The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 92

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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 153

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An overwhelming spectacle created by nature itself.
The massive cave entrance before my eyes was a place that could not possibly have been carved by human hands.
Simply gazing upon it inspired a sense of oppression.
Seeing Gu Gunbaek seated there, I couldn’t help but think that this cave was the very symbol of the Beast Palace, and perhaps the dwelling place of its master.
Moreover, just as he had said, there were no buildings to be found anywhere nearby.
Only woven grass bedding lay scattered across the ground, and in some places, I could see it hanging from the trees.
As if, wherever one could lie down became a bed, and the wind itself served as a blanket.
There were no inns, no cloth merchants, not even places to purchase basic necessities, yet those living here seemed entirely unbothered by such lack.
That was what made it all the more remarkable.
I quietly turned my gaze away.
Countless Namman warriors had gathered in one place.
They were all rugged men, and with appearances that wouldn’t seem out of place calling them savages, merely standing beside them was suffocating.
Every slight brush against them revealed such overwhelming musculature that I wondered if they didn’t consider someone without muscles to be human at all.
This was not limited to the men alone.
The women were the same.
Simply watching them squeeze fruit juice with nothing but brute strength, I could sense they invested considerable effort not just in inner cultivation, but in physical training as well.
Imagine if such people were to invade the Central Plains.
To the people of the Central Plains, they would be as terrifying as the Demonic Cult itself.
There was one more thing—these people resembled beasts.
I’m not merely speaking of their aura.
Their appearance, their movements, their eyes, their expressions.
Having lived like animals their entire lives, they gave off a feeling similar to the creatures they raised.
Perhaps because of that.
Sniff, sniff, sniff—!
Growwwwl—
Screech, screech—!
Beasts surrounded us on all sides.
“Ugh….”
A wolf approached Chaeseoha’s side and sniffed her for a long while before opening its massive jaws and inserting her head into its mouth.
Already frightened by the beasts scattered everywhere, she went rigid with a pale complexion, and a man’s laughter erupted.
“Hehehehe! This beast knows a pretty one when it sees one! Don’t worry, friend. That means it won’t eat you.”
“…Is that so? For something like that, there’s an awful lot of drool…Are you sure it’s not just…?”
“Hehe! I’m serious, don’t worry.”
Chaeseoha, now covered entirely in wolf saliva, looked at me with an expression of utter horror.
Her eyes clearly pleaded for help, but I simply ignored her and turned my gaze away.
What I saw before me was Chu Hyeongi, surrounded by countless Namman warriors.
“Excellent.”
Watching him stand there, unleashing successive punches and kicks at those around him—his demeanor had undeniably transformed since we departed from Sega.
His gaze, his expression, his very presence.
The sensation of observing a different person altogether was no illusion.
It was not only I who perceived this, for Namgung Yeon also kept his eyes fixed upon Chu Hyeongi, scarcely able to look away.
Then.
Someone approached and placed an arm around my shoulder.
“What do you think? I molded him into this. Ahahaha!”
“What exactly did you do to achieve such a result?”
“What do you mean what? I simply told him to strike relentlessly. Without distinction between man and beast.”
“I heard as much. He apparently destroyed the entire Nok-rim.”
“Merely crushing some bandits—hardly worth mentioning.”
“…Was he not the Nok-rim King? Is that truly acceptable?”
In that instant, Gu Gunbaek’s brow twitched.
Simultaneously, the warriors of Yasugung who heard my words suddenly converged, encircling me and Gu Gunbaek as if forming a formation, before breaking into suppressed laughter.
“Kahahaha! Bandits? Don’t tell me the Palace Master actually played bandit king?”
“The Nok-rim King? Truly? The Palace Master did something so shameful?”
“I told you. Our Palace Master would do it. I was certain.”
“Hihihihi! What a madman! With nothing else to do, he goes about playing bandit?”
Raucous laughter erupted from all directions.
The fact that the Palace Master of the renowned Namman Yasugung had once played the Nok-rim King was treated not as shocking, but as ridicule.
As a result, Gu Gunbaek’s face flushed crimson.
Witnessing this, I could not help but be astonished.
So he did understand the concept of shame.
“Do you all wish to die? I said it wasn’t me!”
“Then what of that fellow’s account?”
“The fool misunderstood! Listen here, do I look like someone who would entangle himself with mere bandits?”
Well.
I wished to answer as such, yet I could not bring myself to do so. Gu Gunbaek’s piercing gaze and expression exerted an intense pressure upon me.
It seemed that opening my mouth carelessly would leave not even bones to gather.
“Of course not, sir. You are certainly not such a person, are you?”
“Kyakakaka! I am exactly such a person, am I not? It seems you have misunderstood?”
“Ah, please, do not intimidate. What manner of Palace Master lacks dignity and glares so readily?”
With reproaches coming from all sides, Gu Gunbaek’s expression grew increasingly sinister.
Did you sense the ominous aura emanating from him?
Those who had been mocking him moments before lowered their tails and quietly slipped away.
At last, only Gu Gunbaek and I remained.
“Ahem! Though they may appear foolish, they are the finest masters of Namman. Show them proper respect.”
“Indeed, they appear to be.”
“More importantly, tell me what happened in Gansuk. What’s all this commotion about?”
“You heard about it?”
“My ears work just fine, you fool. Should I stuff some earwax from those bastards into yours to block them up?”
At his crude words, I shook my head with a wry smile.
Had coming to Namman lifted his spirits?
His speech and mannerisms had grown considerably rougher than usual.
Yet it didn’t feel particularly unpleasant, so I willingly recounted what had transpired in Gansuk.
With each word I spoke, Gu Gunbaek couldn’t help but marvel.
