Chapter 1522
Now that I think about it, we did do wrong. (2)
Paaaat.
In the time when the dew from last night had not yet fully dried, a group of ten or so people raced along the official road.
“How long will it take to get to Shaanxi?”
“If there are no problems, it should take about two days at most.”
“Two days… Once we get there, there will be a mountain of work waiting for us, right?”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Even in this situation, you’re already thinking about how to slack off. That’s the problem.”
“…Still, by now, shouldn’t most of it be finished?”
“There will be endless minor tasks. No matter what…”
“Yeah. Managing people isn’t easy. Just having more people creates more work, you know? That’s why it’s tough for us.”
The faces of the disciples of Hwasan turned simultaneously in one direction. For some reason, they had a feeling that their conversation had been repeatedly interrupted by an outsider.
“But.”
“Yes?”
“Is it alright for you to be here?”
Receiving everyone’s gaze, Hong Daekwang shamelessly faced them with an expression that seemed to ask, ‘Is there a problem?’
“Why?”
“Amitabha. Shouldn’t you be worrying about the Beggars Sect that is in ruins rather than being here with Cheonumaeng?”
“Tsk, tsk. As a monk who only lives in the mountains, you are ignorant of the ways of the world.”
“…What?”
Hong Daekwang shrugged with a self-important air and said,
“Originally, the position of a Sect Leader is not to handle such trivial matters. Fostering relationships between the sects is the most important duty.”
“…”
“So, what do you think is the most important thing for me right now? It’s the relationship with Cheonumaeng! And within Cheonumaeng, it’s the relationship with all of you, who are its core members! Strengthening these relationships is all part of the job!”
“But those relationships are falling apart right now.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Ugh…”
The disciples of Hwasan sighed in unison. They thought they had left cleanly, but a troublesome burden had attached itself to them.
That burden even started poking and annoying Chung Myung.
“Hey, Hwasan Shinryong. Get up already. How long are you going to sleep? I know it’s comfortable lying on the broad back of the Flashing Blade.”
Jo Geol, who had been running with a sullen face, asked Baek Cheon.
“Sasuk, can I hit this guy?”
“…Don’t do that. He’s the future Sect Leader.”
“We hit the future Sect Leader of our sect, too.”
“…Did you hit me?”
Jo Geol quickly avoided Baek Cheon’s gaze.
At that moment, Chung Myung groaned and shifted his head. Something dripped from his slightly open mouth.
“Ugh! It’s wet! Don’t drool, you bastard!”
“Ugh… Don’t yell. My head is pounding.”
“How much did you drink?”
“Urgh…”
“O-Oh, no!”
Jo Geol threw off the person clinging to his back. Chung Myung spun in the air and landed on the ground.
“Uweeeeeek!”
“…Ten points.”
“Yeah, I give ten points too.”
“With added artistic flair for the finish, eleven points.”
“Shouldn’t that be a deduction?”
Chung Myung clutched his chest and shook his head vigorously. His hangover seemed to be quite severe.
“Hey, Hwasan Shinryong, are you alright… Ahhhh! Don’t wipe your vomit with my sleeve!”
“…It’s a rag anyway.”
“What are you saying! You lunatic!”
Hong Daekwang shuddered and quickly fled from Chung Myung. Chung Myung staggered and grumbled.
“Ugh. This is killing me. Just how strong is that guy’s alcohol…?”
“Oh, the Sect Leader? Our Sect Leader is famous for his drinking prowess. Not many people have drunk with him, so it’s not widely known. Oh, don’t even get me started. There was this one time…”
“Oh, spare me. I’m not interested in your old stories.”
Wounded in his pride, Hong Daekwang sulked immediately. Chung Myung paid no heed and asked with a straight face.
“More importantly… why are you here?”
“I told you, I’m going to Cheonumaeng.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean why? I need to greet the Sect Le… I mean, the Alliance Leader, and ask for his future guidance.”
Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“You didn’t just run away to avoid work, did you?”
“Hey! What do you take Hong Daekwang for!”
Chung Myung seriously contemplated. If he truly cared about the future of the Beggars Sect, perhaps burying this guy here wouldn’t be such a bad idea…
“Well, there’s that, but right now, it’s not beneficial for me to stay there.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
When Chung Myung asked, Hong Daekwang clicked his tongue and explained.
