The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 45

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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 Nakhyang Jin Family — Chapter 45

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“…What did you say?”
Baek Jin-hwa could not hide her shock at the sudden news. The Dongfang Family had been attacked by the Black Crow Society and utterly annihilated.
Not a single soul within the clan had survived the assault, which spoke volumes about the brutality of the massacre.
But that was not the real problem.
The Black Crow Society.
They had been identified as the primary culprits behind the Dongfang Family’s destruction.
Since the Martial Arts Alliance itself had conducted the investigation and made the announcement, even if they denied involvement, this fact would never change.
“The Black Crow Society… the Dongfang Family….”
After listening to the account, she had remained silent with a dazed expression for a moment, but now, hearing both names spoken together, she could recall someone.
Her gaze turned toward the woman before her.
A woman who had served as her right arm for so long.
Her name was Dong-baek.
At her glance, Dong-baek lowered her head respectfully.
“Was there no mention of Jin Gongja’s name?”
“No, it did not appear.”
“…Is that so?”
It was truly strange.
Jin Cheon-u had certainly obtained information about the Dongfang Family.
Given what had transpired afterward, I naturally expected his name to surface….
Yet despite their investigation, not a single character of his name had been mentioned, which was tantamount to saying he had never revealed himself at all.
Then was this not Jin Cheon-u’s doing?
Baek Jin-hwa shook her head.
The situation that had unfolded was undoubtedly the work of Jin Cheon-u. Though I could not discern his intentions, he had certainly obtained something he desired through this affair.
And there was one more thing.
“The Martial Arts Alliance will not remain idle.”
“Yes, they are assembling a punitive expedition.”
“Hehehehe—.”
At those words, Baek Jin-hwa burst into laughter.
It was the Martial Arts Alliance itself that would lead the suppression.
No matter how well the Black Crow Society concealed themselves, they could not escape the gaze of Gaebang. Soon enough, the name of the Black Crow Society would become nothing more than a relic of the past in these Central Plains.
“Then where is Jin Gongja now?”
“He entered the Sega last evening.”
“Is that so? I must visit him later with fine wine to pay my respects. Hehe.”
Baek Jin-hwa rose from her seat with a pleased smile. For the Hao Gate, which had been troubled by the Black Crow Society, there could be no better news than this.
The Jade Orb had proven its worth.

