The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 323

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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 323

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Jin Myeong, the second son of the Jin Family of Luoyang.
He lay sprawled across a bed in the Yunryong Guest House within Seokga District, snoring contentedly as if not a single worry existed in the world, as though he were making up for all the sleep he had lost.
Had anyone witnessed his carefree demeanor, they might well have called him the Lazy Young Master without hesitation.
Those who benefited most from his indolence were the warriors and martial artists.
Though their return home was being delayed, they could sit idle and collect their monthly wages without lifting a finger—what better business could one ask for?
Thus, those gathered within the inn cast aside their burdens.
“Hahahaha! How long do you think this will stretch on?”
“Who knows? At least a fortnight, I’d wager. It won’t be short.”
Back and forth they went.
Their expressions shone brilliantly in the sweetness of this respite.
A minimum of two weeks, or perhaps nearly a month if fortune smiled upon them—all spent in comfort, enjoying fine meals without a care in the world.
What else could this be but paradise itself?
From the Jin Family’s perspective, it was a staggering loss that made their teeth ache, yet for those who would face endless tasks the moment they returned, this was a blessing beyond measure.
And the indolent one who had created this situation.
“Mmmm—.”
Jin Myeong’s eyes opened, and he stretched languidly.
He turned his head slightly, letting the brilliant sunlight streaming through the window fill his gaze, and a broad smile bloomed across his face.
“Yes, this is what living truly means! I’ve been working far too hard.”
When he had last rested properly was so distant it had faded from memory. When merchant expeditions ended, he went to the battlefield; when the battlefield ended, he went to the territories; and on top of that came escort missions and family affairs.
The memory of lying properly in bed and sleeping for more than two hours was so distant that he could only marvel anew at how frantically he had been living.
Jin Myeong rolled his eyes and gazed upon the table.
A thick stack of letters caught his attention.
As if someone were urging him to attend to something.
Yet not a single letter bore any trace of having been read, remaining folded as they were—a testament to his unwavering resolve not to look at them.
“My mood is absolutely splendid!”
He grinned widely, stretched once more, and turned his gaze elsewhere.
Watching the passersby hurrying about their business from early morning, he felt an inexplicable sense of superiority.
But then.
“Hmm?”
A figure appeared in the middle of the street.
Someone wearing a martial robe with the hood fallen back walked proudly down the thoroughfare.
And when he turned his head slightly, the profile that emerged seemed strangely familiar.
The shape of the face and the light in the eyes.
Was it not as if he were seeing her?
The moment he rose from his seat to resolve this mystery.
“Masked Martial Artist-!”
A sharp cry echoed from somewhere.
That single shout seized the Shadow Figure’s footsteps.
At the same moment, numerous bandits swarmed forward, blocking his path and leveling their swords at him.
“You haven’t forgotten what happened last time, have you?!”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean…?”
“Not only did you steal our map, but you beat down the subordinates who stood in your way!”
“That’s a misunderstanding. It was given to me by that person-.”
Shing-!
Before the Masked Martial Artist could even finish speaking, the enraged bandit’s sword slashed out viciously.
But the Masked Martial Artist’s movement was faster than the blade.
He stepped forward to close the distance, extending his hand to seize the wrist of the man wielding the sword.
“…!”
“Were you…an enemy?”
Crack-!
“Aaaahhh!”
The moment he judged them as enemies, he did not hesitate.
He twisted the man’s wrist, dislocating the bone, and as the man collapsed with a scream, he unleashed a vicious leg technique upon him.
Thud-!
“Kugh?!”
The deep kick that burrowed into his abdomen left the man’s complexion ashen as he trembled and collapsed forward, igniting fury in the eyes of the subordinates watching.
“Kill him-!”
Clang clang clang-!
In an instant, the marketplace became chaos.
Bandits erupted everywhere, and the Masked Martial Artist retreated while parrying their blades.
But the difference in skill was unmistakable.
Even watching passively, the Masked Martial Artist’s victory was certain.
