Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Translator: Penny
Episode 26
The female beggar was quite a novelty.
Of course, it wasn't as if there were no women among the world's beggars... but as far as he could recall, he'd never seen a woman formally become a Beggar Disciple and receive the knotted sash.
The reason for this?
How would I know? I'd never bothered to ask. Well, maybe those beggar bastards have some kind of twisted philosophy of their own.
Still, curiosity got the better of him, and he found himself following her.
Not because she was a Female Beggar Disciple.
What he wanted to know was: why was the Beggar's Sect keeping such a close eye on the Honyeon Faction?
He figured he might learn more by tailing her than by capturing some Honyeon Faction martial artist and beating the information out of him.
Even though the Martial World is divided into factions these days, blood runs thicker than water. The Orthodox Factions would always side with their own over the Heretical Factions, right? And judging by her spying, she doesn't seem to be on good terms with the Honyeon Faction either. Who knows what else I might uncover? If our intentions align, perhaps we can assist each other for a while.
"Chasing after a beggar... I must be losing my mind."
A strange sense of self-loathing washed over him as he stalked after her, his footsteps muffled.
I was once hailed as the Heavenly Demon, the Strongest Under Heaven. It feels as though our roles have been reversed.
As they left the village, the Female Beggar Disciple's pace gradually quickened.
She changed paths erratically, clearly trying to shake him off.
She has a good sense.
She must have noticed he was following her.
So be it. I hadn't been trying to hide anyway.
Just as he was leisurely tailing her, the Female Beggar Disciple veered off the road and into a deserted reed field.
Not a bad choice. The reeds, taller than a man, offer excellent cover from prying eyes. Though the ground is muddy, any footprints would be difficult to track amidst the dense stalks. Having moved quite a distance from the Honyeon Faction, any conflict here would likely go unnoticed.
"Perfect for a conversation," he thought.
But then the footsteps ahead abruptly stopped.
She was waiting for him.
Rustle, rustle.
Parting the reeds leisurely, he emerged into a small clearing.
There she stood, watching him.
Around thirty years old, perhaps?
"Who the hell are you?"
"Ah, I'm..."
"Damn you! Are you in heat like a stray dog?"
"...Huh?"
"Why else would you chase after me?!"
What the hell? Her first words were about... that? What did I even do? There are things you say and things you don't. How could she jump to such a vulgar conclusion?
His fists clenched involuntarily.
"You shameless brat, following me all the way to the reeds? Your intentions are utterly vile."
"Hey, the reed field was your—"
"Shut up, you bastard!"
"..."
Why tell me to shut up after making it impossible for me to speak? You're not that impressive. And what makes you think I'm desperate enough to fall for a female beggar? I'm a member of the Zhuge Clan, for heaven's sake!
"You Honyeon Faction scum! You deserve to be torn apart and killed!"
"Ah..."
Honyeon Faction? Hmm, I suppose that's possible. But still, what a misunderstanding!
"Hey! What makes you think I'm from the Honyeon Faction?"
"Hmph! Deny it all you want! Do you think I'd trust a bunch of black-hearted bastards like you?"
"..."
The murderous glint in her eyes suggests a deep-seated grudge against the Honyeon Faction. Good. The enemy of my enemy is my ally. Since there's a chance she might help, it's best to endure and try to persuade her with words.
"Alright. My words were a bit harsh, but I admit I was wrong to secretly follow you. I had my reasons, though. I'm Zhuge Munhyeon, of the Zhuge Clan..."
As he slowly introduced himself, she suddenly burst into laughter.
"Puh-hahaha! Have you ever seen such a scoundrel? A Heretical Faction mongrel trying to claim the Zhuge name? Do you think I'd fall for that? Not a chance, you bastard!"
"But... don't you recognize the Snow-White Robes?"
"Robes can be faked anytime!"
"Hmph."
Then why are you wearing rags? Sigh, judging by her expression, persuasion seems futile.
