Chapter 58

The Beggar Sect's Hougae (1)

Rumors that Cheon Muyang had slain Cheonmyeon Eumma spread in an instant.

However, what was discussed even more fervently than that was Cheon Muyang's declaration of righteous chivalry before Cheonmyeon Eumma's severed head.

『The Cheon Clan has declared that it will raise fallen righteous chivalry once more.』

『And the one who made this declaration was not the Cheon Clan's head, but its butcher-like eldest son, Cheon Muyang.』

Because of this, there were many who remained doubtful.

There were even those who believed that the very fact that Cheon Muyang had killed Cheonmyeon Eumma had been distorted.

However, at the very least, those who had been present that day were certain.

That both the Cheon Clan and Cheon Muyang had unmistakably changed.

"What I saw that day with my own eyes was no lie."

"Hm. Is that so?"

"Yes!"

Two beggars were in conversation.

An old beggar and a young beggar.

They wore similar clothes, but the number of knots tied at their waists was different.

"So, brat."

"Yes?"

"So what are you trying to say?"

"No, I mean— that butcher eldest son isn't a butcher anymore. He's become a chivalrous warrior who slew none other than Cheonmyeon Eumma!"

The young beggar's face was flushed with excitement.

Seeing this, the old beggar clicked his tongue.

"You little fool. So what if that good-for-nothing butcher finally came to his senses? What's so remarkable about that!"

"How can you say that? In this desolate martial world, who even dares to speak of righteous chivalry anymore? Just wait and see. Before long, he'll turn the entire martial world upside down."

"Tsk. You damned brat."

"Why!"

"You've already brought a tail with you, haven't you!"

"Huh?"

The old beggar hurriedly reached out and roughly untied the knot at the young beggar's waist.

Then, he suddenly sprawled flat on the ground and began playing dumb.

"Is anyone here?"

A voice came from outside.

The young beggar immediately recognized its owner.

It was that voice— the one that had left such a deep impression on him not long ago.

"Huh?"

"Excuse me."

The one who revealed himself was the Cheon Clan's butcher-like eldest son— Cheon Muyang.

The young beggar clapped a hand over his mouth.

At the same time, the old beggar sprang up in exaggerated surprise.

"Oh my, what brings you to such a filthy place!"

It truly looked like the performance of a beggar.

Cheon Muyang and the young beggar thought at the same time.

'What masterful acting.'

'What masterful acting.'

As if he knew their thoughts, the old beggar pressed himself flat against the floor once more.

Twitch!

Even the subtle glance he shot toward the young beggar was perfectly timed.

'Good grief.'

The young beggar awkwardly dropped down beside him.

"Aiii!"

With painfully clumsy acting.

Snrk.

Cheon Muyang chuckled as he watched the two.

Then, without caring that the floor was filthy, he sat down as well.

"...!"

Cheon Muyang was clearly smiling.

Yet the old beggar, lying flat against the ground, felt his heart drop.

In an instant, he sensed that the very flow of the air had changed.

'No— what in the world is this...!'

It became hard just to breathe.

This crushing pressure around his heart—

It felt as though a razor-sharp blade were pressed against his neck.

Shiver!

His entire body trembled.

It wasn't just that he was lying flat.

An unfathomable force was pressing down on his whole body.

'What kind of sorcery is this...!'

He couldn't even raise his head.

It felt as though something invisible would sever his neck the moment he did.

"Let me ask you one thing."

"W-what would that be?"

"What are you doing here?"

"W-what do you mean—!"

Goooooo!

The corners of Cheon Muyang's mouth lifted.

But his eyes, sunk coldly, shone with ruthless clarity.

There was not a trace of mirth in them.

"I'll ask again. What is a beggar of the Beggar Sect doing here?"

"T-that is...!"

Cheon Muyang stood up.

"If you won't speak, then I'll have to confirm it myself."

Hwaaak!

Whether he had swung his sword or not, the ceiling of what looked like a hut was instantly sliced open and collapsed.

Letters and documents rained down.

They were likely the intelligence these beggars had gathered here.

"This is bad...."

The Hougae rubbed his forehead.

Cheon Muyang snatched a fluttering document out of the air.

"Hah!"

At that moment, the old beggar sprang up and hurled a punch.

