Chapter 1501
Do you know who I am? (1)
Given the situation, they couldn’t afford to waste any more time.
As soon as everyone gathered, each of the Five Swords spoke up.
“He’s not dead?”
“Is he really not?”
“He’s not a ghost, right?”
“To be honest, he did look a bit ghostly.”
Luju, or more accurately Pung Yeong Shin Gae, had a face that twisted in anguish. He had heard countless rumors and a lot of information about this group, but experiencing them in person was vastly different from reading about them.
And then…
“Wow, the King of Beggars?”
“…”
“Are you really the King of Beggars? Really?”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae sighed deeply. Hong Daekwang kept repeating the same words with his mouth agape.
“No, there’s no way you could have suddenly gain enlightenment and rejuvenation. How am I supposed to believe this?”
“Daekwang.”
“Yes! …What? What was that just now?”
“Do you believe now?”
Hong Daekwang’s face turned pale as if he had seen a ghost. The voice Pung Yeong Shin Gae had just used was exactly like the voice of the Sect Leader he knew.
Given this, there was no longer any room for denial. Although his appearance was completely different, this man was indeed the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect, Pung Yeong Shin Gae.
“Haha… They say you can’t trust anyone in this world.”
“I don’t expect you to understand. I just hope you know it was necessary.”
Hong Daekwang bit his lip before speaking again.
“King of Beggars.”
Seeing the look in his eyes, Pung Yeong Shin Gae strengthened his resolve.
Even if his actions were driven by good intentions, if people saw them as evil, it was a burden Pung Yeong Shin Gae was prepared to bear. He knew harsh words were bound to follow…
“Is it true that you told them I wasn’t fit to be the next Sect Leader?”
“…”
“I believed in you! I still believed in you!”
Momentarily at a loss for words, Pung Yeong Shin Gae rubbed his face with his hands. How did he ever consider him as a candidate to become the Sect Leader…?
“When I gave you the precious things I begged for, you accepted them gladly! And now you’re going around saying otherwise behind my back? This is outright fraud, I should report… Ack!”
Chung Myung, looking irritated, grabbed Hong Daekwang by the face and shoved him back.
“We’re busy as hell, and these beggars are having a heart-to-heart?”
“Hey, you! This is a critical matter that concerns my life!”
“What’s so important about a beggar’s life? Even if things go well, you’re still a beggar!”
“What?”
Now that he thought about it, that made sense too…
At that moment, Baek Cheon, with a bitter smile, spoke to Pung Yeong Shin Gae.
“Have you heard the news?”
“I have.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae shook his head as he continued to speak.
“To them, I am a person without substance. It means that no one can confirm where I lived or whether I am dead or alive. If they publicly announce that I am dead, then I truly become a dead person.”
Tang Soso asked, bewildered.
“Even though you’re clearly alive right here?”
“…Who will prove it? When there’s no substance.”
“What?”
Everyone who knew the truth was right here.
“Even if you all prove that I am the Sect Leader, who would believe it?”
“…No one.”
“Right, to be honest, even some of Hwasan’s disciples wouldn’t believe them.”
“…Geol-ah, is that something you should say?”
Baek Cheon, with a serious expression, stroked his chin as he spoke.
“So you’re saying that despite them using such a tactic, there’s no way for you to counteract it?”
“Of course, there is a way to counteract it. The best way is for me to appear in the midst of headquarters with the sacred relic.”
“Ah, I see. Even if they deny you, they can’t deny the relic.”
“But that’s exactly what they truly want.”
“…What?”
“If they kill me and take the relic, they can use its authority to follow the proper procedures and appoint the new Sect Leader. No one would be able to dispute it.”
Baek Cheon’s face grew exceedingly serious.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae had hidden himself thoroughly. This was how he had been able to create the Beggars Sect as it was now. The opposing faction was now using this very fact against him.
