The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 95

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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 95

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The morning after, Namgung Yeon opened her eyes and immediately checked on her older brother’s condition.
She distinctly remembered his state being so dire that he’d needed to see a physician, yet the Namgung Baek who now lay before her bore only faint traces of injury—the swelling had subsided almost entirely, requiring close inspection to even notice.
This allowed her to ask him several questions.
“So I was mistaken, then?”
“…Yes, he actually helped me instead. And look at how effective that trauma salve is—I’m practically whole again.”
“…So I drew a blade against an innocent man.”
“Drew a blade?! Against whom?”
“Against Jin Gongja. I thought since I received silver coins that way… I was earning money through being beaten.”
“…What kind of absurd misunderstanding is that? More importantly, is the Young Master alright?! Surely you didn’t wound him badly?”
Namgung Yeon stared intently at her older brother.
She couldn’t quite grasp the intent behind his question.
It was as though he didn’t understand Jin Cheon-u’s true capabilities.
She tilted her head slightly, her expression clouded with doubt.
“Surely, older brother. You didn’t witness the Young Master’s skill?”
“Hm? Skill? He’s just… a man of means, isn’t he? He said he’d learned basic self-defense, didn’t he?”
“That was far beyond basic self-defense. I gave it my all… and all he did was brush past my sleeve.”
“…!”
At those words, Namgung Baek felt his breath catch sharply. The scenes he’d witnessed in his dreams suddenly flashed vividly through his mind.
“…That’s all it took?”
“Yes, and the Young Master made some sort of proposal—what was it about?”
Namgung Baek’s expression grew puzzled.
Every time Jin Cheon-u’s name had come up, her eyes had gleamed with unusual brightness.
Moreover, her tone had been remarkably respectful.
Did she sense his questioning gaze?
Namgung Yeon dulled her expression and eyes, pressing him urgently.
“What was the proposal?”
“Ah—right. He… told me to enter the Nakhyang Jin Family. He asked if I’d be interested in taking a position as one of the Imperial Guards, since a vacancy had opened.”
“You… turned that down?”
“Yes, he said I could bring you along to the Jin Family as well, but something felt off about it….”
“Are you insane?!”
“…What?”
“You should have accepted such a generous offer!”
“But I can’t simply abandon this place and leave, can I?”
“You can always return later. Don’t you know, older brother? Working there for just ten years would let you live in a palace-like mansion. They pay that generously.”
Namgung Baek let out a groan.
I was already well aware of that.
Which was why I had been tempted by Jin Cheon-u’s proposal in the first place.
But it felt absurd to stand by his side when I lacked the capability to truly protect him, and I was anxious about Namgung Yeon being exposed.
That was the decisive reason for my refusal.
However, since I couldn’t simply state the truth, Namgung Baek spoke with an awkward expression.
“Your skills aren’t sufficient, are they? If what you say is true, then instead of me protecting the Young Master at his side, I would be the one receiving protection. How could that even be called an escort?”
“I’ll do it instead, then.”
“…What did you just say?!”
Namgung Baek couldn’t hide his shock at the sudden declaration.
Normally, he would have sternly refused, but the resolute gleam in the other’s eyes left him momentarily speechless.
Just as he was about to fumble for words in response.
A presence was felt from outside.
“Namgung Baek, are you in there?”
At the sudden voice, Namgung Baek hurried outside.
There stood a familiar figure.
It was the Chohyeon Sega Member who had been frequenting the government office before.
He was regarding me with an arrogant gaze.
For a moment, fear gripped me.
I wondered if he had come because of yesterday’s incident, but while the man’s expression showed displeasure, he didn’t seem to have come to cause trouble.
Namgung Baek released a sigh of relief and asked.
“What brings you here?”
“The Family Head says he has work for you. Will you do it?”
“Work…? What kind of work?”
“That’s right. If you’re willing, then come along.”
At the man’s words, Namgung Baek hesitated for a moment.
