The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

“I know, but.”

Gu Yong’s face, who had heard the three names from Gu Jucheol, was clearly troubled.

“I thought you would know, but is there some kind of problem?”

At Gwak Myeong’s question, Gu Yong fumbled in his bosom and took out a large book he always carried.

Its name was the Encyclopedia of Central Plains Martial Artists.

It was his masterpiece, containing his blood and sweat, in which he had completed a whopping five volumes with the future of the righteous martial world and his own personal feelings.

Gu Yong, who had taken out the Encyclopedia of Central Plains Martial Artists, which he had never let go of from his bosom in any situation, narrowed his eyes.

“It should be around here… ah!”

Gu Yong, who was flipping through the book, read the name he had written with his fingertip.

“The Demon-Subduing Ghost, Cha Yong. Is this the person you are looking for?”

“Yes. It’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”

“The Demon-Subduing Ghost…”

Unlike Gu Jucheol, who had a nostalgic expression as if repeating the name of an old friend, Song U and Tang Hocheol had questionable faces as they repeated the name.

“If he’s a famous person that even Great Master Gu knows, I should have heard his title or name at least once, but I can’t remember.”

Even the trusted Gwak Myeong seemed not to know who he was, and Jin Sohyun was, of course, sitting with a blank face.

At a glance, he even seemed to be dozing off.

“It’s natural that you don’t know. He was once an indispensable existence in the Martial Alliance, but he disappeared after the Righteous-Heretic Great War ended.”

“I see. Then can we open Ok Myeon’s mouth just by having that person named Cha Yong?”

“He will definitely open his mouth.”

As Gu Jucheol answered with a confident face, Gwak Myeong suddenly became curious about who the person named Cha Yong was.

“What kind of person is this Demon-Subduing Ghost?”

At Gwak Myeong’s question, Gu Yong fiddled with the book with a troubled face.

“That is…”

As Gu Yong hesitated to answer, looking around, Gu Jucheol answered instead.

“In the past, he was the one who interrogated the prisoners captured by the Martial Alliance to find out information about the Ming Cult.”

Gu Jucheol’s brow twitched.

“A professional interrogator.”

***

Ok Myeon, who was bound all over, was loaded onto Hwanggu’s cart like a piece of luggage, which was setting off on the road after a long time.

He was tied up from head to toe, and his mouth was even gagged to prevent him from doing anything foolish.

Ok Myeon struggled with his whole body and made muffled sounds with his mouth, resisting.

Of course, his resistance was quickly suppressed by the ensuing conversation between Cheon Yerang and Jin Sohyun.

“Shall I knock him out?”

“Can you knock him out for a long time?”

“He might become a mute for the rest of his life, but there is a sure way.”

“Huh? He’s quiet now.”

The people who got on the cart pulled by Hwanggu were Jin Sohyun, Gu Jucheol, and Cheon Yerang.

The reason Cheon Yerang was chosen for this journey was because of Gu Jucheol’s recommendation.

—Cha Yong is a dangerous old man. He is especially skilled at handling people’s thoughts and emotions. There’s no need to worry about the Jin family brat, but among the late-stage prospects… Cheon Yerang would be fine.

Cheon Yerang, who had never shown any emotional turmoil in the dark cave of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple among the disciples, was chosen.

Next to them, Gu Yong, who had become their guide, pulled Hwanggu.

Gu Jucheol stared blankly at Hwanggu, who was pulling the cart.

“Why are we riding an ox of all things?”

As if he were dissatisfied with not riding a carriage, Gu Jucheol looked at Hwanggu with a displeased gaze.

“Are you planning to use it for food? From the looks of it, the meat quality seems quite good.”

At Gu Jucheol’s hot gaze, Hwanggu trembled.

“Hwanggu is my pet ox. You can’t eat him.”

“Hmm.”

Hwanggu, with his large eyes welling up, kicked the ground with force.

His four thick legs began to pull the cart with all their might.

While the cart pulled by Hwanggu was leaving Honggang, Gwak Myeong gathered the remaining disciples in one place.

Among them were Cheon Gaseong and Peng Sopyeong, who had been patrolling the outskirts with the Beggars' Sect members to survey the external situation.

“Is the Honggang branch still a branch of the Hao Sect?”

“That… although the branch office of Ok Myeon, who knows that I have betrayed them, has collapsed, if he has passed on information about me and Honggang to the sect master, there will be a problem.”

Jeokmyeon conveyed the situation as politely as possible.

“We can only hope that they don’t have the capacity to care about the Honggang branch.”

According to the news from the Beggars' Sect, when they had raided the Hao Sect branches, they had not succeeded in capturing any of the branch managers.

