Chapter 141: Cleanup-2

Seonwoo Jung asked Seonwoo Jin again.

'Assuming we crush the Ha clan's ambush, then what must we do afterward?'

Seonwoo Jin answered.

'Now that the Ha clan has revealed their claws, we hold the moral high ground. We must punish them immediately. And since it's early dawn, even after crushing the ambush and striking them, we can still fully exploit the advantage of surprise.'

At those words, Seonwoo Jung nodded in admiration.

'So you'd thought that far ahead when you said we had to go at early dawn. Then should we return to the clan immediately, lead our warriors, and strike the Ha clan?'

'Yes, though when you return to the clan, there is one matter you must handle as quickly as possible.'

'One matter?'

To Seonwoo Jung's question, Seonwoo Jin's eyes flashed sharply as he answered.

'Yes, you must do a bit of internal cleanup. Isn't it always the rule that to strike an external enemy, you must first clean house from within?'

***

By the time Seonwoo Jung, head of the Seonwoo clan, had raced without rest and returned to the Seonwoo clan with over a hundred troops from the Dan family estate, many people were already gathered in the training grounds.

And several among them were even bound tightly and forced to their knees in the training grounds.

As if unable to fathom why such a thing had befallen them, they had been shouting, demanding to know what this outrage was—and the moment they spotted Seonwoo Jung, they began raising a clamor as though they had been waiting for him.

"Husband! Save me! These wretches have dared to do this to me!"

"Clan Head! Something has gone terribly wrong! Never in my life have I failed to serve the Seonwoo clan with absolute loyalty! This is too unjust!"

"Father! Punish those who dared do this to me! I can never forgive them!"

They were Madam Ha, the second wife of Clan Head Seonwoo Jung; her son, his second son Seonwoo Hyuk; and those who had aligned themselves with them—Third Elder Gak Jung-gwang and Son Won-jong, commander of the Second Divine Eagle Unit.

All of them had been suddenly seized early that morning by Great Elder Heo Jin-guk and the Divine Eagle Squad, then bound and forced to kneel in the training grounds.

Those who had been restrained—and indeed everyone else—were shocked and tried to ask the reason.

But Heo Jin-guk and Divine Eagle Squad Commander Dam Mu-ho only told them it was the clan head's order, offering no explanation whatsoever.

And the truth was, they too had merely followed Seonwoo Jin's orders and were equally unaware of the details.

Yet they had not hesitated in the slightest to carry out Seonwoo Jin's sudden command.

This was because, ever since they had witnessed Seonwoo Jin's Vermilion Bird Manifestation in the training grounds last time, all of them had become completely won over by him.

"Husband!"

"Father!"

"Clan Head!"

Clan Head Seonwoo Jung stared at their clamoring with cold eyes.

Then, without a word, he threw the two men he had brought as prisoners down before them.

Thud!

Thud!

At this, not only those who were tied up but also the bystanders looked at them with puzzled faces.

"Who are those people?!"

"Wha—what is this!?"

They were in a state where both arms had been severed, their bodies brutally mauled from what must have been horrific treatment.

And a moment later, among those who had initially fallen silent in bewilderment, someone finally recognized their faces.

It was the second wife, Madam Ha.

The moment she recognized them, her complexion began to grow steadily paler.

Seeing her expression, Seonwoo Jung finally opened his mouth.

"These men are the commanders of the White Tiger Unit, the armed forces of the Ha clan!"

At his words, the people watching began to murmur.

Most were saying things like, why had those men ended up in such a state, and shouldn't they not be treated that way?

Seonwoo Jung silently listened to their words without offering any particular comment.

Then the bound Third Elder, Gak Jung-gwang, glinted in his eyes and raised his voice.

"Clan Head! Heed this Gak Jung-gwang's loyal counsel! Treating the warriors of the Ha clan—joined to us by your marriage—in this manner is against all propriety! And even if you disregard propriety and fight them, our own strength cannot yet possibly withstand the Ha clan! So I beg you, look at reality and apologize for your wrongs before this becomes utterly irreversible! If the Clan Head sincerely apologizes to them, they will surely...!"