Whoosh!

It was a strike imbued with formidable force.

Yet Cheon Muyang stood in place, without even drawing his sword.

"...!"

Crushed by that strange pressure, the old beggar couldn't even complete his punch.

'He didn't even draw his sword... then why?'

He sensed danger.

It felt as though he would be cut.

So the old beggar withdrew his fist.

"You're lucky."

"…What?"

Sssshk.

The documents falling to the floor suddenly split cleanly in half.

"If you hadn't pulled back in time, you'd be missing an arm."

"W-when did you—!"

The old beggar doubted his eyes.

Cheon Muyang was already holding his sword.

Chak!

"So answer the question. What is the Beggar Sect doing here?"

"See? I told you my eyes weren't wrong."

Whether he failed to grasp the situation or not—

Despite the old beggar's fury boiling over, the young beggar's eyes sparkled instead.

Even in the face of Cheon Muyang's overwhelming presence, he didn't shrink back.

"The Beggar Sect exists everywhere and nowhere. We haven't done anything to harm the Cheon Clan, so you needn't worry."

"...."

At the young beggar's words, the old beggar sighed and shook his head.

Seeing this, Cheon Muyang realized something.

'The old beggar is clearly elder-ranked. And yet someone like that is accompanying him? Interesting. I didn't expect to meet you here.'

Cheon Muyang recognized the young beggar's identity.

Someone he had held a favorable impression of even in his previous life.

That aside, the Beggar Sect's conduct was something that had to be addressed clearly.

"The Beggar Sect roaming freely without the Cheon Clan's permission, and you say not to worry?"

Though the Beggar Sect and the Cheon Clan both belonged to the orthodox faction, their relationship was ambiguous.

The Beggar Sect had long desired to expand into Zhejiang.

Though the purpose was intelligence gathering, how could that possibly be acceptable?

"The Tang Clan couldn't do it. The Namgung Clan couldn't do it either. So why would the Beggar Sect be an exception?"

Zhejiang was Cheon Clan territory.

The Beggar Sect's beggars infiltrating it without so much as a word was a breach of propriety.

"Normally, I would execute you on the spot and issue a warning to the Beggar Sect, but..."

Cheon Muyang didn't want that.

The Beggar Sect was a massive force— one of the pillars of the Central Plains' martial world.

Rather than making an enemy of them, he intended to make them indebted and make use of that debt.

"S-so what do you want?"

The old beggar was experienced.

With that single question, he grasped that Cheon Muyang wanted something else.

"Nothing special."

For a moment, the old beggar grew suspicious.

'So he's not a butcher anymore, they said....'

Yet this was awfully butcher-like.

Of course, he didn't show it.

If he did, he really might lose an arm.

"Just give me some information."

"...."

As expected.

After all, the most valuable thing the Beggar Sect could offer was information.

"Ahh, you see— one of my close aides was recently injured, so I no longer have anyone who can move in my stead."

Cheon Muyang wanted the Cheon Gyeondan to possess intelligence-gathering capabilities comparable to those of the Beggar Sect.

That was why he had always assumed he would become entangled with the Beggar Sect someday.

'Just didn't think it would be now.'

It was truly no coincidence.

Back when he had declared the value of righteous chivalry before the Cheon Clan's main gate just days earlier, Cheon Muyang had met the gaze of every onlooker present.

Among them, that young beggar had been watching him with an inscrutable expression.

Recognizing him at a glance as a beggar of the Beggar Sect, Cheon Muyang had immediately followed him.

'The first day was a failure.'

The first day ended in failure.

His movements were so elusive that even Cheon Muyang had clicked his tongue in admiration.

Staggering about as if drunk, the beggar's steps were impossible to track.

'The second day was a waste of time.'

The following day, Cheon Muyang searched the area again, but couldn't find even the faintest trace.

'Only today did I finally catch him.'

Cheon Muyang smiled as he looked at the young beggar.

The young beggar was staring right back at him.

"Let me ask you one thing."

"Anything."

"How did you manage to tail me? I checked several times— there shouldn't have been any tail."

"Ahh, so that's what you were curious about."

Cheon Muyang smiled.

It seemed he needed to remind these two beggars exactly where they were.

"But your question is wrong."

"...?"

