Chapter 81

81. The Size of a Moonfish

A faint smile appeared on the lips of Jang Ji-an, the fake Hong Gildong, who had confirmed Jin Hyuk's true identity.

It was a strange smile filled with the ecstasy of a madman who had finally met the person he was looking for.

"Finally, you've come."

Ji-an had left many traces in his search for the real Hong Gildong.

"Indeed."

Jin Hyuk twisted the corners of his mouth.

"Did you do this on purpose? To meet me?"

"You... first..."

Ji-an smiled, revealing his white teeth.

"I need to confirm if your words are true."

As soon as he finished speaking,

Shh—!

Ji-an's sword, like lightning, stabbed towards Jin Hyuk's heart.

Clang!

Hong Gildong's quick sword deflected the lightning, and in that moment, it sliced towards Ji-an.

Clang!

Ji-an also countered with his sword.

And, against the backdrop of the moonlight, a mesmerizing one-on-one sword duel unfolded in a spectacular display.

Swish! Swish!

Clang! Clang!

Whoosh!

As Jin Hyuk's sword stabbed,

Swish!

Ji-an arched his body backward acrobatically to dodge,

Swish!

Then, he turned his arched body sideways and delivered a sharp slash downwards,

Swish—

Jin Hyuk leaped like a bird, drawing a beautiful curve as he turned backward.

Thud.

Jin Hyuk landed softly a few steps away, naturally creating some distance between them.

"Quite impressive."

Jin Hyuk said to Ji-an. At that moment,

Swoosh.

Ji-an sheathed his sword.

"Since I've confirmed who you are, let me make you an offer."

"..."

"Join me."

Hong Gildong Jin Hyuk stared at Ji-an without a word.

"Your righteous spirit to punish corrupt officials and realize justice is commendable."

Ji-an spoke in a low voice, but with a resolve that was no different from a roar in the mountains.

"However, truly realizing justice is impossible with your weakness. Join me and add your strength. I will help you achieve the world you wish to create."

Jin Hyuk chuckled.

"The world you wish to create? What is it?"

"A just world."

Ji-an, whose eyes glowed with determination, answered Jin Hyuk's question immediately.

"A world where there is no distinction of status, where everyone works fairly and shares fairly."

"..."

"I am a sword for a just world. Unlike you, my sword has no hesitation."

"..."

"Join me. You."

Seeing Jin Hyuk, who did not respond, Ji-an curled the corners of his mouth.

"Yes. I'll give you time to think. When I hear your answer, we'll meet again."

Ji-an put on the mask in his chest.

"I hope you make the right decision. You."

Ji-an and the masked men turned and walked away together. As their figures slowly faded into the distance,

Whirr—

A nimble figure, like a night cat, leaped onto the roof. It was Kang Hee Seo Yeon.

"Boss, should we chase them?"

"No."

Jin Hyuk's expression was grim.

"It's dangerous."

"What?"

"They are dangerous if you chase them."

Seo Yeon, who was about to rush out, straightened up at Jin Hyuk's serious expression.

***

"What? Is that true?"

"Yes."

The face of the head of the Office of Censorship, Pan Eunbu-sa, became serious.

The Hong Gildong gang, who raided the homes of yangban (nobles) and government offices, were already considered traitors.

However, strangely enough, despite the fear even the government troops had of Hong Gildong's unpredictable martial arts and the considerable size of his gang,

not a single person had lost their life until now.

As if it were intentional, they inflicted injuries but did not kill. That was the Hong Gildong until now.

But.

This is the third time. It is now clear that it is no longer a coincidence. The Hong Gildong gang and the rebels no longer hesitate to kill.

Especially, the families of the yangban, who were the targets of the raids, were showing a cruel behavior, killing men, women, and children without discrimination.

"This time, they even slaughtered a baby."

"Yes."

The secretary, Kim Jong-mu, who was reporting, clenched his teeth.

"Ah... Could it be a different gang? It's so different from before."

"..."

"Such a possibility is also being investigated. However, even if it is... "

"..."

"Whichever it is, they are unforgivable traitors, are they not?"

Pan Eunbu-sa nodded.

"Whether it's Hong Gildong or someone claiming to be Hong Gildong, the problem is Hong Gildong. Issue a nationwide proclamation and do your utmost to suppress the rebel gang."

