A Timely Ferry
To reach Dongho, one had to go to Wuhan.
There was no absolute need to pass through the Wuhan ferry landing, but crossing the river remained unavoidable either way.
They needed a ferry boat.
Yet the river was wide and the waves fierce, making the fishing boats working the banks too dangerous, while the pirate ships of the water bandits they had arrived with stood out far too much.
To travel quietly, they needed a vessel that would draw no eyes…
As they scoured the riverbank, weighing every consideration, that was when it happened.
Rustle.
At the faint sound pricking their ears, Mujin reacted faster than Jegal Mun-Hyeon. His obsidian eyes flashed as he lashed out with a hand thick with killing intent.
Thanks to releasing his third seal and absorbing demonic energy, his senses had developed by leaps and bounds.
Seeing him respond so swiftly to a surprise attack, he was truly worthy of being my disciple.
But then a familiar figure burst from the underbrush.
A beggar?
Oh no!
Mujin’s hand was already swinging with terrifying force, and in an instant Mun-Hyeon’s cunning mind flipped sides.
Hey, you idiot!
Attacking without even checking?
Why are your movements so fast?
And why put so much power into it?
You’d tear a wild boar apart.
To keep Mujin from being denounced as a cold-blooded Taoist who had murdered a poor beggar, Jegal Mun-Hyeon swiftly swung his Eunhangon.
Clang!
He barely managed to redirect the strike, yet the dull impact left his grip tingling. The shock bored into his wrist and elbow with a sharp ache.
To draw up energy so suddenly and still hit this hard…
How the hell did he get so strong?
“Young Master, why…?”
When Mujin looked bewildered that his attack had been blocked, Jegal Mun-Hyeon grimaced and shook out his numbed hand.
“What do you think you’re doing, trying to kill someone on sight?”
“Pardon?”
“Can’t you see the nine pouches? He’s Beggar Sect.”
“Ah, that is… I only meant to subdue him.”
Subdue?
With killing intent pouring off you like that?
If I hadn’t stopped you, he’d be dead.
The fool still didn’t seem to grasp how much power he now held.
“Aigoo, honestly… Control your strength a little. You’re not the same as before, understand?”
“I am sorry.”
Mujin gathered his aura with a dejected expression.
Truthfully, one could hardly call it his fault. The one who had suddenly leaped out was the problem—how could outstanding reflexes be a crime?
Jegal Mun-Hyeon sighed and finally looked at the beggar who had collapsed in shock.
His eyes were round as saucers; he was thoroughly rattled.
But why was a beggar here?
Had Branch Leader Hyogam sent a message?
Looking closer, though, the man’s body was in poor shape. The wounds were not from the recent shockwave; they looked far older.
“Hey. Are you all right?”
“…….”
Mun-Hyeon approached to check his condition, but the man only stared blankly, as if his soul had left him.
Well, with that much qi pressure exploding right in front of him, ringing ears would be the least of it. Mun-Hyeon worried the man might have suffered internal injuries.
Then—
“Ah, you?”
The face was familiar.
Not long ago, when they had visited the Heukmyobang branch in Akju, this was the one they had rescued… the name was…
“Benefactor, it is Jeokju.”
The beggar snapped back to himself, smoothing his startled heart, and corrected his posture as he spoke.
Ah, right. Jeokju.
That had been the name.
“But what are you doing here?”
“After the Heukmyobang affair, I followed you.”
“Followed?”
“Please forgive me for acting without permission.”
“Hmm…”
Mun-Hyeon understood. He had only mentioned his connection to Ja-gwi and never revealed his exact identity.
Still, he was not pleased. It meant he had not even noticed he was being tailed.
To fail to sense a pursuit by a wounded beggar who had already suffered so much…
I grew careless. Careless. Reacting only after hearing the sound…
Damn it. Back in the Demonic Cult, when his life was hunted every day, he had sensed every presence within ten jang. Living among the orthodox had clearly softened him.
Irritation rose unbidden, and Mun-Hyeon’s eyes turned fierce. Jeokju hurriedly spoke as if offering an excuse.
“I apologize once more. I had no intention of startling you. I meant only to step from the bushes and greet you, but then…”
“If you’d tried to greet us twice, you wouldn’t have a life left.”
At the grumbling, Jeokju’s face filled with genuine remorse.
“Were you looking for a boat, by any chance?”
“And if I was?”
“If you need to travel discreetly, I can help.”
“What?”
“I have the boat I came on. There is also an abandoned landing we use near Akju… You should be able to avoid the eyes of the authorities and nearby factions.”
“…….”
“If it is acceptable, allow me to escort you.”
