Chapter 153:


    Gyerim ck Market


    In this world, there was a distinct social ss system, and the existence of ves was an undeniable reality.


    However, these were ves officially recognized by the state. For example, those involved in treason or those captured during wars.


    The people bought and sold in the Gyerim ck Market were illegal ves. These individuals were often captured through heinous acts like vige massacres in remote areas or outright kidnapping.


    Nevertheless, the trade of illegal ves wasn’t unique to the Gyerim ck Market.


    This market simply housed a branch manager associated with Shinchun, an organization heavily invested in human trafficking.


    Their primary objective was to find children with unique constitutions.


    Historically, they would have conducted extensive human trafficking through the Paedobang and the Cheonryu Sangdan.


    Children with unique constitutions discovered during this process were taken by Shinchun, while others were mostly sold off in the Gyerim ck Market.Over time, this ce was set to grow into thergest ve market in the Central ins, notorious for its atrocities.


    Thanks to Mu-jin’s efforts, Paedobang was eradicated, and Cheonryu Sangdan expelled all Shinchun’s pawns.


    ‘They would have created a huge ve market one way or another.’


    Seeing that Shinchun had aligned with Daegum Sangdan and Eunha Sangdan to rece Cheonryu Sangdan, it was evident that Shinchun wouldn’t stop collecting children with unique constitutions.


    This was their method of enhancing their power.


    Hence, they wouldn’t abandon the expansion of the ve market, which allowed them to destroy evidence and make money in the process.


    Fortunately,


    ‘At least, the scale is still small.’


    There were only about six or seven ves in sight. Including those involved in the trade, there were around twenty people.


    The scale of the Gyerim ck Market described in the novel was iparable to this, where hundreds of illegal ves and traders would fill the area whenever the market opened.


    Mu-jin felt it was a good decision toe and deal with this before it grew anyrger.


    “What are you going to do?” Mu-gung asked with a stern face while observing the horrifying scene of the ve market.


    “What kind of question is that?”


    To thwart Shinchun’s schemes, Mu-jin had to conceive and execute numerous troublesome methods.


    The factions infiltrated by Shinchun were all orthodox sects, pretending to be righteous on the surface.


    But was there any need to be so cautious when dealing with those openly conducting human trafficking?


    “Kill them all.”


    “Kill them?” The children looked shocked at Mu-jin’s words.


    Having studied Buddhist and Taoist scriptures, they still had a significant aversion to killing.


    “Do you think those scumbags will turn over a new leaf?”


    As Mu-jin cast a bitter nce at those tormenting and appraising the captured ves, the children couldn’t find the words to reply.


    “Not killing may be good, but I can’t just ignore such scum for the sake of my spiritual training.”


    Originally, the reason foring here was to disrupt Shinchun’s ns, but now, such rational reasons didn’t matter.


    No justification could ever excuse the heinous act of human trafficking.


    Mu-jin cracked his neck, loosening his muscles, and approached a middle-aged man who had chained a young woman.


    “Tsk, tsk. It seems like the mountain thieves are looking for women to use.”


    The man mistook Mu-jin for a potential buyer and smiled as he spoke.


    Ignoring the man, Mu-jin approached the woman shackled and lying on the ground.


    “Hehe. She’s a top-quality product, so take a good look.”


    Mu-jin disregarded the man’s lecherousugh and reached out his hands to the woman.


    “You shouldn’t touch the goods…”


    Crack!


    As the man was about to speak, Mu-jin broke the woman’s handcuffs with his bare hands, apanied by a harsh metallic sound.


    Crack!


    Then, he shattered the shackles on her feet. Only then did the man,ing to his senses, shout.


    “You bastard! What are you doing!!”


    As Mu-jin stood up after freeing the woman, the man pointed and screamed.


    Thud!


    The strange sound of impact silenced the man.


    “Ugh…”


    No, he was moaning lightly, clutching a fist-sized hole that had suddenly appeared in his abdomen.


    ng!


    ng!!


    At the same time, the sound of weapons being drawn echoed from all directions.


    From the moment Mu-jin broke the woman’s handcuffs, the attention of those nearby was already on him.


    “If you’re mountain thieves, act like thieves and rob in the mountains. Why are you causing trouble in someone else’s business?”


    One of the Amcheonhoe warriors, who appeared to be managing the Gyerim ck Market, swaggered as he asked Mu-jin.


    “Idiot. Since when did the evil sects divide business territories?”


    Mu-jin mocked him and swiftly attacked.


    “Gah!”


    The warrior, who had stepped forward, fell after just one move.


    “Kill him!”


    “Damn mountain thief!”


    Amcheonhoe warriors nearby, along with merchants and some customers, began to attack Mu-jin.


    Meanwhile, others, hearing themotion, started gathering around.


    Naturally, those disguised as mountain thieves like Mu-jin’spanions were also targeted by many attackers.


    However, thanks to their previous battles at Shintubi-dong and Bukpoong Escort Agency, they were already ustomed to such chaotic fights.


    They began fighting the attackers without much difficulty, though the atmosphere was different from their previous battles.


    ‘This is the kind of work that the Master Uncle does, dealing with such scum.’


