◈ Episode 42. Bukcheon Domun
The group, who had settled into a nearby guest house, were finally able to wash themselves in warm water.
First, Yudaeha and Yongchu, who had just washed up, came down to the first floor to eat.
Even though it was late at night, the inside of the hotel was quite noisy due to the guests drinking.
Yoo Dae-ha, sitting across from Yong-chu, asked with a trembling face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
From the moment they sat down, Yongchu’s gaze towards him felt somehow unusual.
“Because you have a face that makes me want to hit you.”
“······.”
It seems like what happened earlier is still on my mind.
At that moment, with a loud noise, Yongchu grabbed his head.
“Ugh.”
The only one who could inflict such pain with just a single chestnut was Jin Mu-rip.
“What good is it for a man to be so petty?”
“If I could just beat that guy, I think it wouldn’t be a bad life even if I lived a simple life.”
Yoo Dae-ha said, sweating profusely.
“Haha······. Yong-hyung. Don’t take it too seriously. I’m not saying that Yong-hyung is ugly, I’m just saying that he looks brave.”
“intrepidity?”
As Yongchu tilted his head, alcohol and food came out.
Jinmu-rip swallowed a sigh and filled his glass.
“It’s just a compliment, so just ignore it.”
“That’s a compliment. I understand.”
Yudaeha sent a message to Jinmurip while observing Yongchu’s expression.
[Yong-hyung······. Why do you lack common sense?]
It’s clear that he’s not stupid.
But it felt like something was missing that should be there for most people.
[You too, try learning martial arts in a cave for twenty years.]
As Judae covered her gaping mouth with her hand, Danryehwa came down, tying up her wet hair.
“You weren’t eating without me, were you? You were disrespectful.”
“If I had been a little later, it would have been rude. Hurry up and sit down.”
As she sat down and began to eat, a voice behind her was heard quite loudly.
“I heard that the elder of Bukcheon Domun was sick in bed?”
“Why all of a sudden?”
“You haven’t heard anything yet, have you? This time, the Bukcheon Domun is in a huge pile of debt.”
For a moment, silence fell over the table of Jinmu-rip and his party, as if they had made a promise.
They even reduced the number of times they moved around and focused all their attention on the table behind them.
The dark-faced middle-aged man continued speaking as if trying to live up to Jinmu-rip’s expectations.
“I heard this recently, too. A few months ago, four of your grandchildren were kidnapped at once.”
“Is that true? Why is something that happened a few months ago only being revealed now?”
“Don’t you know how much your grandchildren are dearly loved by you? If rumors spread, their lives would be in danger, so how could I carelessly spread the word?”
The man sitting across from me shrugged and raised his voice.
“Shh! Keep your voice down. What are you going to do if someone hears you?”
“This is already a well-known fact to everyone.”
The man, who had been observing his surroundings, carefully straightened his shoulders.
“So that’s why the thug wanted money? That’s why you’re in so much debt?”
“That’s right. The money he asked for was a whopping three million silver coins.”
The man’s eyes widened.
“Three million? Where in the Bukcheon Domun can you find that kind of money?”
“It’s a prestigious family that has been around for over two hundred years. Besides, don’t you know what kind of person the old man is?”
“I know. There is no gentleman like him in the land of Sacheon.”
Bukcheon Domunju Lee Jeong-myeong is a popular figure who is called Gunja-do (君子刀).
The fact that the villagers called him “elder” instead of “Munju” also reflected his intention to break down the high wall of the Murim Bangpa and live together with the people.
“It seems that he disposed of his assets and that his close acquaintances also helped him. It’s really amazing that he received that much help even though he didn’t give a clear reason.”
“So, did you save all the grandchildren?”
“They paid money to get it back, but······. They never caught the bad guy.”
“Huh, that’s really difficult. Didn’t the Sacheon Alliance move?”
“After his grandchildren returned, the old man, who had not been able to catch the evil spirit, immediately asked for help from the Sacheon Alliance. It seems that the Alliance sent the Golden Guard.”
“Geumho-dae? If it’s Geumho-dae, it seems like the Sacheon Alliance paid a lot of attention to it.”
