Chapter 566: Why is this old man here? (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 566: Why is this old man here? (3)
If someone were to ask me what is most important when building a faction, I would answer without a moment's hesitation: ‘Power.’
In the face of overwhelming power, all else is futile.
It doesn't matter what measures you take or how hard you try to resist. If you possess the strength to crush and tear everything apart, every process leading up to that point is nothing more than a meaningless struggle.
I felt this truth viscerally in my past life. That is why I can say it with such conviction.
However.
Since power great enough to destroy everything is impossible to obtain under normal circumstances, most people consider something else to be even more vital than raw strength when building a faction.
Some call it the flow of the world. Others say it is mightier than the sword. And though it has no physical form, it holds a value worth billions.
Yes. That was…
‘Information.’
It was information—something no faction would ever dare to ignore. It was a precious treasure that even the greatest martial artists would never let go of.
In fact, it was said that the Peng Clan, one of the Four Noble Clans, invested twice as much money into a single strategist to form an intelligence unit than they did to recruit a martial artist of the Fusion Realm. That was how highly they valued it.
And it wasn't just the Peng Clan; most noble clans and prestigious sects were the same. No matter which organization you looked at, they all operated their own intelligence units. It was a war in its own right.
In a way, it was only natural. Since they couldn't obtain the power to destroy everything, the common-sense notion that one must gain an advantage through information to expand their territory was something even a child would know.
The difference between one who knows and one who doesn't is as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.
And within that framework of information, the man who could be called the absolute best was sitting right in front of me.
“Heh heh.”
The old man chuckled as he sipped the tea placed before him. It was a light, sly laugh.
His back was bent like a bow and covered in fine wrinkles. His limbs were thin and pitiful, looking far too frail to belong to a martial artist. He looked like nothing more than a decrepit old man.
But among those seated around him, no one could ignore him. Even the Sword Venerable, the greatest man under the heavens, had valued this old man. How could anyone else dare to disregard him?
The old man was the primary source of intelligence for the Murim Alliance, the very heart of the Orthodox Faction. He was the leader of the Beggar’s Sect—the 'Bang' of the Ten Sect Alliance—which was presumed to hold the largest repository of information in the Central Plains.
He was the man known as the Ear of the Sword Venerable, the Alliance Leader from two generations ago. He was Dobong, the Leader of the Beggar’s Sect, titled Drunken Beggar Woo Bong.
As the saying went, most rumors circulating in the Central Plains were managed by the Beggar’s Sect. Their influence was vast. While the Unorthodox Faction's Hao Clan was once said to be their equal, the Unorthodox Faction had entered an era of decline. As a result, the Hao Clan now felt like it was a step behind.
In contrast, during the Sword Venerable’s tenure as Alliance Leader, it was said that as the Sword Venerable swept through battlefields with his mighty power, Drunken Beggar Woo Bong became his eyes and ears, giving him the wings he lacked. Thanks to him, the Murim Alliance had crushed the Unorthodox Faction and become the central pillar of the Central Plains.
And that old man, who had achieved such tremendous feats, was now…
“Heh heh… It’s been a while, but Soi, you’re as pretty as ever. Your figure, especially, is a work of art. A true masterpiece.”
…sexually harassing the Sword Queen.
“Such a pretty child. You must be well past the age for marriage, yet you still haven't found a partner… This old grandpa’s heart aches for you, heh heh…”
“Haha…”
It was the first time I had ever seen her laugh with such blatant discomfort.
Drunken Beggar Woo Bong kept sticking close to the Sword Queen, pestering her with questions. And the ever-so-gentle Sword Queen was openly showing her unease.
“If I had a son, I’d set you two up in a heartbeat… It’s a shame I can’t… So, what I’m saying is, how about this old grandpa…”
“I apologize, Sect Leader. I have no intention of marrying.”
“Heh heh… Still so firm.”
The Sword Queen flatly rejected Drunken Beggar Woo Bong’s ridiculous advances. For some reason, her rejection seemed practiced, as if she had been through this several times before.
Thanks to that, the others seated at the table didn't know what to do and could only sip their tea in silence. Gu Ryunghwa’s eyes were darting around frantically. Yung Pung looked completely flustered. Seong Yul seemed relatively fine, but that bastard always had a vacant look in his eyes, so I’ll let it slide.
I was curious about the current situation.
What is this?
I subtly shifted my gaze. We were in a building prepared near the Sect Leader’s residence, a place clearly meant for receiving honored guests.
Why are we here?
