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 54

“What are you saying? That’s not a lie, is it?”
“Indeed. No matter how many times I hear it, I can’t bring myself to believe it.”
Rumors of the Black Crow Society’s suppression spread like wildfire.
Since this was an event that had shaken the recently quiet Martial Arts World, everyone—regardless of who they were—lent their ears to the gossip and exchanged stories.
The Changryongdan had assembled the suppression squad directly, so the eradication of the Black Crow Society was a foregone conclusion, yet an unexpected incident had unfolded.
“Did they say Pyo Hyeong-geom?”
“Yes, that’s what I heard. They say he turned the Changryongdan’s late-stage experts into mush? There was such a powerful expert in the Black Crow Society…”
“That’s not even the main issue. That Moyong Hyeok was absolutely destroyed, they say. Every bone in his body was shattered, or so I heard.”
“Bah, who would believe that? Did you see it yourself? We’re talking about the Moyong Hyeok of the Number One Sword Sect, for heaven’s sake.”
“That’s precisely why there’s such an uproar.”
The figure drawing the most attention was none other than Moyong Hyeok himself—from tales of his crushing defeat at the hands of the mysterious expert called Pyo Hyeong-geom, to the bizarre rumors that his bones had been shattered into fragments.
What lent credence to such rumors was the fact that despite successfully suppressing the Black Crow Society, the Martial Arts Alliance remained silent.
Naturally, this was a situation where the alliance should have announced the merits of this operation and praised the Changryongdan’s achievements, yet such formalities were entirely absent.
The more the Martial Arts Alliance stayed quiet, the more the rumors of the Changryongdan’s devastating losses gained weight and credibility.
“Has the Number One Sword Sect lost its edge? Defeated by mere members of the Black Crow Society…”
“But isn’t this Pyo Hyeong-geom supposed to be an extraordinary master? That must be why.”
“Come now, think about it. How strong could a mere Black Crow operative possibly be? It seems they simply let their guard down and got beaten senseless. Tsk tsk, they’ve brought shame upon the Martial Arts Alliance itself.”
“Tsk, I share the same sentiment. The Moyong Family has truly defiled the honor of the Righteous Martial Arts World, absolutely defiled it.”
“Hahahaha, last time they were disrespected by Young Master So of the Nakhyang Jin Family, and now they’re being toyed with by these Black Crow wretches. How the mighty have fallen.”
People shook their heads and clicked their tongues in disapproval.
The situation this incident had brought about was catastrophic—even those who had previously revered the Moyong Family now felt ashamed.

The Martial Arts Alliance.
Moyong Hyeok’s residence as the leader of Changryongdan.
“….”
Swathed entirely in bandages and reeking of pungent medicinal herbs, Moyong Hyeok lay motionless—incapable of moving even a single finger.
He could only keep his eyes half-open, staring blankly at the figure before him.
Mo Yong-cheon, the current Family Head of the Moyong Family.
Without uttering a word, he sat in silence, observing his son with an expression utterly devoid of emotion—a gaze as cold and indifferent as stone as he beheld his ruined offspring.
He had been watching for hours now.
He neither spoke nor raged.
Nor did he feel pity or sorrow at the sight of his shattered son.
He simply stared, his thoughts unfathomable, his eyes revealing nothing.
The silence finally broke roughly half an hour later.
“You’ve endured much.”
After all that time, he uttered only these few words—and that was all.
Mo Yong-cheon rose from his seat as though his business was concluded, turned his back without so much as a glance, and walked out through the door.
Through his hazy gaze, Moyong Hyeok watched his father depart, and countless emotions flickered across his eyes.
Yet the words caught in his throat, refusing to emerge. He could not even reach out to stop his father.
Creak—Slam!
The door closed, and silence descended once more.
Lying still and staring at the ceiling, his mind churned with a thousand unwelcome thoughts that tormented him.
Pyo Hyeong-geom.
That man’s image haunted his vision.
Rage blazed within him, threatening to consume him entirely, yet the more he dwelled upon it, the more his body trembled and his fists shook with an inexplicable dread.
Fear.
Despite unleashing every weapon at his disposal, that man had crushed him without so much as a blink.
Those cold, merciless eyes burned deeper into Moyong Hyeok’s mind with each passing moment.
Like a man trapped in a bottomless swamp, Moyong Hyeok’s breathing grew increasingly ragged and desperate.

