Chapter 59

The Beggar Sect's Hougae (2)

Hougae downed his drink in one go.

A pleasant buzz quickly rose.

On the table was a stir-fried mushroom dish— something Wolyeong had made for the first time in a while.

"Oh, stir-fried mushrooms!"

As Hougae reached for it, Cheon Muyang blocked him with his chopsticks.

"Sorry, but this one's mine."

"Tsk. Stingy."

"Back to the point. So you were investigating the Cheon Clan to find those saboteurs?"

"Well, something like that."

Cheon Muyang nodded.

Under normal circumstances, the Cheon Clan would have been manipulated by the Council of Elders and slowly marched toward annihilation.

It was an unprecedented path of decline, so it made sense that Hougae would take interest.

"If I may add— we actually achieved more than expected."

"Hougae!"

The old beggar tried to stop him, but Hougae stuck out his tongue with the same playful smile.

"I used to think Hangzhou was just a place to visit for leisure. Turns out I was wrong. Beneath the surface, there's quite a bit of intricate scheming going on."

"What do you mean by that?"

"The Tang Clan. Didn't they get involved? Ah— don't tell me you didn't know?"

"That's impossible."

How could he not know?

He had cut through the Tang Clan's poison just three days ago.

"As expected, you did know. If nothing else, discovering that the Demonic Cult and the Tang Clan are connected to some extent counts as a result."

Hougae went on to tell Cheon Muyang many things in detail.

'He's already uncovered this much.'

It wasn't much different from what Cheon Muyang himself had learned through direct experience.

The only difference was whether one had experienced it firsthand or inferred it indirectly.

'As expected of the Beggar Sect.'

The process— gathering information, separating truth from falsehood, forming plausible hypotheses, and verifying them— was remarkably systematic.

'That's how Hougae managed to uncover it.'

Of course, even then, it had already been too late.

Soon after, the Cheon Clan had been annihilated.

"I'll give your proposal some thought."

"I hope you consider it carefully."

"That aside."

Hougae kept pressing Cheon Muyang to work together.

Ironically, it was Cheon Muyang who ended up breaking into a cold sweat.

'He's like a leech.'

After finally brushing him off with a vague I'll think about it, the topic shifted to the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering.

"Anything else you're curious about?"

"Yes. Do you know much about the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering?"

Hougae tilted his head.

He seemed to doubt his ears.

"The Dragon–Phoenix Gathering?"

"Yes."

"Oh— are you planning to attend?"

"Hm?"

Hougae's expression darkened.

Before Cheon Muyang could even ask why, Hougae launched into a tirade.

"Those damn fools. They're supposed to be the rising talents who'll inherit the future of the orthodox sects, but the way they act is no different from those old, crafty foxes."

Hougae's face— flushed either from drink or from lack of breath— spat out words like a flurry of swift sword strikes.

'He's not done yet.'

After taking a breath, Hougae continued rambling.

"I went a few times thinking I might find someone useful, but the place reeked. Dragon–Phoenix Gathering my ass— it's a Dog-and-Cat Gathering, that's what it is."

It seemed Hougae was deeply disappointed with the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering.

"Sure, once in a blue moon you'll see someone talented… but Wudang, Shaolin— they're just so dreadfully old-fashioned."

Hougae held nothing back.

Watching him speak without restraint, Cheon Muyang smiled.

"Interesting. But I still have to go."

"For what reason?"

"Don't I need to announce to the entire martial world that the Cheon Clan's laws have been newly established?"

"Oh?"

"And the Tang Clan will be there. Right?"

"Of course."

"And the Namgung Clan as well?"

"They're regulars."

The corner of Cheon Muyang's mouth lifted.

It was a genuinely amused smile.

"Then that's reason enough."

"I get the Tang Clan, but it sounds like you've got ties to the Namgung Clan too. Ah— I do know that their precious jewel is staying with the Cheon Clan, but…"

Hougae's eyebrow twitched.

For some reason, the mood felt strange.

"That eyebrow— it's incredibly insolent."

"Well, what can I do? I was born like this."

Laughing it off, Hougae chuckled.

