The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 71

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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 71

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“Jin Gongja! Jin Gongja!”
After finishing a brief conversation with Father, I began walking toward the Annex when someone called out my name and approached.
Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo.
I’d heard they’d drunk quite heavily the previous evening, but seeing them in such good condition, it appeared they’d used their inner strength to dispel the intoxication.
Regardless, their complexions looked terrible.
It seemed they’d come from the Government Office with news.
I gazed at the two who had stopped before me, breathing heavily.
“What is the matter?”
“Have you heard? There was a massacre in the mountains nearby.”
“Such a thing… occurred?”
“A massacre that happened in just a single day, no less. Ha— and here we were, completely unaware, drowning ourselves in drink.”
Shake, shake—
Paeng Dohan shook his head with a sigh.
A massacre had occurred practically on our doorstep, yet members of the Changryongdan had known nothing, occupied only with wine. It was understandable that he felt remorse.
“I do not believe this is a fault of yours. After all, you both came to attend the celebration, did you not?”
“That may be true, but….”
“The Sect ordered us to examine the corpses at the Government Office, and it was truly horrific. Bodies so mangled you’d think it impossible for a person to be crushed like that… Of course, there were some intact remains as well.”
Eon Garyeo furrowed his brow, uneasily fidgeting with his wrist.
The gruesome images of the corpses—ones he wished to forget but could not—seemed to weigh heavily upon him.
“Were the deceased martial artists?”
“They were. However, they were all unfamiliar faces. They seemed to be a group, but I cannot fathom why they had gathered near Luoyang City.”
“I heard they clashed with a ghost. Does that make sense?”
“A ghost? Then were the deceased Taoist priests who came to capture it?”
“Absolutely not! Just from their calluses alone, they were clearly martial artists. Highly skilled ones at that.”
I nodded, observing Paeng Dohan shake his head.
Naturally, neither of them believed the tale of a ghost.
After all, I had merely repeated the rumor myself.
“A curious matter indeed.”
“Ha— this is giving me a headache. How am I supposed to investigate this?”
“Investigate? Has Paeng Sohyeop taken charge of the investigation?”
“Since we are nearby, we have no choice in the matter. The Branch is offering some assistance, but… it seems difficult to uncover anything immediately. The corpses are far too damaged.”
There were several reasons I had invited them, one being that should Sa Gong-chun and his associates be stopped outside, I could naturally entrust the investigation to these two.
Regardless of how they conducted their investigation, they would find no connection between this incident and myself.
“To reduce a person to such a state…! It must surely be the work of a Yaksha!”
“You fool—! Were you there?”
At that moment.
With a resonant voice, Gu Gunbaek appeared.
His sharp eyes still gleamed with unresolved anger, causing Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo to hold their breath with sealed lips.
Upon spotting me, Gu Gunbaek began pointing his finger in earnest accusation.
“You—!”
“Yes?”
Just as Gu Gunbaek was about to unleash a torrent of words, he noticed Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo beside him and promptly closed his mouth.
As expected, he does not move without deliberate thought.
A sharp exhale.
After piercing me once more with a cutting gaze, he ultimately released a resigned sigh and quelled his fury.
“That bastard still hasn’t woken?”
“It seems he never will.”
“Damn wretch. The moment his eyes open, come straight to me and report! Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you—buy me a meal! A grand one! Something expensive!”
“Understood.”
As I bowed lightly, Gu Gunbaek huffed and strode toward the Training Hall.
Soon, I imagined, the cries of the warriors would echo through the air.
I offered a bitter smile as I turned to regard Paeng Dohan.
I could see his eyes trembling as he gazed upon me.
“That person… Jin Gongja, who might they be?”
“A guest residing with my father. He is also my servant’s master.”
“Ah, I see. He seems to be quite an extraordinary individual.”
“The moment I laid eyes on him, my legs nearly gave way.”
Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo caught their breath, pressing their hands to their chests.
From their demeanor, it appeared they had not properly observed Gu Gunbaek yesterday.
Naturally, in a situation where one must cultivate connections far and wide, there was no time to concern oneself with other matters.
Besides, Gu Gunbaek was hardly the sort to receive pleasantries from mere youths.
“He merely leads a small organization in the rural countryside. There is no need to concern yourselves greatly.”
“Ah, I did see him briefly yesterday, but I was far too intoxicated…”
Paeng Dohan scratched his head with a bitter smile.
I felt their curiosity about Gu Gunbaek dissipate in an instant.
The words “rural countryside” had concluded their assessment.
At that moment, Eon Garyeo beside him nudged Paeng Dohan’s ribs, offering a meaningful glance.
A gesture as if urging him to broach some subject.
Paeng Dohan then exhaled sharply and turned to me with a cautious gaze, posing his question.
“By the way… Young Master, I heard that a corpse was discovered within the Jin Family as well. Might we be permitted to examine it?”
“That is not possible.”
“But surely a brief inspection would suffice…”
“That is not possible. This is a matter of the Jin Family. We shall conduct our own investigation, and should it prove necessary, we will send correspondence to the Sect later with our findings.”
A sigh escaped Paeng Dohan’s lips at my resolute words.
On the Family Head’s birthday celebration, someone had infiltrated, and a corpse had resulted from it.
It was a humiliating situation, one that no one would wish to display.
It was only natural.
The Habuk Paeng Family and Jinju Eon Family would act identically if faced with the same circumstances, so there was nothing particularly unusual about the situation.
For that reason, these two men would not press the matter relentlessly.
“Well, I understand. Sigh, what a mess. I was told to conduct an investigation.”
“Then instruct the Chief Administrator to report the findings of the investigation not to the Sect, but to Paeng Small Association. Let us conclude matters there.”
“Haha, I would be most grateful! Ah, this is no time for such pleasantries. Then we shall take our leave. When we meet again next time, I shall treat you generously—let us share a drink then.”
“Understood.”
Upon hearing my response, Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo hastily rose from their seats.
They would have much to attend to.
I watched the two figures disappear before turning away.
Just as they had their duties, I too had much to accomplish.

