Chapter 213

The Jin family of Guangdong Province was a prestigious clan renowned throughout the martial world for their mastery of the staff technique.

Among them, the legendary Namhae Sword King, Injeongho, once the top master of the Hainan faction, and his close friend Jin Jiin of the Jin family, were both exceptional warriors. Many agreed that if not for Injeongho, Jin Jiin would have undoubtedly claimed the title of the greatest fighter in the land.

Yet, the remarkable legacy of Jin Jiin had not been passed down within the Jin family.

In fact, it was more accurate to say that no one had ever been able to follow in his footsteps.

Jin Jiin had devoted his entire life to perfecting just one fundamental staff technique—the Palbang Staff Method.

Unlike the direct descendants who trained in the clan’s signature “Mad Horse Eighteen Staff” or other disciples who practiced the “Furious Tiger Thirty-Six Staff,” Jin Jiin never learned any other martial arts. Through that single foundational technique alone, he reached a level where even grasping a mere twig made him unbeatable—a true master of unparalleled skill.

During his lifetime, and even after his passing, countless talented members of the Jin family dedicated themselves solely to the Palbang Staff Method, striving to reach Jin Jiin’s level.

But no one ever succeeded.

It was as if that pinnacle was attainable only by Jin Jiin himself.

Eventually, the clan’s promising talents, frustrated by wasted years, reluctantly began learning other staff techniques.

Yet, many missed their chance to advance, and the Jin family’s strength gradually waned.

After several cycles of this unfortunate pattern, very few within the clan dared to challenge Jin Jiin’s legacy anymore.

The current head of the Jin family, Jin Gongmu, master of the Mad Horse technique, and the branch leader Jin Gyegun both trained in the clan’s secret Mad Horse Eighteen Staff, while other disciples practiced the Furious Tiger Thirty-Six Staff.

“That means my sister here is the only one in the Jin family still trying to follow Jin Jiin’s path,” Jin Gaein, daughter of the clan head, explained at a dinner gathering of Guangdong’s rising martial talents. “Even at twenty-three, she’s only ever trained in the Palbang Staff Method—nothing else.”

Her half-sister, Jin So-eun, who had cut her hair short and wore simple clothes, bowed her head deeply, her face flushed red. Having spent her childhood training alone in the mountains with their grandfather, such social settings were unfamiliar and uncomfortable for her.

At that moment, Kyo Goryong, the young master of the Kyo family and the most handsome among the guests, looked at her with interest.

“So, Jin So-eun, pardon me—Jin Gaein is the one I meant to address—but did you come down from the mountains because you succeeded in inheriting Jin Jiin’s legacy?”

Startled, So-eun quickly shook her head.

“N-no, that’s impossible. How could I ever reach such a level…?”

Jin Gaein frowned in disbelief and replied to Kyo Goryong.

“Why would you ask that? She’s only twenty-three. How could she possibly have surpassed Jin Jiin? If it were that easy, the legacy wouldn’t have died out in the first place.”

Kyo Goryong smiled faintly.

“So… has she just been wasting her time then? Spending all these years in the mountains, mastering only the Palbang Staff Method?”

Before anyone else could respond, Jin Gyegun, the branch leader and eldest brother, scowled with irritation.

“Of course she has. Sorry to say it, but it’s our grandfather’s stubbornness that ruined her life. A grown woman who’s lived in the mountains all this time doesn’t even know how to dress properly. Look at her hair and clothes—how is she supposed to get married like that? Ugh!”

Jin Gaein chuckled softly.

“Come on, brother. So-eun’s not bad-looking. If she learned to take care of herself, she could improve. Sure, she needs to break the habit of not washing properly from living in the mountains, but that’s fixable.”

“Oh my! She doesn’t even wash properly?”

“Gross!”

The women at the table frowned at the thought of someone neglecting basic hygiene, while the men pretended not to hear, stifling their laughter.

So-eun could easily sense the mocking glances around her.

Whether intentional or not, it was clear that her half-sister and brother’s words were the source of the ridicule.

Yet, she couldn’t respond. She simply lowered her head timidly, unsure how to handle the situation.

Having lived isolated with their grandfather, she had never learned how to interact with others.

She couldn’t tell if Gaein’s words were meant to genuinely help or to embarrass her.

Just then, from a corner of the room, her full brother Jin Jeonggun, who had been quietly sipping his drink, suddenly burst into a drunken chuckle.

“Heh heh heh! You foolish girl. Don’t you realize that being kind alone won’t get you anywhere? Look at them—those who lived comfortably without ever entering the mountains are now laughing at you. Isn’t that infuriating? Heh heh heh!”

Jin Gyegun and Jin Gaein both frowned slightly.

They were the only ones who understood exactly what Jeonggun was implying.

Quickly, Jin Gyegun tried to change the subject.

“Alright, enough of that…”

But before he could finish, Jeonggun slurred on.

