The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 248
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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 248
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Hye-myeong, who had been eager to hear the story, suddenly sensed a peculiar energy. As he watched the Sword Emperor intently and pressed Jin Cheon-u with a question, I caught sight of it.
Muyong Jungcheon’s expression twisted into something terrifying, and I could see his blade being wielded with devastating force.
I could not stop the blade hurtling toward Jin Cheon-u.
“Sword Emperor—!”
I cried out harshly, clenching my fists.
The Hundred Step Divine Fist extended with fierce momentum, but it was woefully insufficient to block the space between the nearby Muyong Jungcheon and Jin Cheon-u.
Crash—!
Jin Cheon-u’s body was sent flying from the helpless impact.
As his body tumbled across the ground without even a final cry escaping him, the Sword Emperor, as if he had been waiting, drew his blade and rushed forward.
The Hundred Step Divine Fist arrived at that very moment.
The startled Sword Emperor widened his eyes and swung his blade.
Boom—!
Overwhelming force and steel collided, creating a deafening explosion. The venue was instantly devastated by the savage momentum that would have startled even the renowned masters of the martial world.
Most were too slow to comprehend the sudden turn of events, though none suffered as greatly as Hwangbo Janghu had before.
“So you finally reveal your true nature!”
Hwangbo Janghu threw himself forward.
But Muyong Jungcheon’s movements were even faster.
He drove his blade forward with ruthless precision toward the fallen Jin Cheon-u, as if nothing else existed in his vision.
A sharp force energy streaked through the air.
As if nothing could escape its cutting edge.
The thought that the renowned masters nearby would be caught in the crossfire did not exist for him—everyone present now understood Muyong Jungcheon’s true objective.
In that instant, it was Hye-myeong who threw himself forward.
With hands brimming with force energy, he deflected the incoming strike.
Boom—!
The building shook with a tremendous sound.
Hwangbo Janghu, seizing the opening, rushed forward with terrifying speed to unleash a punch, but the moment he glanced back, Muyong Jungcheon’s eyes turned cold and sharp.
“Do not interfere.”
Flash—!
Light suddenly blazed.
Just like the previous night, when he had cut down countless subordinates.
Hwangbo Janghu, startled, twisted his body to evade, but he could not perfectly escape the intricate web of cuts.
Rip—!
“Ugh!”
Hwangbo Janghu’s body was slashed and blood erupted.
Those who witnessed it now understood one undeniable truth.
Muyong Jungcheon, the Sword Emperor, was serious.
Moreover, the palpable hostility I felt could not be ignored.
Whoooosh—!
“Must it truly come to this?”
“Do you find this beggar amusing, Sword Emperor?!”
The plum blossoms of Huashan bloomed forth, and the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms of the Open Sect cascaded down.
Boom boom boom crash—!
As the successive explosions of force erupted, Muyong Jungcheon furrowed his brow and swiftly withdrew his body.
Yet his gaze remained fixed upon Jin Cheon-u, his intended target, and the moment he took in the sight of him, he noticed the expression on the prone figure’s face.
Ssshhh—
Despite suffering considerable damage, he was laughing.
As if he had orchestrated this very scene.
At this, Muyong Jungcheon’s eyes blazed with fury.
“This wretch—!”
With a fierce cry, he raised his sword once more and swung it down.
However, it was Hye-myeong who moved first.
Standing protectively over Jin Cheon-u, he shifted his body, dispersing Muyong Jungcheon’s incoming energy with a single powerful fist, then closed the distance in an instant and unleashed his technique.
The Great Vajra Fist.
Boom—!
“Ugh?!”
Crash crash crash bang—!
The moment the fist struck, Muyong Jungcheon’s body flew backward and shattered through a wall. His appearance was far from that of a Sword Emperor, but what made it even more pathetic was the flood of gazes pouring down upon him.
“M… Moyong Family Head?”
“What… what is this?!”
Muyong Jungcheon saw it.
As the commotion erupted, people from the Alliance gathered from all directions.
Among them were even familiar Changryongdan members.
As the rage that had surged to the crown of his head subsided somewhat beneath the pain, he found himself gritting his teeth involuntarily.
If things had come to this, then at least the objective must be accomplished.
Just as he was about to unleash even greater power toward Jin Cheon-u once more.
“Muyong Jungcheon—! Did you think I would simply endure this?”
Hwangbo Janghu launched himself forward with a punch, and simultaneously, Myeongsuk members moved from all directions, beginning to tighten the noose around him.
The situation was very unfavorable.
The distance between him and Jin Cheon-u had widened, and Hye-myeong, who protected him, remained fully intact.
With Hye-myeong’s powerful fist strike hitting so forcefully that the pain did not easily subside, a fierce barrage from the Myeongsuk members poured down upon him.
