Chapter 55 - The Greatest Genius of Past and Present
Jeong Gwang tilted his head.
'Why aren't they talking?'
Just moments ago, they'd been bickering about who should go first and who decided that, but now they were passing the buck back and forth.
"Akga, you say it."
"You do it. I'm yielding to you."
"I laid out the mat for you, and now you can't?"
"Why are you suddenly acting like this? Scared of getting rejected?"
Geol Jon bristled.
"Scared? Kid Taoist, that dirtbag said he wants you as his disciple, right?"
"Who's the dirtbag?"
"You know, that old poison freak from the Tang Clan."
"Oh, him. Yeah."
"I heard you turned him down."
"I did."
"Why?"
"One master is enough for me."
An unexpected answer, perhaps.
Geol Jon furrowed his brow and muttered.
"Master... Heo Cheong, was it? Heard he's a decent Taoist."
"That's right."
"Still, he's miles behind that dirtbag."
Miles behind?
Jeong Gwang was dumbfounded.
'Master's got a way better personality and looks, what the hell.'
Of course, in terms of martial arts, the Poison Venerable was far superior, but it still didn't impress Jeong Gwang, who had been the world's best in his previous life.
"Master's better."
"...Oh ho. Now I get it."
Geol Jon smirked unpleasantly.
"Makes sense. Naturally, you'd defend your master. Pride and all that."
No, that wasn't it.
"But that's the wrong way to think. You don't know the weight of the Ten Supremes title."
How heavy could it be?
As if to answer Jeong Gwang's curiosity, Geol Jon flashed an arrogant smile.
"I'll show you why they're the Ten Supremes."
He drew the ta-gu-bong from his waist.
"You gonna hit me with that?"
"...Think I'd do that? I'll show you the essence of our core martial art. Curious what you'll see."
The Beggars' Sect had as many martial arts as it had countless disciples—chaotic in their abundance.
Among them, one worthy of being called the essence...?
"Haaap! Thirty-Six Stances of the Ta-gu-bong Method!"
True to the righteous sects, Geol Jon helpfully announced the number of stances.
Jeong Gwang's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
'Ah, that one?'
Wasn't it one of the martial arts that came to mind when thinking of the Beggars' Sect?
He'd heard only the sect leader could learn it, but to see it in action...
'But can that scrawny body pull it off properly?'
Jeong Gwang muttered without thinking.
"Give it your all."
"...Shut up!"
Geol Jon swung down the ta-gu-bong he'd raised high.
"Dog Head Cane Scold!"
No need for manners with dogs—he'd start by smacking the head to discipline it, a shameless opening stance!
Jeong Gwang let out an exclamation.
"Whoa! So straightforward!"
"...!"
Geol Jon's grip tightened on the ta-gu-bong.
"Taat! Launch Dog to the Sky!"
A grand strike hurling a dog toward the morning sky!
"Ooh! Nice! Love it!"
Jeong Gwang went from exclamations to clenching his fists in excitement.
Compared to the other righteous sects that feigned humility before slipping in a stab, how refreshingly honest was this!
'True to a beggar—no shame at all.'
Jeong Gwang watched Geol Jon seriously.
Feeling the gaze, Geol Jon swung the ta-gu-bong even more vigorously.
'Not just brute force. The stances are well-structured.'
Contrary to its name of beating dogs to death, the Ta-gu-bong Method was a profound staff art.
The "dog" here meant evildoers who committed injustices—high-level ones at that.
It was the pinnacle among supreme arts for thrashing such scum.
Meanwhile, Geol Jon, who had planned to show just a few stances and ask what Jeong Gwang saw, got carried away and performed all the way to the finale.
"Uhaat! Heaven Has No Dogs!"
The final stance of the Ta-gu-bong Method: Heaven Has No Dogs!
As the stance unfolded—claiming no dogs left in the world after beating every evildoer—Jeong Gwang couldn't hold back and clapped.
"Amazing! Truly amazing!"
"Hah. Hah. R-right?"
"Yeah. First time seeing a martial art like this."
