Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Translator: Penny
Episode 27
He was beaten half to death.
He had never been beaten like that in his entire life.
Amidst the onslaught, a single, sharp finger jabbed into him with such force that his entire body twisted, every joint felt like it was shattering, and the sky turned yellow.
"Your name is Sayo?"
"Yes, sir!"
Sayo, kneeling in the mud, answered with unwavering resolve.
In the Martial World, where strength was both age and status, wasn't power the only thing that mattered?
Her mouth was torn, her face swollen, and her entire body throbbed with pain. She longed to collapse and rest, mud be damned, but she forced herself to maintain perfect posture.
Meanwhile, the Beggar Disciples serving as Zhuge Munhyeon's human chair, crushed beneath his weight, remained motionless despite regaining consciousness. They dared not even breathe too loudly, lest their slightest movement disturb his comfort and earn them another beating.
"Did I say I was from the Zhuge Clan or not?"
"I apologize. I was overwhelmed by my grievances against the Honyeon Faction and misunderstood..."
"Even so, you should listen when someone speaks! You... Ugh, I don't even want to say it."
"Th-that's..."
Sayo flinched and cowered at the slightest frown.
Rebellion?
Such thoughts only arise when you haven't been beaten. Once you've experienced pain that seeps into your bones, you naturally become submissive.
Of course, it was hard to believe this person was a descendant of the Zhuge Clan, renowned as gentlemen of the Martial World. But she had to trust him.
There was no rule against a clan producing a mutant.
Survival came first.
"Alright. Let's consider our misunderstandings resolved. I have a few questions."
"Ask away. I'll answer with all my sincerity."
"Why were you spying on the Honyeon Faction?"
"That's..." Sayo hesitated.
"Should I carve you into neat little squares and bury you in the reeds? You'd make good fertilizer."
Carve me into squares?
Was he threatening to butcher me like meat in a butcher shop? How could such a monster have been born into a scholar's family, where even a single word was carefully weighed?
But the look in his eyes made her shudder. He seemed more than capable of carrying out the threat.
Swallowing hard, Sayo confessed everything about the Honyeon Faction and their connection to it.
"The Branch Head, who is also my Master, is being held captive by the Honyeon Faction."
"What?"
"They're trying to extract information from us..."
"Unbelievable! A Branch Head of the Beggar's Sect captured by heretical scum like the Honyeon Faction? Is the Beggar's Sect really that weak?"
"Well... we have our own circumstances."
"Circumstances?"
"To be honest, we're not originally from this region."
"Ah, right. You mentioned Hanyang Prefecture earlier?"
"That's correct."
Hanyang Prefecture was an administrative district encompassing the southern bank of the Yangtze River, which flowed through Hubei Province, including the Wuhan region.
"Hanyang Prefecture must be quite large, then?"
"Indeed. At its peak, it was a massive branch covering six Manifestations south of the Yangtze River, including Wuhan."
"But why did you end up here, trapped by some minor faction like the Honyeon Faction? This is Huangzhou Prefecture territory."
"T-That is..."
Her hesitation, despite knowing she was in the right, clearly indicated internal strife within the Beggar's Sect.
Yet she eventually spoke:
"The Beggar's Sect has fallen into disarray."
"What do you mean?"
"Long ago, after the Alliance disbanded, the Beggar's Sect fragmented into countless factions. The orphaned branches had no choice but to seek refuge with the most powerful martial sects in their regions."
"What?"
"It was a matter of survival."
"Hmm... I suppose that makes sense. Continue."
"But as the Black River Gate's influence in Hanyang Prefecture grew, the Mingcheon Faction, which our branch had sought refuge with, was annihilated."
"So?"
"The Branch Head declared that we could never align ourselves with the Heretical Factions, but..."
"A schism erupted."
"Exactly. The Branch Head was forced to flee north under attack from Beggar Disciples who had allied with the Black River Gate."
"He must have been severely wounded."
"Yes. By the time we learned the truth, he had already been captured by the Honyeon Faction..."
"What's the reason? What power does an exiled Branch Head have?"
