Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 31

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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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#031

At last, three years of Seclusion Training had come to an end.
Without even needing to test himself against anyone, Dong Chang-min could feel that his Martial Arts had risen to a level incomparable to where they stood three years prior.
‘At this level, I doubt I’d find many among the Late-Stage Masters who surpass me.’
His confidence was not mere arrogance.
“Will you be visiting Geom U-bin?” Gam U-pyeong asked.
Dong Chang-min shook his head.
“That fool? I’m past caring about him now. If we fought today, I could crush him in a single move. Do you have any news of Namgung Hye-yeon?”
It was the thought of Namgung Hye-yeon alone that had sustained him through those three years of hell.
“She’s likely at the Namgung Family Estate,” Gam U-pyeong ventured.
Since it was a place his mother’s family visited only once or twice a year, the assumption seemed reasonable enough.
“Then with nothing better to do, should I go settle things with Geom U-bin instead?”
The two of them made their way to the Wolha Pavilion together.
“As for U-bin, I heard he left for Beijing to pursue his studies in writing. So these days the household staff have been taking turns delivering spirits here.”
“When is he expected to return?” Dong Chang-min asked.
“At least five years from now, or so I’m told.”
“Damn it.”
Frustrated, Dong Chang-min returned to the Dong Clan Estate, where Dong Seong-bang found him waiting.
“You need to make a trip to the Jegal Family Estate.”
“What business do we have with the Jegal Family?”
“The former patriarch is holding his Retirement Ceremony. I ought to attend myself, but I have pressing matters to attend to at that time. From the looks of it, your progress in Martial Arts is not unremarkable, and you’ve come of age—it’s high time you made a name for yourself in Murim.”
And so, having emerged from three years of Seclusion Training without meeting Namgung Hye-yeon or sparring with Geom U-bin, Dong Chang-min found himself bound for the Jegal Family Estate.

***

“The Jegal Family Estate?”
“Yes. The four messengers who’ve been delivering spirits on your behalf these past years couldn’t make decisions on their own, so they deferred. It’s fortunate you’ve come. My, how you’ve changed—I wouldn’t have recognized you on the street.”
Three years of Seclusion Training had transformed Geom U-bin from a boy into a young man. At merely thirteen years old, one could easily believe him seventeen without raising an eyebrow.
“How did the Jegal Family learn of Sagi Liquor and place an order?” Geom U-bin asked.
“You wouldn’t know, but word of Sagi Liquor has spread as far as Hubei Province and Shandong Province. Not long ago, someone from Shandong traveled all the way here just to taste it.”
The world seemed full of wealthy people with too much time on their hands.
“How much does the Jegal Family require?”
“They said the more the better, but that was difficult. We told them we could manage up to two hundred bottles if necessary.”
“It must be quite a grand celebration.”
“The Retirement Ceremony of the former patriarch—not exactly a modest affair.”
The Retirement Ceremony of a former patriarch of one of the Five Great Families of Murim, stepping back from all his debts and duties in Murim, was certainly a momentous occasion.
“Though the event is still a month away, since we must travel to Hubei Province, we should prepare early.”
Two hundred bottles of Sagi Liquor was too great a quantity for one person to carry alone.
‘If I said I’d pull the cart myself, the masters would have a fit, wouldn’t they?’
That was when the Seoyang Express House came to mind.
If Geom U-bin entrusted the shipment to the Seoyang Express House and traveled as an escort, the Bloodwind Four Lions would not object to him making the journey alone.
Leaving the Wolha Pavilion, Geom U-bin turned his steps toward the Seoyang Express House.

