The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 209

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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 209

“….”
“….”
Her gaze upon me, silent and piercing, felt glacial.
More than cold—it was as though my entire body had frozen solid in the grip of an icy chill.
Feeling an inexplicable sharpness in the air, I offered an awkward smile and turned my attention to Chaeseoha.
“Has something displeased you?”
“Why is it that every time you leave, you return injured?”
“Such is life.”
“Ugh….”
Chaeseoha pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head with an exhale.
Her delicate hands began their work with meticulous care, yet her tongue moved ceaselessly, assailing my ears with reproach.
“If you simply refrained from doing things that warrant injury, you wouldn’t suffer so needlessly. Live comfortably, will you? Com. Fort. Ably!”
Though her hands stitched my wounds with unparalleled gentleness, the relentless torrent of her scolding was so vexing that I would have preferred facing an enemy in combat.
“Please, I’m begging you! Please— consider your body and be more careful when you go out.”
“I understand. Enough now.”
“There’s plenty more to say before I’m done!”
Chaeseoha cried out sharply, her glare fixed upon me.
This was distinctly different from before.
Her anger was so evident it reached the crown of her head, and I found myself unable to speak, regarding her with an uncertain expression.
In that moment, Chaeseoha steadied her breathing and composed herself.
Watching her fierce gaze gradually soften, I finally found myself able to breathe again.
I then looked at her awkwardly.
“Still, you’re far better than before. Even with such a grave condition.”
“Is that what you should be saying? The fact that you rode day and night in that state is shocking enough. Anyone else would be dead by now. And—don’t you dare say something like ‘but you’re alive and well.'”
Faced with Chaeseoha’s stern demand for reflection, I nodded and averted my gaze from hers.
Meeting her eyes felt more painful than any blade wound.
“There—all done. As always, the same words! Refrain from any strenuous activity for the time being. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll prepare a potent medicinal decoction for you to drink daily!”
Chaeseoha rose abruptly and spoke with commanding force, then kicked open the door and departed.
Sitting alone on the bed, I gazed blankly after her when the closed door quietly creaked open, and a familiar face came into view.
It was Cheon Yul.
He glanced between me and Chaeseoha as she left, then swallowed hard and spoke cautiously.
“Terrifying. Are all the mistresses of the Jin Family like that?”
“She’s not the mistress. She’s a physician.”
“…Can a physician really speak to the family head that way? If it were Sa Do-cheon, no matter how beautiful she was, her head would have rolled.”
“This is the Jin Family. More importantly, why are you still here?”
At those words, Cheon Yul simply gazed at me.
Soon after, he let out a soft chuckle.
“If I stick around you, there’ll be no shortage of people willing to use me as a stepping stone.”
“…Even ten lives wouldn’t be enough.”
“Ha ha— so that’s why she’s angry, isn’t it?”
At Cheon Yul’s words, I offered a bitter smile.
I had warned others of the danger, yet I myself paid no heed and charged forward anyway—from Chaeseoha’s perspective, she had every right to be furious.
After all, it could be interpreted as though every reckless act I committed was only possible because I trusted her alone.
Of course, that was the truth.
With an awkward expression, I rose from my seat.
Then, as I fumbled to change my clothes, I spoke to Cheon Yul.
“If word spreads that you’re still here, every ambitious cultivator will flock to the Jin Family’s gates. It will become quite troublesome—are you certain that’s acceptable?”
“Ah, it doesn’t matter. Why would I be afraid of them? Ha ha ha. My reputation will only rise higher, won’t it?”
Cheon Yul spoke without concern and laughed.
It was clear he didn’t care who came.
Rather, it seemed as though he welcomed it.
His expression suggested he would gladly receive any powerful expert capable of elevating his own level.
Without thinking, I shook my head.
“If people from Sa Do-cheon come searching for Soocheonchu, it will become an even greater problem.”
“Ah— don’t worry. I sent word ahead.”
“…There was no instruction to return?”
“Just to enjoy himself thoroughly.”
At those words, I furrowed my brow.
Cheon Yul’s expression was utterly confident.
It was clear that here, within the Jin Family of Luoyang situated in the orthodox sect’s domain, he intended to simply enjoy himself without restraint.
He had no intention of returning at all.
A sigh escaped me unbidden.
Soon after, I observed Cheon Yul as he began surveying the room.
“Why are there so many valuable things here?”
“Please don’t touch anything. It brings misfortune.”
“Am I some kind of plague?”
Cheon Yul furrowed his brow and looked at me with an exasperated expression.
His dissatisfied face was quite a sight to behold.
Yet his interest in observing seemed greater, as he once again glanced around, displaying fascination with each object that caught his eye.
I exhaled a sigh, just as I was about to drive him out.
From outside, I heard Jang Chuchyeong’s voice.
“Young Master, are you here?”
“What is it?”
“The Family Head is looking for you.”
I couldn’t fathom why he would summon me at such a time.
Unable to smooth away the frown etched across my face, I couldn’t bring myself to drag Cheon Yul out as he silently surveyed the room, and I had no choice but to head toward where my father was.

