The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 9

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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 9

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“Aaaaaahhhhh!”
“Hiiiieeek!”
Countless people bound to chairs wailed in agony. Even as they screamed for death, the torturer paid no heed to their pleas.
He merely smacked his lips and continued his work with relish, savoring each moment of their suffering.
He branded them with hot irons and flayed their skin. He pulled out fingernails and severed fingers, carefully avoiding the arteries as he carved away flesh with methodical precision.
“Kill me, please kill me….”
“I was wrong, I was wrong! Please, spare me!”
The man torturing them gazed calmly at the dozen mangled figures before him. Seated where he could see them best, he ate thin noodles to satisfy his hunger, a faint smile playing at his lips.
These wretches were those captured in this incident.
He was attempting to extract information through torture, but since nothing of value had emerged, the interrogation continued without end.
Yet from the gleam in his eyes, it seemed he was enjoying even this.
He set down his chopsticks and rose from his seat.
Grasping a skewer in hand, he approached slowly with a sinister grin.
He stopped before the one who appeared most broken.
The figure’s eyes, lifeless as a dead fish, trembled visibly.
Thwack—!
“Guuuugh—!”
“Kyaaaaaaah!”
“Please, spare me! Please!”
The man did not hesitate.
He drove the skewer straight through the bridge of the nose.
The moment the corpse’s head drooped, the man—the skewer still embedded—turned his gaze toward a nearby maid.
The instant their eyes met, the maid’s body convulsed violently.
A foul stench rose—whether from fear or worse.
As the man’s hand began to rise again, the door opened and someone entered.
The man turned with a look of profound disappointment, bowing respectfully.
“You have arrived?”
“Yes. What have you learned?”
“I am extracting everything they know, but their story remains consistent—they claim Hong Gu-hyeon paid them to do it, nothing more.”
At those words, Yu Hyeon’s brow twitched.
Though I did not know how much Hong Gu-hyeon had distributed, the salaries paid by Sega were already substantial compared to other organizations.
Yet he had still been greedy enough to seek more?
I found myself at a loss for words.
Yu Hyeon, his expression remaining stern, examined the papers laid to one side.
They were records of the information these captives had divulged.
He checked each one carefully and shook his head.
“Young Master, there’s not a single flaw in what you said.”
Yu Hyeon took a measured breath at such thoughts.

“Torture won’t yield anything. Men like Hong Gu-hyeon—those with real substance—they resist to the bitter end and die rather than break.”

During the suppression, just as Jin Cheon-u had said, there were those who resisted until the very end. Even those barely captured had bitten their tongues and chosen death.
If Jin Cheon-u’s words were true, then those men were the genuine article.
But now it no longer mattered.
As if bound by some unspoken pact, they had all chosen death.
Despite knowing that torture would be meaningless, Jin Cheon-u had ordered it precisely to demonstrate the terror of the Nakhyang Jin Family.
The anguished screams that echoed through the torture chamber spilled outward.
The horrific sounds that drifted through the corridors continued day and night without respite. No matter how desperately one wished to cover their ears, it was impossible to escape them.
Through such terror, people sealed their lips in fear.
Truly a cruel method, yet precisely because of that, it was the most effective.
Yu Hyeon drew another measured breath.
“Dig a bit deeper. It seems there’s still more to uncover.”
“Understood.”
The moment those words left his mouth, the faces of the captives drained of all color, and the man’s lips curled upward in a grim smile.