True to Hangju’s reputation as the largest city, the Seoyang Express House commanded an impressive span of grounds.
Cargo carts continued to move in and out, and the space for loading goods and the warehouse itself were extraordinarily vast.
Amid dozens of workers bustling about, Geom U-bin sought out the chief administrator.
Jeon Pil-seong, the chief administrator, had regarded the simply dressed and youthful Geom U-bin with indifference until he heard the boy’s name, then started in surprise.
“You wouldn’t be the one they call Sochu Seon, would you?”
“I am.”
Geom U-bin smiled faintly in acknowledgment.
“I haven’t heard that name in ages.”
“Goodness! Forgive me for not recognizing such an esteemed guest! I’ve seen you once before… but you’ve changed beyond recognition.”
Jeon Pil-seong ushered Geom U-bin into the reception room and brought out tea served only to the most valued clients.
Long ago, the reputation of the Hangju Oseong had surpassed that of the Seoyang Express House.
Lavish hospitality was only natural, regardless of the client’s purpose.
“What brings the owner of Seoyang Express House to us, if I may ask?”
“I’d like to entrust you with a shipment bound for the Jegal Family.”
“Ah! I heard the previous master of the Jegal Family is holding a retirement ceremony.”
“There must be quite a few items going to the Jegal Family through Seoyang Express House, then?”
“Yes, that seems to be the case.”
“Actually, I was hoping you might transport three hundred bottles of Sagi Liquor along with the shipment.”
Jeon Pil-seong’s expression shifted, betraying a moment of discomfort.
“Three hundred… bottles?”
“Yes, quite a substantial quantity.”
“Indeed it is. Three hundred bottles of Sagi Liquor would be considerable in volume, and given how precious the liquor is, I do have some reservations.”
Should goods be stolen or damaged en route, Seoyang Express House would bear full responsibility. Therefore, regardless of volume, expensive items naturally commanded premium transport fees.
“Please set the price at whatever you deem appropriate.”
Geom U-bin didn’t bother asking for a specific figure.
Yet he held confidence that Seoyang Express House would deal fairly with him.
As Geom U-bin turned to leave, Jeon Pil-seong spoke up.
“Oh, one more thing! This transport route will require a slight detour. We need to make a stop at the Namgung Family in Anhui Province. Would that be acceptable?”
“That poses no problem at all.”
“I’m relieved. Though, if I may ask…”
“Yes?”
“Will you be accompanying this transport journey yourself?”
“It seems I will be.”
Jeon Pil-seong’s face noticeably brightened at this reply. Geom U-bin didn’t know why, but the reason for Jeon Pil-seong’s pleasure was Namgung Hye-yeon. Every time she visited Seoyang Express House, there wasn’t a soul in the establishment unaware of her curiosity about Geom U-bin.
The prospect of bringing Geom U-bin to the Namgung Family estate was a source of undisguised delight.
How could he not be pleased?
“Besides, we’ve been thinking of expanding our sales network into other provinces.”
“Excellent, absolutely excellent. I believe we can be of considerable help in that regard.”
Geom U-bin left the express house accompanied by Jeon Pil-seong’s courteous farewell.
Once outside Seoyang Express House, the reality of an imminent long journey finally settled in. Though Geom U-bin possessed little of a child’s naïveté, neither was he immune to the thrill of travel.
Returning to the estate, Geom U-bin’s expression grew puzzled at the sight before him.
“You’re… you’re back?”
Se-hwa greeted him from a deep squat position.
“Se-hwa, what are you doing?”
“Master says I must walk in the Duck Walk from today onward.”
Despite the bitter cold, her body was drenched in sweat.
“Ah, so it’s lower-body conditioning.”
“Ugh! I don’t want to condition my lower body! My calves have gotten as thick as my thighs!”
“A warrior’s strength comes from the legs, so work hard at it.”
“Welcome back. You’ve been out?”
Kang Seo-sam-ak, his greeting warm, was also performing the Duck Walk while drenched in sweat.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“We were once accomplished masters in Murim, and here we are, a full year into physical conditioning. It’s just too…”
A low voice cut Gal Ma-pyeong’s words short.
“Too what?”
At Do Pyeong-su’s tone, Gal Ma-pyeong’s head burrowed into his body like a turtle retreating into its shell.
“Too keen to continue! Yes! Ha ha ha!”
“Good attitude. Then we’ll increase the weight on your ankles from five catties to ten.”
Palms struck the back of Gal Ma-pyeong’s head from O Tong-su and Go Seo-bang.
“Now look what you’ve done with your big mouth!”
“Go on inside and get the weights increased!”
Wailing, they shuffled forward in their awkward squat-walk.
“How come you never made me do that?”
“Ah, putting a natural genius like you through that would be a waste of time. Did you get a good look at the city during your visit?”
“Yes. I received a new order.”
“If we’re looking to expand into new markets, we’ve already got more distribution channels than we can handle.”
Do Pyeong-su’s words drew a grin from Geom U-bin.
“It seems word of Sagi Liquor has spread all the way to the Jegal Family.”
“The Jegal Family? You mean one of the Five Great Families?”
“The previous master of the Jegal Family is holding a retirement ceremony. They’re planning to bring two hundred bottles of Sagi Liquor.”
Sharp-eyed Yeon Geum-hong didn’t miss Geom U-bin’s choice of words—”planning to bring.”
“You’re going in person, Mister?”
“I’ve already contracted Seoyang Express House to handle the heavy work. I’ll just follow along.”
Before the Bloodwind Four Lions could respond, Geom U-bin beat him to it.
“I’d like to make this transport journey alone.”
As expected, the Bloodwind Four Lions jumped to his feet.
“You can’t possibly travel that distance by yourself! Absolutely not!”
“I won’t be alone—I’ll be with Seoyang Express House…….”
“Those fools would blow away at the first breeze! They’re worse than useless!”
Despite offering various reasons, his true concern boiled down to this: he couldn’t bear to let Geom U-bin travel alone.
“You said you’d raise me to be the Supreme Master of Ancient and Modern, didn’t you? How can I ever reach that height if I can’t even handle a simple transport journey on my own? You and Master know better than anyone that my martial arts aren’t weak.”
The Bloodwind Four Lions was wounded by Geom U-bin’s insistence on going alone, but the boy had a point. He couldn’t keep Geom U-bin cradled in his arms forever.
“The route isn’t dangerous at all. It will be good experience for me.”
He’d never won an argument with Geom U-bin before. There was no reason to expect this one to end differently.
The Bloodwind Four Lions finally nodded, his face looking as though he might burst into tears at any moment.

