The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 8

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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 69

I stared at Sa Gong-chun’s head rolling across the ground. His unclosed eyes still bore the marks of shock and terror.
Blood pooled across the earth, and Sa Gong-chun’s head gradually sank into the crimson tide.
Sa Gong-chun, commander of the Shadow Assassins.
The man who orchestrated the assault on the Nakhyang Jin Family, and the relentless pursuer who chased after Jang Chuchyeong and me without end.
A grudge bitter enough to gnash one’s teeth over, and one of the most terrifying enemies I had ever faced.
“Hah—.”
How many years had we fought?
Considering the time it took to kill Sa Gong-chun in my previous life, his death at this moment felt almost unreal.
I steadied my breathing and wiped the blood from my blade.
As the tension drained away, pain flooded through me.
The wounds from my combined assault with Hu Yeom were considerable.
“I remain inexperienced.”
From the moment I decided to spare Hu Yeom, I should have anticipated a combined assault.
But the reason I hadn’t was simple—the Sa Gong-chun I knew had never once fought in combination with another.
Yet circumstances change people.
The moment Sa Gong-chun confirmed my strength surpassed his, he had no choice but to do whatever it took to survive.
A variable.
One I should have kept firmly in mind.
Those I had faced in the past, bleeding and standing at death’s threshold, were all formidable survivors of this Sword Forest.
Such variables should have remained at the forefront of my thoughts.
As I gathered my thoughts.
Whoosh—
A sound of wind came from somewhere.
I glanced to the side to see Yang Jachun, masked, had already approached.
“Is it finished?”
“Yes, we have eliminated all remaining forces.”
“Search once more to be certain. We cannot afford even a single rat to escape.”
“Yes, but… this one?”
“The commander who led them.”
“…!”
At the word commander, Yang Jachun’s eyes widened.
He must have thought that with Gu Gunbaek deployed as our trump card, he would simply wait for the situation to conclude.
Yet capturing their leader unexpectedly was certainly worthy of surprise.
Yang Jachun then let out a small exclamation and nodded as if understanding something.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, sir. I simply recalled something the elder said…”
“What did he say?”
“…Leave the tedious work to me, and you need only enjoy the fruits of victory.”
Ha—
I couldn’t help but laugh at those words.
It was certainly I who gave Gu Gunbaek the mask and summoned him here. I thought he would show considerable interest, given the Yeongsal Corps’ unique martial techniques.
But it seemed that wasn’t the case from Gu Gunbaek’s perspective.
“I should buy him a bottle of fine wine.”
“Haha, yes, that seems necessary. He appears quite offended.”
“Setting that aside, how severe are our losses?”
“Worse than expected. Seven dead, thirteen seriously wounded. Fortunately, Master Gu arrived early, or it would have been far worse.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Worse than expected?
Though I regret the fallen, I should consider it fortunate that we faced the Yeongsal Corps with such casualties.
It would not have been strange if half had perished, yet we ended this so smoothly because I brutally hammered their techniques into our people over a short period.
Yang Jachun seemed to understand this as well, offering a bitter smile.
“And… among the seriously wounded is Chu Hyeongi.”
“How severe?”
“Quite deep wounds. He succeeded in defeating one of the squad leaders, but was struck by another.”
“Master Gu will not be pleased.”
“He was very angry.”
None other than Gu Gunbaek himself.
A man of such pride that he cannot bear his disciple being struck by another, regardless of the opponent’s strength.
Once his body heals, what awaits Chu Hyeongi will surely be training more hellish than hell itself.
Well, at least he’ll grow stronger because of it.
I nodded and looked toward Yang Jachun.
He bowed his head once more.
“I received great help because of you. Had it not been for your training, I would surely be dead.”
“I’m glad it proved useful. But you must not become complacent at your current level. The trials ahead will be far more arduous.”
“…I will keep that in mind.”
Yang Jachun’s eyes gleamed with firm resolve as he bowed. His gaze reflected a determination that should such a situation arise again, he would never be overwhelmed so pathetically.
Then, after a moment, Yang Jachun’s rigid expression softened into a small smile.
Seeing this, I released my tension and steadied my mind.
Feeling my sharp senses gradually dull, I steadied my breathing, then gently relaxed my expression and let a smile play at my lips.
“Then please handle the cleanup. Ah, leave the bodies as they are.”
“Leave the bodies… as they are? Without disposing of them?”
“Yes, it should serve as a warning.”
Mm—
A short groan escaped Yang Jachun’s lips at my words, spoken with a slight smile. Soon his gaze turned toward me, and a small laugh played at his lips.
“Why do you smile so?”
“Ah, it’s just that you finally look like yourself again. To be honest… these past few days felt strange.”
“Haha, is that so? Which version do you prefer?”
“Now is the time.”
I nodded at Yang Jachun’s words.
I thought everyone would understand.
The personality and manner of speech he’d displayed these past few days were undoubtedly those of Jin Cheon-u from the past.
The murderous intent and the poisoned heart of one determined to survive.
A monster driven solely by the will to exact revenge.
Compared to now, he was an entirely different person.
With such thoughts, I turned my back.
Before dawn arrived, there was still work to be done.
“Then I entrust this to you.”
“Yes.”

