The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 309

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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 309

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Crunch—!
The man treading upon the ruins of the collapsed Yunlim Temple furrowed his brow with an expression of deep displeasure.
The landscape that entered his gaze was nothing short of desolation.
Not a trace remained of its former beauty, and the Buddha statue that had stood sentinel for centuries lay scattered across the ground like refuse.
“Ha— haha—.”
A sight so grotesque it drew laughter merely from witnessing it.
I walked slowly, surveying the surroundings once more, before coming to a halt before one particular Buddha statue, my frown deepening further.
“How dare they… commit such sacrilege upon the statue of the Divine….”
What I gazed upon was a Buddha statue fashioned in the image of the Divine.
That which had been not merely reverent but sacred now lay half-shattered, embedded into the wall, and my face flushed crimson as though I might burst at any moment.
In the instant my fists clenched with crushing force.
Clang—!
“Who goes there!”
A contingent of Golden Armored Guards descended upon me.
Five masters of the imperial capital released their aura and grasped their swords, their vigilance palpable before they began to bear down upon me with a piercing momentum.
“This is a restricted area! What business do you have entering here without permission!”
Despite sensing the pressure emanating from the Golden Armored Guards, I remained silent, my gaze fixed upon the shattered statue.
Did I consider such warnings meaningless?
Or perhaps I did not regard them as human at all?
My eyes never wavered from the statue, and my body remained as motionless as stone.
As the Golden Armored Guards cautiously approached in that strange moment.
Step—!
The distance closed, the gap narrowing.
Then.
My gaze, which had shown no movement whatsoever, turned toward them. Fury flickered and blazed within eyes burning crimson, and in an instant, my extended fingers lashed out with vicious precision.
Whoooosh—!
A bizarre thread of energy shot forth from my hand, converging upon the necks of the gathered Golden Armored Guards.
“Gaaahhh!?”
“Ughhhh!”
“Cough!”
Upon contact with their necks, it melted flesh, gnawed bone, and began devouring muscle and nerve.
Their anguished cries echoed in vain as they gasped for life. The form of their necks began to dissolve, and eventually their heads fell to the ground.
Thud— thud!
I gazed upon the falling forms with cold eyes before turning my gaze away.
Whoosh—!
In an instant, a shadow rippled through the empty air before taking on human form.
“Hye-myeong? Did Hye-myeong truly do this?”
“It was the work of the Martial Arts Alliance Master. However, it appears Jin Cheon-u has become involved in this matter.”
“That bastard…!”
Crack—!
Jin Cheon-u!
Again, Jin Cheon-u.
The one deeply implicated in the death of Yeom Ji-hak, who had sworn absolute loyalty.
Not only that, but he was clearly the existence that had continuously obstructed the affairs of Singyeo, so this time I had no intention of letting it slide.
My fingernails dug into the flesh of my clenched fist.
“Is this revenge for the Sword Emperor’s matter? Or are you truly inviting me to face you?”
Hehehehe—
The man, or rather the Snake Clan’s new cornerstone, Sa Myeong-gyeom.
His eyes gleamed with a chilling light.

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The moment I took in the sight of Beijing, I finally exhaled a breath of relief and released the tension I had been holding.
Having pushed myself so hard on this journey, my appearance was utterly disheveled.
I had slept rough on bare ground, and all I had eaten were strips of dried meat or berries and wild vegetables foraged from the mountains.
I moved without sparing time to enter villages or stay at inns, which allowed me to arrive far faster than I had anticipated.
I dismounted and led my horse toward the Yunlong Inn.
I had to meet the Emperor, but I could not go to him looking like this.
By the time I arrived at my destination, the inn had already begun its business, and unlike before when not a soul passed through, I could see many people seeking it out.
I entered and surveyed the interior.
Both the first floor and second floor were packed with people, and the clamorous voices of the crowd rang loudly in my ears.
As I observed this for a moment.
The innkeeper, who had approached without my notice, opened his eyes in surprise.
“…Young Master?!”
