The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 378

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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 378

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Everything around me was pitch black.
No matter where I looked, there was nothing to see, and even when I reached out to feel my surroundings, there was nothing to grasp.
A perfect abyss.
In such thick darkness that I couldn’t tell whether my eyes were open or closed, or even if I was truly walking, I sensed something strange.
Like a thin thread, something faintly perceptible.
The moment I moved forward slowly to seize it.
Whoosh—!
Something flew from the darkness and pierced my throat in an instant.
“…!”
“Young Master!?”
The moment I opened my eyes, I saw Chaeseoha.
As I confirmed her appearance looking at me with worried eyes and shifted my gaze, I noticed needles embedded throughout my body, apparently from her acupuncture treatment.
I stared at them for a moment, then offered a bitter smile.
“Did I fall asleep?”
“Yes, and you were sweating profusely the entire time.”
I nodded at her words.
Right, I remembered receiving acupuncture from Chaeseoha.
Then I had fallen asleep, and the scene that unfolded.
Though it was certainly a dream, it was vivid enough that it wouldn’t be strange to think it was real. I slowly steadied my breathing and spoke.
“I had it again.”
“A nightmare… is it?”
“Yes, this makes six times now.”
At my words, Chaeseoha’s brow furrowed.
These dreams had started becoming frequent ever since we left Sichuan’s capital.
A situation where I was struck by someone’s sword in complete darkness.
No matter how sharply I focused my senses and tried to evade, it always pierced my vital points accurately and took my life.
Impossible to avoid, impossible to block.
Such nightmarish dreams.
I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.
“Can something like this even happen?”
“I’m not entirely certain about the details, but it does seem clear that the demonic energy that has infiltrated is eroding not just your body, but your mind as well.”
She swallowed a groan and moistened her lips.
She seemed to be contemplating a solution to this situation, but ultimately finding no answer, she took another breath.
“Still, your physical condition is definitely improving. The wounds are healing little by little.”
While my body was recovering through acupuncture and herbal medicine, eliminating the demonic energy that had infiltrated internally was impossible.
The greater problem was that the demonic energy of the Great Demon King, gnawing away at my body bit by bit, was undoubtedly converging toward my heart.
As if that were its very purpose.
Was it merely that which troubled me?
No.
My senses had grown duller, gradually but unmistakably, and I could feel the pathways through which my vital energy flowed narrowing with each passing moment.
So slowly that I could sense myself being consumed, bit by bit.
“This has become troublesome.”
I furrowed my brow and released a weary sigh.
In that moment, Chaeseoha, having removed the needles embedded in my body one by one, quietly reached out and grasped my hand, her eyes brightening as she gazed at me.
“Do not worry. I will surely heal you.”
“Those are reassuring words indeed. I place my trust in you.”
“Please leave it to me.”
Chaeseoha’s expression radiated unwavering confidence.
At first glance, it seemed like she was offering hope to a dying patient, yet to me, it was not some baseless hope—it was the certainty that I would survive.
“But where are we now?”
“We’ve nearly arrived in Luoyang. Quite an arduous journey, wasn’t it?”
I nodded and gazed out the window.
The passing scenery felt familiar.
I thought I had merely dozed off for a moment, but judging by what I saw now, it appeared I had slept for at least two hours or more.
The carriage, having smoothly entered through the city gates, took the road toward the Jin residence, and only after some time had passed did we finally arrive at our destination.
The moment the carriage stopped at the main gate, Namgung Yeon and Chaeseoha, who had hurriedly descended, wore expressions that brightened considerably.
“Phew— it took longer than expected.”
“And it was exhausting. Goodness…”
Chaeseoha shook her head as though she had grown weary of it all.
Yet soon, as if there was no time for other thoughts, she rushed toward the medical chamber, seemingly intent on finding a way to treat me as quickly as possible.
Of course, she did not forget to offer stern warnings.
