The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

How much time had passed?

Ryang, who had barely come to his senses, discovered Gu Yong eating from a bowl made of a carved gourd in front of him.

"You're awake."

"Gu Yong... brother..."

Gu Yong put down his rice bowl and sat down in front of Ryang.

"You must have something you want to say. Go ahead and say it. We don't have much time."

"I... don't know what you're talking about, brother."

"Really? If you have nothing to say, then I will."

Gu Yong said, picking a grain of rice off his mouth.

"The Central Plains Martial Arts Encyclopedia that I wrote has important information in code. And in the Beggars' Sect, the only ones who can decipher it are me... and you."

At Gu Yong's words, Ryang's gaze became calm.

"Then... the code you use, brother..."

"Yes. It wasn't made in the Beggars' Sect. So naturally, not many people know it. By now, if you're smart, you'll know what I'm trying to say, right?"

The face of Ryang, who had been trembling in fear, had become emotionless.

The wildly shaking pupils and the trembling in his voice were no longer there.

"Since when? When did you start leaking the information of the Beggars' Sect?"

At his question, Ryang smiled brightly.

There was no answer.

"Ah, I didn't think you would answer obediently. I checked while you were asleep, and you had a suicide poison pill in your bosom. It's a poison that's originally embedded in the teeth."

Gu Yong held the suicide poison pill in his hand and shook it.

"I thought of you as my real brother. That's why I couldn't suspect you until now. But as I investigated the branch leaders and law protectors you pointed out, I realized. Because... they can't read my code."

"That's strange. Your code was easy and simple, brother."

"That's because you were smart. Most people don't know even if I teach them."

Gu Yong's relaxed face contorted frighteningly.

"What's the reason? The reason you betrayed the Beggars' Sect... no, did you enter the Beggars' Sect from the beginning to leak information?"

"What do you think?"

"That doesn't make sense. I first met you when you were five. A five-year-old approaching me to leak the information of the Beggars' Sect is..."

Gu Yong, who had been excitedly pouring out his words, stopped his mouth.

"Do not suspect rashly. If you erase everything that seems to make no sense... all that remains is the truth."

Gu Yong's eyes widened as he recalled the maxim of the Beggars' Sect.

His eyes reflected Ryang's face, which was looking at him.

"You approached me with a purpose from the beginning. Your purpose is the Hundred-Year Plan of the Orthodox Martial World."

Ryang smiled.

It was a more certain answer than a verbal one.

Gu Yong grabbed Ryang by the collar and asked.

"Where... how far do your roots extend!"

Ryang opened his mouth for the first time in a very long time.

"I don't know either."

"Are you only going to answer when you're about to die?"

As Gu Yong said, aiming his striking club at the top of his head, Ryang laughed out loud instead.

"Do as you please."

At the sight of Ryang, who was not even afraid of death, Gu Yong was even more confused.

"Ryang... did all the time we spent together mean nothing to you? Was the time we laughed and talked together meaningless to you?"

"Gu Yong."

"Ryang!"

"It's meaningless. My life as a member of the Beggars' Sect, laughing and talking with you, is completely meaningless. The reason I have lived so far is only one."

"What is it? What on earth have you lived for?"

There was no answer after this.

It was because Ryang had closed his mouth and had not said anything.

Gu Yong, who had realized that he could not break him no matter how much he threatened, came out.

"It seems things didn't go well."

"Elder Bi."

"Yes... what is the reason you called me all the way here?"

At Bieunggaek's question, Gu Yong ran his hand through his hair and said.

"Do you know about the Hundred-Year Plan, Elder?"

"The Hundred-Year Plan?"

"That's right. The Hundred-Year Plan of the Orthodox Martial World."

***

Bieunggaek, who had listened to the explanation of the Hundred-Year Plan for over half a shichen, was so dumbfounded that he couldn't even figure out what to say.

"So... you're saying that the Hundred-Year Plan of the Orthodox Martial World you're talking about is a plan for the Beggars' Sect to artificially create heroes?"

"To be precise, it's a plan to nurture outstanding masters."

The Hundred-Year Plan of the Orthodox Martial World.

It was a plan for the Orthodox Martial World to step up and nurture the young and competent next-generation talents who would lead the Orthodox Martial World.

"Do you remember the Orthodox-Demon War that happened in the past?"

"Of course. I am also an old man who has experienced those times."

"The reason the Orthodox Martial World was able to defeat the Ming Cult in the Orthodox-Demon War is not because of the sweet reason that justice triumphs. It's simply because the martial artists belonging to the Orthodox Martial World were more numerous and stronger."

