Chapter 232
Chapter 232
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 232
>Chapter Title: Rehabilitation (7)
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An open space on one side of Pingliang County's marketplace.
As always, the locals of Pingliang County gathered where the challenge bouts were held.
No, it wasn't just the locals. Tourists who had come to visit the public tomb also flocked there out of curiosity or rumors they'd heard somewhere. Their numbers weren't that high yet, though.
After two flashy challenge bouts featuring minor martial artists,
The band in the back began playing eerie music, and to the tune, a burly man dressed in black robes leaped down to the ground with elaborate movements.
“Wooo!”
“Get lost!!”
Jeers immediately poured from the audience.
This man, known by the moniker Black Wind Fiend, had built quite the notoriety over the past few days through these challenge bouts.
He toyed with women and bullied the weak.
Of course, it was all scripted. The woman he toyed with was a band member from the Maitreya Cult dressed as a performer, and the weakling he tormented was a beggar from the Beggar Clan.
Even so, after winning several bouts and committing these villainous acts, the crowd's resentment toward him was immense.
The audience believed heavenly punishment would come upon him—at the hands of Pingliang County's hope, the Blue Sword Great Hero.
Then, to the band's evocative melody, the man they trusted without a doubt appeared: the Blue Sword Great Hero.
“Heh heh heh. Today, I shall slay you and claim this Pingliang County for myself.”
In response to the Black Wind Fiend's taunt, the Blue Sword Great Hero replied in a deep, resonant voice.
“Hmph. As long as the righteousness of the martial world endures, I shall never fall to a villain like you.”
Having steadily performed in these bouts, the Blue Sword Great Hero now delivered his lines quite naturally.
“Waaah!”
“Blue Sword Great Hero!!”
“Teach that trash a lesson!”
And so, amid the crowd's fiery cheers, the bout began.
Cheers and jeers alternated every time the two warriors' weapons clashed.
The two men, evenly matched, traded blows back and forth for quite some time.
Even as the Blue Sword Great Hero fell into a defensive position several times, the people believed.
He would win. Just like always.
But.
Slash!
The Black Wind Fiend rolled on the ground and suddenly hurled a handful of dirt. The Blue Sword Great Hero hurriedly covered his face.
Swish!
The Black Wind Fiend's sword sliced across the Blue Sword Great Hero's chest.
“Guh…”
A groan escaped as blood gushed from the Blue Sword Great Hero's chest.
Naturally, it was dye from a pouch tied beneath his clothes, but to the audience, it looked just like real blood.
Thud.
The Blue Sword Great Hero dropped to one knee, barely propping up his upper body with his sword as he arduously lifted his head.
“You despicable cur…”
“Uhahaha! There's no such thing as despicable in a life-or-death duel!”
True to his scummy nature, the Black Wind Fiend sneered.
Swish!
He slashed the Blue Sword Great Hero's chest once more.
With that blow, the Blue Sword Great Hero collapsed motionless, and a chilling silence descended.
They wanted to curse the Black Wind Fiend's卑鄙 methods.
“Uhahaha. Pingliang County is mine now.”
But the Blue Sword Great Hero, who had protected them from that terrifying villain, was no more.
“Uhahaha. I love that terrified look on your faces.”
Savoring the silence and fear, the Black Wind Fiend swept his gaze over the crowd and approached a woman.
“You've got a pretty face. Tonight…”
Just as the Black Wind Fiend reached to toy with her.
Whiiiish!
Clang!!
A hidden weapon flew in with a sharp whistle, and the Black Wind Fiend hurriedly swung his sword to deflect it.
Right after, the band in the back began playing again.
A melody similar to the Blue Sword Great Hero's entrance music, but somehow a bit more refreshing.
At the same time, a mysterious young master appeared.
‘Why… why am I here…?’
It was Jeong-hyeon.
Plagued by social anxiety and communication disorders, she couldn't easily refuse others' requests.
She struggled to express polite refusals.
- Th-that's a bit…
- C-can I really do it?
Her vague responses somehow led to her being cast as an actress.
Her sudden appearance—no, the Jade-Faced Young Master's appearance—made the Black Wind Fiend scowl as he shouted.
“Who the hell are you!”
For Jeong-hyeon, who could barely speak in front of people, delivering lines before such a large crowd was no easy task.
That was why her line was very short.
She pointed a sword similar to the one the Blue Sword Great Hero had used at the Black Wind Fiend. The Jade-Faced Young Master opened her mouth.
“Avenger of my master.”
She poured every ounce of effort into that single line.
To block out the people around her, she pushed her Ghost Spirit Divine Art to its limits, focusing her senses in one direction.
Namely, toward the sky above.
Once Jeong-hyeon's desperate line ended, the nearby commentator jumped in energetically.
“Aaah! The disciple the Blue Sword Great Hero raised like his own child—the Jade Sword Young Master! Here to avenge his master slain by the Black Wind Fiend's卑鄙 tricks! And to protect the people here, the Jade Sword Young Master has risen!”
A truly excellent explainer. Or rather, commentator.
“Uhahaha! If even your master couldn't stop me, you think a brat like you can?!”
The Black Wind Fiend charged at the Jade Sword Young Master with a mocking shout, and the two's challenge bout resumed.
Surprisingly, the fight stayed evenly matched.
As the Black Wind Fiend had said, it seemed off for a disciple to defeat someone their master couldn't.
“Aaah! The Black Wind Fiend must have depleted too much internal energy in his bout with the Blue Sword Great Hero! His movements are slower than before!”
Thanks to the commentator's shouts, the audience easily accepted it.
