Chapter 1505
Do you know who I am? (5)
“Th-that…”
The elders could not conceal their astonishment.
The aura emanating from the unfamiliar man was unmistakably the signature technique of the Beggars Sect, Mysterious Jade Divine Art [옥현신공(玉玄神功) – oghyeon-singong].
It was a secret martial art that only the elders of the sect could learn. There could be no greater proof of one’s identity as a member of the Beggars Sect.
Moreover, the words spoken by this stranger were even more shocking.
“The Sect Leader?”
“The Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect?”
The Beggar Sect’s Dragon Head Sect Leader [용두방주(龍頭幇主)], whom they were well-acquainted with, did not look like the person before them.
“What nonsense is this…?”
“But… isn’t that the Mysterious Jade Divine Art?”
“Among the elders of the Beggars Sect, how many have mastered this technique?”
“Are you all fools? Do we have such a person in our ranks?”
“That…”
Even the elders were at a loss in this bizarre situation.
No matter how many members Beggars Sect had and how numerous their elders were compared to other sects, it was incomprehensible that an elder they had spent their lives with could be unrecognizable.
As far as they knew, there was no elder who looked like this.
So, could this person truly be Pung Yeong Shin Gae, who always concealed his face?
“…What are you all doing?”
The man, Pung Yeong Shin Gae, surveyed the surroundings with cold eyes.
One of the elders swallowed nervously and spoke with a tense expression.
“A-are you truly the Sect Leader?”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae looked directly at him and said.
“Hang Chwi.”
“Huh!”
Hang Chwi’s face, which had been full of tension, turned to shock. Not only did this man know his name, but his tone and voice were exactly like those of the Sect Leader he had always known.
“H-how could this be…?”
Despite his doubts, his senses screamed that the man before him was indeed the Sect Leader.
This left them with no choice but to look at Ilho Shin Gae.
“E-elder. How can this be? We were told Sect Leader had passed away!”
There was anger in his voice. Ilho Shin Gae silently glared at Pung Yeong Shin Gae.
The face was certainly unfamiliar. However, this only made Ilho Shin Gae more certain that this was the real Pung Yeong Shin Gae – the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect. Only Pung Yeong Shin Gae could possess such martial prowess and remain unseen by him.
With newfound conviction, Ilho Shin Gae spoke firmly.
“What are you elders doing? Arrest that criminal immediately!”
“W-What?”
“E-elder? What do you mean…?”
The elders’ eyes were filled with astonishment.
“I said, capture that man immediately for daring to steal Beggars Sect’s martial arts and impersonate the Sect Leader!”
A formidable aura emanated from Ilho Shin Gae. The storm-like aura instantly overpowered the energy from Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s Mysterious Jade Divine Art.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae frowned and spoke softly.
“Sahyeong. Are you really going to go this far?”
Ilho Shin Gae let out a small laugh.
“Sahyeong? How dare a vile creature like you speak so freely? I’ve never had Saje like you. The one you claim to be was killed by our enemies.”
“How far are you willing to go…?”
“Impersonating the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect in the main hall is a highest offense. You will pay dearly for this.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae bit his lower lip. He had expected this response, but experiencing it firsthand was still heartbreaking.
Despite their differences, he was the rightful head of the Beggars Sect. How was he supposed to accept the fact that the members of the sect were denying their leader?
“Seize him, now!”
“Wait a moment!”
Chu Myeon Gae, who had been observing the situation closely, shouted abruptly.
“If that man is the Sect Leader, then the one who should be kneeling right now is none other than you, Ilho Shin Gae!”
At this, a flicker of doubt crossed the faces of several elders.
It was a valid point. If this man truly was Pung Yeong Shin Gae, the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect, then Ilho Shin Gae would need to face the consequences of falsely declaring his death.
However, Ilho Shin Gae remained composed and calmly asked.
“What proof do you have that this man is the Sect Leader?”
“…What?”
“Do you have any evidence?”
Chu Myeon Gae closed his mouth. Of course, there was no concrete evidence. But the voice and martial arts of this man…
“Are you saying that just because an unfamiliar person shows up and displays Beggars Sect’s martial arts, he should be recognized as the Sect Leader? Do you think the position of Beggars Sect’s Sect Leader is that easily attained?”
“That…”
“You scoundrel!”
Ilho Shin Gae’s eyes gleamed with a murderous intent as he glared at Pung Yeong Shin Gae.
“If you truly are the Sect Leader, Pung Yeong Shin Gae, then you should possess the sacred relic of the sect! Show it to us, and I will pay for my crimes with my life. Do you have the relic?”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae sighed deeply after a moment of silence and replied.
“The relic is not with me right now.”
Reactions of anticipated skepticism emerged from the crowd. Pung Yeong Shin Gae slowly shook his head and continued.
“But there is a way to retrieve the relic. If you allow me…”
“Cheonggu Dae [청구대(靑狗臺) – Green Dog Unit]! Seize that man immediately and make him kneel!”
“Yes!”
The doors behind Ilho Shin Gae opened, and a horde of fierce-eyed beggars surged into the hall.
“S-stop!”
Chu Myeon Gae yelled, hastily stepping in front of them.
“This isn’t the way to handle this!”
“Regain your senses, Elder Chu Myeon Gae.”
Ilho Shin Gae retorted in a chilling voice.
