Chapter 228
After two days of generous hospitality at the Jin family estate, Sun Woo-jin prepared to set out once again.
He had originally planned to leave immediately, but he couldn’t refuse the earnest pleas of Jin Gong-mu, the head of the Jin family, and so he had stayed those extra days.
Sun Woo-jin walked out to the main gate of the Jin estate accompanied by Yun Chwi, a fellow guest, and Yun’s granddaughter, Son Yi-rang.
Behind them, a large group of Jin family members and warriors trailed closely.
Standing finally before the grand gate, Sun Woo-jin bowed respectfully to Jin Gong-mu.
“I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Master Jin.”
Yun Chwi and Son Yi-rang also bowed in return.
“The Jin family’s martial skills are matched only by the excellence of your wine. Thank you kindly.”
“Thank you so much. Please take care.”
Receiving their farewells, Jin Gong-mu glanced over the assembled warriors behind him, then turned back to Sun Woo-jin, bowing deeply and declaring loudly:
“The Jin family will never forget the great debt we owe our benefactor!”
At once, over a hundred warriors behind him echoed in unison, their voices ringing out strong and clear:
“The Jin family will never forget the great debt we owe our benefactor!”
It was a stirring sight—this powerful force from Guangdong Province, the Jin family’s finest warriors, all bowing in unison to express their gratitude to Sun Woo-jin.
Sun Woo-jin met their fervent gazes, then stepped forward to grasp Jin Gong-mu’s hand firmly.
“I will never forget the Jin family’s loyalty. And I have a favor to ask.”
Jin Gong-mu returned the grip with equal intensity, smiling broadly.
“Do not worry. We will ensure that Master In’s plans proceed without a hitch.”
Sun Woo-jin had already entrusted him with several tasks essential to his upcoming plans.
Originally, these were to be handled through Hao Men, but with the support of a powerhouse like the Jin family, everything would be far easier and more certain.
Just as they finished their farewells and were about to depart, someone suddenly called out urgently from among the Jin family members.
“Wait! Please, wait a moment!”
All eyes turned toward the voice.
It was Jin So-eun.
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment under the gazes, but she bowed deeply toward Sun Woo-jin and called out loudly:
“Master In, please take me with you! I want to go with you!”
“Huh?”
Sun Woo-jin blinked in surprise, taking in her appearance.
Still dressed in rough clothes with short hair like a man, she looked determined, carrying a wooden staff and a pack on her back.
She called out again.
“From the very first day I met you, Master In, I have deeply respected you! My heart races and my breath catches just thinking of you! I want to go with you! Though my skills are lacking, I promise to be of help in your mission!”
Sun Woo-jin couldn’t help but feel flustered.
Though the Jin family members behind her only saw her back, up close she was a different story—her plain clothes and short hair contrasted with a pretty face flushed with earnest emotion, her eyes pleading.
That flushed expression and desperate gaze stirred something strange within him.
Beside him, Son Yi-rang muttered quietly.
“That’s not respect, if you ask me.”
Sun Woo-jin glanced awkwardly at Jin Gong-mu standing behind her.
For some reason, the man had one hand pressed to his forehead, his head bowed deeply.
Muk-rang’s voice broke the silence with interest.
“Cute. A very cute young lady. What will you do about this?”
Sun Woo-jin agreed silently, pondering.
In truth, from the moment he first saw her, he had considered recruiting her.
At the time, he had judged that despite her talent, she was not properly valued within the Jin family.
So he had even given her some elixirs to persuade her to come with him, thinking that if the Jin family couldn’t recognize such a talent, there was no need to accommodate her.
But now, after staying two days at the Jin estate, Sun Woo-jin had come to fully appreciate how invaluable she was—especially after witnessing her revival of Ja-yeon-gon.
Though it hadn’t been the case until recently, her current status was far above even the Jin family’s so-called “young master” Jin Gye-gun and even Jin Gong-mu’s official wife.
In fact, she ranked just below Jin Gong-mu and Jin Sa-mong.
Yet to take someone of her stature along on his revenge mission felt like a grave slight to the Jin family, who had become his sworn allies.
With that thought, Sun Woo-jin made up his mind and smiled gently at her.
