Chapter 1492
There’s no need for that. (2)
Their hearts tightened, and even breathing became difficult.
The Great Demonic War.
Though they had heard those words countless times, these words coming from the old man’s mouth carried a weight unlike anything they had ever heard before.
“…Amitabha.”
In the heavy atmosphere, Hye Yeon softly recited a Buddhist invocation, his voice akin to a sigh.
“Are you saying that you witnessed the war with Demonic Cult with your own eyes?”
At Hye Yeon’s question, the old man nodded faintly.
“Yes.”
“How could…”
Hye Yeon stared at the old man, finding it hard to believe. What could this mean for the old man’s age?
“Sahyeong, he was alive back then?”
“Hmm.”
While Jo Geol was greatly astonished, Yoon Jong remained relatively composed.
“Think about it. It’s not that strange. There’s also Elder Tang Jopyeong.”
“Ah… Right.”
At that moment, Chung Myung’s low voice resonated in everyone’s ears. His tone was so detached that it sent chills down their spines.
“A sinner……”
While others focused on the term “survivor,” Chung Myung had been struck by the term “sinner.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The old man’s gaze turned to Chung Myung. His trembling lips opened as he stared intently, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
“……The catastrophe. That which could not even be called a war…… that horrific calamity swept away everything.”
“…”
“Everyone was a victim. Those who died innocently, those who perished without knowing why they had to fight, those who survived but had to live in lifelong suffering……”
The old man’s wrinkled face twisted grotesquely. It was hard to describe the fear, discomfort, and deep-seated guilt that was visible.
“But I am…… I am not. I am not a victim of that sin but the one who committed it.”
“What on earth are you talking about since earlier…”
“Back then, I was……”
The old man mumbled with his lips before spitting out the words.
“I was the…… the Vice Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect [소방주 – Sobangju].”
“…What?”
Everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see young sect leaders or young lords in Gangho, but it wasn’t like that back then. At that time, when there were no obstacles in the flow of personnel, sect leaders were usually over sixty, and even young lords were generally at least over forty.
But for someone to have risen to the position of a sect leader in those days…
“Then, just how old are you now…”
“Be quiet!”
“I’m, I’m sorry. I was just so startled.”
Jo Geol immediately bowed his head, but his eyes still couldn’t hide the shock, wide open.
‘At least a hundred and thirty? No, he could be a hundred and fifty.’
He had heard of martial artists, who had reached a pinnacle of cultivation, living beyond a hundred, but seeing someone who had lived this long with his own eyes was a first.
‘Is this real?’
Still unable to shake off his doubts, Jo Geol scrutinized the old man closely. At that moment, Baek Cheon asked in a voice that still held a trace of wariness.
“Are you saying that you were the Vice Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect back in those days?”
“Indeed, I was.”
“…I greet you, Senior.”
Baek Cheon offered his respect in a somewhat bewildered voice. After all, it was a situation where respect was due. The other disciples of Hwasan followed suit, bowing to the old man who had claimed to be the Deputy Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect.
However, only one person chose to ask a question instead of offering a bow.
“What is your relationship with Pung Baek Mueum Shin Gae [풍백(風伯) 무음신개(無音神丐*)]?”
“He was my master. During the Great Demonic War, my master was the head of the Beggars Sect.”
“Hold on a moment!”
At that instant, Lee Songbaek exclaimed in surprise.
“If you are the disciple of Pung Baek Mueum Shin Gae… Are you perhaps the renowned Hyeon Pung Shin Gae [현풍신개**]? The former Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect?”
The old man slowly nodded.
“Yes. I am that beggar who was known as Hyeon Pung Gae.”
“My, my heavens…”
Lee Songbaek staggered slightly, as if his legs had given way. The disciples of Hwasan, who didn’t understand the situation, asked.
“Lee Sohyeop, do you know who he is?”
“What?”
“Hyeon Pung Shin Gae! He was the legendary head of the Beggars Sect who reorganized and replenished the sect after it was severely damaged and divided during the Great Demonic War. He is a person who cannot be left out when discussing the history of Gangho over the past one hundred years!”
“What?”
Five Swords quickly turned their heads to look at the old man again.
Could this old man, who looked like he was ready for the grave, really be such an illustrious figure?
“But I heard he passed away at least fifty years ago. I never imagined he was still alive… and in a place like this…”
Lee Songbaek blinked in disbelief.
In terms of hierarchy, he was someone they couldn’t even dream of speaking to. Even the Sect Leader of Jongnam wouldn’t dare straighten his back in front of him.
Standing before such a person, it was no wonder his legs felt weak…
“You don’t seem to understand a word I’m saying.”
Gasp!
But Chung Myung didn’t care at all and instead threw out a blunt remark. Lee Songbaek instinctively held his breath.
“Do-Dojang! You can’t speak like that…”
“What do you mean by saying you’re a sinner? Stop dodging and answer.”
Watching Chung Myung growl, Lee Songbaek’s mind went blank for a moment.
‘He’s, he’s insane.’
It’s well known that Chung Myung is hard to be explained without acknowledging his audacity, but this time he had truly crossed the line. If it became known in Gangho that he had spoken like this to Hyeon Pung Shin Gae, countless venerable martial artists would hang Chung Myung upside down and strip his skin off.
