The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 243

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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 243

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“Still refusing to engage in any other activities?”
“Yes, he remains secluded within the Jin Family compound and does not venture outside. We attempted to approach the servants to gather information about the internal situation, but… not a single one would speak, regardless of how much silver we offered.”
Mo Yong-cheon fell into contemplation, turning the words over in his mind.
The man who once roamed the streets of Luoyang without restraint had suddenly confined himself to his residence. What troubled him most was the fact that he had not even stepped foot outside the city itself.
If he could extract internal information, it would be ideal, but for reasons unknown, not a single piece of intelligence emerged from those employed by the Jin Family.
Certainly, as a clan that had controlled the financial arteries of the Central Plains for centuries, the internal cohesion of the Jin Family felt different from other great families.
Had he not heard that even the Namgung Family’s subordinates, blinded by greed, had sold their secrets?
Thanks to that, their collapse had been remarkably swift.
This was not merely a problem unique to the Namgung Family.
If the Moyong Family set their mind to it, they could unearth secrets not only from the Eight Great Families but even the Nine Sects and One Alliance.
Yet here was a martial clan renowned for its unity failing to produce information, and a merchant family yielding nothing?
Mo Yong-cheon shook his head with a hollow laugh.
“Have you made contact with the Ha-o Gate? That avenue should prove more reliable for such matters.”
“It is impossible. I have heard that even the Ha-o Gate cannot discern the internal affairs of the Jin Family.”
“Ha ha ha—this is absurd.”
A bitter chuckle escaped his lips.
It appeared as though everyone was conspiring to protect Jin Cheon-u or the Jin Family itself, did it not?
Mo Yong-cheon found this deeply displeasing, yet when he considered that Luoyang was where the Jin Family’s influence reigned supreme, he recognized it as inevitable.
He briefly entertained the notion of eliminating the Jin Family’s blood relatives who remained outside first, thinking it might naturally draw him out, but he quickly dismissed the idea.
Such an approach would consume too much time.
Moreover, the Jin Family would be greatly shaken by the rising tide of vengeance, the humiliation they had endured, and his death—and the benefits that could be reaped from such upheaval.
Furthermore, through this, Mo Yong-cheon could regain the trust of the new Snake Clan’s leadership.
Thus, the primary objective could not be altered.
“There is still ample time, so observe patiently.”
“Understood.”
Just as the man bowed and began to withdraw, Mo Yong-cheon’s brow furrowed as something weighed upon his mind.
“And in preparation for unforeseen circumstances, I shall also take residence at my estate in Luoyang. This place has become unbearably noisy, so the timing is fortunate.”
“I shall make the preparations.”
He was always a man who exceeded expectations.
To prevent matters from unfolding contrary to his designs, I too must prepare myself thoroughly.

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Crack—!
The moment I swung the sword, a biting chill shot forth, freezing the wooden dummy solid.
Stronger than last time, yet still faint compared to the Junior Prince of Binggung.
But I was growing accustomed to it, and confidence bloomed within me that I would soon master it completely.
I continued swinging the frost-laden blade while recalling a certain figure.

Mu Heo.

