Chapter 221
"So it really is that brat from back then."
Gu Hong-cheong recognized Bu Eun-seol at a glance, his eyes flashing.
"Where is the Green Gourd?"
Bu Eun-seol indifferently pointed to his own waist.
There, a slender bottle emitting a blue glow hung—none other than the Beggars' Sect's sacred relic, the Green Gourd.
"Why did you summon this elder here?"
"You probably know the answer better than I do."
Gu Hong-cheong laughed as if finding the situation absurd, tilting his head toward the sky.
"Hahahaha! What remarkable confidence!"
His laughter cut off abruptly as his expression turned murderous.
"In all my years, I've never seen someone with gall as big as yours."
"..."
"Being a candidate for succession to the Demon Hall, you must have some decent skills. No... perhaps you might even have the ability to exchange blows with this elder."
Muttering as if to himself, he stared directly at Bu Eun-seol and let out a derisive chuckle.
"But you clearly know nothing about this elder's temperament."
"What do you mean?"
"What would this elder gain from fighting and defeating a mere whelp like you?"
Gu Hong-cheong sneered before sighing.
"At best, I'd only earn the disgrace of having killed some immature brat."
Bu Eun-seol, in contrast, smiled faintly.
"So that's why you came draped in all those sect disciples?"
"Hehehe. You already knew, did you?"
As Gu Hong-cheong raised his hand, Beggars' Sect disciples clad in tattered robes gradually revealed themselves around the Ascension Terrace.
Gu Hong-cheong had secretly ordered Mu Hong to deliver the Beggar King Token to Elder Jin Yak-mun, one of the Eight Routes elders who loyally followed him.
And under Jin Yak-mun's command, every last sect disciple had been mobilized to completely surround the Ascension Terrace.
"Had you challenged this elder fairly and honorably... perhaps you might have gotten your one-on-one duel."
Flames as intense as the sun blazed in Gu Hong-cheong's eyes.
"But you stole this sect's sacred relic."
"..."
"Did you truly believe you could still face me alone after committing such an act?"
Taking a deep breath, Gu Hong-cheong spoke again in a low voice.
"The Green Gourd once carried by the Founder is this sect's greatest treasure. And those who steal our sacred relics become targets for every disciple's attack."
The Beggars' Sect had a rule: when a sacred relic was stolen, they could mobilize their disciples en masse.
Since Bu Eun-seol had taken their relic, the sect now had full justification to deploy its disciples against him.
"With such a rule in place... even if I mobilized ten thousand Beggars' Sect disciples instead of a thousand, no one could point fingers at this elder."
Gu Hong-cheong bared his yellowed teeth in a grin.
"A shame, but you miscalculated."
"So you're saying you're too afraid to face me one-on-one."
"Hehehe. Your provocation strategy is useless."
Gu Hong-cheong's sneer deepened.
"You're merely a candidate for succession to the Demon Hall, but this elder is destined to lead all sect disciples as their Sect Chief. How could I possibly stoop to a one-on-one duel with some young demonic sprout?"
Bu Eun-seol, a successor candidate of the Demon Hall.
His skills were undoubtedly extraordinary. Like aged ginger at its spiciest, Gu Hong-cheong was eliminating even the slightest risk.
'Now that I've found the relic to become Sect Chief, there's no need to take unnecessary risks by crossing hands with him.'
With the Green Gourd in his possession, Gu Hong-cheong would soon bear the responsibility of leading countless disciples as the Beggars' Sect's chief.
From his position, there was no reason to take on the risk of fighting some lone demonic foot soldier like Bu Eun-seol.
"Disciples of this sect, listen well!"
Gu Hong-cheong's voice boomed solemnly.
"Subdue the thief who stole our sacred relic in one swift stroke!"
Thud!
At his command, the Beggars' Sect disciples filling the Ascension Terrace struck their long staffs against the ground once before slowly advancing toward Bu Eun-seol.
Step. Step.
They merely walked forward at a measured pace.
Yet with over a thousand moving in perfect unison, the sheer pressure they exuded felt enough to crush Mount Tai itself.
"So you truly intend to avoid a direct fight?"
"Think whatever you wish."
"You must fear losing."
Bu Eun-seol, who had been smiling coldly, sighed deeply as he gazed at the distant sky.
"Then again, at your age, chasing power and greed—when would you ever have found the time to cultivate profound martial arts?"
A flash passed through Gu Hong-cheong's eyes in that instant.
Bu Eun-seol's sharp words had pierced straight to his core.
"Do you take me for some senile old fool drunk on ambition?"
Gu Hong-cheong's expression turned grave.
"This sect was once so prosperous it was called the Greatest Sect Under Heaven. But as time passed, our influence waned, and even our systems fell into disarray."
His words spilled out like pent-up resentment.
"My junior martial brother Yeon Wi-seong was inferior to this elder in both martial arts and wisdom. Yet he became Sect Chief simply because the previous chief chose him! The result? This sect has been in decline ever since!"
