The Shadow Was Deep (3)
Gi Chung blinked in surprise. ‘That man…?’
Early that morning, a single visitor had arrived at this derelict village where only beggars lived.
His attire was subtly eye-catching. It wasn’t that his appearance itself was particularly unusual, but rather that it stood out sharply against the unique nature of this slum.
This was a place inhabited solely by beggars—a filthy hellhole so repulsive that even ordinary vagrants would recoil in horror and flee. Against that backdrop, the sight of a young man dressed in pure white martial robes and a pitch-black outer garment was remarkably conspicuous.
Chiring.
Gi Chung’s eyes sparkled.
Though hidden beneath the loose outer robe, his keen ears caught the faint metallic clink coming from somewhere on the young man’s body. ‘He’s a martial artist.’ And no ordinary one at that.
There was a consistent rhythm to his natural stride. Even first-rate experts walked without any tremor in their steps, and those at the peak level moved with such mechanical precision that their shoulders barely shifted. That was the norm.
Yet this young man, despite maintaining a perfectly steady rhythm, gave off no sense of mechanical rigidity.
His movement was natural and fluid. Even a discerning master would find it difficult to gauge the youth’s realm from his gait alone.
But Gi Chung was different. ‘Impressive. At first glance, he looks younger than thirty…’ Could it be rejuvenation?
Gi Chung inwardly shook his head.
He had never heard of any master in the current martial world who had reached the realm of rejuvenation. It was said that not even among the Sacred Heavens Thirteen Seats had anyone experienced such a state.
The world was vast; perhaps some reclusive expert had achieved it. But the chance that such a person would come here was practically zero.
‘Hmm?’
As he observed the young man amid these thoughts, Gi Chung suddenly jolted in shock. ‘When did he get this close?’
The youth, who had been more than twenty zhang away, was now within seven zhang.
A chill ran down Gi Chung’s spine.
Even though he had been watching intently, he hadn’t registered how fast the young man was moving. He had only noticed now because his eyes habitually checked the broken wall that clearly marked the boundary of this beggar village.
Srrk.
Tension coiled in Gi Chung’s shoulders.
The opponent was a master. A supreme expert who far surpassed anything Gi Chung could have imagined.
Finally, the young man stopped walking.
Gi Chung rose awkwardly and asked, “W-who are you?”
“Is this the Beggars’ Union’s Triad Branch?”
“Eh? B-Beggars’ Union?”
The young man smiled and shook his head.
“There’s no need to keep pretending. I’m not your enemy, so there’s no point in lying. Don’t worry.”
In that instant, Gi Chung’s eyes changed completely.
He would have kept up the act until the end under normal circumstances. But instinctively, he sensed it—the young man truly harbored no hostility. In fact, the emotion he felt was closer to goodwill. ‘Who in Sichuan could this young master be?’
Gi Chung asked cautiously, “May I ask who you are…?”
The young man parted his outer robe and drew two axes.
Gi Chung tensed, thinking he was being challenged, but then realized the pair of axes were anything but ordinary. ‘Those are…!’
A black hand axe and a white hand axe.
The two weapons were identical in size and shape, differing only in color. Moreover, the dragon engravings on their blades were so vivid they looked ready to leap out at any moment.
They were peerless treasures. Even at a glance, one could tell these were divine weapons worthy of the name Divine Armament.
But that wasn’t the real issue.
Two hand axes that had reached the realm of divine weapons. Black and white.
Shock spread across Gi Chung’s face.
“Could it be… the Black and White Twin Axes?!”
“That’s right.”
Yeon Hojeong sheathed the axes once more.
“I am Yeon Hojeong, Great Protector of the Justice Division of the Martial Alliance.”
Gi Chung cupped his fist in greeting.
“This junior, Gi Chung of the Beggars’ Union, greets Protector Yeon.”
The unparalleled genius of the current generation’s youth, hailed as the strongest among them. His martial prowess was so overwhelming that people no longer even called him a rising star. His realm had long surpassed what the term “rising star” could describe.
Many claimed that Yeon Hojeong’s reputation was exaggerated, that the world wasn’t that easy. But the Martial Alliance—especially the beggars of the Beggars’ Union—knew full well that there wasn’t the slightest exaggeration in his abilities.
