Chapter 207 Haenam Sect Head Meeting-1

Chapter 207: Haenam Sect Head Meeting-1

“Welcome, Master Yu! Master Oh! I’ve already heard that the two of you set sail to capture that beggar scoundrel, Baekrang Geomgae!”

When Yu Hae-eung and Oh Ik-deok arrived at the Hainan Sect’s headmaster’s chamber, all the other sect masters except them were already gathered and seated.

Seated around the round table were eight clan leaders. Among them, Jin Taedo, the Haenam Demon Sword, seated at the very center, welcomed the two with a hearty laugh.

Such hospitality was as warm and familiar as welcoming an old friend.

But Yoo Hae-eung and Oh Ik-deok merely bowed their heads silently in response to his hospitality and took their seats.

Their cold demeanor made not only him but also those watching feel awkward.

But Jin Tae-do paid no heed.

Despite their cold response, he still smiled warmly and asked them,

“Well, did you get anything out of it? Now I’m very curious to see what that beggar looks like.”

Then, Yoo Hae-eung finally looked at him with a cold gaze and opened his mouth.

“I did not find the White Wolf Sword. But I did find pirates from the Naval Squadron who were plundering the village under the pretense of searching for it.”

At those words, Jin Taedo paused briefly.

But it was only for an instant.

He immediately shouted with a furious expression.

“Those scum are still around?! I warned them so many times! What happened to them?! Hand them over to me! I’ll grind them into dust and make an example of them for the entire Sea Battle Corps!”

His dignified face and deep voice would have made him appear genuinely furious to an outsider.

But the lords who had not yet sworn allegiance to the true ruler reacted with incredulous expressions, letting out hollow laughter.

They knew full well that he was effectively turning a blind eye to the naval forces’ atrocities.

Then, Yu Hae-eung replied to Jin Tae-do’s words with an expression that remained cold and unflinching.

“There’s no need for that. They’re already dust, you see.”

Jin Tae-do immediately brightened and praised him.

“Oh! That’s just like you, Lord Yoo! Well done, well done! Those bastards deserved to die! I’m actually worried you, the dignified Lord Yoo, killed them too easily. You should have made them suffer terribly before ending them.”

Jin Taedo wore an expression that seemed genuinely pleased.

Yoo Hae-eung stared at him sharply for a moment before speaking.

“What do you make of the fact that those bastards who deserve to die have already surpassed triple digits in the number I’ve killed? At this point, it seems clear that either Lord Jin’s warning to them was a lie, or his words are having absolutely no effect on them whatsoever. Whichever is closer to the truth, it seems the time has come to discuss the very existence of the naval fleet, don’t you think?”

It was a very direct demand.

Yoo Hae-eung had demanded, point-blank, that a decision be made on the fleet’s existence.

Then, finally, Jin Tae-do’s expression stiffened.

Even someone as smooth as him couldn’t laugh off words like that.

But then it happened.

Just as the atmosphere had turned icy cold, the head of the So family, who had been watching from the side, suddenly roared in anger.

“Master Yu! What utter nonsense is this?! How dare you call Master Jin, the unquestioned leader of our Haenam faction, ‘Master Jin’?! Isn’t that utterly rude?! Apologize immediately!”

Immediately, the other clan heads under Jin Taedo—Hae-ga, Mi-ga, Chuk-ga, and the others—surrounding him joined in in unison.

“That’s right! How dare you be so rude to the Grand Master?!”

“Apologize immediately!”

“Since when has the hierarchy of our Haenam Sect become such a mess?! I absolutely cannot tolerate this!”

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became chaotic.

It felt like no other discussion could proceed unless Yoo Hae-eung apologized for his rudeness first.

But watching the noisy scene, Yoo Hae-eung smiled faintly.

He was certain that the very chaos unfolding before him was orchestrated by Jin Tae-do’s orders.

After all, Yoo Hae-eung had used the title “Master Jin” quite a few times before.

But now, suddenly, they were furious as if they couldn’t stand the mention of the Jin family head.

And shifting the topic to something else to muddy the waters whenever an unfavorable argument arose like this was also Jin Tae-do’s signature move, one he’d repeated countless times before.

“Apologize immediately!”

