The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

"Mmm..."

Jin Sohyun, who had opened his eyes, immediately closed them again at the sight of Namgung Muhyeok's face.

"Do you wish for me to wake you up myself?"

"..."

Jin Sohyun sat up and crossed his legs with a brazen face, as if nothing had happened.

Namgung Muhyeok stroked his chin and asked.

"Did your heart stop out of joy just from the thought of becoming my disciple?"

"No. Absolutely not. It's the opposite, actually. Just imagining becoming your disciple makes it hard for me to breathe."

"Hahaha! More importantly, what was that movement technique you showed me? It couldn't have been the Flying Sword Hero's, so was it the movement technique of one of the three masters you mentioned?"

"Yes, that's right. My master told me not to use it if possible, as it could be dangerous."

"It certainly looked that way. I can't remember the last time I let someone slip away right in front of me... Seeing that wondrous movement technique of yours makes me covet it even more."

As Namgung Muhyeok looked at him with a gaze filled with greed, cold sweat trickled down Jin Sohyun's forehead.

"But if you grant me one small favor... I might just give up on you."

"A favor?"

"Yes."

Namgung Muhyeok nodded.

"It's a favor that cannot be entrusted to just anyone."

"Why would you ask a brat like me for that..."

"Because it is a task that only you can accomplish."

Jin Sohyun straightened his posture and sat up.

His pricked ears seemed to say, 'Let's hear what you have to say.'

Who would dare be so bold in front of the Family Head of the Namgung Family?

Namgung Muhyeok found the fresh stimulation, which he hadn't felt in a long time, to be very enjoyable.

"Have you heard of Bud Crushing?"

"Bud Crushing?"

"To put it simply, it means 'stepping on the bud.' It's a wicked scheme to trample the future of the orthodox martial world by assassinating the growing dream trees of the martial world, the next-generation talents."

"Ah... so?"

"The number of promising next-generation talents who have already been trampled by Bud Crushing has become too many to count on both hands."

"Both hands... so more than ten have already died? What is the Martial Arts Alliance doing?"

Jin Sohyun was dumbfounded.

Although he knew nothing about how the martial world flowed, he at least knew that the Martial Arts Alliance was the main headquarters of the orthodox martial world.

But what on earth had the Martial Arts Alliance been doing while more than ten next-generation talents were being killed?

Seeing Jin Sohyun's frustrated face, Namgung Muhyeok gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Their methods are very diverse and evolving. Shall I tell you about the cause of death of a child who died recently?"

Jin Sohyun didn't particularly want to hear it.

But Namgung Muhyeok hadn't been asking for an answer.

"A very talented child was born in a minor sect called Yonggokmun. He was a boy, and he turned fifteen this year. He went to the market and was giving alms to a young girl who was begging, saying she was starving, when he was killed by a poison needle to the neck. There was no time to even react."

"Did someone shoot a poison needle at the child's neck?"

"No. The one who killed the child was the young girl who was begging."

"..."

"Do you understand? The enemies throw their killing intent from completely unexpected places. The young next-generation talents who lack experience have no way to withstand it."

All the next-generation talents of the orthodox martial world who had died so far had lost their lives by different methods.

The ways to kill a person were too numerous to count, and new methods were being created as the days went by.

"That's unfortunate. But why are you telling me such a scary story...?"

"Soon, the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families will gather at the Namgung Family. We plan to use those children as bait to uncover the mastermind behind Bud Crushing."

At Namgung Muhyeok's words that he would use the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families as bait, Jin Sohyun's face hardened for the first time.

"Are you telling me to be bait as well?"

"No, you won't have to be bait. You are, after all, just the lazy eldest son of the great merchant family, the Jin Family."

"Then I'll be of no use... is there anything for me to do?"

"You are a hidden sword. You have learned martial arts, but you don't show any sign of having learned them, so who would look at you and think you are a martial artist?"

That was certainly true.

No matter how you looked at Jin Sohyun, all you could feel was boredom; he was just an extremely lazy bum.

"If you cooperate, the Jin Family will also be greatly compensated."

"I refuse."

Jin Sohyun stood up from his seat and bowed with a polite posture.

"This doesn't seem like a stage for a newcomer like me to get involved in. I will return to my family and fulfill my duties. Then, I'll be on my way."

As Jin Sohyun tried to leave naturally, Namgung Muhyeok crossed his arms.

