Chapter 240
“Huff! Huff!”
As they walked along the path, Jin So-eun was breathing heavily.
And that was only natural.
While the others strolled at a leisurely pace, she was moving swiftly on her own, practicing her footwork.
Of course, Jin So-eun had always been diligent.
Despite her talent and martial skills, she never grew complacent and consistently pushed herself in training—a true prodigy forged through effort.
But now, she seemed different.
There was a sense of desperation in the way she was driving herself, as if something urgent was propelling her forward.
Seon Woo-jin glanced at her subtly, then, pretending to admire the scenery, he spoke up.
“The view here is quite beautiful. How about we take a short break?”
At once, Son Dae-su, the old gentleman known as Yu Unchwi, eagerly agreed.
“Even to an old man like me, this scenery is splendid. I was just thinking how nice it would be to enjoy a drink while taking in such a view. Thank you, Lord In Gongja—or rather, Lord Seon Woo Gongja.”
Seon Woo-jin smiled gently in response.
“For now, it’s better to call me Inparang. I still have some unfinished business in that identity. Well then, everyone, let’s rest for a moment.”
Son Dae-su’s granddaughter, Son I-rang, looked around with a puzzled expression and muttered.
“Taking a break is fine, but what’s so different about the scenery? To me, the mountains and trees look exactly the same as before.”
Seon Woo-jin and Son Dae-su pretended not to hear her and sat down.
Just then, Jin So-eun wiped the sweat from her brow and asked quietly.
“Um, while everyone’s resting, would it be alright if I went a little deeper into the forest for a bit?”
Son I-rang glanced at her with a hint of sympathy, and Seon Woo-jin and Son Dae-su exchanged a brief look before nodding with smiles.
“Of course, Lady Jin.”
Without hesitation, Jin So-eun entered the forest.
Even during that short walk, she didn’t stop practicing her footwork.
As she disappeared into the trees, Seon Woo-jin suddenly spoke.
“She’s pushing herself too hard. I worry she might injure herself.”
Son Dae-su nodded in agreement.
“I feel the same. Ever since the incident two days ago, it seems something has shifted in her heart.”
Son Dae-su was right.
Jin So-eun had started training with such desperation only after parting ways with Seol Poong, Jeung Chil, and Yeon Tae-jin two days prior.
Seon Woo-jin asked him quietly.
“Could it be her competitive spirit?”
“Hmm, probably. Lady Jin is undoubtedly talented, but having met gifted individuals like Lord Seon Woo, Lord Seol, and the prodigy Yeon Tae-jin, it’s natural for her to feel driven to compete.”
As the two men discussed this, Son I-rang muttered softly.
“Ugh, men are just….”
Though her voice was low, both Seon Woo-jin and Son Dae-su, who had reached the peak of their martial arts, heard her clearly.
They looked at her with puzzled expressions.
“Hm? What did you say, I-rang?”
But she shook her head, refusing to answer.
“Nothing. You must have misheard. I didn’t say anything.”
She closed her eyes, clearly signaling she didn’t want to continue the conversation.
Son Dae-su looked at Seon Woo-jin with a helpless expression.
When she made that face, there was nothing he could do.
Feeling a bit frustrated, Seon Woo-jin turned to Muk-rang and asked quietly.
“Sir, what do you think? Is Lady Jin’s behavior really just about competitiveness?”
Muk-rang laughed heartily.
“Ha ha ha! In nearly a hundred years of living, the one thing I’ve never understood is a woman’s heart. It’s impossible to know. Of course… that’s partly because I’ve rarely had the chance to meet any woman other than my wife.”
In other words, he didn’t know.
Seon Woo-jin sighed, still feeling unsettled, when Muk-rang added.
“But… I don’t think it’s competitiveness. The feeling I sensed in her was less a challenge and more like self-reproach.”
“Self-reproach?”
“That’s what I felt.”
Seon Woo-jin frowned.
Too much competitiveness wasn’t good either, but if it was self-reproach, the situation could be more serious than he thought.
Martial artists who let negative emotions fester risk falling into ‘Simma’—a dangerous mental state.
And from there, they could even fall into ‘Juhwaipma’—a kind of possession by demonic energy.
For martial artists who have cultivated their inner energy, maintaining calm is crucial.
“Hmm…”
After a moment’s thought, Seon Woo-jin turned to Son Dae-su.
“Excuse me, but could you talk with her? Her state of mind seems unstable, and I don’t think I can have a proper conversation with her.”
That was true.
Lately, Jin So-eun hadn’t been able to say a word properly in front of Seon Woo-jin.
Son Dae-su nodded readily.
“Understood, Gongja. I’ll go speak with her.”
He followed Jin So-eun into the forest.
