The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 282

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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 282

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“…The Dan Li Family?”
“Yes…”
Moryeong Hyeok swallowed hard, unable to fathom the words reaching his ears.
Though the Dan Li Family specialized in pharmaceuticals and had grown steadily with the Moyong Family’s support, their warriors, while not exceptional, were hardly negligible.
Yet the Dan Li Family’s key figures had been slaughtered.
By the very blades they themselves wielded.
Moryeong Hyeok grasped his throbbing head and furrowed his brow.
“Is it truly Chwiayeok’s doing?”
“The circumstances suggest certainty. Currently, the authorities have issued a portrait and placed a bounty, but it appears to yield no results.”
“A thief sent to obstruct the Jin Family turned his blade against his own master…?”
Betrayal by those one employs.
While common enough in the martial world, considering the Dan Li Family’s methods, it made no sense.
They wielded poison and antidote as whips, offering carrots backed by abundant capital.
Without the will to abandon one’s life, escape from such shackles was impossible—this was virtually unprecedented.
With this, one faction had been eliminated from the board.
Though not entirely ruined, with most of the family’s key figures dead, even after the chaos subsided, they would lack the capacity to turn their attention elsewhere.
“Is there a possibility this was Jin Cheon-u’s doing?”
“It cannot be determined.”
Moryeong Hyeok grasped the bridge of his nose and furrowed his brow.
Whether Jin Cheon-u had read his moves and orchestrated this, or whether something had simply occurred between the Dan Li Family and Chwiayeok—he could not discern.
Without a clear judgment, he could not determine which direction to proceed.
Because of this, Moryeong Hyeok keenly felt the absence of his father.
He could think of nothing regarding how to chart a course and lead the family forward.
“I understand…you may leave.”
“Yes.”
A long exhale…
As Muyong Chang bowed and departed, a prolonged sigh escaped from his lips.
Though the family elders struggled to contain it, the wrathful voice of the Hwangbo Family grew ever louder, and atop that, the Jin Family of Luoyang.
The hidden blade they had planted was slowly strangling the Moyong Family.
A brilliant stratagem was needed to break through this situation.
As he closed his eyes and sank into thought, Moryeong Hyeok suddenly recalled something and sprang from his seat, hastily seeking out Mo Yong-cheon’s study.
Soon he began examining various places.
“If it were them…!”
Moryeong Hyeok’s eyes gleamed as he meticulously searched the surroundings.
Yes, he was certain they would extend their hand.
Even if I had to crawl like a dog and perform tricks, I was determined to do whatever it took to protect the Moyong Family until Mo Yong-cheon returned.