* * *

Outside, the affairs of the Dongfang Family and the Black Crow Society dominated every conversation, yet the Nakhyang Jin Family seemed largely indifferent to such matters.
Not that we hadn’t heard the rumors.
Most knew the truth, but chose to keep silent—for loose tongues about such matters inevitably led to our own secrets spilling forth.
It was as I rose from my bed, luxuriously comfortable after so long, washed my face, and changed into fresh clothes.
The door suddenly swung open, and Gu Gunbaek strode in.
He settled into a chair as though he owned the very room, regarding me with a lazy smile and half-lidded eyes.
“Hehehehe, you did this, didn’t you?”
“Did what, sir?”
“The rumors spreading outside. About that… whatever family being completely annihilated.”
“The Dongfang Family, sir.”
“Right, that one. You did it, didn’t you?”
“No, sir. Wasn’t it the Black Crow Society?”
“Pfft!”
At the mention of the Black Crow Society, Gu Gunbaek burst into laughter.
He shook his head in disbelief, his expression one of utter incredulity.
Then he reached for a side dish from the breakfast spread on the table and popped it into his mouth.
Munch, munch—
“Do I look like a fool to you? The Black Crow Society annihilating them? That’s absurd.”
“It’s possible, sir.”
“Sure, they could raid the place—those mercenary dogs would do anything for coin. But complete annihilation? Impossible. I hear this Dongfang or whatever place is a martial family, yes?”
“So I’ve heard, sir.”
“Then it’s absolutely impossible. A bunch of rabble with swords can only do so much.”
I found myself laughing despite myself.
He was right.
Had it been only the Black Crow Society, they might have breached the Dongfang compound’s walls, but retrieving the Jade Orb would have been impossible. Rather than annihilation, there would have been a brutal clash with heavy casualties on both sides before a retreat.
“Did you do it? No… no, you’re not the type to employ such cruel methods…”
Gu Gunbaek stroked his chin, his expression turning contemplative.
At his words, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Though I might appear that way now, in my past I had committed terrible acts without hesitation—all for survival and revenge.
Jang Chuchyeong had trembled at the sight of what I once was.
This was why Gu Gunbaek’s perception of me then differed so greatly from what he saw now.
After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly grinned widely.
“You orchestrated a conflict between them.”
I said nothing in response, simply closing my mouth and continuing to dress. Gu Gunbaek, taking my silence as confirmation, clapped his hands sharply.
“That’s it! Hehehehe, you cunning bastard. You just lay back and let them tear each other apart, didn’t you? So what was it? Did you gain anything from it?”
“Nothing, sir.”
“Ah—come on, tell me. You must have done this for some amusing reason, yes? What was it?”
Gu Gunbaek’s eyes gleamed as he pestered me like an impatient child, his expression clearly begging me to share in whatever entertainment I’d orchestrated.
I exhaled a short breath and gazed at Gu Gunbaek.
“Nothing happened. I simply went on a leisurely excursion and returned.”
At those words, Gu Gunbaek studied me intently.
Soon, as if discovering something, his eyes gleamed with intrigue.
“Hmm? It seems you’ve gained something after all.”
“What do you mean…?”
“You… don’t know? Your pupils.”
My pupils?
Confused by his cryptic words, I turned to check my reflection in the mirror. Yet nothing particularly stood out, only deepening my bewilderment.
“You truly don’t know, do you? Your pupils. They’ve turned blue.”
“….”
“More precisely, they’re tinged with azure light. Ahahaha, how fascinating. Would you mind plucking one out and giving it to me?”
Ignoring his casually terrifying remark, I checked my reflection once more. The moment I focused intently on my pupils, I perceived what I had overlooked until now.
Just as Gu Gunbaek said, my pupils were indeed tinged with blue light.
Though faint, it was something that had not existed before—a clear sign that my body had undergone some transformation.
Blue light.
The instant I thought of it, the Jade Orb flickered before my eyes.
I recalled that the one I had obtained from the Dongfang Family had emitted that same radiance.
It had settled in my eyes?
Why?
Unable to comprehend the situation, my mind grew only more turbulent.
“If you don’t understand what you’ve gained, how will you use it? Whatever you’ve obtained, be careful. Power must be something you can control before wielding it. Do you understand?”
“…I understand.”
“Good. Now, have you seen Chu Hyeongi?”
“Huh? Why would you ask me to find him?”
“It’s training time, but I don’t see him anywhere.”
Predictable.
He must have fled from the grueling training.
Without even looking, I could imagine how harshly he’d been pushed.
Yet he wouldn’t have run far.
He wouldn’t have ventured out alone, so he would return soon enough.
Right on cue, Gu Gunbaek’s head turned toward the door.
Following his gaze, I looked toward the entrance just as it burst open and Jang Chuchyeong came scrambling inside.
“The Family Head is looking for you!”
“I know. I have something to tell you as well.”
“Huh? What is it?”
“Your master is looking for you.”
“…!”
Only then did Jang Chuchyeong snap to attention, glancing around the room.
Upon spotting the figure seated in the chair with a smirk, his complexion drained to an ashen pallor.
Gu Gunbaek rose from his seat, his massive frame looming as he positioned himself before Chu Hyeongi. In one fluid motion, he seized the back of the young man’s neck and dragged him forcefully toward the door.
“Aaaah! It hurts! It hurts!”
“Kahahaha! Endure it! Persevere! That is the secret to becoming a Powerful Expert!”
