Chapter 26 The Reason for Fighting (1)
"Brrr, it's freezing! How did it get so cold so fast? I'm going to freeze my butt off wandering around in just these rags."
His body was trembling, but his expression was bright.
"Finally made it!"
Gadeuk-sang gazed at the massive manor. More precisely, he was sensing the presence of the people inside.
'Just as I thought, tons of them.'
He could feel the presence of countless people. What was surprising was that most of them were masters worthy of being called first-rate.
Gadeuk-sang rubbed his hands together with an excited expression.
'So these are the hotshots who'll be taking over the family? And they sent some seriously tough bodyguards, too.'
More impressive than the confident aura of the younger generation were the subtle yet sharp auras of the guards. Well, it was natural to assign masters to protect the successors being sent into the unpredictable martial world.
"Alright, then, let's go take a peek at the young masters and misses..."
It was then.
"Who are you?"
"Whoa!"
Gadeuk-sang quickly straightened his posture and turned around.
A middle-aged swordsman stood there. Unlike his stoic expression, as if carved from stone, his sharp energy was impressive.
Gadeuk-sang cleared his throat.
'I made a mistake again.'
If he couldn't sense a swordsman with this level of energy approaching, he couldn't be called a martial artist. Once he concentrated, he completely forgot his surroundings.
"You've got some serious internal energy hidden away. You're no ordinary beggar... Beggar's Sect?"
"That's right, Great Swordsman Gwangpung."
Shinmo raised an eyebrow.
"You know who I am?"
"Haha, gotta be quick-witted when you're scrounging for food."
The martial arts of the Beggar's Sect rivaled the Nine Great Sects. However, surprisingly, their strength wasn't martial arts.
It was information. The Beggar's Sect's intelligence network was the best in the White Path martial world. Naturally, to belong to the Beggar's Sect, one had to be quick-witted and intelligent.
Shinmo looked at Gadeuk-sang's waist.
'Eight knots?'
Eight knots.
Surprise dawned on Shinmo's face.
"Successor Beggar?"
Gadeuk-sang scratched his head awkwardly. White dandruff showered down.
"I'm just a useless bum who still gets his ass kicked by his master, even at my age."
He expressed himself humorously, but no one in the world could ignore a Successor Beggar of the Beggar's Sect.
The Beggar's Sect was a group considered equal to the Nine Great Sects and the Seven Great Clans. As a single sect, it had the largest number of disciples, also known as the Ten Thousand Beggars' Sect.
The king of all beggars scattered throughout the Central Plains. The top figure in the White Path intelligence world.
Gadeuk-sang was the successor to such a person.
Shinmo cupped his fist in salute.
"Please forgive my rudeness earlier. I didn't realize you were a Successor of the Beggar's Sect."
"Whoa, no need to apologize! You're being way too polite to a lowly beggar like me."
A martial arts giant who could confidently call himself lowly.
That appearance made him seem even more impressive. Although it was their first meeting, Shinmo was certain that Gadeuk-sang was not someone to be taken lightly.
"So, what brings you here so early...?"
"Ah! Hahahaha! I just had some business nearby, and I heard that the Seven Great Clans were having a gathering of their younger generation? I was just poking around, hoping to maybe snag some free grub."
Shinmo's eyes gleamed.
There was no way a Successor Beggar of the Beggar's Sect would only just now learn about the Seven Great Clans' gathering. He must have come to investigate something.
"I'm sorry. I'm a warrior of the Yeon Family, and I don't have the authority to let you in."
"Hey, it's alright! A beggar shouldn't impose on guests at a feast!"
Shinmo nodded.
"Then I will go in first."
"Yeah, go on in... Wait, what?"
Gadeuk-sang tilted his head.
"Hey, what's in the bundle?"
"Ah, this is..."
Shinmo cleared his throat.
"It's an errand for the Eldest Young Master of the main family."
"An errand? What kind of errand is so heavy...?"
"Then, I'll be going."
"Yes? Ah, yes! Please go in!"
Shinmo entered the manor.
Gadeuk-sang's eyes shone sharply.
"Eldest Young Master Yeon Ho-jeong."
The one who burned the arsonist who set fire to Choseong Pavilion to death. The eldest son of the Byeoksan Yeon Family, once rumored to be a dog under the Minister of War.
