Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Gwak-o was in his mid-twenties, and he had always been a radical who insisted that Hundred Flower Valley should go out into the martial world and be active.

He was often criticized for his conduct, which many considered too rough, but Son Wi-hak never scolded him, saying it was just the passion of youth.

However, if Son Wi-hak were to see him now, he would not be able to rest in peace even in the afterlife.

Jin Ja-gang felt his head spinning.

Now it made sense why the defensive formation had been breached without a sound, and why the hiding places in Hundred Flower Valley had been discovered so easily.

‘Brother Gwak-o betrayed us…’

He fidgeted with the pine flowers in his hand. White pine pollen dusted his fingers.

‘Brother Gwak-o and I used to play together, eating pine shoots and pine flowers…’

Jin Ja-gang only moved after they had disappeared.

As he returned to the hole, he noticed vines growing thickly on the wall beside it.

Red trumpet flowers were blooming beautifully.

Jin Ja-gang gazed at the trumpet flowers for a moment, then picked a few and put them in his sleeve.

About an hour after returning through the hole, a warrior finally came to escort Jin Ja-gang to the trial.

***

***

A solemn atmosphere pervaded the main hall.

More than twenty warriors stood guard while several local dignitaries who had come as observers took their seats on the platform.

Soon, Seo Gil-pung announced the commencement of the trial, and Baek Li-jung entered, receiving greetings from various people.

Seo Gil-pung explained the overview of the case and introduced a representative from the Extreme Poison Sect as a reference witness. It was the elderly man Jin Ja-gang had seen earlier.

When asked if the Extreme Poison Sect had attacked Hundred Flower Valley, the elderly man replied:

“There is no such fact. When we arrived, the bloodshed had already occurred. We actually tried to treat the survivors and manage the aftermath, but the situation was too dire.”

Naturally, it was a denial of their responsibility.

Jin Ja-gang kept his mouth tightly shut. His heart was heavy with despair after what he had witnessed earlier.

Baek Li-jung asked:

“But why did the Extreme Poison Sect intervene in Hundred Flower Valley’s affairs? Interfering in another sect’s business goes against the principles of the martial world.”

“At that time, Hundred Flower Valley and the Extreme Poison Sect were not separate sects but already one unified sect. We were family.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the elderly man, wondering what he meant. The elderly man handed a document to Baek Li-jung and said:

“This is the merger resolution between our Extreme Poison Sect and Hundred Flower Valley. It states that since poison sects and medicinal sects originally come from the same root, we had agreed to merge within the year. I submit this as evidence.”

Baek Li-jung read the merger resolution and nodded.

“The document appears to be in order. That explains why the Extreme Poison Sect intervened in Hundred Flower Valley’s affairs.”

Next to appear as a witness was Gwak-o.

“A survivor from Hundred Flower Valley.”

Gwak-o looked at Jin Ja-gang and nervously swallowed dry saliva. However, he proceeded with his testimony.

“Our Hundred Flower Valley often had internal conflicts over the merger issue. And then… sigh… this incident was entirely due to our internal conflicts and had nothing to do with the Extreme Poison Sect. The Extreme Poison Sect, as family, actually tried to help us.”

Gwak-o pointed at Jin Ja-gang and said:

“That child is Jin Ja-gang, who was with someone who opposed my position.”

Jin Ja-gang just felt numb.

What could Jin Ja-gang do in this situation?

Would confronting Gwak-o change anything?

Would explaining himself make any difference?

If he hadn’t seen them exchanging confidences earlier, he might have held out some hope and protested.

But knowing the outcome in advance made it all seem futile.

A ten-year-old boy with no power or background could only feel helpless.

Soon, various pieces of evidence allegedly found in Hundred Flower Valley were presented one after another, and people Jin Ja-gang didn’t even know came forward to testify about internal conflicts within Hundred Flower Valley. The five-colored centipede’s head shell that Jin Ja-gang had submitted wasn’t mentioned even once.

