The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 144

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Nakhyang Jin Family — Chapter 144

* * *

Surrounded by five men, Namgung Yeon steadied her breathing. They encircled her like pieces on a board, their eyes gleaming with killing intent and mockery.
Each one had reached the pinnacle of martial mastery.
The fact that there were five of them made it abundantly clear that the situation was far from favorable.
Namgung Yeon centered herself, drawing her focus inward.
“I believe in you!”
At the sound of Chaeseoha’s encouraging voice from behind, she smiled.
The unwavering confidence in those words, coupled with an expression and tone utterly devoid of fear, only served to kindle a greater courage within her.
Namgung Yeon’s eyes blazed as she took in every detail of those before her.
“Are you truly prepared to do this? I would surrender in your position.”
“Unlike you, I am not well acquainted with the concept of surrender.”
“Ha, how amusing. Why do you still lack such basic understanding of your circumstances?”
Hyeon Illyang’s laughter brimmed with confidence. No matter what she attempted, this overwhelming advantage could not be broken.
It was the kind of certainty possessed by one who had never known failure in all their days.
Namgung Yeon returned his mockery with her own.
“It seems you are the one who fails to grasp the situation. This deed… you will surely come to regret it deeply.”
“Words are wasted here. Very well. What are you waiting for? I grow weary. Bring her down.”
“Yes!”
The men of the Four Swords of Gi Ryeon, having received their orders, assumed their combat stance.
Namgung Yeon observed them carefully, her mind working.
In terms of individual ability alone, she was undoubtedly superior.
Yet these four men seemed far more adept at deploying coordinated sword formations to overwhelm an opponent than at one-on-one combat.
She was certain they would employ a strategy where one created an opening and another exploited it.
Their stride, their movements, the gestures of their hands, the gleam in their eyes, their expressions.
She missed nothing, committing every detail to memory.

“Most people have a place that moves first when they intend to do something. If you can see only that, you’ve already won half the battle.”

