My Younger Siblings Are the Greatest Masters in the World - Chapter 54

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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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54.

 

“It was a small Black Island faction that was in Jangcheon County.”

 

“Any Black Island faction within Shandong Province couldn’t be unrelated to Oryongbang. It’s publicly known that Oryongbang backs the minor Black Island factions in Shandong Province and receives tribute money from them.”

 

“Tribute money?”

 

“Yes. The minor Black Island factions have complaints about it, but they’re afraid of Oryongbang so they pay up reluctantly.”

 

“It’s no different from organized crime.”

 

“That’s right. In exchange for receiving tribute money, they become their backers. But…”

 

Hwangbo Hyeonguk asked carefully.

 

“You said Suryangbang ‘was in’ Jangcheon County, so it’s gone now?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Did you eliminate Suryangbang, brother?”

 

He was sharper than he looked.

 

“That’s what happened.”

 

Hwangbo Hyeonguk, Hwangbo Ryeoseon, and Sang Chiyeon looked stunned.

 

No matter how small, it was still a faction in the murim.

 

He eliminated such a faction by himself?

 

Sang Chiyeon asked.

 

“How many disciples were there?”

 

Seol Ryeoseon said coldly.

 

“Why are you asking about that?”

 

From Seol Ryeoseon’s sharp tone and Seol Mujin’s bitter expression, he realized he had asked something he shouldn’t have.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Seol Mujin asked Hwangbo Hyeonguk.

 

“Since Suryangbang, which was their backer, is gone, it can’t be good for Oryongbang.”

 

“Of course. It’s not just about immediate income – if they don’t resolve this issue, the minor factions that pay tribute to Oryongbang will become dissatisfied.”

 

Who would want to pay money if they can’t even provide protection while taking protection fees?

 

“Could Oryongbang move the magistrate of Jangcheon County?”

 

“They could easily control the magistrate of a small county like Jangcheon.”

 

“Then the initial visit from Jangcheon County Office was likely due to Oryongbang’s influence…”

 

Hwangbo Hyeonguk said.

 

“No matter how powerful Oryongbang is, they couldn’t move the Jehyeonganch’alsa-sa.”

 

“What about just the inspector level?”

 

“An inspector acting independently to imprison a county magistrate? Especially in Jinan, which is on a different level from ordinary small county magistrates.”

 

“So this incident isn’t Oryongbang’s doing?”

 

But aside from Suryangbang, there was no other reason he could think of for the inspector to target Seol Mujin.

 

It seemed like going to the government office might provide some answers.

 

So after hearing warnings to be careful from Hwa Seonhwa and Yeon Seobi, he headed to the government office.

 

The triplets and Hwangbo Hyeonguk’s group remained at Yeonji-ru.

 

When Seol Mujin went to the government office, the two constables guarding the gate were startled.

 

“Chief Seol!”

 

“Why have you come?”

 

“Why did I come to the government office as a chief constable?”

 

Oh Cheongun, the constable who had been with him at the murder scene, blocked Seol Mujin from going up the stairs.

 

“You can’t go. The magistrate…”

 

“I heard he was imprisoned.”

 

“That inspector ordered us to arrest Chief Seol on sight.”

 

“Then why aren’t you arresting me?”

 

“What? Oh, no, how could we dare arrest Chief Seol? We don’t have the ability to do so either.”

 

Seol Mujin patted Oh Cheongun’s shoulder.

 

“Don’t worry about it.”

 

After entering the government office, Seol Mujin headed to the prison.

 

Government officials passing by were startled to see Seol Mujin and approached him.

 

They too warned him that the inspector was trying to arrest him, so he should flee quickly.

 

All the government office officials were unanimously worried about Seol Mujin.

 

Leaving only words of gratitude, Seol Mujin went to the prison.

 

The officials guarding the prison were also acquainted with him, so they didn’t stop him from entering.

 

Go Bongsu and Bang Donguk were confined in the same cell.

 

Both men were startled to see Seol Mujin.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

“Seeing you here in the magistrate’s office brings back old memories.”

 

Go Bongsu smiled at the past memory.

 

“Back then, you were in my position. But didn’t you hear the news?”

 

“That the inspector is trying to arrest me?”

 

“If you know that, why did you come here?”

