Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 174

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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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#174

“I need to conduct some business in Shamxi Province.”
“Does it concern the Daseong Merchant Association?”
“Yes. We pushed out the Jo Hwang Clan in Hangju and took over their operations, didn’t we? I think we can do the same in Shamxi Province. According to the official ledger here…….”
Geom U-bin slid three ledgers across the table.
“Since we even have the secret ledger, it should be easier than it was with the Jo Hwang Clan.”
“Establishing a business is not difficult, but maintaining it over such a distance will be challenging. There’s no water route to Shamxi Province either. Roots—the foundation you build in a place—matter more than most people realize. The Oseong Merchant Association has no foothold in Shamxi Province. From the perspective of the merchants and people there, we’re outsiders, and they won’t open their doors to us easily.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course, we could manage it with time and effort, but while we’re doing that, the Daseong Merchant Association will surely rise again. We need to crush them completely all at once so they can never stand. For that, we need an ally from that region.”
“What about the Jegal Family? Hubei Province borders Shamxi Province, so wouldn’t they be better positioned than us?”
“The Jegal Family, with their deep influence in Murim, would be ideal.”
“Then draw up a plan to establish the Oseong Merchant Association in Shamxi Province through the Jegal Family. Take these ledgers and make full use of them.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll send word to the Jegal Family beforehand, so seek out Jegal Hoon.”
Geom U-bin dismissed Bae Do-sang on that note. With Bae’s demonstrated abilities so far, plus the Daseong ledgers and the Jegal Family’s backing, he was confident they could drive out the Daseong Association and establish themselves firmly in Shamxi Province.
As he stepped outside, Se-hwa passed by with a halfhearted greeting, her expression clouded with something. She seemed out of sorts.
Geom U-bin’s path led to the pavilion by the pond. As expected, Hyeolpung Saja was there sipping Oseong Wine.
“How fortunate you’ve arrived. Hwach’a Tea is ready—please, join me.”
Geom U-bin settled into a seat and asked,
“Do you know what’s troubling Se-hwa? She seemed to be in a foul mood.”
Do Pyeong-su tilted his head thoughtfully.
“Didn’t she say something about earning a lot of money? Could that be it?”
“How could she be upset after earning so much money?”
“She mentioned something about us not spending any of it, or that making money seems pointless.”
Geom U-bin pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Ah, I suppose Se-hwa might indeed be disappointed.”
“What could possibly be wrong with having so much money?”
“Se-hwa has lost sleep earning this money. But when no one around her acknowledges her efforts, she might feel let down.”
“It’s just money—what of it?”
Do Pyeong-su spoke thus, though he vaguely understood how essential money was to living in this world. He simply could not fathom those who staked their lives on it.
“It’s just childish sullenness—pay it no mind.”
Yeon Geum-hong’s words drew a shake of Geom U-bin’s head.
“No. I should ease Se-hwa’s heart.”
“Why do you concern yourself so much with Se-hwa?”
“Because she’s family. What meaning does the word ‘family’ have if we don’t care for one another and look after each other?”
“My brother is simply too kindhearted.”
Yeon Geum-hong stood.
“If that’s the reason, cheering her up is simple enough.”
“How?”
“Just tell her you need the money, isn’t that obvious?”
“Is it really that simple?”
“Just watch.”
So they followed Yeon Geum-hong along. Se-hwa was in the back garden, playing with wild grass like a child who’d just been scolded.
And before Se-hwa hung Kang Chan-sik, suspended upside-down from the eaves.
“Ah…… haven’t we gone half a shi-chen yet?”
“There’s still another half to go.”
“But…… it feels like it’s been two shi-chen already?”
“If you keep talking, I’ll add more.”
“No! I’ll stay silent!”
Kang Chan-sik’s face had flushed crimson, and he looked ready to spout blood from his nose and ears at any moment.
This wasn’t cultivation practice, exactly, but Se-hwa was nonetheless inflicting the same penalty and training exercise upon Kang Chan-sik that had once been done to her.
“Se-hwa.”
“Huh? Master, everyone!”
“I have something important to discuss with you.”
“What’s going on? Why are all five of you here……?”
“Come along.”
Yeon Geum-hong spoke with grave intensity, and Se-hwa followed behind her, anxiety shadowing her features.
“How much money do we have on hand right now?”
“Including what Lord Geom brought, the liquid assets we can mobilize immediately amount to roughly eleven million silver taels.”
If anyone else heard this, they would foam at the mouth and faint dead away. Even the Daseong Merchant Association, the wealthiest enterprise in Shamxi Province, had needed to liquidate gold ingots just to scrape together six million taels in ready coin.
True, this figure included the money that Geom U-bin had essentially requisitioned from the Daseong Merchant Association, but even so, this capacity for mobilizing liquid capital would easily place them in the top ten throughout Zhongyuan.
“It’s still far too little.”
“Pardon? What would you need it for?”
“I cannot yet say with certainty, but soon a great wind will sweep through the Murim. We must gather as much wealth as we possibly can to prepare for that day. Eleven million taels barely scratches the surface. Don’t you agree?”
Geom U-bin found himself nodding almost involuntarily.
“Yes, quite right. It does seem rather insufficient.”
Se-hwa bit her lip, her expression hardening with resolve.
“Don’t worry. Capital is plentiful enough—I’ll do my utmost to gather twenty million taels, perhaps even thirty million.”
“Yes, that would be more appropriate.”
“Oh! Speaking of which, I’ve run short on spending money. Se-hwa, might I trouble you for a small sum?”
Se-hwa’s face broke into a brilliant smile.
“Lord Geom, of course! Whenever you need funds, just say the word!”
Se-hwa dashed off merrily and returned bearing a banknote worth fifty thousand taels. Though Geom U-bin accepted it with a pleased expression, he was inwardly bewildered.
‘Where on earth am I going to spend this?’
While Geom U-bin puzzled over this conundrum, someone in the back garden of Oseong Jang-won was gasping for breath on death’s doorstep.
‘Half a mark—it seems like he passed that threshold long ago….’
Kang Chan-sik finally let out a cry.
“Help! Someone help me!”

