Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: The Beggar Breakthrough
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So Hye-yeon stared blankly up at the sky. Her face was as blackened as the pitch-dark heavens, as if it were turning her insides black too.
‘……This is just another experience, I guess.’
She’d had countless experiences trailing after Namgoong Hyeok.
She was racking up feats that most people might only dream of in a lifetime, so the gains weren’t small by any means.
On top of that, what she’d learned and gained from Namgoong Hyeok wasn’t trivial.
Her martial arts achievements and insights had deepened to a level incomparable to before—that alone made the grace she’d received from him far from light.
So she believed she’d definitely gain something from this escort mission too.
After all, Namgoong Hyeok was with her.
‘This is part of the escort. An escort…….’
Becoming the righteous bandits of the Black Wind Brigade, robbing the unorthodox factions of Jiangsu Province to aid the common folk, gaining real combat experience—what could be better?
And yet……
And yet, really……
‘……Do we have to go this far?’
An instinctive doubt arose about whether the escort and training required dressing as beggars.
She hadn’t left the Sword Pavilion for this……
So Hye-yeon wrinkled her nose and sniffed.
‘Ugh!’
No idea what they’d smeared on her, but a stench rose from her body. No, it was an indescribably foul odor.
The unfamiliar smell made her want to dry-heave.
“……Ah.”
A deep sigh erupted from beside her.
It was Paeng Yeon-hwa, wearing a similar expression and disheveled appearance.
Her half-limp head and slumped shoulders looked utterly pitiful.
Their gazes crossed in midair.
“……”
“……”
Sometimes, silence conveys more empathy than a thousand words.
This was exactly that moment.
The two, who had never cared much for appearances in their lives as martial artists, weren’t repulsed by dirt per se.
No, who in the world actually liked filth?
Look at them.
Even Paeng Jung-hyeok was trembling in a daze, and the filthy unorthodox villains were retching and shaking!
Even the vicious-looking Thunder Dragon Squad was dumbfounded, and Namgoong Ryong’s face had gone pale.
The only one grinning was So Geolgae, the actual beggar.
But amid it all, one man remained unfazed—none other than Namgoong Hyeok.
“What’re you lot doing? Get up—we don’t have time! Why’re you puking? Smear it in! Hey, put that on your body!”
……A ruthless bastard.
No filthy beggar was filthier than him.
He’d outdone even the Beggar Clan’s So Geolgae in the disguise(?), revealing the depths of his resolve.
“Move it!”
Urged by Namgoong Hyeok, So Geolgae grinned and said,
“Move quick! We did it sloppy ’cause time’s short—gotta relocate before the stink fades!”
As if it’d fade that much anyway.
The group grudgingly hauled themselves up.
So Geolgae barked orders enthusiastically.
“Can’t move all at once or we’ll stand out. Split into groups of ten or twelve and scatter every which way. Regroup at the Black Dragon Gate!”
“……”
“Beggars don’t puff their chests! Hunch that back—yeah, like that. Make your face look like a miserable wretch! Hands all groveling. Jeez. That’s why early training matters—rushing it ain’t easy.”
Moments later, So Geolgae finished his crash course, and the beggar horde began to move.
Namgoong Hyeok strode forward boldly.
The dazed group snapped to and hurried after him.
Over a hundred fifty strong split in all directions, circling the West Lake area.
Namgoong Hyeok headed straight ahead.
Trailing him were Namgoong Ryong, the Paeng siblings, So Hye-yeon, So Geolgae, and part of the Thunder Dragon Squad.
The torchlight flickered brighter the closer they got to West Lake.
A fierce blaze as if the water’s surface were aflame.
Black Dragon Gate warriors glared with bulging eyes, shining torches everywhere.
Up close, the defenses were even tighter than from afar.
The tense atmosphere made the approaching group’s faces stiffen.
Paeng Jung-hyeok called to So Geolgae.
“You sure we won’t get caught?”
