The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 48

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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 109

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“Hah, hah….”
Jin Ji-yak, the third child of the Nakhyang Jin Family, caught her breath as she surveyed her surroundings.
The condition of those around her was dire.
None of them had anticipated such an ambush, so they had been unable to mount a proper defense and had suffered for it.
Moreover, the enemy’s strength was beyond expectations.
These were elite warriors gathered from within the Sega, yet they were utterly helpless against opponents of such formidable capability.
“It’s not the Hyang-un Sega.”
“There are mixed forces, but… these are undoubtedly warriors from the Sadocheon.”
As she deduced the identity of those pursuing them, she furrowed her brow.
True to their nature as Sadocheon warriors, their methods were brutally cruel.
Had she not regained her senses quickly, it was clear that most of them would have perished.
Or was that not the case?
Jin Ji-yak examined the wounded once more.
There was not a single person with critical injuries.
That meant they had shown restraint.
Otherwise, countless heads would have rolled the moment the ambush began.
Furthermore, she herself bore not a single wound.
If that was true, then their objective was capture.
“Could they be intending to… negotiate?”
“Sigh— It certainly appears so. Haven’t you already heard about what happened in Beijing?”
“Yes. That fool certainly caused quite the commotion there.”
Jin Ji-yak nodded and offered a bitter smile.
If it were him, he would have anticipated that the Hyang-un Sega would make their move the moment the Beijing affair concluded.
Then at the very least, he should have sent word.
She clenched her fists, trembling with frustration.
Had he warned her, they would never have come this way. Or perhaps they could have arranged for stronger guards in the larger towns.
“Sigh— This damned younger brother….”
“Haha, still… if you had known, you would have prepared your next move. We are not worried.”
“The immediate problem is what matters. They intend to capture us and gain leverage in negotiations. We cannot become a burden to the Sega.”
Jin Ji-yak suppressed a groan and racked her mind.
She had to escape this place and return by any means necessary.
If they were held as hostages and forced into disadvantageous negotiations, it would undoubtedly become a lasting disgrace for the Nakhyang Jin Family.
As these thoughts consumed her, Jin Ji-yak’s brow furrowed deeper.
No matter how hard she thought, there was nothing she could do.
Escape was numerically impossible, and the enemy’s martial prowess was so overwhelming that it completely dominated their own.
Their pursuit is equally swift.
Even in this moment while I catch my breath, they continue closing in rapidly from behind.
So, must I grit my teeth and make a stand after all?
As that thought crossed her mind, she shook her head firmly.
“Go. Leave now.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll stay behind. Take the servants and escape.”
“No, Miss!”
“After all, I’m the one they truly want, and they won’t harm me. Look—I’m the only one here without a scratch.”
Jin Ji-yak spread both arms wide.
Indeed, unlike the others who bore wounds, not a single thread of her garment showed the mark of a blade.
This was clear proof that they intended to capture her unharmed.
“So please, go now. Your presence will only make things harder for me.”
“Ugh…”
Faced with her resolute words, they all fell silent.
Protecting her was their duty as Imperial Guards, yet there was nothing they could do in this moment. As Jin Ji-yak said, they would only be a hindrance.
Did she sense their hesitation?
Jin Ji-yak smiled softly and began walking.
Toward where the pursuers were.
“Go rest, receive treatment, and eat something delicious. When I return, we’ll soon be back to our arduous duties anyway.”
She accepted the situation without concern, waved her hand lightly, then turned and gradually disappeared from view.
No one there could move.
They could only stare blankly at Jin Ji-yak’s departing figure.