* * *

Chu Hyeongi and I mounted our horses and entered Hannam.
The moment we arrived in the city, we unloaded our belongings at the Unryong Inn, bathed quickly, changed into clean clothes, and only then could we finally eat.
“This is ridiculous—what on earth is happening? Because of all this, my accomplishments have been completely overshadowed!”
Chu Hyeongi glanced out the window while eating his rice.
Countless people had gathered together, whispering among themselves. From the moment we entered Hannam, the same story had been circulating continuously. Without even following along to listen, I could easily infer what the gathered crowds were discussing.
It had to be Moyong Hyeok again.
I smiled.
“Still, we gained experience, which was the original purpose anyway.”
“But even so… do you know how many Black Crow Society thugs I personally defeated? If you had been there to see it, you would have been astounded!”
Chu Hyeongi clenched his fist, his expression brimming with confidence.
Judging by the vigor he displayed, his claims of accomplishment didn’t seem to be lies. In fact, on the return journey to Hannam, the eyes of the Suppression Squad members had changed entirely from when we departed.
Before the suppression, they had regarded him merely as a servant, but now their gazes held the respect one shows a true martial artist.
Though I couldn’t know exactly what he had demonstrated, it was reasonable to assume he had unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks similar to Gu Gunbaek’s tyrannical style.
The interesting fact was that he still hadn’t even learned Gu Gunbaek’s seasonal techniques.
In any case, it was a good development.
I smiled and turned my head slightly.
Beside Chu Hyeongi sat Namgung Baek, staring blankly at the spread of food before him, his chopsticks untouched.
“Won’t you eat?”
“…Forgive me, but am I permitted to eat?”
“I prepared this much for you to eat heartily. Don’t worry—please eat your fill.”
At my words, Namgung Baek’s eyes darted around nervously, surveying his surroundings. Fortunately, the members of the Changryongdan—who had always made him anxious—were nowhere to be seen. He exhaled what seemed like a sigh of relief and nodded.
Just as I thought he would finally eat and moved to pick up my chopsticks again, he began doing something peculiar.
Namgung Baek withdrew a small wooden box from his breast and began carefully packing rice and side dishes into it.
At his cautious movements, both Chu Hyeongi and I, who had just picked up our chopsticks, froze and stared at him.
“Ah—you don’t need to mind. I’m just… packing food to bring to my younger brother.”
“What? Where is your brother that you’re taking food to him?”
“Well… he’s at home.”
“Where is home?”
“Anhui.”
At the mention of Anhui, confusion flickered across Chu Hyeongi’s eyes.
For a moment, he stared at Namgung Baek with a vacant expression, then slowly shook his head.
“Are you mad? If you take it all the way to Anhui, it’ll spoil completely.”
“Ah—”
“What do you mean ‘ah’… good grief… this is hopeless.”
I also nodded seriously in agreement with Chu Hyeongi’s words and offered a bitter smile.
Now I understood why the Changryongdan had always given Namgung Baek disapproving looks whenever he ate. They were sending him a warning not to engage in such embarrassing behavior.
“It seems your younger brother weighs heavily on your mind. If that’s the case, I can send a messenger to have food brought to an inn there.”
“Ah… no, Young Master! Such troublesome effort! It’s fine, truly fine. Haha.”
Namgung Baek waved his hands frantically, refusing adamantly.
Though I hadn’t particularly intended it for him, his refusal made it clear that winning his brother’s affection would have to wait for another time.
Namgung Baek picked up his chopsticks again, swallowing a quiet groan before carefully plucking a piece of meat.
But before he could bring it to his lips, something seemed to occur to him, and he opened his mouth cautiously.
“Well… setting that aside, there’s someone called Pyo Hyeong-geom, isn’t there? Where might I find him?”
“Hmm? You’re looking for that man?”
“Yes, I must find him.”
His words carried an unexpected resolve.
I regarded Namgung Baek with bewilderment at this unforeseen question.
By now, not only the Martial Arts Alliance but even the Moyong Family would be gathering every scrap of information to locate Pyo Hyeong-geom. Beyond that, they were likely torturing the remaining remnants of the Black Crow Society to extract any knowledge of his whereabouts.
The matter was that significant.
Yet I couldn’t fathom why Namgung Baek sought to find Pyo Hyeong-geom.
Was it because of my gaze?
Noticing the question in my eyes, Namgung Baek scratched his head vigorously.
“Well, isn’t he a Powerful Expert so formidable that even the Changryongdan couldn’t defeat him? He must be incredibly strong… I wanted to become his disciple…”
“Pfft!”
“Cough!”
In that instant, Jang Chuchyeong, who had been drinking water, spat it out, and I too found myself choking and coughing.
Sigh…
I exhaled involuntarily and pinched the bridge of my nose.
“You are a direct descendant of the Namgung Family, are you not? Pyo Hyeong-geom is nothing but a criminal.”
