Abolition of the Wicked - Chapter 72

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

#Episode 72

Four days had passed, and Geom U-bin and Noh Dae-sul sat across from each other. It was time for the settlement.
“Three thousand eight hundred taels?”
“You never intended to collect that money from me in the first place, did you?”
“Why would I give up such a sum?”
“You were never interested in money to begin with.”
“You’ve lived here for four days now — you should understand. I have to pay the workers their monthly wages, feed everyone, and the house is damaged, so I need to repair it. Money doesn’t go in just one or two places.”
Noh Dae-sul took a sip of tea and smiled faintly.
“Well observed. The Bloodwind Four Lions has truly changed. You were hoping I’d recognize that while staying here, weren’t you?”
If the Master of the Sect regarded the Bloodwind Four Lions favorably, then in case of contingency, it would become no small source of strength.
Geom U-bin, who had been staring intently at Noh Dae-sul, spoke.
“Money.”
“You’ve achieved your intentions sufficiently already…”
“Give me the money.”
Noh Dae-sul’s face twisted as though he might weep at any moment.
“You’re really going to ask me for money? For Ki-cheon’s sake, at least…”
“It’s strange anyway, pestering a beggar for money.”
“That’s true. A specimen of owning nothing.”
“Then I’ll ask the Master of the Sect instead.”
“What… are you saying?”
Geom U-bin placed an ink seal on the table. It was the one that had been in Geom U-bin’s box.
“I want to know what this is and who it belonged to.”

***

Noh Dae-sul couldn’t identify it immediately, but he promised to have it identified.
Three thousand eight hundred taels seemed dear as a commission for work whose success couldn’t be guaranteed, but it was worth enough to invest in.
Once Noh Dae-sul departed, peace returned to Oseong Jang-won.
The rubble from the collapsed buildings was cleaned up, and the roof of the damaged brewery was repaired.
And the blacksmith’s forge was completed.
“The Shu-eo Eight Postures!”
Gong Seong-tak quickly demonstrated one posture, and without waiting for a reply to his silent question of ‘you remember, don’t you?’, he dashed into the forge.
“Yes.”
Geom U-bin, who answered belatedly, trained the Shu-eo Eight Postures for half a double hour before heading out to the courtyard.
“Master! I’m going to the pavilion construction site for a bit!”
Geom U-bin waved cheerfully at Se-hwa as she departed with a bright expression.
Peaceful days.
Just as Geom U-bin was content, the others at Oseong Jang-won were also living satisfied lives.
Se-hwa’s mood was particularly good because the Oseong Pavilion was gradually taking shape.
The money given by Geom U-bin and the Bloodwind Four Lions was sufficient to build a pavilion far grander and more magnificent than the previous one at Hangju Pavilion.
Though the Oseong Pavilion couldn’t be the largest due to land constraints, she was confident it would be the most beautiful.
With Saegiuju supplied exclusively there, success was as good as assured.
Se-hwa deployed her Lightness Technique and arrived at the construction site in less than a quarter hour.
The three-story building stood majestically, gleaming in the sunlight.
“Sister!”
It was U-hyang who came running, calling out to her.
Behind her came Jin-ha and Seo-ye, who were expected to work once the Oseong Pavilion was completed.
“I brought some snacks for the workers.”
Jin-ha had been treated by a skilled physician and recovered cleanly. Hope is the best remedy of all, and her former radiance shone through undiminished.
“Girls. Did you really come to deliver snacks?”
“What else would we be here for?”
