Chapter 1521
Now that I think about it, we did do wrong. (1)
In the dead of night, when all the disciples of Hwasan had succumbed to fatigue and fallen into a deep sleep.
Thunk.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae carefully filled the empty glass with wine. His hand, holding the bottle, exuded utmost reverence and solemnity. Placing the bottle down soundlessly, Pung Yeong Shin Gae began to speak to the person sitting across from him.
“Geomjon…”
Chung Myung chuckled softly upon hearing those words.
“Well, not anymore.”
“Then…?”
“Call me whatever you like. You can call me Geomhyeop like before, or Chung Myung. Hmm… No, Dojang. Dojang would suit me best.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s face turned a bit pale.
“How could I dare…”
“Enough.”
Chung Myung raised the glass that Pung Yeong Shin Gae had filled and drank it in one gulp.
“Krr.”
“…”
“Being old is nothing to boast about. Besides, if you think about it, I am technically younger, right?”
“That may be so, but…”
“Let’s not quibble over details. Just call me Dojang.”
“If you insist.”
Their conversation paused momentarily.
In truth, there was not much for them to discuss. Although they were aware of each other’s true identities, they lacked any significant common ground.
Of the two, Pung Yeong Shin Gae was the one who knew more about the other, so he had to continue the conversation.
“Thank you, Dojang.”
“No need for thanks,”
Chung Myung shrugged nonchalantly.
“I didn’t help you for your sake, so there’s nothing to be grateful for. Even if it wasn’t you, I would have intended to handle the Beggars Sect at some point.”
“But you wouldn’t have done it the same way as you did now, would you?”
“Hmm.”
Chung Myung neither confirmed nor denied, and gently pushed his glass forward. Pung Yeong Shin Gae quickly filled it with wine.
“I heard you’ll be leaving at dawn.”
“There’s no benefit in delaying.”
Even though things were seemingly resolved amicably, the fact remained that they had fought with the Beggars Sect. If they continued to be conspicuous, it might incite resentment within the sect.
So, in times like these, it’s best to quickly leave and let them sort things out among themselves.
A sigh escaped Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s lips.
He understood Chung Myung’s intentions. He knew it was the right thing to do. But…
“Why? Is there more you want me to do?”
“How could a person with any sense of shame ask for more? It’s just that I feel uneasy because I haven’t been able to repay even a fraction of what Geomjon has done for me.”
“Repay, you say… I’ve already received it.”
“Yes?”
Chung Myung’s gaze lifted, directed towards the ceiling, and beyond it, to the one who was sleeping there.
“It was too much of a repayment.”
His voice was tinged with bitterness.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae couldn’t say anything. He couldn’t even begin to fathom what it felt like to live alone in a world where everyone he knew was dead.
“…Thank you on behalf of my Master as well.”
“Stop with the unnecessary flattery.”
Chung Myung clicked his tongue briefly and raised his glass. This time, he drank slowly, as if savoring the taste. The bittersweet, spicy flavor lingered in his mouth. But no matter how strong the liquor, eventually, its taste would completely vanish.
“Just to be clear.”
“Yes.”
“Your teacher was definitely wrong.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae nodded readily. As a disciple, it wasn’t right to judge and acknowledge his Master’s mistakes, but even his Master had already admitted to it.
And Pung Yeong Shin Gae had witnessed the consequences of his Master’s actions with his own eyes. If Geomjon had arrived just a day later, the Beggars Sect would have fallen into the hands of Ilho Shin Gae, and the righteous spirit they were trying to rebuild would have been gravely damaged.
Then Chung Myung spoke again, his voice calm.
“But.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae looked at him intently.
“Even so, I don’t want to blame him.”
There was a bitterness in his voice that Pung Yeong Shin Gae couldn’t fully understand.
“He must have tried in his own way. Yes, he must have…”
Even though he was lonely.
The last words crumbled in Chung Myung’s mouth, unable to be spoken.
“Ahem.”
Feeling awkward, Chung Myung cleared his throat briefly. Then he looked up at the ceiling.
