Chapter 173: It Is Fate (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 173: It Is Fate (2)
The quaint hut, charming in its simplicity, was a structure built for looks rather than substance. Its walls were betrayed by cracks that let the biting winter breeze seep through.
It was a particularly harsh season for the homeless. Many succumbed to the hellish cold, never seeing the light of day again.
Chuwong, a skilled martial artist who had reached a high level of cultivation, could endure by enveloping himself in a barrier of Qi. It was a luxury not afforded to those under his care.
And so, winter held little appeal for Chuwong. It was a season that rendered him helpless.
“Boss…” a member of the Beggar’s Sect called out from within the hut.
“What is it?”
“Shouldn’t you have retrieved the pass?”
Chuwong’s eyes flicked to the wooden pass lying on the table—the one he had tried to give to the True Dragon earlier.
“Hmm.”
But that wasn’t the pass the hobo meant. He was referring to the First-Class Beggar’s Pass that the True Dragon possessed. He was asking if Chuwong should have taken it back.
“You lunatic, how could I have taken such a thing?”
“But… isn’t it only right to get something in return for listening to his request?”
That would have been the case under normal circumstances. The pass Chuwong offered was common, held by many. But the True Dragon’s pass was different. It granted the holder access to any information the Beggar’s Sect could provide. If the sect didn’t have it, they would go out and get it. It was a token given only to a savior of the sect leader himself. The leader would personally act on behalf of the holder, treating it as a top priority.
So why does the True Dragon have it?
Chuwong had been flabbergasted when the young prodigy produced it. This wasn’t something a mere genius should possess.
Was it a fake?
The thought flashed through his mind, but he dismissed it instantly. The Gu Clan might not rank among the four great noble families, but they were still a high-ranking clan. There was no way their heir would be so audacious as to carry a counterfeit.
Of course, verification was necessary, but in his heart, Chuwong believed it was real.
“Boss?”
“Wait a second, dammit. I’m already confused enough as it is.”
Scratching his head, Chuwong responded to the persistent calls. As the hobo had said, the First-Class Pass was a single-use item. Standard procedure was to reclaim it once its value was expended.
But that’s not for me to decide.
The holder had used the pass to make a personal request of him, not the sect. Whether that constituted “use” was a gray area.
And the True Dragon knew that. It’s why he showed it to me.
“…Hmm…”
Despite his youth, the so-called True Dragon was as cunning as a fox.
Chuwong scratched his head again and turned to the hobo behind him. “…Do you remember what the True Dragon asked for?”
The man answered immediately. “He wanted information on someone named Hwangbo Seon from the Hwangbo Clan, and on the Dragon Warrior, right?”
The Hwangbo Clan was the one that had sent Hwangbo Cheolwi to the tournament. The young man hadn’t shown anything remarkable, but he seemed to have potential.
But who is Hwangbo Seon?
This is the first I’ve heard the name. Probably not a renowned member of the clan.
Why would the True Dragon want information on such a person?
As for the Dragon Warrior…
The Dragon Warrior was the least famous among the titled Dragons and Phoenixes. That individual had appeared only once in the world, yet performed impressively enough to earn the title. They had never participated in the tournament again and were fading from memory due to their absence.
Chuwong had once tried to meet the Dragon Warrior, but…
…I’d rather not remember what happened.
Only a sad memory remained. The Dragon Warrior had been even more thorny than the Sword Phoenix.
Putting that aside, Chuwong’s thoughts returned to Gu Yangcheon, the True Dragon who had just left.
I can’t figure out his intentions.
No, it’s more that they seem too obvious.
It feels like he wants to forge a connection with us.
The way he insisted on speaking to me, despite his annoyed expression… The way he made a personal request by showing the pass when he didn’t have to…
It all feels like a test.
And he’s just a young prodigy who hasn’t lived half my years.
