The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 380

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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 380

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There was no time to delay our journey to the Northern Sea.
Thus, the moment everyone finished their preparations, my companions and I boarded a large carriage and departed from the Jin Family of Luoyang once more, setting our course northward.
On the coachman’s seat sat Jang Chuchyeong and Namgung Yeon.
Inside the spacious cabin were Seol Ha-yeon, along with Chaeseoha, Paeng Dohan, and Eon Garyeo.
I had brought everyone who remained in the separate quarters.
As I was thinking about this, I recalled something I had forgotten.
“Ah—.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I forgot about Na Cheonmun.”
“Oh….”
“I forgot too.”
“Ha ha, no need to worry about him. He’s become so close with the servants that he’s always going around cleaning with them.”
At Paeng Dohan’s words, I let out an incredulous laugh.
Though he held a low rank, he was still a Demon Sect disciple.
His very name inspired fear in people, yet here he was going about cleaning with servants? It was hard to believe.
But then again, when I thought about it, it actually suited him quite well.
Even in the Demon Sect, he was always diligently picking up trash.
“Ho ho— Ah! There’s even a maid who follows that soldier around because she likes him? He might cause trouble soon.”
“Seems like he’s really thriving.”
In the Demon Sect, he always lived with his head down, but not here.
Since no one would scold him for doing as he pleased, he could fully display his abilities. Of course, those abilities amounted to little more than menial work.
Beyond that, he even possessed martial skills, though modest ones.
Though similar in feeling to Jang Chuchyeong, he occupied a position that was more easily approachable, creating an atmosphere where servants and maids could treat him without reservation.
“Is it better than having him come along with us?”
I smiled and reclined slightly in the carriage.
At that moment, Chaeseoha, who was beside me, approached and took my pulse, then loosened my upper garment and began inserting needles once more.
Even as the carriage jolted, watching her strike the exact points made me think that perhaps the title of Immortal Physician should belong to her.
Each time a needle pierced my skin, my mind grew mysteriously calm.
As if the vital energy within the needles controlled my internal state.
It was impossible for a woman without inner strength to possess such a thing, so this must surely be an inherent power of the needles themselves.
There was a reason they were called Immortal Soul Needles.
I suspected the reason the demonic energy spread so slowly was perhaps due to their influence.
“But this does present a problem. We must pass through Shanxi….”
“Since the orthodox and heterodox martial arts worlds are in chaos, we should proceed with utmost caution.”
At that moment, Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo wore expressions of concern.
As Kang Mu-yeom ascends to the position of Heavenly Master, the situation would likely stabilize, but looking deeper, there would still be no shortage of those who follow Cheon Yul.
The name of Cheon Gong-hak could not crumble so easily.
Therefore, large and small conflicts would be breaking out in various places.
As long as we avoid getting caught up in them, there should be no major problems.
“Sa Do-cheon’s affairs are something Sa Do-cheon will handle himself. Regardless of the outcome, that is a matter of the heterodox martial world.”
“Ahem! Well, that may be true, but… it just looks dangerous to me.”
Paeng Dohan scratched his head with an awkward expression.
Though it had been a short time, it seemed he was wondering whether he ought to help, given whatever bond had formed between him and Cheon Yul.
Thanks to Cheon Yul, he had grown considerably stronger, so it was reasonable to consider it a debt.
I understood his feelings, but I could not throw myself into confronting Sa Do-cheon without justification.
“If the connection is one that cannot be severed, then surely fate will bring you together again. So do not worry and rest. We have a long road ahead.”
My quiet words brought silence to the carriage.
Feeling a slight jolt, I sank into the rushing waters of sleep.
Falling into deep slumber, I heard and felt nothing.
As if trapped in a deep abyss with no way out, I could not even move my body, let alone speak.
“Young Master? Young Master!”
Someone’s voice rang out from a distance, gradually drawing closer.
The sensation of being pulled up from the depths of an abyss.
It was like a single ray of light.
The moment I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Chaeseoha.
