The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 82

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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 143

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“What in blazes is that woman?”
“Gold… ten taels, handed over without hesitation. It’s unbelievable.”
At those words, Hyeon Illyang’s brow furrowed deeply.
The Giryeon County figures were indeed known to possess considerable wealth throughout Gansu. Even now, they carried roughly ten taels of silver in their purses, along with a fair number of promissory notes.
Yet even if all of that were combined, it would scarcely amount to two taels of silver, and here she had purchased an unknown blacksmith’s blade for ten taels of gold without hesitation.
Even the Jin Family of Nakhyang, whose wealth flowed like water, would not commit such an act.
Either that woman’s eye was sharp enough to discern the true worth of an object without even drawing the blade, or something else was at play.
“Never have I seen such misfortune.”
Hyeon Illyang let out a hollow laugh, his expression darkening.
There was no point in venting his frustration on the blacksmith.
“What shall we do? Wasn’t that the blade Young Master So was after?”
At his subordinate’s words, a groan escaped Hyeon Illyang’s lips.
Of course, that blade was no ordinary weapon.
Whether the woman’s eye was exceptional or not, compared to the other items displayed alongside it, this one was far superior, and anyone who knew its value would demand far more than ten taels of gold.
The sharpness of the edge, the exquisite craftsmanship, the perfectly straight blade.
It was even beautiful.
He had intended it as a birthday gift for his father, thinking it would eventually become his own, which made the sting all the greater.
Though he should have let go of his regret now that it was lost, like a lust that must be expelled once it ignites, his obsession with what he had lost before his very eyes only deepened.
From childhood, he had obtained whatever he desired.
“Where are those women now?”
“I shall search for them—”
Clop clop clop—!
Then.
A large carriage suddenly passed down the middle of the street.
Seeing such a grand carriage was quite rare, so people’s gazes naturally turned toward it, and in that instant, Hyeon Illyang’s eyes widened.
The women he had seen at the blacksmith’s shop were seated on the driver’s bench.
With such vast sums spent and riding in such an ornate carriage, it was unmistakably clear they were children of high officials or wealthy families.
Yet this was Gansu, and among the officials or those wielding power and influence in Gansu, there existed no women unknown to Hyeon Illyang.
Then it could only mean one thing: these two women were not from Gansu.
If the aftermath was handled properly, everything would go as desired.
As a bonus, he could even claim a woman of unparalleled beauty.
Was this not killing two birds with one stone?
With his mind made up, Hyeon Illyang’s eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“Follow them.”
“Yes!”
No matter what happened, I could not afford to miss this opportunity.

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“You know how to drive a carriage?”
Namgung Yeon could not hide his astonishment as he watched Chaeseoha maneuver the large carriage with such ease.
He knew she was skilled in medicine, but given her nature, he had assumed she would never bother to learn something like driving a carriage.
“It’s because of Master Gu. His way of driving was rather… quite rough.”
“Ah-.”
“You have to do whatever it takes to survive.”
Chaeseoha shuddered at the memory of how Gu Gunbaek used to drive. In the end, to stay alive, she had to take turns with Jang Chuchyeong driving the carriage, and that’s how she learned.
It was thanks to Gu Gunbaek in a sense, but it was certainly not something she had wanted to learn.
“Anyway, those men from earlier—do you know who they are? They seemed quite famous.”
“I’m not entirely sure… In Gansu, I only know of the Gongdong Faction.”
Namgung Yeon furrowed her brow and shook her head.
Most of the martial sects and great families she knew of came from Namgung Baek’s mouth.
Naturally, if he hadn’t mentioned them, she didn’t know of them.
Even Anhui and Gansu.
Given the considerable distance, she had never paid them much attention.
“In any case, I’m relieved we escaped quickly. Getting entangled with such people never ends well…”
“I share that sentiment. And… thank you for the sword.”
