Chapter 1476
The plan seemed sound. (1)
Paaat!
Several shadows dashed through the morning twilight towards the rising sun.
“Hey! Stay back from me!”
Kiiiiiiiiiiiii!
“Get off! You’re heavy! It’s hard for me too!”
Kiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Jo Geol’s face contorted angrily as Baek Ah desperately clung to his arm.
Where did he learn the skill of expressing “Even if I die now, I can’t run with my own feet” so vividly on his face? Even for a spiritual beast, that’s something.
“Sahyeong! Don’t just look at me like that, help me get this guy off.”
“…Just endure it a bit, Geol.”
“No…”
“To be honest, if you were in his shoes, wouldn’t you not want to run again? He’s already run to Hainan twice, and it’s not a horse, it’s a weasel.”
“Indeed, that’s true.”
“It’s quite pitiful.”
At those words, Jo Geol glanced at Baek Ah again. Seeing the large teardrops rolling down his black eyes, he couldn’t help but feel like a villain for wanting to pry him off.
“Well, I know, but… I didn’t ask him to do this, did I? Why is he clinging to me? He should stick to Chung Myung.”
“It’s hot.”
“…”
“Baek Ah knows where to stretch his legs. He probably figured he’d become a real scarf if he stuck to someone even warmer.”
Jo Geol shook his head in resignation.
“Better to die than to suffer like this.”
Exhaling deeply, Jo Geol looked towards the direction where the sun was rising.
“So, how far are we going? We entered Henan quite a while ago.”
“How should I know? He’ll decide.”
Chung Myung was still leading the way, with Baek Cheon beside him.
“Huff.”
Baek Cheon took a short breath after leaping over a small stream.
“Why, out of breath?”
Chung Myung’s voice sounded nonchalant from beside him. Baek Cheon glanced at Chung Myung and furrowed his brow.
“Are you trying to make another joke?”
“No, it’s just you don’t seem to be running all that fast, but you’re acting out of breath. Are you hurting somewhere?”
“Like a cat worrying about a mouse. Mind your own business.”
“Ay, ay, if you put it that way, I’ll just worry about myself.”
Baek Cheon gritted his teeth at the sly reply.
“How far are we going?”
“Huh?”
“We’ve already entered Henan, haven’t we? I’m asking about our destination.”
“Well…”
Chung Myung shrugged without giving a clear answer.
“We’ll have to figure it out from here.”
“Huh?”
“I have a general idea, but it’s not precise yet.”
It was a somewhat cryptic response, but Baek Cheon understood what Chung Myung meant. Not because he was wise, but because he had grown accustomed to Chung Myung’s cryptic way of speaking.
“Running like this, do you expect the destination to reveal itself?”
“It seems your condition hasn’t deteriorated. Looks like I won’t need to check your pulse.”
“…”
He didn’t fully understand. But at least he grasped that this current sprint wasn’t entirely pointless.
“Hwaeum, will it be alright? You left without a proper word.”
Of course, it wasn’t like Chung Myung didn’t say anything. He did.
He informed the Sect Leader that he would be going to Henan, leaving Un Am dazed and speechless as he fled like a fugitive.
Chung Myung, understanding the concern written on Baek Cheon’s face, smirked.
“You nagged me to put it down, but now that I’ve actually left the work, you’re the one worrying. What tune are you asking me to dance to?”
“That’s not the point, damn it!”
“Don’t worry about it. Everyone’s trained for this level of concern.”
Baek Cheon’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Certainly, that statement was true. Unless suddenly faced with Sapaeryeon’s invasion, Hwaeum wouldn’t encounter any issues.
There might be minor problems aplenty, but within Hwaeum, there were Tang Gunak and Im Sobyeong, Hyun Jong and Hwang Jong-ui.
Turning Hwaeum into a city wasn’t an easy task. However, Baek Cheon didn’t entertain worries that, gathered together, these people couldn’t handle a single task.
“Training…”
It’s different from mere confidence in their abilities. It’s trust born from the experiences they’ve endured. They’ve truly overcome numerous trials and tribulations.
“In hindsight, we’ve endured quite tenaciously.”
“Indeed.”
Baek Cheon nodded. Rather than elaborate explanations, the word “training” alone was enough to convey understanding.
But there’s one thing that bothered him.
“…They’ve trained and became stronger. So, can we entrust them with tasks without worry?”
“Well, something like that.”