“Yes, it is I. I need to wash up, so please prepare bathwater and clothes. Ah—! Make the clothes fine ones. I must meet the Emperor.”
“…!”
At my sudden words, the innkeeper could only nod without opening his mouth. He hastily guided me to a separate building and gave orders to the servants, after which I was able to receive warm bathwater.
After washing my body in hot water for the first time in ages and changing into clean clothes.
Then, standing before the mirror in the east wing and tidying my hair neatly before leaving the inn, I caught sight of the innkeeper’s bewildered expression once more.
He must have thought I had vanished and reappeared like a conjurer’s trick.
I found myself smiling involuntarily as I slipped out into the marketplace and moved toward the imperial palace.
As I walked along the imposing walls of the imperial palace toward the city gates, I began to notice Golden Armored Guards and what appeared to be their associates stationed throughout the streets.
Without exception, their expressions were strangely rigid.
Their watchful gazes were equally unusual, enough to make me suspect that some unforeseen incident had occurred.
Moving forward with cautious eyes to avoid suspicion as I observed them, I soon reached the tightly sealed city gates.
However, those guarding that place were no different.
Their eyes and expressions were filled with caution.
What struck me as peculiar was the hint of fear visible in their pupils.
Furrowing my brow as I stepped forward, the Gatekeeper thrust his spear at me and shouted.
“Halt! Identify yourself and state your purpose!”
“I am Jin Cheon-u of the Jin Family of Luoyang. I came on the Emperor’s orders to complete a task, and I have now returned after finishing it.”
“The Emperor’s… Ahem!”
“Wait… Stay right there and don’t move.”
The moment I mentioned the Jin Family and the Emperor, their wariness seemed to ease, and they hurried inside with embarrassed expressions.
Watching this with a puzzled look, I couldn’t contain my curiosity and posed a question to the Gatekeeper standing alone.
“Has something happened within the castle? The atmosphere seems rather unusual…”
“Ahem! It’s nothing you need concern yourself with.”
At the man’s firm words, I offered a smile.
I quietly retrieved a silver coin from my purse and pressed it into the man’s palm.
“What is the matter?”
At my repeated question, the man’s expression brightened somewhat, and after glancing around cautiously and gauging the attention of those nearby, he spoke hesitantly.
“Ahem! Well… you see, five of the Golden Armored Guards died at Yunrim Temple. Since no one has been able to identify the culprit, the entire castle is in an uproar.”
“The Golden Armored Guards?”
At my question, the man nodded.
As I watched him and was about to voice another question, the closed castle gate swung wide open, and a familiar figure appeared.
Chungho, the Emperor’s guard.
He looked at me with an expression of utter disbelief.
“Could it be… you’ve already found it and returned?”
“I’m not certain what His Majesty desires, but in any case… I found it and brought it back.”
“… The Martial Artist surely wouldn’t have let you go so easily?”
“That’s right. It was extraordinarily difficult, so my efforts should be acknowledged.”
“Come. His Majesty awaits.”
I nodded and followed Chungho.
As he walked ahead in silence, he kept glancing at me with eyes still brimming with astonishment and shock.
“How did you find it? Even I had given up.”
“Fortune favored me. But I never expected what I found there to be a book written by Uiseon.”
“Haha— You truly found it.”
“Why did Martial Arts Master Ho-yeon possess Uiseon’s book? Doesn’t it originally belong to the Chae Family?”
Chungho nodded in acknowledgment.
As if he had no intention of hiding it.
“Do you know where Martial Arts Master Ho-yeon’s birthplace was? It was Geumcheonmun. Though it has fallen now, it was once quite renowned.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“I suppose not. In any case, that Geumcheonmun was one of the major sects that attacked the Chae Family. The book of Uiseon was obtained during that time.”
So he had kept it hidden from everyone, and when his sect was destroyed and he entered the path of the Martial Artist, he brought it with him?
“By good fortune, I discovered it at my master’s residence. Even a secret manual with strange inscriptions. To anyone’s eyes, it clearly didn’t belong to a Martial Artist.”
“Is that why you were expelled from the Martial Artist’s residence?”
