Beggars' Sect Downfall (3)
"I'm pleased. For now... take Elder Dorong's head with you."
Hyeon Yucheon showed the Beggars' Sect mercy for the first and last time.
With his declaration of their closure, he handed over Hong In-gyeol's head that very day.
"However! The Dog-Beating Staff will be returned only after you declare closure to the entire martial world and draft the oath document."
With that, the two men's meeting came to an end.
Two days after Hyeon Yucheon parted ways with the Beggars' Sect's deputy leader, Iron Heart Beggar Hwang Chun...
[Our Beggars' Sect, caught in an unforeseen incident, hereby declares closure for the next ten years. We will engage in no activities related to the martial world.]
He was a wise man.
At the very least, he knew how to keep his promises.
How else could even Hyeon Yucheon and the Demon Sword Sect—who had initially planned to obliterate everything about the Beggars' Sect—be so thoroughly satisfied with the declaration?
"Wouldn't it be better to just wipe out the entire Beggars' Sect?"
On the way to return the Dog-Beating Staff, Elder Jeong Inheon made the suggestion to Demon Sword Sect Leader Hyeon Yucheon.
As one of the five who had contributed to slaying the Demon Sword Fiend, his grudge ran deep.
"The Murim Alliance is still far too solid and fortified. It's better to peel them away from the bottom up, one by one. Trying to eradicate them all at once would only provoke a fierce backlash."
Hyeon Yucheon's words were the absolute truth.
In truth, had they aimed to completely annihilate the Beggars' Sect, those beggars would have fought to the death as limbs of the Murim Alliance.
It was only because Hyeon Yucheon had shown some leniency that they surrendered, creating massive ripples throughout the world.
"You've arrived?"
While exchanging words with Elder Jeong Inheon, they had already reached the Beggars' Sect headquarters.
Once the greatest faction in northern Hebei Province, backed by vast numbers and serving as the hands and feet of the Murim Alliance's northern Hebei branch, they were now frozen in place for a decade.
"We've heard the announcement. The oath document?"
Swoosh!
At Hyeon Yucheon's words, Hwang Chun's fingertips trembled as he proffered the letter.
Though titled acting Dragon Head Deputy Leader, it bore the proper sect leader's seal, acknowledging all facts and opting for ten years of closure.
"Sect Leader Hyeon. We have upheld every promise."
Hwang Chun glared at him with eyes brimming with resentment.
"One more thing remains."
"What?"
But Hyeon Yucheon had one final demand.
"I have yet to receive your sincere apology. As upstanding members of the righteous sects preaching justice, did you not cowardly gang up on us and even attempt a sneak attack?"
"Th-that..."
Hyeon Yucheon's words made Hwang Chun and all the Beggars' Sect elders stagger.
Bringing it up left them speechless, even with ten mouths.
Yet admitting it meant facing the Murim Alliance's scrutiny.
"Apologizing would mean acknowledging it... and you're afraid that buried past sin will surface?"
Hyeon Yucheon regarded him calmly.
Hwang Chun could not even refute his perfectly reasoned words.
"I can assure you: the Beggars' Sect was my first target for revenge, so I was relatively lenient. You got off lucky with ten years of closure, but the remaining four and the rest of the Murim Alliance won't even leave bones behind."
Under Hyeon Yucheon's fierce gaze, Hwang Chun caved and finally offered a belated, heartfelt apology.
"We... no, some of us knew, but we hid it out of shame from the world's finger-pointing. Today, we acknowledge all facts and sincerely apologize."
Hwang Chun closed his eyes as he spoke.
Continuing on the Murim Alliance path was impossible anyway.
They had prioritized the Beggars' Sect's legitimacy—symbolized by Hong In-gyeol's head and the Dog-Beating Staff—over the Alliance's, leaving them no choice.
"The old grudges aren't fully resolved, but..."
Hyeon Yucheon signaled his subordinates, who brought forth the black, ink-dark staff.
It was unmistakably the Beggars' Sect's sacred relic, the Dog-Beating Staff.
"I shall return it to you."
With impeccably clean movements, Hyeon Yucheon handed it over.
"Oh! Ohhh!"
Hwang Chun and the Beggars' Sect elders were overcome with indescribable emotion upon reclaiming it.
At last, they could hold the long-delayed funeral rites for Elder Dorong Hong In-gyeol.
"Honestly, I thought you'd mistreat or damage our headquarters' sacred relic... but it's been polished and maintained impeccably."
A martial artist could glean much from a weapon alone.
Hwang Chun was no exception.
"We bow in gratitude to Young Hero Hyeon Yucheon, Sect Leader of the Demon Sword Sect, for safeguarding the Dog-Beating Staff so well."
His words and bow eased Hyeon Yucheon's heart somewhat.
"No need for such words. Remember: no involvement with the Murim Alliance or sharing information whatsoever."
With that, Hyeon Yucheon posed the long-cherished question.
"Before that, may I ask one thing?"
Hwang Chun realized at a glance that Hyeon Yucheon sought the Beggars' Sect's intelligence network.
"Ask away."
"What is the true identity of Okmyeon Geomgun Cho Jeong-ryong, my third senior brother by seniority? And where is he?"
Hyeon Yucheon finally asked.
With Eldest Brother Ga Jinuk and Second Brother Eum Ji-myeong cleared, he was pinpointed as the traitor who betrayed their master.
The Demon Sword Sect suspected ties to the Seok Family Village—but was it true?
