Chapter 214: Jin So-eun-2
Chapter 214: Jin So-eun-2
Suddenly, the words of her blood brother, Jin Jeong-gun, came to mind.
'You stupid girl. Now do you see that just being kind gets you nowhere? Look at them. Aren't the people who lived in comfort and never had to enter the mountain thanks to you laughing at you now?'
Jin So-eun suddenly recalled the events of that time.
The moment it was decided that she would enter the mountain with their grandfather....
At that time, when none of the four siblings, including Jin So-eun, volunteered to go into the mountain with him, their grandfather, Jin Sa-mong, sighed with a disappointed expression.
So, before she knew it, Jin So-eun had raised her hand alone.
'I'll go. I'll go, Grandfather.'
The reason she did that wasn't for some grand goal like reviving the Natural Staff.
It was simply because she felt sorry that her grandfather looked disappointed.
And yet....
This was the result.
Because of that, she had been stuck in the mountain, only emerging into the world after fifteen long years, and in that world she finally came out to, she was drifting awkwardly like this.
She could only laugh.
She felt hollow.
It was then.
Jin Gye-gun suddenly spoke to the later-generation talents.
"Now, now! Isn't it boring just staying inside? How about we go out on a boat now?"
For the people of Gwangju, who lived their lives along the waterways of the Pearl River, going on a boat outing was a very common occurrence.
Especially for the children of the wealthy, the size and splendor of the boat they owned was a measure of their pride.
So there was nothing strange about them going on a boat outing.
However, Jin So-eun suddenly looked at the table before her.
Because it was laden with piles of food that hadn't even been touched yet.
She thought to herself.
'If we go out on a boat now, what happens to all the food? Are they planning to pack it all onto the boat?'
She was having such thoughts alone.
Making those thoughts meaningless, the later-generation talents in the room all kicked off from their seats and began to get up and head outside.
"A boat outing! Wonderful!"
"As expected! Young Master Jin's thoughts are exactly the same as mine!"
There was no way there would be any objection among them.
All the later-generation talents, as if they had been waiting for it, began shouting and following Jin Gye-gun outside.
Leaving the countless dishes piled high on the table completely abandoned.
At that moment, her younger sister, Jin Ga-in, approached her and asked.
"Unni, you're coming too, right?"
At those words, Jin So-eun gave an awkward smile and shook her head.
"Ah, no. I don't really...."
But Jin Ga-in wouldn't let her off.
"Hey, don't bail. You've been stuck in the mountain, so you've probably never done something like a boat outing. A person from Gwangju who's never been on a boat outing, what could be more unsophisticated than that?"
Saying this, Jin Ga-in grabbed Jin So-eun's hand and pulled her along.
Unable to bring herself to shake off her hand, Jin So-eun was dragged along helplessly and asked her cautiously.
"But, what happens to all that food when we go? Does someone move it for us?"
At this, Jin Ga-in looked at Jin So-eun for a moment with a pitiful gaze and said.
"Haah, don't be so vulgar, unni. We're the children of the Jin Family Stronghold. The children of the strongest sect in Guangdong Province. Stop saying embarrassing things and hurry up!"
Jin So-eun couldn't understand her words.
What connection could there possibly be between the Jin Family Stronghold being the strongest sect in Guangdong Province and leaving behind such a massive amount of food?
When she was in the mountain, her grandfather wouldn't forgive her even for leaving a single grain of rice.
He always taught her to be grateful that she had something to eat, and said that eating without leaving leftovers was the way to express that gratitude.
Of course, even if her grandfather hadn't said that, there wasn't much chance to leave food anyway.
Food was always scarce in the mountain, so unless it was made with truly horrendous ingredients, there was nothing to leave.
But seeing them abandon this mountain of sumptuous delicacies and leave—though it hadn't been many days since she descended the mountain, she was losing any confidence she had in adapting to life below the mountain.
It was the mountain she had wanted so desperately to come down from, yet suddenly she felt like returning to that place again.
But entirely regardless of her feelings, the later-generation talents who came out from the tavern immediately went to the Pearl River dock and boarded a large boat Jin Gye-gun had prepared.
That boat was a pleasure cruiser, considered one of the most luxurious even among the Jin Family Stronghold's many boats, and the entire vessel was lavishly adorned with opulent goods.
The later-generation talents, boarding the boat, burst into exclamations, vying with each other.
"Kyaa! As expected, the beauty of this 'Jinjoho' is the best in Gwangju! Young Stronghold Master Jin, you're truly the greatest!"
"You, how can you say such a thing?! Downgrading the finest boat in Guangdong Province to just the best in Gwangju! This boat is without a doubt the most beautiful boat in Guangdong Province, no, under heaven!"
Jin Gye-gun, hearing the flattery of the later-generation talents, laughed heartily and said.
"Hahahaha! You all seem drunk already! I've prepared an abundance of liquor and food on the Jinjoho as well, so what use is it if you're already drunk?! Now, everyone, eat and drink to your heart's content!"
"Understood, Young Master Jin!"
"We'll eat well, Young Stronghold Master Jin!"
All the later-generation talents noisily chattered as they entered the cabin and familiarly ate food and drank liquor.
Only the location had changed from the tavern earlier; it was the same scene.
And within that scene, Jin So-eun ended up alone once more.
Her younger sister Jin Ga-in, who had led her to the boat, no longer paid her any attention once they were actually on board.
She merely sat glued to the most handsome of the later-generation talents, the young master of the Gyo Family Estate, Gyo Gwa-ryong, whispering secrets with him.
And so, Jin So-eun, unable to find a place to sit, looked around blankly and could only regret it belatedly.
'I should have been more firm....'