Boom boom boom crash—!
They unleashed their attacks as if firing projectiles.
No matter how much he was praised as the Sword Emperor and had reached such heights, the strikes of powerful experts representing each faction could not be taken lightly.
“Grrrraahhh!”
Muyong Jungcheon, defending with the extreme protective energy of his martial art, was shocked by the sudden surge of overwhelming power that erupted before him.
That force seemed capable of toppling mountains and tearing the heavens asunder.
Fear seized him, and his body reflexively launched backward.
Boom!
It was the Alliance Master’s Hundred Pace Divine Fist—a technique that lived up to its name, capable of destroying everything within a hundred paces.
“Amitabha Buddha… Does the Sword Emperor intend to open the gates of killing karma for this old monk…?”
“Grrrrgh!”
Muyong Jungcheon stumbled backward, coughing blood as he surveyed his surroundings. One by one, the Myeongsuk members were gathering, and Hye-myeong loomed before him like Mount Tai itself, blocking his path.
‘A mistake.’
Yes, he had to admit it.
A clear mistake.
In a place where he should never have acted, he had impulsively unleashed a strike driven by rage. He had anticipated that wretch’s provocation, but he never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would be toyed with in such a manner—a fatal blunder born of his own carelessness.
Now, in this moment, there was no one who would stand with him.
Not the Nine Schools and One Path, not the Eight Great Families, and not even the minor sects that had once sheltered beneath the Moyong Family’s shadow.
Hostile gazes and expressions filled every eye.
This was all… because of that bastard!
Roooaarrr!
With surging, violent fury, the extreme internal energy within him swelled and expanded.
In the moment when a fierce gale swept through and everyone gasped in astonishment, Hye-myeong’s eyes gleamed as his hand began to move.
Muyong Jungcheon watched it unfold, his teeth clenched.
No matter how vast the gap between Hye-myeong and himself, this particular technique could not be easily blocked.
He thrust his sword forward instead.
Shhhhiiiing!
Tremendous power compressed and shot forth.
What was released flew faster than an arrow, and all who witnessed it held their breath in shock.
It was fast.
But its target was unmistakable.
Hye-myeong, who had been about to strike down, urgently spun around and glanced toward the great assembly hall. He launched himself toward it in a single breath, but he was too slow.
The speed was simply that overwhelming.
And then—
Booooom!
The earth trembled with a deafening roar that shook the very foundations.
The massive assembly hall was obliterated in an instant, and the raging winds were so violent that even the Myeongsuk members staggered.
The great pavilion collapsed completely into ruins.
Had there been anyone inside, they would surely have been crushed without question—or so it seemed. Yet, pushing through the debris, Hye-myeong emerged.
He was cradling Jin Cheon-u, who was struggling to catch his breath.
“Amitabha Buddha.”
Hye-myeong chanted the Buddhist invocation, and his brow furrowed.
His gaze was different now from before.
All gentleness had vanished without a trace, replaced by a ferocity as though a rakshasa rather than a buddha had taken possession of his form.
Those sinister eyes swept across the surroundings.
Then, with a furrowed expression, he spoke in a low voice directed at Myeongsuk.
“Did you simply stand by and watch them escape?”
“…!?”
“…When!?”
“Ugh!”
That was right—they hadn’t seen it.
Mo Yong-cheon, who had poured forth his power, was no longer present in that location.
Since none could discern when or how he had vanished, all bore expressions of bewilderment.
Was that the reason?
Hye-myeong’s brow furrowed even more deeply.
Yet soon he composed himself, steadied his turbulent mind, and chanted a prayer.
“Amitabha Buddha—what are you doing? Search for him. We cannot allow the shame of Jeongdo’s martial world to escape like this.”
The opponent was the Sword Emperor.
Should they face his swordsmanship at the overwhelming level he had just demonstrated, none could predict the outcome, yet all those present nodded their heads and their eyes gleamed with resolve.
The Number One Sword Sect? The Sword Emperor?
Such titles had already lost all meaning.
An assassin striking at one invited by the Alliance within the grand conference hall of the Martial Arts Alliance itself.
Though the reason for such actions remained unclear, it was certain that a deep wound had been inflicted upon the long history of the Jeongdo Martial Arts Alliance.
All the Myeongsuk present immediately launched themselves into action.
* * *
I slowly opened my eyes, sensing the gentle energy surrounding me.
A quick glance revealed the familiar face of Hye-myeong, and I could see him taking my pulse while regulating my vital energy.
As I exhaled, feeling the Buddhist monk’s gentle energy harmonizing my meridians throughout my body, Hye-myeong finally withdrew his hand from my pulse, his gaze turning toward me.
