The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

“Now what?”

At Yuha’s question, Baekhwa covered her lips with her index finger.

“Shh. For now, it’s best to just stay low.”

“Okay…”

The sudden appearance of the Hao Sect’s traveler, the Second Guest.

With his appearance, Honggang was flooded with wanderers.

The wanderers searched Honggang as if combing through it, and persistently dug up the information that Jeokmyeon had hidden.

If the Hao Sect had an advantage, it was that they had more informants than the Beggars' Sect, which was made up of only beggars, and the types of information were also diverse, but there was also a fatal disadvantage.

That was loyalty.

The most important thing for the Hao Sect members was their own lives.

At the appearance of the Second Guest, who existed above Jeokmyeon, the Hao Sect members unhesitatingly opened the story bundles they had hidden and saved their own lives.

Thanks to that, even the news that Jin Sohyun and his party, as well as the righteous martial artists, had come and gone.

The Second Guest, who had received all this, dragged Jeokmyeon out and disappeared somewhere.

‘He must have gone to find that bastard.’

There was a high possibility that Jeokmyeon had sold out Jin Sohyun to save his own life.

Baekhwa frowned, biting her lower lip with her upper teeth.

“This is… not good.”

***

Flash—!

The Third Guest, who had opened his eyes, realized that he had woken up in an abandoned house he didn't know.

And in front of him, a girl was looking at him with bright eyes.

“Ah! You’re awake?”

The Third Guest tried to say something, but he couldn't speak because he was gagged.

‘Was I caught?’

He fumbled through his hazy memories and barely recalled his last memory.

‘What on earth was that martial art.’

The last martial art that Jin Sohyun had shown had transcended the Third Guest’s common sense.

The power to annihilate everything it touched.

With any martial art.

A sword of omnipotence that could not be blocked by any divine weapon.

“He’s awake!”

At the girl’s shout, the closed door opened, and Jin Sohyun and Beomgang appeared.

The two had just taken a bath, and their hair was wet.

‘Is there a river or a lake nearby?’

The Third Guest tried to listen for the sound of water, but he couldn't operate his internal energy, perhaps because his pressure points had been subdued.

In the meantime, Jin Sohyun pulled a chair with one leg missing and sat in front of the Third Guest.

“Will you commit suicide if I remove the gag?”

“…”

What should I do?

The Third Guest, after contemplating, shook his head.

“Can I trust you.”

Nod— nod—

The Third Guest nodded his head this time.

Jin Sohyun, after contemplating for a moment, removed the gag.

“You’re a person who trusts people easily.”

“If you commit suicide here, it means that you are only that much of an existence in the Hao Sect.”

At the confident answer without hesitation, the Third Guest faced Jin Sohyun with a peculiar gaze.

And then.

“Hahahaha!”

The Third Guest laughed loudly and then said with a smiling face.

“You’re a likable fellow. A guy who has just become an adult wields omnipotent power… and tries to make a fool of me.”

“Are there a total of four travelers in the Ghost Star: Phantom Guest?”

“Yes. There’s nothing to hide about that.”

“Third Guest. Is the order of the titles based on martial prowess?”

“No. It’s in the order that the Sect Master found us. If I had to say, it’s the Sect Master’s priority.”

Priority.

Jin Sohyun focused on that word.

The Third Guest was the third traveler in the Hao Sect Master’s order.

Then, the faster the order, the stronger the martial prowess or the more difficult the opponent was likely to be.

“Is your real name Third Guest?”

At that moment, the girl approached with quick steps and asked.

The Third Guest sneered at the innocent girl’s question.

“Of course not.”

“Then what’s your real name?”

“I don’t have a real name. For a traveler, what they are called is their name.”

“Ah… Third Guest is strange… can I just call you Samwoo?”

“Call me whatever is comfortable.”

“Yes! Okay!”

‘A bright child.’

The Third Guest felt strange.

Even though he had been defeated in a fight and captured, he didn't feel bad or scared.

Rather, he felt relieved.

It was to the point where he didn't care what happened.

“My name is Cha Seol. I’m fourteen. What I like… I like pumpkins. Isn’t that strange?”

“I also like pumpkins.”

“It seems our tastes are similar.”

