The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 77

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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 138

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From my quarters, I gazed out the window and spotted a group departing from the Changrong Sect.
They were receiving far more fanfare than one would expect for a mere courtesy visit—a reception befitting the prowess Jin Cheon-u had displayed by defeating Moryeong Hyeok at the martial arts tournament.
As Hoyeon observed their departure, his thoughts grew turbulent.

“I have seen it before.”

Jin Cheon-u had claimed to have witnessed the Cloud Crown Sword Technique.
Such a technique could never be learned by anyone outside the Twelve Corners, so it was only logical to assume he must be one of them.
However, the troubling part was that he had not explained it properly.
Whether he had survived an encounter with someone wielding the Cloud Crown Sword Technique, or merely happened to witness someone displaying such swordsmanship—he offered no clarification.
Instead, he simply smiled, leaving Hoyeon unable to suppress his frustration.
Sigh—
He rose from his seat with a heavy exhale.
Given these circumstances, I could not remain idle.
By my position, I had strived to avoid drawing my blade, yet this curiosity demanded resolution.
Perhaps he truly did have a connection to Gwanbaek, and if something was indeed entangled between them, the sect might bestow considerable rewards upon me.
My standing was already wavering because of the Sword Emperor.
If I failed to demonstrate some achievement, I might even lose the position of next sect leader to him.
For Hoyeon, who desired the sect leader’s position more than anyone, there was no choice but to pursue anything that might benefit the sect.
Ho Yeon-jin grasped the sword he had carefully set aside.
“I wonder how long it has been since I last drew it.”
As he slowly unsheathed it and confirmed it still maintained its keen edge, a faint smile crossed his face before he turned his gaze back toward the window.
I could see Jin Cheon-u departing from the Changrong Sect with his companions.
In the moment I observed him, licked my lips, and turned away.
The gaze of Jin Cheon-u, visible through the window, suddenly shifted toward my quarters.
Shhk—
And a deep, lingering smile spread across Jin Cheon-u’s lips.