"Yes! I will follow your orders."

Now it's not 'arrest,' but 'suppression.'

Kim Jong-mu, who heard the order, had a determined look in his eyes.

'You bastards. I will catch you and tear you to pieces.'

Kim Jong-mu gritted his teeth.

A nationwide dragnet to track down Hong Gildong and the Halbin Party members began to tighten.

Meanwhile, at the Halbin Party headquarters led by Hong Gildong Jin Hyuk.

"Shouldn't we step in and stop them now, boss?"

"..."

"Those bastards, if they keep causing chaos like this, we'll be in danger too. Besides, look at what they're doing in the name of the Halbin Party."

Hong Gildong couldn't have been unaware of this fact. But,

"We can't guarantee that we can defeat them now."

Given the scale of their operations, the rebels' strength was formidable. However, their base and the true nature of their power were still unknown.

Moreover, Jin Hyuk had already clashed swords with them. Jin Hyuk knew for sure that in his current state, he couldn't guarantee that he could subdue the fake Hong Gildong.

"A, boss!"

The second-in-command, Jang Buli, started to say something but stopped. He rolled the words around in his mouth and swallowed them.

"Boss! They are monsters. They killed all the babies in the yangban families they raided. Think about it."

Buli rolled his eyes,

"Ah!"

When he turned his head in frustration to the opposite side of Hong Gildong.

"Boss! Boss!"

A man rushed in, pale and with an urgent voice.

"Boss, you need to come out."

Seeing the urgent man, Hong Gildong and the Halbin Party leadership all stood up and ran out of the mountain hideout.

"Oh no. What should we do?"

"Ugh!"

Among the gathered people, a man lay on the ground, covered in blood. Lady Yeonju was examining him.

"What happened?"

Hong Gildong rushed over and checked the young man who had fallen.

"Geumbong. What happened?"

"Boss... Boss..."

He was part of the group that had delivered food to the mountain hideout where only an old man, a woman, and children were present.

"What happened? What about the others?!"

"I'm sorry... Boss... They're all dead... Huh! Huh..."

"Dead?"

Tears and snot mixed on Geumbong's blood-covered face.

"Those... those bastards... I saw them... They were wearing masks... They clearly had the Halbin Party flag."

"What?"

"They said... Surrender and join them, and they would spare our lives..."

With the government tightening the dragnet, the fake Halbin Party's actions were taking a different direction.

Their brutal actions were spreading fear and terror, a thorough calculation to absorb those who were dissatisfied with the yangban and to plan a major uprising.

Whether it was out of agreement with their beliefs or fear of their brutality, it didn't matter.

The result was the same: submission under their rule.

And this included finding hidden mountain hideouts and forcing them to join.

For those who refused, the only option was death.

It just so happened that the Halbin Party men were delivering food to the mountain hideout when the fake Halbin Party attacked.

They mistook the Halbin Party men for the owners of the hideout, and the battle with the Halbin Party members, who could not submit to Ji-an's gang, was inevitable.

Geumbong's eyes were losing focus. He muttered as if talking to himself.

"Stupid bastards... Did they think we would leave our boss and join them...?"

"..."

"Leave our boss and join them..."

Geumbong stopped speaking.

"Geumbong!"

"Geumbong!"

Kang Hee Seo Yeon, who was next to Geumbong, shook his body. But Geumbong showed no response.

Seo Yeon, with a dazed look, stared at Geumbong and then suddenly hugged his body.

"Hey. Hey. Open your eyes. Damn it. Can't you hear me, sister? Hey, you bastard. Did I tell you not to play around with my sister, or didn't I?"

Tears began to well up in Seo Yeon's eyes.

"Hey, Geumbong, you bastard. Don't play around. Hey! Don't play around—! Ugh!"

Tears streamed down Seo Yeon's cheeks as she hugged Geumbong. People turned their heads, unable to bear the sight.

Swoosh.

Seo Yeon wiped away her tears.

"I'll kill them all. I'll kill them all."

Seo Yeon stood up and headed towards the stable. Jin Hyuk blocked her path.

"..."

"Move. Boss."

Jin Hyuk just looked at Seo Yeon without a word.

"Move! Move!"

A punch swung towards Jin Hyuk. Jin Hyuk grabbed Seo Yeon's wrist.

"Ah, why! Why are you stopping me! Why are you stopping me!"

