Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 105

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

#Episode 105

“Geum-hong, you don’t want to go?”
Seo Seok-san had objected too, and Jang Man-dok shook his head. But Yeon Geum-hong insisted on Do Pyeong-su.
“Only Pyeong-su can persuade him. Those with weak logic are easier to sway, after all.”
There was something oddly persuasive in Yeon Geum-hong’s words, and Seo Seok-san and Jang Man-dok agreed.
“I’m not very confident about this.”
Geom U-bin and Do Pyeong-su sat facing each other, while the three others lined up behind Do Pyeong-su like a living screen.
“I’ll give you just one piece of advice, Pyeong-su.”
With their permission, Yeon Geum-hong spoke to Do Pyeong-su.
“Think of the person in front of you as not being your senior. If he’s not your senior, there’s nothing to fear, right?”
“Right.”
Do Pyeong-su closed his eyes and began to hypnotize himself.
‘The person in front is not my senior. The person in front is not my senior. The guy in front is…….’
Once he’d finished his self-hypnosis and opened his eyes, Geom U-bin spoke.
“I really think I should go alone this time.”
Then Do Pyeong-su suddenly burst out.
“You brat! When an adult is speaking, you listen! Your name isn’t even dry in the household registry yet……!”
Yeon Geum-hong, Seo Seok-san, and Jang Man-dok all rushed to cover Do Pyeong-su’s mouth together.
“You madman! What reckless words before your senior! Senior, are you all right?”
Geom U-bin wiped the faint cold sweat trickling down with the back of his hand.
“Yes. I’m… I’m fine. Master Do is terrifying.”
“That’s because I told him not to think of you as his senior. Senior, I apologize.”
“Why do you have no middle ground? Don’t jump straight from one to ten—you should dial it back to five or six!”
Yeon Geum-hong draped her arm around Do Pyeong-su’s shoulder and spoke.
“Just say whatever comes to mind without thinking. Of course you shouldn’t say anything harsh to your senior, but don’t deliberate over your words. Speak to him the way you talk to us—just let it flow. Understand?”
Do Pyeong-su nodded and straightened his posture, then Geom U-bin spoke.
“This time I really do want to go alone.”
“Why?”
“I think fourteen is old enough to stand on my own.”
“I’m ninety-nine and I still live with these people, you know?”
“But Master Do’s age and my being fourteen aren’t related, are they?”
“Half your age—no, half of half that—you’re definitely younger than that. Arithmetic isn’t my strong suit. Anyway, you’re still young. I can’t send such a young senior out into this harsh world alone.”
“I understand how the masters feel. But please consider my martial arts.”
“There are plenty of crazy martial masters in this world. There’s no guarantee that bandits aren’t among them.”
“Speaking logically, there’s no bandit stronger than me. I’m sufficient alone, and having the masters come too is like using a butcher’s cleaver to slaughter a chicken.”
“I use a big knife even when slaughtering chickens.”
The conversation continued mostly in that vein.
Geom U-bin tried to persuade him with logic, but Do Pyeong-su’s unreasonable shield was solid.
“You can’t protect me forever anyway.”
“We’re not going to protect you, are we?”
“Aren’t we?”
“I just want to go with you. The Oseong Jang-won without you is a desert without water, a dumpling with no filling. Let’s go together. If you really want to fight alone, we’ll just watch. All right?”
In the end, Geom U-bin threw up his hands.
“Fine. I understand.”
There really was no way to overcome Do Pyeong-su. This was the picture Yeon Geum-hong had wanted all along.
“There we go!”
It was actually Do Pyeong-su who seemed bewildered.
“So we’re all going together?”
“That’s how it should be.”
Now that it had come to this, Geom U-bin answered with a broad smile.
“It’s our second family trip.”
Geom U-bin had wanted to collide head-on with the world on his own terms this time, but that would have to wait for another opportunity.
“We’ll handle all the preparations. You just rest easy.”
The Bloodwind Four Lions moved busily about.
“Master! I heard you’re going on a trip with the commander and the young master?”
Gal Ma-pyeong looked at Do Pyeong-su with hopeful eyes.
“It’s not a pleasure cruise. It’s a bandit suppression operation.”
“But you’re taking a boat anyway, aren’t you? Can’t we come along too?”
Hang Ju-sa-byeon watched the Bloodwind Four Lions with eager anticipation.
“Fine.”
“Yes!”
Se-hwa, if you go, what happens to the Oseong Pavilion? Gang Seo Samak, if you all leave, who manages the Estate and the alcohol? What if assassins attack like last time?”
