Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 36

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

#036

“Isn’t that a matter of disciplinary laxity?”
“There’s some truth to that, but I think we should first examine how Hang Ju-sa-sun arrived here.”
“How he arrived?”
“Yes—for instance, if Hang Ju-sa-sun came rushing here after receiving word that a caravan was under attack…?”
“What do you mean? That’s impossible. How far is it from Hangju to here? He couldn’t have made it in that time.”
“Well, if he did manage it…?”
Such a degree of Lightness Skill lay beyond even Namgung Cheol-un’s reach.
“You know yourself that Murim is filled with Eccentric Masters as countless as grains of sand.”
“What was the aura they gave off like?”
“It seemed as though they hadn’t cultivated Martial Arts at all. That’s precisely why I harbor suspicions.”
Namgung Cheol-un nodded slowly.
“You mean they’ve reached a level where they can conceal their aura entirely?”
Once one reaches a certain stage of Martial Arts mastery, one’s energy naturally radiates outward. It’s like body odor—something you cannot hide no matter how much you try.
“If one could contain their aura so perfectly, they would have attained the Half-Step Return to True. Do you realize that in the current Murim, at most fifty masters have achieved that level?”
“Of course. I did wonder if perhaps I’m making a baseless assumption, but even so, I thought it best to treat Hang Ju-sa-sun with utmost respect.”
Even if they were mistaken, Hang Ju-sa-sun were reputable figures in Hangju, so there was no harm in cultivating their friendship.
“By the way, I heard that Namgung Hye-yeon seems to take an interest in Geom U-bin. Is that true?”
Namgung Seong-won’s face brightened with amusement.
“It would seem so. According to the servants, she changed her clothes twelve times upon hearing that Geom U-bin was coming. She’d already set aside an outfit, but then changed it repeatedly.”
“This is awkward. You don’t mean to say that girl is getting married off to that little wine merchant, do you? No matter what, our Namgung Clan cannot be entangled with a mere wine house.”
“There may be complications, but it’s difficult to dismiss them as a mere wine house. You don’t care much for drink, so you may not realize it, but Sagi Wine from Hangju is far more than ordinary spirits. It’s a wine that sells out—people can’t get enough of it. At the pleasure houses they charge sixty silver coins per bottle, and even then you have to grease palms and wait your turn to drink it.”
“Sixty silver coins a bottle? That’s more than a soldier’s annual salary in our clan.”
“Exactly so. A few years back, a strange rumor circulated through Hangju: that Oseong Jang-won had amassed so much silver they didn’t spend it, and the city’s silver supply ran dry.”
“What? Ha ha ha! That’s too much even for a rumor!”
“It may sound exaggerated, but you should ask the Western Trading Company about it. It seems there was more truth to it than mere gossip. So you shouldn’t look down on them as a simple wine house. Moreover, consider all the good deeds they’ve done—why else would they be called Hang Ju-sa-sun? The public support they’ve earned is no small fortune either.”
The Namgung Clan, which reigned as the dominant force in Anhui Province, had been watching for opportunities to expand its influence into Zhejiang Province.
Despite Zhejiang having major cities like Hangju and Suzhou, there were no significant Murim factions besides the Dong Clan.
In that sense, cultivating good relations with Oseong Jang-won could become an excellent bridge for the Namgung Clan’s expansion into Zhejiang.
“We must spare no effort in treating them well.”

