Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 103

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#103

In the warm, drowsy afternoon light, the Hyeolpung Saja had gathered around Sang Nam-jae.
“Should I perform the Bone Cleansing Ritual for him? If we do it while he’s young, it’ll be a tremendous help when learning martial arts.”
Do Pyeong-su’s suggestion prompted Seo Seok-san to voice his objection.
“Not yet. We should wait another three or four months.”
“In the meantime, it would be good to bathe him daily in water infused with Spirit-infused mineral water. That way his bones will grow strong.”
Jang Man-dok nodded in agreement with Yeon Geum-hong’s assessment.
Unaware that his life was about to change in significant ways, the infant nestled in Sang Nam-jae’s arms wriggled his fingers and yawned widely.
Do Pyeong-su turned to Sang Nam-jae with a question.
“Are you thinking of passing on your profession to him?”
“My profession?”
“You’re an assassin.”
Yeon Geum-hong struck Do Pyeong-su on the back.
“There’s a family trade to pass down, and that’s not it! And she’s a girl, besides!”
“What do you mean? There’s no male or female among assassins!”
Sang Nam-jae’s face fell.
“Either way, it’s true that my profession is that of an assassin.”
Do Pyeong-su tried to console him.
“It’s not all bad, being an assassin.”
“What’s good about it?”
Do Pyeong-su paused to think, then replied.
“You gain experience and earn money. Doesn’t that count?”
No one voiced agreement.
“Either way, we need to prepare her early. Where better could a young Murim martial artist grow than here?”
By Yeon Geum-hong’s logic, Oseong Jang-won could well become the finest elite training ground in all martial arts.
“Ji-u is off-limits to the Murim.”
Go Shin-ji walked over briskly and lifted the infant from Sang Nam-jae’s arms as if reclaiming what was hers.
“Don’t even dream of teaching Ji-u martial arts.”
“Why not? She’s clearly got the build for it. Teach her properly and she could become the greatest female martial master in the Murim——”
Go Shin-ji cut Do Pyeong-su off mid-sentence.
“I have no intention whatsoever of making Ji-u a Murim martial artist. So don’t try anything strange with our Ji-u. Understood?”
The firmness in Go Shin-ji’s tone left the Hyeolpung Saja with no choice but to sigh.
“She’d be a pleasure to raise.”
“If you keep this up, you won’t set foot near Ji-u again.”
The Hyeolpung Saja hastily raised their hands in surrender.
“No, no——it’s not about making her a Murim martial artist. It’s about broadening her options for the future. Absolutely no coercion intended.”
When Ji-u laughed brightly, smiles bloomed across the faces of the Hyeolpung Saja as well.
“My, what a refreshing laugh! If she masters Eumgong properly, why, she could have every man in the world at her——”
Yeon Geum-hong quickly covered Seo Seok-san’s mouth. Go Shin-ji left them with a final declaration——”Martial arts are absolutely forbidden!”——and departed for her room with the baby.
The gaze of the Hyeolpung Saja settled on Sang Nam-jae, standing idle.
“Have a good talk with your wife. Even if she doesn’t become a full Murim martial artist, in this harsh world she ought to learn enough martial arts to protect herself. Don’t you agree?”
“There’s nothing wrong with learning, but——”
“Exactly. And with the Hyeolpung Saja’s martial arts, who would dare lay a finger on Ji-u? Might as well learn from the best.”
“But… didn’t you say earlier that children are a bother?”
A look of embarrassment crossed the Hyeolpung Saja’s face as they patted Sang Nam-jae on the shoulder.
“Even if they are a bother, I’ll do it. We’re family——that much sacrifice is only reasonable, eh?”
From the direction of the courtyard, Go Seo-bang’s voice rang out: “Masters! It’s training time!”
After telling Sang Nam-jae to give it some thought, the Hyeolpung Saja headed toward the training grounds in the Back Garden.
And so Oseong Jang-won continued to drift through peaceful hours.
Though not everyone had leisure.
“You say you’re looking for someone well-versed in Hangju’s situation, someone talented?”
Gwak Bong, whom Geom U-bin had summoned, responded with a bewildered expression.
“Yes. The collapse of the Jo Hwang Clan left so many people jobless in Hangju. Since this happened because of me, I want to resolve it somehow.”