Son Dae-su found her deeper inside, still practicing her footwork and swinging her staff with intense focus.
“Huff! Huff!”
Swish!
He stopped to watch her movements, impressed.
The footwork Seon Woo-jin had taught her was called Samhwanbo—a technique that, at its peak, could create three illusions of the user. It was a relatively simple yet highly advanced skill.
No one else knew, but Muk-rang had instructed her to learn it through a dream.
And in just a few days, Jin So-eun was already able to create two illusions.
Around her split form, her staff also seemed to divide into two, swirling and striking like twin dragons dancing.
Swish! Swish!
But as Son Dae-su admired her skill, he noticed her expression and let out a low, heavy sigh.
“Hmm.”
Despite her remarkable progress, her face was far from bright.
Instead, she muttered with a desperate look, as if chased by something.
Son Dae-su caught the words on her lips: “Just a little more, just a little more.”
He had to admit that Seon Woo-jin had seen right through her.
She looked genuinely unsettled.
He decided it was time to stop her and speak.
Though martial artists had an unspoken rule not to interrupt others’ training, this was an exception.
Clearing his throat, he called out.
“Hmm, hmm. Are you not tired, Lady Jin?”
Startled, Jin So-eun looked up at him.
She had been so absorbed in training that she hadn’t sensed his presence.
Perhaps her anxious mind was to blame.
Flustered, she glanced at the sky and then back at him.
“Oh, Master Son! What to do… I must have taken too long. I only meant to swing the staff for a moment. I’m sorry. Everyone must be waiting.”
Son Dae-su smiled warmly and shook his head.
“No, Lady Jin. Not much time has passed. I just followed you because I wanted to talk.”
“Talk with me?”
He sat down on the grass beside her.
“Oh, my old legs can barely stand anymore. Mind if I sit for a bit?”
“Of course! Please do.”
Still unsure of what to say, Son Dae-su glanced at her and casually remarked.
“By the way, I noticed your progress on the way here. It seems you’ve already internalized much of the footwork Lord Seon taught you.”
Jin So-eun’s expression darkened immediately.
She gave a weak smile.
“I’m still far from there. And…”
She trailed off.
Son Dae-su sensed that what came after “and” was the key.
Rubbing his neck, he said,
“Ah, my neck’s stiff from looking up so much. Sorry, but could you sit down for a moment to help this old man?”
“Oh, yes! Sorry.”
Startled, Jin So-eun quickly sat on the grass.
Son Dae-su smiled gently, looked around briefly, then turned back to her.
“From what I see, you’ve been working hard, but lately you seem more anxious than diligent. Is there a reason?”
Jin So-eun didn’t answer right away.
She stared at the ground with a dark expression.
After a moment, she spoke softly.
“I feel so pathetic.”
Son Dae-su frowned, as if he’d heard something absurd.
“Pathetic? You, Lady Jin, who revived Ja-yeon-gon?”
She gave a faint, tired laugh and shook her head.
“That was just luck. Everyone praises me, but it wasn’t some great achievement of mine. It’s all thanks to my grandfather’s efforts and teachings…”
Son Dae-su was momentarily at a loss for words.
Among the truly exceptional people he’d met, many thought like her.
They didn’t boast about their achievements but humbly attributed success to luck and kept working hard.
Unlike those who grew arrogant, these people’s progress never slowed; in fact, it often accelerated over time.
So, this was a very admirable attitude.
At least, generally speaking.
“But this isn’t a normal situation. No matter how admirable that attitude is, this is a bit excessive.”
Son Daesu couldn’t help but think that this kind-hearted young lady was so humble she didn’t even fully recognize her own worth.
To him, that was utterly absurd.
After all, reaching the pinnacle of martial arts in one’s twenties was already an incredible feat.
In reality, countless martial artists never reached that peak before their lives ended, and even those who barely stepped into that realm often became local champions, ruling their small regions.
Yet Jin So-eun wasn’t just someone who had reached the peak in her twenties—she was the successor of the natural art of Jayeon-gon, capable of wielding the transcendent Hyeolhaemado Yunsak technique.
And she was the only one in the world to inherit Jayeon-gon.
So for her to belittle herself like this was simply unbelievable.
Son Daesu let out a dry chuckle.
“If she were truly pitiful, then none of us comrades would have any reason to live.”
He had a feeling he knew where this mistaken perception came from.
Sighing, he said, “Miss Jin, if you compare yourself to Master Seonwoo or his sworn brother, Master Seol, then every martial artist in the world would seem like a hopeless dullard or a prodigy gone wrong. If it’s because of them that you feel this way…”
Jin So-eun quickly interrupted, “No, no! How could I ever compare myself to such great men? They’re incredible people. I’m just…”
Son Daesu didn’t rush her, patiently waiting for her to continue.
