Chapter 55: Internal and External Arts (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 55: Internal and External Arts (3)
“Sigh… Nothing to do but rot in boredom.”
Geolgae, a man with a goatee, sat on his bed scratching his backside with vigor as he began his day with his usual lamentation.
Lately, incidents and accidents had become noticeably rare.
The one-knot and two-knot beggars had all headed out to beg for scraps, claiming they were starving, leaving him to sit here in solitary idleness.
“Chengdu is so quiet there’s nothing worth doing. It’s not like I can ask the kids in other villages for favors, either. Even if I wanted to build up some achievements, I need something to work with first.”
His peers were already a step or two ahead of him, boasting about catching kidnappers or digging up high-level intel that the Rising Stars would love. Some lucky bastards had even been promoted without showing any particular talent, simply because they had lined up behind the right people.
“Yeong Gae, that son of a…”
The news he had recently heard through the grapevine was more than enough to make Geolgae’s stomach churn.
Yeong Gae, one of his contemporaries, had somehow become a Party Leader and was now bossing around Guardians and Branch Leaders. There was a time when that fellow was the most clueless of the bunch—someone Geolgae teased every time they met. Now that such a guy had climbed to such a high position, Geolgae’s blood boiled.
He felt he should be grateful he hadn't burst a blood vessel yet.
“Isn't there some famous Unorthodox leader out there suffering from Qi Deviation? Someone with a big name but weak martial arts—now that would be the absolute jackpot.”
Geolgae’s thoughts were increasingly focused on finding a free ride to success.
“Um, Branch Leader.”
It was then that a young beggar boy called out to him from the entrance while scratching his head.
Geolgae, who was currently balancing on his head with one leg propped against the bed frame, replied irritably.
“What is it, brat!”
“A guest is here.”
“What? Is it those Tang Family bastards again?”
When things were slow, members of the Tang Family often dropped by. It was always some trivial chore—delivering urgent news or asking them to track someone down. Essentially, they wanted the beggars to do the dirty work that only low-lifes would handle.
“No, it wasn't them.”
“Then who? It’s not like a nun from Emei would show up. Don't tell me it's Qingcheng?”
“It’s not them either.”
The moment the beggar boy’s voice trailed off, a large, elderly man entered Geolgae’s field of vision.
“Who the hell dares to come in here without my permission—”
He was about to roar. But as Geolgae looked up from his inverted position, his vision slowly blurred and then sharpened. Even viewing the world upside down, he felt a strange, chilling sense of familiarity with the old man.
“This place is as idle as ever.”
“Y-you… Cheol Mu…”
“Yes, I am Cheol Mu-jin.”
“Gasp!”
Geolgae immediately scrambled to fix his posture. He widened his eyes, carefully observing the man’s reaction.
“W-what brings you here… sir?”
Wiping away the cold sweat trickling down his forehead, Geolgae narrowly managed to maintain his dignity. His martial arts were weak, but he was still the Branch Leader of this area. Even if the man before him was a titan of the Unorthodox Faction and several generations his senior, there was no need to be overly subservient during a personal visit.
“Is there a need for a grand reason? I stopped by because I need something.”
Cheol Mu-jin sat on a chair placed to one side. There was a much sturdier chair on the opposite side, but perhaps because a beggar had been using it, it looked infested with lice and bedbugs.
“Give me a cup of tea.”
“Ahem! State your business first.”
Geolgae cast a burdened look toward him. He avoided direct eye contact, fearing he might lose his nerve if he looked the man in the eye. Since the information that Cheol Mu-jin was here would eventually reach the main headquarters anyway, he figured he might as well act tough.
“Hmph! Fine. I suppose my presence here is a burden to you.”
Cheol Mu-jin took a deep breath before continuing.
“Find me some skilled sparring partners. If possible, get their consent for a duel as well. Limit the search to the Rising Stars.”
“……”
“Their skill level should be somewhere between First-class and the Peak Realm. I wouldn't mind if they were above the Peak Realm… but since the only Rising Stars at that level are the Five Dragons, they’ll be hard to find.”
“What on earth are you saying…”
“Ah, and keep this in mind. I am not the one who will be dueling. It’s a boy from Qingcheng named Seok Myeong. I have no intention of getting involved, so you don't need to worry about that.”
The moment he heard that, a bolt of lightning struck Geolgae’s mind.
Seok Myeong—he was a young man Geolgae knew well. An elder from the Qingcheng Sect had visited this very place not long ago because of him.
‘What the hell is going on?’
As Geolgae’s eyes darted around anxiously, Cheol Mu-jin let out a short laugh.
“There’s no need to stand there overthinking it. I didn't say this because I have some ulterior motive.”
Geolgae squeezed his eyes shut. He had inadvertently given himself away because his pupils were shaking. Steeling himself once more, Geolgae opened his eyes and countered the old man’s words.
“I don't know what you're talking about, but putting everything else aside… first of all, this doesn't make sense.”
“What doesn't make sense?”
