The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 70

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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 Jin Family of Luoyang – Chapter 131

Whoosh—
A brilliant flash erupted before my eyes.
The speed was beyond what the eye could follow, yet within that luminous streak lay an unmistakable sharpness that could only belong to a blade.
Clang—!
The collision that followed struck my ears with violent intensity.
The resonance of the sword clash echoed outward, and those watching furrowed their brows at the sharp, piercing ring that spread through the air.
As the two combatants unleashed their torrential qi in succession, the moment I retreated, Jin Ja-geom seized the opportunity and extended his blade toward me.
Whoosh—
The fragrance of plum blossoms permeated the surroundings densely.
The trajectory of his swinging sword was drawn with exquisite precision and beauty, as if mimicking the plum flower itself.
But one must not be deceived by that beauty.
I gently received his blade and redirected its flow.
“…!”
In that instant, Ha Hyeok-jun, who had been pursuing from behind, turned his head in surprise.
Whoosh—!
Jin Ja-geom’s blade had narrowly grazed Ha Hyeok-jun’s cheek as it passed.
“Hahaha! Did you see that?”
Ha Hyeok-jun, who had nearly fallen victim to Jin Ja-geom’s hidden technique, laughed incredulously as he swung his sword.
A weighty force.
That blade, laden with the subtleties of the heavy sword technique, felt remarkably similar to what Namgung Yeon had attempted to emulate.
Boom—!
The moment I blocked his swinging blade, an enormous force crashed down upon me.
Feeling my body being launched backward amid a ringing that assaulted my ears, I drove my sword into the ground.
Crack— Screech—!
Yet I was still pushed back somewhat—such tremendous power.
Lifting my head to look forward, Ha Hyeok-jun was charging at me with frenzied speed.
His eyes were utterly fierce.
It was the gaze of a wild beast.
Yet while his eyes resembled those of Gu Gunbaek or Jang Chuchyeong, his movements were not nearly as destructive.
Whoosh—!
It was Jin Ja-geom who wedged himself into that gap.
The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Hands, brought to its pinnacle, bloomed.
From the tip of the blade, buds unfurled into full blossoms, only for new buds to emerge anew—this cycle repeated several times over.
I watched it intently, then laughed in bewilderment.
A plum blossom crafted from steel before my eyes.
I felt it.
The profound depth of internal fire emanating from that blooming plum blossom.
The essence of Mount Hua dwelled within the falling petals of those blooming flowers.
That was the true quintessence of Mount Hua.
Something I could never possess no matter how desperately I desired it, something I could never capture no matter how hard I tried.
The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique of the Mount Hua Sect, perfected over centuries.
I turned my gaze away from it.
“This bastard!”
Ha Hyeok-jun of Mount Song.
The moment his blade swept forward with tremendous force.
The countless plum blossoms that had risen into the air scattered and flew away.
This too was the essence that only Mount Song possessed.
I tightened my grip on my sword as I watched.
Their martial arts, passed down through generations over centuries, still maintained one of the highest peaks in the Central Plains.
In contrast, this was an opportunity to see how different my own swordsmanship was—techniques I had desperately learned and refined simply to survive.
There was no way I could let this chance slip away.
I rushed forward with energy infused into my blade.
I threw myself into the raging storm and slashed my sword with piercing ferocity.
Whoosh—

* * *

“Hahaha! This fellow is truly remarkable, wouldn’t you say, Oh Hyeon?”
“Yes, Master. You are correct. I don’t think I could possibly match him.”
“What do you think?”
“I agree.”
By then, the sun had set and the moon had risen.
When the sun reached its zenith, our blades first clashed. And it was when the moon grew full that my sword, Jin Ja-geom’s blade, and Ha Hyeok-jun’s sword finally came to rest.
Even that would have continued had Chaeseoha not stopped us.

“I’m hungry!”

