The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 50

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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 50

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The Suppression Squad advanced at a rapid pace toward the Black Crow Society Headquarters. Though the distance was considerable—situated as it was along the border between Shanxi and Hannam—our familiarity with forced marches allowed us to close the gap swiftly.
Whenever we encountered villages, we secured lodging and provisions there; when forced to camp under the stars, we filled our bellies with supplies purchased from settlements along the way.
Despite the grueling pace of our advance, not a single member showed signs of exhaustion, and their complexions remained remarkably vibrant.
This was entirely due to my generosity with coin.
Upon entering each village, I secured the finest inns, ensured quality meals, and whenever the Unryong Inn was available, I arranged for us to use their annexes.
Consequently, morale remained exceptionally high.
As the distance between us and our quarry narrowed, one would expect tension to mount—yet even those outside the Changryongdan showed no such strain.
If anything, they appeared ablaze with martial fervor.
By the fifth day, we reached a critical juncture.
Slightly past noon, Moyong Hyeok, who had been riding ahead, dismounted and pointed toward a village visible in the distance.
Eon Garyeo, standing nearby, withdrew something from his robes to verify it, then nodded toward Moyong Hyeok in confirmation.
Without question, we had nearly reached the Black Crow Society Headquarters.
The location they were observing was a village nestled against a modest mountain.
It appeared to house a considerable population, given its substantial size.
Moyong Hyeok, having confirmed this as well, gestured toward the Changryongdan members, and they began gathering around him one by one.
They appeared to be conferring.
As a brief respite emerged, Jang Chuchyeong, who had been surveying the surroundings, quietly approached me with a question.
“What is a village doing in a place like this? It’s not even on the map.”
“Does that strike you as odd?”
“Of course it does. Is it a newly established settlement?”
Jang Chuchyeong withdrew a map, his expression puzzled.
He traced his fingers across it repeatedly, searching for the village, but while the mountain before us was marked, there was no indication of any settlement.
Which meant someone had created it deliberately.
Much like the Green Forest Headquarters.
I provided Jang Chuchyeong with the answer to his confusion.
“That place is the Black Crow Society Headquarters.”
“What? A village?”
“Village and mountain both—the entire thing.”
His eyes widened in disbelief, and I nodded in confirmation. Though disguised as an ordinary settlement, the entire village serves as the Black Crow Society’s lair.
They have constructed it to appear as though ordinary people inhabit it, and they genuinely conduct commerce with passing travelers—all the while gathering intelligence and identifying wealthy targets for ambush and robbery.
Because it maintains the appearance of an unremarkable village, it avoids arousing suspicion.
Even should incidents occur and authorities investigate, they would pursue the perpetrators themselves rather than suspect the entire village of collusion.
“So the entire village is essentially a den of criminals.”
“Precisely. So when we enter, exercise extreme caution. Even a frail, powerless elder might conceal a dagger in their robes.”
“Gasp!”
At those words, Jang Chuchyeong swallowed hard, his eyes questioning whether I truly meant what I said.
It was not merely those wielding blades who posed a threat.
One could not afford to lower their guard around them, much like a wailing child.
From what I had heard of the past, members of the Suppression Squad had fallen to the blades of both children and elderly men.
The old men had lived such lives since their youth, and the children had learned and practiced crime from the moment they gained awareness—such things were entirely possible.
As I was contemplating this, Moryeong Hyeok’s voice rang out from among the gathered Changryongdan members.
“I shall lead the Changryongdan into the mountains. It would be best for you to take the Suppression Squad and enter the village. After all, they’ll flee toward the mountains, so we can regroup there.”
“We’re not going together?”
“We need to seal off both front and rear to conduct a thorough sweep, don’t we?”
Paeng Dohan’s expression showed clear reluctance.
It was obvious that the Guild Leader of the Black Crow Society would be in the mountains.
Moryeong Hyeok seemed to know this, yet he appeared to have no particular objection, merely nodding his head.
“There’s no helping it. Don’t get yourself killed.”
