Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Later Generation Prodigies
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Dragon Flower Divine Beggar verified Soun's martial aptitude and was delighted, but he secretly ordered the branch leader to dig into his background.
For the past few decades, it had become strangely difficult to find children with exceptional martial aptitude.
Even if they weren't once-in-a-century prodigies, decent prospects had dried up completely.
The massive sects and clans were somewhat better off, at least, since their lineages continued to produce talented offspring.
But for the Beggars' Sect, made up of vagrants scraping by at the bottom, finding kids with outstanding aptitude was a real headache.
So when Soun showed up right on cue in the midst of all this, he had to check thoroughly if the boy was a Demonic Cult spy or something.
After several days of investigation, the branch leader reported back.
"He's clean. In fact, he has a tragic past—lost his parents to the unorthodox paths, and he trembles at the mere thought of them. It was only recently, when he nearly died at the hands of an unorthodox martial artist and a physician saved him, that his exceptional aptitude came to light."
"Is that so? Poor lad. But I, Dragon Flower Divine Beggar, am truly fortunate. I was just wishing for some halfway decent talent to show up, and here comes a kid this outstanding. It's not the ideal age to start training, but it's not too late either."
Iron Fist Beggar, one of the Luoyang branch leaders, watched the satisfied Dragon Flower Divine Beggar and made a silent vow.
'It's all but certain Soun will take the vacant rear division leader position. Lucky for me, I found out first. Time to align myself properly.'
Soun ended up meeting the Beggars' Sect Leader one-on-one.
"I intend to take you as my disciple. Since you sought me out first, you've given it plenty of thought, I assume?"
"Yes, sir. I've gotten close with Brother Jinqu lately, and he mentioned you were looking for kids with great aptitude. Since he's here, I thought of you right away."
Dragon Flower Divine Beggar was pleased.
He resolved to reward that one-shot savior of Soun's life handsomely.
"Good. Perform the initiation rites."
Soun bowed with the nine prostrations to Dragon Flower Divine Beggar, formally establishing their master-disciple bond.
"You're now my official disciple, under Dragon Flower Divine Beggar. You're young, but your status in the jianghu will command respect, so always carry yourself with pride. And given your age, you must train diligently in martial arts."
"Yes, Master. I'll keep that in mind."
'I owe a debt of gratitude to the brother who carried me to the White-Clothed Physician. And the White-Clothed Physician treated me when I was at death's door and even confirmed my aptitude. Without him, how could I have become a disciple of the Beggars' Sect Leader, one of the Nine Great Sects?'
Soun felt deep gratitude toward Baek Yuseong and made a vow in his heart.
'Once I've earned full recognition here, I'll track down the unorthodox scum who killed my parents when I was young, and the one who nearly killed me recently, and exact revenge no matter what. Then I'll repay the White-Clothed Physician and my brother.'
Soun hadn't spilled everything to the Beggars' Sect Leader. The sect had the best intelligence network in the jianghu, and he'd used his friendship with Brother Jinqu as an excuse to join and tap into it.
The polite and earnest Soun turned out to be a kid with a clear sense of恩怨.
After Dragon Flower Divine Beggar squeezed in time amid his busy schedule to teach Soun the basics of martial arts and then left on other business,
Iron Fist Beggar got to work cozying up to the boy.
"Ahem, Soun. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"You've already set up this training ground and made it possible for me to focus on cultivation. That's more than enough thanks."
"Nonsense. It's the least I can do. You're the future leader of our Beggars' Sect, after all. You know what it means to be the Leader's disciple, right?"
"You're talking about the rear division leader position?"
"Exactly. Sure, you'll need the elders' approval, but if you keep pushing your training like you are now, it'll be yours for the taking. Oh, and I've assigned Jinqu to some easy work in the Luoyang branch, so he won't go hungry anymore."
"Thank you. He'd be thrilled!"
"Yeah, anything else you need, just say the word."
Watching Iron Fist Beggar show such open favor, Soun made one request.
"You must know there's also Baek Yuseong the physician, who did me a huge favor beyond my brother. I'd like to help him somehow too."
"Leave that to me."
Iron Fist Beggar was pleased to see Soun so grateful.
'I'll get closer to the center of power too. Just wait, Beggars' Sect headquarters. I'll enter with the rear division leader at my side.'
He ordered his subordinate beggars to always keep watch near Baek Yuseong for any potential trouble.
***
Yuseong was stunned when he heard about Soun's latest developments.
He'd known the kid had great aptitude from the pulse diagnosis.
But he'd expected him to join a well-structured major sect and learn step by step—not leap straight to direct disciple of the Beggars' Sect Leader.
Beyond the status, wasn't this an incredible backing?
Yuseong didn't know the rear division leader spot was vacant, but he figured Soun could become a core member someday.