“Since Sect Leader and Ilho Shin Gae declared they would give me the position of the Sect Leader, the elders are going to be frantically searching for me.”
“…Why?”
“That’s just how they operate. Since the old power has weakened, they’ll try to attach themselves to the new power. If I stay in Kaifeng, I won’t be able to avoid that situation.”
“Hmm.”
“If I just push them away recklessly, they’ll feel threatened. The best thing is to stay out of sight.”
Chung Myung made a displeased expression, but upon reflection, Hong Daekwang’s words made sense.
“I get what you’re saying, but isn’t that necessarily a bad thing? Them attaching to you means they’re willing to submit.”
“It’s not necessarily bad! Those old foxes are cunning. They’ll pretend to bow down but will try to manipulate me.”
“Well, that’s to be expected.”
Hong Daekwang snorted.
“And! Even though the current Sect Leader said he would cover up the elders’ wrongdoings, I have no intention of doing that. If they committed crimes, they should pay for them.”
Hong Daekwang’s eyes were resolute, as if he had already made up his mind. Chung Myung looked at him with newfound respect.
“Huh? What are you planning to do? Those guys didn’t leave you alone out of affection. The Beggars Sect already has a weak roster of experts, so if you kick them all out, it will really just be a bunch of beggars.”
“Kicking them out? That’s nonsense. If I kick them out, they’ll just find some place to live leisurely. How is that a punishment? It’s a reward.”
“…Then?”
“I’m going to push them all to the front lines.”
“…What?”
Chung Myung was momentarily taken aback. What was this beggar saying right now?
“There’s no need to sacrifice the regular beggars. I’ll shove all the elders into the front lines with Sapaeryeon and cut off their support. I’ll treat them just like any other beggar. Oh, and I’ll strip them of all their privileges, too.”
“…That far?”
“You don’t understand because you’re an outsider.”
Hong Daekwang snorted.
“Sect Leader talks about direction and all that, but it’s all nonsense. In my opinion, the main reason the Beggars Sect is in shambles is that the elders have forgotten what it’s like to live as beggars. They need to be cold and hungry again to understand the struggles of the beggars and the suffering of the powerless. So, I’m going to work those elders to the bone.”
Chung Myung blinked.
“I mean, I get your point, but…”
“Right? You understand too, don’t you?”
“No, but who’s going to handle the aftermath? A spear is fair to everyone. Even if you’re tough, the elders’ spears won’t be something you can withstand.”
“Hahaha. That’s why I’m heading to Cheonumaeng right now, isn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“Hwasan Shinryong!”
Hong Daekwang grabbed Chung Myung’s hand.
“Save me!”
“…”
“You don’t have to come personally. If Cheonumaeng sends some elite forces from the Tang clan or Namgung clan, and you protect me until what I’ve said gets stabilized…”
Thwack!
“Ack!”
In the middle of speaking, Hong Daekwang suddenly fell forward with a resounding smack.
“What? Sect Leader?”
Standing where Hong Daekwang had fallen was Pung Yeong Shin Gae, who had appeared without a sound. His face, looking down at Hong Daekwang, was a complicated mix of annoyance, anger, and exasperation.
The disciples of Hwasan nodded in understanding. Sect Leader, we completely understand your feelings.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae bowed slightly.
“…Sorry for the trouble.”
Then he grabbed one of Hong Daekwang’s ankles.
“I’ll get him officially seated as the Sect Leader and then send him to make official greetings properly.”
“Please do.”
With that, Pung Yeong Shin Gae vanished like a mirage, dragging the limp Hong Daekwang behind him. His movement skills were indeed worthy of the title of “Muheun” (Muheun Gae- Traceless Beggar).
“…It’s karma.”
“Justice prevails.”
“Even nonsense has its limits before we stop listening.”
Does it even make sense for someone who is supposed to inherit Sect Leader’s position to leave the Beggars Sect right now?
At that moment, a look of doubt and shock crossed Baek Cheon’s face. Noticing this, Yoon Jong asked.
“What’s wrong, Sasuk? Is something amiss?”
“No, it’s just that the story about Sect Leader being a renowned drinker seems to be true… Chung Myung drank with him all night long, and no matter how much internal energy he uses to dispel the alcohol, it’s hard to believe he’d be this fine…”
All eyes turned to Chung Myung.
He was busy.
“Uweeeeeek!”
