The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 15

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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 76

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The resplendent chamber before my eyes surpassed even the quarters of Jin Ga-muk, the patriarch of the Nakhyang Jin Family, beyond all comparison.
The very heart and pinnacle of all power.
The genesis and terminus of the Central Plains and the nation’s history.
The Imperial Palace.
Within it, the most magnificent and grand—a place no one could enter without permission.
The Emperor’s quarters.
Chaeseoha knelt there, her gaze fixed upon the floor.
She dared not lift her eyes upward.
Before her stood one whose gaze she could not meet.
‘Exhale…’
She steadied her trembling heart and regulated her breathing.
Then she sensed the figure before her gesture.
In that same moment.
Whoosh—
Another figure beside her rushed forward and forcibly seized her chin, lifting her head.
Then the Emperor’s visage came into view.
His towering frame and robust physique struck her first.
Despite approaching a hundred years of age, his build was impossibly impressive, and his face appeared far too youthful for such years.
Even his complexion seemed vibrant.
Yet upon closer inspection, all of it was illusion.
The healthy complexion was merely cosmetics applied to match his skin tone, concealing the truth—while his body appeared young and firm, his eyes had grown dull and lost their brilliance.
The faint scent of powder pricked her nostrils.
In that instant, she detected something amiss in that fragrance.
The Emperor himself and those around him seemed oblivious, yet her senses could not be deceived.
Without revealing her discovery, she averted her gaze.
It was then that the Emperor’s weighty voice reached her.
“How repulsive.”
Though she had heard such words countless times before, the impact felt different now.
Her body instinctively shrank back.
The Emperor’s eyes held the emotion of one gazing upon something grotesque, abhorrent, and beneath filth itself.
It was not an unusual sentiment, yet it struck her with sudden force—something she had never felt within the Nakhyang Jin Family.
The Emperor’s single word shattered the dreams she had harbored and dragged her violently back to reality.
“Cover it.”
At the Emperor’s command, those beside him moved with haste.
They produced a peculiar white mask from their robes.
It was a strange mask that covered not merely the lower face, but the entire visage—a peculiar contraption designed to completely obscure one’s identity.
The man paid no heed to Chaeseoha’s resistance, and before she could even protest, he fastened the mask upon her face and locked it securely in place.
Chaeseoha sank to the ground, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, and the Emperor standing before her gazed down at her with measured intensity before extending his hand.
“I hear you are descended from the lineage of Yi-seon. Take my pulse.”
“…!”
At those quiet words, Chaeseoha’s body trembled. She wished to resist, yet the cruel reality of her circumstances made resistance impossible, only deepening her anguish.
Carefully, she reached out and began to examine his pulse.
‘…!’
The moment her fingers touched his wrist, understanding crystallized within her.
The Emperor’s remaining lifespan was measured in mere days.
This was far beyond what acupuncture alone could remedy.
The deterioration caused by age was troublesome enough, but the cosmetics applied to conceal it had only exacerbated the crisis.
This was no mere application of makeup from a day or two past.
He did not even comprehend the gravity of what he had done.
Because of this, his condition had only worsened with each passing moment, and thus he had sought her out.
To save the Emperor now, nothing less than a spirit elixir from the Jin Family would suffice, yet the problem was that she possessed none.
The last remaining pill had been consumed by Jin Cheon-u.
The gravest difficulty was that even the Nine Sects’ spirit elixirs, which the Emperor could easily procure, would prove utterly useless for his condition.
After all, an elixir crafted for healing could never possess the same efficacy as one designed to enhance inner cultivation.
Should she admit defeat now, she sensed that blades would rain down from all directions, tearing her asunder.
Chaeseoha steadied her breathing and carefully withdrew her hand.
Then the Emperor’s voice emerged.
“Speak.”
“Your body appears robust, yet within, all is already lost. This deterioration stems from age itself, and no physician, regardless of their skill, could reverse it.”
At Chaeseoha’s composed words, the attention of those surrounding them began to converge upon her.