If he left her alone, he'd probably end up with the nickname "Forced Indecent Assaulting Beggar Woman" on top of "Scoundrel."
"Damn it, I really didn't want to use my hands."
As he scowled and moved closer, she let out a wry chuckle.
"Just as I suspected. Now that your true nature has been exposed, you're resorting to brute force. But you've chosen the wrong opponent."
"..."
"I am Sayo, disciple of the Purple Ghost, the former Branch Head of the entire Hanyang Prefecture. Even if you're young, you must have heard of the Mysterious Demon Sword, right?"
Not at all... Mysterious Demon Sword or whatever—how would I know some local legend? Besides, it's been sixty years since the guy died, and I've only been alive for fifteen.
"Today will be the worst day of your life!"
Her body twisted violently as she gritted her teeth, and a blinding white flash shot toward him.
It was both a Secret Blade and a Flying Blade.
What a cheap trick...
Zhuge Munhyeon leaned forward, unleashing the Heavenly Star Flash with explosive speed to close the distance.
The Flying Blade hurtled straight toward him, but dodging it was no challenge.
Thwack!
Zhuge Munhyeon struck the Flying Blade aside with his left palm, which was wrapped in cloth, and followed up with the Coagulating Blood Divine Claw to subdue her.
He would have liked to correct her nasty temperament, but she might become an ally.
But then...
"Got you, you bastard!"
"...?"
Her expression suddenly shifted to smug triumph, and her hand moved in a strange, subtle motion.
A momentary glint.
"Silver Thread?"
A chill ran down the back of Zhuge Munhyeon's neck. He swiftly withdrew his hand and twisted his body.
Ping!
The Flying Blade he had struck away returned to her hand.
An impossibly thin silver thread was connected to the blade's tip.
The Beggar Disciple uses all sorts of tricks. She should just carry a Dog-Beating Staff.
But she seemed surprised that he had blocked such a trivial attack.
"Tch, you have good instincts."
"..."
"But if you barely dodged one, I doubt you can handle two."
A cold smile played on her lips as she gripped another Flying Blade.
The smile vanished from Zhuge Munhyeon's face as he sighed deeply at her murderous aura.
"You brought this on yourself."
"What bullshit are you spouting?"
"I've already tolerated you twice, even though we're complete strangers. That's more than enough. So don't try to change your tune later."
"What?"
Her bewildered eyes widened in an instant.
Thwack!
The sound of mud splashing.
Zhuge Munhyeon's figure suddenly blurred before her eyes.
Thwack!
Immediately afterward, the sound of mud being trampled came from right beside her, accompanied by a chilling aura of murderous intent.
"Shit!"
Caught off guard, Sayo had no time to throw her Flying Blade. She instinctively leaned back and rolled through the mud.
"Ugh!"
A searing pain shot through her side, making her head spin. It was just the wind pressure from his fist...
But she couldn't afford to lose focus.
Anticipating the follow-up attack, Sayo sprang to her feet and retreated swiftly.
Zhuge Munhyeon was taken aback by the movement.
"Ho? Look at this? Drunken Steps... I thought you were just spouting nonsense, but you're more orthodox than I expected."
Sayo's eyes widened at his exclamation.
"You know Drunken Steps?"
"Of course I do. And that Drunken Qiankun Steps is a combination of Drunken Steps and Qiankun. Cheonhwan Successor was the inheritor, wasn't he? Are you perhaps from that lineage too?"
"...!"
Sayo's eyes trembled, still reeling from the shock.
Cheonhwan. A figure from two generations ago who had once achieved Great Completion in the peerless martial art, Drunken Qiankun Steps. To me, he's my master's master's master... In any case, someone of vastly higher seniority. But how could this brat speak as if he knew someone whose very bones had been reduced to dust?
"Let's stop this. Your words have angered me, but I'll assume it's a misunderstanding and let it slide. I've already shown you mercy three times. You're probably the first person I've ever done that for."
Just as he was calming his irritation and trying to resume the conversation, she gripped the Flying Blades in both hands and lowered her stance.
