Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Arrival of the Beggars' Sect
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The Beggars' Sect disciples swarmed in like a pack of wild dogs, filling the riverbank below the cliff.
Upon arrival, they moved with perfect discipline, collecting the corpses and checking on the prisoners' conditions.
The leader, Hyeongju Branch Leader Jade Child Beggar of the Beggars' Sect—a fifth-grade disciple—immediately recognized Zhuge Seon and White Heron Deng Yeoping and approached them.
"Hyeongju Branch Leader Jade Child Beggar pays respects to Senior White Heron and the young master of the Zhuge Clan. Might you be the one who received the writ from our elders?"
Jade Child Beggar naturally assumed it was White Heron and asked.
The writ they had brought to the Hyeongju branch was undoubtedly from Windless Beggar Yang Sobang.
Yang Sobang's movements were so mysterious that even fellow Beggars' Sect disciples didn't know them precisely, and since they hadn't heard that he had passed the writ to anyone, it was only natural to be puzzled.
"Not me."
"Pardon?"
"Over there."
Deng Yeoping pointed with a smiling face at Jinmu, who was training Cheongsang and Cheongu like one would handle dogs(?).
"That gentleman?"
"He's the Wudang Divine Sword."
"What! The Wudang Divine Sword!"
He had heard the rumors.
It was one of the most important pieces of information currently circulating in Huguk Province.
A young warrior in his twenties who had earned the title of Wudang Divine Sword.
There had been a few incidents, but otherwise, he had holed up in his sect with unclear movements, so information on him was classified as top-grade.
While the Beggars' Sect disciples collected the bodies and investigated the scene, Jade Child Beggar hurriedly approached Jinmu.
"Jade Child Beggar of the Beggars' Sect pays respects to Wudang Divine Sword Jinmu Taoist."
"......"
His face was filled with overwhelming admiration.
True to his name, he was small like a jade child, but his face was astonishingly ugly.
How on earth did "jade child" end up in his name?
"Here is the writ."
As Jade Child Beggar held out the writ with both hands respectfully, Jinmu accepted it with a look of immense relief.
He had thought it was gone forever.
It seemed it wasn't single-use after all.
"Truly impressive. For the writ's bearer to use it in a manner befitting his name—this is a great blessing for the martial world."
Jade Child Beggar was curious.
The one who received the writ from Windless Beggar.
This meant he had been acknowledged by that extraordinary figure.
Moreover, being the Wudang Divine Sword, forging a connection would be invaluable.
Thus, he showed maximum friendliness, but Jinmu only looked annoyed.
"How many more times can I use it?"
"Pardon?"
"This."
"Ah! The writ is one of our sect's divine treasures. As you know......"
"Just tell me how many more times."
"G-Given Windless Beggar Senior's authority, two...... times......"
"Urk!"
Suddenly, Jinmu clutched his chest and grimaced.
"W-What's wrong?"
"N-No, don't mind me."
Two times.
One of those precious chances...
"Cheongu! Who told you to rest? Run!"
Jinmu whipped his head around sharply and bellowed at Cheongu, who had been floating leisurely on the water for a moment. Cheongu quickly leaped up and clung to the cliff.
That damned brat.
He had wasted one use of this invaluable writ, usable only twice, on something pointless.
No forgiveness.
As Jinmu glared at Cheongu with bulging eyes and yelled...
"Um, Jinmu Taoist?"
"What!"
"Pardon?"
"Got business?"
"No, I mean. Let's talk."
"No need! Nothing to discuss!"
"......"
"Cheongu! Straighten up!"
Jinmu dashed across the river surface and grabbed Cheongu, who had just slipped on the cliff, by the scruff, slamming him back against it.
"Climb faster!"
"......"
While Jade Child Beggar stood stunned by Jinmu's actions, Zhuge Seon approached with a laugh.
"He's a bit unique, isn't he?"
"Pardon?"
"Jinmu Taoist's personality."
"W-Well, yes."
"Still, he's an incredible warrior. If not for his help this time, we..."
Zhuge Seon recalled how Jinmu had effortlessly protected him and even taken down the enemy leader.
"Indeed. His personality is a bit... rough, but the title of Wudang Divine Sword suits him well."
Deng Yeoping chimed in as he approached.
"I-Is that so?"
But for that, he was too harsh on his fellow sect disciple.
"His training methods are unique."
Zhuge Seon smiled as if reading his thoughts.
"Still, it seems like an effective method. They say Cheongsang Taoist has already reached the pinnacle stage."
"What! Pinnacle stage? For a Jade Generation disciple, that's second-generation, right?"
At Jade Child Beggar's shock, Zhuge Seon nodded with a gentle smile.
"Impressive, isn't it?"
"Very impressive?"
"......"
What was with the looks in their eyes as they gazed at Jinmu?
Eyes of boundless trust and admiration?
No, but he seemed too rude for that.
"Anyway, Jinmu Taoist said the attackers might be connected to those Windless Beggar Senior is pursuing."
"Pardon? The elder is pursuing someone?"
Jade Child Beggar erased his puzzled gaze toward Jinmu and hardened his expression.
He had never heard that Windless Beggar was chasing anyone.
In other words, it was a supreme secret. One that must never be leaked.
"Then for the two of you..."
"We'll keep it secret."
"Ah? Yes."
The quick-witted Zhuge Seon smiled brightly.
"Since it's something Windless Beggar Senior is handling, we won't report it to our families either."
"Same here."
Jade Child Beggar nodded at Zhuge Seon and Deng Yeoping's words.