Watching Jeokju bow so low his head nearly touched the ground, Jegal Mun-Hyeon considered for a moment.
The talk of discretion was probably just a guess. Having followed them, the man might not know their purpose, but he would have pieced together Mun-Hyeon’s identity. If they had intended a normal river crossing they would not have been scouring the banks; that much was easy to predict.
Well, they needed a boat right now.
He had intervened at the perfect time, so Mun-Hyeon decided to overlook the tailing this once.
“Ahem. Next time, come out in front of us. Don’t throw your life away for nothing.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
The boat was a little larger than a fishing vessel.
Perfect for crossing the river.
It was a pity it offered no shade from the sun, yet it was more than enough for the three of them.
Seated at the gunwale, Jegal Mun-Hyeon asked Jeokju, who had volunteered as boatman and was working the oars.
“So why did you follow me?”
“Well… not even knowing my benefactor’s name seemed improper.”
“And so you tailed me in secret? Just to learn a name? That’s a fine excuse.”
When Mun-Hyeon sneered with lingering resentment in his voice, Jeokju’s face turned even more apologetic.
It was not only the name. Mun-Hyeon had invoked his connection to Ja-gwi, whom they had betrayed.
Yet after following them and learning the truth, Jeokju had been unable to hide his shock.
Jegal Mun-Hyeon—the one who had lately been shaking Hubei under the infamous title of the Violent Dragon.
Moreover, the Jegal Family had established a general branch in northern Hubei and was helping former Branch Leader Ja-gwi rebuild the Beggar Sect as its chief.
For people with nowhere else to turn, they desperately needed to forge any connection they could.
“What became of the Beggar Sect south of the river?”
“Pardon?”
“You must have heard—the northern Beggar Sect has taken root at Yungjung Mountain. I was told the chief regarded every beggar who surrendered to Hukgangmun as a complete traitor. Since you say there was a revolt, I’m curious.”
“Ah, about that…”
When Mun-Hyeon asked out of sudden curiosity, Jeokju’s face darkened. He began to recount the past he had not been able to explain fully at their previous meeting.
At the time, the Beggar Sect branch had stood at a crossroads. Ja-gwi had tried to preserve their pride as an orthodox faction, while the deputy branch leader had wanted to ride the current of the age and surrender to the unorthodox.
In the end internal strife erupted, and the majority of the beggars sided with the deputy.
It was only natural. The Beggar Sect had been under heavy pressure from Hukgangmun. The Jegal Family was weak, and Wudang was too far away; there had been no orthodox power in Hubei they could rely on.
Yacho, who had been Ja-gwi’s junior martial brother, had been one of those traitors.
“We had no choice but to surrender to the unorthodox, yet things turned out very differently from what we expected.”
“…….”
“The moment we became members of Heukmyobang, the deputy branch leader began acting exactly like an unorthodox martial artist.”
At Jeokju’s words, Jegal Mun-Hyeon simply nodded.
There was no need for further explanation. He had seen the martial artists of the Heukmyobang branch in Akju with his own eyes.
Greed was always like that.
The Classic of Mountains and Seas spoke of a legendary monster called Tan. The creature knew no satisfaction; it swallowed everything in the world until only darkness remained, and then it finally devoured its own body.
Human greed was no different.
The more one possessed, the more one wanted.
Comfort had been joined by material desire, so they had gradually abandoned the Beggar Sect’s original duty and sunk into the unorthodox way of life.
“By the time we realized something was terribly wrong, it was already too late. Martial Uncle Yacho regretted betraying the former branch leader. He gathered those who opposed Heukmyobang and planned a revolt. Our numbers were too small to do anything about Hukgangmun itself, but he believed that if we could at least destroy Heukmyobang, we could stop the Beggar Sect’s strength from being used for wicked ends.”
Hearing the words thick with remorse, the Taoist Mujin nodded as if he understood that heart and murmured, “Muryangsubul.” Jegal Mun-Hyeon only scoffed inwardly.
What good was an apology after the knife had already been driven in…
Yet—
Huh? Wait a second. This might actually turn out better than I thought.
One of the many thoughts swirling in his mind suddenly looked very appealing. Jegal Mun-Hyeon fell into deep consideration, organizing his ideas.
If the rebel faction joined the Beggar Sect at Yungjung Mountain and operated inside Hukgangmun’s territory…
There would be no greater help for the Jegal Family.
They would be able to run informants without expending any effort of their own.
More importantly, the area in which they could search for the Ascension Method would expand.
In other words, the number of people he could put to work would increase.
In that case…
“You said your name was Jeokju?”
“Yes.”
“Would you happen to know roughly how large Martial Uncle Yacho’s force opposing Heukmyobang is?”