"No. Your words have only deepened my suspicions."
"What?"
"I won't kill you. But I will capture you!"
What is this woman even saying? You'll end up shitting blood if you keep this up! I don't hold back just because you're a woman.
"Very well. I know your skill well enough. And that I can't defeat you alone..."
"Huh?"
"I'll capture you and reveal your true identity!"
This is driving me insane. My identity has already been revealed. I'm Zhuge Munhyeon, son of the Zhuge Clan. What kind of paranoia is this? Is she mentally ill?
Suddenly, Sayo pulled a flute from her robes, put it to her lips, and blew with all her might.
The Silent Flute emitted a soundless note—a frequency audible only to those with specialized training, and its range was limited.
This meant other beggars were hiding within the reed thicket.
Whoosh!
Just like that.
But a surprise attack only works when the target is unaware.
Zhuge Munhyeon narrowed his eyes and leaned back.
A club grazed his chest.
Is this their idea of an attack...?
Thwack!
The male beggar doubled over like a shrimp as Zhuge Munhyeon's knee slammed into his abdomen.
Swish!...
The rustling of reed leaves echoed from all directions.
They were probably going to use that useless Dog-Beating Formation to surround him.
"Haa... I'm not even a dog."
A sigh escaped his lips involuntarily.
He was the one who had single-handedly turned a thousand Beggar Disciples' Dog-Beating Formation into a bloody mess.
"No choice. You stay put for now. Since you seem to be the leader, I can't let you escape."
"What?"
Zhuge Munhyeon furrowed his brow and swept his hand across the ground, gathering dozens of dried reeds.
Piping!
With a flick of his finger, the reeds shot into the muddy ground near Sayo.
"You bastard, what are you doing—"
Her voice, startled by what she thought was a hidden weapon, was swallowed by the formation.
It was a simple formation, hastily constructed and poorly executed.
Someone like Sayo, who had mastered even the Drunken Steps, could easily break through it.
"Well, I'll just finish this before she does."
Whack!
Zhuge Munhyeon leaped into the swarm of beggars closing in from all sides.
Sayo was startled as the surrounding area suddenly filled with dense fog.
"A... a Formation?"
How can this be possible? A Formation requires precise calculations and the establishment of a Core at a specific location to activate. Yet this one has been activated with just a few reeds. Could it be? Is this really the Zhuge Clan?
If not, it would be nearly impossible to deploy such a Formation.
But how could a Formation Master from the Zhuge Clan possess such martial prowess?
Sayo shook her head urgently, her mind reeling with questions.
First, I need to break this Formation.
Fortunately, the Formation's power wasn't overwhelming. It seemed to be a non-lethal illusionary Formation, creating fog to obscure vision without any lethal effects.
Probe the Formation to discern its flow... If I can escape using Drunken Steps before the flow shifts and changes...!
As the mist cleared, sounds from the outside world finally reached her ears, and the scene of the reed field where she stood came into view.
Her sharp gaze swept the surroundings, revealing five beggars sprawled face-down in the muddy ground.
"They're all... defeated?"
It hadn't taken her long to break free from the Formation.
But at that moment, Sayo sensed a sinister aura approaching.
It might be someone from the Zhuge Clan.
Thud!
Her thoughts were cut short.
A deep, piercing blow to her abdomen made her vision go white.
"Gah!"
A single, strangled gasp was all she could manage.
The pain choked her, forcing her to double over.
"...I understand you misunderstood, but I'm not in a good mood right now."
"J-just..."
"Didn't I say I wouldn't hold back anymore?"
A twisted smile spread across his face.
A savage glint flickered in his narrowed eyes.
"So what if I'm horny? Who are you calling a pervert?! You tried to kill me earlier, didn't you?"
It was a misunderstanding.
But the words had already been spoken, and Sayo couldn't take them back. She would pay the price.
A woman?
He'd never cared about such distinctions.
What difference did gender or age make to a martial artist?
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny