The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 85

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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 146

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Hyeon Kang, the Family Head of the Gi Ryeon Hyeon Family, stared intently at his son before him.
His face was ashen, his expression hollow, his eyes trembling—he could not bring himself to meet his father’s gaze and kept his vision fixed downward.
To any observer, he appeared to be a man consumed by remorse for his crimes, yet such appearances did not erase the sins themselves.
And what a sin it was—he had lost all of the Gireonsageom.
The deaths of these elite warriors, the pride of the family, constituted a catastrophic loss.
All the wealth and time invested in cultivating them, the achievements and reputation painstakingly built to establish their names—all of it lay shattered to pieces.
Over a single blade.
Crack!
In that instant, unable to contain his fury, Hyeon Kang’s hand lashed across Hyeon Illyang’s cheek.
With a sharp, violent sound that seemed to split the flesh, his son’s body was hurled backward, colliding with the wall and sliding down it.
He trembled violently, clutching his cheek with shaking hands.
“…I am sorry.”
“Who was it! Who was responsible!”
As if to prove his rage had reached its peak, Hyeon Kang’s roar thundered through the chamber.
His voice filled the room, piercing into every ear, yet Hyeon Illyang could only shake his head weakly in response.
He did not know who they were from the beginning.
He had merely glimpsed them briefly at the inn and pursued the carriage as it departed.
Unlike his own group, which had revealed their identities, the two women had not even disclosed their names, leaving him utterly ignorant.
Hyeon Kang’s brow furrowed even deeper at this revelation.
Crack!
Another sharp, vicious sound echoed as skin split open, and Hyeon Illyang’s head struck the wall hard, drawing a cry of pain.
Though his son’s pitiful state might have stirred a father’s compassion, Hyeon Kang’s eyes betrayed no such emotion whatsoever.
‘What a worthless fool!’
He was hopelessly inadequate.
In Hyeon Kang’s mind, the image of Jin Cheon-u, the Young Master of the Jin Family of Luoyang, whom he had witnessed at the Gongdong Faction, remained vivid.
The overwhelming martial prowess he displayed—stepping forward confidently before the masses and instantly felling Moryeong Hyeok, hailed as the strongest of the Changrong Faction—had shocked even Hyeon Kang.
Comparing his own son to such a Jin Cheon-u.
That they were of the same age seemed unbelievable, and his fury reached its zenith at the sheer incompetence of it all.
He could not help but make the comparison.
Irritated by these thoughts, Hyeon Kang withdrew his gaze from his son, whom he had been regarding coldly, and shouted toward the outside.
“Are you out there!”
“Yes, Family Head.”
At Hyeon Kang’s call, the door opened and a man entered.
His gaze was heavy, his aura sharp and cutting.
Truly one of the most formidable experts of the Gi Ryeon Hyeon Family.
He bowed his head toward the Family Head.
“Create a wanted poster for the Yongmopa and place a bounty on it. Let them feel deeply what it means to challenge the Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga!”
“Understood.”
Hyeon Kang watched the man hurriedly leave with a bow, his eyes narrowing as he ground his teeth.
“They will never escape Gansu.”

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It was four days later when Namgung Yeon opened his eyes after obtaining the Jaseodan. My initial expectation that a single day would suffice was completely overturned.
There was a reason this took longer than anticipated.
One was that Namgung Yeon’s understanding of the heart method was considerably lacking, and the other was that the Jaseodan’s effects proved far more potent than expected.
As a result, the Namgung Yeon who opened his eyes was not the same as before.
Having absorbed a substantial amount, his eyes and bearing had transformed completely.
Even he seemed uncomfortable with the Jaseodan’s energy filling his dantian, as though it felt unfamiliar.
Leading such a Namgung Yeon, I entered Lanzhou once more.
With time running short, I moved with haste.
I received food at an inn, then went outside and purchased a carriage.
It was a serviceable one, capable of navigating even narrow mountain paths well.
I boarded the carriage and set my course toward Xinjiang.
