The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 29

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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 Nakhyang Jin Family – Chapter 90

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Escaping Beijing, I entered Hebei.
From here, if I passed through Hannam and entered Anhui once more, I would soon reach Hefei, which could be called my destination.
However, the journey remained considerably long.
That was precisely why I had chosen to travel by carriage.
It was far better than riding on horseback.
After traveling for quite some time, the sun began to set. Finding no nearby village to lodge in, I ultimately chose to camp under the open sky.
Though I had brought various supplies, sleeping outdoors was never an easy affair.
Jang Chuchyeong kindled a campfire while Chaeseoha arranged our sleeping quarters.
Gu Gunbaek had set out to hunt for provisions, and would soon return with the most appetizing creature from the surrounding area slung across his back.
I settled down comfortably by the campfire, warming myself against the flames.
Then, before I knew it, Chaeseoha approached and extended her hand.
“What is it?”
“A pulse diagnosis. You were injured before coming to Beijing, were you not?”
“Ah—yes, that’s right. But I’m fine now.”
“The human body can appear sound yet rot from within. Just as the former Emperor did.”
At her words, I nodded and offered my hand.
Chaeseoha took my pulse, her eyes closing gently, then after a moment she opened them and rose from her seat.
“I’ll prepare a simple medicinal broth for you. Your internal injuries have not yet fully healed.”
“I’m grateful.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s because of me that you suffered this way. It’s the least I can do.”
With a warm smile, she began preparing the medicinal broth. As she combined various herbs from her supplies, the gossamer veil before her face seemed to bother her, so she cast it aside.
With only myself, Jang Chuchyeong, and Gu Gunbaek nearby to see, she appeared to have little reluctance about revealing her face.
Soon, a face as fair and exquisite as that of a celestial maiden was laid bare.
I gazed at it for a moment, then wore a puzzled expression.
“Now that I think about it, how did you fix it?”
“My face, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“It’s simple. I asked for the necessary medicinal herbs from the Imperial Palace. All I had to say was that it was to heal the Emperor, and they brought me whatever I wanted.”
She smiled brightly and rummaged through her bundle, pulling something out.
It was cloth rolled up tightly, and when she unfolded it, rare medicinal herbs that were not easily obtainable came into view in abundance.
I too was left speechless in astonishment.
These were things difficult to procure and far from inexpensive.
I regarded her with an incredulous expression.
“Did you steal them?”
“Steal them? Of course not! They gave them to me willingly when I said it was to heal the Emperor. Of course, I had no intention whatsoever of actually healing him.”
I probably couldn’t have fixed it precisely.
It would have been impossible without the Chae Family’s spirit elixir in the first place.
It seemed So-ha had made excellent use of that situation.
With the hope that I would definitely escape.
I nodded with a smile.
“Either way, you did well. Those would have been useless if left alone, but they’ll be quite useful now.”
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what I’d create with so many precious medicinal ingredients or where I’d use them, but either way, it wouldn’t be harmful to me.
“Hoo-rah!”
Just then.
Gu Gunbaek returned, having finished hunting.
As he lowered the massive wild boar from his shoulder to the ground, dust billowed up with a heavy thud.
“…That’s incredibly large.”
“Hahaha! This size is what’s worth eating. Wild ones are tough, so if you only eat the good parts, there’s not much left.”
Gu Gunbaek grinned widely and drew the short blade from his waist.
With practiced efficiency, he began butchering, and the massive boar was dismantled in moments.
So-ha, watching intently, was so amazed she couldn’t close her mouth.
Then Chu Hyeongi, who had finished preparations at a distance, hurried over and likewise drew his short blade, beginning to cut the prepared meat and roast it.
Master and disciple moved in perfect harmony.
Whether from the sight and aroma of the meat browning, hungry sounds came from all around.
This was because Gu Gunbaek had driven the carriage relentlessly without stopping, so no one had properly rested or eaten.
Then, a hand reached out without hesitation to grab meat that was still undercooked. It was none other than Gu Gunbaek, and though it was surely still hot and not yet cooled, he paid no mind and put it in his mouth.
Watching him chew the meat with blood dripping from his mouth, he was truly a savage through and through.
Soon his gaze turned toward Chu Hyeongi.
“Finish eating quickly, disciple, and follow your master.”
“Me? Why?”
“You come when I tell you to come. Don’t ask so many questions, you brat.”
“Aaaah! I’m going, I’m going! Don’t pull my ear!”
At Chu Hyeongi’s cries, Gu Gunbaek finally seemed satisfied and released his grip with a nod.
Then, as if urging him to eat quickly, he grabbed undercooked meat and plopped it down in front of Chu Hyeongi.
Because of this, the boy looked at me with a pitiful expression, seeming to ask for help, but I simply ignored him and waited for the meat to finish cooking.
The meat cooked faster than expected.
The portions had been chosen with some care, and the meat wasn’t tough even in my mouth, so finally both So-ha and I could satisfy our hunger.
However, Chu Hyeongi, who had been eating undercooked meat, was just reaching for the properly cooked meat when Gu Gunbaek suddenly stood up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, and began dragging him away.
“Aaaah! I haven’t eaten yet!”
“You’ve eaten plenty. Your belly looks like it’s about to burst.”
“My stomach’s just distended! Aaaah!”
“You’ve eaten that much and you won’t die. Come on. We’re wasting time.”
Chu Hyeongi was dragged away without being able to resist properly.
Gradually disappearing into the darkness, it seemed they were heading somewhere without people.
