Chapter 276 : Jaseung, Makes a Resolve
Chapter 276: Jaseung, Makes a Resolve
Yang Pae’s killing intent was not something an eleven-year-old child could endure.
Nevertheless, she remained standing in her place.
Lee Jaseung dispelled the flying killing intent and simultaneously sent a voice transmission to Cho Somi.
— Do not be afraid. You only did what you had to do. If you had left that man alone, he would have harmed other people.
For the sake of others.
Those were words that sometimes gave one greater courage and strength than fighting for oneself.
To her, as she was about to drop her sword in fear, he spoke again.
— Grip your sword tightly. As long as you have stepped into the Jianghu, the sword is your closest friend.
Cho Somi gripped her sword tightly and looked back at Lee Jaseung.
Even in this terrifying situation, Lee Jaseung’s expression was incredibly calm.
That delivered a sense of relief and peace beyond measure to Cho Somi.
— Put strength into your hands, grit your teeth, and endure to overcome it. If you have such a mind, you will be able to live well. If it is hard, think of the people you must protect. Think of your father, your mother, and your grandfather. If your will is strong, you can achieve anything. No matter how violently this Jianghu, this world, treats you, it will never be able to break your will.
He continued to relay words of strength for her.
Meanwhile, Yang Pae wore a bewildered expression, not knowing how to understand this situation.
The four men in black who followed him out were equally flustered.
Yang Jong, who had been pummeled by Cho Somi, was shouting at the top of his lungs like a madman out of shame and rage.
Yang Pae also knew Cho Somi.
‘He was beaten by that child? Just how?’
It was hard to believe, but judging solely by the unfolding situation, it was certain his son had been hit by Cho Somi.
“You beggar bitch! Now you’re dead!”
Those words alone made it certain.
Furthermore, the child had not shown even the slightest agitation despite the killing intent he had released earlier.
Yang Pae knew what his son had done to Cho Somi.
So he could tell why she had come, but he simply could not accept this situation.
His son was one thing, but the bastards his son used as hands and feet were all dead.
Naturally, his gaze turned toward Lee Jaseung.
There was only one answer.
This was undoubtedly a situation created by that young man who came with the child.
“Who are you?”
“I work at the woodworking shop.”
“What is your relationship with that child?”
“I am the older brother from next door.”
Yang Pae’s eyes narrowed.
“Did you kill my officers?”
Lee Jaseung nodded wordlessly.
“Why did you kill them? Just what is this insolence, coming to this official hall?”
Lee Jaseung stared at him intently and asked.
“Do you truly not know why this child came here?”
Yang Pae’s pupils shook slightly.
Lee Jaseung could be certain.
Yang Pae knew what his son had done to Cho Somi.
“You knew, didn't you?”
“And if I did?”
“Then you are an even worse scoundrel.”
Yang Pae’s eyes turned fierce.
In any case, there was sufficient justification to kill the opponent.
“Are you saying you are causing this ruckus over such a trivial matter?”
Lee Jaseung laughed coldly.
“A trivial matter? Yeah, you deserve to die for such a trivial matter.”
Yang Pae did not endure any longer and issued an order.
“Kill him!”
Then, four men stepped forward.
They were the ones Yang Pae had brought with him since his time in the Black Path Sect, and they were not martial artists of the hall.
“Watch out especially for the flying daggers.”
Yang Pae warned his subordinates.
The men who drew their swords did not worry about the flying daggers.
It was because they possessed the skill to strike down a flying dagger with a sword at any time.
They rushed forward while thrusting their swords as if they would kill him before he could throw a dagger.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Four streaks of wind cut through the air simultaneously.
The four men collapsed, flipping their bodies at the same time. They were being careful because a flying dagger might fly in, but it was not an attack that could be blocked just by being careful.
Yang Pae was horrified by the sight of him killing them simultaneously. They were guys with a fair amount of skill. Even he could not kill them in a single move.
Yang Pae knelt on the spot.
