The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

The eldest son of the Jin Family, Jin Sohyun.

He was kicked out of his house today.

Along with the maidservant who had been taking care of him for a long time.

"How... how could you do this to me!"

In front of the mercilessly closed main gate, Jin Sohyun wailed and begged for the door to be opened, but Jin Seomok was firm.

"Leave at once!"

"Mother!"

At Jin Seomok's firm appearance, Jin Sohyun called out to his mother, Yu Seoheung, but she also turned her head and looked away.

"G-Gahyeon."

"Have a safe trip, brother."

Jin Gahyeon wiped away tears that weren't even flowing with her sleeve, as if she were sad.

Realizing that there was no one on his side in this vast estate, Jin Sohyun had no choice but to get on the carriage.

"Coachman. Please take me to Shandong Province. The family's villa is there, so I think I'll have to hide there for a while."

"Is that really alright?"

The coachman was a middle-aged man with a gentle impression and a warm smile.

"Yes. It doesn't matter how much money it costs, so please take me. If you just take me safely to the villa, I will take responsibility and compensate you!"

"If it's what the Young Master wants, I must do anything. I will go to Shandong."

"Thank you!"

Jin Sohyun, who was finally able to put his mind at ease, leaned against the wall and groaned.

In the meantime, Siu and the coachman made eye contact and had a silent conversation.

Jin Sohyun, who had no way of knowing this, stared at the empty air with dead fish eyes.

"Young Master. It's quite a distance to Shandong. How about you get some sleep?"

"Sh-Should I? I'm so tired, Siu."

"Yes! Rest well."

As Siu fanned him, Jin Sohyun closed his eyes to relieve all his worries and sorrows.

"Kuuu—!"

As soon as he closed his eyes, Jin Sohyun, who had fallen asleep, had Siu smile sinisterly.

"Hehehe... sleep well, Young Master."

Meanwhile, Yu Seoheung, who had sent off the carriage, gently hugged Jin Seomok.

"Was it the right decision?"

"Since the Namgung Family Head personally came and explained, there should be no problem. Besides, as the Family Head said, this place is too dangerous for Sohyun. The Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, where he can receive the protection of the Martial Arts Alliance, will be a little safer for Sohyun."

"My brother will surely do well."

With worries for the two parents and unwavering trust for Jin Gahyeon, the carriage carrying Jin Sohyun ran at full speed.

Not to the east where Shandong was, but to the south.

***

"You got rid of the Silver Signpost, I see."

An old man who was enjoying fishing in front of a quiet lake threw out his words.

His voice spread gently through the bushes, and soon, another old man revealed himself.

He sat down next to the old man who was enjoying fishing as if he were familiar with it and placed his hand on an empty fishing rod.

The two enjoyed fishing in silence for a while.

But that silence did not last long.

"I hate fishing. I don't like having to wait until the fish bites the bait on its own. If there's something I want, I feel at ease only when I seize it with my own hands."

"It must be because you've been the Grand Commander of the Heretic's Path Alliance for too long."

"Perhaps."

Mu Yu let go of the fishing rod he was holding in his hand.

Soon, the fishing rod moved left and right as a fish bit the float and shook it, but Mu Yu did not care.

"A hunting dog that has become useless must be boiled and eaten. Besides, that hunting dog was a brat who would one day show his teeth to his master."

"Are we like that too?"

Mu Yu's pupils met the old man's.

His disheveled hair came down to his waist, and the wrinkles that covered his face and his whitish pupils were not turbid, but rather like an old silver tray.

"They say that even the innkeeper of the Nameless Inn has no name. Are you like that too?"

"I am no exception."

"Anyway, it's an interesting organization, the Nameless Pavilion."

Mu Yu took out a neatly folded parchment from his bosom and handed it to the old man.

The old man unfolded the parchment and scanned the contents written inside with his eyes.

"What is this?"

"What else would I have given to the Nameless Innkeeper?"

"Special grade. Does this mean this brat is more important than the children of the Cheon Family?"