* * *

Even after descending the mountain, the surroundings remained quiet.
The reason for this deathly silence was that this place lay at considerable distance from the nearest inhabited dwelling, and thus even if the dying screamed in agony, there were none with the nerve to investigate such sounds.
Therefore, no one could know of the current situation.
While some might harbor suspicions, there was no need to resolve such doubts in the dead of night.
Walking such a path, I entered Luoyang City.
The interior of the city was little different from the outside.
As I walked through the empty streets toward the marketplace, my feet naturally carried me into the Hwaseon Guesthouse, the first establishment to catch my eye.
Guided by the innkeeper’s naturally deep bow, I entered Baek Jin-hwa’s quarters.
The moment the door opened, I saw her with a hardened expression.
“Did you see something you shouldn’t have?”
“I heard there was some commotion outside. Do you happen to know anything about it?”
“I’m not sure.”
I shrugged and took a seat before her.
I felt her gaze fixed intently upon me.
It seemed as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite bring herself to speak.
Her eyes swept rapidly across my entire body, then widened as if she’d discovered something.
“You’re injured.”
“Ah, I was too preoccupied to notice.”
There was pain, but I paid it little mind.
It was a blade wound to the abdomen, yet it meant nothing to me.
Precisely because in the past, I had to endure such things to survive.
In merely these few days, training Yang Jachun and the others, I realized I too had changed somewhat.
“Shall I call for a physician?”
“It’s fine. Our family has an excellent physician. I’ll go there instead. More importantly, I need to entrust you with something.”
“Is it related to the commotion outside?”
“Has word already spread?”
“There’s nothing that happens in Nakhyang that escapes my knowledge.”
“That’s not entirely true, though.”
“…Except for matters concerning you, sir.”
Baek Jin-hwa clutched her head as if struck by a headache and sighed.
No matter how formidable the Hao Gate’s intelligence network was, they couldn’t track my every move or the Jin Family’s affairs, yet incidents kept unfolding in that direction.
It was impossible to know what I wanted hidden, yet there were always those desperate for information—a troublesome situation indeed.
I smiled and withdrew several silver coins, placing them on the table.
“It’s a simple matter, so this should suffice.”
“This time it seems like an easy task?”
“I’d like you to spread a rumor.”
“A rumor?”
“Yes. Those wearing yaksha masks clashed with unidentified individuals. As a result, corpses litter the mountains outside Luoyang City.”
“…!”
Baek Jin-hwa’s expression grew increasingly rigid at those words.
Yaksha masks, corpses, mountains outside Luoyang City.
Synthesizing these details, the conclusion was singular.
I had orchestrated a bloodbath in the mountains outside Luoyang City on the Sega Lord’s birthday.
While wearing a yaksha mask, no less.
The moment the rumor spread, Geum Chabek, who crafted the masks, would know whose work it was—but since I’d already taken precautions, he’d keep silent.
I hadn’t visited him that late night with provisions for nothing.
As Baek Jin-hwa’s thoughts progressed to this point, her frown deepened.
When one mentions masks, there’s another name that comes to mind, isn’t there?
“Surely… Pyo Hyeong-geom….”
“Since a mask was involved, it’s possible he’s connected to those who clashed in the mountains.”
“….”
Baek Jin-hwa exhaled sharply, her gaze fixed upon me.
My words were sufficient to plant the seed of doubt—that Pyo Hyeong-geom might be among those who fought in the mountains, or worse, that he orchestrated it.
