My Karma Indeed
My brothers' eyes rolled back white at the sight of the pork before them. They were the very picture of Gangbang beggars.
Oh no! What a calamity! How had the house founded by I, the world's greatest martial artist Yi Gyeol, fallen to this state? This body would deal with these fools right now... Half pity, half surging rage. But Jinpyeong barely suppressed his emotions.
This was no time for that. Taking care of his brothers came first.
"Come on, eat up. Looking at you all, it seems like nourishing your bodies is the top priority, so I've prepared this."
He skewered a hefty chunk of pork—fat and lean mixed together—and placed it over the makeshift brazier in one corner of the estate.
The world's greatest martial artist personally grilling meat for his worthless descendants. Yi Gyeol's transformation was truly dazzling.
Sizzle— The sweet sound, the mouthwatering aroma!
Second brother Jinun gulped and stepped forward, saliva practically dripping.
"Little bro, isn't this done already?"
"Brother? I just put it on—what are you talking about?"
"Come on, let's just eat it half-cooked."
"...It's pork. The blood hasn't even drained yet?"
That was when it happened.
"Wait!"
First brother Jingang yanked Jinun back by the collar. Jinun, who had been about to shove his head into the brazier, wailed in protest.
"Brother! What the hell—why? Why?!"
"Little bro. Where did this meat come from?"
"Does that matter right now? Little bro, I think it's plenty cooked—"
"It's very important. Where did this huge slab of pork suddenly come from? You didn't do something you shouldn't have, did you?"
First brother's voice was stern. His face had hardened too.
Sensing the ominous mood, second brother hesitated and stepped back.
"What do you mean by 'something you shouldn't have'?"
Jinpyeong asked, genuinely curious.
If it was about stealing, he hadn't stolen anything. (Result-wise.) If it was about beating or killing people and robbing them, well, he'd knocked out quite a few... But that wasn't just for one pig. It was a foundation for steadily expanding Yi Gajang's territory. Plus, no one died—in fact, he'd saved an innocent merchant's life, hadn't he?
Of course, that foreshadowed conflicts with various factions ahead, but first brother Jingang surely wasn't grasping that far.
So what exactly was the "something he shouldn't have done" that Jingang meant?
Jingang hesitated a moment before speaking.
"I mean, you didn't borrow it from someone, did you?"
An unexpected answer. Yi Jinpyeong let out a bitter chuckle.
"...That's it? That's the 'something you shouldn't have done'?"
"What do you mean, 'that's it'?"
"What's wrong with borrowing? No matter how hard we look for food, there's nothing left in this house."
Jinpyeong's tone sharpened. Second brother Jinun's eyes darted around.
It was unbelievable—the lifelong mad youngest, sharply retorting his eldest brother.
First brother Jingang looked flustered too. But he soon furrowed his brow and replied, deadly serious.
"Jinpyeong. We're in dire straits, that's true. But we're the proud masters of Yi Gajang, descendants of the world's greatest martial artist who held all Jianghu under his feet. How can we beg from others just because we're temporarily down on our luck? I absolutely cannot allow it."
Hahaha! This time, Yi Jinpyeong burst into full-throated laughter. His booming guffaws echoed through the empty estate.
Seeing his brothers' bewildered faces, he clutched his belly and laughed even harder.
Why laugh? Because it was ridiculous.
These kids still had that much pride left? Even in this state?
Yi Gyeol, the world's greatest— he'd never borrowed a thing from anyone in his entire life. But so what?
If he were starving to death with no normal means to survive, he'd beg without hesitation. Of course, Yi Gyeol never would have let it come to that.
Finally reining in his laughter, Jinpyeong faced his brothers. They stared back with worried expressions, wondering if his madness hadn't fully healed—or if a new kind had set in.
He asked them.
"That's a strange story. But I've heard Yi Gajang has borrowed plenty from all over. Why's it okay for you brothers and not for me?"
His brothers looked utterly shocked.
"H-how... how do you know that?"
"While you brothers were passed out, a gang showed up. Something like Hwang... Hwang whatever. Some pathetic, dust-speck name."
"...Hwang Sabang?"
"Ah! That's it. Hwang Sabang. They said a few years back, you borrowed twenty seok of rice and never paid it back."
"Heavens! So the Hwang Sabang brothers came by in the meantime."
"Came by? They threatened to take down our plaque if we didn't pay up."
His brothers' jaws dropped. Jingang's face paled as he stammered.
"The... the plaque? A-and? What happened?"
"What could I do?"
"What do you mean? Did they really take Yi Gajang's plaque?"
