The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 180

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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 241

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The moon had waned and the sun had risen once more.
Yet I remained seated in my chamber, continuing to pore over the documents Yu Hyeon had organized for me.
The recent upheavals within the Martial Arts Alliance, the Moyong Family, and Liaoning.
During the long journey northward to the Northern Sea, I had uncovered considerable information. While the accuracy might fall short of what the Hao Wen Bureau could provide—given that it came from the family’s intelligence network—Yu Hyeon had done a respectable job of filtering through the details.
First and foremost, the Moyong Family.
Though they possessed influence that would not be strange to call them the Emperor of Liaoning, the perception of them as a toothless tiger was growing stronger by the day.
The one called the Sword Emperor remained intact, but the successive failures of Mo Yong-cheon, his heir apparent, and especially the collapse of prestige and trust brought about by this Changryong Dan incident.
And adding one more thing to that, cracks had formed even among the Eight Great Families.
In particular, the Hwangbo Family’s fury had reached its peak, and even the minor factions of Changryong Dan who had lost children in this calamity were now aligning with the Hwangbo Family, establishing a complete confrontation.
Given that war would not be strange to break out, it seemed Mo Yong-cheon had returned to the Martial Arts Alliance once more for mediation after going back to Liaoning.
The time it took was considerably longer than anticipated, and it would not be strange if additional time had been added as though he had stopped somewhere along the way.
Moreover, considering the timing—after Gang Cheonho had departed—I could not help but suspect he had made contact with the Divine Sect.
And simultaneously, there was one absurdly unfolding matter.
The elite forces of the Moyong Family had vanished.
Ordinarily, a family’s elite are not carelessly deployed, as the principle is to keep them for protecting the family and its household.
Moreover, since the deployment of all of them could be read as a signal that something grave was occurring, unless it was a significant matter, it was normal for only a few or one or two to move.
Yet this time, they had all disappeared, or so it was said.
Since this came from the merchant networks that moved through the Moyong Family, there could be no denying that they had vanished.
Then what was the purpose?
I rested my chin in my palm and recalled Mo Yong-cheon.
“He will surely make a move.”
Whether it was the will of the Sword Emperor himself or a scheme of the Divine Sect, I could not say, but in any case, thanks to me and Baek Myeon-in, the Gok Ok had flown away from him.
Though it was said it had not actually shattered, Auk would have no reason to inform him, so the unsuspecting Mo Yong-cheon would still harbor considerable rage within.
Looking at the current situation, the probability of him becoming a target for venting that rage was high.
Whether the one who destroyed the Gok Ok was Jin Cheon-u or not, or whether I was connected to Gwanbaek or not, killing the most suspicious one would certainly bring him satisfaction.
Moreover, considering that my relationship with Mo Yong-hyeok had been poor thus far, and thinking of all that had unfolded from the moment we became entangled, from Mo Yong-cheon’s perspective it was no great loss.
An eyesore would disappear, and thanks to that, if the Jin Family of Luoyang were shaken, it would be good for him to work in the shadows and gnaw away at them.
I wiped away the bitter smile that had escaped and set down the papers, turning my head.
The voice of Jang Chuchyeong came from outside, and the door opened.
The one who entered without hesitation, as though it were his own chamber, approached and spoke to me.
“Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“A visitor is looking for you, Young Master.”
“Who?”
“Someone from the Paeng Family. Should I turn them away?”
Only one person from the Paeng Family came to mind as someone who would seek me out.
He came suddenly?
Unable to understand the reason, I rose from my seat.
This was a golden opportunity to learn the exact internal situation.
I couldn’t afford to miss it.
“Prepare tea and refreshments.”
“Yes.”
I naturally left the room with Jang Chuchyeong, and we each took different paths.
After exiting the annex and walking for some time, the entrance for receiving guests finally came into view, and I could see two people standing awkwardly in the wide-open doorway.
“Ah, Young Master Jin!”
“Hello! It’s been a while.”
Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo.
They greeted me with broad smiles and waving hands, then quickly crossed the threshold and approached in an instant.
Puzzled by their urgent demeanor, their voices rang out in unison.
“Buy us some drinks, would you?”
“Please buy us some drinks.”
At their sudden request, I let out a sigh.