"Well... I heard that Huangzhou Prefecture, being a region where the Wudang and Zhuge clans held strong influence, didn't require a full branch. They operated solely through sub-branches."
"So you plan to use the ousted Branch Head to rally the scattered Beggar Disciples? To exploit them as intelligence assets?"
"Yes."
"Is that even possible?"
"The Branch Head commanded great respect within the sub-branches. As long as we hold his life in our hands, the Beggars in each sub-branch will find it difficult to ignore our requests."
"Hmm..."
The current state of the Beggar's Sect. Once boasting a hundred thousand disciples and claiming to have eyes and ears in every corner of the world, even they couldn't resist the tides of history. Could the warlords across the land have simply left them alone? Controlling the Beggar's Sect meant controlling the world's intelligence in one's hand. If they couldn't secure the sect as an ally, it might fall into enemy hands, potentially revealing their own secrets. They were likely among the first targets to be attacked. Amidst the chaos, the Beggar's Sect was torn apart, its members scattering to align with different factions. Wudang and Zhuge had always regarded the Beggar's Sect as little more than rats, scurrying about to gather news for them. They would never have embraced them. No wonder they couldn't integrate in the first place.
The Nine Sects and One Faction. There was a reason they were distinguished by that name. It was a subtle manifestation of the Nine Great Sects' inherent pride. The clans had banded together, while the Nine Great Sects treated the Beggar's Sect as mere pawns. Fools... They had no idea how crucial the Beggar's Sect's role was. They couldn't possibly comprehend the lengths to which the Demonic Cult and Heretical Factions had to go to evade the eyes and ears of the beggar gangs that permeated every corner of the Martial World. Moreover, the Beggar's Sect's intelligence assets would have been most valuable to the Zhuge Clan, which supplied strategists to the Martial Alliance's armies. After all, information was the cornerstone of any effective strategy.
"Foolishly, Zhuge failed to seize control of the Beggar's Sect. And now look at this state of affairs, being scorned even by the minor factions of the Heretical Factions. Tsk tsk."
But! Things must change now. I've decided to nurture him. Me. And if the Zhuge Clan is to reclaim its former glory, the first thing it needs is information. Sayo. She's both the successor to the Sajeol Formation and the disciple of the Branch Head. Meeting her might be another kunen—a fateful encounter. No, it's inwon—destiny. Though I despise those fools, I've been forced to deal with them so often that I've been exposed to their irreconcilable ideas. Kisul inwon—the karmic connection of the times. Just as the falling of a leaf is already determined, this meeting with Sayo as I prepare to strike the Honyeon Faction might be a predestined destiny and opportunity. I must seize it. Opportunities are hard to spot, but when they come, you must seize them. Above all, it would be disastrous for the Honyeon Faction, enemies of the Zhuge Clan, to gain control of the Beggar's Sect.
"Sayo."
"Yes."
"If we were to rescue your Master, what would you offer in return?"
"Huh? Rescue him?"
"I intend to wipe out the Honyeon Faction."
"Wh-what does that mean?"
Sayo looked utterly bewildered.
The Zhuge Clan attacking the Honyeon Faction? That's absurd.
The Zhuge Clan was currently in a precarious situation, surrounded on all sides.
Blocked to the west by Wudang and to the southeast by the Heretical Factions, they were steadily declining.
If the Main Clan mobilized, they might be able to crush the Honyeon Faction, but...
"Wouldn't we lose more than we gain by attacking the Honyeon Faction?"
"Why do you think so?"
"As I mentioned, our branch controls the Huangzhou Prefecture Sub-Branch, so we're somewhat aware of the situation. The Heretical Factions surrounding the Zhuge Clan are divided, but they maintain a secret alliance."
"Hmm."
"If the Zhuge Clan's Main Clan moves to attack the Honyeon Faction, the neighboring Heretical Factions will immediately launch a coordinated assault on Yungjungsan. Can the current Zhuge Clan withstand such an attack? Though each faction is small, their combined strength surpasses that of the Zhuge Main Clan. Moreover, hasn't the Zhuge Clan been blind and deaf for quite some time now?"