“Anyway… when the time is right, bury him in a sunny place.”
“Before, you said to leave him there…”
“Yes, I did.”
Chung Myung smiled faintly.
“I couldn’t overcome my own feelings. It’s best for those who have left not to leave any regrets. Whether it’s good or bad, it’s all up to those who remain to bear the burden.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae silently agreed. Even if he couldn’t understand everything, he knew that Chung Myung’s words carried goodwill.
Chung Myung glanced at him and added,
“Don’t blame yourself either.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae smiled gently.
“I’m satisfied just having the opportunity to atone for the sins.”
“You’re brave.”
At that moment, Pung Yeong Shin Gae couldn’t help but laugh.
The words “you’re brave” sounded like praise for a child. Of course, to Chung Myung, Pung Yeong Shin Gae was indeed just a child.
“It’s true that Uncle Hong is somewhat clumsy. But…”
“Yes. The Beggars Sect was never perfect from the start.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae smiled, as if he already knew what Chung Myung wanted to say.
“I’m not sure if he will become a great Sect Leader, but I believe the Beggars Sect will become a great place under his rule.”
“Hmm.”
“That would be the better path. It would have been better if we had realized it sooner.”
Chung Myung nodded, as if to say that was enough, and drank the wine Pung Yeong Shin Gae had poured. There were no further words – he had said all he wanted to say.
However, Pung Yeong Shin Gae still had something to ask him.
“Geomjon.”
Instead of answering, Chung Myung slightly narrowed his eyes.
Not Dojang, but Geomjon. Pung Yeong Shin Gae wasn’t foolish enough to have already forgotten their previous conversation.
“Will you keep fighting?”
So, this was a question asked not as a member of the Beggars Sect to someone from Hwasan, but as one martial artist to another.
Thud.
Placing his glass down, Chung Myung answered calmly.
“I will.”
“…You know, don’t you, Geomjon?”
The main reason the Beggars Sect had become corrupted.
It was because, no matter how hard they struggled, they ultimately concluded that they could never stop the approaching dark tide.
“He will return.”
Chung Myung turned his head to look out the window.
“Stronger than before… much stronger.”
The torches, still being tended to by those recovering, flickered across Kaifeng, spreading light.
Light was evidence that people were alive.
And ‘he’ was the one who devoured the light.
Wherever he passed, the lights vanished, and the world would eventually return to its primordial state.
In Chung Myung’s mind, he vividly saw the image of the lights in Kaifeng being extinguished one by one, as if being consumed by something.
No matter how hard they tried, it was a natural disaster that couldn’t be stopped by any means. That dark tide…
“Hmm.”
Chung Myung exhaled briefly, as if trying to push away the encroaching feeling.
“So?”
“Yes?”
“What do you want to do about him coming back?”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s face showed a momentary expression of confusion.
“Well, that is…”
“Sure, if that bastard does come back, it’ll feel like you’re caught in a landslide while just stepping out to take a piss.”
“…”
“But…”
Chung Myung grinned.
“Would I be the only one to feel that way?”
“…Pardon?”
“That bastard will get hit by the landslide too, you know? He barely comes back to life only to find the guy who chopped his head off is still around.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae felt like he had been struck on the head.
He had never considered it that way before.
“I’m not the one who’ll be whining about it being too much. That bastard will be way more scared. Wouldn’t his neck feel itchy?”
“Hah… haha…”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae laughed. He began to understand why this man, unlike his Master, had not crumbled.
Chung Myung laughed too.
“And, you know, the way of the world isn’t about doing things that are easy. It’s about making the impossible possible. That’s how humanity has come this far.”
Pung Yeong Shin Gae nodded in agreement.
“You are absolutely right.”
“And as for me, forget the Heavenly Demon or whatever, I’m already stressed out just thinking about that bastard down there.”
“You mean Paegun.”
“Yeah. If you guys had just acted like decent people, it wouldn’t have come to this. What? ‘Jang Ilso is in Sichuan!’”