U-hyang wore a bewildered expression while Jin-ha and Seo-ye peeked about inside the construction site.
“Sir! You need to add another support beam there! Didn’t you check the blueprint?”
The voice of Gwak Bong, who had become almost an expert from living at the construction site all this time, came from the second floor.
“We’ll take over from the second floor.”
Jin-ha and Seo-ye slipped quickly into the construction site. Watching their retreating figures, Se-hwa clicked her tongue.
“What’s so great about that lummox anyway? Tsk, tsk!”
“What? Those two actually have a thing for Gwak?”
“You live with them and didn’t notice?”
“When they barely have enough hours in the day for training, they’re wasting energy on that nonsense.”
“Let them be. That’s what keeps people going.”
Just then a sharp cry pierced the air, and Jin-ha’s body lurched forward over the second-floor railing.
There was no way to stop the fall—Se-hwa threw herself forward to catch her, but someone was faster.
Gwak Bong burst from the second floor, caught Jin-ha first, and landed lightly on the ground.
“Are you hurt?”
Jin-ha’s face flushed crimson as she uttered a sound barely louder than a mosquito’s whine.
“I’m fine.”
The workers who’d witnessed it gasped and broke into applause.
“I knew you were something special!”
“That was incredible! Incredible!”
Gwak Bong wore an odd expression—sheepish yet somehow vain—when a visitor arrived.
The man, somewhere in his mid-thirties, had the bearing of a scholar, with a well-groomed beard.
“I’d like to speak with whoever’s in charge here.”
Every eye turned to Se-hwa. The newcomer offered a formal bow.
“I’m Hwang Seo-min, newly appointed chief administrator of the Wol-ha Giroo.”
“I’m Se-hwa, soon to be chief administrator of the Oseong Pavilion.”
Se-hwa didn’t think of herself as the pavilion’s owner. Like Oseong Jang-won, the true owners were Geom U-bin and Hyeolpung Saja.
“What brings the chief administrator of Wol-ha Giroo all the way here?”
There was an edge to Se-hwa’s voice—she’d made an enemy.
“I’ve only just arrived from Beijing, so I’m making the rounds to see Hangju and pay my respects.”
“You might have been better off passing by. The Wol-ha Giroo will be ruined soon anyway—thanks to us.”
Hwang Seo-min laughed lightly. “My, such confidence.”
“I’m just giving you fair warning to look for other work.”
Se-hwa caught sight of three women standing behind Hwang Seo-min.
With their heavy makeup and beautiful faces, they were unmistakably courtesans.
Compared to them, U-hyang looked like a simple housewife, even with the snacks she’d brought.
“They’re lovely, aren’t they?”
“These girls came with me from Beijing. Soon you’ll understand why Beijing is Beijing.”
“You’ll soon understand why Hangju is Hangju, Administrator.”
Se-hwa’s expression never wavered from complete certainty, and Hwang Seo-min didn’t care for it.
After a perfunctory goodbye, Hwang Seo-min left, and Sam-gu, who’d been waiting outside, quickly fell into step beside him.
“How did the task go?”
“The magistrate wouldn’t move easily. The cost ran higher than expected.”
“How much higher?”
“Thirty taels of silver.”
Hwang Seo-min’s face darkened instantly.
“Thirty taels just to grease the palms of a few officials?”
It was five times more than he’d anticipated.
“Once word got out it was connected to Oseong Jang-won, they all balked. Finding officials willing to take bribes became nearly impossible.”
When officials—who normally swarm toward money like flies to dung—actually shied away, you understood the power of Hangju Sason and Sojuseong.
“There’s no rush, but we need to be thorough. We must stop the Oseong Pavilion from opening, no matter what. Hwang Dae-in is especially invested in this.”

