“Hui-ya. You shouldn't be moving yet.”
Madam Shim held her daughter Hui-ya's hand.
Hui-ya, who was getting dressed, was covered in wounds from head to toe.
The girl had suffered the greatest misfortune of her life.
Three days ago, on her way to work, she had been brutally assaulted.
She was beaten and violated by a man.
“You heard, didn't you, Mother? They say that man was released and is going to kill us all.”
The one who had done the unforgivable to her was a man named Gong Pae, one of the Beast Gang that controlled this area.
He had committed this evil deed not at night, but in the morning.
With her battered body, Hui-ya had gone directly to the local Martial Alliance branch to report him.
But less than three days after Gong Pae was captured, she heard he had been released.
Even while being dragged to the branch, he had publicly shouted that he was framed and that he wouldn't let Hui-ya and her family go once he was out.
And the branch had released such a man.
“We have to go now, Mother.”
Hui-ya staggered to her feet, then sat back down, feeling dizzy.
There wasn't a single part of her body that didn't ache.
“Where do you think you're going in your condition?”
“We have to. He said he's going to kill us.”
Tears welled up in Hui-ya's eyes.
She had never dreamed they would release him so easily.
What were they to do? What in the world were they to do!
Madam Shim hugged her daughter tightly.
“It's all my fault. It's all because of me.”
After losing her husband, she had raised her two children alone.
She had lived a tough life, but a fall a year ago had severely injured her leg.
When she could no longer work, her young son, barely ten years old, started working as a server, and her fifteen-year-old daughter, who helped her mother by working at a cloth shop, took on an additional job washing dishes at a tavern at night.
They were such good children, trying to earn a living and pay for their mother's medicine.
And now, this misfortune had befallen her daughter.
Tears streamed down Madam Shim's face.
She had clenched her teeth, trying not to cry in front of her daughter, but the tears flowed on their own.
Hui-ya clenched her teeth again and stood up.
“Mother, pack your things. I'll get your cart.”
Madam Shim pulled at her hand.
“You go. Take your brother and hide for now.”
“Mother, there's no time for this. You know I won't leave you behind.”
“Where can we go with me? 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? Or should she just consider it a bite from a mad dog and beg for forgiveness if he showed up? She couldn't think of what the right choice was.
‘Someone, please tell me what to do! Please, help me!’
At fifteen, the only one she could cling to was the heavens.
Just then, her younger brother, Seok-i, opened the door and came in.
“Mother! Sister!”
For some reason, Seok-i was flushed.
Seeing her brother, Hui-ya's mind cleared.
She thought it was right to leave to save him.
“Pack your things, Seok-i.”
“Why are we packing?”
“We're leaving. Just pack what's essential.”
“Sister! Wait! Listen to me first. I asked a martial artist for help. He said he would help us.”
At those words, both Madam Shim and Hui-ya were startled.
“Who is he? Do you know him?”
“No. I just met him today.”
Hearing that, Hui-ya sighed.
“Seok-i, listen to your sister carefully. You can't just ask anyone for such a favor. What if that martial artist gets killed by the Beast Gang?”
“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 was bothering him. Hurry up and pack.”
She staggered to her feet.
It was hard to even walk, but she was determined to put her mother in the cart and leave.
When she opened the door and went outside, she was shocked.
Gong Pae was entering the yard, his face full of anger.
Hui-ya was startled and collapsed.
Gong Pae spoke coldly.
“How dare you report me? Because of you, I was stuck in the Thunder Prison for three whole days.”
For the past three days, whenever she thought of Gong Pae, she only felt the urge 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 white.
From the room, Madam Shim came out, dragging herself on her bottom.
“Sir, I was the one who reported you. If you must blame someone, blame me.”
Gong Pae scoffed.
“You should be taking care of your mother who crawls around like a worm, what are you doing reporting people?”
At the insult to her mother, Hui-ya screamed as if having a seizure.
“Shut up! Shut up! Who do you think you are! Why you! Why you! Aaaaaaaah!”
The more scared she was, the louder she screamed.
“Has this bitch gone crazy? You need a beating to come to your senses.”
As Gong Pae moved to strike her, Seok-i rushed out of the room.
“Don't do it! Don't touch my sister!”
Seok-i stood in front of Hui-ya.
Hui-ya pulled Seok-i behind her.