"Thank you."
"And that child. Whether his family was massacred by the attackers or something else happened, he's lost his voice. His mental and physical state is unstable too."
"He looks it. We won't push an investigation."
"Thank you. We'll leave the aftermath to the Beggars' Sect then."
"Yes."
Jade Child Beggar exchanged greetings with Zhuge Seon and Deng Yeoping before withdrawing to continue the investigation.
In the meantime, Yulpyeong and Saryeong had finished preparing to depart.
"But today was a bit more... what should I say?"
"Intense."
Wuhan, where the Murim Alliance was located.
Due to the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, renowned warriors from all over had flocked there, making it as crowded as a sea of people.
With five days still left before the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly began, the Murim Alliance gates remained closed.
Late arrivals couldn't secure inns and had to pay locals for stable space or anything available, while those who failed even that had to camp outside Wuhan.
Those gathered for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly were second sons or daughters from prominent families representing their regions, or second-generation disciples.
Smaller sects had even sent their heirs.
The Orthodox Faction's rising stars, harboring dreams of glory, had to pass the exam no matter what.
The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, hosted personally by Murim Alliance Leader Iron Blood Liang.
Passing the test granted eligibility to enter the newly established Dragon-Phoenix Hall.
They could learn martial arts directly from martial world luminaries, and with luck, one might even become a disciple of Alliance Leader Iron Blood Liang.
Moreover, recent rumors whispered that White Heron Deng Yeoping and Dragon Dance Ye Wolhyeop were being considered for hall master.
Even if not Iron Blood Liang's disciple, becoming one of White Heron or Dragon Dance's was possible.
Some of the Justice Seven Stars were said to attend the entrance ceremony—what could be greater?
Admission to the Dragon-Phoenix Hall was a dream and a guaranteed path to success, naturally drawing the full attention of all sects under the Murim Alliance.
"Why the hell am I here!"
Jinmu's irritated shout echoed as they entered Wuhan's gates.
"We couldn't get an inn anyway."
"Find one!"
"Heh, Jinmu Taoist. There are thousands of young experts flooding Wuhan right now. Add their family escorts, and it's uncountable."
"......"
"Getting an inn is like plucking stars from the sky."
Zhuge Seon, riding alongside Jinmu, explained calmly.
"Doesn't matter. I'm just dropping these guys off anyway."
"Haha, don't be like that."
"I said no!"
"But the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly is five days away. Where do you plan to stay, being so stubborn?"
"......"
"Surely you're not thinking of having Wudang disciples camp out and lose face?"
Despite Jinmu's irritation, Zhuge Seon remained unfazed.
Even when it would be reasonable to get angry, he calmly smiled and steered the conversation.
At a glance, it looked like Jinmu was the only one fuming and grumbling.
"So I'm asking nicely. Won't the Zhuge Clan take these two?"
"Of course."
"Then we're good."
"You've misunderstood. Together with you, Jinmu Taoist."
"What the hell?"
The woman disguised as a man before his eyes.
He couldn't win an argument against her.
She always wore a calm, comfortable smile, gently coaxing secrets out of people unwittingly.
Definitely a seductive fox transformed into a man.
"Jinmu Taoist, please reconsider. It's good for everyone, isn't it?"
"Not for me."
Jinmu turned away, figuring she'd just keep persuading him.
"Haha, come on. I'm coming along too."
Deng Yeoping joined in with a bright laugh.
Shut up! I hate being around you just as much!
He had finally escaped Wudang.
Freed from his suffocating master's constraints, he could roam the martial world freely—why go back to a place swarming with Orthodox Faction folks?
As a Wudang Taoist, there were too many things to watch out for.
It was utterly inconvenient for Jinmu.
No desire to stay five days.
They kept pestering despite his clear refusal.
"Oh? We're here."
"What?"
Jinmu whipped his head around at Zhuge Seon's words.
A massive gate bore a plaque reading "Zhuge Clan Wuhan Branch."
Eh, when?
"Please, come in."
"Let's go in. You insisted on coming this way. What a guy."
"......"
Deng Yeoping and Zhuge Seon got along perfectly.
No wonder they kept talking—he'd been lured to the Zhuge branch by their friendly chatter.
Damn them.
As Jinmu scowled and turned his horse...
"Sasuk?"
Cheongu looked at Jinmu with an utterly exhausted expression.
You little punk.
He deserved worse than camping out, let alone an inn.
Thinking of how one of the two precious writ uses had flown away because of Cheongu still made his blood boil.
"Sasuk, shall we look for an inn?"
Cheongsang asked Jinmu as always. He looked tired too, but he'd follow if Jinmu said to go.
Jinmu's resolve softened unexpectedly.
The straightforward, loyal Cheongu who occasionally caused trouble.
The bandit-tempered but obedient and quick-witted Cheongsang.
Regardless, weren't they Jinmu's faithful subordinates, numbers one and two?
Fine, forgive him this much.
Staying at the Zhuge Clan would save money, and as guests, he could eat and drink freely. On the house.
His master Myeongjin had ordered him to meet the Alliance Leader after the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly started before leaving, so he'd be stuck in Wuhan for at least five days anyway.
"......Sigh, fine, fine. Let's go in. Invited as guests, might as well rest up."
Jinmu shook his head with a sigh.
In the meantime.
"I am Zhuge Seon. Could you notify inside?"
"Zhuge? Ah! Greetings to the young master!"
The gate guard recognized Zhuge Seon, bowed hastily, and ran inside.