“I see.”

The Third Guest thought.

If he had lived an ordinary life without walking the path of a wanderer, would he have had a child like this?

No.

He would have had a daughter who was a little more grown up than Cha Seol.

Would my daughter also be this cute and pretty?

As his thoughts reached this point, the Third Guest suddenly became angry.

“I don’t understand.”

“What?”

At Jin Sohyun’s question, the Third Guest glared at him with an angry face.

“What is the reason for having such a young child in a place like this where you don’t know what will happen. What do you think I would do?”

At the sight of the angry Third Guest, Jin Sohyun smiled with interest in his eyes.

“Why do you care about that?”

“That’s…”

Isn’t it strange?

To have such a young child in front of an opponent who had been pointing a sword at each other to kill just a moment ago.

It’s strange.

Yes.

It’s strange.

The Third Guest suddenly looked at Cha Seol.

A pretty face and eyes like beads.

For such a small child to be in this place…

‘It means she’s not an ordinary child.’

The moment the Third Guest finished his thought and his mouth opened, Jin Sohyun said.

“Seol.”

“Uncle Samwoo.”

Flinch—!

The Third Guest stopped with his mouth open.

Of course, it was not his will.

It felt as if an invisible, formless force was restraining his entire body.

“Don’t do that. For my sake.”

The Third Guest’s open mouth slowly closed.

“And show me.”

Cha Seol reached out her hand, grabbed the Third Guest’s face, and brought her own face close to his.

And in Cha Seol’s two eyes, the Third Guest could see his own figure.

“You.”

***

“How is it? Did you find out the information you needed?”

At Beomgang’s question, Jin Sohyun gently stroked the head of the tired and sleeping Cha Seol and looked at the Third Guest, who was sitting in a chair.

“Not really.”

“Keum! You went through all that trouble and found out nothing? Is there a possibility that he’s hiding information?”

“Almost none. Seol’s Soul Seduction Art worked properly.”

There was no problem with Cha Seol’s Soul Seduction Art.

The problem was with the Third Guest.

‘There’s no information.’

Although there was information about the Ghost Star: Phantom Guest, there was almost nothing about the Hao Sect Master.

What he had found out was the identity of the Ghost Star: Phantom Guest.

They were masters who did not belong anywhere, and were the successors of martial arts that were passed down through a single line.

In a way, they were similar to Kang Cheon or Bieunggaek.

The Hao Sect Master had wandered the Central Plains, contacted travelers with outstanding martial arts and talent, and had made them the Ghost Star: Phantom Guest, the travelers of the Hao Sect, in exchange for granting their wishes.

Their role was when the Hao Sect was in danger in the future.

To receive the Sect Master’s call and eliminate the danger.

And the Third Guest’s wish was five famous swords.

“It’s back to square one. Keung! Do I have to find another traveler?”

Beomgang patted his shoulder.

No matter how much he was the disciple of the Fist King, the continuous fight with the wanderers was too much.

Even though he had taken a short rest, the wounds on his whole body and the fatigue accumulated in his muscles made his body as heavy as a stone.

‘Looking at it like that, he doesn’t seem human at all.’

Beomgang clicked his tongue as he looked at Jin Sohyun.

He had not only dealt with twice as many wanderers as Beomgang had, but had also captured the Third Guest, one of the absolute masters of the Hao Sect.

And seeing him move fine even after that, he could understand why the heretic path was chasing Jin Sohyun with fire in their eyes.

“What are you going to do now? Little brother.”

“I don’t know. Watch Seol for a bit.”

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“For a walk.”

Jin Sohyun said this and left the abandoned house, jumping onto the roof.

The world, where night had come, was quiet with only the sound of birds and grasshoppers crying.

Jin Sohyun, who was sitting on the roof that seemed as if it would collapse at any moment and enjoying the blowing wind, closed his eyes.

“Winter will be here soon.”

In the north of the Central Plains, winter comes earlier than in other places.

A coldness was mixed in the autumn wind.

Jin Sohyun, who was sitting and facing the high sky and the cold late autumn wind, had his eyes shining blue.

Jin Sohyun, who was watching the world with a blue light, slowly stood up from his seat.

