Chapter 336
After the meeting ended, Sun Woo-jin didn’t set off for Zhejiang Province right away. Instead, he stayed one more day at Hyeongsanpa.
He was waiting to meet the people from Haenampa, who were scheduled to arrive the next day.
Together with Seol Poong, Sun Woo-jin went out to the gate of Hyeongsanpa’s mountain sect to personally welcome the roughly fifty members of Haenampa.
“Welcome! Thank you for making the long journey!”
In response, Yongwang Jigung Yoo Hae-eung, the acting chief of Haenampa, returned the greeting with a poker face.
“I was only tasked with moving north without a single fight. What hardship could there be? The real hardship was the work of Gongja, who brought down Hyeongsanpa with just that level of support.”
Though his words sounded polite, his expression was so blank it almost seemed angry.
Sun Woo-jin couldn’t help but smile faintly at the sight of this ironclad figure.
He shifted his gaze behind Yoo Hae-eung.
Right behind him stood Il Dosal-gyeong Oh Ik-deok, sporting a magnificent beard like Guan Yu’s; the small-statured elder and head of the Haenam family, Ja Gae-chu; and, for some reason, Myo Aran, who had gone ahead to greet them.
Next to them stood a burly man who was likely Shin Du-wol, the head of Haenam Shinga, responsible for Haenampa’s military forces.
Behind these leaders was Hyeon Cheong-gun, the commander of Haenam’s warriors.
As Sun Woo-jin’s gaze slowly swept across the group, he finally spotted the faces he had been longing to see—his father, Sun Woo Jung, the head of the Sun Woo family, and likely his soon-to-be stepmother, the fierce witch So Nan-so.
“Father…”
Sun Woo Jung looked at him with a proud smile.
Sun Woo-jin couldn’t help but return a warm smile as their eyes met.
But it was only for a moment. He quickly turned his attention back to Yoo Hae-eung.
Though he wanted to rush to his father’s side, this was not the time.
This was an official occasion to welcome the chief of another sect.
Sun Woo-jin spoke politely to Yoo Hae-eung.
“Please come inside, Chief Yoo. We’ve prepared a place for you to rest here at Hyeongsanpa.”
Yoo Hae-eung shook his head in refusal.
“That won’t be necessary. This is no time for rest.”
Sun Woo-jin looked at him, puzzled. He didn’t understand why he said that.
Yoo Hae-eung’s gaze grew serious as he spoke again.
“I heard from Myo Sojeo that Gongja Sun Woo plans to depart for Zhejiang Province immediately after this.”
Sun Woo-jin nodded readily.
Indeed, he intended to leave as soon as they finished welcoming Haenampa.
Yoo Hae-eung’s tone rose slightly as he asked,
“Before that, shouldn’t you give an answer to the proposal from last time? Now that the Sun Woo family has become part of Haenampa.”
The proposal from last time.
Sun Woo-jin was caught off guard. He hadn’t expected Yoo Hae-eung to bring it up here.
With a troubled expression, he replied,
“Chief Yoo, that proposal…”
Yoo Hae-eung cut him off firmly.
“I am not the chief. Only the acting chief.”
Sun Woo-jin met his gaze.
The usually stoic face now held eyes burning with an intense, passionate light—a fierce longing.
He sighed softly.
“I’m still too young. And though I’ve joined Haenampa, it’s only just happened. If I were to take on such a heavy responsibility now, wouldn’t many in the sect resist?”
At that moment, Ja Gae-chu, the elder head of the Haenam family standing behind Yoo Hae-eung, interjected.
“Though the world may not yet know, all the disciples of Haenampa are aware that Gongja defeated Jin Tae-do and drew in the Saintess to kill Ma Gyeong Man-hak-sung. And now, he’s even brought down Hyeongsanpa. If such a hero is dismissed for being young, then who else deserves respect?”
Shin Du-wol, head of Haenam Shinga, picked up the thread.
“Besides, Gongja is the sole heir of the Southern Cross Sword—the pride and soul of Haenam. And now he’s part of our family. If he won’t take the chief’s seat, then who else could?”
Chief.
That was it.
They were asking Sun Woo-jin to take the position of chief of Haenampa.
This conversation had first come up after he defeated Jin Tae-do and Ma Gyeong.
At that time, Yoo Hae-eung had said that though Sun Woo-jin was an outsider, he must take responsibility for killing Jin Tae-do, the chief of Haenampa.
He also said that since Sun Woo-jin had mastered the Southern Cross Sword—the soul of Haenam—he couldn’t just let it slide.
When Myo Aran cleverly suggested that if Sun Woo-jin’s Sun Woo family was accepted as part of Haenampa, that would solve the problem, Yoo Hae-eung went further, insisting that Sun Woo-jin himself must become the chief.
