Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 215

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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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#215

Jang Man-dok examined the boy’s bare body with meticulous care.
Red scabs covered every inch of his skin, though they were visibly healing.
The Gui-myeon Mado-beop was unusual in how it deployed internal power—during cultivation practice, malignant Qi inevitably accumulated in the body. This hideous appearance was the side effect that arose when such corruption wasn’t purged in time.
But once Jang Man-dok adjusted the circulation pathways of the Un-gi Haeng-gong technique and applied medicine, the three boys and two girls gradually began returning to their original forms.
He’d attempted to understand the Hyeolpung Saja’s side effects by studying the Gui-myeon Mado-beop’s, only to discover they were fundamentally different in nature.
So Jang Man-dok found himself, quite unintentionally, performing an act of kindness.
He couldn’t abandon the treatment simply because it had nothing to do with the Hyeolpung Saja’s affliction.
Jang Man-dok handed the medicine to Yang Dae-gong and traced the character for “one month” in the dirt with his finger, marking the timeframe.
“You mean they’ll be fully healed in just one month?”
When Jang Man-dok nodded, eager hope bloomed across all five young faces.
Catching himself taking quiet pleasure in their expressions, he turned away abruptly.
“Lord Jang.”
One of the boys’ voices stopped Jang Man-dok mid-step.
“Once we’re healed, may we visit Oseong Jang-won?”
His answer of “as you wish” came only through his expression, and the five youths missed it entirely.
After Jang Man-dok departed, Yang Dae-gong began brewing the medicine.
Since arriving here, his greatest concern had become not earning money or managing Haenyeong Port, but the healing of these five.
So when Jang Man-dok announced the one-month deadline, Yang Dae-gong felt the joy as keenly as if it were his own matter.
“Now you’ll finally be free of the shackles those cursed pirates put on you.”
One of the boys crouched beside Yang Dae-gong, who was fanning the fire.
“Something on your mind, Sam-ho?”
They were called only by numbers.
The boys and girls surely had names once, but during their captivity by pirates, they’d forgotten even those.
He’d wanted to give them new names out of pity for those called only by digits, but all five had refused.
They expressed their hope to receive names from Jang Man-dok, their benefactor, only after their side effects were completely cured.
So they remained called by numbers one through five.
“But Lord Jang didn’t say anything earlier. Does that mean we shouldn’t visit?”
“Have you ever heard the Lord speak to me?”
All five shook their heads.
“Then has he said a single word to any of you?”
Again, their heads turned side to side.
“That man is simply silent by nature. If he disliked it, he’d have written that down.”
“So we can visit?”
Of course, Yang Dae-gong didn’t know.
He had no gift for reading Jang Man-dok’s expressions—but he didn’t want to disappoint the children just yet.
“Of course you can!”

