The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 3

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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 3

Baek Jin-hwa gazed out the window, observing a group hurrying away from the guesthouse. Her eyes caught sight of them departing in haste.
One of them was a figure so renowned throughout Nakhyang that there was scarcely a soul who did not know his face.
He was none other than the youngest Young Master of the Nakhyang Jin Family.
The one accompanying him was a servant who had been by his side since childhood.
Whatever conversation they were having, the servant spoke incessantly while the man wore an expression of clear displeasure at having to listen.
“Jin Cheon-u….”
He had not sought food from the Hwaseon Guesthouse owner standing before him, but rather information. He had even paid an enormous sum—two silver ingots—for it.
As if he already knew she belonged to the Hao Gate.
The situation was so unbelievable that she felt her spirit deflate.
Of course, it was not unusual to know of the Hao Gate’s existence, but for someone to speak with such certainty while knowing that the Hwaseon Guesthouse served as their base of operations—that was an entirely different matter.
“What on earth could this mean?”
Baek Jin-hwa examined the portrait that Jin Cheon-u had sketched while eating. Indeed, as the Young Master of the Nakhyang Jin Family, he had received the finest education since childhood, and his calligraphy and painting were quite accomplished.
It was incomparable to the crude portraits displayed on street corners.
“Hong Mae.”
“Yes!”
As Baek Jin-hwa spoke quietly, the door opened and a woman entered.
Seeing her stand in patient readiness for orders, Baek Jin-hwa handed over the portrait she held.
“Find out who this is. As quickly as possible. And discover what she does—I am most curious why the Young Master of the Nakhyang Jin Family would pay such an exorbitant sum to locate her.”
“Understood.”
Feeling the woman’s presence fade, Baek Jin-hwa steadied her breathing and reflected on Jin Cheon-u.
She had heard he bore the title of prodigy, yet recently his health had deteriorated and he had secluded himself indoors…
The reputation of being a prodigy certainly seemed to hold truth.
His aura was unremarkable, but his gaze was not.
She had felt the weight of his presence bearing down upon her like a physical force.
For now, perhaps she would pursue this mystery.
Her eyes began to gleam with intrigue.

