The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

A dark night.

A huge estate located a short distance from the city.

It was an estate with the sign of Mok Family, and it had been a precious prey that many thieves had targeted since ancient times.

The security was tight, and because of the masters hired by the estate owner, even thieves with considerable skills had not been able to cross the walls of the Mok Family estate for a long time.

And today.

The number one divine thief of the Central Plains, Bieunggaek, appeared at the Mok Family estate.

“It’s damn big.”

Bieunggaek, hiding among the trees with only his two eyes exposed, held his breath and reviewed his conversation with Ok Myeon.

—There is a precious sword in the Mok Family estate. It was originally a treasured sword of the Demonic Cult, but it was lost due to the Righteous-Demonic War, and only recently did we find out through our informant that the Mok Family estate owner is in possession of it.

—You want me to bring that sword?

—That’s right. Of course, I will give you a generous reward.

—I don’t need the money. It sounds interesting. My body has been itching since it’s been quiet after the Sichuan Tang Clan incident.

Bieunggaek had no interest in treasured swords.

His body wasn't itching either.

Nevertheless, the reason he had come all the way to the Mok Family estate was to gain Ok Myeon’s trust.

“I need more information on that Ma Seongun bastard.”

He had been moving quite busily to get information on the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon.

But after the plan for the Four Daoist Assembly went down the drain, Ok Myeon’s suspicion of Bieunggaek deepened.

He had realized that there was an enemy within.

Having no choice, he had to enter the depths of the Hao Sect to get information on the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon.

For this, he had to do a few things for the Hao Sect and regain their trust.

“This time, it’s just a sword, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

He had trusted Gu Yong’s words and stolen the recipe for the Formless Earth Killing Poison, and it had almost caused a huge disaster.

If things had gone wrong, he would have become a major contributor to the assassination of the late-stage prospects of the righteous martial world and a traitor to the Central Plains martial world.

“Hehe! The disciple saved the master.”

He had recently confirmed through Gu Yong that Jin Sohyun was alive and well.

How happy he was to hear that news.

He wanted to return to the Jin Clan estate as soon as possible, see his disciple’s face after a long time, and hear about his exploits.

But before that.

‘I have to do what I have to do as a master.’

Bieunggaek performed his stealth technique and crossed the walls of the Mok Family estate.

Many martial artists were guarding the walls, but no matter how tight their security was, it was not as tight as the Sichuan Tang Clan’s.

As he entered the interior of the Mok Family estate, freely mixing stealth and infiltration techniques, he now felt the presence of masters.

Bieunggaek, who had confirmed that the sharp ki sense was woven as densely as a spider’s web, snorted.

“Hmph! The Mok Family estate owner spent some money. But it’s no match for this Bieunggaek!”

Bieunggaek secretly slipped into the center of the Mok Family estate.

No matter how many masters were guarding with their eyes wide open, they could not stop Bieunggaek.

Bieunggaek’s steps, which had penetrated all sorts of surveillance and entered the inner quarters, stopped in their tracks.

‘There’s a secret space under the bedroom, right?’

Bieunggaek entered the Mok Family estate owner’s bedroom and looked around.

He felt that many invisible traps were lurking.

‘Mechanisms.’

Bieunggaek flew freely in the darkness.

He did not trigger the mechanisms, performing the top-level lightness skill of running on grass.

And so, Bieunggaek, who had approached the estate owner’s bed in a single breath, crawled under the bed and lightly tapped the floor.

Knock— knock— thud—!

A smile spread across the lips of Bieunggaek, who had found the empty space.

“Of course.”

As he took out a dagger from his bosom and lifted the floor, a path appeared below.

Bieunggaek fell into the small and narrow space, just enough for one person to enter.

As he came down, a small space appeared.

And in the center of it, a single sword was placed.

The sword, placed on silk, was exuding an unusual energy even at a glance.

“Is this the treasured sword of the Demonic Cult?”

He had found the treasured sword of the Demonic Cult, which was his target.