My eyes gleamed as I recalled Jin Cheon-u’s voice resonating in my ears once more.
In that instant, I saw one man’s feet dragging across the ground.
Clang!
A sword came flying at me.
As I deflected it and shifted sideways, another man’s blade thrust toward what I thought was an opening in my defense.
Rather than block it, I spun and swept my sword in a wide arc.
Screech!
“Ugh?!”
The assailant whose back was slashed endured the pain, swallowing a groan.
Simultaneously, something gleaming came at me from above and below.
Whoosh-whoosh-slash!
Sword light flashed brilliantly, releasing a sharp aura.
Evading the gaps perfectly seemed virtually impossible, yet Namgung Yeon kicked off the ground lightly and twisted her body into a spin.
Slash!
One sweeping blade cut through her hair, while the sword coming from below shredded her garment’s hem.
Yet when she landed, her body bore no wounds.
Only her long, flowing hair had become short.
Thud!
“…!”
Namgung Yeon suddenly froze, staring at her own hair fluttering down.
Chaeseoha, who had been watching as well, gasped in shock, her mouth hanging open for a long moment.
The Four Swords of Gi Ryeon wore puzzled expressions as they observed the two women, but as that brief silence stretched, Namgung Yeon’s eyes began to burn with fury.
“You… you… wretches-!”
Slash!
In an instant, Namgung Yeon moved.
She kicked off the ground and closed the distance in one breath, thrusting her sword forward with a thick, murderous intent that pressed down upon them.
Clang!
The moment the man barely blocked her blade and tried to create an opening, he suddenly found the space invaded by a strange, overwhelming pressure.
Then the sword path twisted, flying in an unexpected direction.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-slash!
Shoulder, chest, waist—all slashed, followed by a thrust toward his neck.
At that moment.
Clang!
Another man beside him instantly deflected her blade.
The rebounding sword exposed an opening in Namgung Yeon’s defense.
The man seized the opportunity and began to swing his sword.
Whoosh—
Namgung Yeon kicked up a spray of dirt.
“Argh?!”
As the sudden shower of earth flew toward his face, the startled man’s body froze momentarily, faltering.
She was not one to miss such an opening.
Thwack—!
The extended blade pierced straight through the man’s heart and chest.
“Kugh?!”
A violent gasp escaped as the sword sank in without hesitation, and Namgung Yeon withdrew the blade while sweeping her leg to hurl the man’s body away.
Crash—!
The moment the flying body hit the ground, a sharp metallic ring cut through the air.
Clang—!
Namgung Yeon twisted her body and blocked the incoming sword.
She parried the first strike and retreated half a step, deflecting another blade coming from the side. Such a feat required perfect awareness of the opponent’s position and every movement.
But the relentless sword pressed forward, its sinister whistle as piercing as a hawk’s cry, thrusting toward her.
Slash—!
In that instant, her side was cut.
But she knew this was no time to dwell on pain.
Gritting her teeth, she poured her spiritual energy back into her blade.
Screech—!
Crash—!
Something suddenly flew at her and struck her head. Immediately after, the swords of three men already in motion slashed across her body.
Scrape—!
Slash—!
The blades cut deep, though not catastrophically so.
Across her chest, waist, and thigh.
Overwhelmed by the terrible pain, Namgung Yeon couldn’t even cry out as her body collapsed to the ground.
“Sister Namgung—!”
Chaeseoha rushed over in shock, checking her condition. While the sword wounds weren’t too deep, blood streamed freely from where a stone had struck her head.
Chaeseoha’s sharp eyes turned toward Hyeon Illyang.
The stone he had thrown had struck Namgung Yeon’s head directly.
Yet he showed no remorse.
Instead, Hyeon Illyang frowned as he looked at the fallen man and the three gasping for breath.
“So these are the Four Swords of Gi Ryeon… tsk tsk.”
“I… I apologize, Young Master So.”
“We are ashamed.”
Three men lowered their heads.
They knew they had failed to subdue a single woman, had been cut down, and were now overwhelmed.
Hyeon Illyang approached slowly, gazing down at the fallen Namgung Yeon.
Seeing her motionless, unconscious state, he frowned deeper and gripped his sword.
Scrape—!
He drew his blade and pointed it at her.
“What are you doing?!”
A sharp voice rang out loudly.
My gaze, honed to a lethal edge, seemed ready to tear Hyeon Illyang apart.
Yet he showed no sign of fear whatsoever, instead offering a mocking smile as he looked toward Chaeseoha.
“If you draw a blade against the Gi Ryeon Hyeon Family, you must be prepared to die, mustn’t you?”
“You were the ones who started this.”
“Ha, it matters not who began it. What matters is that I’ve suffered a wound to my pride—thanks to that woman.”
Hyeon Illyang spoke these words while subtly shifting his stance.
Thud!
“Gasp!”
Whether to rouse the unconscious Namgung Yeon or simply to vent his frustration, the moment his foot connected with her abdomen, she gasped sharply and her eyes snapped open.
Yet she struggled to regain full consciousness, her trembling form gripping Chaeseoha’s hand with whatever strength remained.
It was as though she were declaring her will to protect her at any cost.
It was Hyeon Illyang who found himself taken aback by this sight.
