Chapter 226
Chapter 226
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 226
>Chapter Title: Rehabilitation (1)
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In response to the Bi-ryong Pavilion Leader's explanation, Hu-gae replied indignantly.
"If it's such a monstrous bastard, our Beggars' Sect can't just sit idly by either! If you provide us with additional sketches of his likeness, we'll help track him down as well."
The Bi-ryong Pavilion Leader, who had been about to refuse the offer, quickly changed his mind.
'Since I can use the Beggars' Sect, this works out perfectly.'
He had already introduced the owner of this likeness sketch as a lecherous demon, so they wouldn't suspect he was the Eighth Young Master of the Demonic Cult.
The Eighth Young Master, who had slipped out of the main headquarters and was somewhere pulling off shady schemes, would also be disguised, so it seemed more than enough to fool the Beggars' Sect.
"I'll ask the portrait artist to draw a few more sketches and deliver them to you. With the Beggars' Sect joining in, this feels truly reliable."
"Hahaha. You say the kindest things. For a matter of justice and chivalry, how could there be a difference between the Martial Alliance's affairs and the Beggars' Sect's?"
At Hu-gae's response dripping with bravado, the Bi-ryong Pavilion Leader sneered inwardly.
'These stupid beggar bastards are perfect for exploiting, as expected.'
* * *
Over the next few days, beggars living throughout Gansu Province began gathering in Pyeongryang County one by one.
They were additionally deployed to the construction of the great manor in Pyeongryang County and the reclamation fields on Gongjoint Mountain, and on top of that, work began on setting up street stalls and stables at the foot of Gongjoint Mountain.
And Il-mok was holding a meeting with Baek-cheon and the musicians from the Maitreya Radiant Cult, along with a few Beggars' Sect members, all wearing very serious expressions.
"Let's discuss how we can create even more enjoyable performances. We'll take this time to openly share our thoughts from performing over the past few days."
As Il-mok stated the meeting's topic, one Beggars' Sect member shot his hand up.
It was Sam-gyeol-gae, who had recently been dragged into the performances. After watching the seniors' flashy fake sparring today, he had racked his brains intensely, lacking any confidence to perform it himself.
"I've heard that the most important goal here in Pyeongryang County is fun."
"That's right. Only fun can save the people of Pyeongryang County."
"As expected, fun means drinking and revelry, doesn't it! We should build a tavern! Since the Maitreya Radiant Cult already manages plenty of brothels, we could borrow some staff from there and run it easily."
At the Beggars' Sect member's suggestion, the others nodded in agreement, murmuring "Indeed."
But Il-mok shook his head.
"Are you in your right mind? To cure those addicted to Hojeopcho, you plan to addict them to alcohol and lust? Just how much do you intend to ruin these sentient beings' lives with such nonsense?"
At Il-mok's rebuke, those who had just been nodding in agreement turned hostile.
"Hey, you. That's a dangerous thought you're having."
"You wouldn't be coming up with such wicked ideas just because you don't want to perform, would you?"
Even the Beggars' Sect members joined in the criticism, causing the one who suggested the brothel to shrink back.
Il-mok, who had watched the scene for a moment, spoke up again to wrap things up.
"For the same reason, gambling is absolutely forbidden. Gambling may be fun, but it can only drag sentient beings' lives to ruin. That's why I've prepared agreed sparring matches instead of gambling bouts."
Unable to use the term "pro wrestling," Il-mok called it agreed sparring matches—spars with pre-arranged moves.
And those gathered for the meeting finally nodded in understanding of Il-mok's intent.
This was the reason Il-mok was determined to turn Pyeongryang County not into a pleasure tourism spot, but a cultural arts tourism destination.
Replacing Hojeopcho with alcohol, lust, and gambling would lead to truly horrific consequences.
It would be disastrous for Pyeongryang County's people, and the demonic sword, whose ghostly energy had been waning, might suddenly rampage, flying around like the Flying Sword Art and aiming for Il-mok's neck.
