My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 23
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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23.
“Madam! Mujin-i is here! Mujin-i!”
She had picked up a brush to paint orchids, but couldn’t even make a single dot.
When all sorts of terrible thoughts were piercing through her mind like awls, she heard Yeon Seobi’s voice.
“Is that really true?”
“If this is a lie, I’ll die by your hands, Madam.”
Rolling down the stairs and rushing out to the courtyard, she saw Seol Mujin surrounded by about twenty gisaengs.
The gisaengs welcomed Seol Mujin as if their husband had returned from the battlefield.
While doing so, they didn’t forget their ulterior motives of touching Seol Mujin here and there.
Yeon Seobi shouted angrily at those gisaengs.
“You girls! You’ll wear Mujin-i out! Stop touching him!”
The gisaengs who spotted Hwa Seonhwa cleared a path for her.
Seol Mujin greeted Hwa Seonhwa.
“I’m back.”
Though tears of joy were about to burst forth, she spoke calmly.
“Yes, you’ve been through a lot.”
“I need to go somewhere for a bit.”
“Where?”
Just then, Seol Ryeoseon’s voice rang out loudly.
“Big brother!”
Following that, the shouts of Seol Mantong and Seol Changho came after.
“Hyung!”
The triplets threw their arms around Seol Mujin.
“What happened! Do you know how scared we were!”
“Those bastards dared to take our brother? I was going to kill them all…!”
Seol Changho hurriedly covered Seol Mantong’s mouth and asked.
“How did you get out?”
Hwa Seonhwa was curious about that too.
She was curious why the magistrate, who didn’t even take bribes, had released him so quickly.
“I’ll tell you the details later.”
After greeting Hwa Seonhwa, Seol Mujin left Yeonji-ru.
The triplets who followed along asked.
“Where are you going?”
Even after receiving that question, Seol Mujin walked silently for a long time before stopping.
Seol Mujin’s expression was rigidly hardened, different from usual.
“Big brother, what’s wrong?”
Seol Mujin asked like a monologue.
“How wrong of a decision did I make?”
It was closer to a self-questioning than asking someone else.
“Hyung….”
“If the new magistrate had taken bribes, Master Ruju would have lost all her wealth and become a beggar. I almost put someone who cared for me like a mother in such a state. I would have rotted in prison for life.”
Seol Changho said.
“There’s no need to torment yourself over something that didn’t even happen.”
“It could have happened. It was something I could have anticipated. Leech-like humans who live by sucking people’s blood never back down easily. I was afraid of such leeches, so I just removed them halfheartedly.”
Seol Mujin started walking again.
“I’ll never let such people touch me and those I care about again. If they do touch us, they’ll definitely pay the price.”
***
A lump of porridge slipped past his lips and dropped onto his stomach.
With most of his teeth gone, he couldn’t even eat porridge properly.
“Damn it!”
Wang Seongil irritably threw his spoon onto the dining table.
Zhuge Sangun, sitting across from him, flinched and trembled.
“Tell Baek Podu to put poison in that Jeom Soi’s food. I don’t think my anger will be resolved unless I kill that bastard.”
“Then he’ll demand money again….”
“You bastard! Just give it to him!”
“Ah, understood!”
“My ribs hurt from shouting…. Because of that stupid bastard….”
Just as Wang Seongil was about to pick up his spoon to vent his anger on Zhuge Sangun.
Creak—!
Someone opened the door without permission.
“Which bastard….”
Wang Seongil, confirming the face of the person entering through the door, dropped his spoon in shock.
“You… How did you…?”
Seol Mujin closed the door and approached.
“Hey, hey there! Someone… Urgh!”
Wang Seongil couldn’t even shout because of his broken ribs.
Seol Mujin approached and looked down at Wang Seongil quietly.
The gaze devoid of any emotion heightened Wang Seongil’s fear.
“Why… Why did you come? Our business seems to be alr, already finished.”
Seol Mujin looked at the spoon Wang Seongil had dropped, then shifted his gaze to the porridge bowl.