From this moment forward….
Even imagining a blade pressed against her throat seemed insufficient.
A single misspoken word would invite death’s sharp embrace.
She steeled her resolve.
The atmosphere shifted palpably.
She felt the Emperor’s gaze sharpen like a blade’s edge. As expected, the man standing beside her placed his hand upon his sword’s hilt.
The moment his command fell, that blade would be drawn.
Chaeseoha spoke urgently.
“Yet there remains a path forward.”
It was impossible at this very moment.
But this was the Imperial Palace.
Unlike the Nakhyang Jin Family, the Emperor’s command could summon even non-existent medicinal ingredients within days—such servants abounded here.
Chaeseoha observed the Emperor’s pupils dilate and offered a subtle smile.
“Speak.”
“The Jin Family’s spirit elixir must be crafted. For this, rare ingredients are required, and acupuncture combined with medicinal treatment must be employed to maximize the elixir’s potency.”
“I won’t have to die?”
“The family’s Spirit Elixir is not an immortality herb. However, we can delay that time. It could be anywhere from a few years to more than a decade.”
Words sweeter than honey to one who awaits only death. If I could just create the Spirit Elixir, perhaps I might live more than a decade longer.
The Emperor, too, would be tempted to escape death’s shadow, even if only temporarily.
Moreover, I naturally highlighted my own value by establishing the need for acupuncture and medicine to create the elixir.
The Spirit Elixir, acupuncture, and medicine.
No human who wishes to live would dare treat her carelessly.
Of course, I had never succeeded in creating it until now, and even if I did, there was no guarantee the efficacy would be sufficient to save the Emperor, but in any case, it seemed I wouldn’t have to worry about losing my head for the time being.
I felt relieved at having bought myself some time.

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“Ahahaha! This is fun! So much fun!”
Gu Gunbaek’s voice rang out boisterously.
Thanks to him, the eyes of others enjoying gambling turned toward him. But only for a moment—they gasped in astonishment at the unexpected sight.
At the table where Gu Gunbaek sat, countless silver coins and ingots were piled high.
What had started with merely a few taels of silver continued to grow, and now had reached an unmanageable level.
As a result, those who had faced him were stripped of everything they possessed.
Literally not a speck of dust remained.
Silver coins, jewelry, clothes, everything of value.
The sight of a dozen Honored Guests fleeing completely bare was a rare spectacle one would never normally witness.
Even those watching couldn’t help but laugh at the scene.
“With this, we could actually build a palace?”
“Exactly! Master is the best!”
“Hehehehe! I shall pass my palace on to you.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
Gu Gunbaek spoke with a solemn expression, his mood lifted by the mountain of wealth, while Jang Chuchyeong bowed repeatedly in gratitude.
With such riches piled before him—wealth he could never touch even if he served as an attendant his entire life—how could his eyes not spin with greed?
I watched the scene and let out a quiet chuckle.
“Have you enjoyed yourselves enough?”
“You brat! I’m on a winning streak—don’t jinx me. We need one more big haul to build that palace. Wait and see.”
Gu Gunbaek waved his hand dismissively, showing no intention of leaving whatsoever.
Both he and Jang Chuchyeong had their eyes completely glazed over with greed; there seemed no point in saying anything more.
“Then I’ll take a look around and come back. Won’t you join me?”
“I’ll be here, so go ahead.”
Without even looking at me, he touched his cards again, showing no intention of leaving.
Jang Chuchyeong beside him was merely cheering and encouraging. From the look of it, neither of them seemed inclined to move.
In the end, I left the two of them at the gambling house and turned away.
Stepping outside, I headed back toward where the arena was located.
The heat had cooled somewhat from before, but bloody combat still raged on.
As I confirmed this and turned my gaze toward where the Emperor and Chaeseoha had been, my eyes found only empty space.
“For now it seems manageable, but time won’t be on our side for long.”
