The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

Guiding someone is a very troublesome task.

You have to give advice, and sometimes you have to show them a demonstration.

‘How can a third-rate like me teach anyone?’

Jin Sohyun refused Ham Mun's request because he couldn't reveal the fact that he was merely a third-rate martial artist.

Of course, the fact that it was a hassle was a bigger reason.

"That's so mean! I heard all the warriors of the Martial Arts Alliance are strong and righteous!"

"Is that so? What a surprising fact."

"I have to get stronger!"

Ham Mun rushed at him, trying to cling on somehow, but Jin Sohyun was already far away.

‘So fast!’

Ham Mun's jaw dropped at the incredible speed of the movement technique he had never seen before.

"Hyung! You're so strong!"

"I'm just about average."

"Gasp!"

‘So in the Martial Arts Alliance, someone as strong as hyung is just average!’

Ham Mun's face turned tearful.

He couldn't even reach Jin Sohyun's toes, so if he was just average in the Martial Arts Alliance, could he ever enter the Martial Arts Alliance even if he trained for decades?

As the tearful Ham Mun sniffled, Jin Sohyun cautiously approached him.

"Why do you want to become so strong?"

"Because I'm a martial artist."

"Aha."

"And... that's the only way I can protect the sect. From bad guys like the Hongjung Sect..."

"Huh? Didn't you make up with the Hongjung Sect?"

"What? That's... ah, right... right. Hehe... I guess I was mistaken."

Ham Mun said he had to go to bed now and hurriedly left the training ground.

Jin Sohyun frowned as he watched Ham Mun's retreating back.

"Something's fishy."

***

The next morning.

Jin Sohyun and his party, now dressed neatly, stood before Ham So'eon.

‘They look decent now that they’re cleaned up.’

The beggars he had seen yesterday were gone.

Well-washed and well-fed, the five young martial artists who claimed to be from the Martial Arts Alliance looked quite presentable.

Especially the team leader, Jin Sohyun, whose handsome face made even his carelessly tied-up long hair look free-spirited.

"Thank you for your hospitality. We will be on our way now."

"Travel safely."

It was all for the best.

Team Three, having resolved the issue without lifting a finger, left the Deungho Sect with much lighter faces.

"Hwanggu! Have you been well?"

Jin Sohyun encouraged Hwanggu, who had to pull the cart on a long journey again, and climbed onto the cart.

Lying on the soft hay, there was nothing more he could wish for.

"Ah, this is great!"

Peng Ogyeong lay down next to him.

"I was reluctant at first... but now that I'm lying down, it's very comfortable!"

"Right?"

"As expected of hyung-nim!"

"Y-Yeah."

Jin Sohyun felt burdened by Peng Ogyeong, who followed him with sparkling eyes.

But thanks to him, the treatment wasn't bad, so it was bearable.

"Let's go, Bang-ah."

"It's Un Bang!"

Un Bang took the whip and gently stroked Hwanggu's rump.

At that, Hwanggu wiggled its rump and moved forward.

‘Now I can finally part with that annoying guy!’

Un Bang wanted to return to the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple as soon as possible.

"Is it okay to just go back like this? We haven't really done anything..."

At Yu Useon's anxious mumble, Sangsuk scoffed.

"Hmph! The Deungho Sect was the one who said they didn't need help. What can we do if they don't want it? Anyway, we did what we had to do."

"I guess so?"

"Let's get going. I don't want to be stuck with that lazy team leader anymore."

"I agree."

Sangsuk and Un Bang, who had found a common enemy and were getting along perfectly, hurried their return to the Daoist temple.

Just then, the smoothly moving cart came to a sudden stop.

"Ugh!"

Jin Sohyun, who had been woken up by the jolt, sat up.

"What's going on?"

"What's this? This oxcart?"

About a dozen men were standing in front of Hwanggu.

They looked at Hwanggu, Un Bang, and Sangsuk with displeased faces.

"Get lost."

"What did you say?"

Un Bang, a martial artist from the Kongtong Sect, didn't back down and confronted them, and the group wearing yellowish-red martial arts robes shot him a furious glare.

‘They are all masters of a considerable level!’

Un Bang instantly realized that these men were at least second-rate masters.

‘But we are martial artists of the Martial Arts Alliance. We have nothing to fear!’

Un Bang, who had something to believe in, didn't back down and glared back, and the man who appeared to be the leader of the group stepped forward.

