Chapter 194: Because He Chose a Handsome Face

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Hui-ya. You shouldn't move yet."

Mrs. Shim held her daughter Hui-ya's hand.

Hui-ya's face and body were covered in wounds as she got dressed. The girl had suffered the greatest misfortune of her life. Three days ago, a man had brutally assaulted her on her way to work. He beat and raped her.

"You heard, didn't you, Mom? He was released and says he's going to kill us all?"

The man who did this unforgivable thing was Gongpae, a thug from the Wild Beast Sect that controlled the area. He had committed the heinous act in the morning, not even at night.

Despite her battered body, Hui-ya went straight to the local Murim Alliance Branch and reported Gongpae, but less than three days later, she heard he was free. While being dragged away, Gongpae had publicly screamed that he was framed. He vowed he wouldn't let Hui-ya and her family get away with it. The Branch released that man anyway.

"We have to go now, Mom."

Hui-ya staggered to her feet, but a wave of dizziness sent her collapsing to the floor. Every single part of her body ached.

"Where can you go when your body is in this state?"

"We have to. He said he's going to kill us, didn't he?"

Tears welled in Hui-ya's eyes. She never dreamed they would release Gongpae so easily.

What are we supposed to do? What in the world are we supposed to do!

Mrs. Shim hugged her daughter tightly.

"It's all my fault. It's because of me."

After losing her husband, Mrs. Shim raised her two children alone. She lived tenaciously until a bad fall a year ago severely injured her leg.

When she could no longer work, her young son, barely ten, started working as a waiter. Her fifteen-year-old daughter, Hui-ya, who already helped at a cloth store, took an additional job washing dishes at an inn.

They were such good children, trying to earn a living and pay for their mother's medicine. Now, this tragedy had befallen her daughter.

Tears streamed from Mrs. Shim's eyes. She gritted her teeth, trying not to cry in front of Hui-ya, but the tears came on their own.

Hui-ya gritted her teeth and stood up again.

"Mom, pack your things. I'll go get your cart."

Mrs. Shim pulled her hand.

"You should go. Take your brother and escape for now."

"Mom, we don't have time for this. You know I won't leave you behind, right?"

"Where would you go with me in tow? Just go hide for a while. Please?"

All sorts of thoughts raced through Hui-ya's mind.

Where could she go with her sick mother and young brother? Should she just consider it a bite from a mad dog and beg for forgiveness if Gongpae showed up? She couldn't think of the right choice.

Someone, please tell me what to do! Please, help me!

At fifteen, the only one she could turn to was the heavens.

Just then, her younger brother, Seok-i, opened the door and ran inside.

"Mom! Noona!"

For some reason, Seok-i was flushed with excitement.

Seeing her brother, Hui-ya's mind cleared. She realized that to save Seok-i, leaving was the right thing to do.

"Pack your things, Seok-i."

"Why are we packing?"

"We're leaving. Just pack the essentials."

"Noona! Wait! Listen to me first. I asked a martial artist for help. He said he'd help us."

Mrs. Shim and Hui-ya were both startled by those words.

"Who is it? Is it someone you know?"

"No. I just met him today for the first time."

Hui-ya sighed.

"Seok-i. Listen to your Noona carefully. You can't just ask anyone for a favor like that. What if that martial artist gets killed by the people from the Wild Beast Sect?"

"No. He looked really scary and strong."

Hui-ya sighed again.

"Then where is he? Why did you come alone?"

"He told me to go on ahead."

"He's not coming. He probably just said that because a little kid like you asked and it was a bother. Hurry up and pack."

She staggered to her feet. Even walking was difficult, but she was determined to put her mother in the cart and leave.

When she opened the door and went outside, she froze in shock.

Gongpae stood in the yard, his face filled with rage.

Hui-ya was so startled she collapsed to the ground.

Gongpae said coldly, "How dare you report me? I was stuck in prison for three days because of you, you bitch."

For the past three days, whenever she thought of Gongpae, all she wanted was to kill him. In her imagination, she had stabbed him with a kitchen knife, beaten him with a hammer, and torn his throat out with her teeth. She had killed him dozens, hundreds of times.

But seeing him again, she was so terrified that her mind went blank. Her whole body trembled, and her thoughts turned to white noise.

Mrs. Shim came out from the room, dragging herself across the floor.

"Hey, I was the one who reported you. If you're going to blame someone, blame me."

Gongpae snorted.

"You should be taking care of your mother who crawls around like an insect. What's with all this reporting?"

Hearing him insult her mother, Hui-ya screamed as if having a seizure.

"Shut up! I said shut up! Who are you! Why you! Why you! Aaaaaaaargh!"

The more scared she was, the louder she screamed.