"Heh heh. Thought so. As for the Ta-gu-bong Method... Huh? What're you doing now?"
Geol Jon's eyes widened.
Jeong Gwang was suddenly swinging his scabbard.
The golden scabbard gleamed beautifully in the early morning sun.
Geol Jon frowned.
'Never thought I'd see Kunlun, so stingy with money, decked out like that.'
Not just the sword—the robes and hair tie sparkled too.
'...Suits the kid perfectly, though... Huh?'
Jeong Gwang's wild swings suddenly followed a precise pattern.
"T-Ta-gu-bong Method!"
Jeong Gwang was perfectly replicating the stances Geol Jon had just shown.
"What incredible talent!"
Geol Jon couldn't help but admire.
It was mere imitation, but without a single error.
As he was about to exclaim again, Chang Jon's transmission voice rang out.
-Impressive, but I wouldn't call it the world's greatest genius.
-...Yeah, fair.
Even the upper-tier Nine Dragons Eight Phoenixes kids could manage something similar to some degree.
-Plus, those kids have better personalities, don't they?
-Damn, can't deny that.
Still, none could match Jeong Gwang's perfection.
Greed ignited in Geol Jon's eyes...
Only to flicker out soon after.
"This is great. From the victim's side, it's like getting treated like a dog and beaten senseless. A few hits, and no one could stay sane."
"... ."
Who talks about the Beggars' Sect's secret art like that...?
"But this... doing it like this might be better."
"...?"
Jeong Gwang lowered his stance.
Naturally, the scabbard swings aimed downward.
Watching intently, Geol Jon and Chang Jon's eyes nearly popped out.
"Th-that's!"
"N-no way!"
Jeong Gwang's scabbard moved with dazzling changes.
And an illusion appeared before it—an enemy standing there!
A dog!
"Y-yellow dog?"
"W-white dog?"
Dog was dog!
Jeong Gwang thwacked it soundly!
With the Ta-gu-bong Method stances!
"Not superficial!"
"The eight principles—Bind, Split, Wrap, Seize, Pick, Pull, Seal, Turn—are fully embodied!"
The Beggars' Sect's secret art, Ta-gu-bong Method!
Performed on a dog!
Unlike the shocked duo, Jeong Gwang smiled happily.
'I see it, I get it.'
The elusive principles of the Ta-gu-bong Method became crystal clear.
'Right. Treat the opponent like a dog while believing you're the world's best dog catcher.'
With the conviction that no dog in the world could escape you, its true power emerged.
'If it's a mad dog, show some compassion.'
Beat it soundly to bring it to its senses.
'For completely rabid ones, no choice.'
Immeasurable mercy. Tenderize the meat thoroughly.
'Then...'
Bake it mud-coated or boil it in a pot—whatever suits your taste.
'Truly a Beggars' Sect art.'
His mind aligned with the art's essence, and the stances flowed flawlessly.
Jeong Gwang's stance lowered further, movements shrinking.
Finally, the ultimate stance unfolded.
Wuuuung—
The scabbard, infused with qi, roared.
The dragon swept all directions, dyeing the world gold.
Truly Heaven Has No Dogs!
An illusion where every dog in the world was beaten, none left!
Jeong Gwang exclaimed unwittingly.
"Whoa. Perfect for actual dog-catching."
It made sense only the sect leader could learn it.
Even beggars might find begging unseemly at that level.
Master this, and no need to beg—you could thrive.
Anyway, not the point.
'Moving around made me hungry again.'
His fleeing appetite returned.
"Hey, can I go now?"
"... ."
"... ."
"See ya."
The two elders startled and shouted.
"Wait!"
"Not yet!"
"What now?"
Geol Jon trembled as he stammered.
"Y-you've misunderstood the Ta-gu-bong Method! I-it's not for catching dogs! It's for slaying demonic fiends!"
"Nah."
"...What?"
Jeong Gwang scratched his head.
'Kunlun was like this, and now the Beggars' Sect too.'
