The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

A month had already passed since he came up the mountain.

Life in the crudely built hut was bearable.

Thanks to the steady supply of clean clothes and food from the main house, he had no worries about sustenance, and he could change his clothes immediately if they got dirty.

Moreover, Jin Sohyun, who had grown accustomed to sleeping outdoors while living with the beggars of the Beggars' Sect, also possessed the talent to sleep anytime, anywhere, as long as he could lie down.

"Shall I train hard today as well!"

Jin Sohyun, who had found a flat stone floor a few days ago by chance, sat in the lotus position and breathed.

Thanks to concentrating properly on his breathing for the past month, he had accumulated a considerable amount of internal energy.

Furthermore, Jin Sohyun had reached a new realm, which was to sleep while maintaining his breathing.

"I'll be in your care today as well."

Before beginning the sacred ritual of napping, Jin Sohyun greeted his body, which would be accumulating internal energy on its own.

While Jin Sohyun was napping under the pretext of training, Kang Cheon sat in the hut and chewed on ginseng.

"As expected, the richest family in Shanxi is different in some way."

In front of Kang Cheon were expensive elixirs and ginseng, the prices of which were whatever one called them.

With the heart of a parent wanting to help their child's studies even a little, Jin Seomok had searched everywhere and spent a fortune to obtain these elixirs and precious ginseng.

"It's a pity... but I can't give them to that kid now."

Kang Cheon, who had swallowed the ginseng that should have originally been Jin Sohyun's in one bite, hid the rest of the elixirs under the bed.

It wasn't because Kang Cheon was an old man steeped in greed.

He had his own reasons...

"If that monstrous kid eats elixirs too..."

Jin Sohyun, who was already accumulating internal energy several times faster than others, would have his internal energy increase at an unmanageable speed if he were to take precious elixirs.

If that happened, Jin Sohyun would surely demand to descend the mountain, saying that this was enough, so for the time being, he had to keep the elixirs away.

No, he had to make sure he didn't even smell the elixirs.

"I can't let that happen! No! Absolutely not!"

He planned to keep him for at least twenty years and teach him the Flying Heaven Ten Swords.

Kang Cheon, who had already formulated a plan in his head, muttered as he thought of Jin Sohyun, who was probably sleeping somewhere under the pretext of training his internal energy.

"Now, then... shall we start building up his body."

Now that his internal energy had a certain foundation, it was time to learn external arts.

Kang Cheon left the hut and approached Jin Sohyun, who was circulating his qi from a distance.

"Get up now."

An ordinary person would have been so focused on circulating their qi that they wouldn't have heard the external sound, but Jin Sohyun was different.

Jin Sohyun, who opened his eyes immediately, blinked.

"What is it?"

"Your internal energy has a certain foundation now, so it's time to train your external arts. In other words, it's time to build up your body."

"Whaat!?"

Jin Sohyun was startled and glared.

"But this disciple's internal energy is still far from sufficient! Shouldn't I continue to cultivate my internal energy as if I were dead for at least another year?"

At Jin Sohyun's uninhibited speech, Kang Cheon's thick eyebrows twitched.

'You're insufficient? Then are all other martial artists crippled fools?'

There were plenty of things he wanted to say.

But since it was Kang Cheon himself who had made Jin Sohyun this way, instead of scolding him, he waved his hand.

"A healthy mind resides in a healthy body. Hurry up and follow me!"

"Yes..."

Jin Sohyun followed Kang Cheon with his lips pouted.

The place they arrived at was a training ground that Kang Cheon had recently made by pulling out all the trees and leveling the ground himself.

"Take off your clothes."

"C-Clothes? Why?"

As Jin Sohyun wrapped his slender arms around his body and looked at him with a distrustful expression, Kang Cheon flared up in anger.

"I'm trying to check your body's condition, so stop with the useless thoughts and just take them off!"

"Yes."

As he slowly took off his clothes, Jin Sohyun's slender and fair body shyly revealed itself to the world.

"Hmm...!"

A pale white skin that looked as if it had never seen the light of day.

Slender arms and torso that looked as if they had never developed any muscle.

Even the minimal muscle that a person develops through daily life did not exist in Jin Sohyun.

'It's more serious than I thought.'

Jin Sohyun's body was so serious that he didn't know where to even begin.

"First, we will start physical training from today. First, do as many push-ups as you can."

Scratching his cheek, Jin Sohyun placed his arms and legs on the ground and lifted his body.

"Kkeueung—!!"

Tremble—!

Quiver—!

His two arms and legs trembled like an aspen tree.

"What are you doing?"

"Kkeueuk!!"

Jin Sohyun trembled all over, bent his arms, and collapsed.

"Keck!"

After that, Jin Sohyun's body did not rise again.

"You can't even do one!? Hah... what a mess!"

This time, he was serious.

Jin Sohyun, who struggled to even support his body with his arms, let alone do one push-up.

And the corners of Kang Cheon's mouth, who was looking down at him pathetically, slowly rose.

'That's it! With this, you'll have to do nothing but physical training under me for at least ten years!'

