Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: What? Is That True...?
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Jang Song was stunned by Mun Seok's words and stood there blankly for a moment before slowly mulling them over.
"This time, let's have the Beggars' Sect and Hao Gate jointly mediate...?"
"Yes, I've already thought about the mediation approach. First, we'll gather representatives from each faction..."
"Ah, no. Hold on—! Don't try to gloss over this! The Beggars' Sect hasn't agreed to mediate. No, why should we mediate in the first place?"
"......"
When Mun Seok faltered in response to Jang Song's objection, Jang Song pressed him even harder, gaining momentum.
"From the start, the Beggars' Sect helped with the subjugation if anything, but we have no intention of saving those brutal unorthodox scum. Do you think there's any reason for the Beggars' Sect to reach out to them?"
Jang Song's words were perfectly logical. There was no reason for the Beggars' Sect of the Nine Great Righteous Sects to help bandits.
"A reason..."
Whether he had nothing to say or was deep in thought, Mun Seok closed his eyes once and then opened them, continuing in a calm voice.
"What do you think is the difference between the Hao Gate and the Beggars' Sect, Branch Leader?"
"...What kind of out-of-left-field nonsense is this? There are plenty of differences. We're a righteous sect formed by upright people, while you're a group of filthy ones."
"Right, we're filthy people. Not filthy from outsiders, but from within. We're the type who'll do anything for our own gain."
"......"
Jang Song had spoken harshly to mock the Hao Gate, but Mun Seok unexpectedly agreed and nodded.
Naturally, Jang Song flinched. Seizing the opening, Mun Seok continued.
"Yes, I admit it. We, the Hao Gate, are that kind of people. But isn't the Beggars' Sect different from us?"
"...What are you trying to say?"
"Unlike us, don't you prioritize lofty values above the sect's interests?"
"Are you talking about justice and chivalry...?"
Nod.
Mun Seok nodded as if Jang Song had hit the nail on the head.
Justice and chivalry.
Those were undoubtedly the most important values upheld by the Murim Alliance.
Then, among the countless sects in the Murim Alliance, which one prioritized justice and chivalry above all?
It was the Beggars' Sect.
What was the Beggars' Sect?
A sect formed by beggars.
Who were beggars?
People with only one set of clothes, no home, no food to eat right now, forced to beg to survive—rock bottom lives.
How did these rock-bottom lives become one of the pillars of the Nine Great Righteous Sects?
It was due to their unity, loyalty, and sense of justice.
A single beggar is worthless, but the moment tens of thousands unite and take root across the land, the story changes.
A beggar causing trouble is just a vagrant to be chased out, but one showing kindness to neighbors becomes a friendly ally.
The beggars of the Beggars' Sect learn that no one survives alone in this world. They learn how much power a small act of kindness from others can hold.
They learn how important loyalty and friendship are. They learn that helping others is the only way they can survive themselves.
Justice and chivalry. Those values undoubtedly pierced to the core of the Beggars' Sect.
However....
"...What does helping the bandits have to do with the Beggars' Sect's justice and chivalry?"
...The bandits weren't friends of the Beggars' Sect. Jang Song frowned and asked, and Mun Seok answered immediately.
"You know it too. How much the merchants' hardships have eased since the Hunan mountain paths opened. The dangers of Hunan's treacherous roads were obvious to anyone with eyes, but no one tried to fix it. And the ones who solved it were the bandit friends you call unorthodox remnants."
"......"
"Did they gouge excessive profits? Well..., a bit..., overly so..., but not to the point of exploitation, right?"
"...No, I haven't said anything, so why are you getting defensive and upset on your own...?"
When the talk of excessive profits came up, Mun Seok's voice grew a little quieter, but he smoothly moved past the unfavorable topic.
"Thanks to the paths opening, merchants are flocking in, and with them, Hunan Province's economy is improving. Can you deny that?"
"......No, I can't."
"Then, can you deny that the Beggars' Sect beggars' situations have improved alongside Hunan Province's?"
"......"
Jang Song had no choice but to shut his mouth at Mun Seok's words.
The mountain paths were developed, merchants gathered, and the economy boomed as a result. With pockets growing fuller, the coins tossed to begging beggars increased too.
Indeed, the Hunan branch of the Beggars' Sect had benefited from the bandits who opened the paths.
And it wasn't just the Beggars' Sect.
The barren, desolate Hunan Province had gained vitality thanks to the mountain paths.
This was an achievement of the bandits, not the Murim Alliance.
It wasn't noticeable now in the abundant autumn harvest, but come winter, they'd feel it firsthand.
Hunan was inherently mountainous, making farming difficult. People starved to death every year.
But... with these mountain paths, Hunan Province could supplement its agricultural shortcomings through commerce.
Seen this way, the mountain paths pioneered by the bandits were truly a treasure of Hunan Province.
Thus..., the Hunan branch of the Beggars' Sect had positively evaluated it in their report to the Murim Alliance.
However....
"Still, no. The Beggars' Sect has no intention of mediating between the bandits and the Murim Alliance."
"...May I ask why?"
