Chapter 870 ·The One Who Was Like a Fairy Cast Out of Paradise

Bih ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Sa-in ran westward using lightness skill.

He ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ran like a child rushing to meet a friend.

When ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had he ever run with such excitement?

After ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍running for quite a while, he saw them waiting at a roadside inn with tables and chairs set outside.

“Over ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍here, over here!”

As ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if certain that Bih Sa-in would follow, Geom Mugeuk waved his hand and welcomed him.

“You haven’t had a hangover cure yet, right? Innkeeper, bring one more bowl here.”

Bih Sa-in sat down.

Across from him, Han Seol slightly lowered her head toward him. It was an apology for not telling him in advance and going along with Geom Mugeuk’s suggestion. She had been persuaded by the argument that this way Bih Sa-in could come along too, but an apology was still an apology.

Bih Sa-in gave a faint smile and nodded as if it was nothing. Rather, he was grateful she had gone along with it. Thanks to that, they could travel together like this.

“I couldn’t even send word separately to the Alliance Leader before coming.”

For Bih Sa-in, there was one comrade named Jin Hagun.

“I was the same.”

Geom Mugeuk said to the two of them,

“You have to be prepared to get scolded to make it more exciting and fun. But Il-rang let you go without a fuss?”

“I found that strange too.”

He had expected Il-rang to jump up and stop them, insisting it was absolutely not allowed, yet Il-rang gave permission.

Had he judged that the fate entangling the Young Leader and Geom Mugeuk could not be stopped no matter what?

“Looks like he decided to be ready to get scolded together with me.”

At Bih Sa-in’s words, Jin Hagun gave a faint smile. Hearing about the Thirteen Wolves made him think of the subordinates of the Demon-Slaying Brigade. He wondered if they were all enjoying their vacation well. No, forget it!

At that moment, the tavern owner brought a steaming soup dish to Bih Sa-in.

“The food here is good. Eat slowly.”

Just as Geom Mugeuk said, it tasted good. Spicy yet refreshing. He felt his insides loosen.

“So where are we going now?”

Geom Mugeuk explained this trip to Bih Sa-in.

“The principle of this journey is to go wherever our feet take us.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever lived like that.”

The same went for Jin Hagun.

“Me neither.”

Geom Mugeuk asked the two Young Leaders, who were pushing themselves the most on this trip, first.

“Is there anywhere you particularly want to go?”

Bih Sa-in and Jin Hagun shook their heads. Something might come to mind as they traveled, but nothing came to mind right now.

“Then shall we start by going where my steps lead first?”

Everyone nodded. They could feel that Geom Mugeuk had some destination in mind.

“Do you happen to like insects?”

At Geom Mugeuk’s question, Jin Hagun asked with a puzzled expression,

“Who likes insects?”

Geom Mugeuk smiled meaningfully.

“You’ll come to like them this time.”

---

Hearing the sound of insects from afar, the Insect Doctor raised her head.

“Hearing the Sounding Insects singing from morning, it seems a welcome guest will come today.”

Pyo Gigwang, who had been loosening his body while holding a sword in the yard, looked toward the gate and said,

“Make sure they bring a sack full of money!”

“You brat, what kind of talk about money is that from a young one?”

“Who do you think I learned it from? And young? I’m already an old man myself.”

“That’s quite the way to speak to your old master.”

Pyo Gigwang set down his sword and brought water to the Insect Doctor.

“If you’ve gotten up, please have a cup of water first.”

“I’m not thirsty.”

“Even if you aren’t, your body wants it.”

Pyo Gigwang made her drink it anyway. Then he began massaging her shoulders. This was how their daily routine started.

“Ah, that feels good.”

“Drinking a cup of lukewarm water right after waking up is very good for your health.”

“You brat, someone who cares about health wouldn’t have ruined his body like that.”

“My body was injured while doing important work.”

Pyo Gigwang was someone Geom Mugeuk had met when fighting the Battle King in the Unorthodox Alliance, and after rescuing him from being used by those behind the scenes, he brought him to the Insect Doctor to become her disciple.

Since then, Pyo Gigwang had lived serving the Insect Doctor as his master, as if reborn.

“I told you to train with me.”

The Insect Doctor was a master of martial arts. The reason her medical skills were as outstanding as a Demon Doctor or Divine Physician was not only her deep knowledge of venomous insects, but also because she herself had reached the peak and thus understood a martial artist’s body better than anyone.

“You should train more yourself. Now that I’m old, everything is bothersome. That’s enough for the shoulders.”

“I’ll do a bit more.”

Pyo Gigwang continued massaging her shoulders.

“By the way, are you not going to deploy the formation anymore?”

Originally, a formation had been set up around Geukrakwon. That was why one had to tell a code word to the boy at the village entrance and state who had sent them in order to enter.

But the Insect Doctor had removed that formation. She said it was no longer necessary since she had a reliable disciple, but Pyo Gigwang knew his master’s heart.

As she aged, she realized she had less time, and instead of maintaining the costly formation, she wanted to save that money to raise and teach even one more child.

“Why? Are you scared because there’s no formation?”