“You absolutely must not overexert yourself! Do you understand!?”
“Yes, I understand well.”
“Then, Young Master, I shall take my leave now. I have much to discuss with my older brother.”
As I nodded once more to Namgung Yeon’s words, he vanished in an instant, leaving only Seol Ha-yeon and myself before the carriage.
I turned my gaze toward her.
She, too, looked at me.
The eyes of two awkward people met in the empty air between us.
“Are you going to the separate residence?”
“Yes.”
“Let us go together.”
Hearing her voice, somehow both cold and warm, I moved slowly forward toward the separate residence.
Seol Ha-yeon’s movements as she walked beside me were sluggish.
Moreover, she seemed restless, as though she had something to say.
I directed a questioning gaze toward her.
“Do you have something to say?”
At my words, Seol Ha-yeon nodded.
As if casting away her hesitation, she sent me a gaze filled with resolve.
“Through this incident, I’ve come to understand just how lacking I am. And… how reckless it was to seek immediate revenge.”
“Continue.”
“And thank you. If it weren’t for you, Young Master, I wouldn’t have even thought such things… I would have died.”
Seol Ha-yeon regarded reality with cold clarity.
The Huncheon Gangsi and Gang Cheonho’s subordinates.
Though I managed to endure and hold them back, surviving—if I cannot overwhelm such opponents, no matter how skillfully I wield my sword, I cannot reach Gang Cheonho.
It seemed she now understood this perfectly.
I smiled with a satisfied expression.
“It is fortunate that you’ve come to understand. There’s no need to worry about recklessly charging forward anymore.”
“I apologize for causing you concern.”
Seol Ha-yeon bowed her head deeply once more.
While I couldn’t know if she had completely freed herself from the demonic influence, it seemed she had regained some composure and found the strength to move forward again.
A smile naturally escaped me at her admirable spirit.
Yet Seol Ha-yeon hesitated once more, as if she still had something to say. Soon, she spoke with a cautious tone, her words uncertain.
“And that… demonic energy. I have a vague memory of hearing about it from my father.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know if it’s a treatment method or something, but there’s supposedly a book written about it…”
“This is the Great Demon King’s—”
“It’s the Great Demon King’s demonic energy, Young Master. The First Mansion Lord of Binggung suffered defeat in a fierce battle against the Great Demon King, and at that time, demonic energy infiltrated… or something like that. I have a memory of hearing such a story.”
The clash between the Great Demon King and the First Mansion Lord of Binggung.
I couldn’t know what had transpired, but it must be quite an interesting tale. However, rather than questions about that, my ears and interest prioritized something else.
“A story regarding demonic energy infiltration…”
“Since my memory is unclear… I hadn’t mentioned it until now, but I thought that if there’s no other way, it wouldn’t be bad to verify it.”
The fact that she spoke of such things meant she held some degree of confidence.
Whether this was something she had forcibly pieced together from hazy memories, or truly something she had recalled from long ago, I couldn’t say—but it was certainly a hopeful prospect.
Moreover, if fortune favored us, we might be able to exchange information through correspondence. If that were the case, we could spare ourselves the arduous journey to the Northern Sea.
I glanced at Seol Ha-yeon.
“Do we need to go and verify it?”
“Of course… we do. That place is a secret vault that only the Mansion Lord can enter.”
That would be the case.
I nodded and offered a bitter smile.
If there’s no other solution, it can’t be helped, but thinking of the journey to the Northern Sea, I cannot deny that my teeth chatter.
With a sigh, I shook my head and quickened our pace alongside Seol Ha-yeon.
She followed silently behind me without a word, yet it felt as though she were waiting for my thoughts to conclude.
Lost in such contemplation, as we walked.
Strange behavior from various people caught my eye.
Several people speaking in hushed tones about something.
To anyone’s eyes, they appeared to be servants and maids, yet as they spoke of the rumors circulating through the world, there seemed to be a mixture of curiosity alongside an inexplicable dread.
