Chapter 228: Turbulent South-1
Chapter 228: Turbulent South-1
After receiving lavish hospitality at Jin Family Estate for two days, Seonwoo Jin decided to set out once more.
He had originally intended to leave immediately, but he could not ignore Jin Family Head Jin Gong-mu's earnest request and had ended up staying for two days.
Seonwoo Jin walked out to the front gates of Jin Family Estate together with Son Dae-su the Drifting Cloud Guest and his granddaughter Son I-rang, who had also been staying at the estate.
Behind him followed Jin Family Head Jin Gong-mu, along with a great crowd of the Jin Family's people and warriors.
At last standing before the main gate, Seonwoo Jin gave Jin Gong-mu a solemn clasped-hand salute and farewell.
"I have been greatly indebted to you. I thank the Jin Family Head for his kindness."
Son Dae-su and his granddaughter Son I-rang also clasped their hands and offered their farewells.
"The wine was as excellent as the Jin Family's martial arts. I was grateful."
"Thank you so much. Please take care."
Jin Family Head Jin Gong-mu, having received their farewells, suddenly swept his gaze over the Jin Family martial artists standing behind him, then faced Seonwoo Jin and cried out in a solemn clasped-hand salute.
"Jin Family Estate shall never forget the great debt we owe our benefactor!"
At that, the well over one hundred martial artists standing behind him likewise clasped their hands and roared out in a single thunderous voice.
"Jin Family Estate shall never forget the great debt we owe our benefactor!"
The sight of Guangdong Province's mightiest power, the martial artists of Jin Family Estate, bowing their heads in gratitude to Seonwoo Jin with one voice was an unavoidably heart-stirring spectacle.
Seonwoo Jin gazed at them with heated eyes, then abruptly approached Jin Gong-mu, seized his hand tightly, and spoke.
"I shall never forget the Jin Family's righteous spirit. And I would ask a favor of you."
At that, Jin Gong-mu likewise clasped his hand with fervent eyes and answered with a grin.
"Do not worry. I shall ensure absolutely no disruption to Young Master Yin's plans."
Seonwoo Jin had entrusted him with several tasks necessary for the plans ahead.
Originally he had intended to proceed through the Hao Gate, but it seemed matters would become far easier and more certain if a force as massive as Jin Family Estate assisted.
A moment later, just as they finally finished their farewells and were about to depart, someone among the Jin Family people suddenly cried out urgently and ran forward.
"W-wait a moment!"
At that voice, everyone's gaze turned in that direction.
The owner of the voice was none other than Jin So-eun.
Though her face flushed as if embarrassed by the surrounding stares, she faced Seonwoo Jin with a clasped-hand salute and shouted loudly.
"Young Master Yin, please take me with you as well! I wish to go with the young master!"
"Pardon?"
Seonwoo Jin, slightly flustered, studied her appearance.
Still dressed in shabby clothes with hair cut short like a man's, she had already made up her mind, evidently, and had even packed her wooden staff and traveling bundle.
She cried out again.
"I have come to deeply respect Young Master Yin from the very first day I met him! So much so that my heart pounds and my breath grows short! I absolutely wish to go with the young master! Though my skills are lacking, I will certainly be of help in your endeavors!"
Seeing her like that, Seonwoo Jin could not help but be bewildered.
The Jin Family people behind her would only see her back, but he was looking at her from the front — she was gazing at Seonwoo Jin with desperate eyes, her pretty face — utterly at odds with her shabby clothes and short hair — flushed bright red.
That flushed expression and ardent gaze stirred a strange emotion.
Son I-rang, standing beside Seonwoo Jin, abruptly muttered.
"I don't think that's respect."
Seonwoo Jin looked toward Jin Gong-mu, who stood behind her, with a troubled face.
For some reason, Jin Gong-mu had one hand wrapped over his forehead and his head hung low.
Mukrang asked in an amused voice.
- Charming. A most charming young lady. What do you intend to do?
Seonwoo Jin agreed with that assessment and pondered for a moment.