“Ha, who are you saying that to?”
At the playful remark, Moryeong Hyeok broke into laughter.
He gave Paeng Dohan’s shoulder a light tap, then turned his head as if searching for someone, surveying the surroundings before his gaze met mine, and he slowly approached.
“Thanks to you, Young Master, we’ve arrived comfortably. But from now on, the real fighting begins. What will you do? If you intend to come along, I can assign you to Dohan’s group….”
His offer to place me beside Paeng Dohan was essentially a way of keeping me from approaching where the Guild Leader of the Black Crow Society would be. Though it was merely the Black Crow Society, his determination not to share the credit felt unmistakably firm.
I barely suppressed a bitter smile from escaping and shook my head.
“I’m fine. This place looks safe enough, so I’ll build a campfire and wait here. Instead… would you take this fellow with you?”
“You mean your servant?”
“Despite appearances, he’s quite capable. I brought him along to gain experience, so I’d appreciate it if you could take him.”
At my words, Moryeong Hyeok’s gaze turned toward Jang Chuchyeong.
It was none other than the piercing gaze of the Young Master of the So Family, the Greatest Martial Family Under Heaven.
Knowing well the weight of that stare, he trembled slightly when our eyes met.
But soon, as if refusing to yield, he fixed an unwavering gaze upon Moryeong Hyeok.
Did such spirit amuse him?
A faint smirk played at Moryeong Hyeok’s lips, but he quickly composed himself and gave a small nod.
“Understood. But are you certain? Alone, Young Master….”
“Isn’t this Geom Ryong’s task anyway? It should be over quickly, so there’s nothing to worry about. If it truly seems dangerous… I’ll just ride off on my horse. As you know, my steed fears nothing and is quite swift.”
At those words, Moryeong Hyeok suppressed a groan.
He seemed unable to decide whether to leave me or not, but soon he looked at me once more as if to confirm my words, then sighed.
He then turned his head and looked toward one of the Suppression Squad members.
A man whose unkempt hair obscured his face. Whether from lack of proper sustenance or some other cause, his body was remarkably gaunt, and even the complexion visible between the strands of hair was pallid.
And what of his clothing?
Patched and layered so many times, he wore what looked like rags that even a Gaebang beggar would discard.
Moryeong Hyeok addressed him with an indifferent tone.
“You shall remain here and protect the Young Master.”
“…Me, sir?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Ah, no. It’s fine. I’ll… do it.”
The man spoke with a hint of reluctance as he approached my side. It was an order from the Suppression Squad commander, after all—he couldn’t refuse.
At the same time, snickering sounds erupted from various corners.
None other than the mocking laughter of the Changryongdan members.
The moment I furrowed my brow at this incomprehensible situation, Moyong Hyeok confirmed the man crouching down and turned his gaze back to me.
He seemed about to say something, but given the circumstances, he held his tongue and turned his back without speaking.
I watched his retreating figure with a slight smile playing at my lips.
During the five days it took to reach this place, Moyong Hyeok had made considerable effort to extract information about the Nakhyang Jin Family. Each time, someone had interfered, and I had naturally redirected the conversation to avoid him.
Since he’d learned nothing so far, he must be quite frustrated.
He would likely try to pry further once this matter was concluded.
Watching his figure gradually recede, I too settled onto the ground. Then Jang Chuchyeong, who had been observing the situation from beside me, approached.
“Young Master, am I really the only one going?”
“Go ahead. I’ll be resting here. And the provisions?”
“Of course they’re tied to the horse. Ah, leaving our Young Master alone like this feels rather… awkward.”
“There’s no need to worry.”
“…Understood! Then please stay right here! I’ll bring great honor to the Nakhyang Jin Family!”
Jang Chuchyeong nodded readily and headed toward where Paeng Dohan was. From the way he stretched and loosened his body, it was clear he intended to thoroughly vent the grievances he’d suffered at Gu Gunbaek’s hands through this opportunity.
Without doubt, Jang Chuchyeong would make a name for himself through this fight.
I was certain of it.
