The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 167

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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 Jin Family of Luoyang – Chapter 228

“That boy headed to the Northern Sea?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Hmm.”
Gwanbaek, who lay reclined in the pavilion with a long bamboo pipe in hand, closed his eyes gently as if lost in thought at the unexpected news.
The gesture of retrieving memories felt similar to Jin Cheon-u’s manner.
Then he slowly opened his eyes.
“For what purpose?”
“For merchant trade, they say.”
“Heh heh, what a curious coincidence.”
None other than the son of the Jin Family of Luoyang.
Whether it was merchant trade or escort services, the Jin Family earned their wealth through commerce, so there was nothing particularly strange about the situation—yet his movements happened to overlap with theirs.
“Could his true purpose really be merchant trade… or is he searching for the Frozen Jade Realm…?”
Gwanbaek’s brow furrowed.

The Frozen Jade Realm.

A forbidden zone located in the deepest reaches of the Northern Ice Palace.
That sealed door which had remained firmly closed—he was sending his children to finally open it this time.
Yet by misfortune, Jin Cheon-u’s destination was the same.
“Heh heh heh—Heaven itself guides that boy. There is no other way they could walk the same path.”
“What shall we do? We could send the children now to intercept him.”
The man’s voice carried considerable weight.
Already once, he had lost what he coveted right before his eyes.
And in an unwanted manner at that.
Who would have imagined that one who knew the power of the Gok Ok better than anyone would destroy it in such a way?
Therefore, his feelings toward Jin Cheon-u were far from favorable.
Had Gwanbaek sensed this?
Gwanbaek smiled.
“You dislike that boy?”
“If he obstructs us, he is an enemy.”
“Heh heh—well said. Very well.”
Gwanbaek, who had been lying down, raised his torso and settled into position.
Then, placing the bamboo pipe between his lips, he exhaled a long plume of smoke.
Billowing smoke stretched out thickly, forming clouds.
Then, gazing toward the distant sky, he folded his fingers one by one.
It resembled the motion of counting, and with each finger that bent, the smoke stretching like clouds swirled around him.
“Hmm—has the Mountain Lord made a move?”
“…!”
“Heh heh, can you even capture the Mountain Lord while dealing with that child?”
“…I returned alive even from Auk’s hands.”
“Kekeke— that’s not something you say ‘returned alive’ about. He let you go, didn’t he?”
“!”
At Gwanbaek’s sudden words, the man’s eyes filled with confusion, unable to comprehend.
A fierce battle had erupted and many had died, but since the casualties on their side were negligible, he had believed it to be their victory—except for the fact that Gok Ok had shattered.
“I acknowledge your talent, but don’t underestimate the gap between you and Auk.”
“Isn’t he the one who couldn’t even protect Gok Ok?”
“Heh heh— do you truly believe the Priest would hand over Gok Ok to someone like Mo Yong-cheon?”
“Then it wasn’t…what did you mean?”
“The Sword Emperor was merely bait to draw us out. Auk was used to confirm that…what the Priest and Auk didn’t anticipate was probably just that Gok Ok shattered.”
“…”
“No, I can’t even be certain that it truly broke.”
“I witnessed it turn to powder before my eyes.”
Gwanbaek shook his head at the man’s words.
The abilities of the Divine Church’s Priests were shrouded in secrecy.
Even if he himself were the Divine’s elder brother.
Moreover, even Jin Cheon-u, who possessed memories of the past, likely failed to properly grasp Auk’s abilities.
That was why Gwanbaek couldn’t help but harbor suspicion.
Regardless of whether Gok Ok was destroyed or not, what was lost was certain, so he absolutely had to retrieve the object within the Icy Flower Jade Mirror.
Acting directly would be fastest and most certain, but he had already been caught in the Priest’s perception due to the matter with Yeom Ji-hak and Chu Won, so he couldn’t move recklessly.
If he revealed himself again to obtain it, that one would appear before his eyes before he could even lay hands on Gok Ok.
He still lacked the power to reach him.
Moreover, the one who moved in this affair was none other than the Mountain Lord, Gang Cheonho.
Since he boasted overwhelming strength even within the Twelve Horns, sending subordinates to seize Gok Ok would result in considerable loss of forces.
“There’s no helping it.”
Gwanbaek clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.
The situation seemed to have become complicated.
But it seemed he could turn his attention elsewhere in this opportunity.