Having grasped Il-mok's intent, the Beggars' Sect members and musicians all fell silent.
'Excluding those three, what fun is even left?'
Having lived as beggars or musicians, they had few joys in life.
As everyone struggled to find direction, Baek-cheon shot his hand up high.
"Incarnation of Maitreya! If I may be so bold, I have something I'd like to say."
"Speak freely."
"I was thinking we could refine the agreed sparring matches that the Incarnation of Maitreya has prepared a bit more."
It was daring to critique a performance planned by the Incarnation of Maitreya himself, but Il-mok, the person in question, didn't mind at all.
"Go ahead and speak."
If the people on-site were voluntarily finding better ways, what reason was there to stop them?
If they could handle it among themselves, it would save him the trouble of stepping in— even better.
"Since agreed sparring is a form of theater, how about incorporating music? Have two warriors spar in the center while the band plays music."
At the suggestion of adding background music, the others let out exclamations of admiration.
"Ooooh!"
Il-mok also nodded thoughtfully, deeming it reasonable, as he organized his thoughts.
What came to Il-mok's mind was his memory from his Seo Ji-hoon days of watching pro wrestling.
'Come to think of it, pro wrestling had entrance music too, didn't it?'
In truth, aside from his elementary school days, Seo Ji-hoon had little experience watching pro wrestling, so the memories were a bit hazy.
Back in elementary school, he had been fully immersed, believing it was all real.
But later, realizing it was all scripted, his interest had faded completely. Just like learning the truth about Santa.
He had forgotten about pro wrestling for over a decade like that.
During his jaded civil servant days, he once saw a new recruit watching pro wrestling on his phone during lunch break.
Il-mok had let it pass without comment, but the boomer team leader had asked the newbie.
- That's all scripted anyway, and you're not a kid anymore. Why watch that crap?
At the question showing zero respect for others' hobbies, the newbie forced a smile and replied.
- Dramas, movies, plays—they're all scripted performances too, right? But this is way flashier than theater, so it's fun to watch. Hahaha.
Seo Ji-hoon had thought, "I see," at the newbie's response.
'With all those muscleheads trading moves that could kill or cripple if botched even slightly, it's definitely got spectacle.'
Of course, the team leader wasn't one to talk.
- Tsk tsk. Instead of wasting time on that violent garbage, you should be thinking about how to do your job better. These days' kids...
It wasn't for the guy who slacked off every chance he got, but Seo Ji-hoon had pretended not to hear.
He had simply taken the newbie, whose face was twitching from holding back laughter, out and bought him a drink.
In any case, that memory had allowed him to think of agreed sparring matches.
Reviving his childhood memories of pro wrestling, Il-mok spoke up.
"Hmm. Playing music during the sparring might be too difficult, so how about creating entrance music for each warrior instead? For villains, something fierce. For heroes, something atmospheric."
"As expected of the Incarnation of Maitreya! This Baek-mu! I feel enlightened about art once more today!"
Matching Baek-cheon's over-the-top exclamation, Il-mok offered another idea.
"And thinking about it, even with exaggerated agreed moves, laypeople unfamiliar with martial arts might not fully appreciate just watching the sparring. We need a commentator to explain the techniques the two warriors use."
At Il-mok's words, Hong-gae spoke up with a reluctant expression.
"Was there even anything like techniques in that sparring?"
It was all exaggerated motions, not proper martial arts. Naturally, there were no real techniques to name.
But.
"What does that matter? Just slap on some plausible names, and have the commentator shout out the martial art and technique names. Won't that make it way more exciting?"
What Hong-gae pointed out was utterly irrelevant.
What mattered was 'whether the audience enjoys it.'
Even swinging a sword in huge, impractical motions useless in real combat.
If the commentator yelled, "Ooooh! The Blue Sword Hero unleashes the essence of the Azure Purity Sword Art's Life-Saving Stance, Clear Wind Heaven-Shattering Strike!" wouldn't it get you pumped?