Chung Myung said mockingly, his eyes flaring angrily. Pung Yeong Shin Gae bowed his head deeply.
“Even if I had ten mouths…”
“Damn bastards.”
Chung Myung clicked his tongue in irritation.
“I’m not asking you to sacrifice yourselves.”
“…”
“If sacrifice is inevitable, I’ll be the one at the front. So don’t feel resentful.”
“I will keep that in mind, Geomjon. No… Dojang.”
That was enough.
If, in the past, the authority over the world had been held by Maehwa Geomjon instead of Gupailbang, the Beggars Sect of that time wouldn’t have had to shed tears of blood through sacrifice.
It’s not death that’s frightening, but a meaningless death.
Chung Myung lifted the bottle and filled Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s glass. Pung Yeong Shin Gae quickly accepted it, flinching slightly.
“You drink too.”
“I wouldn’t dare…”
“You too…”
“Yes?”
Chung Myung cleared his throat and then, in a slightly smaller voice, continued.
“You’ve been through a lot too.”
For a moment, Pung Yeong Shin Gae was at a loss for words, staring blankly at Chung Myung. Soon, a gentle smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Chung Myung snapped brusquely.
“What are you doing? Drink up!”
“Yes, Geomjon.”
Words about changing and showing a different Beggars Sect from now on were meaningless.
‘Master.’
As he downed his drink, Pung Yeong Shin Gae closed his eyes quietly.
‘This person seems to be different from what you told me.’
This man is not a leader.
Yes, this man is… someone you want to follow.
❀ ❀ ❀
Early morning.
“Ugh…”
“Why is this guy in such a state?”
“I don’t know. They say he drank himself to death.”
“A so-called top martial artist of Hwasan! Hey! Aren’t you going to shake off that drunkenness quickly?”
“Leave him be. He insists on getting the full value of the alcohol he drank, even if it kills him.”
Watching the half-wilted Chung Myung, the disciples of Hwasan all sighed in unison.
“So what do we do with him?”
“We have no choice. We’ll have to carry him…”
“Carry him?”
“If you don’t want to, step aside. I’ll…”
“Ugh, ugh…”
“…”
Baek Cheon turned pale at the sight of Chung Myung vomiting something from his stomach. He quickly turned around as if he’d never offered to help.
“Let’s just leave him here.”
“Carry him, Sasuk.”
“You should set an example as a senior!”
“Sh-shut up!”
At that moment, Chung Myung shook his head vigorously and grabbed his forehead.
“Ugh… I’m dying.”
That beggar, his tolerance for alcohol is ridiculously high. For someone who looks so bland.
At that moment, Tang Soso tilted her head in confusion.
“Are we really leaving just like this?”
“Why not?”
“Shouldn’t there be a farewell party or something…”
“No way. The headquarters is in ruins, with people wailing. What kind of farewell do you expect?”
“We’re lucky if we don’t get beaten up.”
“It’s not our fault, right?”
Tang Soso frowned slightly in protest. Baek Cheon gave a bitter smile.
“We’ll be seeing the Beggars Sect again soon enough, so let’s just leave quietly.”
“Hmm. This isn’t like you. Are you serious, Sasuk?”
Tang Soso narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Baek Cheon, whose face showed a slightly embarrassed expression.
“Can I be honest?”
“Of course. What’s there to hide between us?”
“Well, uh… Shaolin and Lee Sohyeop left without a word of thanks, and if we linger here, making a fuss about a farewell, it would be…”
“Let’s leave immediately.”
“Quickly, let’s go.”
“Just thinking about it is too embarrassing.”
“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”
Everyone quickly came to an agreement. They needed to get out of there immediately.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“No, it’s fine to go, but what about this guy?”
“Please, Geol-ah!”
“Stay strong, Sahyeong!”
“Huh?”
Jo Geol just stood with his mouth open while holding Chung Myung, who was totally out. His Sahyeongs had suddenly moved far away.
“That pathetic….”
“Uweeeeek!”
“….”
Ah. Disgusting.
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