***

“Um… Commander Gal.”
Though Gwak Bong called out to him, Gal Ma-pyeong remained leaning against the wall, staring off into the distant sky. Even after she called twice more, he didn’t turn his head—a sign he was lost in a sea of thought.
“Commander Gal!”
Only when she raised her voice did Gal Ma-pyeong startle and look at her.
“What?”
“You said you’d make me the head of the Oseong Merchant Association.”
“The Sword Master made that decision.”
“Then why do I have to be doing this?”
Gwak Bong was in a posture of penance—head pressed to the ground, hands clasped behind her back at the waist.
“It’s the best exercise for the neck muscles.”
“But why should I train at all? My martial arts are already more than enough to be the head of the Heuksahoe, aren’t they?”
“More than enough, yes.”
“So?”
“The Sword Master ordered it.”
Whatever Geom U-bin commanded had to be done.
Gwak Bong had to admit it. Yet the question still gnawed at her: why?
“I don’t know either. He just told me to make the Oseong Jang-won people as strong as possible. Originally, he wanted to bring in Provincial Governor Kang—well, that’s what I mean—and have them train too, but he said to wait since he’s busy with provincial matters for now. Either way, it’s an order from the Lord, so I’m doing my best. Next is a handstand. One double hour.”
Gwak Bong flipped upside down without hesitation.
“How long do I have to keep doing this?”
“Until you beat me.”
“That’ll take a while, then.”
Hang Ju-sa-ung practiced cultivation for at least three double hours a day when nothing else demanded his attention. Gwak Bong, by contrast, used her work at the Oseong Pavilion as an excuse to slack off, so by now she was no match for him at all.
After finishing her revenge, Gwak Bong had lost all desire to pursue martial arts. But Geom U-bin was stoking those flames back to life by sheer force of will.
“Are you thinking of your fiancée, the one you left in the North?”
Gwak Bong asked this of Gal Ma-pyeong, who had turned his gaze back toward the distant sky.
“No, nothing really……”
Truth be told, he missed her.
A man who had come late to love—who had learned theft only after his hair had grayed—could be rendered quietly absent like this, over and over, by the person who had found him.
“Oseong Jang-won runs smoothly enough without you, Steward Gal. Why not go visit her? The Palace Master’s fiancée can hardly leave the Northern Ice Palace empty while she comes here, can she?”
“You argue well even while standing on your hands.”
“This much is nothing.”
“Use one arm.”
“Pardon?”
“Too easy means no real training. And I’m doubling the time to two double hours.”
“S-Steward Gal……”
“Still ready to talk, are you? Should I make it one finger?”
Gwak Bong closed her mouth and lifted one arm. Just then, Se-hwa appeared around the corner.
“The Lord wants everyone gathered.”
Since it was an order from Geom U-bin, Gwak Bong scrambled to her feet.
“What’s the matter?”
“Something important must have come up. He’s summoned everyone from the Estate.”
Oseong Jang-won had a Meeting Hall that could hold at least fifty people. It hadn’t been built out of immediate necessity, but rather out of precaution.
There gathered Geom U-bin, the Bloodwind Four Lions, Hang Ju-sa-ung, Gong Seong-tak, and Gwak Bong, along with Sang Nam-jae, Go Shin-ji, and Jeon Mi-ryeo. And last, rushing in breathlessly, came Kang Chan-sik.
“I came running the moment I heard word.”
“I’m sorry to have troubled you when you’re so busy. Provincial Governor.”
“Oh, when the Lord calls, one must wake from sleep and come at once. But it seems something grave has occurred.”
“Yes, I’ve gathered you because I have something important to tell you all. This decision may well determine the fate of myself and all of you.”
The moment Geom U-bin spoke the word “fate,” a wave of tension rippled through the room.
Everyone fell silent, waiting for his next words.
“During my recent visit to the Northern Ice Palace, I uncovered something grave. It’s connected to our Master, Ma Gun-ja.”
Go Seo-bang spoke up.
“Have you uncovered the reason for the Master’s abduction?”
“No. Much remains hidden, but it’s becoming clear that some force is scheming to seize control of the Murim. And so…… Provincial Governor Kang, do you have something to say?”
He asked this because Kang Chan-sik had quietly raised his hand.
“It would help if you first told me who this Ma Gun-ja is. The Ma Gun-ja I know is only one person, and that person is…… surely not?”
“It’s likely the same Ma Gun-ja you know.”
“But that can’t be. The Ma Gun-ja I know is famous for having never taken disciples. Even giving him the benefit of the doubt—if he had taken disciples, they would have to be the Bloodwind Four Lions, which would mean Hang Ju-sa-ung over there is the Bloodwind Four Lions. That doesn’t make sense at all. If I went around saying things like that, people would call me mad. And now you’re saying Geom, the Lord, is a senior of the Bloodwind Four Lions……”
“There were circumstances. My Master took me as his disciple first. And these four here are my disciples—they are the Bloodwind Four Lions. But they didn’t know their disciples were the Bloodwind Four Lions until now?”
“What? What?!”
“Didn’t you tell them?”
