“Heeya. You mustn’t move yet.”
Mrs. Shim took her daughter Heeya’s hand.
Heeya was getting dressed, her face and entire body covered in wounds. The girl had suffered the greatest misfortune of her life. Three days ago, on her way to work, she had been brutally assaulted. The man had beaten her and raped her.
“You heard him too, didn’t you, Mother? He said that once he was released, he’d kill us all!”
The man who had committed such an unforgivable act against her was named Gong Pae, one of the members of the Beast Faction gang that controlled this area. He had committed such a heinous deed in the morning, no less, rather than at night.
Heeya, her body battered and broken, had personally reported him to the Martial Alliance branch in charge of this region. But before three days had even passed since Gong Pae was arrested, she heard that he had been released. Even after being dragged to the branch, he had openly shouted that he was innocent and that he would not leave Heeya and her family alone once he got out. And the branch had released a man like that.
“We have to go, Mother.”
Heeya staggered to her feet, then felt dizzy and collapsed back down. There was not a single part of her body that did not hurt.
“Where do you think you’re going in your condition?”
“We have to go. He said he’d kill us!”
Tears brimmed in Heeya’s eyes. She truly had never dreamed that they would release the man so easily. What were they supposed to do? What in the world were they supposed to do?
Mrs. Shim pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.
“It’s all my fault. It’s because of me.”
She had raised her son and daughter alone after losing her husband. She had lived stubbornly and worked herself to the bone, but a fall a year ago had badly injured her leg.
Once she could no longer work, her young son, barely ten years old, had begun working as a waiter, while her fifteen-year-old daughter, who had worked at a fabric shop to help her mother, had taken on washing dishes at an inn at night as well.
They were such good children, working to earn their living expenses and pay for their mother’s medicine. And now this misfortune had befallen her daughter.
Tears streamed down Mrs. Shim’s face. She had clenched her teeth, determined not to cry in front of her daughter, but the tears came anyway.
Heeya clenched her teeth again and rose.
“Mother, pack our things. I’ll bring your cart.”
Mrs. Shim grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
“You go. Take your brother and flee first.”
“Mother, there’s no time for this. You know I won’t leave without you.”
“Where could you go with me in tow? Just hide yourself somewhere for a while. Please?”
All kinds of thoughts raced through Heeya’s mind.
Where could she go with her ailing mother and young brother? Or should she simply assume she had been bitten by a mad dog and, if the man came looking for them, beg him over and over to forgive her? She could not think clearly enough to decide which choice was right.
‘Someone, please tell me what to do! Please, help me!’
For a fifteen-year-old girl, the only place left to turn was the heavens.
Just then, her younger brother Seok-i opened the door and entered.
“Mother! Noona!”
Seok-i was flushed with excitement, whatever the reason.
The sight of her younger brother instantly cleared Heeya’s mind. She realized that leaving was the right thing to do if she wanted to save him.
“Pack your things, Seok-i.”
“Why?”
“We’re leaving. Take only what we absolutely need.”
“Noona! Wait! Listen to me first. I asked a martial artist for help. He said he would help us.”
Both Mrs. Shim and Heeya were startled by his words.
“Who is he? Someone you know?”
“No. I met him for the first time today.”
At that, Heeya let out a groan.
“Seok-i, listen carefully to your noona. You mustn’t ask just anyone for something like that. What will you do if that martial artist is killed by the Beast Faction?”
“No. He looked really frightening and strong.”
Heeya sighed again.
“Then where is he? Why did you come alone?”
“He told me to go first.”
“That man isn’t coming. You were a child asking him for help, so he just gave you that answer because he found it troublesome. Hurry up and pack.”
She staggered to her feet. Even walking was difficult, but she was determined to somehow put her mother on the cart and leave.
When she opened the door and stepped outside, she was shocked.
Gong Pae was entering the courtyard, looking absolutely furious.
Heeya was so startled that she collapsed to the ground.
Gong Pae spoke coldly.
“How dare you report me? Because of you, I was locked up in the prison for three whole days.”
For the past three days, Heeya had thought of nothing but killing Gong Pae. In her imagination, she had stabbed him to death with a kitchen knife, beaten him to death with a hammer, and torn out his throat with her teeth. She had killed him dozens, hundreds of times.
But now that she was actually looking at him again, she was so frightened that she could not think at all. Her entire body trembled, and her mind went blank.
Then Mrs. Shim crawled out of the room on her bottom.
“Listen here. I was the one who reported you. If you want to blame someone, blame me.”
Gong Pae snorted.
“Why don’t you take care of your mother, who crawls around like a worm, instead of making reports?”
When he insulted her mother, Heeya screamed as if in hysterics.
“Shut up! I said shut up! Who do you think you are? Why do you—why do you—why do you—Aaaaaah!”
She shouted even louder because she was afraid.
