The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 63

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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 124

I hurried back home and sat upon my bed, lost in contemplation.
The being I had encountered a day before the incident unfolded at Mount Taeah.
If I considered the information that Hao Wen had brought, then the old man who had spoken to me was none other than Geomcheon Muheo—the Gwanbaek himself.
I furrowed my brow as I dredged up memories I had deliberately buried.
That day it was.
From the moment I met him, everything began to spiral in strange directions.
A location that should have remained hidden was exposed, and despite my ability to break through, I could not—ultimately meeting my end in death.
“What in the world…”
Could he truly be the Gwanbaek?
If so, what reason did the Gwanbaek have for approaching me?
And why would he have spoken such words?
I vividly recalled his expression and the light in his eyes at that moment.
A pallid complexion devoid of blood, as though death could claim him at any moment.
His frame trembled so violently that even movement seemed to demand great effort.
Not a trace of inner energy could be felt from him—so much so that the title “Geomcheon” seemed unbelievable—and his abundant white hair and skeletal frame were unmistakably those of one whose days were numbered.
Yet his eyes and expression as he regarded me were different.
The exhilaration and anticipation of having found a final lifeline.
That emotion, so distinctly apparent, was something I had not considered at the time, but now, reflecting upon it, I could be certain of one thing.
“He knew that I would return.”
Yes, there was no other way he could have worn such an expression.
Connected naturally to this thought was the realization that by my return, perhaps the Gwanbaek too had become the Gwanbaek of the past.
What if the Gwanbaek knew of a method by which he, like me, could return with memories of the future?
Though his body was gravely damaged by his injuries, there remained the possibility that he had devised a way to resolve it.
For I had done the same.
Knowing the future granted such advantages.
“How unsettling.”
My unease was undeniable, yet I could not accept such speculation as truth.
After all, until now, I had never encountered others who possessed memories of the future.
If such a thing were possible, then those of the Divine Sect or the one called the Divine should also be capable of it, meaning all my actions thus far would have been seen through instantly, and I would already be dead.
Therefore, I set this matter aside for now.
Yet I did not lower my guard, embedding it firmly in my mind.
I calmed myself and reviewed the information once more.
What needed to be retained was not merely what I had just contemplated.
The Gwanbaek’s nature, the words he typically spoke, and the manner of his speech as well.
Though not exhaustive, I committed to memory all that I could recall, and then burned the letters that held no further use, reducing them to ash.
Only then did I steady my breathing and lean back against my chair.
“Nothing is easy, yet ease exists in all things.”
Ever since I returned to the past and opened my eyes, I’ve been running without pause.
Though this should be a moment where I finally find some peace, everything around me continues to shake and torment me from all directions.
At this point, I might as well wonder if I’ve been cursed.
I clicked my tongue lightly and rose from my seat.
Nothing is easy, and there’s no time to rest.
Leaving my room, I headed toward none other than my father’s study.
“Father, it’s Cheonwoo. May I come in?”
“Yes, come in.”
Click—
The moment I heard my father’s voice, I opened the door without hesitation and stepped inside.
As always, my father sat at his desk attending to his duties, but unlike before, he showed almost no signs of strain.
Even the stack of documents that had been piled high was now nearly gone.
I laughed at the sight of it.
“Have you delegated your work to my older brother and sister?”
“Delegated? That’s not quite the right word. I took on the work they should be doing, so I simply distributed more of my own work to them.”
My father wore a satisfied expression, a smile playing at his lips. I imagined that once he finished the remaining work, he would spend his days leisurely strolling and enjoying wine.
It seemed he had recently made that his greatest pleasure.
“So, what brings you here? Are you planning to go somewhere again?”
“I’m thinking of going to Namman.”
“What?!”
His bewilderment at my sudden words was evident.
Namman was located beyond the Shingang, nowhere else.
Going to that place beyond the edge of the Central Plains, which would take considerable time, was naturally shocking to my father.
His gaze, which had been fixed on me, soon furrowed.
But then he seemed to ponder something, letting out a thoughtful hum before gently nodding his head.
I was the one surprised by his reaction.
I hadn’t expected him to accept it so readily.
“You’re not going to stop me?”
“You’re forging your own path, so why would I stop you? You must have a reason to go there, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Then go and return safely. I have no intention of interfering in your affairs.”
My father, with a smile at the corners of his mouth, seemed unbothered. Soon after, he pulled out a money pouch from his desk and tossed it to me. The moment I caught it, its weight was remarkable.
For a moment, I looked at my father with a strange expression.
“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s a long journey, so you’ll need plenty of money. If it’s not enough, stop by the treasury and fill up.”
“Thank you. But aren’t you worried? It’s quite far, after all.”
“Well, I’ve lived worrying about you, my youngest whom I’ve cherished so dearly, but I won’t worry about you anymore.”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t it laughable to worry about someone who beats the strongest masters of the Sega without a single scratch?”
At those words, I let out an embarrassed laugh.
Now I finally understood why my father had worn such an astonished expression when he visited the training grounds that day.
I bowed my head lightly.
“Yes, there is no need for concern.”
“Haha, good. I believe you will grow far greater for the sake of our family and the Sega.”
“I will do my best.”
I lowered my head respectfully and turned to leave.
With permission granted, it was time to begin earnest preparations for my journey to Namman.
But then, Father’s voice suddenly reached my ears.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
“Is there something else you wish to tell me?”
“There is quite a significant escort mission this time.”
“I see. I am confident it will be handled well.”
I nodded, offering silent prayers for success.
If Father spoke of a significant escort mission, it would surely require the head escort, Yang Jachun, to take the lead.
He was experienced and seasoned, and with my eldest brother and sister currently in the Sega, I believed everything would be handled without incident.
“However, the eldest is occupied with pressing matters, and the third sibling needs mental rest at present.”
“The escort master Yang will surely handle it appropriately.”
“Haha, indeed. But here’s the thing—that escort mission happens to be heading to Gansu.”
“….”
“You must pass through Gansu to reach Namman, yes?”
I gazed at Father without speaking.
From the moment he first broached the subject, I sensed this ominous turn. Had it been otherwise, he would not have mentioned the escort mission to me at all.
My eyes closed tightly without my realizing it.
This cannot be avoided.
“Lead the escort mission. Since you are going that way, I trust you will not refuse.”