He had said,
“Gongja is a true hero who fought Jin Tae-do to settle a grudge unrelated to himself. He possesses the martial skill to defeat Jin Tae-do and the wisdom to trap and destroy Ma Gyeong Man-hak-sung. And he is the only heir to the Southern Cross Sword, the soul of Haenam. If Gongja becomes one of us, then who else but him could sit as chief?”
At the time, Sun Woo-jin had politely declined, saying he was too young and not yet fully part of Haenampa until his father, Sun Woo Jung, decided.
After that, with Yoo Hae-eung becoming acting chief, he hadn’t thought much more about it.
But now, Yoo Hae-eung was bringing it up again.
And this time, it didn’t seem to be just his own idea.
Sun Woo-jin glanced at the others from Haenampa.
He realized that Ja Gae-chu, Myo Aran, and even the ones he’d only just met—Oh Ik-deok and Shin Du-wol—were all looking at him with bright, expectant eyes.
The warriors of Haenam, like Hyeon Cheong-gun, were no different.
When he looked back at his father, Sun Woo Jung smiled kindly and nodded.
It seemed they had all discussed this beforehand.
Sun Woo-jin let out a small, incredulous chuckle.
At that moment, Mukrang’s voice echoed in his mind with a smile.
— I’ve heard of fights breaking out over who becomes chief, but never of disciples conspiring to force someone into the position against their will. Especially someone who’s not even fully one of their own yet. They’re impressive people. They’ll probably make great disciples too.
Sun Woo-jin asked him silently,
‘Do you think it’s right for me to become chief of Haenam?’
Mukrang replied with a still-smiling tone,
— I don’t know if it’s right or not. But… if I were a disciple of that sect, I think I’d be very satisfied.
Whether he meant the late rightful heir Inparang or the legendary Namhae Sword King In Jung-ho, no one could say.
But hearing that, Sun Woo-jin finally made up his mind.
He looked around the Haenampa members with a serious gaze and asked,
“I intend to wage a decisive battle against Hyeolgyo. And in that fight, the Martial Alliance may become my enemy as well. If I become chief of Haenampa, the sect will inevitably be drawn into that conflict and suffer great losses. Are you all willing to accept that?”
Oh Ik-deok, head of the Oh family of Haenam, laughed heartily.
“Ha ha ha! A big fight, you say? That’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for! In the battles against Jin Tae-do and Hyeongsanpa, I was just a bystander. I was beginning to doubt if I was even a martial artist. So please, Gongja, let me know I’m still one!”
Myo Aran spoke clearly after him.
“Our Haenampa, once a prestigious orthodox sect, is now seen by the martial world as a neutral faction because of Jin Tae-do’s misdeeds. To change that perception, a major event is needed—like a fight against the martial outlaws of Hyeolgyo.”
Then Yoo Hae-eung finally broke his usual silence.
“As long as the chief’s will doesn’t stray from chivalry, isn’t it the disciples’ duty to follow it?”
He extended the sword he held toward Sun Woo-jin.
It was the Baekho Sword—the sacred treasure of Haenam and Haenampa.
Sun Woo-jin looked at the sword with a complex expression.
Originally, the Baekho Sword was the Seollang Sword adorned with decorations, but under Mukrang’s guidance, he had personally reforged it when needed. Now, it had returned to his hands.
A wave of emotion washed over him.
At last, he reached out and grasped the sword.
At that moment, all fifty or so disciples of Haenampa, who had been watching his every move with burning eyes, dropped to their knees and shouted,
“Long live the chief!”
“Long live the chief!”
Holding the Baekho Sword, Sun Woo-jin looked around at the fifty or so people kneeling before him.
Though few in number, these were the elite representatives of Haenam’s twelve families—the finest of Haenampa.
Though he hadn’t yet risen to the rank of the Nine Great Sects, in terms of his past achievements, he could easily be said to surpass them all—such was the stature of this colossal sect.
And now, at this very moment, Sun Woo-jin had been appointed as the chief elder of that mighty sect.
He had initially refused, thinking it inappropriate, but now that the moment had come, he couldn’t help but feel his heart burn with pride.
Suddenly, Muk-rang’s voice echoed softly in his mind.
“Congratulations on becoming the chief elder of the Haenam Sect, Chief Sun Woo.”
“Chief Sun Woo.”
Hearing those words, a deep smile spread across Sun Woo-jin’s lips.
Originally, Sun Woo-jin had planned to greet the Haenam Sect briefly and depart immediately, but he found himself compelled to spend more time conversing with the sect’s leadership.
Through those talks, the elite warriors of Haenam also agreed to join the Blood Sect’s assault force. Afterwards, Sun Woo-jin held a private conversation with his father, Sun Woo-jung, and his soon-to-be wife, So Nan-so.
Sun Woo-jin smiled warmly and bowed his head toward So Nan-so.
“Your humble servant greets you, Mother.”
So Nan-so burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she teased him.
“Oh? Didn’t you say you’d call me ‘So-ja’ back then?”
Caught off guard, Sun Woo-jin gave an awkward smile.