“Jin So-eun, I will never forget your heart. But you are the Jin family’s precious treasure… I cannot allow you to risk yourself on such a dangerous journey.”
At that moment, Jin Gong-mu suddenly spoke loudly.
“If you are a warrior of the Jin family, you must be willing to risk your life for your benefactor! Excellent! Go well, So-eun! Master In, please take good care of our precious daughter!”
Jin So-eun looked up at him with a bright smile.
Jin Gong-mu nodded approvingly, beaming.
It was the Jin family’s straightforward spirit that caught Sun Woo-jin and his companions off guard.
They stared dumbfounded at the father and daughter.
They had never imagined that a grown daughter would be so freely allowed to follow a strange man—especially on a dangerous revenge mission.
Of course, Muk-rang suspected Jin Gong-mu’s true intentions but merely smiled and kept it to himself.
“Heh heh heh, cute. The daughter’s cute, but the father’s just as adorable.”
In any case, there was no reason to refuse such a talented addition.
Sun Woo-jin thanked Jin Gong-mu and accepted her joining their group.
Thus, their party grew by one more.
After they finally left the Jin estate, Jin Gong-mu watched their backs for a long while before turning and heading inside.
He made his way to the medical chamber where his father, Jin Sa-mong, lay.
Jin Sa-mong looked up as his son entered.
“Have they left?”
Jin Gong-mu sat beside him.
“Yes, they just departed. And… So-eun went with them.”
Jin Sa-mong chuckled heartily.
“Ha ha ha! Well done. I hope she returns with a child in her arms. Imagine—a child born of the finest talent from Ha-nam and the Jin family’s greatest prodigy. What a remarkable child that would be.”
In truth, as soon as they realized So-eun’s feelings for In Pa-rang, Jin Sa-mong and Jin Gong-mu had decided to send her along with him.
Though they worried about the dangers she might face, they could not pass up the chance to have such a promising young talent as a son-in-law.
Moreover, they had already obtained clues to Ja-yeon-gon’s secrets, so even if she wasn’t by their side, they believed they could still pursue their goals.
Jin Gong-mu smiled at his father’s good spirits but then sighed and asked:
“But… do you think it will work?”
Jin Sa-mong frowned deeply.
“What do you mean, ‘will it work’?”
“Well… Master In is an incredible prodigy and a true beauty, a ‘handsome master’ if you will. Compared to him, our So-eun is…”
Jin Gong-mu’s self-deprecating words were cut off by Jin Sa-mong’s sudden outburst.
“What nonsense is that coming from a father?! What’s wrong with our So-eun? She’s kind, skilled in martial arts, and—”
“And…?”
“……”
Jin Sa-mong couldn’t finish the sentence.
No matter how prickly a hedgehog, you can’t brag about what you don’t have.
Though So-eun was quite pretty, it depended on the eye of the beholder.
Her masculine attire and unpolished nature meant she was no match to present before a beauty like In Pa-rang.
Knowing this well, Jin Sa-mong fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a somewhat weak voice.
“Did you handle the request Master In made?”
Jin Gong-mu sighed.
“Well, I suppose that’s what I have to do now. I’ll make sure it’s done properly.”
“Good. That’s the way.”
Father and son shared the same disappointed, weary expression.
“Baek Gyo-bang, once the second most powerful force in Guangdong Province, invaded the Jin estate—and was utterly defeated, leading to its complete destruction.”
This news stirred the martial world’s gossipmongers, who had long thirsted for such tidings.
Baek Gyo-bang had effectively controlled the waterways of the Pearl River, and the Jin family’s seemingly lax attitude had led many to expect a clash between the two.
Most had quietly predicted Baek Gyo-bang’s dominance.
Compared to Baek Gyo-bang’s meteoric rise, rumors about the Jin family’s decadence and the possibility that their leader, Jin Gong-mu, might not be as formidable as believed, painted a bleak future for the Jin estate.
But the actual outcome was the exact opposite.
Baek Gyo-bang, who had even deployed cannons in their assault, was utterly crushed and annihilated.
Now, the martial world’s gossipmongers buzzed excitedly, proclaiming that the Jin family was truly the Jin family.