"If you leave this place, I will immediately send a letter to Family Head Jin. The content of the letter will be... that the talent of the family head's eldest son, Jin Sohyun, is so outstanding that I am thinking of accepting him as my disciple, so please..."

Jin Sohyun, who had gripped the doorknob, and Namgung Muhyeok, who was smiling triumphantly, faced each other.

"Consider it carefully and I hope for a positive response."

'Ugh!'

It was cowardly, and cowardly again.

How could the head of a family be so despicable!

In that short time, Namgung Muhyeok had clearly grasped what Jin Sohyun's weakness was.

Jin Seomok was already anxious to get Jin Sohyun out and about, and if Namgung Muhyeok offered to be his master, he would surely welcome it with open arms.

"That's cowardly."

"I can be as cowardly as I want for my own purpose. You should watch and learn."

"Tch! Then what do I get?"

"What you get?"

"Yes. Let's make a deal. If I cooperate with you, Family Head, what will you do for me?"

This audacious lazy bum, as if to prove he was the son of a merchant family, turned Namgung Muhyeok's request into a deal.

Of course, it might not have been his intention, but it was quite effective.

Namgung Muhyeok, who had fallen into thought, stared at Jin Sohyun.

'The brat's meridians are great vessels. A body and talent close to a Heavenly Martial Body... without a single speck of impurity. And his face is excellent, too. He's perfect except for being lazy.'

Being lazy was a flaw, but other than that, almost everything was perfect.

The Jin Family, befitting the number one merchant family in Shanxi, ran a business of enormous scale, and under its command were numerous merchant groups and escort agencies.

The Namgung Family was a prestigious family with a long history, but unlike the other families of the Five Great Families, it was not a family that made money by running various businesses.

'This might be a good opportunity to get a son-in-law from a merchant family.'

Having finished his calculations, Namgung Muhyeok paused for a moment and then said.

"I will permit you my treasure."

"I don't need treasure."

The Jin Family had recently built a new warehouse.

This was because the existing warehouses could no longer store the wealth they had earned.

Moreover, although he would probably never use it, Jin Sohyun also had the key to the Shadowless Thieving Ghost's hidden treasury.

Jin Sohyun, who had no interest in treasure, asked.

"Is there anything else?"

"Hmph! The treasure I speak of cannot be compared to such things you are thinking of."

'What is this mister trying to give me? Is he trying to give me a treasured sword?'

For a martial artist, a treasured sword was a valuable treasure that could never be refused, but Jin Sohyun, who already had ten swords, had no need for more.

"If you're thinking of giving me a sword, I don't need it."

"That's not it either. My treasure is... my one and only daughter, Seolu."

"Your daughter?"

"Yes. She is very beautiful and full of grace, resembling me, and her talent for martial arts is also very outstanding! People flock like bees at every Namgung Family event just to see her."

"She resembles you, Family Head?"

Jin Sohyun slowly examined Namgung Muhyeok's face.

Namgung Muhyeok's face, which exuded manliness, had strong lines, bulging eyes, and a square jaw that made one feel his powerful physique.

It could be said that it was a world away from beauty.

"Yes. Is there a problem?"

"I don't think I can say there isn't."

"You brat...! Ahem! So what do you think of my proposal?"

Namgung Muhyeok did not doubt for a moment that Jin Sohyun would be unable to refuse his proposal.

And why wouldn't he? Who was Namgung Seolu?

Not only was she the most beautiful woman in Anhui, but in Namgung Muhyeok's eyes, she was worthy of being called the greatest beauty in the Central Plains.

Moreover, her talent for martial arts was so overflowing that he even had the desire to place her in the position of the next family head if he could.

What man in the Central Plains would refuse the most outstanding woman?

Namgung Muhyeok's stomach churned for no reason as he looked at Jin Sohyun's serious face.

'I should just create an opportunity and think a little more about making this brat my son-in-law.'

Thinking about it again, Namgung Seolu was too good for a lazy bum.

"So... are you saying you want to make me your son-in-law, Family Head?"

"Well... you could say it's similar."

Namgung Muhyeok deliberately spoke in a roundabout way.

Thinking about it continuously, it seemed too early to find a match for Namgung Seolu.

'I was too hasty. It's still too early! Yes, it's too early!'