He had indeed joked about that before.
He chuckled softly and looked toward his father.
“If Father permits, I shall address you that way.”
Sun Woo-jung, watching their exchange with a mock stern expression, shook his head.
“I cannot allow it. If I do, I fear I’ll become a rival to my own son. And if that happens, I’m afraid I’ll lose. Ha ha ha!”
At that, So Nan-so gently took Sun Woo-jung’s hand and said softly,
“Don’t worry, Sir. If you ever feel like you’re losing, I’ll join forces with you. Win or lose, we’ll always be together.”
Her affectionate gaze made Sun Woo-jung look at her with sudden warmth.
“Thank you for saying that, Nan-so.”
They looked at each other with the fiery passion of lovers in their twenties.
Sun Woo-jin, wearing a look of disbelief, interjected.
“Please don’t turn your son into a villain caught between his father and his woman. Could you give me a break now? I feel like I should step aside.”
Sun Woo-jung gave a sheepish smile and turned to his son.
“You’re still here? My apologies.”
Sun Woo-jin let out a dry laugh.
Despite the exasperation in his smile, he was genuinely happy inside.
Seeing his father so lighthearted, joking like this, and witnessing the deep, unbreakable trust between the two of them was a beautiful sight.
Having never seen his father with the woman he truly loved—his mother—Sun Woo-jin had only ever witnessed his father’s strained, ambitious relationships with other women.
So, seeing his father and So Nan-so focused solely on their love for each other, like young lovers, was both new and deeply satisfying.
Sun Woo-jin and Sun Woo-jung then embraced, their eyes burning with warmth.
After a moment, Sun Woo-jung pulled back slightly, gazing at his son with a steady look.
“You’ve worked hard, Jin-ah. And thank you. Unlike my own incompetence, you’ve made the Sun Woo family flourish even before becoming its head.”
Sun Woo-jin smiled gently.
“You’re quite capable yourself, Father, having given birth to and raised someone like me.”
Sun Woo-jung laughed heartily.
“Ha ha ha! Is that how it works?”
At that moment, a playful glint appeared on Sun Woo-jung’s face.
He looked at his son with a mischievous expression.
“By the way… watching from Haenam Sect, I found Lady Miao quite impressive. I’ve never seen such a beautiful and wise lady.”
“…Excuse me? Why bring that up all of a sudden?”
So Nan-so chimed in.
“From what I’ve seen, she’s truly an exceptional lady, Sir.”
Sun Woo-jin looked at them both, puzzled, then suddenly recalled something Miao Aran had said recently.
“Come to think of it, she said she’d decide her future after seeing how I proceed…”
Apparently, some conversation had taken place between her and the two men while he was away.
He pictured Miao Aran’s confident, knowing smile in his mind.
Feeling a bit awkward, Sun Woo-jin said,
“I already have a fiancée. You know that, Father, don’t you?”
Sun Woo-jung smiled gently.
“Of course I do. What did I say? I was just saying Lady Miao seems like a fine person. And the lady you’re engaged to—is that Lady Jin?”
“Ah, no. She is, but the one I meant was Lady Tang…”
Sun Woo-jin stopped mid-sentence, noticing the playful look on his father’s face.
It seemed Sun Woo-jung had heard quite a lot from Miao Aran.
He sighed deeply.
“You seem very happy with your new bride. Anyway, the timing isn’t right now, but I’ll introduce Lady Tang properly later. For now, it’s not the time to discuss this. We must depart for Zhejiang Province.”
Sun Woo-jung nodded solemnly.
“Yes, I heard. You’re going to see the Sword Master, right? I trust you’ll handle it well, but please be careful. And…”
Suddenly, Sun Woo-jung drew the sword from his back and handed it to his son.
“Take this.”
Sun Woo-jin looked at the sword in surprise.
“Father?”
Sun Woo-jung smiled kindly.
“Isn’t it strange for the chief elder of Haenam Sect not to be the head of the Sun Woo family? It’s time you take on the role of family head.”
The sword his father was handing over was the Hongyeon Sword—the sacred heirloom of the Sun Woo family.
Only the family head could wield it, and now his father was passing both the sword and the leadership to him.
Sun Woo-jin stared at the Hongyeon Sword for a moment, then reached out and grasped its scabbard.
His father was right.
It made no sense for someone who wasn’t the family head to serve as chief elder of Haenam Sect.
So, the moment he became chief elder, it was only natural that he inherit the family headship as well.
The familiar feel of the Hongyeon Sword in his hand stirred memories.
Perhaps in his past life, he had also become the family head and inherited this very sword.
“And at the end of that life, I pierced my own heart and began this second life…”
As Sun Woo-jin recalled that moment, Muk-rang suddenly exclaimed inside his mind.
—Oh? What is this sword?
Muk-rang seemed to have discovered something about the Hongyeon Sword.
Startled, Sun Woo-jin asked him aloud,
“Why? What is it?”
Muk-rang replied.