The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 153

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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 153

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An overwhelming spectacle born of nature itself.
The entrance to the colossal cave before me was a place that seemed impossible to create through human effort alone.
The very sight of it inspired an oppressive awe.
Observing Gu Gunbaek seated there, I found myself wondering if this cave was indeed the symbol of the Beast Palace and the dwelling place of its master.
Moreover, as he had said, there were no structures to be found in the surrounding area.
Only grass woven together in various patterns lay scattered across the ground as bedding, and in some places, I could see them hung from trees.
As if, wherever one could lie down became a bed, and the wind itself served as a blanket.
There were no inns, no cloth merchants, not even basic shops for necessities, yet those living here seemed entirely unbothered by such deprivation.
That was perhaps the most remarkable aspect of all.
I quietly averted my gaze.
Countless Southern Barbarians had gathered in one place.
Each one was a burly man, and with their appearance wild enough to warrant the name “savage,” their mere proximity was suffocating.
Even the overwhelming musculature I felt with each slight brush against them made me wonder if they considered anyone without muscle to be less than human.
This was not limited to the men alone.
The women were no different.
Simply watching them casually squeeze fruit juice with nothing but raw strength revealed that they invested considerable effort not only in inner cultivation but in physical conditioning as well.
Imagine if such beings were to invade the Central Plains.
For the people of the Central Plains, they would be as terrifying as the Demon Sect itself.
There was one more thing—these people resembled beasts.
I do not speak merely of their bearing.
Their appearance, their movements, their gaze, their expressions.
Perhaps because they lived their entire lives alongside animals, they emanated a sensation similar to the creatures they raised.
Because of this, perhaps.
Sniff, sniff, sniff—!
A low growl—
A sharp screech—!
Beasts surrounded us on all sides.
“Uh….”
A wolf that had approached Chaeseoha’s side sniffed at her for a long while, and then opened its massive jaws, inserting her head into its mouth.
Already frightened by the predators scattered everywhere, she went rigid, her complexion turning ashen, when laughter erupted from one of the men.
“Hehehehe! This beast recognizes a pretty one when it sees one! Don’t worry. That gesture means it won’t eat you.”
“…Is that so? For something like that, there’s an awful lot of drool… surely you don’t mean… no, that can’t be right?”
“Hehehe! I’m serious, don’t worry.”
Chaeseoha, now drenched in the wolf’s saliva, turned to me with an expression of horror.
Her eyes pleaded for help, but I simply ignored her and looked away.
What met my eyes was Chu Hyeongi, surrounded by countless Southern Barbarians.
“Excellent.”
Watching those standing motionless while he unleashed a relentless barrage of fists and kicks, I could see a definite transformation compared to when he’d left Sega—in his gaze, his expression, his very presence.
His eyes, his demeanor, his aura—all of it had changed.
The sensation of watching a different person was no illusion.
I was not alone in sensing this; Namgung Yeon too kept his eyes fixed on Chu Hyeongi, scarcely able to look away.
Then.
Someone approached and placed an arm around my shoulder.
“What do you think? I molded him. Hahahaha!”
“What exactly did you do to make him like this?”
“What do you mean what? I just told him to strike hard. Without distinction between man and beast.”
“I heard. He apparently destroyed the entire Green Forest.”
“Crushing some petty bandits—hardly worth mentioning.”
“…Was he not the Bandit King? Is that not a concern?”
In that instant, Gu Gunbaek’s brow twitched.
Simultaneously, the martial artists of the Beast Palace who heard my words suddenly converged, forming a circle around me and Gu Gunbaek before breaking into snickers.
“Kahahaha! Bandits? Don’t tell me our lord actually played at being a bandit?”
“The Bandit King? Really? Our lord did something so shameful?”
“I told you. If it’s our lord, he’d do it. I’m certain it’s true.”
“Hihihihi! What a madman! Does he have nothing better to do than play bandit?”
Laughter erupted from all directions.
That the lord of the mighty Southern Savage Palace had played the role of Bandit King was treated not as shocking but as ridiculous.
As a result, Gu Gunbaek’s face flushed crimson.
Witnessing this, I could only be astonished.
So he was capable of feeling shame.
“Do you all want to die? I didn’t do it!”
“Then what about what he said?”
“This fool misunderstood! Hey, tell them. Do I look like someone who’d entangle himself with petty bandits?”
Well.
I wanted to answer that way, but I could not bring myself to do so. Gu Gunbaek’s piercing gaze and expression exerted intense pressure.
Opening my mouth carelessly seemed likely to leave me unable to gather my own bones.
“Of course not, sir. You are not that sort of person, are you?”
“Kyakakaka! I’m exactly that sort of person, aren’t I? You seem to be the one misunderstanding?”
“Ah, please, do not intimidate me so. What kind of lord glares so readily, lacking all dignity?”
At the reproaches coming from all sides, Gu Gunbaek’s expression grew even more menacing.
Did you sense the ominous aura radiating from him?
Those who had been teasing him moments before tucked their tails and quietly slipped away.
Now only Gu Gunbaek and I remained.
“Ahem! Foolish as they may appear, they are the finest masters of the Southern Savages. Show them proper respect.”
“So it would seem.”
“More importantly, tell me what happened in Gansu. What’s all this commotion about?”
“You heard about it?”
“My ears work fine, you fool. Should I dig out those bastards’ earwax and stuff it in yours to block them up?”
At such crude language, I shook my head with a bitter smile.
Had coming to Namman lifted his spirits?
His words and demeanor had grown somewhat rougher than usual.
Yet it didn’t feel particularly unpleasant, so I readily recounted what had transpired in Gansu.
With each word I spoke, Gu Gunbaek could not contain his admiration.
