Chapter 40

The gang of knife-wielding thugs stepped closer to Iwoon.

Miyu squeezed her eyes shut.

No matter how skilled Iwoon was, it would be impossible for him to fight six professional fighters armed with knives. She didn’t want to see him hacked to pieces by the thugs. Her chest tightened, and her breath caught.

“Do you fools crave death so badly?!”

At that moment, a massive man appeared, shouting so loudly that it felt as if the heavens themselves were shaking.

When Miyu cautiously opened her eyes, she saw the imposing figure of the strongest man. She could never have imagined that the usually quarrelsome strongest man would bring such relief.

“Who dares to make such a loud fuss without knowing the situation!”

Even upon seeing the strongest man, the gang leader, Snake Eye, showed no sign of flinching. A cruel smile played on his lips instead. It was the confidence of someone honed by years of fighting on the streets.

“I’ll handle these minnows. It’s dangerous, so stand back.”

The strongest man said seriously as he glanced at Iwoon. He didn’t care how many opponents there were or whether they were armed.

“You can’t let him fight alone.”
“Why so upset? You don’t trust me?”

The strongest man’s gaze toward Iwoon was sharp and piercing.

“Everyone, step back.”

At Iwoon’s command, Byeon Ha-yeon also released the thugs he had been holding. The freed gang members spat on the ground, their faces full of murderous intent.

The six thugs formed a circle around the strongest man.

Two of them charged first, swinging their knives. As the knives flew toward the strongest man’s sides, he used their heads like vaulting bars to spring into the air. His massive body soared above them and landed lightly on the ground like a butterfly.

Seizing the thugs’ momentary confusion, he executed a spinning kick, sending two of them flying like paper.

Miyu’s mouth fell open at the master’s unimaginable movements and strength. It was the reincarnation of a martial arts master hiding in the secular world. And she wasn’t the only one shocked.

Snake Eye’s sharp gaze wavered. Anyone experienced in fighting could recognize a true master—but that recognition was brief. A sinister smile returned to his lips as he looked down at the knife in his hand.

Meanwhile, Iwoon first checked on Miyu and then approached the hunched-over Byeon Ha-yeon. Covered in dirt from being beaten by the thugs and rolling on the ground, he looked pitiful and disheveled.

“Are you okay? You look terrible.”
“Luckily, you didn’t lose your life.”

Byeon Ha-yeon adjusted his crumpled hat and replied. They watched the strongest man’s performance as if enjoying a show at someone else’s house.

“Where did you meet a man like that? Not a mere florist, but truly the greatest martial arts master in the world.”

Iwoon merely smiled without answering.

Meanwhile, the five thugs who had been knocked down by the strongest man were rolling on the dirt, groaning in pain.

Now only Snake Eye remained.

Knife in hand, Snake Eye believed he could end the strongest man with a single blow.

“Die!”

He lunged forward, swinging his knife at the strongest man’s chest.

The strike came in an instant, but straightforward attacks didn’t work on him. With agility unbefitting his size, he easily dodged Snake Eye’s blade.

In the next moment, he grabbed Snake Eye by the nape, lifted him high into the air, and slammed him into the ground.

Thud!

Dirt flew in all directions.

The area in front of the shop was quickly cleared.

At that moment, Hwang Hee, who was on official duty, came running like a wild horse upon hearing the commotion.

Byeon Ha-yeon, Iwoon, and Miyu gathered in the Kozubu tavern, waiting for Hwang Hee.

“Ouch, my shoulders and back hurt so much I can barely sit.”
“Did the physician treat you properly?”

Miyu asked with concern.

“I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t received proper treatment. Ouch…”

Every time he spoke, Byeon Ha-yeon groaned, contorting his face into a grimace while smiling.

“You really shouldn’t have interfered in the fight.”

Miyu scolded him, feeling guilty that Byeon Ha-yeon had taken the beating in her place.

She opened the door and peeked outside. She saw the strongest man sitting alone at the platform, drinking. His back looked massive and reassuring, almost annoyingly so.

‘What would we have done without him?’

―Do you fools crave death so badly?!

The strongest man’s thunderous voice still echoed in her ears.

“Is it okay to leave our savior alone like that?”

“I understand how you feel, Miyu, but he hates drinking with his master more than death itself. We can’t just drag that huge body over here and sit him down.”

