Chapter 139
At that moment, Sunwoo Yeon-ha was meeting with a young master swordsman named Baek Sang-yu, who had recently been recruited by her maternal family, the Woon clan.
With her arms crossed, Sunwoo Yeon-ha asked him in a cold tone, “What brings you here this time, Master Baek?”
But despite her icy demeanor, her heart was fluttering slightly.
It was only their second meeting, yet he was so strikingly handsome that his face seemed to glow with light.
Though Sunwoo Yeon-ha was used to the good looks of the Sunwoo brothers—who were famously handsome in the area—his appearance felt like it belonged to a whole different league.
And now, with a charming smile, he spoke to her.
“I came because I wanted to see you.”
Those words hit her like a punch to the chest.
Just like the first time they met, he casually tossed out such bold remarks as if it were nothing.
Sunwoo Yeon-ha thought that if she didn’t already have someone special in her heart, she would have completely fallen for him by now. So she replied coolly.
“That’s ridiculous. Doesn’t your clan manage their recruited warriors properly these days?”
Baek Sang-yu—once known as the First Young Master of Sichuan—burst out laughing at her audacious comeback.
“Hahaha! As always, your answers never fail to surprise me, haha!”
He had never before met a woman who could speak to him so boldly.
Most women would cling to him desperately after just one glance.
That’s why Baek Sang-yu genuinely enjoyed talking with Sunwoo Yeon-ha.
Smiling gently, he asked again.
“Don’t you think I’m someone important to the Woon clan?”
Every time he smiled like that, it was like he radiated light, and she felt herself drawn in despite her efforts to stay composed.
My heart already belongs to someone else. He’s just a passing stranger.
Repeating this to herself, Sunwoo Yeon-ha answered again with a frosty tone.
“Important? Unless you’re the clan head, the important people in the clan are far too busy. You’re not trying to say you’re more important than the clan head, are you?”
That was actually true, but Baek Sang-yu just smiled faintly.
Her sharp retorts were as endearing as a playful kitten’s antics.
He looked at her with soft eyes and a gentle smile.
Feeling the pressure, Sunwoo Yeon-ha quickly changed the subject.
“Besides, now’s not the time to be so carefree. The rumors will spread soon enough—Father has decided to name our eldest brother as the successor.”
Her words hit their mark.
Baek Sang-yu’s expression stiffened instantly.
“The eldest brother? You mean Master Sunwoo Seong has been chosen as the heir to the Sunwoo clan?”
“It’s not official yet, but it’s practically decided. Father said the successor will be determined by the upcoming martial arts contest next week. Since the eldest brother’s skills are already at an intermediate first-class level, none of the other brothers stand a chance. You’d better return to the clan quickly and report this to the clan head to prepare a countermeasure, important recruit.”
Baek Sang-yu frowned.
Originally, the Woon clan—Sunwoo Yeon-ha’s maternal family—had been backing the fourth brother, Sunwoo Gi.
Since Sunwoo Gi’s maternal family, the Seo clan, was weak, and Sunwoo Yeon-ha, being a woman, couldn’t be heir, the Woon clan had allied with Sunwoo Yeon-ha to counter the eldest brother Sunwoo Seong, who was backed by the Ha clan through Sunwoo Hyuk.
Baek Sang-yu had been planning to seize control of the Sunwoo clan through Sunwoo Yeon-ha and Sunwoo Gi.
But now, suddenly deciding the successor like this…
Strange. Until now, the reason they hadn’t chosen a successor was probably because they feared backlash from other factions. Has some new plan emerged to suppress that?
Curious, Baek Sang-yu asked her to explain in more detail.
Sunwoo Yeon-ha told him about the promise to duel the Jegal clan and the decision that, win or lose, they would become one family with them.
The Jegal clan! So that’s it.
If they had aligned themselves with the Jegal clan, they no longer needed to worry about other factions.
The Jegal clan was a massive power, operating on a completely different level than the regional forces.
This was bad news for Baek Sang-yu, who had been eyeing the Sunwoo clan.
If the Jegal clan was involved, he would have no choice but to back off.
Clearly, some new strategy was needed.
Just then, Sunwoo Yeon-ha spoke again.
“And in a few days…”
As she was about to mention the visit of Sunwoo Joong and Sunwoo Seong to the Dan family estate, a sudden, anguished shout rang out.
“Yeon-haaaa!”
Both Sunwoo Yeon-ha and Baek Sang-yu turned toward the voice and saw Sunwoo Jin, looking like a ragged mess, running toward them with tears in his eyes.