Meanwhile, the Black Wind Fiend and Jade Sword Young Master's bout continued.
Jeong-hyeon kept pushing her Ghost Spirit Divine Art to the limit.
The massive mental strain caused sweat to bead on her forehead.
“Kyaaaah!”
Cheers erupted from the women.
They exchanged several more moves.
“Aaah! The Black Wind Fiend's internal energy seems depleted! The Jade Sword Young Master is pressing forward!”
In time with the commentator's yell.
Boom!!
A harsh explosion rang out as their swords clashed, sending the Black Wind Fiend staggering back a full zhang.
“Urk… Next time, I won't let you off!”
Spouting a perfect villain line, the Black Wind Fiend unleashed his lightness skill and fled.
“Whew.”
As the Black Wind Fiend fled, the Jade Sword Young Master lowered her sword, let out a deep sigh, and looked up at the sky.
It was like a scene from a painting.
“Kyaaah! Look at those eyes brimming with sorrow!”
“Heh. He's surely missing his master and father figure, the Blue Sword Great Hero.”
“How heartbreakingly poignant.”
Amid the crowd's varied reactions and cheers,
Jeong-hyeon couldn't bring herself to lower her head from the sky.
‘S-save me…’
If she faced the cheering faces around her, she'd faint on the spot.
* * *
The debut of the Jade Sword Young Master in place of the Blue Sword Great Hero heated up the challenge bouts even more.
Unlike the ever-victorious Blue Sword Great Hero, the Jade Sword Young Master was still a novice.
He struggled against the Black Wind Fiend's injured subordinates and occasionally lost.
But the people weren't disappointed by the Jade Sword Young Master's defeats.
He always succeeded in revenge the next time.
East or west, ancient or modern, young or old—it was a tale of the protagonist's growth, guaranteed to hook everyone, unfolding through the challenge bouts.
As the hype around them grew day by day,
In the nursing home built to care for critical patients, Physician Seo Jae-pil and the other doctors and nurses were doing their utmost for the severely addicted.
Everyone here was beyond everyday life due to their severe addiction.
Treatment was nearly impossible, so all they could do was care for them.
Thus, the doctors and nurses took turns leaving the nursing home to wander Pingliang County.
The ones they truly needed to care for were out there.
“How've you been lately?”
They communicated daily with the locals, discussing hookweed addiction symptoms directly or indirectly.
Among them, the one most actively chatting with residents was Gwan Mu-yeol.
“You know what? I went through something similar. Ate some weird mushroom and started hallucinating. For a while after, life felt pointless. That mushroom just kept haunting my mind, right?”
“You too? Lately, that thing keeps lingering in my head.”
Gwan Mu-yeol nodded in agreement.
“It felt like nothing could top that high, but once I got back to living, it was worth it again. Anything fun happening lately?”
“What fun is there? But there's plenty to watch in the marketplace these days, so that's keeping me going.”
“Hahaha. That's the joy of life, isn't it? Hang in there a bit longer for that. I made it through, so you can too.”
Recalling his own struggles overcoming hallucinogenic mushroom addiction, Gwan Mu-yeol encouraged the residents.
“If you need anything or feel down, come find me anytime.”
“What's there to be down about? Thanks anyway. Heh heh.”
Checking on the residents alongside the doctors and nurses somehow filled Gwan Mu-yeol's chest with warmth.
‘The Young Master's words were right.’
He recalled advice Il-mok had given him a year and a half ago.
It wasn't always about slaying villains with force to live by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's doctrines.
The core was saving the masses from evil.
Helping those victimized by villains and protecting them from the evil of hookweed was equally in line with the doctrines.
With a sense of fulfillment, Gwan Mu-yeol returned to the nursing home for the severe addicts.
“Welcome back, Warrior Gwan. I've been waiting.”
Il-mok greeted him.
“Is that plan I mentioned last time ready?”
At the question, Gwan Mu-yeol flinched involuntarily, but he did have something prepared.
Guiding Il-mok to the main hall, Gwan Mu-yeol handed over the plan he had written.
“Here it is, incarnation of Maitreya.”
Wearing an angry Four Heavenly Kings mask, Il-mok took the letter and scanned it quickly.
Thud.
He set it down on the table and spoke.
“Not bad. But if we follow this first measure, some patients will inevitably slip out of our oversight. Have you prepared countermeasures?”
“Th-that is…”
“Ah, and this part is a bit lacking too.”
In a strictly businesslike tone, Il-mok dissected the flaws in Gwan Mu-yeol's plan point by point, asking for solutions.
Gwan Mu-yeol sweated profusely as he offered explanations that were barely explanations.
“Well, it's not bad overall. Revise it a bit based on what I said.”
Finishing his critique, Il-mok left the hall with light steps.
‘Not bad compared to that incompetent boomer team leader. Pretty decent guidance, if I do say so.’
He thought he'd taught kindly enough.
From the hall Il-mok had left, a deep sigh leaked out.
“Haa.”
Gwan Mu-yeol stared blankly at the ceiling.
“Hallucinogenic mushrooms. Anyone got any?”
He worried he might end up a patient himself.
* * *
Time flew by.
The massive new hall under construction neared completion, and the Pingliang County residents were finally opening their hearts to the doctors and nurses, pushing harder with treatment.
Tourists trickled into the village via the public tomb, spreading rumors of the cooking contest bit by bit.
Surveying the revitalizing village, Il-mok nodded.
‘It's finally taking shape.’
As if agreeing with his thought, his demon sword hummed: wiiiing.
The demonic energy around it was much fainter than before.