The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

"Family Head Jin!"

Bieunggaek did not go through the main gate of the Jin Family.

Like the number one divine thief in the world, Bieunggaek lightly jumped over the high walls of the Jin Family and went straight to Jin Seomok.

"Elder Bi! What brings you here?"

Although it was a very rude act to come over the wall without notice, Jin Seomok did not mind much.

Bieunggaek hurriedly said to Jin Seomok, who was greeting him with a smiling face.

"Where is Sohyun? I need to see that child!"

"That is..."

As a troubled expression appeared on Jin Seomok's face, Bieunggaek asked in surprise.

"Has something already gone wrong!?"

"Gone wrong? That's not it. It's just that Sohyun is not at the family estate right now."

"Then where did that lazy bum go?"

"Sohyun is currently at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple in Seokcheon."

"Seokcheon is south of Shaanxi... and the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple? Where is that?"

"Haha. You must not have heard because you've been busy. Due to the recent assassination incident of the next-generation talents, the Martial Arts Alliance has established four Daoist temples in the central part of the Central Plains, namely Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hubei, and Henan."

"Four Daoist temples?"

"According to the Namgung Family Head, each Daoist temple was established as an educational institution to teach and protect the young next-generation talents."

"Hmm... I heard the Martial Arts Alliance has been moving busily these days, and they've already established Daoist temples. Ah! Is it because of Bud Crushing?"

"That's right."

"Then Sohyun also went to that place called the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple?"

"Thanks to the consideration of Elder Namgung, he has fortunately gone to the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, where the protection of the Martial Arts Alliance is present. There, he will be educated as a martial artist of the orthodox faction and will receive the protection of the Alliance."

"Then that's a relief."

Bieunggaek sat down as if he were collapsing and let out a deep sigh of relief.

"Has something happened in the meantime?"

Bieunggaek, who was about to say something, raised his hand and waved it left and right.

"It's a matter of the martial world that Family Head Jin doesn't need to know. Don't get too deeply involved. More than that, how has Sohyun been doing in the meantime?"

"Sohyun is..."

Jin Seomok explained in detail what had happened over the past five years.

It was because there was nothing more enjoyable for a master than the achievements of his disciple.

As Jin Seomok had thought, Bieunggaek laughed out loud and enjoyed himself throughout the story.

"What? People are running away? Hahaha! This brat has used the Supreme Unstepping properly!"

The laughing Jin Seomok heard about the incident where Jin Sohyun was attacked on his way to the Namgung Family and the story of meeting the general fortress master of the Green Forest after returning from the family estate.

"Oho... so that's what happened?"

"The heavens helped. Still, the person called the general fortress master of the Green Forest was not a completely unreasonable person."

'Hmph! The heavens did help. Since they gave that lazy bum the talent of the Heavenly Martial Body. By the way, has Sohyun's level already reached that point? I was worried because I heard he had been playing and eating for the past five years... but it was my groundless fear.'

Jin Sohyun had really been playing and eating.

However, Bieunggaek, who knew that the Green Forest's general fortress master, Kang Seopyeong, was a martial artist who had surpassed the peak, did not think that he would have let Jin Sohyun go meekly.

'He must have had a fight with Sohyun. He must have felt something in the process. A cunning brat.'

He thought that Kang Seopyeong, who had won a hard-fought victory in that fight, had seen Jin Sohyun's talent and had meekly withdrawn to form a connection with the Jin Family.

But this was completely different.

The winner of the fight was, after all, the lazy bum of Shanxi, Jin Sohyun.

"It's fine as long as Sohyun is safe. I'll be going now."

Bieunggaek dusted off his bottom and stood up.

"Are you leaving already?"

As Jin Seomok said with a regretful tone, Bieunggaek faced him with a very serious face.

"Family Head Jin."

"Yes, Elder."

"There will be a big commotion in the Central Plains soon. You don't need to be scared in advance, but..."

"You're saying I should be prepared."

"That's exactly what I mean."

"I will do so."

"Since you are the one who raised the Jin Family, which was a mat seller, to the number one merchant family in Shanxi, you will surely do well. Then I will really be going."

Jin Seomok, who was watching Bieunggaek, who had left the reception room, disappear from the estate in just a few steps, looked up at the sky with his hands behind his back.

Unlike his complicated heart, the sky, which was without a single cloud, was clear and peaceful.

***

"Have you both come to the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple?"

"We also came with the people of our family!"

As Peng Xiaofeng had said, behind him stood a group of martial artists wearing the martial arts uniforms that symbolized the Hebei Peng Family.

The number of people who had come from the Hebei Peng Family was also five, and it was made up of four men and one woman, including Peng Xiaofeng.

Also, the two people who had come from the Zhuge Family were also standing together.

One man and one woman, a total of three people including Zhuge Ming.

The people who were familiar to Jin Sohyun were not just them.

"We meet again, Young Hero Jin."

"Ah, Young Lady Moyong has come too."

Moyong Susu appeared with the martial artists who had come from the Moyong Family.