"I knew that question was coming. Fortunately, the previous leader left a letter, so I know exactly who he is."
It was welcome news amid the tension.
Hong In-gyeol had exchanged messages with him before dying.
"Okmyeon Geomgun Cho Jeong-ryong's true identity is... Seok Muyong, eldest young master of the Seok Family Village. Under orders from the Murim Alliance Leader and Seok Family Patriarch, he perfectly disguised himself to become a disciple of Demon Sword Fiend Cheon Baeksang."
"...!!"
Hyeon Yucheon recoiled in shock and chills upon hearing it.
He had suspected a Seok Family young master, but confirmation doubled the impact.
And the backing of the Murim Alliance Leader and Seok Family Patriarch no less?
"So that's it. From the start, they coveted Master's Formless Flash Quick Sword."
"Exactly. Even after Seok Muyong infiltrated as the third disciple in disguise, when transmission of the arts was stingy, they eventually..."
Iron Heart Beggar Hwang Chun trailed off.
No more needed saying.
Seok Muyong failed his mission, forcing the Heaven's Five Venerables to intervene.
Grind!
Realizing the full truth, Hyeon Yucheon gnashed his teeth in uncontainable rage.
'These damned Murim Alliance and Seok Family Village!'
After his parents and Mangeum Clan, now his master—the culprits behind it all emerged again, overwhelming his fury.
So intense was his anger that he wanted to shatter everything, but he suppressed it.
All this hatred and rage must be unleashed on Cho Jeong-ryong—no, Seok Muyong.
"Where exactly is Seok Muyong?"
To Hyeon Yucheon's question, Hwang Chun replied steadily.
"Currently training as heir under the Seok Family Patriarch."
In other words, at the impregnable Seok Family Village main estate—hard to reach.
Yet Hyeon Yucheon felt no despair.
'Revenge that's easy would be no fun.'
On the contrary, he was glad.
He would slowly devour northern Hebei Province and hunt him down.
Find Seok Family eldest young master Seok Muyong and tear him apart with excruciating cruelty.
"Thank you for answering."
Thus, the Beggars' Sect had partially repaid their past debt.
But Hyeon Yucheon's revenge was only just beginning.
-The Beggars' Sect has chosen to close its doors for ten years!
-Unable to surpass the Demon Sword Sect, they lost control of northern Hebei Province entirely.
-The Beggars' Sect, a major pillar of the Murim Alliance's northern Hebei branch, has fallen!
This news spread like wildfire across northern Hebei Province, throwing the Murim Alliance's northern Hebei branch—who had gripped all authority—into chaos.
"These insane unorthodox bastards!"
Boom!
As Hyeon Yucheon turned northern Hebei upside down, inside the Murim Alliance northern Hebei branch building, a man slammed his side table.
His name was Songak High Sword Jeon Jeong-hwan.
His background was unique: from a low-rank expert in the declining prestigious righteous sect Songak Sect, he had risen to branch leader—an exemplary tale of ambition.
The reason he, excluding top northern Hebei righteous sects like the Beggars' Sect, Jinju Yeon Clan, and northern Hebei Pang Clan, became branch leader was simple.
Those three checked each other, so none could take the post.
Mutual interests elevated Jeon Jeong-hwan, exceptional in personal skill.
'The Beggars' Sect declaring closure!'
Jeon Jeong-hwan, rarely one to show anger, now expressed it exceptionally.
He was already anxious over the Seok Family Patriarch's displeasure.
And beyond that? The Murim Alliance's prestige in northern Hebei was immense—now stripped overnight, fueling his rage.
"They've grown too bold."
No matter how he pondered, he couldn't comprehend it.
Of course, he knew the Demon Sword Sect was rising, stirring the unorthodox world.
And Hyeon Yucheon's skill was super peak level...
'But enough to slay one of the Heaven's Five Venerables and defy the righteous sects?'
Jeon Jeong-hwan grew increasingly curious about the Demon Sword Sect and Hyeon Yucheon.
No one had witnessed Hyeon Yucheon defeating Elder Dorong, breeding doubt.
"This won't do. I must see Hyeon Yucheon's power for myself."
What a regrettable moment.
In the past, he could scour every detail via the righteous sects' and Murim Alliance's intelligence—the Beggars' Sect's network. But with their ten-year closure, that vaunted info was useless.
'Request aid from Murim Alliance HQ?'
He considered it but shook his head.
HQ housed the Murim Alliance Leader—even Heaven's Five Venerables feared him—and the world's trickiest mind, Military Strategist Divine Calculation Wonder Hand Jong Ri-gwang.
Asking them for help was suicidal.
"Right. Northern Hebei has the northern Hebei Pang Clan and Jinju Yeon Clan!"
Jeon Jeong-hwan finally decided.
He would muster all peak experts from the branch, and request the same from the Pang and Yeon Clans.
Then confront Hyeon Yucheon and the Demon Sword Sect to test his mettle.
"Unorthodox martial artists must never rise again."
Jeon Jeong-hwan recalled the old era dominated by the Demon Sword Fiend.
It must not repeat.
'Hyeon Yucheon, I'll test if you truly have the power to slay one of the Heaven's Five Venerables.'
Jeon Jeong-hwan firmly believed him a bluffer and fraud.
Whether Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon was a fraud, or Songak High Sword Jeon Jeong-hwan a fool—truth would reveal itself soon enough.