* * *

“No, why are you like this? Really?! How much did you spend?”
On the way back home.
Chu Hyeongi’s voice beside me never ceased, grating on my nerves.
His pitch was so shrill that even covering my ears couldn’t muffle it—I wanted to clamp my mouth shut just to escape the sound.
Of course, I understood his concerns well enough.
Though I’d obtained a meal, I had spent a considerable sum.
Two silver ingots—an amount ordinary folk couldn’t accumulate even if they saved for years without spending a single coin.
One might argue it excessive for merely obtaining a single piece of information, yet given that this woman was precisely what I needed most at this moment, it hardly constituted a grave loss.
Still, the incessant chirping of this fool’s voice was unbearably loud.
I furrowed my brow.
“Be quiet. You’re making too much noise.”
“If you have money to throw around like that, why not give some to me!”
His sparrow-like chirping truly pierced my ears.
Finally, I exhaled a sigh and drew a silver coin from my purse, flicking it toward him.
“Huh?”
“Take it.”
“R-really? You’re truly giving this to me?”
“It’s a token of my gratitude.”
“…So you finally understand my heart? But what could you possibly be grateful for?”
He asked.
Because he remained by my side until death, protecting me.
A debt that couldn’t be repaid with merely a single silver coin.
If he desired money, I could provide enough for a lifetime of spending; if he needed anything else, I would move heaven and earth to obtain it.
Such was the magnitude of the debt I owed.
Yet even this sentiment felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford right now.
They would come. Inevitably.
Stopping them first was the urgent priority.
“Let’s return home for now.”
“Yes, yes!”
With merely a single silver coin, Chu Hyeongi had become quite obedient.
Judging by the broad grin plastered across his face, he was rather delighted.
And so we returned home.
We ventured deep into the sprawling Nakhyang Jin Family compound toward the annex.
The moment I opened the door to the room we’d finally reached.
A thick fragrance wafted forth suddenly.
It seemed a maid had tidied the room and lit incense.
However, because the window hadn’t been opened, the scent lingered oppressively. Frowning, I stepped inside and noticed a meal laid out—though I couldn’t recall when it had been prepared. It sat as though awaiting my consumption, yet had long since grown cold.
The food had cooled considerably, suggesting considerable time had passed.
Upon seeing this, Chu Hyeongi’s expression darkened ominously.
In that instant, an even more furious voice rang out.
“Who in blazes lit the incense like this?! And the food—it’s gone cold! How dare you serve the Young Master lukewarm dishes?!”
Clang—clang—!
Hong Gu-hyeon’s booming voice thundered through the room.
Whether he had followed me in or simply surveyed the state of the chamber, his fury erupted without restraint.
The servants and maids working both inside and outside the room froze in bewilderment.
The title of chief steward was not bestowed without reason.
Hong Gu-hyeon managed every servant and maid in the Nakhyang Jin Family, and when he thundered like this, it meant someone had erred.
His face flushed crimson, Hong Gu-hyeon strode inside and threw open the window.
He then fixed his gaze upon the cold food and bellowed at the maids hanging laundry outside.
“Why are you standing idle?! Take this food away at once!”
“…We apologize, sir.”
“Apologize to me?!”
“We beg your pardon, Young Master. We have failed in our duties.”
The maids trembled at his harsh rebuke, tears glistening in their eyes as they scrambled to obey. Not one dared offer excuse or explanation—only apology. Their deference made clear to all the servants precisely where Hong Gu-hyeon stood in the hierarchy.
I let out a soft chuckle and waved my hand dismissively.
“Never mind. I’ve already eaten outside, so clear it away. And from now on, don’t burn incense so heavily.”
“Ah… yes, thank you, Young Master! We shall be more careful henceforth.”
As the maids hurried about their work, Hong Gu-hyeon’s sharp gaze shifted toward Chu Hyeongi.
Flinch!
Chu Hyeongi’s spirit wilted beneath that piercing stare.
Despite his appearance, the boy was easily frightened.
“And what have you been doing, you wretch?! You shouldn’t just trail after the Young Master—you should be working! Isn’t it your responsibility to oversee these servants and teach them their duties?!”
“But… the Young Master said we should go out, and you also—”
“Silence! How dare you talk back?! You’re useless as a thundercloud—can’t even manage your own tasks!”
“Ah, you’re being rather harsh…”
Go on, get to work! And no more shirking!”
“Yes, yes, I understand!”
Chu Hyeongi’s expression grew weary. He bowed his head and hurried away. Beyond attending to me, he shouldered responsibility for nearly everything in the Annex—the boy was genuinely overworked.
I settled into my seat with a quiet laugh.
“Cough! There’s no need to be so angry.”
“How can you say such a thing, Young Master? Those entrusted with your service must perform their duties properly, or they deserve reproach. But tell me—does your cough persist? Shall I summon the physician?”
“No, it’s merely a lingering tickle. There’s no fever.”
“Hmm… should your condition worsen, I shall fetch the physician at once. With both your parents away and everyone else occupied, attending to you is precisely my role, is it not?”
“Ha, I’m grateful. But I’d like to rest now.”
“Understood. Should you need anything, call for me at any time. That Chu Hyeongi fellow—I don’t entirely trust him…”
I nodded, and Hong Gu-hyeon bowed respectfully before departing. Once I confirmed he had moved beyond the window, I sprawled across the bed.
Cough, cough!
Suddenly, the coughing seized me.
More violent than before. The relentless spasms wrenched my abdomen and seared my throat. I felt as though I might retch, my body convulsing with dry heaves.
After what felt like an eternity, the fit gradually subsided, and I drew measured breaths to steady myself.
I settled back onto the bedchamber and sat down.
Squinting my eyes open, I sensed the presences lingering nearby—and noticed that several of them had quietly vanished.
Likely servants or maids who had been cleaning.
I steadied my resolve and resumed my breathing technique, slowly drawing the millet-grain-sized spiritual energy through my meridians.
My body felt somewhat lighter.

