The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 81
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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 142
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The streets of Nanzhou brimmed with vitality.
Compared to other great cities like Nakhyang, it fell somewhat short, but being relatively closer to the Western Regions, one could spot many mysterious wares from those distant lands.
Yet Chaeseoha, showing little interest in the trinkets that might captivate most women, wandered through the marketplace with her eyes fixed solely upon medicinal herbs and pharmaceutical ingredients.
She replenished the supplies that had run short during their journey, her eyes gleaming with interest as she examined herbs and materials that bore no resemblance to those of the Central Plains.
“There’s truly so much to see here.”
“Um… Physician. Is it really alright to spend time like this?”
Unlike Chaeseoha, who wandered through the marketplace with a radiant smile, Namgung Yeon seemed at a loss, scarcely able to observe his surroundings.
The matter weighed upon him—they had left behind the injured Jin Cheon-u.
Even returning immediately felt insufficient given the circumstances, and lingering in the marketplace gnawed at his conscience.
“He’ll be fine. He’s the sort of man even the Grim Reaper cannot claim.”
“To… that extent?”
“Indeed. How many times has it been now? Has he perhaps befriended the messengers of the underworld?”
Chaeseoha shook her head with a wry smile, recalling Jin Cheon-u. The wound sustained in Anhui had been most grievous, yet thinking back further, it seemed almost miraculous that he had survived at all.
The notion crossed her mind—whether his childhood companion was the Grim Reaper himself, or perhaps his true father was not Jin Ga-muk but Yama instead.
“Moreover, having completely absorbed the essence of the Spirit Elixir, his vital energy is rapidly mending his body. He’ll be perfectly sound once he wakes.”
“A Spirit Elixir?”
“Such things exist.”
Chaeseoha shook her head with an enigmatic expression, as if recalling something from the past.
She had not forgotten that sight of the Obsidian Jade Essence being absorbed and vanishing. She was certain it would remain etched in her mind until her dying breath.
“Perhaps poison itself holds no sway over that man.”
“What do you mean by…?”
“Nothing, such things do exist.”
Chaeseoha furrowed her delicate brows in contemplation.
Typically, to craft an antidote elixir, one sought the Obsidian Jade most eagerly. It was said to neutralize the Thousand Poisons, making it the most potent remedy against toxins.
The fact that he had absorbed such a substance into his body suggested he might have gained similar effects.
Having pondered thus far, Chaeseoha clicked her tongue.
His family was the Nakhyang Jin Family, and his martial prowess was extraordinary.
And if poison itself could not touch him?
“A monster.”
Furthermore, by completely absorbing the Spirit Elixir of the Sega into himself, he had gained healing power several times greater than ordinary men—truly, even calling him a monster seemed insufficient.
Yama as his true father, indeed.
Either way, it was something beyond belief.
With such thoughts occupying her mind, Chaeseoha began carefully selecting medicinal herbs.
No matter how swiftly he might recover, she would need to prepare a restorative broth to fortify his depleted body.
Her gaze, carrying a soft smile, turned toward Namgung Yeon.
I noticed she had been staring intently at one particular spot, and Chaeseoha naturally found herself following my gaze in the same direction.
In that moment, Chaeseoha could instantly discern what Namgung Yeon desired.
A sword.
Having lost her blade in the duel against Moryeong Hyeok, she now carried no weapon at all.
“Would you like to take a look?”
“Are you certain?”
“Why not? It’s only natural for a martial artist to develop interest in weapons.”
At those words, Namgung Yeon nodded with a bright smile and we moved forward. We arrived at the blacksmith’s forge with hurried steps, and countless weapons were displayed there—each one of exceptional quality.
Simply by looking at them, one could sense their sharpness.
Perhaps for this reason, Namgung Yeon’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Have you come seeking a sword? Then choose whichever you wish. I assure you, there is no one in Gansu who crafts finer weapons than I do.”
At that moment, a middle-aged man who had been working the bellows spoke up with evident pride.
True to his word, there was not a single poorly-made weapon among them.
In fact, several of the weapons appeared to be of such quality that they could rightfully be called legendary blades.
Namgung Yeon examined them for quite some time.
