Chapter 301
Chapter 301
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 301
Chapter Title: Reformation of the Manju Association
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Gaebul doubted his own eyes.
Was it the man lying on the ground, not the one standing, who was truly the Chairman?
He rubbed his eyes vigorously and blinked them wide open again.
But the scene before him remained unchanged.
"What in the world..."
As always, he'd opened the door without a second thought to clean up after the Chairman's latest outburst of violence.
For a moment, Gaebul's mind went completely blank.
And upon closer inspection, the shock only deepened.
The Chairman's wounds were grievous, yet Hyeok Mulin stood without a single scratch.
Gaebul knew full well how formidable the Drunk Tyrant was when sober.
That was why he was touted as a candidate for Elder Martial Sovereign in the world of murim.
'But this gap... what is it?'
Overwhelmed by shock, Gaebul froze in place.
Just then, he felt a gaze upon him and swallowed hard.
He could sense Hyeok Mulin looking right at him.
But Gaebul gritted his teeth, pretended not to notice, and avoided eye contact.
Then, he slowly began closing the door, backing away in hopes of fleeing.
"Three."
Before Hyeok Mulin's voice could spread from his lips.
"Two."
As Gaebul bolted down the corridor.
"One."
Creak!
"You called for me!"
In the end, he spun back into the room and dropped to his knees before Hyeok Mulin.
What good would running do now? There was no escaping the man who'd bested the Chairman.
Tears welling in his chest, Gaebul had no choice but to return.
'What to do with him.'
Hyeok Mulin gazed down at the kneeling Gaebul, pondering his fate.
As he silently mulled over the decision,
tremble tremble tremble.
Gaebul took the silence as grave indeed; his pupils shook like they were caught in an earthquake.
In that heavy quiet, he desperately racked his brain for a way to survive, finally resolving on a course and acting without hesitation.
In an instant, his hand dove into his bosom.
Hyeok Mulin remained impassive, but Byeok Jang-ho startled, thinking he was drawing a weapon.
Yet what he pulled out was...
"...A gu?"
A pair of worms in a container.
Gaebul popped one into his mouth, squeezed his eyes shut, and swallowed it down.
Then he held out the container with the remaining worm in both hands.
"I pledge my loyalty to my lord. Command me as you will, and I'll follow without question!"
Gaebul had always been a self-centered sort, heedless of others' stares.
One need only recall how, while emceeing the contests, he'd spat liquor-laced saliva at the rowdy crowd.
No matter the gossip or criticism, his mood came first. He acted on whim, never minding others' opinions.
But in this moment,
his lifetime-honed instincts made him utterly deferential, his actions speaking louder than words.
No one had ordered him to.
Yet Gaebul had taken the gu poison with his own hands.
Because he believed it was the only way to live.
"..."
Hyeok Mulin stared down at Gaebul, who lay prostrate on the floor without lifting his head.
Soon, he posed a question.
"What is your standing in the Manju Association?"
"I'm among the top ranks of the executives. Since I handled all the cleanup for the Chairman—no, the former Chairman—I enjoyed his favor and held real power."
Already, "Chairman" had become "former Chairman," and "he" a mere "that guy" on Gaebul's lips.
"I see."
Come to think of it, it wasn't strange for him to hold such a high post.
Emceeing contests, guiding visitors inside, and cleaning up after the Chairman.
He'd shouldered it all, so it seemed no lie that he'd earned the Drunk Tyrant's trust and wielded considerable influence within.
In that case.
"From today, you are Vice Chairman."
"...Pardon?"
At the sudden promotion, Gaebul looked utterly baffled.
He waved his hands frantically, trying to refuse.
"I-I'm not the man for that job."
In truth, Gaebul had the talent for it.
The Drunk Tyrant had offered him the post before, but he'd always turned it down.
To some, Vice Chairman was a dream; to him, it was not.
The higher the climb, the greater the responsibility—and for one who lived by his whims, it was a position to avoid at all costs.
Confirming his reluctance, Hyeok Mulin rested a hand on his sword sheath and spoke regretfully.
"If you don't want it, no helping that. I'll have to send you on your way..."
"Truth be told, I've been eyeing the Vice Chairman spot for ages! I swear you won't regret giving it to me—I'll work my hardest!"
"Such passion. Very well."
Hyeok Mulin chuckled at the flip-flop.
"You have tasks ahead."
"Anything you command!"
With this, Hyeok Mulin planned a full overhaul of the Manju Association.