Then, Magistrate Baek Li-jung suddenly announced his final conclusion.

“Upon investigation of Hundred Flower Valley, some evidence of internal strife has been secured, consistent with multiple testimonies, and the testimonies of the Extreme Poison Sect and survivors from Hundred Flower Valley have been consistent. Therefore, I declare that the Extreme Poison Sect is innocent and free of any charges related to the Hundred Flower Valley incident.”

The elderly man from the Extreme Poison Sect raised his clasped hands in a salute, greatly pleased.

“The Extreme Poison Sect greatly welcomes the fair judgment of Great Hero Baek Li-jung. We also thank the Martial Arts Alliance for its just actions.”

Seo Gil-pung clapped two wooden boards together to signal the official end of the trial. The clerk also gathered up the documents and brush. The observers also made light salutes as they left.

It was over.

The trial, which was supposed to be clear and just, presided over by a hero of the Martial Arts Alliance.

The truth Jin Ja-gang had wanted to reveal meant nothing.

It had been a scripted trial from beginning to end.

Jin Ja-gang remained silent.

Seo Gil-pung looked at Jin Ja-gang and said:

“You have falsely accused an innocent sect, causing them hardship, which is no small crime. However, considering your age and the tragic circumstances of Hundred Flower Valley, we will simply send you away.”

It was obvious what would happen to Jin Ja-gang if he were expelled from the Martial Arts Alliance branch.

Seo Gil-pung gestured for the warriors to escort Jin Ja-gang out.

At that moment, Jin Ja-gang suddenly called out to Gwak-o in a mournful voice.

“Brother Gwak-o.”

Seo Gil-pung raised his eyebrows.

“Take him away quickly!”

But Jin Ja-gang continued speaking.

“Do you know how Brother Gwak-o’s master died?”

“Silence! What nonsense!”

“Let him be.”

Baek Li-jung restrained Seo Gil-pung, and Seo Gil-pung closed his mouth. Since all the clerks and observers had already left, he probably thought it was fine.

Jin Ja-gang glanced at Seo Gil-pung and Baek Li-jung, then said to Gwak-o:

“Your master, who was my maternal grandfather… He was hit with a Poison Palm on his back while trying to save me, and died as his flesh festered.”

Gwak-o’s shoulders flinched.

“W-what! What does that matter!”

“I just wanted to let you know. That’s all.”

Jin Ja-gang saw Gwak-o’s eyes waver. But nothing was going to change or reverse the situation. Gwak-o had always been ambitious and eager for fame.

Unexpectedly, it was Baek Li-jung, not Gwak-o, who spoke to Jin Ja-gang.

“Did you say your name was Ja-gang?”

When Jin Ja-gang looked at Baek Li-jung, Baek Li-jung even flashed a seemingly kind smile and said:

“If you have anything more to say, go ahead.”

Since Jin Ja-gang wasn’t making a scene or throwing a tantrum, it seemed to have piqued Baek Li-jung’s curiosity.

In fact, he had an unusually composed demeanor for his age.

Jin Ja-gang suddenly knelt down. Then he bowed deeply.

A slight smile formed at the corners of Baek Li-jung’s mouth.

“Are you asking for mercy?”

Does this child also know that he will die if he leaves?

The elderly man from the Extreme Poison Sect also noticed what Baek Li-jung was thinking.

“Great Hero Baek, that would be problematic.”

Jin Ja-gang was troublesome to leave alive. For the sake of eliminating witnesses, they needed to take him and deal with him themselves.

Baek Li-jung frowned and extended his hand, with an expression that seemed to rebuke, “How dare you contradict what I say?”

The elderly man had no choice but to close his mouth.

But the words that came from Jin Ja-gang’s mouth were completely different from what others had expected.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Baek Li-jung and said in a flat tone:

“Just now, I realized how foolish it is to sit quietly and hope for help from others.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for teaching me this lesson. I will definitely come to thank you properly in the future.”