“Of course I am. The world these days is dangerous.”

“Are those words really coming from someone as vicious as a Black Dragon Division Leader?”

After taking Pyo Gigwang as her disciple, the Insect Doctor completely shook off the loneliness and depression that had once plagued her. Life with this disciple was quite enjoyable.

Only after massaging for quite a while did Pyo Gigwang return to the yard and begin swinging his sword again.

Once having risen to the position of Black Dragon Division Leader in the Unorthodox Alliance, he had been severely injured during a mission and had become unable to use martial arts.

Yet now, Pyo Gigwang was using Internal Energy as he swung his sword.

He had once given up martial arts and focused solely on serving the Insect Doctor, but she had healed him using a treatment involving venomous insects.

Though not at the level of his prime, he had now recovered a considerable portion of his martial arts.

But the greater fortune for him was this.

“Your waist is drooping. Bend your knees more.”

The Insect Doctor not only treated him but also passed down her own martial arts. The martial arts she practiced were stronger than his own. She had acknowledged Pyo Gigwang as a true disciple.

“Take a deeper breath. Hold it. Yes, just like that.”

While instructing him, the Insect Doctor suddenly spoke as if something had come to mind.

“Gigwang.”

“Yes, Master.”

“When I die, release all the insects here and go far away to live your own life. Don’t suffer trying to take over my work. Just live doing what you want.”

The gaze of Pyo Gigwang, who was swinging his sword, deepened. His perceptive master had already seen through his heart.

“How is taking care of the children suffering?”

“It is suffering.”

“Then do you regret it? Spending all the money you earned in your life taking care of orphans? Living being called a money grubber?”

The Insect Doctor raised her head and looked at the sky. Did she regret her life? There was no way.

“Yes, I regret it.”

“Then in your next life, don’t live like this. Live brilliantly. Earn money and buy a grand tile-roofed house like a whale’s back. I’ll live like that in my next life too.”

Even if the Insect Doctor died, Pyo Gigwang intended to continue her work. That was why he was doing his best to learn her medical arts.

At that moment, the gate burst open roughly and two martial artists stepped inside. The fact that they entered without the owner’s permission showed they had not come with good intentions.

“It seems those Sounding Insects can’t properly distinguish who a welcome guest is.”

Pyo Gigwang seated her in a chair positioned to overlook the yard.

“Stay right here. I’ll handle them.”

“Now that I’m old, I can’t hold back. My anger is boiling.”

“Don’t blame your age. It’s just your temper.”

“You brat!”

Meanwhile, the two martial artists approached them.

The middle-aged man walking in front was Jo Dang, the Sect Leader of the Symbiosis Sect.

The man standing beside Jo Dang was Hwang Chun, the number one swordsman of the Symbiosis Sect and Jo Dang’s right-hand man.

“Who might you be?”

At Pyo Gigwang’s calm question, Hwang Chun stepped forward instead of his leader.

“A few days ago, we sent people here.”

Pyo Gigwang quietly rebuked him.

“Since when have we been acquainted that you speak so carelessly? Mind your manners.”

Hwang Chun’s expression twisted.

“What use is age in the martial world? Skill is age.”

Then the Sect Leader, Jo Dang, stepped forward.

“How impudent.”

At his reprimand, Hwang Chun stepped back. It was clear it was only a perfunctory scolding.

If Jo Dang truly knew manners, his subordinate would never have spoken like that in front of him in the first place.

“I am Jo Dang, the one who leads the Symbiosis Sect. I should have come personally from the beginning. My apologies.”

“Welcome, Sect Leader Jo.”

Pyo Gigwang received him politely.

The Insect Doctor remained seated as instructed, gazing into the yard.

“What brings someone of your stature here?”

“A few days ago, we sent people here.”

“I remember. If I recall correctly, we politely conveyed that we refused their proposal.”

The reason Jo Dang came here was to purchase land located in another region.

Upon learning that the owner of that land was the owner of Geukrakwon, he had sent several martial artists along with his steward. He told them to negotiate a reasonable price and buy the land.

However, the steward and the martial artists returned with their bodies covered in red from insect bites. Naturally, the deal had not gone through.

Since it was such an urgent and important matter, the Sect Leader himself had come in person.

“This is a meeting with an important person, so I should have come myself from the start. My apologies.”

After apologizing, Jo Dang spoke with a pleasant expression.

“That land, I will buy it at a price above the market value.”

Without even asking the price, Pyo Gigwang refused.

“I refuse.”

“Isn’t it always a matter of price when a deal falls through? I’ll give you twice the land’s value.”

He had obtained information that a large sect was planning to relocate near that land.

If he could buy it and sell it to that sect, he could make profits dozens of times greater.

“It is not land for sale.”

“Very well. I’ll give you three times. I will not go any higher.”

“Even if you offered ten times, I have no intention of selling.”

What? Could they have heard rumors of the relocation?

“May I ask why?”

“Do you know what building stands on that land?”

“I heard there is a place called Cheonga Orphanage where children are gathered and raised.”

Jo Dang’s expression turned suspicious.