It was just then, when the onlookers had begun nodding in agreement with Gak Jung-gwang's words.

Seonwoo Jung suddenly cut him off and spoke.

And those words plunged everyone into shock and silence.

"Even knowing they tried to kill me?"

"P-pardon?"

"They lay in ambush on the road to the Dan family estate, disguised themselves as Dan family warriors, and tried to kill me and Seong. And yet, Elder Gak, you still think I should apologize to them?"

At that, the faces of everyone who was tied up turned pale.

Because even they had not known the fact that the Ha clan had attempted to assassinate Seonwoo Jung.

Gak Jung-gwang stammered, trying to retort.

"Th-that can't be, n-no. There must be some misun...."

In that instant, Seonwoo Jung erupted with the force of a peak-level master, shouting in a furious voice.

"The clan head was attacked and nearly killed, and you say that can't be?! Spoken like a true traitor! We departed at dawn according to the plan we set days ago! Yet these men were lying in ambush with perfect knowledge of our destination and departure time! Well? Do you still mean to call this a misunderstanding?!"

Hearing that, Gak Jung-gwang's face drained utterly bloodless and white.

He had finally realized why they were tied up here.

The clan head now regarded them as traitors who had conspired in his assassination.

Gak Jung-gwang shouted desperately.

"C-Clan Head! You misunderstand! I would never...!"

"Shut your mouth!"

With a furious shout, the blade of Seonwoo Jung's sword flashed with light.

Slice!

In that moment, everyone watching recoiled in horror and clapped their hands over their mouths.

"Hup!"

Until now, Clan Head Seonwoo Jung had been perceived as benevolent, yet always dragged around by his wives' families—an indecisive and incompetent clan head.

And yet, that very Seonwoo Jung, right in this moment, had struck down the neck of Elder Gak Jung-gwang with a single stroke.

The people of the Seonwoo family simply could not believe their own eyes.

And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he did not appear to have any intention of stopping there.

Now, with terrifying eyes, he began to glare at Commander Son Won-jong of the Second Divine Eagle Unit.

At that, the white-faced Son Won-jong hurriedly tried to open his mouth.

"C-Clan Head! This is a misun—!"

Slice!

His sword-light flashed, and Son Won-jong's head too soared high into the sky.

A beat later, the blood that burst forth sprayed like a fountain.

At that, the onlookers could do nothing but squeeze their eyes shut.

The sight of the two men who had been the real power within the Seonwoo clan being executed in a single moment was simply too shocking.

Then Seonwoo Jung muttered with a cold expression.

Though his voice was low, his muttered words entered everyone's ears with perfect clarity.

"It seems the only word traitors know is 'misunderstanding.'"

And now, finally, Seonwoo Jung turned the tip of his blade toward Madam Ha and his son Seonwoo Hyuk.

At that, everyone watched the scene, barely able to breathe.

Madam Ha trembled as if she had palsy, shaking violently as she spoke.

"H-Husband, th-this is a misunderstanding. Thi-this lowly wife would never...."

But she could not continue her words in the face of Seonwoo Jung's coldly smiling expression.

"A misunderstanding again? That is a word I seem to be hearing quite often today."

"H-Husband!"

In that instant, Seonwoo Jung raised his sword high overhead, the blade flashing.

At that, Madam Ha and Seonwoo Hyuk, seized by terror, shut their eyes and screamed.

"Kyaaaaaak!"

"Uwaaaaak!"

The watching people did the same.

Most squeezed their eyes shut against the horrifying thing about to happen.

But even after a moment had passed, the next sound was no longer heard.

So, swallowing dryly, people slowly opened their eyes and looked toward them.

Then Seonwoo Jung, who had seemed about to bring his sword down at any moment, found himself unable to strike.

After holding his sword aloft for a moment longer, he ultimately let it fall and gave an order to the Shineung Squad Commander Dam Mu-ho, who had been standing by.

