The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 216

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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 216

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With the death of the Flesh Demon Duo, those who wished to survive lowered their swords. As each one knelt without resistance, I could finally sense that the battle had ended.
Sighs of relief escaped the lips of the surviving Changryongdan members.
Though they could not hide their frustration at the sight of their wounded comrades, this situation merely signified that their own strength had been insufficient.
Moreover, they would now understand the importance of thorough reconnaissance.
Because of this, every gaze directed toward Moryeong Hyeok was far from favorable.
This disaster had unfolded due to inadequate reporting and investigation, and as a result, Moryeong Hyeok’s reputation would plummet even further.
Moryeong Hyeok, unable to be ignorant of such matters, stood alone at a distance, apart from the others who gathered in small groups, silently observing the situation.
“I am grateful, my lord! I shall never forget this kindness.”
“There is no need to consider it a debt. Had our positions been reversed, would you not have done the same?”
“Ha ha— you speak only truth! Yet it remains a fact that I have been helped. Should you ever need my strength, call upon me at any time. I shall burn away this body of mine without hesitation.”
Paeng Dohan laughed heartily while maintaining his courtesy.
Though our meeting was by chance, the fact remained that the Changryongdan had been saved because of it, and all present should consider themselves recipients of this grace.
As expected, whenever our eyes met with the Changryongdan members scattered about, they bowed their heads and offered their thanks.
Could the reverence I sensed in some of their gazes be mere illusion?
A smile escaped my lips unbidden.
“However, is it truly alright not to visit Eon Garyeo? I believe her treatment should be complete by now.”
“Ah— that’s right. I nearly forgot. Do not worry. Once matters here are settled, I shall go retrieve her.”
Paeng Dohan surveyed his surroundings and took a deep breath.
There were quite a number of those bearing injuries both great and small.
In particular, with severe cases like Hwangbo Yun, who had lost an arm, he could not simply abandon his post.
Since Moryeong Hyeok issued no commands and merely observed, the vice-leader Paeng Dohan had to direct operations himself.
No, it was not that he issued no commands at all.
Even if he spoke, the members would not listen.
Trust in Moryeong Hyeok had already completely collapsed.
Paeng Dohan, well aware of this, was practically shouldering the responsibility of managing this situation.
Though concerned for Eon Garyeo, this was not the moment to leave.
As I nodded in agreement with such thoughts.
“I’m here—.”
Suddenly, Cheon Yul appeared with a familiar voice. At the unexpected arrival of the Sa Do-cheon Soocheonchu, those who had been relieved tensed and gripped their swords.
Though all eyes must have focused on her in that instant, Cheon Yul displayed utter composure and quietly approached me.
Following behind her came Chaeseoha and Eon Garyeo.
“Garyeo!”
“Ah— I’m fine. Thanks to the physician.”
Eon Garyeo, whose complexion had returned to full health as the poison was completely purged, smiled toward Paeng Dohan who had rushed over.
The sickly pallor from before was nowhere to be found, only a somewhat weary gaze remained.
“Haha— our physician’s skills are quite impressive, aren’t they? You’re all healed now, so don’t worry.”
“….”
At that moment, Cheon Yul slipped between the two who were reuniting and created distance between them.
Perhaps because of his protective demeanor toward his woman, Paeng Dohan’s brow furrowed even more deeply.
He released a powerful aura as if ready to draw his blade at any moment, threatening in his stance, but Cheon Yul remained unfazed and composed.
Witnessing this, I let out a sigh.
I quietly approached and grabbed Cheon Yul by the scruff of his neck, dragging him back.
“…What are you doing?”
“I must warn you—refrain from unnecessary provocations.”
“Ah….”
Cheon Yul, deflated by my expression, quietly turned his head away. He had undoubtedly been trying to gauge the strength of the late-stage expert who would stand before Sa Do-cheon in the future.
Or perhaps he also harbored the desire to clearly demonstrate who held the upper hand in this situation.
Such circumstances were rarely common, after all.
But at my restraint, he clicked his tongue and withdrew.
I offered a bitter smile at his behavior and gazed upward at the sky.
The rain that had been subsiding began to intensify once more.
If it poured down again, escaping the mountain would prove difficult, so it seemed wise to move now rather than delay.
“For now, there’s a village nearby. Let us head there.”
I recalled the village I had passed through earlier, reeking of decay.
Most of it was damaged, and I couldn’t say how many usable structures remained, but it would certainly be far better than staying here.
I turned my head to look at Moryeong Hyeok.
As our eyes met, I saw him flinch.
“Will you come? Or do you intend to stay?”
“…I will come.”
At his listless response, I nodded in acknowledgment.

