Chapter 227: Three Generations of the Jin Family-2
Chapter 227: Three Generations of the Jin Family-2
The two of them looked away from each other, as if their heated moment had cooled, and cleared their throats.
Then, as if it had suddenly occurred to him, Jin Sa-mong asked Jin So-eun.
"By the way, So-eun, what happened to you? It didn't seem like you were at this level at all just a little while ago. How did you suddenly grow so much?"
At that, Jin So-eun, as if recalling something, replied with a bright smile.
"That person! Young Master Yin gave me a spirit medicine! He said that once I reached the Peak Realm, I'd be able to properly unfold the Natural Bound Staff! So I took the spirit medicine, and I was able to reach the Peak Realm right away! Just as he said, my realm had already surpassed the Peak, but I lacked internal energy... I suppose that's why I hadn't been able to reach the Peak!"
At those words, Jin Sa-mong sighed with an expression as if he'd been struck on the head.
"Heuh! The Peak Realm?! The Peak Realm, so that was it!"
Until now, Jin Sa-mong had not paid much attention to increasing Jin So-eun's internal energy.
That was because the words of the old Jin Ji-in, the creator of the Natural Bound Staff, were firmly lodged in his mind—that such realms were not very important.
But the difference between a first-rate and a Peak Realm master wasn't just the ability to use energetic force.
Instantaneous reaction, response speed, muscle strength, endurance, even the ability to read an opponent—the difference in all these was overwhelming.
So it was only natural that Jin So-eun, having reached the Peak Realm, could handle the staff more naturally.
Realizing that he had been bound by Jin Ji-in's words and missed something crucial, Jin Sa-mong could not help but sigh.
At that moment, what Jin Gong-mu, who had been listening to the same words, felt was something a little different.
"Young Master Yin..."
He was thinking about how the Jin Family Estate had received such an enormous favor from this person called Young Master Yin.
Saving the Jin household from the Blood Sea Demon Blade, Yun Sak, was already an immense favor, but to even raise Jin So-eun's realm...
Both the present and the future of the Jin Family Estate were essentially indebted to him beyond measure.
And as the warriors of the Jin household paid back both grudges and favors tenfold, Jin Gong-mu could not even begin to fathom how he could possibly repay such a debt.
Jin Gong-mu suddenly let out a sigh and asked Jin So-eun.
"Haah, just what kind of person is this Young Master Yin? Who on earth is he to possess such martial prowess at that young age...?"
At that, his father, Jin Sa-mong, asked him back with a serious expression.
"You saw his sword, the sword techniques he used, and still you do not know who he is?"
At those words, Jin Gong-mu asked back with a puzzled look.
"Pardon? His sword, his sword techniques? No. Both were things I was seeing for the first time."
Then Jin Sa-mong let out a thoughtful murmur.
"Eum, so you have never seen the Baekho Sword or the Southern Cross Sword."
"The Baekho Sword, the Southern Cross Sword?"
Jin Gong-mu, who had been repeating those names, suddenly recalled a memory about them and cried out in shock.
"Could it be the Hainan In Clan?! The successor of the Hainan In Clan was alive?!"
Jin Sa-mong nodded with a grave face.
"It seems so. Come to think of it, Young Master Yin said that the Blood Sea Demon Blade Yun Sak was a subordinate of Jin Tae-do. That, and the reason he deliberately sought out the White Religion Sect... He is likely on a path of revenge for his father."
Then Jin Gong-mu burst out in admiration and quietly echoed the words.
"Haah, a path of revenge, I see."
And with glinting eyes, he spoke.
"Now I know how we can repay this favor."
Even the Hainan Sect, even the Hainan Demon Sword Jin Tae-do—one of the Thirty-Six Stars of the World—were by no means easy opponents for the Jin Family Estate.
Rather, they were undoubtedly powerful enemies they could never defeat with their own strength.
But Jin Gong-mu, the family head of the Jin clan, did not even consider that.
If they had never received the favor in the first place, that would be one thing. But a man of the Guangdong Jin Family Estate would repay a favor once received, even at the cost of his life.