He resisted, not wanting to move, and they both fell backward.
“What a scene, what a scene. What's the point of living like this? You'll all die by my hand today. I'll bury you all in one place.”
As if he really intended to kill them all, the man pulled out a dagger.
At the sight of the gleaming blue blade, both Hui-ya and Seok-i froze.
“Please spare us! Please, just spare our family!”
Just as Hui-ya was begging, a low voice came from behind them.
“Isn't that something we should be hearing from that bastard?”
Startled, Gong Pae turned around to see Geom Mugeuk and the Fist Demon entering.
Gong Pae could tell at a glance that these two were no ordinary martial artists.
The moment he saw the Fist Demon looking at him as if he were an insect, the hairs on his entire body stood on end.
Seok-i shouted with joy.
“Sir! You came! It's that martial artist! He's here!”
Madam Shim and Hui-ya realized these were the two men Seok-i had mentioned.
Gong Pae also figured out that the little brat had brought these martial artists.
“Honorable martial artists, I believe there's been a misunderstanding. I am in love with that woman.”
At Gong Pae's pathetic attempt, Geom Mugeuk made a hushing gesture.
“Your chances to speak in this life are over. You have exactly one word left. And even that is not your right.”
Geom Mugeuk asked Hui-ya.
“Miss, would you like an apology from that man 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.
He was someone she didn't even want to exchange words with.
“Not even the last bit of nonsense is permitted.”
The moment Gong Pae tried to open his mouth to say something.
Geom Mugeuk's finger strike sealed his mute point and paralyzing point.
He truly gave him not a single chance to speak.
The Fist Demon slowly walked towards Hui-ya.
Guessing what he intended to do, Geom Mugeuk covered Seok-i's eyes.
The Fist Demon stood before Hui-ya.
Looking up at him, Hui-ya swallowed hard.
She had never seen anyone so frighteningly-looking in her life.
“Hold out your fist.”
Startled, Hui-ya held out a trembling fist.
The Fist Demon's large hand enveloped her small one.
Then, he held her hand and extended it forward with his own.
Very slowly, the two of them extended a single fist towards Gong Pae.
The moment a look of ‘What is this?’ crossed Gong Pae's face.
Whoooooosh!
With a deafening roar of wind that tore at the ears!
Papapapak! Pak! Pakpakpak! Papapapapapak!
The bones all over Gong Pae's body shattered and exploded.
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 or uncrushed.
‘Aaaaaaaah!’
It was a pain so excruciating he had never experienced in his life.
Since his mute point was sealed and he couldn't scream, the pain was even greater.
Only after he had experienced all that pain did his face finally cave in with a crack, 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 not allowing his corpse to remain in this house, the Fist Demon flicked his hand, and the body flew into the air.
The Fist Demon's other fist shot towards the sky.
Kwarreureung! Kwang!
A sound like thunder erupted as if the heavens themselves were delivering punishment.
Kwakwakwakwakwa!
A tremendous fist's force swept over his corpse.
Like a lie, Gong Pae’s body vanished in midair without a trace.
“Ah!”
Hui-ya couldn't believe any of this was real.
It felt as if she were watching an illusion.
Then, the Fist Demon's hand squeezed her fist once more.
In that moment, Hui-ya felt it.
The fist wrapped around hers seemed to say.
Live on with strength from now on.
Hui-ya looked up at the Fist Demon.
He was looking down at her indifferently.
She was no longer afraid of the Fist Demon's face.
He wasn't an evil spirit, but like one of the Four Heavenly Kings statues standing at the entrance of a temple.
A guardian deity protecting her from evil spirits.
Seok-i didn't see Gong Pae turn to dust and disappear.
But he could feel it.
He knew Gong Pae was dead.
He could feel his tears flowing onto Geom Mugeuk's palm.
After Geom Mugeuk removed his hand from his eyes, he turned Seok-i towards him.
“From now on, live with the same courage you showed today.”
The courage to walk up to that frightening Fist Demon and ask for help.
With courage like that, he would surely be able to live well.
“Yes.”
Seok-i hugged Geom Mugeuk.
The child was trembling 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 from bowing.
“There's no need for that.”
“Please, accept my bow. It is all 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 sister.
“Sister.”
“Seok-i.”
