The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 76

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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 137

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Moryeong Hyeok lay alone in a room saturated with the scent of medicinal herbs.
Despite a full day having passed since he collapsed during the martial contest, he remained unconscious, sleeping as soundly as the dead.
The only sound echoing through the quiet room was Moryeong Hyeok’s ragged breathing.
It was then that the door opened and Ho Yeon-jin entered.
He frowned at the overwhelming smell permeating the room, then took in the sight of Moryeong Hyeok lying motionless before him.
“Quite the spectacle.”
Bandages wrapped around multiple injury sites across his body. In particular, his jaw—which had been kicked—was severely damaged; the physician had declared he could consume nothing but rice gruel until the bone healed.
The moment this incident reached the Moyong Family, the Sword Emperor’s wrath would be unmistakable.
Yet there was nothing to say to the Jin Family of Luoyang.
Moryeong Hyeok himself had initiated the martial contest, and he himself had wielded a killing blade contrary to the nature of such a match.
Every person in the arena had felt the murderous intent embedded in Moryeong Hyeok’s sword, so there was nothing to be gained by pressing the matter.
Rather, the Moyong Family might be shaken instead.
This was already the second incident following the matter with Pyo Hyeong-geom.
The Pyo Hyeong-geom situation had been smoothed over somehow, but now he had been thoroughly defeated before countless martial artists gathered to celebrate the Gongtong Sect.
This rumor would spread in an instant.
It could not be hidden from anyone.
“Foolish wretch. Bringing such shame upon his father’s name.”
Ho Yeon-jin clicked his tongue and furrowed his brow.
Simultaneously, the image of Jin Cheon-u surfaced in his mind.
The manner in which that man had faced Moryeong Hyeok was nothing short of overwhelming.
It would not be an exaggeration to say he had clearly demonstrated what a difference in skill truly meant—with such ability, one could eliminate the Shadow Assassins with merely adequate forces at one’s disposal.
“He did not even display his true techniques.”
Against the renowned Moryeong Hyeok, he had subdued him using only the most fundamental methods, displaying divine technique.
And against the Sword Emperor’s Ascendant Heaven Sword Art.
Or more precisely, the Cloud-Piercing Sword Art that those among the Twelve Angles cultivate.
The Ascendant Heaven Sword Art was what the Sword Emperor Mo Yong-cheon had refined anew by adding his own interpretation to it.
Ho Yeon-jin, harboring such thoughts, smiled.
“When one reaches for a gift bestowed by the Divine, it becomes uncertain, does it not, Sword Emperor.”
Ho Yeon-jin reflected.
Had Moryeong Hyeok properly mastered the Cloud-Piercing Sword Art, he was confident he would never have lost to Jin Cheon-u.
Regardless, the fact remained that the Ascendant Heaven Sword Art, built upon the foundation of the Cloud-Piercing Sword Art, had been pathetically shattered by this entity called Jin Cheon-u.
“He cannot be left alone.”
Problems like Gwanbaek and countless others were piling up like mountains.
Yet the more this man’s fate became entangled with his own, the more twisted it became—he felt he must not allow their connection to extend further.
The most troubling aspect was this man’s rate of growth.
Just from the recent sparring match with Moryeong Hyeok alone, I could easily discern that he had already surpassed his peak.
His growth was so overwhelming that I found myself wondering if he might actually be a disciple of Gwanbaek himself.
What troubled Ho Yeon-jin’s mind even more was how Jin Cheon-u had perfectly defended against the Ascending Heaven Sword Technique.
It would have been impossible without a complete understanding of the Cloud Crown Sword Technique.
“Shall I verify this myself?”