“Is it possible to attack someone holding the sacred relic? Isn’t the relic a symbol of the Sect’s unquestionable authority?”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae chuckled at these words.
“Then, if a member of Demonic Cult appeared holding Hwasan’s sacred relic, would you obey them?”
“That would…!”
Of course not. They would try to kill them and reclaim the relic by any means necessary.
“That’s the nature of relics. They are convenient symbols made for easy use. When a real crisis comes, they are of no use at all.”
“Hmm.”
“The moment I appear with the relic, they will accuse me of killing the Sect Leader and stealing it.”
“What if you disguise yourself as an old man again?”
“They’ll say it was a trick. Once they see my real face, they’ll conclude I’m not the Sect Leader.”
“…There’s no way out.”
Everything Pung Yeong Shin Gae had done up to this point had now backfired, blocking his escape route.
“Honestly, I hadn’t anticipated this tactic. I knew my Sahyeong was cunning, but…”
His voice was tinged with bitterness. As Pung Yeong Shin Gae murmured, Jo Geol asked in confusion.
“Well, if they had this strategy, they could have used it earlier. Why now?”
“They probably hadn’t thought of it before. Or even if they had, it could only be used now. If this had happened under normal circumstances, people would want to know why and how I died in detail. But now…”
“…No one has the time to be concerned about such details.”
“Exactly.”
Indeed, with Sapaeryeon potentially advancing at any moment, who would bother to scrutinize the death of the Beggars Sect’s Sect Leader, who was said to be bedridden?
“So what happens now?”
“With both the relic and the Sect Leader absent… they will likely hold a grand meeting to elect the next Sect Leader. Probably tomorrow.”
“Then…”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae responded calmly.
“Yes. Since the elders are practically puppets of Ilho Shin Gae, he will become the next Sect Leader.”
“No…”
Yoon Jong, who had been silent, asked in disbelief.
“Is it realistically possible for Sahyeong of the previous Sect Leader to become the next one?”
“It has happened before. When the situation in Gangho is critical, there’s no time to wait for the next Sect Leader to become accustomed to the position and grow. A prominent figure within the sect often temporarily assumes the leadership, then passes it on to the next generation once the situation stabilizes.”
“….”
“And right now, the situation is exactly that critical one.”
Baek Cheon let out a hollow laugh. How could things be so perfectly timed?
From Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s perspective, it must feel like the heavens themselves were conspiring to take away his position as the Sect Leader. Baek Cheon bit his lip lightly and asked.
“So, what do you plan to do next?”
He knew there probably wasn’t a good solution. Still, he had to ask. As expected, Pung Yeong Shin Gae glanced towards the ceiling and shook his head.
“Honestly… I don’t know. If Master were alive, I would seek his counsel, but with him gone, I have no one to ask. Now I find myself discussing this matter with outsiders like you.”
“…”
“And to you all…”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae let out a deep sigh and looked at them – more precisely, at Chung Myung.
“I’m sorry. I tried to follow the will of my predecessors, but I didn’t anticipate the situation would escalate this quickly. If only they had moved a day earlier, we might have found a way…”
“Hey. This isn’t something you need to apologize for.”
The surprisingly gentle response took everyone aback. Chung Myung’s words were uncharacteristic, and they all stared at him in disbelief.
Chung Myung’s eyes weren’t smiling at all. Then, he started raging as usual.
“It’s all that senile old man’s fault! Drag him down immediately! Even if it’s just his corpse, we need to…”
“Please, don’t.”
“Yeah, right… Stop it…”
By now, Five Swords were utterly exhausted, so much so that they didn’t even get surprised when they restrained Chung Myung weakly. With a face full of dissatisfaction, Chung Myung clicked his tongue and bit his lip hard.
“When is the meeting supposed to be?”
“According to the laws of the Beggars Sect, the elders’ meeting is held the morning after more than half of the elders are present. Since more than half of the elders are already at the headquarters…”
“Tomorrow morning, then.”
