The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 145

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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 145

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Sleep is the best medicine.
The saying proved true—as I slowly opened my eyes, I felt my body grow considerably lighter.
The fierce battle with Hoyeon had left me in such pain that sleep had been nearly impossible.
Yet after resting, the pain had subsided considerably.
Enough that I could manage even vigorous movements without concern.
I slowly raised my upper body and surveyed my surroundings.
The moonlit landscape from before had transformed—now the sun blazed down with such intensity it felt almost cruel.
Frowning, I turned to look beside me, and an odd scene caught my attention.
“Haha, did you sleep well?”
“…How is your body feeling?”
Chaeseoha wore an unmistakably awkward smile, while Namgung Yeon attempted to appear composed, though his appearance told a different story entirely.
How does one return from fetching a carriage with a bandage wrapped around their head?
And where had their long hair gone—why was it now cut short?
Unable to comprehend the situation, I let out a hollow laugh and looked around, only to find the carriage nowhere to be seen. Even the horse they’d ridden was gone.
“I sent you to run an errand. I didn’t tell you to sell the horse.”
“…We didn’t sell it. We just… got scared and it ran away.”
I found myself momentarily confused by Chaeseoha’s words.
A well-trained horse bolting meant the situation had been dire indeed.
It likely had something to do with Namgung Yeon’s condition.
Without thinking, I furrowed my brow and sighed.
“Can’t you two manage even a simple errand properly?”
“We did! We did it correctly.”
“Indeed. We went to Nanzhou as you instructed and retrieved the carriage from the Yunlong Inn.”
At the mention of the Yunlong Inn, I looked at Chaeseoha with confusion. I had certainly sent them to purchase a carriage, but I had never mentioned retrieving one from the Yunlong Inn.
Most of the carriages at the Yunlong Inn in Chengdu were prepared for distinguished guests and were not to be used casually.
Moreover, as carriages reserved for honored guests, they were excessively large and ornate—impractical for long-distance travel.
“Why the Yunlong Inn, of all places…?”
“Wasn’t that where you wanted us to get it from?”
“I gave you money to buy a carriage. Was that a dream?”
“No, we usually do it that way.”
“Didn’t I tell you to buy one this time?”
“I intended to follow the usual procedure, but I apologize.”
It seemed they had chosen the Yunlong Inn’s carriage knowing it was the finest, wanting to provide me with the best.
“Never mind that.”
Suddenly, I noticed something unfamiliar and turned my attention toward it.
None other than the sword hanging at Namgung Yeon’s waist.
Though I hadn’t drawn the blade to examine it, its appearance and form were far from ordinary. Even at a glance, it possessed considerable value.
Was it because of the way I gazed intently at the sword?
Namgung Yeon slowly concealed it, drawing the blade behind her back. Puzzled by this inexplicable behavior, I tilted my head and looked toward Chaeseoha.
“Then where did the money go?”
“Ah, well… you see, Miss Yeon’s sword was broken. So I bought her a new one.”
“With your own money?”
“No. With yours, Young Master. I’m your guard, after all.”
Chaeseoha offered an awkward smile and averted her gaze once more. The fact that she knew she’d erred yet acted anyway suggested there must have been unavoidable circumstances.
Besides, it wasn’t in her nature to squander my funds carelessly.
I turned my attention back to Namgung Yeon.
“Draw the sword.”
“Yes.”
Shing—
The sound of the blade being drawn was extraordinary.
I couldn’t discern who had forged it, but it bore the unmistakable mark of a master craftsman’s work.
Namgung Yeon’s stance as she held the sword appeared lighter than I’d expected.
Her grip was firm without apparent strain, and her arm and shoulder showed no sign of sagging under the weight.
This meant the sword’s weight was perfectly balanced for her, imposing no burden whatsoever.
I stroked my chin and smiled.
They recognized its quality and purchased it?
“How much was it?”
“Ten… gold taels… Ah, I’ll repay you. I’m truly sorry.”
“No, I shall repay it. You needn’t concern yourself, Physician. Young Master, please deduct the cost from my monthly wages.”
At the mention of ten gold taels, my eyes widened involuntarily.