***

The memorial service held on the mountainside was conducted with such grandeur that over three thousand people attended.
Conducted in the Buddhist tradition, a memorial tower had been erected at the appointed date, and the sound of the monks’ wooden clappers echoed without pause throughout the day.
Geom U-bin visited each family of the victims who attended the memorial service, offering solace to them one by one.
With generous condolence payments and a proper memorial service arranged, there was not a whisper of resentment toward Oseong Jang-won.
After the memorial service concluded, Geom U-bin returned unable to sleep even as the night grew late.
Though he had never met these people before, the fact that they had been part of Oseong Jang-won weighed heavily on his heart.
Having abandoned all hope of sleep, Geom U-bin stepped outside. He thought that walking through the estate as though taking an evening stroll might bring him peace.
When his steps brought him to the Main Gate Courtyard, Jeon Mi-ryeo came around the building and stopped short in surprise.
“M-my lord, what brings you out at such a late hour?”
“That’s what I should be asking you, but since I already know the answer, there’s no need.”
“You already know?”
“Go ahead, then.”
Jeon Mi-ryeo’s startled expression shifted to one of embarrassment as she asked.
“How long have you known?”
“Does it matter?”
“Do you know the reason?”
“No. All I know is that you slip out once a month at night. As long as you bring no harm to Oseong Jang-won, I have no need to know more.”
“I would never do anything to harm the estate.”
“Then that’s settled. Go on, then.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Jeon Mi-ryeo bowed and vaulted over the wall.
“You could have used the gate, you know.”
After circling the estate twice, Geom U-bin was considering heading back to his quarters when someone else suddenly scaled the wall and departed.
Though she moved faster than an arrow, he recognized her at once as Yeon Geum-hong.
“Perhaps I should do away with gates altogether—they seem entirely useless.”

***

Baek Dong-pal no longer startled at Hyeolpung Saja’s sudden visits.
“Today you’ve come alone, I see.”
“Are you disappointed that I came by myself?”
“Not at all. It’s rather pleasant to see the Manthong Association flourishing, don’t you think?”
“You’ve learned to butter people up quite well.”
“But there have been some disturbing rumors spreading through the Murim lately, haven’t there?”
“Rumours of ill omen?”
“That the Huashan Faction’s sect leader has vanished without warning……”
Baek Dong-pal had supplied information about the Huashan Faction, and not long after, their sect leader disappeared—it was only natural that Hyeolpung Saja would fall under suspicion.
“Probably just taking a jaunt somewhere, getting some air.”
“That’s certainly possible.”
Before the conversation could turn further toward Baek Jong-dan, Yeon Geum-hong drew a small box from her sleeve.
“I came for this today.”
“What is it?”
“Look for yourself.”
Baek Dong-pal opened the box’s lid and examined the pill inside, then shook his head slowly.
“With my limited knowledge, I cannot identify what this is.”
“Have you ever heard the name Wol-hyeol Poison?”
Though he couldn’t tell from the pill alone, Baek Dong-pal—a man who dealt in information for his livelihood—could hardly be ignorant of such a famous artifact of the Demonic Cult.
“Wait—did you say Wol-hyeol Poison? That Wol-hyeol Poison from the Demonic Cult?”
“Yes.”
Baek Dong-pal started in alarm, threw the Wol-hyeol Poison onto the table, and vanished with startling haste.
A moment later, he reappeared wiping his hands with a towel.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? If I’d known it was Wol-hyeol Poison, I wouldn’t have touched it at all.”
“There’s no risk of poisoning if you don’t ingest it.”
“Still, one must be cautious in all things.”
Yeon Geum-hong placed the paper that Jang Man-dok had given her on the table.
“This tells us where the ingredients for making Wol-hyeol Poison are sourced. With this, you should be able to determine who made it and when, shouldn’t you?”
Baek Dong-pal threw up his hand suddenly.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m invoking my veto right!”
“What nonsense is this?”
“You want me to meddle in the affairs of the Demonic Cult? Even I have my limits.”
“It’s merely an object the Cult once used.”
“I want no involvement in anything that bears even the character ‘demonic’.”
Yeon Geum-hong’s voice turned cold.
“And what of things bearing the character ‘bloodwind’?”
Baek Dong-pal’s face stiffened and he swallowed dryly. The Demonic Cult was a terror seared into every Murim martial artist’s bone.
Yet that was an abstract dread, whereas Hyeolpung Saja was a blade reeking of iron, held against his throat.
“How long is the deadline? Three years again, perhaps……?”
“Three months. I’ve already brought you information spoon-fed to you. Don’t neglect pursuing your master’s trail either.”
Yeon Geum-hong tossed a pouch of silver coins onto the table and disappeared. Baek Dong-pal’s face brightened instantly as he hastily verified the contents of the pouch.
“Working Hyeolpung Saja’s commissions alone should keep me well-fed. But……”
Baek Dong-pal sank onto his seat, wrapping his hands around his head.
“The Demonic Cult!”

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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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