"Has this bitch gone crazy? You need a beating to come to your senses."

As Gongpae moved to strike her, Seok-i ran out of the room.

"Don't! Don't touch my Noona!"

Seok-i stood protectively in front of Hui-ya.

Hui-ya pulled Seok-i behind her. He resisted, refusing to move, and they both fell backward together.

"What a fucking mess. What's the point of living like this? You'll all die by my hand today. I'll even bury you in one spot."

As if he truly intended to kill them, Gongpae pulled out a throwing knife. The sight of the cold, blue blade made Hui-ya and Seok-i freeze.

"Please spare us, please spare our family!" Hui-ya begged.

Just then, a low voice came from behind them.

"Isn't 'spare me' something you should be hearing from that bastard?"

A startled Gongpae turned to see Geom Mugeuk and the Fist Demon walking in.

Gongpae could tell at a glance that these two were no ordinary martial artists. The moment he saw the Fist Demon looking at him like an insect, every hair on his body stood on end.

Seok-i shouted with joy.

"Sir martial artist! You came! It's him! He's here!"

Mrs. Shim and Hui-ya realized these two were the martial artists Seok-i had mentioned.

Gongpae also noticed that the little brat had brought these men.

"Sirs, I believe there's been some misunderstanding. I am in love with that woman."

At Gongpae's bullshit, Geom Mugeuk made a shushing gesture.

"Your chances to speak in this life are over. You have exactly one word left, and even that isn't your right."

Geom Mugeuk asked Hui-ya, "Young Lady, do you want an apology from that bastard before he dies?"

Before he dies?

Hui-ya stared at Geom Mugeuk with a surprised expression. Geom Mugeuk gave a single nod.

Hui-ya shook her head. Gongpae was someone she didn't even want to exchange words with.

"Even a final piece of bullshit is not permitted."

The moment Gongpae tried to open his mouth, Geom Mugeuk's finger qi bullet sealed his muting and paralyzing points. He truly wasn't given a single chance to speak.

The Fist Demon slowly walked over to Hui-ya.

Guessing what he was about to do, Geom Mugeuk covered Seok-i's eyes.

The Fist Demon stood before Hui-ya. Looking up at the Fist Demon, Hui-ya swallowed hard. She had never seen anyone who looked so terrifying.

"Hold out your fist."

A startled Hui-ya held out a trembling fist. The Fist Demon's large hand enveloped her small one. Holding her hand, he pushed it forward with his own.

Very slowly, the two of them extended a single fist toward Gongpae.

A look of 'What is this?' crossed Gongpae's face.

WHOOOOOSH!

A tremendous, ear-splitting wind roared!

CRACK! CRACKLE! CRACK! CRACKCRACKCRACKCRACK!

Every bone in Gongpae's body shattered and burst. From his toes to his arms and legs, his ribs and spine, his shoulder blades and neck bones, not a single one was left unbroken. All of them were crushed.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

It was an excruciating pain he had never experienced. Since his muting point was sealed, he couldn't scream, which made the pain even greater.

Only after enduring all that pain did his face finally cave in with a THUD, and he collapsed.

All of this was contained in that single move the Fist Demon had made while holding Hui-ya's hand.

But that wasn't the end. As if refusing to allow even the corpse to remain in this house, the Fist Demon flicked his finger, and the body flew into the air.

The Fist Demon's other fist shot toward the sky.

KRRRUMBLE! BOOM!

A sound like thunder roared, as if the heavens themselves were delivering punishment.

KWAKWAKWAKWAKWA!

An immense fist energy swept over the corpse. As if by magic, Gongpae's body vanished without a trace in mid-air.

"Ah!"

None of this felt real to Hui-ya. It was as if she were watching a hallucination.

Just then, the Fist Demon's hand squeezed her fist once more.

In that moment, Hui-ya felt it. The fist enveloping hers was saying this.

Live on with strength from now on.

Hui-ya looked up at the Fist Demon. The Fist Demon looked down at her indifferently.

She was no longer afraid of the Fist Demon's face. He wasn't a demon, but like one of the Heavenly King statues at a temple entrance. He seemed like a guardian deity protecting her from evil spirits.

Seok-i didn't see Gongpae turn to dust, but he could feel it. That Gongpae was dead.

Geom Mugeuk could feel Seok-i's tears running down his palm.

After taking his hand from the boy's eyes, Geom Mugeuk turned Seok-i to face him.

"From now on, just live with the same courage you showed today."

The courage to walk up to the terrifying Fist Demon and ask for help. With courage like that, he would surely be able to live well.

"……"

Seok-i hugged Geom Mugeuk. The child trembled in his arms, and Geom Mugeuk slowly stroked his head.

"Benefactor, please accept my bow."