In fact, many believed the rumors actually understated his power. Considering the difficulty of the secret missions he had completed and the battles he had fought without anyone knowing, his martial strength was at least on par with the leaders of major sects.
A cautious look settled over Gi Chung’s face.
“I heard you entered Sichuan not long ago. I didn’t expect you to visit our branch.”
While no beggar in the Beggars’ Union could fail to know of Yeon Hojeong, very few had actually seen his face in person.
Yeon Hojeong was classified as a special priority individual on the Beggars’ Union’s key personnel list. Naturally, portraits of him had been distributed to every branch and outpost.
But seeing him in person was entirely different from a drawing. Gi Chung couldn’t hide his inner astonishment at how much younger the man looked than he had imagined.
Yeon Hojeong asked, “As expected, it’s different here.”
“Pardon?”
“Perhaps because this branch is close to the provincial capital, there are quite a few experts.”
Gi Chung’s eyes wavered.
“You can sense them?”
“Five peak-level experts and the remaining twenty-two are all quite skilled. At this level, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a sect in its own right.”
Gi Chung was shocked once again.
Yeon Hojeong’s perception was exact. The Triad Branch here had exactly five peak-level experts, and a total of thirty first-rate masters.
Of those thirty, eight were currently out on missions, while the rest of the beggars had left at dawn to beg in the surrounding area and gather information.
Five peak experts and twenty-two first-rate masters.
Yeon Hojeong’s senses were terrifyingly accurate. ‘Incredible.’
Gi Chung had known the man was extraordinary, but what truly astonished him was that the experts of this Triad Branch were better at concealing their presence than most other members of the Beggars’ Union.
He had been confident that even a supreme peak expert would struggle to count their exact numbers unless they raised their qi to the limit and maximized their senses.
Yet Yeon Hojeong had discerned not only their numbers but even the precise level of their martial strength with nothing more than a casual glance.
It was a monstrous level of perception. An insight that defied imagination.
Gi Chung bowed his head.
“I’ve heard that Protector Yeon’s martial arts are already being discussed across the world. Truly impressive.”
“You flatter me.”
“However…”
Gi Chung asked with a puzzled tone, “What brings you to our branch?”
“I’m sorry.”
“……?”
“Pardon?”
Yeon Hojeong smiled. It was a smile that genuinely conveyed apology.
“I’ll explain later.”
“What do you…?”
In that instant, every hair on Gi Chung’s body stood on end.
Whoosh!
Yeon Hojeong vanished from his sight.
Gi Chung instinctively tried to move his feet. Or rather, he tried to.
Thud.
Before he could even unleash his movement technique, Gi Chung collapsed on the spot. He had been struck with a pressure point by Yeon Hojeong.
It was unbelievable.
One of the five peak experts the opponent had mentioned was Gi Chung himself. Moreover, he was the branch leader of the Triad Branch.
Yet such an expert had been subdued in a single strike, without even managing to take a single step, despite it being an ambush.
“W-what is the meaning of this?!”
Yeon Hojeong didn’t even look at him.
His eyes, as they swept over the beggar village, had already grown cold and indifferent.
“Let’s begin.”
From the sleeves of a middle-aged man who appeared as if by magic at the entrance of the beggar village—whether he had descended from the sky or risen from the ground—two voluminous gusts of wind erupted.
Gi Chung’s eyes widened in shock. ‘That man is…!’
His clothing was one thing, but even with his head slightly tilted, the sharp gaze and angular jaw were unmistakable. ‘The Tang Family Head!’
It was none other than Dang Gwan, patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family.
Hwaaaaaah!
In an instant, a rich torrent of wind poured from both of Dang Gwan’s sleeves.
That was all. After swinging his arms a few times, Dang Gwan clasped his hands behind his back once more.
A moment later.
“It’s done.”
“Yes, it appears so.”
Yeon Hojeong turned and spoke.
“Please check.”
Srrrk.
From the direction Gi Chung couldn’t turn to see came the sound of several footsteps. Each one was light and crisp, revealing that every single one of them was an outstanding expert.
Soon, three warriors entered Gi Chung’s field of vision.
A middle-aged man carrying a single short spear on his back and a thick plain sword at his waist.
