The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 379

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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 379

Drip—drip—!
Water droplets fell from the ceiling, striking my body with icy coldness. Each time the chill touched me, my closed eyes twitched involuntarily.
The underground prison of Sa Do-cheon.
A single being bound within those walls.
One shackled by chains around wrists and ankles, leaning against the stone.
Cheon Yul.
Once called Soocheonchu, I had always adorned myself in magnificent silk robes and maintained an immaculate appearance, yet now my garments were torn to tatters, and my once-neat hair hung matted and disheveled.
There were those observing my state.
The guards who maintained this underground prison.
“Tsk, tsk. How did it come to this?”
“I knew from the moment he rampaged like a wild beast. If the late Master hadn’t favored him, this would have happened long ago.”
The guards clicked their tongues and shook their heads.
Grandson and disciple of the Death Emperor, Cheon Gong-hak.
I had been elevated to the position of Junior Prince, recognized for my exceptional talent, yet the true problem lay elsewhere.
While my martial prowess was considerable, compared to Kang Mu-yeom it was the difference between heaven and earth. And if one asked whether I possessed the leadership to unite the Dark Sect disciples, everyone would shake their heads.
Without the title of being Cheon Gong-hak’s disciple, I was merely an exceptional martial artist—someone incapable of filling the void left by the deceased Master, according to common judgment.
Naturally, power had no choice but to gravitate toward Kang Mu-yeom.
The second-in-command who had long served Cheon Gong-hak, and now the strongest in the Dark Sect.
The weight he carried was incomparable to me.
“It cannot be helped. Jeongdo lost the Sword Emperor, yet Tae-hwang and Gonghuang joined hands. We lost the Death Emperor, and we cannot elevate this young one.”
The guards spat out their thoughts, clicking their tongues.
The fall of my whom they had served was indeed lamentable, yet considering the future of Sa Do-cheon, there seemed no better choice.
Thus the guards, shaking their heads, departed one by one.
Their duty was to keep me imprisoned in this dungeon for life.
With my inner energy sealed by Kang Mu-yeom, there was nothing this broken shell could accomplish. They merely needed to watch.
Boom—!
Soon the massive iron gate closed, cutting off all light.
A space consumed by pitch darkness.
Twitch—
Cheon Yul, who had shown no movement until now, began to stir.
Crack—!
That was when the sound of grinding teeth echoed through the cell.
Unable to contain the seething rage, I slowly lifted my head.
Though I could not feel even the slightest inner energy, my fighting spirit remained alive.
As proof, my sharp eyes blazed with an icy light, and murderous intent flowed freely throughout the chamber.
Had the guards remained in this place, witnessing my current state, they would have collapsed in terror.
“Kang Mu-yeom—.”
Cheon Yul recalled Kang Mu-yeom.
One day, without fail, I would cut him down. Even if my body were ground to dust, I would thrust the blade in my hand into that bastard’s throat.
Within such resolve, fury and killing intent overflowed.
* * *
The Hwaseon Inn, which I visited after a long time, remained unchanged.
As always, there were many people, and the sound of their boisterous chatter echoed so loudly it hurt the ears.
However, from the voices flowing through the inn, there was not the slightest mention of the Dark Sect’s affairs in Sichuan, making it clear that Sa Do-cheon’s incident was drawing the greatest attention.
I climbed the stairs to Baek Jin-hwa’s room and opened the door.
A luxurious room, as always.
A woman sat gracefully in a space thick with the scent of powder.
She confirmed my presence and placed a small smile on her lips.
“You’ve arrived.”
“It seems you anticipated I would come.”
“Yes, of course. Haven’t there been ‘various’ matters?”
From her tone, which suggested she understood not only the Sichuan situation but also Sa Do-cheon’s affairs, and from her smiling expression, I could tell she possessed extensive information.
I took a seat before her.
“You must have had a difficult time with the Sichuan matter.”
“I thought it would become widely discussed, but it’s quieter than expected.”