Why was I… no, why were we all gathered here? It was a situation I couldn't easily comprehend.
This is complicated.
The one who had brought us here, the Sword of Wudang, was currently absent, having matters to attend to back at Wudang. He was likely busy dealing with Jicheol’s suicide and Woobaek’s death. Since some wicked bastard had turned Wudang upside down, he would need even more time for that.
I had planned it that way on purpose, but…
I never thought that old man would come here.
I swallowed dryly as I looked at the hunched old man in front of me. He looked like a worthless old beggar, but contrary to his appearance, he was a formidable figure. It was said among the people, though partly in jest, that if Drunken Beggar Woo Bong wasn't in the Murim Alliance, the Alliance wouldn't function. That was how significant his position was.
“Heh heh.”
Amidst the awkward atmosphere, Drunken Beggar Woo Bong let out a laugh. That was the beginning.
“Looks like you’re all quite surprised because of me.”
“N-No, not at all.”
Gu Ryunghwa hastily replied. Her reaction was swift. It seemed she was learning how to navigate social situations well from the Sword Queen.
It’s for the best.
Social skills were something one couldn't learn in the Gu Clan. Being under the gentle Sword Queen was far better than being in a place full of reckless people.
Drunken Beggar Woo Bong smiled slightly at the tense Gu Ryunghwa. Then he slowly began to speak.
“Heh heh. I am Dobong, a beggar from Henan.”
The most famous beggar in the Central Plains introduced himself. Then, with his poor eyesight, he looked at each person one by one.
“And you must be the Sword Dragon that the Celestial Plum Blossom has been boasting so much about lately?” he said, looking at Yung Pung.
Yung Pung, slightly surprised, bowed respectfully. “Yung Pung, a third-generation student of Mount Hua, greets the Leader of the Beggar’s Sect.”
“This pretty little one must be our Soi’s disciple.”
“…Gu Ryunghwa, a second-generation student of Mount Hua, greets the Leader of the Beggar’s Sect.”
One by one, he identified them without any proper introductions. A subtle chill ran down my spine.
“And this one is…”
Drunken Beggar Woo Bong’s gaze momentarily turned to Seong Yul. At the same time, I could feel him tilt his head in confusion. Did he not know about Seong Yul?
Thinking I should answer for him, Seong Yul spoke up first.
“…My name is Lee Cheol.”
Seong Yul introduced himself with a pseudonym.
“I am in charge of the Young Master’s protection.”
“Hmm…”
Hearing him say that while looking at me, Drunken Beggar Woo Bong nodded. Just as I thought he had let it slide, the old man’s gaze turned to me.
Drunken Beggar Woo Bong then had a strange reaction. For a moment, he said nothing and just stared at my face.
Then.
“A pleasure to meet you, Young Master Gu.”
“…Ah, yes. Gu Yang… of the Gu Clan.”
“You’re the spitting image of your father.”
He suddenly brought up my father while looking at me. He even looked me up and down as I sat still.
“And also…”
“It seems my children have made a mistake.”
“Pardon?” I voiced my confusion.
Drunken Beggar Woo Bong looked at me and said, “It seems there’s quite a bit of information to correct about Young Master Gu. Heheheh. Looks like it’s not just your appearance that resembles Lord Gu.”
I had to give an awkward laugh. It seemed he had said it after gauging my level.
My Qi control is off, so I suppose I’m easier to read than usual.
I had been using my Qi to hide my true level to some extent. But now, with my internal injuries, that was impossible. Just hiding my condition and maintaining the Qi Body Transformation Technique was already pushing my limits. Trying to do more would obviously cause problems.
As such, this was my limit for now.
“…I am grateful for your high praise.”
“Heh heh.”
At my words, Drunken Beggar Woo Bong chuckled and moistened his throat with tea. Then he looked at the gathered people and continued.
“Alright, that should be enough for introductions… The reason I asked the Alliance Leader to have you all gather here is because I have something to ask.”
At his words, which signaled he was getting straight to the point, the others tensed up. They wouldn't know why Drunken Beggar Woo Bong wanted to see them, so their reaction was natural.
Of course, I found this incredibly annoying. I knew exactly why that old man had arranged this meeting. It was obvious.
For a moment, Drunken Beggar Woo Bong’s atmosphere grew heavy. I couldn't see his expression clearly, so I didn't know what he was feeling, but just the change in his breathing altered the weight of the air.
“First… I heard you were attacked just before… By any chance, do you remember the situation?”