“Uuuaaah!”
As Chu Hyeongi was dragged away, he stretched his hand toward me.
The gesture seemed to plead for rescue, but while I could not grant him that mercy, I could at least offer encouragement.
I smiled and waved my hand lightly in response.
Moments later, the door slammed shut with a heavy thud.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
As I exhaled softly with that thought, the firmly closed door creaked open once more.
…
“Is there… something you need?”
The one who entered was none other than Chaeseoha.
Her face concealed behind a thin veil, she tilted her head with a puzzled tone. Her round eyes, visible through the gauze, seemed to question why I was staring at her so intently.
Without thinking, I furrowed my brow.
“No, it’s nothing. Rather, what brings you here?”
“I was wondering… could you perhaps procure some medicinal herbs for me?”
“There is a dedicated medicinal herb storage room within Sega. Most herbs should be available there—go check.”
“I already looked, but they don’t have what I need. Some of them are… difficult to obtain easily.”
She approached slowly and handed me a small piece of paper.
It was densely covered with writing.
It was not just one type of herb—there were quite a few listed.
“Why are there so many?”
“They all have their uses. So I was hoping… could I ask you for help, Young Master?”
I examined the paper once more.
The neatly written characters listed numerous medicinal herbs, and among them were rare spiritual herbs exactly as she had mentioned—ones not easily obtained.
While they were not thousand-year lingzhi or such legendary specimens, they were nonetheless items that required considerable coin to acquire.
As I studied the list, I weighed the value of the herbs against the value of Chaeseoha herself.
There was no need to deliberate—her worth far exceeded the cost.
I nodded and tucked the paper into my robe.
“Understood. I shall search for them soon.”
“Thank you. I will work that much harder in return.”
“That would be appreciated.”
Chaeseoha, now seated, spoke with evident excitement. She then noticed the breakfast laid out on the table, and without hesitation, picked up her chopsticks and began eating hurriedly.
…
“Why do you look like that?”
“Ah… I need to visit Father.”
“Go ahead. I’ll eat first.”
Her words came so naturally that I found myself nodding in agreement. It was absurd enough that she moved through my chambers as though they were her own, but now she was even claiming my breakfast.
For some reason, the whole situation felt peculiarly strange.
In my past life, nothing like this ever happened.
I exhaled a long breath and left the room, heading toward Father’s office.
As I pushed open the firmly sealed doors and stepped inside, I saw not only Father but also Baek Ja-hyeon, the Guard Commander.
“You’ve arrived.”
“I heard you summoned me.”
“Yes, I heard you took some time to rest and recover. Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, I’m much improved.”
Father nodded readily.
Despite being the Young Master So who must eventually lead Sega, I had been wandering about without attending to my duties, yet he showed no sign of concern whatsoever.
It seemed he believed that once I became Family Head, I would be so buried in work that a single day wouldn’t suffice, so until then, I might as well enjoy myself freely.
“I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but the Martial Arts Alliance is assembling a subjugation force against the Black Crow Society. Are you aware of this?”
“Yes, I’ve heard of it.”
Father then showed me a document—a proclamation from the Martial Arts Alliance announcing the subjugation of the Black Crow Society.
Moreover, it stated that anyone wishing to participate would be welcomed.
They probably needed expendable pawns.
I smiled at the sight of it.
With this, the perfect setup was complete.
“However, Elder Gu has asked that you and Chu Hyeongi join this subjugation force.”
“Pardon?”
“For the sake of gaining experience, and for exchanging with martial artists of later stages. He says the opportunity is quite favorable. What do you think?”
What do I think?
This was the stage I had set up to accomplish my goal without lifting a finger.
I had no intention whatsoever of stepping into it myself.
Just as I was about to shake my head in refusal.
Father’s mouth opened once more.
“Your participation doesn’t mean you must do anything. Since Changryongdan will be the main force anyway, simply going to observe and learn wouldn’t be a bad idea. Of course, only if you have interest in the martial world.”
At the words I suddenly heard, I swallowed what I was about to say.
After a moment, I looked at Father intently and asked.
“Changryongdan, you mean that…?”
“Yes, the place where Moryeong Hyeok resides—he who is called the greatest martial artist of the later stages. With him there, it seems unlikely that anything catastrophic will occur. And if you wish to take up the sword, building connections would not be a bad thing either.”
Father spoke in a gentle tone, as though it mattered little whether I went or not, but his words barely registered in my ears.
I simply closed my eyes tightly and recalled that person.
Both the image from the past and the youthful appearance I had seen not long ago.
I steadied my heart and controlled my breathing.
I had no desire whatsoever to involve myself in the Black Crow Society’s affairs, yet when I thought of meeting him again, I could not refuse.
I made my decision and nodded.
“I will go.”
Weeds must be trampled before they take root, after all.

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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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