Truthfully, Seonwoo Jin had been considering her as a recruitment target from the first time he saw her.
It was because at that time he had judged that, despite her talent, she was not receiving proper treatment at Jin Family Estate.
And so, thinking that there was no need to show particular consideration to a place that failed to recognize such talent, he had even provided spirit medicine to bring her along... but.
'As it turned out, that wasn't the case.'
During the two days he stayed at Jin Family Estate, Seonwoo Jin had been able to feel with certainty just how important a presence she, having revived the Natural Staff, held within the estate.
It seemed that until recently it had not been so, but now her standing was positioned far higher than even Young Estate Head Jin Gye-gun, and even higher than Jin Gong-mu's main wife.
To be precise, she could be said to be second only to Jin Gong-mu and Jin Sa-mong.
And yet to take such a person along on his path of vengeance — that could only be an unbearably sorry act toward Jin Family Estate, who could now be called sworn allies.
Having reached that conclusion in his heart, Seonwoo Jin smiled gently at her and spoke.
"I shall never forget Jin Sojeo's heartfelt sentiment. However, to take Jin Family Estate's treasured daughter Jin Sojeo into such perilous matters..."
That was when it happened.
Jin Gong-mu suddenly spoke in a loud voice.
"A martial artist of Jin Family Estate ought to stake their life for their benefactor! Splendid! Go and return well, So-eun! Young Master Yin, I earnestly entrust our inadequate daughter to your care!"
At those words, Jin So-eun looked toward him with a radiant face.
Then Jin Gong-mu smiled with satisfaction and nodded his head to her.
It was rather Seonwoo Jin and his party who had failed to adapt to the Jin Family people's boldness.
They stared at the father and daughter with dumbfounded faces.
It was because they had never imagined that he would grant permission so refreshingly when his fully grown daughter declared she would follow an unrelated man, no less on a path of vengeance fraught with danger.
Of course, Mukrang at least had guessed Jin Gong-mu's ulterior motives, but he merely chuckled and did not bother to tell Seonwoo Jin.
- Huhuhu, charming. The daughter is charming, but the father is charming as well.
In any case, there was no reason to refuse when a talent of her caliber wished to join.
Seonwoo Jin thanked Jin Gong-mu and accepted her into the group.
And thus Seonwoo Jin's party grew by one more member.
When they finally left Jin Family Estate, Jin Gong-mu, who had been watching their retreating figures for a long while, turned and went back inside.
The place he headed directly to was the medical hall where his father Jin Sa-mong resided.
Jin Sa-mong, who had been lying in bed, looked at his entering son and spoke.
"Have they gone?"
Jin Gong-mu sat down beside him and answered.
"Yes, they just departed. And... So-eun went along as well."
At that, Jin Sa-mong burst out laughing with a cackle.
"Hekhekhekhek! Well done. I do hope she returns carrying a child at least. A child born between the Hainan In Clan's finest prodigy and Jin Family Estate's finest prodigy — just how extraordinary a child could that be."
Jin Sa-mong and Jin Gong-mu, in truth, had decided to send her off with him the moment they realized she held affection for Inparang.
The fact that she, having mastered the Natural Staff, could end up in danger did trouble their hearts somewhat, but even so, it was because they absolutely could not miss the opportunity to make that young prodigy their son-in-law.
Moreover, it was also because they had already reached the judgment that, having secured the clues to the Natural Staff, they could sufficiently continue the pursuit even without her presence.
Looking at his father laughing in good cheer, Jin Gong-mu abruptly let out a sigh and asked.
"But... will it succeed, do you think?"
At those words, Jin Sa-mong's brow furrowed sharply.
"What do you mean? What do you mean will it succeed?"
"Well... is Young Master Yin not an extraordinary prodigy and at the same time a beautiful young master with equally extraordinary looks? compared to him, our So-eun is..."
At Jin Gong-mu's self-deprecating words, Jin Sa-mong burst out shouting.
