The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 299

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Jin Family of Luoyang – Chapter 299

* * *

“Master, why have you called us aside separately?”
“It is because encountering talent like Young Master Jin is no simple matter. We wished to converse with him more intimately ourselves.”
The residence of Tae-hwang Mu-jin.
In the deepest and most secluded chamber of the Martial Artist sect—a place only the Elders and senior disciples could enter—those gathered bore expressions that were uniformly grave and dissatisfied.
The most turbulent figure in the current martial world, a man whose mere reputation shook the entire realm, was Jin Cheon-u.
He was like a star burning most brilliantly now, one whose very name set blood boiling.
To have such a person before their eyes yet be confined to this deep chamber without asking him a single proper question—how could they not feel frustrated?
As discontent continued to bubble forth, Mu-jin simply smiled serenely.
Then he slowly raised his head and began to speak unhurriedly.
“What use is there for an elder to intrude upon a meeting between the young? Having encountered a good connection, it is only proper that we elders step back and allow them to build their own bonds.”
Mu-jin said no more and slowly gazed out the window.
What entered his eyes was the courtyard and pathways of the sect, which had long been filled with only silence and purity.
But today was different.
Disciples from the first generation to the third were moving about busily, and curiosity and excitement could not be hidden from their faces.
Laughter and whispers erupted from every corner.
Even the youngest disciples were playing and making a commotion.
As if a festival had been held, the entire sect was astir.
And at the center of it all stood a single person.
The Golden Dragon, Jin Cheon-u.
“Master, what was your impression?”
Someone asked carefully.
Mu-jin nodded and replied.
“That young man? Then it is as I said before. The rumors are not exaggerated in the slightest.”
Having spoken briefly, he paused for a moment before continuing in a low voice.
“Moreover… that aura. It is as if—.”
“As if… what, Master?”
The Elders leaned in, their eyes gleaming.
Mu-jin, whose lips had been moving slightly, soon shook his head.
“No, it is nothing. I was merely indulging in idle thoughts.”
Yet his eyes held something within them.
What had flashed through his mind was an existence he had witnessed long ago.
One who had become one with nature, achieving perfect unity with the flow.
One in whom martial prowess and the Way were completely unified.
He had sensed such an aura emanating from Jin Cheon-u.
But this was something that must never be spoken aloud.
The moment it escaped his lips and reached someone’s ears, Jin Cheon-u would become far more than merely a figure who stirred the martial world.
‘The Infinite Buddha… the Alliance Leader must surely know as well.’
Moreover, it was Hye-myeong who had met Jin Cheon-u before me.
Yet considering that no rumors have spread about it, the Alliance Leader is also keeping silent about it.
I decided that I should not be the one to break that silence.
As I turned my gaze back to the window with such thoughts, I caught sight of my disciples hurrying frantically toward somewhere.
Though distant, my keen eyes could see them clearly.
Every one of them wore excitement and anticipation written all over their faces.
Something was certainly unfolding.
A smile spread across Mu-jin’s lips.
“Cheong-hyeon has caused trouble again.”
“Ha… that boy is trying to tarnish the Martial Artist’s reputation after all. Don’t you know his nature well enough? I fear he rashly challenged the Young Master to a martial contest, and it will only damage the Martial Artist’s honor.”
“Hehehehe.”
Mu-jin laughed heartily and waved his hand dismissively.
“Victory and defeat are always part of a martial artist’s path. Losing is fine too. What matters is what one learns in that moment.”
Closing his eyes slowly as he finished speaking, his expression was serene, yet it held unwavering faith in his disciples.
He knew better than anyone.
After Hoyeon’s death, the Martial Artist sect’s momentum had wavered, and his disciples’ hearts had grown heavy.
What was needed now was not unconditional victory.
It was the process of clashing and awakening to become a true practitioner of the martial way.
“Regardless of the outcome, even if the Martial Artist’s honor is temporarily diminished by it, that will become nourishment for it to bloom again someday.”
Those words resonated deeply in the room.

