Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 147

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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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#147

While Yeon Geum-hong and Eun Bi-yeon stepped away to speak privately, the conversation among the remaining five boys shifted toward the matter at hand.
“The side effects of Gwimyeon Madobeop arise because the qi repeatedly touches the four pressure points along the Su Sam-yang and Su Tae-yang meridians, yes? The problem is that the internal power infused with the fire-qi of Gwimyeon Madobeop cannot circulate without passing through those four pressure points.”
Seo Seok-san asked, reading the expression on Jang Man-dok’s face in response to Geom U-bin’s words.
“Can’t you simply remove the fire-qi from the internal power or bypass those pressure points?”
“Ban Tae-mang tried to eliminate that fire-qi through medicine, but he’s failed so far. There’s no chance of success.”
“What a cursed technique, really. To know full well there are such side effects and still practice such martial arts? Foolish.”
“But Jang asked: if you knew about the side effects beforehand, wouldn’t you have refused to learn our martial arts?”
“Don’t compare that pathetic Gwimyeon Madobeop to our martial arts!”
“Well, that’s true enough. Even Jang admits it.”
“Keep such admissions to yourself!”
As they spoke, Yeon Geum-hong and Eun Bi-yeon returned. Once seated, Yeon Geum-hong spoke.
“Bi-yeon has something to say.”
All eyes turned toward Eun Bi-yeon. She addressed Do Pyeong-su first.
“The reason I came to Oseong Jang-won is to marry you.”
The teacups everyone was holding froze in mid-air.
Slurp!
Only Do Pyeong-su drank from his Hwa-cha as if nothing had happened.
“This tea really never gets tiresome, no matter how much you drink it. Just like the wine we make. Don’t you think?”
Everyone stared at Do Pyeong-su without moving.
“What? Ah, of course the wine we make is far superior.”
They continued watching him.
“What did I do wrong?”
Seo Seok-san asked.
“Did you not hear what Bi-yeon just said?”
“I was savoring the tea. What did she say?”
“That she’s going to marry you.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“Bi-yeon.”
Do Pyeong-su looked at Eun Bi-yeon with a bewildered expression.
“You want to marry me?”
In response to Do Pyeong-su’s question, Eun Bi-yeon nodded.
“Yes, brother.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you.”
“Who does?”
“I do.”
“Why?”
Yeon Geum-hong suddenly shouted.
“Repeating the same thing! Are you a broken record!”
“It doesn’t make sense. Why would Bi-yeon marry me? If she were still the wrinkled old woman from before, fine—but she’s become this beautiful after undergoing Ban-no Hwan-dong.”
“Because I love you.”
“Why?”
Just as Yeon Geum-hong was about to hurl the teacup she’d been gripping at Do Pyeong-su, Geom U-bin spoke.
“Look, Eun Bi-yeon is saying she loves Do and wants to marry him. Even if you don’t understand it, Do, let’s just accept that it’s true.”
Once Geom U-bin had clarified things, he turned to Do Pyeong-su and asked.
“What do you think?”
“I don’t like it.”
This time all eyes turned to Eun Bi-yeon. Unexpectedly, her expression remained calm.
“I never expected to win Pyeong-su’s heart right away. Please give me time to show you. And…….”
Eun Bi-yeon’s gaze shifted to Geom U-bin.
“From now on, I’ll need to change how I address you as well. You’re Pyeong-su’s senior, so I should call you uncle, but it’s too soon for that yet. So please refrain from calling me aunt.”
“There’s no need to rush things like that…….”
“The hierarchy should be made clear.”
“Then what should I call you?”
Seo Seok-san spoke.
“Miss would suit you well enough. The name fits your appearance perfectly. But what can Bi-yeon do well? Oseong Jang-won doesn’t permit idleness.”
“I’m thinking of making and selling the flower tea that you’re all drinking now. While I’m here in Hangju, I’ve already found a place to cultivate tea. I need to earn my keep too.”
Eun Bi-yeon continued, rising to her feet.
“Where should I stay?”
There were plenty of empty rooms, so a servant was summoned and given one to offer. Not intentionally, but it was in the building directly next to the one where Do Pyeong-su’s quarters lay.
The moment Eun Bi-yeon left, Do Pyeong-su spoke.
“I have no intention of marrying Bi-yeon.”
“Don’t make such hasty decisions.”
Seo Seok-san chimed in.
“Right. A miracle has come your way—a young and beautiful woman who likes you. You can’t just throw that away lightly.”
“Women are troublesome.”
“What did you say?”
Do Pyeong-su repeated himself to the bristling Yeon Geum-hong: women were troublesome. Seo Seok-san offered comfort.
“He doesn’t see you as a woman, that’s all.”
“That makes it worse, you bald fool!”
“What did I do?”
Do Pyeong-su, who had been pondering something, turned to Yeon Geum-hong.
“What did I do wrong to Bi-yeon?”
“Why are you asking such a strange question?”
“Otherwise, why would she come all this way just to torment me?”
“How is asking you to marry her tormenting you?”
“That is tormenting me. Think about it. If you said you’d marry me, wouldn’t that be tormenting?”
“If I said I’d marry you, that would just mean I’d lost my mind.”
“Then has Bi-yeon lost her mind?”
Yeon Geum-hong shook her head firmly and stood up.
“Try to do better from now on. I don’t quite know what better means, but try.”
Watching Yeon Geum-hong leave the room, Geom U-bin reflected.
‘This is clearly a storm out of nowhere. Trouble from an unexpected quarter.’