* * *

Jang Chuchyeong led me not to my father’s study, but to the So Family’s conference chamber.
As I opened the door and stepped inside, a considerable number of people came into view. My father, of course, along with Commander Yu Hyeon, Imperial Guard Commander Baek Ja-hyeon, and Yang Jachun as well.
There were several others besides them.
Seeing especially the executives who oversaw the Yunryong Trading Company seated here, I surmised that this gathering would center on matters of commerce.
I approached them with proper courtesy and took my seat beside my father.
“You’ve arrived. Do you have any idea why I’ve called you here?”
“Is it about a merchant expedition?”
“Yes, you understand well.”
My father laughed brightly, as if delighted by something.
A chill ran down my spine.
This was unmistakably the kind of smile he wore when foisting some troublesome matter onto someone else.
Without thinking, my brow furrowed.
Soon after, I examined the faces of those seated around the table.
Each time our eyes met, person after person averted their gaze and turned their heads away.
It was plain to see they were all quite uncomfortable about something.
“Is this merchant expedition a large one?”
“It is. We must travel far, you see.”
“Where exactly is it to….”
As I posed the question, I cautiously gauged the reactions of those around me.
But no one could easily open their mouth, all of them too busy staring at the ground—it seemed this was no place one could simply venture to.
In the moment I fixed my gaze upon my father once more with narrowed eyes, he offered an awkward smile.
“The Northern Sea.”
A word I should never have heard reached my ears.
In terms of distance alone, it was scarcely different from making a round trip to Namman.
But the greater problem was that we would have to traverse through Shanxi, and afterward, pass through what was truly called the lawless expanse of the Greater Khingan Range, then escape through the Great Desert and the Great Grasslands.
It was no easy journey, and without sufficient skill, one would inevitably fall behind or perish along the way.
“Forgive me, Father. The fatigue from my recent journey to Namman has not yet dissipated, so I’m afraid I cannot undertake this. Soon, my second brother will return, so it would be best to entrust it to him.”
The moment I heard the proposal, I refused outright.
It had not been long since I returned from Namman.
And now another such lengthy journey?
Moreover, since this merchant expedition required traveling such a great distance, its scale would be several times larger than the previous Gansu trade mission, meaning the travel speed would necessarily be considerably slow.
No matter what, I could not accept this.
“You truly will not go? Then there is no one to lead it.”
“Is there not Yang Jachun?”
I glanced subtly toward Yang Jachun.
Upon receiving my gaze, he lowered his head as if ashamed.
“My apologies, Young Master. I must depart for the Western Regions on an expedition shortly….”
“What of Baek Chong-gwal….”
“No, I must protect the So household.”
“And my second brother….”
“That fool overextended himself with work and injured his back. He’s being transported here by carriage as we speak. You expect me to send someone in that condition?”
“….”
Father’s gaze fixed upon me.
Even those who had bowed their heads in shame began lifting them one by one, their eyes pressing down upon me with silent pressure.
As if asking whether it wasn’t finally time for me to work.
When I let out a hollow laugh, Father broke into a wide smile and patted my shoulder.
“From the beginning, every expedition to the Northern Sea has always been led by direct descendants. But with you here, how could I possibly send someone else? It would damage their dignity as well.”
I sensed it immediately.
Just like in Gansu.
This was inescapable.
Without thinking, I closed my eyes tightly and nodded.
Was that the reason?
The eyes of those seated grew noticeably brighter.
They exhaled in relief, knowing they would not have to go.

