Chapter 975 – 975. The Ascent To Enlightenment
“Yujin… I’m going to fuck all those bastards’ mothers…”
Seong Ji-gon’s eyes gleamed fiercely.
It’s a bit much to say, but aside from anything related to women, Seong Ji-gon is generally a decent guy. He has a mild personality and doesn’t often show off. Plus, he’s even talented as a martial artist. It was quite rare for Seong Ji-gon to be this angry.
“We don’t have time to fuck all those bastards’ mothers.”
“Later… I’ll find them later and fuck them.”
Seong Ji-gon seemed determined. I shrugged. This was Seong Ji-gon’s business, not mine. There was no reason for me to interfere with everything Seong Ji-gon did.
Seong Ji-gon kept glaring at the ronin, then took something out of his pocket and brought it to his nose. Sniff, sniff. He was actively smelling it.
‘Is it a talisman?’
I narrowed my eyes and looked more closely at what Seong Ji-gon was holding. It wasn’t a talisman, but rather a slightly curly hair tied with a string.
I remembered Seong Ji-gon’s habit. I had forgotten for a moment, but Seong Ji-gon had a hobby of collecting women’s pubic hair.
“You crazy bastard. Whose pubic hair is that this time?!”
“Ah, this? It’s my grandmother’s pubic hair. It’s a bit faint now, but if you smell it, you can smell her vagina. It’s quite addictive. Want to try?”
“…No, thanks. You enjoy it.”
“Sniff, sniff.”
Seong Ji-gon sniffed the pubic hair several times. Finally, Seong Ji-gon, now calmed, carefully put the pubic hair back in his pocket. I glanced into his pocket and saw many other bundles of pubic hair.
“Why do you have so much hair?”
“This is my mother’s, this is from Madam So I met last time, and this is the last legacy of a dying old woman…”
“What, last legacy? Did you kill the old woman?”
“I didn’t kill her. She was an old woman with a disease. Instead of giving money to her child, she gave me her vagina. It was a noble vagina filled with maternal love…”
“Just asking, but her son didn’t suggest it, did he?”
“I suggested it first. The old woman and her son accepted it, though. The son was very happy with one gold coin.”
I could roughly picture the situation in my head. This world isn’t modern. Most people are poor. Even in the city, you can easily see beggars.
“So, what are you going to do with those bastards? Are you going to take them down right away?”
I asked. If it were now, Seong Ji-gon would nod.
“…No.”
“What? Aren’t you pissed at those bastards? You said you’d kill even their mothers.”
“That’s right. I’m not changing my mind. I’ll find their mothers and fuck them, even if I have to hire the Hao Moon.”
“But? You’re not going to take them down? We can easily take over a shabby ronin group like that.”
The Cheol-o Clan was a ronin group with no backing. So, we could use the logic of power to take over the Cheol-o Clan.
“A chivalrous person, you see, has a big heart.”
“This bastard. You picked up something weird again somewhere.”
Seong Ji-gon had always been particularly weak to the word “chivalrous.” Becoming a chivalrous person was Seong Ji-gon’s dream.
“Listen, Yujin. A chivalrous person forgives one mistake. Everyone makes mistakes, right? I might make a mistake someday too…”
“So, you’re giving those bastards another chance?”
“Yeah. I’m going to give Woo Hyung-nim… no, Woo Young-tae a chance.”
I looked at Woo Young-tae. Woo Young-tae was still chatting with his colleagues. Even if he was given another chance, he didn’t seem like he would change.
“If that’s what you’re going to do, go ahead. But you’re not a chivalrous person. You know that, right? Chivalrous people don’t rape.”
“I know. I can’t be a chivalrous person. Unless I give up rape… But Yujin, even if I can’t be a chivalrous person, I can pretend to be one.”
“Well, why not? Do whatever you want.”
Seong Ji-gon nodded firmly.
***
Seong Ji-gon and Woo Young-tae gathered behind a tree. I hid my presence a little distance away and eavesdropped on their conversation.
“Woo Hyung-nim.”
“You called me all the way here… and you look serious. What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“I know your true intentions. I know you’re playing with me.”