Because they had either run away in advance or had committed suicide right before being captured.

As the situation was like this, the traitor of the Hao Sect named Jeokmyeon had become a precious asset to Gwak Myeong and the Martial Alliance.

“I plan to treat you as a branch manager of the Hao Sect and give you the treatment you deserve. So don’t think about betraying me.”

“Of course.”

At Jeokmyeon’s attitude, which showed no hesitation, Gwak Myeong couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.

‘How on earth did he cook him?’

Looking at the Hao Sect branch managers he had seen so far, their loyalty to the sect seemed considerable.

But on Jeokmyeon’s face, a fear deeper than loyalty was felt.

And the object of that fear was none other than Jin Sohyun.

“From now on, the Honggang branch will actively convey all the news from the Hao Sect to me without omission. And we.”

Gwak Myeong looked around at the waiting Blue Dragon Daoist Temple disciples.

“Will raid the temporary branches of the Hao Sect that will soon be established.”

***

A place where a long cloud flows like a river between three peaks.

Although it could be called a famous spot for its rare and beautiful scenery, almost no one knows of this place.

In a pentagonal pavilion built in the place where the three peaks could be seen best, two people were sharing a cup.

One was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his mid-fifties, and the other was a young man who looked to be around thirty.

The middle-aged man, wearing a bamboo hat on his back and a gray cotton robe, gently stroked his stylishly grown beard.

“This… we’ve been hit hard.”

In front of the middle-aged man who was laughing heartily, a man with an androgynous appearance, to the point where it was difficult to tell if he was a woman or a man, smiled faintly.

“What’s the scale of the damage?”

“At least six branches have been destroyed and are in an irreparable state. Two branch managers have committed suicide, and the rest have succeeded in escaping.”

“That’s a relief.”

“The Martial Alliance is coming on quite strong this time.”

“They must have been confident. Have you found out the circumstances of the information leak?”

“Recently, the Ok Myeon branch lord is said to have killed the Shadowless Ghost using the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon. There’s no way such a thing would have happened for no reason.”

“It’s highly likely that the Shadowless Ghost who brought us the Formless Earth Killing Poison was a spy for the alliance. Hmm, is the Martial Alliance so desperate that they have to borrow the power of a mere thief?”

“Sect Master.”

The middle-aged man said, leisurely staring at the man.

“Are you going to respond?”

“It seems it’s time to call the other travelers. Second Guest.”

“Please give your order.”

“I will convene a guest meeting.”

“I will call the wandering travelers. What about the time and place?”

“The day the big rooster crows five times.”

The man called the Sect Master looked at the cloud river flowing leisurely between the peaks.

“Let’s see where the clouds end.”

***

Clatter— Clatter—

The cart rattled as it moved along the winding road led by Hwanggu.

Jin Sohyun, who was half-lying down, leaning against Ok Myeon who was lying down like a piece of luggage, stared blankly at the flowing clouds and then barely raised his upper body.

“Great Master Gu. Are you sleeping?”

Gu Jucheol, who was meditating with his eyes closed, opened one eye.

“What is it?”

“I have something I’m curious about.”

“Speak.”

“How strong are you, Great Master?”

At Jin Sohyun’s innocent and pure question, the gazes of Cheon Yerang and Gu Yong moved to the two at the same time.

At a glance, it was a question that could be rude, so Gu Yong’s mouth went dry.

Cheon Yerang was expressionless, but she seemed to be curious for some reason.

“It depends on how you set the standard, but I’m on the strong side. Why do you suddenly ask such a thing?”

“I’ve also developed a wish.”

“A wish… you’ve also developed such a thing?”

“It wasn’t originally mine, it was my master’s wish. But it has become mine now.”

“Good.”

Gu Jucheol opened both his eyes and sat up straight.

“Tell me your wish. What do you wish for and want?”

“I want to be the best under heaven.”

“What?”

Gu Jucheol looked at Jin Sohyun with a dumbfounded expression, and Gu Yong’s eyes opened wide in surprise.

Cheon Yerang was expressionless again this time, but her eyes widened slightly.

“Hahahaha!!”

Gu Jucheol laughed loudly and slapped the cart with his hand.

At the vibration, the head of Ok Myeon, who was lying down, hit the floor of the cart repeatedly.

“Ugh-ugh!”

“Be quiet!”

Jin Sohyun, who had silenced Ok Myeon, said with a slightly reddened face and a smaller voice.

“…Is it too absurd?”

“No. If you want it, you can achieve it.”

“Is that so? But I don’t know how. How can I become the best under heaven that everyone will acknowledge?”

“I don’t know.”

