Chapter 163
Chapter 163
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 163
Chapter Title: Slapping Their Cheeks (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
My guess that the Shaanxi Branch Leader was pulling strings turned out to be spot on.
No Sam scowled and grabbed a bottle of liquor from the table, pouring it straight into his mouth.
"Kuhk."
In the meantime, Yong-myeong followed up with his question.
"...What the hell is all this about? An anonymous complaint? My brother's qualifications? And what do you mean by 'attach an explanation'?"
Peng Mu-hyuk turned to No Sam in response to the question.
"Elder No. Let's show the letter to the kids first."
No Sam made a 'tsk' sound and handed me the letter he was holding.
Wu So-rung, Jeong Hyeon, Eon Yong-myeong, Jeon-gal Seol-ji, and Cheon Jang-ho gathered their heads close to me. I unfolded the letter.
The young beggars of the Shaanxi Branch report to Education Elder No Sam. In the process of dispatching relay riders and messenger pigeons to assist with the cleanup of the disturbance at the Yi Family Manor, we learned that Elder No had passed the Dragon Subduing Palm to cadet Eon Yong-un. This must have been your own clever scheme, using the authority granted to you. However, there is much conflicting information about cadet Eon Yong-un's activities, and one side portrays extremely poor conduct. Cadet Eon Yong-un's whereabouts were mysterious during the Yi Family Manor's attack. Elder No has rarely taught martial arts to disciples of the righteous sects, let alone passed the Dragon Subduing Palm to an outsider. Due to these three reasons, various rumors have arisen, leaving the young beggars feeling deprived and restless. We understand the Yi Family Manor is in mourning from the recent disturbance, and that you, Elder No, must be weary in body and mind. However, if this unrest drags on, we may have no choice but to file a complaint with the Enforcement Hall and circulate a public notice to brothers in other branches. Thus, we send this urgent message. Please come to the branch with cadet Eon Yong-un as soon as possible to provide clarification. If not, persuade the young beggars of the righteous sects in some other way. That was the content of the letter.
Below were the signatures of young beggars like O Bok, Gye Chun, and Bok Cheol, along with the Shaanxi Branch Leader's seal.
In short, they were saying they weren't sure if Eon Yong-un was worthy of learning the Dragon Subduing Palm, so either bring him to prove it or make a political concession to smooth things over quietly.
The first to speak after reading it was my master at my waist.
"Those beggar bastards are doing beggar shit. No Sam and Cheon Jang-ho are a bit shameless but not hateful, but these 'righteous faction' guys are just clean on the outside while rotten inside." Next was Cheon Jang-ho.
"...Ugh. Seeing the letter in person makes sweat run down my back. Why the hell did these guys eat well and then shit with their brushes?"
I turned to Cheon Jang-ho.
"Why? Perfect, isn't it?"
"Pardon?"
"We can't say it's all your fault, but the Shaanxi Branch did ignore signs of the Demonic Cult, so even though there's blame, they downplayed it as just a 'disturbance.'"
"......"
"On the other hand, they blew up our side's story, but used words like 'unrest' to leave an escape route. The flower of it all is that last line: if not, persuade them some other way. Kek. Perfect. Utterly perfect."
Cheon Jang-ho stammered an apology.
"...S-Sorry."
"Are you a spy for the Shaanxi Branch?"
"No!"
"Then why are you sorry?"
As I played along with Cheon Jang-ho's words,
Jeong Hyeon shouted, "Wait, wait," and posed a question.
"Are you both saying the words in this letter are legitimate? It's not written in code that only Beggar Clan members can read for security, so you're saying this is truly the Shaanxi Branch beggars' heartfelt words?"
His expression grew heated, his words roughening.
"The blood from Gui Do-ma-gun and Elder No's fierce battle still stains the land! With mournful cries echoing daily, how can Beggar Clan disciples stoop to such trickery..."
Realizing his slip, he apologized to No Sam and Cheon Jang-ho.
"S-Sorry, Professor, and Young Hero Cheon. I didn't mean to shame the entire Clan. I just can't fathom how those who've witnessed the Demonic Cult's atrocities firsthand could scheme like this, so I misspoke..."
Our two beggars flushed, looking dejected at Jeong Hyeon's apology.
"...No. You're right, Jeong Hyeon."
"As the dojo master always says, this really isn't the Way."
Jeong Hyeon shook his head.
"Primordial Heavenly Lord. They saw the spark fall in the forest, yet cling to the tree before their eyes..."
Jeon-gal Seol-ji added with a sneer.
"Few see the forest over the trees. But this is ignoring even the tree, just eyeing the rice bowl hanging from it. Especially when even Elder No, that wandering swordsman, missed it."
A brief silence fell over the room.
Yong-myeong and Wu So-rung broke it.
"Hey, Jang-ho. So what does 'attach an explanation' even mean?"
"Right! That's what I was wondering too!"
Though asked of Cheon Jang-ho,
he seemed ashamed, so I answered instead.
"That's how the Beggar Clan usually settles things."
"Really?"
"Yeah. And So-rung, think about it. Those young disciples all doubt my qualifications. If I go and say, 'I'm actually polite and only have a sense of justice,' do you think they'll go, 'Oh, our rudeness, let's forget it'?"
"...N-No."
"But brother. They said to come with the professor..."
"Yong-myeong. Use your head. With the Yi Family Manor in mourning, do you think Professor No Sam is going to drag me to the Shaanxi Branch for an explanation? This is them deciding the answer in advance, using it as an excuse to get the professor to come tidy things up in the righteous faction's favor."