The Golden Tiger Corps of the Sacheon Alliance was comprised of the strongest of the later ranks of the Geupa.
But the middle-aged man clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“What good will it do if you don’t pay attention to it? The kids just come here for a few days and eat some food before going back.”
“Oh, that’s possible. So what do we do now?”
“If I knew that, I would have gone to the Bukcheon Domun right away. Isn’t that why the old man was lying in bed because he had no other choice?”
The men clicked their tongues and felt sorry as if it were their own business.
As the night deepened and people started leaving one by one, Jinmu-rip and his party gathered in the guest room after finishing their meal.
“The reputation of Bukcheon Domun is better than I thought.”
Yudaeha answered Danryehwa’s words.
“Usually people would fear or be in awe of someone from the martial arts world, but this place is different. Just listening to their words, I can tell how great of a person the Master is.”
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“But isn’t it strange?”
“What do you mean, strange?”
Danryehwa looked at Jinmurip and asked.
“You said you got two million back from the evil spirit on the way here, right?”
Jinmu-rip nodded calmly.
“Yes. It was definitely two million.”
“Then what about the remaining million?”
“I don’t know.”
Jinmu Rip pretended not to notice.
Danryehwa, with her eyes wide open, asked suspiciously in a voice without any highs or lows.
“Is that true?”
A clumsy lie won’t work on her, who has a sharper sense than others.
But Jinmu Rip had a shamelessness that was far greater than that of others.
“I’m telling you, you don’t believe me?”
“Hmm.”
Judae-ha’s mouth opened while she still had doubts.
“It would be better to go as soon as the sun rises tomorrow rather than staying up too late.”
Jinmu Lip said.
“Actually, I wanted to go right away and give the money back. But this person here said we should go tomorrow.”
“······.”
Danryehwa’s face was terribly crumpled.
This is an opponent you can never win against with words.
***
The inner courtyard of Bukcheon Domun where the soft moonlight lingers.
In the still silence where even the slightest step was cautious, a young man with a handsome appearance walked out from under the eaves.
“Phew······.”
A sigh as thick as the darkness escaped from the young man’s mouth.
The young man wearing the gray uniform of the Sacheonmaeng was Lee Hwan, the youngest son of Lee Jeong-myeong and the master of rumors.
He, who has only two older sisters, was living in the Sacheon Alliance and had just returned from vacation due to this incident.
As Yi Hwan was sighing again, Jang Yong, the commander of the Bukcheon Domun, appeared through the darkness.
“Lord Rumor. You are here.”
Jang Yong, with a sad expression, bowed very politely.
Lee Hwan tried to hide his complicated feelings and smiled.
“Are you still asleep?”
“How can a subordinate fall asleep early when His Majesty is sick in bed? His Majesty······.”
“You woke up and fell asleep again a little while ago. I will guard this place today, so get some good sleep.”
“That’s great. Then I’ll be back in a bit.”
Jang Yong sat with his back against the eaves.
“I also need to go in and get some fresh air for a bit.”
As Lee Hwan sat down next to him, Jang Yong spoke in a soft voice.
“The messenger who went to check on the news of Pajunghyeon just returned a little while ago.”
Lee Hwan’s head suddenly turned around.
“What happened?”
“They say that the evil Bloodthirsty Beast has been eliminated and the Jangju family has been rescued. It’s the young prince of Madorim who is said to have destroyed the Great Sword Gate.”
“Is that true?”
Since this is the same place where the Bukcheon Domun went, it was only natural that he would be interested.
“Yes. It is certain that the Jang family was rescued, but the rumors of catching the Bloodthirsty Sura are all dismissed as false rumors. I don’t know yet if it is the jealousy of those who do not want to admit it, or if it is truly false.”
“Anyway, it’s really fortunate that we were able to rescue the people safely.”
What followed the relief was a sigh that felt like it was going to burst.
“But we don’t even know the identity of the beast······.”
It was a blessing that my kidnapped nephews returned.
However, the situation was not good enough to cause concern over the existence of the Bukcheon Domun, which had a history of two hundred years.
This is because the three million silver coins given to the traitor were completely lost.