He knew that Shinmo was the leader of the Chang'eung Unit and had played a significant role in Choseong Pavilion. But even though they met by chance, he didn't ask Shinmo about Yeon Ho-jeong. He figured he wouldn't tell him anyway.
'The best way to handle this is to meet him face-to-face and poke around a bit.'
Ah, I'm looking forward to it.
Gadeuk-sang banged loudly on the closed gate.
"Hey, you guys! Is there a party going on? Smells amazing in there! If there are any leftovers, let a guy get some!"
"Huff!"
Yeon Ho-jeong, drenched in sweat, tossed the iron staff aside carelessly.
He had been wielding the iron staff non-stop since early dawn until late Jinshi (7 a.m. - 9 a.m.).
'That's enough with the Whirlwind Staff. Time to move on to the spear.'
His body wasn't as hardened as he'd hoped yet, but the basics of spear and staff techniques were firmly ingrained in his body. While mastering staff techniques, he had also been eyeing spear techniques, but actually wielding a spear with a real blade was a different matter.
Progress was much faster than he expected. As he mastered Hyeonmu, the subtlety of his martial arts came alive, and the time it took to learn was cut by more than half.
'The spear... Yeah, can't skip that.'
His real weapon was the massive axe weighing dozens of pounds.
To wield that axe like an extension of his limbs, he had to master spear techniques to the level of a master. As Hyeonmu energy deepened day by day, spear techniques would also be mastered soon.
'Weapons are important, but awakening all four Divine Beast Energies is also crucial. Preferably starting with Baekho (White Tiger).'
If Hyeonmu of the Divine Beast Martial Arts was specialized for perfect defense, Baekho was specialized for relentless offense. For combat and advance, there was no martial art better than Baekho.
Thinking about the Divine Beast Martial Arts, he suddenly thought of someone called Sabangmuje.
'Martial arts that are perfect in offense and defense, and even summon a golden dragon?'
Yeon Ho-jeong stroked his chin with a serious face.
'There are many martial arts that raise offense and defense to a high level. But the golden dragon part is concerning.'
What if Sabangmuje was truly the successor of the Divine Beast Martial Arts?
'He even dared to aim for Hwangryonggi (Yellow Dragon Energy).'
Hwangryonggi was the ultimate essence of the Divine Beast Martial Arts.
He believed that there was no absolute invincibility in the world, but he thought Hwangryonggi was the martial art closest to absolute invincibility. It was an esoteric skill with such high difficulty that even Yeon Ho-jeong, in his Black Demon Emperor days, hadn't even entered the initial stages.
'If I could draw out Hwangryonggi-level martial arts, I'm confident I wouldn't lose to anyone. At least in this life...'
This time, he would never leave behind the same regrets as before.
Yeon Ho-jeong forcibly pushed aside thoughts of Sabangmuje. He had pestered Jegal Ah-yeon about the possibility of him being a successor to the Divine Beast Martial Arts, but now was not the time to investigate the past of someone he didn't even know.
After finishing a cold water bath, Yeon Ho-jeong suddenly sensed a presence in his room.
"Pyeong?"
"Yes, Brother."
Yeon Ji-pyeong greeted Yeon Ho-jeong with a smile.
"Did you just wash up?"
"Yeah."
"You haven't eaten yet, have you? Let's go together."
"Let's."
The Yeon brothers left the room and headed to the dining hall.
The brothers were silent on the way to the dining hall. It was understandable for Yeon Ho-jeong, who wasn't talkative to begin with, but it was unexpected considering Yeon Ji-pyeong's personality.
Yeon Ho-jeong glanced at Yeon Ji-pyeong.
Yeon Ji-pyeong's expression was bright. But his eyes were sharply scanning his surroundings.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Yes?"
"I asked what you're thinking about."
"Ah, nothing."
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly watching Yeon Ji-pyeong, sighed.
"You don't need to be so wary of your surroundings."
"Yes?"
"I'm saying you don't need to be nervous because of yesterday's events."
"Ah..."
Yeon Ji-pyeong scratched his head.
"I was just wondering, just in case."
"I'm sorry. I must have made you worry for nothing."
"No, Brother. Yesterday's incident happened because of the eldest son of the Dang Family. You didn't do anything wrong, Brother."
Yeon Ji-pyeong's expression was quite serious. It didn't sound like he was just saying it to be nice, but that he genuinely thought so.