“O-Of course I’m sure.”
“Then why’re you stuttering?”
“’Cause you startled me. No way we’ll get nabbed! Or our Beggar Clan couldn’t gather intel like this!”
“Those guys look fishy…….”
“Sheesh. I said it’s fine! Just act the part. Look beggarly!”
More beggarly than this?
But why’s this beggar’s face so stiff?
Making folks uneasy.
So Geolgae swallowed dryly.
‘Damn, now I’m getting nervous.’
He’d infiltrated unorthodox strongholds countless times for intel, yet tension gripped him.
First, he’d never moved in such a large group. Second, the objective differed.
Not gathering info, but hitting the Black Dragon Gate—cold sweat beaded on his forehead just thinking it.
Perhaps the group’s anxiety was contagious, or the Black Dragon Gate’s aura felt off.
‘How’s that guy so gutsy? Looks more chipper than me?’
So Geolgae stuck his tongue out at the leading Namgoong Hyeok.
Who has nerves like that?
Most behind him fidgeted visibly.
Just look at Sword Pavilion Master Go Dae-gil—his face screamed he’d suffocate from tension any second.
‘Gonna get caught?’
‘How many’re on guard? Looks like hundreds at a glance…….’
‘Black Dragon Gate this big?’
‘If we’re caught, we’re screwed. Dead meat.’
Imagining Black Dragon Gate goons charging with gleaming blades sent chills down spines.
That’s when Go Dae-gil regretted coming.
Namgoong Hyeok plunged straight into the torch-bearing Black Dragon Gate warriors.
The torches flickered wildly.
The warriors grimaced, pinched noses, and recoiled.
The street-patrolling goons split apart like water, clearing a path in an instant.
Paeng Jung-hyeok and the others gawked at So Geolgae in surprise.
‘Oh.’
‘What the?’
‘That beggar didn’t eat sour grapes!’
‘Damn, it actually parted?’
They were freaking out.
So Geolgae puffed up with pride at the Black Dragon Gate warriors scattering like they’d seen sewage.
“See? Told ya! Ahem!”
Phew, fuck, almost got fucked.
Wiping hidden sweat, So Geolgae’s eyes gleamed.
‘Path’s clear?’
“The Beggar Clan’s mighty disguise art! Even Black Dragon Gate can’t handle it!”
But as So Geolgae strutted ahead smugly, the grin faded from his face.
“What the hell…….”
At first, he thought it was the shadow of the main hall.
But buildings don’t move. Neither do their shadows.
Yet the pitch-black curtain before them writhed like it was alive……
“……Fuck?”
The curse slipped from So Geolgae’s lips that instant.
Fwoooosh!
Torches blazed to life all around as if on cue.
They walled off the broad clearing.
Shadows emerged one by one from the blinding blaze, intense as a sun crashing to earth.
Fierce-faced thugs radiated murderous intent, eyes locking on the beggar-disguised Namgoong Hyeok and crew.
Cold sweat poured from So Geolgae’s brow.
“D-Don’t panic, s-stay calm.”
“……”
“We don’t know yet. Not…….”
Before So Geolgae could finish, a sly, snake-like man slithered from the Black Dragon Gate ranks.
The man who stepped forward, Black Snake Eyes Ho Cheon-bin, swept his sharp gaze over Namgoong Hyeok and the others.
“You actually showed. You the Black Wind Brigade bastards?”
“……”
How’d they know?!
So Geolgae’s jaw dropped, but Namgoong Hyeok’s glare made him snap it shut.
Namgoong Hyeok snorted.
“What? Won’t get caught?”
“N-No, it’s just…… the disguise was good…….”
“I said let’s just go, didn’t I?”
No retort possible.
Namgoong Hyeok eyed So Geolgae with pity and disgust.
“Sigh, followed the beggar brat ’cause you bragged so much, and this is the mess? Ultimate humiliation of three lifetimes.”
“B-But not quite three lifetimes…….”