“……Ha.”
Woo Young-tae’s eyes widened. Then, he sighed and scratched his head.
“Did you realize? Who told you? …Well, it’s been a while, so it’s not strange that you’d figure it out.”
Woo Young-tae’s demeanor changed. He became sharper. He exuded the aura of a ronin who had been through a lot.
“So? Haven’t I been good to you all this time? You haven’t suffered any disadvantages, have you? Just so you don’t misunderstand, the tradition of newcomers doing chores isn’t a lie.”
“Woo Hyung. Please apologize to me. After all, it’s true that you played with me. And from now on, don’t make us do all the chores, but take turns. I heard that before Yujin and I came, you used to take turns doing chores?”
Woo Young-tae’s eyebrows twitched.
“You’re crossing the line. If you want an apology, I can apologize. But I won’t tolerate you trying to be on par with us. The only reason the leader accepted you as newcomers is because we needed people to do chores. Don’t forget that your duty is to do chores.”
Woo Young-tae growled. He was exuding killing intent. It was a warning that if they didn’t back down, he would use force.
Seong Ji-gon’s face contorted.
“We’re not asking for much. We’ve done enough chores. Please recognize us as official members of the Cheol-o Clan. It’s not that difficult, is it?”
“No.”
Woo Young-tae said firmly.
“The leader told me directly to manage the newcomers well. You’ll have to do chores until we get to Manmu Tower. If you guys don’t do the chores, the morale of the Cheol-o Clan will drop, and there will be complaints. And neither the leader nor I want the morale of the Cheol-o Clan to drop.”
“Didn’t you think we might run away?”
“Run away? Haha. Try it if you can. But… you’ll have to be prepared. Your escape is a betrayal, and no ronin group, including our Cheol-o Clan, will let betrayal slide easily.”
Clang.
Woo Young-tae drew his sword. The sword was aimed directly at Seong Ji-gon’s neck. I didn’t step in. Woo Young-tae was openly exuding killing intent. He was trying to instill fear in Seong Ji-gon. In other words, he had no intention of killing Seong Ji-gon here.
‘He needs to use him more, so he can’t die. But he can’t let him run away either. So, he’s trying to control Seong Ji-gon with fear.’
But Woo Young-tae was mistaken about one thing.
Seong Ji-gon’s skill. Woo Young-tae, who was only at the 7th or 8th level of standing combat, could never kill Seong Ji-gon, who was at the level of emergence.
“Woo Young-tae. I gave you a chance like a chivalrous person. But why are you making that choice? We could all get along well. You even told me you wanted to be a chivalrous person last time, didn’t you?”
“Did I say that? I can’t remember, but it’s probably a lie. But haven’t you figured out the situation yet? I’m the one holding your life in my hands right now. Be obedient. Then you’ll be alive until we reach Manmu City.”
“…And after that? Are you planning to kill us?”
“Well, that’s the leader’s decision. Shall I tell you something good? Our leader is full of compassion and loyalty, even if he doesn’t look like it. If you work without complaint and show a good attitude… the leader will recognize you too. If you get the leader’s recognition, the other members will naturally recognize you too.”
An emotion flashed across Seong Ji-gon’s face.
Disappointment.
The expectations he had for Woo Young-tae were completely shattered.
“You tried to deceive me again. Even after I gave you a chance… Sigh. Is this what they mean when they say there are many chivalrous people in the martial world, but it’s hard to find a true one?”
Seong Ji-gon released his hidden aura. Seong Ji-gon’s presence spread in all directions. Surprised and feeling a sense of crisis, Woo Young-tae swung his sword at Seong Ji-gon. It was a kind of ronin’s instinct.
But his sword was blocked by Seong Ji-gon’s fingers. The sword, held between his thumb and index finger, didn’t budge.
“I won’t kill you. Yujin and I decided to take over the Cheol-o Clan. I really wanted to get along with the Cheol-o Clan. I had a longing for ronin groups. But now, it’s over.”
“You, you, you were hiding your strength…!”
Woo Young-tae took a step back.