“Please spare me! I raised my child poorly.”
The corners of Lee Jaseung’s mouth curled up coldly.
“I can tell that without you saying it.”
The bowing Yang Pae glared up fiercely and grit his teeth.
However, the words that came from his mouth were different from his expression.
“I will educate him well from now on.”
“If your daughter were raped, could you end it like that? Would you let it go just because someone said they’d educate their kid well?”
“......”
“Yes, other people are the same.”
Lee Jaseung spoke as he looked back at Cho Somi.
“Since you have started, you must see the end.”
Cho Somi swallowed hard because she knew well what that signified.
She gripped the wooden sword.
Covered in blood, Yang Jong pleaded.
“I was wrong, please spare me! Please!”
Even though Cho Somi was approaching his son, Yang Pae remained kneeling and did not get up.
Closing her eyes tight, Cho Somi swung her sword down toward Yang Jong’s crown.
It was a strike backed by proper strength.
Shwaaa!
But the sword stopped above Yang Jong’s head.
Cho Somi simply could not kill Yang Jong.
Her sword trembled violently above the bastard’s head.
Lest she change her mind, Yang Jong poured out his words rapidly.
“Thank you, truly thank you. I will turn over a new leaf! Truly! I swear to the heavens!”
Lee Jaseung walked slowly toward her.
Cho Somi looked up at Lee Jaseung and spoke.
“I just can’t do it, I am sorry.”
Her eyes were full of tears.
“Yes, that is enough.”
“Big Brother.”
“This is enough, so let us go now.”
Lee Jaseung took her hand and left the martial hall.
After walking a little ways after leaving the hall, Somi stood in her place.
The child burst into the tears she had held back.
“Uwaaaaaaah.”
It was so terrifying. It was so terrifying she could hardly even breathe. She was barely able to endure because Lee Jaseung was beside her.
Upon leaving that place, her tension eased and all sorts of emotions surged up.
Cho Somi cried for a long time.
When she stopped crying, Lee Jaseung crouched down and quietly met her eyes.
“How do you feel?”
“......I am not sure.”
Somi’s voice trembled.
“Should I have killed him?”
Lee Jaseung smiled and shook his head.
“No. You forgave him well.”
“I am sleepy.”
“Yes, go to sleep.”
Lee Jaseung stroked her back.
Somi, whose tension had eased, fell into a deep sleep in Lee Jaseung’s arms.
Stroking her back, Lee Jaseung spoke.
“Well done, you did well.”
* * *
“Are you going to end it like this?”
Once the two disappeared, Yang Jong’s expression turned fierce. Currently, his resentment toward Lee Jaseung and Cho Somi was greater than his resentment toward his father for not trying to save him.
Yang Pae emitted killing intent from his eyes.
“Of course I cannot just let this pass. I will tear those two to pieces.”
“You must be careful. He is a considerable master.”
“Do not worry. I only need to call Branch Chief Seok.”
The Branch Chief Seok he mentioned was a branch chief of the Black Path Alliance, and they were on brotherly terms.
“If Uncle Seok knows the opponent is a master, will he easily grant the favor?”
“Is there anything that cannot be done with money? No matter how much money it takes, I must coax him. If he refuses, I must take revenge even if I have to hire an assassin. I will kill not only those two and their family but even the dog they raise. That bastard! You messed with the wrong person!”
It was right then.
“Have you been well?”
Two men wearing black martial robes entered the yard. One of the two was Seok Tae, the branch chief of the Black Path Alliance whom Yang Pae had mentioned.
The man following him was the vice branch chief.
“Huh? Brother. How did you know to come?”
Yang Pae’s eyes went wide.
The branch chief man drew his sword and spoke bluntly.
“How else. I came upon receiving an order.”
Yang Pae wore a bewildered expression, not knowing what he meant.
Seok Tae drew his sword and approached with long strides.
“Do you even know what you have committed just now?”
The vice branch chief followed behind him.
The two swung their swords at Yang Pae and Yang Jong without hesitation.
