Chapter 34
Good and Evil……
I am a reincarnator living my second life, but I still don’t understand the standards of good and evil.
Of course, there must be an absolute direction of good and evil.
For example, infringing upon the rights and interests of others, or committing acts that go against the common sense of human ethicsthat humans should know without being taught.
That is undoubtedly evil, and the opposite case can be classified as good.
However……
What if there is someone who has only harmed others all their life and finally repents and reflects on their sins?
Wouldn’t that make the standard ambiguous again?
Of course, I have no intention of deeply exploring such a complex ‘truth,’ and I’m just someone who does whatever they want, but in any case, clearly defining good and evil is that difficult.
So……
So, when these beliefs and values clash, I always act according to my heart.
Because then, I don’t regret anything.
“I understand what you guys want to say. So, because of the harsh storms of life, you joined the Black Society and lived a dirty life there, but now that the guild leader is dead and there’s nowhere to go…… So you want to repent by becoming even a grunt of the Dawn Heaven Sect. Is that it?”
“That’s roughly right.”
“Okay. But I can’t accept you. Of course, some of you might be reborn through education and rehabilitation and live a human-like life. Just because you were part of the Black Path doesn’t mean you’re evil, and there are plenty of cases where even Taoist priests from prestigious righteous sects are bastards.”
“If you understand that logic, why won’t you accept us?”
“Because I don’t know.”
“What?”
“I don’t know each of your personalities, and I’m not sure if taking in villains like you is the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do. If my actions end up treading the ambiguous boundary of good and evil…… I’m just someone who does whatever they want.”
“So, are you saying you’ll kill us?”
“No. Even though I said to drop dead, I’m not a madman who enjoys killing, so why would I kill small fries like you? It would be enough to break some bones, sever some tendons, and cripple the dantians of those with internal energy so that you can never do bad things again.”
“What’s the difference between that and killing us?”
“It’s different.”
“……”
“It’s definitely different. For example, what if I beat you guys up without telling you whether I’ll kill you or let you live? Then, the words ‘Please spare my life!’ will definitely come out of your mouths.”
“……”
“I’ll make you believe it if you don’t believe me.”
“Sect Leader. Stop playing word games.”
“What’s the meaning of that spirit?”
“If you won’t accept us, we’re not going to become crippled willingly. We’d rather fight you and die here.”
It was unexpected.
Honestly, I thought all the Black Society bastards were cowardly punks.
Listening to him, he has a manly side, should I say it feels cool as a fellow man?
Of course,
“Alright. Let’s see how long that spirit lasts.”
After about 100 beatings, that spirit will disappear without a trace, and they’ll show the appearance of a servile and pathetic being.
“Come at me.”
◈ ◈ ◈
Would the expression that my body feels like it’s about to fly be accurate?
Anyway, that’s how I feel right now.
‘Force’ attribute and ‘Thunder’ attribute too…… Making two types of lumps makes my body light.’
The power of the ‘attribute’ acts as a kind of ‘internal energy’ even if it’s only absorbed in the dantian without being utilized.
For example, if I activate the ‘Force’ attribute breathing and exert immense power, the power of the opened ‘Thunder’ attribute is also naturally manifested to a certain extent, which means that the power of the techniques I perform is doubled without me being conscious of it.
In short, it’s like a Taoist priest who uses the Wudang Sect’s Two Energies Divine Artsimultaneously using the Mount Hua Sect’s Purple Glow Divine Art, so how awesome would that be?
“S…… Spare me.”
I was experiencing that awesomeness myself.
“See? Even those with unwavering beliefs change their minds when they’re beaten to near death. As a violence expert, I know this better than anyone.”
I unleashed mindless violence on the Black Society bastards.
First, to those who charged at the forefront, I highly praised their courage and struck their throats with my fists, and to those who were trembling in fear, I punished their foolishness by bestowing about 50 slaps on each of their cheeks before kicking their groins.
Also, to those who were screaming at the top of their lungs and trying to run away, I gave them punishment corresponding to their cowardice. I twisted every joint of their bodies with the ‘Force’ attribute-enhanced strength, rupturing their bones and tendons, and grabbed their cheekbones, pressing down━ to crush their faces.
But……
Even after doing all that, I still have stamina left.
In that moment, I realized that I had become completely different from when I attacked the Xi’an branch.
‘I almost got poisonedwhile fighting the guild leader, but…… I ended up breaking through the wall.’
This was much faster growth than I had initially expected.
After my reincarnation, I conducted in-depth research on the timing and extent of regaining my strength.
I expected to recover to about this level of strength next year or the year after……
At this rate, maybe next year I’ll really put my name on the list of the ‘Top 50 Experts of Jianghu,’ or whatever it’s called?
“S, Sect Leader Jin! If you can’t spare us…… Can’t you please kill us with a single blow!”
At that moment.
The manly guy who first spoke to me knelt down, bleeding from his mouth, and pleaded.
“What’s your name?”
“M, my name……?”
“Yes.”
“It’s Heon Won-su.”
“Won-su. Your name sucks, but whatever. Anyway, Won-su.”
“Yes.”
“What does it matter to a guy who’s going to be crippled anyway, but since my philosophy has broken your beliefs, I’ll say this: Don’t be certain about anything in your life from now on.”