“Ah, well… Heukmyobang absorbed the majority of the beggars, so it is not large.”
“Even if it is not large, tell me.”
“Hmm… excluding those monitoring each Heukmyobang branch throughout southern Hubei, I would say roughly three hundred.”
“Th-three hundred?”
At Jeokju’s words, Jegal Mun-Hyeon’s jaw dropped.
So the number that could be absorbed was three hundred or more?
Perhaps because it had once approached a hundred thousand members, the Beggar Sect’s scale was impressive.
Of course not all of them would be combatants, but if that many people engaged in spying, they would be able to learn every detail of Hukgangmun’s entire region.
It would also be a tremendous help in searching for the Ascension Method.
Thinking that far, Mun-Hyeon’s mood grew remarkably mild.
Once he considered their usefulness, the fact that they had secretly followed him was already forgotten far in the distance.
Heh heh. What dutiful fellows.
They must have raised a rebellion and waited all this time just for me. In that case I shall accept their sincerity, bring them into the Beggar Sect, and work them to my heart’s content.
“Master Jeokju.”
“Good heavens, please lower your speech. I am not someone who deserves honorifics from my benefactor.”
“Haha! But you are my elder.”
“Even so…”
“More importantly, you did not follow me merely to learn my name, did you? Lending us the boat as well points the same way.”
“Th-that is…”
As if his true intentions had been exposed, Jeokju wore an awkward expression.
I know, you rascal.
But it would be shameless for a traitor’s own mouth to say it, so I shall speak for you.
“Come to Yungjung Mountain.”
“Pardon?”
“You say you have realized your wrongs and wish to fight Heukmyobang. How could I pretend not to know? Of course our Jegal Family must help you.”
“Th-then you mean…”
“Join us. Return once more to the chivalrous Beggar Sect.”
It was something he had longed for so intensely his heart raced, yet Jeokju’s face was not entirely at ease.
Even if Jegal Mun-Hyeon granted permission, he knew the approval of the Beggar Sect chief at Yungjung Mountain would still be required.
But!
When I say it will happen, who would dare stop it?
“Master Jeokju.”
“…….”
“From ancient times, simply regretting after stabbing someone with a knife has never healed the wound.”
“What do you mean…?”
“If you stabbed by mistake, you must naturally apply medicine and wrap a bandage over it. Therefore, join us at Yungjung Mountain.”
“……Pardon?”
It was a plausible metaphor, yet somehow difficult to understand.
What about a wound?
Since it came from a descendant of the eloquent Jegal Family, it surely held meaning…
Watching the man puzzle over it, Jegal Mun-Hyeon grinned.
Don’t bother trying to understand, kid.
I cannot simply order you outright to come under me and hunt for the Ascension Method, so I just spouted whatever came to mind.
I may wear the shell of a Jegal, but my essence is the Heavenly Demon, so I am clumsy at persuading others.
In the old days I only ever gave the command “Do it!”
“Muryangsubul, Master Jeokju.”
“……?”
“Young Master Jegal Mun-Hyeon appears to be speaking of a repentant heart.”
“A repentant heart?”
“It means the heart that realizes one’s own wrongs and seeks to correct them. Who among us has walked a path free of mistakes and misunderstandings? If one fails to realize them and simply continues, one becomes a villain; yet if one realizes them and strives to change, one becomes a better person. Is that not so, Young Master Mun-Hyeon?”
At Mujin’s words, Jegal Mun-Hyeon hurriedly nodded.
Thank heaven you are here.
Your aura is still dripping with killing intent, but your speech is pure Taoist through and through.
But fix your hair. The wind is blowing it aside and those obsidian eyes are showing.
“Moreover, as a member of the Beggar Sect you must already know the situation north of the river?”
“Ah!”
“The Blood Shadow Pavilion has become the Okga Manor, the Demonic Shadow Tower has become the Lee Manor, and countless other unorthodox factions have been guided by the great will of the Jegal Family and now walk the righteous path. There is nothing shameful about joining them. Muryangsubul.”
With the Taoist phrase added to the persuasion, Jeokju’s expression grew complicated.
A return to the Beggar Sect that once revered chivalry…
It was exactly what he had longed for.
And if the Jegal Family—now encompassing northern Hubei and intimate with the Wudang Sect—lent its aid?
Jeokju quickly made up his mind and spoke to Jegal Mun-Hyeon.
“Young Master. Would you be willing to meet Martial Uncle Yacho?”
At the words full of resolve, Jegal Mun-Hyeon grinned and answered.
“Keep rowing.”
“…….”
“The boat has stopped.”
“Ah…”
Jeokju began working the oars even more vigorously than before.
Their fate rode on every stroke.