Chapter 239
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: New Era's Geumhyeon Sect Leader (2)
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At the end of the ominous atmosphere that had lingered over the Beggars' Sect for a time.
Fortunately, rather than meeting its doom, the sect was able to rally tightly under the banner of its new young Sect Leader.
The discord stirred up by Vice Sect Leader Yeon Sa-gang was neatly quelled beneath the terrifying might of the Anti-Dragon Eighteen Palms that the Sect Leader had unleashed.
The elders of the Justice Sect who had subtly sided with the Vice Sect Leader were also moved by the righteous new Dragon Head Sect Leader's will and ended up bowing their heads in submission.
"Yeon Sa-gang would spit blood if he heard that summary."
"It's a pretty clean wrap-up of the before and after, though."
While treating Unhak's wounds—he'd suffered internal injuries and forced his qi to rise, twisting his meridians to the brink of qi deviation—Geum Sihyeon chuckled heartily.
Though in truth...
"I can't accept this! Graaah! Great Wind Beggar! Drunken Twin Beggars! Kraaaah!"
The truth was that after taking a solid hit and with his drugs fully worn off, Yeon Sa-gang had pathetically turned into a human instrument, belting out some garbled tune like "Galuba Banana."
But the truth is more beautiful when it remains hidden.
Shwaak!
"There, all done."
Geum Sihyeon pulled the final acupuncture needle from Unhak's shoulder and heartily smacked his back.
Unhak, who had bitten his lip to stifle a scream in order to preserve the Sect Leader's dignity, promptly turned around and grabbed Geum Sihyeon by the collar as his way of saying thanks.
.
.
.
After finishing Unhak's treatment.
Geum Sihyeon waited for a moment with few people around and cautiously slipped back into the Beggars' Sect headquarters.
Of course, there was no way the current Dragon Head Sect Leader—with his mediocre martial arts—could detect Geum Sihyeon's near-divine stealth technique, but even a stone bridge deserved a tap before crossing.
Moving inward with the poise of a Shadowless Divine Thrower, he carefully made his way up the mountain behind the Sect Leader's hall.
He took a liquor bottle from his waist, sprinkling it over the grave where grass hadn't fully grown yet.
Then, he gently placed atop the spirit tablet the ceremonial knot he'd received directly from the previous Dragon Head Sect Leader, along with the plaque engraved with "Secret Inspector."
"This should be enough, right, Elder?"
Even if their alliance had been born of shared interests, they'd shared drinks and opened their hearts, if only for a moment.
Geum Sihyeon offered a brief moment of silence, then turned away.
That day.
The blustering rogue who had briefly shone like a supernova in the martial world quietly washed his gold dust and faded away, unknown to all.
Pretty much finished up everything in the Beggars' Sect.
No more fun to be had there.
Unhak would be busy for a while, properly taking on his Sect Leader duties.
Now it was about time...
To head back to Xi'an.
But before that.
"Liyeon, let's grab some food."
"Yes."
It was time to clearly sort out things with my junior.
.
.
.
"Did it have to be here...?"
"The food was delicious, right? Admit it?"
"I have to admit that much."
On the top floor of Nak Hwa Ru—the place where we'd smashed the floor last time—we quietly enjoyed our meal while overlooking the night streets of Kaifeng.
Not quite as flashy an outfit as before.
Baek Liyeon had started dressing neatly in something a bit more androgynous rather than fully bundled up in male disguise.
A positive change, I suppose.
The bold, manly spirited, fun, and cute junior Baek Liyeon I'd known...
Was no more.
But.
On my back, in this heart of mine.
We'll become one and live on forever...!
"Why are you looking at me with that creepy expression again?"
"Just reminiscing about the memories with my little junior Liyeon, whom I can no longer meet now that she's gone..."
"Don't kill me off on your own."
Maybe because of the food, or maybe she was putting on an act to be cute.
Liyeon's cheeks puffed out slightly.
After wrapping up the meal with such silly banter.
"What are your plans from here?"
As the president of the academy, and as Baek Liyeon's senior in private.
I mulled over the same question I'd posed during the previous mountain excursion.
As if she'd expected the question, Baek Liyeon lowered her head and fiddled with her chopsticks for a moment.
She looked like it was a tough decision.
"How about a great offer?"
I never thought the day would come when I'd be the one saying this first.
"Won't you join... no, Geumhyeon Sect?"
I formally invited her to fill one of the two vacant Upper Immortal seats.
Of course, Geumhyeon Sect had no replacement blood battles. If we did, Myo Narang, the current Number One Upper Immortal, would naturally become the weakest.
"You mean the sect you created, Senior?"
"Yeah. With you, it'll be a three-man party."
"...Three people?"
"But we have a lot of official partner companies."
Let's see.
Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Tang Family of Sichuan. Moyong Family. Toll Road Gang.
And now the Beggars' Sect as the newest official franchise.
Unofficially, even the Nangong Family.
"Seriously, you've gathered all the righteous, evil, and demonic factions."
"That's the greatness of this senior, isn't it? Oh, and your friend Narin is practically an extension of Geumhyeon Sect, so you won't be lonely."
"Narin probably wouldn't acknowledge that."
"With all the photos she's secretly taken of me over the years, I could have her shipped off to the government for portrait rights infringement."
"...Yeah, that checks out."
I took a deep breath, toned down my smile, and looked at Baek Liyeon seriously.
Gazing at the Heaven's Kill aura that had settled indifferently.
"I'll teach you my martial arts. Then you'll be able to control the Heaven's Kill on your own, without anyone's help."
I dangled an irresistible bait.
"Is that... possible?"
"You'll have to learn Geumhyeon Sect's internal energy method."
Of course, it wouldn't just be for Baek Liyeon.
Once back in Xi'an, I planned to overhaul the internal energy of my first disciple, Narin, starting with the Northern Bright Divine Art.
Maybe because it was a beastly heart method from the Southern Barbaric lands, it wasn't exactly pure despite all that 'ooga booga' in the great wilderness.
Other methods might clash in the dantian, but the Northern Bright Divine Art would embrace even previously learned arts like the vast sea.
No reason to exclude Liyeon from that teaching.
Someone had called me a fake Purple Forbidden Star or something.
Instead of crudely suppressing the Heaven's Kill like a fake, wouldn't embracing the Heaven's Kill itself be a greater feat?
Seeing Liyeon's eyes sparkle.
"Tch. Questions like 'Why would you do so much for me?' are forbidden."
"......"
What a clichéd love-starved kid.
I gently patted Baek Liyeon's head as she was at a loss for words.
"In the martial world, true masters live to bestow upon the weak."
Just as the Dragon Head Sect Leader had his whole life.
Of course, I'm Geum Sihyeon of Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress, who can't stand a losing deal, but Baek Liyeon is prime stock that could pay back multiples later.
"...Alright."
Great.
Value investing success.
"...But before that, I want to clear one thing up."
"What?"
"I want to tell Master... that I'm leaving the Azure Heaven Society."
My value investment stock was suddenly trying to tank.
In the end.
"It'll be fine. Probably."
I couldn't sway Baek Liyeon's resolve.
Truth be told... that was probably right.
No matter how much it was a relationship formed out of necessity, the bond between master and disciple is like that.
It wasn't something I could keep meddling in, so I just supported her choice.
If so much as a hair on Liyeon's head was harmed, I'd just wipe out the Azure Heaven Society and Mount Hua Sect.
Daring to outbid my thorium ingot? Wait, was I the one overbidding?
Anyway.
"Hoo, haa."
Really.
Xi'an at last, after so long.
I'd gone to Mount Hua for a school trip just after spring passed, then fled into exile because of that damn old coot from the Azure Heaven Society.
Time had flown by, past autumn, and now a chill heralded winter's approach.
Well.
Whether my warning worked, or they couldn't touch me because of my ties to the righteous factions, I hadn't heard of any misfortune befalling those around me.
So now I could step into Xi'an with a bit of peace of mind.
Among all the old folks I'd met in the martial world, none had broken their word.
Maybe that old fogey Gu Yang-hwi deserved a reevaluation on that front. As long as Liyeon returned unscathed.
With those thoughts, I strolled leisurely through the familiar Xi'an streets.
Normally, I'd head straight to Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress to greet my parents.
But now, I was an outsider to the family.
Prioritizing the well-being of Geumhyeon Sect, the organization I led, came before filial piety.
So, sauntering through Xi'an's streets, I headed toward the grand Geumhyeon Sect in its secluded spot.
"Hm?"
The empty lot that hadn't been developed before I left now had tall walls lining it.
Had it been designated a redevelopment zone in the meantime?
No, but I'd bought up all the land around here.
Harboring those doubts, I followed the walls.
I spotted an ornate new building complex encircled by a main gate, and the characters carved on its plaque stabbed right into my eyes.
[Moyong Family Xi'an Branch]
"...?"
What the hell was this illegal structure?
"Oh? Is that Young Master Geum Sihyeon?"
"Wrong person."
Even the face I'd seen in that barren training ground was acting like he knew me, so I hurriedly pretended not to and passed by.
And next up was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Xi'an Branch... that one was already there, so skip.
Before entering Geumhyeon Sect.
I confirmed another illegal build next door to Geumhyeon Sect and, with a bad feeling, checked its plaque.
[Toll Road Gang Headquarters]
"This is driving me insane."
How had my small, precious Geumhyeon Sect site turned into this refugee camp?