It was technically already the next morning, as the time had long passed midnight. This meant that the new leader of the Beggars Sect would be decided within a few hours.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae, cautiously gauging Chung Myung’s reaction, spoke again.
“Given the current situation, I cannot retain my position as Sect Leader, but my influence won’t disappear entirely. With what I’ve embedded in the sect, I can still offer substantial assistance. So…”
Chung Myung let out a slight laugh.
“Offer assistance?”
His voice dripped with sarcasm, but Pung Yeong Shin Gae didn’t seem offended. Knowing Chung Myung’s true identity, he didn’t dare show any displeasure.
“I may not be able to give you exactly what you want, but I can share information and somewhat control the movements of the Beggars Sect.”
“…”
“After all, the reason Geomhyeop came here was to gain at least that much control. While it may not fully meet your expectations, I’ll strive to do more than you hoped. So please, be satisfied with this.”
Chung Myung’s lips twitched slightly.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s words weren’t entirely wrong. He had come here to eliminate the shadow manipulating the Beggars Sect. That shadow was now gone, and if someone else led the sect, his objective would be essentially achieved. But…
“Here?”
“…What do you mean?”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae cautiously asked, puzzled by Chung Myung’s abrupt comment. Chung Myung’s face had grown cold and rigid.
“You’re saying you’ll spend the rest of your life in this secret chamber, monitoring the Beggars Sect’s situation until you die?”
“…”
“With no one knowing who you are, and no one to properly talk to? Living as a dead man while scheming behind the scenes?”
“What are you talking about…?”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae seemed utterly confused. However, the others understood Chung Myung’s words.
“It’s a prison.”
“Indeed, Sahyeong.”
“…This isn’t right.”
To keep his promise, Pung Yeong Shin Gae would have to remain here forever. This opulent, silent room on the top of a luxurious pavilion would become his unescapable prison. He would be trapped here until he died, a strange existence considered dead long ago, with no one to care for him.
For what purpose?
Why should someone who had lost everything live out such a desolate existence?
“That senile old man made a request of me before he died.”
“A request…?”
“Yes. He asked me to free you from here.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae flinched noticeably. The shock was evident on his face.
“That… “
He opened and closed his mouth several times as if wanting to say something but ultimately said nothing. Chung Myung’s intense gaze seemed to silence him.
Chung Myung continued.
“He said he had imprisoned his disciple here. He asked me to set you free. Listening to you now, I understand exactly what he meant by that.”
“Master…”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae bit his lower lip.
He had thought that in his final moments, his Master would have naturally asked him to look after the Beggars Sect. But…
“But I don’t like that either.”
“…What?”
“You were the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect, but not once were you a proper leader. You had to follow others, and your presence had to remain hidden.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae listened in silence. Even if the others didn’t understand, he knew the position from which Chung Myung was speaking.
“So, before you gain the freedom you truly want, I will place you in the position where you rightfully belong. In the place you should have stood from the beginning.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s fingertips trembled.
He had never dared to hope for it. Having lived his entire life in darkness, such a freedom was never permitted. Yet now, Chung Myung was speaking of that very freedom.
“Are you ready for this?”
Chung Myung asked.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae looked at him with a serious expression, his voice trembling as he spoke.
“Can it really… be done? Can I dare…?”
“Can it be done?”
Chung Myung twisted his lips into a smile.
“Do you know who I am?”
At that moment, Pung Yeong Shin Gae felt his mind swirling and closed his eyes. Yes, this person…
The answer he had to give was clear.
“…I wish for it. I desire it, Geomhyeop.”
Chung Myung nodded.
“Well, the plan’s been a bit messed up.”
His gaze shifted toward the headquarters of the Beggars Sect beyond the window.
“But the result will be the same anyway. Since it’s come to this, let’s turn everything upside down.”
A wicked smile played on Chung Myung’s lips.
Time passed.
The fateful morning arrived in the tranquil Kaifeng.
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