The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

Arriving at Jiao Lake, Jin Sohyun felt he understood why this place was the most famous spot for boat rides in Anhui.

"There are so many people."

A gentle breeze blew over the wide lake, and the flower trees planted around the lake illuminated the surroundings with their various colors.

The petals that had left their familiar nests on the wind filled the lake, making even the color of the waves beautiful.

With such a view of the lake, many young men and women who had come to Anhui in pursuit of romance and love enjoyed boat rides in pairs.

Not only that, but many people, regardless of age or gender, enjoyed boat rides at Jiao Lake, so our Slothful Young Master was very displeased.

"I hate noisy things."

It wasn't because he was envious of the young men and women who were laughing and putting flowers in each other's ears.

Jin Sohyun, who simply disliked noise, walked among the numerous boats moored for boat rides.

"Welcome! This is the Yangtze River Shipping, which has the most boats at Jiao Lake!"

He wondered why there was a Yangtze River in the lake, but Jin Sohyun was too lazy to question such things.

Jin Sohyun looked over the moored rowboats and asked.

"Is there a small and quiet boat?"

"A small... and quiet boat?"

"Yes."

"How many people will be riding?"

"Just me."

"Hmm."

The middle-aged man in his mid-forties, the owner of Yangtze River Shipping, glanced at Jin Sohyun from head to toe.

"His limbs are intact... and he's handsome..."

Although he couldn't see inside his body due to the robe, Jin Sohyun's appearance was not just handsome, but radiant.

Although he was pushed aside by Jin Gahyeon at the Namgung Family, Jin Sohyun had also inherited from his mother, Yu Seoheung, a high nose bridge, thick and neat eyebrows, large eyes, and a chiseled jawline.

In fact, the young men and women who had come for a boat ride were glancing at Jin Sohyun even while renting their boats.

The women blushed and looked at him with trembling eyes, while the men stole glances at Jin Sohyun with eyes of envy, jealousy, and fear.

But Jin Sohyun, who was indifferent to such things, took out a money pouch from his bosom to pay the boat fare.

'I'm glad I brought Siu's money pouch before I came out.'

Jin Sohyun, the rich young master of the number one merchant family in Shanxi.

He was, surprisingly, a pauper with not a single penny to his name.

This time too, Jin Sohyun, who had paid the boat fare by taking it out of the money pouch that Siu had secretly filled, lay down on the small and shabby boat.

"Ah—! This is nice."

Jin Sohyun, who had moored the boat not far from Yangtze River Shipping, too lazy to even row, lay down as he was.

The warm sunlight pierced his eyes, so he covered his face with his robe.

"The boat ride is at night... so let's just sleep a little."

Jin Sohyun lay on the boat and tried to sleep.

The people on the boats passing by occasionally giggled at the sight, but this time too, Jin Sohyun did not care about their giggles at all.

"Kuuu... kuuu..."

Not even half a quarter of an hour after lying down on the boat, the Slothful Young Master of the Jin Family fell into a deep sleep.

***

The hour of the pig.

The next-generation talents of the Five Great Families, who had gathered at the appointed time, boarded the pre-booked boat.

"I'm happy to be enjoying a boat ride together after a long time!"

Namgung Seong, with a vibrant face despite the late evening, leaned his back against the railing of the large and luxurious boat.

Following that, Namgung Seolu, Peng Sopung, Zhuge Ming, Tang Hakgi, and Murong Susu walked on the deck and looked around.

Jiao Lake, with lanterns lit all around, boasted a beauty completely different from the daytime.

The light of the lanterns was reflected on the gently flowing lake, sparkling along the waves, and petals flowed over it.

"It's so beautiful... isn't it?"

As Murong Susu admired the beauty of Jiao Lake, Namgung Seolu nodded with an indifferent face.

"Yes."

"Haha! Young Lady Namgung is not interested in beautiful things!"

Peng Sopung clenched his fists tightly and snorted.

