The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

"It was a very hard day. I should rest like the dead for about a week."

Jin Sohyun, who had returned to the guest house of the Deungho Sect, threw himself onto the bed.

Since he had been moving quite busily since arriving in Hebei, he was planning to rest well for a while.

But the door opened, and Yu Oseon came in, pouting.

"Um... Team Leader."

"Huh?"

Jin Sohyun raised only his head and looked at Yu Oseon.

"What?"

"That... I was going to tell you earlier..."

Jin Sohyun, who had sensed an ominous aura from Yu Oseon's stuttering appearance, slowly sat up.

"What's wrong?"

"...The Daoist Temple Master has come."

"Oh my god."

When Jin Sohyun, who had felt a crisis, was about to leave the room, Gwak Myeong poked his head out from behind Yu Oseon.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?"

Jin Sohyun's body stopped in its tracks.

"Have you decided not to answer the Daoist Temple Master's words anymore? Team Leader of the third group, Jin Sohyun?"

"Haha... what brings you all the way here?"

"What do you mean, why? It's to check if our proud officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple are carrying out their duties properly."

Gwak Myeong, who had passed Yu Oseon and had entered the room, naturally sat down in a chair.

"Sit."

At Gwak Myeong's instruction, Jin Sohyun sat down with a deep sigh.

"Alright. As the team leader, tell me about the results of the request given to you."

"I've... roughly... solved it."

"Roughly? If you've solved it, you've solved it. What's with that ambiguous answer?"

"The process took a little long, but... I succeeded in mediating."

"You succeeded?"

"Yes."

Gwak Myeong tapped the table with his index finger.

"I sent you to mediate, and you started a war between sects. And you call that a success?"

"Ugh!"

Jin Sohyun flinched.

Because he had committed a sin, Jin Sohyun's eyes moved busily.

"But... you drove out the Saseong Sect, which was a puppet of the Heretic's Path Alliance, and brought peace to Hebei, so I can't say it was a failure."

"Of course."

Jin Sohyun's shoulders straightened proudly.

"But don't be arrogant. This time, the war ended easily with the help of the Hebei Peng Clan, but if you had made a mistake, many people would have died."

Jin Sohyun's shoulders drooped again.

The sight of Jin Sohyun changing from moment to moment was quite amusing.

"What happened to the Cold-Blooded Grim Reaper?"

"He's dead."

"Is he dead, or did you kill him?"

Gwak Myeong's and Jin Sohyun's eyes met over the table.

Since it was clear that he would be found out if he tried to deceive him anyway, Jin Sohyun honestly confessed everything.

From luring the Cold-Blooded Grim Reaper to the abandoned farmhouse to fighting and winning against him.

Jin Sohyun explained as briefly and concisely as possible, and Gwak Myeong, who was listening to this, nodded his head as if he were savoring the story.

"Was it dangerous?"

"It wasn't dangerous."

Although it was an answer that could sound somewhat arrogant, Gwak Myeong did not think so.

‘Jin Sohyun is not an arrogant brat. Rather, he is honest without hiding anything. The fact that this brat didn't feel it was dangerous means he actually didn't feel any threat.’

That was what was surprising.

The Cold-Blooded Grim Reaper was a master belonging to the Heretic's Path Alliance, and he was a very difficult person to deal with due to his unique mist.

Even Gwak Myeong could not guarantee that he could fight and win against the Cold-Blooded Grim Reaper.

And yet, Jin Sohyun had not experienced any crisis even against such a master.

That meant that Jin Sohyun had overwhelmed him.

‘As Elder Gu said, Jin Sohyun’s strength is abnormal.’

It was not a coincidence that Kang Cheon, who had never had a disciple before, had taken him as a disciple.

He had recognized Jin Sohyun's potential early on and had taken him as his disciple.

And six years of teaching.

‘It’s not that he intentionally taught him for a short time… it might be that there was nothing left to teach.’

If Jin Sohyun had finished Kang Cheon's teachings in just six years, as Gwak Myeong thought, he was a genius beyond imagination.

‘Perhaps… he will bring hope to the Orthodox Martial World…’

"Kuuu..."

The number one genius of the Orthodox Martial World had fallen asleep.

Gwak Myeong, who was looking at Jin Sohyun, who was lying on the back of the chair, even felt a sense of deprivation.

"How can such a lazy bum be the number one genius in the history of the martial world?"

He even felt resentful of the past years.

Gwak Myeong, who had quietly gotten up from his seat, walked over to Yu Oseon, who was fidgeting at the door, and said.