* * *

“Will it be alright?”
As I was gathering my belongings, a voice suddenly reached my ears. When I turned to look, I saw Namgung Yeon and Namgung Baek wearing expressions of unmistakable anxiety.
I didn’t need to ask to understand what troubled them.
It had to be about Moryeong Hyeok.
I waved my hand dismissively while packing my travel bundle.
“He started the fight first. Moreover, it was he who used excessive force. The Sword Emperor has no grounds to take issue with me.”
“But the opponent is… the Moyong Family, is it not? That is why our concern is great.”
“It will certainly be embarrassing for them in the short term, but what can be done? It is their son’s doing, so they must handle the aftermath themselves. Besides, they won’t have time to concern themselves with me.”
“That is… what do you mean…?”
“This defeat will shake the resolve of those who steadfastly supported the Moyong Family.”
Becoming the strongest in a region meant subduing and securing the support of countless others.
Yet their heir had wavered not once, but twice.
It was not merely a family member who had faltered, but the Young Master who must carry the lineage into the next generation.
This was no trivial matter.
Furthermore, though the one who caused this was from the Jin Family of Luoyang, he remained a figure from a merchant house, not a martial one—a situation the martial families could not easily accept.
They will be consumed with managing those complications for some time.
Only after they have completely resolved those matters will they turn their gaze toward the Jin Family of Luoyang.
“So do not worry yourself. More importantly, how is his condition?”
I posed the question while glancing toward another corner of the room.
I could see Chaeseoha concentrating on something in the corner. She held medicinal herbs in her hand, glanced at me briefly, then shrugged lightly.
“I went to check earlier, and it’s severe. His jaw is split open, you see? Even if he regains consciousness, he cannot even imagine chewing, and for several months he’ll have to sit idle eating only porridge fed to him by others. How could you possibly do that to someone?”
Pfft—
“That’s what happens when someone acts recklessly.”
As I spoke with a faint smile, I could see Chaeseoha, as well as Namgung Baek and Namgung Yeon, flinch and swallow hard.
It seemed as though they were silently vowing never to create any enmity with me.
As I turned my head with an involuntary smile, I sensed a familiar presence approaching from beyond the door.
I looked back at Chaeseoha.
As if she had sensed something, she frowned delicately and rose from her seat, hastily concealing the scattered medicinal materials and herbs.
Then, leading Namgung Baek and Namgung Yeon, she opened the door.
“Then I’ll see you later.”
“Very well.”
It was the moment the door opened.
As Chaeseoha offered her respects and turned to leave, I caught sight of Hoyeon standing motionless before my door.
With his characteristic benevolent smile, he glanced briefly at those departing before turning his gaze back to me.
“Have I arrived at a convenient time?”
“I was in the midst of packing for my departure. But what brings you here?”
“Ha, so even the First Disciple of a Martial Artist must have business to present himself before the Young Master So of the Jin Family of Luoyang? This concerns Hyeok. Might we speak for a moment?”
I nodded and offered him a seat.
As Chaeseoha turned to leave the room once more, I spoke.
“So-ha, go and prepare tea for us.”
“…Yes, Young Master.”
Startled by the sudden command, she quickly remembered her position and nodded in resignation.
Creak—click.
Once the door closed, Hoyeon finally settled into his seat and regarded me intently.
As though he were peering through something hidden.
It was then that he spoke.
“I haven’t come to reprimand you, so worry not. Everyone present that day would have witnessed it—Mo Yong Hyeok overstepped his bounds considerably.”
“I bear responsibility for my lack of restraint as well. I shall offer a formal apology to the Moyong Family.”
“Ha, would you? The Sword Emperor’s temperament is notoriously fierce, so I confess to some concern. If you offer a sincere apology directly, it may help soothe his anger somewhat.”
Yet such an apology would not restore the Moyong Family’s wounded pride. Nor would it be easy to truly quell the Sword Emperor’s wrath.
For now, he would nod and forgive before me, but what schemes might he devise behind closed doors? That was precisely the nature of Mo Yong-cheon.
A confrontation was inevitable.
That Hoyeon, who understood this better than anyone, had sought me out for this conversation meant he needed a pretext to speak with me.
Was my assessment accurate?
He wished to confirm such thoughts once more.
“But I am curious about something. Who exactly is the master who raised you? I am genuinely puzzled by how you achieved such remarkable accomplishments at such a young age.”
“I have no master.”
“…No master? You grew to this level without a master?”
“There is one who has aided me, but I cannot truly call them a master.”
At those words, Hoyeon’s eyes gleamed with interest.
The entity who had enabled such rapid growth.
Its identity seemed to captivate him greatly.
I smiled faintly.
“It is Baek Chong-gwal.”
“Baek…Chong-gwal? Who is that?”
“He is Baek Ja-hyeon, the Commander of the Imperial Guards serving the Jin Family of Luoyang. The man known as the greatest expert of the Jin Family.”
“The greatest expert of the Jin Family? Baek Ja-hyeon, Baek Ja-hyeon…”
At the name Baek Ja-hyeon, Ho Yeon-jin continued to murmur it, lost in thought.
He would not easily recall the memory.
His time as a wanderer in the martial world had been brief, and since joining the Jin Family, he had focused on training the bodyguards. Consequently, unless it involved major sects or renowned figures, he had engaged little in martial world activities.
It was at such a moment.
Hoyeon’s brow furrowed as he seemed to recall someone.
“You’re speaking of Baek Ja-hyeon, the Swallow Sword. So he was with the Jin Family.”
“Yes, sir. He is our chief of bodyguards and the Jin Family’s greatest expert.”
“Haha.”
In that moment, Ho Yeon burst into laughter.
It was merely laughter, yet his true thoughts lay beneath the surface.
He would be uncertain whether to believe my words or not.
After all, in this martial world, it was not uncommon for a disciple to surpass their master. If the disciple possessed talent and the master provided excellent instruction, such a thing was entirely possible.
Of course, while it was possible, not all cases were like this.
Most reached a wall and never even ascended to the first rank, remaining forever stalled.
“So he was more formidable than expected. A man who teaches others so well—he’s the kind of talent the Martial Alliance would covet.”
“You won’t be able to take him. He’s already one of ours.”
“Haha, what a pity. Then let me ask you one more thing.”
“Please, ask away.”
“How exactly did you block the Ascending Heaven Sword Art so effortlessly on your first encounter?”
It was the kind of question a martial artist might ask, yet his gaze suggested something deeper.
What Ho Yeon truly wanted to know was one thing.
To block the Ascending Heaven Sword Art so smoothly meant I must have experienced the Cloud Crown Sword Art before—but how had I managed it?
That was what Ho Yeon was asking.
Just as I was about to speak in response to his curiosity.
“Young Master, I’ve brought the tea.”
The door opened and Chaeseoha entered.
She came in expressionless and set the tea down neatly before Ho Yeon and me.
After offering a respectful bow, she vanished as suddenly as she had appeared. Ho Yeon let out a small sigh as if regretting something, then lifted the tea to his lips.
“Ahem! Let’s continue where we left off.”
“You mean about the Ascending Heaven Sword Art?”
“That’s right.”
“It simply felt… familiar somehow.”
“Familiar… you say?”
I nodded casually.
Then, gazing vaguely out the window, I murmured as if recalling something distant.
“Long ago, someone showed me a similar sword technique. That scene remained vivid in my memory, and Moryeong Hyeok’s swordplay was strikingly similar to it. That’s why I managed it so easily.”
“…Who was that person?”
I caught the subtle tremor in Ho Yeon-jin’s voice and shook my head.
As if I knew nothing at all.
Yet that old memory remained crystal clear.
A face I could not forget even if I tried, one I could not erase no matter how hard I attempted.
It was you.

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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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