“But what does that matter? From what I’ve experienced… in the Murim, strength is all that matters.”
It was certainly a valid point.
Even those branded as enemies of the Murim could not be easily touched if they were strong. Rather, there were many who conducted themselves with courtesy simply to survive.
But he had chosen the wrong master.
I sighed and let out an exasperated laugh.
“Even if you were to find him, it would be wise to refrain. Pyo Hyeong-geom will soon be declared an enemy of the Murim, and not only the Martial Arts Alliance but the Moyong Family as well will pursue him relentlessly.”
“…Is it truly that serious?”
“He is the one who left Moyong Hyeok in such a state. The Moyong Family in particular will hunt down and kill anyone connected to Pyo Hyeong-geom.”
Though they likely won’t find him.
No matter how much information the Gaebang and all other intelligence networks mobilize, it is impossible to find someone who no longer exists in this world.
The Moyong Family has no choice but to waste time and eventually forget.
“However, there is not an entirely hopeless path.”
“Yes? A path, you say?”
“Though not Pyo Hyeong-geom, the Nakhyang Jin Family has several Powerful Experts of considerable skill. Why not train under them?”
“That… you mean?”
“Become a soldier of the Clan. I will arrange quarters for you, and your younger brother may come as well.”
“What?!”
At those words, Namgung Baek’s eyes widened in shock.
Jang Chuchyeong beside him wore the same expression.
The notion of recruiting someone who was neither a member of the Changryongdan nor even from a fallen clan seemed incomprehensible to them.
Yet it was indeed a sound decision.
Namgung Baek’s talent seemed mediocre, but his younger sister was the real deal.
A genius from the Namgung Clan who had lost the Emperor Sword Technique, yet defeated Moyong Hyeok in just fifty moves.
She was the one who had etched the name Namgung Clan back into the minds of the world, so if I could obtain her, this degree of loss would be more than compensated for.
Rather, it was an excessively profitable transaction, wouldn’t you say?
Concealing such intentions, I regarded Namgung Baek.
“In truth, I have few soldiers guarding my residence. I need to fill the positions, but I haven’t found anyone suitable.”
“No, a position like that for me? I’m not particularly strong, you see….”
“I’m not looking to recruit the strongest. I’m looking to recruit someone trustworthy.”
“You believe I’m a trustworthy person?”
“I trust my own judgment.”
At those words, Namgung Baek’s eyes trembled even more visibly.
Because he had been born as the legitimate heir of the Namgung Clan, even when he lived as a wanderer, he was scorned by other wanderers and despised by the members of the Eight Great Families—such was his daily existence.
Only his younger sister had ever truly believed in Namgung Baek, so words like these could not help but carve themselves deeply into his heart.
Moreover, this was the Nakhyang Jin Family.
Considering the monthly stipend he would receive, he could live a far better life than now, escaping from a life where he could not eat, could not bathe, and could not dress properly.
I naturally believed he had no choice but to accept.
So many circumstances were aligned in my favor.
“Ha, haha, is the heavens finally looking after me? Such fortune….”
“Then….”
“But I’m sorry, Young Master. I cannot accept that offer.”
In that moment, my gaze filled with bewilderment.
It was an offer that anyone I stopped on the street would accept—ten out of ten would say yes….
Yet Namgung Baek merely bowed his head in apology.
“Your offer is incredibly tempting, Young Master. But I… that is, I don’t possess the strength to protect you. Without the strength, I don’t wish to cling to your side like a parasite and feed off you.”
“….”
“Wow… this guy actually has his wits about him.”
At Jang Chuchyeong’s words, I nodded silently.
It was something he had spoken without even a moment to think.
From that alone, I could understand what kind of thoughts Namgung Baek harbored as he lived his life.
He sprang up—
In that instant, Namgung Baek rose from his seat.
“I… I’m sorry. That is… it seems you created this meeting because of that offer… but I won’t do it… I’ll take my leave first!”
With a bow, Namgung Baek hurriedly left the room. He departed without even tasting a single morsel of the lavishly prepared food.
I watched with an expression of disbelief.
Since I hadn’t anticipated being rejected at all, to be honest, it was somewhat of a shock.
“That guy has unexpected backbone.”
I nodded at Jang Chuchyeong’s words and turned my gaze away.
Through the window, I could see Namgung Baek, who had already slipped out of the inn, letting his shoulders droop as he sighed, as if with regret.
Laughter escaped me without my realizing it.
His younger sister was undoubtedly comparable to a jewel whose value could not be measured.
And the Namgung Baek I saw now was like a pearl buried in mud, wouldn’t you say?
“A merchant who has recognized the true value of his wares cannot simply walk away.”

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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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