Bieunggaek opened the wooden box he had brought without delay and tried to put the sword inside.

But Bieunggaek’s movement stopped in its tracks.

“When a theft is easy, you have to suspect three things.”

Short daggers were held in both of Bieunggaek’s hands.

“First, is the information I received true?”

Bieunggaek’s eyes, which cut through the darkness, stared into the deep darkness where nothing could be seen.

“Second, are there any traps in the place I entered?”

A red, bloody light shone from within that darkness.

“Third… is their target myself?”

Bieunggaek chuckled.

“It seems all three of these apply… what do you think?”

“I’m not interested in such things.”

The one who appeared from the darkness stood in front of Bieunggaek, holding a sword with a blood-colored blade.

Looking at him, Bieunggaek laughed heartily.

“You probably already know, but since we’re seeing each other for the first time, we should at least exchange names. I am Bieunggaek.”

The man said.

“Ma Seongun.”

***

“Jin Sohyun.”

“…”

Although he was hiding behind a red mask, Jin Sohyun could tell.

That the man with the red face standing in front of him was smiling.

“Who are you?”

At Jin Sohyun’s question, Jeokmyeon raised his finger and pointed at the Cheonhwagak Master.

At that, the huge man hit the Cheonhwagak Master’s head with the steel hexagonal club he was holding on his shoulder.

Thwack—!!

With a cheerful hitting sound, the Cheonhwagak Master’s head exploded.

At this shocking development, Jin Sohyun’s face hardened even more.

“What are you doing?”

“With this, no one knows that you are Jin Sohyun. Ah, don’t worry about this fellow. Not only can he not speak, but he only follows my voice.”

The huge man was standing blankly, as if waiting for an order, just as he had said.

Perhaps a powerful suggestion was imbued in him.

“Hm! Come to think of it, those wenches were left.”

As Jeokmyeon pointed at the Cheonyusahwa, the huge man approached with a thudding sound.

At that, Jin Sohyun’s commoner’s clothes fluttered.

Jin Sohyun, who had raised his internal energy, said to the huge man.

“Don’t come any closer. This is your only warning.”

“Hoo? Are you personally stepping up for wenches who have no connection to you?”

“What do you take a person’s life for?”

“From the moment Young Master Jin’s name came out of my mouth, these people were all dead. That’s the only way… the secret will be kept, wouldn’t it?”

“A secret?”

“Don’t pretend you don’t know… right now, Young Master Jin is already a celebrity, regardless of the righteous or heretic path. What would happen if a rumor spread that such a Young Master Jin had not actually lost his martial arts, but had rather become even stronger?”

Jeokmyeon’s words were right.

The world did not know the truth about Jin Sohyun.

Also, the Heretic Path's Alliance believed that Jin Sohyun had become an ordinary person who could no longer perform martial arts.

In such a situation, if it became known that Jin Sohyun was alive and well.

The Heretic Path's Alliance and the heretic martial world would surely move.

“Not only Young Master Jin, but also the Jin Clan will surely be in danger.”

“You’re also one who knows the truth about me.”

“Hahaha! That’s right. So shouldn’t we have a conversation?”

Jin Sohyun contemplated for a moment.

‘The fact that he knows about me means he’s related to the Heretic Path's Alliance. And this is a brothel.’

He has excellent information power.

And he has his base in a brothel.

They are similar to the Beggars' Sect and are on the completely opposite side.

And at the same time, he is a person who proposes a deal.

The name he had heard while disguised as So Soil during the Four Daoist Assembly came out of Jin Sohyun’s mouth.

“Hao Sect.”

“…”

“You’re from the Hao Sect.”

“I thought you were only good at martial arts, but you’re also smart. That’s right. I am Jeokmyeon, the Red-Faced Lord, one of the branch managers belonging to the Hao Sect.”

Jeokmyeon spread his two hands slightly and said.

“Now that we know who each other is, how about we start a conversation?”