“What about those who haven’t?”
Baek Cheon asked. Chung Myung didn’t answer immediately, glancing at him subtly. Baek Cheon quickened his pace as if he wasn’t asking anything too serious.
Chung Myung shrugged.
“Well, I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.”
“…That’s a typical answer from you.”
“Is that an insult, Sasuk?”
Baek Cheon chuckled bitterly.
“So, what happens if we just keep running?”
“Wow, you’re suddenly changing your tune after badmouthing me? Dongryong has become quite smooth. I guess it’s time for you to settle down.”
“Quit the nonsense and just answer. What are you aiming for?”
“It’s simple. Let’s think about it in reverse.”
“In reverse?”
“Yeah, in reverse. As you know, we’ve become quite famous now, haven’t we?”
“…”
“Even that puny little Sahyeong is getting a title, so it’s only a matter of time before others get titles too, right? Like Sasuk… What was it? Hwasan Byeonggeom[화산병검*]?”
“It’s Jonggeom, you idiot!”
“Yeah, that. Anyway, even those weird titles will gradually change. That’s usually how it goes.”
Baek Cheon breathed heavily, his face distorted as he asked.
“What does that have to do with this?”
“I told you, let’s think about it the other way around.”
Chung Myung chuckled.
“Getting famous means attracting attention, having more people recognize you. It means more people paying attention to every move you make.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“So, what if we do it the other way around?”
Chung Myung nodded forward. In the direction he indicated stood a massive fortress wall.
“Luoyang?”
Luoyang, the huge city located in Henan. Its fortress wall welcomed Baek Cheon with the morning sunlight.
“We’re not the ones making the moves.”
Chung Myung grinned.
“They’re the ones making it happen.”
With a gleam in his eyes, he surged forward towards Luoyang’s massive gate.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Hmm.”
Wonpyeong [원평(元平)], who had recently been appointed as a Buntaju to Luoyang, sighed discontentedly. The sunlight piercing through the thatched roof stung his eyes.
“Tsk.”
It was a lazy, uneventful day, a dreamlike scenario that nobody, except perhaps a beggar, would not wish for. But for Wonpyeong, it was all dissatisfying.
“Damn it, why am I here…”
His mission was simple. Examining the dynamics of Hwaeum here from Luoyang, not far from Hwaeum. More precisely, it was to observe the activities of Cheonumaeng residing in Hwaeum.
It was an unfulfilling assignment. Others of similar rank were all gearing up to fight the Evil Sects. Yet here he was, assigned not to the front lines but to monitor Cheonumaeng.
It may be necessary, but it’s not enjoyable. And to call it just would be far from the truth. No matter how much effort you put in, it’s a task that’s hard to boast about. Who could find joy in such a mission?
“Damn it. Even the headquarters folks seem to have lost their minds.”
He let out a deep sigh.
Somewhere along the line, he began to feel that the Beggars Sect wasn’t quite as it used to be. If it were the same Beggars Sect he knew, they wouldn’t be half-assing it in situations like this, where Sapaeryeon was running rampant.
“…What the hell are the elders thinking?”
Grumbling incessantly, he heaved his heavy body up. Since he couldn’t drink from morning, he thought about stopping by a nearby kitchen to get some leftover food. But then.
“B-Buntaju! Buntaju!”
The door of the makeshift hut swung open with a creak. The hastily reattached latch snapped off, and the worn-out door fell to the ground.
“Hey, how…! How will you fix that!”
“Now’s not the time, Buntaju! It’s serious!”
Wonpyeong, about to vent his frustration, paused as the beggar burst in and met his gaze. The beggar’s expression was truly urgent.
“What is it? Has Cheonumaeng made a move?”
“T-that’s right, Cheonumaeng! No, not Cheonumaeng! That Cheonumaeng…!”
“What are you saying? Can’t you speak clearly?”
“Cheonumaeng’s Five Swords!”
“Huh? What are you talking about? The Five Swords?”
“Cheonumaeng’s Five Swords have arrived in Luoyang right now!”
Wonpyeong’s eyes widened to the point of almost tearing.
“The Five Swords? Hwasan’s Five Swords, you mean?”
“Yes! Hye Yeon of Shaolin is with them too!”
“Why did those bastards come here of all places? They were clearly in Shaanxi until yesterday!”
“I don’t know either! They just entered the gates of Luoyang a little while ago!”