The Nameless Innkeeper focused on the word 'special grade' written next to the name of the assassination target.

This was the second time this grade had been designated since the Nameless Pavilion was established.

The first special grade was the master of the White Moon Palace, Cheon Yushin, and the name of the person designated as the second special grade was unfamiliar.

"Not a martial family or a sect, but the son of a merchant family..."

The person designated as special grade would have the highest priority in all missions.

In other words, it meant that the most outstanding assassins in the Nameless Pavilion would risk their lives to kill the target.

"Do you know what I hate the most?"

"What you hate the most is... variables."

"Yes. I hate variables the most. Something that cannot be predicted and cannot be controlled. There is nothing more frightening than this."

Mu Yu's eyes turned to the parchment held in the innkeeper's hand.

"That brat is the variable itself. In the places where he was, all my plans failed."

The assassination of Gongsun Cheong had failed, and the assassination plan of the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families had also failed.

Also, the assassins of the Silver Signpost who had attempted the assassination directly had gone missing.

Mu Yu did not consider this a coincidence.

That's why the man named Jin Sohyun was the most troublesome existence for Mu Yu, a variable.

"How much time should I give you?"

At Mu Yu's question, the innkeeper answered.

"There is no set deadline for a special grade. If that brat is truly a person worthy of a special grade, it will take at least a year."

"If you need anything, tell me. But remember that this is a request that must not fail."

Mu Yu, who had finished his request, left the lake first.

The old man, who was left alone, burned the parchment he was holding in his hand with the technique of the Samadhi True Fire and then scattered the ashes on the lake.

Soon after, the old man's fishing rod was pulled taut.

"Ugh."

At the bite after a long time, the old man pulled the fishing rod with force.

But the fishing line, which had been pulled taut, snapped.

"Oho."

The old man laughed as he watched the fish in the lake, which had taken only the bait and was swimming away leisurely.

"It seems a big fish has appeared."

***

"Young Master! Please wake up!"

"Mmm... why? Have we arrived?"

Jin Sohyun, who had been woken up with difficulty, got off the carriage after two days.

Perhaps because it was the first time he had seen the sunlight in a long time, his eyes were sore.

"Those who wish to enter must present the entrance certificate issued by the Alliance!"

At that loud voice, Jin Sohyun's squinted eyes turned round.

"...What is this sound?"

It was a situation where he should have heard the cool sound of the sea, but why was he hearing the hoarse voice of a man?

And what was this about entering?

While Jin Sohyun was blinking, Siu raised her hand high.

"Here! Here!"

Jin Sohyun, who had been led by Siu's hand and had arrived at the magnificent estate entrance, was confronted by a martial artist who seemed to be over six cheok tall.

Jin Sohyun was also on the tall side, but this martial artist was a head taller than him.

"Present your entrance certificate."

"Entrance certificate? Don't tell me...!"

Jin Sohyun's gaze moved quickly and stared at the plaque placed at the entrance of the estate.

[Blue Dragon Daoist Temple]

Jin Sohyun, who was muttering the name of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple with a trembling gaze, looked at Siu, trembling with a sense of betrayal.

"Y-You... again...!"

"I'm sorry, Young Master. But all of this was my loyalty for you."

"You cunning little brat!"

"Here!"

Before Jin Sohyun could say anything, Siu first extended the entrance certificate of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

The blue ornament made of carved blue jade sparkled in the sunlight.

"Hmm."

The martial artist of the Alliance, who was guarding the entrance, examined the entrance certificate in detail and then nodded, holding up a register.

"State your name and affiliation or family."

"I-I'm not! This brat is just...!"

"His name is Jin Sohyun. He is the eldest son of the Jin Family of Shanxi."

Siu helped with the registration instead, and the martial artists of the Alliance approached Jin Sohyun, whose entrance had been permitted.

"Entrance is permitted. Please enter the Daoist Temple at once."

"Ah... ah..."

