The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 345
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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 345
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It was Yu Sahon who gathered the scattered remnants into a unified force.
Though he held a subordinate position, his reputation as one of the Demon Sect’s ten most powerful experts was enough to bind many under his name with unwavering loyalty.
Do Hwa-ryang, who served as his right hand and strategist.
And Ha Mukrin, who lent his strength to their cause.
The sun that was Nam Tae-cheon had vanished, yet those who inherited his will now possessed the Extreme Demon Scripture—a treasure that should never have fallen into their hands.
“Hohoho— to obtain it so easily, it is truly astonishing.”
“And we escaped without a single complication.”
Yu Sahon laughed in agreement with Ha Mukrin’s words.
It had been long since they crossed beyond the Tian Mountains and entered Gansu.
Now, if they could only shake off their pursuers, everything would be perfect.
If they hid for a time and succeeded in deciphering the Extreme Demon Scripture, they could even accomplish what Nam Tae-cheon had so desperately desired—the death of Ma Un.
For this was left behind by none other than the Great Cheonma himself.
Their demonic cultivation would grow many times stronger, and they would create a day when they could console the departed spirit of Nam Tae-cheon by swallowing the Demon Sect whole.
What elevated the spirits of all three even further was precisely this:
“There it is!”
Upon arriving at the designated location, Nam Tae-cheon’s household members were waiting.
Though they lived in hiding, expelled from the Demon Sect and holding their breath, they too counted the days until they could rise again.
“You have finally arrived!”
“We pay our respects to the Family Head’s wife!”
“Hoho— how long has it been? I… thought I would never see you again.”
“Hahaha! Did I not tell you? That we would surely accomplish this!”
Yu Sahon surveyed his surroundings with a satisfied expression.
The once-numerous household members had been considerably reduced.
Many had died in the turmoil within the sect, but countless others had departed after their expulsion when circumstances grew dire.
Remembering this, Yu Sahon clenched his fists.
“Those who betrayed the Lady… I will find them and kill them without fail.”
Nam Tae-cheon’s wife, Hyeon Biwol, nodded through tears.
She, whose husband and son had died and been cast out.
She had to survive trusting only those by her side, yet when circumstances became unfavorable, they silently abandoned her.
From her perspective, it was a betrayal that made her blood boil.
Had they merely left?
Not a few had fled with treasures and wealth.
Hyeon Biwol suppressed her seething rage and steadied her breathing.
Only then did her mind turn somewhat clearer and more composed.
“But what of your situation? Did you obtain the item?”
“Of course we brought it. Haha! That fool Muk-hwang was so dense he did not even notice his treasury being emptied.”
“…Him? That’s impossible.”
“It’s the truth, madam. Otherwise, how could we have come this far?”
Hyeon Biwol furrowed her brow in disbelief, but soon her eyes widened as she caught sight of the Extreme Demon Scripture that Yu Sahon withdrew from his robes.
That which every Sect Member yearned to see.
Yet, something only the Sect Leader could ever lay eyes upon.
With the Extreme Demon Scripture before her, she reached out as though entranced, desperate to seize it.
But Yu Sahon shook his head and tucked it away once more.
“The Black Demon Brigade pursues us. Now is not the time to examine it.”
“Mere Black Demon Brigade…!”
“Of course they pose no real threat. However, should we defeat them, the next to emerge would be… the Black Wind Brigade.”
“…!”
The Black Wind Brigade.
The strike force renowned as the Demon Sect’s greatest instrument of violence.
Even if they exerted their utmost effort, it was a collective of masters whose strength demanded respect and caution.
Moreover, ever since Ma Un ascended to the Sect Leader’s throne, had not the caliber of every organization risen accordingly?
This was precisely why the Black Demon Brigade had been left behind.
“Then what do we do now? We cannot simply flee indefinitely, can we?”
“There is no need for concern. Lord Nam has secretly established a safe house, and Do Hwa-ryang knows its location.”