“Did you all know? About fifteen years ago, when grandfather passed the clan leadership to father and declared he would focus solely on reviving Jin Jiin’s legacy, he gathered the four of us—me, Gyegun, So-eun, and Gaein—and said one of us had to go with him to the mountains to train only in the Palbang Staff Method.”

The initially annoyed guests now leaned in, intrigued by his story.

Jeonggun continued, his voice thick with alcohol.

“But none of us wanted to accept! Why? Heh heh heh, what do you think? Because it was miserable. Leaving a comfortable home to live in the mountains, training in martial arts all day, and challenging the legacy that so many had failed to revive before—it was too much. Who would want to spend their whole life training only the basic Palbang Staff Method? Right? Heh heh heh!”

At that moment, his half-brother Jin Gyegun interrupted sharply.

“Jeonggun, you drunk fool! If you’re so wasted, why don’t you just go home? This isn’t the place for your drunken antics! Can’t you be quiet and leave?”

Jeonggun looked surprised, then shook his head.

“Me, drunk? Do I sound like I’m drunk to you? This isn’t the rambling of a drunk man.”

Jin Gaein stepped closer, gently grabbing his arm.

“Brother, you’ve had enough. Please, let’s go home now.”

She tried to pull him up quietly, but Jeonggun gave her a look of disbelief, shrugged her off, and stood up shouting.

“Seems like you don’t want to hear the truth! Fine, I’m going! Is that what you want? I’ll leave, then!”

He strode toward the door, ready to leave.

Jin Gyegun and Jin Gaein exchanged troubled looks but said nothing.

Since he was leaving on his own, there was no need to argue.

Just as Jeonggun reached the exit, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and shouted at So-eun.

“What are you still doing here? You sacrificed yourself to go to the mountains with grandfather, and now you’re just sitting here among beasts trying to tear you down instead of being grateful!”

Startled, Jin Gyegun barked at the guards.

“What are you waiting for? Take him home before he causes more trouble!”

At his command, the Jin family warriors standing guard quickly grabbed Jeonggun’s arms and began escorting him out.

“Come on, sir.”

“Let go! I’m not done speaking yet!”

Jeonggun shouted but didn’t resist much, allowing himself to be led away.

Though no one else knew, he had already said all he wanted to say and saw no point in fighting further.

Once his voice faded, Jin Gyegun stood and addressed the remaining guests with a forced smile.

“I apologize for my brother’s disgraceful behavior. His drunkenness seems to worsen by the day. I ask that our esteemed guests from Guangdong’s rising talents kindly overlook what you just heard and forgive him.”

Though it sounded like an apology, it was really a subtle way of telling everyone to forget what had been said.

The other guests quickly nodded in agreement, eager to move past the awkward moment.

“Master Jin Sojangju! It’s not like this is the first or second time—why are you even apologizing?”

“That’s right. Isn’t that just part of Master Jin Yi Gongja’s charm?”

“Everyone has their flaws, don’t they? Every family has its blemishes.”

The last comment came from Seo Yoonjik, the head of the Sunsamun clan.

At his witty remark, Jin Gye-gun let out an impressed “Oh!” and was about to praise him with a smile.

“Oh! Lord Seo of Sunsamun…”

But before he could finish, Gyo Gwa-ryong, the most handsome man in the group and head of the Gyogajang clan, grinned slyly and spoke up.

“Hmm? What just happened? I don’t remember a thing. Wait—where did Master Jin Yi Gongja go? Did he get drunk again?”

At his cheeky words, Jin Gye-gun finally burst out laughing.

“Ha ha ha ha! As expected of Gyo Gwa-ryong, no one can match your wit! To be so handsome and clever—how am I supposed to live without feeling jealous? I beg you, if I ever get a wife, please stay far away from her.”

Seo Yoonjik shot Gyo Gwa-ryong a sharp, envious look.

But Gyo Gwa-ryong ignored the glare and smiled calmly in reply.

“You’re too modest, brother. A martial artist’s charm lies first in skill, second in influence—and since you have both, how could you say such things to me? I just hope you won’t steal my woman away.”

“Really? Is that how it works? Ha ha ha ha!”

The mood instantly lightened again.

The awkwardness caused earlier by Jin Jeong-gun had completely vanished.

Meanwhile, Jin So-eun, with her short, boyish haircut and shabby clothes, sat quietly in a corner, staring blankly at them.

Everyone else around her was laughing and chatting happily.

Just like Gyo Gwa-ryong said, it was as if they had completely forgotten everything that had happened just moments ago.

Though it was her first time in a gathering like this, Jin So-eun could roughly sense the atmosphere.

All the late-stage disciples here seemed to be followers of Jin Gye-gun.

Their only concern was to stay in the good graces of Jin Gajang’s clan leader, Jin Gye-gun. Nothing else seemed to matter.

Not even the words Jin Jeong-gun had spoken earlier, nor the truth about why Jin So-eun had ended up in the mountains.

Amid all this, Jin So-eun suddenly felt a loneliness as if she were utterly isolated from the world.

For some reason, she felt even more alone here than she had when she was truly alone in the mountains.