Her sharp voice rang out with vigor, and in that instant, everyone froze mid-strike.
It wasn’t simply because she had interjected into the fierce battle with her voice.
To be precise, those who beheld Chaeseoha’s beauty had naturally stiffened in place.
As a result, the situation could only fizzle out without a clear victor being determined.
Yet it wasn’t as though I gained nothing from it.
Having faced martial arts of a realm far superior to Baek Cheon and Oh Hyeon for an extended period, I was able to glean far more than anticipated.
In the end, it proved beneficial.
I smiled and gazed at Jin Ja-geom and Ha Hyeok-jun.
The two conversed leisurely with their respective sect members, their expressions appearing at ease, yet their eyes flickered intermittently.
Their bodies ached in various places.
Yet they could not reveal it, so they endured.
If I, who wasn’t even a disciple of the great sect, moved about unscathed while they groaned about their pain, it would be utterly shameful.
While entertaining such thoughts, the dining hall doors opened and numerous maids entered.
As the women, each carrying delicacies in both hands, began arranging the dishes neatly upon the table, those seated began to gasp in astonishment.
“…How can there be so much?”
“Wow… These are foods I’ve only seen at home… No, there are some I’ve never seen before.”
Even disciples of the great sect typically subsisted on the provisions distributed within the sect.
Naturally, if one did not venture beyond, luxurious fare was beyond expectation, so they too could not help but have their eyes drawn to the food.
This was not peculiar to Jongnam alone.
Though Jin Ja-geom and Baek Cheon maintained their composure while seated, they too swallowed their saliva repeatedly as they gazed upon the dishes before them.
“Please, eat heartily. This is my treat.”
I spoke while subtly surveying my surroundings.
While Baek Cheon and Oh Hyeon were about to begin using their chopsticks, Jin Ja-geom and Ha Hyeok-jun displayed eyes brimming with a longing, as though something were amiss.
I believed I understood the reason.
With a gentle smile, I summoned a maid.
“We’re missing the wine. Bring the finest you have.”
“Yes, Young Master So.”
As the maid bowed respectfully and hurried from the hall, Baek Cheon and Oh Hyeon hastily opened their mouths.
“Jin Gongja, we cannot have wine….”
“Mmph!”
But before the words could escape, they were silenced by the hands of Jin Ja-geom and Ha Hyeok-jun beside them.
I observed Jin Ja-geom shooting Baek Cheon a gaze as sharp as a blade’s edge, and Ha Hyeok-jun swiftly reaching out to seal his mouth.
Their expressions conveyed: speak one more word and we will not forgive you.
“I have heard that while the Dao forbids alcohol, there are times and places for such prohibitions. Is this not precisely such a moment? Or am I mistaken, Master Ha?”
“Hahaha, quite right! Master Jin’s words are precise indeed.”
It was difficult to believe that these two, who mere moments ago had been grinding their teeth and wielding swords against each other, were now so perfectly in accord.
Merely observing them address each other with respect and nod in satisfaction suggested they were worthy of being called childhood friends.
I clicked my tongue inwardly and turned my head slightly.
I caught sight of Chaeseoha beside me beginning to use her chopsticks.
Though she swiftly gathered and consumed various dishes, none seated there seemed to harbor any discomfort toward her.
Rather, she seemed to have a favorable impression of him.
It was none other than Jin Ja-geom who initiated the conversation.
“Ahem! But miss, might I inquire of your name?”
“It’s Chaeseoha. And you?”
“I am Jin Ja-geom, the Plum Blossom Sword Master of Mount Hua.”
“I see.”
Though he spoke with apparent gravity, Chaeseoha’s response was lukewarm at best. As if matters such as being a Plum Blossom Sword Master held little interest for her, she continuously twirled the chopsticks in her hand without once glancing at Jin Ja-geom’s face.
Was that the reason?
Ha Hyeok-jun found his courage.
“Ahem! I am Ha Hyeok-jun of Mount Zhongnan, delighted to meet you, miss. Like my friend here, I am counted among the Ten Swords of Mount Zhongnan. Haha, perhaps you’ve heard of us?”
At those words, Chaeseoha’s chopsticks froze mid-motion. She then turned her gaze toward Ha Hyeok-jun, and because of this, Jin Ja-geom, who had not even received a glance, felt dejected.
“If one is a martial artist, no one would know of us except our Young Master. But more importantly, eat before it gets cold, won’t you? Thanks to all of you, I haven’t eaten anything since lunch until now. I was worried our Young Master might be hurt.”