Then, two days later, an even more astonishing rumor spread among them.
It was far more incredible than the previous news.
The martial world’s enthusiasts began to burn with excitement.
“The leader of Baek Gyo-bang was none other than Yoon Sak, the Blood Sea Demon, who was thought long dead.”
This was truly earth-shattering news.
One of the infamous “Three Devils of the South Sea,” alive—and even leading Baek Gyo-bang.
The fact that Jin Gajang had managed to repel the Blood Sea Demon, Yoon Sak of the Southern Sea Three Demons, was enough to send waves of excitement through everyone.
But the astonishing news didn’t stop there.
What came next sent the gossipmongers into a frenzy.
“Yoon Sak of the Blood Sea Demons was actually a subordinate of Jin Tae-do from the Southern Sea Sword Sect. And the White Sect was also a puppet organization created by Jin Tae-do. Moreover, the reason Jin Gajang was able to hold them off was because In Parang, the heir of the Southern Sea Sect, came to his aid.”
The rumor mill was ecstatic.
After all, In Parang had vanished without a trace after toppling the Hap San faction not long ago—and now, here he was, reemerging.
On top of that, the revelation that Yoon Sak was really Jin Tae-do’s underling, and that In Parang had taken down both Yoon Sak and the White Sect in a bid for revenge, had all the makings of a sensational story.
But the rumors didn’t end there.
What followed left the gossipmongers utterly stunned.
In Parang, heir to the Southern Sea Sect, had annihilated the White Sect and then declared:
“I know full well that the Southern Sea Sect has already been seized by my father’s enemy, Jin Tae-do. Therefore, the Southern Sea Sect is now my enemy as well. To exact my revenge, I will enlist the power of Man Hak-sung of the Southern Sea Realm!”
It was a bombshell of a declaration.
For the heir of the Southern Sea Sect—the very face of that faction—to openly reach out to Man Hak-sung, the archrival of the Southern Sea Realm, was unthinkable.
No matter how much they said there were no eternal friends or foes, the idea of the Southern Sea Sect’s heir allying with Man Hak-sung was beyond anyone’s imagination.
And it seemed In Parang was already moving toward Daenam Island, where Man Hak-sung’s Southern Sea Realm was based.
The gossipmongers now watched his every move with rapt attention.
No one could predict what would happen next, but one thing was certain:
The storm that would rise around him would be anything but a gentle breeze.
Daenam Island, Fujian Province.
For ages, this had been the stronghold of Man Hak-sung, the unrivaled master of the Southern Sea Realm and ruler of the southeastern seas.
In truth, Man Hak-sung had been confined there for several years now.
The towering old man, with his lion’s mane of white hair, bristling white beard, and fierce, predatory gaze, listened intently to his subordinate’s report, his eyes gleaming with renewed interest.
With a savage chuckle, he asked, “The heir of the Southern Sea Sect wants to borrow my strength? Hahaha… Life never ceases to surprise me. Is this for real?”
His subordinate bowed deeply and replied, “Yes, sir! Rumor has it he’s moving eastward from Guangzhou in Guangdong Province.”
“Hmmm, is that so?”
As Man Hak-sung’s interest piqued, Hyo Chi-gon, a sharp-featured man standing nearby, spoke up.
“What will you do, Boss?”
Man Hak-sung smiled lazily, like a lion stretching in the sun.
“If a young tiger wants to rely on me, why would I refuse? Who knows? If raised well, it might guard the den like a loyal dog.”
In other words, he was willing to accept In Parang’s request.
Hyo Chi-gon, known as the Blue Dolphin and one of the Four Fierce Generals of Daenam, frowned slightly.
“The one he’s targeting as his enemy isn’t just Jin Tae-do. It seems he also considers the Hyung San Sect his foe. If he antagonizes them, wouldn’t that put us in a difficult position?”
His concern was valid.
Not long ago, an envoy from the Hyung San Sect had visited Man Hak-sung, proposing an alliance.
If Man Hak-sung accepted, they promised to deal with the Fujian Dragon Clan—the very reason he was trapped on Daenam Island.
So if Man Hak-sung sided with In Parang, who was hostile to the Hyung San Sect, their alliance would inevitably collapse.