“Is it a Dark Sect matter?”
By now, news of what had transpired in Sichuan would have naturally spread.
With everyone’s eyes, ears, and mouths focused solely on that, it was hardly surprising.
Moreover, given the Dark Sect’s recent stirrings after a period of silence, there would certainly be those recalling the past Righteous-Demonic War and growing anxious.
I made no effort to listen further and headed toward the separate quarters.
“Young Master! When did you arrive!?”
With a sharp voice, Chu Hyeongi appeared.
Whether from considerable torment by Gu Gunbaek, his muscles seemed even more pronounced than before, and somehow he gave off the impression of a Namman tribesman.
As if he had become a different person entirely.
I shook my head, feeling the strangeness of it.
“I just returned. But your appearance….”
“Hehe, more toned, right?”
Chu Hyeongi proudly displayed his muscles.
His shirt looked as though it might burst at any moment, causing even Seol Ha-yeon, who stood nearby watching, to shake her head.
I let out a hollow laugh as well.
“Nothing unusual happened?”
“Nothing special. Rather, have you heard?”
“About Dark Sect disciples appearing in Sichuan?”
“Huh!? Dark Sect disciples appeared in Sichuan!?”
Hm?
At my casual remark, Chu Hyeongi’s mouth fell open in shock.
Clearly hearing it for the first time.
I stopped walking and frowned at this unexpected reaction.
“You didn’t know?”
“I had no idea until you mentioned it, Young Master. Wow—this is insane. Why would Dark Sect disciples appear in Righteous Sect territory…? No, more importantly, did you go to handle it?”
“Yes, but continue with what you were saying.”
Currently, the Sichuan incident should undoubtedly be the most talked about matter. Yet he had known nothing until now—which meant it had been suppressed.
By some other matter.
I stared intently at Chu Hyeongi.
He glanced at both Seol Ha-yeon and me, then took a breath before speaking.
“The Lord of Sa Do-cheon has died!”
“…!”
“….”
For a moment, a brief silence fell.
Sa Do-cheon, who had maintained close ties with Binggung.
The death of Cheon Gong-hak, the Lord of that place.
Seol Ha-yeon’s eyes trembled, clearly shocked by this news.
Only then did I understand why the Sichuan incident had not yet reached people’s lips and ears.
The death of Cheon Gong-hak had overshadowed everything else.
“So it comes to this in the end.”
“Did you know it would happen?”
“Know? It’s not a matter of knowing. Any person who has lived long enough understands that death comes for us all.”
“Well, yes, I suppose that’s true.”
Chu Hyeongi scratched his head vigorously and nodded.
All people must die—this was the way of things.
Even the one called the Great Demon King could not escape this natural law and had breathed his last.
It was a fate that even Cheon Gong-hak could not evade.
Moreover, this situation had already been foreseen.
I smiled faintly and resumed walking.
“In any case, Cheon Yul will soon become the new Heavenly Lord.”
“Well, about that…”
I stopped.
At Chu Hyeongi’s hesitant tone, I halted once more. Turning to regard him with a peculiar expression, I studied his face—only to hear something entirely unexpected.
“Cheon Yul is currently imprisoned in the underground dungeon. The one who ascended to become the new Heavenly Lord is Kang Mu-yeom, who was Sa Do-cheon’s right hand.”
“…Kang Mu-yeom?”
“Yes!”
I furrowed my brow.
The second-in-command of Sa Do-cheon, known as Cheon Gong-hak’s right arm.
A man so exceptional he could have risen to become a new emperor, yet after Cheon Yul took his position, he had washed his hands clean and vanished from the martial world.
Such a man had become the new Heavenly Lord?
This unexpected news seized my attention.
“I need to go out for a moment.”
“Where are you going!?”
I turned away, abandoning my path toward the annex.
I needed to investigate this matter urgently.

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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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