I secretly swallowed. It was just as I had expected. Someone had attacked Wudang, and an elder had even been killed. It was only natural to seek information from outsiders rather than members of the sect itself.
The problem was…
I can’t believe the Leader of the Beggar’s Sect came to do this himself.
I never imagined the highest-ranking beggar of the sect would show up here in person. Even if it was the Alliance Leader’s sect, did this make any sense?
When the story about the Wind Cloud Ghost Thief came up, I was sure that old man wouldn't be able to move.
As I keep saying, this was an era of upheaval. With the sheer volume of information pouring in, it couldn't have been easy for the Leader of the Beggar’s Sect to move about like this. That was the very reason I was so sure the rumor about the Wind Cloud Ghost Thief was fake when I first heard it.
He came all the way here himself?
It was an unexpected situation. I had planned to just meet the Sword of Wudang, finish our talk, and move on after collecting some compensation as a victim of the incident. But for Drunken Beggar Woo Bong to come in person…
…Don’t tell me.
As I assessed the situation, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind. If the Sword of Wudang was already on his way here, he might have told the Beggar’s Sect Leader about the Wind Cloud Ghost Thief. He could have informed the Beggar’s Sect beforehand, telling them he had received such a letter. Spreading such a rumor would naturally increase interest in Wudang.
The problem was that Drunken Beggar Woo Bong is the Wind Cloud Ghost Thief.
If Drunken Beggar Woo Bong had personally heard a story about himself being passed around, it was possible he had come here himself because of it. And that was the problem. Of all the times for this to happen.
“…An attack?”
Gu Ryunghwa looked puzzled. She looked like she had no idea what he was talking about. Yung Pung was the same. It was only natural; I had deliberately ordered Nahi to make them lose consciousness.
Drunken Beggar Woo Bong watched the two of them and let out a small laugh.
“Heh heh… It seems your memory is a bit hazy.”
Then he turned to look at me and Seong Yul.
“Is it the same for you two?”
“Yes.”
I nodded. The cleanup was perfect. No traces were left behind. Unlike my own uncertainty, if Nahi was certain, then it must be true. She was more skilled than me in that regard, after all.
After hearing my answer, Drunken Beggar Woo Bong stared at me silently for a moment. His gaze was heavy, but I didn't show it.
Is he suspecting me?
I didn't know why, but if he was, then I shouldn't be the one to look away. For a brief moment, we exchanged glances as I feigned ignorance. Drunken Beggar Woo Bong eventually nodded and averted his gaze.
Did I get away with it? I wasn't sure. I had never really spoken with the old man named Drunken Beggar Woo Bong, and I didn't know what kind of person he was. If I knew anything, it was that his disciple would one day become the Beggar King.
Just because I don’t know doesn’t mean I can let my guard down.
If anything, not knowing meant I had to be more tense. The scariest thing in the world is ignorance, and the man before me was the furthest thing from that word.
Just as I was heightening my tension, Drunken Beggar Woo Bong suddenly broke into a smile, shattering the heavy atmosphere.
“Heh heh. Yes, yes. It’s possible you don’t remember. Of course.”
“…Sect Leader?”
“To be honest, it doesn’t really matter if you know or not. I just asked because I was worried about what the Alliance Leader would say. Heh heh!”
The Sword Queen asked in bewilderment, but Drunken Beggar Woo Bong paid her no mind and simply continued speaking.
“Hmph, I’m busy as can be, yet he insists on dragging this old man all the way out here. Tsk, tsk… Something about the Wind Cloud Ghost Thief appearing, or what have you.”
“…”
I had to hide my utter disbelief.
“That man has gone senile. The Murim Alliance is doomed. The man who calls himself the Alliance Leader has lost his mind, tsk tsk!”
For words spoken with a smile, they were incredibly heavy. No one around him could possibly play along with such a statement.
“Anyway, you must be tired, so thank you for your time. I have no more questions, so you may all go and rest.”
I couldn't help but frown slightly.
That’s it?
I was worried he would hold us here and interrogate us. To be let go so easily was almost baffling. But despite my confusion, Drunken Beggar Woo Bong just kept talking.
“I’ll tell the Alliance Leader I’ve asked you everything, so don’t worry… Let’s all get up now.”
And with that, he actually stood up. As Drunken Beggar Woo Bong, the most senior person present, rose to his feet, everyone else was forced to stand as well.
Just as we were awkwardly about to take our leave, he spoke again.
“Soi, why don’t you stay for a bit and talk with this old grandpa.”
Drunken Beggar Woo Bong called for the Sword Queen to stay behind.