"Then I suppose I'll have to attend the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering as well. Can't miss something this entertaining."

"I'll warn you now— don't interfere."

"Of course, of course. I'll pretend I don't know anything. Looks like things in Zhejiang are already settled anyway."

"Good. That's enough."

"Anything else you'd like to ask?"

"No."

"Then…"

Hougae stood up.

Looking at Cheon Muyang with a surprisingly relaxed expression, he slowly bowed his head.

"Gathering intelligence within Cheon Clan territory without permission violates the laws of the Central Plains martial world. That fault lies with our Beggar Sect."

"...."

Swish.

Without even waiting for a response, Hougae raised his head.

"So I ask that the Cheon Clan show leniency."

"Fine. I'll accept it."

"Thank you."

One had to be clear about where things began and ended.

Only then could a new relationship be properly established.

"I'll see you at the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering."

"Yes. Let's do that."

"Ah— please take this."

"…?"

Hougae took something out from his robes.

It looked like the handle of an old staff.

"It's nothing special, but if you show that, you should be able to receive help from the Beggar Sect."

"Hougae!"

The old beggar's eyes widened.

Judging by how his hands trembled, it clearly wasn't something given out lightly.

"...."

The old beggar silently urged him not to take it, but Cheon Muyang pretended not to notice.

"I'll accept it with thanks."

"T-this is—!"

"Then I'll be off."

Perhaps wanting to leave a clean final impression, Hougae appeared far calmer than before.

"Oh— Eldest Young Master."

"…?"

"Please don't ever abandon that resolve to pursue righteous chivalry."

Hougae was serious.

Sincerity deserved sincerity in return.

Cheon Muyang nodded.

"I won't."

"Until next time."

Hougae departed with the old beggar.

Even as he left, Hougae politely greeted each of the Cheon Clan warriors forming the encirclement.

Cheon Seonhak, who had approached at some point, asked,

"You're just letting him go?"

"Hougae resembles me quite a bit."

"What?"

"No— perhaps it's that I wanted to resemble him."

Trapped in an obscure life unable to leave the Cheon Clan, Hougae's unconventional path had been something Cheon Muyang admired.

'Because I wanted to live like that too.'

That might have been why he unconsciously imitated Hougae's free-spirited way of life.

"You're wrong."

"...."

"You failed to truly see that child's eyes."

Cheon Seonhak shook his head.

"In the way he looked at you, there was respect. Admiration."

"Was there?"

"Yes. So walk your own path. Whatever that path may be…"

Behind Cheon Seonhak, the Cheon Clan warriors who had lifted the encirclement gathered.

Wolyeong, Neung Ryeoun, Cha Myeonghak, and many others— including Nangwang— were all looking at Cheon Muyang.

Every one of them showed their resolve to follow him.

"What is this mood supposed to be?"

Nangwang grumbled, but he made no move to leave.

"We'll stand behind you."

Cheon Muyang smiled.

With genuine sincerity, he spoke to everyone.

"Thank you."

Perhaps feeling that the atmosphere demanded a comment, Nangwang chimed in as well.

"Do whatever you want."

"...."

"Haven't you always done that anyway?"

Nangwang snorted softly and continued,

"As for the aftermath—"

Wolyeong cut in.

"So Elder Nangwang will take responsibility for it?"

"What?"

Nangwang looked flustered.

However, Wolyeong stuck out her tongue at him and moved to stand beside Cheon Muyang.

"Young Master, just walk your own path. We'll take responsibility for everything behind you."

"I never said that! Why should I bear it too? You lot should be the ones taking responsibility!"

"Oh, come on! Read the room!"

"Ghk!"

Nangwang grumbled while Wolyeong scolded him.

Lately, Nangwang had clearly been unable to win against Wolyeong at all.

Watching all of this, Cheon Muyang couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you, everyone."

He meant it.

And sincerity, more often than not, always found its way through.

"Then I look forward to working with you all from here on."

He intended to remain confident wherever he went.

After all, that was the true nature of the butcher Cheon Muyang.

***

It was after he had returned to the clan.