Having worked at the Oseong Pavilion all this time and met many people and heard many stories, Geom U-bin thought Gwak Bong was a good person to ask.
“Those clever in worldly matters seem to think only of stabbing people in the back whenever they get the chance. Let me think… who might there be?”
Gwak Bong, lost in thought, recalled a name.
“There’s someone who’s far from being a merchant, but sharp enough—very sharp, actually. The whole strategy behind this clash with the Jo Hwang Clan came straight from that one’s mind.”
“Who is it?”
“Jo Ja-myeong—we call him Limping Jo. I’ve been watching him, and he seems to have a knack for business too. The trouble is, he belongs to the Triad, and that weighs on me.”
“What’s wrong with belonging to the Triad? The real question is whether he’s trustworthy.”
“I don’t think that will be an issue.”
“Then let’s meet him.”
“I’ll bring him at once.”
After sending Gwak Bong off, Geom U-bin stepped out of the room and crossed the courtyard, where Do Pyeong-su and Gal Ma-pyeong stood tilting their heads before a mesh pouch hanging on the wall.
“I’m certain I left it in here.”
“Left what, sir?”
“Something. If you find it, you’ll know what it was.”
As Gal Ma-pyeong stared blankly, Do Pyeong-su’s brow furrowed sharply.
“Why haven’t you brought it back already?”
Startled, Gal Ma-pyeong instinctively turned to go.
But he stopped after just two steps and glanced back at Do Pyeong-su.
“How can I find it if I don’t know what I’m looking for?”
“What I left here yesterday! How many times do I have to say it before it gets through your skull?”
Gal Ma-pyeong’s face fell, but any further questions would risk a fist flying his way.
‘How am I supposed to know what was there?’
With sagging shoulders, Gal Ma-pyeong trudged off to search for something he had no idea existed.
Geom U-bin couldn’t follow their conversation, and neither could the other three members of the Bloodwind Four Lions.
Yeon Geum-hong, watching from where the group had gathered, finally spoke.
“Has Pyeong-su been training hard in the Martial Arts lately? He seems to be getting dumber.”
“Wait, so it’s not Ma-pyeong teasing him—Pyeong-su actually forgot? At this point it’s not forgetfulness; it’s dementia.”
“It’s getting worse. My hair’s been thinning lately too, so I can’t complain if his memory’s declining.”
“But your hair just looks bad; if Pyeong-su’s mind goes that far, we’re facing a catastrophe.”
At Yeon Geum-hong’s words, they all imagined Do Pyeong-su shuffling about, drooling, beating people to death at random.
Geom U-bin, listening in, asked a question.
“Is there any good remedy?”
He asked everyone, but only Jang Man-dok could answer.
After a long moment of deliberation, the words “Four Sovereigns Mind-Clarifying Decoction” formed in Jang Man-dok’s mind.
“The Four Sovereigns Mind-Clarifying Decoction—can it help?”
Those five words made Yeon Geum-hong and Seo Seok-san jump.
“That concoction made from twenty Spirit Medicines mixed with twenty poisons?”
It certainly had effects.
But for an ordinary person to drink it meant certain death, so only martial masters with the internal power to burn out the poison could take it.
Of course, death wasn’t the only side effect—in severe cases, victims could lose every hair on their body from the toxin’s ravages.
One might ask who would ever drink such a thing, but surprisingly, there was demand, because for a time it could sharpen the mind remarkably.
Even if only temporary, clearer thinking made martial arts training far easier to master.
That’s why martial artists with the internal power to expel poison sometimes sought out the Four Sovereigns Mind-Clarifying Decoction despite the side effect of hair loss.
“A bald Do Pyeong-su is better than one with full-blown dementia, isn’t it?”
A slight smile played at Seo Seok-san’s lips as he spoke.
“You seem to like this idea.”
“I have a strong premonition I’m about to find a kindred spirit. Hehehehe…….”
“Pyeong-su will refuse to take the decoction just because he hates seeing you enjoy this so much.”
“Then we’ll force it down his throat. Isn’t that right?”
At Seo Seok-san’s question seeking agreement, Geom U-bin had no choice but to nod.
“We have to stop the master and disciple from reaching that point.”
After deliberating long before the mesh pouch, Do Pyeong-su headed into the warehouse and emerged carrying a wine bottle.
