Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 128

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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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#128

Kang Chan-sik’s worries deepened the moment he received the carrier pigeon.
It would have been far simpler to deal with if Haowen were just another martial faction. But Haowen occupied a peculiar space—not quite a martial faction in the traditional sense.
If forced to define it, he would call Haowen the largest triad in Zhongyuan.
After a long spell of deliberation, Kang Chan-sik made his way toward Oseong Jang-won.
For most ordinary factions, Gwak Bong alone would suffice. But Haowen was no ordinary faction.
Dealing with Haowen required more than raw martial prowess—it demanded cunning strategy. And even without extensive experience, Kang Chan-sik knew that Gwak Bong’s intellect was not to be relied upon.
The side gate attached to the main entrance of Oseong Jang-won stood perpetually open.
To announce a visit, one could pull the rope hanging from the gate to ring a bell. But Kang Chan-sik had no need to burden himself with such formality.
A crowd of people was already spilling out from within the estate.
Leading them was Geom U-bin and the Hangju Oseong contingent, accompanied by an elderly beggar. The moment Kang Chan-sik laid eyes on the old man, his breath caught.
‘Isn’t that… the Lord of Gaebang?’
He had only glimpsed it from a distance when So Gi-cheon, the old man’s disciple, had met with someone. The Lord of Gaebang stood above even the masters of the Five Great Houses—a figure comparable in stature to the sect leaders of the highest-ranked factions among the Nine Great Sects, a towering dragon of the martial world.
And that very man was now approaching the Hangju Oseong group with warm familiarity.
“Since I can’t know when I’ll return once I leave today, parting feels all the more sorrowful.”
At Noh Dae-sul’s words, Yeon Geum-hong shot back sharply.
“Don’t you dare start with your schemes before you’ve even left. Answer my messages the moment they arrive. And none of that nonsense about being too far away or too caught up to respond.”
Kang Chan-sik had suspected Yeon Geum-hong possessed something extraordinary beneath her youthful appearance, but he had never imagined she would speak with such blunt directness to the Lord of Gaebang.
So he stood gaping, watching the exchange unfold.
“Would I resort to such tricks?” Noh Dae-sul replied with good humor.
Do Pyeong-su added his own remark.
“We know you. And if Gaebang ever needs manpower, get in touch.”
Noh Dae-sul’s face brightened visibly.
“Do you truly mean you’d help our Gaebang?”
“Help? Don’t be ridiculous. Just send word if you need anything.”
“Hehe! Yes, I’ll write often, then.”
Noh Dae-sul looked genuinely pleased.
“Geom, don’t forget the counsel I offered you. I beg you.”
“I’ll keep it close to heart. And please, visit us again soon.”
“I will! If I had my way, I’d stay here for good!”
Geom U-bin noticed Kang Chan-sik standing by the gate and greeted him warmly.
“Ah? Lord Kang! What brings you here?”
Despite his associations with such an eminent figure as the Lord of Gaebang, Geom U-bin welcomed even the leader of a trivial triad with equal warmth.
“I’ve come to discuss a matter of some urgency.”
Kang Chan-sik bowed respectfully and spoke with care. Geom U-bin introduced him to Noh Dae-sul.
“Ah. So you’re the one I’ve heard about—the leader of the Hangju triad that’s mended its ways. That would be you, then.”
“All of that is thanks to Master Geom here.”
“Indeed. Young as you are, serve him as one serves a great lord, and you’ll never suffer for it, I assure you.”
“What matter brings you to see us?”
“Yes. Haowen has appeared at Haenyeong Port, which we oversee, and they’re causing trouble there.”
At the mention of Haowen, Noh Dae-sul, who had been about to cross the threshold, stopped dead in his tracks.
“A troublesome—no, a dangerous lot, indeed, if they’re sniffing around.”
Geom U-bin asked carefully.
“Lord, you know much about Haowen?”
“Indeed. No one knows Haowen better than Gaebang does.”
Not that Gaebang’s knowledge was limited to Haowen alone.
“So, shall we of Gaebang dispose of that Haowen problem at Haenyeong Port for you?”
Kang Chan-sik’s expression registered surprise.
Without even being asked, the Lord of Gaebang was offering to sweep away this troublesome filth.
‘Just what sort of man is Master Geom that the Lord of Gaebang goes to such lengths for him?’
But Geom U-bin simply smiled and declined.
“No, thank you. I’ve heard certain things myself, and I believe we can handle it sufficiently on our own.”
Do Pyeong-su chimed in agreement.
“Exactly. Those vermin—one of my disciples alone could clean them up thoroughly.”
Noh Dae-sul clicked his tongue with a trace of regret.
“They’re not so easily dealt with…. But if that’s what you say, we’ll meet again later.”
After sending off Noh Dae-sul, Geom U-bin heard the full account from Kang Chan-sik. In the meantime, the Hangju Oseong contingent had gathered, and everyone learned what had happened at Haenyeong Port.
“Understood. Tell the Society Lord that I’ll send people by tomorrow, so there’s no need to clash with Haowen.”
“Yes, sir. I was a bit worried, but seeing things in person, there was nothing to fret over. Ha-ha!”
Watching the Hangju Oseong faction dismiss even the Sect disciples so casually, it seemed they ought to be the ones concerned for Haowen instead.
Once Kang Chan-sik had left, Se-hwa suddenly spoke with a resolute expression.
“Sajo, Master. May I handle this matter myself?”
“Hmm?”
Apart from when opening the Oseong Pavilion, Se-hwa had never asserted her views so forcefully.
“Won’t you be busy with the Pavilion?”
At Yeon Geum-hong’s question, Se-hwa nodded emphatically.
“It will run smoothly even if I’m away for a few days.”
“Is that so?”
Yeon Geum-hong asked, nodding thoughtfully.
“Do you have a grudge against Haowen?”
Se-hwa laughed.
“What kisaeng woman hasn’t had some entanglement with Haowen? But this isn’t about the past.”
“Then what?”
“I want to do my part.”
“You’re already doing your part running the Pavilion.”
“Not as a kisaeng proprietor—as a Murim martial artist.”
“A Murim martial artist?”
Now that he thought about it, he’d never truly seen Se-hwa as one of the Murim. No matter what her martial skill or allegiances might be, whenever he thought of Se-hwa, he saw first a kisaeng’s face.
Hyeolpung Saja consented even before Do Pyeong-su could speak.
“If Se-hwa wants to resolve this matter, then do it. But you’ll go with the other disciples.”
“I’m sufficient on my own.”
“I know. But I don’t want to hear that you struggled against Haowen.”
Se-hwa smiled and nodded.
“Yes, I’ll crush them properly.”