Suddenly, Cheon Seonhak came to see him.

"It's about the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering."

"Yes?"

"I managed to find the invitations, but…"

The Dragon–Phoenix Gathering wasn't something just anyone could attend.

An invitation was required.

Each year, the sect or clan hosting the gathering sent out invitations.

Naturally, one must have been sent to the Cheon Clan as well.

"You found them?"

"Yes. There were two."

"Two?"

"Yes."

Two invitations to the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering had arrived at the Cheon Clan.

"But the intent is so obvious it's laughable."

Cheon Seonhak took the two invitations out from his robes.

Each had a tassel attached at the end— and their colors were different.

"This one must be the clan's invitation."

The invitation with the golden tassel was meant for the Cheon Clan.

"Then this must be mine."

"Yes."

The copper-colored tassel marked the invitation sent to Cheon Muyang.

The Cheon Clan was likely the only one to receive invitations so blatantly different.

"How childish."

"...."

The copper-colored invitation was a sneer aimed at the butcher Cheon Muyang.

And the separate golden invitation implied that someone other than Cheon Muyang should attend.

"This is basically telling me not to come to the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering, isn't it?"

"That would be the correct interpretation."

Cheon Muyang sneered.

This must have been from before Mu-myeong had begun serving him, but it seemed he had been quite the laughingstock at the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering in the past.

"Tsk. Which clan is hosting this year's gathering?"

"The Namgung Clan."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Cheon Muyang smiled.

Of course, the invitations had been sent long before he met Namgung Sanghyeok— but interpretations could vary.

"Then I suppose I'll have to attend even if they tell me not to."

"What are you scheming?"

"What's more fun than overturning the hierarchy?"

They would learn.

Both Cheon Muyang, and the Cheon Clan—

They would learn the price of mocking them.

"Overturning the hierarchy, huh…"

"What could be more entertaining than copper crushing silver, and silver crushing gold?"

That was exactly what he wanted.

The more they underestimated him—

The less Cheon Muyang had to lose.

"This should be fun."

"Yes. I'm already looking forward to it."

Cheon Seonhak smiled.

'It seems I worried for nothing.'

There was no need for concern.

No matter how extreme the situation, Cheon Muyang was someone who would overcome it.

"That said— what do you plan to do about that child, Namgung Seohee?"

Namgung Seohee was staying at the Cheon Clan.

Up to now, she had been helping nurse the women harmed by Cheonmyeon Eumma— but what came after was the issue.

Cheon Muyang simply shrugged.

"She chose to abandon the Namgung name. Whatever she chooses next is hers to bear."

"The Namgung Clan could make an issue of that."

"That's exactly what I want. I already took the first swing at the Namgung Clan."

"...."

"If they come looking for trouble again… there's no reason to avoid it."

Kuuuuung!

The Namgung Clan, the Sichuan Tang Clan, and the Hebei Paeng Clan were collectively known as the Three Great Clans of the Martial World.

Despite their absolute superiority over the current Cheon Clan, Cheon Muyang was unfazed.

"When you say again— does that mean you've already clashed with the Namgung Clan?"

"Yes. Well, things happened, and I beat them up a bit. Unofficially."

"What?"

The sheer absurdity made Cheon Seonhak laugh.

Still, he understood.

"Well done. If they deserved a beating, then a beating they got."

"So please leave the matter of Namgung Seohee to her own will."

"You plan to take her to the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering?"

"Yes."

"Then do as you see fit. When do you plan to depart?"

"As soon as possible. I still need to decide who to take along."

It was a journey into the martial world.

By itself, it would be a valuable experience.

"Very well."

"Oh— and I'll tell you this in advance, Uncle."

"…?"

"After the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering, a major martial arts tournament will be held in Shaanxi."

It was still a future event, but there was no harm in preparing early.

"You'll need to make preparations ahead of time."

"A tournament?"

"Yes."

The reward was a remarkably fine famed sword— one that would suit Cheon Seonhak perfectly.

"That's wonderful news."

"Yes. It's time."

For the sword of the Cheon Clan—

To finally be revealed to the world.