“Ah- I heard a bit earlier that the craftsman’s great-grandfather made it thinking of the Number One Sword Sect? Could it be…?”
“Judging by how it’s said to have stopped the Demonic Cult’s movements, it must be. It feels almost… like a family heirloom has returned.”
Namgung Yeon gripped the sword in her hand tightly and held it close.
Though it could not be called a possession of the Namgung family since it was made to honor the Namgung clan that once wielded great renown, simply holding it felt as though the ancestors of that era were protecting her.
The heavy burden seemed to lighten somewhat.
Namgung Yeon then carefully looked at Chaeseoha.
“I heard that you, the physician, are a descendant of the Uiseon family. Do you have any heirlooms?”
“Ah- that? I had them. Two of them, in fact. But not anymore.”
As unwanted memories surfaced again, she smiled brightly and looked at Namgung Yeon.
Her tone was quite cheerful.
Rather, it was so bright that it seemed to say: ask no further.
Because of this, Namgung Yeon was curious but could not ask.
She felt an unease that if she pried thoughtlessly, she would have to jump down from the carriage and run away.
Just as she quietly averted her gaze and held her breath.
Clop- clop-!
The rapid sound of hoofbeats came from behind the carriage.
As if chasing someone.
It was not simply moving at speed toward some destination.
Yes, it felt like something was chasing this carriage.
The moment I saw the approaching figures, my sense of foreboding deepened.
Turning back, I spotted five mounted riders.
If masked men came charging at a carriage in broad daylight, there was only one conclusion.
“Doctor!”
“I see them too! Hyah!”
Chaeseoha cracked the whip urgently, accelerating the carriage.
Masks could not hide their identities from us.
The incident in Nanzhou and those men.
With the numbers matching exactly, there was no need for further deliberation—they were undoubtedly figures from Giryeon County.
“Do they really think they can deceive us with this?”
“They’re not trying to. If they rob and kill everyone, who would know who they are?”
“…!”
Namgung Yeon clenched his teeth and drew his sword.
Having not yet experienced much of the martial world, he had been thinking far too simply about the situation.
As Chaeseoha said, they would know deception was impossible, and the most certain way to resolve it would be to kill them all or imprison them forever.
“Steel yourself. Your role is crucial, Namgung.”
At those words, Namgung Yeon nodded and steadied his resolve.
No matter how much we increased our speed, they were closing in far faster. It was clear as day that they would catch us soon.
Namgung Yeon slowly drew his sword.
He felt the familiar grip settle into his palm and regulated his breathing.
“I will protect you without fail.”
“I trust you.”
As I spoke, one of the men closed the distance.
They seemed intent on stopping the carriage, unleashing sword energy as they targeted the horses.
But Namgung Yeon’s blade was faster.
He smoothly received the incoming sword energy and twisted its trajectory.
“…!”
Simultaneously, moving to the edge of the driver’s seat, his sword lashed out sharply toward the approaching attacker.
Clang—!
The approaching man, caught off guard by this response, barely managed to parry and fell back.
“Hyah!”
Chaeseoha, seizing the moment, cracked the whip harder, causing the man’s horse to fall further behind as the carriage surged forward.
Namgung Yeon watched and leaped onto the carriage roof.
Maintaining balance on the jolting roof was difficult, but it was the most suitable position for defense.
“Ha! Impressive skills! But how long can you hold out?”
With the voice of the one at the rear, four mounted men accelerated further, and soon unleashed a torrent of sword energy.
And that was not all.
One of them drew close, and launching himself from the saddle, flew toward the carriage roof.
Whoosh—!
As the barrage of sword energy grazed my sleeve and I recoiled, the man who had launched himself landed on the roof beside me.
Namgung Yeon’s blade came hurtling down relentlessly.
Clang, clang, clang—!
Even as I struggled to maintain my balance, Namgung Yeon and I exchanged blade after blade in a fierce dance of attack and defense.
Then, Chaeseoha’s voice rang out.