* * *

The vast training grounds of the Mudang Ogum.
Disciples gathered closely throughout the expansive space.
Their eyes gleamed with anticipation as they gazed toward the center, where Namgung Yeon stood motionless, and before him was Cheong-gang, the third of the Mudang Ogum, whose expression brimmed with displeasure.
Cheong-gang glanced at me with a sigh, and from that alone, it was clear he was displeased that his opponent was not me.
In contrast, Namgung Yeon was resolute.
The Mudang Ogum are comparable to the Plum Blossom Sword Masters of Huashan and the Eighteen Arhats of Shaolin.
As they are the pillars of the current Martial Arts Alliance, for Namgung Yeon, this was an excellent opportunity to test how far his sword could reach.
At that moment, Jang Chuchyeong beside me expressed bewilderment at the situation.
“Young Master?”
“What is it?”
“Why… if Cheong-hyeon challenged you to a match, shouldn’t it be between you and him?”
If I had accepted the challenge that Cheong-hyeon proposed, it should naturally have been a duel between him and me, yet the situation had become entirely different.
I smiled.
“I can’t afford to be the only one at a loss.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Witnessing the sword techniques of the Mudang is no simple matter. This situation will be valuable experience for all of you. But if I merely faced Cheong-hyeon in a match, what would I gain?”
Nothing.
Learning and gaining knowledge requires matching levels.
Cheong-hyeon would surely be exceptional, but I could not believe he wielded the Mudang’s sword techniques as proficiently as Hoyeon, making a meaningless match.
Yet if a match was unavoidable, I could not simply accept a loss, could I?
Thus came this present situation.
Paaang—!
In the moment I held such thoughts, Namgung Yeon and Cheong-gang swung their wooden swords toward each other.
Paaat—!
A dull resonance spread as they each retreated a step.
What followed was the Mudang’s Taiji Sword, gently pressuring the opponent and attempting to redirect Namgung Yeon’s force to seize advantage.
However, the Sword of Boundless Creation was no trivial matter.
“…!”
The wooden sword advancing with mastery of Taiji’s principles was fierce.
Sharp, bristling sword energy scattered endlessly, enough to discern her level, flying about in chaotic profusion.
Pung pung pung—!
“Wow! To witness the secret techniques of the Namgung clan like this!”
“Ahhh—! So magnificent! Absolutely magnificent!”
The disciples surrounding them erupted in cheers, their voices growing louder with each flawless exchange of offense and defense.
Was it due to such fervor?
The exchanges between the two became increasingly intense.
They added speed to their sword exchanges, their movements swift and nimble, each maximizing their respective advantages.
Cutting sharply through the flowing sword, and just as Cheong-gang attempted to unfold the Grafting Flower technique, Namgung Yeon seized control of space and altered the flow.
The exchanges, uncommon to witness anywhere, showed no sign of ending, and before long, their wooden swords had exchanged over a hundred strikes, probing each other’s weaknesses.
“…!”
“Kugh!”
Cheong-gang’s wooden sword stopped before Namgung Yeon’s chest, while Namgung Yeon’s blade halted before Cheong-gang’s neck.
It was impossible to tell who had won or lost.
Both had drawn lethal moves, stopping precisely before the points where they could have killed each other.
Finally, as Cheong-hyeon let out a sigh, his voice rang out.
“A draw.”
“Waaaaah!”
“Magnificent! Haha! Cheong-gang, that was incredible!”
“I never knew the Namgung sword could be so beautiful….”
The moment the roaring cheers erupted, I found myself smiling without thinking.
Yet, was it because the match hadn’t been decisively won?
Namgung Yeon approached with a guilty expression and bowed her head.
“I apologize, Young Master… I was insufficient….”
She hung her head, unable to overcome her sense of guilt.
Her pride crumbled deep within her chest, and regret that condemned herself seemed to pierce through like a blade.
Her fingertips trembled, and her fists clenched tighter.
Watching her like that, I shook my head.
“It’s fine. Victory and defeat were meaningless from the start anyway.”
Unable to suppress her frustration at my words, she clenched her fists and sighed, whereupon Jang Chuchyeong, who had been watching intently, broke into a grin.
“Want me to tell you what the Young Master really wanted to say?”
“That’s enough.”
“It’s fine. I never expected much from you anyway. That’s right, isn’t it, Young Master?”