Naturally, Chaeseoha and Namgung Yeon took the reins.
Seeing the two women sitting on the driver’s bench, I thought Chaeseoha might be teaching Namgung Yeon how to handle the carriage.
“We’re heading northwest, correct?”
“Yes, we’ll pass through Giryeon Mountain and exit through the Yumen Gate.”
“You’re quite peculiar, Young Master.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I heard you’ve barely left Luoyang, yet you know these places so well.”
Chaeseoha, sitting on the driver’s bench, glanced back slightly and asked me through the window opening.
At those words, I hesitated briefly before laughing it off.
“I might embark on a journey someday, so I memorized maps thoroughly. If you have the time, try it yourself. It’s surprisingly entertaining.”
“Ha— I’d rather spend that time handling medicinal herbs. But Giryeon Mountain… is it really safe?”
“It’s not safe at all.”
I shook my head at her slightly anxious tone.
The Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga was situated at the base of Giryeon Mountain. As a result, we were now advancing toward enemy territory. It was natural to feel uneasy.
Moreover, the Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga was not the only problem.
The area around Giryeon Mountain was where the most martial sects were concentrated in Gansu.
First, there was the Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga, which could be called Gansu’s second power.
Following them, the Xueshan Sect and the Mingsha Mountain Sect fiercely competed over the same territory, which meant the area had the most martial artists gathered in Gansu.
Not only disciples supporting each faction and force, but wandering warriors as well.
One might wonder why such a place was a threat, but it was because the Xueshan Sect and the Mingsha Mountain Sect operated under the influence of the Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga.
Since the Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga controlled most of the commercial interests, the two sects situated in what could be called a remote area of Gansu had few ways to survive without their assistance.
I had become economically dominated by them.
If the Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga were to seek our help in capturing us, what then?
There was no way they could turn away.
I glanced subtly at Namgung Yeon, visible from the coachman’s seat.
“Are you managing alright?”
“Yes, I’m gradually working to become accustomed to it.”
“Gradually won’t do. Your role is most critical from this point forward. As you can see… I’m in this condition, aren’t I?”
I let out a soft laugh and gestured to the bandages wrapped around my body.
The battle with Hoyeon had been fierce, and the deep wounds had yet to fully heal.
Thanks to Chaeseoha’s treatment, I was recovering at a rapid pace, but I was still far from full strength, and I intended to conserve my body as much as possible until reaching Namman.
My body needed rest as well.
Chaeseoha had agreed to this as well.
There was only one reason I was trying to restore myself to full condition.
I withdrew a letter from my breast.
It had arrived from Yang Jachun.
He had gathered all the rumors circulating and sent them to me, and upon reading it, I came to understand one crucial fact.
“Yeom Ji-hak…”
Two demons appeared with the mist.
Few had seen their forms in detail, but judging from the circumstances alone, it was certainly Yeom Ji-hak, the vice-lord of the Snake Horn, and Chu Won, the vice-lord of the Spirit Horn.
The reason they continued moving westward?
It was obvious.
It was likely because Yeom Ji-hak, who had suffered in Anhui, harbored suspicions about whether the one he had faced was truly the Demon King.
Or perhaps he had even discerned something about the curved jade.
In any case, conflict with them was unavoidable.
Moreover, the fact that two vice-lords were moving meant that those who served them, though unseen, were certainly following in their wake.
Therefore, I had to ensure my body was in perfect condition.
“This time… I will kill him for certain.”
I recalled Yeom Ji-hak with blazing eyes.
I would kill him with my own hands without fail.
The shock of those who had aided me falling one by one to his hands had been considerable, but I could not forget the face of Jang Chuchyeong, which had rolled severed at the peak of Mount Taeak.
Therefore, him alone—I would sever his neck with my own hands.
With that resolve, I steadied my breathing.
Then.
A commotion erupted outside.
I turned my head slightly to the side and looked outward.
In an instant, I saw several ronin deploying their lightness technique and rushing toward us.
