The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 200

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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 200

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Sitting in meditation posture while gazing intently at the Buddha statue, Hye-myeong could not suppress his frustration.
He had lost all sense of how much time had passed.
He had renounced the secular world and severed his ties as though disconnected from his disciples.
Though he had shed everything a person could not help but possess, one by one, Hye-myeong could not obtain what he desired.

“One who must attain the Buddha’s heart remains mired in worldly attachments—how can such a one advance? There are times when one must let go to gain something.”

That existence from the past which had stood before him, blocking his path.

Geomcheon Muheo.

That overwhelming martial prowess still appeared vividly before his eyes.
Something he wished to emulate but could not, something he desired to grasp yet could not obtain.
All of it seemed as though it were forbidden to him.
The more he thought, the more afflictions arose.
In the moment he felt it wasteful—all those years spent here after casting everything away—his clenched fist tightened, and blood began to flow.
In that instant, Hye-myeong realized something and steadied his mind.
“Amitabha Buddha—this too is a failure to abandon worldly attachment.”
Having chanted the Buddha’s name, Hye-myeong finally rose from his seat.
Since he had taken back what he had tried to discard, it seemed his intention was to drink a cup of water and further strengthen his resolve.
In that moment, he noticed a letter placed upon a small rock.
“So this is the child of the Jin Family of Luoyang?”
In truth, he knew of the Jin Family of Luoyang, but he did not know who the Young Master So was.
The last he had seen was Jin Gu-hyeok, the Family Head of the previous generation, was it not?
Having briefly entertained such thoughts, Hye-myeong grasped the letter and sat upon the rock.
It had been quite some time since he had received a letter from anyone. Ever since he had devoted himself to Buddhist practice and ceased to regard even his disciples, Myeong-ryun’s visits had gradually become less frequent, and before long, he had stopped sending letters altogether.
Hye-myeong smiled bitterly and carefully opened the letter.
In that moment.
His pupils trembled.
Quiver—
The corners of his mouth twitched, and his eyes widened as large as lanterns.
The letter’s contents were sparse.
Merely two characters.
Muheo.
As though the sender knew of him whom Hye-myeong could no longer find even if he searched, and as though they understood the relationship between himself and Muheo.
Hye-myeong held his breath and rose from his seat.
Soon, he turned his gaze toward Jeongdo.
“You said… the Martial Arts Alliance?”
I couldn’t precisely understand why someone from the Jin Family of Luoyang would be seeking the Alliance.
Myeong-ryun’s words had already slipped away without reaching my ears.
Yet, thinking there must be a reason for sending such a letter to me, I couldn’t help but go.
“Amitabha Buddha—I wonder how long it’s been since I last descended the mountain.”
With those words, Hye-myeong’s figure vanished.
With movements as swift as a flying bird, he had already slipped out of the Shaolin grounds.