“That’s right! If you don’t apologize immediately, I absolutely refuse to continue this meeting…!”

Just as they were snarling at Yoo Hae-eung as if ready to leap up at any moment,

Yoo Hae-eung suddenly unleashed a fierce blast of energy toward them.

Waaah!

“Hurry up and apologize… Ugh!”

“Huh!”

“Wh-what is this?!”

Faced with that overwhelming momentum, the heads of the Hae, Mi, Sul, and Chuk families instantly turned pale and could only stop speaking.

It was only natural—only fellow supreme masters could withstand the momentum of Yoo Hae-eung, a peerless master himself.

And all the supreme masters of the Haenam faction, except for Jin Taedo, were heads of families who had not submitted to Jin Taedo.

Conversely, it was safe to say that all the families whose heads had not reached the supreme master level had submitted to Jin Taedo.

As the formidable momentum of Yoo Hae-eung overwhelmed the heads of the Hae, Mi, Sul, and Chuk families, causing them to stagger, Yoo Hae-eung steadfastly held his ground. He looked at Jin Tae-do and Oh Ik-deok, who were resolutely maintaining their own momentum, as well as the heads of the Ja, Shin, and Myo families, and slowly opened his mouth.

“As a member of the Haenam Sect, I have repeatedly requested that you, Grandmaster Jin, resolve the issue of the Haejeon Fleet, which has been severely damaging the sect’s honor. Yet, as time passed, the situation only grew more dire.”

Jin Taedo responded with a smooth, easy smile.

“On that point, even this humble master has no words to reproach Lord Yu. But isn’t it inevitable that some side effects arise while building power? You may have heard—recently, several ships of the naval fleet fell victim to the Demon Realm once more. So, for the safety of our Haenam Province, we need even greater strength than we have now.”

Having said that much, Jin Taedo now looked around at the other clan heads with an arrogant expression.

Regarding the misconduct of a few naval officers, I will strive harder myself. However, I absolutely cannot accept the dissolution or reduction of the Naval Brigade. While the misconduct of a few can be corrected, weakening the combat strength of our Haenam faction would jeopardize our very survival going forward. Therefore, today I seek your permission to expand the Naval Brigade. To build a powerful force capable of overwhelming Ma Gyeong’s fleet.”

At those words, the leaders of the Chukga, Miga, Sulga, and Haega factions, who followed Jin Taedo, all nodded in agreement, while the other faction leaders frowned uncomfortably.

The deviation of a minority, the threat of the Demon Realm, the survival of the Haenam Sect.

These three points were the grounds Jin Taedo always brought up to push through his own arguments.

Now, they sounded like all-too-obvious excuses.

Yet despite their obviousness, the clan leaders found themselves unable to refute his words.

The claim that it was just a few deviants was utter nonsense, but that was because the other two pieces of evidence both involved the Namhae Demon King Manhak Sung, the scourge of the world.

Everyone in the Haenam faction knew all too well the terrifying power of Namhae Makyeong Manhak Sung.

This was because they had once clashed head-on with him before he became entrenched on Daenamdo like he was now.

Jin Taedo gritted his teeth and said.

“Man Hak-sung. You all remember that bastard’s power. That monster who sank ten ships in an instant just by throwing a steel ball from his deck.”

The house lords listening to those words all found themselves involuntarily letting out a low groan.

“Hmm.”

“Hmph.”

Jin Taedo’s words were nothing short of a nightmare for the clan leaders who had participated in that battle.

Just as they thought they could finally capture the Demon King of the World, having routed Man Haksung’s fleet and surrounded him with a fleet of over thirty ships, Man Haksung emerged at the bow and hurled a magic ring. In an instant, ten ships sank.

The warriors of the Haenam faction had no choice but to retreat helplessly.

There was simply no way to block Manhaksung’s iron rings.

‘They come tearing in to devour dead meat, yet flee with tails between their legs when it’s alive—just like a school of minnows! How about calling them the Minnow Faction instead of the Haenam Faction?! Hahahahaha!’

As they retreated, swallowing their bitterness with only twenty ships remaining, Ma Gyeong’s voice, bursting into laughter and mockery, remained an unforgettable humiliation.

