Chapter: 156
What on earth is this garbage? (2)
When we talk about the Beggar’s Sect (개방), it is the faction responsible for the rooms of the Ten Sect Alliance (구파일방), in charge of collecting information for the Orthodox Faction.
If the Murim Alliance (무림맹) is considered the heart of the Orthodox Faction, then the Beggar’s Sect serves as its eyes and ears.
You might ask how just one faction can handle such a crucial task.
Well, it’s because most of the beggars in the Central Plains are part of the Beggar’s Sect.
That alone should be enough for you to get the picture.
Even in the central city of Hanam, beggars are a given.
All the gossip and whispers that many people spill can turn into a lifeline for them.
Big and small bits of information naturally pile up.
There’s a saying that a pile of dust can turn into a mountain.
Successful merchants will say that dust is just dust, and that it’ll never amount to a mountain.
However, if that dust accumulates like waves, coming in endlessly, it could very well become a mountain.
And that’s how the Beggar’s Sect operates regarding information.
There’s no such thing as useless information in this world.
What might seem useless to me could be invaluable to someone else. So, the amount of gathered information in a day can’t be counted.
As the number of beggars in the Central Plains increases, so too will the influence of the Beggar’s Sect.
Of course, compared to other factions in the Ten Sect Alliance, their fighting strength might seem a bit shabby, and since they are made up of beggars, the quality may appear low.
However, the reason they can still maintain a position within the Ten Sect Alliance is that many recognize the power of the information they possess.
Chuwong has been living as a member of the Beggar’s Sect for nearly forty years.
He was taken in as a disciple by the Great Beggar, Wibongchu-gyeon (우봉취견), at the age of five, which explains his lengthy tenure.
Though this fact isn’t widely known, Chuwong is seen as a capable figure with a decent standing within the sect.
‘Knowing all this, that damned old man still makes me do this lowly job for ten years.’
Ten long years stuck in Hanam.
He had been promised a proper position after finishing this task, and yet here he was, a decade later, still waiting.
‘Chuwong, you foolish hobo, were there really no better options than trusting the words of a fellow beggar?’
Do you know what new members of the Beggar’s Sect are taught first?
That all beggars in the world are family and that they must trust each other to survive.
‘What utter nonsense.’
Chuwong, or rather, even just five years into being in the Beggar’s Sect—no, one or two years in—would have figured that out.
Beggars shouldn’t trust one another.
Could you honestly believe in bonds among those living only for the day? When they’re starving, they’ll even eat each other.
‘But I’m the crazy one for believing that. Tsk, tsk.’
—My disciple.
—Yes.
—Hiccup… once this task is over, I’ll pass you the position of the Second Beggar. So you better… hiccup… do it well…
The position of the Second Beggar is the third highest rank in the sect.
With such a position, one could lead a relatively carefree life in the Central Plains.
‘…A carefree life for a beggar, how ironic.’
Chuwong knew better than anyone the harsh reality of being a beggar; he didn’t feel particularly excited about such a status.
But he pushed these thoughts aside and focused on the boy before him.
He was surely going to be the main character in one of the most renowned incidents in the Central Plains today.
And perhaps soon, he would make a name for himself throughout the region.
‘That kid has a scary look about him.’
He looked young—probably younger than the members under the Fifth Beggar within his jurisdiction.
‘But he…’
Such a young martial artist had crossed a wall that even Chuwong struggled to breach.
Moreover, he seemed remarkably adept at using his body, as if he had long since unified his Qi and physical form.
Talent; that chilling word struck him hard today.
“So…”
The young voice delivered short words, but its tone was rather cool.
“Why did you come to see me?”
The boy showed a moment of surprise but quickly reverted to a nonchalant demeanor.
Though he didn’t seem like a troublemaker, something about him gave off an odd air.
But…
‘…Is this kid looking down on me?’
The boy did not regard him lightly.