It was just when Jin Gong-mu and Jin Sa-mong had hardened their resolve to assist Inparang, Seonwoo Jin, in his revenge.
Suddenly, Jin So-eun, her face slightly flushed, murmured as if in a dream.
"If I help him on his path of revenge, then... I could continue to be with him, couldn't I?"
At those unusual words, Jin Gong-mu and Jin Sa-mong stared at her with bewildered faces.
"Uh, huh?"
"You... you want to be with him?"
Then, Jin So-eun beamed and began to speak excitedly.
"Yes! I want to be with him! At first, when he was standing on the sinking ship, all I thought was how mysterious he was. But ever since he simply killed four Peak Realm masters and saved me, I began to truly admire him! I thought, 'So there are masters like this in the world,' and 'I must work harder too!' And also..."
Jin Sa-mong and Jin Gong-mu asked carefully.
"...Also?"
Her words were clearly about admiration, but Jin So-eun's state seemed far from ordinary.
Her excited voice and dreamy eyes seemed a bit excessive to be called mere admiration.
Then Jin So-eun clasped both her hands together and held them to her chest, speaking as if in a dream.
"And when I talked with him, my face kept getting hot and my heart pounded. It was really strange. I've never had this feeling before. And to be honest, I still feel it now. I get anxious thinking, what if he doesn't return? And I want to follow him, and I want to see him again..."
The more Jin So-eun continued, the stiffer the expressions on Jin Sa-mong and Jin Gong-mu became.
They were not particularly quick-witted men, but they couldn't help but know that calling that 'admiration' was a stretch.
No matter how they looked at it, this was...
At that moment, Jin So-eun, her eyes sparkling, asked her grandfather Jin Sa-mong.
"Grandfather, did you also feel this way about the great-great-grandfather Jin Ji-in, who created the Natural Bound Staff? If admiration makes you feel like this, I think I can fully understand now why you tried to revive the Natural Bound Staff your whole life!"
"Ah, i-is that so?"
Jin Sa-mong had no choice but to stammer.
In this awkward situation where a grown girl could not even distinguish between romantic affection and admiration, his son, Jin Gong-mu, was staring at him with accusing eyes.
Unskilled in this kind of conversation, they simply could not bring themselves to tell Jin So-eun the truth.
Looking at the dreamy-eyed Jin So-eun, they merely met each other's eyes with troubled expressions.
***
After dealing with the Blood Sea Demon Blade Yun Sak, Seonwoo Jin met with Seol Pung and Jeung Chil and completely burned down the entire White Religion Sect.
Every warrior of the first-rate or above inside was killed on sight.
Whether they had been pirates in the past or not, he believed that if they were martial artists of the first-rate or above, they had to bear responsibility for the atrocities the White Religion Sect had committed.
He also burned all the buildings and ships, and collected all the wealth and secret documents, entrusting them to the frontlines.
Looking at the fortune that had swelled incredibly in such a short time by destroying the Hapsan Sect and the White Religion Sect, Jeung Chil muttered in disbelief.
"I never knew a chivalrous life was such an easy road to riches. Had I known, I wouldn't have given up back then and instead kept playing the hyeopgaek."
Afterwards, as the two concealed themselves back into Seonwoo Jin's shadow, Seonwoo Jin returned to the Jin Family Estate and met with the family head, Jin Gong-mu.
It was to request his cooperation for the plans ahead.
Seonwoo Jin had no intention of releasing all the evidence that the White Religion Sect had been Jin Tae-do's puppet just yet.
He thought that if indisputable evidence were released, Jin Tae-do might act extremely, like a cornered rat.
So he intended to persuade the Jin family head to help control the information related to that. But somehow, the conversation was proceeding completely differently from what Seonwoo Jin had expected.
Before he could even bring anything up, Jin Gong-mu had spoken with such firm resolve.
"Our Jin Family Estate will fully cooperate with Young Master Yin. Even if it means our Jin Family Estate is annihilated because of it, it does not matter. Until the very last person of the Jin household remains, we vow to stand with Young Master Yin."
It was a declaration so extreme that even Seonwoo Jin could not have possibly expected it.