This time, nestled in his sister's arms, Seok-i looked at the Fist Demon.
He felt the child's gaze of admiration, respect, and gratitude, but the Fist Demon simply continued to look up at the sky with his hands behind his back.
Madam Shim expressed her gratitude through tears.
“Thank you, I will not forget this kindness even in death.”
Geom Mugeuk spoke to Madam Shim and Hui-ya.
“We know this man belongs to a gang. We will take care of everything, so do not worry from now on.”
And that was not the only piece of luck given to this family.
Perhaps feeling that since he had started to show kindness, he might as well see it through, the Fist Demon approached Madam Shim and asked abruptly.
“Since when?”
“Pardon?”
“Your leg, I mean. Since when has it been hurting?”
“Ah, it's been about a year.”
“May I take a look?”
Before the bewildered woman could respond, Hui-ya quickly said.
“Please, I beg you!”
The Fist Demon examined Madam Shim's leg.
“It might hurt, but please bear with it.”
Before she could say anything.
Duduk.
Ttuk.
Dududuk.
The sound of bones being set could be heard.
As the long-stiffened bones moved, Madam Shim screamed.
But the pain was not long.
The Fist Demon's understanding of human bones and muscles was more profound than that of a Demon Doctor.
A moment later, astonishing words came from the Fist Demon's mouth.
“If you rest for a while, you should be able to get up and walk again.”
Madam Shim was so surprised she couldn't close her mouth, while Hui-ya and Seok-i cheered.
“Thank you, Benefactor.”
“Thank you. Thank you.”
The three of them hugged each other and cried in gratitude.
On top of that, Geom Mugeuk gave Hui-ya an envelope.
Inside was enough money to open a small shop and for the family of three to live on.
Hui-ya was startled and asked with a trembling voice.
“Why are you giving this to us?”
“I am not the one giving it. It is money to be collected from that bastard's gang, so take it without any burden.”
How could this money, how could Gong Pae's death, heal her wounds?
This incident would haunt her as a scar for the rest of her life.
She would have nightmares, and her distrust of men would grow.
But this was all Geom Mugeuk could do for her.
Please overcome it well and live the rest of your life happily.
“Why are you bestowing such a great kindness upon us?”
Hui-ya felt as if she was receiving all the blessings she had never received in her life all at once.
It was to the point she wondered if it was okay.
Geom Mugeuk looked at the Fist Demon and said.
“It's because your brother chose the handsome face over there.”
*
After leaving Madam Shim's residence, we headed straight for the Beast Gang.
If we didn't handle the aftermath cleanly, Seok-i's family would eventually suffer.
Before going, I looked into the Beast Gang and found they were scum who had committed every evil deed imaginable.
Intimidating and threatening residents, stealing their money, beating and killing them.
They were truly dark factions who reigned like kings in this region.
These dogs were what they were, but the bigger problem was the Martial Alliance branch that had condoned it.
“The Fist Technique you used earlier was truly magnificent.”
In truth, it was too sublime a fist to be used on a worthless creature like Gong Pae.
Nevertheless, the reason the Fist Demon killed him personally was because of Seok-i.
Since Seok-i had asked the Fist Demon for help, he had killed him himself.
So that the boy could live with the pride of having saved his family with his own choice.
But the scene that moved me 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 live well.
In difficult times, she will remember that large, thick hand.
“I respect you.”
“Every time you open your mouth, it's flattery.”
“I am sincere, Master.”
I subtly called him Master, but he remained a solid wall.
“It was a good try, Second Young Master.”
We arrived at the estate where the Beast Gang lived.
The man guarding the gate saw the Fist Demon's face, turned pale, slammed the gate shut, and ran inside.
“Emergency! Emergency!”
Hearing his shouts, the Fist Demon spoke self-deprecatingly.
“See that? My face alone is enough to sound an alarm.”
If it had been Seo Daeryong, he would have teased him about this for three days, but as long as the Fist Demon was with me, I was determined not to let him feel disheartened because of his face.
“I saw. I also saw the look of adoration in that girl’s eyes as she looked up at you, Fist Demon.”
Was it because he was pleased by those words?
The Fist Demon placed his palm on the gate, and with a loud crash, the massive gate tore apart like paper and flew away.
The Fist Demon entered first.
From behind, his huge back seemed to fill the entire large entrance.