The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 237
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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 237
Craaaaaash—!
Power beyond anything I had unleashed before came pouring forth.
Watching the beautiful scenery around me crumble in an instant was enough to make me think he had released nearly his full strength.
“…Damn.”
Yet Gang Cheonho’s furrowed expression showed no sign of easing, as if he was displeased with the situation.
The ground where I had been standing lay barren and devastated, but I had already moved far beyond that point and now stood at ease, calmly observing Gang Cheonho.
“That movement just now. Is it the power of Gok Ok?”
I listened to his voice and paused to consider.
I had obtained Gok Ok, but my body showed no visible changes.
However, unlike the Gok Ok I had acquired from the Eastern Family—which I had struggled endlessly to understand—I could now feel its power distinctly.
“I’m asking you—!”
The moment he spat out that rough roar, I closed the distance in an instant using the Mountain Lord’s speed.
It would not be an exaggeration to say it was faster than a blink.
Then came his fist, flying at me with fury and terrifying speed.
Zing—
Even in the brief moment I could perceive, death painted itself in the picture before me, yet I kept my gaze fixed and watched calmly.
In that instant, I felt my innate qi stir.
Simultaneously, Gang Cheonho’s fist, which had been hurtling toward me at an unbearable speed, slowed for a fraction of a moment, and I seized that gap to draw my blade.
Shhhhwack—!
“…!?”
Gang Cheonho’s eyes trembled as his shoulder was suddenly slashed.
In a situation where he could not even respond, my blade had suddenly appeared—that must be what he felt.
Unable to fully comprehend what had happened, Gang Cheonho retreated backward. His eyes and expression, filled with wariness as he looked at me, were laid bare.
Crack—!
“Insolent… bastard…!”
“This ability is perfect for hunting beasts.”
Craaaaaash—!
Was he provoked by those words?
The roar of fury from a man who could no longer contain his rage echoed throughout the Binghua Yujing with a resounding cry.
Zzzzzt—
I felt a sharpness beyond measure.
A sensation as if everything would be torn to shreds in a single instant.
As I opened my eyes slightly and prepared for the next move.
Flap—!
Something strange came flying from somewhere.
A messenger bird?
But though it appeared bird-like, it was not actually a bird.
Like a crane folded from paper.
The thing that flew into the Binghua Yujing circled the surroundings, and upon spotting Gang Cheonho, it alighted on his shoulder.
Was that the reason?
Gang Cheonho’s brow furrowed.
He carefully extended his hand, grasped the crane that had landed on his shoulder, and unfolded it.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn―it!”
The moment he confirmed its contents, Gang Cheonho let out a harsh cry. Soon after, as if his business was concluded, the paper naturally ignited into flames and ash, and I watched the sight unfold without relaxing my guard.
Then―
“Jin― Cheon-u―――!”
Clang, clang―!
Along with a voice ringing out madly, the eyes of that beast, gleaming fiercely, blazed with even greater intensity as they fixed upon me.
A thick, sticky killing intent tore through my entire body.
Soon after, that creature’s thick fingers pointed toward me.
“I will kill you.”
“What? Didn’t you plan to kill me here?”
“Grrrrgh!”
Unlike the appearance of someone ready to pounce at any moment, as if other business had arisen or as if summoned by someone, the creature ground its teeth yet refrained from acting immediately.
Perhaps it was the decision of the Divine, who felt this entire situation meaningless after losing the Gok Ok.
“We will meet again… Without fail! Until then, hide yourself away and cling to life.”
Zzzt, zzzt―!
The intense killing intent had crossed all bounds.
Yet Gang Cheonho simply turned his back and began to exit the Binghua Yujing, as if utterly indifferent to any ambush from behind.
These were not words spoken merely to deceive my opponent.
The creature’s figure grew increasingly distant.
Soon after, I could no longer sense his presence or aura within the Binghua Yujing.
“Well then… I’m not sure who’s the fortunate one here.”
I shook my head, recalling the vanishing creature.
I gazed at my hand and furrowed my brow.
Tremor, tremor―
Not just my limbs, but my entire body quivered.
My body had already exceeded its limits, and had the battle continued as it was, even with the power of the Gok Ok, it would not have been easy.
I retraced the situation from moments before.
The moment when that fist, flying at terrifying speed, suddenly slowed.
If I could wield it well, it would be an excellent ability to easily control battles against those creatures, but I cannot rely on it solely given that my innate vital energy is being drained.
Innate vital energy is the force of life itself.
It will become depleted each time I use the ability.
“It’s a good ability, but I cannot use it recklessly… Or perhaps I simply cannot fully control it yet.”
I clicked my tongue lightly and turned my head.
A woman lay on one side of the massive eternal ice jade.
During the fierce exchange, thanks to being somewhat removed from the battlefield, she retained a faint breath of life.
I approached the woman cautiously.
Her entire body was in terrible condition, not just her face.
She looked so devastated that it wouldn’t be strange to think her dead, and it seemed she might stop breathing at any moment.
I carefully lifted her into my arms and began to move.
The Binghua Yujing, which once seemed like a paradise worthy of admiration, no longer possessed that beauty.
It had transformed into a space where only the cold emanating from the eternal ice jade could be felt.
I escaped from there and moved slowly.
Unlike when I first came to find the Binghua Yujing, the sight of far more corpses scattered about in devastation made me realize that those who had recklessly thrown themselves at Gang Cheonho had been venting his rage upon them.
The presence of life could be felt in only a few places.
It seemed that most of the Binggung warriors had been slain in this short span of time.