“….”
“Hmm!”
After speaking thus, Chaeseoha looked between me, Jin Ja-geom, and Ha Hyeok-jun in turn, then let out a small, amused laugh.
In that instant, the atmosphere brightened.
It was no illusion that strange exclamations burst forth from various quarters.
“Though I must say, I was mistaken. Seeing how our Young Master is perfectly fine and all.”
At those words, Jin Ja-geom and Ha Hyeok-jun let out awkward coughs.
To any observer, the situation appeared to be a draw.
Yet if one examined the depths, the victor was unmistakably clear.
Unlike me, who moved about unscathed, the two of them bore wounds and internal injuries throughout their bodies. No matter how hard they tried to appear unharmed, they could not deceive Chaeseoha’s discerning eyes.
“What are you saying? Our Young Master did not lose. Rather, had he fought with full sincerity from the start, both of you would surely be lying in bed righ— ugh?!”
“Enough, enough. Disciple.”
“You just stay quiet. Understood?”
“Yes!”
This time, Baek Cheon, whose mouth had been sealed, trembled and nodded his head, while Oh Hyeon looked at me and the two of them in turns with an expression of shock, then swallowed hard.
Yes, anyone with keen perception would understand.
This battle was my victory.
The fact that I sustained no wounds played a part, but I had not even exerted my full strength from the beginning.
I had taken ample time to examine and commit to memory the martial techniques each of them possessed, while contemplating what I myself lacked.
Though I could not uncover the essence of centuries they carried, I had succeeded in grasping even a superficial understanding and advancing half a step further.
I allowed myself a satisfied smile.
It was then that Jin Ja-geom’s voice reached my ears.
“By the way, Young Master Jin, where are you headed on your travels?”
“Gansu.”
“Ah— could it be toward the Gongtong Sect…?”
Seeing Jin Ja-geom pose the question with a note of uncertainty, I nodded.
At this juncture, entering Gansu with this level of entourage would only be possible if the opponent were of the caliber of the Gongtong Sect.
“Of all places….”
At that moment, a peculiar voice reached my ears.
It was none other than Ha Hyeok-jun who spoke, his brow furrowed with concern.
He seemed to know something, wearing an expression of unease, and when I failed to grasp his meaning and turned my gaze back to Jin Ja-geom, he offered a wry smile.
“With Young Master Jin, Yang the Escort Chief, and Miss Namgung present, I would think there is little to worry about, but still, you must exercise particular caution.”
“What could there be? Has some martial world criminal perhaps appeared?”
I recalled memories from the past and considered the incidents that had occurred in the surrounding areas.
There was nothing particularly noteworthy…
After all, with the luminaries of the Martial Alliance moving to join the Common Sect, martial world criminals would never reveal themselves unless they had completely lost their minds.
Then Jin Ja-geom cautiously broached the subject.
“Recently, along the roads leading to Gansu, there have been reports of quite skilled individuals falling victim to attacks. Bandits, of course, but also thieves—all of them.”
“Indeed. It appears they were not simply eliminated for theft prevention, but rather beaten as if someone were demonstrating their martial prowess against wandering warriors.”
As I listened to both men speak, I found myself frowning involuntarily.
This strange sense of déjà vu was no mere coincidence.
But bandits and wandering warriors aside—bandits, you say?
My thoughts naturally drifted to the two who had departed earlier, and though I dismissed the notion as unlikely, I could not shake the suspicion that Gu Gunbaek might very well be capable of such things.
In the moment I swallowed a groan at this bewildering situation.
Jin Ja-geom’s voice came through clearly.
“Recently, there have been quite a number of bizarre rumors circulating. Many claim to have witnessed goblins appearing and disappearing upon the mist.”
“…Mist?”
“Yes, ha ha, though I suspect they may have simply misperceived something, the same rumors are spreading quite widely in various places. So I thought it best to advise you to exercise maximum caution.”
I closed my eyes quietly and fell into thought for a moment.
Soon I opened them again, narrowing my brow with quiet intensity.
They were beginning to make their move in earnest.

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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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