Chapter 46
Chapter 46
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Vagabond Heo Pung-gae [4]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Heo Pung-gae debated whether to say it or not. But in the end, he couldn't hold back.
"Are you insane?"
"Far from it."
"It's not even chasing away one wolf by calling in a tiger. It's like driving out a brown wolf by summoning a gray one."
"Yeah, I know the Martial Alliance and the Demonic Cult are two sides of the same coin."
"If you know that, then why?"
"Because the one I'm calling isn't a gray wolf—it's a golden one."
"Does the color of its fur matter?"
"It does. Being a foreign breed, it'll stand out. Plus, it won't have any pack here, so it'll have to be brought in from afar. If I just block it from entering, it'll never take root. Much easier to uproot than a brown wolf that's already adapted to this land."
"Do you know how much trouble it takes to drive out a native species... And wasn't it the O Family Manor behind this mess? They've been a powerhouse since the Joseon era, right?"
President Park began explaining how the O Family Manor was about to fall—and how close to impossible that was.
How many city councilors had they planted roots for in Incheon? How many mayors? Even thirty years ago, if you wanted to get anything done in Incheon, you had to pay respects to their family head first.
It's not quite like that anymore, but their connections haven't vanished. High-ranking officials they've sponsored are scattered everywhere. For any ordinary major crime, Incheon City Hall and the Incheon Police would band together to cover for them... but this time, the scandal's too big for that...
Heo Pung-gae, fed up with the long-winded speech midway, cut in.
"From what I know, it's easy to keep invasive species out at first, but once they're in, they're hard to eradicate."
President Park nodded.
"True. I know about the infamous ones like bass or bullfrogs. But most foreign critters fail to adapt and die off. They just don't get famous because they vanish."
"The Demonic Cult's leader won't be some bass or bullfrog, will he?"
"Maybe not. But..."
President Park shrugged.
"With brown wolves already here, what's the harm in bringing in a golden one? If they can't coexist, won't only one pack remain in the end?"
"That Demonic Cult boss deals guns. And all sorts of drugs."
"In my eyes, it's no different from what the local thugs do. And why's that my problem? Keeping foreign crime syndicates out is the National Intelligence Service and police's job, not some businessman's like me."
Heo Pung-gae blinked.
The words nearly slipped out—that since he'd helped bring in that golden wolf, he should take responsibility. But he swallowed them back. No need for that.
What was the point of bickering and hurting the old man's feelings? Since when did he care about public good?
"Got a problem with that?"
Heo Pung-gae shook his head at President Park's question.
"Not really."
"So, you heading to Mosan Sect or not?"
"Well, if I can, I should."
"Good. Anyway, I'm truly sorry about this mess. Rather than empty apologies, I'll make it up with cash. Sound better?"
"Much better. Better yet if it's in spirit pills."
President Park laughed. He winked, pulled a wooden box from his pocket, and Heo Pung-gae snatched it up without a second thought.
"Anything else you wanna ask?"
And so Heo Pung-gae asked.
"President, if you're allied with that blonde boss lady, you must be tight with the bandit chief too. Since she's allied with him. Right?"
The smile vanished from President Park's face.
"And if I am?"
"One of his underlings shot at me and got banged up bad. Gu Ja-seong must've put him up to it. Did those three peerless masters—you, her, and him—team up to cut me out?"
President Park's expression hardened.
"I know nothing about that."
"Really?"
"Why would I know what that bandit scum thinks? I'd love to kill the bastard myself, but I'm holding back since we're cooperating for now. That fucking prick..."
After President Park left, Prosecutor Yi Rok came back in, wearing an awkward smile.
"Locals say he's a big-shot assemblyman. Sorry for jumping to call him a thug."
Suddenly all meek.
Not just because he's the president's buddy. With no forced detention possible, the prosecutor showing up at a hospital room—not even an interrogation cell—to pressure a suspect must've leaked.
Maybe he tried some shady tricks without a lawyer present? Not that Heo Pung-gae cared.
"I'm a thug, so it's fine."
"Don't be so sarcastic. It's not like I wanted to..."
"You sure seemed eager for someone who didn't want to."
"Well, when the president who's funded my scholarships since college urges me on, even without motivation, I hustle."
Prosecutor Yi Rok muttered that in this day and age, busting thugs won't get you into politics. His boss had ranted about chasing fame and glory instead of doing real work.
Playing the pitiful card hard, he even offered to buy drinks or treat him right sometime.
Heo Pung-gae shook his head.
"No thanks."
"Come on, I'm just sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for. Like I said, I'm a thug who breaks the law for money. Not in a position to call out a prosecutor for bending rules. I won't blab about this."
"Still..."
"If you wanna make it up, get me out of here fast."
Prosecutor Yi Rok nodded.
"I'll try."
"Whoa, you're out quick! Should've called so I could pick you up!"
"Why bother."
