The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 177

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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 177

The men who rose from their seats with hearty laughter were specimens of considerable bulk and stature.
Massive, muscular frames paired with the curved blades they wielded.
Their laughter accompanied physiques that seemed to dominate merely by sight, yet their eyes—sharp and narrowed with predatory intent—carried a gaze that didn’t merely pressure but seemed capable of crushing one’s very spirit.
As a result, Na Cheonmun’s complexion drained of all color.
But I paid them no mind and simply observed them.
“Did you hear what I just asked? I inquired how one might ascend to Demon Heaven?”
“Puhaha!”
“Hahaha!”
“A madman from Demon Awakening War has entered! Hahaha!”
Not only the burly men but everyone within the inn erupted in raucous laughter, their voices booming.
It seemed they didn’t consider such a question something that could emerge from the mouth of someone from Demon Awakening War—not out of ignorance, but as if the very notion was absurd.
Then, one of the burly men ceased his laughter and fixed his gaze upon me.
“Ah, well, Demon Awakening War has never sent anyone upward, has it? So it’s only natural you wouldn’t know. Krhehe.”
“Not even once? From what I recall… there hasn’t been.”
“If Demon Awakening War had ever sent someone up, they wouldn’t be called the lowest rank of the Demon Sect. Wouldn’t you agree?”
At the voices echoing from various corners, I exhaled a sigh.
Their mockery was their own affair and hardly worth my concern, but I wished that if people were going to ridicule someone to such an embarrassing degree, they might at least provide a reason.
I glanced subtly at Na Cheonmun.
I could see him gripping his head with an expression of utter dismay.
He had been clinging to me to prevent such a situation from unfolding, yet now that it had occurred, it seemed he believed he would face severe consequences.
“You fool from Demon Awakening War—abandon your foolish dreams and crawl through life at the bottom. Understand?!”
Thud!
The burly man brought the curved blade he held crashing down against the floor.
He had applied considerable force, and the tremendous sound shook the entire inn. The ceiling trembled, and dust began to rain down.
I found myself smirking involuntarily, and just as I was about to place my hand upon my sword—
Na Cheonmun suddenly bolted upright from his seat.
“My apologies! We shall take our leave!”
Na Cheonmun, rising hastily, grabbed my arm and hurried us out of the inn.
As a result, I left without managing to get a single proper meal, and what irritated me most was the sound of their mocking laughter as they watched us depart in haste.
“Running away, are we? Whee-whee! The rat hole is that way, isn’t it?”
“Hahaha! Don’t be too harsh. Just being from Demon Awakening War is shameful enough. Do you think they entered by choice?”
“Hehehehe, that’s right. They didn’t go by choice—they went because they lack the strength.”
In the gazes directed at us from all directions lay unmistakable contempt.
The treatment that the weakest faction in a world of survival of the fittest could only receive.
I felt it keenly and laughed in disbelief.
Soon, as the inn door opened and we stepped outside, Na Cheonmun finally lowered his head with a sigh.
“…My sincerest apologies, Junior Prince. I shall return to Demon Awakening War and have a meal prepared at once.”
“I’m fine, really… hm!”
Jang Chuchyeong regarded me with an awkward expression.
In all my years of life, I had never received—nor even witnessed—such treatment before.
Because of this, not only Jang Chuchyeong but Chaeseoha appeared quite startled as well.
If there was anyone at all accustomed to such things, it would be Namgung Yeon, perhaps?
Yet even she seemed to have stiffened her expression.
“Is this how the Chohwon Hall typically treats guests?”
“It’s a place that handles miscellaneous duties, after all. Haha.”
Na Cheonmun, who had spoken those words, said nothing further.
Knowing it was a matter of shame for them, he seemed to think there was no need to elaborate to outsiders like us.
I too did not press the matter.
I simply chose to hurry back to the Chohwon Hall to satisfy my growling stomach.
I swiftly scooped up Chaeseoha and deployed my lightness technique.
It was merely a simple matter of retracing the path we had come.
Upon arriving at the Chohwon Hall without much difficulty, Na Cheonmun hastened inside toward the dining hall.
“Ah—finally we can eat.”
“Right? My stomach feels like it’s completely caved in.”
As we entered the dining hall prepared for receiving guests, Jang Chuchyeong and Chaeseoha clutched their hungry bellies and sighed.
The moment we took our seats, a modest spread of dishes was laid out as if we had been expected.
While nothing particularly elaborate or impressive caught the eye, the meal was well-balanced with appropriate vegetables and meat.
Just as everyone began filling their bellies.
The dining hall door suddenly opened, and a familiar figure stepped inside.
“Having a good look around, are we?”
The one who entered was none other than Ryu Gak.
His gaze first turned toward Chaeseoha, who was hastily shoving food into her mouth, before shifting to Jang Chuchyeong.
For Ryu Gak, the only one who could truly be called a guest was Jang Chuchyeong; he saw little value in regarding the rest of us beside him.
Jang Chuchyeong, who had been eating, turned his head.
The fellow, who had not expected to receive such attention, momentarily wore a vacant expression, but when I subtly pressed my foot against his, he seemed to grasp the situation and hastily corrected his demeanor before speaking.
“Oh? Isn’t that the Junior Prince? Why not come sit with us and eat together?”
“Haha, I’m afraid I must decline. But have you just returned from outside?”
Ryu Gak’s gaze turned toward Na Cheonmun, who sat to the side eating with us.
The moment his gaze fell upon him, I saw the man flinch.