Geom U-bin spoke to Hang Ju-sa-byeon, whose disappointment had flared up suddenly.
“There will be other chances. We’ll go together then.”
The Bloodwind Four Lions proceeded with all the preparations exactly as promised.
Fresh clothes, bedding for possible camping, dried provisions—Geom U-bin had nothing to worry about. And before that day was done, they’d even secured the most important thing: a boat.
When Geom U-bin went to the riverbank to inspect the boat, her eyes widened.
“That’s the boat we’re going to ride in?”
The vessel, large enough to accommodate about ten people, was a decorated boat with elaborate paintings covering its hull.
“A pleasure cruise should definitely be a decorated boat. Haha!”
From the displeased expression on Yeon Geum-hong’s face at Seo Seok-san’s laughter, it was clear he’d been the one to arrange for the decorated boat.
Geom U-bin asked a question.
“I understand we’ll have to follow the river, cross through the sea, and then enter the canal. Can that boat make it across the open waters?”
“Don’t worry. We are the Bloodwind Four Lions.”
Even if they had to cross the boundless sea on a ferry barge, there was little to fear with the Bloodwind Four Lions.
The group said farewell to those staying behind at the Estate and boarded the boat. The problem was that the boat had only an awning to block out the sun—there was no sail and no oars to be seen.
“Can a boat move without oars?”
Do Pyeong-su spoke with confidence.
“What use are oars? We can propel it with internal power. We could go all day long like this.”
Do Pyeong-su untied the rope binding the boat to the mooring post and shouted.
“We’re off!”
The boat shot forward like an arrow. As water from the bow crashed over the sides and poured into the vessel, Seo Seok-san cried out.
“You fool! Slow down!”
“Why? It’s exciting and fun!”
Yeon Geum-hong, who deflected the splashing water with her internal power, also shouted.
“Before you dump us all in the river, reduce your power right now!”
As everyone panicked, Do Pyeong-su muttered complaints while reining in his martial force.
Seo Seok-san took the helm as the boatman.
Moving slowly and leisurely like a pleasure cruise, the boat satisfied everyone except Do Pyeong-su.
The voyage was otherwise peaceful, except for the moment when Do Pyeong-su, standing at the bow, remarked that they were moving like ‘a bunch of women,’ and Yeon Geum-hong smacked him on the back for it.
Traveling along the river in the cool breeze, watching the scenery of the riverbanks, the boat ride proved more charming and pleasant than they’d expected.
“Aren’t you getting hungry?”
Yeon Geum-hong’s question prompted Geom U-bin to hand over a pouch of dried provisions.
“Should we eat some dried beef?”
“If we’re on a boat, we should catch and eat fish.”
Yeon Geum-hong tied a line to a fishing hook and crouched down at the bow. The water was clear enough that she could see the fish passing beneath.
Without much aim, Yeon Geum-hong cast the line, and each time she did, a fish came up hooked.
In moments, ten plump fish were flopping about on the deck.
“We need to light a fire to grill the meat.”
“We can’t light a fire on a boat. Do Pyeong-su, grill the fish.”
At Yeon Geum-hong’s command, Do Pyeong-su took a fish in his hand and unleashed the Sammai Jinhwa technique.
The meat was instantly roasted golden, and in the meantime Jang Man-dok prepared a glaze to brush over the fish.
Geom U-bin’s joy became the Bloodwind Four Lions’ happiness. Seo Seok-san resumed moving the boat and began singing in a magnificent voice.
He was deep in the throes of merriment when Do Pyeong-su suddenly cried out.
“Rocks! Rocks ahead!”
Seo Seok-san, the one actually steering the boat, merely said ‘Stop the fussing’ and maneuvered to avoid the rocks.
But then Do Pyeong-su suddenly unleashed his palm force toward the rocks. With a thunderous crack, the rocks shattered into fragments that sent stones scattering everywhere.
“Why are you doing something pointless?”
The moment Yeon Geum-hong finished speaking, one of the flying stones struck the side of the boat.
Because Do Pyeong-su’s palm force had been so powerful, the stones flew with tremendous speed, and the wooden hull couldn’t withstand the impact.
Watching water pour through the hole in the boat, Seo Seok-san demanded.
“Do Pyeong-su, what in the world did you do?”
“If there are rocks, it’s dangerous.”
“You’re the danger, you fool!”
Do Pyeong-su, seized by the collar and shaken back and forth, spoke.
“Shouldn’t we hurry back to shore?”
“This wretch gets himself into trouble the moment he lifts a finger!”
