The Path That Merges Into One
“Thanks. You’ve done me a huge favor.”
Jeong Gwang was a little surprised.
Not because of Dang Yeong-jung’s words, but because of his face.
It’s like a wooden log twisting in on itself.
A grotesque expression, as if he were smiling for the first time in his life.
But it was gone in a flash. His face snapped back to its usual wooden rigidity.
Damn. That’s something.
As Jeong Gwang stared, Dang Yeong-jung nodded in understanding.
“Surprised, are you? My words unexpected?”
“Your smile was the surprise. You’re in a good mood now, right?”
“……Can’t deny it. Thanks to you, I finally got to scold Father.”
“Did he take it quietly?”
“As if. But he’s been properly humiliated, so he’ll keep a low profile for a while.”
No wonder he could smile.
Jeong Gwang understood completely.
Is this what they call shared suffering?
Thinking of his father from his past life made his teeth grind.
Compared to that, the Poison Venerable was almost cute.
If not for that bastard Cheonryun!
“I said I didn’t come to fight. Loosen those fists.”
“Ah. Just a bad memory. But your family head’s an odd one.”
“Me? In what way?”
“Thought he’d rage over the family honor.”
Dang Yeong-jung’s face changed again.
Different from that earlier smile—like a rotting log splitting apart.
A rotten smile?
Sure enough.
A calm voice laced with resentment flowed from Dang Yeong-jung’s lips.
“For decades, Father’s demeaned me, and I’ve upheld the family. What’s one more time?”
“Wow. You’ve really been through it.”
“You’ve had it worse. Heard you tasted all the poison from the main family kids.”
“Win-win for everyone.”
“Will it stay that way?”
“No plans to mistreat visitors.”
After a moment’s silence, Dang Yeong-jung spoke heavily.
“My heart’s conflicted. For a poison clan like ours, someone with your talents is too dangerous.”
Jeong Gwang had astonishing resistance—and could expel poison at will.
Relations were fine now, but who knew the future? A natural worry for the head leading the Tang family.
Straight to the point. Nice.
A smile tugged at Jeong Gwang’s lips.
How would he counter?
“Cleanest to just kill me, right?”
Dang Yeong-jung didn’t disappoint.
“Crossed my mind before seeing you and the elders myself.”
“Kuh. Honest.”
“No matter how I calculated, it didn’t add up. Let’s be close friends from now on.”
“Friends, huh……”
“How about abandoning martial arts and returning to lay life? Marry Ye-ji and come in as a son-in-law.”
“Even without that, nah.”
“Ye-ji’d refuse anyway.”
“……Then why suggest it?”
“Got heated. Forget I said it.”
Dang Yeong-jung nodded to the dumbfounded Jeong Gwang and stood.
“I’ll take my leave. See you.”
“But really, why’d you come?”
“To say thanks—and I was curious about you.”
“Curiosity satisfied?”
Dang Yeong-jung stared hard at Jeong Gwang, then shook his head.
“Not at all.”
As Dang Yeong-jung returned to the Tang lodging, Dang Gi-hwang latched on.
“What’d the kid say? I was right? It’s a frame job.”
“Father, he’s worth coveting.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I’m retiring.”
“You brat. What’re you planning for him?”
“Kunlun’s name weighs too heavy to act.”
“Remove Kunlun?”
Dang Yeong-jung recalled Jeong Gwang’s face.
And all the rumors.
The conclusion was the same.
“No idea.”
“You want him too? If not, at least forge a proper alliance.”
“……”
“I covet real talent too. Handle it yourself—I’ll watch.”
“Cause another scene, and I won’t stay quiet.”
“Hmph. What’ll you do?”
“Mocking the family head’s authority?”
Chill entered Dang Yeong-jung’s eyes.
Dang Gi-hwang flinched but raised his voice.
“Look at this punk? Might smack you one.”
“Just one?”
“Y-you little!”
Dang Yeong-jung bowed his head and entered his room.
Glare fixed on his back, Dang Gi-hwang sighed.
“Damn kid. Treating his old man like this.”
Humiliated by a young punk, treated like a back-room geezer by his own son.
Melancholy hit; he thought of drink and settled in the rear garden pavilion, tilting his cup.
“Kuh. Bitter stuff.”
Dark night, empty—no one around. Staring at the full moon like his mood only deepened the gloom.
Gulping drink after drink, he snarled into the shadows.
“What’re you lot doing? Done gawking?”
Two appeared.
A short beggar elder with a filth-crusted staff at his waist, and a stately elder with three long spears on his back.
“Whining like that. Should’ve died when you got old.”
“Ease up. He looks down already—gonna kill him twice?”
Dang Gi-hwang raised a brow and pointed accusingly.
“Beggar, you ain’t old? And you, Yue—piss me off more. Always twisting words.”
“Ahem. I’m still a year younger than you, landlubber.”
“Twisting? Just facts—why so excited?”
“Oh ho. Wanna go? Both of you. Need to blow off steam today.”
As Dang Gi-hwang gathered qi, the beggar elder sneered.
“Heard you scrapped with your kids earlier. Strength left?”
The Yue elder followed.
“Tsk. Can’t wrap you warm—instead poking family wounds? Sorry, Poison Venerable. I’ll apologize for him.”
“……Yue, you first!”
“Eh? You sure?”
“Obviously!”
“Then I won’t hold back.”
The Yue elder licked his lips, mismatched with his stern face.