Iwoon comforted her, signaling there was nothing to be done.

He watched the strongest man sit at the platform, eating wild boar and pheasant with makgeolli. Presumably, he was cautious about revealing his identity.

Miyu alternated her gaze between Iwoon and the strongest man. She didn’t know why the master kept his distance but refrained from questioning further. Instead, she rose and stepped outside.

“Thank you so much for today.”

Miyu bowed in front of the platform.

“It’s fine. You worked hard too.”

The strongest man glanced at her briefly before returning to his drink.

“If you want more to eat, just ask the innkeeper.”
“Understood. Don’t worry—I’ll eat my fill today. Is that alright now?”
“I’ll pour you a drink.”

Miyu softly poured sake into the strongest man’s cup.

“T-this isn’t necessary…”

He hesitated, holding the cup. Though technically she had helped Miyu, the strongest man had only stepped in to protect the group, so there was no reason for gratitude.

“By the way, Hwang Hee is late.”

Byeon Ha-yeon, watching from the door, suddenly remarked.

“It seems it took some time to deal with the thugs.”

Iwoon replied with concern.

Just then, Hwang Hee entered the tavern yard.

“Hwang Hee isn’t much of a noble either.”

Byeon Ha-yeon said with delight.

“The thugs are the Jaechun gang, operating out of Hanyang’s market.”

Hwang Hee announced loudly. The four of them watched with curiosity.

Hwang Hee and Miyu entered the tavern and took their seats.

“Ha-yeon, how’s your body?”
“Ouch… barely surviving.”
“Judging by your joking, you’ll be fine in a few days.”
“Thank you all so much today. If it weren’t for Somacdang, by now I would have…”

A hot wave of emotion welled up in Miyu’s chest, making her unable to continue.

“It’s natural to help a friend in trouble. Ouch.”

Even unable to sit properly, Byeon Ha-yeon reassured Miyu casually.

“I’ll make the best mixed drink for you.”

Miyu realized that actions spoke louder than words. Somacdang’s deeds carried more weight than anything she could say. She wanted to someday be that kind of support for others.

“Why did you come all the way from Hanyang?”
“I was hired to.”
“Did they confess?”
“They wouldn’t speak easily. We interrogated the weak ones intensively.”
“And the answer?”
“The leader behind it during the Hanyang medicine market was Seok Lee of the Seventy Elders.”
“The Seventy Elders during the market? What’s that?”

Miyu didn’t understand.

“It refers to associations of merchants dealing in the same goods. Each association usually has 500–1,000 members. The Seventy Elders are the leaders of those associations. Rank is determined by age: forty years old, Ten Elders; fifty, Five Elders; sixty, Senior Elders; seventy, Seventy Elders.”

“Arrest them immediately!”
“It’s not that simple. By tomorrow, the Jaechun gang will likely be released too.”
“That’s absurd! They disrupted someone else’s business, and people were hurt.”

Miyu looked at Byeon Ha-yeon pitifully.

“Miyu, I’m not ruined.”

He responded slyly.

“You’re a bit off your rocker.”

Miyu shook her head.

“There’s nothing we can do. The thugs are connected to power, and in terms of damage, they’ve suffered worse than you, Miyu. The strongest man could get punished if we act rashly.”

“Who, holding knives, caused all this! What kind of law is that?”

Miyu protested, and Hwang Hee looked troubled. Once, he would have lectured on the strict laws of the nation. But realizing the law didn’t protect the weak left him disheartened. The world was badly, badly wrong.

“Let’s let this matter rest. As Hwang Hee said, the strongest man did harm, so punishment is inevitable.”

Iwoon said bitterly.

Joseon law punished both sides to determine the right and wrong. But Iwoon’s mind was elsewhere.

‘Seventy Elders of the Hanyang medicine market…’

He pondered silently.

“Alright, understood.”

Miyu answered weakly and stared into her cup, lost in thought. Silence fell over the tavern, everyone deep in reflection.

“This is actually for the best.”

Breaking the silence, Miyu spoke.

“What do you mean by ‘for the best’?”

Byeon Ha-yeon’s eyes widened.

“I’m no longer hesitant.”
“What’s for the best? What do you mean by ‘no longer hesitant’?”