Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 224

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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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#Episode 224

“I heard a few days ago that the Oseong Merchant Association has expanded into Anhui Province.”
“Yes, that’s why I came here as well. This time I’ve come in my capacity as Lord of the Oseong Jang-won.”
The moment business was mentioned, Geom U-bin’s demeanor became more dignified.
“Weren’t you a junior lord?”
“The master said whether there are four lords or five lords, what’s the difference? So he promoted me to lord as well.”
Though in truth, how Hang Ju-sa-seon treated Geom U-bin was not as a nephew but as a superior, so titles were meaningless.
“Then you didn’t come merely to pay respects.”
One could tell from the fact that he specifically made clear he had come as a lord.
“That’s not it entirely, but since I’ve come this far, how could I pass by the Namgung Family without calling?”
Geom U-bin continued, having paid proper respect to Namgung Cheol-un’s dignity.
“Our small trading house, which began in Hefeii, has encountered a minor problem.”
“What sort of problem?”
“The Daewoon Merchant Association. The foremost trading house in Anhui Province.”
From the moment he broached the subject, Namgung Cheol-un had already suspected it might be the Daewoon Merchant Association. The trouble was that the Daewoon Merchant Association, which had endured in Anhui Province for a hundred years as everyone coveted it, existed precisely because they possessed the means and the skill to maintain their position. The Daewoon Merchant Association had earned its notorious reputation for stopping at nothing—employing any method—to drive out rival trading houses that attempted to expand into Anhui Province.
Yet no one dared move against them, for the power built upon their wealth was formidable.

