The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 356

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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 356

Five days had passed since the martial tournament began.
From the early dawn hours, the festival grounds stirred with great excitement.
With only the strongest remaining—those who had fought through fierce battles to advance—the question hung in the air: whose name would stand highest in the end?
Everyone spoke the names of those they supported.
“Chu Hyeongi! Isn’t he a disciple of the great Namman Yasugung?”
“Ha ha ha, are you serious? Does Myeong-ryun look easy to you?”
“What about Cheongdam of the Mudang Ogum? And Namgung Yeon on top of that!”
“Hwasan’s Sword Master!”
“I’m betting on Junior Prince Seol. The Northern Ice Palace! How magnificent is that?”
All of them were formidable, and it would be no surprise if any of them won.
The names of those with merely passing reputations didn’t even come up.
No matter how impressive someone’s reputation was, compared to the martial prowess displayed by those being discussed now, they were utterly insignificant.
Even at this early hour when dawn was breaking, their voices carried strength, and the fervor showed no signs of cooling—only burning hotter.
I checked the time and headed toward the martial arena.
The atmosphere inside the festival grounds was extraordinary.
The morning matches hadn’t even begun yet, but seeing how heated things already were, I knew the festival would end in success regardless of who claimed the championship.
People arrived one after another.
Led by the Martial Arts Alliance Master Hye-myeong, Gu Gunbaek and Mu-jin took positions on either side, with the Myeongsuk behind them creating such an imposing atmosphere that merely looking at them felt overwhelming.
The previously empty spectator seats began filling as those who had paid for entry took their places, and before long, every seat was occupied.
But that wasn’t all.
People willing to stand to watch filled every remaining space, creating a scene that truly deserved the phrase “a sea of humanity.”
I gazed at it with satisfaction.
The more people who entered, the greater the profits.
Turning my gaze to the arena with contentment, I finally saw the first pair of morning competitors ascending the stage.
“Will it be alright?”
“Whoever the opponent is, all that matters is winning.”
Seol Ha-yeon had already taken her place on the arena.
Standing opposite her was Hwasan’s Sword Master.
“I look forward to this.”
“Those words are mine, Junior Prince. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to witness the sword of the Northern Ice Palace.”
“It will be quite cold, so be careful not to catch frostbite.”
“Ha ha ha, the plum blossom endures the harsh winter frost and blooms in spring. Do not forget that.”
Jin Ja-geom spoke with a gentle but firm tone.
One could feel the resolute determination in his words—that no matter how severe the bitter cold, he would endure it and make the plum blossom bloom.
I smiled watching this exchange.
“This won’t be easy.”
“Miss Seol? But she’s the Palace Master of the North… wouldn’t she win?”
As the Palace Master of the Northern Ice Palace, she should naturally have won.
However, Seol Ha-yeon still lacked experience and refinement.
Though she had elevated her realm through an unexpected opportunity, that very fortune had bred sufficient arrogance within her.
One could see it simply from the fact that she had left the palace determined to capture Gang Cheonho.
Jin Ja-geom, by contrast, was different.
He was seasoned, unrefined in no way, and harbored no arrogance.
Moreover, his burning desire to witness the swordsmanship of the North made him an opponent far from easy for Seol Ha-yeon to face.
Then.
Clang—!
At last, the blades of the two clashed.
Seol Ha-yeon was pushed back half a step, Jin Ja-geom a step and a half.
Though Jin Ja-geom was driven back with enough force to keenly feel the difference in their realms, he seemed to find it amusing as he smiled and unleashed the Plum Blossom technique.
The swords of both exchanged blows in the empty air.
The deafening clash of blades repeated endlessly.
When the plum blossoms sought to bloom, the bitter cold would wither the petals, only for the blossoms to pierce through the chill and bloom anew.
The relentless offense and defense made it impossible to discern who held the advantage, yet as time passed, Jin Ja-geom began to falter, unable to bridge the gap in their realms.
Slash—slash—slash—!
Seol Ha-yeon’s blade carved across Jin Ja-geom’s body in multiple places.
Though not deep, she clearly had seized victory.
Had she pressed forward with even slightly greater force, the match would have been decided.
The moment Seol Ha-yeon felt this and pressed her assault more fiercely, Jin Ja-geom’s blade moved as though he had been waiting for precisely this instant.
A flower bud blooming amidst the bitter frost.
“Wh-what!?”
“N-no way!”
The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
As dozens of plum blossoms unfurled to herald the arrival of spring, a warm breeze seemed to blow as though winter itself had retreated.
“…!”
Seol Ha-yeon gasped in shock and attempted to counter the cascading blossoms. Yet she was utterly insufficient to block Jin Ja-geom’s blade, which had already perfectly pierced through her defenses.
Slash—!
The blooming plum blossom came to rest at Seol Ha-yeon’s throat.
In that instant, her eyes trembled with disbelief.
—Roooaarrr!
“Jin Ja-geom is the best—!”
“Truly the Plum Blossom Sword Master!”
With thunderous cheers, victory was decided.
Pleased by the pouring acclaim, Jin Ja-geom smiled and waved his hand, causing the crowd’s roar to grow even louder.
Chaeseoha, who had been watching, tilted her head in puzzlement.
“The Chui Bodyguard says something’s strange. He thinks Miss Seol should have won, doesn’t he?”
“Considering the difference in their levels, that would be correct.”
“Then why…?”
“Because I grew careless. I let my guard down, thinking I could win.”
At first, the match seemed evenly contested, but as time passed, Hwasan’s Sword Master was pushed back. To be precise, he deliberately feigned retreat to lure her into complacency.
Having sensed the difference in their realms, he must have concluded that exploiting Seol Ha-yeon’s weaknesses was the wisest approach to overcome this gap.
Moreover, Hwasan’s Sword Master had studied Seol Ha-yeon extensively.
Knowing what shortcomings she possessed, he targeted them.
“The Junior Prince’s reputation must be in tatters.”
I chuckled softly, watching Seol Ha-yeon.
She was slowly leaving the arena, her eyes still unable to comprehend why she had lost, her expression hollow with disappointment.
And finally—
“Ooooh—!”
“They’re here!”
With the frenzied roars of the crowd, the two people who had drawn the most anticipation in the morning preliminaries took the stage.
“Young Master—! I’ll make sure to win the championship!”
Jang Chuchyeong, who had ascended the arena, waved at me with a grin.
One might have thought he was being careless, given the complete absence of tension in his expression and eyes, but as he turned to face his opponent, Jang Chuchyeong’s expression became more serious than ever.
“Haha— Ah! I never expected to face Jang So-hyeop. But I won’t lose either. After all, I came here to win the championship in the first place.”
Cheongdam of the Mudang.
He too regarded Jang Chuchyeong with an expression devoid of tension.
Both exuded an overwhelming composure.
As if they harbored no thought of standing before a formidable opponent, their eyes and expressions were serene beyond measure.
The moment Cheongdam placed his hand on his sword and Jang Chuchyeong licked his lips.
Crash—!
The two collided with irresistible force, unleashing their momentum.