As he headed to the clinic to start the day's consultations, Cha Physician sidled up casually.
"White-Clothed Physician, take a look at that line in front of your room. It's that long before we've even started—by afternoon, you won't get through a full day's worth even if you work nonstop."
Yuseong eyed the long queue stretching from his door and counted silently.
He knew other physicians sometimes had lines too long to handle everyone, but his was just as bad.
It was all thanks to the Demon Subduing Division Leader making such a fuss.
Patients who'd been seeing Jo Physician had jumped ship en masse, and even those going elsewhere were drawn by rumors of Yuseong's skills.
For Yuseong, it meant nonstop patients during clinic hours—he couldn't be happier.
But sending some away untended was a problem worth considering.
"If it keeps up like this, it might be impossible to see everyone."
"That's just what I was saying!"
Cha Physician clapped his hands with a sharp smack, beaming as he continued.
"So, how about diverting some patients to other clinics? If things get busy, you might even have to cover for me, so my room right next door would be perfect."
He was revealing his own greed for more patients, but it wasn't a bad idea.
Keeping a long line out of sheer ambition could breed resentment if not everyone got seen.
Not every patient needed Yuseong's personal touch, and Cha Physician was one of the more friendly ones in the Luoyang Medical Hall, so a little help wouldn't hurt.
"Sounds good. I'll send suitable cases your way."
"Smart thinking! And thanks!"
Yuseong referred patients who didn't require divine power but were time-consuming to Cha Physician, and the man—who always finished early anyway—was deeply grateful.
It paid off now: even during Jo Physician's schemes, Cha had quietly backed Yuseong.
It wasn't direct treatment, but Cha's gratitude faintly converted into divine power.
After consultations ended, Cha Physician made a proposal.
"I'll treat you to dinner tonight—care for a drink?"
Yuseong perked up.
He realized he'd come all the way to the great city of Luoyang but never really enjoyed it.
He wasn't one for solo dining even in his old life, so strolling Luoyang's night streets with company sounded appealing.
"Sure."
"Ha ha, good call. Let's go."
Eager with ulterior motives of more patients ahead, Cha Physician strode on ahead, and Yuseong followed quietly.
Walking the alley, Yuseong felt a twinge of oddity.
'Were there always this many beggars in such a back alley? It's not even that long, but they're everywhere.'
Some even seemed to meet his eyes. But their gazes weren't pleading for alms, so he ignored them.
He had no way of knowing some beggars had shifted their begging spots to easier protection zones for Baek Yuseong, on Iron Fist Beggar's orders to impress Soun.
After navigating the alleys like his own living room—shortcuts to Luoyang's bustling districts—Cha Physician arrived at a tavern.
"How about here?"
No complaints when the guide picked it.
"The higher up you go in places like this, the better the view. And the drinks taste even finer."
"You must come often."
"Not often, just a few times. Let's head up."
It wasn't peak drinking hour yet, so seats were plentiful. The waiter led Cha Physician and Yuseong to a small table by the third-floor window.
They ordered familiar dishes and drinks, chatting idly.
Soon after, over a dozen men in martial robes stormed up to the third floor, claiming a large table.
They ordered dishes and liquor generously amid raucous chatter.
"Looks like Murim Academy juniors."
The Murim Academy was like a school run by the Murim Alliance.
It gathered promising later-generation talents from various sects and clans, training them for battles against unorthodox forces.
With the unorthodox growing too strong to ignore lately, the Alliance was putting real effort into nurturing them.
Yuseong hadn't treated any yet—likely no real combat experience, or they'd gone to other physicians.
Cha Physician soon ignored them, prattling on about this and that, but Yuseong saw echoes of his past self in their confident bearing.
"Brother Paeng is incredible. Peak Realm at twenty-three—congratulations!"
"Ha ha, thanks!"
Cha Physician startled at the voice behind them, glanced back, and whispered to Yuseong.
"Seems like a celebration for a Paeng Family later-generation talent hitting Peak Realm. Twenty-three is amazing, right? I heard the fastest after Jang Sambong Immortal was twenty-one. Bright future for the Paeng Family of Northern Hebei."
Yuseong just sipped his drink with a curt reply.
'I want to get drunk tonight, but this Immunity to All Poisons body won't let me.'
His pristine face starkly contrasted Cha Physician's, which was steadily flushing red.
Yuseong himself had possessed this game world at fifteen and reached Peak Realm by seventeen—a genius.
Even now, methodically recovering his martial arts, it stung to have lost what he'd once held.
"White-Clothed Physician, how are you not even buzzed?!"
Cha Physician, weak to liquor and already tipsy, spoke loudly—just as conversation lapsed among the juniors.
Everyone turned.
One shouted.
"Hey! Aren't you the second son of Baek Family Manor?"