“You’re asking for our help, then?”
He had hoped that would be the answer.
Though the methods of the Daewoon Merchant Association did not sit well with him, in truth they had been donating substantial sums to the Namgung Family every year.
He had done nothing special for them in return, yet it was difficult to refuse the money and gifts they tendered, claiming it was merely courtesy toward the hegemon of Anhui Province.
Once one begins accepting gifts, it becomes difficult to refuse them again.
Yet the Namgung Family was not especially in their debt.
Though the relationship could not be easily severed given what had been received thus far, if the other party were the Oseong Jang-won, the justification would be clear, and it would not pose a significant problem, or so he thought.
And if he incurred a debt to the Oseong Jang-won this time, wouldn’t that be invaluable in thinking of the future?
But Geom U-bin shook his head.
‘Indeed, the Oseong Jang-won would never ask for help over something like the Daewoon Merchant Association.’
Namgung Cheol-un caught himself, disheartened.
“How could I accept such obligation? I merely fear that if friction arises between us and the Daewoon Merchant Association, the Namgung Family might become involved.”
Geom U-bin had elevated the standing of the Namgung Family somewhat.
Namgung Cheol-un’s expression softened.
“Do you have confidence in winning such a conflict?”
“There will hardly be a conflict to speak of.”
Namgung Cheol-un believed it would be so.
He found himself evaluating the Oseong Jang-won highly—so much so it puzzled him.
“I understand. The Namgung Family will not entangle itself in any dispute between the two trading houses.”
“Thank you.”
“What thanks are owed? Strictly speaking, we are closer to the Oseong Jang-won anyway.”
What followed was light conversation, and the time spent was not long.
“Look, Hye-yeon is signaling that we’re taking up far too much of your time.”
“I—I did no such thing.”
“Come now, off with you.”
Geom U-bin and Namgung Hye-yeon departed, turning to survey the Namgung Estate.
The last time he had visited, his mind had been too occupied with the Hyeolpung Saja to properly appreciate the Namgung Estate.
Though the Oseong Jang-won was somewhat larger in scale, the timeless elegance impressed upon the Namgung Estate was unrivaled.
Namgung Hye-yeon walked here and there, recounting the histories woven into the stone pagodas, the ancient trees, the well, and other features.
“This is where the family’s members cultivate their martial arts.”
Namgung Hye-yeon was sharing legendary tales as they stood in the open courtyard of the back grounds when Geom U-bin suddenly halted, his words careful.
“Actually, there’s something I need to ask of you.”
Upon seeing Geom U-bin’s earnest expression, Namgung Hye-yeon reflexively asked in return.
“What is it?”
“Truth be told, I didn’t want to ask because it might be terribly rude, but I can’t hold it back any longer. It’s something only you can help me with.”
The words “only you” set Namgung Hye-yeon’s heart racing.
“G-go on. What is there between us that can’t be spoken?”
“Then I won’t hold back—I’ll tell you plainly, and you needn’t worry about refusing.”
Namgung Hye-yeon felt the pause stretch before his response like an eternity. And then, at last, those long-awaited words arrived.
“A sparring match.”
Namgung Hye-yeon doubted her own ears.
“I’d like to experience the Daewoon Dragon Sword Technique of the Namgung Family. I’ve heard that the Daewoon Dragon Sword Technique using a soft sword is wielded only by the women of your house. They say the form variations are spectacular and the sword patterns sublime—I’ve been dying to try it myself. And it seems you’re the only person in the Namgung Family right now who can teach me that art. Do you know the Daewoon Dragon Sword Technique?”
For Geom U-bin, who had never faced a soft sword, it would be an invaluable experience.
But Namgung Hye-yeon’s hopes unraveled like a scarecrow shredded by the blade.
“So you’re saying this sparring match is what you’ve been asking me about with such a serious face?”
“Yes! I’d really appreciate it!”
Watching Geom U-bin’s bright expression, Namgung Hye-yeon grasped the soft sword that had been coiled like a belt around her waist.
“I might kill you.”
“Thank you. I’m grateful you’re taking this seriously.”
It was the first moment Geom U-bin began to irritate her.
“Be careful!”
As she infused her martial force, the soft sword sang—a sharp, crystalline sound—and stiffened into rigidity.
“I’ll do my absolute best!”
Geom U-bin, his left hand clasped behind his back, flickered his right hand forward.
Though he claimed to be giving his all, Namgung Hye-yeon employed only the Five Seals’ martial force, mindful that Geom U-bin might be hurt, as she deployed her sword techniques.
The Namgung Family’s Daewoon Dragon Sword Technique was renowned for its bold, muscular power. Even as a woman, Namgung Hye-yeon possessed such mastery of martial force that she wielded the family sword art flawlessly.
Though merely a soft sword, it carried a weight heavier than any broadsword, a pressure that descended upon Geom U-bin. Yet the blade pierced only empty air where he had stood.
In the next instant, Namgung Hye-yeon felt something touch her throat.
Geom U-bin, who had evaded the strike and closed the distance to counterattack, was barely visible.
The gap was too stark, even with her restraint to just the Five Seals’ force. Geom U-bin laughed at Namgung Hye-yeon, who stood speechless in shock.
“Would you mind going a bit harder?”
“This time, really be careful.”
Namgung Hye-yeon realized she had no need to hold back at all.
From that moment on, she unleashed the most magnificent Daewoon Dragon Sword Technique she could muster. The brilliant forms and subtle variations that Geom U-bin craved flashed like a dazzling net before his eyes.
Trapped within the shower of sword fragments erupting from all sides, Geom U-bin suddenly struck the flat of the soft sword as it came writhing toward him like a serpent, batting it aside with his fist.
Then he pierced through the shattered web of steel and drove forward like the wind itself.
Tap.
He only pressed lightly against her shoulder.
That alone made the victor clear.
Yet Namgung Hye-yeon, struggling to control the momentum of her retreating blade, lost her balance even from that gentle contact.
One of her feet left the ground, and her body began to tilt.
Geom U-bin, seeing this, moved once more.
He caught the falling Namgung Hye-yeon carefully in both hands.
“Are you all right?”
At his words, Namgung Hye-yeon came to herself.
She saw the concern in his eyes, felt the warmth of his gaze holding hers, and sensed the firm, solid muscle of a man’s back and waist supporting her.
“Well, sparring isn’t so bad after all.”
For both of them, it had been a satisfying match.

