The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 319

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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 319

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“That… that can’t be right. Seriously?”
“I’m telling you, it’s true. The rumors must be spreading everywhere.”
The Martial Arts Alliance began to stir with excitement.
A single phrase that had begun flowing from somewhere quickly engulfed the entire Martial Arts Alliance.
The atmosphere had already grown tense with Tae-hwang’s emergence, but this sudden rumor delivered a shock powerful enough to consume the entire alliance.
“He fought the Tae-hwang and… won? If this is true, it’s an unprecedented event!”
“The Tae-hwang himself spoke these words, or so I heard. Ha…! It’s already absurd that he reached the pinnacle at such a young age, but to say he defeated the Ten Emperors…”
Among the countless martial artists, said to be as numerous as grains of sand, there were innumerable brilliant geniuses and capable individuals.
Moryeong Hyeok, Cheon Yul, Myeong-ryun who was Hye-myeong’s disciple, and Chungho who was the Martial Artist’s student.
Beyond them, many talented individuals existed, yet none had achieved growth as rapid as Jin Cheon-u’s.
Though there were limitations from the start, the mere fact of defeating the Ten Emperors was tantamount to writing a legend.
As a result, the Martial Arts Alliance began to stir once more.
That momentum appeared destined to spread outward and flow across the entire Central Plains.
“Isn’t he approaching the name of the Sword Emperor now?”
“If we judge by his current growth rate… it’s certain to happen within a few years…”
Moreover, the reason people’s attention could not help but focus was none other than this: the one who had nearly been killed by the Sword Emperor was now closest to bearing that very name.
That alone was worthy of drawing public interest.
I followed behind Hwangbo Janghu ahead of me, my brow furrowing at the gazes pouring down from all directions.
Considering the time I had spent meeting with Hye-myeong and Mu-jin, the speed at which rumors spread was far too fast.
“Did you deliberately spread the rumor?”
“Ha ha, I’m not entirely sure. I suspect the Tae-hwang may have done it himself.”
From Hwangbo Janghu’s awkward smile, I could read Mu-jin’s intentions.
A rumor meant to highlight and reveal the existence of Tae-hwang, and to create another hero.
To imprint upon the martial world, deeply wounded by the Sword Emperor, the existence of one who could bring a new wind.
And there was likely also an intention to draw me further toward Jeongdo’s side.
Though I had sensed it, Mu-jin was an even craftier fox than Hye-myeong.
Without realizing it, I shook my head and hurried to follow.
Following Hwangbo Janghu, who walked ahead moving with haste, I made my way to the deepest part of the Martial Arts Alliance. As I ventured further inward, a straight path emerged, flanked on both sides by narrow walls.
As I took steps along it, faint presences began to be detected from various places.
Intense gazes watching from hiding, yet I was confident that any ordinary martial artist would sense neither the gazes nor the presences.
Such was the perfection of their concealment techniques.
Sensing such things and advancing down the single path for quite some time, I finally arrived at my intended destination.
“Is this the place?”
“Indeed.”
At the end of the path stood only a small pavilion, standing alone and solitary.
Following Hwangbo Janghu deeper into the chamber, the atmosphere grew increasingly damp and oppressive. I could sense an inexplicable malevolent energy—whether the lingering resentment of the dead or something far darker.
As I furrowed my brow and stepped inside the hall, a descending passage came into view, and from that gaping entrance, the thick stench of blood still poured forth.
“Still unbearable.”
I followed behind him as he grimaced, descending deeper into the darkness.
Each footstep echoed loudly, assaulting my eardrums, while the increasingly pungent smell of blood clawed at my nostrils like a living thing.
Enough to induce a splitting headache.
I narrowed my eyes to slits and quickly surveyed my surroundings.
There was not a single trace of an intruder anywhere.
Only faint bloodstains remained visible.
Attempting to discern anything further seemed impossible now.
After examining the area thoroughly, I reached the far end and found evidence of blood splattered in all directions.
“Moryeong Hyeok must have been here.”
“His condition was so gruesome it was difficult to look upon.”
Hwangbo Janghu furrowed his brow, recalling those events. While the others had departed this world in silence like mice, only Moryeong Hyeok bore the marks of torture—torn and shredded beyond recognition.
That was what he was remembering.
“Even with blood-soaked hatred, no human should be capable of such acts.”
Hwangbo Janghu’s muttered words were accompanied by tension in his grip.
Though enmity with the Moyong Family would not be surprising, the sight of Moryeong Hyeok’s remains as witnessed by his eyes transcended tragedy and kindled something like rage.
Sensing the overwhelming aura emanating from him, I unconsciously clicked my tongue and averted my gaze.
Blood lines marked various points throughout the chamber.
They resembled the traces of torture inflicted until the moment of death, yet the pattern was familiar.
This was undoubtedly retribution visited upon those who had betrayed the Divine.
The Shadow Sect’s men had not sought to extract information or uncover secrets—they had sought to deliver punishment befitting Moryeong Hyeok’s blasphemy against the Divine.
I furrowed my brow and exhaled a heavy sigh.
I had sensed it when Sa Myeong-gyeom directly targeted me, but I had not anticipated he would move so swiftly.
“Have you discovered anything?”
“Nothing. Only… it feels bitter. The Moyong Family, which once dominated an entire era, is now fading into history.”
“Indeed. Even I find my heart heavy now that circumstances have reached this point.”
A bitter smile crossed Hwangbo Janghu’s lips.
With a following sigh, he turned his gaze and walked toward the exit, his voice heavy with meaning.
“Soon, we will declare the Sword Emperor a public enemy of the martial world.”
“Everyone has made their resolve then. And regarding what transpired here…”
“…”
I trailed off my words and studied Hwangbo Janghu’s expression.
Walking in silence, he offered no response.
The meaning was singular.
The Martial Arts Alliance had decided not to reveal Moryeong Hyeok’s death and the circumstances surrounding it. Simultaneously, they would declare the Sword Emperor a public enemy to redirect attention elsewhere.
While they would do their utmost to find the culprit, given everything that had transpired, the moment Moryeong Hyeok’s situation became public, the Alliance’s credibility would crumble and it would be torn asunder—a foregone conclusion. Thus, this was the wisest decision they could make.
Fortunately, aside from the upper echelons, no one knew Moryeong Hyeok had been confined here.
Hwangbo Janghu, who had been walking ahead, turned to face me.
Unwavering eyes.
A resolve to protect the very roots of the martial world.
“I trust you understand what I’m trying to say.”
“Have no concerns, sir. My lips are sealed tighter than gold.”
“Ha ha.”