If only the bandits were targeting him-
“There!”
“Masked Martial Artist! You bastard-!”
Clang clang-!
Jin Myeong quickly turned his head at the loud voice ringing out again, and saw disciples of the Sochungmun as well as members of the Uxian Sega rushing from the end of the marketplace.
Their eyes burned as fiercely as the bandits’.
“Haha- Fight, fight!”
At the sight, Jin Myeong clapped his hands with delight.
There was nothing more entertaining than a good fight and spectacle, was there?
Moreover, since it was unfolding while he rested, it only heightened his excitement and elevated his mood further.
Meanwhile, the battle grew increasingly fierce.
Seeing martial artists approaching with the same objective, the bandits who had been losing ground rallied their momentum and pressed the Masked Martial Artist harder.
Clang clang clang-!
Jin Myeong’s gaze remained fixed on the fierce exchange of blows, which showed no sign of abating and only seemed to stoke the heat of the marketplace further.
Clang—!
“…!”
In that instant, one of the bandits’ swords slashed across the masked martial artist’s head covering.
Though it failed to cut through completely, it left a gash, and through it, the concealed face was briefly exposed.
“Huh?!”
The moment I recognized that face, I gasped in shock.
A face one could never forget once seen.
Moreover, given the connections I had built up until now, I realized who the masked martial artist was from just that brief glimpse of their face.
As other warriors pressed closer and tightened the noose, the masked martial artist quickly threw their body to the side to escape.
As they unleashed their lightness technique, the face appeared once more, if only briefly.
The moment I burned that image into my eyes, I rushed fiercely from the room.
“Damn!”

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Clang—!
The masked martial artist’s eyes darted left and right as they parried the incoming sword. The bandits’ blades came slashing down fiercely as they gnashed their teeth and charged, yet their gaze was fixed elsewhere.
Those rushing toward them.
Anyone could see they harbored hostile intent.
What was the reason?
I pondered briefly, but the moment another sword came flying at me, I cast aside the distracting thoughts and focused on what lay before me.
Clang—!
A sharp metallic ring pierced the ears, and I drove a powerful fist toward the staggering man’s solar plexus.
Thud—!
“Ugh!”
Another opponent fell, but the assault did not cease.
As if trapped in an unbreakable chain, despite displaying overwhelming power, the bandits’ momentum showed no sign of waning.
What on earth was the director thinking to push this far?
The masked martial artist’s brow furrowed as such thoughts crossed my mind.
‘I need to escape.’
There were far more of them than anticipated.
Moreover, among those rushing toward me, I sensed skilled fighters mixed in, so engaging with swords would only result in losses.
The masked martial artist kicked off the ground and launched my body forward.
“Chase them—!”
A sharp voice pierced the eardrums.
With that, numerous figures began unfolding their lightness techniques to pursue.
In an instant, a chase erupted, but for the masked martial artist unfamiliar with the terrain against those who knew it well, the odds were always unfavorable.
“You bastard—!”
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the alley and swung their sword.
A strike laden with weighty momentum.
Observing the sword wielded with unwavering resolve to cleave through all hesitation, the masked martial artist’s movements shifted.
Whoooosh—!
“…!?”
Evading the swung blade using the iron plate technique, he slipped away as if gliding across ice.
While the man stood dumbfounded at the impossible sight.
Simultaneously, the masked martial artist’s kick struck his face with brutal force.
Crack—!
Watching him collapse with a sickening sound, the masked martial artist quickly raised his head.
Four or five martial artists suspended in mid-air came into view.
Upon confirming the fallen man, they unleashed an even thicker killing intent, and soon poured vicious sword energy toward the masked martial artist.
“…!”
Sword energy descending without leaving any space to escape.
Like a dense, woven net.
The masked martial artist drew up his energy and moved his sword with ferocity.
Boom-boom-boom-crash—!
Torrential violent explosions echoed loudly across the surroundings. The ground was gouged as if struck by cannon fire, and thick dust billowed up everywhere.