And it made Chuwong rethink his initial impression.
The tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes (용봉지회) was ostensibly an event for young prodigies to gather connections, but it served a deeper purpose—clarifying the ranking among the Orthodox Faction’s clans.
You could tell this just by observing the banquet.
Young prodigies were seated according to their clans’ strengths and their contributions to the Alliance.
They were even given different treatments at the martial arts arena and other areas.
But discrimination was rampant even amongst the blood relatives of noble clans.
Yet if Chuwong were to question if that was wrong, he would say no.
That was simply the way of the world.
Of course, it could be said that someone with overwhelming talent could rise above it and become the next star.
But that’s an unchangeable law.
A talent rivaling that of a noble clan, unless bestowed by the heavens, is virtually impossible.
The current Dragons and Phoenixes all came from noble bloodlines.
Miracles remain miracles because they are yearned for.
And Chuwong understood this very well.
Being looked down upon by the noble clans was a given.
They are born into their positions, exploiting them as they go.
But Chuwong? He was just a beggar.
He might have the name of a disciple of one of the Great Beggars, giving him a decent standing in the Beggar’s Sect…
But to the noble clans, he was still just an ordinary beggar.
Sure, they might have noticed he was affiliated with the Beggar’s Sect by his presence at the duel, but that did not earn him any special treatment.
‘Big deal if I’m from the Beggar’s Sect; I’m still just a beggar in the end.’
Evidence of their efforts to distance themselves hinted they didn’t even want to engage in conversation.
Two-faced reactions always marked a beggar’s life.
Chuwong had long surpassed the stage of being hurt by such things.
Instead, he utilized these perceptions as a tool to gauge others.
Just like now.
The Gu clan from Shanxi might not be one of the Four Noble Clans, yet they were a renowned household.
The boy, Gu Yangcheon, was practically confirmed to be the Young Lord of his clan, leading Chuwong to anticipate a strong personality…
‘But in contrast to my expectations…’
His eyes reflected neither scorn nor disdain; rather, there was a sense of guardedness.
Yet, even that seemed so dim that it was hard to gauge his true nature.
Chuwong hadn’t encountered many whom he felt this way about.
Peng Woojin from the Peng clan and the Sword Dragon from Mount Hua also held such an air.
He had never encountered the Water Dragon…
And as for the Sword Phoenix? Chuwong would rather not remember her.
In fact, he grappled more with memories of martial artists from the previous generation than with those of the current one.
And when considering the leadership positions those martial artists held, he had to reassess his impression of Gu Yangcheon.
“It’s nothing much… thanks to Young Master Gu’s performance in today’s duel, the Beggar’s Sect holds a very favorable view of you.”
“The Beggar’s Sect thinks well of me?”
“Of course! How could we ignore you?”
After defeating the Lightning Dragon as if it were a dog, how could he?
Moreover, the prowess shown at the very start of the duel was simply beyond what Chuwong could attempt to match.
Chuwong decided to flatter Gu Yangcheon a bit more.
“Maybe you might even become the new Heavenly Dragon—”
Just then, Chuwong saw Gu Yangcheon smirk suddenly.
And that smile undeniably held a hint of derision.
“Heavenly Dragon, huh?”
Chuwong’s back began conducting a gentle sweat as the cold vibe enveloped him.
Huh?
Could this be out of nowhere, or did the boy take offense?
‘If that’s not it, maybe he’s thinking that I see him as a mere Heavenly Dragon because he’s so arrogant.’
‘That’s understandable; reaching the peak realm at such a young age could foster arrogance.’
After all, arrogance often came from confidence and passion.
However, that wasn’t what escaped from Gu Yangcheon’s lips.
“That title belongs to Shaolin, doesn’t it?”
His voice was slow, cold—akin to the atmosphere of the current season.
It was not mere speculation.
It felt like certainty.
Chuwong was forced to keep smiling.
“Hahaha! What brings Shaolin into this all of a sudden?”
