The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 152

—————
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 152

* * *

A man and an old man were ascending the winding mountain path.
The terrain was so treacherous that each step felt as though it would drain one’s strength entirely, yet the Herbalist navigated the mountain with practiced ease, while the man following behind him—whether blessed with superior martial prowess or simply exceptional conditioning—maintained his breathing without the slightest disruption.
The man pursued the Herbalist for some time toward an unknown destination, but when he came to where the old man finally stopped, his expression darkened considerably.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, this is it. I was gathering herbs when a foul stench assaulted my nose. I assumed it was a decaying animal carcass—such things decompose rapidly in warm weather—but when I looked more closely….”
“It was not?”
The Herbalist nodded.
Though he had initially dismissed it as an animal’s remains, upon closer inspection, it was unmistakably a human corpse, surrounded by what must have been copious bloodstains.
So many creatures had torn at the body that it no longer retained any recognizable form.
Upon hearing this account, the man’s brow furrowed deeply.
He considered examining the corpse directly, but it seemed that would have to be abandoned.
“An earthquake struck suddenly, and the ground split open with a tremendous crack! The corpse happened to fall right into that fissure….”
Just as the Herbalist described, a massive chasm was visible in the earth.
The depth was so unfathomable that descending into it seemed impossible.
Moreover, the certainty that the depth could not be gauged stemmed from one crucial fact: though the corpse had fallen into the crevasse, no odor whatsoever emanated from it.
The man exhaled a long sigh, his expression grim as he surveyed the surroundings.
The area was indeed devastated by the violent earthquake. Though he hoped to find even the smallest trace, broken trees lay buried beneath soil and debris, while tumbled boulders and earth had created complete chaos.
Finding anything in such a place seemed impossible.
“What was the corpse’s attire?”
“Its clothing? I’m afraid I don’t recall clearly. Besides, finding human corpses on this mountain is hardly uncommon.”
“…There are many bodies here?”
“This mountain is notorious for its abundance of abandoned corpses. Those whose lives have become unbearable or whose illnesses cannot be cured often seek this place. Once they enter, those unfamiliar with the mountain paths cannot easily escape—they simply perish here. And if that is not their fate, the abundance of wild animals ensures they become prey.”
The more the man heard, the less his frown eased.
Though the distance from where Jin Cheon-u had halted the carriage after leaving the Allied Faction to this location was considerable, it was not impossible to traverse.
If, as the Family Head Mo Yong-cheon had claimed, something had transpired between Jin Cheon-u and Hoyeon, this place would be the most likely location.
And conveniently, the Herbalist had discovered a corpse.
But the earthquake had swallowed the body, erasing all traces.
As if Heaven itself were protecting someone.
Now there was no way to determine whether the dead man was Hoyeon or someone else entirely.
-Leader, information has arrived.
At that moment, a voice suddenly pierced his mind through sound transmission.
Upon hearing his subordinate’s voice, the man’s eyes gleamed silently.
-This morning, Jin Cheon-u entered the Nakhyang Jin Family.
-…!
At this sudden news, the man released a sharp intake of breath.
I had already heard that Jin Cheon-u had settled matters with the Gi Ryeon Hyeon Family and turned his carriage around, but I never imagined he would simply enter Nakhyang as planned.
Then, was his movement toward the northwest where Okwungwan lay, after departing from the Allied Faction, truly because of his dealings with the Gi Ryeon Hyeon Family?
He shook his head at that as well.
After all, the matter with the Gi Ryeon Hyeon Family had occurred afterward.
Or was it merely a leisurely journey?
Either way, it was difficult to believe.
-Is it true?
-Sufficient information has been gathered and verified. It is Jin Cheon-u.
The man reluctantly nodded his head.
With this, the grounds for suspicion regarding Jin Cheon-u, as the Family Head had said, had vanished. The corpse could not be found, and rather than heading toward Namman, he had returned to the Nakhyang Jin Family.
Though a somewhat unsettling feeling lingered, it seemed no further information would emerge.
-Understood. I shall return and report this.