"The return is at noon tomorrow. Tell your team leader."

"Yes!"

A group of beggars approached Gwak Myeong, who had left the guest house.

The oldest beggar among them laughed and said.

"I can't even guess what on earth happened."

"Did you find the corpse?"

"Yes. One corpse presumed to be the Cold-Blooded Grim Reaper, and the other nine corpses."

Gwak Myeong, who had received the investigation report, looked over the cause of death of the corpses.

"The nine corpses have stab wounds as if they were stabbed by a thin and sharp blade. It is presumed that they died in one blow. And the corpse presumed to be the Cold-Blooded Grim Reaper has a third of its body damaged..."

"Moreover, there was a hole in the hut near the pit where the corpses were buried, which seemed to have been recently made. It looked exactly like the stab wounds engraved on the corpses."

"What does that mean?"

"Perhaps the nine were killed in the hut by a flying sword. And one by one. Like shooting a mouse in a jar with a bow."

"Hmm..."

"And the Cold-Blooded Grim Reaper... I can't even guess how he was killed."

"No, I think I know."

"What?"

The beggar turned his gaze to where Gwak Myeong was pointing.

It was the place where the main gate of the Deungho Sect was.

"Come to think of it... the main gate of the Deungho Sect is gone? Did the Hongjung Sect do that?"

"No. It must have been Jin Sohyun's doing."

The exploding flying sword.

The owner of the explosion that had kept Gwak Myeong awake for a month.

"Branch Master."

"Speak."

"For the time being, please keep the information about Jin Sohyun on hold."

"On hold? Are you saying to block the information?"

"Literally."

"Can I know the reason?"

"It's better that the world doesn't know about Jin Sohyun yet. For the world to accept him, that brat is..."

"He's an incomprehensible existence, I suppose. As the Daoist Temple Master said, I'll keep it on hold. But it won't last long. Official Jin is a hidden talent, no, a dragon sleeping in a lake. As he grows, the dragon's scales will pop out of the lake."

The Branch Master continued with his hands behind his back and in a low voice.

"And when that time comes... the whole world will know about Official Jin."

"At that time, I won't be able to stop it even if I try. Until that time comes, I can only hope that I can embrace him."

***

"Brother! Are you leaving already?"

"I don't want to go either, brother."

"Then you don't have to go!"

"You go and ask that old man. To let your brother stay here."

Ham Mun turned his head.

There stood Gwak Myeong with an annoyed face.

Ham Mun, who had confirmed his face, took a few steps back and then bowed his head.

"Thank you. Goodbye."

"You heartless brat."

Jin Sohyun patted Ham Mun's head a few times and then turned around.

"Hwanggu! Have you been well? You must have eaten and rested well. I can see that your side has gotten a little thicker."

Moo—

As Hwanggu rubbed his head as if he were happy, Jin Sohyun also caressed Hwanggu's cheek.

"If you gain a little more weight..."

Hwanggu, who had felt an unknown chill, hurriedly turned around.

Thanks to that, Jin Sohyun, who had comfortably gotten on the oxcart, lay down on the newly laid straw.

"Are you really going to ride this ox?"

"Yes. Hwanggu and I are comrades who have already crossed life and death together. You can't separate us."

As Jin Sohyun declared his firm determination not to get off the oxcart, Gwak Myeong let out a dry sigh and turned around.

"Let's go."

Similarly, Un Bang, Sangsuk, and Peng Ogyeong also got on the oxcart.

As Yu Oseon tickled its butt with a whip, Hwanggu let out a happy cry and slowly moved forward.

Ham So'eon, who was watching the oxcart carrying Jin Sohyun leave, said his thanks.

Ju Hyeol had a complicated gaze.

He couldn't tell whether he should be happy or sad.

‘It’s a good thing.’

A huge cost was expected to build a mine under a mountain with nothing.

But the reward of getting a commission from selling high-purity iron was also not small.

If the reserves were more than expected, the commission would be even higher.

With a simple calculation, he could cover all the costs and make a profit in three months, so it was a profit in the long run.

Moreover, if it had been revealed later that the Heretic's Path Alliance was behind it, the Hongjung Sect would have been in trouble.

‘If I had met Jin Sohyun then.’

It was literally a disaster.

The opponent was the very person who had destroyed the Saseong Sect, which had dominated Hebei, overnight.

It was more profitable for the Hongjung Sect to obtain peace in this way.

"Father!"