Jin Ja-gang bowed once more.

The elderly man and Seo Gil-pung were flustered, and Baek Li-jung knitted his brows.

Wasn’t that not really a thank-you, but a declaration of holding a grudge and seeking revenge!

It was not something that should come from a child’s mouth.

Baek Li-jung glared at Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang’s face was expressionless. There was no emotion in his eyes, making it unsettling for those looking at him.

But within him was extreme resentment and anger. His resentment and anger had gone beyond the limit, as if the cognitive processing of his emotions had broken down.

Baek Li-jung, who detected the hidden resentment in Jin Ja-gang’s expressionless eyes, gave a faint smile.

“Very well. I’ll be waiting.”

Of course, such a day would never come.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Gwak-o again.

Gwak-o tensed his stomach muscles and looked down at Jin Ja-gang.

“W-what…?”

Jin Ja-gang said in a voice so calm it was cold:

“We will definitely meet again, Brother.”

“Don’t be impudent! Even if you were to grab my feet and beg for your life, it wouldn’t be enough…”

But Jin Ja-gang ignored Gwak-o and turned his head to look at Seo Gil-pung.

It was a look that seemed to say, “You’ll be seeing me again too.”

Seo Gil-pung felt a chill run down his spine, but he quickly calmed himself. After all, Jin Ja-gang was just a child. One whose entire body’s energy meridians had hardened, making him unable to function even as well as an ordinary person.

What could such a child possibly do?

“Take him away!”

Seo Gil-pung gestured for the warriors to take Jin Ja-gang away.

A strange silence hung over the main hall as Jin Ja-gang was dragged out.

* * *

Originally, Jin Ja-gang was supposed to be expelled immediately.

But as he was being dragged away, he asked the warrior:

“Can I gather my belongings from the room?”

Jin Ja-gang probably didn’t have many belongings to begin with. But since it was obvious what would happen to him once he went outside, there was no reason not to grant such a request.

“Don’t try anything funny.”

The warrior pushed Jin Ja-gang into the room and watched from outside.

Jin Ja-gang moved around the room, appearing to gather his things, then approached the warrior.

“Are you done?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

“Just a moment, I have something for you.”

Jin Ja-gang put his hand into his sleeve and then took it out. There were pine flowers in his palm.

The warrior frowned.

“I don’t need that.”

“But I need it.”

“What?”

Jin Ja-gang held a red flower in his left hand.

“This is a trumpet flower.”

Jin Ja-gang brought his hands together and rubbed them. The pine flowers burst, sending pine pollen into the air, and the trumpet flowers crumbled into powder.

“What are you doing, you little…!”

Jin Ja-gang suddenly spread his palms and blew the powder toward the warrior’s face, specifically into his eyes.

Whoosh!

The pine pollen and trumpet flower powder flew into the warrior’s face, directly into his eyes.

The warrior quickly jerked his body back, but by then, the powder had already gotten into his eyes.

“Cough! Y-you little…!”

The warrior rubbed his eyes.

But that was a mistake. Pine pollen causes itching, and trumpet flower powder causes inflammation. While it would subside after a few days, rubbing the eyes immediately worsens the irritation, causing the eyes to swell up.

Because the warrior anxiously rubbed his eyes, his eyelids quickly turned red and swollen. The more he rubbed, the more painful and itchy they became.

“Aaargh!”

The warrior’s eyes were tearing up, making it difficult to open them. He could barely see. He flailed his arms and legs wildly, trying to force his eyes open, but Jin Ja-gang had already run to the hole behind the bed.

Jin Ja-gang pushed his body into the narrow hole. Since a large adult couldn’t pass through this hole, anyone trying to catch Jin Ja-gang would have to go around the garden to pursue him.

‘I did it!’

Just as Jin Ja-gang was pushing his upper body through…

Thud!

Suddenly, a thick birch staff fell and lodged itself right in front of Jin Ja-gang’s head.