* * *

The Unryong Inn in Nakhyang is grand and ornate enough to warrant the title of flagship establishment. Spanning seven floors, each ascending level revealed a dramatic transformation—the prices climbed steadily, and the aesthetic refinement became increasingly pronounced.
The seventh floor, in particular, was breathtakingly magnificent.
From that vantage point, one could survey the entire expanse of Nakyang Streets below, creating the intoxicating illusion of presiding over all who dwelled beneath.
The cost reflected this exclusivity—securing a table required gold coins, and even the prepared dishes demanded payment in silver. It was a place accessible only to those with substantial wealth.
No amount of influence could grant entry without sufficient coin.
This seventh floor, which seemed to embody the principle that everything in the world could be purchased, was where I, Chu Hyeongi, and the woman took our seats.
“Good heavens—what is all this?”
Chu Hyeongi swept his gaze across the surroundings, his tongue clicking in amazement.
Though he had visited the Unryong Inn before, he had never ascended to the seventh floor. The splendor and vistas before him seemed to have utterly captivated him.
Like a provincial rustic beholding North Beijing Street for the first time.
I found myself smiling despite myself.
“Since you were so eager to come, enjoy the view to your heart’s content.”
“Of course! I’ll look my fill. But… you’re buying dinner, yes?”
“Yes, eat as much as you wish.”
“Thank you!”
“However… remain silent.”
.
At my words, Chu Hyeongi clamped his mouth shut and nodded, his eyes darting between me and the woman.
Even someone lacking perception would have grasped the situation instantly.
That we had come to this place for some matter of importance.
Then, a refined voice reached my ears.
“Truly impressive. I had only heard tales of this place, and I must say my curiosity has been thoroughly rewarded.”
Baek Jin-hwa spoke with subtle eloquence, her smile serene and composed. The effect was undeniable—the very atmosphere around us seemed to brighten.
“I’m relieved it pleases you. I had anticipated competitive sentiment might lead to criticism.”
“Hehe, Hwaseon and Unryong exist in mutual coexistence. There is no cause for disparagement.”
Baek Jin-hwa’s laughter rippled softly through the air.
The door swung open, and servers streamed in with practiced efficiency. Each carried delicacies in one hand and an array of fine spirits in the other.
The lavish spread that materialized was so resplendent that even Baek Jin-hwa’s composure wavered, her tongue clicking in appreciation.
“The cuisine is extraordinary. Now I understand why Nakhyang claims it as the finest. Hehe.”
“It is merely a space that indulges the vanity of those with excess wealth and nowhere to spend it.”
My remark seemed to catch her off guard—Baek Jin-hwa’s eyes widened slightly as she regarded me. Yet her enchanting smile quickly returned, and she refilled my empty cup with practiced grace.
“A drink?”
“Gladly.”
I lifted the brimming cup and took a measured sip. The soft, refined taste of the spirits stirred something within me after so long.
I found myself smiling as I looked upon Baek Jin-hwa.
She, with eyes closed as she savored the flavor, slowly opened them and displayed an expression of genuine contentment.
A silent affirmation that the taste was exquisite.
“Setting that aside, your arrival suggests you have brought what I desire, does it not?”
“Of course. What other reason could there be?”
“Impressive. And so quickly at that.”
“I suspect Your Young Master would know more about our intelligence capabilities.”
She did not press the matter further.
How I had discovered the existence of the Hao Gate, or that she belonged to that organization—these questions remained unasked.
After all, my opponent was the Nakhyang Jin Family.
It was hardly surprising that they would possess knowledge of the Hao Gate, given how thoroughly they controlled information in the upper echelons of society.
Besides, such details held little significance in our present circumstances.
I refilled my empty cup with wine.
Only then did Baek Jin-hwa produce a single letter from her bosom and hand it to me.
“Her name is Chaeseoha. Twenty years of age. While her medical skills are exceptional, it is her striking beauty that has proven far more consequential—a woman who seems to draw trouble wherever she goes.”
“I see.”
“And so she deliberately disfigured her own face, only to fall ill while treating patients, leaving her visage grotesque. Now she avoids public view entirely, tending only to the poor and powerless in the slums—a physician of the forgotten.”