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“Ugh—! Ugh, ugghhh!”
“Really, this is utterly ridiculous….”
“….”
Inside the carriage rapidly departing from Nakhyang, two voices continued to express their exasperation without end.
Even Namgung Yeon, who hadn’t uttered a single word, was looking at me with a gaze so sharp it was no illusion.
A torrent of criticism was pouring down.
From Hannam to Beijing, from Beijing to Anhui once more.
We had barely arrived in Nakhyang from Anhui just hours ago.
Yet here we were, boarding a carriage again and heading somewhere, which was no different from throwing cold water on those who had resolved to rest.
As a result, even Baek Ja-hyeon sitting beside me had closed his mouth.
His spirit had been dampened by the barrage of piercing glares.
Then, he quietly leaned his face toward me and whispered.
“Can I get off here?”
“If you wish to return, you may. However, I’m uncertain what Father would say….”
“This is completely unbearable, isn’t it?”
“Bear with it. I’m also restraining my desire to rest and continuing on, am I not?”
Baek Ja-hyeon swallowed his groan and leaned his back against the wall.
He exhaled a long sigh, then rolled his eyes about, gauging Chaeseoha’s mood more carefully than anyone else’s.
Jang Chuchyeong and Namgung Yeon were one thing, but he seemed unwilling to offend the physician whom even the Family Head had praised for her medical skills.
“Young Master, haven’t I told you repeatedly? You need to rest. You’re walking around perfectly fine now, so it seems like you’ve fully recovered, doesn’t it?”
“I know I’m not well. However, there are unavoidable circumstances….”
“Is there no one else in the Nakhyang Jin Family besides you? They pay good money to handle these matters—why isn’t anyone stepping up?”
Chaeseoha glared at Baek Ja-hyeon with a sharp look.
The startled Baek Ja-hyeon swallowed his cough and quietly turned his head away.
A fierce gaze and expression.
With such an intimidating presence, even Baek Ja-hyeon couldn’t face her directly.
And with that appearance of hers.
If he made proper eye contact, he seemed like he would stare endlessly, so he was making every effort not to look at her face.
I clicked my tongue and turned my head away.
I searched for someone who might help, but Jang Chuchyeong nodded in agreement with Chaeseoha’s words, while Namgung Yeon avoided eye contact as if unwilling to get involved.
Gu Gunbaek hadn’t come along, so it was pointless.
In the end, I would have to navigate this predicament on my own.
“Nothing troublesome will occur, so don’t be angry. After all, it’s my sister’s matter—I cannot simply lie in bed because my health isn’t good, can I?”
“The Family Head is there, the Family Matriarch is there, and your elder brother is there too. And the Ten Great Marquises, the Marquis…and….”
Chaeseoha trailed off and looked at Baek Ja-hyeon once more.
There was no trust in her gaze toward him.
All I ever saw was him drinking with Gu Gunbaek, so no matter how much he was called the strongest of the Nakhyang Jin Family, how could that easily resonate with her?
“Ahem! Physician Chae, don’t look at me with such eyes. And since I’m going, there’s no need for the Young Master to step forward. In fact, I, Baek Ja-hyeon, will take the lead and resolve everything.”
“As if that would happen.”
“Cough, cough—!”
Chaeseoha opened her eyes halfway and let out a sigh.
Her lack of trust in Baek Ja-hyeon was laid bare for all to see.
I turned my head away with a bitter smile.
My eyes met those of Jang Chuchyeong, who had been listening quietly to the conversation.
“Um… Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“Is that Hyang-un Sega really so formidable?”
“Well… being one of the Ten Great Merchant Guilds, I suppose we’d have to call them formidable.”
They weren’t formidable simply because they possessed vast wealth.
Connections.
The Nakhyang Jin Family boasted considerable connections as well, but we maintained some distance from martial artists and high officials, whereas Hyang-un Sega had deeply entangled itself in various interests.
Not only the Sadocheon, known as the core of the heterodox sects, but also the families and sects of orthodox factions that could serve their interests.
Because of this, I was aware that if the Nakhyang Jin Family were to seize the imperial business rights, a collision would be inevitable.
Sadocheon would certainly step forward.
The Murim Alliance was based in Hannam, the same region as the Nakhyang Jin Family, and we had some degree of exchange, whereas Sadocheon kept its distance and had far less significant interaction.
Considering the weight of their name, it wouldn’t be a situation we could easily provoke, but given their relationship with Hyang-un Sega, they would have judged they had no choice but to intervene.
“Hyang-un Sega isn’t the problem. Sadocheon is.”
“Would they really draw their blades against us?”
“They’ll draw them. Whether they’ll swing them, I can’t say for certain.”
Jang Chuchyeong let out a startled sound.
Whether they were martial artists or not, people constantly heard the names of the Murim Alliance, the Demonic Cult, and Sadocheon.
Since everyone knew the prestige and power these three possessed, one couldn’t help but feel tension.
Sure enough, not only Jang Chuchyeong but Namgung Yeon as well seemed to be carefully steadying their breathing from nervousness.
However, it was Jang Chuchyeong who first composed himself.
As if recalling that day’s events, he revealed resolute eyes and looked straight at me, clenching his fists.
“Don’t worry about anything! I, Chu Hyeongi, will definitely protect you, Young Master!”
“That’s truly appreciated.”
“Hehe- no need to thank me. Protecting you is my duty, after all.”
Whether he still held the events of Anwhui in his heart, his eyes gleamed fiercely even as he smiled.
During the journey from Anwhui to Nakhyang, he underwent intense training so rigorous that one would naturally say it was excessive, yet unlike before, he never complained even once.
That much was proof that his resolve had become genuine.
Just as I was sending him an approving look with a small smile on my lips, I felt Baek Ja-hyeon beside me tapping my shoulder.
I turned my head slightly, and he suddenly spoke up.
“Young Master So, that fellow’s eyes aren’t like they used to be?”
“He received training from the elder. It’s only natural that he’s different from before.”
“That… the elder’s…”
Baek Ja-hyeon looked at Jang Chuchyeong with eyes full of interest.
He already knew well who Gu Gunbaek was.
But when we were still at the family estate, Jang Chuchyeong’s eyes and bearing weren’t like this, so I had mostly assumed Gu Gunbaek was teaching him as a pastime.
Recalling Gu Gunbaek’s lighthearted nature, such suspicion was understandable.
But things are different now.
As a pure martial artist, Baek Ja-hyeon felt it.
I could see him swallowing a groan, his mind working through something.
Was he feeling curiosity as a martial artist?
I alternated my gaze between Baek Ja-hyeon and Jang Chuchyeong.
Baek Ja-hyeon, now consumed by curiosity, seemed unable to easily suggest a sparring match from his current position, while Jang Chuchyeong remained as thoughtless as always.
As if he never expected such a thing to happen in the first place.
I let out a soft chuckle and opened my mouth.
“Would you like to see for yourself?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Chu Hyeongi’s skill. Isn’t that what you want to see?”
“Me… Me?!”
Jang Chuchyeong cried out in surprise at the sudden suggestion.
It was clearly something he hadn’t anticipated.
But Baek Ja-hyeon would definitely want to see it.
Not the Demon King himself, but an opportunity to witness his martial prowess was rare indeed.
Moreover, unlike Gu Gunbaek, whose power was so overwhelming it touched the heavens—where a single punch or kick would send you flying—this was different.
I saw Baek Ja-hyeon nod after a moment of consideration.
Unexpectedly, I had gained a good opportunity to confirm just how much Jang Chuchyeong’s skills had improved.
With Baek Ja-hyeon as his opponent, it couldn’t be better.
I let out a soft chuckle and opened my mouth.
“Stop the carriage.”

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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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