Jin Taedo spoke with a sharp glint in his eyes.

I don’t expect everyone to like my methods. But! I believe you all understand that everything I do is solely for the sake of our Haenam faction! Right now, that bastard Ma Gyeong is stuck inside Daenamdo, but what if he ever sets foot on our Haenam Island?!

Jin Taedo paused there and scanned the room.

But no one could answer that question.

Because everyone knew that if Ma Gyeong landed on Haenam Island, everything would be over.

Seeing that no one could answer his question, Jin Taedo now declared with unwavering resolve.

“There is only one way we can oppose that bastard! Overwhelming naval power! We must build it and block him at sea! Therefore…!”

Indeed, Jin Taedo, the Demon Sword of Haenam, was a man worthy of his place among the Thirty-Six Heroes of the Realm.

His powerful presence and speech once again overwhelmed the clan heads.

At least, all but one of them were.

And finally, one of them opened his mouth, quietly interrupting Jin Tae-do’s passionate shouting.

“We are the Haenam faction…”

Though spoken quietly, it was a voice that commanded everyone’s attention—the voice of Yoo Hae-eung, the head of the Yoo Clan.

All eyes immediately focused on him.

Amidst those gazes, Yoo Hae-eung slowly opened his mouth.

“I am curious about this. Is the current Haenam Sect truly our Haenam Sect, or is it the Jin family head’s Haenam Sect?”

At those words, Jin Tae-do’s eyes widened in shock as he shouted.

“What do you mean?!”

But unlike the furious Jin Tae-do, Yoo Hae-eung’s expression remained unchanged from before.

Rock-solid calm and solemn. He spoke slowly, in a low voice, his words carrying weight.

If what Lord Jin truly desires is the strength of the Haenam Sect, then so be it. In that case, place command of the naval squadron in my hands. Within a month, I shall weed out every worthless scum and forge them into an elite force. I will ensure they never again commit such disgraceful acts in the name of the Haenam Sect, while transforming them into an unrivaled, invincible force. What do you say, Jin Family Head? If it truly is to strengthen the Haenam Clan, wouldn’t that be acceptable?”

At that question, Jin Taedo’s eyes flashed for a moment.

But he soon answered with a composed smile.

“Are you saying, Lord Yoo, that you intend to take control of the sect’s forces away from me, the current Grand Master? Surely you understand that the Grand Master holding command of the naval fleet is entirely different from a clan head like yourself holding that command? Could it be that you wish to bolster the Yoo Clan’s strength to challenge my position as Grand Master?”

Yu Hae-eung replied with a faint smile.

“If being the head of the Yu family is the problem, I am willing to step down from that position. I will pass the headship to another and serve as commander of the naval squadron under the Grand Master. What do you say? Wouldn’t that solve the issue?”

“Huh, Master Yoo!”

“Brother!”

It was a shocking proposal.

He, the head of the Yu family, was proposing to sever ties with the main house, abandon the honor of his position, and place himself under Jin Taedo.

The other heads could only stare at him in astonishment.

And Jin Tae-do’s face, too, couldn’t help but stiffen.

He had never imagined he would go so far as to say he would abandon his position as head of the Yuga clan and come under his command to manage the naval fleet.

Jin Taedo momentarily found himself at a loss for words to refuse.

For all intents and purposes, Yoo Hae-eung’s words represented a truly noble act of self-sacrifice.

But that didn’t mean he could accept his offer.

Jin Taedo could not hand over command of the naval squadron to another.

Especially not to someone like Yoo Hae-eung, who was not his own man.

“That…”

Jin Taedo frantically racked his brain, but ultimately couldn’t find an immediate answer.

So, as always, I was about to send a telepathic message to the other house lords to invade.

– Hurry up and jump in…!

That was when it happened.

This time, without waiting for Jin Taedo’s words, Yoo Hae-eung spoke first.

“I just declared I’d abandon my own clan and live solely for the Haenam faction. Yet Lord Jin still cannot answer. If the naval fleet truly serves the Haenam faction’s interests, there should be no reason to refuse.”

Then he declared.