A faint smile flickered across Zhuge Munhyeon's lips at Sayo's words.
Their power had diminished, but their reputation remained undiminished.
They were reading the situation correctly.
If, as she suggested, the Beggar's Sect Branch Head captured by the Honyeon Faction could rally the Beggar Disciples hiding in Huangzhou Prefecture—the northern part of Hubei Province—it would greatly benefit the Zhuge Clan's future endeavors.
As expected... I need to take matters into my own hands.
He smiled faintly and turned to Sayo. "I never said the Main Clan would move."
"Huh?"
"Only the Yanghyeon Branch is attacking the Honyeon Faction."
"Yanghyeon... What does that mean?"
Sayo's face twisted with disbelief.
"Zhuge will use the Honyeon Faction as a stepping stone to reclaim their former glory, just like when they ruled Hubei long ago."
"Huh?"
"So, what do you say? Why not lend a hand and dream of returning to those days when you saw and heard everything that happened in the Central Plains?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Wouldn't we both benefit? As Zhuge expands, you could expand your influence too."
Sayo couldn't agree so easily.
The young martial artist's ambitious dreams lacked conviction.
How on earth does Zhuge plan to...?
"I know. To make a bet, you need certainty."
"..."
Zhuge Munhyeon grinned, as if seeing right through her.
"I'll show you."
"Show me what?"
"If you see me dismantle the Honyeon Faction with just the Yanghyeon Branch, wouldn't that give you the leverage to negotiate?"
"Th-that's..."
"You have nothing to lose, do you? I'm not asking you to fight alongside us—just watch from the sidelines."
"..."
"In return, I need information about the Honyeon Faction. You can provide that, right? If we keep it secret, no one will ever know you helped us. And if we lose to the Honyeon Faction, you can simply withdraw."
"Hmm."
It was a gamble with no stakes.
They had nothing to lose.
But what if he won?
They would get to share the money he won.
"I can't guarantee it, but if the Main Clan approves later, I'll help you establish a new Main Lodge near Yungjungsan."
"A... a new Main Lodge?!"
"Doesn't that sound like a tremendous reward?"
Sayo swallowed hard.
Not just her, but even the Beggar Disciples pinned beneath Zhuge Munhyeon's buttocks.
"What if I refuse?"
"Then you die."
"Huh?"
"The Branch Head is captured. If our intentions leak before the fight even begins, it won't be good for us."
"..."
"You know the saying, right? 'Kill the man, silence the mouth'?"
With a grin, he mimed slitting his throat with a finger.
"Ugh..."
Those pinned beneath the overwhelming pressure gasped for breath, their bodies crushed by the suffocating aura.
A sickening crunch echoed as the person at the very bottom was sucked into the muddy ground.
"W-wait! Just a moment!"
"Have you decided?"
"Please withdraw your aura first."
"Have you decided?"
Despite Sayo's plea, Zhuge Munhyeon's aura didn't diminish. Instead, it intensified.
"H-I'll do it! I'll provide the information."
"Good."
With a sinister grin, the aura vanished instantly. Sayo touched the suddenly chilled nape of her neck, still reeling from the momentary illusion that her throat had been slit.
Terrifying. He seemed lighthearted, yet could turn deadly serious in an instant. He appeared docile, but beneath that facade lurked a chilling cruelty. It was as if good and evil coexisted within him, making it impossible to predict which side would emerge at any given moment. Still, I've decided to climb aboard. Whether it will lead to fox borrowing the tiger's might or ruin and destruction, I can't say. But as he'd pointed out, it isn't a losing proposition.
"Grrr..."
"..."
Just as Sayo was deeply focused, the Beggar Disciple buried at the bottom, his face pressed into the muddy ground, released a bubble of air.
He'll suffocate like that.
"Hey, maybe you should stand up for a bit..."
"Ah, I forgot. It's just so comfortable here."
"..."
Zhuge Munhyeon rose as if only just realizing his mistake.
It seemed he hadn't cared about the disciple at all.
The Beggar Disciple at the bottom must be nearly drowning in mud.
📝 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