* * *

Jang Chuchyeong’s room was silent.
Whether physicians from Sega other than Chaeseoha had tended to him, the air within the chamber was sharp with the scent of medicinal herbs.
At the center, Jang Chuchyeong lay in deathlike stillness.
Without the slightest movement, as though truly deceased, and despite a day having passed, his eyes remained closed.
Yet his body trembled with unnatural persistence.
I entered the room without a word, and as my footsteps drew steadily closer, beads of cold sweat began to form on Jang Chuchyeong’s face.
No—they soon streamed down in rivulets.
I regarded this sight and took my place before the bedchamber.
“Are you dead?”
At the sound of my voice, Jang Chuchyeong’s body flinched.
Yet his eyes remained shut, and only a faint whisper emerged.
“Young Master?”
“Yes, it is I.”
“Am I… alive?”
“You have not died. Though by the look of things, you appear to be on the verge of it.”
“Ugh!”
A groan burst from Jang Chuchyeong’s lips at my words.
His face had turned ashen with whatever thoughts occupied his mind, yet despite this, his resolve to keep his eyes shut remained steadfast.
I crossed my legs and regarded the man calmly.
“I saw your father just now. His anger has not yet subsided.”
“Please… spare my life…”
“Fool. Did I not tell you to flee if your opponent was a Leader?”
“How could I have escaped in that situation? Everyone looked as though they would die.”
With eyes closed, Jang Chuchyeong clenched his fists as if recalling that moment.
It was the truth. If it hadn’t been for him, the death toll would have easily exceeded half.
He had triumphed over an opponent he couldn’t defeat through sheer overwhelming power—worthy of praise—but from a master’s perspective, the fact that he had simply been struck down by a blade must have been unsatisfying.
Regardless of whether it was the First Leader or anyone else.
“For your level, surviving a strike from the First Leader’s blade is impressive. Anyone else would already be dead.”
“…Is that all?”
“Yes.”
I had memories of crossing blades with the First Leader several times in the past.
Since he held a position that promised him the seat of the next Shadow Assassins Leader, his skill was extraordinary.
His mastery of the sword, his seasoned ability to exploit circumstances, his unwavering vigilance in any situation—had his technique been even slightly sharper, he would have claimed the Leader’s seat immediately.
Surviving against such an opponent was more than sufficient.
“Could you…tell my Master about this?”
“I will, later. But I’m rather busy now.”
“Where are you going!?”
In that instant, Jang Chuchyeong suddenly raised his upper body and looked at me.
Eyes finally open.
But was it because Gu Gunbaek’s fist was still flickering in his vision?
Jang Chuchyeong squeezed his eyes shut again and lowered himself back onto the bedchamber, whispering.
“Where are you going?”
“Chaeseoha has disappeared. She’s a treasure I’ve obtained—I need to retrieve her.”
“You’re treating a person like an object….”
“Regardless, that’s how it is. It seems it will take some time, so rest and recover while I’m gone.”
With those words, I rose from my seat.
Since Jang Chuchyeong remained lying down, I had to prepare everything alone—there was no time to waste.
In that moment.
Jang Chuchyeong, still lying down, reached out and grasped my collar.
“Take me with you.”
“A patient going somewhere?”
“If I stay here, I won’t be a patient anymore—I’ll be a corpse. So please, take me with you.”
At those words, I regarded Jang Chuchyeong with an incredulous expression. His eyes remained tightly shut, but desperation was evident in his face.
