The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 181

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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 242

* * *

I opened my eyes slowly.
Cultivating my inner strength in a place of comfort for the first time in ages proved far more effective than I had anticipated. My mind became clearer than ever, and my body felt remarkably lighter.
Even considering how long I had been held captive and forced to drink, I felt remarkably refreshed.
The moment I rose from my seat, washed myself, and changed into comfortable clothes, the door opened as if on cue, and Chu Hyeongi entered.
“Young Master, your meal is ready.”
“Not today.”
“You won’t eat? But everything is prepared.”
“It’s fine, don’t worry. Rather… where is Gu Gunbaek?”
“Gu of the Imperial Guards? Well, I haven’t seen him in quite some time.”
I sighed watching Chu Hyeongi tilt his head in confusion.
He should have understood I meant to summon him.
I found myself staring at him with an incredulous expression for a long moment, but seeing his genuinely bewildered face, I eventually shook my head.
Then I changed the subject.
“What about Cheon Yul?”
“Well, he’s always the same. Following that physician around and Miss Yeon everywhere. I don’t understand how he became so strong with that personality, honestly. I’ve been training with blood and sweat.”
I nodded at his grumbling tone.
Judging by his actions alone, it was certainly puzzling.
During this time, aside from brief sparring matches, from the moment we met until now, I had never once seen him training.
As if he had completely severed ties with such things.
I had considered whether he might be substituting meditation cultivation instead, but no matter how much I thought about it, that didn’t seem to be the case either.
From Chu Hyeongi’s perspective, who had trained with blood and sweat, Cheon Yul’s overwhelmingly natural talent must have felt frustratingly unfair.
I smiled and spoke.
“Watch him carefully. There will be things to learn.”
“The method of being outdone by a woman?”
“Well… there is that too.”
“Ugh! I’m leaving!”
Displeased with my words, Chu Hyeongi turned his back. Yet the careful way he closed the door behind him as he left only confirmed his true nature as a servant.
I too left my chamber.
My destination was the training grounds where the family’s warriors practiced.
Even from a distance, the sharp sounds of their shouts could be heard.
As I began to feel the intense heat radiating from the men, I could already sense sweat beginning to form on my skin.
The moment I entered without hesitation, the warriors’ gazes immediately fixed upon me.
All of them wore expressions filled with reverence.
Those who walked the path of martial arts naturally felt such emotions upon hearing the recent rumors about me.
Especially when it came to Moryeong Hyeok and the Changryong Dan—that would be even more so.
As I turned my gaze away from those admiring eyes, I could see Gu Gunbaek at the back row, wielding a wooden sword with practiced strokes.
“Gu, would you have a moment to spare?”
“Me… sir?”
“Yes, there’s something I need to ask of you.”
The Young Master So was asking something of him?
His eyes widened with surprise, as if he had never considered such a possibility.
Gulp—
He swallowed dryly, hastily lowering his wooden sword and rushing to a nearby basin to wipe his body clean with a damp cloth.
Then, carelessly tossing his sweat-soaked garments aside, he dashed toward his belongings and hurriedly dressed himself anew.
It seemed he was concerned that the smell of his perspiration might displease me.
Many watching Gu Gunbaek let out hollow laughs at his flustered state, but he approached me with an expression of utmost seriousness.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes!”
I smiled faintly at his spirited response, observing him carefully.
Gu Gunbaek.
A man who had worked as a third-rate bandit before joining the Jin Family of Luoyang.
Though his skills still fell short of making him an elite warrior, he was counted among the more capable of the lower-ranked soldiers.
Moreover, his loyalty to the Jin Family, which had given him a chance, was exceptional—during the past attack on the Jin Family, he had gritted his teeth and protected us even in that dire situation, ultimately falling in battle.
During the Shadow Assassins incident as well, he had proven quite useful.
There was only one reason I sought him out.
Because he had been a third-rate bandit, he had never made a name for himself in the martial world, and his influence within the Jin Family was minimal—his presence was virtually nonexistent.
If someone were watching me, their gaze would inevitably follow those beside me like Chu Hyeongi, Chaeseoha, Namgung Yeon, and Namgung Baek—but not Gu Gunbaek.
His presence was so insignificant that no one would pay attention to whatever he did.
That was precisely what I needed.
Having concluded my thoughts, I led Gu Gunbaek into the reception room of the annex.
I could see his eyes widen in surprise as he noticed the tea and refreshments already laid out.
“What is all this…?”
“Nothing much. I have an errand for you, and it would feel wrong to ask without offering proper courtesy.”
“If you give me an order, I will do anything. I don’t deserve such treatment.”
Gu Gunbaek shook his head without taking a seat.
As a warrior receiving payment for his service to the Jin Family, he seemed to believe that any order should be obeyed without hesitation.
Observing his response, I nodded and quietly handed him a document.
“Y-Young Master? What is this…?”
“Didn’t I say I had work for you? I cannot ask you to do something without proper compensation.”
“I already receive a monthly stipend.”
“This is different from that.”
At my words, Gu Gunbaek’s eyes widened slightly, and he swallowed hard.
Having experienced the Shadow Assassins incident, he seemed gripped by anxiety—wondering if this might be another task of similar nature.
Thus, he fell silent and watched my expression carefully.
I settled into my seat and casually pulled the nearby items toward me.
A brush, ink, and a single sheet of paper.
As I began writing slowly, Gu Gunbaek’s expression seemed to soften slightly as he confirmed the contents from beside me.
Yet there was something rather puzzled in his gaze.
Soon, the moment I finished the final sentence.
I folded the letter neatly, sealed it, and handed it to Gu Gunbaek.
“Do you understand what needs to be done?”
“…Yes.”
“You’ll need to make contact as quickly and discreetly as possible. Can you do it?”
“Leave it to me.”
Gu Gunbaek nodded, his eyes revealing unwavering resolve. I could feel his determination to accomplish exactly what I desired, and from that alone it was clear he would push forward relentlessly, day and night.
“Then I entrust this to you.”
As I handed over the letter and the token with a small smile, Gu Gunbaek accepted them with trembling hands and steadied his breathing.
He had surely handled many trivial tasks before, but he had never undertaken such an important responsibility alone.
Then, bowing his head, he hurried out of the reception hall.
As if even the time to drink a cup of tea would be wasted.
That sense of reassurance I felt was no illusion.
Just then, having witnessed Gu Gunbaek departing from the reception hall, Chu Hyeongi, who had been wearing a peculiar expression outside, poked his head through the half-open door.
“Huh? Guard Gu was just leaving—what did you ask him to do?”
“Nothing much. But what are you doing right now?”
“I was going to sweep the Young Master’s room. I’ve neglected it for a while and dust keeps flying everywhere, so…”
“Forget that. Let’s do something else instead.”
“Something else?”
I nodded in response to his question.
Something I had learned before but had not properly practiced since.
I intended to put it to use this time.