“We shall begin!”
Soon, with Moyong Hyeok’s cry, they moved into action.
I turned my head, watching the Suppression Squad scatter into two groups in an instant.
Only then did the unnamed man come into view.
Somewhere he’d gathered twigs and was starting a fire. Evidently accustomed to such tasks, he quickly ignited it and began roasting some food he’d apparently scavenged from somewhere.
It seemed he was quite hungry.
Yet his expression showed more regret at not being able to join than concern over his empty stomach.
I spoke to him as I observed this.
“Why not join them even now?”
“Pardon? Ah— no… it’s fine. Protecting you is also a duty, is it not?”
“I believe I’m capable of protecting myself…”
“Haha… is that so?”
The man didn’t seem to believe my words at all, letting them go in one ear and out the other. He then brought a perfectly browned mushroom to his lips.
From the way he chewed it down, he must have been quite famished.
Now that I thought about it, there were times at inns or during rough camping when he’d quickly finished the food before him and asked for more, only to shake his head despite my offering—as if he were watching someone’s expression.
As if he were being cautious of someone’s gaze.
I regarded the man with a peculiar expression.
Did he sense my stare?
The man glanced at me and broke into a sheepish smile.
“Really, there’s no need for me to go. It’s a shame, but I’ll still receive payment even without participating in the suppression. Two silver coins, wasn’t it? What’s the loss in that?”
The moment I heard those words, I understood.
This man did not join the Suppression Squad out of any sense of justice or desire for fame. By participating, he could earn two silver coins, and in the process of eliminating the Black Crow Society, he could line his pockets quite handsomely with various opportunities.
After all, they were a criminal organization, so the treasures they had hidden away must be considerable.
That was undoubtedly what he was after.
Without realizing it, I wore an expression of utter exasperation.
“Please don’t make that face. After all, the wealthy never understand the hearts of the poor. Young Master, you’ve never gone hungry, have you?”
At that question, I recalled the past.
I have.
Severely.
There were times when Jang Chuchyeong and I clutched our aching bellies and filled our stomachs with water, times when I chewed and swallowed larvae, times when I ate earthworms.
I hastily shook off the unnecessary memory.
After all, based on my current circumstances, such things no longer exist.
“That is correct.”
“I have experienced it. And it’s still ongoing. My family has been ruined since my birth—I have nothing, and with both my parents passing away early, I struggle to support myself and my younger sibling alone. There’s no room to be choosy about what I do.”
“To that extent?”
“Yes. When I help with odd jobs and barely earn enough to buy two dumplings, I eat only half and put the rest in my younger sibling’s mouth. Do you understand how dire it is?”
Once the man’s words began to flow, they showed no sign of stopping. He started elaborating at length about how difficult and harsh his childhood had been and how hard his present circumstances were. The more I listened, the more I thought his situation surpassed even my own past.
I couldn’t help but wear a bitter smile.
I had no idea when this would end.
As I sat listening to the man’s words in silence with such thoughts, he let out a long groan and gazed up at the sky.
“Damn this family! Damn this life! Father said if I worked hard, things would get better soon—! I worked hard! I worked harder than anyone! Yet I’m still hungry! Still cold! Still mending clothes with holes in them! Still poor and disrespected, damn it all!”
The man cried out as if cursing the heavens themselves.
It was as though he was pouring out all the resentment festering inside him.
In that moment, as I let his words pass through one ear and out the other.
A name I could not ignore pierced through.
“When will Namgung Baek’s life finally unfold—!”
The moment I heard the name Namgung Baek, I turned my head toward the man without thinking.
A name I could never let slip past.
Namgung.
Five years from now, at the martial arts tournament held by the Martial Arts Alliance, it was the place where he would defeat Moryeong Hyeok with merely fifty moves and announce the brilliant resurrection of the Greatest Martial Family Under Heaven after two hundred years.
Of course, that would be his younger sibling, not Namgung Baek himself.
In any case, from an unexpected place, fortune had rolled in like a pumpkin on a vine.

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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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