The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 93

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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 93

* * *

I gazed intently out the window.
Watching Ma Hyeong-chu enter the inn, his purpose became readily apparent to me.
There was only one thing he could possibly be curious about at this moment.
The instant he learned I had come to Hapbi, it was within my expectations that he would move to investigate matters concerning the Nakhyang Jin Family, the Shadow Assassins, and other affairs.
But it would prove impossible.
I had already instructed the innkeeper to refuse any guests seeking me out.
He was not the sort to draw attention through reckless action, so he would not force his way in. He would naturally depart quietly.
After waiting a day or two, if I did not come to him, he would return to this place once more.
After a brief time passed, Ma Hyeong-chu emerged from the inn again, just as I had anticipated.
Though his face was not clearly visible, even his eyes betrayed considerable displeasure.
It was as I harbored such thoughts and a faint smile played at my lips.
Namgung Baek suddenly rose from his seat with a startled expression, as though he had discovered something.
Following his gaze, I too looked outside.
A group of men.
I did not recognize their faces, but the sickly pallor that drained Namgung Baek’s complexion made it abundantly clear that he knew them.
They gathered and spoke of something, then set their direction and began walking.
“…Wait, I have suddenly remembered a place I must visit. I apologize, truly!”
Upon confirming this, Namgung Baek moved with urgency.
As though he had to block their path.
I glanced briefly at the seat where Namgung Baek had been sitting.
Only the food he had carefully prepared for his younger brother remained, and there was no sign that Namgung Baek had taken a single bite.
Once again, he had eaten nothing.
I rose from my seat with an expression of bewilderment.
“Where are you going?”
“Follow me.”
Chu Hyeongi nodded and stood, whereupon Chaeseoha, as though she had been waiting, set down her chopsticks and followed in turn.
I regarded her with a somewhat puzzled expression.
“Whenever Young Master wears such an expression and sets out, it seems I am always needed.”
As she answered my unspoken question with a gentle smile, my brow furrowed despite myself.

* * *

Namgung Baek hurried out of the inn.
He burst through the door and sprinted toward his residence, his feet pounding against the ground.
Those people he had glimpsed moments ago were undoubtedly members of the Chohyeon Family. The one at the center was the Young Master So, flanked by his devoted companions—his hands and feet, so to speak.
Without exception, they were all scions of families that wielded considerable influence in Hapbi.
Knowing this better than anyone, Namgung Baek pushed himself harder, his legs burning with effort.
Sure enough, their figures appeared not far ahead.
They were heading directly toward his residence.
He closed the distance rapidly and called out urgently.
“…Young Master So! My goodness, it has been quite some time!”
“Hmm? What brings you to these parts?”
“Hehe, just heading home after finishing some business, sir.”
“I see. How fortunate. I was just on my way to visit your sister.”
“You speak of Yeon-a? Whatever for…?”
Namgung Baek asked, his expression clouded with doubt.
Yet he already knew the reason.
Namgung Yeon’s beauty was renowned even throughout Hapbi.
That was precisely why he sought to make advances toward her.
Knowing full well that he relied on the name of the Chohyeon Family and believed himself capable of anything if he set his mind to it, I had been doing everything possible to keep the two from meeting.
An enraged Namgung Yeon would be utterly beyond their capacity to overcome.
It mattered little if they were beaten senseless.
But under no circumstances could I allow her true abilities to be revealed.
“Haha, Yeon-a is feeling rather unwell today and cannot receive visitors.”
“How unfortunate. Then I simply must pay her a visit. Besides, you likely lack the funds for medicine anyway, so I shall take her to the Medical Chamber myself.”
Cho Hyeon-neung, the Young Master of the Chohyeon Family, let out a cold chuckle and shoved Namgung Baek aside with brutal force.
A strangled cry escaped his lips—
He crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.
The force of the push sent his body sprawling helplessly onto the dirt.
Yet Namgung Baek could not yield.
He scrambled to his feet immediately.
“Please, I beg your patience. Her cold is quite severe, and she might pass it to you, sir. Once she recovers, I shall come pay my respects.”
“I heard the same excuse last time, and the time before that. When exactly do you intend to visit? Haha, enough of this. Step aside. I shall see the lady’s face myself and discuss what needs to be discussed.”
“Discuss? What could there possibly be to discuss?”
“Marriage, of course. Would it not be better for her to become my concubine and remain at my side rather than languish in such a place?”
At the word “concubine,” Namgung Baek’s hands clenched into fists.
No matter how far the Namgung Family had fallen, they were not so devoid of pride as to become anyone’s concubine.
His eyes grew cold—utterly unlike his demeanor moments before—and he fixed Cho Hyeon-neung with a piercing glare.
“A concubine? What manner of nonsense are you spouting?!”
“Has hunger made you deaf?”
Yeon-a shall never become anyone’s concubine. Now leave.”
A violent blow erupted—!
“What?!”
In an instant.
Cho Hyeon-neung swept a kick at Namgung Baek’s shin.
As Namgung Baek collapsed with a cry of pain, Cho Hyeon-neung drove his knee upward without hesitation, striking at his jaw.
Thud!
With another violent groan, Namgung Baek’s body sprawled across the ground.
Cho Hyeon-neung, as though he had been waiting for this moment, kicked at his abdomen.
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!
“How dare you glare at me, you insignificant wretch? Do you wish to die?”
Cho Hyeon-neung’s kicks showed no sign of stopping.
Venting his rage with every ounce of strength, his feet drove down relentlessly, and Namgung Baek’s face was swiftly painted crimson with blood, his entire body becoming a pitiful amalgamation of dust and gore.
It was a savage assault—as though death itself held no consequence.
Even Cho Hyeon-neung’s divine essence was staining crimson with Namgung Baek’s blood in that very moment.
“Did you master martial arts merely to wield them against the weak?”
A desolate voice pierced through Cho Hyeon-neung’s ears.