But Man Hak-sung merely chuckled in response.
“Didn’t I tell them to try if they could? If they have the ability, then I’d accept the alliance. If not, then the alliance is broken, and if they prove themselves, well… I suppose I’d have to give them the young tiger as a gift.”
Hyo Chi-gon nodded in understanding.
Then, cautiously, he asked, “Do you think they won’t be able to handle the Dragon Clan?”
Man Hak-sung scoffed.
“Maybe they can deal with the Dragon Clan itself. But do you think we’re stuck here because of the Dragon Clan? What nonsense. Taking out the Dragon Clan alone, without dealing with the viper coiled inside it? If that were possible, I’d like to learn how.”
The Fujian Dragon Clan was a renowned martial family, famed not only for their skills but also for their chivalry.
While some martial artists might dispute that Haewoon Baek was the greatest swordsman alive, no one denied that the Dragon Clan was the finest chivalrous group in the land.
For three centuries, they had never turned a blind eye to injustice.
They always stood with the weak and righteous, fighting without regard for their own safety, even when it nearly led to the ruin of their clan.
Yet they never backed down.
Many believed that if they had been even a little more selfish, the Dragon Clan’s name would have been among the Five Great Clans of the martial world.
In essence, they had chosen righteousness over glory.
As a result, they earned the honor of being the greatest chivalrous group in the world.
Even the legendary Sword Saint, perhaps the greatest swordsman of all time, paid them respect.
Man Hak-sung continued, “And the Dragon Clan’s strength is no joke. People think I can’t touch them because of the Saintess, but that’s ignorance. If the Saintess hadn’t come, do you think the Dragon Clan would have fallen? Not a chance. If she hadn’t come, someone else would have.”
He narrowed his eyes, as if recalling the Saintess, and gazed into the distance.
“Their true terror isn’t just their strength, but the symbolism they carry—the heart of chivalry itself. And you say In Parang wants to take them on? Hahaha, fools. If they really could, maybe we’d even see the Sword Emperor descend from the mountains.”
Hyo Chi-gon swallowed hard.
If the Dragon Clan truly fell into crisis, even the world’s greatest swordsman, the Blood Wolf Sword Emperor, might intervene.
The mere thought was terrifying.
With a grim expression, Hyo Chi-gon asked, “But if that’s the case, does that mean we’re stuck here forever?”
Man Hak-sung was trapped on Daenam Island because of the Fujian Dragon Clan and the Southern Sea Saintess, Si Seo-woo, who resided within the clan.
In the past, Man Hak-sung and Si Seo-woo had clashed at sea, each commanding their own fleet.
They realized that if they fought on the water, both sides would be destroyed.
No ship could withstand their power.
Even without unleashing their full strength, the surrounding vessels were shattered.
So they had no choice but to retreat.
They concluded that whoever fought from the land against an opponent at sea would win.
That was why neither Man Hak-sung nor Si Seo-woo dared to leave their positions, maintaining a tense stalemate.
Hyo Chi-gon voiced his frustration.
“If we can’t deal with them, we’ll be stuck here forever, won’t we?”
Man Hak-sung chuckled.
“Why would we be stuck? We can just leave.”
“…What?”
Hyo Chi-gon was baffled.
Hadn’t they been unable to leave because they feared the Dragon Clan would seize Daenam Island if Man Hak-sung left?
Wasn’t that why the Saintess remained with the Dragon Clan?
So why suddenly say they could just leave?
Seeing Hyo Chi-gon’s puzzled expression, Man Hak-sung laughed again.
“Hahaha, how about Haenam Island? Wouldn’t that make a fine new home for us?”
Surprise flashed across Hyo Chi-gon’s face.
Haenam Island? A new home?
Only then did he realize what Man Hak-sung meant.
“Ah, so you plan to use that kid In Parang to…”
Man Hak-sung grinned with a lion’s ferocity and a wolf’s greed.
“Help the young tiger get his revenge, and in return, claim the tiger’s den. How’s that? A fair deal, isn’t it?”
After years of being unable to venture out to sea, the great whale was finally beginning to stir.
And it was all thanks to the stage that Sunwoo Jin had set.