Tension peaked.
Dang Gi-hwang slumped his shoulders and sighed deeply.
“Hoo. Forget it. What’s the point bickering with you idiots.”
He tilted his cup again.
The beggar and Yue elders bantered more, but he didn’t budge.
Finally, they sat and stole his booze.
“Beggar’s one thing—you stealing too, Yue?”
“Sharing your sorrows.”
“Sharing? More like multiplying.”
“Heard rumors you ambushed Kunlun’s young disciple. Nonsense, right?”
“Obviously.”
The beggar elder scratched his filthy hair and chimed in.
“That Jin-ok-ryong kid. Rumors piling up—he’s legit. Even soaked you.”
“Beggar, you know something? Spill on him.”
“For free?”
“Whose booze’s down your throat?”
“Tch. Just enough for the drinks.”
Despite his words, the beggar was generous. Jeong Gwang’s deeds from Qinghai spilled out.
The listening Yue elder couldn’t hide his shock.
“Hard to believe.”
“Yue, doubting main branch intel?”
“Never. Just too astonishing.”
“Fair. I smacked the messenger’s head too. Told him no bullshit.”
The beggar shrugged. Seeing Dang Gi-hwang silent, he scoffed.
“Landlubber doesn’t believe either? You two……”
“Got reason to.”
“……What?”
“He’s the type who’d do that much.”
Covetous light gleamed in Dang Gi-hwang’s eyes.
Only that kid can inherit my legacy.
His son Dang Yeong-jung was genius enough.
But so what? Ignored all attempts to teach.
Frustrated, then a true genius appears—his heart raced understandably.
“Oho? Look at that glint.”
The beggar smirked at Dang Gi-hwang.
“Classic landlubber spotting poison snake. Stealing him from Kunlun?”
“Impossible.”
“……Didn’t expect that from you. Why?”
“See it when you meet him.”
“How so?”
Dang Gi-hwang recalled Jeong Gwang.
“First guy that arrogant in my life. Stays in strict Kunlun? What’s that mean?”
“Deep sect loyalty.”
“Right. Force him out? Can’t imagine the tantrum.”
The beggar nodded, adding,
“Plus Kunlun. Look at their recent moves—not the old frail Kunlun.”
“……”
“Give up. He refused, right? Plenty smart kids in the family—teach them.”
“Agreed, Poison Venerable. Don’t waste effort—look closer.”
Even Yue piled on, but Dang Gi-hwang shook his head.
“No. Has to be him.”
“Stubborn as ever.”
“Why?”
“The world’s top genius.”
Beggar and Yue jeered in unison.
“Braggart!”
“Maybe not once taught. But how much longer do I got? Hate taking it to the grave.”
“Fair……”
“We’re that age.”
As the two nodded, Dang Gi-hwang raised his voice.
“But! Son refuses, grandkids far off. You’ve got heirs for your enlightenments! Sigh. Look at me.”
“……”
“……”
The elders’ eyes wavered, but Dang Gi-hwang missed it.
He closed his eyes, mumbling.
“Not stealing—just pass enlightenment, still no. Damn. There’s a way……”
Beggar and Yue’s gazes sharpened.
This arrogant bastard’s that desperate for talent?
If truly the top genius……
The beggar glanced at the sky and stood.
“Sun’s rising. Aching bones. Sleep all I want, still tired.”
Yue followed.
“Let’s head in. Lunch together?”
Dang Gi-hwang stayed eyes shut, lost in thought.
Beggar and Yue shook heads and parted.
“Bye.”
“Later.”
Thus they scattered to their paths.
Paths that, in the end, merged into one.
“You bastard! Said you were heading to Yue lodging!”
“You said Beggars’ Sect—why here? Figures a beggar’d sleep on streets.”
“You punk!”
“Spill. Curious.”
Jeong Gwang, sneaking out for stolen meat, frowned.
A filthy beggar geezer and a sturdy-looking elder bickering.
What now?
The Ten Supremes, revered as Murim’s strongest!
Beggar Venerable Geol Jon Yun Hui-gu and Spear Venerable Chang Jon Ak Man-chun.
But Jeong Gwang wouldn’t know.
No interest.
Just wanted meat.
Out at dawn, yet this mess.
“I’m first, punk!”
The pitifully small beggar elder.
Filth so bad it killed appetite on sight.
“Who decided? I’ll yield the afterlife, but this?”
Fine build, nasty tongue.
Appetite fully dead.
Sleep more.
Turning back, the elders asked.
“You Jeong Gwang?”
“The Jade Dragon?”
Two questions, one meaning.
“Yeah.”
“Heh. Handsome as they say.”
“Indeed. Lives up to the name.”
Jeong Gwang scowled.
Their eyes sparkled too intensely.
“Who’re you?”
The beggar swept greasy long hair, puffing chest.
“Beggars’ Sect Supreme Leader, Beggar Venerable Yun Hui-gu—that’s me.”
The stately elder said sternly.
“Shandong Yue family’s Ak Man-chun. Jianghu calls me Spear Venerable.”
“Ah.”
Jeong Gwang thought he misheard Beggar and Spear Venerables.
……Ah?
A martial artist meeting a Supreme would react big.
But he heard right.
“Hi.”
“……Y-yeah. Hi?”
“……Pleased to meet you.”
“Business with me?”
At Jeong Gwang’s words, Beggar and Spear Venerables exchanged looks.