* * *

The border dividing Gansu and Xinjiang.
A month had already passed since I escaped Okwungwan and began racing toward Namman.
The aura of the martial artists visible here was unmistakably different from that of the righteous and wicked paths, as if the saying that this was Demonic Sect territory held absolute truth.
There was an ominous feeling to the place, though I could not quite place why.
Fortunately, I had not become entangled with anyone or drawn my blade.
Unlike what I had initially thought—that these were somewhat belligerent folk—they proved to be coldly rational, unwilling to engage in needless conflict.
Thanks to this, I was able to pass through Demonic Sect territory unscathed and enter Namman.
“It’s so hot….”
“…I feel as though I’m being steamed alive.”
Namman’s territory was nothing short of the height of summer.
Or perhaps even worse than that?
The relentless sun beating down mercilessly and the dense forest made the air extraordinarily humid.
Every sight before my eyes appeared wondrous and suffused with nature’s essence, yet for those who had never experienced such a place, it was truly a hell unto itself.
It was impossible to travel even on horseback, let alone by carriage.
So I abandoned everything and ventured into the forest, only to find myself swarmed by countless gnats and strange insects writhing with each step.
“Namgung, be careful. I think that’s a venomous snake.”
“Ugh?!”
It was not merely that.
Towering tree trunks obscured my vision with their dense foliage, and from within, a camouflaged viper with its jaws agape lunged at me.
I seized the serpent’s head in an instant and hurled it away.
“Is this really a place where people can even live?”
“I think I could live here. There are so many herbs I’ve never seen before—I’m actually quite happy about it.”
I laughed helplessly at Chaeseoha as she spoke such words.
She was drenched in sweat from head to toe, as if the overwhelming heat had driven her to discard even the cotton cloth she wore.
Yet her gaze swept continuously across the surroundings, carefully gathering what appeared to be medicinal herbs one by one.
I couldn’t tell whether those plants were medicinal herbs, poisonous weeds, or simply wild grass, but regardless, I found myself curious to examine things unseen in the Central Plains.
“Setting that aside, where exactly is the Namman Yasugun?”
“Didn’t the elder tell you?”
“He said I would understand once I arrived, but….”
I recalled Gu Gunbaek’s words and furrowed my brow.
You will understand once you arrive.
He had left behind only those words before departing.
Yet despite considerable time having passed since entering Namman territory, I had encountered no one who appeared to be from the Yasugun.
It was dubious whether such a place even existed.
Whoosh—!
Then, from somewhere, a peculiar sound reached my ears.
I halted my steps and surveyed the surroundings.
While it could be dismissed as the cry of a beast, the intensity of the wind and the quality of the sound were distinctly different.
That could only mean one thing—there were people here.
Rustle—!
Following the sound, trees trembled in various directions.
Though it resembled the sensation of a monkey climbing through branches, I could not fail to notice how markedly different it truly was.
Even Namgung Yeon seemed to sense the strangeness, her gaze sweeping across the surroundings.
In that instant.
Rustle—!
Something descended the tree at frenzied speed.
With movements as nimble as a monkey’s, the figure that revealed itself targeted Namgung Yeon, who stood nearest.
Whoosh—!
Scrape—!
Namgung Yeon hastily extended her sword guard to block the fist.
Yet the opponent’s strength was formidable; her feet dragged backward as she was driven away.
Simultaneously, she raised her head, attempting to fix her eyes upon the monkey-like man once more, but he had already ascended the tree again and vanished.
“Is that a person? He’s completely like a monkey!”
Chaeseoha gasped at the sight, a reaction that spoke volumes about how bestial the opponent’s martial techniques truly were.
I narrowed my eyes and turned my gaze once more.
Rustle—rustle—!
Like a monkey darting through the trees, he shifted positions in an instant, then suddenly emerged from empty air to target Chaeseoha.
In that moment, I swung my sword guard.
Crack—!
“Gack?!”
The Monkey Man, struck in the abdomen, released a grotesque cry as he flew backward, eventually crashing to the ground and rolling several times before coming to a halt.
Yet even that was brief.
His durability proving greater than anticipated, the man sprang to his feet and fixed me with a wary gaze.
Seeing this, I opened my eyes narrowly.
“Try again. Next time, it will be your neck.”