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Gwak-o was in his mid-twenties, and he had always been a radical who insisted that Hundred Flower Valley should go out into the martial world and be active.

He was often criticized for his conduct, which many considered too rough, but Son Wi-hak never scolded him, saying it was just the passion of youth.

However, if Son Wi-hak were to see him now, he would not be able to rest in peace even in the afterlife.

Jin Ja-gang felt his head spinning.

Now it made sense why the defensive formation had been breached without a sound, and why the hiding places in Hundred Flower Valley had been discovered so easily.

‘Brother Gwak-o betrayed us…’

He fidgeted with the pine flowers in his hand. White pine pollen dusted his fingers.

‘Brother Gwak-o and I used to play together, eating pine shoots and pine flowers…’

Jin Ja-gang only moved after they had disappeared.

As he returned to the hole, he noticed vines growing thickly on the wall beside it.

Red trumpet flowers were blooming beautifully.

Jin Ja-gang gazed at the trumpet flowers for a moment, then picked a few and put them in his sleeve.

About an hour after returning through the hole, a warrior finally came to escort Jin Ja-gang to the trial.

***

***

A solemn atmosphere pervaded the main hall.

More than twenty warriors stood guard while several local dignitaries who had come as observers took their seats on the platform.

Soon, Seo Gil-pung announced the commencement of the trial, and Baek Li-jung entered, receiving greetings from various people.

Seo Gil-pung explained the overview of the case and introduced a representative from the Extreme Poison Sect as a reference witness. It was the elderly man Jin Ja-gang had seen earlier.

When asked if the Extreme Poison Sect had attacked Hundred Flower Valley, the elderly man replied:

“There is no such fact. When we arrived, the bloodshed had already occurred. We actually tried to treat the survivors and manage the aftermath, but the situation was too dire.”

Naturally, it was a denial of their responsibility.

Jin Ja-gang kept his mouth tightly shut. His heart was heavy with despair after what he had witnessed earlier.

Baek Li-jung asked:

“But why did the Extreme Poison Sect intervene in Hundred Flower Valley’s affairs? Interfering in another sect’s business goes against the principles of the martial world.”

“At that time, Hundred Flower Valley and the Extreme Poison Sect were not separate sects but already one unified sect. We were family.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the elderly man, wondering what he meant. The elderly man handed a document to Baek Li-jung and said:

“This is the merger resolution between our Extreme Poison Sect and Hundred Flower Valley. It states that since poison sects and medicinal sects originally come from the same root, we had agreed to merge within the year. I submit this as evidence.”

Baek Li-jung read the merger resolution and nodded.

“The document appears to be in order. That explains why the Extreme Poison Sect intervened in Hundred Flower Valley’s affairs.”

Next to appear as a witness was Gwak-o.

“A survivor from Hundred Flower Valley.”

Gwak-o looked at Jin Ja-gang and nervously swallowed dry saliva. However, he proceeded with his testimony.

“Our Hundred Flower Valley often had internal conflicts over the merger issue. And then… sigh… this incident was entirely due to our internal conflicts and had nothing to do with the Extreme Poison Sect. The Extreme Poison Sect, as family, actually tried to help us.”

Gwak-o pointed at Jin Ja-gang and said:

“That child is Jin Ja-gang, who was with someone who opposed my position.”

Jin Ja-gang just felt numb.

What could Jin Ja-gang do in this situation?

Would confronting Gwak-o change anything?

Would explaining himself make any difference?

If he hadn’t seen them exchanging confidences earlier, he might have held out some hope and protested.

But knowing the outcome in advance made it all seem futile.

A ten-year-old boy with no power or background could only feel helpless.

Soon, various pieces of evidence allegedly found in Hundred Flower Valley were presented one after another, and people Jin Ja-gang didn’t even know came forward to testify about internal conflicts within Hundred Flower Valley. The five-colored centipede’s head shell that Jin Ja-gang had submitted wasn’t mentioned even once.