* * *

Even in Hapbi, this was a desolate corner of the city, with few passersby to be seen.
Consequently, though a man was being beaten, not a soul stepped forward to intervene.
Yet even if they had been present, intervention would have been unthinkable.
For the one delivering the beating was the Head of the Chohyeon Family.
“Who are you?”
“It matters not. Step back from there.”
I gazed upon Namgung Baek, stained crimson with blood and dust.
His face had been beaten beyond recognition, and the blood trickling from countless wounds spoke volumes of his condition.
Glancing subtly at Chaeseoha, she nodded and rushed forward urgently.
In that instant, all eyes turned toward Chaeseoha.
It was only natural—she wore no veil.
The Head of the Chohyeon Family, who had been discussing marriage arrangements until moments before, stared at Chaeseoha with shock written across his face. I responded by lightly drawing my sword and slashing through the air.
Whoosh!
“Gasp?!”
The sword wind shot forth, grazing past the Young Master’s nose before dissipating. His scattered wits returned, and he swallowed hard, staring at me.
“…Who are you?”
“It matters not. Will you not leave, or do you intend to remain?”
As I spoke, I turned my gaze toward Jang Chuchyeong beside me.
Understanding my intent, the man stepped forward.
Thanks to his relentless training, muscles far surpassing those of before rippled across his frame as he clenched his fists, emanating considerable pressure.
Even Cho Hyeon-neung swallowed hard.
The man assumed his stance with commanding presence, fixing his gaze upon Cho Hyeon-neung.
“Get lost, all of you. Unless you want to get beaten to a pulp.”
If there had been a younger version of Gu Gunbaek, would he have looked like this?
The same tone and manner of speech.
From the perspective of Young Master So, backed by the Chohyeon Family, he would have snorted dismissively and drawn his sword with an absurd expression.
But he couldn’t do that now.
Not only because of the martial skill I had just demonstrated, but because the very aura of Chu Hyeongi standing before him was far too formidable for Young Master So to regard lightly.
You’ve grown considerably, Chu Hyeongi.
I let out a soft chuckle and placed my hand on the hilt of my sword.
“…Go on. Get out of here!”
The frightened Young Master So hastily fled the scene.
The sight of him scurrying away with his tail between his legs was rather amusing.
Once they had vanished, I finally moved to approach Chaeseoha, who was checking on Namgung Baek’s condition.
“How is he?”
“For someone beaten as badly as this, he’s in decent shape. This man protected all his vital points when he was hit. How many times must someone get beaten to develop such instinct?”
At Chaeseoha’s astonished voice, laughter escaped me unbidden.
Since childhood, he must have spared no effort protecting Namgung Yeon, throwing himself into harm’s way countless times. He had certainly become accustomed to taking blows.
That said, he wasn’t entirely without injury.
I gazed at him as his eyes fluttered open hazily.
“Are you alright?”
Namgung Baek, regaining consciousness, rolled his eyes with difficulty to survey his surroundings. Confirming that the Head of the Chohyeon Family was gone and that I stood in his place, he seemed to grasp the situation somewhat and managed to open his mouth with great effort.
“Did… did the Young Master help me? Thank you, truly….”
“You were simply fortunate. More importantly, how do you feel?”
“I, I’m fine. This much is….”
His words rang hollow despite claiming he was fine.
No matter how well he had protected his vital points, he had endured countless kicks from a martial master.