As a martial artist, Chuwong disliked being tested. Yet, strangely, he found it acceptable coming from the True Dragon. The boy exuded a pressure Chuwong didn’t feel from other young talents. It was humbling to feel such force from a youth, but when he considered the boy’s true worth, the feeling shifted.
Then again, what pride did I have to begin with?
A slight smile touched Chuwong’s lips as he recalled his own words. What pride could a beggar have, living on the ground and surviving on alms? Survival was enough.
The title ‘True Dragon’ fits him far too well.
Even if the boy himself seemed to dislike it.
After a moment’s thought, Chuwong reached a decision.
“Bangchu.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“I’ll take responsibility for the pass the True Dragon showed. Keep your mouth shut about it.”
“Huh? You’re not going to inform the Branch Leader?”
“Just shut up and do as I say. I’ll tell him myself.”
“Boss… last time you got beaten because you were late reporting about the new star and the True Dragon.”
“…Do you want a beating instead?”
“I’ll shut my mouth.”
Branch Leader, my ass.
For something of this magnitude, I’ll have to go straight to the Leader, not some Branch Leader.
It’d be faster to ask that man directly.
If I can find him.
The old man was probably out drinking somewhere on the streets, making him the hardest person to locate in the world.
-Student.
-Yes.
-Hic… Life is a line.
-A line?
-Yes, a line. As long as you get on a good line… hic… you’ll have an easy life.
He was a bastard of a man who lazily drank while his young student did the begging. He was the former Alliance Leader and, though it seemed impossible, was once called the Ear of the Sword Venerable, one of the legendary Three Venerables.
“Boss, then what about the request?”
“What do you mean? We do it. We said we would.”
“…For free?”
Chuwong picked up the wooden pass from the table and tossed it to Bangchu. “That’s the payment. Roughly.”
“…R-Roughly?”
“If that’s not enough, use my name. I’ll cover the rest.”
“Boss, if we had a nickel for everything you put under your name, we’d be—Aghhh!”
“You piece of—! Just do what I say! Why do you always talk back!”
Bangchu rubbed the lump on his head and shouted back, “We’re going to end up dead if we keep following your orders!”
He knew his boss never did things the proper way.
He gives all his money to other beggars, keeps nothing for himself, and still thinks he can become a Branch Leader?
Bangchu thought it was absurd. How could you get promoted when you gave everything away?
“I’ll handle it. This is my last warning.”
“You always say that.”
“Damn it! I swear this is the last time.”
Chuwong kicked Bangchu outside, puffing with anger. He knew Bangchu was worried about him, but he felt the man had no right to be.
Instead of worrying about me, worry about surviving the day. That’s what a beggar should do.
Chuwong disliked pointless concern. He knew his vision would blur if he formed deep connections. Beggars shouldn’t trust each other. Only then could you survive another day.
With a sigh, Chuwong sat down, recalling Gu Yangcheon’s parting words.
-I’ll see you next time.
He had been the one to reach out first before, but this time, the True Dragon had initiated it.
Doesn’t he think it’s dirty?
The boy had shaken his stained hand without a hint of disgust. It stirred something in Chuwong he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Even though it was just a handshake.
I’ve met countless nobles who put on a fake front like that.
Damn.
He kept wondering what lay behind the boy’s intense gaze. What had the True Dragon seen in him?
What does he want from me?
“I know nothing despite my age. This is why beggars never get ahead.”
Chuwong stood up, his thoughts unresolved. If he were good at finding answers, he wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with.
“Ugh, this shitty world.”
He kicked the door open and stepped outside. He needed to report the tournament events to the higher-ups.
But let them find the details on their own…
The Branch Leader will yell at me again.
But just fire me if you can’t stand it. I’ve been rolling around here for years. Whether it was my master or whatever, I need to find my own path.
At this rate, I’ll never achieve anything.
“Hey.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Take a message to the Branch Leader.”
“What should I tell him?”
“That I’m going west for a while.”
“Pardon?”