Then, Magistrate Baek Li-jung suddenly announced his final conclusion.

“Upon investigation of Hundred Flower Valley, some evidence of internal strife has been secured, consistent with multiple testimonies, and the testimonies of the Extreme Poison Sect and survivors from Hundred Flower Valley have been consistent. Therefore, I declare that the Extreme Poison Sect is innocent and free of any charges related to the Hundred Flower Valley incident.”

The elderly man from the Extreme Poison Sect raised his clasped hands in a salute, greatly pleased.

“The Extreme Poison Sect greatly welcomes the fair judgment of Great Hero Baek Li-jung. We also thank the Martial Arts Alliance for its just actions.”

Seo Gil-pung clapped two wooden boards together to signal the official end of the trial. The clerk also gathered up the documents and brush. The observers also made light salutes as they left.

It was over.

The trial, which was supposed to be clear and just, presided over by a hero of the Martial Arts Alliance.

The truth Jin Ja-gang had wanted to reveal meant nothing.

It had been a scripted trial from beginning to end.

Jin Ja-gang remained silent.

Seo Gil-pung looked at Jin Ja-gang and said:

“You have falsely accused an innocent sect, causing them hardship, which is no small crime. However, considering your age and the tragic circumstances of Hundred Flower Valley, we will simply send you away.”

It was obvious what would happen to Jin Ja-gang if he were expelled from the Martial Arts Alliance branch.

Seo Gil-pung gestured for the warriors to escort Jin Ja-gang out.

At that moment, Jin Ja-gang suddenly called out to Gwak-o in a mournful voice.

“Brother Gwak-o.”

Seo Gil-pung raised his eyebrows.

“Take him away quickly!”

But Jin Ja-gang continued speaking.

“Do you know how Brother Gwak-o’s master died?”

“Silence! What nonsense!”

“Let him be.”

Baek Li-jung restrained Seo Gil-pung, and Seo Gil-pung closed his mouth. Since all the clerks and observers had already left, he probably thought it was fine.

Jin Ja-gang glanced at Seo Gil-pung and Baek Li-jung, then said to Gwak-o:

“Your master, who was my maternal grandfather… He was hit with a Poison Palm on his back while trying to save me, and died as his flesh festered.”

Gwak-o’s shoulders flinched.

“W-what! What does that matter!”

“I just wanted to let you know. That’s all.”

Jin Ja-gang saw Gwak-o’s eyes waver. But nothing was going to change or reverse the situation. Gwak-o had always been ambitious and eager for fame.

Unexpectedly, it was Baek Li-jung, not Gwak-o, who spoke to Jin Ja-gang.

“Did you say your name was Ja-gang?”

When Jin Ja-gang looked at Baek Li-jung, Baek Li-jung even flashed a seemingly kind smile and said:

“If you have anything more to say, go ahead.”

Since Jin Ja-gang wasn’t making a scene or throwing a tantrum, it seemed to have piqued Baek Li-jung’s curiosity.

In fact, he had an unusually composed demeanor for his age.

Jin Ja-gang suddenly knelt down. Then he bowed deeply.

A slight smile formed at the corners of Baek Li-jung’s mouth.

“Are you asking for mercy?”

Does this child also know that he will die if he leaves?

The elderly man from the Extreme Poison Sect also noticed what Baek Li-jung was thinking.

“Great Hero Baek, that would be problematic.”

Jin Ja-gang was troublesome to leave alive. For the sake of eliminating witnesses, they needed to take him and deal with him themselves.

Baek Li-jung frowned and extended his hand, with an expression that seemed to rebuke, “How dare you contradict what I say?”

The elderly man had no choice but to close his mouth.

But the words that came from Jin Ja-gang’s mouth were completely different from what others had expected.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Baek Li-jung and said in a flat tone:

“Just now, I realized how foolish it is to sit quietly and hope for help from others.”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for teaching me this lesson. I will definitely come to thank you properly in the future.”

