The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 278

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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 278

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Clop, clop, clop—!
A group of people passed through the city gates of Shijia.
Over twenty individuals were adorned with fine silk garments and ornaments, while the supply carts following behind the Imperial Guards were so laden with goods that the word “overflowing” seemed inadequate.
They were none other than the Dan Li Family of Liaoning.
Though they specialized in pharmacology and lacked significant influence in the martial world, they maintained quite deep connections with the imperial court.
There was only one reason these people sought out Shijia at this time.
It was for the birthday celebration of the Prince.
“We’ve finally arrived.”
“Ha, the journey was quite long, but it was worth the anticipation. The Prince’s birthday always offers much to gain, does it not?”
“Of course. With the newly ascended Emperor, everyone seems to be holding their breath these days. Times like these are worth exploiting.”
Dan Rimyeong, the Family Head of the Dan Li Family, nodded with a smile.
As bribes no longer worked on officials, it was an inevitably frustrating period.
However, at the Prince’s birthday celebration, high-ranking officials would naturally gather, making it unnecessary to be cautious about giving and receiving gifts.
Looking around, one could see that besides the Dan Li Family, many others were entering with carts full of goods, revealing that everyone shared the same thoughts.
Dan Rimyeong quickened his pace with a smile playing at his lips.
Their destination was not an inn.
A manor.
A manor reserved in advance for this occasion.
A place where all these people could stay at once.
Moreover, even after the celebration ended, one could meet with various people.
As Dan Rimyeong was momentarily lost in such thoughts, his gaze shifted elsewhere.
Five of the guards he had brought for protection were nowhere to be seen.
“But why haven’t these men sent word yet?”
“It seems the confirmation is taking longer than expected. Or perhaps they went to find Chwiayeok.”
“Hmm… He’s not one to waste time on frivolous matters.”
Dan Rimyeong pondered Chwiayeok with a puzzled expression.
How shocked had he been when he received word that Chwiayeok hadn’t appeared even after the scheduled time to retrieve the antidote?
Though it seemed unlikely, he felt anxious that perhaps the task had gone wrong, and he desperately wanted to resolve this concern as quickly as possible.
“That man values his own life more than treasure. For such a man not to appear at the appointed time…”
“It’s likely nothing serious. As often happens, he’s probably gotten entangled with some woman and can’t escape.”
As the most plausible explanation left his lips, Dan Rimyeong nodded.
The man usually kept to his schedule, but when he didn’t, it was almost always related to gambling or women.
Thinking of such things, he frowned.
“The lowborn remain lowborn, no matter what.”
“Ha, you speak the truth, Family Head. No matter how capable he may be, he’s merely a thief at best. Once he’s served his purpose and becomes useless, you can dispose of him then.”
“Before we dispose of him, we must obtain his secret techniques. They will prove to be quite the treasure.”
“I am doing my utmost.”
Dan Rimyeong’s expression grew satisfied.
Chwiayeok’s concealment art was worthy of being called the finest in the Central Plains.
If I could obtain it and cultivate more individuals of his caliber, then his usefulness would become expendable.
Moreover, if this matter succeeded and earned the Moyong Family’s deep trust, the Dan Li Family would be as if they had sprouted wings.
Though the Moyong Family’s circumstances were currently unfavorable, the reputation of the Number One Sword Sect was not earned lightly, so given time, they would rise again to prominence.
And the Dan Li Family would be at their side.
Whether in the martial world or the imperial court, they would become a force capable of wielding influence in either realm—it would not be strange if the Eight Great Families became the Nine Great Families.
While entertaining such thoughts with a faint smile, something caught Dan Rimyeong’s attention.
His gaze snagged on something.
Two individuals—a man and a woman—passing through the middle of the street and entering an inn.
Their appearance naturally drew the eyes of all who passed, and everyone glanced at them as they went by.
The women flushed crimson while the men seemed to lose their wits.
They had passed in a flash, not long enough to etch their faces into memory, yet why did they feel strangely familiar?
Dan Rimyeong’s brow furrowed.
“Could it be…? No, surely not…that cannot be…”
The lingering doubt refused to leave his mind.
Unable to smooth the furrow from his brow, the moment he moved toward the inn.
Fluttering—
A carrier pigeon descended from the high sky and alighted beside him.

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The marketplace of Shijiazhuang in Hebei was already filled with clamorous noise. Merchants scattered throughout the streets were busy hawking their wares and soliciting customers.
“Look, look! This elixir is called the Immortal Pill, and if you just take it—!”
Someone was peddling an unidentifiable medicine to draw people in, while elsewhere others were performing all manner of tricks to capture attention.
The laughter and excited voices of the crowd echoed from every corner, yet in stark contrast, there were no shortage of men already drunk in broad daylight, throwing punches at one another.
“Come on—win!”
“Aaaagh!”
“You bastard—!”
The cheers directed at those tangled and writhing on the ground were deafening.
Rather than supporting any particular fighter, the crowd seemed to cheer for whoever was winning, their voices rising with considerable fervor.
Witnessing this spectacle, Chaeseoha appeared utterly bewildered.
“…Is a festival always like this?”
“Wherever people gather, it’s always the same. Conflicts arise naturally. Swindlers too.”
I glanced to one side and saw the charlatan who had been selling the so-called Immortal Pill getting collared and beaten soundly by the crowd surrounding him.
And there was something else.
Several of the drunken men, or those who looked like they knew how to throw their fists in back alleys, were slowly approaching Chaeseoha and me with unmistakable intent.
There was no need to wonder what they were thinking.
“Let’s head to an inn. If we stay much longer, we’ll end up in trouble.”
“…Yes.”
I led Chaeseoha, who nodded in agreement, toward the nearest inn.
Shijiazhuang, the capital city of Hebei.
Being one of the largest cities in the province, it was natural that the Yunlong Inn would have a presence here, as it did in all profitable cities.
Sure enough, it stood prominently in the best location on the main street, and beside it was the Yunlong Tower as well.
As I moved toward the inn with an amused smile at their obvious intention to extract double profits, Chaeseoha, who had been following behind, suddenly drew closer to my side.
She naturally pressed against me and quickened her pace, and when I glanced back, her complexion seemed worse than usual.
“What are you—”
“Let’s hurry, please.”
I tried to ask, but all I heard was an even more urgent plea. Without thinking, I turned my gaze and caught sight of a procession.
Elegantly dressed individuals riding horses with confident bearing.
A considerable number of guards and supply carts laden with goods trailing behind.
At first glance, one might mistake them for traveling merchants, but the embroidery on their garments unmistakably represented a single faction.
At first glance, one might think it was mere pretense, but the embroidery inscribed on their collars unmistakably symbolized a single place.