Perhaps because of Moyong Susu's beautiful appearance, which was revealed as she was not wearing a veil, people's gazes were drawn to them.

"At that time, I was not in a state to do so, and the situation was not such that I could express my gratitude. Thank you for your help. If Young Hero Jin had not called the Family Head..."

Was it because she recalled the memory of that time? The fear of that time could be felt in Moyong Susu's two eyes.

"No. It's fine as long as you're safe."

"Hahaha! Still, your contribution was great!"

Looking at the reactions of Peng Xiaofeng and Moyong Susu, it seemed they did not know the truth of that day.

At this, as Jin Sohyun looked at Zhuge Ming, he winked one eye.

Zhuge Ming's mouth was surprisingly heavy.

"The Slothful Young Master seems to be close with the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families."

"His family is the wealthiest family in Shanxi. He must have used money."

"Well, since it's a merchant family, it's natural to be close with the people of the families."

"He's probably just a financier."

The young next-generation talents from the minor sects and martial families, who had been looking down on Jin Sohyun as the lazy bum of Shanxi, were whispering.

Their voices also reached the ears of the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families, who had excellent hearing.

"Those rude people! I will give them a piece of my mind!"

As the angry Peng Xiaofeng was about to step up, Jin Sohyun stopped him.

"I'm fine."

'If you step up, I'll get tired.'

The attention of the martial artists, which had barely subsided, was gathering on him again with the appearance of the Five Great Families.

Jin Sohyun, who had learned from his past experiences that if unnecessary attention increased, troublesome things would also increase, wanted to be quietly buried.

But whether he knew this or not, Peng Xiaofeng continued to huff and puff.

"But they don't know Young Master Jin, do they? It's not right for them to talk as they please without knowing!"

Peng Xiaofeng was indeed a man who knew what loyalty was.

"Brother Peng. Please stop. If Brother Peng steps up here, it will only create ill feelings towards Young Master Jin."

"Keuheum...!"

As befitting Peng Xiaofeng, who always believed and followed Zhuge Ming's words, he suppressed his anger at once.

Instead, he just glared at the whispering young martial artists with an angry gaze.

At that, the young martial artists who had been spreading bad rumors about Jin Sohyun closed their mouths and avoided his gaze.

"That's right. Don't mind them, Young Hero Jin."

Was it because the place of their reunion was the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple?

Moyong Susu no longer called Jin Sohyun 'Young Master,' but 'Young Hero.'

She had acknowledged him not as the son of a prestigious family, but as a respectable martial artist.

"I'm glad to be reunited with Young Hero Jin at the Daoist temple."

Because they were people who had shared life and death together, Peng Xiaofeng, Zhuge Ming, and Moyong Susu had different thoughts about each other.

And there was also Jin Sohyun, who could be said to be their lifesaver.

Behind the four people who were sharing the joy of their reunion, another group of people approached.

They entered the inside of the Daoist temple, crossing the main gate without hesitation.

"Make way."

Although the tone was polite, the voice contained in it was stiff.

At the voice coming from behind, the four turned around.

There were five martial artists wearing grayish martial arts uniforms with the character 'Gong' written in a round circle on their chests.

They were all men, and their hair was so short that it was pointless to wear a hero's headband.

Their solid build, thick eyebrows, and sharp eyes were as if they were looking at the martial artists of the Hebei Peng Family.

"The Kongtong Sect?"

It was the appearance of the Kongtong Sect, one of the Nine Sects.

As the four made way, the martial artists of the Kongtong Sect walked confidently and occupied one side of the training ground.

"Three from the Nine Sects and three from the Five Great Families have gathered."

As someone had said, three of the Nine Sects and three of the Five Great Families had gathered at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

As they were conscious of each other and divided the area, a boundary naturally formed between the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families.

And Jin Sohyun, who was caught in between, stealthily left the place.

"The atmosphere is unusual."

"They say the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families are on bad terms. They don't acknowledge each other or something."

With the explanation of Siu, who had been eavesdropping on information from here and there, Jin Sohyun realized that the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families were not on good terms.

"So that's why they're glaring at each other with daggers in their eyes. But aren't the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families both representing the Orthodox Martial World? Is there a reason for them to fight?"

As Jin Sohyun revealed his shallow knowledge of the martial world for the first time in a long time, a boy standing behind him whispered quietly.

"That's because their personalities are completely different."

The boy, with his bright eyes, excitedly continued his explanation, which he had not been asked for.

"Except for the Jongnam Sect, most of the sects have a strong Daoist character, but the Five Great Families are literally secular. Unlike the Nine Sects, which leave the secular world and devote themselves only to martial arts, the Five Great Families transmit the secrets of their families through blood ties in the secular world. Because of this, the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families don't really acknowledge each other."

"I... see."

Jin Sohyun was getting more and more tired, but the boy showed no sign of stopping his explanation.

"Moreover, the proportion that the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families occupy in the Orthodox Martial World is not small, and unlike the Nine Sects, which neither invade each other's territory nor join hands, the Five Great Families, which have cooperated with each other for a long time, were a thorn in their side."

