Chapter 1488
I didn’t come looking for you? (3)
Five Swords, startled, exchanged glances.
‘What did he say?’
‘He said he’ll kill him?’
‘Who? The Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect?’
‘Is he really out of his mind?’
Those who were shocked and left speechless all looked at Chung Myung’s back in unison.
‘He’s serious.’
Yoon Jong could immediately sense it. This was not a mere threat. If the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect did not give a proper answer, Chung Myung was really going to act. His countless experiences watching that back told him so.
“Sasuk!”
The flustered Yoon Jong eventually called out for Baek Cheon. Right now, the only person who might be able to stop him was Baek Cheon.
‘He must be stopped!’
The opponent was the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect. Although it had not been officially confirmed, but wasn’t it what that man had claimed?
To cut down such a person? With Chung Myung’s sword? This would not be an incident that could be easily managed. No, it might even become an event that could overturn Gangho more than the invasion of Sapaeryeon in Gangbuk.
“Sasuk. For now, Chung Myung…”
“Wait.”
Yoon Jong’s eyes wavered briefly.
“But…”
“I understand what you’re saying, so wait.”
Yoon Jong eventually closed his mouth. He could not easily present a strong argument against Baek Cheon, who seemed so resolute.
‘What on earth is he planning…’
His anxious gaze, tinged with resignation, turned forward again. Chung Myung’s back remained indifferent, while the eyes of Luju were dark and sunken.
Luju, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke.
“So, you mean to say…”
His voice sounded calm at first glance, but Five Swords could sense the slight disturbance within it.
“That I am deliberately making the Beggars Sect incompetent and inefficient?”
“…”
“As the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect, you say.”
Lee Songbaek looked at Chung Myung with a somewhat bewildered expression. It might seem strange for a disciple of Jongnam to harbor such thoughts, but Lee Songbaek trusted Chung Myung almost perfectly. He believed there was a valid reason behind everything Chung Myung did.
However, even to Lee Songbaek, this accusation sounded too bizarre. If Luju was truly the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect, he would wish for its competence more than anyone. What kind of Sect Leader would deliberately render their own sect ineffective?
Feeling that there might be some misunderstanding, Lee Songbaek hesitantly opened his mouth.
“Excuse me… Dojang. This seems to be…”
“That’s correct.”
But at that moment, the calm voice of Luju silenced Lee Songbaek.
‘What?’
Did they hear that wrong? Not only Lee Songbaek but everyone was startled and focused their attention on Luju.
“Indeed, you are not one to be easily judged. Just as I’ve heard.”
Luju’s and Chung Myung’s gaze intertwined in the air.
“There were those who noticed the decline of the Beggars Sect, but they merely mocked my incompetence. You are the first to accurately grasp my intentions. Impressive.”
Yoon Jong’s mouth slowly dropped open.
‘What is this nonsense?’
Why would Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect deliberately render the sect incompetent?
“Enough with the obvious statements. And no need for unnecessary flattery.”
Chung Myung cut in coldly.
“What I want to hear is the reason. The reason for doing such a thing.”
“The reason…”
Luju slowly turned his body. Then he sat down in the chair used for his duties and leaned back loosely.
“That is something I should be asking you instead, Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
“…What?”
“Why must the Beggars Sect be competent?”
Chung Myung’s eyes darkened.
“Answer me. Why must the Beggars Sect be competent? And why must I, as the Sect Leader, ensure that it is always so? For what purpose?”
“What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“So you all can conveniently use us whenever you need?”
When Chung Myung didn’t answer, Luju chuckled softly.
“You must know this. The Beggars Sect has risen to the ranks of Gupailbang purely based on its intelligence capabilities… Unlike Haomun, we don’t practice martial arts meant for covert operations. We just move quickly from place to place, gathering information with our ears.”
Chung Myung stared at him without a word.
“The purpose of the countless beggars is solely in their ears. If not, their large numbers are only useful for slowing down the enemy.”
“What…”
“You know this, don’t you, Hwasan Geomhyeop?”
Luju said quietly. His voice sounded somewhat hollow and futile.
“The effectiveness you speak of comes from a willingness to sacrifice their lives. The spirit to confirm the enemy with their own eyes and hear the enemy’s words with their own ears, even if it means losing their heads. Without that spirit, the Beggars Sect is just a useless bunch of beggars. Do you understand what that means?”
Once again, Chung Myung did not respond. Luju’s face suddenly twisted. He spoke as if spitting out the words.
“The competence of the Beggars Sect you speak of is nothing but the price paid by the beggars in their own blood.”
Yoon Jong’s body flinched.
However, Luju continued speaking, seemingly uninterested in their reactions.
“To make the Beggars Sect effective again, what I need to do now is actually quite simple. Push the beggars into Gangnam regardless of whether they die or not, palce them around Sapaeryeon, and figure out the enemy’s positions by combing through the blood spilled by the beggars. This has been the way of the Beggars Sect from the past.”