* * *

Most of the village was in ruins, but there were still useful things to be found. Moreover, thanks to the Imperial Guards and warriors already disposing of the corpses, I was spared from the stench of death.
Once we settled into various empty buildings and prepared places to rest, the exhausted fell asleep quickly, and those with severe injuries finally received treatment from Chaeseoha.
The situation was stabilizing rapidly.
But the weather remained fierce.
Another torrential downpour came crashing down like madness, and the howling wind and rain created loud clattering sounds everywhere that assaulted the ears.
Had this been heard at night rather than day, one might have thought ghosts were emerging—the desolation had reached its peak.
I gazed at such a sight before turning my gaze away.
One person caught my eye.
None other than Moryeong Hyeok.
He still stood apart from the group, motionless and vacant.
Whether he hadn’t even grasped the fact that he bore responsibility for this situation and needed to address it, he showed no movement whatsoever.
Was he reflecting seriously on his actions?
No.
Such an element was entirely absent from his eyes.
What I felt was resentment and inferiority.
He harbored no guilt whatsoever toward those who died or were injured because of this incident—only resentment that his power amounted to nothing more than this, and inferiority complex directed at us.
To conceal such emotions as much as possible, he hid his words and expressions, but while he might deceive others, he could not escape my gaze.
The moment our eyes met, he frowned and turned his head away.
A laugh escaped me unbidden.
There was something I wanted to hear, but it seemed he was hardly in a position to tell me anything.
Then.
Paeng Dohan, who had been glancing between me and Moryeong Hyeok, approached carefully and spoke hesitantly.
“I, I apologize, Jin Gongja.”
“What could Paeng Sohyeop possibly have to apologize for to me?”
“I trust you understand. Hyeok’s actions at that moment. I apologize on his behalf.”
I understood Paeng Dohan’s meaning immediately.
He was referring to that time when he had aimed for Namgung Yeon.
It was a situation where, given the obvious hostility anyone could see, it would not have been strange if his neck had been taken right then and there.
I smiled slightly and shook my head.
“There is nothing for you to apologize to me about. And… I understand his feelings well enough. How frustrated must he have been to harbor such thoughts?”
A groan escaped Paeng Dohan’s throat.
Though he was whispering softly, the distance was not far enough to prevent hearing. As a result, Moryeong Hyeok’s face flushed crimson.
His clenched fists trembled.
He appeared desperate to burst with rage.
Yet in an instant, his gaze wavered and he turned his head away again.
Not toward me.
Rather, toward Cheon Yul beside me.
She held a deep smile at the corners of her lips, gazing at Moryeong Hyeok provokingly.
Her eyes and expression seemed to say: if you’re upset, come at me anytime.
A look and expression that says, “If you’re upset, come at me anytime.”
Before my unwavering confidence that I would trample the Moyong Family’s name into the dust at any moment, Moryeong Hyeok could only hold his breath.
The Black Ox Society, Gansuk, and now this place.
He must surely understand that he cannot throw the family’s honor to the ground three times over.
As expected, Moryeong Hyeok, who had been observing me with his back against the wall, hastily left as if he could no longer bear to remain in this place.
Yet there was nowhere for him to go.
For wherever he went, he would have to endure the unfavorable gazes of the Changryongdan members.
I watched him depart and smiled faintly.
“He’s not like he used to be, is he?”
“You speak of Hyeok?”
“Yes, something about it… The members’ eyes are different from before.”
“Haha, well, he began to waver from the Gansuk incident onward, and now he’s lost all prestige entirely. Not a single Changryongdan member considers him the leader anymore.”
Paeng Dohan shook his head and sighed.
Even he, who could hardly be called anything less than a childhood friend, appeared to have given up on Moryeong Hyeok.
Though he still offered some protection to Moryeong Hyeok, his eyes revealed clear displeasure.
The fact that Paeng Dohan’s heart, which once praised Moryeong Hyeok, seemed to have turned completely away was undoubtedly because I had witnessed his animosity toward Namgung Yeon.
“But isn’t he of the Number One Sword Sect? It seems they cannot ignore him so openly…”
“Haha, well, no one pays attention to that anymore. Once the Venerable Hyemyeong resumed his position as the Alliance Master, the Sword Emperor’s influence all but vanished.”
“To that extent?”
“Sigh… don’t even speak of it. Moreover, since the Sword Emperor returned to Liaoning, his power has weakened considerably.”
Hearing this for the first time, my eyes gleamed with interest.
The Sword Emperor returned to Liaoning?
Unlike my assumption that he would remain in the Martial Arts Alliance to protect the Moyong Family’s influence, he had apparently returned to Liaoning where the Moyong Family resided.
This made me think—perhaps it was not about maintaining immediate influence over the Alliance, but rather preventing the family’s power from weakening in the future.
Moreover, the shock of losing Gok Ok before my eyes must have been considerable.
I wondered if he had gone to recuperate.
But thanks to his departure, the influence he wielded over the Martial Arts Alliance had diminished.
This was a favorable development.
Now that he was no longer in the same Henan region, I would have no need to be cautious.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
I had heard everything I needed to hear.
In truth, Paeng Dohan’s words proved more valuable than information coming from the Black Tiger Gate or the family, as he possessed the most intimate knowledge of internal Martial Arts Alliance affairs.
“Then rest yourself as well, Paeng Sohyeop. The Imperial Guards have sent word to the Alliance, so those who can offer assistance will arrive before long.”
“Understood. And let me say once more… I am truly grateful!”
I waved my hand to stop Paeng Dohan as he bowed again, then turned and moved toward where my companions had gathered.
Among them, there was a woman whose eyes held a particularly sharp gleam.
Namgung Yeon.
She was gazing out the window.
When I turned my gaze to confirm, I could see Moryeong Hyeok standing alone beneath the eaves with his back against the wall, apparently unable to bring himself to enter where the members were gathered.
I smiled softly.
“Don’t get too worked up about it.”
“I’m not angry. I was simply thinking about how… pitiful people can be.”
“Building something is difficult, but its collapse is instantaneous.”
“…Yes, that seems to be the case.”
Namgung Yeon did not appear to find pleasure in Moryeong Hyeok’s pathetic downfall.
She slowly steadied her breathing and composed herself.
As if waiting for that moment of satisfaction upon witnessing his ruin.
I turned to address Namgung Yeon.
“Go send a letter to the Chancellor.”
“Yu Hyeon… you mean the Chancellor, sir?”
“Yes.”
I nodded and shifted my gaze, taking in the sight of Moryeong Hyeok standing motionless.
Then, I curved my lips into a dark smile.
“Tell him to extract everything he can about Yao Ling’s current situation and the Moyong Family.”
“…!?”

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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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