Soon, she discovered something and her eyes widened in astonishment.
On one wall of the blacksmith’s forge hung several weapons.
One was a dao, one was a sword, one was a spear, and one was a bow.
Among all the displayed weapons, nothing could compare to these—they commanded an overwhelming presence simply by their appearance.
Among them, what caught Namgung Yeon’s eye was naturally the sword.
As if symbolizing something profound, it was crafted entirely in pristine white, but what was most striking was the dragon motif exquisitely worked in silver upon the white scabbard—it was breathtakingly beautiful.
As Namgung Yeon let out a soft exclamation, the blacksmith chuckled and spoke.
“Those are not for sale. They were crafted by my ancestors across generations to honor the martial artists they most admired.”
“Then that sword as well…?”
“Yes, that is so. That blade is the work of my great-grandfather… It was created in honor of a martial artist who protected Gansu when the Demonic Sect rose in chaos.”
“The Demonic Sect….”
“Indeed. I cannot say how remarkable he was, but in any case, my great-grandfather spent the remainder of his life hammering away at that very sword before he passed. Later, my grandfather completed what he could not finish.”
At the mention of it being completed across three generations, both Namgung Yeon and Chaeseoha could not hide their astonishment.
Clearly, the respect they held for that martial artist ran very deep.
“Therefore, I regret to say it is a family heirloom and cannot be sold.”
“Ah….”
Namgung Yeon released a disappointed sigh.
Now that she had seen that sword, nothing else seemed to capture her attention. She turned her gaze to examine the other displayed weapons, but her hand did not readily reach for any of them.
“Well, I never expected to encounter you young ladies again in a place like this. It seems fate has drawn us together.”
Then, a voice suddenly rang out.
As Chaeseoha and Namgung Yeon turned their heads, they saw a group of men slowly approaching the blacksmith’s forge.
In an instant, Namgung Yeon stepped between Chaeseoha and them, her eyes narrowing.
“We harbor no ill intent. We also came to conduct business with the blacksmith here—it was simply that you young ladies were blocking the path.”
The foremost man spoke in an offhand manner while observing Namgung Yeon, who had swiftly positioned herself and readied her hands for any contingency. From that alone, I judged him to be a martial artist of considerable skill, and I shifted my gaze.
From the way he had quickly moved to intercept and prepared himself for whatever might come, it was clear he was no ordinary warrior.
Soon, the man’s gaze swept across Chaeseoha, who wore a veil, and with a regretful click of his tongue, he spoke again.
“May we pass through?”
Namgung Yeon silently led Chaeseoha back a step.
Even so, he remained vigilant and watched their movements, but it seemed they had not come with any ill intent—they simply brushed past with an oppressive presence and stood before the Blacksmith.
“It has been quite some time. I never expected to see your face again.”
“…I never expected you to visit either.”
“Haha, neither did I. The distance from Gilian to Nanju is considerable, and I had no desire to come—but you made me come.”
The atmosphere between the two men was somewhat peculiar.
The Blacksmith appeared intimidated, while the man gazed down with an aloof demeanor, his dismissive tone firmly capturing their attention.
Namgung Yeon, worried they might be drawn into a conflict, attempted to lead Chaeseoha backward, but a sudden voice made him freeze.
“If we leave, that man might suffer greatly.”
At Chaeseoha’s words, Namgung Yeon swallowed a groan.
Ordinarily, he could not know what transpired between the two, but interfering rashly in others’ affairs was never a wise choice.
The likelihood of incurring serious trouble was high.
Moreover, they were currently under the protection of the Nakhyang Jin Family, and her actions could bring shame upon the Sega’s name.
Thus, as he hesitated.
“Listen here, Master Geum. Why are you acting this way? Did I not say I would pay generously?”
“This blade was forged by my great-grandfather and grandfather. It is not something that can be sold—and asking for merely ten taels of silver is unreasonable, is it not?”
“Hahaha, what? Is that all it was? Then I shall add five more taels. Surely this exceeds the blade’s value, does it not?”
“Ten taels of silver….”
Ten taels of silver was undoubtedly a substantial sum.
However, it fell far short of what a blade called a “famous sword” should be worth, amounting merely to the price of a reasonably good blade.