* * *

Late into the night.
Even the moon in the sky was shrouded by clouds, and a thick darkness devoid of light descended upon the world.
Save for the red-light district, all streets had their flames extinguished, and the only figures moving about were constables patrolling with torches.
A darkness so complete it seemed absolute, accompanied by the sound of dogs barking.
Mingling with it all was the chorus of crickets singing their nocturnal song.
Luoyang, blanketed in darkness.
At the highest point within the vast city walls, a massive eagle owl descended without a sound.
Hoo- ooo hoo- ooo-
Its cry pierced the silence of the night, echoing as if it stretched across all of Luoyang, and the creature continued to turn its head, surveying its surroundings as if on guard.
Then, spreading its enormous wings wide, it soared high into the air once more.
Whoosh-!
Though it appeared as though hunting for prey, strangely enough it continued to circle the vicinity of Luoyang, its gaze darting this way and that.
As if searching for something.
One might wonder what else could exist on such a night besides prey, yet the creature’s movements did not cease, and soon it flew toward the Jin Family of Luoyang’s residence.
With powerful wingbeats it circled that place several times, then moved silently and began a slow descent.
As if its destination had already been determined, it was swallowed by the perfect darkness, deceiving the eyes of men, and finally settled upon the roof of a detached building.
The moment those enormous wings folded.
“Did it work?”
“I think… it did?”
I turned my head and asked Chu Hyeongi.
Yet, as if still lacking confidence, Chu Hyeongi wore a somewhat uncertain expression and lifted his gaze toward the creature perched upon the roof.
“Is it there?”
Hoo- ooo-
Chu Hyeongi posed his question, but from the owl’s mouth came a sound that was impossible to decipher as yes or no.
Was that the reason?
Chu Hyeongi, who had spoken, reacted with irritation.
“Yes or no—just answer me!”
Hoo- ooo- hoo ooo-!
It cried out once more with a great sound, but the owl seemed utterly indifferent, repeating the same call and fixing Chu Hyeongi with its golden eyes in a steady gaze.
Watching this, I came to understand one thing.
“Give it some food.”
“Ah-!”
Only then did the creature come to its senses, hastily grasping the meat at its side. It was high-quality beef, a precious food that most people would never even taste.
As Chu Hyeongi tossed it high, the owl that had been staring suddenly took flight and caught it without a sound.
Then, landing back on the roof, it began to peck at the meat.
At this sight, Chu Hyeongi cried out in frustration.
“Is it there or not? I gave you expensive food, so say something, will you!”
Did the owl sense Chu Hyeongi’s desperate plea?
The owl’s golden eyes turned toward Chu Hyeongi once more. Then, puffing its rough body up greatly, it cried out as if issuing a warning.
Click click click-
The sound of a beak striking the air shattered the silence of the quiet night. Though it was merely the cry of a bird, in the pitch-black darkness, the sound accompanied by a flash of golden eyes was eerily unsettling.
Now I understood why that creature was called the king of the night.
“Is someone there?”
Tap-tap-
“Or is there no one?”
Whooo-
Was it because the owl produced distinctly different sounds?
Chu Hyeongi held his breath and turned to look at me.
From the sounds alone, I could now tell.
Someone was there.
Someone watching over the Jin Family.
Whether they were merely spying or attempting to gather information remained unclear, but one thing was certain—their intentions were far from benign.
“Young Master, it seems someone really is out there as you said. But I can’t sense their presence at all… Do you smell anything?”
Sniff-sniff-
Chu Hyeongi twitched his nose like a dog, catching the scent of the wind to pinpoint the location.
However, lacking the perfection of Gu Gunbaek, he tilted his head in confusion and scratched it.
He had failed to discern anything.
I too had drawn my senses to their limit, attempting to feel any presence nearby, but the fact that nothing caught my attention meant this was undoubtedly a high-level expert who had concealed themselves at a considerable distance.
To find them would be nearly impossible.
I patted Chu Hyeongi on the shoulder.
“That’s a fine ability. If you master it well, it could prove invaluable when the moment comes.”
“Wahaha! Right? Our master wouldn’t give me something useless.”
“Indeed, you’ve done well. And this confirms one thing.”
I lifted the corners of my mouth into a cold smile.
There was no doubt.
The elite forces of the Moyong Family that had vanished had entered Luoyang.
What that meant was that Mo Yong-cheon’s gaze had turned toward me.
“The Sword Emperor is about to make a grave mistake.”
It would prove to be his worst blunder yet.

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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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