"No matter their intentions, our brothers died to their blades in the end. Anyone under the Murim Alliance is our brother."
All the Murim Alliance's Elimination Squad members had died or been captured by the bandits. And though unspoken, one Murim Alliance informant had also been found dead on the outskirts of Hunan Province.
The Elimination Squad had come to kill them, so fighting back was one thing, but capturing and killing a mere undercover investigator was crossing the line.
The spark for this subjugation had been lit by the bandits in the first place. Had they not killed the informant, none of this would have happened.
"Brothers..."
But even hearing Jang Song's words, Mun Seok instead questioned him incredulously.
"Dokgo Young, the Elimination Squad Leader who died this time... and his subordinates... Do you know they don't qualify as friends of the Beggars' Sect?"
"What are you talking about?"
"If you're curious, find out yourself. With your status as Branch Leader, you can learn what truths the Murim Alliance and Dokgo Clan are hiding. If your heart changes once you know the truth, come find me."
"Truths hidden by the Murim Alliance and Dokgo Clan...?"
Mun Seok didn't answer Jang Song's question and stood up from his seat. As he headed for the door, he left one more remark.
"If you look into it properly, you'll roughly figure out who killed the Murim Alliance informant too."
"...How do you know the Murim Alliance informant was here...! Hey—! Hey—!!"
Jang Song shouted in surprise, but Mun Seok left as if he hadn't heard.
**
It seemed better to handle things with the Hao Gate here than at the mountain stronghold, so I decided to stay in Hunan city.
The next day, after I'd slept and woken up, Dong Ryong came to my inn room.
He said he'd been worried when I suddenly bolted down the mountain like a madman.
It was a good chance anyway, since I had orders to give, so I talked with Dong Ryong about various things.
"I'll be staying here for a while. Still, we need to keep in touch with the stronghold, so send one of the youngest or Bong Chun here as a liaison."
"Yes."
"If any of the dead ones had families, take money from my room and handle it yourself."
"That too..., I'll look into it."
"And..., since we don't know what might happen, arm the guys, strengthen security, and stop doing business on the paths for a while."
"Strengthen security..., so you think we might end up fighting the Murim Alliance again in the end?"
"In the worst case, yes. I'll work to make sure it doesn't come to that."
"Whew...."
Dong Ryong sighed once, then glared at me with wide eyes.
"The mood among the guys is restless after this. Me too. I can't sleep thinking about the dead ones.... If those bastards come at us again, why don't we just charge in too?"
The way Dong Ryong said it, he looked ready to strap on a suicide vest and charge straight to Anhui Province.
I smacked his forehead hard.
"Hey, you idiot. You're a guy who worked for a clan—does challenging the Murim Alliance come out of your mouth that easily?"
"But still..."
"But my ass. I'll handle it, so just go back up the mountain, do everything I say, and keep the guys in line. Got it?"
"Yes...."
Dong Ryong answered dejectedly. There was no energy in his expression.
He must be feeling responsible for his subordinates' deaths. If he hadn't gone around spouting that bandit king nonsense, this wouldn't have happened.
I couldn't rashly comfort the self-blaming Dong Ryong and just clicked my tongue.
It was then.
Creak—.
"Muyeon, you there?"
As Dong Ryong nodded weakly, Mun Seok entered.
Uncle Mun Seok glanced at Dong Ryong with me and asked.
"...Who's this?"
"Ah, he's my right-hand man. Hey, Dong Ryong. I'm done talking, so head back now."
"Yes, Boss. Then we'll see you up top soon."
"Yeah."
Uncle Mun Seok seemed to have something to say, so I quickly sent Dong Ryong off and asked.
"Uncle. Did you handle what I asked?"
"Yeah, I didn't like it, but I made contact with the Beggars' Sect and conveyed that the Hao Gate wants to jointly mediate."
"Will they agree?"
At my question, Uncle Mun Seok grinned like some shadowy mastermind and nodded.
"I know how to handle the Beggars' Sect well. And according to our info, the Hunan Branch Leader Jang Song can't stand by when he sees injustice. We'll get the result we want soon enough."
"Then that's a relief...."
That eased one worry.
No matter what, we had plenty of cards to negotiate with the Murim Alliance right now. If we could just get them to the table, there were many ways to navigate out of this situation.
"What about the other thing I asked for?"
"It's all in progress, so no need to worry too much."
"Got it."
Uncle Mun Seok was highly capable, and an expert in this area too....
I decided to trust him.
And a few days later....
"Muyeon, you there—!"
Bang—!
I could see Uncle Mun Seok's face, flushed with urgency unlike his usual calm, as he burst into my room.
"What is it? What's going on?"
I couldn't help feeling anxious.
A few days ago, when he brought news that the Murim Alliance was coming to subjugate our bandits, his face had looked exactly like that.
Uncle Mun Seok had come with news of equal magnitude now.
"What, the Beggars' Sect refused to mediate?"
"No, it's not that.... I don't even know how to explain this...."
Uncle Mun Seok caught his breath for a moment before relaying the information he'd brought.
And....
"...What?"
My face froze instantly upon hearing what came from Mun Seok's mouth.