"In consideration of the fact that you carry the Seonwoo bloodline, and that you bore my children, I shall spare your lives! Commander Dam! Imprison them in the Thunder Prison at once! Until further orders, give them no food, no water — nothing at all!"

"Yes, Gaju-nim!"

Madam Ha and Seonwoo Hyeok were immediately dragged away to the Thunder Prison by the Shineung Squad members.

They could utter no further words.

At that moment, Seonwoo Jung shouted toward the assembled members of the Seonwoo family.

It was a powerful, resonant voice imbued with the internal energy of a peak-level master.

"Is there another traitor among you who has colluded with outside forces?!"

His sharp gaze swept past Second Elder Lee, who had ties to the Gaeyangmun — the maternal family of his eldest son Seonwoo Seong — and the First Shineung Daeju, as well as Fourth Elder Sa, who had ties to the Un clan — the maternal family of Seonwoo Yeon-ha — and the Third Shineung Daeju.

Then Fourth Elder Sa, who had been trembling violently, was the first to collapse to his knees and cry out.

"Th-this humble servant is loyal only to the Seonwoo clan! I have never harbored any other intentions, Gaju-nim!"

Then, beginning with him, the others began to kneel as well.

Thud! Thud!

"I am the same, Gaju-nim!"

"I am likewise, Gaju-nim!"

"Please, believe this humble servant, Gaju-nim!"

Seonwoo Jung merely watched them in silence for a while.

Then, suddenly, he spoke in a low voice.

"I shall be watching from now on."

At his words, those who had knelt were able to secretly exhale sighs of relief.

It was then.

Seonwoo Jung once again shouted in a loud voice.

"Warriors of the Seonwoo family, prepare for battle at once! I shall not forgive the Ha clan, who dared to assassinate and seize control of the Seonwoo family head!"

It was an order far too sudden.

A look of bewilderment rose on the faces of everyone gathered.

"The, the Ha clan...?"

"Us?"

The Ha clan was the strongest power in Gwiyang — perhaps even the strongest in all of Guizhou — possessing no fewer than five peak-level masters.

So for the current Seonwoo clan to confront the Ha clan head-on could only be a reckless act.

At least, that was what they thought.

But in this atmosphere, there was no one who could possibly oppose the family head's words.

All they could do was bow their heads and answer with resounding voices.

"Yes, Gaju-nim!"

Jegal Seoyul watched the entire sequence of events from one corner with an expression of intense interest.

Her face, which had lately been darkened by severe emotional distress, was sparkling with vitality for the first time in a long while.

Right before her eyes, some great upheaval was unfolding.

In particular, the sight of Seonwoo Jung — the Seonwoo family head who had always seemed so quiet and indecisive — displaying such strength, dominating the assembly with that overwhelming presence... it was impossibly impressive.

Suddenly, as if wistful, she murmured.

"Ah, is there no other such man somewhere? It would be nice if there were a man my age with such force and charisma. But in any case, if they're going to fight the Ha clan head-on, how should we proceed, Uncle?"

Then Jegal Ji-yong, who had been standing beside her, let out a thoughtful hum and muttered as if talking to himself.

"Could it be... that the Seonwoo family head intended to use us to clean house from the beginning?"

"Huh?"

When she stared at her uncle with puzzled eyes — he had not answered her question but spoken of something else entirely — Jegal Ji-yong shook his head and replied.

"No. Let us watch for now. Surely, having made a formal proposal to us, he will not pretend it never happened."

"...Huh?"

When Jegal Seoyul still seemed not to understand, Jegal Ji-yong sighed with a slightly exasperated expression and said.

"Hmm, I shall explain later. For now, let us observe the battle situation. Should the Seonwoo family be pushed back, we could lend our strength and thereby place them in our debt. That would not be a bad outcome for us either."

Jegal Seoyul still did not understand, but she simply nodded.

It was her own family, but truly, the words spoken by the people of the Jegal clan were far too difficult.