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Whoooosh—!
As Cheon Yul wielded his blade with bold ferocity, Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo recoiled in alarm. Yet, as if he had anticipated their movements, the blade wind pursued them relentlessly without mercy.
Eon Garyeo managed to evade, but Paeng Dohan raised his blade to meet it.
Then he swung with all his strength.
“Haaaah!”
Crash!
The force collided violently.
Paeng Dohan, driven backward, swallowed hard and furrowed his brow.
Though both wielded blades as blade masters, the aura they emanated was distinctly different.
The Paeng Family’s blade technique focused on severing and destroying through sheer force, but Cheon Yul’s was not the same.
He wielded the blade with sweeping motions, yet it could not be called a true blade technique.
It shifted with the versatility of sword forms, striking with the precision of a dagger.
Clang—!
Yet in the moment of contact, a tremendous force was felt.
Crash-crash-crash—!
Unable to withstand it, Paeng Dohan tumbled helplessly, and a startled Eon Garyeo widened her eyes, her gaze fixed in shock.
“…!”
“Do not let your guard down, miss!”
Whoosh—!
In an instant, the blade hilt pierced through, and Eon Garyeo’s face drained of color as she collapsed.
Now, to anyone watching, the outcome was unmistakably clear.
“Phew— our friends have certainly improved compared to before.”
Cheon Yul, catching his breath, gazed at the two sitting figures and smiled softly.
Though the sparring match demonstrated a clear difference in skill, Cheon Yul’s hand holding the blade trembled slightly, suggesting their assault had been no trivial matter, and he had perspired considerably.
“Ugh… I request another round.”
“Ha ha, well, your effort is admirable, friend, but even the body needs rest sometimes. If you continue in that condition, something will give way—are you sure you want to proceed?”
At Cheon Yul’s words, Paeng Dohan swallowed a groan.
Then, observing his own condition, he nodded reluctantly.
Only then did his surroundings come into focus.
It seemed they had begun training early in the morning, yet the sun was already descending toward the horizon.
The moment he realized this, his stomach made a loud noise.
Growwwl—!
“L-let’s eat something.”
At Paeng Dohan’s words, I nodded readily. The sparring had gone longer than expected, but that was because I had become unexpectedly absorbed in it.
Though it was a short time, Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo’s growth rate was considerable.
Especially when they deployed their combination techniques, they often showed movements I hadn’t anticipated, making it impossible not to enjoy myself.
I sheathed my sword and stretched.
“Ahhh—! My body feels better now. Though I still can’t say I’m entirely satisfied.”
“Is it because of Young Master Jin?”
“Hm? Ah yes, that’s right. Here I am, stuck in this place just sparring, while someone else is out there making a name for himself. Tsk. I wanted to test myself against Tae-hwang too.”
At my words, Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo wore bitter smiles.
The will to cross swords with one of the Ten Emperors.
They believed such a thing could only be done by Jin Cheon-u, yet here stood another Jin Cheon-u with that same desire.
As if the words I’d spoken were no mere boast, the fierce light in my eyes made both of them click their tongues and shake their heads.
“Already the next Sword Emperor, they say… Tsk.”
“That must mean he overwhelmed them that thoroughly, wouldn’t it? And considering he’s already reached the transcendent realm, the rumors are well-founded.”
“That’s right. When I first heard it, I was so shocked I could hardly believe it myself.”
The expressions of the three of us walking together changed.
Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo seemed to show a certain pride, but conversely, as the distance between Jin Cheon-u and myself grew ever wider, my brow furrowed with displeasure.
There was no way to close this gap.
“Did I make a mistake coming here?”
Unlike my belief that I could grow alongside Jin Cheon-u, I remained stagnant while he continued to forge ahead.
If I couldn’t obtain satisfactory results here, there was no reason for me to stay.
As my furrowed brow refused to relax and I sank into deep thought, I suddenly stopped and gazed into the empty sky.
“Hm?”
At the end of my gaze circled a single hawk.
Staring at it intently while narrowing my brow further, I opened my mouth toward Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo beside me.
“Ah, I need to stop by my quarters for a moment, so go ahead and eat without me.”
“Understood. We’ll eat without waiting.”
“Ha—don’t worry, I’ll take care of myself.”
“We weren’t worried.”
At Paeng Dohan’s firm words, I held back a laugh.
Soon I turned and hurried toward my quarters. From my robes I produced a peculiar whistle, opened the window, and blew it—yet strangely, barely a sound emerged.
Yet was there something there?
The hawk circling in the empty sky descended with an elegant flutter of wings and alighted upon my forearm.
“It’s been a while, old friend.”
Was I pleased to see this one again after so long?
I gently stroked its head, then unfastened the message scroll bound to its leg.
“….”
A message written in brief.
I stared at it without speaking.
Then, lost in thought about what it meant, I closed my eyes and fell into contemplation, before rising from my seat as if breaking through the silence.
“This is…”
His following voice carried a note of dismay.

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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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