That she didn't want to come along, that she wanted to go back.
Perhaps she had already made a mistake even before that.
Maybe she should have refused from the start, when her younger sister Jin Ga-in had asked her to come along with a gaze like a cat eyeing its prey.
'Or should I have gotten angry?'
She didn't know.
Dealing with people was simply far too difficult for her.
"Hoooo."
It was then.
Just as she let out a sigh in frustration and suddenly looked out at the river beyond the boat.
Her eyes suddenly caught sight of several large ships approaching this 'Jinjoho'.
And looking around, she could tell it wasn't just one or two boats.
One, two, three, four ships.
A total of four ships were approaching them from all directions.
Jin So-eun was bewildered.
She didn't know what she was supposed to do in this situation, nor who she should tell about it.
So, frantically looking around at the people nearby, Jin So-eun decided to try telling Jin Ga-in first.
After all, they were blood sisters and she was the one who had brought her here, so she felt relatively closer to her.
Jin So-eun hurried over to her sister and called her.
"Hey there, Ga-in."
At this, Jin Ga-in, who had been laughing and whispering with Gyo Gwa-ryong, looked at her.
Her eyes were clearly filled with annoyance.
"What's up?"
Her tone was as if telling her to quickly get to the point.
That cold attitude made her hesitate to speak, but it was so urgent that she had no choice.
"Boats, the boats are surrounding our boat. Something's strange."
Then Jin Ga-in, with a dumbfounded expression, snorted and retorted.
"What? Other boats are surrounding our boat?"
"Yes! Look over there! Those boats...!"
But Jin Ga-in, without even looking at where Jin So-eun was pointing, spoke with a pitiful expression.
"Unni, please, get a grip. Who in this Pearl River would dare surround us? We're the children of the Guangdong Jin Family Stronghold. The children of the strongest power in Gwangju! How many times do I have to tell you this?"
"B-But...!"
It was then.
Gyo Gwa-ryong, who was sitting beside Jin Ga-in, smiled sweetly with his handsome face and said.
"It seems Lady Jin made an error in judgment because it hasn't been long since she came down from the mountain. There are originally a great many boats here on the Pearl River. So, at a glance, it might seem as if we are surrounded...!"
It was when he had spoken up to that point.
Kwooooooong!
Suddenly, with a loud crashing sound, the boat lurched violently.
Then, the later-generation talents with low martial prowess momentarily lost their balance and had no choice but to roll around on the boat floor.
"Kyaaaaak!"
"Woaaaaak! W-what's going on?!"
"What is it?! What's happening?!"
However, Jin So-eun, who hadn't lost her balance, stared blankly out the window.
Four ships had already surrounded their boat and were alongside.
Jin Gye-gun, the young master of the Guangdong Jin Family Stronghold, scowled deeply at the sudden impact on the boat and shouted towards the outside.
"What's going on?! What on earth is the meaning of this...!"
At least he was at the peak first-class upper level, the highest in martial arts among the assembled later-generation talents.
That was why he could maintain his posture without rolling shamefully on the floor.
But even before Jin Gye-gun could finish his sentence, the sound of weapons clashing and screams suddenly began to be heard from outside the boat.
Chaeng! Chae-chaeng! Chaeng! Chaeng!
"Die! Kieeeyat!"
"B-Block them! Uwaaaak!"
"Keuhahaha! This is easy!"
At the sudden noise coming from outside, Jin Gye-gun and the other later-generation talents could only be greatly bewildered.
Because the sounds coming in, and the sights visible through the cabin windows, clearly explained the current situation.
Someone had attacked the boat.
Here in Gwangju, Guangdong Province, they had dared to attack the boat of the Jin Family Stronghold, the foremost power in Gwangju.
It was something they had never even imagined could happen.
The later-generation talents murmured blankly.
"A-Attack?"
"W-Who could it be?"
"T-The Jin Family Stronghold's boat?"
They were at a loss as to what to do in this sudden emergency.
Just then, after breaking through the guards protecting the outside, one attacker finally revealed himself inside the cabin.
Puhwaak!
"Keuaaaak!"
"Aaaack!"
The one who appeared among the spraying blood of the guards was a middle-aged man with a vicious impression marked by a long sword scar on his face.
Lightly twirling a large dao in one hand, he wore a fierce grin as he looked around the cabin and spoke.
"Well, young masters, young ladies, you're all here."
At this, Jin Gye-gun gathered his courage and shouted at him.
"Who are you bastards?! How dare you attack the boat of the Jin Family Stronghold! Do you want to die?!"
He, too, was just as afraid as the other later-generation talents.
It was because it was so sudden, and this was the first time experiencing such an event.
But showing weakness in front of the others was something his pride as the young master of the Jin Family Stronghold would not permit.
Especially so since there were women nearby.
At this, roused by his rebuke, the other later-generation talents also began to gather courage.
One later-generation talent near the door, also mustering his courage, shouted.
"That's right! How dare you attack Young Stronghold Master Jin's boat in Gwangju, do you all want to die?!"
For him, this was the utmost courage he could summon.
But unfortunately, his opponent was not someone against whom such courage would work.
And courage that didn't put one's life on the line and didn't consider the consequences was, in the end, nothing but reckless bravado.
The man with the scarred face gave him a bloody grin and said in an admiring tone.
"Oho! A young hero, I see."
But his actions were completely different from his words.
Having said that, without the slightest hesitation, he immediately swung his large dao down.
Puhwaak!
"Kkueuaaaak!"
It was a lightning-like dao strike unleashed with the large blade.
At that powerful, fierce blow, the later-generation talent, with a bewildered face, could only be split in two.
It was an instant death.