Jegal Ji-yong murmured again with a grave expression.

"Still, to say they will directly invade the Ha clan... Could he perhaps be moving with us factored into his calculations as well? If so, there would be little for him to actually gain..."

As Jegal Ji-yong thought it over, it seemed nearly certain that Seonwoo Jung's previous proposal to their Jegal clan had been made in order to provoke the Ha clan and thereby purge the second wife's faction.

The problem was what came next.

He still could not determine whether that proposal had been merely a means to that end, or whether it had genuinely been an offer to be subordinated to the Jegal clan.

But the likelihood that it had merely been a means seemed high.

Because Jegal Ji-yong himself felt that if he were Seonwoo Jung, he would not commit the folly of subordinating a Seonwoo clan — from which the Ha clan's influence had been erased — to the Jegal clan.

'But to say they will invade the Ha clan?'

That was strange.

Invading ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Ha clan with the Seonwoo clan's forces alone would surely be a reckless act.

So it was likely done with the Jegal clan's assistance factored into the equation, but if that were the case, there did not seem to be any particular benefit in it for Seonwoo Jung.

After all, the more debt he owed to the Jegal clan, the more his justification for reneging on the promise would vanish.

Jegal Ji-yong's thoughts grew increasingly tangled.

At the moment Jegal Ji-yong was wrestling with such thoughts, three shadows on the rooftop were watching the scene.

They were none other than Seonwoo Jin, Jeok Ma-hyeok, and Gyeon-jung.

Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly and murmured.

"My father... once he draws his blade, there is nothing that can stand in his way, is there? Truly impressive."

Before proceeding with this matter, Seonwoo Jin had made certain demands of his father, Seonwoo Jung.

Namely, that Third Elder Gak Jung-gwang and Second Shineung Daeju Son Won-jong absolutely had to be dealt with.

He had not been able to tell his father, but in the previous life, Son Won-jong had been a man who betrayed the Seonwoo clan and defected to the Ha clan.

And Third Elder Gak Jung-gwang, though he had not defected to another faction, was a man who — to the point that defecting might have been better — constantly pursued only his own interests and repeatedly stirred up discord within the Seonwoo clan.

How much seething frustration he had suffered because of that in the last life...

So it had been Seonwoo Jin's judgment that swiftly dealing with these men was the best choice for the Seonwoo clan.

And now, they had been cleanly dealt with at this early stage.

Seonwoo Jin wore a refreshed smile as he murmured.

"Hmm, nice."

Seonwoo Jin felt a cool, refreshing sensation as if his chest had been cleared wide open.

Especially watching Madam Ha — who had long lorded over the Seonwoo clan as though she were some absolute being, committing all manner of tyranny — being dragged away in such a miserable state was even more so.

Looking at her, Seonwoo Jin suddenly murmured.

"This is a sight I would ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like to show my mother in heaven."

Of course, of the two people directly responsible for his mother's death, one still remained — Lady Gok, the mother of Seonwoo Seong.

But she too would not last much longer.

Seonwoo Jin now rose with a refreshed feeling and spoke to Jeok Ma-hyeok and Gyeon-jung.

"Now then, let us go to the Ha clan. My apologies for keeping you two so busy."

At his words, Jeok Ma-hyeok answered with a smile.

"Not at all, Gongja. We have rested so much that our bodies have grown stiff — only now do we seem to be regaining our vigor."

Then Gyeon-jung's eyes also glinted as he asked.

"Now we can fight peak-level masters?"

At his question, Seonwoo Jin grinned and nodded.

"Yes, fight ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to your heart's content."

Even after having taken care of the peak-level masters — the First Baekho Daeju and the Second Daeju — the Ha clan still possessed three peak-level masters.

So it could only be an unfavorable fight for the Seonwoo clan, which had two peak-level masters.

Seonwoo Jin suddenly grinned as he thought.

'But will they still have three peak-level masters when they actually face the Seonwoo clan?'

Seonwoo Jin had absolutely no intention of leaving things as they were.