Hui-ya tried to bow to the Fist Demon, but an unseen force prevented her.

"There's no need for that."

"Please, accept my bow. It's the only thing I can offer you."

"I only granted your brother's request."

With those words, the Fist Demon clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.

Hui-ya looked at Seok-i. Seok-i ran and hugged his Noona.

"Noona."

"Seok-i."

This time, held in his Noona's arms, Seok-i looked at the Fist Demon. Though he felt the child's gaze of admiration, respect, and gratitude, the Fist Demon simply continued to look up at the sky.

Mrs. Shim expressed her gratitude through tears.

"Thank you. I will never forget this kindness, even in death."

Geom Mugeuk said to Mrs. Shim and Hui-ya, "We know this man belongs to a gang. We will take care of everything, so don't worry from now on."

And that wasn't the only good fortune bestowed upon this family.

Perhaps feeling that since he had started showing kindness, he might as well see it through, the Fist Demon approached Mrs. Shim and asked abruptly, "Since when?"

"Pardon?"

"Your leg. Since when has it been hurting?"

"Ah, it's been about a year."

"May I take a look?"

Before the bewildered woman could answer, Hui-ya quickly said, "Yes, please!"

The Fist Demon examined Mrs. Shim's leg.

"It may hurt, but please bear with it."

Before she could say anything.

DUDUK. DDUK. DDUKDUKDUK.

The sound of bones being set echoed. As the long-stiffened bones moved, Mrs. Shim screamed. However, the pain didn't last long. The Fist Demon was more well-versed in human bones and muscles than a horse doctor.

A moment later, astonishing words came from the Fist Demon's mouth.

"If you rest for a while, you should be able to stand up and walk again."

Mrs. Shim was so shocked she couldn't close her mouth, while Hui-ya and Seok-i cheered.

"Thank you, benefactor."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Overcome with emotion, the three of them hugged each other and cried.

Finally, Geom Mugeuk gave Hui-ya an envelope. Inside was enough money for the family to open a small shop and make a living.

Hui-ya, startled, asked in a trembling voice, "Why are you giving this to us?"

"I'm not the one giving it to you. It's money I'll be collecting from that bastard's gang, so take it without feeling burdened."

How could this money, how could Gongpae's death, possibly heal her wounds?

This incident would remain a scar that would torment her for the rest of her life. She would have nightmares, and her distrust of men would be great.

However, this was as much as Geom Mugeuk could do. Please overcome this and live the rest of your life well.

"Why are you bestowing such a great kindness upon us?"

Hui-ya felt as if she were receiving all the blessings she had never received in her life all at once. It was to the point where she wondered if she even deserved it.

Geom Mugeuk looked at the Fist Demon and said, "Because your brother chose that handsome face over there."

After leaving Mrs. Shim's residence, we headed straight for the Wild Beast Sect.

If we didn't clean up the mess completely, Seok-i's family would end up suffering.

Before going, I looked into the Wild Beast Sect and found they had committed every evil deed imaginable. They intimidated, threatened, extorted, beat, and killed the residents. They were truly a mafia that reigned like kings in this region.

While those sons of bitches were just being themselves, the bigger problem was the Murim Alliance Branch that had condoned their actions.

"The fist technique you used earlier was truly magnificent."

In truth, it was a fist technique far too profound to be used on a worthless punk like Gongpae.

Nevertheless, the Fist Demon killed him personally because of Seok-i. Since Seok-i had asked the Fist Demon for help, he had killed the man himself. This way, the boy could live with the pride of having saved his family through his own choice.

However, the scene that moved me even more was when he held Hui-ya's hand and blew the man away. I believe that thanks to the hand the Fist Demon held, the girl will be able to live well, remembering that large, thick hand whenever times get tough.

"I respect you."

"Every time you open your mouth, it's flattery."

"I'm sincere, Master."

I subtly called him Master, but he remained an iron wall.

"It was a good attempt, Second Young Lord."

And so, we arrived at the estate where the Wild Beast Sect lived.

The man guarding the main gate saw the Fist Demon, slammed the gate shut in a panic, and ran inside.

"Emergency! Emergency!"

Hearing the man's shouts, the Fist Demon said self-deprecatingly, "See that? My face alone is enough to cause an emergency."

If it were Seo Daeryong, he would have teased him about this for three days straight, but as long as the Fist Demon is with me, I have no intention of letting him feel intimidated because of his face.

"I did. I saw the look of admiration in that girl's eyes as she looked up at the Fist Demon."

Was it because he felt better after hearing that?

The Fist Demon placed his palm on the main gate. With a KABOOM, the massive gate was torn apart like paper and sent flying.

The Fist Demon stepped inside first. From behind, the Fist Demon's massive back made the large entrance look completely filled.