Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Misunderstandings Multiply
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"It's true. That's why so many people are flocking to Hwayeong Village. But there are three strict conditions they must follow to settle there."
"What are they?"
"The first is that anyone who commits murder has their head chopped off and gets driven out."
"Isn't that just killing them instead of driving them out?"
"It means murder is repaid with murder."
"What's the second?"
"The second is that thieves or bandits have one arm severed before being driven out."
With no response from the crowd, Elder Feng continued.
"The third is that those who bully the weak have their legs cut off and get driven out."
As soon as the third condition was mentioned, murmurs of discontent rose from the audience.
"I get the first two, but the third is too harsh. Bullying the weak is way too vague, isn't it? Besides, Gangseo is Sapa territory. Doesn't that go against the law of the jungle in the unorthodox world?"
Who the hell came up with rules like that?
The village chief wouldn't have set such extreme conditions.
What on earth happened in Hwayeong Village while I was away?
"That's why Hwayeong County is now called the Three No's County. No murder, no theft or banditry, no bullying the weak. The one who decreed this for the village was none other than His Supremacy Mok Yeohyeon, the Demon King Marshal."
I blinked in surprise at those words.
"How could the supreme lord of the unorthodox paths utter words fit for the Murim Alliance Leader?"
"Heh, you're truly pitiful, young listener. He issued that decree out of respect for Scholar Cheon. He's also treating Hwayeong County—now called the Three No's County—as a buffer zone for the unorthodox world. It means Scholar Cheon is to govern it."
Someone else let out an exclamation.
"Indeed! Truly worthy of the Demon King Marshal! What hero could realize such an ideal village? I'm off to the Three No's County right now to claim my plot of land."
"Scholar Cheon said a tithe would suffice for taxes there, to fund village operations."
"If that's true, the Three No's County must be a paradise on earth! Low taxes and peace of mind."
"Can I still get land if I go now?"
"With Scholar Cheon away, the Present Heaven Sect is handling it in his stead. Go now, and you can claim land."
Men at the next table were chattering away.
"A promise from the Sapa supreme won't be empty."
"If the Three No's County is real, it might be the best place to live in the whole country. They say Scholar Cheon was gifted a hundred thousand pyeong of land, so maybe I can snag a piece too."
"Let's finish eating and head out."
"One question, though. The government takes taxes—how does that work?"
"Paying taxes to the state is natural, and the lender takes a tithe."
"If that's true, it'd be a great place to make a living. No county magistrate would dare overtax there."
"Exactly."
I nearly choked on my food.
I'd only shared farmland out of pity for the slash-and-burn farmers.
How had it blown up like this?
And Mok Yeohyeon's decree meant crowds had since flooded Hwayeong Village.
As things got chaotic, he'd probably laid down those three rules himself to scare people straight.
Unorthodox folk wouldn't follow them easily otherwise.
"If there were more like Scholar Cheon, the world wouldn't be in such chaos."
Someone's sigh sparked it off, and soon they were heaping praise on my name.
My skin crawled just listening.
Mok Yeohyeon is clever indeed. As Hwayeong County withered with its shrinking population, he drew people in like this. Population equals power, after all.
I could see right through his intentions.
Even so, it was close enough to benevolence that I couldn't fault him.
His title of "true gentleman" wasn't for nothing.
If not for being Sapa supreme, he could've been Murim Alliance Leader.
Elder Feng then prattled on about Mok Yeohyeon's sixtieth birthday banquet.
Stories I'd never heard, so I listened for a good while.
"While we're on the topic, tell us about the winners of the banquet's martial tournament."
"That's a long tale—my throat's parched."
Someone offered him drinks and snacks, and Elder Feng launched back in.
Dark clouds sank to the rooftops, unleashing rain like thick strands of noodles.
Whoosh!
With no sign of the downpour letting up, I left the inn as is.
I tucked my herbs inside my robe to keep them from getting wet and walked on.
Walking in the rain for the first time in ages washed away the world's burdens, it felt like.
I reached the Han River bridge, savored the rainy river view, and crossed.
That was when it happened.
Groups of people in conical hats approached from both ends of the bridge.
Rumble! Crash!
Thunder boomed as lightning struck nearby trees.
Yet the approaching men didn't flinch.
Judging by their stance and aura, they're assassins.
I could tell from their mismatched weapons alone.
Only a few would send killers after me.
Groan! Boom!
Lightning flashed again.
Facing the assassins, I let out an exclamation.
"Ah! Yes! That's it! There's a way to cure Yuseong's frenzy! Why didn't I think of that?"
I'd said "frenzy," but seeing the lightning sparked a way to remove his Heavenly Killing Star, so I ignored the oncoming men.
No, not ignored—lost interest.
Even as they drew their gleaming swords.
Swish.
Suddenly, a figure leaped from under the bridge and landed on the railing.
It was Yuseong.
"Brother, you called?"
He had a fishing pole slung over his shoulder.
I chuckled at the sight of him fishing in the rain.
Definitely not right in the head.
