Chapter 307 Public Relations War – Part 1

Chapter 307: Public Relations War – Part 1

While Seolpung’s group dealt with the Hyeongsan Sect disciples and handled the aftermath, Jin So-eun took advantage of the commotion to quietly approach Seonwoo Jin.

She cautiously addressed him.

“Um… Mr. Seonwoo, I have a question.”

Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly as he watched her hesitantly approach him.

“Ask away, Miss Jin.”

She smiled shyly and asked.

“Well, so… Ah! I think I finally understand what you meant by the first weakness of the Hyeongsan Sect—that they’re unfocused and scattered. But I still don’t quite grasp what you meant by the second and third weaknesses.”

Seon Woo-jin couldn’t help but suppress a smile at her question, which seemed to have just now piqued her curiosity.

Suddenly it occurred to me that since we started traveling together, I hadn’t had a chance to talk with her alone.

That was probably why she had been forcing herself to come up with questions.

Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly, watching her warmly as she glanced at him cautiously, then glanced around and said.

“Hmm, explaining that might take a while… Care to walk with me for a bit?”

Her eyes widened instantly, and she exclaimed loudly.

“Yes! I’d love to!”

Then, blushing belatedly, she bowed her head deeply and whispered softly.

“Ah, no, I mean, I was saying it’s better to hear the explanation… that’s what I meant.”

Seeing her like that, Seonwoo Jin couldn’t hold back his laughter. She seemed almost too cute.

Seon Woo-jin began explaining to Jin So-eun as they strolled along the waterfront.

“People often overlook it because it’s invisible, but one of the things far more important than you might think is principle.”

Her eyes widened, and she nodded.

But it seemed he still didn’t quite understand.

Seon Woo-jin decided to explain it more clearly.

“Why do you think the righteous factions of Honam Province initially accepted the Hyeongsan Sect’s rule, and why do you think they still haven’t responded despite all the injustices?”

“Hmm, because they’re too powerful?”

Seon Woo-jin smiled faintly at her counterquestion and replied.

“That is certainly one reason, yes. But think about it—even against the Heavenly Demon Sect, the most powerful force in the martial world, the righteous sects of Qinghai Province have united tightly around the Kunlun Sect to oppose them, haven’t they? Clearly, when it comes to sheer strength of power alone, they shouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Well, yes, but they’re the Demon Sect, aren’t they?”

Jin So-eun, who had asked that with a puzzled expression, suddenly snapped to attention and shouted again.

“Ah! Is it because the Xingshan Sect is a righteous sect?”

At that question, Seon Woo-jin smiled faintly and nodded.

“That’s right. To be precise, it’s because they belong to the Nine Great Sects. As the Xingshan Sect is part of the Nine Great Sects, the orthodox sects bowed to their authority. Despite countless injustices, they are still trusted to this day.”

“Ah.”

Jin So-eun nodded.

Indeed, the banner of being a member of the Nine Great Sects held immense power in the martial world.

Simply because they were part of the Nine Great Sects, they were held in higher regard and often believed to be incapable of wrongdoing.

Then Sun Woo-jin continued.

“But tell me this. What do you think would happen if they were no longer part of the Nine Great Sects?”

“What? You mean the Hyeongsan Sect isn’t one of the Nine Great Sects anymore? How come?”

“Well, there could be various reasons, couldn’t there? For example…”

Sunwoo Jin and Jin So-eun were strolling along the riverside, engaged in such conversation.

Yeon Taejin approached Seolpung, who was cleaning up with his subordinates, pointed at them, and asked.

“What do you think? Don’t they look good together?”

Seol Pung looked puzzled, following Yeon Tae-jin’s gaze.

Then, spotting Seon Woo-jin and Jin So-eun, he smiled faintly and nodded.

“Indeed. It looks good.”

Yeon Tae-jin then gave a meaningful smile and said to Seol Pung.

“It must be thanks to Seolpung’s choice. That’s what caused the change in Master Seonwoo’s heart.”