"What kind of pathetic nonsense is a father like you spouting?! What's wrong with our So-eun?! She's so kind! Her martial arts are outstanding! Huh?! And also..."
"...And also?"
"......"
Jin Sa-mong ultimately could not continue the next words.
Because even a hedgehog cannot boast of what it does not have.
It was true that her face was quite pretty, but that was relative — he also knew well that due to her mannish attire and personality that didn't know how to adorn herself, she could never measure up when presented before a beautiful young master like Inparang.
In the end, Jin Sa-mong, having no choice but to fall silent for a moment, was forced to open his mouth with a somewhat weakened voice.
"That... did you handle what Young Master Yin requested well?"
At that, Jin Gong-mu, exhaling a sigh, answered.
"Hoo, well, I'll have to start from now. I'll at least handle that properly."
"Yes, let's do that."
The two fathers were identical even down to their disappointed, listless expressions.
***
'The White Shark Sect, which had grown into the second-greatest power in Guangdong Province, invaded Jin Family Estate, only to be defeated instead and destroyed utterly on the spot.'
This news could not help but be the report that roused the jianghu's gossips, ever thirsting for rumors, into excitement for the first time in a long while.
The White Shark Sect, which had practically seized control of the Pearl River's waterways, and the negligent attitude of Jin Family Estate, which had shown no particular response in comparison, had long made it sufficiently predictable that a clash between the two would someday occur.
And the majority of gossips had privately been favoring the White Shark Sect's victory.
It was because the rumors heard from Jin Family Estate had not been particularly positive compared to the White Shark Sect's rising momentum.
Given the rumors of Young Estate Head Jin Gye-gun's dissolute lifestyle and character, and the rumors that Jin Family Head, the Mad Demon Staff Jin Gong-mu, might not actually be at the transcendent peak level, the prospects of Jin Family Estate had not seemed particularly bright.
But the actual outcome was entirely different from their expectations.
The White Shark Sect, which had attacked mobilizing even cannons, had suffered a complete rout and been destroyed utterly.
Now the gossips of the martial world buzzed with excitement, saying that Jin Family Estate was indeed Jin Family Estate after all.
But two days later, a new piece of news spread among the gossips.
It was an immense piece of news, incomparable to what had come just two days before.
The gossips of the martial world had begun to boil over with excitement.
'The leader of the White Religion Sect was the Blood Sea Demon Blade Yun Sak, whom everyone thought had died.'
That alone was staggering news.
One of the Three Demons of the Southern Sea had been alive, and had even been active as the leader of the White Religion Sect.
And the fact that the Jin Family Stronghold had defeated that Blood Sea Demon Blade, one of the Three Demons of the Southern Sea—how could anyone not be thrilled?
But the astonishing news did not end there.
The tidings that followed drove the gossips into a complete frenzy.
'The Blood Sea Demon Blade Yun Sak was in fact a subordinate of the Hainan Demon Sword Jin Tae-do. And the White Religion Sect was also a puppet organization created by Jin Tae-do. Furthermore, the reason the Jin Family Stronghold was able to stop them was because Inparang, the successor of the Hainan In Clan, had aided the stronghold.'
The gossips were ecstatic.
Was this not the reappearance of Inparang, who had vanished after destroying the Hapsan Sect not long ago?
Moreover, with the Blood Sea Demon Blade Yun Sak actually being Jin Tae-do's subordinate, and Inparang having dealt with Yun Sak and the White Religion Sect for revenge—it seemed to contain every element capable of exciting the gossips.
But the rumors did not end there.
The whispers that followed utterly stupefied the gossips.
It was because Inparang, the successor of the Hainan In Clan, had annihilated the White Religion Sect and made this declaration:
'I already know that the Hainan Sect has been seized by my father's enemy, Jin Tae-do. Therefore, the Hainan Sect is now nothing more than my enemy as well. To exact my vengeance upon them, I shall borrow the power of the Southern Sea Demon Sovereign Man Hak-sung!'
It was a declaration tantamount to a bombshell.