It seemed like he was pondering ‘What should I kill him with to make it a well-talked-about death?’
“Whatever it is, since I was in the wrong, how about we resolve this with good words?”
Seol Mujin’s grabbing of Wang Seongil’s throat was sudden.
“Guk!”
Wang Seongil’s body, letting out a short groan, floated into the air.
Wang Seongil pounded on Seol Mujin’s arm that was gripping his throat, but couldn’t create even the slightest tremor.
Wang Seongil’s eyes rolled back and his tongue lolled out past his lips.
Seol Mujin could clearly feel the life draining from the body.
It was a different feeling from when he had killed Rice Bug with a stone five years ago, or when he had strangled Bear Man with rope.
But it didn’t stir any particular emotion in him.
Was he perhaps a born killer?
A rare worker at Yeonji-ru and an incredibly good older brother to his siblings, but someone who could kill enemies without a moment’s hesitation.
Crack!
Yes, that’s the kind of person he was.
Seol Mujin threw Wang Seongil’s broken-necked body to the floor.
Limp and lifeless, it looked just like a doll.
Scrape.
Seol Mujin pulled out a chair and sat down.
Zhuge Sangun was trembling so violently across from him that it felt like wind was blowing.
“Name.”
“Pardon? My… my name is Zhuge Sangun.”
“Seeing how you stick close to the gang leader, you must be the vice gang leader?”
Speaking down to someone much older than him didn’t feel awkward at all.
Zhuge Sangun flinched in surprise and waved his hands.
“No, no! I just organize account books and occasionally give advice about Wangho Gang’s operations… I’m just a worthless nobody!”
“So you’re not even worth killing?”
“That… that’s right.”
“You said you give advice about Wangho Gang’s operations?”
“Yes.”
“Now that the gang leader is dead, what happens to Wangho Gang?”
Zhuge Sangun’s eyes darted around busily.
“Since there’s currently no successor, they’ll fight internally over who gets to take over Wangho Gang, then get swallowed up by other black societies.”
He hadn’t thought long, but the answer came out.
“What? Have you been thinking about this all along?”
“No! It’s just not a difficult prediction to make…”
“The other black society that takes over Wangho Gang could mess with Yeonji-ru again, right?”
This time too, the answer came immediately.
“Pleasure houses are one of the important income sources for black societies.”
Seol Mujin stared intently at Zhuge Sangun.
He had pathetic physical strength, but he made his living in the black society thanks to his good brain.
He was too cowardly to harbor any ulterior motives.
That was Seol Mujin’s assessment of Zhuge Sangun.
“It’ll be annoying if black societies keep coming after us. You.”
“Yes?”
“Handle the gang leader’s death properly. You know what happens if my name comes up, right?”
“That will absolutely never happen!”
“Make sure to keep the Black Society from ever touching Yeonji-ru again.”
“Me… you mean me?”
“You’re smart, aren’t you? Find a way. If you can’t, I’ll judge that brain of yours as useless.”
Zhuge Sangun answered with a pale face.
“The Wangho Gang will absolutely never touch Yeonji-ru again!”
Seol Mujin stood up.
“I hope we don’t meet again.”
As Seol Mujin left Wang Seongil’s house, the triplets hurriedly followed behind him.
“How did it go?”
At Seol Ryeoseon’s question, Seol Mujin chuckled.
“You heard everything.”
“Huh? You noticed our presence? It shouldn’t be to that extent yet, should it?”
“So you were listening after all?”
“Tch! At times like this, you’re such a complete fox.”
***
Go Bongsu came to visit Yeonji-ru.
Since he came alone and simply dressed, no one knew that Go Bongsu was the new magistrate.
Yeonji-ru, having finished repairs and reopened, was once again bustling with customers.
Go Bongsu became one customer among the many and followed a courtesan.
“I came to meet a young man named Seol Mujin.”
The courtesan who was guiding him to a room was startled.
“What? Who are you to be looking for Mujin-i?”
“Just… a friend?”
The courtesan gave him a suspicious look.
“You seem a bit old to call yourself our Mujin-i’s friend.”