No obligation to explain, but since he'd gained a fun dog-beating art, he decided to share.
"You didn't create it yourselves, right?"
"O-of course not."
"The Beggars' Sect founder... since it's Bangpa, the sect leader founder? Anyway, he made it. Must've been a beggar."
"Naturally."
"Then you gotta understand his heart."
"...What?"
"Don't you think later generations prettied it up to also catch evildoers while beating dogs?"
"...!"
"That's why the movements got too big. Lower and smaller. Try that."
"...Wh-what nonsense... Ah!"
Geol Jon's eyes widened.
His grand-master's words resurfaced.
'Disciple, your shoulders are too tense.'
'Senile? Tense what—urk!'
'Such a foul mouth. Brat, you're a beggar, not some grand hero. Why strut like that!'
'Damn it. When did I—!'
'Look at you performing the Ta-gu-bong Method! Flaunting like you're gold-plated!'
'It's the supreme art passed only to sect leaders—gotta do it carefully! Aack!'
'Tsk tsk. You're a beggar, a beggar. Perform it like one. Not as a grand hero punishing evil, but as a dog-catching beggar.'
'What's the difference...'
'Approach with a lowly heart to act heroically without greed...'
His sighing master had muttered self-mockingly.
'Heh, I heard the same. Ha ha. Realizing it now.'
Geol Jon, at his master's deathbed, hadn't understood.
'Explain properly.'
'Enough. I'm going—figure it out.'
'Master? Master! Wait, this old coot really died? Last words!'
A memory he'd buried in frustration.
'Lowly and small...'
Geol Jon swung his ta-gu-bong carefully.
His stance lowered, movements shrank over time.
The true dog-beating Ta-gu-bong Method, as Jeong Gwang had shown.
'Ah! Lower and smaller lets me fight closer! Forgot this simple truth chasing flair!'
Close combat was risky, but Beggars' Sect disciples, armed with righteous blood, feared neither death nor injury.
They even enjoyed it, as it threatened foes greatly.
Plus, their stench hindered enemy breathing, so most Beggars' arts favored close range.
'Master, I finally get it...'
Immersed in enlightenment, Geol Jon performed Beggars' Sect arts.
Chang Jon, watching in shock, bit his lip.
'Lucky bastard.'
He'd looked down slightly, but now the future was uncertain.
Gazing at Jeong Gwang, who caused it, greed surged.
'World's greatest genius? Ridiculous!'
Even the True Heavenly Demon, who shook the world dying curled up, wasn't this!
'The greatest of ancient and modern is right! I must have him!'
Can't steal Kunlun's disciple.
Then pass on enlightenment, leave his mark!
A kindly voice flowed from Chang Jon's mouth.
"Jeong Gwang, you don't fancy Beggars' Sect arts, do you?"
"I do."
"...Unique taste. Thinking of learning from that guy?"
"Something this fun wouldn't be bad..."
Chang Jon's eyes narrowed.
"I like you, so a tip: not him."
"Why?"
"Hang with a guy who begs alone 'cause no one plays with him?"
"...Loner?"
"Worse. Calls it 'free spirit wandering solo'—pure lie..."
"Akga, you bastard!"
"Huh? Weren't you enlightened?"
"Over quick! You damn punk!"
"Feel it again. You can do it."
Geol Jon, about to beat Chang Jon with his newfound Ta-gu-bong Method, prioritized tattling.
"Jeong Gwang! Akga got chased out by his daughters-in-law banding together!"
"What vicious rumor!"
"That fight-crazed maniac beat his grandsons under 'martial training' pretext! That's why they kicked him out!"
"Kicked out? They were so grateful for my passionate guidance, said rest and tour— that's all!"
Geol Jon snorted.
"Booted old fart!"
"Loner beggar!"
"Beggars are solo by nature!"
"I left on my own!"
"...You. Never liked you."
"Mutual. Let's settle it today."
The two Supremes radiated killing intent.
A make-or-break clash about to erupt!
Jeong Gwang spoke up.
"You're loud. Can't you fight somewhere else?"