My words seemed airtight, so Yong-myeong rolled his eyes before turning to Professor No Sam.
"...What happens if a complaint goes to that Enforcement Hall?"
"We'd have to see. The Clan, unlike other sects, has only a few strict rules. No detailed codes for every scenario. When something blows up, they hear from the elders and decide case by case."
"...So that's why you called it political maneuvering, brother."
"Don't worry too much. I haven't told the other elders or branch leaders, but I did inform the Clan Leader, so no sparks will fly your way."
It was then.
As my peers nodded with furrowed brows at my words,
Peng Mu-hyuk spoke up.
"Sounds like assholes with hemorrhoids. Anyway, Yong-un, what's your take?"
I replied casually to Peng Mu-hyuk's question.
"I said it earlier, didn't I? We go explain."
No Sam shook his head.
"No need. This is my mistake."
"There is a need."
My fists were already itching for a fight, and now they were serving up cheeks begging to be slapped.
'You're all dead, you bastards.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Beggar Clan's Shaanxi Branch.
In Deok-geun's room, the branch's executives were picking at the sacrificial food provided by the Yi Family Manor.
A beggar came with a report.
"Branch Leader. It's O Bok."
O Bok was the three-knot beggar serving as relay squad leader for the Shaanxi Branch, the one who'd delivered the letter to No Sam under Deok-geun's direction.
The gathered beggars set down their food at O Bok's arrival.
Deok-geun spoke.
"Come in."
"I'm back."
"How'd it go? Delivery smooth? Their reaction?"
"They were pissed, of course. But will Elder No really move as you want, Branch Leader?"
"He will. No Sam turned down a cushy rear position everyone wants to take on the unwanted education elder role. He treasures his disciples. He won't let sparks fly their way lightly."
At Deok-geun's words, Gye Chun, leader of the thug squad nicknamed "Ta-gu-jo," nodded.
"True. Even mid-fight with that wandering swordsman, he threw himself in without thinking when his disciple was in danger."
Deok-geun voiced his hope.
"Yeah. That's why he'll come."
But inwardly, he considered the worst case.
'If it comes out that the Shaanxi Branch sat idle while the Demonic Cult turned Taywon into their backyard...'
Not only would he face severe reprimand, but the righteous faction's reputation would be ruined.
But if No Sam played along and they inflated the branch's contributions a bit?
They could use the Demonic Cult as a shield to dodge blame.
'It was unavoidable at first. But we noticed the suspicious signs early and rushed in to provide great aid.'
Perfect phrasing for the report.
And depending on follow-up handling and coordination with the Murim Alliance, it could be a golden opportunity to solidify Deok-geun and the righteous faction's position.
It wasn't entirely a lie—they had rushed in to help.
'Thanks to Cheon Jang-ho tipping us off.'
How long had Deok-geun's thoughts wandered?
O Bok, who'd questioned if No Sam would move, threw another negative.
"...What if Elder No and that Eon Yong-un come for the explanation?"
Deok-geun's brows furrowed at the interruption to his rosy vision.
"Then you prove it! Scared of Elder No himself? Or some punk Eon Yong-un?!"
"He's no 'some punk'—word is he matched the current top disciple's shout that even Cheon Jang-ho couldn't hear, and this time he brought back a demon's head. The fact Elder No taught him Dragon Subduing Palm means he's exceptionally talented."
At O Bok's words,
Bok Cheol, with four knots at his waist, tapped his head and spoke.
"Idiot. Top disciple is decided by this, not inaction. And the demon kill? We didn't see it—how do we know? With Hubei Kwon-ung and those cadets swarming at the end, probably a group attack. Slicing the head last still counts as a kill, right?"
"Think so?"
"And that Eon Yong-un's moves scream sword master. If he comes to explain, he'll have to sheath his sword and show Dragon Subduing Palm. It's just a few forms Elder No taught to uplift a promising talent from the declining Cheongjuk-gwan."
As Bok Cheol's speculation flowed,
Someone pounded on the branch's main gate.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
A one-knot beggar rushed in.
"Elder No is here! But..."
"See? I told you!"
"...Cadet Eon Yong-un is with him."
Then came the crude pounding and a booming young voice that sounded oddly twisted.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
"We got your letter—open the damn gate already!"
Not the response Deok-geun hoped for; his brows narrowed.
But their arrival was a win.
Seeing Eon Yong-un squirm up close might even make it easier.
Deok-geun eyed Bok Cheol.
Bok Cheol nodded confidently, as if to say trust him, and led the squad leaders out.
"Open the gate."
No Sam, with a stern expression, and scowling Eon Yong-un entered.
Eon Yong-un immediately handed his sword to No Sam, stretched in the courtyard center, and said,
"Come at me."
Bok Cheol lectured him.
"No manners."
But it fell on deaf ears.
Eon Yong-un pulled out the letter from his belt, sneering.
"Sending crap like this is mannerly?"
He crooked a finger like a thug.
"If the explanation goes my way today, I'll take this straight to the White Council myself. Let's prove who's right."
Classic provocation laced with reverse psychology.
Though dressed cleanly, Bok Cheol was a seasoned Clan beggar.
He wouldn't lose composure to cheap tricks...
"O Bok. You first."
"Yes."
Swaaaa!
Crack!
...or so he thought.
Against expectations, flawless Dragon Subduing Palm unfolded from Eon Yong-un's hands.
In just two exchanges, O Bok flew into the air.
Bam!!!
And crashed into the inner wall.
"Next."
Cold sweat trickled down Bok Cheol's back.