Gu Hong-cheong took a deep breath and bit his lip.
"And No Bong, who became the next Sect Chief, had no ambition whatsoever. He barely maintained the sect's power by selling information to other factions."
As if recalling years of resentment, he exhaled a rough breath.
"If this elder had ascended to the position of Sect Chief long ago and handled the affairs of the Sect Council... the Beggars' Sect would have surpassed even Shaolin and become the greatest sect under heaven."
The truth was, Gu Hong-cheong loved the Beggars' Sect more than anyone. That was precisely why he wanted it to become a powerful force.
But despite being the largest faction in both the orthodox and unorthodox paths, he had grown disgusted—and resentful—of its practice of merely peddling information about the Murim.
"At your age, you still don't understand the principles that keep a sect running."
"What did you say?"
"Despite the countless disciples in the Beggars' Sect, you don't even realize why the Beggars' Sect has endured to this day."
Bu Eun-seol let out a low breath through his nose before continuing.
"Any place where large numbers gather is bound to rot."
Then, with an icy gaze, he stared straight at Gu Hong-cheong.
"The Beggars' Sect chose survival not by amassing power, but by coexisting with the underworld and exchanging information networks."
For a moment, Gu Hong-cheong's expression stiffened slightly.
Because Bu Eun-seol's words were identical to those he had constantly heard from Sanggwan-un, the Sect Chief of that time, back in his youth.
"Hmph, what do you know about our sect to be spouting such nonsense?"
As if trying to shake off his thoughts, he shook his head.
"There's no need for further conversation."
Shhk—shhk—
Before they knew it, the Beggars' Sect disciples had closed the distance to within about a hundred feet of Bu Eun-seol.
At that, Gu Hong-cheong raised his voice once more and shouted to his followers:
"Cut him down in one strike and reclaim the Green Gourd for our sect!"
No matter how formidable Bu Eun-seol's martial arts were, he couldn't possibly defeat a thousand sect members.
And if Gu Hong-cheong secretly joined the fray? Only death awaited Bu Eun-seol.
Rumble—
Then, something strange happened.
From the rear of the thousand-strong formation, a group of disciples suddenly rushed forward.
But instead of attacking Bu Eun-seol, they turned their bodies and stood guard around him as if shielding him.
"What—?"
Gu Hong-cheong's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight.
Why would disciples of the Beggars' Sect side with Bu Eun-seol, a figure of the Demonic Path?
Shhk—
At that moment, the ranks of the assembled disciples parted, and a beggar wrapped in tattered cloth stepped forward, holding a long staff.
Fwip—
When he pulled back the cloth covering his face, the refined features of a middle-aged man were revealed under the sunlight.
It was Hae-pung, the current Deputy Sect Master of the Beggars' Sect.
"Hae-pung, you—"
Gu Hong-cheong's eyes bulged in shock.
"How did you get here?"
"..."
"Don't tell me you're siding with that Demon Path spawn!"
"Supreme Elder."
Hae-pung let out a deep sigh before speaking.
"That man holds the Green Gourd—a sacred relic our sect has been searching for all this time."
"So what? This elder has already issued the Beggar King's Decree and surrounded him!"
"He has declared that if force is used, he will shatter the Green Gourd immediately."
Gu Hong-cheong flinched.
Only now did he realize that before arriving at the Ascension Terrace, Bu Eun-seol had secretly made contact with Hae-pung.
"So you conspired with him?"
"It wasn't conspiracy. He came to our sect himself not long ago. He promised that if we allowed him to face you in single combat, he would return the Green Gourd intact."
"So. You're telling me you'll betray this elder just because of his word?"
"Grand Elder, there's no chance of you losing to him, is there? Why fear a duel with him?"
Suppressing the fury boiling inside him, Gu Hong-cheong let out a hoarse laugh.
"Fear? Hahahaha!"
Now he understood—Bu Eun-seol had already negotiated with Hae-pung, using the Green Gourd he had found.
And Hae-pung had hidden this fact, secretly blending in among the disciples Gu Hong-cheong had mobilized before making his way to the Ascension Terrace.
"If we try to overwhelm him with numbers, he will destroy the Green Gourd and flee immediately."
"..."
"But if you, Grand Elder, face him in single combat, won't we be able to safely reclaim the sacred relic we've sought for so long?"
"Hae-pung!"
Gu Hong-cheong roared in a voice thick with rage.
"You're using the Green Gourd as an excuse to shield that Demon Path spawn and betray our sect!"
"Grand Elder."
Hae-pung spoke with a pained expression.
"The position of Grand Elder is not to wield the sect's power, but to awaken us when we stray down the wrong path."
He let out a deep sigh before continuing.
"So why have you fabricated a nonexistent Command Plaque like the Beggar King's Decree? Why do you personally intervene in the affairs of the Sect Council? Why do you insist on leading the sect yourself?"
"Because you people refuse to listen no matter what I say!"
Gu Hong-cheong exploded with rage.
"The Beggars' Sect must grow even stronger from now on! Yet you all live complacently, using the excuse of upholding the beggars' duty!"