Once they were no longer visible, I shook my head and focused on eating once more.
“What could he be planning? At this hour… It’s not like he’s going hunting.”
“He’s attempting to draw in the Sokhwan Dan.”
“Couldn’t he do that here?”
“When guiding qi, I’ll fundamentally be following the elder’s heart method. As a physician, you’d recognize where the qi and blood are flowing just by observing the fluctuations in each moment….”
“And?”
“I simply don’t trust it.”
“Aha.”
I clicked my tongue and smacked my lips.
In truth, I had been hoping to witness the spectacle of qi being drawn in.
If that happened, I could discern Gu Gunbaek’s heart method and use it to fill the gaps in my own.
But Gu Gunbaek seemed unwilling to reveal it so easily.
“In any case, we won’t be able to move for a while.”
“As long as I can rest comfortably, anything is fine. Aah— how comfortable this is.”
Chaeseoha stretched languidly and sprawled out flat on the ground.
Her expression was quite serene, as though she were savoring the cold, hard sensation beneath her.
“Isn’t the Jin Family or the Imperial Palace more comfortable?”
“Only the Jin Family was comfortable. The Imperial Palace felt… suffocating and stifling. Ah— and while the Jin Family is comfortable too, since I’ve spent so long living on the ground, this still feels good.”
Chaeseoha rolled about on the earth without concern for her clothes becoming soiled, savoring the sensation.
Though she seemed to have endured unwanted hardship and difficult times, her current demeanor suggested she had cleanly swept all of that away.
I watched her for a moment before turning my gaze elsewhere.
“Someone’s coming.”
I sensed a presence.
Startled by my words, Chaeseoha hurriedly rose to her feet and quickly rewrapped the cloth she had laid on the ground.
The presence drew steadily closer.
I grasped the sword beside me and narrowed my eyes into a cautious gaze.
As the presence became distinct at close range, I fixed my attention upon it.
“Well, we have guests.”
Along with a man’s voice, numerous figures emerged into view.
At a glance, there were more than ten of them.
All of them bore the unmistakable marks of those trained in martial arts.
“Sleeping rough in a place like this? That’s dangerous.”
Then, a man stepped forward and addressed me.
Though he spoke with a gentle smile, his eyes never left me, and I could see he was prepared for any contingency.
There was nothing more tense than meeting strangers in the mountains.
I rose to my feet and regarded the man at the front.
Suppressing the smile that threatened to form at my lips, I steadied my breathing and presented myself with the utmost courtesy and composure, clasping my fist in salute.
“Did you require this space? There are empty areas further that way.”
“Ha, no matter. I merely sensed a presence on my way back and came to investigate. But… might I ask your name?”
“I am Jin Cheon-u of the Nakhyang Jin Family.”
“…!”
The moment I heard the name Jin Family, the man’s eyes widened dramatically.
Then, his lips trembled slightly, and it wasn’t just him—the others around us briefly emanated a palpable killing intent.
Zzzt—!
In that fleeting instant, I felt the murderous aura pierce my body like thousands of needles.
Truly, just a moment.
So brief that even those trained in martial arts might have doubted their own perception.
Soon after, the man’s eyes softened again, and his words no longer carried the sharpness of a honed blade.
“Is that so? Haha, what an honor this is. To encounter the Young Master So of the Jin Family in such a place, no less. Yet you’re sleeping under the stars…”
“If there’s a decent village nearby, please tell me.”
“Haha, I’m afraid I don’t know either.”
The man laughed heartily as he spoke.
But soon his laughter ceased, and his dull eyes sharpened once more.
As if trying to pierce through to my very core.
In that instant, a certain image flashed through my mind, and I naturally moved my hand in preparation.
“….”
I saw his sharp eyes tremble slightly before they quickly faded, and the man’s lips opened cautiously.
“But where are you coming from?”
“Beijing.”
“Beijing? What business would the Young Master So of the Jin Family have in such a place…”
“Is it something you need to know?”
“Haha, my goodness, forgive me. No, what use would it be for us to know Jin Family affairs? I was merely curious, so pay it no mind.”
The man waved his hand dismissively and stepped back.
Then, as if pondering something, he looked directly at me and asked again.
“By chance… where are you headed? If our paths align, we could travel together.”
“I’m heading to Hefei.”
“Hefei? Haha! How fortunate—we’re returning there ourselves. Why not travel together so we’re not bored?”
I shook my head lightly at his words.
Apparently not expecting such a blunt refusal, the man’s expression showed momentary surprise.
“My companions are quite reserved. Besides, there are other members of our party, and it would take considerable time to depart together. Please go ahead without us.”
“Haha… I see. What a shame. But this too is fate—when you come to Hefei, do seek me out. I’ll buy you a drink. It’s not every day one gets the chance to share a cup with the Young Master of the Nakhyang Jin Family, after all.”
“Thank you. However… I don’t believe I caught your name?”
“Ah, my apologies. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Cho Hyeon-gang of the Chohyeon Clan.”
“So you are Cho Hyeon-gang. I shall remember.”
As I nodded in acknowledgment, the man finally broke into a satisfied smile. He then issued orders to his subordinates behind him, and they began to depart one by one.
Cho Hyeon-gang himself lingered briefly, regarding me, before bowing slightly and launching himself away with remarkable speed.
I watched as they vanished in an instant.
Truly exceptional lightness of movement.
In the blink of an eye, they became mere specks and disappeared.
“Cho Hyeon-gang…”
As I gazed after them, repeating the name, a face suddenly surfaced in my mind, and I smiled faintly.
“I never expected to encounter you in a place like this.”

Ma Hyeong-chu, commander of the Blood Phantom Squad.

That was the man’s name.

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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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