The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 276
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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 276
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“The Dan Li Family?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Father listened to my explanation with an impassive expression, stroking his beard. He studied my face for a moment with eyes that revealed nothing of his thoughts, then let out a small laugh.
“So Moyong was pulling the strings.”
“Based on the circumstances, that’s my assessment as well.”
They’d used their intellect more cleverly than I’d anticipated.
Particularly, their use of the spoiled grain—a commodity that couldn’t harm people—was quite significant. In a situation like this, if the Jin Family of Nakhyang suffered casualties, public suspicion would naturally fall upon the Moyong Family.
But if it was merely spoiled grain and other trade goods?
The martial artists wouldn’t pay much attention to such matters and would overlook it. Meanwhile, the Jin Family of Nakhyang’s reputation would suffer, and we might even face accusations of disrespecting the imperial court.
“An interesting scheme. You said this person was called Chwiayeok? What do you intend to do with them?”
“I plan to release them.”
“Release them? Without pressing charges?”
“It’s merely spoiled grain, after all.”
As I spoke with a faint smile, Father’s pupils remained fixed on me without wavering.
His expression clearly showed the question of what scheme I was hatching.
I shrugged lightly and turned my gaze away.
“Keeping one thief locked away doesn’t accomplish much, does it?”
“True enough. But I’m wondering if you’re being too hasty in releasing someone you went to such trouble to capture.”
“Because I captured them with such difficulty, I’m releasing them at the critical moment, easily.”
Father’s expression crumpled as though he’d heard something incomprehensible.
But soon, as if deciding it was of little consequence—or perhaps simply unwilling to concern himself with one thief—he nodded.
“I have many other matters to attend to, so handle it as you see fit. You must have had this plan from the beginning anyway.”
“Understood.”
As I bowed respectfully with a light nod, my eyes caught sight of numerous letters scattered across the desk.
There were a great many of them from various sources, but what stood out most clearly were the two characters: Moyong.
Though I couldn’t make out the exact contents due to other papers covering them, it was clear that Father’s attention was directed toward the lands of Liaoning.
I deliberately refrained from mentioning this and turned to leave.
“Then I’ll handle this matter promptly.”
“Very well.”
The moment his reply reached my ears, I left the administrative office without hesitation. As I stepped outside and received greetings from the maids, my eyes fell upon Chaeseoha, who was sitting in the shade, apparently having waited for me.
“Are you done?”
“Yes. Did you get what I asked for?”
“Here it is. It was really difficult, you know.”
Chaeseoha grumbled as she handed me a small jade vial.
I opened the lid and poured the contents into my palm, and a white powder spilled out. I brought it close to my nose and caught a faint, peculiar scent.
It was a peculiar sensation—somewhat sour yet refreshingly invigorating.
Truly enigmatic.
“Are you certain of this?”
“Trust me. I crafted it with great care, so the effects are guaranteed.”
At her resolute words, I nodded and closed the lid.
Then, I brushed the powder from my hands and left the room.
“You may go rest now.”
“Yes, yes, of course I’ll listen to you.”
Chaeseoha seemed displeased about something, her voice tinged with complaint as she hurried toward the annex. From the way she kept glancing back at me, it was clear something was bothering her.
As I paused in thought for a moment.
“Ah, I see. You’ve worked hard.”
“Yes, that’s it.”
When I acknowledged her effort with a smile, she finally broke into a broad grin, seemingly satisfied.
Her footsteps toward the annex grew noticeably lighter.
After watching her retreating figure for a moment, I turned my gaze away and moved toward where Chwiayeok was being held.
It was a place where few in the Jin Family of Luoyang ventured.
There stood a small hut; opening its door and checking the floor inside, one could use a mechanism to open a hidden door beneath.
The Jin Family used this place only when someone committed a grave crime or when matters required discreet handling.
Constructed entirely with mechanisms, it was so perfectly designed that escape was nearly impossible—no one had ever succeeded.
I opened the door and stepped inside.
In the narrow, pitch-black space where not a single candle burned, stale air assaulted me all at once.
At the same moment, I sensed a faint movement.
As if waiting in the darkness for an opening.
Whoosh—!
“Gack?!”
Without hesitation, I drove my fist forward.
With a violent sound, Chwiayeok’s body flew backward and crashed against the wall.
Cough—cough—
As endless coughing filled the room, I finally closed the door and walked slowly toward the table.
Using a fire starter, I lit the remaining candle, and darkness receded as light bloomed.
Feeling the gentle warmth of the flickering flame, I turned my head.
“How have you been? It seems about four days have passed, yet you appear to have eaten and slept quite well.”
“Ugh…!”
Chwiayeok rose to his feet with a vicious scowl. Seeing him erase his presence again, aiming for a decisive strike, I let out an exasperated sigh and shook my head.
“Do you intend to die here rather than leave?”
“…!?”
“Show me your teeth one more time. Next, your head will roll.”
Gulp—
At my coldly spoken words, he swallowed hard.
I felt the air within the space tremble.
He was undoubtedly trembling.
I swiftly extended my hand and seized the empty air.
Chwiayeok’s form suddenly materialized from the void, then was dragged forward without resistance and hurled helplessly onto the ground.
“Gasp!”
I stared directly at his face.
For someone confined for four days, his complexion had turned far too pallid. Blood vessels were visible in his eyes, and his hands trembled visibly.
Was it withdrawal?
The reaction came faster than I had anticipated.
I concealed my expression and opened my mouth.
“It was merely some spoiled grain, so I shall forgive you this once. However, go to your master and convey this: should you scheme against the Jin Family again, I will erase the Dan Li Family from existence.”