“Are you alright? Another nightmare?”
“No, it seems I fell into a deep sleep.”
Saying this, I glanced out the window.
Before I fell asleep, it had been bright daylight, but now the moon hung high in the sky and darkness filled everything around us.
I let out a hollow laugh without meaning to.
“I slept quite long.”
“You slept for four hours. I thought you were dead, seriously.”
Chaeseoha shook her head with an exasperated expression.
I had intended to take a short nap, but it had stretched longer than expected.
Just then, the carriage that had been rushing along began to slow down gradually.
I heard the voice of Chu Hyeongi from the coachman’s seat.
“Young Master, it looks like we’ll need to spend the night here.”
“How far have we come?”
“Well… that is to say…”
“Once we cross that ridge, we’ll be in Shanxi.”
Namgung Yeon interjected and answered instead.
My gaze confirmed the ridge not far away.
If we pushed forward, it would take roughly one or two hours to reach the next village.
It would be ideal to rest at an inn, but the night had already grown deep and it seemed we could not go any further.
“Prepare bedding. We’ll rest here and depart early in the morning.”
“Yes!”
Jang Chuchyeong and Namgung Yeon sprang into action without hesitation.
As the two took the lead in preparing for an impromptu night’s rest, the others quickly moved about, lending their hands to complete the remaining tasks.
Before long, bedding was spread and a campfire ignited.
They warmed the provisions they’d brought and began their meal, conversing in hushed tones, when Chaeseoha—who had refrained from asking questions until now—turned to Seol Ha-yeon with a query.
“It’s rather amusing to ask now that we’ve already departed, but… are you certain the Young Master truly needs that book?”
“I heard it with certainty. They said he had been consumed by the Great Demon King’s demonic essence…”
Seol Ha-yeon’s voice trailed off, her expression growing uncomfortable.
It was a tale heard in such distant childhood that she couldn’t claim great confidence, yet one fact remained beyond doubt.
The Great Demon King and the first Bing Palace Master had clashed.
And—
“Then, did that Palace Master… survive?”
“Yes, I heard she lived to see future generations and closed her eyes decades later.”
“I see… But the problem is, we’re uncertain whether the ancient text we’re searching for actually contains a cure, correct?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.”
“Hmm.”
Watching Seol Ha-yeon’s guilty expression, Chaeseoha crossed her arms. The fact that she didn’t even touch the food before her spoke volumes—she was far more serious than usual.
I let out a soft chuckle and twirled my chopsticks.
“Regardless, one thing is certain—there is a way. We simply need to find it.”
“And if there isn’t one?”
“Then I’ll find a way to overcome it myself.”
If we find no clues in the Northern Sea, and even Chaeseoha cannot discover a cure, then the answer becomes singular.
I overcome it myself.
Have I not lived this way until now?
There’s no forgetting such a simple truth.
As I resumed moving my chopsticks with a smile, the heavy atmosphere seemed to lighten, and soon conversation bloomed anew.
Just as we were in the midst of our chatter.
I narrowed my eyes and turned my gaze.
“Someone approaches.”
Clang!
The moment the words left my lips, Jang Chuchyeong rose to his feet, and Namgung Yeon drew his sword. Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo scanned their surroundings with tense expressions, while Seol Ha-yeon positioned herself beside Chaeseoha, taking up a protective stance.
A brief moment of tension hung in the air.
Whoosh!
Several figures suddenly launched themselves through the air from somewhere.
They weren’t targeting anyone.
They were fleeing from something.
As the airborne figures descended and swiftly deployed their lightness technique, the pursuing group emerged into view and unleashed a barrage of projectiles.
Whistle, whistle, whistle!
Countless projectiles tore through the air in an instant.
They grazed perilously close to the bodies of those in flight.
Several hidden projectiles flew toward us in that moment, but Namgung Yeon stepped forward faster than anyone else and swung his sword.
Clang-clang-clang-!
He deflected the barrage of projectiles in one fluid motion.
Those startled by the sudden situation turned to look at us.