Especially when hearing about the process of dismantling Gi Ryeon-hyeon-ga, he burst into hearty laughter so loud that people soon gathered around us.
As my story finally concluded.
Clap clap clap!
Cheers erupted!
Exclamations and applause rang out from the people of Yasugung.
It wasn’t just the gathered crowd either.
Eagles perched in the trees cried out, monkeys chattered shrilly, and beasts growled.
As if they understood every word I had said.
It was truly a bizarre situation.
It was remarkable enough that humans and beasts mingled like this, but to act as if they comprehended speech?
Is this what Namman truly is?
Faced with this unprecedented experience, I let out a quiet laugh.
“Hahahaha! That’s right, that’s my disciple!”
Thump thump!
Gu Gunbaek slapped my back with his massive hand, bursting into laughter.
Though I had never formally become his disciple, I wondered if he considered me someone he had raised in his heart. But more than that, I suspected he was simply showing me off to those around him.
As expected.
The gathered crowd cast envious glances.
“Hmm… should I go to the Central Plains and take on a disciple too?”
“What? You’re going? I’m coming with you!”
“It’s too far and bothersome, so I’ll just capture some demon cult bastard nearby! Wait for me. I’ll be back soon…”
“Hey, you madman! Do you want to start another war?!”
The loud voices seemed never to cease.
With no sign of quiet coming anytime soon, the continuous roaring sounds made it feel as though a festival was in full swing.
As I sighed and turned my head.
“Ugh… Young Master…”
Jang Chuchyeong had approached without my noticing.
His face was haggard and his eyes sharp.
Yet he approached with a sorrowful expression before suddenly embracing me.
Since the sound of his weeping didn’t cease, I hesitated briefly before hastily pulling him away from my embrace.
“How disgusting.”
“No, it’s been so long since we met, and you’re being cruel!”
“Yes, have you been well all this time?”
“Well? Pah. If you knew how much I suffered, you’d faint. Ugh…”
Chu Hyeongi sighed deeply, his expression darkening as memories of his past torment resurfaced. It seemed too painful for him to even recall the extent of the harassment he’d endured.
Just as he was about to unburden himself of all that accumulated anguish, I sensed the conversation would grow lengthy and hastily covered his mouth.
“Still, your momentum has been refined considerably. Your presence has changed greatly as well.”
“He… hehe, does it really show? I worked incredibly hard, you know.”
“It shows. You’ve become a different person. At this rate, I’d say you could even defeat that Moryeong Hyeok now.”
“Puhahahaha! Moryeong Hyeok? That bastard with his shattered jaw isn’t even worth looking at! How could you even compare us!”
Whether he’d overheard the earlier conversation or not, Chu Hyeongi burst into scornful laughter.
It was impossible to imagine this was the same person who had trembled at the mere mention of Moryeong Hyeok’s name just a short while ago.
His confidence had grown that much.
That overflowing confidence now turned its arrow toward Namgung Yeon.
“And yet you, who couldn’t even defeat such a cripple…”
“Wh… what did you just say?”
In that instant, Namgung Yeon’s eyes flared with fury at the words he’d heard.
It was true that he had lost to Moryeong Hyeok, so he had no excuse to offer.
He merely trembled, his face flushed with shame.
“If you’re the Young Master’s guard, you should have defeated someone like that. How embarrassing. How shameful. I can’t even hold my head up.”
As I spoke with exaggerated mockery, veins bulged visibly on Namgung Yeon’s forehead.
In that instant, something flashed.
Simultaneously, Chu Hyeongi’s body retreated in a blur.
Whoosh!
A blade cut through the empty air, its sharpness unmistakable.
The ground was visibly cleaved by the slight sword wind that swept past.
Was that the reason?
A flicker of surprise crossed Chu Hyeongi’s face.
“She has grown as much as you have.”
“What are you talking about? There’s no way someone like that could defeat me.”
“Someone… like that…?”
The words, spoken as if in mockery, finally boiled over Namgung Yeon’s patience.
Her eyes gleamed with lethal intensity as she rushed forward, and Chu Hyeongi, startled by the ominous aura, threw himself backward once more.
Boom!
“Hehehehe! Fight, fight! Let’s see who wins!”
“Wahaha!”
The surroundings erupted into chaos once again.
Blades flashed menacingly and crude fists flew through the air.
Sword winds and fist winds ravaged the area, reducing everything around them to rubble in an instant, yet those present paid it no mind whatsoever, as if it were merely routine.
Remarkably carefree.
This was entirely different from the image of the Namman I’d heard of within the Central Plains.
Was this the daily life and landscape of the barbarian tribes?
I let out an exasperated laugh and turned my head away.
“More importantly, Elder. What about the item… what became of it?”
“Ah, that? I’m trying to remember where I put it.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, it’s been so long, and it wasn’t something I paid much attention to, so I can’t recall.”
“…Isn’t that essentially the same as saying it might not exist?”
At my words, Gu Gunbaek swallowed a groan while crossing his arms.
He seemed to be thinking about something for a moment, then let out a chuckle.
“Ah, it exists! It really does exist, I assure you. I’m certain of that much.”
“But you said you can’t remember it…”
“Ah, you brat, always poking at things. It exists. It does exist, but… I need to dredge up the memory for a moment.”
Glug glug—
As he spoke, Gu Gunbaek grabbed the wine jug beside him and began drinking deeply and loudly.
Just watching him consume half a bucket of wine in one go made me wonder whether he genuinely wanted to retrieve his memories of the jade orb or not.
I pressed my fingers to my temples, feeling a headache coming on.
I could only hope that this journey here would prove worthwhile.
Did he notice my expression?
Gu Gunbaek let out a soft chuckle, a faint smile playing at his lips.
“And don’t worry. Even if I can’t remember… it will surely appear.”
In that moment, his cryptic words settled heavily into my ears with an inexplicable weight.

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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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