Between him and Seong Ji-gon, there was not only a difference in the levels of standing and emergence. There was also a difference in the martial arts they had learned, and a difference in talent. And above all, Seong Ji-gon, despite how he looks, is a guy who works hard. Except for the time he sleeps and fucks women, he spends all his time training. He was different from the ronin who were busy playing and eating from the start.
“I’m not going to kill you, so don’t worry.”
Seong Ji-gon’s fingers snapped Woo Young-tae’s sword. Crack. The sword blade broke and fell to the ground. Woo Young-tae’s face turned pale.
“But you’re going to get hit a bit. Yujin told me to make them submit thoroughly if I was going to do it.”
“S-Senior. I’m sorry. I was so foolish not to recognize you, Senior, and I spoke rashly! Mercy and forgiveness! Please, I beg you, Senior!”
Woo Young-tae’s actions were swift. He knelt on the ground and bowed his head to Seong Ji-gon.
It wasn’t a bad way to handle things. But it was already too late. Seong Ji-gon had already given him a chance. It was Woo Young-tae who had rejected that chance.
Thwack, thud! Thwack! Thwack, thwack!
The sound of things exploding echoed.
I, who had been hiding, headed towards the leader, Jin Gu-eon. Jin Gu-eon was a ronin at the 3rd level of emergence. Taking him down in three minutes was nothing.
***
And so, an hour later, the Cheol-o Clan, including their leader Jin Gu-eon, were all kneeling on the ground. There were only two people standing on their feet here. Me and Seong Ji-gon.
Thwack! Thud! Thwack!
Seong Ji-gon was walking among the kneeling ronin, throwing punches as if he was repaying all the injustices he had suffered. The ronin didn’t scream but silently accepted the beating. They knew that the moment they screamed or complained, they would be subjected to a beating that was incomparable to what they were experiencing now.
I sat on a rock and looked straight ahead. Jin Gu-eon, the leader of the Cheol-o Clan. He was looking at me. He wasn’t in a normal state. His face was swollen, and his right eye was bruised black and blue. His face, covered in cold sweat, was filled with fear towards me.
“Jin Gu-eon.”
“……Yes! Seong Yujin-nim!”
“You’re a beat late?”
“I, I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”
Crackling.
Blue lightning flickered on my palm. Jin Gu-eon trembled. It was the effect of the electric torture that had been going on for the past hour.
Jin Gu-eon bowed his head.
Thump, thump, thump.
His forehead hit the ground. The skin on his forehead tore, and red blood flowed.
“There’s only one thing I want from you vermin. Obedience.”
“We will offer you our utmost loyalty!”
“Not loyalty, but obedience.”
“We will obey!”
Jin Gu-eon shouted desperately. Even if he said that, he would try to run away if he got the chance. It was only natural for a person to do that.
“Anyone can say that.”
“Please believe me! Seong Yujin-nim!”
“Show it with actions, not words.”
Thump, thump, thump. He hit his head again.
“Not that action. Kill your most cherished subordinate. Show your obedience with actions. So that I can believe you.”
“……”
A cold wind blew. Jin Gu-eon and all the members froze. In the Cheol-o Clan, the subordinate Jin Gu-eon cherished the most was one person. Officially a subordinate, but in reality, his friend since childhood, Gyeong Ma-baek.
Everyone knew that fact.
My gaze turned to Jin Gu-eon’s right. Gyeong Ma-baek was trembling.
Crack, crackling.
Lightning continued to spark in my hand.
Jin Gu-eon jumped up from his spot.
“…I’m sorry, Ma-baek.”
“G-Gu-eon! D-don’t do this. We’re friends!”
Gyeong Ma-baek looked up at Jin Gu-eon with tears welling up in his eyes.
“I will repay this sin… in hell.”
A fist filled with inner force struck Gyeong Ma-baek’s head. His head exploded. Blood and brain matter soiled the ground.
“Seong Yujin-nim! I have proven my obedience!”
I was surprised that he would so easily kill his childhood friend, but I didn’t show it and nodded.
“Good job.”
With this, Jin Gu-eon had lost the trust of his members. There would be no more unity among the members centered around Jin Gu-eon.