* * *

The dining hall within the annex was laden with elaborate dishes. Moreover, fine aged wine—the kind rarely found outside—was set out, and if one were to arrange such a spread, it would easily cost a fortune in gold.
Thanks to this, Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo’s eyes sparkled.
Though they had asked me to buy them drinks, they clearly hadn’t expected such a lavish feast.
At least they hadn’t completely lost their shame.
I filled their empty cups one by one and set down the bottle, whereupon Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo, who had been clearing their throats nervously, cautiously opened their mouths.
“Ha… I’m sorry, Young Master. We’ve spent all our allowance…”
“My mood’s been terrible, and you have no idea how difficult it’s been without money.”
“Is this about what happened last time? I didn’t hear the details, but it seemed like something serious was brewing.”
Nod, nod.
Both of them moved their heads in response to my question.
Soon they stared intently at their cups, and without hesitation, both reached out and drained them in one gulp.
Holding the cups and drinking, they both frowned identically afterward.
Aside from their different genders and appearances, their every action was identical—it was like looking in a mirror.
Then Paeng Dohan’s voice flowed out.
“The Changryong Dan was disbanded because of that incident.”
“…It was disbanded?”
“The Alliance Master disbanded it immediately upon hearing the news. Wow—that old monk sure works fast. Ha ha.”
“That’s right. Even so, there was no need to disband it like that…”
Indeed, it was Hye-myeong’s doing.
He had judged that since the core of the Changryong Dan was now clear, the catastrophe that resulted from it, and many had already lost faith in the organization, there was no point in keeping it.
It would be far better to disband and create a new focal point to strengthen unity.
One thing this incident has made clear is that the Martial Arts Alliance is rapidly returning to normalcy with Hye-myeong as its new center of gravity.
So thoroughly that the Sword Emperor’s name no longer carries weight.
“Then, what became of Moryeong Hyeok?”
“That man… hasn’t spoken a word to us since that day. When I woke up one morning, he’d already packed his things and returned to Liaoning. Sigh… he was my closest friend since childhood, yet now I can’t fathom what he’s thinking.”
Paeng Dohan took another long drink and offered a bitter smile.
The years they’d spent together without ulterior motive now felt distant, and if such a close friend had become a stranger to him, then even Paeng Dohan could not understand Moryeong Hyeok’s actions.
At this level, it was safe to say Moryeong Hyeok had already wavered.
Nothing he attempted succeeded, and the relentless criticism and pointing fingers had become unbearable.
If he cannot compose himself and steady his spirit, he will crumble.
I let a faint smile play across my lips.
“The Sword Emperor must be enduring considerable hardship.”
“Don’t even mention it. With Hwangbo, the Family Head, leading the pressure from all sides… it wouldn’t be surprising if blades were drawn at any moment.”
Even the position of Family Head of the Number One Sword Sect and the title of Sword Emperor can no longer contain the situation. This meant Mo Yong-cheon’s standing had completely collapsed.
Excluding those heavily influenced by the Moyong Family, there were quite a few who would not overlook this incident.
I intended to dig into that very aspect.
I needed to drive a wedge cleanly this time so the path forward would be smoother.
“What do you intend to do about the Paeng and Eon families?”
“We’re… watching the situation, but what we’ve done this time is too significant… it seems unlikely the elders will listen to us anytime soon.”
“I see.”
I quietly lifted the wine cup to my lips.
The smile at the corner of my mouth grew steadily deeper.

* * *

Within the Martial Arts Alliance, in a hall where the Moyong Family resided.
Mo Yong-cheon, seated inside, furrowed his brow.
A single phrase from Gok Ok circled through my mind.
Moving according to that bastard’s orders was far from satisfactory, yet for Mo Yong-cheon, there was no choice but to act.
Moreover.
Crack—!
Unbelievable as it was, if the one who destroyed Gok Ok was truly that bastard Jin Cheon-u?
Tearing him to shreds wouldn’t even satisfy my rage.
I was thinking that even if I reduced him and the entire Jin Family of Luoyang to dust without a trace, my fury would not be quelled.
The moment I narrowed my brow and clenched my fists.
A voice came from outside.
“Family Head, I have brought it.”
“Come in.”
The man who entered handed over the paper he held with a respectful demeanor. The densely packed characters were so numerous that it was difficult even to look at them, yet Mo Yong-cheon read through every single word without missing any.
“So he returned alive and well from Binggung.”
“Yes, in fact, our losses were not particularly significant.”
At those words, my eyes deepened further.
No matter how much Gang Cheonho’s target was not the Jin Family of Luoyang, no one could believe that he survived against the Hojak Warriors without sustaining major damage.
There was definitely something.
Something protecting that bastard.
Considering his age, it was certainly impossible no matter how exceptional he was.
If this were possible, there could only be one conclusion.
“Did he obtain Gok Ok?”
He obtained it and gained overwhelming power.
Thinking it that way, I could somewhat understand the absurd level that bastard had displayed until now.
Furthermore, if this hypothesis were true, everything connected.
Everything experienced from the Black Ox Society until now.
Jin Cheon-u, knowing the identity of Gok Ok, would naturally have seen through the Divine Sect, and moreover, even the relationship between the Moyong Family and the Divine Sect.
If he knew all these facts, I could understand everything—the continued interference and the situation where the family’s standing wavered.
“I’ve been completely outmaneuvered.”
Whether it was truth or not, I still could not know.
I could only be certain if I opened that bastard’s mouth.
However, Mo Yong-cheon possessed an odd conviction.
That the situation unfolding now was created by that bastard.
What gave me the greatest certainty in this was none other than the existence of Hye-myeong.
No matter what happened, he remained on Songshan and never came down, yet suddenly he descended the mountain, entered the Alliance, took his seat, and even met separately with Jin Cheon-u—did he not?
I did not know what scheme he employed, but if he intended to shake the Moyong Family, it would not be strange to call it a decisive move.
So Hye-myeong trusted him, and that’s why the Hwangbo Family and such are running wild.
“Where is that bastard now?”
“He has entered the Jin Family residence.”
“I see….”
Mo Yong-cheon steadied his breathing and leaned back in his chair.
The image of that man flickered through my mind.
Always regarding me with that enigmatic smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
Eyes that challenged me directly, meeting my gaze without flinching.
Words that poured forth without restraint.
Each one grated on my nerves and lodged itself in my ears, refusing to fade.
“He is merely the beginning.”
The moment that wretch’s breath ceases, I will seize the Jin Family by the throat and reduce them to dust and powder.
Let him watch from the depths of hell, screaming in anguish.
Mo Yong-cheon’s eyes gleamed with an even deeper intensity.

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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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