“Forget me. Calm those guys down, punk.”
The glaring eyes from behind were lethal—especially So Hye-yeon and Paeng Yeon-hwa, who shot killing intent at him fiercer than the Black Dragon Gate.
Gulp.
So Geolgae sidled up to Namgoong Hyeok.
“Y-Young master. What now?”
“What? Gonna insist you’re beggars?”
“I am a beggar.”
“Oh, right. Real one.”
Namgoong Hyeok chuckled, then glanced ahead.
Black Dragon Gate goons swarmed like ants.
Black Snake Eyes Ho Cheon-bin smirked coldly.
“Gotta lop off a limb to knock sense into ’em. What’re you waiting for? Make ’em kneel!”
“Yes, Division Leader!”
“Yes!”
With booming replies, shadows surged forward.
Black Dragon Gate warriors sauntered leisurely, eyeing them like rats in a trap.
Each step narrowed the encircling wall.
The Namgoong household martial artists readied counterattacks, eyes on Namgoong Hyeok.
Namgoong Ryong quietly took position beside him, as Geon Cheon-hwi and others prepared the Ghost Valley Chain Formation.
Black Dragon Gate warriors drew weapons, sneering.
“Idiots. Walked into a limb-trap clueless.”
“Beggars disguise? Tough work.”
“Two chicks too! Leave their limbs intact!”
“Kneel!”
Namgoong Hyeok twisted his lips at the jeers.
“See? Fuck. Woulda been easy if you’d listened.”
“N-Now’s not the time! What do we do?”
“What do you mean what?”
“Any plan…….”
“Plow through like original plan!”
“What?!”
“Get ready…….”
What?
Plow through that ant-swarm of Black Dragon Gate warriors?
Wait, hold on!
Why’s he bending his knees……!
“Charge! I’ll ditch you if you lag?!”
Fwoooom!
With Bloodwind God at peak power, Namgoong Hyeok shot forward like a cannonball.
“Wh-What?!”
“Huh?!”
The sudden face-full of Namgoong Hyeok shocked the front-line Black Dragon Gate warriors.
As their eyes bulged at the incoming shadow, he smashed them mercilessly.
KABOOOM!
A world-shaking roar echoed as he barreled ahead.
Black Dragon Gate warriors caught in Bloodwind God’s gale and his palm force soared skyward.
“Gaaaaah!”
“Kraaaah!”
“Pwaaak!”
Those in his wake flew every which way.
The Namgoong household stared blankly at the instant corridor through the barricade, but Namgoong Ryong snapped to.
“Charge!”
“Charge?”
“Chaaarge!”
Namgoong Ryong bellowed, eyes wide, and bolted.
Paeng Jung-hyeok mid-reply chased urgently, Thunder Dragon Squad trio maintaining Ghost Valley Chain Formation as they ran.
So Geolgae yelped late, madly pursuing with Drunk Eight Immortals Steps.
“Waaaah! Shiiit!”
Swoosh! Slash!
Blind blades rained; So Geolgae screamed while dodging.
A sprint like never before, full throttle.
Drunk Eight Immortals Steps weaved insanely, evading the blade-storm.
“Kill themmm!”
“Grab ’em!”
“Catch those bastards!”
Spine-chilling enemy shouts sent souls fleeing as they ran.
They chased Namgoong Hyeok’s frontal path with all they had.
Thud thud thud!
The Black Dragon Gate pursuit thundered like stampeding buffalo, spurring another speed burst.
Namgoong Hyeok rolled his eyes halfway back, locking on the distant Black Dragon Gate.
BOOM!
Bloodwind God unleashed full-force, gale shoving foes aside.
“Outta my way, you fucks—!”
KABOOM!
Namgoong Hyeok roared madly, sweeping Black Dragon Gate warriors.
Squeeee! Bwoooo!
Alarms blared across West Lake, signaling full alert.
Chaos descended on quiet Hangzhou.