Ju Hyeol, who had been lost in thought, greeted Ju Gilyeon, who had come to see him.

"Gilyeon."

"Where is Young Hero Jin?"

At the sight of Ju Gilyeon, who was looking for Jin Sohyun as soon as she came, Ju Hyeol's heart became even more complicated.

"He has already left. By the way, why are you so late?"

"I was late because I was taking care of that bastard Ju Giltae. That son of a bitch! He's not helpful until the end!?"

Ju Hyeol said cautiously as Ju Gilyeon, who was panting, looked at the road where Jin Sohyun had left with a blank gaze.

"I'll look for a position in the Martial Arts Alliance. Since he's also a member of the Alliance, you might be able to meet him."

Ju Gilyeon, who had been looking at Jin Sohyun's empty spot without a word, shook her head.

"It's alright. He's a person I can't reach anyway."

Rather, she felt relieved.

She still had many things to do.

"Will you leave the matter of building the mine on the Deungho Mountain to me?"

***

Hwanggu.

A yellow ox, nothing more than a mere beast.

Hwanggu was currently on a very arduous journey.

Pulling the oxcart was not difficult.

His four sturdy legs had no problem pulling the oxcart carrying four adult men.

The problem was the strange man who was glaring at him as if he would kill him.

"You're very slow for an ox, aren't you?"

Gwak Myeong looked at Hwanggu with blazing eyes out of frustration.

If he were to speed up even a little, unable to bear his urging, Jin Sohyun's voice would be heard from behind.

"Hwanggu. Is it just my imagination that the speed is getting faster? It must be my imagination, right?"

Moo... moo...

Hwanggu was going crazy.

If the speed was slow, Gwak Myeong would glare at him as if he would slaughter him right away. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

If the speed was fast, Jin Sohyun would give him a look.

Once, he had secretly increased his speed, and a flying sword had flown and had stabbed his butt.

How much did it hurt then?

Hwanggu had to walk slowly, holding back his tears.

At least Gwak Myeong only glared as if he would kill him, but he didn't actually kill him.

And so, Hwanggu, carrying the oxcart, returned to the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple a week and five days after they had left Hebei.

"You've come, Daoist Temple Master."

"Yes. Has there been any trouble?"

The instructors, who would have normally nodded their heads, saying there was no trouble, were a little strange today.

Gwak Myeong, who had realized that something was wrong from their faces, hurried his steps.

"What's wrong?"

"That... there's a problem."

"A problem?"

"The third group was the last to return, but there is a group that has not yet returned."

"Which group?"

"It's the first group."

"The first group..."

The first group was a group consisting of Moyong Susu, Oh Seolhwa, Hwang Seohyang, Ju Somi, and the team leader, Cheon Yerang.

Due to the special nature of the request, it was a group consisting only of women, and they had not yet returned.

"Is there still no contact from the instructors who went with them?"

"That is..."

An instructor walked in front of Gwak Myeong and knelt on one knee.

"I'm sorry! Daoist Temple Master!"

"Explain the situation instead of apologizing."

"After the first group entered the Baekhwa Pass, there has been no contact or news. The gate of the Baekhwa Pass is not opening, so it is impossible to infiltrate."

According to the original mission, it was normal for some news to have been heard by now.

No, they should have returned.

Gwak Myeong, who had realized that the situation was unusual, hurried his steps.

The place he was heading to was where Jin Sohyun was having a verbal fight with an instructor.

"If there's no place for Hwanggu, please make one."

"How can I keep an ox in the Daoist temple?"

"Hwanggu is my comrade."

"Stop with the nonsense and take him out. Daoist Temple Master?"

The instructor, who had discovered Gwak Myeong, bowed his head, and Jin Sohyun said.

"Daoist Temple Master! Can't I keep Hwanggu in the Daoist temple?"

"You, make a place for the ox to rest and keep it."

"M-Me?"

"Yes."

Gwak Myeong placed his hand on Jin Sohyun's shoulder, leaving the dazed instructor behind.

"Why is the Daoist Temple Master granting my request..."

"Since I granted your request, now it's your turn to grant my request."

"As expected. What's the request?"

"It's a new request. Take your team members and go to Gansu."

"Gansu?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"The first group that left for a request in Gansu has not yet returned. The first group includes Moyong Susu, Oh Seolhwa, and Cheon Yerang, with whom you are close."

Gwak Myeong said with an urgent tone he had never shown before.

"Go and check the situation of the first group... no, rescue them! This is the new mission of the third group."

(End of Chapter)