I held his incomprehensible dance in my mind, mimicking the cold movements he had performed, repeating them over and over.
The motions were simple enough to be etched clearly in my memory, yet achieving identical movement was far from easy.
Each step, each swing of the blade.
Though I danced the same dance, the feeling was entirely different.
But I did not give up.
Only by wielding his elegant sword that embraced nature flawlessly could I truly make it my own, dissect it, and reconstruct it.
The energy and momentum contained within, the principles that held nature itself.
The essence of Mu Heo’s martial arts would come later.
My conclusion was that if I tried to understand everything about him at once, I would gain nothing. So I decided to take from him one piece at a time, as much as I could.
Whoosh—! Crack!
The sword swung horizontally then severed the wooden dummy.
As the airborne dummy crashed absurdly into the wall, the barrier crumbled with a harsh sound.
“This is…”
“Hahaha— What’s this? You broke the wall because you wanted to see me?”
Beyond the collapsed wall stood none other than Cheon Yul.
Whether he had been heading somewhere else, he smiled at me while placing a piece of candy into his mouth.
“Why are you there?”
“Hm? I was chasing after the physician and got lost.”
“…Is there even a way to get lost here?”
“Hey, my friend didn’t know. They say this place is bigger than Sa Do-cheon. It’s easy to lose your way on a first visit.”
Cheon Yul, speaking with playful banter, seemed quite uncomfortable under my piercing gaze, so he readily offered me a fresh piece of candy from his other hand.
“Want some? This one’s new.”
“Please, help yourself.”
“Haha— Still cold as ever. We’ve been through quite an ordeal together. But… are you training?”
“Unlike some people, I do it often.”
“Hahaha—! You mean me? I train too. In some distant corner when no one’s around.”
A sigh escaped me unbidden at Cheon Yul’s playful expression. Yet I already knew that such light-hearted manner and behavior were not his true self.
In any situation, he used banter to lower his opponent’s guard.
Whether his intentions were good or not, I understood that this could be a calculated move for contingencies.
“You seem to have gained quite a lot from the Northern Sea? I can tell from how hard you’re working up a sweat.”
“It seems the Junior Prince has gained nothing at all.”
“No, I have. That I was far too arrogant until now, or perhaps… that there are truly strange people in this world.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I’ve learned something else about my friend. Whenever something happens, he trains with incredible dedication. As if preparing for something. What’s going on? What is it? Let me in on it too.”
I gazed steadily at Cheon Yul.
Eyes sparkling with eagerness, like a child desperate to involve himself in something immediately. So innocent and pure that it was almost painful to witness.
Without realizing it, I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.
“Nothing is happening. If you have nothing to do, go chase after So-ha or Yeon.”
“Ah— you really don’t pay attention to me… Lady Yeon―!”
“Ugh!?”
In that instant, whether Namgung Yeon had appeared or not, Cheon Yul suddenly bolted forward. Simultaneously, I heard Namgung Yeon’s voice, as if she’d witnessed something repulsive, followed by the sound of her frantically fleeing.
At such a sight, I couldn’t help but let out another hollow laugh.
I truly had no idea what to do with that man.
I wished that Sa Do-cheon’s group would return and drag him away, but it seemed the Martial Arts Alliance wouldn’t allow such a thing.
Rather than provoke unnecessary conflict, it was better to leave him be for now.
Yet no matter how much I thought about it, the reason he wouldn’t leave didn’t seem to stem solely from competitive spirit toward me.
Rather, it was because he was Cheon Gong-hak’s blood relative.
I narrowed my brows slightly and watched the figure disappear for a while, then naturally turned my gaze toward a presence I felt elsewhere.
Jang Chuchyeong had appeared in the training grounds and was waving his hand broadly.
“Young Master!”
“What is it?”
“Ah— I’ve been searching for you for quite a while. You were still in the training grounds… Ugh!? Why is that wall like that!?”
“Send someone to repair it. But what’s your business?”
“Ah— right! He’s returned.”
“Already?”
“Yes! He rode like a madman—I had to spend so much effort calming his ragged breathing!”
At those words, I retrieved my sword and moved quickly.
Following Jang Chuchyeong into the reception hall, I could see Gu Gunbaek with a face flushed crimson red, just as he’d said.
His appearance was beyond description.
His entire body was drenched in sweat as if he’d been caught in rain, and his clothes were scattered and torn, looking like rags.
Had he run here after I’d given him a horse?
Or perhaps he’d fallen off from riding the horse too frantically—such was the state that invited suspicion.
Without realizing it, I let out a hollow laugh with an expression of amazement.
“Impressive. Only two days have passed…”
“You gave me the order, Young Master. I couldn’t afford to delay.”
Gu Gunbaek’s eyes gleamed as he revealed his resolve.
Like one who had received an imperial decree that must be obeyed, the unwavering loyalty he displayed made me understand what the Jin Family of Luoyang meant to him.
“Perhaps you owe the Jin Family a debt? Did my father save you, or was it your family…?”
“Haha, no. I’m simply grateful that you acknowledged me and allowed me to work as an Imperial Guard.”
“You’re this desperate over something so trivial?”
“Sometimes, that one thing is everything to a person. Isn’t that the same for the Imperial Guard Namgung?”
At his resolute words, this time I found myself at a loss. His expression and eyes held no selfish intent—only the revelation of truth.
I let out a helpless laugh.
“So what happened?”
“I completed the task as you instructed. He said he would visit in two days.”
“He must not have agreed to meet easily.”
“Ha ha… I used some of the money you gave me, Young Master. They say money can move even ghosts, and it seems to work the same way with him.”
I couldn’t help but feel taken aback by what I heard next.
The money I gave was merely payment for the errand. After all, it wasn’t family business—I was handling a personal matter.
Yet he had used it for this task.
It was a considerable sum, enough that one might hesitate, but judging from Gu Gunbaek’s eyes and expression, there seemed to be no internal conflict whatsoever.
I let out a bitter smile and drew out another promissory note.
A larger amount than what I had given two days ago.
“Take it.”
“I… I cannot accept this, Young Master. I merely did what I was supposed to do.”
“And I am doing what I am supposed to do. Loyalty always deserves its reward.”
Gu Gunbaek accepted the promissory note with trembling hands.
The value of one silver yuan.
Even by the monthly wage of a lower-ranking warrior, it was money that would take a year of work to earn.
Naturally, it was astonishing.
I observed his expression and posed another question.
“Was there anything else of note?”
“Anything else… Now that you mention it, the atmosphere was not good. Moreover, there was someone who seemed quite displeased.”
“Displeased… About what?”
Gu Gunbaek let out a thoughtful groan.
It had been a fleeting matter, and since he had been focused on his own task, he likely hadn’t paid much attention to such minor details.
But soon his eyes gleamed with recognition.
Had he remembered something?
As Gu Gunbaek’s mouth opened, I furrowed my brow.
“The Sword Emperor has left the Alliance again, it seems. Without even offering an apology.”
The Sword Emperor was the one responsible for handling and resolving this matter.
If such a person disappeared again without presenting any countermeasures, anyone would be unable to contain their anger.
The only ones who might defend him would be those dwelling in the Sword Emperor’s shadow.
Then why would the Sword Emperor, who despised any wavering of his influence most of all, suddenly vanish at such a critical moment?
I smiled with a subtle expression.
“Truly, he never deviates even an inch from my expectations.”
But with this, the perfect picture is now complete.
Now is the time to draw him out.

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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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