As Chaeseoha listened to their exchange, her gaze turned toward the white blade.
Though she did not understand the world well, she prided herself on knowing better than Namgung Yeon.
Even by her eyes, the intricate and elaborate ornamentation alone far exceeded the value of ten taels.
Though she could not draw the blade to inspect it, the fact that the smithy had been maintained for such a long time spoke to considerable skill.
And considering that the current Master’s abilities were inherited from his predecessors, the blade’s true worth must be substantial.
Chaeseoha looked once more at the Blacksmith and the men.
Though she could not gauge how formidable these men were, the Blacksmith’s demeanor alone revealed he held a considerable position.
If left as things stood, they would undoubtedly seize it.
She deliberated carefully.
What would Jin Cheon-u have done?
Her gaze briefly turned toward Namgung Yeon, and she smiled as though the answer was not even worth considering.
He would certainly.
“I shall buy it.”
“Eh?!”
She reached out and snatched the purse that Namgung Yeon held—Jin Cheon-u’s purse. Upon checking its contents, she involuntarily let out a whistle.
Gold coins and silver taels tumbled about in quantities difficult to count.
Just how much was all of this…
After gazing at the glimmering gold and silver for some time, Chaeseoha, following Jin Cheon-u’s sensibilities, unhesitatingly withdrew coins and cast them forth.
I couldn’t discern who this man before me was, but the sum he was asking for was far more than I could produce on the spot.
“Gasp?!”
“Are you selling it?”
Master Geum swallowed hard as he watched the money in Chaeseoha’s hand.
The men observing the situation were equally astounded.
The amount she’d casually produced was ten taels of gold.
Jin Cheon-u once said, ‘Spend money like water.’
What was it again?
Some nonsense followed about how money returns when spent, but she had no interest in such things and simply erased it from her mind, handing over the funds without hesitation.
The fact that it wasn’t even her own money helped considerably.
She then turned her gaze toward Master Geum.
“Will you sell it? Looking at it now, keeping it seems like it would only be a loss.”
“…Ah, very well!”
Master Geum rushed inside without further deliberation and returned with the sword hanging from the wall.
He seemed to recognize that holding out would be meaningless, and that selling for such a substantial sum was the better choice.
Chaeseoha, gripping a sword for the first time, was clearly startled by its weight and trembled as she handed it to Namgung Yeon with difficulty.
“This is….”
“It’s for him. A delivery fee.”
“Is that… truly acceptable?”
“Don’t worry about it. For him, it wouldn’t even amount to pocket change.”
At Chaeseoha’s words, Namgung Yeon smiled bitterly as she examined the blade.
The hilt fit perfectly into her hand, as if it had found its true master.
She drew it slightly, and with a sharp metallic ring, an incomparably keen blade revealed itself.
“…!”
It would be no exaggeration to call it a legendary sword.
Namgung Yeon, startled, looked toward Master Geum, who smiled bitterly and spoke.
“I heard it was forged for what was called the Number One Sword Sect of that era. I pray their valor dwells within you, young lady.”
“That era… the Number One Sword Sect….”
At those words, Namgung Yeon held her breath and gripped the sword with greater force.
As she closed her eyes and fell into contemplation, Chaeseoha quietly turned her head to observe the man watching them.
Though the cloth obscured the details, his face appeared flushed red, as if he’d suffered considerable humiliation.
It seemed we needed to leave hastily.
We’d obtained the medicinal herbs and the sword.
With the carriage and provisions likely prepared by now, we should depart before any troublesome complications arose.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Just as Chaeseoha hurriedly pulled Namgung Yeon away from the spot.
A man’s voice suddenly rang out.
“Wait, young lady.”
“What is it?”
“I am Hyeon Illyang of the Kireyon Hyeon Family. Have you perhaps heard of me?”
His gaze was indifferent, yet his eyes gleamed with a razor-sharp intensity.
It was merely the utterance of a name, and yet it carried the weight of a threat—a sensation that was undoubtedly no mere illusion.
Hah—
Chaeseoha drew a subtle breath and smiled softly.
“I’m afraid I’ve never heard of you at all.”
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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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