"Since ancient times, our sect has mingled with the common folk and relayed news throughout the murim."
Hae-pung spoke with earnest expression.
"But if we suddenly pursue the Overbearing Path, how would we be any different from the Demonic Path sects?"
"What nonsense—the Demonic Path?!"
"Supreme Elder!"
As their argument intensified, Hae-pung also raised his voice vehemently.
"The position of Supreme Elder exists to advise the Sect Council!"
After taking a deep breath, he shouted again.
"From the very beginning, directly controlling part of our intelligence network and the Eight Routes' operations... that itself was wrong!"
Silence fell over the Ascension Terrace for a long moment.
Gu Hong-cheong, having regained his composure, asked in a calm voice.
"So. What do you intend to do?"
"Due to Sect Chief No's mental illness, he neither relinquishes the Dog-Beating Staff nor designates a successor, does he?"
Hae-pung declared in a resolute tone.
"But now that we've obtained the Green Gourd—equal in status to the Dog-Beating Staff—I propose we elect a new Sect Chief."
"Heh heh heh, so that was your scheme all along."
Gu Hong-cheong wore a hollow smile.
Only now did he realize this entire situation was Bu Eun-seol's trap, and he had fallen into an irreversible predicament.
"Ultimately, this elder cannot become Sect Chief after all."
Even if resurrected from death, Bu Eun-seol would never hand the Green Gourd to him.
His grand plan—to obtain a sacred relic surpassing the Dog-Beating Staff and ascend as Sect Chief—had completely evaporated.
"Was it all but a fleeting dream?"
Despite all his desperate struggles to forge a stronger Beggars' Sect...
The era had rejected him.
In the end, Hae-pung—who had secured even the Green Gourd—would become the next Sect Chief.
"We've kept our promise."
At that moment, Hae-pung spoke to Bu Eun-seol.
"Now you must keep yours."
If Gu Hong-cheong and Bu Eun-seol were to fight, the Green Gourd at his waist might be shattered.
Without hesitation, Bu Eun-seol drew the Green Gourd from his waist and tossed it to Hae-pung.
Thud.
Catching the Green Gourd, Hae-pung asked with a faint smile.
"Aren't you afraid I might break my promise? I could take this and still attack you."
"You're also unfit to be Sect Chief material."
"What do you mean?"
"If the Beggars' Sect has fallen to such depths, I'd welcome it."
Bu Eun-seol's gaze remained utterly unwavering.
"If you could so casually break a vow sworn upon a sacred relic... the Beggars' Sect would soon degrade into a second-rate faction unworthy of even the lowest rank among the Nine Great Sects and One Gang."
Only then did Hae-pung realize his blunder and flushed red.
By merely voicing such words, he had tarnished the dignity of the Beggars' Sect—renowned for upholding chivalrous righteousness and keeping faith.
"My apologies. That was a thoughtless remark."
Hae-pung clasped his hands and spoke solemnly.
"Even you—a figure of the Demonic Path—trust in our sect's reputation... It was no matter for jest."
Then he stepped back and declared.
"As promised, our sect shall not interfere in this duel."
Raising the Green Gourd, Hae-pung shouted.
"Hear me, disciples of the Beggars' Sect! Withdraw immediately beyond ten li!"
Bu Eun-seol and Gu Hong-cheong would now commence their battle.
If they remained encircling the area? They would undoubtedly distract Bu Eun-seol's focus and deplete his mental power.
Moreover, someone might interfere at the critical moment.
Bu Eun-seol had specifically requested this arrangement from Hae-pung to ensure a fair duel.
"We shall return at sunset."
At Hae-pung's words, Bu Eun-seol gave a slight nod.
Then he stepped slowly toward Gu Hong-cheong.
"Shall we begin?"
But Gu Hong-cheong's gaze wasn't fixed on Bu Eun-seol—it was locked onto the Green Gourd in Hae-pung's retreating hand.
As he stared at the jade-glinting artifact, fury and resignation swirled violently in his eyes.
The dream he had nurtured for decades was crumbling before him.
Because of this, minute fractures had begun forming in his spirit and mind.
'Even handing the Green Gourd to Hae-pung here was part of his design!'
Entering battle with divided mental power was like fighting with iron balls chained to one's feet.
Gu Hong-cheong realized Bu Eun-seol had deliberately shown him this scene before their duel—dealing a devastating blow to his psyche through profound frustration.
"Fine. I'll oblige you."
Gu Hong-cheong swallowed his erupting rage and spoke.
The state of his spirit mattered not. He just needed to crush his opponent dead.
As he strode forward, an aura of true qi shimmered like heat haze, surging skyward.
Though considered the lowest among the Four Gods and Seven Kings, the Beggar King remained the Beggar King.
The tremendous momentum he radiated lived up to his legend.
'So this is his level.'
Bu Eun-seol clenched his fist while observing Gu Hong-cheong's materialized true qi.
At last, the decisive battle with the Beggar King had begun.