At those words, Seolpung asked with a puzzled expression.

“My choice? What do you mean?”

Yeon Taejin smiled faintly and replied.

“Thanks to Feng’s choice not to reject other connections, Lord Seonwoo’s heart must have changed too.”

At those words, Seolpung looked at Seonwoo Jin again.

Now that he thought about it, Jin So-eun no longer seemed to be pushing him away like before.

Perhaps my own choice—that I could marry a woman other than Lady Sojeo—might have influenced even that clever younger brother of mine.

Seolpung watched the two of them for a moment, then suddenly thought it was for the best.

Jin So-eun’s genuine heart and devotion were the kind of things those around her could feel more clearly.

That was why, even though he understood why Seon Woo-jin wanted to keep a certain distance from her, he honestly felt a bit sorry for him.

As Seolpung pondered this, he suddenly chuckled softly.

‘I suppose I’ve grown quite attached to Jin Sojeo after all.’

It certainly seemed that way.

Lately, whenever Seolpung saw her, he often felt as if he were looking at his own younger sister.

As he watched the two with warm eyes, lost in this thought, Seolpung suddenly felt a piercing gaze and turned his head to look at Yeon Taejin.

Yeon Taejin, who had been staring intently at him, quickly turned his head away, pretending not to notice.

A thought suddenly crossed his mind.

‘Did I look just like Jin to anyone watching us?’

That seemed likely.

Seolpung chuckled again and said to Yeon Taejin.

“Things should be wrapping up soon. Shall we take a short walk?”

Yeon Tae-jin’s eyes flicked in surprise.

He seemed greatly surprised by the unexpected suggestion.

But Yeon Tae-jin didn’t reveal his true feelings immediately like Jin So-eun.

She pretended not to care and replied nonchalantly.

“Hmm. I’m not sure.”

Seolpung couldn’t help but smile as he gazed at her profile.

Her profile, feigning disinterest, was flushed bright red at the ears and cheeks.

The shy look she showed him for the first time after meeting him was so beautiful it was almost unreal.

Seolpung hesitated for a moment, unsure what to say.

He knew he should speak again, but his limited experience with women made finding the right words difficult.

That was when it happened.

Yeon Tae-jin glanced away and quietly opened her mouth.

“Tell me I’m pretty.”

“…Huh?”

“I want to hear you say I’m pretty.”

Slightly flustered by her words, Seolpung stared blankly at her profile.

Then, the woman who was usually brimming with confidence now looked down with an anxious expression.

Staring at her for a moment, lost in thought, Seolpung soon smiled again and slowly opened his mouth.

“You are beautiful, Lady Yeon. Truly beautiful.”

At that, Yeon Taejin’s lips couldn’t resist any longer, curving into a soft smile.

She smiled brightly and said, as if she couldn’t help herself.

“Well, if you insist that much, fine. I’ll walk with you.”

Seolpung walked alongside Yeon Taejin, listening to her chatter excitedly as if she were bursting with joy.

Beyond the lake they walked beside, the sunset was turning crimson.

***

Hyeongsan, known as the Southern Peak among the Five Great Mountains of the Central Plains.

Wei Zhengguo, the leader of the Hyeongsan Sect based on that mountain, rose from his bed early that morning and swiftly scanned the naked form of the woman still sleeping beside him.

Her naked form was always beautiful, no matter how often he saw it. She was Xuan Wu Xi, one of the Five Great Beauties of the Evil Sect.

Wei Zhengguo smiled contentedly as he looked at her.

Recently, the Hyeongsan Sect had suffered several major setbacks, so these days, only she could fully satisfy the heart of the ruler.

Wei Zhengguo had always pursued being the best under heaven.

Therefore, he aspired to become the world’s greatest martial artist and to make the Hyeongsan Sect the world’s foremost martial arts school.

For him, the fact that Wu Nanshu, whom he believed to be the most beautiful woman under heaven, was his woman, could not help but be a deeply satisfying truth that fulfilled his pride completely.