Interpreting this as disapproval of wasteful spending, both Chaeseoha and Namgung Yeon hastily offered explanations and apologies.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Even if we’d paid twice that, it would be a bargain.”
“Pardon?”
“That’s its true worth. If I were to sell it… I’d fetch at least twenty gold taels. If presented to the Emperor, the profit could be even greater.”
“To that extent?”
I nodded, observing the astonishment on both women’s faces.
Namgung Yeon, whose sword had shattered during her martial bout with Moryeong Hyeok, had acquired a blade of renowned quality for far less than its true value.
It was a perfect circumstance—one that felt like destiny itself.
I gazed at Namgung Yeon and smiled.
“You’ve obtained a stroke of fortune.”
For a martial artist, acquiring such a fine weapon—a companion blade—was fortune enough.
“I… thank you. I shall repay the debt without fail, so please don’t worry.”
“Don’t repay it. Instead, prove your loyalty. That will profit me far more.”
“…!”
How long would it take to repay ten taels of gold from Namgung Yeon’s monthly stipend? No matter how generous the Nakhyang Jin Family’s wages were, it would be impossible in merely a year or so.
I had no desire to wait for that.
It was far more profitable to give it now and gain his loyalty.
As expected, Namgung Yeon’s eyes glistened with moisture.
The moment I saw that, I hastily turned my head away.
“By the way, what happened? What became of the carriage?”
“Well, about that….”
Chaeseoha carefully began to recount everything that had occurred in Nanzhou. As I listened to all the events from the moment of arrival until now, I could piece together the situation to some degree.
“Strange people, weren’t they?”
“They must have recognized it as treasure from the start. Even if it had been someone else instead of them, the result would have been the same. As they said, treasures in the martial world have no rightful owner.”
“But we paid money for it?”
“If you steal it without anyone knowing, ownership changes hands. That’s the way of the martial world.”
Moreover, a sword was the most commonly used weapon in this martial realm.
In a place where countless people would rush forward at the mere mention of a legendary blade, a treasure rested in the hands of someone who seemed ignorant of its value.
Coveting it was only natural.
It could become a family heirloom passed down through generations, or if one made a name for themselves in the martial world, that sword could become a symbol in itself.
“Setting that aside, the Gireongcheon-ga….”
“Do you know of them?”
“They are a force that divides Gansu between them. Though they failed to earn a place among the Eight Great Families, they are of comparable standing. I’ve made a troublesome connection.”
“….”
Aside from Gansu, they were not particularly distinguished as a family, but that did not mean they were inferior to the Eight Great Families.
The world contained countless types of people.
Some sought to make their names known throughout the realm, while others dedicated their entire lives to their family’s glory.
Most of the renowned families and sects comparable to the Eight Great Families fell into this latter category, but the Gireongcheon-ga was different.
They chose to be frogs in a well.
They found their lives sufficiently satisfying ruling as kings within the well of Gansu.
It meant they did not bother to step forward and draw their swords to make their family’s name and spirit known.
The incident that most clearly demonstrated this was when the Demon Sect stirred to action.
Countless Demon Sect disciples marched into Gansu to seize control, and brave righteous cultivators drew their swords to stop them, yet the Gireongcheon-ga did nothing but lock their gates.
They made excuses about being blockaded by the Demon Sect, but given how suspiciously unscathed they emerged, one could not help but suspect some sort of deal had been made.
Moreover, the Demon Sect disciples’ bizarrely rapid advance only fueled the rumors.
But no one dug deeper.
Most of the countless sects and families in Gansu had been destroyed in the battle against the Demon Sect, and the Martial Arts Alliance was too busy managing the aftermath to spare attention for the Gireongcheon-ga.
Furthermore, the Gireongcheon-ga itself seemed to have held its breath for a long time, refraining from external activities as if to prevent their name from being mentioned.
“Such a thing….”
“It’s a means of survival, so don’t judge them harshly. That’s their justice, isn’t it?”
At my words, Namgung Yeon seemed displeased about something, yet he nodded as if accepting my explanation.
Justice differed from person to person, and survival was human instinct.