Especially when hearing of the process by which I dismantled the Gi Ryeon Hyeon Family, he burst into hearty laughter so loud that people soon gathered around us.
As my story drew to a close.
Clap, clap, clap—!
Waaaaaah!
Exclamations and applause erupted from the people of the Beast Palace.
It was not merely those gathered who reacted thus.
An eagle perched in the trees cried out, monkeys chattered shrilly, and fierce beasts rumbled their approval.
As though they understood every word I had spoken.
It was truly a peculiar sight.
That humans and beasts mingled so freely was remarkable enough, but to see them act as though comprehending speech?
Was this truly Namman?
A quiet laugh escaped me at this unprecedented experience.
“Hahahaha! That’s right, that’s my disciple!”
Thump, thump—!
Gu Gunbaek slapped my back with his massive hand and burst into laughter.
Though I had never formally become his disciple, perhaps he considered me one he had raised in his heart? Yet more than that, it seemed he wished to boast of me to those around him.
As expected.
Those gathered cast envious glances.
“Ah… should I go to the Central Plains and take a disciple too?”
“Huh? You going? I’m coming too!”
“It’s too far and bothersome, so I’ll just grab someone from the nearby Demon Sect! Wait for me. I’ll be back soon….”
“Hey, you madman! Do you want to start another war?!”
The clamorous voices showed no sign of ceasing.
With no intention of quieting even for a moment, the continuous boisterous sounds made it feel as though a festival were underway.
As I sighed and turned my head.
“Ugh… Young Master….”
Jang Chuchyeong had approached without my notice.
His face was haggard, his eyes sharp.
Yet he approached with a sorrowful expression before suddenly embracing me.
His weeping continued unabated, so I hesitated briefly before hastily extracting myself from his embrace.
“How revolting.”
“What? We haven’t seen each other in so long, and you’re being cruel!”
“Yes, how have you been all this time?”
“How have I been? Ptui. If you knew how much I suffered, you’d faint. Ugh…”
Chu Hyeongi’s expression darkened as memories of his past torment surfaced, and he exhaled a heavy sigh. It seemed the weight of all that harassment was still too painful to fully recall.
Just as he was about to unburden himself further, I sensed the conversation would grow lengthy and hastily cut him off.
“Still, your bearing has become quite refined. Your presence has changed considerably.”
“He… hehe, does it really show? I worked incredibly hard on it, you know.”
“It shows. You’ve become a different person. At this point, I’d say you could even defeat Moyong Hyeok.”
“Puhahahaha! Moyong Hyeok? That bastard with the shattered jaw isn’t even worth my notice! How could you even compare us!”
Whether he’d overheard our earlier conversation or not, Chu Hyeongi burst into scornful laughter.
It was impossible to imagine this was the same person who trembled at the mere mention of Moyong Hyeok not long ago.
His confidence had grown immensely.
And that overflowing confidence turned its arrow toward Namgung Yeon.
“Yet you couldn’t even defeat such a cripple. What does that make you?”
“Wh… what did you just say?”
In that instant, Namgung Yeon’s eyes blazed with fury at the words he’d heard.
It was true that he’d lost to Moyong Hyeok, so there was no excuse he could offer.
He simply trembled, his face flushed crimson.
“If you’re the Young Master’s guard, you should have defeated such a wretch. How shameful. How embarrassing. I can’t even show my face in public.”
As I spoke with exaggerated mockery, veins bulged across Namgung Yeon’s forehead.
In that moment, something flashed.
Simultaneously, Chu Hyeongi’s body retreated in an instant.
Whoosh!
A sword cleaved through the air, its sharpness unmistakable.
The ground itself was visibly sliced by the wind from the blade.
Because of this?
A flicker of surprise crossed Chu Hyeongi’s face.
“She has grown as much as you have.”
“What are you talking about? There’s no way that thing could defeat me.”
“That… thing?”
The words, spoken almost mockingly, finally shattered Namgung Yeon’s patience.
With eyes gleaming with lethal intent, he charged forward, and Chu Hyeongi, alarmed by the terrifying aura, threw himself backward once more.
Boom!
“Hehehehe! Fight, fight! Let’s see who wins!”
“Wahaha!”
At this, the surroundings erupted into chaos once more.
Vicious blades flashed and crude fists flew through the air.
Sword winds and fist winds ravaged the area, reducing everything around them to rubble in mere moments, yet those present paid it no mind whatsoever, as if it were merely routine.
It was remarkably carefree.
Utterly different from the image of the Southern Barbarians I’d heard about in the Central Plains.
Was this truly the daily life and landscape of the savage tribes?
I let out an incredulous laugh and turned my head away.
“More importantly, Elder. What about the item…? What became of it?”
“Ah, that? I’m trying to remember where I put it.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, it’s been such a long time, and it wasn’t something I paid much attention to, so it’s slipped my mind.”
“…Isn’t that essentially the same as saying it might not exist at all?”
At my words, Gu Gunbaek swallowed a groan while crossing his arms.
He seemed to ponder something for a moment, then broke into a grin.
“Ah, it exists! It really does exist, I’m certain of it.”
“But you said you don’t remember….”
“Ah, you brat, always poking and prodding. It exists. It does exist, but…I need to dredge up the memory, it seems.”
Glug, glug—
With those words, Gu Gunbaek seized the wine jug beside him and began drinking with gusto.
Watching him gulp down half a barrel of wine in one go, it was impossible to tell whether he genuinely wanted to retrieve his memories of the Jade Orb or not.
I pressed my fingers to my temples, feeling a headache building.
I could only hope that this journey had been worthwhile.
Had he noticed my expression?
Gu Gunbaek let out a soft chuckle and smiled faintly.
“And don’t worry. Even if I can’t remember…it will surely appear.”
Those cryptic words settled heavily in my ears in a way I could not comprehend.

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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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