***

Hyeolpung Saja learned belatedly from Geom U-bin the full account of what had happened to the caravan.
“Muyeong Sajans? Who in the world are they?”
To Hyeolpung Saja, they were too insignificant—small fry he’d never even heard of.
“Just hearing the name, they sound worthless. Anyway, it’s fortunate they were weak—if they’d been strong, what would we have done?”
Geom U-bin smiled at Seo Seok-san’s remark.
“If they were strong, they would’ve attacked head-on instead of resorting to Illusory Powder. That’s why I let them use it.”
“So when you were tinkering about in my pharmacy at night, you were making an antidote for the Illusory Powder? That’s what Jang Man-dok was saying.”
Do Pyeong-su scratched his head sheepishly. “Ah! So you can read expressions the way my older brother said you could?”
Yeon Geum-hong spoke up.
“Still, in Murim you never know what complications might arise. We should always choose the safest path.”
“I’ll remember that. Are the disciples well? How about the new recruit?”
Only then did Hyeolpung Saja realize he’d left them standing on their heads.
“By now they should be sitting upright. They can’t be that stupid, can they?”
“They probably couldn’t take it this long. If they’ve been like that the whole time, they might not survive.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Huh? Oh, no, it’s nothing. They’re fine. Ha ha ha!”
Before Geom U-bin could ask further, a servant’s voice came from outside.
“The Patriarch requests that you join him for evening meal.”
Hyeolpung Saja was taken aback.
A Patriarch of the Namgung Clan held a position near the very apex of Murim. When such a person invites wine merchants to dine, it means one of two things.
“Was Namgung Cheol-un the type of person worth knowing?”
In response to Do Pyeong-su’s question, Seo Seok-san spoke.
“I’ve heard he has decent skill, but he’s famous for being a fool with more pride than talent.”
“So why would he invite us?”
Geom U-bin offered a timely response to Hyeolpung Saja’s doubts.
“It means the Oseong Jang-won has become formidable enough that even the Namgung Clan must take notice.”
Hyeolpung Saja stared at Geom U-bin with a perplexed expression.
“What do you mean? We just make and sell wine, don’t we?”
“Would anyone call a mere wine merchant by the name Hang Ju-sa-sun?”
“Come on, that’s just some idiot’s fancy naming. We haven’t done anything to deserve it.”
They’d caught a handful of criminals and helped some struggling folk—that was all. And since those deeds were undertaken purely to earn Geom U-bin’s praise, Hyeolpung Saja dismissed it without consequence.
Yet because of the good works Geom U-bin had performed under the name Hang Ju-sa-sun, Hyeolpung Saja was gaining far greater renown throughout Hangju.
“You disciples may not grasp this, but to most, money is power. Disciples, you’re keeping the silver I gave you safe, aren’t you?”
“Yes. We’ve… I mean, we’ve stacked it neatly beneath the bed.”
“I threw mine… I mean, I’ve arranged it properly in the wardrobe.”
“Yeon Geum-hong, you’re so meticulous I have no worries there. Jang—wait, the Medicine Hall? Why on earth are you keeping silver and banknotes at the Medicine Hall?”
Do Pyeong-su’s voice erupted with exasperation.
“You used the banknotes as kindling? It’s not about how many you wasted—it’s that I told you to keep them safe, and you should keep them safe!”
“It’s all right. I’ll be more careful going forward. Either way, the patriarch inviting us to dine means the Oseong Jang-won has grown to a point where even the Namgung Clan cannot afford to ignore us.”
Geom U-bin swelled with pride, but Hyeolpung Saja felt uneasy.
“Fame could be troublesome.”
“The more eyes watching, the greater the chance someone discovers we’re in Hangju.”
Geom U-bin soothed Hyeolpung Saja’s concerns.
“Don’t worry. Who would ever mistake Hang Ju-sa-sun for Hyeolpung Saja?”
“Ha! That’s true.”
Hyeolpung Saja and Hang Ju-sa-sun were names that dwelt at opposite poles of the spectrum.
As they talked, mealtime arrived. Everyone rose, when suddenly Seo Seok-san spoke up.
“Oh! There’s one problem if we go like this!”
Yeon Geum-hong asked.
“What problem?”
“Your face and ours. To look at us, we appear at least twenty years your senior, don’t we?”
“So?”
“If the Namgung people hear us speak to you casually in public, won’t they all think it strange?”
Do Pyeong-su nodded in agreement.
“Right! They’ll think we’re some kind of chaotic household.”
Geom U-bin offered a solution.
“Then couldn’t Yeon Geum-hong just call the three of us older brother?”
Geom U-bin suggested it lightly, but Yeon Geum-hong’s face twisted in horror.
“Absolutely not!”
Even Geom U-bin flinched at Yeon Geum-hong’s vehement reaction.
“It’s only pretend for a moment…”
“Pretend or not, even in a dream I could never call these dimwits older brother!”
“Then what do we do? We can’t stay silent the whole meal.”
At Seo Seok-san’s words, Yeon Geum-hong let out a cry.
“I’m not eating!”