At Go Seo-bang’s question, Gal Ma-pyeong shook his head.
“I thought you’d already told them.”
“You mean they still didn’t know that either?”
From murmurs around the room, Kang Chan-sik felt his mind reeling.
“B-but, H-Hang Ju-sa-ung is really t-the B-Bloodwind Four Lions?”
O Tong-su spoke.
“Provincial Governor Kang’s got no eye for people. With four such powerful masters gathered here, who else could the Bloodwind Four Lions be?”
“I don’t lack discernment! Who would think Hang Ju-sa-ung was the Bloodwind Four Lions! It’s like the difference between heaven and earth! He’s an Immortal, for heaven’s sake! An Immortal! The Bloodwind Four Lions are the most vicious, vilest, most cruel scourges of the Murim, harbingers of bloody ruin……!”
Kang Chan-sik, who had been shouting in excitement, suddenly stopped mid-sentence and slowly turned his head toward the Bloodwind Four Lions.
“Heh-heh-heh! I mean, that’s just…… talk……”
It was as good as spitting in the face of the Bloodwind Four Lions. Seo Seok-san called out to Kang Chan-sik in a low voice.
“Provincial Governor Kang.”
Startled, Kang Chan-sik quickly dropped to his knees in his chair.
“Yes!”
“Are you finished talking?”
“I haven’t said anything. Even if I had, it would all be nonsense, the ramblings of someone not in their right mind. So whether I spoke or not, I didn’t!”
“All right. From now on, just listen to what I have to say.”
Kang Chan-sik, both hands clamped over his mouth, nodded vigorously.
Geom U-bin gave him a small smile of reassurance.
“Provincial Governor Kang, please sit comfortably.”
“This is comfortable for me!”
His words came out garbled, his mouth still sealed, yet everyone understood him.
“I’ve already discussed this with my disciples, and they’ve agreed to fight alongside me against whatever is lurking in the shadows. I should warn you—this won’t be an easy fight.”
O Tong-su spoke.
“With Lord Geom and Master Yeon here, how can it be difficult? What level of power have you uncovered?”
Gal Ma-pyeong answered the question.
“The shadow of the Demonic Cult is flickering into view.”
The name “Demonic Cult” froze the entire Meeting Hall in an instant.
Before Ma Gun-ja and the Bloodwind Four Lions appeared, the Demonic Cult had ruled the Murim under the name “Demonic”—all but supreme.
Through the Demonic Cult’s devastation, not only the Orthodox Faction but even sects bearing the name Evil Faction were scattered to ruin, leaving no school of martial arts safe but the Cult itself.
Only when the government and Murim, setting aside their former hostilities, joined forces could they finally drive the Demonic Cult completely from the realm.
“It’s really the Demonic Cult? You’re certain?”
“Would Lord Geom and Master Yeon make a mistake? I’ve confirmed it with my own eyes.”
Yeon Geum-hong spoke.
“We’ve only found traces. We can’t yet be certain they’re from the Demonic Cult. Even if they were, there’s nothing to fear.”
With Geom U-bin and the Bloodwind Four Lions present, fear would be needless. But for everyone else, it was only natural to dread the Demonic Cult.
“I’m not forcing any of you into this fight. I know it may feel like coercion just by speaking of it here, but if you can avoid it, that would be the wise choice.”
Go Seo-bang spoke up.
“Lord Geom, are you asking us whether we’ll run from this fight?”
“Running is perhaps too crude a word. Let’s call it freedom of choice.”
“That’s just splitting hairs. We’re already part of Oseong Jang-won—where would we go? We live here and we’ll die here. If you’re going to fight, then naturally we should be your shield. How could we possibly speak of running? It would make no sense.”
Se-hwa took up Go Seo-bang’s words.
“I’m not particularly worried about whatever force this is. Even if it were the Demonic Cult, Lord Geom and Master Yeon would be stronger.”
Yeon Geum-hong’s expression brightened.
“I must have trained at least one disciple properly.”
“Do I have a voice in this?”
“Of course, Sect Master.”
Gong Seong-tak stood as though about to deliver a grand oration, clearing his throat with a deliberate “Ahem!”
“I’m fighting.”
Then he sat back down.
“That’s all?”
“Is there a rule that I must speak a certain number of words?”
“There isn’t.”
“Then my intent is clear.”
Go Shin-ji spoke.
“I don’t know Martial Arts, and all I have is the status of imperial blood, but I want to do what I can.”
“No. You must sit this fight out, Lady Go.”
Geom U-bin’s reply was quite firm.
“Why?”
“You must think of Ji-u.”
“I am thinking of Ji-u. If my husband and I run away from this, what will I say to Ji-u later? Our lifesavers are fighting the wicked for the greater cause, but we fled because of you. What kind of parents would we be then? The moment we run, we forfeit the right to tell Ji-u to be just and good. We want to be parents who can stand before Ji-u and tell him to walk the righteous path with pride. That’s why we can’t run from this fight—because of Ji-u. Isn’t that right, my love?”
Sang Nam-jae, responding to Go Shin-ji’s question, signaled his agreement with a silent nod, as if to say, “I’ll do whatever you think is best.”

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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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