Chapter 1479
The plan seemed sound. (4)
“Please spare a penny!”
“Oh, my lord, you’re so kind. If you bestow blessings, the child will receive blessings in return.”
“If you offer just one dumpling, a hungry beggar child can be happy for two days. Would you not share the happiness of the privileged with the hungry beggar children?”
On the main street inside the large walls of Kaifeng.
Dozens of beggars were begging with lowered heads. But the passersby in Kaifeng seemed quite accustomed to the sight, hardly giving the beggars a second glance.
And in one corner of the high city wall.
“…There are more beggars than real people here.”
“That’s right.”
As Five Sword scanned the interior of Kaifeng with their bodies lowered, a disappointed voice escaped their lips. There was no exaggeration or joking in this tone. There seemed to be more beggars than people walking the streets. It wasn’t just on the main street either. Every narrow alley was packed with beggars lying down.
“…At this rate, shouldn’t the beggars be the ones feeding the people? Can all those beggars really survive on begging alone in this neighborhood?”
“I doubt it.”
Chung Myung’s voice, cutting through their murmurs, pierced their ears sharply.
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“Huh?”
“I told you. Those beggars might actually be the richest people in the world. They could eat as much as they want if they go to the headquarters, right?”
Yoon Jong asked, as if he couldn’t understand.
“Why are they out on the streets begging, even if they’re rich?”
“I know, right? Those guys have been like that since ancient times.”
“So why…”
“Amitabha.”
At that moment, Hye Yeon interjected with a short sigh, as if he knew the answer.
“According to the monks, begging is something that must be done by the disciples of the Beggars Sect regardless of their wealth.”
“What? Even if they have money, they beg? Why?”
“Because it’s the lowest position.”
“…Huh?”
“I haven’t heard much details, I heard that everyone begs to uphold the principle of helping those who are struggling while looking at the world from the lowest position.”
Hye Yeon explained.
“…I understand what you’re saying but…”
Yoon Jong laughed, seemingly perplexed.
“It’s strange. If you have money, you’re not a beggar anymore, but you beg to live as a beggar.”
“Why is that strange, Sahyeong?”
“Huh? Don’t you find it strange?”
“Of course not. This guy is a weirdo too.”
At that moment, everyone’s gaze turned towards Chung Myung.
“What? Why me?”
Eventually, everyone nodded in agreement.
“That could be possible.”
“Yeah, there must have been some reason.”
“Frankly, are there any conditions for being a beggar? There are people who walk around calling themselves Taoist while breaking people’s heads.”
Yoon Jong suddenly thought. Perhaps Chung Myung’s presence might loosen the strict standards of the world, even if only slightly.
Of course, he had to quickly dismiss such useless thoughts.
There was still a big problem at hand. He gazed at Kaifeng with a somewhat tired expression.
“Right now, that’s not the issue… How are we going to get in there?”
“Well, we’ll somehow figure it out, won’t we?”
“We’ll figure it out?”
Yoon Jong rarely shed tears. His eyes were full of disdain.
“Hey, this lunatic. How can this situation be resolved with the word ‘somehow’? The city is overcrowded with beggars! It would be easier to commit a crime avoiding the gaze of Taishang Laojun.”
“Sahyeong. Perhaps that wasn’t an easy task from the beginning? Is that bastard still kicking?”
“Huh…?”
Confusion swept across Yoon Jong’s face. Just before he plunged into serious Taoist contemplation, Baek Cheon quickly spoke up.
“We must devise a plan. It’s impossible with a careless attitude.”
“Indeed, Sasuk.”
“Agreed.”
Tang Soso and Yu Iseol nodded sympathetically. It was entirely impossible to avoid the surveillance of beggars swarming in all directions. Moreover, if the place they were trying to enter was a place that the beggars tried to conceal, wouldn’t the surveillance become even more intense as they approached?
At that moment, Jo Geol raised Baek Ah and gestured towards Kaifeng.
“Hey, do you know where that bird went from here?”
Baek Ah twitched his black nose and shook his small head. It seemed impossible to pinpoint the source of the smell from this distance, even for a spiritual beast.
“Nope. Can’t do it. Useless, subtly useless… Ouch! Hey, stop pulling my hair! I told you not to do that! I’m really sensitive about it… Monk, I apologize. It was a slip of the tongue. Can you please lower your fist for now? We shouldn’t get caught because of your golden light…”
Hye Yeon quietly lowered the fist he had raised.
“I’ll say it again, I’m not bald, I’m shaved.”
“Isn’t the result the same?”
“No, it’s different!”
In the end, Hye Yeon lost his temper. Baek Cheon sighed heavily as he watched the two bicker. They seemed to have the leisure to joke around even in such a situation. If it were just Jo Geol, that would be one thing, but even that monk Hye Yeon…
“Hey, Chung Myung. Is there any way?”
“Haha, Sasuk. It’s nothing complicated you’re asking.”
“Oh? As expected…”
“Nope.”
…Baek Cheon fought with the urge to smack that indifferent face. It was anger he hadn’t felt in a long time. Come to think of it, he used to feel it quite often…
“But there’s no need to think about it so hard. After all, we just need to infiltrate, right? Once we find a way, that’s it!”
“Hmm.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Not because they understood, but simply because they knew there was no changing the situation.
“How about infiltrating at night? Then the surveillance would likely decrease.”
“Beggars are more alert at night. Besides, important and secretive information usually comes out at night. Don’t you know that?”
“Mm.”
Tang Soso was at a loss for words in response to Chung Myung’s rebuttal.
“Then what about getting help from nearby merchants? It might be difficult to notice if we hide among the piles of goods.”
“Haha! Because of the information leaked from Four Seas, merchants are now the top priority for surveillance, right? We’ll be exposed before we even make two turns of the wheel. Anyway, there’s no plan, no plan at all!”
“…”
Jo Geol’s eyes trembled.
“Well then… um.”
Scratching his head, Baek Cheon spoke.
“What about disguising ourselves? If those people don’t recognize us, there shouldn’t be a problem with us moving around.”
“That’s not it.”
“Would that work?”
“Agh, really, Sasuk.”
“Rejected.”
Baek Cheon’s body shook uncontrollably. These guys, when they talk amongst themselves, they throw in all sorts of ridiculous ideas… Why me…
“Sasuk.”
“Yeah?”
“Just don’t say anything and stay hidden in that corner.”
“…Sorry.”
Baek Cheon slumped. Chung Myung clicked his tongue.
“Well, it might have been a thought-out statement, but everyone knows it’s nonsense, right?”
“Yeah, we know. Even if we disguise ourselves, it’s hard to hide the fact that we’re not commoners. Among the beggars, there are skilled masters hiding in the shadows. If a disguised non-commoner enters the city, dozens of beggars will follow before we take a few steps.”
“Then what if we disguise ourselves as some other warriors?”
“It won’t work.”
This time, Tang Soso shook her head.
“Even if we can somehow hide the aura of Taoist energy, people from the powerful sects like Hwasan have unmistakable flow of energy. This is not something ordinary martial artist can produce. It will stand out even more.”
“R-Really?”
“Yes. Since Sahyeongs are originally from Hwasan, they might not know, but even when I was in the Tang clan, I used to distinguish people from Gupailbang as if they were ghosts. The beggars will probably be even more discerning.”
“Mmm. But there seems to be no straightforward method…”
Yoon Jong scratched his head.
From the start, this didn’t make sense. The disciples of the Beggars Sect had been watching people for their entire lives. Is it reasonable to think that infiltrating their headquarters would not go unnoticed?
It would probably be easier to enter Demonic Cult’s headquarters, have a drink with Heavenly Demon, and come back.
“Chung Myung. No matter how much I think about it, this won’t work. Let’s try another way.”
“There’s no other way. We have to go.”
“There’s no way? Isn’t this realistically impossible?”
“Why is there no way? There is! And that is…”
“Let me make it clear beforehand, don’t just charge in, beat up the beggars, and think you’ll arrive at your destination. That’s not going to work.”
“…It’s not?”
“I’m telling you! If we do that, both Sect Leader and retired Sect Leader will try to strip our skins off. Don’t even dream about it!”
“Well, that seems the easiest.”
Chung Myung sighed as if truly disappointed. Yoon Jong’s blood pressure shot up momentarily, as he grabbed the back of his neck in frustration. How in the world does this guy’s mind work…?
Then, scratching his chin, Chung Myung spoke.
“If the best option isn’t available, then we have no choice but to go with the next best thing.”
“Huh? There’s a next best thing?”
“Yeah. Well, as long as we don’t reveal that we’re from Hwasan, we should be fine entering that place.”
“There’s no way to avoid being noticed? We’re martial artists, emitting the distinctive aura of a Taoist sect. Moreover, this is Henan. The moment we open our mouths, we’ll give ourselves away with our Shaanxi dialect. How can we not get caught?”
“Yeah, that’s right. That’s exactly it.”
“…What?”
Tang Soso looked at Chung Myung as if asking what he meant. Then suddenly, she trembled as she caught Chung Myung’s smile.
“W-what are you planning, Sahyeong?”
“Just as you said. We just need to appear inconspicuous. Let’s see… We can probably get some cloth without necessarily going into Kaifeng. And everyone can do some sewing, right?”
“I can’t.”
“I can cut.”
Yu Iseol and Jo Geol’s response made Chung Myung gaze into the distant sky. If these guys weren’t swordsmen, what on earth would they be living on?
“So, what should we make then?”
“Well, I’m not the one to tell you that.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Since he’s the one who knows best how it looks, ask that gentleman over there. He might even remember the sleeve length, don’t you think?”
“…That gentleman?”
All eyes turned to where Chung Myung nodded. Baek Cheon was still sitting in the corner with his knees together.
“Huh? Me?”
Lost in deep contemplation about the meaning of life, he was startled by everyone’s gaze and looked at Chung Myung. Chung Myung nodded.
“Oh, Sasuk. It’s you.”
“I know more about clothes than you, what does that mean What… I’ve never really cared about clothes…”
At that moment, Baek Cheon’s eyes widened as much as they possibly could.
“You, you… You’re not seriously suggesting this, are you?”
Baek Cheon’s face contorted with horror.
“Oh? Looks like you understand.”
“A disciple of Hwasan! Is this something a proud disciple of Hwasan would come up with? I can’t do it! I’d rather die than put that filthy thing on my body again! I won’t do it! I’d rather skin myself alive!”
Baek acheon glared fiercely and protested.
Chung Myung approached him with a smirk, placing his hand on Baek Cheon’s shoulder.
“Admit it, deep down, you wanted to wear it again at least once, didn’t you?”
“Die, you crazy bastard!”
“Whoa, he’s really losing it. He is pulling out a sword, quick!”
Hye Yeon, who was blocking out the sounds of their argument with his internal energy, suddenly looked up at the distant sky.
“Amitabha.”
Even after traveling all the way from Hainan, these people haven’t changed a bit.
Then, Jo Geol spoke seriously.
“Monk, the light is reflecting and hurting my eyes. Please move a little to the side.”
“..Be quiet, Jo Geol Dojang.”
And it seemed to be the same for Hye Yeon.
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