The fleeing men’s eyes widened, and they quickly changed direction, rushing toward us with increasing speed.
“Young Master, what should we do!?”
Chu Hyeongi looked ready to burst forward at any moment.
His eyes gleamed with a ferocity that suggested he would shatter the bones of whoever stood before him.
But.
“Leave them be.”
“Huh!?”
My sudden words seemed to deflate him, and he turned to stare at me blankly.
It wasn’t just Chu Hyeongi.
The others who had been holding their tension taut were equally bewildered.
I let out a soft chuckle.
The men who had been chasing us now stood before us.
The one who appeared to be their leader.
His eyes brightened as he quickly recognized me.
As if confirming what he had suspected.
Just as the approaching man was about to speak.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-!
The pursuers who had closed the distance suddenly drew their swords and attacked.
The blades swung fiercely and came slashing down.
Those men were startled and twisted their bodies to evade, but in that instant, the sword strikes accelerated further, flying directly toward me.
As I watched it calmly—
Crack-!
Before the blade could reach me, Chu Hyeongi’s fist brutally smashed into the attacker’s face.
With a sound like a watermelon shattering, the body flew through the air, bounced, and crashed into the ground.
The man now sprawled on the earth convulsed grotesquely, his neck bent at an unnatural angle, before falling completely still.
“…!”
The dead man’s companions recoiled in horror, their eyes widening. They drew their swords and glared at us with wariness before shouting harshly in threat.
“You bastards! How dare you interfere with Sa Do-cheon’s operations!”
I heard a hackneyed phrase I’d come across many times before.
Those glaring at us with surging momentum.
Dressed in garments bearing Sa Do-cheon’s insignia, their voices were unrelenting.
The determination that they would cut down anything that obstructed their operations.
I smiled slightly and glanced at Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo.
Catching my signal, they stepped forward.
“I am Paeng Dohan of the Paeng Family of Hebei. And you are?”
“…!”
“W-what? Why is the Paeng Family of Hebei here…!”
“Hmm? What are you talking about? This is Jeongdo’s territory, so our presence here is hardly unusual.”
At Paeng Dohan’s weighty words, the men’s pupils trembled.
Only then did they glance around their surroundings.
They had crossed the ridge that marked the boundary between Jeongdo and Sa Do-cheon’s domains.
A worst-case scenario that could easily provoke Jeongdo’s displeasure.
The men exchanged glances with one another, seemingly communicating through secret transmissions.
But had they decided there was nothing to fear?
One man cried out.
“Greetings, Paeng Sohyeop. We belong to Sa Do-cheon’s forces. We were pursuing a grave criminal and ended up crossing into this territory.”
“A grave criminal? You mean those people?”
“Indeed. If you simply hand them over, we shall withdraw without further trouble.”
At those words, my gaze turned toward those being pursued.
Whether it was anger at being called criminals, someone’s face flushed crimson as they cried out.
“Criminals? Was it wrong to serve Soocheonchu?”
“If that is a crime, then yes, you are criminals.”
Though the name Soocheonchu was mentioned, not a single person seemed to care. Rather, they gazed with leisure and mockery, their eyes playing with contempt.
It was a situation where one could truly feel Cheon Yul’s downfall.
The atmosphere between them grew taut once more.
A moment where swords could be drawn without surprise.
Feeling that, I stepped forward.
Saaaa—
Wind swept through.
As the swirling wind brushed past everyone in the hall, the tense atmosphere shattered in an instant, and the trembling eyes of those present turned toward me.
“I am Jin Cheon-u of the Jin Family. If you have no intention of sheathing your blades… I too am prepared to respond accordingly.”
“…!”
“J-Jin Cheon-u!?”
I spoke with a bitter smile, my words a warning.
The three characters of the name Jin Cheon-u struck quite heavily, and the men who had been exhaling fierce momentum fell silent, swallowing hard.
I delivered one final warning to them.
“Will you withdraw? Or will you face my blade?”
At my words spoken with a smile, the hall froze.

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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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