* * *

Two days later, we finally left Shanxi and entered the great grasslands. Leading the carriage across the vast plains, I felt overwhelmed by the sheer expanse of the landscape.
It was a complete contrast to the Central Plains, with their abundance of mountainous terrain, and even the people found it difficult to tear their eyes away from the scenery.
Many looked around in all directions.
The verdant grass, wild horses, and distant hills visible on the horizon.
It would not be an exaggeration to call it a living painting.
“Will it continue like this the entire way?”
“Much of it, yes. The problem is what happens once we venture deeper.”
“The desert…”
I nodded at Chaeseoha’s question.
The plains spread before us were a sight that could rightfully be called a feast for the eyes, but soon even such words would cease to come.
I offered a bitter smile, turned my head, and began to increase our pace. The good road presented a perfect opportunity to push the carriage faster.
I could not afford to miss this.
Perhaps I could make up for some of the time wasted dealing with Hyang Do-un and the Green Forest bandits.
Thanks to this, the carriage moved smoothly toward our destination.
After spending a day in Hohhot, in the heart of the great grasslands, I released all the horses from the carriage and left them at the stables, then switched to camels in preparation for the desert crossing before departing.
Camels would serve us better than horses when crossing the desert.
How many days did we travel thus?
Finally, the signs began to appear.
The verdant landscape that had surrounded us gradually began to fade, and sand flew through the increasingly fierce wind, pelting our bodies.
“Cough, cough!”
“Hack, hack!”
Some coughed at the foreign particles entering their mouths and noses, while others tried to endure by clearing their throats, but as the conditions worsened, we soon had to wrap cloth around our faces to cover our mouths and noses.
Then it began.
“Wow…”
“Mother…”
“…We have to cross through here?”
A massive desert revealed itself before our eyes.
Shimmering—
The sand desert visible before us seemed to churn like molten lava, and the barren landscape devoid of any green seemed endless no matter how far we traveled.
Simply being exposed to the blazing sun felt exhausting, and with the heat rising from the scorching sand, sweat already began to pour down.
I offered a bitter smile and checked the map.
Leading the camels across the desert.
Since I intended to escape this place as quickly as possible, no one would complain even if we took a somewhat harsh route.
Glancing at the people around me, they all seemed to be steeling themselves.
Since these were people who had crossed such places more than once, they would know well how difficult it would be.
Thus, they seemed to be bracing themselves and strengthening their resolve multiple times.
However, resolve alone does not make hardship disappear.
The merciless sun beating down relentlessly, and the heat rising with it.
Because of this, the people began to tire quickly.
Not a few gasped for breath and desperately moistened their parched throats, but the problem was that once the sun set, there was nowhere to rest.
When the sun sets, the cold arrives.
It was a chill that approached something like the depths of winter, tormenting us relentlessly.
We had to kindle fires with the firewood we’d prepared and sleep while trembling, yet when morning came, the blazing sunlight became the problem once more.
“This is serious.”
I furrowed my brow, contemplating the ever-shifting weather.
Though we were managing well enough thanks to our thorough preparations, I could see our companions growing increasingly exhausted in body and spirit.
It wouldn’t be surprising if someone collapsed before long.
I turned my gaze toward Namgung Baek.
Recognizing my intent, he quickly consulted the map.
“If we go just a bit further, we should find a place to rest. Since you mentioned we could also gather water there, I believe it’s a suitable location.”
I nodded and accelerated our pace.
I could hear groans escaping from the lips of those growing weary, but now our priority was reaching a place to rest as quickly as possible.
After pushing through the scorching sunlight for another hour, we finally discovered a place tinged with green for the first time in what had been nothing but golden desert sands.
A small spring, along with grass we hadn’t seen in ages, and a few peculiar trees rising skyward.
Seeing verdant life in the heart of the desert was nothing short of enchanting.
“This is truly a gift from the Divine.”
“…Indeed.”
I led the caravan toward it without haste.
One by one, the carts came to a stop, and people rushed forward desperately to wet their parched throats.
After resting somewhat, as the sun began to set, our companions started moving in earnest.
We filled enormous jars with water and used the axes we’d brought to chop wood for fuel.
Once the campfire was lit and hunger could be satisfied, I could see smiles finally returning to people’s faces.
Was it because the atmosphere had brightened?
I too found myself smiling naturally.
“By the way, Young Master, how much longer must we cross this desert? Is there still far to go?”
“Based on our position, there shouldn’t be much left. At most, a day or two.”
“Phew—thank goodness. I thought we’d have to endure this hardship for several more days.”
Chu Hyeongi released a sigh of relief and sprawled out on the ground.
Before long, he was snoring softly in sleep, and it wasn’t long before the surroundings grew quiet as many others drifted off as well.
That’s how exhausted we all were.
Just as I was about to lie down myself.
“Young Master, look over there. Look at that.”
Chaeseoha’s voice suddenly reached my ears, and I turned my gaze toward her.
Following her voice, she extended her finger slightly, pointing toward something.
“There seems to be something there.”
Following the direction of her finger, I could make out a strangely shaped stone at some distance.
It felt like the edge of a wall that had been carved by human hands, but buried in sand, the form of any building was completely obscured.
I furrowed my brow and cautiously approached.
“Was this a place where people once lived?”
“I’m not sure? But where are you going?!”
“Isn’t that what you wanted to confirm?”
“Well, yes, but… it’s far too dark here.”
As Chaeseoha clung to my side, looking around uncertainly as her eyes failed to adjust to the darkness, I found myself smiling and gradually closed the distance toward the building’s silhouette.
Just as its form began to materialize before my eyes.
The ground beneath my feet suddenly gave way with the sound of something crumbling, plunging downward.
Crack—!
“…!”
Falling into an endless abyss alongside an enormous cascade of sand, I pulled Chaeseoha close and surveyed my surroundings.
What I could see was a wall?
I drew the sword at my waist and drove it directly into the wall.
Screeeech—!
Yet the descent was swift enough that though the blade tore through the wall and slowed our fall, we showed no signs of stopping.
The wall was weaker than I had anticipated.
But it was sufficient.
I managed to avoid plummeting at a lethal speed, even if only gradually.
When I finally looked down, the ground came into view.
“Hold on tight.”
“Huh?!”
The moment the words left my lips, I launched myself forward.
Deploying my lightness technique, I descended like a feather and confirmed the space was cramped.
Like the interior of a well.
Only then did I hear Chaeseoha’s relieved breath, but our situation was far from favorable.
The sand pouring from above would soon fill this place entirely.
If we did not escape, burial was as certain as seeing fire.
I furrowed my brow and looked upward.
Ascending against the cascading sand was impossible.
Then finding another path was our only option.
I swiftly scanned the surroundings and identified one location.
Wind entered through a gap in the wall.
It undoubtedly meant a passage existed.
I swung my sword toward that opening.
Whoosh—!

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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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