He made sure not to show his shock.
With years of experience in life as a beggar, he had perfected the art of masking his true emotions.
Yet, inside, it felt as if a violent earthquake was shaking his thoughts.
‘How… Did he know?’
Just as Gu Yangcheon had said, the next generation’s Heavenly Dragon title had already been set.
Information like that would typically be shared only among the Murim Alliance, Shaolin, and select individuals within the Beggar’s Sect.
‘That’s what it should be, so how does this boy know?’
‘And not just knowing it was marked out, but he specifically pointed at Shaolin!’
‘How far does his knowledge extend, and how does he know it?’
While Chuwong gazed intensely at Gu Yangcheon, the boy chuckled and continued.
“Never mind if I’m wrong, though.”
There seemed to be no urgency in his tone.
‘But why?’
Chuwong sunk deeper into contemplation.
Being the Heavenly Dragon was a goal for every young prodigy in the Central Plains.
It symbolized superiority among the elite.
If this boy already knew that someone else held that title…
‘Why doesn’t Gu Yangcheon feel a shred of anger?’
“Did you just come here to talk?”
“No, it’s not quite like that, but…”
Chuwong felt his conversational grip slipping away.
With each of Gu Yangcheon’s words, it felt like he was gradually taking the reins.
It was all about the atmosphere.
The boy said nothing, just waiting for Chuwong to speak.
He didn’t appear hurried either, as if he had no particular desires.
And he didn’t come off as someone easy to converse with—not with that noble background.
‘…Like I’m talking to a clan elder or something.’
That might be a stretch, but that truly was how Chuwong felt.
His intent was to examine what kind of person Gu Yangcheon was.
But his own intuition also led him here.
For some reason, the Beggar’s Sect had been focusing on a boy named Jang Seonyeon, the child of the Harmonic Sword.
They probably made a deal with the Murim Alliance.
‘But what that deal is, I’m not sure.’
Yet, Chuwong had no intention of rejecting that order.
He had long been resigned to living at the bottom rungs of society and had no dreams of becoming a hero.
But after seeing Gu Yangcheon, the thought struck him.
‘A side hustle wouldn’t be too bad, right?’
The perk of his job was this.
He could discover a bright star shining through the rest faster than anyone else.
And if the timing felt right, he could worm his way in like he was now.
Though if the sect discovered this, it could cause trouble.
‘I must find my way to survive, you know.’
Chuwong knew the sect would never lend him support, no matter how many years passed.
He’d told them he’d find his own means to survive, but they were also obstructive with that.
‘Guess I’ll have to fend for myself. I might starve to death at this rate.’
Of course, he didn’t let those thoughts show on the surface.
Meanwhile, Gu Yangcheon, staring hard at Chuwong…
‘Isn’t he… the Beggar King?’
He already knew who Chuwong was.
The Fighting Dog, Chuwong.
A man also known as the Beggar King.
The world began to fall under demonic humans’ influence…
This was undoubtedly a calamity for beggars too.
Calamity did not discriminate.
Though the Beggar’s Sect survived through information, they were incredibly feeble in terms of martial strength.
Moreover, they lacked any kind of unity.
Thus, they were merely left waiting for death.
While they sought help, the Orthodox Faction had no means of responding.
Their lives held no worth to others.
With their own survival at stake, no one would take the time to save the lives of beggars.
Yet the Beggar King became a figure of miracles for all beggars.
He unified the scattered, trembling beggars awaiting death.
During the demonic human conflict, he was a major player in repelling the Heavenly Demon, with Wi Seol-Ah as the leader.
His survival instincts were remarkable, or rather, he had clear instincts.
‘And this man is living in such a state now.’
The man who used to scramble to save another beggar in his past life seems like an ordinary beggar at present.
‘…Though, even in the future, he remains a beggar.’
A more capable beggar would probably mean an exceptional beggar, right?