Not its current rogue-ish form, but something entirely new.
"How many martial artists are in the Manju Association now?"
"Around five hundred."
Quite the bunch.
More than expected, but not surprising.
They'd gathered every rogue from across the Central Plains who couldn't live without liquor.
But that ended today.
"The Manju Association dissolves as of now."
"What?!"
How long had it been since his promotion? Minutes? And now dissolution?
Then why the gu poison? Why the title?
Gaebul gaped, speechless in disbelief.
"In its place."
Hyeok Mulin continued.
"We'll form a new group of brewers only—not drunkards."
A gathering of brewmasters, not fighters.
"The Mangwoo Association."
Perhaps because Byeok Jang-ho, the world's greatest brewer in his past life, was known as Master Mangwoo.
Hyeok Mulin had brainstormed names in that instant, but none topped it.
"Mangwoo Association... What a resonant name!"
Byeok Jang-ho echoed it with a bright smile, as if drawn in.
But Gaebul still looked lost.
A brewers' group—why him, a sword-for-hire, as Vice Chairman?
He shot Hyeok Mulin a plaintive glance, too cowed to ask.
Hyeok Mulin soon relented with a light smile.
"It's still a murim group, so it needs a protector or two. With you, it's secure."
"...Thank you."
Gaebul swallowed more tears inside.
"Next."
Hyeok Mulin's orders weren't done.
"Announce an extension of the Manju Grand Festival by one day."
The three-day Manju Grand Festival concluded, and the crowds prepared to depart.
Then Gaebul took the central stage, calling everyone together.
As they gathered, he raised his voice.
"The Manju Association dissolves as of today!"
"What?"
"The Association's disbanding?"
"Where's the Chairman? Why are you announcing this?"
Murmurs and protests rose, but Gaebul brushed them off.
He'd never listened to anyone anyway.
In speaking his piece, he was an artisan like Byeok Jang-ho—peerless.
"One more thing: The Manju Grand Festival extends one more day!"
"Extended?"
"Wasn't it over?"
"Nothing left to see, right?"
Interest shifted to the news, but the reaction was lukewarm.
As it should be.
Drunkards came not just for free booze—though that helped—but mainly to watch the contests, see who became Manju Master, and witness the Grand Elixir selection.
With all that done,
"I'm heading home."
"No reason for me to stay."
They had no intention of lingering.
Then.
"Bring them."
At Gaebul's order, subordinates carried out wooden boxes the size of their torsos.
"What's that?"
As curious eyes turned, Gaebul opened one.
He drew out a gleaming turquoise bottle, and eyes bulged.
"Isn't that Master Bok's Plum Immortal?!"
"I thought its brutal process yields just one bottle a year!"
As awe spread, Gaebul opened more boxes.
One legendary brew after another—priceless, untasted by common drunkards—appeared before them.
Instinctively drooling, they soon frowned.
That quantity and quality screamed Manju Association's hidden treasures.
So why flaunt them now?
Untouchable anyway.
They wouldn't have craved them if unseen.
Regretful glares turned on Gaebul.
Then Hyeok Mulin slowly ascended the stage, and Gaebul stepped aside.
"Isn't that the new Manju Master?"
"Heard he met the Chairman."
"What's going on?"
As puzzled gazes fixed on him, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"I am Hyeok Mulin, selected as Manju Master. Last night, I bested the Chairman in a wager and earned the right to these fine brews."
He omitted the Drunk Tyrant's death, continuing smoothly.
Eyes wavered at his words.
"Then..."
"No way?"
"Indeed."
Nodding, Hyeok Mulin held up the Plum Immortal and pressed on.
"In this extra day of the Festival, you'll taste every legendary brew the Manju Association has hoarded."
"Waaaaaaaaah—!"
Explosive cheers erupted instantly.
What greater bliss for liquor-mad souls?
"Is this paradise?"
"The Peach Blossom Land is right here!"
"I'd die happy after tasting those."
Some roared in joy, others wept in emotion.
And in the end, they all
"Hyeok Mulin! Hyeok Mulin! Hyeok Mulin—!"
chanted his name louder than ever.
A mere moment.
The time it took for the realm's drunkards' hearts to turn to Hyeok Mulin.
Surveying them, he smirked and turned away.
Then ordered Gaebul.
"Vice Chairman."
"Yes."
"Gather all the brewmasters who joined the Festival."
The drunkards' favor was secured.
Now, the real work began.