Because the successor of the Hainan In Clan, the very face of the Hainan Sect, had declared he would extend his hand to the Southern Sea Demon Sovereign Man Hak-sung, the Hainan Sect's arch-nemesis.
No matter how the saying went about there being no eternal enemies or allies, the successor of the Hainan In Clan and the Southern Sea Demon Mirror... it was a pairing no one could have ever imagined.
And Inparang, who had made that declaration, was reportedly actually moving toward Dainan Island, where the Southern Sea Demon Mirror resided.
The gossips now began to focus on his movements with eyes full of keen interest.
No one could easily predict what would happen next, but at least one thing was certain.
The winds that would blow centered around him would never be a mere breeze.
***
Danam Island, Fujian Province.
It had long been the base of the Southern Sea Demon Sovereign Man Hak-sung, one of the Four Demons Under Heaven and the ruler of the southeastern sea.
And in truth, Man Hak-sung had been virtually trapped there for the past several years.
The giant old man, with white hair flared out like a lion's mane, a rough and bristly white beard, and eyes that flashed like a beast's, listened to his subordinate's report, his eyes glinting with intrigue for the first time in a long while.
He grinned ferociously and asked his subordinate.
"The successor of the Hainan In Clan wants to borrow my power? Keu-heu-heu. You see all sorts of things while living. So, is that claim genuine?"
His prostrating subordinate, head pressed to the floor, answered.
"Yes! Rumors say the scoundrel is actually moving east from Guangzhou in Guangdong Province."
"Hmm, is that so?"
As Man Hak-sung showed interest at those words, Hyo Chi-gon, the sharp-featured man standing beside him, asked.
"What will you do, Great Head?"
Man Hak-sung answered with a smile like a languid lion.
"If a tiger cub wants to entrust itself to me, what reason is there to refuse? Who knows? If raised well, it might guard the house like a dog."
In effect, he was saying he would accept Inparang's request.
At this, Hyo Chi-gon, one of the Four Evils of Dainan under Man Hak-sung and known as the Blue Dolphin, frowned slightly and said.
"The one he named as his enemy is not only Jin Tae-do. He also seemed to claim the Hengshan Sect as his enemy. If he becomes hostile to the Hengshan Sect, won't our position become somewhat difficult?"
His question was entirely reasonable.
It was because an envoy from the Hengshan Sect had visited Man Hak-sung not long ago.
They had proposed an alliance to Man Hak-sung, and offered that if he accepted, they would deal with the Fujian Yong Clan, the reason he was forced to remain trapped on Danam Island.
Therefore, if he accepted Inparang, who was hostile to the Hengshan Sect, the alliance with the Hengshan Sect would inevitably break.
But at those words, Man Hak-sung merely scoffed and retorted.
"Didn't I tell those bastards clearly? I said, try it if you can. If you have that capability, I'll accept the alliance then. If you don't even have that capability, the alliance is naturally off, and if you do show capability, what can I do? At that point, I'd have no choice but to give them the tiger cub as an alliance gift."
At this, Hyo Chi-gon nodded as if he understood.
Then, glancing cautiously at Man Hak-sung's complexion, he carefully asked again.
"Do you, Great Head, think those fellows won't be able to handle the Yong Clan?"
Man Hak-sung snorted.
"They might be able to handle the Yong Clan. But has it been just the Yong Clan keeping us stuck here? Handle only the Yong Clan, leaving out that bitch coiled around it? What kind of dogshit talk is that? If that's possible, I'd like to learn how myself."
The Fujian Yong Clan, a martial family of Fujian Province, was a famous clan renowned throughout the martial world not for their martial arts, but for their chivalrous spirit.
So much so that while some in the martial world might not acknowledge the fact that the Sword Saint Hae Un-baek was the greatest hero under heaven, there was absolutely no one who did not acknowledge that the Fujian Yong Clan was the greatest chivalrous group under heaven.
In their three-hundred-year history, they had never once turned a blind eye to injustice.
They always stood on the side of the weak and the righteous, fighting without regard for their own safety, and as a result, the clan nearly collapsed on several occasions.