“Gasp?!”
The man recoiled in fright, stumbling backward.
Only then could I see him properly.
Short in stature, yet possessed of rippling musculature.
His garments were fashioned from animal hide, serving less as clothing than as a means to cover what modesty demanded.
The two women gasped in surprise and covered their eyes with their hands, yet between their splayed fingers gleamed unmistakable curiosity.
I exhaled slowly and approached the man with measured steps.
“Are you one of the Demon Palace’s people?”
“Y-yes! I am the gatekeeper of the great Demon Palace!”
At those words, I nodded in understanding.
So this was what “you’ll understand once you enter” meant?
The Demon Palace bore its name alone; the palace itself did not truly exist. It seemed this man served as gatekeeper in such a manner.
I composed myself and offered a smile.
“I am Jin Cheon-u of the Nakhyang Jin Family. I have an appointment with the Gung-ju. Will you guide us, or must we resort to force to find our own way?”
“H-huh?! You’re really Jin Cheon-u of the Nakhyang Jin Family?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Ahem! W-well then, follow me. All the gatekeepers received orders to guide you upon sight.”
At those words, my brow twitched and I offered a wry smile.
I stepped closer and fixed the man with an unwavering gaze.
Was that the reason?
The man, sensing an inexplicable pressure, broke into a cold sweat and hastily averted his eyes.
“I trust you won’t attempt anything suspicious.”
“…Of course not!”
Whether his tongue was half-severed or simply his speech was clipped, the man nodded and demonstrated his resolve to commit no treachery.
Satisfied, I withdrew slightly, and only then did the man release a breath of relief and begin to move.
I followed cautiously behind, observing his footwork.
“There’s definitely something different about him.”
“His attire? He does look rather savage.”
“No, that’s not it. Look at his stride. Even in this difficult, muddy terrain, he walks as naturally as if treading on level ground.”
This was no ordinary gait.
A movement technique.
The Demon Palace’s distinctive footwork had become second nature to him.
He must have trained so that it manifested naturally even in daily life.
I began to understand why the Demon Palace, alongside the Northern Ice Palace, ranked among the foremost powers of the Outer Realms.
Thus I followed the man deeper into the territory.
As we proceeded, I began to sense presences.
Invisible, yet unmistakably human.
Like starving beasts watching their prey.
Namgung Yeon, detecting the unsettling gazes, stiffened and tightened his grip upon his sword’s hilt.
He seemed prepared to draw at any moment should circumstances demand it.
Following the man through the cavern for what felt like an eternity, a vast expanse suddenly revealed itself—and before my eyes materialized a cavern of such colossal proportions that it defied belief.
There.
“Ahahaha! Bring more, you fools! More!”
“Damn it! Why did you have to come back and bother us? Gung-ju. Won’t you leave again?”
“Have you ever seen such rotten behavior? I’ve just returned, and instead of welcoming me, you tell me to leave?”
“Things were easier without Gung-ju around. No need to watch our backs, no accidents to worry about, so our hearts were at peace. Hehehehe— Gack?!”
Thwack!
The man who had been laughing was struck across the face and sent flying.
The sound suggested his bones had shattered, yet the man who crashed to the ground soon writhed and pushed himself back up.
However, lacking the courage to retaliate, he shrank back quietly, avoiding Gu Gunbaek’s piercing gaze.
Then.
“Gung-ju! This guy just collapsed—is he really your disciple?”
“Ahahaha! He is, you fools. He’s quite capable, so put him to good use.”
When I turned my gaze toward the voice, I saw the people of the Beast Palace gathered together with Chu Hyeongi.
The surrounding area bore clear traces of martial bouts, and as if they had wagered drinks on each loss, wine vessels filled the space. Chu Hyeongi’s face had flushed crimson, and his body swayed unsteadily.
I found myself at a loss for words at the sight.
So-ha and Namgung Yeon beside me were equally speechless, merely staring blankly at the scene.
In the end, I furrowed my brow and spoke to Gu Gunbaek.
“You appear to be in good spirits, sir.”
At my voice, Gu Gunbaek, who had been drinking directly from a wine vessel, finally noticed me and set it down on the ground.
He wiped what clung to his lips with his sleeve and broke into a grin.
“Ah, you’ve arrived? Have you been having some fun these days?”
Gu Gunbaek’s voice, brimming with playfulness, rang out loudly.

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