    The first to change was Mu-gyeong.


    For the first time, he acted on his own judgment, not driven by madness, but deploying his killing techniques.


    Having grown up listening to the stories of the Demon Extermination Squad’s head, Hye-gwan, he finally epted Mu-jin’s teachings.


    Bang!


    Mu-gyeong effectively eliminated enemies using the myriad martial arts he had learned at Shaolin, the Yongbongji Conference, the Divine Thief, and the ck Bear Vige. He utilized Golden Locking Hand and Striking Bone Technique to strike vital points, killing enemies by crushing their hearts or organs with fist or palm techniques, breaking legs with kick techniques, and then finishing off those who fell to the ground.


    He even disarmed opponents and wielded their weapons with more skill than the original users, piercing their bodies effortlessly.


    As the number of defeated enemies increased, Mu-gyeong’s killing techniques became more natural. His martial arts started to embody a lethal aura.


    – “Heh, looks like you’ve lost your mind again and are eager to die, huh?”


    A familiar voice echoed in his ears, though Hye-gwan wasn’t actually there. It was just the voice etched into his memory from the beatings he received over the past four years.


    “Urk.”


    Recalling the beatings after hearing that voice, Mu-gyeong snapped back to reality with a hup.


    ‘I need to calm my mind with meditation.’


    Regaining hisposure, Mu-gyeong began avoiding the most lethal techniques to prevent losing control again. This didn’t mean he stopped killing entirely.


    Meanwhile, as Mu-gyeong and Mu-jin ughtered enemies, Mu-gung was also deep in thought. But there was no time for such contemtions in the midst of battle.


    He had to decide quickly.


    “Damn it!”


    Eventually, Mu-gung chose to use martial arts for execution rather than subjugation. He feared the repercussions if the Shaolin elders discovered his vition of the non-killing principle but felt it was wrong to spare such viins.


    ‘Leaving these scum alive feels wrong!’


    To the young Mu-gung, forgiving these evil men seemed unjust.


    What about those who had suffered at their hands or those who might suffer in the future?


    In contrast, the gentle Mu-yul couldn’t bring himself to kill the enemies.


    “Next time, don’t do bad things!!”


    “Oink! Oink oink!!”


    Instead, he crippled them, ensuring they couldn’tmit further misdeeds.


    “You should be a good person too!!”


    He smiled as he shattered their limbs, ironically appearing the most ruthless of all.


    During this chaos, the Qing Shui remained surprisingly quiet. Normally, he would have been swinging his sword wildly as if to seize the opportunity to advance his swordsmanship. Yet, he stood there, gazing into the distance with a half-dazed expression.


    * * *


    In a secluded corner of Shaolin Temple, two old men shared a drink.


    “Why’d you drag a disciple from another sect without a word, you rascal?”


    “Heh, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


    At Yunheo Zhenren’s frowning question, Hyun-gwang merely chuckled.


    “Why did you involve our Qing Shui in the departure of your great-grandnephew, Mu-jin?”


    “Surely it was Qing Shui who followed Mu-jin, not the other way around.”


    Hyun-gwang’s response left Yunheo Zhenren grumbling as he took another sip.


    He had suspected as much. After all, he was the one who had suggested that Qing Shui venture out into the world soon.


    He just hadn’t expected Qing Shui to leave Wudang without a word.


    Realizing that Qing Shui’s disappearance might be linked to Mu-jin, Yunheo Zhenren hade to Shaolin, and upon learning that Mu-jin was also missing from Shaolin, he pieced together the situation.


    “Heh. You can’t cling to a child like a fool and expect him to grow properly, Mal-ko.”


    “You’re thest person who should say that, you monk.”


    Yunheo Zhenren scowled at being called a fool.


    “And it’s not venturing into the world that worries me. That child can handle himself.”


    “Then what concerns you so?”


    “When he witnesses the world’s ugliness, I fear he might be a sword demon.”


    “Heh. After ten years of Wudang’s teachings, is that all the trust you have in him?”


    For some reason, Hyun-gwang’s question made Yunheo Zhenren look bitter instead of angry.


    “You don’t understand why he became a swordsman.”


    Yunheo Zhenren poured himself another drink.


    “And I don’t fully know the reason either.”


    Despite the absurdity of his statement, Hyun-gwang waited silently for Yunheo Zhenren to continue.


    “Qing Shui. My first disciple, Song Baek, found him. While traveling, he discovered a vige attacked by bandits. After dealing with the bandits, he found a boy, barely ten years old, holding a sword in a pool of blood, surrounded by bandit corpses.”


    “……”


    “Unable to find the boy’s guardians, Song Baek brought him to Wudang. The boy had lost his memory, clinging to that sword as if it was his whole world. Not knowing his name, we called him ‘Qing Shui.’”


    Yunheo Zhenren filled his empty cup again.


    “That’s why I feared sending him out into the world. I feared the unknown past that made him a swordsman, a past that might weigh heavier on him than my teachings.”


    * * *


    Qing Shui Dojang watched the Muja Quartet fighting from afar, but his gaze seemed distant, not focused on the present.


    What he saw wasn’t the current bloody battlefield but a scene from his forgotten past, one filled with blood.