However, the situation was rather peculiar. Despite hearing such incredibly rude words from a junior in front of him, Hyeon Pung Shin Gae didn’t seem the least bit displeased.
‘How can this be?’
Of course, it could make sense. To Hyeon Pung Shin Gae, Chung Myung was like a great-great-grandchild, a ridiculously young junior. Even if he climbed onto his lap and pulled at his beard, he might still find it endearing.
Yet, it was undeniably strange that Luju, the current head of the Beggars Sect standing behind them, was also tolerating this situation.
Moreover, it wasn’t just the beggars who were strange. Chung Myung was acting odd as well. While he was often called impudent, he wasn’t usually so recklessly hostile and disrespectful, even to the elderly.
‘And this isn’t just impudence…’
Killing intent?
The chilling killing intent emanating from Chung Myung flowed towards Hyeon Pung Shin Gae. Just as Luju was about to intervene, Hyeon Pung Shin Gae raised his hand to stop him.
“Do not interfere.”
“But Master, I…”
“I said do not interfere.”
The immense pressure radiating from Hyeon Pung Shin Gae instantly suppressed Luju. Despite being someone who would not lose to anyone in terms of sheer presence, Luju bowed his head without any resistance.
“Cough, cough.”
Hyeon Pung Shin Gae let out a weak dry cough and then turned to Chung Myung.
“It’s not what you’re imagining, Hwasan Geomhyeop.”
“…”
“I couldn’t commit such an act. Anyone who witnessed that war could never bow to the Demonic Cult. A human couldn’t do such a thing. So please, let go of your anger.”
Only then did Chung Myung’s shoulders slightly relax.
“Then what do you mean? Saying you’re a sinner.”
‘Ah…’
The others who had been watching finally understood the significance of this abnormal confrontation.
The term “sinner” and a life hidden away from the world.
Considering these two aspects, Chung Myung had thought this man might be a traitor to the Central Plains.
As the killing intent faded from Chung Myung’s eyes, Hyeon Pung Shin Gae continued with a deep sigh.
“In that catastrophe…”
Hyeon Pung Shin Gae’s eyes seemed to look far away, to a place that no longer existed, somewhere in the past.
“I drove tens of thousands to their deaths.”
“…”
“Countless people, so many that it can’t be counted, I drove them all.….. all to the battlefield. Every last one of them.”
Hyeon Pung Shin Gae’s frail shoulders began to slowly shake. An indescribably heavy and oppressive atmosphere settled around them.
“My Sahyeongs, my students… Anyone under the name of the Beggars Sect, regardless of who they were, was mercilessly driven into the enemy’s camp. Because it had to be done. Because that was the only way to understand the enemy.”
“…Amitabha.”
Hye Yeon shook his head.
“How could that be your fault, Senior? Anyone in that position would have…”
“Do you know what the Beggars Sect is like during wartime?”
Hyeon Pung Shin Gae cut off Hye Yeon’s consolation. His voice carried such an unexpectedly harsh tone that Hye Yeon instinctively closed his hastily opened mouth.
“Those who lost their parents to the Demonic Cult, parents who lost their children, those who had nothing left and were waiting for death… all of them became beggars and flowed into the Beggars Sect during the war.”
Everyone held their breath, listening intently to the old man’s voice.
“I drove those people into the enemy’s camp. Urged them that to get revenge, they had to stake their lives. I placed swords in the hands of mere ten-year-olds, knowing full well they wouldn’t return.….. just to figure out where the enemies were by the point their lives were cut short.”
Baek Cheon’s face turned pale.
He had heard countless stories about the horrors of the war with the Demonic Cult, but never had he heard tales like these. How many deaths and how much blood were glossed over under the term ‘great loss’?
“I just watched as children, clutching daggers with their tiny hands, headed to Gangnam. No, I even pushed them forward.”
Hyeon Pung Shin Gae’s voice began to tremble.
“Because it had to be done…”
It might have sounded like an excuse, but everyone present knew otherwise. Anyone could see it in Hyeon Pung Shin Gae’s expression.
His words were no excuse.
“Because that was the only way to win. The only way to avoid annihilation. The only way!”
Hyeon Pung Shin Gae’s hands trembled violently.
“The only way to survive…”
Tang Soso, who had been staring at Hyeon Pung Shin Gae’s pitifully shaking hands, bit her lip hard.
“But that wasn’t your fault either, Senior!”
“…”
“Anyone would have done the same in the end. It had to be done back then. The Demonic Cult is to blame!”
“Child.…..”
A sorrowful smile appeared on Hyeon Pung Shin Gae’s lips.
“……I used to think that way too.”
A series of dry coughs erupted from him, each one seeming to drain a bit more life from his body. Or perhaps what was being drained was not his life, but the lingering regrets he had held onto.
“Before I saw with my own eyes what I had tried to protect… before I understood what I had preserved through so many sacrifices…”
Hyeon Pung Shin Gae’s eyes were filled with deep regret.
“Before I realized that the sacrifices of those I drove to their deaths were merely for the benefit of worthless wretches.”
The old man’s murmuring face grew increasingly twisted and contorted. It was a face that looked as though it was both laughing and crying.
Chung Myung’s eyes, fixed on Hyeon Pung Shin Gae, also showed a faint trace of bitterness and sorrow.
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