Following Jeokmyeon’s instructions, the huge man left the Cheonru, carrying the Cheonyusahwa on both his shoulders and arms like luggage. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

And so, Jeokmyeon and Jin Sohyun remained in the Cheonru and sat facing each other.

“If you wish, you can spread your ki sense and check the surroundings.”

“I already did. Just state your business.”

“You’re fast, as expected. Then I’ll just state my business simply.”

Jeokmyeon said in a low voice, with his two hands clasped.

“Please kill one person.”

***

“Sohyun is late. The Four Daoist Assembly seems to have ended safely…”

“There won’t be any problem, so don’t worry too much.”

“How can I not worry! Last time, Sohyun almost died because of the Nameless Pavilion!”

Oh Yoran, who had learned everything from Kang Cheon, who couldn't hide the truth about Jin Sohyun from her, looked up at the black night sky with a worried face.

“That gentle child hasn’t gotten caught up in something again, has he?”

“Sohyun is our disciple and a strong child. He’s just being lazy and is late, so don’t worry too much. If we worry like this, won’t the Jin Clan’s family also worry?”

“That’s right. The Young Lady and the Madam came together today and asked if the Young Master was doing well. It was so hard to make excuses!”

Siu, who had joined them at some point, grumbled.

She was also one of the few people who knew that Jin Sohyun was alive and well.

“The Young Master is doing well, right?”

As even Siu asked worriedly, Kang Cheon nodded his head.

“Don’t worry. No news is good news.”

“Sigh. By the way, I haven’t seen Bieunggaek lately. I thought he would have rushed over as soon as he heard that Sohyun almost died.”

“That’s right! I thought Elder Bi would come right away!”

“He’s probably stealing somewhere again.”

Although he said this, Bieunggaek’s absence was a part that Kang Cheon was also curious about.

Among the three masters, the one who cherished Jin Sohyun the most was Bieunggaek.

He thought he would have been the first to rush over if he had heard that Jin Sohyun had almost died because of the Nameless Pavilion, but Bieunggaek did not come to the Jin Clan estate no matter how much time passed.

“Don’t tell me he already passed away from old age?”

As Oh Yoran asked, pointing to the sky, Siu was startled and covered her mouth with both hands.

In the first place, at Bieunggaek’s or Kang Cheon’s age, it wouldn't be strange if they died at any time.

An age where it would be called a peaceful death if one died of old age.

“Hmm…”

Of course, Kang Cheon did not agree.

Because he knew better than anyone else that Bieunggaek was not a person who would die so easily, even if others might.

“He’s a bastard who would die in front of Sohyun if he were to die. So don’t you two worry too much.”

Kang Cheon’s gaze also stared at the black sky.

“That chicken-footed bastard even escaped from the White Moon Divine Lord. He’s not a bastard who will die so easily.”

***

“Heok… heok…”

Bloody water poured from Bieunggaek’s mouth.

Blood was flowing from his entire body, but there was no time to stop the bleeding.

“To think this would be my grave…”

The Mok Family estate was a prison, a trap, and a grave created for Bieunggaek.

And the one who had appeared to kill Bieunggaek was the very person he had been searching for, the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon.

Ma Seongun.

“What kind of life have you lived for your blade to be so full of blood?”

“Even if I tell you, you won’t be able to understand.”

“You arrogant bastard… I have been swimming in this rough sea called the martial world since before you were born. I’ve seen many bastards like you.”

Bieunggaek said, wiping the blood flowing from his mouth.

“Stop now. If you take one more step from here… then you won’t be able to turn back.”

“Are you lecturing me. Bieunggaek.”

“It’s advice as an adult and a senior. You foolish fellow.”

“Ridiculous.”

Ma Seongun aimed his blood-stained sword at Bieunggaeg.

“You will not be able to understand my life even until the moment you die.”

The moment the heartlessly raised blade reached its peak, Bieunggaek put his hand into his bosom.

‘There will only be one chance.’

Perhaps the last step.

Bieunggaek ran.

Toward death.

(End of Chapter)