Of course, he had never met the other Five Great Beauties of the Heretical Sects or those called the most beautiful women of each province.

But he could take pride in it.

No woman in the world could possibly be as beautiful as this Unan-seol.

“Exactly. Absolutely impossible.”

Wei Zhengguo stroked her graceful, naked body gently with a satisfied expression.

Then, careful not to wake her, he rose and began to dress.

Now it was time to work toward making the Xingshan Sect the foremost martial arts sect under heaven.

But he did not know.

After he left the room, the expression on Wu Nanshuo’s face as she slowly opened her eyes had grown utterly cold and distant…

***

After about an hour of morning training, Wei Zhengguo went to his office and received a report from Zha Guangjin, who had recently assumed the position of head of the Outer Hall.

“We successfully subdued the Tianzi Sword Sect yesterday. Now that Tianzi Mountain is fully under Xingshan’s control, advancing into Hubei Province should be easier.”

“Oh Gijong, it seems the Fifth Patriarch handled matters well.”

“Yes, it seems the Heavenly Sword Sect lacks any peerless masters capable of matching Grand Master Wu Gizong. Furthermore, we have also taken control of Pyeonggang. Reports indicate we have eliminated the Songgang Association, the foremost faction in Pyeonggang, and turned their second-in-command, the Head of the Water Gate, into a puppet.”

“Hmm, those Songgang Society bastards. They were acting so stiff, but sending just two top-tier fighters took care of them easily. Was it Jahong and Hataesung?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Wei Zhengguo listened to the report while staring at the topographic map installed in the center of his office.

Before his eyes lay a topographical map of Honam Province and its neighboring fortresses, crafted to resemble the real thing.

Within the territory of Honam Province, small sky-blue flags were densely packed.

Wei Zhengguo planted new small sky-blue flags at Mount Cheonja in the northwest and at Pyeonggang at the northeastern tip of Honam Province, letting out a faint, bitter smile.

Now, across the entire province of Hunan, it was nearly impossible to find a spot where the sky-blue flag was not flying.

He suddenly looked toward the northern regions where flags had yet to be planted and asked.

“What about Akyang? Has it still not submitted?”

Ziguang Zhenren bowed his head and replied.

“Yesterday, we received a report from the additional envoy sent to persuade Yueyang’s invincible general, Chohagwon. He said he would begin the task. A report on the outcome should arrive within the next day or two.”

At this, Wei Zhenggu frowned and said.

“Golden-Armed Invincible Chohagon had long been renowned as a legendary swordsman. Could such a man truly be persuaded? Wouldn’t it be better to just dispose of him cleanly?”

To that question, Master Jaguang smiled confidently and replied.

“Back then, he was alone, but now he has family, doesn’t he? A swordsman with family can’t be the same as before. Moreover, wasn’t it Master Jageong who went to support him? He has never failed in such matters. So trust and wait, Grandmaster.”

Wei Zhengguo looked at Zhaoguang Zhenren with an expression that suggested he wasn’t particularly keen on the idea, but then nodded and said.

“Very well. I trust you’ll handle it appropriately. After all, the former head of the Outer Hall has never failed at tasks of this caliber.”

Upon hearing this, Master Jaguang’s face stiffened slightly as he bowed his head deeply.

“Of course, Grandmaster.”

Zuo Gajun, the former Head of the Outer Sect, had suddenly vanished one day after failing in his mission to dispatch the Six Harmonies Sword Technique’s Pacheonjo against the Hainan Sect and the Fujian Yong Clan.

But no one wondered about his whereabouts.

The fact that his family vanished at the same time, coupled with the fact that his senior disciple, Wei Zhengguo, never once sought him out afterward, made it easy to guess what had become of him.

Moreover, within the Zhongnan Sect where both monastic and lay disciples worked together, many had envied him for rising to become the head of the Outer Sect as a lay disciple. Consequently, many viewed his disappearance as an opportunity.

The current head of the Outer Hall, Jaguang Jinren, was one such person.