The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 54

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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 115

Cheon Yul’s eyes trembled as he stared at me.
He swallowed hard, steadied his breathing, and composed himself before slowly retreating backward, creating distance between us.
He had changed.
This man had no intention of giving up.
Despite witnessing my overwhelming superiority, he showed no signs of discouragement whatsoever.
Unlike his initial dismissal of me, his eyes now gleamed with excitement as he bared his teeth in a grin.
Was he insane?
Whirr—
The moment he created distance, he swung his saber this way and that, as if testing something, then turned his gaze back toward me and stared with piercing intensity.
A deep smile played at the corners of his mouth.
“Haha! You’re an interesting one!”
“You say that after losing?”
“Hahaha! The moment you hit a wall is when you should feel the most alive. Because when you break through it, you realize you’ve become stronger.”
Cheon Yul spoke those words and burst into hearty laughter.
Yes, it was like watching someone who had gone mad for martial arts. In his eyes now burned only the will to grow stronger.
I furrowed my brow.
In the next instant, Cheon Yul’s form vanished.
Clang—!
He had closed the distance and now stood before me, wielding his saber with eager determination.
When blade and saber met, they didn’t bounce apart but locked together, each of us straining to overpower the other.
The sensation was distinctly different from before.
As if committing himself fully, his force came crashing down with even greater intensity than moments prior.
I furrowed my brow and glanced sideways at Cheon Gong-hak.
He was still watching with a smile on his face.
Yet his gaze was not upon me, but fixed on Cheon Yul, who had now lost twice, and he seemed to be savoring the sight of his all-out effort.
“I didn’t come here to be your stepping stone.”
“You too shall become nourishment for my growth.”
“I said I don’t like that.”
Thud—!
“Ugh!”
I drove my knee upward into his abdomen and struck his brow with the pommel of my sword.
It was an impact that should have sent him sprawling into unconsciousness, yet Cheon Yul somehow maintained his balance and quickly recovered his senses.
This man possessed extraordinary mental fortitude.
Normally, someone would have collapsed with a groan and been unable to rise.
Then.
Whoosh—!
He swiftly swung his saber, seeking an opening.
However, unfortunately, it posed no great threat.
I deflected the blade lightly and instead stepped forward, sweeping my sword in a wide arc.
Slice—!
“Grraaah!”
Though not a deep wound, I had cut across his chest.
It was a demonstration that I could kill him whenever I wished.
Yet.
The creature, showing no sign of surrender despite the bleeding gash across his chest, gritted his teeth and unleashed another strike.
Whoosh—!
A chillingly rough wind sound cut through the air.
Realizing the terrifying force contained within it, I subtly shifted my stance and moved my body.
Crash—!
Watching the massive stone pillar splinter and crumble in an instant, I understood that had I stood my ground, the impact would have been devastating.
I furrowed my brow and regarded Cheon Yul.
He bared his teeth and laughed once more.
It was evident—he was savoring this moment, intent on using me as a stepping stone to climb to greater heights.
Now I understood why Cheon Gong-hak had made such a proposal.
First, if he pitted Cheon Yul against me, my victory was inevitable.
Thus, by defeating Cheon Yul, he would create the justification that I had stopped Sa Do-cheon, who was borrowing the Hyangun Se Family’s power.
Second was Cheon Yul himself.
Though he spoke of breaking his pride and such, Cheon Gong-hak felt he needed a stronger stimulus.
With my arrival, he likely deemed it perfect.
Well then.
If that’s the case, I should gain something from this as well.
Clang clang clang clang—!
I parried the relentless barrage of Cheon Yul’s blade techniques while calmly analyzing everything.
His footwork, his movements, his stance as he wielded the blade.
And the form of each technique he unleashed.
I missed nothing, committing it all to memory, and my heightened senses caught even the subtle flow of energy with each swing.
Unlike before when he was overwhelmed instantly, as Cheon Yul’s offense intensified and we continued our exchange, the Sa Do-cheon observers began cheering and shouting encouragement.
“Magnificent—!”
“Unparalleled blade techniques indeed, haha!”
It seemed they believed I had been careless in the first and second exchanges, and now they were confident I would fall.
I let their voices pass through one ear and glanced sideways.
I could see Cheon Gong-hak.
His expression had grown rigid, and he was watching me intently.
Had he realized I was stealing his martial techniques?
Or was he merely suspicious?
Either way, it was not favorable.
I had seen enough; it was time to end this.
I drew upon my momentum, channeling my power to its peak.
I infused the hazy moonlight into my blade.
And then….
The radiance of the full moon cascaded down, engulfing Cheon Yul in an instant.
Screeeech—!
“Krraaaagh!”
“Young Master Cheon—!”

* * *

“So, how is Yul doing?”
“Fortunately, the blade missed the vital points, so it’s not critical. If we treat the internal injuries properly, he should be able to move normally within ten days.”
Upon hearing the physician’s words, Cheon Gong-hak let out a snort of derision.
The blade missed the vital points?
That was a lie.
He had deliberately made it miss.
Because he had seen the blade twist at the final moment.
“Quite impressive.”
He had perfectly assessed the level of skill and orchestrated this entire situation.
He had judged that it would serve as excellent stimulus for Cheon Yul and push him to grow further.
However, there was one miscalculation.
That man’s level was not merely what he could perceive.
The control of inner energy, the footwork that advanced appropriately with each step according to circumstances, the acuity to see through an opponent’s martial techniques with his eyes, and the seasoned expertise to alter his sword path in a single instant.
Moreover, he extracted maximum efficiency from minimal movements.
All of this was only possible through painstakingly learning martial arts from childhood, accumulating countless experiences and battles.
Yet Jin Cheon-u had accomplished it.
As if he had lived through countless battlefields.
How was this possible?
Reviewing every scene from the beginning, his movements were unimaginable for anyone of his age.
Who on earth had created such a monster?
Cheon Gong-hak could not help but wonder.
Moreover, the gaze and expression with which that man had observed Cheon Yul’s martial techniques.
It was as if….
Whoosh—
Cheon Gong-hak rose calmly from his seat and left Cheon Yul’s quarters.
He walked leisurely toward the guest rooms.
The people he saw here and there were all whispering in hushed voices.
They were undoubtedly discussing Cheon Yul.
A bitter smile crossed his face without his realizing it.
He had told him to humble his pride, but he never imagined he would actually keep his word against the Young Master Cheon himself, here within Sadocheon.
I sensed he was audacious, but to this extent?
Cheon Gong-hak, recalling Jin Cheon-u, let out an incredulous laugh and stood before the room where Jin Cheon-u was staying.
“Are you there?”