* * *

“Ah, you’re really going?”
“That’s how it is.”
“How long have we even been back!”
As I exited the conference room, Jang Chuchyeong’s exasperated voice reached my ears, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
I didn’t want to go either.
But the way Father spoke, dragging people along, left no real escape route.
Moreover, despite holding the title of Young Master So, I could barely accomplish one proper task per year, so I couldn’t stubbornly refuse such things. And I couldn’t deny that expeditions and trade missions to the Northern Sea had always been led by direct descendants.
Jang Chuchyeong’s eyes and expression died, but all I could do was lightly pat his back.
After all, he would bear the brunt of the hardship anyway.
Then I spoke to him.
“What are you doing? Go pack your things.”
“…Yes.”
The fellow’s shoulders drooped as he sighed and disappeared.
It was a journey as distant as Namman, so he already seemed drained of spirit.
I didn’t want to go either.
I sighed and opened the door, stepping inside.
At the same time, I could see two people leisurely seated, drinking tea.
“So you see, the Soocheonchu is, in other words, the strongest individual to lead the Sa Do-cheon.”
“Ah— just like our Young Master, right?”
“Hahaha—that’s right! But the subordinates under him are absolutely extraordinary. Some have mansions like palaces, and they have servants too.”
“Ah—just like our Young Master?”
“Hahaha—exactly! Moreover, he has tremendous wealth. They say he spends money lavishly and still has plenty left over.”
“Ah—just like our Young Master?”
“Damn it! There’s nothing that surpasses him.”
Cheon Yul, scratching his head vigorously, found that nothing was working, so he resorted to his final measure.
He dropped to one knee before Chaeseoha and cried out.
“I fell in love at first sight! Please marry me!”
“That’ll do.”
Chaeseoha sipped her tea with an indifferent expression.
Yet Cheon Yul’s expression remained undaunted, as though he had already anticipated the outcome.
Overwhelmed by the sheer absurdity of it all, I held my head and walked inside.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, since she’s not going to be the lady of the house, I thought I’d try to persuade her. But it’s not working. This is the first time something like this has happened… yet somehow I find myself more drawn to her?”
At his words, I let out a hollow laugh.
My mind was already troubled by the journey to the Northern Sea, and he had just created something truly ridiculous to laugh about.
With a small sigh, just as I was about to send Cheon Yul away again.
Suddenly, his voice rang out.
“Ah—come to think of it, when did you go and return?”
“What do you mean?”
“The Northern Sea, I mean the Northern Sea. When did you go and come back?”
“I’ve never been there. Rather, it’s a place I must go to from now on.”
At those words, Cheon Yul tilted his head in confusion.
Then he slowly lifted something he held in his hand.
The painting I had carelessly left on the table.
The one I had drawn based on what I obtained from Nam Tae-cheon’s secret chamber.
Cheon Yul waved the painting and asked again.
“You drew this because you went there, didn’t you?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“This is the Northern Sea right here.”
“…!”
Cheon Yul stared intently at me, rendered speechless by his sudden remark, then tilted his head as if finding it strange and asked.
“You didn’t know?”

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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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