The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

—Do you know of a martial art that uses ten swords?

—Ten... a rare martial art. Come to think of it, the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost used to use ten flying swords.

—Ten-Armed Blood Ghost...

—He's a guy named Kang Cheon, now called the Flying Sword Hero. He's one of the few decent martial artists in the current Central Plains.

—Thank you.

After Ma Seongun, who had finished his greeting, left, Mu Yu, who had returned to his office alone, felt a strange emotion.

"Why is that guy interested in the Flying Sword Hero?"

As if he had transcended the world, Ma Seongun had never been interested in anything other than becoming stronger.

He had never shown interest in the basic human desires of appetite or sexual desire, and he had not even shown much reaction to the interest of the Heretic's Path Alliance Lord, Ju Cheon.

Such a Ma Seongun had shown interest in another person for the first time.

The target was the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost, Kang Cheon, who had colored the evil sects with fear decades ago.

"No. Ma Seongun is not interested in Kang Cheon."

Mu Yu, who had been mulling over Ma Seongun's question, recalled that he had asked about a martial art that used ten swords, not a martial artist.

That means that what Ma Seongun was interested in was not Kang Cheon, but his martial art.

"Then why is he interested in Kang Cheon's martial art..."

Mu Yu did not ponder deeply.

Now was the time to act, rather than to make inferences.

"Uam."

At Mu Yu's call, a black-clad man who was always by his side peeked his head out from the darkness.

"..."

To Uam, who had appeared with silence, Mu Yu gave a concise order.

"Go and find out about Kang Cheon. Also, find out if he has a disciple."

"..."

There was no answer.

Uam, who had received the order, disappeared silently as he had appeared, and that meant that he had received the order and moved.

Mu Yu, who had given the order to Uam, sank deep into a soft chair and closed his eyes.

"There must not be even a slight mistake. Not even a speck of a small variable."

Mu Yu, who had opened his closed eyes, moved his gaze to the register placed on the table.

The name of the register was 'Bud Crushing'

***

Swish— Swish—!

Siu, who had been sweeping since early in the morning, let out a dry sigh.

Siu was very gloomy these days.

"Hohoho!"

"Hohohot!"

At the grating laughter of the two women, a vein popped on Siu's forehead.

"Hey! If you're going to laugh, go laugh over there! Why do you come here and get on my nerves?"

"Oh my? Did we get on your nerves? Sorry!"

"We were just passing by and saw you."

Cheonga and Songi giggled and showed off their newly bought silk clothes.

They were clothes that seemed very expensive for maidservants to buy, and the pattern was very unique.

At the sight of the silk clothes, which were of a type rarely seen in the Central Plains, Siu's eyes widened.

"Y-You... those clothes... don't tell me..."

"That's right. It's a very precious silk that came from the distant Western Regions. And this style was also made by a tailor who studied in the Western Regions."

Siu felt as if her eyes would pop out at the splendid sight.

"Don't tell me you... squandered all the money you've saved up until now?"

"No way. These are clothes that maidservants like us can't get even if we save money for our entire lives."

"Then how did you... steal them?"

"Kyaruruk! Steal them?"

Cheonga and Songi giggled and stood on either side of Siu, lightly stroking her head.

"This is all a gift from Young Lady Jin."

"A g-gift...? This expensive and precious clothing... as a gift... for free?"

"Of course! Our Young Lady cherishes us so much. She goes to the market once a week and buys us the clothes or cosmetics we want."

"Last week, she bought us a new product from Seolheung."

"Oh my! Songi! We're going to be late at this rate. Let's go."

"Ah, right. The Young Lady said she has a merchant trip soon, right? We'll be going now. Keep sweeping hard."

Cheonga and Songi disappeared, their silk skirts fluttering.

Siu, who was staring blankly at the sight, felt that her own situation, sweeping since early in the morning, was too pathetic.

"Siu."

At the sound of Jin Sohyun's voice from inside, Siu put down her broom and ran.

"Yes, Young Master."

"The sun is too hot today. Can you close the window?"

"..."

Siu looked down at her Young Master, who had been doing nothing but rolling around in his room, eating, and then rolling around again for several years now.

"Siu. The sun is in my eyes."

"...Yes."

As she closed the window, Siu sneakily sat down next to Jin Sohyun.

"Um... Young Master."

"Yes?"

"The weather is nice, so shall we go to the market? You may not know, Young Master, but these days, there are many strange things and delicious foods from the Western Regions at the market."

Siu's eyes sparkled as she spread her arms wide.

"Siu."

"Yes, Young Master!"

"It's a hassle."

"..."

If she had her way, she would have wanted to grab this lazy bum by the scruff of the neck and go outside, but Siu had neither the strength nor the power to do so.

'I might end my life just sweeping in this small quarter, stuck with this lazy bum as he wishes.'

Was she paying the price for her long vacation?

Realizing that she couldn't drag Jin Sohyun out, Siu came out, saying she would just finish sweeping.

But an unexpected person appeared in front of Jin Sohyun's quarters.

"Madam?"

It was the mistress of the Jin Family, Yu Seoheung.

The startled Siu ran out at once to greet Yu Seoheung.

"Madam, the weather is hot."

"I'm fine. Is Sohyun inside?"

"I don't know either. The Young Master is there and then he's not, and he's not there and then he is."

Anyone who heard it would think that Siu was playing with words, but Yu Seoheung nodded as if she understood the meaning of this small maidservant's words.

"I will inform the Young Master that the Madam is here."

"No. I will go in myself."

Yu Seoheung entered Jin Sohyun's room with Siu.

As expected, Jin Sohyun, who had felt the presence outside, had vanished.

Yu Seoheung, who had heard of this situation from Mu Yonghu several times, did not panic and gently coaxed him.