“The Martial Arts Alliance has temporarily suppressed it and is enforcing strict silence. They say anyone who lets information leak will face severe punishment.”
Hye-myeong’s words carried weight.
Beyond that, they would likely maintain strict silence until they could discern the Dark Sect disciples’ true purpose.
Since they had ventured deep into Sichuan and were conducting something in secret, identifying what that was would be the most urgent priority.
If word spread, people would flock there, and rumors would create chaos—so confirming the situation beforehand was the wisest choice.
Fortunately, thanks to Sa Do-cheon’s incident erupting at such a timely moment, public attention could be diverted for a while.
“Then does our Young Master come out of curiosity regarding Sa Do-cheon, where he has an acquaintance?”
“Not a friend. But it’s true I came out of curiosity. What happened?”
“It’s simple. Kang Mu-yeom, who was Cheon Gong-hak’s sword, betrayed him. He captured Cheon Yul and imprisoned him, then seized control of Sa Do-cheon.”
At these words, I furrowed my brow.
I hadn’t come to hear rumors already spreading openly through the streets.
Rather, something deeper—things people didn’t know.
I had come seeking such information, so surely Baek Jin-hwa wouldn’t be ignorant of it?
I exhaled in frustration and tossed a money pouch.
Clink, clink, clink—
The pouch fell before Baek Jin-hwa, and numerous silver coins spilled out.
Seeing this, she smiled knowingly.
“From what I know, Kang Mu-yeom possesses loyalty as high as Commander Liu’s. For such a man to betray the moment Cheon Gong-hak dies? That’s rather difficult to believe.”
It wasn’t merely that his martial prowess was exceptional.
Absolute loyalty to Cheon Gong-hak.
He was a man of such tremendous righteousness that he would sever even the Martial Arts Alliance Master’s head at his command.
Moreover, if Kang Mu-yeom had moved and his rebellion succeeded, it would mean even Commander Liu had lent his strength to it.
Every single detail defies all logic.
I leaned my chin against my palm, studying Baek Jin-hwa intently.
“Moreover, there’s no way Cheon Gong-hak failed to see through Kang Mu-yeom’s true intentions. The moment he harbored such ambitions, he would have been dead long ago.”
“Hohoho— I cannot speak to that. In any case, the deed has been done, and it succeeded. Cheon Yul is currently imprisoned in the underground dungeon, Young Master.”
“And what else?”
“Kang Mu-yeom has ascended to become the new Heavenly Lord. No one opposed it, or so I’m told. In fact, many seemed quite pleased with the arrangement.”
Those who had lived beneath the shadow of the name Cheon Gong-hak.
For such people, this turn of events was surely welcome.
Now they would have opportunities of their own.
“There was some murmuring within the ranks, but it quickly subsided. The moment Cheon Yul knelt before Kang Mu-yeom, it all fell silent.”
In any organization, the leader must be strong.
Having witnessed the pathetic collapse of the master they once trusted and followed, their fear and terror, combined with the sight of his degradation, could only erode their loyalty.
Moreover, bowing before a new master is the very nature of those who walk the martial path.
That is the way of the martial world.
I shook my head with a hollow laugh.
“Impressive. I never imagined you harbored such schemes.”
“It’s the aftermath of the great tree that was Cheon Gong-hak disappearing.”
That much makes sense, but considering the past, something feels amiss. It raises suspicion that someone may have intervened in this situation.
“Is there anything else?”
“Leader Liu’s movements are unusual. It appears he intends to eliminate everyone who followed Cheon Gong-hak and Cheon Yul.”
“A purge, then… A plausible tale indeed.”
“Quite so. Any usurper who seizes the throne must do such things. Similar events likely unfolded in Beijing as well.”
Baek Jin-hwa opened her eyes slightly, regarding me with a measured gaze.
The Crown Prince’s rebellion that occurred in Beijing.
As if attributing it all to my doing.
I offered a small smile.
“Continue gathering intelligence on that matter. It seems the information doesn’t quite match the price I’ve paid.”