From Chaeseoha’s perspective, the only way to survive was to create a Spirit Elixir. She had likely mentioned this, and for the dying Emperor, it was like grasping at a final lifeline.
But she wouldn’t be able to buy much time.
Procuring materials from the Imperial Palace happens in an instant.
If she fails to create the Spirit Elixir, or if the truth that its efficacy is imperfect comes to light, she won’t survive. And even if I wanted to save her, the Imperial Palace itself makes it nearly impossible.
Chaeseoha’s abilities are far too remarkable to let slip away so pathetically.
Then I’ll have to resolve this here.
I turned my gaze and began walking slowly.
It was then that I heard the voice of someone familiar.
“Hahaha! Master! Is that something you purchased at the auction house today?”
“Indeed. It cost quite a bit, but what do you think? Isn’t it worth using?”
Turning my gaze lightly, I could see many people gathered around the Masked Martial Artist.
Yet the situation looked amusing.
They were women who could be called beauties anywhere, but what was peculiar was that they wore only thin robes and shackles around one ankle.
Whether this situation was shameful or not, some women with deeply flushed faces couldn’t lift their heads, grinding their teeth as if in resentment.
Slaves.
This is what freshly sold slaves from the auction house typically look like.
The fact that even in this situation they hadn’t given up and still showed their pride made me think they were the daughters of some fallen high official.
Perhaps they were princesses of a fallen nation or concubines of an abandoned Emperor.
People come here to be sold for various reasons.
I turned my gaze again to look at the men.
Their voices were reaching me faintly.
“Ah, now that I think about it, I heard you accomplished something remarkable this time? Because of that, the Dragon Emperor’s trust in you has grown tremendously. Haha.”
“Nothing remarkable about it. I simply found a person. I never expected they’d be there, though…”
“Hm? They were somewhere you knew?”
“Indeed. As they say, the lamp at the base is darkest… Hahaha.”
“Since the Dragon Emperor will grant you anything, you can now obtain whatever you desire!”
“Obtain? What I’m getting back is simply what was already mine. Isn’t that so?”
“Ah-! Of course! Naturally, Master! Hahaha.”
They were approaching each other, conversing pleasantly.
While casting sinister glances at the women being dragged along, they behaved as if refined—it looked rather amusing.
Among them, I found one who seemed most manageable.
One following at a slight distance from my uncle’s side.
Even though he wore the same mask and was called an Honored Guest, his rank seemed somewhat lower—he couldn’t engage in proper conversation and seemed busy flattering with laughter whenever the opportunity arose.
As I narrowed the distance between us and passed by him.
I tapped his shoulder and extended my hand.
“Ugh?! What are you doing!”
“My apologies. But before you cry out, wouldn’t it be better to look ahead and walk properly?”
“Ugh…!”
The man whose shoulder I’d bumped into cried out and glared at me fiercely, but he shrank back as though deflated by the words that followed from my lips.
A person’s actions and manner of speech inevitably reveal the power they possess.
An unguarded tone and gaze.
If one displays eyes that yield to no one and an air of gravity, the other begins to wonder—might this person’s station be higher than my own?
Just as this man was doing now.
I could see his eyes rolling as he studied my unfamiliar mask.
He seemed to harbor a glimmer of hope that my uncle, who walked alongside me, might offer him aid—but all that came was the sharp click of his tongue, and my uncle and those who followed him were already drifting steadily away.
The man had to salvage what little pride remained.
“Hmph! Mind yourself from now on!”
With those words, the man hurried after my uncle in a clumsy scramble.
I watched him disappear swiftly, then continued on my way.
I glanced down at my hand.
A bronze medallion caught my eye.
It was a rank far below the jade medallion, which stood at the very pinnacle.
This naturally meant his station, authority, and power were not particularly high.
But it would serve my purpose well enough.
I quickened my pace toward the exit.
Now, I must place the orb in the jaws of the dragon that failed to ascend.
I thought of one person and let a small smile cross my lips.
“Where might you be?”

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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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