* * *

Chirp—chirp—
When I opened my eyes, morning had arrived.
I rose from the bedchamber, confirming the sunlight streaming through the window. I felt noticeably lighter than yesterday.
My mind was clearer, and my sluggish body felt considerably more nimble.
It seemed I had succeeded in blocking a fair amount of the poison’s influence through my breathing technique, just as I had planned.
Of course, I didn’t believe myself fully cured.
With only millet-grain-sized inner strength, I could only accomplish so much.
It was the best I could manage.
The real question was how long I could endure.
I turned my gaze toward the mirror with a bitter smile and saw that some color had returned to my complexion.
No one would mistake me for a patient now.
I clenched and unclenched my fists, testing my body’s movement.
There was a dull ache, but nothing unbearable—nothing that would prevent me from exerting myself.
I could push myself a little without serious consequence.
“Good.”
I nodded, satisfied with the situation.
Soon I turned my gaze toward the window outside.
Numerous maids and servants moved through the courtyard and interior, busily attending to their duties. They appeared as naturally integrated as always, yet like the presences I had sensed yesterday, someone was certainly watching me.
“I cannot continue like this indefinitely.”
I could not keep dancing in the palm of their hands.
The problem was that anyone paying close attention to my complexion and physical condition would soon notice the poison wasn’t taking effect—meaning I had little time left.
Once they realized the poison wasn’t working, they would resort to harsher measures.
I could not afford that in my current state.
I sat on the bedchamber and swallowed hard.
Time continued to slip away, making the situation increasingly urgent. I concluded that prolonging this any further would be meaningless.
Then I would strike.
I had to eliminate them all at once.
Only by sweeping away every last one of them cleanly would I gain time to breathe.
I rose from the bedchamber, organizing my thoughts.
To sweep them away, I needed power.
But the power I currently possessed was far from formidable. If that were the case, I could simply use other means to compensate for what I lacked.
Unlike the past, I still had something I could draw upon.
I pushed open the door and stepped outside.
Countless people caught sight of my face and offered their greetings.
I returned their smiles with one of my own.
Yet I was certain—among them, someone would eventually draw a blade against me.
Steadying my resolve, I walked for some time before coming to a halt.
One of the grand halls.
This was the office of Yu Hyeon, the Grand Steward.
Without any prior announcement, I opened the door and stepped inside.
At that moment, Yu Hyeon, who had been attending to his duties, turned his gaze toward me.
“Ah? Young Master So? It feels like ages since I’ve seen your face.”
With Father absent, it was Yu Hyeon, the Grand Steward, who managed the affairs of the So Family. Known as Father’s left arm for his exceptional capabilities, he guided the household with ease even in Father’s absence.
I harbored no doubt regarding his abilities.
I offered a subtle smile and settled into a chair.
“Ahem—it’s good to see you too, Grand Steward. It feels like more than ten years since we last met.”
“Ha ha ha! Ten years? We saw each other just four days ago. You do enjoy your jests, don’t you? But tell me, is there a reason you’ve sought me out? Surely you’re not in need of funds.”
“Even if I needed money, I wouldn’t borrow from you, so rest assured. Rather… when do you expect my parents to return?”
“Hmm… from what I understand, it will take at least another month. Perhaps longer. Bandits have been causing trouble in that region lately.”
I nodded at his words.
Indeed, it had been the same before.
Conflicts with bandit gangs had extended the timeline.
As a result, I received no assistance.
It was unavoidable.
When those fools were deliberately obstructing the path, even Father would find it difficult.
“Is that… the reason you’ve come to see me?”
“Ahem. Do I appear to have so much free time?”
“Ha ha ha! Of course not. I didn’t think so. So then, what is your true purpose?”
I regarded Yu Hyeon as he smiled.
After a moment of deliberation, I spoke with firm resolve.
“Provide me with Imperial Guards—only those I select. And do so with utmost discretion.”
“Ho, Imperial Guards you say? What is this about…?”
“I’ll explain that later.”
Doubt flickered in Yu Hyeon’s eyes at my words.
To suddenly demand guards without explanation naturally aroused his curiosity. Perhaps he wondered if I had gotten myself into some situation requiring a show of strength.
I let out a soft chuckle and met his gaze directly once more.
He had no right to refuse.
Moreover, I had no intention of wasting time on idle questions.
Above all, I had no means of persuasion.
Time was precious to me now.
“I will entertain no further questions. And this is not a request—it is a command from Young Master So.”
“Hmm…”
Yu Hyeon’s gaze upon me began to shift in subtle, imperceptible ways.

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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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