“Has this bitch gone crazy? She needs to be beaten senseless.”
When Gong Pae raised his hand to strike her, Seok-i rushed out of the room.
“Don’t! Don’t touch my noona!”
Seok-i stood in front of Heeya.
Heeya pulled Seok-i behind her. He resisted, refusing to move, and the two of them fell backward together.
“Making such a damn fuss. What’s the point of living like this? I’ll kill every last one of you today. I’ll bury you all in one place.”
As if he truly intended to kill them all, the man drew a dagger. At the sight of its gleaming blue edge, Heeya and Seok-i both froze.
“Please save us! Please, spare my family!”
It was precisely then, as Heeya pleaded, that a quiet voice came from behind them.
“Isn’t that something you should be saying to that man?”
Gong Pae turned around in surprise and saw Geom Mugeuk and Gwonma entering.
At a glance, Gong Pae realized that the two were no ordinary martial artists. In particular, the moment he saw Gwonma looking at him as if he were a mere insect, every hair on his body stood on end.
Seok-i shouted joyfully.
“Martial artist! You came! The martial artist came! He’s here!”
Mrs. Shim and Heeya realized that these two men were the martial artists Seok-i had spoken of earlier.
Gong Pae also realized that the young brat had called these martial artists here.
“Martial artists, I believe there’s been some misunderstanding. I’m actually fond of that woman.”
At Gong Pae’s shameless nonsense, Geom Mugeuk made a hushing gesture.
“Your chance to speak in this life is over. You have exactly one word left—but even that isn’t your right.”
Geom Mugeuk asked the young lady,
“Miss, would you like an apology from that man before he dies?”
Before he died?
Heeya stared at Geom Mugeuk in surprise. He gave a single nod.
Heeya shook her head. She did not even want to exchange words with him.
“Even his final bit of bullshit won’t be permitted.”
The moment Gong Pae tried to open his mouth, Geom Mugeuk’s finger qi sealed his speech acupoint and blood-sealing acupoint. He truly did not grant him even a single word.
Gwonma slowly walked toward Heeya.
Realizing what he intended to do, Geom Mugeuk covered Seok-i’s eyes.
Gwonma stopped in front of Heeya. Looking up at him, Heeya swallowed hard. She had never seen anyone who looked so frightening.
“Hold out your fist.”
Startled, Heeya extended her trembling hand in a fist. Gwonma’s large hand wrapped around her tiny one. Then, enclosing her hand in his, he extended it forward with her.
Very slowly, the two of them thrust a single fist toward Gong Pae.
At the moment a question—What is this?—appeared on Gong Pae’s face—
Whooooooosh!
With an earsplitting roar of wind—
Bam-bam-bam! Bam! Bam-bam-bam! Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
Every bone in Gong Pae’s body shattered and burst apart. From his toes to his arms and legs, his ribs and spine, his shoulder blades and neck bones—not a single bone remained unbroken. Every one was crushed and pulverized.
‘Aaaaaaaaagh!’
It was an agony he had never experienced in his life. Since his speech acupoint had been sealed, he could not scream, making the pain all the worse.
Only after enduring all of that torment did his face cave in with a final crack, and he crumpled to the ground.
All of this had been contained in the single technique Gwonma had unleashed while holding Heeya’s hand.
But that was not the end. As if he would not even permit Gong Pae’s corpse to remain in this household, Gwonma crooked a finger, and the body shot into the air.
Gwonma’s other fist thrust into empty space.
Kkwa-reureureung! Boom!
Thunder roared, as though the heavens themselves had passed judgment.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
A tremendous fist force swept over the corpse. Gong Pae’s body vanished from the air without a trace, as if it had never existed.
“Ah!”
Heeya could not believe any of what she had just witnessed. It felt like she was watching an illusion.
Then Gwonma clenched her fist tightly once more.
At that moment, Heeya felt what the fist enclosing her hand was saying.
Live well from now on. Find the strength to endure.
Heeya looked up at Gwonma. He was gazing down at her indifferently.
She was no longer afraid of his face. He did not look like an evil spirit, but like one of the Four Heavenly Guardian Kings standing at the entrance to a temple. Like a guardian deity protecting her from evil spirits.
Seok-i had not seen Gong Pae turn to dust and disappear. But he knew by instinct.
Gong Pae was dead.
Geom Mugeuk felt Seok-i’s tears falling onto his palm.
After removing his hand from the boy’s eyes, Geom Mugeuk turned Seok-i to face him.
“Continue living with the courage you showed today.”
He had possessed the courage to approach that terrifying Gwonma and ask for help. With courage like that, he would surely grow up well.
“Yes.”
Seok-i threw his arms around Geom Mugeuk. The child trembled in his embrace, and Geom Mugeuk slowly stroked his head.
“Benefactor, please accept my bow.”