After the sparring ended, Geom U-bin visited Namgung Cheol-un before departing.
The invitation to stay the night was not mere courtesy.
Among those disappointed by his polite refusal, Namgung Hye-yeon was clearly foremost.
“You’re heading straight back to Hangju?”
“No, sir. Since I’ve come this far, I thought I might visit the Oseong Merchant Association.”
“I see. If you have business in Hubei Province, it would be wise to exercise caution. The Hyeol-geom Sura has been causing trouble with his reappearance.”
Geom U-bin had heard the epithet “Hyeol-geom Sura” only once before.
Yet he could recall it instantly—because it was Seo Seok-san who had spoken it.
―Besides the Shaolin Abbot and the Mudang Faction Patriarch, I’d say the Hyeol-geom Sura would be in that conversation. In my judgment, among those three, the Hyeol-geom Sura is the strongest.
It was Seo Seok-san’s answer to Geom U-bin’s question: who was the strongest in the Murim, apart from the Bloodwind Four Lions.
“I heard he had vanished for a decade, but it seems he’s begun operating again.”
“The Chuyeong Order is pursuing him. Though not only the Murim Alliance hunts him—he’s committed heinous acts across so many places.”
It differed from what Seo Seok-san had told him, but Geom U-bin saw no reason to defend the Hyeol-geom Sura.
“If he hadn’t killed a Jongnam Sect elder recently, he’d have been forgotten entirely. Especially since the Gae Bang is gnashing their teeth over it.”
“A Jongnam Sect elder is dead—and the Gae Bang is involved?”
“The dead Jongnam Sect elder, Wang Il-seok, was the blood brother of Wang Sang-u, an elder of the Gae Bang.”
It was unusual enough that brothers held elder positions in different sects.
“With the Gae Bang’s master himself now in pursuit, it’s only a matter of time before he’s caught.”
Namgung Hye-yeon said this.
“How could someone like that cross paths with U-bin in this vast world?”
“True enough, but the Murim is also a narrow place when business brings people together.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Geom U-bin offered his respects to Namgung Cheol-un, who had walked him to the gate, and his gaze shifted to Namgung Hye-yeon.
“Let’s see each other again soon.”
“Yes, next time I’ll come find you at Oseong Jang-won.”
Neither of them could have known when that would be. And so Namgung Hye-yeon’s eyes were full of longing as she watched Geom U-bin recede into the distance.
Leaving that longing behind, Geom U-bin turned a corner on the winding path where the Namgung Estate was no longer visible, and glimpsed two people passing on horseback.
They did not know Geom U-bin, but he recognized them through Face Recognition Technique.
‘The lord and the chief administrator of the Daewoon Merchant Association.’
There was only one reason they would visit the Namgung Estate, but they would find it difficult to achieve their aim.
There was no possibility whatsoever that Namgung Cheol-un would choose the Daewoon Merchant Association over Oseong Jang-won.
“The association will have to think about winning through legitimate commerce.”

***

Those who followed Noh Dae-sul were eight disciples, led by So Gi-cheon.
A considerable number of the Gae Bang disciples had been mobilized to pursue Hyeol-geom Sura—Maeng Mang-do—but Noh Dae-sul had carefully selected only his eight most trusted disciples to form the pursuit squad.
As Noh Dae-sul climbed the ridge of Yeongsan, which lay on the border between Anhui Province and Hubei Province, he raised an arm toward the disciples following him.
“The smell of blood is strong here.”
Sniffing the air, Noh Dae-sul climbed the ridge where there was no path and stopped before two graves standing side by side.
His sense of smell, refined through years with alcohol, could detect the scent of blood quite well.
Five bodies lay scattered on and between the graves and on the altar—warriors bearing the insignia of the Murim Alliance.
Noh Dae-sul muttered as he examined the corpses with pierced heads, necks, and hearts.
“It’s definitely Hyeol-geom Sura.”
Having confirmed wounds that looked like they were made by an awl, Noh Dae-sul asked his disciples, “Which way do you think he went?”

Jeon Jin-seong, the first disciple, surveyed the surroundings and pointed northwest.
“This way, sir.”
At fifty-two years old, a man could ordinarily have become an elder or the leader of an entire sect, yet Jeon Jin-seong still held only the position of first disciple, never even reaching the rank of junior master.
“Why do you think so?”
“There are clear footprints here to the northwest, showing the use of Lightness Technique.”
Though he had not yet achieved the rank of junior master, Jeon Jin-seong spoke with confidence.
“Does anyone disagree?”
Jeon Jin-seong’s opinion was sound, and no one raised objections. But then, a moment later, So Gi-cheon opened his mouth.
“I think it’s the opposite direction.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Isn’t it strange that someone being pursued would leave such clear traces?”
Jeon Jin-seong spoke up.
“So you’re saying we should ignore the clear evidence and chase clouds instead?”
It was Noh Dae-sul who answered.
“Evidence or the fugitive’s psychology—it’s a choice we have to make. Each of you can choose what you believe in.”
Jeon Jin-seong asked, “Are you saying we should split up and track in both directions?”

“That would be more efficient.”
“You don’t actually think Gi-cheon’s opinion is sound, do you?”
“The possibility isn’t entirely without merit.”
Jeon Jin-seong let out a quiet sigh and spoke.
“Then I’ll follow the trail. What will the rest of you do?”

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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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