"Hmph! A martial artist-like appearance that reveres martial arts, just like me!"

Namgung Seolu did not even give a glance to Peng Sopung, who was showing off his thick muscles.

Her interest was entirely on the assassins of the Nameless Pavilion or the assassins of the Heretic's Path Alliance who would be targeting them from somewhere.

"Is everyone on board?"

As the boatman got on the boat and asked, Zhuge Ming looked around.

"Come to think of it... Young Master Jin hasn't come yet."

"He doesn't matter, so just depart."

"Yes? But the Family Head..."

"Depart."

At Namgung Seolu's repeated command, the boatman moved the long oar and guided the boat to the center of Jiao Lake.

"Seolu! Is it really okay without Young Master Jin?"

As Namgung Seong asked with a worried face, Namgung Seolu nodded and sent a telepathic message.

—That person is not suitable for our mission.

—But the Family Head wanted us to be with Young Master Jin.

—He did not tell us the reason. And it was Young Master Jin's personal choice not to appear at the lake.

—Alright... if Seolu says so, then so be it.

Namgung Seong took a step back.

Namgung Seolu cast her gaze towards the receding land.

'As expected, he didn't show up.'

Did he not forget the warning at the banquet?

The young master who had been raised preciously in the Jin Family did not appear at Jiao Lake, where a certain mission was taking place.

Of course, since it was something she had expected to some extent, Namgung Seolu did not harbor any feelings.

If there are no expectations, there is no disappointment.

'The bait has been thrown. But the Heretic's Path Alliance won't bite easily.'

The Heretic's Path Alliance, which was executing Bud Crushing.

There was no way they would leave alone the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families gathered on the lake, where there was no place to run.

Moreover, for the past week, they had secretly leaked information to make the Heretic's Path Alliance take the bait.

'And...'

Namgung Seolu's gaze swept past the east, south, and west in order.

The Azure Sky Squad of the Namgung Family was waiting for the right time, hiding their presence since last night in three directions centered on Jiao Lake.

And finally, the north.

'Family Head.'

The Yellow Dragon Divine Sword, Namgung Muhyeok, was waiting for the Heretic's Path Alliance to appear from the north.

Now all that was left was for the Heretic's Path Alliance, which had taken the bait, to send assassins.

'Come... come and bite us.'

Namgung Seolu caressed her empty waist with her fingertips.

To become the perfect bait, she had even put down the sword that she had never let go of from her body.

Namgung Seolu stared at the shadow hidden by the lanterns with her brilliant eyes, as if piercing through the darkness.

"We are ready."

From within the shadows, those clad in black revealed themselves.

Their number was a whopping fifty.

"Alright."

The one leading them was a young man.

He had a single sword strapped to his waist and was staring at a single boat floating loftily on Jiao Lake.

On the boat, six next-generation talents were enjoying a boat ride.

—The primary target is the next-generation talent of the Namgung Family. Their names are Namgung Seong and Namgung Seolu. Among them, the girl named Namgung Seolu is a genius who achieved the realm of Sword Qi Manifestation at the early age of fifteen. The other brats don't matter, but Namgung Seolu must be killed.

Although he had kept Mu Yu's advice in his head without missing a single word, the man's purpose was not Namgung Seolu.

'Jin Sohyun.'

There was a high possibility that Jin Sohyun was somewhere there.

Thump— Thump—!

His heart, which had rarely beaten fast, was now pounding rapidly.

Was this excitement or fear?

Ma Seongun caressed the hilt of his sword and took a deep breath.

"Move to the target point. Make sure no intruders can approach Jiao Lake."

"As you command."

The group of black-clad men who had received the order split into three and moved to the east, west, and south, centered on Jiao Lake.

Ma Seongun's gaze was directed to the north.

The route to Jiao Lake was the longest and most complicated, but it was a place with a high ground from which the entire battle situation could be seen at a glance.

"You go to the north."

"As you command."