***

“Running away from home?”
At Jegal Hoon’s startled question, Jegal Jong-ryeo answered as if it were nothing.
“I can’t marry off to some scrawny priest.”
“Then why not just tell him you don’t want to?”
“I’ve told him I don’t want to marry him a dozen times, and it doesn’t work. So this time, I need to show him with actions.”
Jegal Hoon let out a weary sigh.
“Running away is supposed to be done in secret, you know.”
“I didn’t know there were rules to running away. Anyway, I’m leaving, so at least send word to U-bin. You two exchange letters sometimes, don’t you?”
“You’re going to Oseong Jang-won?”
“Yep. If I show up suddenly like this, U-bin might have a heart attack from the shock.”
Jegal Hoon threw her a look of deep suspicion.
“Hah… Forced marriage is just an excuse, isn’t it? You’re running away because you want to see U-bin?”
“If I want to see him? Will you help me?”
“Why would I ruin the future of my dearest friend?”
“This is just—”
Jegal Jong-ryeo turned away mid-gesture, her hand falling.
“I’m leaving anyway. If my parents ask, tell them you don’t know.”
And so she ran away, leaving Jegal Hoon with no choice but to send a carrier pigeon to Geom U-bin.
‘If I just send her off, at least she won’t feel guilty.’

***

Geom U-bin was walking while reading the letter that had arrived by carrier pigeon when Seo Seok-san, coming from the opposite direction, asked him a question.
“You look like you’ve read something unusual in there?”
“What makes you say that?”
“Your expression is strange.”
“Hoon sent me a recipe for the Bright Flower Decoction.”
“Oh! Isn’t that the dish passed down as a secret in the Jegal Family—the one that clears the mind?”
“Yes. And Jegal Jong-ryeo is coming too.”
“What? The Jegal Family’s daughter?”
“She ran away from home, apparently. But either way, we should be grateful for the gift.”
“Is the gift the Bright Flower Decoction, Jegal Jong-ryeo, or both?”
“Jegal Jong-ryeo doesn’t exactly seem like a gift?”
Seo Seok-san draped his arm affectionately across Geom U-bin’s shoulders.
“To a man, women are always gifts.”
“Even Yeon Geum-hong?”
Seo Seok-san flinched and spoke with a sigh.
“Geum-hong isn’t a woman, is she?”
“Then what am I?”
At the sudden voice, Seo Seok-san’s body went rigid with fright. When he turned his head, Yeon Geum-hong came into view, arms crossed, glaring at him.
Geom U-bin unwrapped Seo Seok-san’s arm from his shoulder and spoke.
“Disciple Seo. You’re in for it.”
“S-senior, perhaps you should just go—”
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to weather this storm alone. Try not to destroy the buildings, though.”
As Geom U-bin walked away with quickening steps, he could hear Seo Seok-san’s screams in the distance.
And so, at last, Jegal Jong-ryeo arrived at the peaceful Oseong Jang-won.
The first to greet her was O Tong-su.
“Well, well! We heard you were coming. You must be Jegal Jong-ryeo, the precious treasure of the Jegal Family?”
“Yes. Is U-bin here?”
Jegal Jong-ryeo wore a mask of innocence, and O Tong-su laid his own veil of deception over the truth.
“Indeed. The young lord is waiting for you.”
The Bloodwind Four Lions had become thoroughly transformed into the Hangju organization, and Geom U-bin would have to play the role of their nephew as they had shown Jegal Jong-ryeo.
Geom U-bin heard the news of Jegal Jong-ryeo’s arrival while training with Seo Seok-san.
“Senior, you absolutely must not use terms like ‘elder sister’ or ‘older sister’ in address. Simply call her Jegal Jong-ryeo.”
“Is that because of the hierarchy in Murim, or because Jegal Jong-ryeo is a woman?”
“Both. There are situations where ‘elder sister’ might work, but not with Jegal Jong-ryeo. Conduct yourself with as much maturity as possible.”
“I don’t need to try hard—people are already calling me an old soul in a young body.”
The moment Geom U-bin entered the courtyard, Jegal Jong-ryeo came rushing at him with astonishing speed.
“U-bin!”
He had to dodge quickly—otherwise he’d be tackled to the ground and they’d roll across the earth together.
Jegal Jong-ryeo caught empty air, bounced forward with quick hops, pouted her lips, and looked back at him.
“You’re sweaty. I didn’t want to get smelly if I hugged you.”
“It’s fine. I like the smell of sweat!”
Just as Jegal Jong-ryeo rushed toward him again, Yeon Geum-hong suddenly stepped between them.
“We have a guest in the house.”
“Oh? Hello, Aunt!”
Jegal Jong-ryeo immediately embraced Yeon Geum-hong.
“I’m so happy to see you!”
It seemed she simply loved hugging—not because it was Geom U-bin specifically.
“You ran away from home?”
“Yes! Since I don’t usually go out much, when I ran away, I had nowhere to go. Thank goodness the Oseong Jang-won exists—otherwise I might have had to build a hut in the mountains and live there! And I absolutely hate bugs, so just thinking about it is dreadful. Hehe!”
Yeon Geum-hong couldn’t help but laugh as she watched Jegal Jong-ryeo chatter away so naturally.
“The estate is quite spacious, isn’t it? It seems larger than the Jegal Family Residence!”
“Wasn’t your Murim epithet Snow-in-Bloom? They say you’re as cold as a flower blooming in snow.”
“Hah! That’s all a deception. I wasn’t the one who deceived anyone—my brother deceived me into it. Apparently cold women are more popular? Do you know how exhausting it is? Every time a guest visits the residence, my facial muscles start cramping. I can’t change it now, and besides, I’ve grown rather fond of the Snow-in-Bloom epithet.”
Jegal Jong-ryeo shifted her seat and promptly linked her arm through Geom U-bin’s.
“Did you miss me all this time?”
“No.”
“Come on, couldn’t you at least say something pleasant? I’ve come such a long distance.”
“You ran away from home and had nowhere else to go, didn’t you? Why did you run away in the first place?”
The letter sent by carrier pigeon had limited space, so the details weren’t written out.
“They want me to marry some scrawny Daoist who’s five years older than me. So that’s why I—”
Jegal Jong-ryeo’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
“Why don’t you just marry me instead?”

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