The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 24

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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 Nakhyang Jin Family — Chapter 24

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“You still haven’t found them!?”
“That is… yes… I apologize.”
Cha Hak-sang stared at his subordinate with an expression of utter disbelief at the report.
This was happening within their own territory, no less.
It was the kind of place where one could wander for an entire day with eyes closed, such was his familiarity with it.
Yet here the Green Forest Bandits had gathered in force to conduct a search, and not a single one of them had managed to locate those wretches. It made no sense.
“Any signs of them descending the mountain?”
“We found traces of horses leaving the mountain. However… the depth of the hoofprints suggests only one horse passed through. It appears they sent the horse ahead first to create confusion.”
Cha Hak-sang nodded as he listened to his subordinate’s report.
A man skilled enough in pursuit to discern even the depth of hoofprints—if such a man said they hadn’t left the mountain, then they hadn’t left the mountain.
“I see. That would make sense. If they’d simply ridden off on horseback, we wouldn’t have missed them.”
Cha Hak-sang’s brow furrowed as he narrowed his eyes.
In truth, this situation shouldn’t have escalated to such a degree.
It had been an ordinary bandit operation. Losing a single woman would have provoked his anger, certainly, but not to the point of this relentless pursuit.
But a problem had arisen.
The death of the Green Forest Sect members.
And not just one or two.
Because of what the man who appeared to rescue that woman had done, Cha Hak-sang could no longer afford to let this matter slide.
This was a matter of pride for the Hochi Clan and, by extension, the Green Forest itself.
It was the reason he had to capture that wretch at any cost.
Yet there were no traces whatsoever.
As if they had simply vanished from this mountain.
But unless they had ascended to the heavens or sunk into the earth, Cha Hak-sang was certain those wretches remained on this mountain.
Yet how could there be no traces at all?
That was what troubled him most.
Despite conducting searches for five days without rest, they were being completely deceived within the Green Forest’s own domain.
“How far have you searched?”
“We are currently searching this area.”
The subordinate pointed to a location on the map as he spoke.
Cha Hak-sang glanced at it and his brow furrowed.
It was quite far from the mountain stronghold.
If they were fleeing, they would certainly have chosen a path leading away from the mountain, so there was nothing particularly suspicious about that location.
Undoubtedly, his other subordinates were conducting searches in the surrounding areas with that point as their center.
Cha Hak-sang himself would have moved in the same manner.
But what if they had been caught off guard?
He gazed at the map for a moment, then shifted his attention toward his subordinate.
“Do it again.”
“Pardon?”
“Start from the Mountain Stronghold vicinity again and gradually expand the search radius. They might have feinted and circled back to hide nearby.”
“Ah!”
“Go, now!”
“Yes!”
Cha Hak-sang watched his subordinate hurry out and clicked his tongue. If his suspicion was correct, they would be hiding not far from the Mountain Stronghold.
To think he’d only now conceived of such a simple stratagem.
Cha Hak-sang sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
“Whoever this man is, abandon any hope of leaving unscathed.”
I will avenge the dead.
They will pay the price for mocking the Green Forest.