Ten black-clad men with blue skin, unlike the other black-clad men, disappeared into the darkness.

Having finished all the preparations, Ma Seongun's gaze reached the black sky.

In the night sky where not a single cloud existed, countless starlights were twinkling, and at its center was a moon shining in a shape as if it had been split in half.

With the half-moon as a lantern, Ma Seongun walked directly to Jiao Lake.

He boarded a small rowboat that was waiting in advance, and the boatman, who had confirmed his boarding, rowed the oar.

Where the bow of the boat was heading, there was a large boat carrying the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families.

***

"Hahaha! So, you see, Brother Zhuge! Don't you think so too?"

"I will be honest for Brother Peng's sake."

"Oh! Good!"

"The probability that Young Lady Jin is secretly in love with Brother Peng... is less than one-tenth."

"What!?"

As Peng Sopung slammed down the cup he was holding with a bang!, Namgung Seong, who was watching, laughed cheerfully.

"As expected of the promising next-generation talent of the Zhuge Family! Your eyes are very accurate!"

"What's the reason you think so? Did you see it? The gaze of Young Lady Jin as she listened to my heroic tales while looking at my bulging muscles... it was as if..."

"It was a gaze that wished you would just shut up."

"What!?"

Murong Susu shook her head from side to side and emptied her cup of tea.

Peng Sopung, who seemed displeased with Murong Susu's attitude, kept huffing and puffing, and Namgung Seong and Zhuge Ming burst into loud laughter without holding back.

Meanwhile, Tang Hakgi was leaning against the deck and glancing around.

'Damn, she's pretty!'

Namgung Seolu, a woman of iron blood who had no interest in anything other than becoming stronger, let alone dressing up.

She was born with an excessively beautiful appearance, contrary to her natural disposition.

Especially on a day like today, when dusk had fallen and the surroundings were dark, relying only on the light of the lanterns, Namgung Seolu's beauty shone even more.

Gulp—!

Tang Hakgi, who had swallowed dryly without even realizing it, lowered his gaze to the lake below.

'A woman who is not suitable for a guy like me.'

Tang Hakgi emptied his cup of wine with a self-deprecating smile.

At that moment, he felt a presence next to him.

'What is it?'

Tang Hakgi, who had turned his head without thinking, almost dropped the cup he was holding.

'N-Namgung Seolu!?'

It was because the face of Namgung Seolu, whom he had only been able to watch out of the corner of his eye, had come too close.

'Why... why...? Could it be... even to me...?'

Don't incomprehensible things happen in this world sometimes?

For example, the greatest beauty vying for the title of number one beauty in the Central Plains falling in love with a mediocre martial artist.

Tang Hakgi barely suppressed the pounding of his heart and carefully opened his mouth.

"Wh-What is it, Namgung..."

"Move."

At her cold words, Tang Hakgi shut his mouth and made way.

Then, Namgung Seolu, who had stood close to the deck, discovered a single boat approaching their boat at a leisurely pace.

On the small rowboat were only a man wearing a long robe and a boatman.

'Who is it?'

Namgung Seolu instinctively placed her hand on her waist and then bit her lower lip.

The sword that should have been there was gone.

In the meantime, the small rowboat came even closer.

As the rowboat did not change its direction even in a situation where it might collide soon, Namgung Seolu turned around and said.

"Get ready!"

At her shout, the eyes of the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families, who had been enjoying a boat ride while sharing cups of wine, changed.

Although they were enjoying a boat ride on the outside, they were always ready to fight in their hearts, so their movements were perfectly coordinated.

They tore off the deck and took out the weapons hidden underneath.

Just then, Namgung Seong, who had taken out his own sword along with Namgung Seolu's, raised his head.

"Seolu! Here's the sword..."

Namgung Seong's face hardened.

"What are you doing! Hurry up and give me the sword!"

The moment Namgung Seolu extended her hand, a cold blade touched her neck.

(End of Chapter)