She spoke weakly, “Master Seonwoo is amazing—not just in martial arts, but in strategy and, above all, his spirit. He fought the Blood Sect for the world’s sake, and even went so far as to oppose the Hyeolsan and Haenam factions to avenge Inpa-rang, whom he met for the first time in his life… Of course, I can’t compare to someone like him. I don’t even expect to.”
Son Daesu studied her for a moment, then asked again, “Then what is it that makes you so restless, Miss Jin?”
She hesitated, unable to answer at first.
But he noticed moisture gathering in her eyes.
With tears welling up, she looked down and said, “I wanted to help him. I truly believed I could. But the moment I faced the Six Harmonies Sword Test, I realized—if it had been me instead of Miss Yeon taking that test, I would have died immediately. And if that had happened, he would have been in even greater danger trying to save me.”
Son Daesu sighed.
He felt at a loss for words, unable to comfort this kind-hearted young lady who felt so useless for not being able to support Seonwoo Jin.
Jin So-eun continued, “I’m so useless, and yet I foolishly harbor strange feelings for him. I hate myself for it. I want to wash those feelings away, but I just can’t…”
At that, tears finally spilled over.
“Sniff… I’m so sorry…”
With her head bowed, tears streaming down her face, Son Daesu looked at her with pity and gently patted her back.
“Miss Jin…”
“I don’t even know why I followed him. Part of me thinks I should go back now, but another part doesn’t want to. I want to grow stronger and be of help, but my skills remain stagnant… sniff…”
Son Daesu let out a soft sigh.
It was clear that many tangled emotions were swirling inside this kind young lady’s heart.
The inferiority she felt in the face of Seonwoo Jin’s immense talent, the affection she held for him, and the self-esteem that shrank even further because of it.
And her desire to help the one she cared for was only causing her more pain.
He felt helpless.
He didn’t even know where to begin unraveling this mess.
After a moment of gently stroking her back, he said simply, “This old man will watch over you, so just cry it out. Sometimes, letting it all out with a good cry can clear your heart.”
Hearing that, Jin So-eun sobbed uncontrollably.
Her tears flowed as if pouring out all the pain she’d been holding inside for so long.
At the same time, Son Daesu’s granddaughter, Son Irang, who had dozed off briefly, blinked awake and spoke to Seonwoo Jin, who was sitting beside her.
“Huh? Did I fall asleep?”
Seonwoo Jin smiled warmly. “Yeah, Irang, you must have been really tired.”
“Really? That’s strange. I didn’t feel that way. Why did I doze off?”
As Son Irang tilted her head in confusion, a voice suddenly spoke inside Seonwoo Jin’s mind—it was Mukrang.
Seonwoo Jin gave a wry smile. ‘I didn’t mean to. And how many are we talking about here?’
‘Wait, when did Haecheongyeon cry? And Jeongyeon from Ami didn’t cry either. And why is Jegal Seoyul even in this list?’
‘But, sir, didn’t you say even you don’t understand women?!’
Seonwoo Jin had just used the Supreme Divine Eye to let Son Irang nap briefly, then followed Son Daesu to eavesdrop on their conversation.
He had left five Six Harmonies Sword Masters behind to protect Son Irang, so he could do this safely.
After a brief back-and-forth, Mukrang suddenly asked him, - So, what are you going to do now?
Seonwoo Jin sighed.
He didn’t know what to do either.
At first, he had brought her along simply as a promising talent, but now he liked Jin So-eun very much.
Her pure nature reminded him of his younger sister Yeonha, whom he had once thought was the kindest woman in the world.
Jin So-eun was showing him that perfect sisterly image with her whole being and heart.
So Seonwoo Jin didn’t want to cause her pain or make things difficult for her.
Mukrang sighed and said, - I know you think of her like a sister, but she doesn’t see you as an older brother, does she? And though she’s so innocent you keep getting confused, she’s actually a year older than you.
‘…That’s true.’
Seonwoo Jin was 22, and Jin So-eun was 23, so technically she was older.
He was struggling with how to handle this, unable to cut ties coldly like he had with Jeongyeon from the Ami faction.
Just then, his senses detected something.
‘Now’s not a good time to think about that.’
Seonwoo Jin immediately sent a signal to the Six Harmonies Sword Masters, instructing them to hide in the surrounding forest.
Then he said to Son Irang, “Irang, go quickly into the forest and bring Grandfather and Miss Jin here. Guests are arriving.”
Startled, Son Irang asked, “Guests?”
Seonwoo Jin’s eyes sharpened as he looked toward the eastern sky. “Yes. It seems the people from the Haenam faction have arrived.”