* * *

I opened my eyes slowly.
As my blurred vision rapidly cleared, I began to survey my surroundings once more.
A cave.
Undoubtedly the place where Chaeseoha and I had been hiding.
Seeing her sleeping peacefully in the corner, it seemed the events that had unfolded were no dream.
I rose carefully.
“….”
Then, suddenly, I realized my body’s condition was peculiar.
My eyes were clear.
Not only that, but the mental fog caused by the poison’s influence had lifted, and my body felt unusually refreshed and light.
Strength surged through me.
Even my dantian seemed to pulse with power.
Without thinking, I checked my dantian.
“…!”
My inner energy, which had been no larger than a millet seed, had somehow grown to the size of my index finger.
Caught off guard by this unexpected turn, I found myself gazing at Chaeseoha.
She, who had been sleeping, slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing me standing there perfectly fine, her gaze widened in surprise.
“You’re awake.”
“Yes, but… something feels wrong with my body.”
“I imagine it would.”
“Hmm?”
Was it my imagination that her tone sounded sharp? When I glanced at her again, her eyes were indeed piercing and cold.
I had no idea what I could have done wrong.
It seemed to be related to my current condition, but since I couldn’t discern what it was, the frustration was mine alone.
“What happened?”
“Well… I gave you the family’s last Cheongyang Pill. And… no, it’s nothing.”
At the mention of the Cheongyang Pill, even I was astonished.
The Divine Physician Clan’s Spirit Pill.
A treasure said to be more precious than Shaolin’s Great Restoration Pill.
I knew we possessed one, but originally it was meant to fall into the Emperor’s hands, not mine.
Thus, I couldn’t help but be shocked that I had obtained it.
“You gave me something like that…?”
“There was no other way to save you, Young Master. I could place needles, but there was no situation in which I could brew medicinal decoctions.”
At those words, I nodded.
That was certainly true.
The Green Forest Bandits could appear from anywhere.
It would have been difficult to leave me and venture out to gather herbs, and even if I had obtained them, brewing them would have been impossible.
The moment I lit a fire, they would have discovered us.
The choice to ride in my weakened state and come here to save her had become a blessing in disguise.
Now I had obtained the Divine Physician Clan’s Spirit Pill, which could no longer be found anywhere.
I felt the vitality overflowing through my body and laughed.
Then I looked at Chaeseoha, who was sending me a pointed gaze.
“I’ve received unexpected help. Thank you.”
“If you’re grateful, I’d like you to buy me a good needle after we safely escape this place.”
“A needle?”
“Yes, the kind a physician uses.”
At her unexpected words, I tilted my head in confusion.
She always carried needles with her.
Called the Ink Fragrance Jade Needle, it was something that could be considered the symbol of the Divine Physician Clan—a treasure among treasures that would later fetch an astronomical price at auction after her death.
It was crafted from Ink Fragrance Jade, which could detoxify a Thousand Poisons.
Why would she set aside such a thing and ask me to buy her a needle?
I didn’t quite understand.
“The needle you placed on me earlier…?”
“Not earlier—five days ago. You’ve been sleeping soundly for five whole days, Young Master. And the needle I had…”
“…?”
“Sigh… it’s gone.”
“Gone?”
“Yes, completely vanished.”
At her words that such a magnificent needle had disappeared, my expression hardened without thinking, and I glanced around. The thought crossed my mind that someone might have entered while I slept.
There was no other way such a treasured needle could have vanished.
“You needn’t worry. No one entered.”
“Then how did it disappear?”
“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to find it again.”
It was a somewhat strange thing to say, but I found myself nodding in agreement. Just from the resolute expression that suggested no further questions would be entertained, it seemed unwise to press further.
“Well… in any case, you need not worry about the poison. I have already completely expelled it.”
“I see… Indeed, I feel considerably refreshed.”
“Furthermore, the efficacy of the Spirit Pill has not yet fully dissolved. With sufficient cultivation of your spiritual energy, you will eventually be able to make it your own.”
“I have gained a fortuitous encounter through meeting you.”
At my words, Chaeseoha trembled and shuddered.
As if recalling something, she furrowed her brow, then seemed to give up, exhaling a sigh and offering a bitter smile.
She turned her head to look at me, and her lips parted.
“If you truly believe that, then you must fulfill that request from earlier.”
“The poison antidote? Do not worry. I shall have it made from the finest materials in the Central Plains.”
Was it thanks to my assurance?
Chaeseoha seemed to have regained some of her spirits, and I could see her smile softly and nod.
Though her scar was disfiguring, it somehow felt strangely beautiful—this was no mere illusion.
The moment I awkwardly averted my gaze.
“Search every corner!”
“Ugh… would they really be in a place like this?”
“How should I know? It’s Chae Ju’s order, so we’re just doing it!”
A commotion erupted outside.
At the sudden voices, I narrowed my eyes to slits.
I then raised a finger to silence Chaeseoha’s mouth, grasped the sword that had fallen to the ground, and carefully advanced toward the entrance.
Through the narrow gap, the outside landscape came into view.
The Green Forest Bandits of Hochi Fortress.
Not just one or two men, but ten of them were rummaging about the surroundings.
That alone told me everything.
Chae Ju of Hochi Fortress had noticed something.
Indeed, for five days they had found no trace of us.
Under normal circumstances, one might assume we had fled the mountain.
While that would be the best-case scenario, it seemed Chae Ju’s mind worked rather well.
Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to search the area near the mountain stronghold again.
But it was fine.
Eventually, I would have to clash with the Green Forest Bandits.
If it happened now, all the better.
From the moment I set my goal to save the Nakhyang Jin Family from annihilation, there was one person I had been thinking of.
He is now with the Green Forest Bandits.
It would not be amiss to pay my respects at this opportunity.
Shhhhk—!
I slowly drew my sword and observed the situation.
I could see them gradually approaching this direction. Being familiar with the local terrain, they would find it suspicious if they discovered the vegetation and vines concealing the cave.
Sure enough, one of them looked this way and tilted his head in confusion.
After all, something that had not been there before now existed.
The Unnamed Character gestured toward his nearby companions.
Several Opponents crept cautiously toward me.
I steadied my breathing as I watched them approach.
If this fight was inevitable, I would face it head-on.
Besides, it was time to test the condition of my body.
I stepped forward.
The distance between us narrowed further.
In one fluid motion, I burst out of my hiding place.
“There he is—!”
Shrieeeeek!
The moment I appeared, someone shouted and another blew the Tiger Horn signal.
We were definitely near the Mountain Stronghold.
Soon the Green Forest Sect members would come swarming.
Simultaneously, I extended my Sword.
Shing—!
The blade that flowed from my restored body moved far more smoothly than before, cleaving across my opponent’s chest.
Then brilliant flashes erupted.
Whoooosh—whoooosh—whoooosh—whoooosh—ahhh—!
Four sweeping arcs of blade light blazed forth as my Sword moved with terrifying speed.
The movements resembled watching a raging torrent.
The unbroken flow of my blade engulfed my opponents relentlessly, sweeping them away and drowning them in its current.
“He’s… a Powerful Expert!”
“Damn it! Hold him off until the others arrive!”
Those words reached my ears as I shook the blood from my blade.
Whoosh!
Watching blood pool on the ground, the Opponents took a step back, trembling visibly with fear.
Excellent.
My body condition was perfect—entirely different from before.
Because of this, the Sword in my grip felt perfectly balanced and responsive.
The suffocating sensation I had felt with every breath vanished.
The exhaustion from days of sleeplessness disappeared completely, and my clouded mind and weakened body became whole again.
Even the cough that had plagued me whenever I spoke was gone.
While I could not claim absolute perfection, I was savoring a sensation I had never experienced during my addiction.
Only now did I truly realize how much the world had changed.
A smile spread across my face unbidden.
I turned my gaze toward the Green Forest Sect members.
Those I met eyes with flinched and trembled.
“Yes, if you wish to live, then run.”
My calm words, tinged with warning, echoed through the profound silence.

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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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