“Ah……”
“You said, didn’t you? That you’d rather fight and die here than become crippled? So how do you feel after being beaten to death? Did the words ‘Please spare me’ come right out of your mouth?”
“……”
“That’s how humans are. So, from now on, live your life knowing how precious it is.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Oh, and Won-su.”
“Yes.”
“Of course, there are always exceptions.”
“……”
“For example, someone like me is an exception. If I were you, I wouldn’t have begged for my life even if it meant dying. Why? Because if you beg for your life, you’ll die anyway if the opponent intends to kill you, and even if you plead to be killed, you’ll end up living if the opponent intends to spare you.”
“……”
“Well, just keep that in mind. Because there are hardly any people like me in the world.”
It wasn’t meant to be a boast.
Originally, I tend to clearly conclude specific ‘phenomena,’ so I was just stating the facts.
But somehow, looking at their expressions, it felt like I had become an eyesore, bragging and showing off in the midst of all this, which made me feel disgusted.
Bang━!
“Ugh!”
So, I gave Won-su a powerful ‘Praying Mantis Chestnut’ on his head.
But……
“Won-su.”
“……”
“Won-su. Hey, breathe, breathe.”
Won-su is unresponsive.
◈ ◈ ◈
After ‘dealing with’ the villains like in the Xi’an branch, I didn’t collapse from exhaustion or have to meditate to recover my internal energy……
I didn’t show that kind of disgrace.
However, I gathered the bodies of the unfortunate fifteen who died in the corner of the estate, and while I was boredly picking my nose with the rest of the crippled villains tied up with ropes and kneeling……
Il-dong appeared, breathing heavily.
“Gasp…… Gasp. What…… What in the world happened here?”
Il-dong looked around with wide eyes and then fixed his gaze on me.
“What happened? As you can see, I took care of everything.”
“Huh……”
I don’t know how many times it’s been.
That sigh of resignation and that complex expression on Il-dong’s face.
He had that expression when I took all the Iron Blood Gang bandits to the authorities in chains, and he had that expression when I insulted the Green Gang leader, calling him a ‘Boar bastard.’
Seeing him make that expression again made me irritated.
“Il-dong.”
“Yes.”
“Can you not make that expression? It’s like the expression of someone who encountered a monster on the road. Anyway, your expression…… It’s disgusting and bothersome.”
“Ah! Brother. Isn’t it just a surprised expression? And who wouldn’t be surprised to see this? You beat up all these guys alone.”
“Il-dong.”
“Why?”
“As you live as the third-in-command of the Dawn Heaven Sect, you’ll experience things like this countless times. Are you going to be surprised every time?”
“Forget it. Anyway, why am I the third-in-command? I’m the Vice Sect Leader.”
“B*llshit. I never told you to be the Vice Sect Leader, and it’s only natural that you’re the third-in-command.”
“???”
“The first-in-command of the Dawn Heaven Sect is me, the Sect Leader. The second-in-command is Master Dongbyeok Yi Si-jin, our new member. Were you thinking of reigning over the elder? You seem like a guy who doesn’t know respect for elders.”
“Ah……”
“Of course, depending on internal circumstances in the future, you could become the fourth or fifth-in-command. Or you could fall even lower, so keep that in mind.”
“……”
Il-dong, dumbfounded, stared at me with a look of disdain.
I chuckled for a moment, amused by Il-dong’s behavior that didn’t suit his huge physique, and then spoke again.
“Il-dong. What do you think we should do with these bastards?”
“Brother…… No, Sect Leader, you should decide.”
“Then I’ll tell you what to do, so listen carefully.”
“Yes?”
“Write it down somewhere if you’re not confident you can memorize it.”
“What……”
“First, pour oil on the bodies of those who are already dead and set them on fire for cremation. There are about fifteen of them, and it’s too much for you to bury them alone in the mountains, so handle it that way. As for the rest of the captured bastards, we’ll make a final decision after discussing it with the Seokga Estate.”
“The Seokga Estate? You were the one who threw a fit about why we left it to the Seokga Estate before.”
“What?”
“Ah…… I’m sorry. Anyway, you said we wouldn’t share the Black Society with the Seokga Estate, didn’t you?”
“That was just talk…… The reason the Seokga Estate is involved in this matter is because Yeon-u has a plan.”
“Sigh…… Well, I understand. Then, should I send a message to the Seokga Estate?”
“Of course. But I’ll do that, so you stay here.”
“Yes?”
“Sending a message to the Seokga Estate and discussing with them are all my jobs, so you wait here.”
“But…… Alone?”
“Then who else is going to wait here? There’s only us. And as I said, I have to take So-yun for a walk before it gets too late today, and I’m going to put her to bed, so you just wait here for now.”
“……”
“Wait here like a statue, don’t move.”
“……”
“If you don’t like that, wait firmly like a deeply rooted weed that withstands all kinds of storms and typhoons and thrives.”
“……”
“Or, if you don’t even like that, you can wait blankly, unable to move, after having your pressure points sealed by the best acupressure expert in the world, like a miserable martial artist who’s been rendered helpless……”
“Shut up.”
“Okay. Anyway, I’m going.”
Suddenly wanting to see So-yun, I used Fast Whale Steps without looking back, leaving Il-dong alone.
It’ll be late at night soon……
Thinking about Il-dong’s hardship, cremating the bodies alone after setting them on fire and tending to the crippled bastards indefinitely……
It’s sad.