Chapter 163: Flame Wheel Art-4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 163: Flame Wheel Art-4
Violence in the name of retribution threw cold water on the bustling market.
Unlike So-yu, who wore a radiant smile, her face and clothes were stained with the crimson traces of that violence.
She pattered over to In-ho and collapsed into his arms.
A very slight weight pressed against him, yet In-ho found that weight nearly unbearable.
Her embrace did not last long.
Soldiers swarmed in at the commotion, and soon So-yu, the instigator of the incident, and In-ho, by association, were led away to the government office.
It was the first time in his life being taken in by state authorities, so In-ho was somewhat intimidated.
However, as if mocking his anxiety, the case was closed with disappointing ease.
He had heard the phrase "Non-Interference of Officials and Martial Artists" many times, but seeing it in action was different. Once it was revealed that the two individuals the soldiers had detained belonged to the Murim, the officials' attitudes turned indifferent.
‘But the person Master beat up was just a civilian.’
A defenseless commoner had been beaten so badly he could barely move, yet they were just letting it go?
The weight of his conscience pressed down on In-ho’s chest, leaving him far from at peace.
"......"
After leaving the office, In-ho maintained a stubborn silence.
He returned to the market. Word of the incident must have spread throughout the area, as people began to whisper among themselves the moment they saw him and So-yu.
He hadn't returned to work. He was simply there to collect his pay for the morning.
He handed over the delivery confirmation and his yellow sash to the recruiter.
The bearded man quickly checked the document and pulled a rough amount of money from his pouch, handing it to In-ho.
"The count should be right. Actually, it’s a bit more than that."
"Oh, why?"
"Just take it. But... don't come back tomorrow. Someone else has already filled the spot..."
The man spoke cautiously, his eyes darting warily toward the person standing behind In-ho.
In-ho wasn't oblivious to what that behavior meant, so he simply nodded.
"I understand. I’m sorry for the trouble."
When In-ho bowed his head in apology, the man waved his hands dismissively.
"No, no! It’s fine! It’s just, well, circumstances being what they are. I’m the one who’s sorry. Wahahaha!"
Fearing he might offend the person behind In-ho, the man bowed even lower than In-ho had.
Though he received enough money to make his pouch feel heavy, In-ho’s mood did not improve.
He turned and began walking down the road.
"Where are we going?"
So-yu followed behind him with a bright smile, while the people watching them continued to murmur.
*
He kept walking until they left the market and reached the outskirts of town.
After walking for quite a while, he stopped in front of a house—the home of the man So-yu had brutally beaten.
He had managed to find out the address before leaving the government office.
"Master, please wait over there."
In-ho pointed toward a tree a short distance from the house.
So-yu puffed out her cheeks slightly at In-ho’s forceful tone, but she followed his instructions nonetheless.
She figured it wouldn't be a problem since she could still see her disciple from there.
"Is anyone home?"
Once he confirmed So-yu was far enough away, he called out. A young-looking boy emerged from inside.
"Who are you?"
The boy spoke with clear suspicion. In-ho knelt down to match the child's eye level.
"Are your parents home?"
At In-ho’s question, the boy’s gaze flickered toward the house.
"Mom is out working, and Dad came home a little while ago. But... he can't come out."
The boy seemed to want to say more, but he fidgeted with his hands and held back.
"Ah... I didn't come to see your father. Would you like to take this for now?"
In-ho handed the coin pouch to the boy. The child took it cautiously.
"This is..."
The boy wasn't so young that he didn't recognize a bag of money.
"Um, could you give your dad a message? Tell him I’m sorry for what happened today. You have to make sure to tell him, okay?"
In-ho gave a bitter smile and ruffled the boy’s hair a few times.
The boy, not fully understanding the situation, promised he would and went back inside.
"......"
After staring at the house for a moment, In-ho turned away.
He walked past the spot where So-yu was waiting, and she naturally fell into step behind him.
"Why did you give away the money you worked so hard to earn?"
So-yu, who had watched the scene from afar, asked the question. In-ho didn't answer.
They continued to walk.
"Why are you silent?"
So-yu asked innocently. Finally, the anger In-ho had been suppressing reached its limit and exploded.
"...How could you beat someone who has no power? Is this the 'Righteousness and Chivalry' you're always talking about?"
In-ho snapped, glaring at So-yu.
Despite his fierce momentum, So-yu simply tilted her head in confusion.
"Did I strike someone who was innocent?"
"What?"
In-ho’s jaw dropped at her pure, unironic question.
With a perfectly composed face, So-yu asked him back.
"That man dared to strike you. You, my disciple. Did you expect me, as your Master, to simply overlook that?"
"...It was just a single slap."
"And? The fact remains that you were struck. In all of heaven and earth, I am the only one permitted to lay a hand on you. Surely you aren't telling me to stand idly by while someone dares to touch what is mine?"
"Even so, you went too far."
At In-ho’s words, So-yu let out a sharp laugh.
She took a step closer to him. Though she was looking up at him from below, she didn't lose an ounce of her presence.
"Too far?"
So-yu growled the words as if questioning him, rebuking him, and blaming him all at once. In-ho fell silent again.
"Do you know what is truly 'too far'?"
So-yu’s long, slender index finger started at In-ho’s chin, traced down his neck, and came to rest on his chest.
She stroked his body as if feeling the surface of fine porcelain.
"It is truly 'too far' for you to flirt with other women while leaving your Master behind—a Master who feels like she might suffocate and die without you."
In-ho immediately realized what she was referring to.
"I wasn't flirting. She was the one who spoke first—"
"Be quiet. I saw you subtly showing off your body to seduce those women."
"No, Master."
"Regardless, consider how much 'Righteousness and Chivalry' I showed by not taking their lives after seeing such a sight. In my heart, I have already torn them into a thousand pieces."
The hand that had been caressing In-ho’s chest moved up to his cheek.
Stroke, stroke.
So-yu tenderly caressed the cheek that was slightly swollen from the slap.
Her red eyes flashed from beneath his chin.
"So, mind your behavior from now on. That is, if you don't want me to do something truly 'too far'."
In stark contrast to her gentle touch, the words that left her lips were incredibly predatory and sharp.