"I am Ju Giltae of the Hongjung Sect. Who are you? And what's with this oxcart?"

"I am...!"

"We are farmers. The harvest season is approaching, so we are on our way to the fields."

"Farmers?"

As Jin Sohyun popped out from the top of the cart and introduced them with a friendly face, the group, including Ju Giltae, began to laugh.

"How dare mere farmers block the path of the Hongjung Sect?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. We'll make way for you right now."

When Jin Sohyun nudged his side, Un Bang had no choice but to move Hwanggu and pull the cart to the side of the road.

"Hmph! Consider yourselves lucky. If we weren't in a hurry, you would have seen the afterlife before you saw any harvest."

"We are grateful for your great generosity."

As Jin Sohyun expressed his gratitude with his handsome face, Ju Giltae sneered at them and continued on his way.

Un Bang, who confirmed they were gone, said angrily.

"What are you doing! Don't you have any pride as an official of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple!"

"That's right! Although we are officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, we are members of the Martial Arts Alliance!"

Jin Sohyun clicked his tongue at Sangsuk and Un Bang who were questioning him.

"Have you already forgotten why we're wearing plain clothes and riding an oxcart?"

"That's..."

Only then did the two realize why Jin Sohyun had obediently sent the Hongjung Sect martial artists on their way.

‘We were farmers.’

Their forgotten disguised identity.

They were hiding their identities to protect themselves from the clutches of the Heretic's Path Alliance.

But what if they introduced themselves as martial artists of the Martial Arts Alliance in front of the Hongjung Sect martial artists?

It was no different from openly announcing to the Heretic's Path Alliance that the next-generation talents of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple were here.

‘Did he think that far ahead?’

Sangsuk and Un Bang were very ashamed of their behavior.

"As expected of hyung-nim! Your foresight is amazing!"

Leaving behind Peng Ogyeong's praise, which was getting worse by the day, Jin Sohyun sat on the edge of the cart.

‘Of course, it was because it would be a hassle.’

The reason he had avoided a clash with the Hongjung Sect martial artists was actually because it was a hassle.

If a fight broke out, it was clear that the other four, excluding Jin Sohyun, would be seriously injured.

That's how much the Hongjung Sect martial artists were hiding their considerable power.

Jin Sohyun, who had noticed this, confirmed the direction they were heading.

The place they were heading was the same place Jin Sohyun had just come from.

It was the Deungho Sect.

"I knew something was fishy."

Jin Sohyun moved aside the pile of hay and opened the box hidden inside.

***

"It's been a while, Sect Leader Ham."

"...It has been a while. But I believe the promised date is not today."

"Hahaha! Of course, I know that too. I just came because I was worried that the Sect Leader might have forgotten the promise he made with our sect."

Ham So'eon was the sect leader of the Deungho Sect.

On the other hand, Ju Giltae was the third son of Ju Hyeol, the head of the Hongjung Sect.

Although their positions were by no means equal, Ju Giltae's attitude was not so.

Rather, he was looking down on Ham So'eon.

"By the way, this place smells every time I come."

As Ju Giltae waved his hand and frowned, the man standing behind him added.

"Doesn't it smell like livestock dung?"

"Yes! I was wondering what that smell was, and that's it!"

"Hahahaha!!"

The martial artists of the Hongjung Sect laughed out loud.

Even though he was being openly insulted, Ham So'eon could not easily say anything.

‘I've never seen these martial artists before. But their skills are considerable!’

The fourteen martial artists Ju Giltae had brought with him.

Each of them was a master with a considerable level of martial arts.

Ham So'eon, who had noticed this, had sweat on his neck.

"Sect Leader Ham. You have one week. Bring the contract by then."

"I've told you many times, that's not a contract I made..."

"Tsk!"

Ju Giltae clicked his tongue with a frown.

"Then? Whose finger was it that put the seal on the contract? Wasn't it your finger?"

"Hey! This person is the sect leader of the Deungho Sect! Show him the proper respect!"

"Huh? Who are you?"

At Ju Giltae's question, a middle-aged martial artist stepped forward.

A man with a rigid impression who looked to be in his late thirties.

"I am Eo Inseok."

"Ah, so you're Eo Inseok. Come closer."

"..."

Eo Inseok was anxious but walked forward confidently.