Jin Sohyun, who had dreamed of peaceful days at a villa overlooking the sea, was about to be forced to enter the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple due to the betrayal of a cunning maidservant.

"J-Just a moment."

At that moment, Siu grabbed the martial artists of the Alliance.

"I have to go in with him."

At Siu's words, the martial artists' expressions became strange.

"Who are you?"

"I am Siu, the one and only loyal maidservant of Young Master Jin."

"A maidservant? The Blue Dragon Daoist Temple cannot be entered by anyone other than the officials whose entrance has been permitted."

"The Young Master can't do without me!"

Siu pleaded, sobbing, and at her pitiful appearance, Jin Sohyun was surprised again.

'What's with Siu?'

Siu, who he had thought would abandon him at once and return to the family estate, was trying her best to enter the Daoist Temple somehow.

'I must not be separated from the Young Master!'

Siu was desperate.

—Siu. Go to the Daoist Temple with Sohyun. And you take care of Sohyun.

—But... will I really be needed? I don't have an entrance certificate.

—Stay by Sohyun's side, no matter what it takes. How will that lazy bum survive alone in the Daoist Temple?

—Mmm...

Siu, who was planning to send Jin Sohyun to the Daoist Temple and become Jin Gahyeon's exclusive maidservant, had no intention of following Jin Sohyun into the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

But at Jin Seomok's subsequent proposal, Siu's gaze changed.

—The young and competent servants have all left the family estate this time. Hoo... the head servant is also old enough to consider retirement... I'm worried about who to entrust the successor to.

Jin Seomok's intention was clear, and Siu could not miss this opportunity.

—This Siu! I will risk my life to assist the Young Master!

That's right.

Siu, who had made a deal with Jin Seomok with the position of the head servant's successor at stake, had to enter the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple with Jin Sohyun somehow.

"Please! I'll beg you like this, so please let me go in with the Young Master."

"I said no! Let go!"

The martial artists of the Alliance tried to shake off Siu, but the girl, whose eyes had gone crazy for the position of the head servant's successor, did not let go easily.

At that moment, a middle-aged man appeared behind the martial artists of the Alliance, who were exhausted from the clinging Siu.

"What's all the commotion?"

"Mister Ugyeom!"

The middle-aged man named Ugyeom, who was in charge of the entrance ceremony of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, looked back and forth between the martial artist of the Alliance and Siu, who was clinging to him.

"That is..."

Ugyeom, who had heard their situation, snorted.

"A mere maidservant of a family wants to enter the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple?"

"Yes. My Young Master can't do anything without me."

"Tsk, tsk... you're giving a reason that's not even a reason. Why would we let a mere maidservant enter the Daoist Temple?"

"I..."

While Siu was rolling her eyes, Ugyeom laughed out loud and checked the register.

"The Jin Family... a famous merchant group in Shanxi, right? Then you must be the one called the Slothful Young Master of Shanxi."

"That's what they call me."

As Jin Sohyun answered with an emotionless voice, Ugyeom laughed once more.

"You can't even lift a finger without a maidservant, can you?"

"I can move my fingers. But if Siu is not there, I get very annoyed. Can't you do something about it?"

"Do you brats think the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple is a children's playground! This is a place where the young and talented next-generation talents of the Orthodox Martial World interact and broaden their knowledge of academics and martial arts! And you bring a maidservant to such a place!?"

Ugyeom pointed his finger at Siu and shouted.

"A wench of such a humble origin!?"

As Ugyeom's criticism towards Siu became harsh, Jin Sohyun's face hardened.

"Siu is a person of the Jin Family."

At that answer, Ugyeom's eyebrows twitched.

"Just the Jin Family."

As the gazes towards each other became sharper and sharper, the hesitating Siu fumbled in her bosom.

'Where did I put it?'

Siu, who had been fumbling up to her waistband because she had put it too deep, trying to keep it preciously, held something in her hand and smiled brightly.

"I have this. With this... wouldn't it be some kind of proof?"

"What?"

Ugyeom stared at the object that Siu had extended.

