“It’s a surprise! Why?”
“That… That… … There may be side effects that I am not aware of. And perhaps it’s because I’m a woman. Is that not the reason why?”
“It could be, but…”
“Anyway, it’s not even my martial arts. There will be no martial arts training until the side effects of the death penalty are fixed!” Jeon Yeong Hong, who could only say this, left the room.
Seo Seok-san’s low voice echoed when he left. “Yeong Hong, there is definitely something about this…”
Seok-san’s prediction was not wrong. Hong’s reaction was so intense that he could not even notice it, no matter how ignorant he was. In the depths of the backyard, he found Geom Woo-bin, leaning against the wall and squatting. Even the Blood Wind Lion knew, but there was no way that the person involved could not sense the change that had taken place in him.
“Woo-bin.” Surprised, Geom Woo-bin turned his gaze to Yeong Hong, who was looking at him.
“A year old… … An age… … Is it strange?” This sight could even bring greater despair to Geom Woo-bin, who had fallen into despair like that. However, Hong had to ask. He needed to know if there were any side effects so he could fix it.
“The death penalty, it’s a strange question, but you have to answer it honestly.” Geom Woo-bin nodded, but in the end, had to wait a long time for Yeong Hong’s question.
“Perhaps… Have you been in good physical form this morning?”
Geom Woo-bin, who was looking at him, merely said, “This… … Once seated… Next time… Out of bed… … When you come out… Stand.”
“No, no, you don’t have to stand… There are important parts of the death penalty body we must focus on.”
Such was an expression that says that every part of my body is important. And so he said straight up. “I mean pepper, pepper.”
“Brother-in-law… Why is that… … Ask?”
“I’ll tell you about that later, so check it out tomorrow morning.”
He just hoped that ‘it’ would not happen. However, all the symptoms had appeared, but the luck of avoiding only the side effects of Yeong Hong did not come. He knew it as soon as he saw Geom Woo-bin’s face coming out of the room the next morning. “
“Male… … A year old….” Jeon Yeong Hong then hugged Geom Woo-bin, who was about to cry.
“Do not worry. Whatever happens, we will fix it.”
The insensitivity of Jeon Yeong Hong’s demeanor, often called Seok-nyeo, appeared to Geom Woo-bin as impotence. If his hair falls out, it meant that he would have to live with it for the rest of his life. Where in the world were there one or two bald people? Geom Woo-bin was handsome even if this happened. Bad hair would just be a minor discomfort. Stuttering? At least it was better than being dumb.
However, the impotence problem… Woo-bin would have to live his life as a eunuch. ” A year old… … all… … For other priests, it is rain… … I’ll keep it a secret.” Even in this situation, at the thought of Woo-bin losing coherent thinking, Jeon Yeong Hong burst into tears.
‘I will definitely fix the side effects of the death penalty even in exchange for my life!’
* * *
“Lord Jang! Kwak Bong has something to discuss… Ouch!” Kwak Bong, who was screaming at the gate, slumped to his feet in the pain of hitting the top of his head.
“Quiet.” Kwak Bong asked with a smirk at the repressed sound of Galmapyeong. “Why are you hitting me? What did I do wrong?”
“The atmosphere in the manor right now is almost that of a portrait house.”
“Why?”
“I think something has happened to Sabaek.”
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know the details, but the faces of Sabaek-nim and the masters are covered with iron masks. Right now, even if I break just one bottle, I think they’ll be capable of slitting my throat.”
Geom Woo-bin didn’t even step out of the room on the second day, and the Blood Lion sat with him all day long, discussing something discretely. However, it seemed that things were not going well as the atmosphere had not changed. “You can ask what’s going on.”
“You go and ask.”
“Only because a man’s liver is so small.”
Kwak Bong went inside and, after half an hour, quietly walked out with her heels up. “I… Why is the energy there? Just getting close makes her breathless.”
“What is the question of this guy who can’t even get close? Why are you here?”
“Because of the black society, I have something to discuss with the big boss.”
He had known about it after hearing about it. “They say that Jo Hwang-se attracted the iron blood room?”
“Yes. Those who came are chased away, but they are not the ones who will leave as it is. He wants to know how far his hands need to go.”
“If I use my hands badly, can you solve it on your own?”
“There’s nothing I can’t do on my own, but….” Seeing him trail off, he seemed to understand the topic. “Right now, I don’t think I have time to worry about anything other than Sabaek-nim or the masters. So we have to solve it ourselves. Well, it’s not a big deal.”
“If it escalates into an all-out war with the Iron Blood Room, wouldn’t it be great?”
“Are you scared?”
“I mean, it’s scary. The three governors, me, and Sang-hyung, five would be enough.”
“Let’s get rid of Sangnamjae. As a father of a newborn baby, he should avoid dangerous work as much as possible.”
“Then when is he going to pay for my meal?”
“It’s a surprise!”
When he turned his head, he saw Sangnamjae just behind him. “I wonder if someone is from Salsu. Let’s go ahead and show off.”
“It has indeed become a habit. Anyway, I’m willing to fight.”
“Get permission from the wife then.”
As if it was perfect timing, Koh Shinji came out holding a sleeping child. “Honey, I think I’ll have to fight in a place called the Iron Blood Room, will that be okay?”
“Why are you fighting?”
“Because they are the enemy of our friends. I am the father of a newborn baby, so they’re telling me to leave.”
“There is nothing in the world more shameless than the ignorant schema. You will have to pay for their food.”
“Did you even hear what I said?”
“Well, if you understand, then I have no reason to object anymore.”
“I promise I will kill them all.”
“Uh-huh! If you say such harsh words while you have a baby and then spiral into denial, then such a promise will be useless. And if our people in the manor of Oseon Manor do murder recklessly, I will be scolded by Sabaek.”