 

“You two are imprisoned, so of course I had to come.”

 

“To get imprisoned together?”

 

“I’ll know once I meet the inspector. Do you have any idea why that inspector is acting up?”

 

Go Bongsu shook his head.

 

“I haven’t particularly made enemies with high-ranking officials. Many have looked favorably upon me though.”

 

“Is there nowhere to ask for help?”

 

“I climbed desperately from a low-level clerk to this position. Someone like me couldn’t have anything grand.”

 

“Then I’ll have to solve it.”

 

“Do you have a method?”

 

“If all else fails, I’ll break out of prison and become a mountain bandit somewhere.”

 

“What a terrible joke.”

 

“That’s what I was thinking when I met you in this prison.”

 

Go Bongsu chuckled.

 

“I prevented the birth of the Central Plains’ strongest bandit.”

 

“Please wait. I’ll get you out as quickly as possible.”

 

“Hurry up. I’m dying of boredom. Or at least change my cellmate. Bang Ibangg is too boring.”

 

“What did I ever do…”

 

As Seol Mujin left the prison, Go Bongsu leaned back against the wall with a relaxed expression.

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

“Already? Does Chief Seol have some clever method?”

 

“Has Chief Seol ever made empty promises?”

 

There was no need to think long about it.

 

“No.”

 

“Then that settles it.”

 

Inspector Gwak Suro was a typical forty-two-year-old official with a short beard.

 

He thoroughly followed orders from above, and his abilities as an inspector weren’t bad either.

 

But this case had many suspicious aspects, even if it was an order from above.

 

The bribes that Magistrate Go Bongsu received weren’t even worthy of being called bribes.

 

Even a low-level clerk in the Six Ministries, let alone a magistrate, would easily accept bribes of this level.

 

If they were going to charge someone with bribery for this amount, there wouldn’t be even ten magistrates left in the Central Plains.

 

And then suddenly this chief constable named Seol Mujin.

 

There was no detailed explanation.

 

The order was to somehow arrest Seol Mujin and escort him to Jangcheon County Office.

 

When he received such abnormal work instructions, it made him not want to work.

 

The paths outside the designated routes are muddy everywhere, with pits scattered throughout.

 

“What a headache.”

 

The biggest problem was that Seol Mujin, who needed to be arrested, had gone missing.

 

But then…

 

“Ch’ŏmsa, sir. Constable Seol Mujin requests an audience.”

 

“Hm?”

 

The Seol Mujin he had ordered captured using all the government office’s resources had appeared on his own?

 

“Let him in.”

 

The door opened and a young man who looked to be around twenty at most entered.

 

The first thought that came to mind was ‘Kid’s handsome.’

 

Seol Mujin briefly bowed his head, showing no signs of fear or intimidation anywhere.

 

“I am Constable Seol Mujin.”

 

He had come on his own and didn’t seem likely to run away.

 

So he pointed to the chair across the desk.

 

“Sit.”

 

As an inspector, he had interrogated countless corrupt officials, but this was the first one to be so brazen.

 

He even wondered, ‘Is this really an interrogation?’

 

Now that Seol Mujin was before him, he was at a loss for where to start questioning.

 

He couldn’t very well start with ‘You know your crimes!’

 

But then Seol Mujin spoke first.

 

“I heard you ordered my arrest?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“What are the charges?”

 

“Assault, murder. Bribery?”

 

Well, he must have taken some.

 

“The matter regarding Suryang Sect should have been cleared up, shouldn’t it?”

 

The ones killed by Seol Mujin were supposedly disciples of a Dark Path sect called Suryang Sect.

 

“You want me to believe a conclusion reached by friendly officials covering for each other?”

 

Seol Mujin stared intently at Gwak Suro.

 

Gwak Suro wanted to avoid his gaze because Seol Mujin’s eyes were too clear and cold.

 

“You didn’t receive any requests from Five Dragon Sect, did you?”

 

“Five Dragon Sect? What’s that? And requests? Do I look like an official who takes requests?”

 

“Even if you didn’t take any, someone higher up must have. Do you know exactly why you’re here, Ch’ŏmsa?”

 

He was momentarily speechless.

 

Because that was precisely what he had been pondering.