I pressed my foot firmly against the nape of his neck as he lay prostrate.
The pain of his neck vertebrae nearly shattering intensified Chwiayeok’s struggles, yet he could not escape—trapped like a snare with no way out.
“Ahhhhhhh—!”
Only then did I release the writhing man and rise to my feet. Chwiayeok, no longer capable of resistance, trembled with his eyes filled with terror fixed upon me.
No words escaped his lips.
He merely swallowed his breath, his trembling eyes fixed upon me, consumed by fear and dread of this moment.
At such a sight, a sense of satisfaction washed over me.
I then moved slightly and opened the firmly shut door, allowing the outside breeze to sweep coolly through the chamber.
Feeling that breeze, I curved the corners of my mouth upward.
“Do not forget my warning.”
“Ugh!”
Shudder—
Violent trembling and wavering eyes.
Chwiayeok, drenched in terror and incapable of thought, managed to nod his head with difficulty, and I grasped the back of his neck and began dragging him upward.
* * *
“Gasp—hack!”
Having escaped the Jin Family compound, I bolted forward at a frenzied pace.
Despite having run for quite some time until the Nakyang Jin Family estate vanished from sight, the image of Jin Cheon-u remained vivid and inescapable in my mind.
The very name of the Nakyang Jin Family carried immense weight and pressure, yet Jin Cheon-u was something far more formidable than that.
His tone, his expression, his gaze.
With each word he spoke, those words etched themselves into my consciousness and refused to fade, while his piercing, razor-sharp eyes filled me with a terror that made my teeth chatter.
“…That insane monster!”
I prided myself on my concealment techniques, second to none, yet he had shattered them as though they meant nothing.
This was no mere matter of keen senses.
It meant that his level of ability existed at an incomprehensibly high realm.
“D-Dan Rimyeong… you absolute fool!”
I ground my teeth as I recalled the Family Head of the Dan Li Family who had sent me here.
His words still echoed clearly in my ears.
“It’s a simple task. Just scatter a bit of Sakgok powder… No one will notice, so there’s nothing to worry about, yes? Haha.”
Simple?
How could anyone dare call it simple when carrying out a task in a place guarded by such a monster?
Though my own recklessness—my indulgence in gambling and women—had led to this predicament, I ground my teeth and directed my rage at Dan Rimyeong as though blaming another.
“Damn it… to think I must beg for my life before such wretches….”
I felt the toxin of the Blood Mountain Poison seeping through my body once more. My fingertips grew numb and rigid, and a dull, throbbing pain—as though my meridians were blocked—began to spread deep into my bones.
Though merely an early symptom now, as time passed, the effects would intensify, and eventually, the poison would claim my life.
There was a set deadline, and I had wasted four days confined. Was it any wonder?
My brow furrowed deeply.
In the end, all of this stemmed from my own greed.
Had I not coveted the elixir, I would never have infiltrated the Dan Li Family, and I would never have ingested the Blood Mountain Poison.
Moreover, had I not fallen into gambling and debauchery, I would not have fallen into the trap Jin Cheon-u had laid, and none of this would have happened.
A bitter smile crossed my lips.
But now, finding an antidote took precedence over self-recrimination.
“Damn it—!”
I let out a harsh cry and pushed my legs harder, driving myself forward.
* * *
After sending Chwiayeok away, considerable time had already passed.
The sun that had been hanging in the sky was no longer visible, and the moon had risen, while a crisp wind that arrived with the darkness brushed across my body.
As I gazed at the night sky for a moment, I sensed a presence and turned my gaze to look at one spot.
“What are you doing there?”
The one who revealed herself was none other than Chaeseoha.
It seemed she had hurried out after me, perhaps finding it somewhat peculiar that I was standing in the courtyard rather than retiring indoors despite the late hour of the night.
I gazed at her face for a moment before opening my mouth.
“A festival….”
“Pardon?”
“I want to enjoy a festival.”
“Suddenly?”
As if taken aback by my sudden words, Chaeseoha let out a hollow laugh and shook her head. As though uncertain what to say, she pressed her brow together and released a sigh.
“It will take quite some time before a festival is held in Nakhyang, won’t it?”
“That’s true, I know. But I’m aware of a place where one will be held in the not-too-distant future.”
“Where is that?”
“Hebei.”
The birthday of the Prince of Hebei, who governs that region, is fast approaching.
A grand festival is held over several days during this season, and it had become so renowned that many people traveled to Hebei to enjoy it.
Did Chaeseoha know of this as well?
Her eyes sparkled.
“Are you planning to go?”
“Yes, go and prepare.”
“Now?”
“The timing will work out perfectly when I think about it.”
Did she sense something suspicious in my response?
Chaeseoha’s eyes, which had been shining with excitement, narrowed. In her gaze directed at me, I could see an inexplicable question taking root.
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re not going for some other reason, are you? You’re really going to enjoy the festival?”
“Of course. It seems like it will be quite enjoyable.”
I spoke with conviction and nodded, but even so, she could not easily dispel her suspicion, her gaze fixed upon me as she struggled to discern something in my expression and eyes.
Yet perhaps nothing was revealed?
As if resigned, she sighed and nodded.
“Understood. I’ll prepare. But… are we going together, just the two of us?”
“Yes, it’s better than having everyone gather and go together for no particular reason.”
“…I understand. And this really isn’t anything strange, right?”
“That’s right, we simply go and enjoy ourselves.”
At my final words, Chaeseoha, unable to hide her excitement, moved with bright eyes like a child to gather her belongings.
I watched her with a subtle smile, my lips curving upward.
“Yes, it will be quite enjoyable.”
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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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