* * *

Crash—!
“Ugh!”
Paeng Dohan’s blade flew uselessly into the air as his massive frame tumbled across the ground in a pathetic heap.
As he struggled to rise from the dust-covered earth, a shadow fell across his vision, and he instinctively reached up to catch whatever was coming.
Whoosh—!
“What?!”
Catching Eon Garyeo in his arms, he rolled across the ground again—a sight that could only be described as utterly ridiculous.
“What’s this? You two fighting together are impressive. Haha, I didn’t realize I was putting in so much power.”
The one facing them was none other than Cheon Yul.
Though he wore a carefree smile, the sweat he was wiping away spoke volumes—the combined assault of these two was far from easy.
“Tch! Let’s go again!”
“No. It’s boring.”
“Argh!”
Paeng Dohan, unable to accept the situation, challenged him once more, but from Cheon Yul’s perspective—having already seen everything—there was no reason to accept.
Moreover, he had expended more energy than anticipated, and he instinctively sensed that another bout could result in defeat.
I watched the scene unfold and spoke to Cheon Yul.
“What do you make of it?”
“You can see for yourself. These two are truly destined partners. Individually, they’re pathetic, but once they combine their strength, they become something entirely different. Dangerous, very dangerous. Should I kill them?”
“Come at us! We won’t die so easily.”
At Cheon Yul’s cold gaze, Paeng Dohan’s spirit blazed like fire.
Just from the display of his unwavering determination to win, one could sense this duel held meaning beyond mere combat.
This was a fight between Jeongdo’s successor and the one who would become the leader of the heterodox sect—victory seemed far more desirable than defeat.
Watching the blazing intensity in the eyes of both Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo as they faced the composed Cheon Yul, I had no doubt that Cheon Yul himself would become a tremendous stepping stone for them both.
As I turned my head with a slight smile.
I noticed Chaeseoha heading toward her quarters with an exhausted expression.
Cheon Yul, who would normally have thrown a joke and clung to her, kept his distance and merely watched her.
As if he wanted to approach, yet felt something unsettling about doing so.
“Is something the matter?”
“Well, it’s just… Has the physician been possessed by a ghost lately?”
I smiled faintly and shook my head.
“She simply appears fatigued.”
Even at my casual remark, Cheon Yul did not easily avert his gaze.
His sharp eyes followed Chaeseoha’s departing figure for a long moment before turning toward Paeng Dohan beside him.
“There’s something eerie about approaching her. Don’t you feel it?”
“I do occasionally feel something off. It’s like… someone is watching me.”
Though the dull Paeng Dohan seemed to notice nothing in particular, both the relatively perceptive Cheon Yul and Eon Garyeo appeared to dimly sense the presence of Chwiayeok.
It wasn’t a short time—I had been guarding Chaeseoha’s side all day long, so it seemed I had caught wind of the occasional presence that flickered nearby.
“Perhaps we should bring in a Taoist priest, no?”
“Indeed. Ah—! Not a Taoist, but… what if we asked the Shaolin monks? Since Buddhism and Taoism share the same essence, it might work out well enough…”
“Do not speak of monks with that beautiful mouth of yours, young lady. It seems like it might provoke a fit…”
“Ah—now that you mention it, he suffered at their hands?”
Whether recalling Hye-myeong or not, I furrowed my brow.
Despite considerable time having passed, it seemed etched so deeply into my mind that I could scarcely shake it off.
Was that the reason?
Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo wore expressions of unbridled confidence.
Though they had not won in direct combat, they seemed to take pride in the Jeongdo Martial Arts Alliance.
As I turned my gaze away with a click of my tongue at that absurd spectacle, I noticed Namgung Yeon approaching from somewhere with a serious expression on her face.
She had closed the distance and offered a light greeting.
“Young Master, there is something you should hear.”
As Namgung Yeon’s voice spread softly, all attention converged upon her. Unlike the quick-witted Eon Garyeo, who pulled Paeng Dohan back a step, Cheon Yul wore an intrigued expression.
“Ha ha, do speak, young lady. I shall listen carefully to whatever words fall from your lips.”
“…”
At those cloying words, a furrow deepened between Namgung Yeon’s brows.
Perhaps because her gaze held a glimmer of disdain as she glanced at him, Cheon Yul found himself shrugging awkwardly.
Her eyes had grown sharper than usual.
It seemed he sensed that it was best not to provoke her carelessly.
“Ah… perhaps something unpleasant happened today?”
“No, nothing of the sort.”
“Your expression suggests otherwise…”
Cheon Yul retreated a step and turned his gaze toward me, offering an awkward smile as if seeking help.
At his expression and eyes that seemed to plead for assistance, I found myself offering a bitter smile before stepping between them and opening my mouth.
“Let us retire to my quarters.”
“Yes.”
I led Namgung Yeon, who nodded calmly, toward my quarters.
Upon opening the door and entering, I took my seat, and only then could I see Namgung Yeon’s expression more clearly as she settled across from me.
She was a woman whose expression had always been serious, but this time the atmosphere was different.
Her rigid gaze and expression, along with the sharp aura that flowed subtly beneath.
Without needing to think deeply, I could surmise it was related to the Moyong Family.
I voiced that suspicion.
“The Moyong Family?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Your expression suggests you have obtained certain information.”
Currently, all of the family’s intelligence networks were sweeping through the Moyong forces.
Moreover, with the Sword Emperor—that solid pillar—gone, even the lesser members of the Moyong Family had their eyes blinded by gold, their tongues wagging ceaselessly.
Thus, we were in a position to obtain the fastest and most accurate information about the Moyong Family in all of the Central Plains.
Undoubtedly, something had surfaced.
I let out a light chuckle, as if to dispel the tension in the air.
“Very well, tell me what this is about.”
“Recently, Moryeong Hyeok has been venturing outside while avoiding the eyes of others.”
“Is that truly concerning?”
“It is undoubtedly some scheme of his.”
She clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing as fury blazed across her face.
The downfall of the Namgung Family had left deep resentment, but it was Moryeong Hyeok himself who had unearthed the profound hatred she had buried and concealed all this time.
Suspecting that the Dan Li Family incident was his doing, her resolve to show no mercy this time was crystalline and unwavering.
“And this.”
Just as I was lost in thought for a moment.
Namgung Yeon withdrew something from her bosom and placed it upon the table.
A small sheet of paper.
Inscribed within it was a hastily scrawled mark.
I gazed upon it, my brow furrowing.
“What is this?”
“One of the servants discovered it by chance while cleaning Moryeong Hyeok’s quarters. The mark was peculiar enough that they remembered it and sent a sketch. But… do you recognize it?”
My gaze remained fixed upon the letter resting on the table.
Because it was scrawled like a doodle, it was the sort of mark that those unfamiliar with it would dismiss without a second thought.
I slowly reached out and took it in my hand.
Without doubt, it was a mark attempting to contact the Divine.
Could it be the Snake Clan they were seeking?
Since the Snake Clan was most closely connected to the Moyong Family, it appeared to be an attempt to reestablish ties with them.
A small sigh escaped my lips as the corners of my mouth lifted.
“When the mind doesn’t work this well, the body suffers for it.”
The Divine’s reason for embracing the Moyong Family was simple.
By elevating them to the position of the Number One Sword Sect, they had created a situation where the Moyong Family could only become their dogs, and thus wielded them like limbs.
They could exploit the Moyong Family’s overwhelming influence to shake the currents of the martial world and conceal their own footsteps.
But now?
The situation was different.
Therefore, no matter how much they searched, they would not appear.
They would not waste strength and time on a card that had already become useless.
I gazed at the mark, staring silently for a long while before a small smile crossed my lips.
“I can make use of this.”
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
I rose from my seat and sought out paper, brush, and ink. Taking the brush in hand and concentrating, I began to move it with precision, and in an instant, a distinct mark took shape.
Namgung Yeon’s eyes widened at the sight of it.
I gazed upon my completed work with a smile.
“If he seeks so desperately, then I shall let him find it.”
Much like the Sword Emperor, Moryeong Hyeok seemed to regard the Divine as his last lifeline.
If he desired it so earnestly, then I would grant him the meeting.
Still, I cannot say whether my desperation will truly aid him.

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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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