“The Family Head… a safe house in the Central Plains?”
“Yes! No one will find us there. Moreover, considerable wealth has been stored away, so we need not worry about funds.”
At the mention of having no financial concerns, Hyeon Biwol’s expression brightened considerably.
Having lived without lacking a single coin, she had newly discovered just how precious it was to escape such hardship.
“Then we shall depart now. We have shaken off the Black Demon Brigade, but we cannot know when they might close the distance again.”
“I trust you, Hobeop Yu.”
Goh Ak-sang found the current situation utterly unbelievable.
Though his long, disheveled hair obscured his face, making detailed observation difficult, it was clear that Cheon was remarkably young.
Yet to possess such power.
The realm he treaded upon defied all reason.
Within the Sect, perhaps only ten could match the ability to subdue the entire Black Demon Brigade in the blink of an eye.
Why the Sect Leader had dispatched Cheon, why those beside him possessed inferior strength—all became instantly comprehensible.
For him, the very concept of “Imperial Guards” held no meaning.
‘A monster….’
The word “monster” alone could not adequately describe what stood before him.
Everything visible now, when compared to the past of the legends known as the Ten Sovereigns, was overwhelmingly transcendent.
Thus, Goh Ak-sang swallowed hard.
Soon, steadying his breath, he slowly opened his mouth.
“May I… ask what you’re doing?”
“Can you not see? I’m eating.”
“….”
At the blunt reply, Goh Ak-sang offered a bitter smile.
Yes, I am eating, that much is true.
But unlike the Black Demon Sect members who tracked traces through the mountains and gnawed on raw meat, Cheon had descended into the village and was indulging in lavish cuisine at an expensive inn.
Dishes stacked upon dishes were refilled as soon as they emptied, and despite being on a mission, he drank expensive wine without pause.
Every member of the Black Demon Sect felt their spirits drain, cold sweat beading on their skin.
“Please, all of you, eat. These are not things you can easily find anywhere.”
“B-but… haha, are we not in the midst of a mission? Yet how can we… drink wine and eat such expensive fare…?”
“Is this not all about living? A full belly sharpens the mind, and moistening the throat restores vigor.”
“But… we don’t have time for this…”
“We do. Trust me.”
At those resolute words, Goh Ak-sang squeezed his eyes shut.
He couldn’t decide whether to believe or doubt. A treacherous thought even crossed his mind—perhaps Cheon intended to sabotage this mission and implicate the Black Demon Sect in failure.
With a sigh, he glanced forward and saw the lowly soldier Na Cheonmun devouring food and wine like a madman.
He seemed utterly oblivious to Goh Ak-sang’s gaze.
Trembling with rage—
I wanted nothing more than to drive my fist into that skull, but I couldn’t, so I had no choice but to swallow my anger.
Yet Goh Ak-sang was still human.
The aroma of the food before him continued to tempt, and watching Na Cheonmun eat so ravenously, he swallowed hard and took his seat.
“Everyone, eat.”
“Yes!”
At those words, the Black Demon Sect members hastily picked up their chopsticks.
As if they had been holding back all this time, they began inhaling food and wine at a pace that made Na Cheonmun look slow.
“You see? Eat when it’s time to eat, work when it’s time to work. That’s how you truly live.”
“…I shall remember that.”
Goh Ak-sang moved his chopsticks busily, bringing food to his mouth. One bite became two, then his mouth opened wide, drawing in more.
It was as if watching someone who had starved for days.
His face flushed, as if Cheon were smirking at him, yet his lips, having tasted such delicacies, could not rest.
Thus everyone cleaned every last morsel of the dishes that had been brought up.
Many of them, enchanted by these Central Plains dishes they were tasting for the first time, had their eyes gleaming.
Surely, when they returned to the Singyeo Sect, they would speak of this.
With great pride.
Even Goh Ak-sang wore a satisfied expression as he patted his belly, then his gaze shifted toward Cheon.