***

Eun Bi-yeon looked different from yesterday. Where she had worn dark indigo and martial garb before, she now appeared in pink—a brighter outfit that revealed the curves of her body.
“How do I look?”
Do Pyeong-su had no choice but to answer, “Beautiful.” Despite the cheerful change of clothes, Eun Bi-yeon’s cold expression suggested she might throw a punch if the answer displeased her.
“Oh right! I was supposed to ask with a smiling face.”
A fairly convincing smile appeared, but her eyes betrayed her. Seo Seok-san quietly asked Yeon Geum-hong.
“What advice did you give Bi-yeon?”
“I wouldn’t do such a thing.”
“Then it must be Sang Nam-jae’s wife.”
Eun Bi-yeon drew close to Do Pyeong-su, nearly within arm’s reach, and took a deep breath.
“This is nice.”
“What is?”
“Your scent.”
“Ugh!”
Three of the Hyeolpung Saja were forced to leave the room.
Eun Bi-yeon followed Do Pyeong-su around all day long. At mealtimes, while drinking tea, even during cultivation practice, she stayed at his side, maintaining a constant distance.
Even Do Pyeong-su’s dull nature began to notice her presence. Yet he couldn’t say anything against it, for though she was always nearby, she wasn’t actually a nuisance.
Rather, whenever he felt thirsty, she brought him delicious tea, and when the heat became oppressive, she fanned him cool.
“Such devotion, such devotion.”
“I’m jealous.”
“Hmph.”
Yeon Geum-hong, Seo Seok-san, and Jang Man-dok each offered a comment as they passed, and each time Do Pyeong-su wore a satisfied smile.
Yet strangely, he was not entirely at ease. So it was on the fourth night, after two days had passed.
Do Pyeong-su’s eyes snapped open at an odd sensation. A chill sharp enough to wake him from sleep sent him scrambling from the bed.
‘Has an enemy attacked?’
Just as Do Pyeong-su was about to rise from the floor, he froze in shock. Between the slightly ajar door, eyes gleamed.
Those eyes, which he had seen so many times over the past two days that they had become familiar, were unmistakably Eun Bi-yeon’s.
“What are you doing there?”
Eun Bi-yeon opened the door just a crack wider, showing half her face.
“I was watching Do Pyeong-su sleep.”
“Why are you watching me sleep?”
“I just wanted to.”
To her straightforward answer, Do Pyeong-su replied just as plainly.
“Don’t do that anymore. It wakes me up.”
“I see. Understood.”
Eun Bi-yeon returned to her room, and Do Pyeong-su lay back down on the bed.
‘Sleep’s gone now.’
Before he could take three breaths, sleep crept back. The next morning when Do Pyeong-su opened his eyes and went to rise, he stopped short.
Eun Bi-yeon stood before his door holding a bowl of water.
“A bowl of water in the morning is the start of longevity.”
“Is that so? Thank you.”
Do Pyeong-su drank the water refreshingly, then stepped out after a quick trip to the privy. There, like dust that floats everywhere, he encountered Eun Bi-yeon again.
She held out a washing basin brimming with water.
“You should wash your hands.”
“There’s no real need for that.”
Washing his hands after using the privy was a habit Do Pyeong-su didn’t have. When he refused, a chill suddenly rose from the basin—crack! The oil-treated wooden basin shattered.
The water had frozen, shattering the wood into pieces.
“I understand.”
She hadn’t flared up in anger. But the sight of Eun Bi-yeon turning away with that blank expression sent a chill down Do Pyeong-su’s spine.