"Should've grabbed some tofu!"
As Heo Pung-gae entered the office, Yi Pung rushed over and hugged him tight. Heo Pung-gae grimaced and shoved him off.
"Don't you know I don't eat beans?"
He snapped that, then headed straight downstairs to open the acupuncture clinic. No chit-chat, no "thanks for the hard work."
Yi Pung went from sulky to baffled, but Heo Pung-gae had no time for it.
His lifespan was short. Every day locked up was precious time wasted. He needed to rack up merit, train harder, and earn more cash.
Still, he couldn't be cold to those who'd helped. After closing the clinic, he went back upstairs and offered thanks.
"Thanks for the trouble."
Only then did Yi Pung grin.
Heo Pung-gae turned to Yi Do-hyeok.
"You tried to help get me out too?"
Yi Do-hyeok stammered.
"Uh, y-yeah. Sort of."
"Thanks. Want anything?"
"I'm good."
"How about a cheap spirit pill?"
"No, really. I'm fine..."
Yi Do-hyeok trailed off, like he wanted to say more.
His rescue effort had failed.
No way to contact folks helped by Invincible BB Bullet. So he told his family first.
You know my great-grandpa was saved by Dr. Heo Pung-gae, and I've been rescued by Invincible BB Bullet myself. Now his disciple's framed. Don't we owe him repayment?
But both his mom and dad balked. Dragging them into mob business when they had work tomorrow?
In the end, he couldn't rally even his family. Just left him with crushing shame and doubt.
Yi Pung muttered.
"Fucking ingrates who can't even repay a debt..."
Yi Do-hyeok flinched, thinking he meant his parents. But soon realized it was those three women—saved, then screwing them over.
Yi Do-hyeok asked carefully.
"You okay?"
He usually struggled with the peerless master before him, mixing informal and formal speech. But guilt filling his head now made it polite.
Heo Pung-gae replied flatly.
"Fine. Why, do I look off?"
"You risked arrest to save them, and they betrayed you."
"I helped on my own whim, no chance for them to refuse. How's that betrayal? Even without me, cops might've shown up late and handled it."
"They might not have. You three could've died or been maimed."
"Maybe. But should I shove it in their faces and demand repayment?"
Yi Do-hyeok stared at Heo Pung-gae's face. Impossible to read.
"Not even mad?"
"Mad? Why?"
"It's maddening..."
"Those ladies pocketed eight million each, happy days. I did my thing and got out quick. All good, right?"
Then Heo Pung-gae added.
"Like I said before, I don't get fulfillment from helping folks."
Yi Do-hyeok had heard that. Back then, he thought the young vagabond was a psychopath.
"If you want fulfillment, be a firefighter. Why play hero?"
But now, he saw an old Taoist in the young one. One who'd abandoned worldly hopes.
Yi Pung snorted.
"Anyway, you're too chill. I'm pissed enough to kill. If I didn't hold back fearing jail, I'd track those victims and..."
Heo Pung-gae cut in.
"Cut the crap. I helped in exchange for cash from O Family Manor. Check on that."
"Those O Manor bastards are scrambling to save themselves. Got the money to cough up?"
"We letting it slide?"
"Can't. Plus, I feel bad for Miss Eun-rim. Though with her looks as her biggest asset, she'll eat well even if O Manor crumbles..."
Yi Pung made a call somewhere. Heo Pung-gae confirmed it, then turned and headed to his room.
And began his daily training to end the day.
Either way, this mess counted as a good deed. Worth major merit.
It logged a solid number on the Merit-Demerit Ledger, but Heo Pung-gae didn't smile. Lately, he'd grown skeptical of it all.
Still, not entirely fruitless.
He recalled his body's harmony in that fight. Lightning coursing through every limb—that perfect sync. He didn't grasp the principle, but replaying the sensation might let him recreate it in training.
They said Emperor Wanli could summon winds, rains, even lightning. Was this like that? A path to ascension like his?
What about other peerless masters? They'd trained longer. Had they experienced such absurd harmonies—or hidden them?
Maybe. To not fall behind, he'd train desperately from now on.
Finishing his review, Heo Pung-gae closed his eyes and sat in lotus position.
Recent events tried surfacing, but he banished them. So what if unpleasant stuff happened?
Expecting anything from people only hinders mind cultivation—and harms mental health. He already knew that.
He reaffirmed the truths he knew.
Merit matters. Assigning meaning to what he does for others doesn't.
In truth, others' existence doesn't matter either.
The human mind is the microcosm; the heavenly realm, the macrocosm. Together, complete. All else meaningless.
Why do Taoists shun grains? Grains hold earth's essence. To rise to heaven, reject the earthly.
Earthly things—and things of the earth—are needless for the path. Complicated society, praise, honor, gratitude, fulfillment—all useless.
Heo Pung-gae sank inward for meditation.
Wrathful lightning crashed down.