***

The Oseong Society Haenyeong Branch stood where the Haenyeong Port came into view.
Unlike ordinary triads that hide in shadow, the Oseong Society operated openly like this, listening to merchants’ grievances and resolving most of them.
The wooden sign reading “Oseong Society Haenyeong Branch” lay shattered on the ground.
At the sharp, piercing sound that tore through the night air, four men who had been finishing their day’s work over a drink rushed outside.
Go Gil-tae, opening the door, could see twelve men standing in the faint light spilling from the branch office.
Three of them he recognized as the Haowen thugs who had caused trouble that afternoon.
“Those bastards!”
Go Gil-tae held back his three subordinates as they tried to charge out.
“We thought this was settled peacefully this afternoon. What brings you to cause trouble at this hour?”
“Peacefully? Do you take us for beggars of the Sect? A single silver coin and we leave?”
“Of course I never intended for one coin to settle this. If you’ll tell me where your Haowen friends are staying, I’ll visit at first light tomorrow to pay proper respect.”
Since orders had come from the Hangju Oseong headquarters to avoid confrontation until reinforcements arrived, Go Gil-tae kept his posture as deferential as possible.
But the men who’d even smashed the branch sign showed no sign of leaving.
“Why? Planning to call a few of your triad thugs and have a go at us? Heheheh…! You people are taking Haowen far too lightly.”
“From what I understand, though Haowen may walk the Evil Path, they don’t normally assault people so recklessly.”
“Times change, and so must people.”
“So what is it you want from us?”
“Hand over control of Haenyeong Port to us.”
“That’s not a decision I can make alone.”
“I thought as much. So just relay the message to your superiors. Now, take a beating.”
Go Gil-tae and his three subordinates were no weaklings.
Since they had to deal with rough seafaring folk, the Hangju Oseong had sent only their best fighters to this place.
Yet they were no match for these men.
The numbers played a part, but that wasn’t the only problem—all of these men had cultivated a degree of martial arts.
So they had no choice but to take the blows.
And the Haowen men didn’t just beat them—they began setting fire to the Oseong Society Haenyeong Branch.
“You bastards! Stop!”
Go Gil-tae, trying to stop the man pouring oil, felt his nose cartilage collapse.
The man who had brought the Haowen disciples watched the branch burn fiercely and spoke.
“This way, our intention comes through crystal clear.”