 

There had been no formal accusations, no major bribes taken by officials, yet here he was arresting a magistrate praised by the people for his good governance.

 

And what about this constable named Seol Mujin.

 

Seol Mujin asked questions as if he knew about this entire situation.

 

Feeling exposed in his troubled state of mind, Gwak Suro spoke curtly.

 

“In any case, you’ll be imprisoned. There will be a reinvestigation, and if there’s guilt, you’ll be punished.”

 

“Who’s going to imprison me?”

 

“There are dozens of officials outside.”

 

“You must have investigated me, of course?”

 

Of course he had.

 

The numerous tales of Seol Mujin’s martial prowess made him wonder ‘Why is someone like this working as a constable?’

 

If he ordered the officials outside to capture Seol Mujin, probably not one would step forward.

 

“How dare someone who eats the nation’s grain defy the law?”

 

“What’s happening now isn’t law but corruption. Stopping corruption is what an official should rightfully do.”

 

“Fine. Since you mention corruption, let me ask. Do you have the ability to stop that corruption?”

 

“I need to decide whether to stop the corruption, smash it, or eliminate those who committed it.”

 

“What, eliminate?”

 

“The biggest thing I’ve learned in my short life is never to show mercy to enemies. Half-hearted mercy always comes back as a blade.”

 

“So who are you planning to kill?”

 

Gwak Suro couldn’t help thinking ‘Not me, right?’

 

Seol Mujin smoothly stood up.

 

Gwak Suro also gripped his chair’s armrest, preparing to rise.

 

Fortunately, Seol Mujin didn’t raise his hand toward him.

 

“I’ll have to find that out from now on.”

 

Seol Mujin, who had half-opened the door, said.

 

“Don’t pressure the officials to capture me. It’ll only make things awkward for both sides.”

 

Seol Mujin, who left the room, let out a long sigh.

 

Though he had spoken boldly to Gwak Suro, he didn’t actually have a solution.

 

While martial matters could somehow be resolved with force, he couldn’t free the imprisoned Go Bongsu and Bang Donguk.

 

Seol Mujin walked trudgingly toward Yeonji-ru.

 

When he entered the government office the sunset was red, but coming out, darkness had already fallen.

 

He thought of various methods but nothing particularly good came to mind.

 

If Go Bongsu and Bang Donguk were left as they were, it wouldn’t end with just dismissal.

 

Though officials who took bribes could be executed, there were still plenty of officials taking bribes.

 

Go Bongsu and Bang Donguk were in a position to receive that punishment that no official feared.

 

He wondered, ‘Should I really break them out of prison and become bandits?’

 

Yeonji-ru, brightly lit, was beginning business.

 

Thinking it would be troublesome to be seen by people, he climbed over the wall toward Yeonji-ru’s back garden.

 

Seol Mujin stood blankly in the darkness where the light didn’t reach, unable to easily decide on a direction.

 

Where should he go?

 

He was like a lost child.

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

At the sound from behind, he turned to see Hwa Yeonshim.

 

Seol Mujin bowed his head toward her.

 

“I’m late with greetings. I returned today.”

 

Hwa Yeonshim smiled and waved her hand.

 

“Don’t be so formal with me. It actually makes me feel distant.”

 

“But you gave me such a great gift.”

 

Hwa Yeonshim’s eyes sparkled.

 

“Did you see it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Did you learn it?”

 

Seol Mujin scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.

 

“I wouldn’t say I learned it, but I did memorize it.”

 

“You’ve taken the first step. I was worried since Constable Seol is so rigid.”

 

Hwa Yeonshim, her smile fading, asked.

 

“I heard something bad happened.”

 

Seol Mujin roughly explained the situation to her.

 

“Going through this, I keenly feel that catching the culprit is the easiest thing.”

 

“Tangled cases sometimes get more twisted the more you try to unravel them. It would be good if you could cut through and solve it in one stroke.”

 

Hwangbo Ryeoseon had said something similar in the past.

 

Don’t try to untangle it, just cut it.

 

Cutting through whatever tangles appeared was Hwangbo Ryeoseon’s method.

 

As his thoughts moved in that direction, one method came to mind.

 

Power institutions like Jehyeonganch’alsa-sa were beyond what Seol Mujin could handle.

 

Then someone who could handle it should step forward.

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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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