those who should have checked one another have instead united as one, wielding their combined strength to manipulate the Martial Arts Alliance as they pleased—even Muyong Jungcheon, the Black Emperor.
Mountains of issues await resolution, and he will move to unravel them all at once.
None other than Hye-myeong himself.
A man of unyielding temperament, he will lead without hesitation, and should anyone stand in his way, he will sweep them aside and restore the Martial Arts Alliance to its proper form.
In such circumstances, Sa Do-cheon would move to obstruct him?
Ordinarily, I would need to mobilize each regiment to counter Sa Do-cheon, but with Hye-myeong, it would not be strange if he stepped forward personally.
At that moment, Cheon Yul scratched his head and sighed.
“Why did he come down to cause such headaches instead of remaining cloistered as before? Like a mad monk.”
“Please do not provoke needlessly. Why not simply return now?”
“Ah—yes, I suppose I will return. But you, let us have a proper match.”
“I refuse.”
“Ah, why?!”
“Because I have no wish to become someone’s stepping stone.”
I spoke with a slight smile, and Cheon Yul narrowed his brows in disbelief.
He seemed not to have anticipated that I would speak so candidly about refusing to become a sacrifice for another’s growth.
I never engage in endeavors that result in loss.
That is my principle.
I smiled faintly and met Cheon Yul’s gaze.
“Now is the opportune moment to depart. Though matters are subdued by the Alliance Leader’s emergence, once the fact of Soocheonchu’s presence here begins to surface, you will not even be able to leave.”
“What? Why?”
“Well, the fame that comes from defeating Cheon Yul would be considerable.”
Even entering Sa Do-cheon’s domain, encountering Soocheonchu Cheon Yul is no simple matter. Yet imagine such a being simply appearing in Jeongdo, where the Martial Arts Alliance resides.
Even if swords clash, with the Martial Arts Alliance as a formidable backing, one can engage in combat without fear of losing one’s head.
These fools could rush forward mindlessly and swing their blades.
Moreover, Cheon Yul stands without bodyguards.
With no one to protect his exhausted form, there would be no shortage of those watching for such an opportunity.
That is precisely why now, with the commotion surrounding Hye-myeong’s return, presents the perfect moment to escape.
“Hmm….”
Cheon Yul swallowed a groan, as though understanding this.
Soon after, he scratched his cheeks like a monkey, furrowed his brow, then glanced at me with a puzzled expression and asked.
“You’re not planning to leave? Why aren’t you heading back?”
“For now, there is someone I wish to see.”
I smiled faintly and continued watching out the window.
What lay in my sight was the heart of the marketplace.
Naturally, many people passed through that street, and it was an unavoidable path to exit through the city gates.
There were other routes, but they were narrow, poorly maintained, and mostly filthy.
Moreover, given the nature of those dark alleys with poor security, people naturally gravitated toward the main marketplace.
“What are you staring at so intently?”
As I continued to gaze outward without shifting my eyes, Cheon Yul approached with a strange expression and quietly looked toward the window.
“There’s nothing there.”
“There is.”
“Huh?”
At my firm words, Cheon Yul examined the street once more, but finding nothing unusual, he tilted his head in bewilderment.
That was the moment.
My gaze fixed on one point, following the figure that moved.
Clop-clop—
Someone riding a horse.
The elaborate silk robes were nowhere to be seen, replaced instead with a common white linen robe, and a bamboo hat covered the face.
It was a sight one might see anywhere and consider unremarkable, yet the eyes barely visible between the brim of the hat were far too familiar.
I smiled and rested my chin on my hand.
“Finally leaving.”
My long wait had borne fruit.
Those around did not recognize him, but my eyes were precise.
Muyong Jungcheon, the Black Emperor.
I watched without turning my gaze away as he hurried to escape Jeongdo.

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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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