I watched as Chuwong smiled and spoke, now having to plan my next moves.
‘I didn’t expect such an early approach from him.’
Anticipating that once I beat Namgung Cheonjun, people from either the Alliance or the Beggar’s Sect would approach me wasn’t unusual.
I just didn’t anticipate it happening this quickly.
‘Is he acting on his own?’
It certainly looked that way from my perspective.
I had no intention of figuring out what he was planning, but his interest in establishing ties with me seemed apparent.
‘Not so shabby.’
The Beggar’s Sect is essentially an organization officially recognized by the Murim Alliance.
Even though the Murim Alliance was rotten from the inside, they still held substantial prestige globally, making them useful.
‘Especially when we speak of the Fighting Dog,’
If my memory serves me, he should be a disciple of one of the Great Beggars.
He said he officially took the seat of a Great Beggar when he managed to unify all beggars.
Since the staff Chuwong now wielded was a treasure of the Beggar’s Sect usually used by the Great Beggars, building ties with him would definitely be beneficial.
He seemed to have wishes of his own anyway.
However,
“Your name is Master Chuwong, correct?”
“No, no… Young Master Gu shouldn’t call me Master. I’m merely a beggar living on the streets…”
“We can discuss the details after the tournament ends. Right now feels a bit premature for the discussion.”
“Ahh…! Oh no, I think I rushed here too much…! Time is the only thing I’ve got, so I, Chuwong, am grateful to Young Master Gu for not refusing me.”
His humble demeanor seemed exaggerated to the point it made me uncomfortable.
He didn’t behave this way in my past life.
—Even if my body perishes, my spirit will live on!
I completely recalled how he looked when he bit off a demon’s ear.
He appeared rather impressive back then.
“Hehehe…”
However, witnessing his silly smile left me rather at a loss for words.
‘…Anyway, I better save any discussions until after the tournament ends.’
I had no special reason for it.
It was simply because my standing would carry far more weight upon tournament conclusion.
Much instead of engaging him now would feel like wasting an opportunity for later.
“It’s been such an honor to share this moment with you…!”
“…Yep.”
Though Chuwong feigned indifference, he likely shared a feeling of disappointment.
Our conversation had yielded little.
And he probably had similar thoughts to mine.
After all, he would know that my worth would change after the tournament.
That was likely a tricky situation for the Beggar’s Sect.
“We shall meet again for sure.”
With those final words, I waved my hand.
Chuwong halted his joyful demeanor upon seeing my hand swift and abruptly froze.
‘What’s going on with him?’
I recognized it was an act but didn’t expect his mask to crack so suddenly.
Of course, it was just a moment. Chuwong quickly resumed his smile.
Without delay, he grasped my hand.
“After the tournament, I will definitely come to visit again!”
Once the brief exchange was over, Chuwong bowed repeatedly with each step he took away.
How long does he plan to keep doing that…?
It was startling to realize the Beggar King had such innocent aspects back in his younger days.
After sending Chuwong off, I walked back to my barrack.
It wasn’t a long conversation, so not much time had passed since I left.
“…Hmm?”
Upon entering, I found Namgung Bi-ah sleeping atop Wi Seol-Ah’s knees.
I rushed forward, shaking Namgung Bi-ah to wake her.
“Ommph…”
“Are you serious? How can you be sleeping!? Didn’t you say there’s a duel on?”
Though my conversation with Chuwong was short, plenty of time had elapsed for Namgung Bi-ah’s duel to have already begun.
Dear goodness, what kind of lunatic sleeps through a duel?
“Hmmgh…”
“Quit sleep-talking and wake up alrea—”
“…I already finished and came back…”
I halted, startled by her mumble.
“What did you just say?”
After repeating my question, thinking I misheard her.
“The duel… I finished… It’s all good…”
But the answer remained unchanged.
She got back after finishing already? In this short amount of time…?
Then what about Gu Jeolyub…?
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