* * *

“Are you serious? Really?”
“Yes, that’s how it is.”
“Ugh, even traveling by horse takes forever, but to lead a merchant caravan all the way to Gansu… that’s going to take twice as long!”
“Then go complain about it.”
Chu Hyeongi, who was packing things in my room, gasped at the mention of a merchant caravan and clicked his tongue.
Even a journey of just a day or two would take several more days if one had to lead a caravan.
Moreover, since we had to lead a large merchant caravan to Gansu, and given the nature of caravans requiring stops at villages to receive goods along the way, it could easily take three or four times longer, not just twice as long.
“You’re really doing this?”
At that moment, Gu Gunbaek, who had been sitting askew on my bed watching, furrowed his brow and raised his upper body.
Just from the dissatisfied look in his eyes, it was clear he didn’t welcome any delay in our journey.
“There’s no helping it. It happens to be on our route…”
“Hmph! Well, there’s nothing we can do about it then. I’ll go first. Follow behind me.”
In an instant, Gu Gunbaek sprang to his feet.
Just as I was about to say something in surprise at his apparent eagerness to depart without further hesitation, his outstretched hand grabbed Chu Hyeongi by the scruff of his neck.
“He comes with me.”
“You mean Chu Hyeongi, sir?”
“He’s my disciple, so he has to come. I’m planning to turn him into a beast during the journey, so keep that in mind.”
“Wh-what?! M-master! W-wait!”
“Come on, you fool!”
Chu Hyeongi, being dragged away, flailed his hands and shouted, but Gu Gunbaek seemed unwilling to listen and dragged him out of the room without hesitation.
Left alone, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Losing Chu Hyeongi would mean enduring considerable inconvenience.
He took care of so many things without being asked.
However, during the journey from Hannam to Namman, if I could receive intensive training from Gu Gunbaek, I had a sense of anticipation that my growth might exceed my imagination.
“I suppose there’s no choice then?”
I chuckled softly and began organizing the bundle that Chu Hyeongi had left unfinished.
As I was packing for a moment, I heard a voice from outside.
“Master, it’s Yang Jachun.”
“Come in.”
The moment I answered, the door naturally opened and Yang Jachun and Namgung Baek entered.
It seemed that with proper training these past days, the lazy appearance from before had vanished, and he now bore the demeanor of a merchant caravan member.
I smiled slightly and asked.
“How are things going?”
“Yes! I’m learning diligently, Master!”
Clang—!
Namgung Baek’s voice rang out loudly.
The sound that reverberated throughout the entire room was loud enough to make my ears ache.
Without thinking, I furrowed my brow, and Yang Jachun, the caravan master, pressed his brow in sympathy. Only then did Namgung Baek, understanding the situation, hastily cover his own mouth.
“I apologize.”
“I’m sorry, Master. My training is still incomplete.”
“I don’t mind at all. But what brings you here? Is it about the inspection tour?”
“Yes, I just received word from the Family Head and came straight away. We’ve begun preparations, and we should be ready to depart in four days.”
“How many people?”
“Including myself and you, sir, we’ll have fifty people total and twelve supply wagons.”
I nodded thoughtfully, considering for a moment.
Typically, a large-scale inspection tour would require at least twenty or more supply wagons in motion.
Naturally, the personnel would be arranged accordingly, meaning over a hundred attendants would follow—yet the numbers here seemed far smaller than expected.
Twelve wagons with fifty people.
“Father has been clever about this.”
“Haha, it seems he has faith in you, sir, and the others around you.”
The insufficient military force to protect twelve wagons stemmed from his conclusion that my strength and that of those at my side would overwhelm any deficit in numbers.
Moreover, by not bringing an additional fifty people, he could save considerable expenses.
But let me consider something else.
Twelve supply wagons.
For a tour involving the renowned Yang Jachun, the scale seemed rather modest.
He had said it was a large-scale affair, yet only twelve wagons suggested all these supplies were destined for a single location.
A realization suddenly struck me.
“Wait—are we going to the Gongtong Sect?”
“Ah—you already knew? Haha, I was just about to mention that.”
Watching Yang Jachun nod, I could understand completely.
Yes, this was the time.
The Gongtong Sect’s vacant Sect Master position had been newly filled.
Many had come to offer congratulations, and a small martial arts tournament had been held.
Of course, the Changyong Clan would be present there as well.
I let out a soft chuckle.
“A perfect opportunity to make a name for ourselves.”

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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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