This was the land of the Deungho Sect.

It was because he thought that no matter how much it was the Hongjung Sect, they wouldn't dare to act recklessly.

The moment Eo Inseok stood in front of Ju Giltae, his fist flew.

Pow—!

It happened in the blink of an eye.

"Keuk!"

As Eo Inseok, who had been hit by a surprise attack, was staggering, Ju Giltae ordered.

"This piece of trash. Take care of him."

At Ju Giltae's order, the martial artists of the Hongjung Sect surrounded Eo Inseok and began to beat him mercilessly.

Eo Inseok, surrounded by several people, was beaten to a pulp without even being able to resist.

"Stop! Stop it!"

Ham Mun, who had appeared late, tried to stop them, but Ham So'eon stopped him.

"Mun-ah! Wait. This father will speak!"

"At this rate, Uncle Eo will die!"

Ham So'eon raised his internal energy and stepped forward.

"What is the meaning of this! If you don't stop at once...!"

"If we don't stop?"

Ju Giltae's gaze turned cold.

"What are you going to do?"

"Did you think I would just stand by and watch a martial artist of my sect being beaten?"

"Hahaha! I thought you were a trashy sect leader befitting of a trashy sect..."

A sly smile hung on Ju Giltae's lips.

"I was right."

"You brat!!"

The elders of the Deungho Sect, who could no longer bear it, stepped forward one by one, and the martial artists of the Deungho Sect also stepped forward as if they were about to draw their swords.

At their menacing aura, Ju Giltae flinched.

"Oh, how scary. Is the Deungho Sect threatening the Hongjung Sect now?"

"It was the Hongjung Sect who used violence first on the land of the Deungho Sect."

"Ah, right."

Ju Giltae turned around and looked at the fourteen martial artists one by one.

And then.

"You'll do."

His fist, filled with internal energy, began to mercilessly beat his subordinate.

This was not the end.

He chose the next victim and started beating him again.

In this way, a total of three Hongjung Sect martial artists were beaten by Ju Giltae and fell, bleeding.

At his unexpected action, which no one had anticipated, it was the Deungho Sect that was rather flustered.

"Wh-What are you doing?"

"How about a story like this?"

Ju Giltae swept back his hair with his two hands, from which blood was dripping.

"The sect leader of the Deungho Sect, Ham So'eon, who was dissatisfied with a contract he had made himself, felt animosity towards the Hongjung Sect and... assaulted the martial artists."

"Nonsense!"

"Hahahaha! Shall we bet on whether this will be nonsense or the truth? Like last time?"

Ham So'eon felt a chill down his spine.

‘This was all a trap from the beginning!’

From that time in the past until now.

Ham So'eon had fallen into the trap of the man named Ju Giltae.

"Kekekek! If our sect finds out that our martial artists were attacked, our head will not stand by... are you okay with that?"

Ham So'eon's pupils shook greatly.

Ju Giltae found that very amusing.

"There's only one way for you and the Deungho Sect to survive. Hand over your ancestral mountain for half the price stated in the contract."

Ham So'eon, who had been properly played on the board set by the Hongjung Sect, felt his vision go dark.

‘Is there really no way?’

There was only one way to save the sect.

To hand over their ancestral mountain, which had been the strong support of the Deungho Sect for over a hundred years.

Tears welled up in Ham So'eon's eyes.

The fact that he had to hand over the land that their ancestors had protected made him feel humiliated and sad.

"I'll come back tomorrow, so think about it slowly. That's the only way the Deungho Sect can survive. Kekekek!"

Ju Giltae turned his back and said.

"Let's go."

"Yes!"

The martial artists of the Hongjung Sect, who had finished their business, were now about to leave.

But the main gate of the Deungho Sect, which they had opened and entered, closed with a creak— and a bang.

And there stood the five farmers they had just passed.

"Who are you again?"

At Ju Giltae's question, Jin Sohyun smiled brightly.

"Us? We're farmers, I told you."

"If you're farmers, you should be going to plow the fields! Why are you here again? Do you want to die that badly?"

Jin Sohyun looked back at the martial artists of the Hongjung Sect, who were exuding a menacing killing intent, and said.

"It's nothing special. I came to pull some weeds."

"Weeds?"

"Yes."

Jin Sohyun, who had nodded his head, clapped his hands and said.

"Alright, then! Let's get to work."

(End of Chapter)