Though the bruised areas had subsided, that didn’t mean the pain had vanished entirely.
But if I missed this opportunity now, there was no telling when another would come.
No matter how much silver I had received from Jin Cheon-u, it had to be used for my younger brother, so I couldn’t afford to turn down such work.
“I’ll go. Please wait while I prepare myself.”
“Make haste.”

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Two days had already passed since my confrontation with Namgung Yeon.
Contrary to my expectations that they would arrive sooner, the two still had not shown themselves, and only tedious time continued to slip away.
Gu Gunbaek, Jang Chuchyeong, and Chaeseoha seemed preoccupied with sightseeing around Hapbi, and since I had no interest in such matters, the waiting grew all the more tiresome.
Yet my heart was not impatient.
After all, bearing fruit requires time, and if I waited with composure, eventually I would reap the rewards.
The problem was not the Namgung Family.
“The appointed time has already passed.”
I narrowed my eyes and gazed out the window.
The deadline I had anticipated for Ma Hyeong-chu’s contact had already come and gone.
Though I had refused him on the first day, judging from his temperament, I had expected him to return soon enough.
But still, there was no word.
Since I had no desire to venture into the Chohyeon Family’s lair—an enemy stronghold—I had instead sought to draw him out into the open, yet circumstances had become unfavorable.
I furrowed my brow and rose from my seat.
With the enemy before my eyes, I could not simply sit and wait indefinitely.
Moreover, the opposition was the Blood Demon Squad.
Unpredictable in their intentions, and with the Shadow Assassins vanished, this was an opportunity to gauge their movements.
Had the tables turned—was it now I who grew impatient rather than them?
I let out a soft chuckle and rose from my seat.
After making simple preparations, I slipped out of the inn.
The Chohyeon Family lay to the east.
I made my way through the marketplace and took the path leading there.
After traveling some distance, a grand manor surrounded by towering walls came into view.
This was the Chohyeon Family—currently wielding the greatest influence in Anhui.
As I approached cautiously and surveyed the surroundings, I sensed something different about the atmosphere.
Through the wide-open main gate, numerous people bustled about in apparent haste.
As if an important guest were arriving.
Could it be they had been waiting for me?
As such thoughts crossed my mind and I drew slowly toward the Chohyeon Family, a familiar face emerged from between the open gates.
None other than Namgung Baek.
He appeared quite exhausted, his eyes hollow beneath.
It seemed as though he had labored without proper rest.
With shoulders drooping and a weary sigh, Namgung Baek stretched as if finally finished, then began trudging forward with listless steps.
I followed at a distance, and once we had moved well beyond the Chohyeon Family, I called out to him.
“What are you doing here?”
“Eek?! You startled me. Young Master, is that you? I was quite surprised.”
“Where have you just come from?”
“Ah—did you perhaps see? The Chohyeon Family gave me work to do, so I was just finishing up. Haha… I must be frugal with the money you gave me, Young Master.”
Namgung Baek forced a smile.
His spirit seemed utterly drained.
I found myself frowning involuntarily.
“A job? From the Chohyeon Family?”
“Yes, sir. Some important guest was arriving, so they asked us to clear out an entire building. Well, it needed to be spacious. We had quite the ordeal because of it. Phew…”
Namgung Baek shook his head vigorously at the memory, as though it had been dreadful.
His wounds from the earlier beating likely hadn’t healed properly. No matter how effective Chaeseoha’s golden sore ointment was, it meant nothing if one didn’t apply it consistently.
With a body in such condition, he had labored for two straight days.
I began to understand why Namgung Baek spoke of his exhaustion.
“Now that I think about it, Young Master. I’m so sorry! My younger brother caused you trouble… I don’t know how to apologize.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve forgotten it all. You have a fine younger brother.”
“Ha ha… He’s my pride. But please, I ask that you tell no one about my brother. I’ll consider myself indebted to you for life and do whatever you command… please, I’m begging you.”