“It was only a joke.”
At this, a pair of shoes hit Sangnamjae’s back and fell. It was Koh Shinji who had thrown the shoe. “You told me not to joke.”
Sangnamjae, who was never a comedian to begin with, gave it as a joke, but never succeeded, even though he just wanted to make his wife laugh. The other man patted his shoulder as if to comfort him. “Just give up already.”
* * *
“I will never give up.”
Geom Woo-bin nodded at Do Pyeong-su’s promise, but the light of hope on his face was gradually disappearing. “Death penalty, trust us and wait.”
He had come here to comfort Woo-bin, but the look of gloom only deepened even more. The Blood Lions who gathered in the pavilion by the pond spent a long time in silence. “Are we going to get rid of the death penalty?”
Everyone was surprised by Do Pyeong-su’s words. “What kind of bullshit is that?” “Aren’t all the side effects of the death penalty because of martial arts? So, if you remove the martial arts, the side effects may disappear, right?”
Of course, it wasn’t impossible. However, because of that possibility, it was too extreme to abolish Geom Woo-bin’s martial arts. Seok-san began to speak in a sound akin to a moan. “It is a last resort.”
At this, Jeon Yeong Hong jumped in. “Is it the last? Are you going to come up with such a stupid method?”
“I have lived my entire life in pain with this bald head. It may be funny to you, but to me, this head is like a celestial head. But the death penalty is not the only one experiencing the side effect. Do you think I’d be happy if I became the first in the world instead of the first in the world with three goddamn side effects?”
Hong did not make it clear that there were four. “It’s better for a common man who has thick hair, is smart, and talks bluntly than the best people of all time. This is something I can risk my life for.”
Yeong Hong also proceeded to break the silence that soon followed. “The last resort may be the only option.”
The reason no one was denying it was because everyone had experienced giving up trying to fix it in hundreds of ways. “If the death penalty had to be abolished, who would do it?”
Of course, no one came forward to Seo Seok-san’s question. No one would want to do such a terrible thing. “I’m not doing that.” Do Pyeong-su made his declaration.
“Fuck, I know it’s selfish, but I don’t! how… How can I get rid of the death penalty…? I’d rather get rid of my martial arts.”
If he could cure Geom Woo-bin’s side effects by eliminating his martial arts, he could do it even a hundred times. “The sooner the better. We all know there is no cure for this side effect. Prolonging the time will only lengthen the pain of the death penalty.”
Seo Seok-san’s words sounded ruthless, but such was the reality. “Hey… Priests! Hey… … Sister!”
Geom Woo-bin, who ran calling them, had a very excited expression.
“Woo-bin! How are you? Did you have any other symptoms?” At Seo Seok-san’s question, Geom Woo-bin his head and unfolded the blank paper he was carrying. It was faster to stutter his words and write them down.
―There is a way to fix my side effects.
“Yes? how?”
―You didn’t have the same side effects as the priests, didn’t you?
“That’s right. Even though he was in prison for a long time, he still had much thicker hair than I did.”
“The gun was still there. You can tell from the fact that he made the death penalty his first disciple.”
―Why didn’t Master have such side effects?
“I know, right? All of the martial arts we learned were taught by our master.”
―Maybe Master-sama overcame the side effects.
“How?”
– It’s unarmed. If you become strong like Master, this side effect may disappear.
This was only wishful thinking, but not a hope that was less likely. Anyway, it was a side effect caused by ignorance. And the only specimens are Jeok-san and the Blood Lion. While the blood lion was suffering from side effects, the other, Hwa Jeok-san, did not have any abnormalities until death. Therefore, it was reasonable to conclude that Hwa Jeok-san knew of a treatment that could fix the side effects.
―If you exceed this level, the side effects will disappear.
Seo Seok-san was the first to reflect. “There are plenty of possibilities.”
Yeong Hong also willingly participated in Seo Seok-san’s musings. “Yes. There are bound to be obstacles in any martial arts, and this is a stumbling block for the death penalty. If you go beyond this, everything will be resolved.”
In fact, it was only a faint possibility, but the Blood Wind Lion fully strengthened Geom Woo-bin’s conclusion.
―From today on, underground training will be implemented at full force.
“We will also take all possible measures so that the death penalty can be raised at once.”
Thus, Geom Woo-bin’s second closure training was decided.
* * *
“Let’s start with the elixir in the list.”
Seo Seok-san received Do Pyeong-su’s words. “You have to scrape all the potions you can get, not just the Thousand Steps. It’s not clumsy, and it would be nice if there were ice crystals, Hwajeong, Mannyeonhasuo, Mannyeonseolginseng, and an inner tier of spirits.”
Hong replied, “Then let’s each play a role. Mao Liang was in charge of Pyeong-su from the beginning, so get the elixir from the Manbo. Seok-san-i will ask the hunters in the Myeongsan Mountain to find the spirit creatures that may have an inner altar, and I will get the ice crystals.”
“Ice? You mean that ice crystal, the best treasure in the North Sea Ice Palace?”
“Okay. If it is Biyeon, you probably know where it is.”
“Of course, it must be in the North Sea Ice Palace.”
At Seo Seok-san’s words, Yeong Hong smiled bitterly. “Biyeon, did that girl only tell him about martial arts?”
“Could the crystal actually be ice?”
“It happens when you go crazy with a man.” Jang Mandok pointed at himself with a puzzled expression.
“One should not have to stand by the death penalty. There is no one more suitable for this task than you.”
Jang Mandok agreed to what Jeon Yeong Hong said. “It will be a long and difficult road. Just like when you go looking for your master. It’s too late to save Master, but we must not fail this time.”
At this, the Blood Lion with a determined expression stood up from his seat. Now it was time to leave.