Stab, stab, stab, stab!
The Yang father and son met their deaths, being mangled by their swords. They were not given an explanation for why they were dying.
Considering their usual relationship, it was a bond where he should have done at least that much, but currently, Seok Tae did not have such leisure.
Seok Tae and the vice branch chief ran out of the main gate.
In front of it, Lee Jaseung stood holding Cho Somi. Cho Somi was sleeping soundly in his arms.
Not even daring to meet Lee Jaseung’s eyes, Seok Tae and the vice branch chief bowed respectfully.
“I have eliminated them.”
Lee Jaseung even expected that Cho Somi would not be able to kill him.
The child’s revenge ended there.
But Lee Jaseung’s retribution did not end there either.
Lee Jaseung was certain those bastards would not back down obediently.
How did he know?
If they were people who would repent so easily, they would not have committed such a thing in the first place.
So, for the cleanup, he called the nearest branch chief of the Black Way Alliance.
Because there would likely be those who dreamed of revenge in connection with the hall as well as this father and son.
Someone must steadily manage this matter and bring it to a thorough conclusion.
Unless he chose not to help in the first place, if he chose to help, he had to help until the end.
Indeed, the Yang father and son were plotting trashy deeds without deviating even an inch from his expectations.
They were people not even worth killing personally.
“Were you acquainted?”
“We were merely acquaintances who saw each other a couple of times passing by.”
Seok Tae’s heart pounded as if it would explode, fearing the sparks might fly toward him.
“Make sure to handle the cleanup thoroughly. Do not ever harm an unrelated person for no reason.”
Whose order was it that he would be negligent?
“Yes, I will handle it thoroughly.”
The two men remained bowed until Lee Jaseung disappeared from sight.
Lee Jaseung brought Cho Somi back to Elder Cho.
After telling him the general situation, he told him to look after her well.
Only then did Elder Cho realize that Lee Jaseung was a master of the Jianghu that he could not even imagine.
Elder Cho expressed his gratitude to Lee Jaseung several times. The warm compassion, close to meddling, that had not simply sent away the man in beggar’s attire had become the catalyst for resolving the resentment of his son and granddaughter.
“Thank you so much, thank you so much.”
Lee Jaseung spoke as he took his hand.
“Please treat me comfortably as before.”
Soon after, a physician arrived at the place. He was a skilled physician specially called by Lee Jaseung. The physician, after examining the father, said he would be able to get out of bed in a month.
Elder Cho collapsed in his seat and wailed.
Though he had not expressed it outwardly, he had been despairing beyond measure lately.
His granddaughter had been raped, and his son, who went to protest, had returned as a half-cripple.
Far from revenge, he had climbed the mountain behind the house several times to hang himself in the face of a gruesome reality where he could not even complain.
But he could not do so. Because he had to protect his son and granddaughter. Because he had to protect them with an appearance brighter than usual.
Brightly, even brighter. So that his granddaughter could forget all those events. So that he could find strength and his son could rise from his sickbed.
It was for that reason that he found a job for the passing man in beggar’s attire.
Was it said that sincerity moves heaven?
Heaven had granted him a gift.
“Thank you, truly thank you. Tell me anything. I will do whatever you ask.”
Elder Cho was so grateful he would have gladly given his life if asked.
But that great favor merely asked him to look after the granddaughter well. One more thing, to keep it a secret that he had handled this matter.
Lee Jaseung left Cho Somi’s house.
Standing in front of the house, Lee Jaseung looked down at his own hand instead of looking up at the sky.
On the back of his hand, the trace of the tears Elder Cho shed remained.
His rough yet warm touch still remained.
Until now, he had vaguely thought that he should make a good Jianghu.
He felt as if that vagueness had been peeled away, becoming a bit clearer.
The path of martial arts had almost reached its end, but the path as the Alliance Leader was just beginning.
At the first fork of that path, Lee Jaseung made a resolution.
He would look at the people, not up at the sky.