Jang Chuchyeong, his face beaming with laughter at whatever he found so amusing, rose from his seat while teasing Namgung Yeon.
Confirming that Namgung Yeon was shooting him a furious glare with sharp eyes, he laughed once more before slapping her back with that massive hand of his.
Slap—!
“Ugh!”
“You just sit there and watch. See how I do it. Hehehehe.”
Crack—crack—!
Jang Chuchyeong stepped onto the stage and loosened his hands.
His knuckles cracked quite loudly.
The man who had been rolling his neck side to side stopped, and upon spotting Cheong-un who had appeared before him, he curled up the corners of his mouth.
“Jang Chuchyeong!”
“I am Cheong-un, the second of the Five Masters. Since we are not as lenient as the Green Forest, please be cautious.”
“Ahahaha—! You should be the one who’s careful. My fists have no eyes.”
“…Neither does my sword.”
Did Jang Chuchyeong’s unrestrained manner displease him?
Cheong-un’s eyes flickered with irritation as his expression hardened slightly.
Whether it was his lack of courtesy or his blunt manner of speech that bothered him, it was clear that he had touched a nerve.
“This should be interesting.”
“…You will lose.”
Namgung Yeon clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on Cheong-un.
His eyes burned with desperate longing, as if cheering him on.
As if he did not wish to see Jang Chuchyeong’s victory.
Then, it began.
Kwaaang—!
The first to move was none other than Jang Chuchyeong.
The moment his feet left the ground, a tremendous explosion of sound assaulted the ears.
Everyone present could not help but flinch at the sheer force of it.
Moreover, Cheong-un himself recoiled in shock at that incredible speed, and the fierce strike that followed seemed as though it would tear his very body asunder.
Cheong-un thrust his wooden sword forward.
Moving in a gentle circle to receive the enemy’s force and redirect it—the very essence of the Taiji sword technique.
For a moment, the tip of his blade became a great wave, seemingly swallowing Jang Chuchyeong’s momentum whole.
Yet before overwhelming strength, even technique proved hollow.
Jang Chuchyeong’s fist tore through the Taiji circle as if it were nothing, and balance crumbled in an instant.
In that moment, what flashed across Cheong-un’s eyes was terror and awe, and the recognition of his own limits before the martial way.
Kwaaang—!
“Ugh—?!”
His body was driven backward by the unexpected force.
The impact was so great his limbs trembled.
He tried to regain his balance, but could not escape the gaze of a beast that would not release its prey.
Kwajik-kwajik—!
Jang Chuchyeong pushed off the ground and charged again.
With each step, the earth shattered beneath him with violent force.
Then his body soared upward, descending upon Cheong-un like a Haedong Cheong diving from the heavens.
Bweeeak—!
“Kyaaagh—!”
Tremendous speed and power.
Combined with massive frame and rippling muscle.
Who could withstand such a being hurtling forward at blistering velocity and crashing down upon them?
Cheong-un’s body flew helplessly, tumbling across the ground several times before regaining his senses, executing a swift backward roll to rise, his teeth gritted.
Channeling a sharp, piercing sword aura, he revealed his intent to cut down Jang Chuchyeong in one stroke, swinging his wooden sword toward the opponent who had already closed the distance.
Saaak—!
The keen blade tore through the air, about to sever Jang Chuchyeong’s approaching body—
When the fist-wielder, brimming with power, grinned wickedly and thrust forward.
Kwaaang—!
In that instant, an unbelievable explosion erupted, and a shockwave rippled outward.
It felt as though the very earth itself was trembling.
Even the disciples watching fell silent, their eyes fixed blankly upon the arena.
Clearly different from the bout between Namgung Yeon and Cheong-gang, they seemed utterly unable to comprehend what emotions they should express.
In that moment—
“Kugh!”
The explosion and shockwave dissipated, revealing the arena’s landscape.
Cheong-un lay sprawled on his back, gasping heavily, while Jang Chuchyeong straddled him with a cruel smile, raising his fist.
Then his gaze turned toward Namgung Yeon.
“Hahahaha! Did you see that, you brat? This is the difference between you and me.”
“….”
Was it because of the way he laughed with such contempt?
Clink—!
The grinding sound of Namgung Yeon’s teeth echoed sharply through the arena.
As she watched Cheong-un collapse and gasp for breath, her eyes blazed with intense hatred.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————