The Nine Great Sects had solidified their position in the Central Plains martial world over a long history.

Because of this, the Five Great Families had cooperated with each other to keep the Nine Sects in check and had solidified their position in the martial world.

So from the perspective of the Nine Sects, there was no other thorn in their side like the Five Great Families, and it was the same for the Five Great Families, which were coveting the position of the Nine Sects.

Since the situation was like this, the young martial artists of the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families, who had coincidentally gathered in one place, were not looking at each other favorably.

"What happened? It seems you ran all the way here from Mount Jongnam alone."

As Hyeok'ugun said sarcastically, Jong Ryeo'ak gritted his teeth.

"Shut up."

"Don't tarnish the name of the Nine Sects in front of the Five Great Families. If you're going to do it, do it after taking off the name of Jongnam."

"You son of a...!"

Jong Ryeo'ak was boiling with anger, but he could not move his body rashly.

It was because the internal energy he had lost to Jin Sohyun had not yet recovered.

"Hyeok'ugun, Jong Ryeo'ak. It's good to see you."

At that moment, a young man leading the martial artists of the Kongtong Sect stood confidently in front of the two.

Hyeok'ugun answered with a voice devoid of emotion.

"It's been a while, Go Durim."

The man called Go Durim nodded his head just once and then stood in a posture like a wooden doll and stared at the main gate.

"They will be here soon."

At Go Durim's words, the gazes of Hyeok'ugun and Jong Ryeo'ak naturally turned to the entrance of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

Soon after, as Go Durim had said, five people stepped on the threshold of the Daoist temple.

There were no cheers.

Instead, everyone held their breath and watched their entrance.

While everyone was watching the newly appeared people without even blinking, two men and women entered the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, escorted by the three people who had appeared earlier.

"Ah! Don't tell me?"

"Wow..."

"They've come!"

The young martial artists gathered at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple faced the two, letting out exclamations and gasps.

As the young martial artists, who had not shown a reaction beyond cheers even at the appearance of the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families, were even careful with their breathing, the curious Siu asked the boy.

"Who has come that people are acting like this?"

"You really don't know?"

"I'm asking because I don't know!"

"Those people are... Young Hero Cheon Gaseong and Young Lady Cheon Yerang from the White Moon Palace!"

"Really?"

"I'm telling you!"

As the boy could not take his eyes off the two men and women who had come from the White Moon Palace, Siu shook Jin Sohyun's sleeve.

"Young Master! Young Master?"

Jin Sohyun, who she had thought would be spacing out without much interest this time either, was surprisingly not taking his eyes off the two newly appeared people.

'It seems the Young Master was also curious about the people of the White Moon Palace.'

'I've seen them somewhere before.'

Unlike Siu's thoughts, Jin Sohyun was tilting his head as he looked at the two newly appeared men and women.

They were faces he had definitely seen somewhere before.

Jin Sohyun, who was fumbling through his old memories, finally realized who they were.

'They're the people I saw on the mountain back then. The man who killed the assassins and the girl who was being chased.'

The young girl who had been chased by the assassins had become a woman.

The veil that covered her face could not hide her beauty, and on the contrary, it gave off a mysterious atmosphere.

Her large, blue pupils and two eyebrows that resembled a crescent moon. Her high nose that seemed to pierce the veil and her white skin. Even her long, black hair amplified her beauty.

And the man standing in front of her had white skin and sharp features.

Despite his cold and indifferent impression, his handsome appearance was enough to capture and shake the hearts of many women.

"They are truly a handsome man and a beautiful woman."

Siu could not even dare to look at the man named Cheon Gaseong straight.

"She's grown up a lot."

Meanwhile, Jin Sohyun even felt a sense of pride at the sight of the girl he had met after a long time, who had grown into a respectable woman.

In a way, she was the first person Jin Sohyun had helped using his martial arts.

Swoosh—

Cheon Gaseong's gaze, which had been sweeping around as if looking down on everyone, reached Jin Sohyun.

At that moment, Cheon Gaseong's eyebrows twitched.

He extended his hand towards Jin Sohyun and then beckoned with his finger.

"Oh? Young Master!"

"Huh?"

"The person who came from the White Moon Palace seems to be calling you."

As Siu had said, the man named Cheon Gaseong was beckoning to Jin Sohyun with his finger.

"I'll go."

Instead of Jin Sohyun, Siu approached him with short steps.

"Who are you?"

At Cheon Gaseong's cold voice, Siu said in a small voice.

"I am Siu, the maidservant of Young Master Jin Sohyun."

"A maidservant...?"

Once again, Cheon Gaseong's eyebrows twitched.

He said something again, and Siu, who had heard it, came to Jin Sohyun with urgent steps.

"What did he say?"

At Jin Sohyun's question, Siu said with a reluctant face.

"He said if you stare at Young Lady Cheon Yerang one more time, he'll gouge out your two eyes."

"Hmm... as expected!"

Jin Sohyun, a newcomer to the martial world.

He had realized once again today.

That there were no normal people in this damn martial world.

(End of Chapter)