"Brother, I have a favor."
"What is it?"
"Sorry, but can I kill these guys?"
His apologetic look vanished, replaced by the gleam of a child eyeing a new toy.
"Sigh, I suppose I should ask who sent them."
I had to find out who they were after.
"I'll ask."
Yuseong drew his sword and faced the men closing in from both sides.
"Hey, fish food or wolf bait—which'll it be?"
"Mad bastard! Get him!"
At his words, the men charged with weapons raised.
"No, I mean—are you here to kill me?"
"Kill first, evidence later."
Like a hungry man saying he'd eat then check.
Yuseong grinned at the rushers.
"Hope you're at least a bit strong."
But it didn't go as he hoped.
They crumpled fast under his sword strikes.
The hat-wearing warriors weren't weak.
Yuseong's blade was just too swift—heads flew two at a time per swing.
"W-We can't take him. Run!"
Yuseong chased the fleeing men, thrusting into their hearts one by one.
"You come to kill whenever you want, but leave when you please? No honor at all."
He asked one of the dying men.
"Hey, this can't be all, right? More coming? Tell them to hurry."
Yuseong's eyes sparkled.
Heavenly Killing Star energy leaked from his gaze.
The man was already dead, eyes wide open.
"Gotta be strong to be worth cutting."
He uttered the chilling words without hesitation.
"Young Master Yu."
"Yes?"
"I know a way to cure your frenzy. Interested in treatment?"
"Really?"
He brightened, then his face fell.
"But curing it might make things boring."
The pleasure from killing was too great to give up easily.
"Better if you do. Otherwise, you'll be a public enemy of Murim."
Understanding dawned, and he asked gravely.
"If treated, can I be normal?"
"We'll see after. Even half-cured should be enough, no?"
"What's the method?"
I asked him.
"Do you practice the Thunder Dragon Sect's strongest thunder essence technique?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
"To what degree?"
"About seven stars."
"What's it called?"
"Black Dragon Endless Torment Heart Technique."
"You've probably been stuck below eight stars for ages."
"Huh? How'd you know, brother?"
"I know things."
"Impressive. They call you the All-Knowing Scholar for a reason—even our sect's heart technique."
Yuseong had an innocent side.
Admiration over suspicion.
If I knew the Thunder Dragon Sect's secret arts, he'd normally question how.
Then again, born with Heavenly Killing Star yet bullied by Mok Jin-yul his whole life—his nature wasn't bad.
I told Yuseong.
"Do you know the cause of your frenzy, Young Master Yu?"
"……."
Silence meant yes.
"Do you know about the Heavenly Killing Star?"
He stared blankly, then spoke.
"No one knew that. How do you know so well?"
"I'm a specialist in spoiled brats. Know how many I've handled? Treating their madness reveals patterns."
He wouldn't know.
How I'd studied every constitution in the world to uncover mine and Mother's.
That's what made me a physician who could treat them all.
"Remove the Heavenly Killing Star energy, and you can be a good person?"
I stated firmly.
"That you've gone this long without becoming a murderer despite it is amazing. Only possible with a good nature."
Though truthfully, his heart technique likely suppressed it till now.
Practicing a strong thunder essence art must have burned away the energy unknowingly.
Watching lightning, I'd realized thunder essence might have sealed his Heavenly Killing Star.
But stalled progress let it surge, overwhelming his restraint.
And I vaguely knew why the Black Dragon Endless Torment Heart Technique was stuck.
Yuseong said.
"I've always dreamed of being a good person. Our sect's unorthodox, but I love seeing people happy."
His confession, sword in hand amid corpses, soaked to the bone, was eerie.
"That's why I like you, brother—you make others happy. Folks in Hwayeong Village, your group—they always smile. It looks nice, but sometimes I crave smashing that joy. Torments me."
Good nature clashing with killing and destruction urges from the star—pure agony.
"I don't want to be a monster who enjoys killing."
Tears or rain? He spoke to me, liquid streaming down.
To me, it felt like tears.
"Then, will you try as I say?"
He nodded.
"The method is grasping the Black Dragon Endless Torment Heart Technique's profound meaning. That creates a chance to excise the Heavenly Killing Star. Gotta burn the innate essence."
"No one in our sect has reached ten stars or higher. How could I?"
"I can guide you."
"Really?"
"But I need the technique's incantation. Can you share it?"
He hesitated, then resolved.
"You're like a brother, so yes."
"For that?"
"You don't get it. You're the first I've called brother."
Not casual—sincere trust.
I didn't know why, but that trust was worth betting on.
"Good. Strike while the iron's hot—tonight."
"That soon?"
"Possible. Trust me."
He nodded.
"I do. You're the one I call brother."
A stubbornly earnest guy.
I watched him walk off, beaming like an excited kid, and thought.
Better to meet fewer bad people than many good ones—that's true fortune. Good folks are rare in reality. But creating good people to meet? That's forging your own fortune.
Besides, helping Yuseong felt like true "uproot one evil, grow ten goods."