Without another word, Chuwong leaped into the sky, heading west toward Hanam. His destination was the Xi’an Bi Clan, home of Bi Eejin.
* * *
“I wonder if he’ll get the job done properly.”
I spoke, my hands full of food. Gu Jeolyub, walking beside me, took the offerings and asked, “What job?”
I was referring to the request I’d made to Chuwong.
Not that I have high hopes.
It would have been different if I’d made an official request to the Beggar’s Sect. But since I’d approached Chuwong personally, it didn’t matter much if he failed. The request itself wasn’t the point.
Well, it’s fine since he didn’t take the pass.
Honestly, it wouldn’t have mattered if he had. It would have felt wasteful, but I didn’t want to seem strange by clinging to it.
As we walked on, Gu Jeolyub broke the uncomfortable silence. “…Young Master.”
“What?”
“Was it wise to speak with the Beggar’s Sect?”
I stopped and fixed him with a stare. He flinched under my gaze.
“What do you mean?”
“I know they’re part of the Orthodox Faction, but… shouldn’t you have consulted the clan first?”
“I don’t need to.”
“Huh?”
“Because you will.”
His eyes widened at my calm tone. His reaction struck me as odd.
“Won’t you?”
“Uh… It’s just—”
“I don’t want to trouble myself with the obvious. You can report everything to the clan.”
He seemed surprised by my bluntness. Whether it was Muyeon or Gu Jeolyub, those around me were essentially the eyes and ears of the Gu Clan. The only one I truly trusted was Wi Seol-Ah.
To be clear, Gu Jeolyub wasn’t exactly a clan member; he answered to the First Elder.
“I don’t care if you tell your grandfather everything.”
“…”
“Nothing much will change if he knows.”
I stared at him until he fell silent, then resumed walking. Part of me wanted to keep him close and train him—he had talent and a decent nature. But in the end, Gu Jeolyub served the First Elder. So I didn’t expect much.
If there was a silver lining, it was that the fox-like old man hadn’t yet crossed the line. The First Elder was a moth drawn to a flame. I could afford to be relaxed because I knew he’d eventually burn himself. I just hoped he wouldn’t force me to be the one to light the fire.
Of course, that was unlikely to happen.
…This is enough for the Beggar’s Sect, for now.
With the Beggar’s Sect—specifically, Chuwong—I intended to set a boundary. Since I had no deep connection with him in my past life, I didn’t need one in this life. It would be nice, but it wasn’t essential.
Frankly, I believed I’d made a lasting impression. Whether it was positive or negative, I could tell he was interested.
After buying more skewers and handing them to Gu Jeolyub, I turned to Muyeon.
“Muyeon.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I have some business to attend to.”
He nodded, not even asking what it was. He never changed.
Smiling, I addressed them both. “Pass on a message for me.”
“Pardon?”
Before they could react, I enveloped myself in Qi and kicked off the ground, launching forward at immense speed. It was too fast for them to follow, especially Muyeon.
He tried to chase, pouring Qi into his movement, but froze in disbelief at my velocity.
This was another reason I’d left the girls behind when I visited Chuwong. I was going to get an earful later.
…Ugh.
But I had no choice. I really didn’t want Muyeon with me, and he wasn’t the type to let me go alone if I asked. Besides, it was better for him to stay back; he was weaker than me now.
The words I could say easily to Gu Jeolyub were harder to say to Muyeon. I knew how hard he trained, swinging his sword until he nearly collapsed.
I feel bad, but he’ll go easy on me if I return quickly.
This wouldn’t take long. It was just past noon. I could be back before sunset.
At least, that’s what I thought.
“…Why are you here?”
The voice came from under the staircase leading to the Shaolin Temple. A woman of extraordinary beauty, surrounded by a chilly aura.
The Snow Phoenix, Moyong Hi-ah, smiled seductively. “What a coincidence, meeting you here of all places.”
“…”
There was no way this was a coincidence.