Could one truly call this the work of the Tiger Horn?
With a bitter smile, I moved toward the auxiliary palace, which was equally in chaos.
The devastation made it clear that a fierce battle had taken place. I saw corpses of Tiger Horn warriors, but there were also quite a few casualties among the Jin Family’s Imperial Guards and servants.
They had done their utmost to hold the line, but three of them had been insufficient.
The moment I stepped inside.
I could see figures sitting exhausted on the ground, gasping for breath.
“Young Master?!”
Soon after, I felt the flood of gazes accompanying Jang Chuchyeong’s cry.
* * *
The blood-soaked beasts were hastily departing the Binggung.
Though many bore serious injuries, their losses were so minimal that it was hard to believe they had faced the massive organization that was the Northern Ice Palace.
While the decisive reason was that the Binggung’s strength had not matched the rumors, it was nonetheless a sight that proved the Tiger Horn’s formidable power.
“Damn it—!”
“Are you certain this is wise? Turning back now….”
“I wish I could do the same!”
Gang Cheonho ground his teeth.
The image of Jin Cheon-u still flickered before his eyes.
Even if he twisted his entire body, it seemed his rage would not be satisfied.
That shameless fool had dared to use him and seize the Gok Ok?
His teeth ground down at a humiliation he had never experienced in his life.
But there was no choice but to turn back for a reason.
The call of the Divine.
The summons of the sacred and noble one must take absolute priority, regardless of circumstance.
By now, all twelve Tiger Horns scattered about would be gathering together, and Gang Cheonho could not afford to delay.
Yet it was clear his teeth were grinding.
Recalling Jin Cheon-u’s image once more, he shouted fiercely.
“I will kill that bastard myself!”
“Since we now know his identity, I suspect the other Tiger Horns will not stand idle either….”
“I will kill them. Every single one who dares to prey upon what is mine will fall. There are no exceptions.”
A low growl rumbled forth.
The resolve to let no one lay a hand upon my prey was absolute.
If such a thing were to occur, the willingness to wage war against the Twelve Horns themselves for taking my quarry was palpable enough to be felt by all.
“That one in particular… I will kill him with my own hands!”
The voice carried a ferocious intensity.
* * *
“How is his condition?”
“The external wounds are one thing, but the internal injuries are far worse. It’s remarkable that he’s still breathing at all.”
At Chaeseoha’s words, I furrowed my brow.
The woman lay motionless, her form battered and broken.
Hours had already passed, yet she showed no signs of regaining consciousness—a clear indication that treating her injuries would be far from simple.
“Can you treat him?”
“I’ll have to try every method available. But it will take considerable time.”
“So we cannot leave this place quickly.”
“Correct.”
A heavy sigh escaped me.
I exhaled deeply at those words.
Though this battle had ended in mutual withdrawal, I had claimed the Gok Ok they sought, making me the victor in the end.
Yet the problem remained: I had failed to kill Gang Cheonho, who knew my true identity, and this situation could no longer be concealed.
I could not fathom why Gang Cheonho had withdrawn, but it would be no surprise if the Jin Family itself came bearing fangs at any moment.
Or perhaps the entirety of the Twelve Horns would mobilize.
Because of this, I longed to return home as soon as possible, yet I found myself forced to spend time treating the Junior Prince.
“If you want to leave, why not simply abandon him and go?”
At that moment, Cheon Yul’s voice suddenly pierced my ears.
His gaze and expression showed utter indifference toward the dying Junior Prince. Despite calling himself my friend, it became clear that this meeting served an entirely different purpose.
I shook my head and sighed.
“I cannot leave him here.”
“You have a kind heart. I would have abandoned him without hesitation. Ha, I’m pressed for time as it is—wasting it to save a dying man seems foolish beyond measure.”
At those words, even Namgung Yeon, Namgung Baek, and Jang Chuchyeong furrowed their brows.
Particularly the two from the Namgung Family sent hostile glares.
Thus did Jeongdo and Sado’s thoughts and ideologies diverge.
I offered a bitter smile and shook my head, sending a sharp gaze in return.
“Hold your tongue.”
“Understood…”
I watched Cheon Yul seal his lips with both hands and retreat, then exhaled and surveyed my surroundings.
We too had sustained considerable damage.
Without healing them, there was no question we could not depart.
“Those of you who are unharmed, please go to the main palace and check if there are any survivors. Some of you head to the village and… recruit people to collect the bodies. I don’t think we can manage this alone.”
“Understood.”
The secondary palace held considerable numbers of corpses, but the main palace far exceeded that.
Though most were from the Northern Ice Palace, the Junior Prince and I had also cut down quite a few, so it would not have been strange to call it a literal hellscape.
As if memories from the past were surfacing.
I turned my head away with another sigh.
A woman barely clinging to life, breathing faintly.
Her appearance felt far too similar to my past self.
“This is difficult.”
I steadied my breathing and recalled Gang Cheonho.
Overwhelming strength and agility combined with insane reflexes.
Though I had known of it, contrary to what I had thought I could handle, it would not have been strange if I had been utterly helpless against him.
If the Junior Prince had not appeared to divide his attention, it was clear as day that the battle would have gone far more one-sidedly against me.
I narrowed my eyes along with a sigh.
I felt as though they were urging me forward.
Grow stronger.
If you wish to survive, climb to ever greater heights.
As if they were saying they would devour me otherwise.
“Constantly provoking people, aren’t they.”
Unable to relax my furrowed brow, my clenched fist tightened with force.
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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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