Judging by how his eating hand had stopped the moment Ryu Gak entered, remaining motionless and rigid, I could well guess who had inflicted those scars upon his face.
Just let the man eat in peace, would you.
“Hahahaha! I was curious about what sort of inn this place was, so I took a look. But why such treatment? I nearly got punched.”
“…”
Was it because of that single remark?
Cold sweat streamed down Na Cheonmun’s forehead even more profusely.
It appeared he had issued orders to keep Na Cheonmun from venturing outside the Chohwon Hall if possible.
Given the matter of the inn, it seemed Na Cheonmun was about to face another scolding.
I took in the sight and let my lips twitch slightly.
At the same moment, Jang Chuchyeong, who hadn’t known what else to say, suddenly widened his eyes and spoke.
“By the way, when the enthronement ceremony begins, can we see the Sect Leader up front? I came as a guest, you know? I have things I want to say.”
“…Didn’t Father mention it to the Commander? He’ll resolve any issues one way or another, so don’t worry. As for the enthronement ceremony… you likely won’t be able to see it.”
“What? Why not?”
“Chohwon Hall is low-ranking, so we must keep our distance, and all attendees have already been selected.”
The Junior Prince of the Beast Palace, with whom relations were poor, could not be allowed to attend. Though unspoken, a glimmer of that reasoning flickered in Ryu Gak’s eyes.
While it was rather impolite, considering the relationship between Namman and the Demon Sect thus far, one could never predict what the Junior Prince of the Beast Palace might do at such an important occasion as an enthronement ceremony.
It would be better to prevent his attendance, even if it meant facing criticism.
I smiled as I listened to this explanation.
I murmured again, careful not to be heard.
The moment the sound transmission reached his ear, Jang Chuchyeong glanced back at me, but I simply smiled without paying it much mind.
“Ahem—! But speaking of which, people at the inn were saying something about promoting some soldier or not, what was that about?”
“…It’s not something you need to pay attention to.”
“Come on, tell me. Do I have to go back to the inn to find out? Those bastards had pretty fierce looks in their eyes.”
As Jang Chuchyeong clenched his fists and his eyes gleamed, Na Cheonmun trembled even more and broke into cold sweat, while Ryu Gak stared intently at Jang Chuchyeong with a furrowed brow.
He seemed reluctant to speak, but more concerned that trouble might break out.
Finally, he let out a sigh.
“It refers to the Demon Ascension Battle. Warriors from each Hall seize one hundred Demonic Sect Marks from warriors of other Halls. With those, one can ascend to the higher Ma-un Peak.”
“Ma-un Peak…? What’s that?”
“It’s where the intermediate-ranked warriors of the Demon Sect reside. If you win another ascension battle there, you can reach Cheon-ma Ridge, where the highest-ranked warriors of the Demon Sect dwell.”
Just hearing the name Cheon-ma Ridge made it clear.
That was surely where Macheon Palace stood.
Where the new Demon King, the Sect Leader, would reside, and where Chung-mu, the master of the Cheonma Forging Hall—one of my objectives—would be.
I paused to think.
Ryu Jin-hong said he would speak to the Commander about resolving this matter, but considering Chohwon Hall’s standing, it would be meaningless.
Chohwon Hall was mocked even by lower-ranked warriors.
How could the Commander’s ears even reach the words of a mere Hall Leader?
Meeting him would not be easy either.
Then ultimately, I would have to resolve this myself.
Whether by sword or word, leaving it to these people would likely result in nothing but failure.
Ryu Jin-hong would surely try to smooth things over by offering more money or perhaps providing a decent horse from his position.
Moreover, the moment the enthronement ceremony began, the Demon Sect would fall into chaos, so I had to assume there was no possibility of achieving my objective.
I glanced at the bracelet hanging on my wrist.
The small bracelet inscribed with “Chohwon Hall” seemed to prove my affiliation.
I wondered if this might be what Ryu Gak had mentioned.
I looked at him carefully and asked.
“Is this what you call a Demonic Sect Mark?”
“…Yes. Without it, you wouldn’t be recognized as a Demon Sect disciple, so it was entrusted to you for your stay here. Be careful not to lose it.”
At those words, I fingered the Demonic Sect Mark and nodded.
As long as I don’t lose it, that’s all that matters, isn’t it?
While I was lost in such thoughts, Ryu Gak turned his back as if his business was concluded.
“Then rest well. And I would prefer if you refrained from venturing outside Chohwon Hall if possible.”
“Ahem—! I’ll do as I please.”
Jang Chuchyeong’s remark seemed to displease Ryu Gak, as I watched his brow furrow, but he hurried from the room as though dismissing the matter entirely.
Thud—!
With the sound of the door closing that followed shortly after.
My gaze naturally turned toward Na Cheonmun.
“About that Demon Ascension Battle you mentioned earlier—can one participate without permission?”
“Hmm? Ah—normally, it begins when the bell is rung to announce it.”
“The bell?”
“Yes, there’s a large bell in the Village Center. That one.”
At those words, I nodded and turned my gaze away.
Indeed, far off beyond the window, I could see a considerably large bell.
Confirming it, I rested my chin thoughtfully and asked again.
“Are there any criteria for who can participate?”
“None! Any Demon Sect Disciple who possesses demonic cultivation can participate whenever they wish!”
At the loud response that followed, I nodded with satisfaction.
So that’s how it is?
As a smile crept across my lips unbidden, I noticed Jang Chuchyeong and Namgung Yeon watching from beside me turn ashen.
I harbored no particularly sinister intentions.
Simply, as long as I didn’t violate the Demon Sect’s regulations, that was all that mattered.

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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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