But despite that, they never retreated.
It was the consensus of the world that if they had been just a little more selfish, the name of the Fujian Yong Clan would have naturally been listed among the Five Great Families of the world.
So, they had chosen duty over the clan's glory, and nothing more.
And as a result, they had earned the honor of being called the greatest chivalrous group under heaven from all people of the world.
A chivalrous group so esteemed that even the Sword God, the former greatest under heaven and perhaps the greatest of all time, had once shown them respect.
Man Hak-sung spoke.
"Besides, the Yong Clan, those venomous bastards' resilience is never to be taken lightly. People think that because the Saintess is with the Yong Clan, I can't touch them, but that's ignorance. If the Saintess hadn't come, would the Yong Clan have collapsed just like that? Not a chance. If the Saintess hadn't come, someone else would have."
Man Hak-sung narrowed his eyes as if recalling the Saintess and stared into the void as he continued.
"What's fearsome about those bastards isn't the clan itself, but the symbolism they hold. The symbolism of being the center of chivalry. But they want to deal with such a Yong Clan? Keu-heu-heu, stupid bastards. If they really could do that, we'd probably even get to see the sight of the Blood Wolf Sword Emperor descending from his mountain."
At those words, Hyo Chi-gon swallowed hard.
It meant that if the Yong Clan were truly in danger, the Blood Wolf Sword Emperor, the greatest under heaven, might also enter the fray.
Just imagining it was a situation too horrifying to contemplate.
Hyo Chi-gon asked Man Hak-sung with a stiff face.
"But if that's the case, doesn't it mean we'll have no choice but to stay like this forever?"
The reason the Demon Sovereign Man Hak-sung could not leave Dainan Island was because of the Fujian Yong Clan opposing him, and the South Sea Saintess Si Seo-woo, one of the Three Sages Under Heaven, who was staying with the clan.
Man Hak-sung and Si Seo-woo had once faced each other on the sea, each aboard their respective fleets—Man Hak-sung's fleet and the Yong Clan's fleet.
And they had realized it then.
That if they fought upon the sea, they would only bring about mutual annihilation.
No ship could withstand their martial prowess.
Even without using their full true strength, the ships around them had all been shattered to pieces.
So the two had no choice but to withdraw.
And they came to a conclusion.
Whichever side could stand on land and fight the opponent on the sea would emerge victorious.
That was why Man Hak-sung and Si Seo-woo could not recklessly venture onto the sea and had no choice but to hold their respective positions.
Hyo Chi-gon spoke in a dissatisfied voice.
"We have to deal with them to get out of here. But if that's impossible, doesn't it mean we'll have to stay cooped up here forever?"
At those words, Man Hak-sung chuckled and asked back.
"Cooped up? Why cooped up? Can't I just leave?"
"...Huh?"
Hyo Chi-gon couldn't understand Man Hak-sung's words.
The very reason he hadn't been able to go elsewhere all this time was because he had been wary that if the enemy obtained information that he had vacated Dainan Island, they would use that gap to punish this place.
And that was also why the Saintess Si Seo-woo couldn't leave the Yong Clan.
But now he was suddenly saying he could just leave.
As Hyo Chi-gon furrowed his brow as if not grasping the meaning, Man Hak-sung laughed again and asked him.
"Keul-keul-keul-keul, how about Hainan Island? Wouldn't it be quite suitable as our new home?"
A look of surprise dawned on Hyo Chi-gon's face.
Hainan Island? A new home?
Only then could Hyo Chi-gon understand what he was proposing.
"Ah, then, using the child called Inparang..."
Man Hak-sung wore a smile that was as chilling as a lion's and as greedy as a wolf's as he spoke.
"We help the tiger cub's revenge, and in return, we receive the tiger's den. How about it? Is that not a perfectly fair trade?"
The giant whale, who for years had been unable to venture into the sea, was now slowly beginning to stir.
All of this was thanks to the board Seonwoo Jin had laid out.