As it had been for me.
“It seems we won’t be able to avoid this.”
“I’m sorry for causing trouble.”
“No. This is what the Martial Arts World is all about.”
To reach Namman in the first place, we had to slip through Xinjiang.
But unlike the Allied Faction, which we’d already passed, the Gireun Hyeon Family had established themselves at the foot of Gireun Mountain, so our paths were bound to intersect.
If Young Master So, angered by this incident, mobilized Sega Warriors to capture us, we would inevitably face them.
If we were to detour through Qinghai instead, it would result in a significantly longer journey, drastically extending our timeline.
I let out a quiet laugh.
“We can’t avoid going anyway. Besides, we haven’t done anything wrong—why should we skulk about?”
“Understood. I will do my utmost to ensure your safety, Young Master.”
“That’s reassuring to hear.”
I nodded with satisfaction at Namgung Yeon’s response.
I expected they would come at us even more recklessly.
Since we hadn’t mentioned the Nakhyang Jin Family, they likely perceived us as either wealthy merchants unfamiliar with Gansu or perhaps the daughter of some high official.
Once they learned how dangerous that assumption was, so be it.
“You’re smiling, Young Master, so there’s nothing to worry about, is there?”
“What… makes you say that?”
“Every time you smile like that, something always happens and you always resolve it.”
“…”
Namgung Yeon found herself momentarily speechless at Chaeseoha’s innocent, radiant smile.
Incidents weren’t exactly desirable outcomes.
I shook my head slowly and spoke.
“We’ll stay here one more day and depart tomorrow. First, we need to head to Nanzhou and purchase a new carriage.”
“Stay here another day? Wouldn’t it be better to leave immediately?”
I shook my head at Chaeseoha’s suggestion.
We could leave right now if we wanted to.
However, while my condition had improved somewhat, I couldn’t say I was fully recovered, and the two women were likely exhausted from the ordeal.
It seemed they hadn’t even managed to eat.
“Eat and rest first. And take this—you should consume this.”
I withdrew a small wooden box from my robes and tossed it toward Namgung Yeon.
Upon catching it and noticing the box was stained with blood, she looked at me with questioning eyes, but I casually brushed off her gaze and urged her to open it.
Click—
Namgung Yeon nodded and carefully opened the wooden box.
In that instant, a refreshing fragrance wafted forth, and her eyes widened.
It wasn’t just Namgung Yeon.
Chaeseoha, seeing the Spirit Elixir for the first time, gasped and rushed over.
“What is this?! Where did you get it? The spiritual energy is incredible!”
“Can’t you tell by looking? It’s a Spirit Elixir.”
“…Am I supposed to consume this? Not you, Young Master?”
“I don’t need it. Right now, you need it most.”
If the Summoning Elixir had been perfectly suited for Jang Chuchyeong, then the Jaso Elixir was precisely tailored for Namgung Yeon.
And right now, the person who needs the Spirit Elixir most is Namgung Yeon.
It will take considerable time to fully absorb the spiritual energy, but it’s certain that it will greatly help increase his meager internal cultivation.
That way, things will become a bit easier for me.
I chuckled softly and urged him to sit in a cross-legged position.
Namgung Yeon, who had awkwardly crossed his legs and sat down, kept glancing nervously in my direction before finally swallowing hard and managing to open his mouth.
“I would like to know what kind of Spirit Elixir this is, if I may….”
“Do you really need to know?”
“I understand that each Spirit Elixir has different properties. I was just wondering, just in case….”
He had a point.
Most things called Spirit Elixirs possessed different properties, and these significantly influenced the martial arts one was cultivating.
This was because most places that created Spirit Elixirs tried to make ones that best matched their own martial arts and properties.
So it was only natural to be curious, since it might affect his martial arts.
I met the questioning gaze of Namgung Yeon and smiled faintly.
“Jaso Sect.”
“…!”
“What?!”
In that instant, Namgung Yeon’s eyes widened in shock, and Chaeseoha’s hand flew to cover her mouth.
The fact that I, who had never even visited a Taoist shrine, possessed something I shouldn’t have, ultimately pointed to one single conclusion.

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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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