While Namgung Muhyeok's eyes were becoming squinted, the eldest son of the Jin Family had made his decision.

"I refuse."

"Phew... a good thought... what? Refuse!? Even if someone refuses, it should be our Seolu! Who do you think you are to refuse my daughter! You damn lazy bum!"

"Why are you getting angry, Family Head? You're the one who proposed it!"

Jin Sohyun felt wronged.

"Why! What's the reason! Have you even seen Seolu's face?"

"Because romance and marriage are still very early for me."

Siu, who had been no different from a scholar in her knowledge of romance since she was young, had taught her young master, who did not go outside, about romance through words.

Jin Sohyun, who had learned what romance was at that time through Siu, had made one resolution.

'Let's not get into a romance if possible. Marriage... let's do it as late as possible.'

The act of having to match the other person's feelings, going on boat trips, and going around to buy their favorite food or clothes was no different from torture for Jin Sohyun.

"Do you have any other proposals?"

"..."

Namgung Muhyeok wanted to kill Jin Sohyun, who had refused his daughter, even while feeling proud of him.

'This foolish brat! He's kicking away his own fortune!'

No matter how much he thought about it, Jin Sohyun, who had refused Namgung Seolu, seemed foolish and pathetic.

But now he had to swallow his anger and proceed with the deal.

"What is it that you want?"

How dare you ignore our Seolu and tell me clearly what you want.

If it's nothing special, I won't leave you alone.

Namgung Muhyeok's eyes seemed to say so.

Of course, Jin Sohyun didn't care.

If he had cared about other people's gazes, he would not have been called the Slothful Young Master in the first place.

"If I finish the job well, please write a letter to my father."

"A letter?"

"Yes. So that I can play and eat for the rest of my life."

***

"It has been sent. It will take about two days to reach Shanxi."

"Thank you."

Jin Sohyun, who had sent a letter from the Namgung Family's Carrier Pigeon Pavilion, looked at a single white pigeon flapping its wings vigorously towards the sky.

Since all letters departing from the Carrier Pigeon Pavilion were engraved with the seal of the Namgung Family, only members of the Namgung family could use it, but Jin Sohyun, who had obtained the best backer in the Namgung Family, Namgung Muhyeok, was able to receive special treatment.

Jin Sohyun, who had watched the pigeon disappear into a dot, immediately returned to the quarters he had been assigned.

"Young Master!"

Siu, whose eyes were swollen from crying so much, grabbed Jin Sohyun's sleeve.

"This Young Master's loyal maidservant, Siu! Mistaking that the Family Head of the Namgung Family had harmed the Young Master, I risked my life for the Young Master's revenge with these two powerless fists!"

Siu's eyes, which were still moist, sparkled.

"Of course, for the sake of the Young Master's one and only cute maidservant, you must have given a sufficient explanation of my loyal actions to the Family Head of the Namgung Family, right?"

"Ah..."

"Ah...?"

"I forgot."

"You forgot?"

Siu collapsed on the spot with a thud.

"I'm dead now. I punched the body of the Family Head on the land of the Namgung Family... I wouldn't be punished enough even if I were beheaded...!"

Siu looked up at Jin Sohyun with a complicated expression mixed with resentment and sadness.

"Thank you for everything. Young Master, I will cherish your grace until I go to the afterlife."

"Alright. Our Siu has also suffered a lot."

At Jin Sohyun's unexpected reaction, Siu flew into a rage and clung to Jin Sohyun's leg.

"Because of whom did I end up in this state! Take responsibility!"

"Let go! You're the one who hit that mister!"

"You despicable, lazy, and rotten Young Master!"

While Jin Sohyun and Siu were bickering and getting heated with each other, there was someone watching them.

"Is that the eldest son of the Jin Family?"

"That's right."

The woman wearing a martial arts uniform with the symbol of the Namgung Family, the yellow dragon, tucked her side hair behind her ear and frowned her beautiful forehead.

"Such a pathetic brat... why did the Family Head..."

Namgung Seolu, the one and only daughter of the Namgung Family's head, Namgung Muhyeok.

She looked at Jin Sohyun, who was having a verbal fight with his maidservant, with an annoyed expression and then turned her back.

As she turned, Jin Sohyun's desperate shout reached Namgung Seolu's ears.

"Siu! Your Young Master's pants are falling off!"

(End of Chapter)