“Yeon-ha! That bastard Gi beat me up like crazy! You should’ve been there to stop him! I really thought I was going to die!”
Baek Sang-yu frowned and asked, “Who is this?”
Sunwoo Yeon-ha looked at Sunwoo Jin with a mix of pity and exasperation.
“That’s our third brother, just back on leave from the front lines. I thought he might have changed since he lost so much weight, but he’s still the same idiot as ever.”
Despite her words, there was a hint of relief in her eyes.
She didn’t know how he had survived, but it seemed like her foolish brother was still unaware that she had poisoned his rice balls.
As Sunwoo Yeon-ha thought this, the battered Sunwoo Jin practically collapsed in front of her.
“Yeon-ha! Gi really tried to kill me!”
Sighing, Sunwoo Yeon-ha began soothing him gently.
“It’s okay, brother. Gi didn’t mean it seriously. Look, you’re a mess, but nothing’s broken, right?”
“R-Really?”
“Yes, you’ll be fine. If I put some medicine on you, you’ll heal quickly.”
“Y-Yeah. You always made me better when you applied your medicine.”
Calming Sunwoo Jin like a child, Sunwoo Yeon-ha then turned to Baek Sang-yu.
“I think I should get going now. Don’t waste time with pointless talk—go back to the clan and prepare a plan.”
Baek Sang-yu, who had been looking at Sunwoo Jin like he was a bug, reluctantly nodded and took off.
He was so frustrated that such a pathetic fool was the reason he still hadn’t won Sunwoo Yeon-ha’s heart that he wanted to kill him on the spot.
But not yet.
He promised himself he’d crush that bug someday, but for now, he had to focus on countermeasures.
Sunwoo Jin watched Baek Sang-yu’s retreating back and smiled quietly.
Looks like he made a good first impression after all.
After quickly changing clothes, I headed to the indoor training hall to continue with my schedule.
By now, the people I had asked Father to gather should be waiting.
The Sunwoo clan had four elders and the Shin-eung Corps, which was divided into four squads.
They were undoubtedly the core of the clan’s military strength.
But…
Are they truly loyal only to the Sunwoo clan?
If someone asked me that, few could answer confidently.
I understood why.
In a clan as turbulent as the Sunwoo, it was no easy task to stay true to one’s original purpose without getting caught up in power struggles.
But understanding doesn’t mean I can tolerate it.
The memories of my past life flashed through my mind, making my teeth grind.
When I had no choice but to become the clan head in my previous life, the Sunwoo clan’s forces were already in tatters.
The elders and Shin-eung Corps leaders had each allied with different brothers’ maternal families, leading to defeat in the succession battle, the clan’s collapse, and even betrayal.
Knowing the future, I could never let that happen again.
Before such things happen, I must discipline those who can be controlled and eliminate those who will betray.
That was my current resolve.
But the people I was about to meet, at Father’s request, stood on the opposite side of those factions.
They were the loyal ones who had steadfastly protected the crumbling Sunwoo clan until I became clan head in my past life.
I was going to meet them now.
Before striking the enemy, I needed to unite my allies.
As I opened the door to the indoor training hall, Father was there with Elder Heo Jin-guk and Dam Mu-ho, the leader of the Shin-eung Fourth Squad, along with about fifty Shin-eung soldiers.
Father greeted me warmly with a smile.
“You’re here, Jin-ah.”
“Yes, sorry I’m a bit late. I got held up dealing with that brat Gi.”
I then turned my gaze to the others.
Elder Heo Jin-guk and Dam Mu-ho bowed respectfully.
“We greet the Third Young Master.”
“We greet the Third Young Master.”
But their expressions were far from cheerful.
It seemed they weren’t thrilled that I was the one who had called this meeting.
Elder Heo Jin-guk cut straight to the point.
“Third Young Master, what is the reason for summoning us?”
He was one of only two supreme masters in the Sunwoo clan, alongside my father, Sunwoo Joong.
He was nicknamed the Five-Finger Sword because when he swung his sword, his right hand looked like five swords at once.
He was known for being stubborn and blunt, incapable of uttering a single flattering word. Because of that, his interpersonal skills were poor, and he was seen as a lone wolf who couldn’t build alliances.
So, in my past life, I didn’t particularly like him either.
But now, I understood.
He was the one who never compromised with anyone, and even in his final moments, he refused to yield—he protected the Sunwoo family to the very end.
That made him someone I couldn’t help but feel deeply sorry for, and at the same time, profoundly grateful toward.
Holding those feelings, I looked at him for a moment before speaking.
“I want to test Elder Jang and the Shin Eung Squad’s abilities.”
He gave me a look of disbelief and asked again.