***

Geom U-bin stopped by Seoyang Express House, signed the contract, and paid the deposit.
Now only departure remained. His heart was light as he walked forward, when he heard someone calling urgently from behind.
“Master! Master!”
He turned to see a grimy child of about seven years old rushing toward him with desperate haste.
“Please, please help me!”
“What’s wrong?”
“My brother—he’s being beaten… I think he’s dying. Please….”
He couldn’t turn away from the desperate plea written across the child’s face.
“Where is he?”
“Chohyang District. Hurry!”
Chohyang District was one of Hangju’s notorious slums, a considerable distance away.
Geom U-bin followed the child’s hurrying figure, asking as they went.
“You came all the way here from there?”
“I asked people for help… but nobody would listen.”
Tales of people turning away from others’ misfortune were nothing new.
Geom U-bin quickened his pace after the child. And a single gaze that had been tracking him turned away.
‘That’ll do.’

***

Go Seo-bang felt something whiz past his head and looked up.
Thunk!
What flew past his head and lodged in the pillar was an arrow—and a slip of paper was tied to it.
“What is that?”
Using the Duck Walk, Go Seo-bang waddled forward at an awkward gait. He had to hop unexpectedly high just to reach the arrow—a distance he could normally stretch an arm to cover.
“Ow! My ankle’s throbbing! All because of that bastard Gal Ma-pyeong and his heavier shackles…….”
Go Seo-bang unfolded the paper to read its contents and felt his heart stop.
“Master! Master!”

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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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