* * *

When I first entered the Gongtong Sect, the welcome was already remarkable, but leaving it was incomparable in its grandeur.
Especially among the disciples of the Gongtong Sect—it was extraordinary.
As if everyone had gathered just to catch a glimpse of my face, even taking a single step became difficult.
It was proof of just how overwhelming my match against Moryeong Hyeok had been.
Even Gam Cheong-un, who had become the sect leader, wore an expression of profound satisfaction.
“I never imagined I would learn something from a young man like yourself. Haha.”
“I’m grateful for such kind words. But I was merely fortunate.”
“Haha, humility is indeed a virtue. Thanks to you, my eyes have been delighted. Travel safely now.”
“Thank you, Sect Leader. I believe we shall meet again.”
The disciples of the Gongtong Sect had suffered the humiliation of being eliminated entirely from the tournament, but it was I who had overturned that disgrace before their very eyes. Because of this, not only the disciples but even Gam Cheong-un wore expressions of refreshed satisfaction.
I offered them a light bow and departed from the Gongtong Sect.
Only then could I finally catch my breath.
Yet, as if to remind me that my worries were only beginning, Yang Jachun’s voice reached my ears.
“Are you truly certain about this?”
On the path descending the mountain.
Yang Jachun, burdened with worry, gazed at me while suppressing a sigh.
With Gu Gunbaek and Jang Chuchyeong absent, I would have to lead only Namgung Yeon and Chaeseoha on the journey to Namman.
The fact that we would be traveling with merely three people seemed to weigh heavily on his mind.
“No matter how I think about it, it would be better to assign additional guards.”
“It’s fine. We have enough as we are.”
However, I shook my head.
Though there were those within the Jin Family with considerable skill, none of them surpassed Namgung Yeon in ability.
Moreover, should any incidents arise, they would only serve as opportunities to gain experience, which I did not consider unfavorable.
After all, this journey was meant for precisely that purpose.
“Nothing will happen. So there’s no need to worry.”
I smiled softly and eased Yang Jachun’s concerns. His anxious expression gradually relaxed as he looked at me, and soon he too broke into a smile.
“Forgive me. For a moment, I forgot who it was I was worrying about.”
At Yang Jachun’s words, I chuckled lightly and glanced back. I could see Namgung Baek, unable to leave Namgung Yeon’s side, seemingly concerned about her injuries.
“Speaking of which, how is Baek performing? Is he doing well?”
“I understand now why the Family Head placed him under my command. Wherever we go, he finds the path with ease and reads the surrounding terrain well. His ability to respond to situations is also excellent. His martial prowess is somewhat lacking, but I believe it will improve in time.”
“Do you think it will improve?”
“It will have to improve.”
Yang Jachun let out a hollow laugh and shook his head. Though he seemed to be teaching diligently, his progress appeared slower than expected.
“It seems all the martial talent went to his younger sister.”
At Yang Jachun’s following remark, I nodded in agreement.
It was a conclusion anyone would naturally reach.
Yet Namgung Baek possesses a remarkable talent of his own.
From childhood until now, having endured countless trials and incidents to keep his younger sister alive, he has survived without bearing a single grave wound.
That is his greatest strength.
Surviving unscathed means that in critical moments, Namgung Baek makes only the optimal choices for survival.
“We shall take our leave now. Young Master, may you return safely….”
As they descended the mountain speaking thus, Yang Jachun and I came to a halt, facing opposite directions.
It seemed to demonstrate that our paths diverged.
I stopped Yang Jachun before he could depart.
“Ah, Banner Master Yang. There is one matter I must ask of you.”
“Please speak freely. I shall do whatever lies within my power.”
Yang Jachun gazed at me with eyes brimming with unwavering resolve, as though he would draw his blade if necessity demanded it.
It was the look of one prepared to leap into hellfire itself.
I offered a wry smile.
“As you depart, I would ask that you utilize the Sega’s intelligence network to gather rumors for me.”
“Rumors… you say?”
I nodded.
It was an investigation I needed to conduct regardless.
The Sega’s intelligence network was formidable enough that gathering whispers circulating among the common folk would present no great difficulty.
“It concerns goblins.”
“Goblins? Do you mean the ones we heard of at Huashan?”
“Yes. Even the smallest rumor will suffice. Gather whatever you can and send it to me with haste.”
“Hmm… that is no difficult task. I shall have it sent to you with all speed as you command.”
Yang Jachun bowed once more and gave a signal.
The banner bearers and sword attendants who had been standing in wait began to move swiftly, following in his wake.
There was a distinct sense of urgency quite unlike when they were with me.
As one of the pillars of the Sega, Yang Jachun surely had mountains of affairs awaiting his return.
Perhaps he would even embark on another expedition.
Thus, there was no time to linger.
As I turned my head with a soft chuckle, I caught sight of two women mounted upon horses.
“Then we shall proceed directly to Namman from here.”
“If we cross Gansu from here, is that Qinghai? What lies there?”
“The Kunlun Sect, which guards the gateway to the Central Plains.”
“Surely we won’t stop there as well?”
At Chaeseoha’s question, I shook my head.
The current standing of the Kunlun Sect is scarcely inferior to that of the Wudang and Shaolin. Doubtless there would be much to learn, but I had no intention of visiting without purpose.
Moreover, are not those mountains renowned for their treacherous terrain?
I had no desire to invite unnecessary hardship.
“From here we shall head northwest, bypassing Qinghai entirely and crossing directly into Xinjiang. It will save us considerable time.”
I hastened forward, mounting my horse and setting off at speed.
As I galloped swiftly away, the distance between us and the Gongtong Sect widened in an instant.
Yet contrary to my expectation of finding villages, no settlement appeared no matter how far we traveled.
As the sun hanging at zenith gradually descended and dusk settled upon the land, I surveyed the surroundings and found a suitable place to make camp for the night.
“We shall rest here for the night.”
“Yes, I shall make the preparations.”
Namgung Yeon dismounted hastily and began preparing without delay. If more time passed, complete darkness would envelop everything, so there was a mountain of tasks to accomplish beforehand—kindling a fire, laying out bedding, and more.
Chaeseoha beside me also began preparations with practiced efficiency, while I watched her briefly and swallowed a piece of dried meat.
Soon after, I rose from my seat.
“Where are you going?”
“A walk.”
“You won’t help, yet you’re taking a walk?”
At my words, Chaeseoha responded with an incredulous expression. If I stayed to help, they could prepare the camp more quickly, so she was bewildered by my intention to leave.
But I simply nodded without concern.
“Those who pay others never lift a finger themselves.”
“If you helped while paying them, people would follow you more readily. You’d build influence.”
As Chaeseoha spoke, her gaze lowered, and she frowned as she looked at the sword gripped in my hand.
Whether a headache had struck her, she held her forehead, then glanced briefly toward Namgung Yeon.
But I shook my head.
Taking her along wouldn’t be of much help anyway.
“Please… enjoy your walk… and do come back safely.”
“An obvious thing to say.”
I smiled faintly and slipped away from the camp.
I caught sight of Namgung Yeon’s bewildered expression, but I simply walked slowly and deliberately, distancing myself from the camp as much as possible.
After walking for quite some time, thick darkness had descended.
A pitch-black darkness where even moonlight was swallowed by clouds.
Chirp, chirp—
The surroundings were densely packed with trees and undergrowth, and the only sounds were my footsteps and the chirping of insects.
Crunch, crunch—
The sounds that reached my ears in the silence echoed loudly.
But at some point.
The insect chirping ceased.
Simultaneously, someone else’s footsteps overlapped with mine.
Crunch, crunch—
Overlapping sounds impossible from my footsteps alone.
I turned my head slightly to look to the side, and a blurred shadow appeared at some distance.
Leisurely footsteps passing between the trees.
We walked facing each other.
The distance never closed, we simply moved forward.
Shing—
Shing—
Then, as if we’d been waiting, we simultaneously drew our blades.
In that instant.
The Shadow Figure and I gestured toward each other.
Whoosh—!
Clang—! Clang!
I batted away the incoming stone, and my opponent deflected my strike with a counterattack. Seeing this, they seemed momentarily taken aback, but quickly regained their composure.
Thud, thud—
We walked as though circling each other, each testing the other’s guard.
Then, the moment a massive boulder obscured our line of sight.
I drew my blade.
Crash—!
Our swords, swung toward each other, cleaved the enormous boulder in two. As I leaped upward, watching the fragments scatter, my opponent’s silhouette suddenly came into view.
Clang—clang, clang—!
Steel flashed brilliantly.
In the darkness where I could not see even an inch ahead, what appeared before my eyes were sparks blooming with terrible intensity.
As though we were probing each other, our blades continued to clash—parrying, flowing, and counterstriking—employing techniques of heterodox grafting with distinctly different natures in an unending exchange.
Yet, as time wore on, I sensed my opponent’s bewilderment.
As though they had never imagined I could accomplish such a feat.
Crash—!
As our blades, swung with fierce intensity, pushed each other apart in a burst of sparks.
The moonlight, breaking through the clouds above, descended and revealed our forms to one another.
“Indeed, I knew it had to be you.”
The figure revealed was none other than Hoyeon.
He gazed at me with evident surprise and bewilderment, yet as his suspicion transformed into certainty, he smiled and lightly brushed the dust from his blade.
Wearing the mask I had donned, I looked at him and smiled.

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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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