“This man doesn’t even have the sacred relic, yet he barges into our main hall claiming to be the Sect Leader. What would the world think of Beggars Sect if we were swayed by such a person?”
“…”
“The truth will come out once we capture and interrogate him. If you continue to block us, Elder Chu Myeon Gae, we will consider you are also harboring ulterior motives.”
“This… can’t be…”
Chu Myeon Gae turned around in dismay, seeking support from the other elders to calm the situation. But all he met were their cold stares.
At that moment, Chu Myeon Gae realized.
‘It doesn’t matter.’
Most of the elders didn’t care whether the man was truly Pung Yeong Shin Gae or not. Even if he was, they wouldn’t be swayed.
“How… How can you all do this?”
Chu Myeon Gae, enraged, raised his voice. Ilho Shin Gae’s mocking tone cut through the air.
“You don’t understand, Elder. Can’t you see? That man could never be Pung Yeong Shin Gae.”
“Why…”
“If that man is truly Pung Yeong Shin Gae, it means that Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect has been deceiving all of us. It would mean that the supposedly ailing Sect Leader was perfectly healthy, and all the delays and excuses were meant to throw Beggars Sect into chaos. Don’t you understand?”
Chu Myeon Gae gasped and fell silent. Ilho Shin Gae continued, his voice brimming with certainty.
“The Sect Leader I know is not such a person. No, the Sect Leader of Beggars Sect cannot be such a person! Therefore, this man cannot be Pung Yeong Shin Gae. Do you understand?”
Ilho Shin Gae glared fiercely at Pung Yeong Shin Gae.
“The Sect Leader may have been difficult to understand at times, but he always did his best for the sect. And yet, to accuse the Sect Leader, my Saje, of being an enemy trying to destroy the sect from within? You shameless scoundrel!”
“E-Elder! What are you saying…?”
“Can’t you see? Who else in this world would want to throw the Beggars Sect into disarray?”
“…”
“Are you saying my Saje, Sect Leader, became a spy for our enemies? How dare you spew such nonsense here!”
Killing intent radiated from Ilho Shin Gae’s eyes. To an observer, it would seem like he was Sahyeong fiercely defending his Saje’s honor. It was almost convincing enough to ward off any doubts.
However, the elders present here understood Ilho Shin Gae’s true intent.
If this man were indeed the Sect Leader…
If this man is truly the Sect Leader, then Beggars Sect would have to acknowledge that their Sect Leader used a nonexistent illness as an excuse to neglect his duties. They would also have to admit that the messages sent to other sects about his death were all a misunderstanding. Could there be a greater humiliation?
A sect that abandons its head and mistakenly announces his death to the world – what could be more laughable? If they were merely ridiculed, it would be a relief. Worse, they might have to admit that Beggars Sect had been misled by the schemes of Evil Sects or Demonic Cult for decades, bringing harm to Gangho. Even if they didn’t admit it, the world would undoubtedly scorn the Beggars Sect.
How could they possibly resolve such a situation?
Pung Yeong Shin Gae spoke again in a heavy voice.
“I am aware of the mistakes I have made. If I didn’t intend to correct them, I wouldn’t be standing here.”
“…”
“So, allow me to reveal the truth. As the Sect Leader, this is the first thing I must do for our sect.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ilho Shin Gae roared like thunder.
“You continue to spout nonsense! There is nothing an outsider can do for the Beggars Sect!”
“Sahyeong! No, Ilho Shin Gae!”
“Shut your mouth, you treacherous scoundrel!”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae bit his lip and looked around. By now, everyone must have realized the truth – that he truly was Pung Yeong Shin Gae, the Sect Leader. Though his appearance had changed, he was the one who had been leading the Beggars Sect all this time.
However, when he met the eyes of the elders, they either subtly averted their eyes or stared at him with icy disdain. In that moment, his heart sank, and he was rendered speechless.
“Do you have any evidence that you are the Sect Leader?”
“How dare you impersonate the Sect Leader! You scoundrel!”
“Are you mocking the Beggars Sect?”
Those who followed Ilho Shin Gae raised their voices vehemently. Even those who did not follow him dared not meet Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s gaze.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae was not originally present here.
If that were the case, then everything would be for the best, regardless of the truth.
“Elders…”
“Do not worry, Chu Myeon Gae.”
At Chu Myeon Gea’s feeble voice, Ilho Shin Gae responded with a mocking smile.
“We need to uncover the truth, so I won’t kill him. I’ll apprehend that man and find out everything about his scheme from start to finish.”
Chu Myeon Gae nodded weakly.
This wasn’t justice. Nor was it right.
But by doing this, at least the safety of the Beggars Sect could be preserved with fewer casualties.
Chu Myeon Gae glanced sideways at Pung Yeong Shin Gae. In his complex and subtle gaze, Pung Yeong Shin Gae felt a stab in his chest. His nails dug into his palms from clenching his fists too tightly, but he didn’t even feel the pain.
In the eyes of everyone present, it was abundantly clear.
A grumpy voice whispered in his ear.
“With nothing but pride, he wanted to protect them because he felt sorry for those who died with their spirits shattered, didn’t he?”
“…Geomhyeop.”
“Look closely. This is the Beggars Sect you’ve created. It’s the fate of those who only seek to protect themselves while losing what they shouldn’t have lost.”
Those words cut through Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s soul sharper than any renowned sword.
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