“…”

Jin Sohyun, who was standing silently, jumped down from the roof and went into the abandoned house.

“You’re back soon.”

“Seol.”

Jin Sohyun carefully woke up Cha Seol, who was lying with Beomgang’s lap as a pillow.

“Ugh… yes…?”

“I know you’re tired, but can I ask you one more favor?”

Cha Seol blinked her eyes and then got up with a yawn.

“What is it?”

***

“Is this the place?”

“That’s right.”

Jeokmyeon bowed his head.

In front of their eyes was an abandoned house that seemed to have been abandoned for a long time.

The roof had holes in it, so it couldn't even protect from the rain and wind, and the walls were so old that they seemed as if they would collapse with a single touch.

The Second Guest, who was watching this silently, raised his hand.

“Check it out.”

The wanderers who had received the order carefully approached the abandoned house.

A total of ten wanderers opened the door and entered.

“…”

“…”

Jeokmyeon and the Second Guest held their breath and stared at the abandoned house.

And soon, someone came out of the abandoned house.

“Elder.”

It was one of the wanderers who had entered the abandoned house earlier.

“I think you should come in and see.”

At the wanderer’s words, the Second Guest pushed Jeokmyeon’s back.

“Keung!”

Jeokmyeon, who had to lead the way, limping on his not-yet-fully-healed foot, approached the abandoned house with the Second Guest behind him.

And then, the two who had entered through the open door met the Third Guest, who was standing in a posture as if he had been waiting.

“You’re late, Second Guest.”

“Third Guest… and this person?”

The Second Guest’s gaze landed on a man who was kneeling next to the Third Guest.

At that, the Third Guest sneered.

“It’s Jin Sohyun.”

“Jin Sohyun!”

Jin Sohyun, whom the Hao Sect and the Heretic Path's Alliance were searching for with fire in their eyes, was tied up and kneeling.

“Did you capture Jin Sohyun alive?”

The Second Guest asked in surprise, and the Third Guest shrugged his shoulders.

“It was effective to send the wanderers first. Although nearly a thousand were sacrificed, thanks to that, I was barely able to capture him.”

“Amazing!”

The Second Guest admired and approached, grabbing Jin Sohyun’s chin and lifting it.

At the handsome appearance of Jin Sohyun that was revealed, the Second Guest admired greatly once more.

“I never thought I’d see your face this close.”

“…”

Jin Sohyun, who was gagged, glared at the Second Guest with hateful eyes.

“It’s like an angry beast’s eyes. By the way, Third Guest. Why did you keep this person alive?”

“Killing him or keeping him alive. Wouldn’t it be better to hear the Sect Master’s opinion?”

“Well, I suppose so. He could be a pretty good card in negotiations with the Heretic Path's Alliance. But you…”

The Second Guest looked at the Third Guest’s empty shoulder with a hardened face.

“Ah… you mean this?”

The Third Guest smiled bitterly.

“I paid the price.”

“It was an expensive price.”

To fully unfold the Five-Path Cutting Wheel Sword, both arms had to be free.

But he had become one-armed.

The Second Guest silently encouraged the Third Guest and looked down at Jin Sohyun.

His gaze had changed considerably.

Knowing how obsessed the Heretic Path's Alliance was with Jin Sohyun, the Second Guest, unlike his usual self, smiled brightly with a rather excited face.

“You’ve achieved a great feat.”

Jeokmyeon’s voice was heard from behind the two who were talking.

“Then will you spare me now…?”

“Ah, you’re left. You traitor.”

“Ugh…”

At the word ‘traitor’, Jeokmyeon flinched.

“If it were up to me, I’d want to tear your body to shreds and sprinkle it as food for the wild beasts, but a promise is a promise. Get out of my sight right now.”

“Y-yes!”

Jeokmyeon left the abandoned house without looking back.

Even with a limping foot, his speed was quite fast.

“Is it okay to let the traitor live?”

“Anyway, since he has turned his back on the Hao Sect, there is no place for that bastard to set foot and live. More than that, I have to inform the Sect Master of this good news. Of course, before that…”

The Second Guest said, taking out a dagger from his bosom.

“Even a captured beast should have its fangs and claws pulled out, shouldn’t it.”

(End of Chapter)