***

Three people kept glancing back at Do Pyeong-su, and Do Pyeong-su kept turning around.
Exactly one pace behind him, Eun Bi-yeon continued to follow.
Yeon Geum-hong, teaching martial arts to Se-hwa, heard Do Pyeong-su’s telepathic transmission.
—Help me out.
—Why?
—Can’t you see?
She wanted to pretend not to notice. Nothing good would come of stepping between those two.
But it was hard to turn away from Do Pyeong-su, who looked ready to cry any moment.
“Bi-yeon, come here.”
“But I want to stay here and catch your scent, brother. Your nape is pretty too.”
“You troublemaker, come on!”
Yeon Geum-hong led Eun Bi-yeon around back and spoke.
“You’ve courted a man before, haven’t you? Did you forget because it was so long ago?”
“What did I do wrong?”
“If you cling to him all day, do you think Pyeong-su will like it?”
“I’m not bothering him at all.”
“Your very presence bothers him. It would bother me too.”
“But I want to be together.”
“Then be with him secretly!”
“Will that work? Alright.”
Yeon Geum-hong watched Eun Bi-yeon leave and muttered, ‘What’s she understood exactly?’
Eun Bi-yeon went to Sang Nam-jae’s quarters, but he wasn’t there—only Go Shin-ji was sewing.
“Should I call you that?”
Go Shin-ji, who had been watching Eun Bi-yeon intently, resumed her needlework as she spoke.
“Yes, call me however feels natural.”
“I hear your husband is counted among Murim’s greatest killers.”
“He was counted among them. Now he’s just a worker at Oseong Jang-won.”
“I want to learn something from your husband.”

***

At a drinking gathering after a long while, Eun Bi-yeon kept filling Do Pyeong-su’s cup throughout.
When she chilled the Oseong Wine with her Han-gi, it tasted even better.
“Pyeong-su’s caught on the hook. With Bi-yeon being so young and beautiful, saying she wants to be with you—what more could you ask for?”
Even Yeon Geum-hong, tipsy from drink, nodded in agreement.
“Right. Bi-yeon would be wasted on Pyeong-su.”
Everyone said the same thing, but Do Pyeong-su didn’t particularly feel pleased. The wine tasted good enough, yet it felt as though someone had placed a heavy boulder on his shoulders, leaving him stifled and restless.
“You lot are envious, aren’t you?”
Do Pyeong-su took pains not to betray his unease. He was content to bask in their envy, and besides—if he showed even a hint of hesitation, Eun Bi-yeon would likely freeze the entire room solid.
Once the drinking was over and he’d returned to his quarters, Eun Bi-yeon swiftly spread bedding on the mattress for him.
“Thank you.”
The words had left Do Pyeong-su’s lips without much thought. But Eun Bi-yeon, who had begun to turn away, slowly pivoted back to face him.
“If that is your wish.”
Eun Bi-yeon removed her outer robe.
“What—what are you doing?”
“You said you were grateful, didn’t you?”
“I said thanks, not to take your clothes off!”
“Was that not the signal? I had assumed it was.”
Eun Bi-yeon dressed herself again as she spoke.
“When you are ready, you need only tell me. I can wait ten years, a hundred years—whatever time you need.”
The words ‘Don’t wait’ rose to Do Pyeong-su’s throat, then fell away unspoken.
And here stood the great Do Pyeong-su, unable to voice what he truly wished to say.
‘This isn’t right. This absolutely isn’t right!’
Geom U-bin had come to realize, through his clashes with Dong Tam-rab, how vital it was to experience many different schools of Martial Arts.
That was why he had requested Sparring with Eun Bi-yeon. Hyeolpung Saja, Hang Ju-sa-ung, and Gong Seong-tak had all come to observe the match between Geom U-bin and Eun Bi-yeon.

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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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