Half an hour later.
“Hehehehe! Allow me to introduce my aunt, Yeon Geum-hong.”
Beside Yeon Geum-hong as she greeted Namgung Cheol-un, Seo Seok-san chimed in.
“Our youngest member. Ehehe…”
“What a pleasure to meet you. Word of Hang Ju-sa-sun’s reputation has reached even us here in Anhui Province.”
Having exchanged pleasantries warmly, they each took their seats.
From the Namgung side, Namgung Cheol-un, Namgung Seong-won, and Namgung Hye-yeon were present.
The circular table was laden with dishes that were immaculate and refined, their flavors excellent.
“Mmm! This roast duck is delicious—the skin’s crispy and the meat so tender.”
“The fish has no fishy smell and it’s perfectly chewy. The Namgung household’s cook is quite skilled.”
“When I get back, I’ll have to tell that fool to learn some cooking.”
Hyeolpung Saja ate with genuine ease.
Despite dining in the very presence of the Namgung patriarch himself, he showed no concern whatsoever.
To them, the patriarch of the Namgung Clan was merely a distant junior who could swing a sword reasonably well; there was no reason for Namgung Cheol-un to intimidate them. Food occasionally tumbled from their mouths as they laughed and ate.
And today there was yet another source of amusement, was there not?
“Youngest, try this mushroom stir-fry as well. The fragrance is quite remarkable.”
Seo Seok-san ladled the mushroom stir-fry over her rice with an easy smile. Yeon Geum-hong’s face twisted into an expression somewhere between laughter and tears.
“Th-thanks.”
“And?”
“Brother.”
The honorific slipped out in a voice so small it was swallowed almost at once by Namgung Cheol-un’s words.
“You three have such fine fraternal bonds. Though I confess I cannot quite determine which of you is the eldest—your appearances are remarkably similar.”
The Bloodwind Four Lions’ chopsticks came to an abrupt stop.
In their haste to poke fun at Yeon Geum-hong, they’d completely forgotten to establish a hierarchy among themselves.
The four of them exchanged glances.
‘What do I do? Should I claim to be the eldest?’
Seo Seok-san thought that would be the most logical approach.
His hair was just slightly thinner than the others’, which gave him a prematurely aged appearance, and in situations like this, it was advantageous to drive the first nail.
But if he did, the other two would almost certainly overturn the table, shouting “Stop talking nonsense! How could you possibly be the eldest?”
“We’re triplets!”
Do Pyeong-su’s voice rang out, and the room fell into silence.
Triplets, he said.
Twins didn’t necessarily have to share the same face, but Namgung Seong-won would have wagered his entire fortune that there had never been three people as utterly unlike in appearance as these three.
“I beg your pardon? Ah, no offense intended. It’s simply… you don’t resemble each other much at all.”
It was an answer that had managed to fluster even the Clan Patriarch of the greatest Namgung family under heaven.
“Yes, we are rather dissimilar, it’s true. But if you look closely, Jang Man-dok’s ears are shaped like mine, and his navel resembles mine as well. Haha!”
‘He’s trying. He’s really trying.’
In any case, the unexpected crisis had been navigated safely by Do Pyeong-su’s quick wit (?), and the meal continued.
Everyone else was enjoying themselves, and the atmosphere was warm and convivial—everyone except Yeon Geum-hong.
She’d had to call these three incompetent fools “brother” four times over.
‘Just wait until we’re back in the room!’
She was grinding her teeth in silence when Namgung Cheol-un’s voice reached her ears.
“You said Geom U-bin is thirteen years old?”
“That is correct.”
“At an age when he should be studying in school, yet he travels so far to conduct business—most impressive.”
“It is thanks to the excellent instruction of his aunts and uncles.”
“So you intend to inherit Oseong Jang-won someday and continue managing the distillery?”
“I have not yet given thought to such distant matters.”
“If you wish to accomplish great things, you ought to consider them ahead of time.”
Those words touched a nerve in Yeon Geum-hong, whose mood was already sour.
“Are you saying one cannot accomplish great things if they manage a distillery……?”
“There are greater pursuits in this world.”
“Such as? Ah—the Namgung Clan, perhaps? Though it seems rather smaller than our Oseong Jang-won, doesn’t it?”
To be compared to a mere distillery was an insult to Namgung Cheol-un’s considerable pride.
“The Namgung Clan is one of the Five Great Clans of Murim, and the person seated here is its patriarch.”
He issued the warning with utmost restraint and formality. But Yeon Geum-hong was rarely patient except during cultivation practice, and the only person who warranted such courtesy was her master, Hwa Jeok-san.
“The Five Great Clans of Murim, you say… Ah! Subordinate to the Gudaemun Faction and that other sect……”
Crash!
Namgung Cheol-un’s hand struck the table, cutting off her words before she could finish calling them “five pathetic families.”
“You dare insult me beneath my own roof?”
His voice was low, and it trembled with barely suppressed fury.
“If you consider that an insult, perhaps I should show you what a real one looks like……?”
Yeon Geum-hong’s grip tightened on her chopsticks, prompting an alarmed Seo Seok-san to seize her wrist.
“Geum-hong, stop.”
“Let go. Before your fingers get broken.”
It was an unspoken law among the Bloodwind Four Lions that once one of them lost their temper, none of the others would try to restrain them.
Seo Seok-san shifted his gaze away and released his grip.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————