“Surely you’re not refusing to sell because of that place?”

No matter who bought the land, that unprofitable place would certainly be demolished first.

“How ridiculous.”

The courteous expression Jo Dang had maintained until then turned cold.

“A mere money grubber.”

Jo Dang revealed his true nature. He had come knowing that the owner of Geukrakwon was a physician known as a money grubber.

“A money-crazed doctor. There are plenty of rumors about you. Do you sell those orphans at a high price or something?”

“You know our elder is the Insect Doctor, yet you dare be this rude?”

“So it’s true—you’re skilled with poisonous insects, I hear?”

Jo Dang had something he relied on. He took something out from his robes. What he held in his hand was an Antidote Pellet. Not just any, but a top-grade one.

Not only that, Hwang Chun also took out an Antidote Pellet. The two had clearly come prepared.

“If you understand why we came with just the two of us, it would be wise not to cling to pointless stubbornness.”

It was an unmistakable threat. If they did not agree to the contract, they could be killed.

He took out a contract from his robes.

“Stamp your seal on the contract. Don’t forget that even a severed arm can leave a seal.”

Since he was offering three times the market price and purchasing it properly, even if problems arose later, he would have plenty of excuses. The money grubber demanded triple, so I paid triple!

“You bastards worse than insects!”

At Pyo Gigwang’s fury, the Insect Doctor, who had been sitting quietly until then, spoke in a languid voice,

“You brat, how dare you compare such precious insects to those things?”

The Insect Doctor slightly turned her head and looked at Jo Dang and Hwang Chun as she asked,

“Do you know? There are insects that go mad for Antidote Pellets.”

After saying that, the Insect Doctor groaned as she slowly rose from her seat.

“Oh my, my back.”

The one who interpreted her words for the two men, who did not understand, was Pyo Gigwang.

“It means there are venomous insects that Antidote Pellets cannot stop.”

---

Geom Mugeuk walked along with his friends.

“Now then, watch closely from here.”

Geom Mugeuk, who was leading and explaining, was excited.

“Once we turn that corner, there will be a boy sitting on a bench. Next time you come, just say this to him. ‘Boy, go and bring a bottle of liquor brewed from insects.’ Then the boy will ask who sent you. At that time, just answer like this: ‘I came on the recommendation of the cool and handsome Young Cult Leader Geom.’ Got it?”

When they turned the corner, just as he said, there was indeed a bench.

The boy was sitting and reading a book.

“You’ve grown a lot.”

The boy, who had grown considerably since they last met, recognized Geom Mugeuk.

“It’s been a while.”

“Make sure to remember the people standing behind me and guide them well next time they come. They’re hard to forget once you’ve seen them, so you’ll recognize them easily. That scary-looking brother over there is actually kind too, so guide him well. Hey, friends. Without me, you wouldn’t even be able to get in here.”

Just as Geom Mugeuk was proudly boasting,

“If you continue straight down this road, you'll arrive at Geukrakwon.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Elder has removed the formation.”

As Geom Mugeuk stood there blankly, five people walked past him. The scary-looking man said as he passed,

“Friend, bring a bottle of insect-brewed liquor.”

“They said there’s no need for liquor anymore!”

Left alone, Geom Mugeuk gave the boy some pocket money.

“You’re giving me this much?”

“I’m giving it because it’s admirable that you’re always reading. Buy lots of books and read them. That will surely become your path to survival! Hey, friends, let’s go together.”

Geom Mugeuk ran after his friends.

The boy, who had been looking down at the voucher, respectfully bowed toward Geom Mugeuk.

After walking for a long time, when Geukrakwon came into view ahead, Geom Mugeuk introduced the Insect Doctor.

“You probably don’t know how amazing the Elder Insect Doctor is. She is a noble person who has devoted her entire life to children. She’s kind yet dignified, her medical skills are on the level of a Divine Physician, and she possesses both knowledge and refinement. Why do you think this place is called Geukrakwon? It means she’s like a fairy cast out from paradise. Elder, I’m here.”

Geom Mugeuk flung open the gates of Geukrakwon and entered with his friends. None of them could say a word at the scene unfolding inside.

At that very moment, the Insect Doctor was in the middle of making a large insect in her hand bite into the body of Jo Dang, who had his upper garments removed. His entire body was already covered in wounds, as if he had been torn apart by other insects.

As the Insect Doctor turned toward them with a delighted expression at Geom Mugeuk’s arrival—

Crunch.

The insect she held mercilessly bit into his body, and Jo Dang let out a scream.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaah!”

At that scream, Hwang Chun, who had been collapsed on the ground, regained his senses and crawled toward the entrance, grabbing the leg of the person who had just entered and begging. It happened to be Bih Sa-in, though he was in no state to recognize whose leg he was grabbing.

“……Please save me!”

Whether he had been beaten or bitten by insects, Hwang Chun’s face and body were so swollen they were barely recognizable.

Seeing the Insect Doctor smiling brightly at him with a blood-stained face, Bih Sa-in leaned toward Geom Mugeuk and whispered quietly,

“Doesn’t she seem more like someone cast out from hell?”

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