“Namgung Yeon.”
“Yes?”
“Enemies.”
“…!”
Only then did Namgung Yeon realize the situation and hastily turned his head. His eyes widened as he saw a dozen figures rushing toward the carriage like madmen.
“There! It matches the Moyong appearance perfectly!”
“No doubt about it! The bounty is mine!”
“Hahaha! Let’s catch him first, then worry about that.”
A dozen ronin picked up speed, their eyes blazing with fervor.
I couldn’t tell how much the bounty was, but if it could make ronin’s eyes roll back like that, it had to be at least gold.
I let out a soft chuckle and leisurely crossed my arms.
Then I kept my gaze on Namgung Yeon, watching.
What will you do?
“Doctor, can you increase the carriage’s speed?”
“I’ll try.”
“Young Master, there are many of them, so I’ll create distance first.”
“Do as you see fit.”
This situation unfolding in Gansu is led by Namgung Yeon. I watch from behind, intending to give her even a small amount of additional experience.
Her talent and skill are sufficient, but compensating for what could be called her weakness—experience—is the priority.
Moreover, there couldn’t be a better situation than this to practice controlling the inner energy that increased thanks to Jaseodan.
In the moment I was watching with a smile on my face.
Namgung Yeon rose from her seat and looked at the ronin pursuing from behind.
“Stand back!”
“Ahahaha! There’s ten taels of gold on your heads! What madman would let that slip away?”
“Besides, they said we’d get an even better reward if we bring you back alive, so why refuse?”
The ronin burst into laughter and increased their speed further.
As they rapidly deployed their lightness technique and rushed forward, the distance began to narrow steadily.
Namgung Yeon watched this and narrowed her eyes.
Then she slowly drew her sword.
She closed her eyes tightly as if contemplating something, and when she opened them, her gaze shone with a sharpness unlike any before.
In an instant, she swung.
Shhhhaaaa—!
A crescent-shaped sword aura stretched forth and flew at a terrifying speed.
Did they sense the weighty power contained within it?
The ronin cried out in alarm and scattered in all directions.
Boom—!
The sword aura that followed struck the ground and exploded, revealing its power.
The earth was carved deeply, and rocks and soil scattered and flew in all directions.
Among those who hastily dodged, several were caught in the shockwave and tumbled across the ground.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Ugh?!”
“…What kind of inner energy…!”
At the voices that reached her ears, Namgung Yeon let out a soft groan.
This strike would certainly produce a different result than what she had anticipated.
She must have wanted sharpness imbued with keen energy rather than blunt force—to slice through the earth itself rather than shatter it.
A consequence of failing to control my inner power.
Yet perhaps this misfortune transformed into fortune, for as they startled at the fragments and hesitated for a moment, the carriage surged forward with greater speed.
“Hold on tight!”
It was Chaeseoha who made this possible.
Accustomed now to handling the carriage, she wielded the whip without hesitation.
The speed increased further, but the problem was that gradually, almost imperceptibly, her manner of driving the carriage was beginning to resemble Gu Gunbaek’s.
It lurched violently, swaying side to side.
Though I sat with my arms crossed, I felt my body jostled back and forth repeatedly and let out a small groan.
“Drive more carefully.”
“If I don’t push like this, we’ll lose the carriage again like last time.”
Unwilling to accept that possibility, Chaeseoha gritted her teeth even harder.
Chaeseoha gradually mastering the carriage with fluid control, and Namgung Yeon gripping his sword, vigilant of our surroundings to protect us.
Perhaps they were better matched than I had initially thought.
I turned my head with a faint smile.
“They’re coming again.”
At the presence I sensed, both women’s gazes shifted.
Several men emerged from the undergrowth.
They were clearly different from those we had seen moments before.
It appeared our route had already been discerned by them.
Clang! Whoooosh!
Then the sharp ring of Namgung Yeon’s sword strikes echoed loudly.
I found myself curious about how much longer Namgung’s blade could endure.

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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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