A single sword resting neatly beside him.
The rumored creation of the Forging Hall’s master.
“So my observation was not mistaken after all.”
“What do you mean?”
“The ornament with the sword knob attached. I thought I had misread it… but it was real.”
At such words, Cheon regarded him with curiosity.
With eyes as if he knew nothing, Goh Ak-sang laughed.
“That’s a Demon Bell, isn’t it?”
* * *
As I ate, I felt puzzlement at words that came out of nowhere.
A Demon Bell?
Without thinking, I lifted my sword to examine the ornament, but aside from its somewhat ornate appearance, it seemed nothing special.
Thus, my gaze naturally turned toward Na Cheonmun.
However, what would a mere soldier know?
Shake, shake—
The fellow slurping noodles shook his head.
Because of that, my gaze had no choice but to turn toward Goh Ak-sang again.
“You don’t know?”
“The Forge Master attached it and left it be, but I don’t know its meaning.”
“It’s made from branches that the Divine Tree cuts off itself. Only those chosen by the Sect Leader can possess it. In the current Singyeo… there’s no one except Soldier Cheon.”
“…I see.”
Only then did I remember how I’d evaded the question when the Forge Master had attached this. Back then, I should have noticed and removed it, but now that I tried, it felt too late.
Moreover, it now seemed as though the sword and I had become one.
Furrowing my brow at Ma Un’s intention to somehow connect me to the Demon Sect, I clicked my tongue.
At that moment, Goh Ak-sang asked with some purpose.
“Do you perhaps know the rumors within the sect?”
“You mean about the new Sect Leader and such?”
“Yes, I wanted to ask if that’s true.”
Suddenly, silence fell over the hall.
Na Cheonmun hiccupped and cautiously glanced around, then covered both ears with his hands, worried that words he shouldn’t hear might reach them.
Meanwhile, Yeon-un and Haryeon’s eyes gleamed with interest.
Was it only the Black Demon Squad that felt the tension?
I smiled mockingly and shook my head.
“No. If the Sect Leader heard such talk, how displeased he’d be.”
“Even so, he’s been making a fuss searching for Soldier Cheon. Asking who’s stronger and wanting to test it? Everyone had to stop him, and it was quite exhausting.”
At those words, I laughed and shook my head.
I felt rather sorry for this unknown Sect Leader.
That was when it happened.
The door suddenly opened and a man entered.
The burly man approached me, drenched in cold sweat, and respectfully handed me a letter while bowing his head.
“I found it.”
At the man’s words, I nodded and unfolded the letter.
From top to bottom.
I confirmed the contents written densely in black ink.
Starting from how the transactions were conducted, the movements of those who had built relationships, and most importantly, the things I had wanted to know.
I smiled and looked at Goh Ak-sang.
“You see? Even when sitting still, matters tend to resolve themselves smoothly.”
“Could it be… you found it!?”
At Goh Ak-sang’s passionate reaction, I nodded.
Though the records contained much information, what I truly needed amounted to only a few lines.
Do Hwa-ryang, with whom we had been trading, had requested a skilled carpenter.
The location was….
“Zhongjing? Mount Jinfu?”
I confirmed it and let out a hollow laugh.
They had used their heads quite well.
Zhongjing, bordered by Sichuan, Hubei, and Shaanxi, was a region where the Righteous Sects held considerable power and was surrounded by the Nine Schools and Eight Great Families, making it nearly impossible for Demon Sect disciples to move freely.
It was the perfect place to hide and live in obscurity.
Whether this scheme had originated from Nam Tae-cheon’s mind or belonged to another, I could not say, but I was certain that had we simply searched blindly without knowing this, we would never have caught them even after ages passed.
I rose slowly from my seat.
“Well then, shall we go catch ourselves a thief?”
As I spoke with a faint smile, everyone in the room suddenly rose to their feet, their killing intent radiating palpably into the air.
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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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