An unidentified warrior with a powerful build, wearing red armor draped over his shoulders.
And a young man with an ordinary iron sword hanging at his hip.
Gi Chung recognized their identities at a glance. They were the ones who had entered Sichuan alongside Yeon Hojeong. ‘Elder Pae Yul of the Jeomchang Sect, Kang Liang the young master of the Ghost Iron Sword Sect, and the Iron Cavalry Commander of the Black Dragon Department!’
A gathering of supreme experts that one might not see even once in a lifetime.
But that wasn’t all. Gi Chung could sense another master standing behind him, outside his line of sight.
Unconcealed qi. The gentle, honest Buddhist energy that radiated softly from him had a strangely calming effect, completely at odds with the current situation. ‘The Emei Sect!’
Gi Chung’s mind was in complete chaos. ‘What the hell is going on here?!’
It was already shocking enough that these top-tier masters of the martial world had appeared one after another. But now they were attacking this place.
Gi Chung shouted, “Protector Yeon! What is the meaning of this?! If the Alliance learns of this…!”
At that moment, a chilling voice cut through the air.
“Be quiet.”
“……!!”
Dang Gwan glanced at Gi Chung and said, “Keep your mouth shut until we’re finished cleaning up.”
“……”
“If you cause any unnecessary commotion, you will instantly turn into a puddle of blood.”
Gi Chung’s mouth snapped shut on its own.
Though he was no slouch when it came to poison, his opponent was the Tang Family Head. No matter how venomous one might be, no one could stand tall before the master of the Tang Clan.
A short while later.
Pae Yul, Hwang Seok-tae, and Kang Liang gathered all the members of the Triad Branch who had lost consciousness to Dang Gwan’s poison in the center of the beggar village courtyard.
Pae Yul grunted, “We brought them all.”
“Begin.”
Pae Yul and Hwang Seok-tae bound the fallen men and forced them to their knees. They didn’t forget to strike their vital points one by one as they worked.
“It’s finished.”
Yeon Hojeong looked at Dang Gwan.
Dang Gwan waved his arm in annoyance.
In that moment, something astonishing happened.
“Huk!”
“Cough!”
One by one, the beggars of the Beggars’ Union who had been forced to their knees began to regain consciousness.
“Ugh! W-what the… why does my head feel like…?”
“Huk! Branch Leader?!”
“Who the hell are you people?!”
Dang Gwan picked at his ear.
“These Beggars’ Union bastards are always so damn noisy.”
Gi Chung shouted urgently, “You idiots! Shut your mouths right now!”
Though recent rumors claimed he had grown softer, Dang Gwan was still Dang Gwan. He hadn’t earned the title of Sichuan’s King for nothing.
If they offended him even slightly, every last one of them—whether they belonged to the Martial Alliance or not—would die.
The surroundings fell silent in an instant. They, too, had sensed the ominous atmosphere.
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“Truly a chain of command as sharp as a blade. As expected of the Beggars’ Union.”
“……”
“Protector Yeon.”
Gi Chung ground his teeth as he spoke.
“What exactly are you doing?”
Yeon Hojeong pulled a token from his robe.
Gi Chung’s eyes trembled.
“That token is…?”
“It’s called the Five Justice Token. The Rear Beggar gave it to me as a gift.”
“I know what it is.”
“I was told that possessing this grants the privilege of receiving immediate assistance from the Beggars’ Union anywhere. Is that correct?”
“……Yes, it is.”
“The reason I showed you this token is not to ask for a favor. It’s simply to confirm that we are not your enemies.”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes grew cold.
“Of course, only if you people are not affiliated with the wrong side.”
“……?”
“We already know the Beggars’ Union is not involved. Still, just to be safe, we subdued you first. Report this matter to your superiors exactly as it happened.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying at all…”
“Do you know about Paradise Haven?”
Gi Chung’s eyes widened instantly.
“H-how do you know about that?!”
“……”
“So you did know.”
Yeon Hojeong crouched down in front of Gi Chung.
“Explain it to me. When did you first learn about Paradise Haven? How did you find out? And knowing about it, why didn’t you report it?”
“……”
“I’m sorry to say this, but… if your answer isn’t convincing, none of you will survive.”