I don’t have enough context to translate this accurately. “단리세가” doesn’t appear to be a standard Korean word or phrase. Could you provide more context or verify the spelling?

I looked toward the man standing at the very front.
Had I caught a glimpse of Chaeseoha’s expression?
She watched with questioning eyes, her mind visibly turning as she tried to resolve the doubts swirling in her thoughts.
I found myself smiling without realizing it.
Then, as I led Chaeseoha into the inn, did the man’s gaze finally break away?
A sigh of relief escaped from her lips.
I spoke to her as if I knew nothing at all.
“Do you know him?”
“He’s my father’s… close friend.”
“The Dan Li Family?”
….
The moment I mentioned that name, she didn’t nod, but her silence spoke as an answer instead.
His image still seemed to be vividly etched in her mind, and her pallid complexion showed she hadn’t yet escaped from those past memories.
One could tell without asking just how harrowing an ordeal she had endured.
“Don’t worry about it. The Dan Li Family isn’t in a position to do anything anyway.”
“Ah… I understand.”
Watching her carefully nod and try to compose herself, I changed the mood with a small smile and spoke to her.
“More importantly, cheer up and look around the inn.”
“Pardon?”
“This is all money.”
Bustle and chatter—
As Chaeseoha turned her gaze, she finally took in the sight of the inn.
In that instant, her eyes widened in surprise and she was left speechless.
The surroundings were packed with people.
Countless guests occupied tables, and there were no shortage of others waiting for seats to open up.
The servers moved ceaselessly, carrying food and drink, yet even that seemed insufficient as voices calling out from various corners showed no sign of quieting.
Moreover, the expensive guest rooms were completely full.
Considering the prices, these rooms rarely sold, but this time was different—those who came seeking a room had no choice but to leave disappointed.
“Thanks to the Prince of Jin, business is booming.”
The Jin Family of Luoyang hadn’t done anything specifically to earn money.
A festival had been held without spending a single coin, people flocked because of it, and they were using the inn without hesitation despite the high prices.
Since this would continue not just for a day but until the festival ended, I had no doubt the revenue would exceed imagination.
As I broke into a broad grin, Chaeseoha shook her head as if exasperated.
“Even in this situation, you’re thinking about money?”
“For a merchant, it all begins with money and ends with money. Life itself is money, in a sense.”
“Aha ha—”
The moment she heard those words, Chaeseoha burst into laughter.
I couldn’t tell what she found so amusing, but simply changing the mood seemed meaningful enough for our conversation.
Only then was I able to meet the innkeeper responsible for this place.
He was sweating profusely as he attended to guests, and though he brightened at the sight of me, he couldn’t rest from his work for even a moment and remained restless.
I waved toward him, then moved with Chaeseoha toward the pavilion quarters.
The most expensive space within the Yunryong Inn.
Few could afford to rent it, or so I prided myself on thinking, yet strangely, I could sense a presence there.
“There are people…?”
“During times like this, the pavilion quarters divide rooms for individual rental. They charge double the usual rate, but for those wanting to flaunt their wealth, it’s worth coming. It’s cheaper than renting the entire pavilion outright.”
Chaeseoha nodded and surveyed her surroundings.
Many men and women were out in the ornate pavilion garden, sightseeing.
If not for times like these, one would need to rent the entire pavilion, making it difficult even with money, but timing it right allowed one to enjoy it far more cheaply.
Chaeseoha and I moved under the gaze of others.
Mingling with other guests wasn’t entirely to my liking, but considering the season, I understood it was unavoidable.
Moving deeper into the pavilion, we entered an empty room.
The largest room within the pavilion quarters—the place I typically used as my quarters when visiting the inn.
Considering the spacious layout, adding one more bed would allow two people to stay comfortably without inconvenience.
I unpacked my simple belongings and gazed out the window.
“Tomorrow brings the Royal Banquet Festival, the main celebration, and tonight is the eve festival. Rest until then.”
“Phew— understood. But… you’re not planning anything strange just because we’re sharing a room, right?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Her blunt remark made me chuckle helplessly, yet Chaeseoha’s expression seemed more playful than serious.
I smiled faintly and turned my gaze toward the window.
Dusk had already fallen.
As twilight deepened and darkness gradually descended, lanterns began to illuminate throughout the streets.
At that moment.
Ssshhh—!
A faint breeze from somewhere.
Though there was no perceptible presence, I could sense someone moving through the darkness.
I smiled and looked toward Chaeseoha.
“Once we finish eating, let’s go view the eve festival.”
It seemed like it would be quite an entertaining eve festival.

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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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