***

Se-hwa made her way to Yeon Geum-hong’s room early that morning.
Now that the moment of departure had arrived, she had to admit her hands were trembling slightly.
“I’ll be back soon, Master.”
“Go on. Your martial arts are more than a match for the Haowen, but stay vigilant all the same. In Murim, cunning counts for seven parts while skill counts for three.”
“I’ll remember that.”
“Never turn your back to anyone but the dead.”
“Yes.”
“Your hidden weapons?”
“I’ve packed more than enough.”
“Going with the Gang Seo Samak—weathered as they are—eases my worry, but remember: in Murim, the only person you can truly trust is yourself.”
Yeon Geum-hong was surprised at how much of a nag she’d become. She’d only meant to say, ‘Go quickly, come back quickly—it’s tiresome without an attendant’—but words kept rising unbidden to her lips, tumbling out one after another.
“And one last thing… don’t be afraid to kill. You must never do it recklessly or without cause, but when the moment comes, never hesitate.”
“How do I know if a killing is truly necessary?”
“Your instinct will tell you naturally.”
As Se-hwa stepped from the room, Gwak Bong approached and pressed a square wooden token into her hand.
The front was carved with characters in red that she couldn’t read, while the back bore the image of a monkey.
“My father gave this to me—a talisman of fortune. Don’t remove it from your body, even when you sleep.”
“It’s not like I’m marching to war. I’m just going to deal with a handful of Haowen.”
Se-hwa’s sharp reply drew a wry smile, but before leaving the main hall, she turned back to Gwak Bong and said softly.
“Still, thank you. Keep the pavilion safe while I’m gone.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll guard it so well it won’t think of running anywhere.”
Se-hwa laughed quietly and headed toward the courtyard where Gang Seo Samak waited.
“Madam, your attire is particularly radiant today,” Go Seo-bang offered.
Se-hwa acknowledged his words.
“It’s not just the clothes that are radiant—the weather is too. Perfect weather for killing, wouldn’t you say?”
Gang Seo Samak, whose expression had held a note of surprise, broke into laughter.
“I thought you’d be nervous, but we were wrong.”
O Tong-su spoke, and Se-hwa replied quietly.
“I don’t know what I was thinking, asking to go alone like that. If I wasn’t going with you all, I’d probably have wet myself from fear.”
“When you meet those Haowen bastards, fight as much as you like. We’ll have your back.”
As they exchanged banter, Geom U-bin waved goodbye.
“Master! I’ll return victorious!”

***

Sichuan Province was remote even by the standards of Zhongyuan, yet by the measure of Murim as a whole, it was a region of undeniable consequence.
The Sichuan Dang Sect had dominated Sichuan for centuries as its most fearsome power; the Ami Faction represented the Buddhist traditions within Murim; and the Cheongseong Faction, one of the Nine Great Sects, had all planted themselves firmly in Sichuan.
So entrenched was their presence that the saying arose: in Guangdong, don’t boast of wealth; in Sichuan, don’t boast of strength.
Naturally, martial artists were a common sight in Seoungdo, the capital of Sichuan, and among the inns that catered to them, the Hyeobdo Gaekjan held particular renown.
This was because the innkeeper, Dong Seong-bang, was an outer disciple of the Cheongseong Faction and had earned a reputation far and wide for his generous hospitality toward martial artists.
That day, the Hyeobdo Gaekjan had its fifty tables filled by the lunch hour, half of them occupied by Murim martial artists bearing various weapons.
So it was that a man in his mid-thirties who entered the inn drew no particular attention.
The man of modest height made a faint clinking sound whenever he walked, the noise emanating from his waist.
It came from a bone-woven belt striking against itself as he moved.
His distinct features, his hair tied carelessly back—all marked him unmistakably as a Miao from Yunnan.

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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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