“Now I shall make my final demand. If you will not appoint me as commander of the naval fleet, then abolish the naval fleet. If my demand is not met this time either, I shall consider the Haenam faction no longer our Haenam faction, and therefore Haenam Yu-ga shall withdraw from the Haenam faction.”

His words were very quiet.

But the destructive force of those words was anything but quiet.

It was like a massive meteorite crashing into the sea.

The shockwaves it sent out swept over the assembled crowd like a tidal wave.

The shocked clan leaders couldn’t contain themselves and shouted.

“Wh-what?!”

“Y-Your Excellency!”

“What on earth?!”

It was nothing short of a shocking statement.

The Haenam Yuga clan had been a member of the Haenam faction for hundreds of years, and their exceptional archery skills made them a crucial pillar of the faction’s naval combat strength.

Yet Yoo Hae-eung was now warning that the Haenam Yuga might defect from the Haenam faction.

This was an unprecedented move, unimaginable not only to the other clan heads but even to the seasoned Jin Taedo.

The clan heads now understood why Yoo Hae-eung had called Jin Tae-do the true clan head.

It was a choice of words that suggested he might no longer be considered a senior member.

It was at this moment, when several clan heads were at a loss for words in the face of Yoo Hae-eung’s shocking statement.

Miao Qingzhu, the eldest and long-time strategist of the Haenam faction, suddenly stroked his white beard and spoke.

“Head of the Yoo Clan, I understand your feelings. But your words seem a bit excessive. Deciding current affairs by vote at the clan leaders’ meeting has been our longstanding tradition. If you react like this simply because your proposal wasn’t accepted…”

That was when it happened.

Oh Ik-deok, head of the Haenam Oh Clan, interrupted him and declared loudly.

“I, Oh Ik-deok, also fully agree with the decision of the head of the Yoo family! If the naval fleet issue remains unresolved, our Haenam Oh Clan will also withdraw from the Haenam faction! If this Haenam faction is no longer our Haenam faction, there is no reason for us to remain within it!”

At that, even Miao Qingzhu, the head of the Miao Clan, looked flustered.

Even Oh Ik-deok, who had always been like a brother to Yoo Hae-eung, had now sided with that shocking statement.

It was an utterly untenable situation.

The importance of the Haenam Five Families to the Haenam faction was even greater than that of the Haenam Confucian scholars.

The Haenam Five Families were the lineage that produced, and still produce, the navigators who built and commanded all the warships of the Haenam faction with their exceptional shipbuilding and navigation skills.

Therefore, if the Haenam Five Houses were to defect from the Haenam faction, it would be no exaggeration to say the faction’s naval power would collapse entirely.

Myo Cheong-ju now flushed and raised his voice.

“You lot, this is going too far! Even if you’re sworn brothers, acting like this…!”

It was then.

Following Myeong Cheong-ju, the second-eldest member and one whose activities leaned closer to the Sangga than the Muga, Haenamja-ga’s head, Jagae-chu, slowly opened his mouth.

“Hmm, it seems it’s not solely due to the two of you being friends, Head of the Myo Clan. I too am confused whether the place we belong to now is truly the Haenam Sect or not. If this is not the Haenam Sect, then why must we remain affiliated here?”

That Jagaechu, the one responsible for the Haenam faction’s finances, spoke with immense weight—it went without saying.

Myo Cheong-ju now wore a look of utter bewilderment and could say no more.

At that moment, Shin Du-wol, the head of the Haenam Shin Clan—who oversaw the production of all Haenam faction weapons with his exceptional craftsmanship—also spoke up in a gruff voice.

“How utterly shameful. While the other clan leaders were thinking this way about our Haenam faction, I was merely hammering away at iron. But even in this situation, I cannot feel ashamed. Our Shin clan will also follow Clan Leader Yu! If the Haenam faction is no longer the Haenam faction, then we have no need to remain within it either.”

As the other clan leaders’ expressions of agreement erupted from all sides, Jin Tae-do’s face could only contort completely.

From his eyes, always gentle, now spilled forth a torrent of murderous intent.

The situation was clear.

Excluding those who had submitted to the Jin Clan, virtually everyone except the Miao Clan had declared their defection from the Haenam faction.

Jin Taedo could no longer maintain a placid expression; he gritted his teeth, his eyes blazing.