“You want to test our skills? You’re talking about the Third Master who just got beaten by the Fourth Master Sa?”
Given what he knew, his skepticism was understandable.
I smiled faintly and slowly drew my sword.
A warrior doesn’t need words to prove himself.
“Hah!”
Whoosh!
In an instant, explosive sword energy burst forth from my Mukrang.
It was a large, vivid sword aura—so powerful that even my father or the Grand Elder, both at the peak of their strength, wouldn’t dare approach.
“Whoa!”
“Is that—?”
“How could the Third Master—?!”
That alone was enough to prove myself.
But I wasn’t about to stop there.
Focusing my energy, I swung my sword and released it all at once.
Sunwoo Thirteen Swords, Fourteenth Move: Phoenix Manifestation.
Screeeech!
From my Mukrang, a massive violet phoenix spread its wings wide, beating them as it soared upward.
It then charged fiercely toward the Grand Elder and the Shin Eung Squad.
Screeeech!
“Ugh?!”
“Ahhhhh!”
Terrified, they instinctively raised their hands to shield themselves.
They didn’t even have time to draw their swords—pure reflex.
But at that moment, I let out another shout.
“Haaah!”
The phoenix suddenly changed direction and shot straight through the roof.
Kraaaash!
Everyone inside was too stunned to make a sound.
They just stared blankly at the gaping hole where the phoenix had burst through.
I smiled and spoke again.
“You’ll have to give it your all. If you don’t want to be scolded by me for bringing shame to the Sunwoo name.”
Among the dazed faces, only my father looked at me with a moved expression.
For the first time in my life, I felt like I was truly honoring him.
The Ha family, based in Guiyang—the capital of Guizhou Province—was the strongest martial clan in the region, effectively ruling Guiyang alongside the Sunwoo family. In fact, while they once shared power, the Ha family now held the upper hand.
At this moment, two elite squads of the Ha family—over a hundred warriors—were preparing to mobilize all at once.
Ha Guyang, the clan head, spoke to the captains of the White Tiger and Second Squads just before departure.
“According to our intel, only Clan Head Sunwoo Jung and his eldest son Sunwoo Seong are heading to Danga Fortress. I’ve confirmed multiple times—neither the elders nor the military squads are moving. This much seems certain. But don’t let your guard down. Though the Sunwoo family has declined, the Sunwoo Thirteen Swords remain a formidable technique. And Sunwoo Jung himself is no pushover.”
“Yes, Clan Head!”
“Yes, Clan Head!”
Over twenty years ago, the Sunwoo family—then a rival to the Ha clan—suffered a devastating blow when their top warriors were wiped out fighting the evil sects of the underworld.
That disaster was a golden opportunity for the Ha family, who had long competed with the Sunwoos for control of Guiyang.
But Ha Guyang, already clan head at the time, couldn’t bring himself to strike the weakened Sunwoo family outright.
He had watched their strength for years and knew that even diminished, they would inflict heavy losses. More importantly, as righteous martial artists, it would be unjust to attack the Sunwoos while they were busy holding back the evil sects.
So, reluctantly, Ha Guyang accepted a marriage proposal from the Sunwoo family.
The result was surprisingly favorable.
“Though it was out of necessity, looking back, it was a pretty good choice.”
Over the next two decades, the power gap between the two clans only widened.
Thanks to his position as Sunwoo Jung’s father-in-law and his close relationship with his daughter, Ha Guyang gained significant influence over the Sunwoo family.
Now, if his grandson Sunwoo Hyuk became clan head, Ha Guyang believed he could finally bring the Sunwoo family fully under his control.
But then…
Ha Guyang ground his teeth in anger.
“How dare Sunwoo Jung hand over the succession to someone backed by the Gaeyang Sect?”
To Ha Guyang, this was absolutely unacceptable.
It meant losing the Sunwoo family he thought was practically in his grasp.
And according to his daughter’s reports, there were even plans to align with the Jegal family.
He couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
Ha Guyang once again warned the White Tiger Squad captains.
“Remember this well. You must kill Sunwoo Jung and his son Sunwoo Seong without leaving a trace. It must look like they were murdered by the vengeful Danga Fortress. Understood?!”
The captains responded in unison.
“Yes, Clan Head! Don’t worry!”
Only then did Ha Guyang nod with satisfaction.
In truth, he was confident they wouldn’t fail.
With a hundred warriors—including the top masters Kan Jongchi and Guk Sahang—there was no way they wouldn’t be able to kill just two men.
Ha Guyang smiled greedily.
The day to bring the Sunwoo family under his control was drawing near.