Jin Ja-gang bowed once more.

The elderly man and Seo Gil-pung were flustered, and Baek Li-jung knitted his brows.

Wasn’t that not really a thank-you, but a declaration of holding a grudge and seeking revenge!

It was not something that should come from a child’s mouth.

Baek Li-jung glared at Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang’s face was expressionless. There was no emotion in his eyes, making it unsettling for those looking at him.

But within him was extreme resentment and anger. His resentment and anger had gone beyond the limit, as if the cognitive processing of his emotions had broken down.

Baek Li-jung, who detected the hidden resentment in Jin Ja-gang’s expressionless eyes, gave a faint smile.

“Very well. I’ll be waiting.”

Of course, such a day would never come.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Gwak-o again.

Gwak-o tensed his stomach muscles and looked down at Jin Ja-gang.

“W-what…?”

Jin Ja-gang said in a voice so calm it was cold:

“We will definitely meet again, Brother.”

“Don’t be impudent! Even if you were to grab my feet and beg for your life, it wouldn’t be enough…”

But Jin Ja-gang ignored Gwak-o and turned his head to look at Seo Gil-pung.

It was a look that seemed to say, “You’ll be seeing me again too.”

Seo Gil-pung felt a chill run down his spine, but he quickly calmed himself. After all, Jin Ja-gang was just a child. One whose entire body’s energy meridians had hardened, making him unable to function even as well as an ordinary person.

What could such a child possibly do?

“Take him away!”

Seo Gil-pung gestured for the warriors to take Jin Ja-gang away.

A strange silence hung over the main hall as Jin Ja-gang was dragged out.

* * *

Originally, Jin Ja-gang was supposed to be expelled immediately.

But as he was being dragged away, he asked the warrior:

“Can I gather my belongings from the room?”

Jin Ja-gang probably didn’t have many belongings to begin with. But since it was obvious what would happen to him once he went outside, there was no reason not to grant such a request.

“Don’t try anything funny.”

The warrior pushed Jin Ja-gang into the room and watched from outside.

Jin Ja-gang moved around the room, appearing to gather his things, then approached the warrior.

“Are you done?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

“Just a moment, I have something for you.”

Jin Ja-gang put his hand into his sleeve and then took it out. There were pine flowers in his palm.

The warrior frowned.

“I don’t need that.”

“But I need it.”

“What?”

Jin Ja-gang held a red flower in his left hand.

“This is a trumpet flower.”

Jin Ja-gang brought his hands together and rubbed them. The pine flowers burst, sending pine pollen into the air, and the trumpet flowers crumbled into powder.

“What are you doing, you little…!”

Jin Ja-gang suddenly spread his palms and blew the powder toward the warrior’s face, specifically into his eyes.

Whoosh!

The pine pollen and trumpet flower powder flew into the warrior’s face, directly into his eyes.

The warrior quickly jerked his body back, but by then, the powder had already gotten into his eyes.

“Cough! Y-you little…!”

The warrior rubbed his eyes.

But that was a mistake. Pine pollen causes itching, and trumpet flower powder causes inflammation. While it would subside after a few days, rubbing the eyes immediately worsens the irritation, causing the eyes to swell up.

Because the warrior anxiously rubbed his eyes, his eyelids quickly turned red and swollen. The more he rubbed, the more painful and itchy they became.

“Aaargh!”

The warrior’s eyes were tearing up, making it difficult to open them. He could barely see. He flailed his arms and legs wildly, trying to force his eyes open, but Jin Ja-gang had already run to the hole behind the bed.

Jin Ja-gang pushed his body into the narrow hole. Since a large adult couldn’t pass through this hole, anyone trying to catch Jin Ja-gang would have to go around the garden to pursue him.

‘I did it!’

Just as Jin Ja-gang was pushing his upper body through…

Thud!

Suddenly, a thick birch staff fell and lodged itself right in front of Jin Ja-gang’s head.

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