"Hmph. As if those punks could. I beat the crap out of them and chased them off."
Jingang and Jinun stared at each other blankly, faces screaming what the hell?
Suddenly, Jinun bolted up and dashed outside. Moments later, faint cries of "It's here! It's still here!" echoed back.
He came panting in, face lit with joy.
"Brother! Don't worry! It's still up there fine!"
"Thank goodness. If they'd taken the plaque, I couldn't face our ancestors..."
"They've got that much conscience, at least, right?"
Conscience? Hadn't Jinpyeong just said he'd thrashed them? Clearly, neither brother believed a word.
But it didn't matter now whether they believed him. Soon enough, they'd learn all the messes he'd made.
Jingang sighed in relief.
"No excuse for meeting the Hwang Sabang brothers like that. Yes, we do owe them. But there were unavoidable circumstances."
"What circumstances? Borrowed is borrowed."
"You're right. But it wasn't for ourselves."
Jingang's explanation went like this: A few years back, massive floods hit the area, devastating one village in particular. Other regions were struggling too, no one to help, so they came knocking at Yi Gajang, remembering old ties. Yi Gajang couldn't spare anything by then either. But unable to ignore their plight, Jingang had gone around begging other gangs for grain on their behalf.
"...So we took on that debt for them?"
"Yes. Those villagers are simple, timid folk. They feared getting tangled with rough martial artists, so no other way."
Hmph. Yi Jinpyeong snorted loudly.
Easy for them to say, bellies full. If the villagers were truly desperate, would they care about martial artists? They came because Yi Gajang seemed like a pushover.
"That was years ago, wasn't it? Haven't they paid back even a single seok? If we covered their debt, shouldn't they repay us quick?"
"How can we pressure poor commoners scraping by day to day? They haven't come by once, so they must still be struggling. Maybe they need more help."
Good thoughts... good thoughts... He barely held back his fist. At this point, it wouldn't have been strange if he'd swung already. In half a day, Yi Gyeol's change was dazzling.
So these guys—his brothers, Yi Gyeol's distant descendants—had pride enough to starve rather than beg, yet still let themselves be used like idiots, giving everything away. Expecting the world to treat them kindly because they treated it kindly.
If Jinpyeong's soul hadn't returned, if this dragged on years more, what would have become of Yi Gajang? Awakening any later, and it might've been beyond saving.
No helping it. This is my karma!
He'd known these descendants were rotten from the start. He'd overhaul body and mind alike. The road ahead was long, but his to bear.
With a deep sigh, Yi Jinpyeong said,
"I get it. Anyway, this meat wasn't borrowed or begged. Don't worry."
"Then did you steal it...?"
"...Why steal? Gu Sam, the butcher up the street, gave it as a gift."
Jinpyeong briefly explained how he'd gotten the pork. Gu Sam, fed up with Dongbeonhoe and Jang Gapae's tyranny, declared he'd side with Yi Gajang now. The piled-up pork was a commemorative gift.
He skipped the violent parts. They wouldn't believe anyway.
His brothers needed time. Time to adapt to the massive changes and events barreling their way.
But even so, they kept tilting their heads, incredulous.
"Seeking our protection? How could...?"
"Go check Gu Sam's shop yourselves later. See if I borrowed, stole, or actually made a deal. For now, eat the meat before it burns?"
"Uh... yeah! It's burning, burning!"
Second brother Jinun, eyes rolling, cried out desperately. He snatched it with chopsticks and held it to Jinpyeong's mouth.
Jinun had endured superhumanly, watching first brother. Now, with meat at his nose, he opened wide—ahh.
Finally, the heartfelt union...
But,
"Wait!"
"Argh, again?! Why?!"
Jinpyeong snapped. Not even his own food, but fury boiled over.
His shout was so loud, both brothers stared wide-eyed.
Realizing his slip, Jinpyeong schooled his face and asked politely, gently.
"First brother. Mind telling us why again?"
"Brothers. We can hold out without meat. But out there, even now, poor starving children... Gahk!"
Jinpyeong's fist. It smashed satisfyingly into Jingang's jaw.
Crack! One more for good measure. Innocent Jinun flew too, tumbling.
Yeah. Good thoughts my ass! He'd held back plenty.
The two brothers sprawled unconscious on the ground.
"Just shut up and eat already!"
He brought the crisply grilled pork to Jinun's lips. Poor second brother, drooling since earlier from watching first brother.
As expected, even unconscious, Jinun's mouth chomped it down eagerly.
What a bizarre talent.
And first brother, the one chanting mercy and charity? "Heh... damn, he eats well..." He slurped it down greedily too.