Chapter 1486
I didn’t come looking for you? (1)
The clear sound of a bird’s chirping echoed through the quiet room on the top floor.
“This is…”
Cheonsangruju*, the owner of the golden bird.
It was unmistakably the person they had been tirelessly searching for all this time. However, the moment they reached their destination, Baek Cheon found himself plunged into even greater uncertainty.
‘But why did this guy try to find this person?’
Just as Baek Cheon’s gaze was about to turn to Chung Myung.
“Indeed.”
“…Hm?”
“It’s difficult to distinguish friends from foes based solely on appearances. You certainly know how to deceive the eyes of the Beggars Sect.”
The space between Baek Cheon’s eyebrows narrowed significantly.
“And then…”
The gaze of Luju shifted to one side. Upon receiving that gaze, Lee Songbaek coughed and lowered his head.
“If Lee Songbaek, the loyal disciple of Jongnam, is with someone who looks like this, no one would dare to harbor suspicions.”
“Hmm.”
A series of dry coughs escaped from Lee Songbaek’s mouth.
“I… uh…”
“No need to worry.”
Luju cut in sharply.
“I won’t necessarily inform Jongnam of this fact. There’s no need to share what I know with others.”
“…”
The expressions of Baek Cheon and Lee Songbaek stiffened slightly at the same time.
The intention of not spreading rumors was a welcome gesture, but there was a sense that eventually, he intended to exploit this fact for his own benefit.
“That is…”
Baek Cheon tried to salvage the situation somehow, but Luju spoke up again before he could.
“It seems it’s not your turn to ask questions. You haven’t answered mine yet. I’ll ask again. Why have you come to find me?”
“…”
The initiative swiftly shifted back to the man.
Caught not in a weakness but in a lack thereof, Baek Cheon found it difficult to speak with him on equal terms. Or perhaps, even without being caught, Luju might have been a difficult opponent.
‘At this rate…’
He’s being swept away by the opponent’s intentions. If this continues, he might end up losing without gaining anything and being driven away.
Just as the feeling of impending crisis was becoming overwhelming, a muffled voice rang in Baek Cheon’s ears.
“The reason?”
“…More like a necessity than a reason.”
“A neceeeeeesity?”
“…”
Chung Myung’s face contorted in surprise. The confusion on the face of Luju was incongruous with his demeanor.
“Hey.”
“…Yes?”
“Do I really need a reason just to meet a pavilion owner?”
For a moment, confusion flashed across the usually calm face of Luju.
“Why is this damn pavilion owner meddling like this? Back in my day, even the owner of a ten-story pavilion would come running barefoot when a guest called! Anyway, these days!”
“Isn’t that a bit different from this?”
“How’s it different? It’s the same thing. That guy there called himself the owner of the pavilion with his own mouth!”
“Right. Well… I guess it’s the same thing then.”
If you say so, it must be.
“Isn’t it? Luju?”
As Chung Myung shot back with his sullen expression, a hollow laugh escaped from the pavilion owner’s lips. But the truth was, there wasn’t much else to say. After all, it was he himself who had introduced him as Luju.
“…They say Hwasan Geomhyeop is beyond ordinary comprehension, so it seems that rumor is indeed true.”
The man let out a short sigh and nodded.
“That’s right. No matter if it’s called Cheonsangru or not, it’s just a pavilion. There’s no need for a significant reason to find the owner of a pavilion. Especially if the other party is Hwasan Geomhyeop, a mere pavilion owner wouldn’t dare to deal with.”
“Hmm. No need to be so dismissive. Heh heh. Sasuk, this gentleman seems to be a better person than you think?”
“…Get a hold of yourself, you brat. Before I lose my patience.”
“Oh, right.”
Chung Myung quickly regained his composure and spoke up again.
“It’s nice to be evaluated so highly, but it seems you’re not just any pavilion owner either. I never imagined someone would set up something like this in the bustling streets of Kaifeng, where beggars swarm like ants.”
“That statement is incorrect.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s not remarkable to set up something like this in Kaifeng. It’s because this place is Kaifeng that such a pavilion can be established.”
Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Hmm. So, it’s something like, the mediocre Sapa bastards are afraid of Kaifeng, so they can’t even breathe properly, and the Beggars Sect’s folks have to keep their distance because they’re beggars, is that it?”
A brief flicker passed through the eyes of Luju upon hearing Chung Myung’s words.
“That’s correct.”
“Even so, wouldn’t the officials with deep pockets have intervened in a place like this? How much have you bribed them?”
“Not at all. We haven’t given them a single penny.”
“Huh? Why not?”
The man spoke calmly.
“Because they are the ones who need this place the most. Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
“…Here?”
“That’s right.”
The man nodded and continued.
“You may not understand, but ordinary officials always live in fear that their words and actions may be exposed to someone. As the weight of the conversation increases, their paranoia about secrecy becomes pathological.”
“…”
“That’s why such places are necessary for them. A place where they can talk without worrying about the palace.”
“Why not just go to a secluded place? What’s so foolish about…”
Chung Myung couldn’t finish his sentence and laughed.
“Ah, those folks can’t tell if it’s really a secluded place. Because they are not martial artists.”
“Exactly. And… for people of their status, seeking out secluded places itself draws attention. It’s as if you were trying to hide your presence there.”
Chung Myung nodded as if understanding.
“But it isn’t strange for them to enjoy their time in the nearby splendid pavilions?”
“That’s right.”
“And it’s not particularly strange for them to coincidentally meet other officials in those pavilions. Isn’t that right?”
“Exactly. The stigma they gain from it is relatively cheap compared to hiding their words.”
Chung Myung scratched his head vigorously.
“That’s why I don’t understand what those officials or wealthy people are thinking or how they live.”
Chung Myung, who sighed deeply, looked at Luju with a puzzled look.
“So? Are you the one who makes those gentlemen feel comfortable to speak and then profit from those words?”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding.”
“Hmm? Misunderstanding?”
“I don’t listen to their conversations. I simply leave them to talk as they please.”
Chung Myung chuckled.
“For someone who seems to know me so well, you seem to be missing something. I… “
“You probably dislike people lying to your face. Especially lies that are easily exposed.”
“…”
Chung Myung stared silently at him.
“I know it’s not easy to admit. If one were someone knowledgeable enough to recognize your true identity, they wouldn’t just let these valuable pieces of information slip away.”
Everyone nodded. It didn’t make sense logically. If not for that reason, why would they bother creating a place like this?
“But, Hwasan Geomhyeop. Do you know what must come first in order to gain profit from using information?”
“…What’s that?”
“It’s the existence of information itself.”
“…”
Chung Myung stared at Luju with a blank expression. Not out of surprise, but simply because he couldn’t grasp how to react to such an obvious statement.
However, he spoke calmly, as if it were obvious.
“In places where everything is open, information doesn’t arise. But here, information does come up. The information that wouldn’t have been created if this place didn’t exist.”
“…”
“As the world generates more information, there’s also more information that can be utilized. A merchant makes money by selling grain, but without the farmers who grow it, merchants wouldn’t even exist.”
“So what?”
Chung Myung shot a cold glance at Luju.
“Are you the one who cultivates that information?”
“You could say that.”
“Hahaha.”
Chung Myung let out a laugh as if it were absurd.
“I followed this sparrow thinking it might lead me to a big fish.”
Chung Myung’s lips twisted oddly.
“…This is outright madness.”
Luju looked at Chung Myung without a word. His eyes were still calm and composed, but they clearly conveyed his thoughts to Chung Myung.
“That’s a fair assessment. However.”
Luju slowly shook his head.
“It’s not fair for that assessment to come from you. You are the one who is more of a madman than I am.”
“…”
“Now that we’ve shared our thoughts, it’s time for you to answer my question.”
The man paused briefly as if to lighten the mood. Then, after drawing everyone’s attention, he spoke again.
“Why have you come to find me, Hwasan Geomhyeop?”
Everyone turned their gaze to Chung Myung this time. They were curious too. But once again, Chung Myung didn’t give them the answer they wanted.
“I didn’t come looking for you?”
“Hmm?”
Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders.
“I just followed that sparrow. I figured if I did, I would eventually meet the person who had released those beggars to spy on me.”
“…”
“Yeah. So, someone who can command the leaders of the Beggar Sect’s branches at will, and use a reporting line different from the usual Beggar Sect’s network. Someone who can receive information about my movements faster than the main headquarters of the Beggar Sect.”
Chung Myung’s lips curled up.
“Understand?”
“…”
Luju’s face hardened.
“I thought I would meet such a person if I came here. From what I know, there’s only one person in the world capable of pulling off something like that.”
“There seems to be a misunderstanding…”
“The Beggar Sect…”
“…”
“…Sect Leader.”
Luju’s eyes sharply pierced through Chung Myung.
The Sect Leader of the Beggar Sect.
It wasn’t Luju who was flustered by those words, but rather the Five Swords.
“Ch-Chung Myung. What are you talking about? The Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect is currently bedridden and critically ill…”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
“Huh?”
“I came here to meet that old man who’s on the brink of death, but when I got here, he was nowhere to be found. Instead, there’s some madman here. Wouldn’t I be confused?”
“Ah…”
Chung Myung chuckled.
“So, there are only two possible conclusions.”
“What do you mean by two possible conclusions?”
“Either the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect has deceived the world and is perfectly fine, enjoying himself here.”
“…”
“Or the Beggars Sect has already been taken over by someone who isn’t the Sect Leader and is being manipulated at his whim. And that person would be this gentleman here.”
The Five Swords’ heads turned sharply towards Luju.
“Th-That’s going too far, isn’t it?”
“Then how do you explain someone giving orders to Buntajus of the Beggars Sect in Luoyang that contradict the orders from the main headquarters?”
“That’s…”
Five Swords fell silent.
Indeed, this couldn’t be interpreted any other way.
“So, what’s the answer?”
“You should ask him, not me. Hey.”
Chung Myung’s eyes, tinged with amusement, fixed on Luju. At that moment, he flinched slightly, as if feeling a strong pressure from that seemingly indifferent gaze.
“Who are you?”
Simultaneously, Five Swords tensed up. Everyone understood that depending on his answer, a life-and-death battle might erupt here.
But Luju, holding all the keys, couldn’t easily open his mouth.
“I am…”
After a long hesitation, Luju finally shook his head. It was a declaration of surrender and resignation.
“Hwasan Geomhyeop… I was so cautious.”
“…”
“You are correct.”
“What?”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean?”
Voices filled with doubt erupted from Five Swords’ mouths.
“Let me formally introduce myself. I am the current Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect.”
A triumphant smile spread across Chung Myung’s lips.
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