With this, she would become certain.
That either I, or someone close to me, is Pyo Hyeong-geom.
If she asked whether this was information she could relay to the Moyong Sega, I could only shake my head.
While I certainly needed to fulfill the Moyong Sega’s request, I couldn’t carelessly sell information about myself—my current status as the Hao Gate’s most valuable client.
Right now, to the Hao Gate, I was worth far more than the Moyong Sega.
Baek Jin-hwa swallowed hard, her expression troubled.
Again, she grasped her temples as if her head ached.
“Sigh-.”
“Is it difficult?”
At my casual question, Baek Jin-hwa’s lips twitched. Was it my imagination that veins seemed to bulge at her temples?
Even her eyes, fixed upon me, looked rather venomous.
“Phew- No, no. It’s not difficult, really. It’s just a rumor, after all. Hehe- The problem is what comes after.”
“What could be problematic? It seems like a good thing for you as well.”
“What did you say?”
“I’ve obtained information I can share with the Morong Clan.”
“….”
Baek Jin-hwa nodded at my words.
No matter how much I searched, I couldn’t find any trace of Pyo Hyeong-geom. But by entangling these men in yaksha masks this way, I now had information I could deliver to the Morong Clan.
It wasn’t a bad situation at all.
“Young Master, when you think about it… you certainly do know how to manipulate people.”
“Manipulate? Aren’t we helping each other?”
“It seems only Young Master is doing the mutual helping.”
Watching her strike back without backing down, I shrugged and rose from my seat.
“Let’s share a meal sometime when I have the chance.”
“I’ll be waiting for a good opportunity. I intend to get something very expensive out of you.”
“Haha, very well.”
I stood up, listening to her caustic remarks.
I hurried out of the Hwaseon Guesthouse and headed toward the An Family Mansion.
I moved quickly through the silent streets, quiet as a grave.
When I hadn’t been aware of it, I hadn’t paid much attention, but the moment I became conscious again that I’d been cut by a blade, a fever began to rise.
I needed to show my condition to Chaeseoha soon.
Just thinking about the nagging I’d hear made my ears ring.
I sighed and stood before the An Family Mansion, which I’d reached before I knew it.
Creak—!
The unpolished gate opened, revealing the interior.
The moment I hurried inside.
Something felt wrong.
Chaeseoha, who should have been here, was nowhere to be seen.
“….”
I began to look around.
There were certainly traces of her presence visible to my eyes.
But no matter where I searched, she wasn’t there.
I considered whether she’d returned to the Nakhyang Jin Family, but I shook my head.
I had originally given her instructions to remain in this mansion.
In case the Grand Eunuch or imperial officials might be within the Sega, I’d planned to keep her hidden here for several days even after the banquet ended.
She wouldn’t be unaware of that.
Therefore, I was certain she wouldn’t have left.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously and examined the traces.
There were no signs of anyone breaking in.
Then she left on her own?
I turned my gaze and checked for footprints near the door.
Certainly, what appeared to be her footprints were marked there, and I confirmed they definitely led outside the mansion.
I narrowed my brow and frowned with suspicion.
“This is giving me a headache.”
She would never have revealed herself willingly, so it was clear that someone had deliberately lured her out into the open.
Yes, it meant there was someone trying to snatch away the treasure that had fallen into my hands.

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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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