Wonpyeong’s face turned as pale as the messenger’s.
“An attack?”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Why would Five Swords attack us?”
“Y-yeah, you’re right.”
Even though the relationship between Gupailbang and Cheonumaeng had turned into thin ice, Cheonumaeng wouldn’t attack Gupailbang.
Then why did they suddenly reveal themselves in Luoyang?
“Wait! Among those Five Swords, is there by any chance… Hwasan Geomhyeop?”
“Yes! Hwasan Geomhyeop is here too!”
“Hiiiiiiii!”
Wonpyeong’s eyes shook as if experiencing an earthquake.
Reports about Hwasan Geomhyeop Chung Myung’s movements were treated as top priority throughout the Beggars Sect, along with the movements of Sapaeryeon’s Jang Ilso. The importance of it was such that even the fact that Hwasan Geomhyeop sneezed twice today had to be classified as top priority.
“Report to the headquarters immediately! Right now!”
“W-what should I report?”
“Damn it, report everything you know! Send a message right away!”
“Yes, yes!”
“Send reports not only to the headquarters but also to nearby branches! They might pass through here, so deploy all the beggars and keep an eye on them!”
“Yes!”
The beggar who received the order hurriedly dashed out. Wonpyeong watched his retreating figure for a moment before turning on his heel.
‘I never thought we’d have to use it so soon.’
He hastily scribbled on a piece of paper lying haphazardly on the dirty desk. Then, he moved a cloth hanging nearby. A cage was revealed.
Squeak.
A small bird chirped, tilting its head like a sparrow. It was similar in size and appearance to a sparrow, but its feathers gleamed golden. Just by looking at it, one could tell it was no ordinary bird.
The beggar placed the rolled-up paper into a pouch tied to the bird’s leg. It was a top-secret messenger bird received in preparation for any unforeseen events involving Hwasan Geomhyeop Chung Myung. He didn’t even know where this report was going.
“Alright.”
Wonpyeong sealed the pouch tightly and opened the window. The golden bird, after a brief glance at the blue sky, fluttered its wings and flew off.
❀ ❀ ❀
“Wow…”
“Why are they flying so frantically? Did they see a hawk or something?”
“…That’s a messenger bird, you idiot. Not just any pigeon.”
“I know that, idiot. What I mean is, why are these damn messenger birds suddenly flying around like crazy?”
“True.”
As they nervously watched pigeons soaring in from all directions upon entering Luoyang, the Five Swords exchanged strange smiles.
They had expected some level of vigilance, but had they gone too far? It felt oddly satisfying yet strangely dirty.
“But why did we stop?”
“How should I know? That bastard suddenly stopped, so did I.”
The gazes of Yoon Jong and Jo Geol turned towards Chung Myung. He stood still in the middle of the road, chin resting on his hand, carefully observing the flying birds.
“Hmm. Not that one, not that one either…”
“What are you looking for?”
“Not any of these.”
“Hey! What are you looking for!”
“Well, I’m not exactly looking for something specific.”
“Huh?”
Chung Myung chuckled as he watched the messenger birds filling the sky above Luoyang.
“Don’t you think there might be something? Among all these messenger birds, there must be one that stands out, something remarkable, similar yet different? A remarkable messenger bird that gives off a unique vibe?”
“Chung Myung. Let’s check your pulse when we get back.”
“Mm. There must be one, I’m sure of it.”
“All messenger birds are the same, idiot! Stop wasting… Wait! Chung Myung! Look over there!”
With wide eyes, Baek Cheon urgently pointed to one side of the sky.
“Isn’t that what you’re talking about? That golden one!”
“Oh?”
Chung Myung looked where Baek Cheon was pointing and exclaimed in amazement.
“Wow! Even Dongryong has its uses!”
“Even dung has its use when it comes to medicine! No, that’s not important! Should we follow it?”
“Just say the word and I’ll go!”
Chung Myung grinned as he watched the golden bird flying farther away.
“It doesn’t seem to be that far, maybe a bit higher in rank? Shall we call it the Ten Thousand Li Golden Dove [만리금구(萬里金鳩)]?”
“But it looks more like a sparrow than a dove?”
“…Let’s just go with it, roughly.”
Chung Myung gave Baek Cheon a mischievous smile and pointed to the soaring sparrow.
“Let’s go. Let’s find out who owns that rare-looking bird!”
Chung Myung firmly planted his feet on the ground and kicked it hard.
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