It was a round plaque that shone with a silver color, and a dragon was engraved on the silver plaque.

"This is... a silver dragon... a Silver Dragon Plaque!?"

Ugyeom, who had recognized the Silver Dragon Plaque, was startled.

"Y-You! How do you have a Silver Dragon Plaque!"

As Ugyeom shouted and asked, Siu smiled brightly.

"That's because... the owner of this Silver Dragon Plaque is me, Siu!"

"That's impossible..."

As the Silver Dragon Plaque, which was said to be given only to the benefactors of the Namgung Family, appeared from the bosom of a mere Siu, sweat began to flow from Ugyeom's back.

The girl he had called a wench of humble origin was actually a benefactor of the Namgung Family.

Since he had insulted a benefactor of the Namgung Family, his criticism of Siu was no different from insulting the Namgung Family.

Ugyeom, whose heart had become anxious, held the Silver Dragon Plaque and looked at it from all sides.

'It's real... this is real!'

No matter how much he looked at it, the Silver Dragon Plaque was genuine.

'No, that can't be. There's no way a mere maidservant of a family would have a Silver Dragon Plaque!'

Ugyeom held the Silver Dragon Plaque in his hand and glared at Siu sharply.

"Where did you get it?"

"What?"

"How can a mere maidservant have a Silver Dragon Plaque of the Namgung Family? Tell me! Where did you get this Silver Dragon Plaque! Did you steal it!?"

"Steal it!"

As Siu huffed and puffed and extended her hand to retrieve the Silver Dragon Plaque, Ugyeom slapped her hand away.

"Ouch!"

As Siu trembled, having been hit on the back of her hand, Jin Sohyun clenched his fist.

No matter who the man in front of him was, he had no intention of letting him go easily since he had hit Siu.

It was when Jin Sohyun was about to approach Ugyeom.

"What's going on?"

A different weight in the deep voice.

Ugyeom's body shrank endlessly at the sound of his voice.

"E-Elder!"

The middle-aged man who had appeared at the entrance of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple was none other than the family head of the Namgung Family, Namgung Muhyeok.

He was looking back and forth between Ugyeom and Siu with an indifferent gaze.

"I think an explanation is needed."

"Th-This wench! She has a Silver Dragon Plaque of the Namgung Family... so I was asking about its origin..."

"I gave it to her."

"...What?"

"I said I gave the Silver Dragon Plaque, which is given to the benefactor of the family head, to this child. Is there any problem?"

Namgung Muhyeok, who had said this, placed his hand on Siu's shoulder.

Ugyeom's face, who was watching the scene in front of him, turned pale.

"What's with your hand?"

Siu pointed at Ugyeom, sobbing.

"That person hit me!"

"You hit a benefactor of the Namgung Family, you say?"

As the situation became desperate, Ugyeom prostrated himself on the dirt floor and trembled.

"...I'm sorry! I have committed a mistake, not recognizing a benefactor of the Namgung Family! Please show your broad generosity and forgive me just this once!"

"What will you do?"

At Namgung Muhyeok's question, Siu looked down at Ugyeom with her arms crossed.

"I'll forgive you just this once. But there won't be a next time."

Siu, who had forgiven Ugyeom like the daughter of a noble family, explained the situation to Namgung Muhyeok.

"I'll do my best, so don't worry."

"Thank you so much!"

"I have to do this much for the benefactor of my family."

At Namgung Muhyeok's meaningful smile, Siu laughed awkwardly.

Having finished his business, Namgung Muhyeok turned his gaze to Jin Sohyun.

"It's good to see you here."

"I'm not happy to see you."

"Didn't I tell you? That we would see each other soon."

"Kkeung..."

Although Jin Sohyun had noticed that all of this was Namgung Muhyeok's scheme, there was no way out.

"Now, let's go in."

Jin Sohyun, who was pushed on the back by Namgung Muhyeok, took his first step into the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple with Siu.

"Aww... what a hassle."

With a deep sigh.

(End of Chapter)