If internal energy doesn't work, then with external arts!

Having found an excuse, Kang Cheon sternly ordered.

"From today, you will start physical training as I instruct! Do you understand! You will not rest for a single day!"

"..."

No answer came from Jin Sohyun, who was sprawled on the floor.

"Are you listening to me?"

"...Kuu."

Was it because he had used too much strength?

Seeing Jin Sohyun, who had fallen asleep in the meantime, Kang Cheon felt his vision go dark.

"The heavens are truly heartless."

It was truly an unfair thing.

Why on earth did the heavens gift this laziest person under the heavens with the blessing of a Heavenly Martial Body?

It was something that a mere mortal like Kang Cheon could not possibly understand.

But he couldn't back down like this.

'The Flying Heaven Ten Swords must be recognized as the number one martial art under the heavens! Only then can I crush that guy from the Cheon Family's face!'

Recalling the white-haired old man who had looked at him with contempt, Kang Cheon ground his teeth.

"Get up! You lazy bum!"

***

Why do happy days pass by so quickly?

The same goes for a sweet nap.

The pleasant dreams that occasionally come do not last long, and one quickly wakes up.

In contrast, the nightmares that come at least once a year torment a person for a very long time.

It was the same now.

"Kkeueueung—!!!"

External arts training was a nightmare itself for Jin Sohyun.

In the first place, there was no way Jin Sohyun, who had spent his entire life lying down or sitting, would have any muscle.

His body, filled with fat instead of muscle, was at a level where even a five-year-old child could not be matched.

Nevertheless, Jin Sohyun tried.

"Kkeueuaahaap!!"

Jin Sohyun, the boy who was furthest from the word 'effort,' finally straightened his trembling arms.

Having succeeded in straightening his arms, Jin Sohyun collapsed.

"I did it... I did it!"

At the pride of having accomplished it himself, Jin Sohyun was on the verge of tears.

"What do you mean you did it!"

At that moment, Kang Cheon, who could no longer bear it, got angry and pulled the collapsed Jin Sohyun up.

"You did two! Two!!! Huh? Do you understand? You only did two push-ups!"

"It was a truly long and painful journey."

Kang Cheon was about to go crazy with frustration.

'Is this... really a Heavenly Martial Body?'

He was now on the verge of falling into self-doubt, wondering if he had misjudged Jin Sohyun's talent.

"Heeung... I'm tired..."

Looking at Jin Sohyun, who had a face as if he were carrying all the burdens of the world after just two push-ups, made him feel suffocated.

How could he make this lazy bum naturally build up his strength?

As Kang Cheon was pondering deeply, he spotted Mu Yonghu climbing the mountain, carrying food and clothes as usual.

"That guy is having a hard time too... wait... a hard time? A hard time?"

Kang Cheon felt a flash of light before his eyes.

"That's right! There was such a way!"

Looking down at Jin Sohyun, who was whining that his arms hurt, Kang Cheon laughed silently and eerily.

'You brat, now you'll have to move to live, even if you don't want to. Hehehe!'

***

"Hmph hmph hmph—!"

Siu, who had been Jin Sohyun's exclusive maidservant, was spending leisurely and peaceful days.

"Siu! Are you playing again!?"

Siu, who was embroidering while humming, spotted two maidservants walking somewhere with water buckets on their shoulders.

"Oh my! It's Cheonga and Songi? Are the water buckets heavy?"

"Do you even have to ask!?"

Even though the maidservants named Cheonga and Songi glared at her with fire in their eyes, Siu didn't even blink.

"Yes! I'm asking."

"You little!?"

As the angry Cheonga put down her water bucket and stomped over, Siu giggled and stood up from her seat.

"Oh? The water bucket!"

"What!?"

As Siu pointed at the water bucket in surprise, the startled Cheonga hurriedly turned around, but the water bucket on the ground was firmly in its place without even a slight movement.

Only then did Cheonga, who realized she had been tricked, fume.

"Do you really want to get a scolding!?"

"Who was it that teased me, saying 'serves you right,' when I became the Young Master's exclusive maidservant?"

Siu crossed her arms and raised one corner of her eye.

Then, perhaps because she had a guilty conscience, Cheonga couldn't say anything, like a mute who had eaten honey.

"Hmph! I have to enjoy my vacation, so hurry up and move the water buckets!"

As Siu leisurely ate a sweet and crossed her legs, Cheonga and Songi breathed heavily through their noses and walked down the sun-drenched path with the water buckets on their shoulders.

"Serves you right!"

Siu, who teased the two maidservants to the end, closed her eyes and enjoyed the leisure that had come after many years.

But then, a familiar voice was heard.

"Siu."

"Uncle Mu?"

Mu Yonghu had come to see her.

Instinctively feeling a sense of foreboding, Siu's neck shrank.

"Don't tell me... the Young Master has come down from the mountain?"

"Not yet."

"Phew...!"

"The Family Head is calling for you. Go quickly."

"Wh-Why?"

"You'll know when you get there."

Siu's fingertips trembled.

She went to see the Family Head, Jin Seomok, with heavy steps.