* * *

The barrage of gazes was unbearably oppressive.
Being the Young Master So of the Jin Family of Luoyang would certainly be enough to draw their interest, but my recent actions were likely an even greater concern to them.
At first, rumors about Cheon Yul had been prominently featured, but now I was more famous for having shattered Moryeong Hyeok’s jaw without restraint at the Gongdong Sect.
Because of this, as people looked at me, they seemed to be gauging the expression of Mo Yong-cheon seated at the highest seat.
After all, the one responsible for what happened to his son was right before their eyes.
Even as I felt those gazes, I bowed my head without concern.
“I never expected to see so many renowned masters of the martial world gathered in one place. It’s an honor to meet you all. I am Jin Cheon-u of the Jin Family of Luoyang. Thank you for your kindness.”
As I offered my greeting with a slight smile, as if to calm the heavy atmosphere, I could see expressions brightening throughout the hall.
Soon, those with benevolent expressions returned my greeting with smiles.
“Ha ha, the epithet ‘Golden Dragon’ is well-deserved. Delighted to meet you.”
“Heh heh heh—! The Jin Family always knows how to conduct themselves with propriety. They don’t even disrespect a beggar from the Open Sect.”
From all around came waves of praise.
They spoke of how unbelievable it was that the Jin Family was a merchant clan, how promising my future seemed—treating me as if I were from a martial family.
Even Cheon Yul beside me was at a loss for words.
But I knew the truth.
Not a single one of them was offering genuine congratulations.
Since the Jin Family of Luoyang had joined hands with Sa Do-cheon, they harbored hopes that they too might do the same with their own sects or families, and they sought to balance the scales that seemed to be tilting slightly toward Sa Do-cheon.
I read their intentions while revealing nothing.
For now.
The owner of this piercing gaze was the real problem.
With a faint smile, I looked toward the Sword Emperor seated at the highest position.
Was the one sitting beside him Commander Jegal Daewun?
Sitting at the highest seat with a commander beside him, one might think the Sword Emperor was the Martial Arts Alliance Master.
Everyone surely knew this, but the fact that no one spoke of it revealed just how immense the Sword Emperor’s influence truly was.
Should I probe slightly?
I spoke with proper courtesy.
“Congratulations, Family Head.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Seeing you seated in that position, you must have become the Alliance Leader, haven’t you? My apologies for the delayed congratulations—I’ve been rather occupied lately.”
“…!”
As I spoke with feigned ignorance and offered a smile, I felt the astonished gazes of everyone present fixed upon me.
Mo Yong-cheon stared at me without uttering a word, and the sensation was akin to thousands of needles piercing through my entire body.
In that moment, I wore a bitter smile.
The voice of Commander Jegal Daewun beside me rang out.
“Haha, he’s merely serving as Acting Alliance Leader at present. So there’s hardly anything problematic about it.”
“Ah, is that so? Then that means… the Alliance Leader is absent, I take it.”
As Jegal Daewun nodded to my question and averted his gaze, the initiative shifted back to Mo Yong-cheon once more.
In that instant, his voice resonated with grave weight.
“The Alliance Leader is away. You can speak with us instead. And… regarding that man as well.”
Zzzt—
Mo Yong-cheon’s eyes, fixed upon Cheon Yul, grew sharp and piercing. His momentum was considerable, as though a massive boulder were pressing down upon my entire being.
Did he sense it?
Cheon Yul broke into an awkward smile, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.
“This one is, as you know, Cheon Yul, the Soocheonchu of Sa Do-cheon. I’ve come to accept the rematch from last time.”
“To stake one’s life on something so trivial—is it because you are a disciple of the Death Emperor, or do you simply hold the Orthodox Faction of Jeongdo in contempt?”
Mo Yong-cheon’s sharp gaze remained fixed upon Cheon Yul without wavering.
His words, heavy and deliberate, sank into my ears like lead, and Cheon Yul barely managed to speak while maintaining an awkward expression.
“Haha, well… I haven’t particularly given it much thought, to be honest.”
“….”
Even in such circumstances, he lies well.
Yet this is a place where one’s true intentions must never be revealed, so Cheon Yul must compose his expression and perform as convincingly as possible.
Mo Yong-cheon’s narrowed eyes turned toward me.
“Interesting. But tell me—does the Jin Family of Luoyang intend to abandon its neutrality?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“That you’re joining hands with Sa Do-cheon and conducting business together.”
“Merchants always weigh profit and loss. We determined that joining hands with Sa Do-cheon would be advantageous at that time, and thus made our decision accordingly.”
“Even while compromising your neutrality?”
“The Jin Family is a merchant house, not a faction belonging to any political ideology, and therefore the very concept of neutrality is a misnomer. What merchants must possess is the virtue of discerning profit from loss—there is no such thing as the middle ground.”
At those words, a flicker of surprise crossed the eyes of the others present.
Perhaps it was unexpected to hear such words spoken before the Sword Emperor himself, but more than that, the Jin Family of Luoyang had shattered in an instant the very identity it had always maintained—that of neutrality.
Neutrality, I declared, does not exist.
And I drove in one more nail for good measure.