"Where do you think you are right now?"

"Ah!"

This was Zhejiang.

Cheon Clan territory.

Sssrk.

The surroundings were already sealed off.

Without either the old beggar or the young beggar realizing it, an encirclement had formed.

This place was a perfect trap.

"Even so, if you truly wished to flee, you probably could."

The young beggar flinched.

Just as Cheon Muyang said, if he wanted to run, he would likely succeed.

"But not that old beggar."

"...."

"So? At this point, would you say a deal can be made, Hougae?"

The name Hougae carried tremendous significance.

It meant the successor of the Beggar Sect— the future leader who would guide it into the next generation.

Grin.

Hougae's lips curled upward.

"See, Elder? I told you— my eyes weren't wrong. How could this man be a butcher?"

There was no way he was one.

Hougae showed his surrender by plopping down on the spot.

"What information do you want? I'll tell you everything I know, so why don't you sit down first?"

"It's good to deal with someone reasonable."

Hougae was someone who could be reasoned with.

Cheon Muyang smiled and sat down.

'Hougae was the first to uncover the presence of demonic cultists hidden among the various sects.'

He was like a ray of hope in the bleak Central Plains martial world.

'Perhaps that's why Hougae is here as well.'

Hougae did not act openly.

He worked in the shadows like this, only to emerge at a critical moment and herald a dramatic reversal.

That was why Cheon Muyang needed to make one thing clear.

'That I, too, stand opposed to the Demonic Cult.'

That connection would surely prove invaluable someday.

"Shall I have some drinks brought out?"

"That'd be great."

Tap!

Cheon Muyang snapped his fingers.

At once, Wolyeong— who had been nearby— brought over a prepared table of food and drink.

"Here you go."

"Thanks."

Looking at the steaming dishes, Hougae scratched the back of his head.

"So, what is it you want to hear?"

"I'll be direct. The Demonic Cult."

"...!"

"How much does the Beggar Sect know about the Demonic Cult?"

Hougae smiled.

It was clearly a question he hadn't expected.

"You're hitting the nail right on the head."

"Go on."

"Hm... well."

Hougae shook his head.

It was a hollow smile.

"We know nothing."

"What?"

"I mean it. We don't know anything."

Hougae wasn't someone who would lie lightly.

Knowing this, Cheon Muyang waited for what came next.

"Well— more accurately, it's that we don't even try to find out anymore. The Beggar Sect isn't what it used to be. It seems some saboteurs have slipped in."

"Saboteurs?"

"Yes. You had them too, didn't you? People holding positions similar to elders."

Goooooo!

Cheon Muyang's eyes darkened.

Information regarding the Third Elder and the Grand Elder was top secret.

"Ah, don't misunderstand. I'm just making an inference."

"Inference?"

"Yes. As I said, the Beggar Sect has saboteurs as well. While tracking them down, the trail led straight to the Cheon Clan. That's why I came."

Cheon Muyang tilted his head.

What kind of connection could there be between the Cheon Clan and the Beggar Sect?

"Gongcheong Seokyu."

"...."

"That's what I followed. It was the only trace left behind."

It seemed the Third Elder had made a mistake.

Cheon Muyang nodded.

"I see. Then what did you uncover?"

"Unfortunately, nothing. But three days ago, I did discover one thing."

"Three days ago?"

"Yes."

Hougae continued with a smile.

"You, Young Master Cheon Muyang."

"Me?"

"I like you."

"All of a sudden?"

"Yes. In times like these, who still pursues righteous chivalry? Everyone's too busy looking out for themselves just to survive."

"...."

"So meeting someone like you might be the only rope left to pull us out of this suffocating situation."

Cheon Muyang frowned.

'Did I misunderstand Hougae somehow?'

A bad feeling crept up on him.

Glance.

When he turned slightly to look at the old beggar, the man was glaring at Hougae with a here-he-goes-again expression.

Grin.

Hougae suddenly grabbed both of Cheon Muyang's hands.

"Eldest Young Master!"

"...?"

"Let's not beat around the bush— let's work together on something!"

"No, I'm the one asking questions."

"I'll take that as a yes!"

Cheon Muyang had thought Hougae was reasonable—

But it turned out he was far more headstrong, and far crazier, than expected.