Unable even to open his eyes, he seemed desperately eager to escape this place as quickly as possible.
I couldn’t suppress the laughter that escaped me.
“It’s a long journey to Beijing. I cannot take a critically wounded patient.”
“I’m completely fine. Do you know how hard our physician worked to fix me? I could run right now if I needed to.”
The fact that he was speaking so much certainly indicated considerable improvement.
Of course, I couldn’t praise the physician’s skill—it was simply that Jang Chuchyeong’s recovery was far superior to that of ordinary people.
Yet despite this, he was not recovered enough to run about, though his desperation was such that he would say such things.
“And besides, we’re going to rescue Physician Chae, aren’t we? Once we rescue her, she’ll fix me right up with a snap of her fingers—so what’s there to worry about?”
He revealed his determination not to be left behind, tightening his grip on my collar with considerable force.
To break free without tearing the fabric seemed impossible.
Ha—
I couldn’t help but let out an absurd laugh.
“If you’re going, prepare yourself quickly. We don’t have time.”
“Really?! Ugh! It hurts…!”
Chu Hyeongi bolted upright from his seat, eyes snapping open as he cried out. The sound rang so loudly that it seemed he was practically advertising himself to his master.
Realizing his mistake, Chu Hyeongi hastily clamped his hand over his own mouth.
“We depart immediately, so pack only what’s essential. We can procure anything necessary once we arrive.”
“Understood! I’ll prepare at once!”
The grinning fellow began to move.
Each step he took seemed difficult, yet nothing could break his resolve to leave.
I glanced surreptitiously toward the window.
A chill ran down my spine.
In that instant, I caught sight of Gu Gunbaek standing motionless between the window panes.
He gazed toward me with a grin, pointed at himself with his index finger, then directed that finger downward at the ground, turned it back toward me, and finally drew his thumb across his throat in a cutting motion.
Interpreting this sequence of gestures, the meaning was clear.
Leave me behind, and I’ll kill you all.
Coming from Gu Gunbaek, it sounded far from a jest.
I offered a bitter smile and opened my mouth.
“Will you be joining us as well, sir?”
“Huh?! What do you mean… Kyaaaah?!”
Chu Hyeongi, who had been quietly gathering his belongings, let out a gasp of shock as he saw Gu Gunbaek’s head suddenly poking through the window.
“This is going to be fun, isn’t it? Right?”
“It will be quite entertaining. You’ll witness a world you’ve never experienced before.”
“Hahahaha! I’ll go prepare and return, so wait! If you leave me behind, I’ll tear down your entire clan, so remember that.”
“…That’s far more terrifying than any invasion, sir.”
“Hahahaha!”
Gu Gunbaek burst into hearty laughter, then ghostlike, squeezed his massive frame through the window and entered the room.
Crack—
The window and its frame shattered under the weight of Gu Gunbaek’s bulk.
It was Chu Hyeongi’s room anyway, so it hardly mattered.
Gu Gunbaek, observing Chu Hyeongi trembling pale as a ghost, stood motionless before him and looked down.
“What are you doing? You open-eyed disciple. If you don’t want to die, pack my belongings as well.”
“Kyaaaah!”
At the same moment, Chu Hyeongi’s bizarre shriek echoed through the room.

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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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