“Are you feeling somewhat better?”
“…Yes, though I nearly died.”
“Heh heh heh—it wasn’t quite that severe, I’d say.”
“…”
Hye-myeong offered a benevolent smile.
Even so, he diagnosed my condition with certainty.
Those unfamiliar with the truth would believe I had taken a direct palm strike from Muyong Jungcheon and been sent flying, but the reality was far different.
In that brief moment, I had thrown my body backward, confirmed the incoming palm force, and received it with both hands.
On top of that, I had even deployed the extreme form of my protective energy technique.
I had deliberately provoked him, believing he would inevitably respond, but his reaction came far stronger than I had anticipated.
It seemed his rage had penetrated to the very marrow.
I offered a bitter smile and struggled to my feet with difficulty.
My entire body creaked and groaned loudly.
Watching this, Hye-myeong let out an incredulous laugh.
“Among those of your generation, there is none who could rise so quickly after taking the Sword Emperor’s palm strike.”
“It seems the Buddha’s compassion was with me.”
“Heh heh heh—Amitabha Buddha.”
I turned away from Hye-myeong’s chanting and surveyed my surroundings, and the moment I took in the sight before me, I let out a hollow, helpless laugh.
The Martial Arts Alliance hall had been reduced to a wasteland.
It seemed he had only recently realized that, having lost his reason and unleashed a technique, the situation had become irreversible. Thus, traces of fierce resistance were visible throughout.
Moreover, the complete collapse of the conference hall suggested that he had unleashed a powerful technique aimed at me, and it was none other than Hye-myeong who had saved me from it, was it not?
With no other way to interpret the situation, I bowed deeply to Hye-myeong once more.
“Thank you, Alliance Master. I owe my life to your intervention.”
“Heh heh—think nothing of it. This old monk merely did what was necessary. Besides, a guest invited by the Alliance cannot be allowed to die at the hands of the Alliance’s own members within these walls, can they?”
He spoke with a gentle smile, yet his words were filled with anger.
The Sword Emperor, called Jeongdo’s Three Sovereigns, had attempted to kill a guest personally invited by the Alliance Master in the Alliance’s conference hall, in full view of the Alliance Master and countless Myeongsuk members.
It was one of the greatest humiliations in the long history of the Jeongdo Martial Arts Alliance.
He could not possibly tolerate this.
I asked with a bitter smile.
“But where has the Sword Emperor gone? It seems you were unable to capture him…”
“He fled.”
“Fled? You mean the Sword Emperor?”
“Indeed. He destroyed the conference hall and used the chaos to escape. Currently, we are in pursuit…… I suspect he will be captured soon.”
Hye-myeong’s expression was grim as he spoke.
Since he had a rough understanding of Muyong Jungcheon’s power, he seemed to anticipate that a fierce battle would ensue with considerable casualties.
I acknowledged this with a nod.
“I am fine, Alliance Master. Please go yourself. That way, perhaps one more life can be saved, no?”
“Will that be acceptable?”
“Of course. It seems the Sword Emperor has already fled Jeongju, so I shall return to an inn within the city for treatment. Once matters are settled and I have the leisure, please summon me again. At that time, I will repay this debt of gratitude.”
“Amitabha Buddha.”
Hye-myeong chanted the Buddhist prayer while wrestling with his thoughts for a moment.
I couldn’t even determine whether the Sword Emperor was hiding within Jeongju or had already escaped. Yet the thought of me entering an inn naturally gave him pause.
After all, it was clear to anyone that Mo Yong-cheon’s murderous intent was directed at me.
So I smiled and gently pushed Hye-myeong forward.
“Truly, it’s fine. The Alliance Leader must attend to what requires his attention.”
“…I understand. I’ve stationed skilled experts of the Alliance throughout the city as a precaution. Should anything arise, seek them out.”
“Thank you.”
The moment I offered my gratitude, Hye-myeong’s body shot forward in an instant.
Watching him vanish like a lone bird taking flight, disappearing in the blink of an eye, I realized anew that his prowess was incomparable to the Sword Emperor’s.
As I gazed for a long while at the spot where Hye-myeong had disappeared, a faint smile played at my lips as I examined the ground.
A single sword lay abandoned there.
The one I had gripped even as I lost consciousness.
I slowly grasped the sword in my hand and turned my head.
“Indeed, as they say, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Is that not so, Sword Emperor?”
Mo Yong-cheon, whose pride surpassed all others.
I was certain he would take the bait.
Whether it was the Martial Arts Alliance or the Divine Cult, his standing was gradually eroding, and the anxiety gnawing at him would be immense. The rage accumulated over time had surely taken deep root.
Inserting a single needle into something already swollen to the point of bursting was child’s play.
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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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