In a fight, there is no good or evil.

Naturally, there is no justice either.

The reason the Orthodox Martial World defeated the Ming Cult and won the Orthodox-Demon War was simply because the Orthodox Martial World was a little stronger.

"That day, the Orthodox Martial World realized. If we had been a little weaker, if the martial artists of the Ming Cult had been more numerous and stronger... the winner would have been different."

Even Bieunggaek agreed with this.

He had witnessed the Orthodox-Demon War with his own two eyes, and he knew well how fierce and tense that war was.

"Because of this, the Orthodox Martial World came up with a plan called the Hundred-Year Plan."

For this, the Martial Arts Alliance began to help the young martial artists belonging to the orthodox faction in unseen places, using the members of the Beggars' Sect who were spread throughout the Central Plains.

"At first, we would provide the young martial artists with the necessary spiritual herbs, inner cores, or secret manuals. Disguised as a coincidence."

The young martial artists who had caught the eye of the Beggars' Sect would systematically obtain spiritual herbs, inner cores, or martial arts manuals according to the arrangements of the Martial Arts Alliance and the Beggars' Sect.

"Among them, there were many next-generation talents who achieved remarkable growth using this, but most of them began to rely on luck. They would search for spiritual herbs or hope for a fortuitous encounter in the time they should have been training in martial arts."

Naturally, a wall came to them as well, and most of them were frustrated, unable to overcome the wall.

The young next-generation talents, who would have at least become second-rate martial artists, had forgotten how to grow on their own after receiving the arrangements of the Martial Arts Alliance and the Beggars' Sect.

In the end, they could not overcome the wall and ended up stopping at being mere third-rate martial artists.

"We realized that we should not rely on fortuitous encounters to create masters. So we changed our method."

That method was to find outstanding masters in the Central Plains and help them raise disciples.

Also, they provided funds and manpower to sects or martial families that had potential but lacked funds or personnel.

"Was that the reason you traveled all over the country, looking for masters?"

"Well, it would be a lie if I said I had no personal motives... but that was the main purpose."

"Alright. But what's the reason you're telling me this?"

Bieunggaek did not understand this point.

Why was he telling him such an important story?

"Ryang is a child I took in when he was very young and thought of as my real brother. Naturally, I never thought he would betray me. But that child... betrayed me. Ryang approached me from the beginning to leak the information of the Beggars' Sect."

"Few people would know about your identity, so how did those brats know and plant a person?"

"They probably didn't know about me and planted him. I was just lucky to be caught."

"That means..."

"There is a high possibility that there are children like Ryang planted all over the Central Plains. Naturally, most of them would be children planted for Bud Crushing."

"All over the Central Plains?"

"Yes. If we prepared a Hundred-Year Plan for the future of the Orthodox Martial World, the Heretic's Path Alliance prepared a sinister plot to destroy the Orthodox Martial World. And that... a step ahead of us!"

"Wait! Then Sohyun... Sohyun!"

Bieunggaek, who had shot up from his seat, stared at Gu Yong and asked.

"What is the possibility that there is a spy of the Heretic's Path Alliance planted in the Jin Family?"

"I don't know either. In the first place, I can't even fathom how many seeds the Heretic's Path Alliance has planted. Of course, as you said, Elder, if Young Master Jin had no talent for martial arts, it wouldn't have been very dangerous... but he has a talent for sound arts, doesn't he?"

Bieunggaek's face turned pale.

"No..."

Jin Sohyun's talent was the talent of the Heavenly Martial Body, which was said to have been given by the heavens.

Naturally, the Heretic's Path Alliance, which had noticed this, would not have stood still.

"No... I have to go to the Jin Family right now! Right now!"

***

"Ugh... of all things!"

Jin Sohyun, who had received a reply from the Namgung Family, felt like he was going to die of frustration.

"They're not there when I need them."

Currently, Namgung Muhyeok was away from the family estate due to an event of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Since Namgung Muhyeok was the only one he could talk to about the Heretic's Path Alliance, Jin Sohyun's worries deepened.

"Is there any problem?"

"No."

While Jin Sohyun was saying this and biting his nails, Siu looked at him with sparkling eyes.

Jin Sohyun, who felt her gaze, looked at Siu with an anxious gaze.

'Yunhwa too... the Heretic's Path Alliance has a high possibility of having planted young assassins in all sorts of places.'

Even in Geumseong Manor, which was not a sect or a martial family, an assassin of the Heretic's Path Alliance had been sharpening his sword for a very long time.