At his firm answer, Jin Sohyun had a dejected face.

At that, Gu Jucheol continued.

“I don’t know how to become the best under heaven. Do you know why?”

“No.”

“Because I have never become the best under heaven. If you ask how to go on a path that no one has ever gone on, the answer will be the same.”

“Hmm… then would the person called the White Moon Divine Lord know?”

The person who was currently closest to being the best under heaven.

As the name of the White Moon Divine Lord, Cheon Yushin, flowed from Jin Sohyun’s mouth, Gu Jucheol turned his gaze to Cheon Yerang.

“What do you think?”

“If you are asking about how to become the best under heaven, I also do not know.”

Cheon Yerang looked down at her two hands.

“I…”

The young lady of the White Moon Palace and the daughter of the White Moon Divine Lord.

Even though she had inherited his bloodline and possessed the blue eyes, the talent that Cheon Yerang possessed could not escape from her father’s shadow.

‘I’ve never even looked at it.’

She had never even thought of surpassing her brother, Cheon Gaseong, let alone her father, Cheon Yushin.

In the first place, the first time she had even gone against his will was the match at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple after meeting Jin Sohyun.

‘I…’

While Cheon Yerang was silent, Gu Jucheol faced Jin Sohyun again.

“Jin Sohyun.”

“Yes.”

“You said you were curious about how to become the best under heaven, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Survive.”

“What?”

Gu Jucheol said with a warm smile that he had never shown before.

“This world you live in is not a kind place for those who wish to be the best under heaven. Moreover, the Heretic Path's Alliance and the heretic martial world will constantly try to kill you, just as they sent the assassins of the Nameless Pavilion to you. So survive.”

His hand was quietly placed on Jin Sohyun’s head.

“Fight and survive, and fight and survive again… if you survive in the midst of a ceaseless struggle…”

The wind blew, tickled Jin Sohyun’s cheek, and flowed away.

Following that, Gu Jucheol’s voice echoed in his chest.

“You will have become the best under heaven.”

***

As night fell, the party stopped Hwanggu and prepared to camp.

Jin Sohyun slept well anywhere, and Cheon Yerang, who had experienced camping with him, skillfully made her own sleeping place.

Although it was just a simple bed made of a blanket.

Gu Yong prepared to sleep, using the sackcloth he always carried as his bedding.

“I’ll go get some firewood.”

“I’ll go with you.”

As Jin Sohyun left with Cheon Yerang to get firewood to start a bonfire, Gu Yong stealthily stood up.

“Great Master Gu.”

“He will be.”

“What?”

“Weren’t you about to ask about the possibility of Jin Sohyun becoming the best under heaven?”

As if his inner thoughts had been read, Gu Yong scratched his thigh with an embarrassed face.

“Haha… that’s right. I was about to ask that.”

“That child’s talent is not something that someone like me can carelessly judge.”

‘Is it to that extent?’

He knew that Jin Sohyun’s talent was unusual through the actions he had shown.

But for one of the Seven Evils and a living legend to call himself ‘someone like me’ and lower himself, what kind of talent was that?

Gu Yong had no choice but to change his evaluation of Jin Sohyun.

‘If Jin Sohyun is really the material to become the best under heaven, the Beggars' Sect must protect him.’

Apart from Oh Yoran’s promise, Gu Yong was planning to protect Jin Sohyun for the future of the righteous martial world.

“Gu Yong.”

“Yes.”

Gu Yong, who was lost in thought, hurriedly answered.

Gu Jucheol was sitting at an angle and staring into the air.

Somehow, the warm smile he had when looking at Jin Sohyun was gone, and his face was heartless.

“What do you think the best under heaven is?”

“That is… literally, I think it refers to the strongest martial artist in the world, with no one to compete with.”

“Then how do you prove that?”

“What? Proof…”

As Gu Yong couldn't readily give an answer, Gu Jucheol answered instead.

“Leave it.”

“What do you mean, leave it…?”

“You and the Beggars' Sect are planning to protect Jin Sohyun.”

“…That’s right.”

“Don’t try to protect him, just leave him. I mean, just watch Jin Sohyun.”

“What is your intention?”

“I mean, let him prove it. Let Jin Sohyun fight the heretic martial world and the Heretic Path's Alliance with his own hands, and crush them! Kill them! And trample on them!!”

At some point, Gu Jucheol had changed to the face he had when he was called one of the Seven Evils.

He said with two eyes that even felt a hint of madness.

“When he has built a mountain with corpses and made a river with blood… only then will the world know.”

A sly smile spread across Gu Jucheol’s lips.

“That Jin Sohyun has become the best under heaven.”

(End of Chapter)