“…So it wasn’t Pung Yeong Shin Gae but Jugwi Shin Gae [주귀(酒鬼) – Divine Drunkard Beggar].”
There is always someone better. The disciples of Hwasan realized this undeniable truth anew.
“Ugh… We’ve finally arrived.”
“It felt like we got here in no time on the way there, but it took forever coming back.”
“It just feels that way. Or maybe it’s because we’re tired,”
Tang Soso said, and Baek Cheon nodded in agreement. They were returning after a fierce battle without having had proper rest. Naturally, they were exhausted.
But they couldn’t afford to delay any longer. No one knew better than them how much work was piled up at Hwaeum.
“At least we’ve got something to report now that we’ve arrived.”
“True. If we’d come back empty-handed, we wouldn’t have had any excuses even if we got beaten to death.”
“When you think about it, didn’t we essentially run away in the middle of everyone else working? We should be grateful if we aren’t hung upside down in a fire pit.
A collective sigh escaped them. Things had turned out well, fortunately…
On the way back, newly revived Chung Myung spoke nonchalantly.
“If the results are good, then it’s all good.”
“You’re going to get seriously hurt one of these days.”
“He has already been hurt many times, Sahyeong. The problem is that he never learns.”
“…That’s true.”
Baek Cheon stretched his shoulders wide. The process had been tough, but they had managed to secure the Beggars Sect’s cooperation and even built a subtle relationship with Shaolin. Considering the time spent, it was an enormous achievement.
He felt strangely triumphant, like a victorious general returning home.
“This feeling is something I haven’t experienced in a while.”
“Right? Recently, I don’t think we’ve returned with such excitement.”
“I want to take a bath.”
“Hurry up and go bathe and rest, Sago!”
“Alright, let’s go.”
With confident strides, Baek Cheon headed toward Hwaeum. Before they had taken more than a few steps, someone lingering near the village entrance spotted them and quickly ran toward Hwasan’s disciples.
“Isn’t that Un Geom Sasukjo?”
“Did he already hear that we were coming?”
With joy and anticipation, bright smiles spread across everyone’s faces. Although they had only been apart for a few days, meeting here felt incredibly heartwarming and delightful.
Un Geom also seemed to welcome them, running toward them with both arms… no, with one arm extended.
“He’s really welcoming us!”
“Haha, not that we did anything extraordinary!”
Chung Myung stuck out his belly confidently, eager to step forward, but Baek Cheon grabbed the back of his collar and pulled him back.
“…Ouch! You pulled too hard!”
“Move aside!”
Baek Cheon pushed Chung Myung back and greeted Un Geom, who was rushing toward them, with a bright smile.
“Sasuk! Safely completing our mission and returning…”
Baek Cheon’s greeting wasn’t fully completed. Like a bolt of lightning, Un Geom’s knee struck squarely against Baek Cheon’s forehead.
“Kweeee!”
Baek Cheon emitted an uncharacteristic pig-like squeak as he was knocked backwards.
‘Huh? What’s going on?’
‘Did I see things?’
The disciples of Hwasan stood frozen for a moment, staring at Un Geom. And then they faced him.
It was a sight they had never seen before, akin to a demon itself, Un Geom blazed with rage.
“Sa… Sasukjo?”
“You…”
In Un Geom’s eyes, a profound murderous intent surged.
“Were you parading Jongnam’s uniform while infiltrating Kaifeng? In the midst of it all destroying the headquarters of the Beggars Sect? Is that true?”
“Um…?”
Th-that… um… true? Um… Well, it is true.
“W-wait a moment. Sasukjo! Please listen! There are circumstances behind all of that!”
“The disciples of Hwasan…”
Un Geom didn’t withdraw his intense aura but instead gritted his teeth ominously.
“You dare wear Jongnam’s uniform?”
Ah… It wasn’t about toppling the headquarters of the Beggars Sect – it was about wearing Jongnam’s robes. There’s no room for excuses there.
“I’ll make sure to correct your rotten minds thoroughly today.”
“S-Sasukjo!”
“No, listen to me first!”
“Silence!”
Transformed into a raging Asura, Un Geom lunged towards Five Swords, glowing with murderous aura, and leapt into the air. Moments later, a desperate howl echoed in all directions.
Years later, Chung Myung would recall this day thus:
There existed something in the world scarier than the Heavenly Demon.
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