Chungho nodded at my words.
His revealed gaze carried a complex emotion.
“I was caught while investigating it. At that time, my Master’s expression was truly… like that of a malevolent spirit. That’s when it began. My Master started making moves to kill me. I thought it was because of what I had seen, so I tried to find an opportunity to report it to Taesajo and snuck back into the martial arts hall, but I couldn’t find him. It seemed he had already hidden it in the secret chamber.”
“How did you know of the secret chamber’s existence?”
“Intuition? Haha.”
Chungho offered a bitter smile as he recalled those times.
But as if he didn’t wish to remember, he shook his head to dispel the memory.
As he fell silent, an oppressive atmosphere settled around us, and after walking for some time through the heavy mood, we arrived at the Emperor’s quarters.
When the door opened and I stepped inside, the Emperor came into view, seated at ease.
“Your Majesty, I—”
“Enough with the formalities. It’s nothing but unnecessary muttering, is it not?”
The Emperor casually waved his hand, stopping me from performing the proper courtesy, then lifted his teacup and rolled his eyes to regard me.
Seeing me standing motionless, he smiled.
“That wasn’t an instruction to stand there.”
The moment his words pierced my ears, I quickly prostrated myself and lowered my head.
Only then did a satisfied laugh escape him.
“So, what of your visit to the Martial Artist’s residence? Surely, your swift return means you’ve obtained what I desire?”
Slurp!
The Emperor spoke casually as he sipped his tea.
Yet urgency was evident in his voice.
Did I truly bring it? Does such a thing actually exist? He seemed to feel exhilaration at the thought of grasping it in his hands.
I smiled discreetly and produced the book.
“It was in the secret chamber of Martial Arts Master Ho-yeon. Surely, this is what Your Majesty desired.”
“Hahahaha!”
The moment I handed over the book, the Emperor snatched it away. Then, with careful movements, he caressed the book and attempted to open it, but as if I had displeased him, he placed it on the table and cast a sidelong glance at me.
“Raise your head and look upon me.”
I obediently lifted my head in compliance with his command.
The instant our eyes met, the Emperor’s gaze grew even colder.
“Have you read it?”
“I read only the beginning to verify its authenticity.”
“Good, I believe you. However, you must not speak of this matter to anyone.”
“I shall keep it in mind.”
His solemn voice and forceful presence.
The Emperor’s authority was fully displayed, yet a bitter laugh nearly escaped my lips at such a display.
If the Emperor was one who feared ‘death’ and struggled desperately to live longer, then no matter how stern and strong he appeared, he was no better than a foot soldier on the battlefield.
“But how did you find it so quickly? According to Chungho, finding it wouldn’t be easy, and retrieving it would be an even greater challenge.”
The Emperor placed one hand upon the book on the table as he asked, as if displaying his will to let no one take it from him.
I smiled with my eyes and recounted all that had transpired in detail.
With each part of the story that flowed from my lips, both the Emperor and Chungho could not help but gasp in astonishment.
When word reached Chungho that I had engaged in a martial contest with Mu-jin, his complexion drained to an ashen pallor, his entire frame trembling visibly.
“Then… you’re telling me you emerged victorious against this Tae-hwang?”
“It cannot be called a true contest. It was only possible because you showed restraint, sir.”
“Hahaha—”
The Emperor burst into hearty, unrestrained laughter.
Though I knew not what the Ten Sovereigns signified nor what manner of being Mu-jin truly was, Chungho’s expression alone would have made it abundantly clear that I had accomplished something utterly impossible.
“Excellent! Since you have granted my desire, I too must commend your efforts. Is there anything you wish for? Speak freely—whatever it may be.”
I smiled, my eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Whatever I desired.
Yes, a reward of this caliber was only fitting.
I spent a moment feigning contemplation, presenting an appearance of careful deliberation. The Emperor, in turn, displayed keen curiosity about what I might request.
With a subtle smile playing at my lips—
“I would be most grateful if you could provide me with a carriage. The journey home has grown quite wearisome, and I should like to travel in comfort.”
“What? Hahaha—”

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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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