Namgung Baek was quite desperate.
If he could, he would boast of his younger brother to everyone under heaven.
The boy possessed such natural talent and genuine skill, after all.
Yet he understood better than anyone that such ability was linked directly to one’s life, so he also knew he must hide and downplay it as much as possible.
I let out a soft chuckle.
“Don’t worry. I haven’t told anyone. But are you alright?”
“Ah— my whole body still aches a bit, but I’m managing. I can’t very well lie in bed complaining of pain when there’s money to be earned, ha ha.”
Namgung Baek held up his coin purse and shook it.
The jingling sound reached my ears.
I couldn’t tell exactly how much was inside, but it seemed he had earned a fair sum.
I found myself nodding with a bitter smile.
“That’s good. But about the Chohyeon Family—was there someone inside named Cho Hyeon-gang?”
“Cho Hyeon-gang, Cho Hyeon-gang… No, sir. There was no one by that name. I know all the people in the Chohyeon Family, and I’ve never heard that name before.”
That was only natural.
Cho Hyeon-gang was a person who didn’t exist in the first place.
He was nothing more than a fabrication created to lure me out.
However, once a name had been revealed, it had to exist within the family. They wouldn’t hide it if they’d exposed it—such people weren’t the type to conceal things once they’d been brought to light.
Yet there was no one like that inside the family?
“Were there no unfamiliar faces at all?”
“No, sir. They were all people I’d seen before. If something troubles you, shall I go back and check again? If I say I left something behind, they’ll let me in.”
At those words, I shook my head.
It bothered me that they had suddenly disappeared, but I had no desire to use Namgung Baek to verify it again.
There was no need to invite suspicion through unnecessary actions.
Moreover, if they had already left that place…
“Should I tear it down and check?”
I muttered softly to myself, narrowing my eyes.
That was when it happened.
I saw Namgung Baek’s complexion turn ashen.
Fear flickered in his eyes as he looked at me.
When our gazes met, Namgung Baek quickly changed his expression and forced an awkward smile.
Watching him, I realized something.
This fellow knows something.
It was then that the pieces seemed to fall into place in my mind.
After the Black Crow Society incident ended, he had rejected my proposal and fled, avoiding me at every turn.
There was something distinctly awkward in how he conducted himself around me.
Perhaps this fellow…
…actually knew who Pyohyeong Sword was.
The moment I narrowed my eyes slightly, Namgung Baek flinched and stepped back.
Then, with an uncomfortable expression, he turned his head away, whistling as he hurried to leave.
“Ah, well—I haven’t seen my younger brother in two days, and I’m missing him terribly. I should go see him first.”
“Wait.”
At that very moment when he was about to flee.
My words made him flinch, and he froze in place like a statue.
I slowly approached him.
As my footsteps drew closer, I could see beads of cold sweat forming on his skin.
Before long, I closed the distance and gently reached out to drape an arm across his shoulder.
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
“…Talk, sir?”
“Yes, it’s not as though you’re in a hurry, are you?”
“No… but… I miss my younger brother so much…”
“It will only take a moment.”
“If I don’t see my brother’s face for even a single day, I’ll fall gravely ill…”
I gazed intently at Namgung Baek.
The moment our eyes met, his pupils darted about frantically. He was desperate to escape this situation by any means.
I tightened my grip on the arm draped across his shoulder.
“I promised to buy you a meal, didn’t I? I’ll treat you properly today.”
“Ha ha… I’m quite fine, really…”
Namgung Baek strained against me, trying to break free from the situation.
But I had no intention of letting him go.
I tightened my grip further and led him toward the Yunlong Inn.
“Older Brother?”
A voice reached us at that moment.
Startled by the sudden sound, Namgung Baek cried out with relief.
“Yeon-a!”
“Namgung Yeon?”
Our voices overlapped as we both looked ahead.
Namgung Yeon’s bewildered expression came into view.

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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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