Just then, Go Shin-ji appeared, cradling Sang Ji-u.
“Go’s lady, feed this to Ji-u! It’s good for the body!”
Go Shin-ji gasped in alarm at Do Pyeong-su’s approach with the wine bottle and hurried inside.
“It’s good for the body.”
Geom U-bin spoke up.
“Get the Four Sovereigns Mind-Clarifying Decoction into him quickly.”

***

As twilight fell, Gwak Bong arrived at Oseong Jang-won with Jo Ja-myeong in tow.
Jo Ja-myeong was one of the few who knew that Oseong Jang-won possessed far greater power than either Dongsi Doga or the Cheolhyeol Faction.
That’s why he’d been gripped by fear the moment Gwak Bong mentioned going to see the Lord.
When news spread that she’d recommended Jo Ja-myeong, he’d even aired his grievances about why she’d done such a thing.
Jo Ja-myeong was content to live comfortably where he was.
“Really, it’s nothing serious, is it?”
“Why are you so frightened? If we meant to kill you, we wouldn’t have brought you this far.”
“But death isn’t the only thing a person should fear in this world.”
“Don’t worry. The Great Lord is not frightening at all. But remember this—if you speak carelessly because you’re young, your tongue will be cut off. Even if I don’t do it, someone will cut it out while you’re unaware.”
Jo Ja-myeong’s tongue seemed to curl back of its own accord.
‘I shouldn’t speak at all.’
But since Geom U-bin had summoned him to listen to what he had to say, Jo Ja-myeong couldn’t simply remain silent.
‘Is that really the Great Lord?’
Jo Ja-myeong could only stare at Geom U-bin, who smiled brightly and said, “Welcome.”
Even if he were young, Jo Ja-myeong had assumed he’d be at least past twenty. Yet the Lord of Oseong Jang-won appeared to be no more than eighteen.
“I’m sorry to have brought you all this way despite your physical discomfort. Please, sit here.”
“Yes? Ah, yes.”
Jo Ja-myeong perched himself on the edge of the chair that Geom U-bin offered, so preoccupied that he couldn’t even perceive the aroma of the tea being poured.
“I asked you to come because I have a few things I’d like to ask.”
Throughout their exchange, Geom U-bin maintained perfect courtesy.
“Please ask whatever you wish.”
Having received Gwak Bong’s warning, Jo Ja-myeong observed all proper etiquette.
“I heard from Gwak that you have a sharp mind.”
“Ah, that’s not true. The Heuksahoe is simply such a gathering of fools that it appears so by comparison.”
“I’m hoping to conduct some business in Hangju.”
“What sort of business, if I may ask?”
“I’d like work that requires employing many people. I don’t wish to incur losses, but I needn’t accumulate great profit margins either. I’d simply hope that the workers could receive reasonable wages that won’t make them resentful.”
If one was willing to reduce profit margins, ventures worthy of investment were abundant.
But as with all business, investment required capital, and capital demanded eventual returns. So Jo Ja-myeong couldn’t accept Geom U-bin’s words at face value.
“I don’t understand why you would need me for such work.”
“Because I’m too busy to manage a business myself. I need someone to oversee it in my stead.”
For reasons unknown, it seemed she required a manager.
“I possess only modest skill in scheming and cunning—I’m hardly the vessel to run a business.”
Disappointment crossed Geom U-bin’s face.
“Is that so……?”
Gwak Bong, who had brought Jo Ja-myeong, showed signs of displeasure.
“Don’t cut him off so sharply. Offer an alternative—recommend someone suitable, perhaps.”
“As you know well, merchants are the sort who smile to your face and stab you in the back the moment you turn around. Among such people, finding one worthy of trust…… Ah! I know one! Bae Chong-mun, the One-Armed Administrator!”
“One-armed?”
“Yes. Now, I’m not recommending him out of some misplaced sympathy because he’s missing an arm. As far as I know, he’s the most conscientious and diligent man I’ve met. Though it troubles me that he once served the Jo Hwang Clan, he left their employ long ago after taking a dislike to their new leader.”
“If he was once of the Jo Hwang Clan, there’s something uncomfortable about using him.”
Gwak Bong cast a sidelong glance at Geom U-bin as she spoke.
“If he combines conscientiousness and diligence with actual ability, that would be ideal. When might we meet him?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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