The amount of money borrowed from Sacheonmaeng using fields, businesses, and estates as collateral was a whopping 800,000 silver coins, and the amount of money lent by the Bangpas, with whom he had a long relationship, was a whopping 1.5 million won.
The worst situation was that if you couldn’t pay the money, you would be left on the streets.
Lee Hwan’s eyes looking at the moonlight are gloomy.
‘It’s almost time to pay the federation dues, what should I do?’
It costs money to run the Sacheon Alliance.
Although the four major fire departments pay more than half of the operating expenses, the smaller fire departments also have to pay a certain amount every year.
But how can we bring up the issue of federation contributions when the disciples’ salaries are already overdue?
A soft sigh escaped Hwan’s lips.
‘I’d sell my soul to a demon if only I could solve this problem.’
As the atmosphere grew heavy, Jang Yong changed the subject.
“How was your life as a saint?”
In the Sacheon Alliance, Lee Hwan’s affiliation was the Iron Sword Corps, which was comprised of the later members of the Small and Medium Defense Faction.
“I just feel the wall.”
“A wall?”
“It’s the invisible wall built between small and large breakwaters.”
Although they were all grouped under the name of Maeng, the perception and treatment of the later index members differed greatly depending on their affiliation.
Jang Yong, who had guessed the situation, smiled bitterly.
“They have been the powerhouses of Sacheon for hundreds of years. They are not a wall that will easily collapse. It would be better to empty your mind.”
“I’m trying to do that.”
“I will just wait for you to get back in good health.”
Lee Hwan swallowed his words and forced a smile.
‘If there is still a place to return to.’
Lee Hwan rubbed his stuffy chest and got up from his seat.
“I guess I should go in now. It’s late at night, so go back and get some rest.”
“They say that even if the sky falls, there is a hole to escape from.”
Lee Hwan’s feet stopped as he was turning around.
Jang Yong continued speaking.
“Anxiety spreads like a plague from above. I am also investigating in every possible way, so don’t worry too much.”
If the leader is anxious, the disciples also become anxious.
Now that the leader of the Moon family has fallen, the pillar of the Bukcheon Do-mun is the leader himself.
Hwan Lee, who understood what was said, nodded slightly.
“Thank you.”
A hole that will emerge even if the sky falls.
They still didn’t know that the hole of life was nearby.
***
The darkness that had covered the Bukcheon Domun was fading away and the dawn sky was brightening.
General Jang Yong, who had been sleeping on the table, rubbed his eyes and woke up.
“Is it morning already?”
I think I only closed my eyes for a moment, but the chirping of birds is quite loud.
As I opened the window, the cool morning air came in and my dazed mind suddenly cleared.
Every single day is an impatient day.
I was trying to find some time to relax, reminding myself that the more urgent it is, the more I have to go back, when the water gatekeeper came.
“Your Majesty.”
“What’s going on this morning?”
“A guest has arrived. He said he wanted to see the Lord, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell him, so I came here.”
“Guest? Where did you come from?”
“They say he came from Madorim.”
“You’re Madorim?”
This is Madorim who solved the Jeonggajang case.
Jang Yong’s voice became urgent.
“Please come inside so I can meet you.”
“yes.”
Jin Mu-rip and his party entered the Bukcheon Domun Gate and could clearly feel the gloomy atmosphere within the gate.
Judaeha carefully sent the message.
[The atmosphere is like a portrait studio.]
Jinmu Rip also had the same thought.
‘If it had been a few days later, it might have really become a funeral home.’
From now on, it is time to capture the hearts of the Bukcheon Domun.
Jang Yong ran out of breath in front of the group after passing two pavilions.
“Welcome. My name is Jang Yong, the head of the main office.”
Jinmu Rip politely accepted the prize.
“This is Jinmurip of Madorim.”
“Jin······. Are you by any chance the young prince of Madorim?”
“Yes.”
Jang Yong’s eyes widened.
‘This young man is the one who broke down the Great Sword Gate and solved the problem of the Jeong family.’
The fact that Jin Mu-rip, who solved the Jeonggajang case, came means that he may have brought information about the evildoer.
Jang Yong, who was hiding his impatience, opened the office door wide.
“Come on, come on in.”