In that brief span of time, she had gathered remarkably detailed information.
Of course, there was nothing unusual about it.
Given Chaeseoha’s exceptional beauty, rumors of her had spread far and wide, so it was only natural that the Hao Gate would possess such knowledge as well.
But there were things they did not know. I lifted my cup and let out a soft, amused chuckle.
Baek Jin-hwa, her eyes fixed upon the letter, seemed not to notice my expression.
“This woman currently resides in Hwajeon Village, some distance from Nakhyang.”
“Is it close?”
“Even on horseback, the journey there and back would take a fortnight.”
The distance was greater than I had anticipated. A fortnight, moreover, coincided precisely with when those men would arrive in Nakhyang.
It seemed I would need to adjust my plans accordingly.
Fortunately, through my cultivation breathing technique, I was managing to suppress the poison’s influence to some degree, so the matter of detoxification could be postponed for now.
*Cough—*
“Is there anything else?”
“Well… the Imperial Court appears to be actively searching for this woman. As for their reasons, we have yet to uncover them. We dispatched people to investigate, but nothing has surfaced.”
At her words, I nodded in acknowledgment.
It was vital intelligence, so only a select few would know of it.
And since even those few were keeping their silence, it seemed that even the Hao Gate would find it difficult to obtain such information.
But that was acceptable.
I had already learned everything I needed to know.
I reached into my purse and produced silver coins, handing them over.
As Baek Jin-hwa accepted the payment we had previously agreed upon, a smile crossed her face.
“Thank you, Young Master. I hope this cooperative relationship will continue.”
“Indeed, I share that sentiment.”
“Hehe— then shall we have another drink?”
As Baek Jin-hwa raised her cup, I lifted mine as well.
After drinking once more, Baek Jin-hwa’s eyes, still gleaming with that captivating smile, fixed directly upon me.
“By the way, Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“Did you rest well last night?”
“….”
“Hehehehe.”
I lifted my chopsticks and fixed my gaze squarely on Baek Jin-hwa.
I could tell from her gleaming eyes and expression alone.
That she already knew to some extent what had transpired within Sega.
Well, the intelligence concerning the Nakhyang Jin Family was certainly valuable enough to trade.
Naturally, she would be keeping constant watch, so it was impossible for her not to know.
I found myself smiling without thinking.
“I slept soundly for the first time in ages. *Cough*. Thanks to that, I feel quite refreshed today.”
“Is that so? I rather thought you must have slept even less.”
“Have you ever had a tooth that ached extracted?”
“Not yet.”
“It’s quite relieving. So much so that I fell into a deep sleep despite the commotion.”
“Hehehehe.”
Baek Jin-hwa covered her mouth delicately and burst into laughter.
It seemed she had grasped that some disturbance had occurred. However, she appeared not to know precisely what had happened.
Since those within were enforcing strict silence, even the Hao Gate could not easily learn everything.
Her eyes alone betrayed her curiosity.
She must have been desperate to dig deeper by any means.
I refilled my empty cup and opened my mouth.
“Soon enough… I’ll be recruiting people on a large scale.”
“People?”
“Yes, I need to replenish our numbers.”
Upon hearing this, Baek Jin-hwa nodded and her eyes sparkled. She seemed to have grasped the meaning behind the words—that we needed to replenish our personnel.
She undoubtedly connected it to last night’s events.
I made no effort to deny it.
After all, deceiving the Hao Gate completely would be impossible right now, at least not in this situation.
So then, all the better.
I could turn it to my advantage instead.
“The Hao Gate has quite a number of people, doesn’t it?”
“Hehe— of course we do. Shall I send you some capable ones?”
“That’s an excellent idea.”
“…Yes?”
It was Baek Jin-hwa who was taken aback by my sudden agreement. She looked at me with a startled expression.
For her to place Hao Gate people meant that information from the Nakhyang Jin Family would continue to leak outward, and I had just affirmed that.
I gazed at Baek Jin-hwa’s wide eyes and curled my lips upward before breaking into a cough.
*Cough*—
“I need people from the Hao Gate. Quite a few of them, actually.”
“…!”
I could see Baek Jin-hwa’s pupils tremble at my words.
Yes, the snare was being prepared slowly and methodically.

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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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