* * *

“What kind of disgrace is this?!”
“Amitabha Buddha! You’re bringing shame upon the Mudang name.”
Gu Gunbaek’s loud voice and Mu-jin’s quiet but forceful words echoed through the arena.
Before the two of them knelt Chu Hyeongi and Cheongdam, their heads bowed, their appearances utterly disheveled.
As if they’d been beaten in some back alley.
And with good reason.
“I told you to spar, not to brawl like street thugs!”
“Did you want to become a ruffian, you fool?”
I stared at Chu Hyeongi and Cheongdam with an incredulous expression.
Their match had been fierce, truly.
In a short time, they’d clashed with everything they had, and the overwhelming cheers from the crowd proved it.
But as they exhausted themselves endlessly, their inner energy depleted, their stamina wore thin, and their vigor drained away.
Their determination to decide a victor even in such circumstances was admirable, but what of resorting to brawling before so many spectators?
And all while bearing the names of the Mudang and the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace.
I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.
“To announce such fools as my disciples to the world! Where else could such shameful embarrassment be found?”
“Hehehehe—now people will call the Mudang a gang of ruffians. Well done, very well done indeed.”
It was only natural that Gu Gunbaek and Mu-jin were furious.
What they called brawling was no different from children fighting.
Punching, biting, throwing each other down, headbutting, and even pulling each other’s hair.
Both of them had bruised eyes and broken noses, blood streaming down their faces.
“The things you do…”
As I myself clicked my tongue and shook my head, Chu Hyeongi and Cheongdam trembled without lifting their faces.
They probably wanted to leave immediately, but it seemed Gu Gunbaek and Mu-jin had no intention of letting them go easily.
In any case, someone benefited from this.
Since the match ended in mutual defeat, one bracket position became vacant, and Yeon-un, who won the loser’s bracket, advanced.
“Wahaha! Haryeon! Did you see? It was me! I won!”
Clap clap clap—!
Haryeon beamed with a broad smile and applauded the delighted Yeon-un.
I watched the scene with a smile on my lips and stood up.
“Where are you going?”
“Just need some fresh air. I’ve been sitting too long and I’m tired of it.”
“Shall I come with you?”
“No, rest here.”
I left Chaeseoha behind and exited the arena.
As I stretched languidly and yawned.
My eyes fell upon Seol Ha-yeon.
Unable to easily accept her defeat, she sat crouched in the shade of a tree, letting out sighs.
I found myself smiling and approached her.
“What are you doing?”
“Young Master Jin….”
“Losing a martial competition won’t make the world collapse.”
“…I thought I would win.”
Seol Ha-yeon wore a bitter smile and let out a sigh.
A reversal of fortune in a situation where victory had seemed assured to anyone watching.
Not only Seol Ha-yeon, but anyone who experienced such a turn of events would inevitably have their spirits crushed.
“Hwasan’s Sword Master read the Junior Prince well. I simply fell for it.”
“Yes, it seems so.”
Seol Ha-yeon clenched her fists, revealing her frustration.
Her eyes gleamed with determination—a resolve not to make the same mistake next time.
I found myself smiling without thinking.
“Jukeum-! Where are you-?”
A loud voice called out from somewhere.
I turned to look and saw the face of a man I had seen before. He rummaged through the passing crowds, checking the surroundings.
He continued calling out the name with his voice.
“You there-! Na Jukeum!”
He shouted without hesitation, moving through various parts of the street, and did not hesitate to grab anyone of similar build to confirm their identity.
Puzzled by his behavior, I left Seol Ha-yeon behind and approached the man.
“Is something the matter?”
“Oh my! Young Master Jin, isn’t it! Ah, thank you so much for yesterday. You even paid for our share….”
“That’s not it. Rather, what is the matter?”
“That is… he’s nowhere to be found.”
“The person from yesterday?”
The man nodded with a sickly pale complexion.
“Perhaps he simply went for a walk?”
“No! He would never disappear without telling me. But I’ve searched everywhere from the marketplace to here, and there’s not a trace of him.”
Concerned about his friend’s sudden disappearance, the man shifted anxiously from foot to foot.
It was clear they shared a deep bond.
I recalled the ominous expression on Na Jukeum’s face that I had seen yesterday and frowned, and at that very moment.
“Huh? Young Master, why are you here?”
A familiar voice came from behind.
I turned to see Yeon-un’s bright smile, his clear eyes regarding me and the man with curiosity.

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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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