“Have we caught him?”
At someone’s words, those who had wielded their swords held their breath.
The moment they opened their eyes slightly and took in the clearing dust.
Shhhhiiing—!
“…!”
“Gasp!”
“…Could it be—!?”
Suddenly a piercing cold swept through like a harsh winter wind, and the masked martial artist stood motionless, his icy gaze gleaming.
Not a single wound could be found despite the vicious sword energy, only slight tears in his mask here and there.
Those who confirmed this could not suppress their shock.
And with that, a blade already drawn exhaled white breath as it rushed toward them with terrifying speed.
“Huh—!?”
Screech—!
The sword swung without mercy.
Like one bound by the iron law that hostility must be answered with hostility, he cut them down without the slightest hesitation.
“Priest—!”
“That madman!”
Yet that only added greater fuel to the flames.
As those who had been with him since childhood collapsed, bleeding, the people who came running upon hearing the commotion could not hide their shock.
Fear?
There was none of that.
Only blazing fury was revealed as they gnashed their teeth, and a killing intent so thick and suffocating became unmistakably apparent.
Simultaneously, sword winds and sword energy scattered from all directions came flying in.
CRASH—!
A tremendous boom and tremor shook the air.
Despite a situation that seemed to leave no one unscathed, the Masked Martial Artist barely escaped the area and began fleeing rapidly.
“This is not good.”
Though some distance remained between us, they showed no intention of giving up.
If anything, they seemed even more fired up.
Wearing a bitter smile at the intensifying momentum, I quickly pivoted my body and entered an alley when—
SCREECH—!
I nearly drew my sword in an instant.
“Wait, wait! It’s me! Jin Myeong!”
“…Young Master Jin?”
“Ha… haha, so it really was you, Miss Seol.”
“…What are you doing here?”
CLATTER-CLATTER-CLATTER—!
Jin Myeong tried to respond, but the sound that followed made me furrow my brow. Then, I grasped her hand firmly and pulled her along as I spoke.
“We need to leave this place. Right now, they don’t seem inclined to listen to anything we say.”
From what I could see, they were numerous and familiar with the terrain. Since shaking them off didn’t seem easy, I thought attempting conversation might be a reasonable approach.
But not right now.
Just looking at their eyes burning with such blazing fury, it seemed difficult to calm them down no matter what we said.
Besides, I had done something to warrant this.
“This way!”
So there was only one thing to do.
Hide until they regained their composure.
“What on earth did you do to provoke them like this?”
“…I have no idea?”
I looked at her with an expression of helplessness.
Behind the deeply pulled hood, my eyes revealed that I still couldn’t fathom how this situation had come about.
Seeing this, I let out a bitter smile.
Still completely oblivious to everything else.
“Stop!”
Then, the Masked Martial Artist—no, Seol Ha-yeon—shook off my hand and swung her sword.
CLANG—!
The loud clash of blades rang out.
Whether he was from the Soqing Sect or the Uxian Clan, I couldn’t tell, but just as he seemed to be signaling someone or about to cry out—
Seol Ha-yeon’s blade, infused with cold intent, moved.
The blade flashed and sliced across his chest in one swift motion, then as he cried out and began to collapse, her fist drove down toward his face.
CRACK—!
“Gasp!”
Watching the man crumple to the ground, I held my breath and swallowed hard.
I couldn’t help but wonder where such overwhelming power came from in that delicate frame.
But for now, that would have to wait.
“Let’s go!”
I needed to find somewhere to hide and buy time until their heated fervor cooled even slightly.
However—
Crash—!
Without warning, the wall crumbled and five martial artists emerged from the rubble.
The moment I recognized them, Seol Ha-yeon rushed forward.
A single sword extended with elegant grace.
Their blades swung with brutal force.
Clang—!
In the instant the sharp metallic ring tore through my eardrums,
Jin Myeong understood.
Their hunt had only just begun.

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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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