It was enough to leave him unable to gather his wits properly.
Yet despite this state, Namgung Baek, as if unwilling to be a burden, struggled to compose himself and rose from the ground.
He then looked at me and bowed his head respectfully.
Watching him, I withdrew several silver coins from my pocket and offered them.
“In that condition, you won’t be able to work for some time. Use this to recover for now.”
“I cannot accept such a thing.”
“It’s fine, take it. I promised to buy you a meal but failed to keep that promise again, so think of this as compensation instead.”
Did my words persuade him?
Or did he have other thoughts?
Namgung Baek lowered his head deeply and accepted the money I offered.
Surely, rather than pride or apologies for causing trouble, he was focused on the fact that he could now obtain money to fill his younger brother’s belly in this desperate situation.
Namgung Baek bowed to me once more.
“…I will repay this kindness, I swear it.”
“And here is some food I packed from the inn. Take it and eat.”
As I offered the food I had packed, Namgung Baek accepted it with trembling hands.
Rendered speechless by my every action, Namgung Baek could not open his mouth.
Perhaps unwilling to reveal eyes glistening with tears, Namgung Baek hastily turned his head and began moving toward his residence.
His limping gait back home was sufficiently pitiful and sorrowful for any observer to feel genuine sympathy.
Yet in my eyes, Namgung Baek’s retreating figure appeared as the desperate struggle of a family head fighting with every fiber of his being to preserve the Namgung lineage.

* * *

“O… Older Brother?!”
At the sight of Namgung Baek returning home, Namgung Yeon could not suppress his shock.
Despite having undertaken many dangerous tasks, his older brother had always returned without a single broken bone or serious injury—yet now he appeared utterly and grotesquely battered beyond recognition.
His face bore no semblance of its original form.
Too bewildered to speak, Namgung Baek seemed unconcerned, patting his back reassuringly before lifting the food the inn had prepared.
“Let us eat.”
“…Older Brother.”
In that state, Namgung Baek laughed.
Moreover, as if boasting, he withdrew five silver taels from his bosom and pressed them firmly into his younger brother’s trembling hand, as though urging him to use them as he wished.
Namgung Yeon’s grip began to tremble violently.
Five silver taels—an enormous sum.
And unmistakably food from the Yunlong Inn.
Combined with his older brother’s appearance.
Fire ignited in Namgung Yeon’s eyes.
The thought struck him that someone had beaten his older brother mercilessly in exchange for money and food.
As though he were a plaything.
And the culprit?
A rumor circulating through the neighborhood since moments ago.
The Young Master So of the Nakhyang Jin Family was at the Yunlong Inn, was he not?
And his older brother had been there with him, they said.
Namgung Yeon’s hand moved with lightning speed.
Thud!
In an instant, his extended fingers struck his older brother’s vital point, and as Namgung Baek, who had been standing perfectly upright, began to collapse helplessly, he swiftly caught him and carefully laid him upon the bedchamber.
He then gazed intently at his older brother’s severely swollen face, retrieved a blanket to cover him, and grasped the sword he had set aside.
Clink!
“Jin Cheon-u…!”
A voice laden with murderous intent flowed from her lips.
Rage directed in the wrong direction.

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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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