“Just call him for me…”
The courtesan cut off Go Bongsu’s words sharply.
“If you don’t reveal your identity, absolutely not. What’s your reason for looking for Mujin-i?”
He could even feel the aura of a mother tiger protecting her cubs.
Go Bongsu wasn’t offended by the courtesan’s rudeness.
“Hehehe! That friend Mujin seems to be very loved here.”
“That’s only natural… Ah! Master Ruju!”
At the courtesan’s call, Go Bongsu turned around and was able to see Hwa Seonhwa.
His heart began beating faster and he felt as if his hair was standing on end.
“This person here is looking for Mujin-i, but he’s very suspicious.”
A smile appeared on Hwa Seonhwa’s lips when she saw Go Bongsu.
His heart beats fast again.
It seems Hwa Seonhwa is definitely bad for his health.
“It’s fine. Go and call Mujin.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. He’s someone I know. Set up a table in the Yeonhwa Room on the third floor.”
“What? The Yeonhwa Room? How distinguished must this guest be to use the Yeonhwa Room… I’ll prepare it right away!”
As the courtesan scurried away, Hwa Seonhwa approached.
Go Bongsu felt his face reddening, so he pretended to stroke his beard to cover his face.
“If you had sent word that you were coming, I would have escorted you myself.”
“There was no need to trouble yourself with such things. I came today because I have business with Mujin.”
“Should I excuse myself then?”
“Ah, no! Ahem! It’s fine for you to stay.”
The Yeonhwa Room was the most spacious and luxurious room located at the innermost part of the third floor.
Once the two were seated, four carts loaded with food entered and filled the table that was as wide as a bed.
Looking at the lavish feast that was prepared, Go Bongsu joked around.
“Oh my, it looks like I’m really getting fleeced today. Heh heh heh!”
“You’re the most distinguished guest since Yeonji-ru opened, so you should get fleeced a little.”
Hwa Seonhwa’s calm voice didn’t sound like she was joking.
Go Bongsu quietly felt the pouch containing his silver coins.
Just as he was thinking ‘How much money do I have on me?’, Hwa Seonhwa said, ‘I’m joking. Of course I should be the one treating you.’
“Please make your jokes sound more like jokes.”
The courtesan who had brought the food asked.
“Which courtesan should attend to you?”
“The prettiest one right now…”
Go Bongsu intercepted Hwa Seonhwa’s words.
“Wouldn’t it be fine if the madam stays?”
“There are young and pretty girls available, so how could an old woman like me do?”
“An old woman? You’re so beautiful though…”
Go Bongsu, who had unconsciously spoken his true feelings, hurriedly shut his mouth.
The courtesan smiled slightly and said ‘Then have a good time’ before withdrawing.
Hwa Seonhwa picked up the wine bottle.
“Please understand if I’m clumsy at serving. It’s been so long since I sat as a guest.”
“It’s an honor.”
He worried that his hand holding the wine cup might tremble from nervousness, which made him even more nervous.
“I heard from Mujin that you had a connection with him in the past.”
“I was starting to dislike Jinan, but because of that friend Mujin, I’ve come to like it again.”
Go Bongsu briefly told her the story of when the children were kidnapped.
“He rescued the children and even bought them food, yet he felt sorry for not being able to care for them more. That kind of heart really made me look at myself again.”
“You’re a good person, sir.”
“What? Ah… No. I’m just a common, ordinary government official in the Central Plains.”
“Among those common officials, how many would run to rescue kidnapped children?”
Go Bongsu, who was weak to compliments, turned the topic to Seol Mujin.
“That friend Mujin-i doesn’t seem to be simply a courtesan here.”
If that were the case, Hwa Seonhwa wouldn’t have tried to save her by risking her entire fortune.
Hwa Seonhwa’s eyes became distant, as if tracing through the past.
“That child came here when she was twelve, so it’s been six years now. During those six years, Mujin-i has never once disappointed me. Is it even possible for a twelve-year-old child to not disappoint someone for such a long time?”
Children are immature and full of mistakes.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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