Hong-gae, who had diligently trained in martial arts enough to become one of the Beggars' Sect's Five Great Beggars from a prestigious orthodox sect, clutched his dizzying head and said.
"Then the commentator needs to explain the martial arts, so they should be knowledgeable in them too. Planning to dump that on our Beggars' Sect as well?"
At Hong-gae's sharp point, Il-mok shook his head.
"The people of Pyeongryang County need to return to daily life bit by bit, don't they? And to do that, they need their own livelihoods. We should select a few with good speaking skills from Pyeongryang County. Check if there are any who worked as street storytellers or book reciters."
Street storytellers sold tales in markets or inns, while book reciters read books aloud for others.
"In addition to commentators, we could pick some storytellers or reciters to craft scripts. Instead of just villains versus heroes fighting, creating stories with a proper beginning, development, climax, and resolution would make it even more fun, wouldn't it?"
"You're really planning to turn agreed sparring into a grand theater production. Entrance music plus stories. Inspiration is overflowing, Incarnation!"
Nodding at Baek-cheon's admiration, Il-mok summarized the situation.
"Alright, let's wrap up the improvements to agreed sparring here for now. Anyone have other ideas?"
As everyone exchanged glances at Il-mok's question, one musician raised her hand.
"If we're talking fun, we can't leave out the joy of eating, right?"
"Indeed! What a splendid idea!"
Il-mok clapped in delight at her suggestion.
"Gastronomy is one of the finest joys. And it's not just helpful for the locals here. When hikers come to Gongjoint Mountain, we can draw them here too. They'll enjoy it, greatly aiding Pyeongryang County's prosperity."
At Il-mok's pure praise, the musician blushed half in embarrassment, half in pride.
Naturally, the surrounding musicians looked at her with admiring faces.
"This works out well. We could hold a cooking contest this time. It would boost the locals' motivation too."
The cooking contest wouldn't just provide immediate entertainment and end there.
'If Pyeongryang County becomes famous for food, tourists will flock for it. Inns and taverns will multiply, creating jobs.'
Il-mok had already calculated the follow-ups in his head, but for now, he needed to handle the immediate tasks.
Improve the agreed sparring and hold a cooking contest.
With those two major goals set, Il-mok nodded and concluded the meeting.
"Our Maitreya Radiant Cult musicians, start composing and practicing entrance music for the agreed sparring from now on. And the Beggars' Sect, scout for eloquent people in Pyeongryang County and spread the word about the cooking contest."
* * *
Around the time winds of various changes were blowing through Pyeongryang County.
A letter from Dam-bin arrived at the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main headquarters in Shingang.
"Hahaha. Hymns, of all things. Truly an unimaginable method, Master."
Wi Jin-hak, having read the letter detailing Il-mok's various proselytizing methods, burst into laughter with an admiring expression.
"But these hymns shouldn't just be used for proselytizing, Master. We should change the fake Maitreya Radiant Cult name in the lyrics back to our Divine Cult and teach them to the children, don't you think?"
Wi Jin-hak grinned as he spoke words that made the subordinates in the Demon Slaughter Pavilion grind their teeth.
"Hohoho. Quite right."
The Heavenly Demon nodded in agreement with his first disciple's words, but his expression was subtle.
Ma-ui, who had been summoned to the Heavenly Demon Hall alongside him, asked curiously at the Heavenly Demon's reaction.
"Is something troubling you, Lord of Ten Thousand Demons?"
Ma-ui didn't think the Heavenly Demon was reacting that way because of the Eighth Young Master's proselytizing methods.
After pondering briefly at Ma-ui's question, the Heavenly Demon pulled another letter from his bosom.
It wasn't written by Dam-bin, but one additionally enclosed by Il-mok.
A request to dispatch physicians. And on top of that, a few more matters were written.
"Read this."
The Heavenly Demon handed the letter to Ma-ui, and Wi Jin-hak also leaned in to read it alongside.
And by the time their eyes reached the end of the letter.
Ma-ui and Wi Jin-hak's expressions had also turned gravely serious.