Instead, it was Seonwoo Jin who wore a bewildered expression and asked him.
"Why do you say such a thing, Family Head?"
To his question, Jin Gong-mu replied solemnly.
"Though this Jin is a lacking man, I can at least surmise enough—that if not for Young Master Yin this time, the two-hundred-year history of the Jin Family Estate would have ended in my generation. It is the tradition of the Jin household to repay both grudges and favors tenfold. This favor can only be repaid by staking the very destiny of the Jin Family Estate."
At those resolute words, Seonwoo Jin was slightly moved.
He had heard many rumors about the hot-blooded Jin Family Estate, but he had actually been quite disappointed earlier upon seeing Jin Gye-gun, the young head of the Jin household.
But the sight Jin Gong-mu was showing now was exactly what the rumors of the Jin Family Estate—a place full of passionate men—promised.
Jin Gong-mu continued to speak.
"Though my insight is lacking, I presume Young Master Yin is the successor of the Hainan In Clan. And I also guessed that for that reason, you are on a path of revenge against the Hainan Demon Sword, Jin Tae-do. What do you say? Is my guess correct?"
Seonwoo Jin was impressed once again.
Because the man's insight was beyond expectations as well.
It was surprising that he had deduced things to this extent, and his spirit—declaring he would stand with him even after guessing the opponent was Jin Tae-do—was even more remarkable.
Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly and nodded, then asked again.
"You are correct. The Hainan Demon Sword, Jin Tae-do, is my sworn enemy. Moreover... the Hengshan Sect in Hunan Province is also entangled with him. Would you still be fine with that?"
At those words, Jin Gong-mu's expression briefly flickered with surprise.
"The Hengshan Sect? They were involved in this matter as well?"
That was no small matter.
Even the Hainan Sect, the ruler of the Southwestern Sea, required them to stake their destiny. And now the Hengshan Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects and the ruler of Hunan Province, was involved too.
It was a situation that anyone would find burdensome and terrifying.
But Jin Gong-mu did not waver in the slightest.
He spoke with resolute eyes.
"Young Master Yin, you were carrying a truly heavy burden. Please, allow our Jin Family Estate to share the weight of your burden. I will stand with you to the very end."
Seonwoo Jin was now sincerely full of admiration.
He felt no falsehood in the man's words at all.
To declare that he would help without a moment's hesitation, even when it meant antagonizing the Hainan Sect and the Hengshan Sect—it was enough to make him think that such a great man existed in the martial world beyond his comrades on the frontlines.
With admiring eyes, Seonwoo Jin replied to him.
"I believe I understand now why people call the warriors of the Jin Family Estate passionate men. I sincerely thank you for your goodwill, Family Head Jin."
Then he added.
"However, I absolutely do not wish for the Jin Family Estate to fall into danger because of my affairs. If you truly wish to help me, Family Head, would you simply step forward for me when I need assistance, but only to an extent that does not invite danger?"
At that, it was Jin Gong-mu's turn to be impressed by Seonwoo Jin.
From what he heard, this person called Young Master Yin was in an incredibly bleak situation.
A martial artist so young, single-handedly opposing the Hainan Sect and the Hengshan Sect. Was it not more realistic to shatter a rock with an egg?
Yet this man had refused his help.
And for a reason he could never have imagined.
'He does not wish for the Jin household to fall into danger because of him? In such a situation, he is instead worrying about our safety? Heuh, a true hero indeed! A hero unlike any I have ever seen!'
Jin Gong-mu could not deny that he had fallen completely for this young martial artist.
A pleased smile spreading across his face at some thought that had crossed his mind, he asked Seonwoo Jin.
"Whatever help you need, just say the word, Young Master Yin. Since I have already decided to board the same boat as you, there is no need to worry about our safety."
Then Seonwoo Jin opened his mouth.
And the moment he heard what was said, Jin Gong-mu could not help but doubt his own ears.
What the young man had said was something far beyond his imagination.
"W-What did you just say, Young Master Yin?"
Watching the bewildered Jin Gong-mu, even stumbling over his words, Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly.
His plan to overturn the power structure of the Southern Sea was finally surfacing.