Luju shrugged.
“So, what remains?”
“…”
Beggars who shed blood for righteous cause. The Beggars Sect does not shy away from shedding blood for greater good. But what remains besides those damned four words[의혈개방]?”
Luju’s voice grew increasingly louder, like a suppressed anger was leaking out.
“People speak so easily. They say this is what the Beggars Sect should do, they say it without any concern. They say we must find out, even if it means bearing the sacrifice.”
“…”
“Can they say the same if the sacrifice is their own sect members’ lives?”
Luju laughed softly.
“No, they couldn’t. Their own lives are too precious. But in Gangho, the lives of a few beggars mean nothing.”
“That, that’s not true.”
Unable to hold back, Yoon Jong spoke up, and Luju shot him a cold look.
“Is that so?”
“Of course.”
“Then did you not resent us when we lost track of Jang Ilso?”
Yoon Jong was momentarily struck speechless and closed his mouth.
“Really?”
A peculiar smile spread across Luju’s lips.
“Yes, there are those who say that the lives of beggars are just as important. But when a crisis looms, everyone eventually cries out in unison. They insist that information is crucial, that we must track the enemy’s movements. Otherwise, more people will die.”
“…”
“So they say, go to Gangnam, where the enemies swarm, and follow them.”
Yoon Jong felt suffocated for a moment. He wanted to say it wasn’t true, but he couldn’t. His own feelings didn’t matter in this situation.
What if Yoon Jong argued that they should not obtain information at the cost of the beggars’ lives? The world would never accept it. They would continue to demand it, insisting that the Beggars Sect secure more information.
Then, Chung Myung’s low voice cut through the tension between them.
“So, you did all this?”
Chung Myung smirked as he spoke.
“Claiming to be bedridden was a convenient excuse. Lying in bed meant you didn’t have to meet with the other sect leaders, and you didn’t have to listen to their requests or pressure.”
“I won’t deny it.”
“And it was you who stopped the beggars from diving into enemy territory, something they wouldn’t have hesitated to do in the past.”
“That’s right.”
“It was you who pulled the beggars back from the enemy’s movements, and you who allowed the world of the Just Sects to split and bare its fangs at each other.”
Luju silently nodded.
“And all of this was because… you didn’t want to do something that would benefit others?”
“You’re wrong, Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
Luju shook his head firmly.
“I just wanted to save as many beggars as possible.”
“…”
“We are just beggars. The Beggars Sect is a place where those who live at the lowest levels of society gather to avoid further persecution. But the world demands that we give up even the last thing we have left: our lives.”
Chung Myung’s lips twitched.
“The ones who gather the information you want are not the high-ranking experts within the Beggars Sect. They are the ones begging in some village, worrying about how to feed themselves tomorrow. Is it truly just to demand even their lives?”
Luju ground his teeth as he spoke.
“If it is so necessary, then those of you who have enough should take care of it. Why do you demand it from us?”
“The Beggars Sect has also taken its share of benefits. And now you want to wash your hands of it?”
“And that is why I am saying we will give it back!”
Luju suddenly roared like thunder.
The atmosphere immediately tensed as Chung Myung and Luju locked eyes in a fierce stand off. Luju, his shoulders trembling, realized he had become too agitated and let out a deep sigh.
“Sorry. There was no need to get angry.”
He rubbed his eyes with a faintly trembling hand. The tremor carried all the weight and emotional pain he had been enduring.
“Perhaps I just wanted to tell someone this.”
“…”
“Maybe that’s why I didn’t stop you from coming here.”
Luju sighed and shook his head.
“Go back.”
“Sect Leader.”
“You probably sought me out to restore the Beggars Sect to its former state. You think the Beggars Sect must play its part in the upcoming war.”
“…”
“And of course, you believe you can do it. You’ve always achieved whatever you wanted. I acknowledge your capabilities.”
Luju glared at Chung Myung with cold eyes.
“But I will never be swayed by your words or logic, Hwasan Geomhyeop. I have no intention of sacrificing the lives of beggars to provide the information you need. If that’s truly what you want, then you might as well kill me right here. Maybe then you could achieve your goal. There are plenty at the headquarters who want to return the Beggars Sect to its former ways.”
Luju, with his head held high, slowly asked.
“Does that answer your question?”
“…”
Chung Myung silently opened and closed his fist. His mouth, which had seemed ready to speak, clamped shut again. He didn’t know what to say.
How could he refute someone who was determined to save as many beggars’ lives as possible, no matter the cost, even if it meant enduring all the criticism?
With a feeling close to resignation, Chung Myung slowly closed his eyes.
“It’s hard to understand.”
A clear voice interrupted the silence, coming from Lee Songbaek, who had been listening intently to the exchange. His clear, bright eyes fixed on the remorseful Luju.
Comments