* * *

The guest quarters within Sadocheon.
Entering that space, I sat quietly and recalled Cheon Yul’s martial technique.
Truly, it was formidable and intricate.
Its level was comparable to the martial techniques of the Hebei Peng Family, and Cheon Yul’s movements wielding and pressuring with it were equally impressive.
I committed each of these to memory, turning them over in my mind.
Though he is called the Young Master So, his martial technique is unmistakably the martial arts of the Sword Emperor Cheon Gong-hak.
It would only be beneficial, never harmful.
I traced Cheon Yul’s movements and the pathways of the unleashed techniques without omission, layering my own martial prowess upon them.
I trimmed away unnecessary portions from the emerging sword forms and repeatedly added new elements, gradually constructing one technique after another.
Just as one complete move was nearing completion.
“Are you there?”
Cheon Gong-hak’s voice sounded as the door opened.
I hastily gathered my wits and calmed my mind.
I rose quietly from my seat and offered a respectful bow, whereupon Cheon Gong-hak grinned widely and gestured.
“Sit. Why are you standing as if something remarkable has arrived?”
“If the Sword Emperor is not remarkable, then who could be?”
“Tch, merely superior skill at taking lives. That’s hardly the same as doing something for others like you lot, is it?”
At Cheon Gong-hak’s words, my expression grew awkward.
I didn’t know what to say, yet found myself nodding in agreement.
Unable to utter any response, I quietly took my seat, and only then did Cheon Gong-hak regard me with a thoroughly relaxed expression.
“I knew he was remarkable, but it exceeded imagination. I never thought Yul would fall so utterly.”
“You are too kind. The Young Master So must have been looking after me.”
“Tch, I know that’s not true. Moreover, you held back considerably, didn’t you?”
“….”
“When Yul wakes, there will be quite a commotion. Hehehehe, just thinking about it is amusing. In any case, thanks to this, I feel like I might regain some clarity.”
“Are you not upset that matters did not unfold as you anticipated?”
“Anticipated? Ah— well, I suppose so, but what can be done? I never imagined the gap would be this wide.”
Cheon Gong-hak waved his hand dismissively and laughed. It seemed somewhat odd that he appeared unbothered despite his successor, the Young Master So, being utterly defeated.
Considering the momentum of the Sword Emperor I had felt after Moyong Hyeok reached that state, it was all the more strange.
Then again, was the situation different?
After all, Moyong Hyeok had his entire skeleton shattered.
“Then, as promised, we shall withdraw from the Hyangun Se Family’s affairs. Do as you see fit.”
“Thank you. I too, as promised, shall handle the Imperial Palace’s business….”
“Ah— discuss such matters with the Gwanbaek. I absorb talk of killing people readily enough, but such discussions make my head spin entirely.”
Cheon Gong-hak shook his head with an air of indifference.
He realized there was no point in continuing the conversation.
This man’s interests lay in entirely different directions.
I found myself chuckling softly and nodding in agreement.
Then.
Cheon Gong-hak exhaled a long sigh, leaning back against his chair as he glanced at me with a peculiar expression.
His piercing gaze was remarkably enigmatic.
It wasn’t the look one gives to someone they dislike, nor did it seem welcoming, yet there was something oddly familiar about the way he regarded me.
I met his eyes, my confusion evident.
Only then did Cheon Gong-hak’s voice reach my ears.
“Would you have no interest in coming to Sadocheon? Work under me for a time, receive some training….”
“I must respectfully decline.”
“As expected? Even someone like me would find the Young Master of the Jin Family more tempting. Tsk.”
Cheon Gong-hak clicked his tongue with genuine regret.
It seemed he had intended to keep me at his side as a tool to continually provoke Cheon Yul, and later perhaps grant me a position as his second-in-command.
While receiving instruction from such a master held some appeal, I already had someone of his caliber remaining in Nakhyang, making it meaningless.
I rose from my seat with proper courtesy.
I had already obtained what I sought.
Though unexpected developments had occurred, it seemed Cheon Gong-hak’s mood remained unaffected, so there was little reason for concern.
Just as I turned to leave.
Cheon Gong-hak’s gaze naturally followed me.
“But tell me, you there.”
“Is there something you wish to ask?”
“Indeed there is. Any martial artist would be curious about this.”
I swallowed hard beneath his penetrating stare.
A sinister thought crossed my mind—perhaps he was only now bringing up my attempt to steal Cheon Yul’s martial techniques.
To a martial artist, martial prowess is a treasure beyond all ages.
Attempting to steal it was a transgression worthy of death.
As I swallowed, waiting for Cheon Gong-hak to speak.
An unexpected question came instead.
“What is your relationship with Gwanbaek?”
At the sudden mention of that name, my blood ran cold.

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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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