It was a situation where it would not be strange if someone in the Jin Family suddenly changed and threw an assassin at him.

'Could Siu be one too?'

The gaze of Siu, who was looking at him, was different from before.

In the past, Siu, who would not even glance at him if he didn't need anything, was now looking at Jin Sohyun with sparkling eyes that were burdensome.

"It's not... you, is it?"

"What?"

"Well, it would be strange if you said yes."

"What?"

While Jin Sohyun was looking at Siu suspiciously, she felt excited for no reason.

'To think my Young Master is that strong!'

The appearance of Jin Sohyun, who had saved her from the assassins, was exactly like the hero in the novels she would read whenever she was bored.

"Hehe."

As Siu giggled, Jin Sohyun became even more wary and stepped back.

'What's with her? Has the time finally come?'

'My Young Master... is so cool.'

'I'll have to be careful. I don't know when Siu will suddenly change and stab me.'

'People wouldn't know, would they? That the Young Master is not just a lazy bum, but a super strong lazy bum.'

Siu, who had suddenly become proud of Jin Sohyun, shot up.

"Ah, just a moment."

"Yes?"

As Siu, who had gone out, appeared with a dagger, Jin Sohyun shot up from his seat.

"Finally...!"

"What? What is it?"

Siu tilted her head and began to peel the apple she had brought with the dagger.

"I'll peel the apple that Mister Yu gave you."

"Kkeung..."

Jin Sohyun focused his gaze on the sharp dagger that was peeling the apple.

He didn't know when that blade would be aimed at him.

"Here, eat this."

As Siu extended the apple, Jin Sohyun took it and had to worry about whether there was poison in it.

"This is driving me crazy."

"Why? Does it not taste good?"

At Siu's innocent face, Jin Sohyun sighed and put the apple in his mouth and mumbled.

"Siu."

"Yes."

"If you had to kill someone... for example, if you had to kill the Young Master you served, how would you kill him?"

"What!? Why would I kill you, Young Master!"

"I'm just giving an example. Let's assume you have to kill someone for some reason."

"Just imagining it is terrible. But if I had to... I would put poison in the apple from Mister Yu's family that you like, Young Master..."

"Keck, keck!"

Jin Sohyun's eyes widened.

"If not that, then I would quietly slit your throat with a dagger while you're sleeping!"

As Siu lightly waved the dagger she was holding in her hand, Jin Sohyun felt goosebumps all over his body.

"Well... wouldn't I do something like that?"

Having finished her words, Siu smiled brightly, and Jin Sohyun continued.

"Don't come into my room anymore."

"What!? Why! I was just starting to feel proud of serving you, Young Master!"

"That's enough. You're on vacation for the time being. Go and see your parents and meet your family."

"Hmph... then give me some vacation money too."

"No."

Jin Sohyun, who was a lazy bum and at the same time a poor bum, had no money to give to the cunning little assassin.

***

"What on earth is the identity of that Jin Sohyun brat! All of my branch's assassins have gone missing!"

"Did they fail? Hmm... as expected..."

"Grand Commander! What on earth did you make my branch do!"

"Stop with the useless talk and get ready. You have a place to go too."

"A place to go?"

"A guest from the Martial Arts Alliance will be here soon. The Pavilion Master must be there as well, so get ready."

The Pavilion Master's head, who had heard Mu Yu's words, turned cold.

'The Heretic's Path Alliance is trying to cut off its tail!'

The Pavilion Master's eyes, who had realized the Heretic's Path Alliance's true intentions, moved busily.

'It's impossible to run away like this. Rather...!'

At the same time as killing intent filled his eyes, five blades that had appeared from the darkness surrounded the Pavilion Master's neck.

'In what gap!?'

The Pavilion Master, who had not even felt their presence, was bound in his limbs without being able to do anything.

The Pavilion Master, whose mute acupoint had been suppressed so that he could not even speak, had Mu Yu approach him, clicking his tongue.

"Tsk, tsk. Do you know what happens when a hunting dog can't hunt?"

The Pavilion Master knew the answer. That's why he was even more afraid.

Mu Yu spoke to such a Pavilion Master with an emotionless voice.

"A hunting dog that can't hunt must be boiled and eaten. Of course, I don't like dog meat, but the Martial Arts Alliance might like it. Take him away."

Mu Yu, who was watching the Silver Signpost Pavilion Master being dragged away, put on his clothes.

Now he had to prepare to greet the dragons of the Central Plains.

"This is fun, fun. What kind of expressions will those brats make... I'm already looking forward to it."

(End of Chapter)