He had encountered many with admirable spirit, but none who displayed such resolve while staring death in the face.
Yet Namgung Yeon’s actions now were different.
She cared nothing for her own life.
Her will held only one purpose—to protect Chaeseoha.
Displeased by this, he sneered again and reached for the sword she held.
“…!”
Yet the woman, though appearing helpless, wielded a strength that belied her state, refusing to let it be taken.
Trembling—
From the way her body shook, it was clear she was drawing upon every ounce of strength she could muster to protect that blade.
Hyeon Illyang’s eyes, which had held mockery, turned savage.
If she insisted on resisting, it would be far simpler to kill her.
The moment he withdrew his hand from her sword and raised his own blade high—
Namgung Yeon, whom he believed incapable of movement, suddenly surged to her feet and hurled herself forward in a blink.
Shing—!
That flash of steel was nothing short of instantaneous.
What followed was the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword—the fastest technique in the Namgung Family’s martial arts.
The swiftest blade of the Namgung.
The moment the brilliant sword light before his eyes faded and vanished—
The three men standing guard over Hyeon Illyang staggered.
“Ugh!”
One clutched at his throat as blood poured forth, while another, eyes wide in shock, collapsed as he stared at the gaping wound through his own heart.
The last man’s head had already rolled across the ground.
“Haa, haa, haa….”
Only Namgung Yeon remained standing in that place.
Her cold gaze, sharp as she drew ragged breaths, was merciless.
She then looked upon the stunned and horrified Hyeon Illyang.
“…What…!”
“I simply needed a moment to catch my breath, and thanks to you, I was able to rest well.”
Namgung Yeon wiped the blood trickling down her forehead and spoke matter-of-factly. In truth, she had expended considerable stamina in that brief exchange and needed time to catch her breath.
That reprieve had come from none other than Hyeon Illyang.
Though she had taken an unexpected blow, she had managed to steady her breathing and conserve what little strength remained in that fleeting moment.
Namgung Yeon slowly leveled her sword toward Hyeon Illyang.
“You stand alone now.”
Gulp—!
At her calm words, Hyeon Illyang swallowed hard.
When he glanced around, all four of the Four Swords of Gi Ryeon who had been standing guard lay motionless upon the ground.
Four men had fallen to a single person.
Knowing their caliber better than anyone, Hyeon Illyang understood that what had transpired was something even he could not accomplish.
He clenched his teeth hard.
Blood seeped from the force of his bite, yet such pain paled in comparison to this humiliation.
Should he draw his sword? Or should he retreat?
Neither option was favorable.
If he fought, there was perhaps a chance of victory, but that could hardly be called a ten-fold probability of success, and he risked sustaining grievous wounds.
Retreating, on the other hand, was nothing short of disgrace.
Unable to choose either path, his body trembled—until that moment.
Namgung Yeon’s eyes, now perfectly composed, grew even colder.
“Withdraw. This is my final warning.”
Namgung Yeon unleashed her spiritual energy.
As if to prove she still had strength to spare, she drew upon every ounce of her modest inner power, pressing down upon Hyeon Illyang with overwhelming force.
His expression shifted dramatically.
His face flushed crimson, then crumpled like crumpled paper.
The veins bulging across his features made it clear to anyone watching that his rage was on the verge of erupting.
Yet he did not charge forward recklessly.
Understanding his precarious position all too well, he ground his teeth until they nearly shattered, then turned away with heavy, furious steps.
Without uttering a word, he stalked toward his horse with an angry gait, mounted it, and glared back at Namgung Yeon and Chaeseoha before unleashing a frenzied roar.
“Do not think this ends here—!”
Crash—!
The shout rang out like thunder, assaulting the eardrums.
Chaeseoha, lacking inner power, had to cover her ears against the force, but Namgung Yeon merely furrowed her brow and watched Hyeon Illyang’s figure fade into the distance.
As he disappeared from view, the tension finally released, and she collapsed to the ground.
“Are… are you alright?”
“Haa… Yes, aside from a slight headache, I’m fine. And you, physician?”
“Me? I’m perfectly well. But let me see your head.”
Chaeseoha carefully wiped away the blood flowing from Namgung Yeon’s head and began administering basic treatment. Her movements were swift yet gentle, and the pain was scarcely noticeable—so much so that Namgung Yeon was taken aback.
But soon, as if understanding something, she stared intently at Chaeseoha and spoke with an awkward expression.
“Now I understand why the Young Master holds you in such high regard.”
“Because my medical skills are excellent?”
“…Yes.”
“I understand.”
Chaeseoha finished her treatment with a faint smile.
Soon, the two women rose carefully to their feet and surveyed their surroundings, only to remember the completely destroyed carriage and the horse that had fled. They exchanged glances and could only offer each other bitter smiles.
“What do we do about this?”
No matter how hard I thought, no solution came to mind.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————