“It’s not like this is the first time. Gather the supplies, quickly!”
Yeon Geum-hong shouldered the pack of dried provisions while Jang Man-dok cradled the bedding in his arms.
Since they’d planned to travel by boat the whole way, they’d brought few supplies.
“A pleasant river excursion ruined like this.”
Seo Seok-san regarded the water-logged boat with regretful eyes before launching himself off it.
Using the Lightness Technique to cross the river, they descended onto a gravel bank.
Yeon Geum-hong caught her breath and turned to Hyeolpung Saja.
“You didn’t forget anything, did you? We have all our gear?”
All three answered in unison.
“We’ve got everything that matters.”
“When we travel with the disciples, something always happens—whether it’s trouble or accident.”
“I’m sorry, brother.”
Geom U-bin linked her arm through Do Pyeong-su’s, who was scratching his head with an awkward expression.
“No, it’s not that. These sudden incidents are what make a journey fun.”
“Right? Hehe!”
“You find this funny?”
Seo Seok-san hurled the bundle he’d been carrying to Do Pyeong-su, and Jang Man-dok dumped his load on him as well.
Since he’d caused the accident, he couldn’t very well complain about shouldering the burden alone.
“Brother, should we go back to the Estate and find another boat?”
They’d only come a quarter hour’s distance, so using the Lightness Technique, they could return to the Estate in just a single moment.
“It would be just as ridiculous to turn back now. Let’s follow the river, and when we find a ferry landing, we’ll catch a boat from there.”
Seo Seok-san rebuked Do Pyeong-su.
“Because of you, this whole thing is taking forever.”
“If you wanted to save time, you wouldn’t have insisted on taking a boat in the first place. You’re the one who wanted a pleasure cruise on the water!”
Watching Hyeolpung Saja bicker was not entirely unpleasant.
The river flowed on their left while a verdant forest rose on their right; the path along the bank stretched on for a considerable distance.
In truth, it wasn’t even a proper path—sometimes it was covered in gravel, sometimes it was sandy shoal, and sometimes it was overgrown with reeds.
Wherever they walked became the way, so the form hardly mattered.
“Why the sudden question, Master Yeon?”
“Since there’s nothing much to do on this journey, I thought we might as well talk.”
Even Do Pyeong-su and Seo Seok-san, who’d been bickering moments before, showed interest.
“What about?”
Having already experienced one family journey together, they no longer suffered from boredom on the road.
They refrained from using their Lightness Technique and instead took pleasure in conversation and scenery both.
“I mean Jegal Jong-ryeo and Namgung Hye-yeon. Which one does brother seem to favor?”
Do Pyeong-su spoke.
“I think the demure Namgung Hye-yeon is the better choice.”
When Jang Man-dok nodded in agreement, Yeon Geum-hong wagged her index finger left and right.
“A woman who’s too demure gets dull. Someone like Jegal Jong-ryeo, who has a bit of flair—that’s what keeps things interesting.”
“Unnecessary worrying, if you ask me.”
Everyone looked at Seo Seok-san, who’d spoken.
“Why settle for both when you could have them all? And do you really think brother’s future holds only these two women? A true hero isn’t hindered by three wives and four concubines. If you ask me, there won’t be merely seven—more like seventeen. Isn’t that so, brother?”
Having said his piece, Seo Seok-san paid the price of catching fire from Yeon Geum-hong’s palm on his back.
“Wait—isn’t that a boat?”
In the middle of the wide river, which spanned seventy lengths across, a vessel drifted past them leisurely.
It was far larger than the decorated boat or ferry they’d come on—a ship capable of carrying over a hundred passengers.
“We need to hurry to the next ferry landing to catch that!”
But Do Pyeong-su launched himself not in the direction Geom U-bin was heading, but toward the river.
“Let’s board it!”
“Don’t we need to buy tickets for a passenger ship like that?”
But Do Pyeong-su was already dashing across the river surface using the Lightness Technique.
“We can buy our tickets once we’re on board. Brother, let’s go.”
Led by Yeon Geum-hong, Geom U-bin also crossed the river using the Lightness Technique. Do Pyeong-su, who’d departed first, landed lightly atop the deck of a ship three lengths high.
The people on deck gasped and stared at Do Pyeong-su, while several passengers at the rail cried out as they watched the others come running across the water.
“Someone’s running across the water!”
“It’s the Lightness Technique! The Lightness Technique! Martial masters of the Murim!”
As all four landed gracefully on deck, a hundred or so passengers and crew members turned to stare at them.

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