“Jump!”
At her sharp cry, Namgung Yeon didn’t hesitate and threw herself forward.
Crash!
The carriage lurched violently as it struck a stone, and seeing me lose my footing, Namgung Yeon drove her blade forward.
Thwack—!
“Ugh?!”
I had aimed for the chest but missed, piercing the shoulder instead. Yet in this desperate moment, even such a wound was a significant advantage.
Seeing me grimace in pain and stumble back, Namgung Yeon extended her leg and swept it across my chest.
Crack—!
“Argh?!”
I tumbled from the carriage, rolling across the ground several times, my screams tearing through the air.
But soon regaining my senses, I whistled for my horse and leaped onto it, galloping away.
It was a pathetic retreat.
Namgung Yeon, gritting her teeth, shouted toward the figure who appeared to be Hyeon Illyang.
“This sword was purchased by us fairly!”
“Ha—don’t you know that in the martial world, treasures have no owner? Why not hand it over to someone of such distinguished standing as yourself?”
Hyeon Illyang’s gaze shifted from Namgung Yeon to Chaeseoha on the driver’s seat. With her veil torn away by the wind, she was nothing short of breathtaking.
Hyeon Illyang smiled pleasantly and spoke again.
“I shall spare your lives.”
“Spared only to be locked away, never knowing if the sun rises or sets outside.”
“Even a dunghill is better than the afterlife, wouldn’t you say? Ha ha.”
With those words, Hyeon Illyang drew his blade.
To anyone watching, this was no longer a situation for negotiation.
No matter how silver my tongue, it would never reach the ears of these two women. It seemed the time had come to stop the carriage and sever their last thread of hope.
Hyeon Illyang’s gaze fixed on the horses pulling the carriage.
In that instant, he channeled his inner force into his blade and unleashed a sharp, precise strike.
Whoosh—!
“Doctor!”
The sword energy that shot forth severed the reins binding the carriage to the horses.
The horses bolted free, and the great carriage dragged along the ground before lurching violently, nearly tipping over.
In that moment, Namgung Yeon gritted her teeth and threw herself forward.
She rushed to the driver’s seat and barely caught Chaeseoha as she flew through the air like a severed kite string, then pushed off with all her might.
Crash, bang, bang—
As we leaped away, the carriage flipped and shattered behind us.
“Are you all right?”
“Ah… yes, I’m fine. What about you, young lady?”
“I’m fine as well, but the situation doesn’t look particularly favorable.”
Namgung Yeon offered a bitter smile as he surveyed his surroundings.
The horse that had been tied to the carriage had fled, and the carriage itself lay in ruins.
Even if I wanted to escape, with them already positioned and swords drawn, it seemed far from simple.
Moreover, I had to protect Chaeseoha, who didn’t even know martial arts, while facing five opponents.
It was truly the worst possible situation.
I wished Jang Chuchyeong were here at a time like this.
Today, of all days, I found myself missing that damned bastard.
Four masked men had already encircled the two women.
Among them, one stood out with eyes blazing with fury—the man whose shoulder blade had been pierced moments before.
Looking at those eyes alone, it seemed he would tear me to shreds.
Feeling such murderous intent, Namgung Yeon offered a bitter smile and steeled himself.
“You should know who you’re laying hands on.”
“I’ll return those words in kind. And regardless of who you are, this is Gansu, and I am the Young Master of Giryeon County.”
Hyeon Illyang, taking considerable pride in being from Giryeon County, sneered instead and leveled his sword.
Since capturing and imprisoning them—or simply killing them—would resolve the matter cleanly enough, perhaps he saw no need to worry excessively about consequences.
Namgung Yeon steadied his breathing once more.
Just as Hyeon Illyang had thought moments before, I now clearly understood that words alone could not break through this predicament.
Then there was only one conclusion.
“My blade will be… somewhat sharp.”
A direct breakthrough was the only way.

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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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