Siu, who found Jin Seomok and Yu Seoheung enjoying refreshments under a large parasol, walked with quick steps.

"Did you... call for me?"

As Siu carefully approached and asked, Yu Seoheung, instead of Jin Seomok, spoke in a gentle voice.

"It has already been three months since Sohyun went up the mountain to receive Elder Kang Cheon's teachings."

"Yes."

"I sent him away with a heavy heart, but I'm worried if Sohyun is doing well. He probably lived without any hardship, so life in the mountains won't be easy. So, you should go up and see Sohyun. And also ask him if he needs anything."

"Ah, I understand. I'll be back quickly."

Fearing that she might be told to stay by Jin Sohyun's side and assist him, Siu quickly left the place.

"Can we trust her?"

As Yu Seoheung asked, looking at the receding Siu with worried eyes, Jin Seomok smiled broadly.

"Siu is a child who has attended to Sohyun without any complaints until now. She knows Sohyun as well as Gahyeon, so don't worry too much, my wife."

"Yes, we'll have to trust Siu."

***

"What should I do?"

Siu, who had unexpectedly received the expectations of the Jin couple, had to climb the mountain with heavy steps.

How long had she walked?

Siu listened to the sound of splashing water coming from somewhere.

"What's that sound?"

Her curiosity piqued, Siu walked in the direction of the sound as if possessed by something.

Arriving at the stream, Siu was startled and shouted.

"Y-Young Master!?"

Siu found Jin Sohyun squatting by the stream and doing laundry.

"...Siu?"

Tears welled up in the eyes of Jin Sohyun, who was doing laundry with a haggard appearance.

"Siu!"

"Yes! It is I, Siu, the loyal maidservant of the Young Master. But what on earth is going on? Why is the Young Master doing laundry...?"

At that moment, Siu realized that there had been no laundry from Jin Sohyun for the past two months.

Thanks to that, she had been able to spend her time leisurely, and the reason was that Jin Sohyun had been doing his own laundry!

At that moment, Jin Sohyun, who had spotted Siu, threw down the laundry bat he was holding and ran over urgently.

"Siu! Listen carefully to what I'm about to say."

"...Yes?"

Jin Sohyun grabbed Siu's shoulders with his swollen and chapped hands.

"Hurry back to Father and deliver my message!"

"S-Speak!"

"It seems... Father has been scammed. The old man named Kang Cheon is a child abuser. L-Look at this! That old man is making me do laundry and hunt every day! Your one and only Young Master is being exploited for labor with these tender hands!"

"Labor exploitation!?"

Siu, a maidservant of a large family, reacted sensitively to the word 'labor exploitation.'

She nodded with a face full of resolute will.

"Don't worry, Young Master! I will definitely deliver the truth!"

"Yes... I finally understand how hard it must have been for you... You've suffered a lot, Siu."

"Then... will you forgive my rudeness and mistakes so far?"

"No."

"..."

"Hurry down and report the situation here without leaving anything out. If necessary, the family's bodyguards... yes! Send Uncle Mu too! Got it!?"

"Yes! Just trust this Siu!"

"I'm counting on you!"

Siu clenched her two fists and forced a tearful farewell, leaving Jin Sohyun at the laundry place.

"Labor exploitation! To think that a renowned old master of Jianghu would be doing such an inhuman thing!"

"It's been a while."

"Kyaak!"

Siu, who was fuming and going down the slope, almost misstepped and rolled down at the voice coming from somewhere.

"E-Elder."

Siu, who belatedly spotted Kang Cheon, stammered.

In the meantime, Kang Cheon approached.

One step, two steps.

Kang Cheon, who came right up to the terrified Siu's nose, said with a benevolent face.

"You are a cute child. Full of loyalty, and full of love for the Young Master you serve. But think about it. Why do you think the child named Jin Sohyun has become lazy?"

"That's because... it's the Young Master's nature..."

At the answer that flowed from between Siu's mumbling lips, Kang Cheon shook his head.

Kang Cheon's fingertip pointed at Siu.

"It's because of you."

"M-Me?"

No way!?

'Is this old man going to work me to the bone this time!?'

As the startled Siu's eyes widened and she swallowed dryly, Kang Cheon's head nodded up and down.

"Yes! With a reliable and excellent maidservant who does whatever is asked of her, isn't it only natural that Jin Sohyun would become lazy?"

"You're right."

Siu quickly agreed.

"Jin Sohyun is currently training both his body and mind through valuable labor. This is because a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. My sincere intentions... you would understand, right?"

"Of course!"

"If you are worried about the suffering Jin Sohyun, then go back to Family Head Jin right now and tell him everything you have seen and heard without adding or subtracting anything. Of course, if you do that, Sohyun will be able to return to the family as early as tomorrow."

Kang Cheon turned his back with his hands behind him, leaving a lingering impression.

"The choice is yours."

With these words, Kang Cheon disappeared as suddenly as he had come.

"The choice is mine..."

Siu looked up at the mountain and thought of Jin Sohyun, who was probably still doing laundry at the stream.

"Yes! I've decided!"

(End of Chapter)