Heeya tried to bow to Gwonma, but an invisible force stopped her.
“There is no need.”
“Please, accept my bow. It is the only thing I can offer you.”
“I merely granted your brother’s request.”
With those words, Gwonma clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.
Heeya glanced at Seok-i. Seok-i ran over and embraced his sister.
“Noona.”
“Seok-i.”
This time, Seok-i, nestled in his sister’s arms, looked toward Gwonma. Gwonma could feel the child’s gaze, filled with admiration, respect, and gratitude, but he merely stood there with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky.
Mrs. Shim expressed her gratitude through her tears.
“Thank you. I will never forget this kindness, even in death.”
Geom Mugeuk said to Mrs. Shim and Heeya,
“I know that man belongs to a gang. We will take care of everything ourselves, so do not worry from now on.”
And that was not the only piece of good fortune granted to this family.
Perhaps because he had already shown them kindness and now felt inclined to see it through to the end, Gwonma approached Mrs. Shim and suddenly asked,
“When did it begin?”
“Pardon?”
“Your leg. When did it start hurting?”
“Ah, about a year ago.”
“May I take a look?”
Before the dazed Mrs. Shim could answer, Heeya quickly said,
“Please, I beg you!”
Gwonma examined Mrs. Shim’s leg.
“It may hurt, so endure it.”
Before she could say anything—
Crack. Pop. Creak.
The sound of bones being set rang out. As bones that had long since stiffened were shifted into place, Mrs. Shim screamed. But the pain did not last long. Gwonma possessed a more profound understanding of human bones and muscles than even the Medicine Demon.
A moment later, astonishing words came from Gwonma’s mouth.
“If you rest and recuperate for a while, you should be able to stand and walk again.”
Mrs. Shim was so shocked that she could not close her mouth, while Heeya and Seok-i cried out in joy.
“Thank you, benefactor.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
The three of them embraced each other and wept in gratitude.
Finally, Geom Mugeuk handed Heeya an envelope. Inside was enough money for the family of three to open even a small shop and make a living.
Heeya asked in a trembling voice, utterly startled,
“Why are you giving this to us?”
“I am not giving it to you. It is money we will collect from that man’s gang. Take it without feeling burdened.”
How could this money, or Gong Pae’s death, heal the wounds in her heart?
This incident would remain a scar that tormented her for the rest of her life. She would have nightmares, and she would likely harbor a deep distrust of men.
But this was as far as Geom Mugeuk could help. May she overcome it all and live well for the rest of her life.
“Why are you showing us such great kindness?”
Heeya felt as if she had received all the blessings she had been denied throughout her life at once. It almost seemed too much.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Gwonma and said,
“It’s because your brother chose that handsome face over there.”
* * *
After leaving Mrs. Shim’s home, we headed straight for the Beast Faction.
If we did not cleanly deal with what came afterward, Seok-i’s family would eventually suffer the consequences.
Before going, I looked into the Beast Faction. They were the sort who had committed every kind of evil imaginable—frightening and threatening the residents, extorting money, beating people, and killing them. They were black-robed martial outlaws who ruled this region like kings.
Those bastards were dogs, so it was one thing that they behaved like dogs. The real problem was the Martial Alliance branch that had stood by and allowed it.
“The fist technique you used earlier was truly magnificent.”
In truth, it was a fist technique far too profound to use against a lowlife like Gong Pae.
Even so, Gwonma had killed him with his own hands because of Seok-i. Since Seok-i had asked Gwonma for help, he had killed the man personally—so that Seok-i could live with the pride of knowing that his own choice had saved his family.
But what moved me even more was the sight of him taking Heeya’s hand and sending the man flying. I believed that, thanks to the hand Gwonma had held, the girl would live well. When times grew difficult, she would remember that large, thick hand.
“I respect you.”
“You flatter me every time you open your mouth.”
“I mean it, Master.”
I had subtly called him Master, but he remained as unyielding as ever.
“Not a bad attempt, Second Young Master Yi.”
In this manner, we arrived at the manor where the Beast Faction resided.
The man guarding the main gate turned deathly pale at the sight of Gwonma, slammed the gate shut, and ran inside.
“Emergency! Emergency!”
Hearing his cries, Gwonma said self-deprecatingly,
“See? My face alone is enough to cause an emergency.”
If it had been Seo Daeryong, he would have teased him about this for at least three days. But as long as Gwonma was with me, I had no intention of letting him lose confidence because of his face.
“I saw it. The look of admiration in that girl’s eyes as she gazed up at you earlier.”
Perhaps those words put him in a good mood.
When Gwonma placed his palm against the main gate, there was a thunderous crash, and the heavy gate tore free and flew away like a sheet of paper.
Gwonma stepped inside first. From behind, his enormous back seemed to fill the entire wide entrance.