Jin Hyuk pulled Seo Yeon into a hug and whispered softly.

"I'll do it. The revenge."

Seo Yeon burst into tears at Jin Hyuk's words.

"Ugh—"

Seo Yeon cried endlessly in Jin Hyuk's arms.

"..."

Do Min-woo's gaze, which had been fixed on the two, shifted from the TV screen to reality.

When the whole family watched the first episode, but it couldn't be like that every day.

Today, only friends gathered in the second-floor living room to watch TV.

'Why.'

Jin Hyuk, who met Do Min-woo's gaze, asked with his expression. Do Min-woo didn't answer and shifted his gaze to Seo Yeon.

Seo Yeon, embarrassed, hid her face behind the sofa cushion.

Do Min-woo's gaze returned to Jin Hyuk. Min-young and Young-jun's gazes also turned to Jin Hyuk.

"It's acting."

Jin Hyuk preempted, as if his friends couldn't distinguish between drama and reality.

Everyone still looked confused, alternating their gazes between the two.

Only Se-ryun, who was also an actor, kept her gaze on the TV screen, munching on snacks.

"Boss, everything is ready."

At the subordinate's words, Ji-an said with an emotionless gaze.

"Burn it."

The mountain hideout, where Hong Gildong had fought the sword duel, began to burn. Ji-an, mounted on his horse,

The flames of the burning mountain hideout reflected in his eyes, and the madness in his eyes burned red.

As the madness burned in his eyes and turned into a smile on his lips,

The screen turned black and white.

Thud. Thud. The grand OST began to flow.

"Is it already over? Ah!"

As the OST signaling the end began, Do Min-woo clutched his head.

"Next episode! Hey, Jin Hyuk! Give us the next episode!"

Everyone seemed to share Min-woo's sentiment, writhing in agony.

Se-ryun, who hadn't taken her eyes off the screen, also turned her gaze to Jin Hyuk and Seo Yeon.

"@$#%"

Se-ryun mumbled something incomprehensible. Everyone's gaze turned to her.

Jin Hyuk, not understanding, made a puzzled expression,

Swallow.

Se-ryun swallowed the snack in her mouth and slowly spoke. What Se-ryun wanted to say was...

"Next episode..."

Everyone burst into laughter at Se-ryun's blinking eyes.

"Ha!"

"Wow. Se-ryun. You're so cute!"

Kim Min-young hugged Se-ryun tightly.

"Wow. This drama is really top-notch."

Do Min-woo shook his head.

"From what I see, this will surpass 50% in the later episodes. Really."

***

"Thirty-five point five?!"

KBC's Director Lee Sang-soo, who received the viewing rate for the second episode of "Hong Gildong," couldn't help but shout.

35.5%

In just one episode, the viewing rate had risen by 7%. How shocking was the first episode?

KBC's CP (Chief Producer) Kim Young-soo, the head of the production team, shook his head.

The second episode, where the two geniuses began to clash, was already generating a flood of articles and topics from the moment it aired.

"I don't know if it will surpass 50%."

A few dramas in the 2000s had surpassed 50% in viewing rate, mostly grand historical dramas.

But those historical dramas were all long series, spanning dozens of episodes.

If "Hong Gildong" (2012) surpasses 50%, it will not only be the first drama to do so in the 2010s, but it will also set a record in the history of 16-episode mini-series.

"Well... Hoping for 50% is a bit greedy. Still, it's an incredible start. Ha ha."

The director smiled wryly.

"I feel like it's time for me to retire."

The head of the production team, who had never shaken off his anxiety about casting Woo Jin-hyuk, said.

Of course, it was the CP's job to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

But the current situation was far beyond what he had imagined as the best-case scenario.

This was why Kim was so disappointed in his own judgment.

"Mr. Kim, why are you saying such things? How can we always predict the results?"

The director comforted the head of the production team.

"That's something only a World Cup octopus can do."

"Ha! An octopus?"

The head of the production team burst into laughter at the mention of an octopus. The two laughed together for a while.

The director said,

"Anyway, let's enjoy this! This is the first time we've tasted the thrill of a moonfish! Let's keep pulling to see how big it is! Ha ha!"

The director burst into a joyful laugh.

The two, who had yet to fully gauge the size of the moonfish emerging from the water, were still in the early stages.