“If it’s the Golden Martial Association, surely you can handle something like this without asking me. Why come to us?”
“That’s because the sparring partners must be from the Orthodox Faction. Since the boy, Seok Myeong, is from the Orthodox Faction, it has to be that way.”
“Why insist on only sparring with the Orthodox Faction? More importantly, why do you want these duels in the first place?”
“I don't know either. I’m simply granting the boy’s request. I’m sure he has his reasons.”
Geolgae’s eyes widened again at the follow-up. His expression remained stiff. Whether it made sense or not, he had no intention of listening to Cheol Mu-jin from the start.
“I didn't expect you to agree easily.”
As if he had anticipated this, Cheol Mu-jin looked at Geolgae and attempted to negotiate again.
“Listen well. Do you know how much rice I currently have in my possession?”
“……”
“About ten thousand dan.”
“Pfft!”
For a moment, Geolgae almost burst out laughing. He had wondered if the man was going to try and throw money around, but he was simply shocked by such an absurd statement.
Ten thousand dan.
Since one sack of rice is half a dan, ten thousand dan was an astronomical amount.
“Are you trying to haggle with me using money right now!”
Geolgae spoke in a forceful tone. He was standing before an Absolute Master, but he wasn't in a position to care about that. He had the Beggar Sect behind him. Even the greatest master under heaven would find it burdensome if millions of beggars from the Beggar Sect swarmed them.
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. However, Cheol Mu-jin remained calm.
“It’s not haggling. I’m offering to help. With ten thousand dan of rice, you could provide plenty not just for the beggars of the Beggar Sect, but also for the people starving from the drought.”
“……”
At those words, Geolgae’s eyes wavered again.
Sichuan had long been known for its good climate and abundance. However, that didn't mean the harvests were always good. This year in particular, villages plagued by famine due to a severe drought were scattered everywhere.
He fell into a brief dilemma. After all, weren't beggars the most sensitive to hunger? Poverty makes people sick. It breaks not just the body, but the spirit as well. There was a reason for the saying that after three years of begging, one wouldn't even trade places with a district magistrate.
“Well? Will you reconsider?”
“Don't even think about such nonsense! Are you trying to turn me into a disgraceful wretch who cuts deals with the Unorthodox Faction!”
Geolgae flared up again. No matter how much of a beggar he was, he was a man of Righteous Heart who stuck to his principles. Occasionally, when he lost his temper, he would do crazy things like ruining a banquet hosted by the Sect Leader, but he was not one to be broken by fear.
Of course, he couldn't hide the fact that his hands were trembling as he spoke.
“Then I take it the negotiations have failed?”
“Of course. No matter how many times you ask, I’m not someone who can be swayed.”
When he cut him off once more, Cheol Mu-jin stood up from his seat. He hesitated for a moment instead of leaving immediately, as if feeling unsatisfied.
“This is truly a shame, no matter how I look at it.”
Cheol Mu-jin tilted his head and continued.
“If I were you, I would have found a way to preserve my honor while still taking the rice.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“When did I ever say I would give you the rice? I merely said I had ten thousand dan. If that’s the case, what would be the best move for you to take here?”
“……”
“You could spread the rumor that you persuaded me to hand over ten thousand dan of rice. Now, if that happens, how would the situation change?”
Geolgae’s eyes shook violently.
“A mere Branch Leader of the Beggar Sect discovered a weakness of the Golden Martial Association’s leader, who controls Sichuan, and extorted ten thousand dan of rice from him. Couldn't it be painted in such a magnificent light?”
“…!”
The words sounding in Geolgae’s ears were enchantingly sweet. Even though no such rumor had started yet, just the thought of it made him blissful.
“Young people these days have no flexibility. Hmm. Come to think of it, I heard there’s a decent Beggar Sect Branch Leader over in Xichang. I should head over there…”
“T-tea…”
“What?”
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
Before anyone knew it, Geolgae’s waist was bent at a ninety-degree angle. His hands were folded perfectly over his lower abdomen, a posture more radiant than that of any waiter in a professional inn.
“And if I say no?”
“Then you simply don't have to drink the tea of an Orthodox man. Though, of course, I plan to brew it as scheduled.”
“Hahaha…”
Cheol Mu-jin burst into a boisterous laugh and sat back down.
“Well, I suppose I’ll have a cup.”
Whoosh!
In that instant, Geolgae bolted toward the door. It wasn't for himself; it was to scream at the top of his lungs at the boy beggar sitting by the entrance to bring some tea.
“Ah, and one more thing.”
At Cheol Mu-jin’s words, Geolgae rushed back at incredible speed.
“Yes, sir! Just say the word!”
“I forgot to mention a few other requests.”
“Of course, of course you did. But don't you worry. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll see to whatever you need.”
“You certainly have the right attitude.”
“Ehehe! My attitude has always been top-notch. It’s just that my body hasn't always followed suit, which was the problem.”
Geolgae was now speaking with shameless affability. In his mind, a rosy future was already unfolding.