"Are you not even going to see your mother's face?"

"What brings you here..."

A moment later, Jin Sohyun appeared hesitantly from the empty air.

"Your skill in hiding is truly first-rate."

Yu Seoheung sat facing Jin Sohyun with a gentle smile.

"And it's not strange for a mother to come to see her son's face, is it?"

"That's true."

"Are you still rolling around in your room these days?"

"Yes."

Jin Sohyun was confident.

The reason he could be confident was all thanks to his deal with Jin Seomok.

Jin Sohyun, who had accepted the deal with Jin Seomok that he would let him live as he pleased if he was acknowledged by Kang Cheon, had returned to the family estate in just six years, not ten as he had expected.

Afterward, as if to compensate for his past suffering, he had been lazing around to his heart's content for a whopping five years without even moving from his room.

"Can this mother ask you for one favor?"

Yu Seoheung emphasized the word 'mother' as she spoke, and Jin Sohyun's face became serious.

"What... favor is it?"

As Jin Sohyun asked, stammering, a smile appeared on Yu Seoheung's red lips.

"Gahyeon, who has taken over the family business in your place, is leaving on a merchant trip soon. It's a rather important merchant trip, and she might meet the children of high-ranking families in the process."

Was it just his imagination?

Yu Seoheung seemed to be emphasizing the words 'in your place' and that Jin Gahyeon was taking over the family business.

By that time, Jin Sohyun was melting like ice left in the scorching sun.

"This mother hopes... that you will accompany her on this merchant trip."

"Is there a reason why I have to go with her?"

"No. I want you to go with Gahyeon. Is my wish not enough?"

"...Kkeung!"

"Think about it until tomorrow morning."

Yu Seoheung, who had stood up from her seat, gently stroked Jin Sohyun's cheeks with both hands.

"It is this mother's wish."

As she finished speaking and left, Jin Sohyun sat on the chair and stared into the empty air with the dead eyes of a pollack.

At that moment, Siu rushed in.

"Young Master! Is it true that we might be accompanying the Young Lady on her merchant trip!?"

It was a matter of scolding a maidservant for daring to eavesdrop on a conversation, but Jin Sohyun didn't even have the energy for that.

"I'm thinking about it."

"Let's go!"

Siu, who had approached at a speed that surprised even Jin Sohyun, pleaded with desperation.

"It is the one and only wish of your one and only servant, Young Master! Please, let's go outside for once!"

***

"Please, I'll be in your care."

"Keke... how can I refuse the request of Family Head Jin."

Jin Seomok smiled happily at the short old man and handed him a money pouch he had prepared in advance.

"This is a small token of my sincerity that I have prepared for Elder Gongsun."

"What is this... what are you doing! Are you going to ignore the sincerity of Family Head Jin?"

"Not at all!"

The young man standing next to Gongsun Su walked over briskly and received the money pouch with both hands.

Gongsun Su smiled with satisfaction as he felt the weight of the money pouch.

"Don't worry about this merchant trip. By the way... I hear the eldest son of Family Head Jin is also accompanying this merchant trip?"

"That's right."

"I get to see the famous Slothful Young Master of the Jin Family with my own two eyes."

"Haha... more importantly, isn't Cheong's age eighteen this year?"

"That's right."

Gongsun Su lightly stroked the head of the boy who was holding the money pouch tightly.

"This child still lacks experience of the world, but his skills are quite useful. He has already achieved the fifth star of this master's Heavenly Prison Thunder Roar Kick"

"What a great talent!"

Gongsun Su was quite pleased at the sight of Jin Seomok admiring Gongsun Cheong's talent.

'I did well to bring him.'

The Jin Family known to the public was the number one merchant family in Shanxi, but the evaluation of the martial artists active in the martial world was a little different.

The Number One Financier of Shanxi.

Whenever martial artists needed money, they could get it just by coming and paying a simple courtesy, so from renowned martial artists to martial arts novices who had just set foot in the martial world.

The place that those who trained in martial arts had to visit was none other than the Jin Family.

—Remember this well. The Jin Family will be of great help to you in the future when you make a name for yourself in the martial world.

—I will keep that in mind, grandfather.

Gongsun Su enjoyed Jin Seomok's gaze, which was full of envy, to his heart's content.

'His ability to grow a merchant family is outstanding, but his skill in teaching his children is no different from a low-level practitioner. Tsk tsk! A lacking fellow.'

Hiding his inner thoughts about Jin Seomok, Gongsun Su left with a benevolent expression.

And a short while later, Yu Seoheung came in and sat next to Jin Seomok, asking worriedly.

"Is it right to send Sohyun with them?"

"Elder Kang said he would be able to protect his own body, so it should be fine. And isn't the famous Thunder Roar Kick Elder Gongsun accompanying them? Although the Song'o Escort Agency is a new escort agency, the head of the escort is said to have outstanding martial arts skills and rich experience, so there should be no problem."

"That's right, isn't it?"

"Don't worry too much, my wife."

Jin Seomok carefully massaged the shoulders of the worried Yu Seoheung.

In fact, the new escort agency, the Song'o Escort Agency, was in charge of this merchant trip.

This was to increase the ability and experience of the new escort agency, which had newly come under the wing of the Jin Family.

In preparation for any unforeseen dangers, he had specially asked an old master of the martial world named Gongsun Su to accompany them.

"If this merchant trip ends well, how about we go on a trip together?"

"A trip?"

Yu Seoheung, who knew well what it meant to leave the family for a trip, looked at Jin Seomok with a face full of many thoughts and then slowly nodded.

"Alright."

"Good."

While the Jin couple were smiling happily, the Jin Family was busy with preparations for the merchant trip.

(End of Chapter)