I smiled and gazed directly at Mo Yong-cheon.
“I would prefer that you not impose the classifications of political factions upon us.”
“…!”
“…What did you just say?!”
“This madman! Are you in your right mind?!”
Commotion erupted from all corners.
The Jin Family of Luoyang, established in Henan—the very heart of the Orthodox Faction’s domain.
Considering that no matter what measures were taken, this place could not escape the influence of the Martial Arts Alliance, my words just now were remarkably arrogant and could be perceived as a complete disregard for the Alliance.
Had I fallen for such provocation?
Mo Yong-cheon’s brow twitched as he released his aura.
The Sword Emperor’s presence seized control of the conference hall.
I felt a formidable force potent enough to draw blood.
As if testing whether it could force Cheon Yul and me to our knees, with each passing moment, the aura pressed down upon us with increasing intensity.
But it was still somewhat lacking.
Mo Yong-cheon’s gaze, having released his aura, remained fixed upon me without wavering.
Simultaneously, while his expression and eyes appeared stern, I could see a persistent smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
It seemed he intended to use the grievances the Jin Family of Luoyang had caused as a pretext to clearly demonstrate their power and force submission.
And in doing so, also avenge the humiliation the Moyong Family had suffered.
His eyes spoke volumes.
Push further, they said.
Provoke the Orthodox warriors here a bit more.
“It is because of the Martial Arts Alliance that the Jin Family of Luoyang has been able to grow without incident until now. I do not ask you to follow the Alliance, but surely you must at least maintain neutrality, yes?”
He had touched the hearts of those Orthodox warriors who revered the righteous path.
Most of the Orthodox warriors in Henan or the Central Plains believed they were protecting the peace of the righteous path with their own blades and strength.
In other words, many believed that the Jin Family of Luoyang’s growth without suffering harm from the Demonic Sect was also their doing.
If I responded carelessly here, I would provoke the pride of such men, and there was no telling what those bound by their own dignity might attempt.
I examined Mo Yong-cheon’s eyes once more.
Though he spoke seriously, his gaze clearly urged me forward.
Then I would oblige that push.
“Is neutrality something that benefits the Martial Arts Alliance?”
“What? Do you not even understand the meaning of neutrality?”
“There is a clan that proclaimed neutrality and walked that path, yet collapsed merely from treating a single Demon Sect disciple. And yet, does the word ‘neutrality’ not lean favorably toward the Martial Arts Alliance?”
Everyone present would know exactly which clan I was referring to.
Uiseonchae.
They had established themselves in Orthodox territory and proclaimed neutrality, something all martial artists knew, yet they fell when they treated the Sect Leader. They were a clan that disappeared, branded as traitors.
Whether the Martial Arts Alliance intended it or not, it was an undeniable fact that they were treated as rebels and erased.
The moment those words left my lips, I saw a smile bloom across Mo Yong-cheon’s face.
But now, he would not simply laugh.
“However, I cannot discern whether I should be seeking permission from the esteemed masters present here or from the Moyong Family.”
In that instant, I noticed Mo Yong-cheon’s eyes—which had been urging me forward—suddenly shift, but I paid it no mind and casually surveyed those around me, meeting each person’s gaze one by one.
“Could it be that the decision of the Moyong Family Head becomes the decision of the Martial Arts Alliance? If so, it seems I misspoke.”
At this jab to their pride, the expressions of the masters hardened.
One by one, they seemed to realize their own misstep and slowly regain their senses.
“No, that cannot be. We were merely listening to the discussion, so please continue without concern.”
“Hmph! That’s right. We must hear everything before stating our original opinions. And it does not seem to me that you have said anything incorrect.”
“Hahaha! Bold indeed, just as I heard. Now I understand why Do-han favors you so.”
The first to speak was none other than someone from Mount Hua.
As the benevolent figure opened the conversation, people from all corners began speaking at once, and the focus that had been directed at Mo Yong-cheon shattered entirely.
The atmosphere shifted abruptly, and even the oppressive force that had weighed so heavily seemed to dissipate.
In that instant, I saw Mo Yong-cheon’s eyes narrow.
It appeared to be a scheme to shake the Moyong Family’s influence.
But there was still one more thing.
Just as I was about to utter words that would crush the pride of the Sword Emperor of all under heaven—
Creak—
As if on cue, the conference hall’s door suddenly swung open.
Startled by the sudden development, everyone turned their gaze toward it.
Tap—
With soft footsteps.
An old monk dressed in Shaolin robes swept his gaze across the interior of the conference hall, then upon confirming me, softly chanted a Buddhist prayer.
“Amitabha Buddha—.”
As the serene voice echoed through the space, everyone sprang to their feet.
“The Alliance Leader?!”
“How… how is this possible!”
Accompanied by someone’s intense cry, I could see Mo Yong-cheon’s eyes trembling violently as he stared fixedly at the old monk.
Laughter escaped from me unbidden.

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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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