“Hoho, of course. But Young Master, regarding Sichuan…”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
I rose from my seat as though the matter was beneath my attention.
This Sichuan affair.
Hao Munzhu revealed it as an apology, did she?
Does she truly believe I would accept such words at face value?
The Dark Sect’s movements were undoubtedly present, but since I cannot verify what they were, her intention was to leak information and have me investigate directly.
Creating the appearance of having provided intelligence.
Baek Jin-hwa, reading the mockery in my expression, closed her mouth without another word.
She seemed to realize that to hear more, she would need to bring something far greater.
Without hesitation, I pushed off from my seat and departed the Huaxian Inn.
At that moment.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my heart, and my strength drained away.
I steadied myself with sheer willpower, preventing my body from crashing to the floor, and leaned against the wall to support my weakening frame.
That sensation of being stabbed by a blade—the same one I had felt in my dreams.
There was no doubt about it.
The demonic energy of the Great Demon King.
It writhed within me once more, gnawing at my very essence.
“I was far better off when I was poisoned.”
Unable to smooth the furrow from my brow, I drew slow, measured breaths.
Only then did my body begin to ease, bit by bit.
I hurried toward the residence.
This would not do.
When I first regained consciousness, the poison’s progression had delayed my search for Chaeseoha, but that was then. This was different now.
If I could move, I had to move with every passing day.
The demonic energy seeping through me was incomparably more dangerous than any mere poison.
In the end, I had to journey to the Northern Sea.
Though I could not verify whether Seol Ha-yeon’s words were truth or falsehood, the confrontation between the Great Demon King and the first Bing Palace Master seemed undeniable, and if I could glean even the smallest clue, there was no reason not to go.
“Oh? You’ve returned? But… why does your face look so pale?”
As I entered the separate quarters, Chu Hyeongi noticed me and approached with a puzzled expression. Seeing my ashen complexion, worry flooded his features.
I smiled faintly.
“I must make a journey to the Northern Sea. Prepare yourself.”
“What!?”
“What are you doing? Hurry!”
“Ah, understood.”
Chu Hyeongi, startled, moved with urgency.
Though I felt sorry toward Gu Gunbaek, bringing him along seemed the best course of action for this matter.
His martial prowess was beyond question.
“Just now… what did you say?”
Then, a hesitant voice came from somewhere.
I turned to look, and saw Chaeseoha, who had been approaching with medicinal broth, freeze in her tracks.
As if she had misheard, she questioned me again, her face drained of color, staring directly at me before speaking once more.
“Where? The… Northern Sea?”
“Yes. They say there are clues there about how to suppress the Great Demon King’s demonic energy.”
“In that condition, you’re going? Such a distance? And you’ve only just returned!”
“Not a moment can be wasted.”
I spoke firmly and drew a measured breath.
Sensing something amiss, Chaeseoha approached cautiously, checked my pulse, and suddenly seized my collar with urgency.
In that instant, I could see a dark crimson energy creeping upward from the exposed wound.
“…It’s worse than before. Why…?”
“I don’t know either. But judging by your expression, it must be grave indeed.”
In all the injuries I had sustained until now, I had never seen Chaeseoha wear such an expression.
Thus, I could discern it.
My condition continued to deteriorate.
Eventually, she exhaled a sigh and posed a question.
“Sigh— So, if we go to the Northern Sea, there really will be clues?”
“The Junior Prince said so, but he seemed somewhat… lacking in confidence. Perhaps because it’s an old memory?”
“And you’re going to trust that?”
“It doesn’t matter since you’re by my side. Whether here or there.”
At my words spoken with a faint chuckle, she furrowed her brow.
Yet knowing there was no helping it, she nodded.
“I’ll prepare. It seems we’ll need to bring quite a few things.”
I nodded at her words.
The moment she hurriedly left her seat, I sat on the couch as if drained of energy and steadied my breathing once more.
Drip, drip—
At that moment, I felt cold sweat trickling down.
A bitter smile escaped me without my realizing it.
“This… is truly not good.”

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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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