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
"But you did have a fight with the Third Young Master of the Myeong Family..."
"Haha, I'm trying not to think about that part."
"Huh?"
Not thinking about it? What does that even mean?
Yeon Ji-pyeong licked his lips.
"Coming here, I realized something. I was really just a frog in a well. The world is much more interesting than I thought, and just as dangerous."
That was true.
"But you were different, Brother. No matter how much I thought about it, it didn't fit with the main family's rules, but you had strong confidence and clear convictions."
Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes became strange.
He confidently said it didn't fit with the Yeon Family's rules. That meant he understood the family's teachings well.
"I don't think I'm as smart as you, Brother. But I know one thing. You would never do anything that would harm the main family."
"..."
"Whether your way of handling things is right or wrong, I'll think about it later. But I trust you, Brother, and you are unwavering. That's what's important."
Yeon Ji-pyeong smiled.
A strength that didn't seem like it belonged to a fifteen-year-old boy was evident in his smile.
"Still, I didn't know you were that strong in martial arts, Brother. I think I'll have to learn from you from now on?"
Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes deepened.
No, it wasn't that. Rather, it seemed like he should be learning from Yeon Ji-pyeong.
His younger brother, who had lived his whole life according to the family's teachings. But even though his brother was taken aback by his unconventional words and actions, he hadn't abandoned his trust in him.
He had worried enough coming here, and now he was saying he would trust his brother and follow him.
'This guy had this side to him.'
Strong.
Perhaps his younger brother was born with a strong nature. It was just that he hadn't needed to show it until now.
"But why are you looking around so much?"
"You said it yourself, Brother. That the martial world is a place where murderers can come from temples and saints can come from back alleys."
"Hmm."
"Who knows? Maybe someone will try to get back at you for what happened yesterday."
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
"Even if someone tries something, do you think you could handle it?"
"Come on, now. I'm not as good as you, but I can hold my own."
Considering his age, it wasn't just decent; it was an amazing level.
Yeon Ho-jeong ruffled Yeon Ji-pyeong's hair wildly.
"Argh!"
"Don't waste your energy worrying. Relax. If anything happens, I'll take care of it."
"My hair is all messed up!"
"That's the idea, you punk."
Yeon Ho-jeong's tone subtly changed.
When he returned to the past and was inside the family, this was exactly how he spoke. But after coming out into the world, his demeanor towards his younger brother was more like a father than a brother.
It was because it was dangerous, just as Yeon Ji-pyeong said. To protect his younger brother, the demeanor of the forty-six-year-old Black Demon Sovereign naturally emerged.
But Yeon Ji-pyeong was not weak. Seeing that, Yeon Ho-jeong could treat Yeon Ji-pyeong like he did in the family.
"Anyway, what's for breakfast today?"
"I don't know either? But it smells exactly like Dongpo pork."
"Meat for breakfast? These guys must be loaded."
Just as the Yeon brothers were chatting and arriving at the dining hall.
"Buuurp! Wow, I guess I'm getting old. I'm stuffed after eating just that!"
A beggar burst out of the dining hall door, patting his stomach.
Surprisingly, even though a beggar had entered, there was not a hint of contempt in the eyes of the younger generation disciples looking at him. Though, a hint of discomfort was visible.
Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes flashed.
'Beggar? Beggar's Sect? The knot is... eight knots?'
He looked at the beggar's face. The beggar also met Yeon Ho-jeong's gaze.
In that instant, Yeon Ho-jeong saw a phantom of the past.
A magnanimous man who constantly stroked his dirty, half-white beard but never stopped his hearty laughter. A man who knew his true identity as the Black Demon Sovereign but didn't spread it in the White Path martial world.
The head of the Beggar's Sect who greatly helped in pushing back the forces of the Demonic Sound Sect, and one of the few magnanimous people who treated him, the ruler of the Black Path, the same as the leaders of the White Path martial world.
Yeon Ho-jeong superimposed memories of the past onto the beggar's face.
If the dirty, black beard grew a little longer and turned half-white?
If the wrinkles around his eyes and mouth deepened, and his disheveled hair was tied up roughly?
If the knot increased from eight to nine, and he wore a stylish short staff inlaid with jade at his waist?
"Gadeuk-sang, the Dragon Head Chief?!"
