Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Standard of the Martial World (1)
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“But who are you?”
Namgung Jun, the Second Sword, asked, curious as to why a beggar from the Beggars’ Sect had suddenly appeared and was so freely sharing information with the Young Lord.
Namgung Urin answered nonchalantly.
“A beggar.”
“A beg…”
Anyone could see he was a beggar. Who would ask because they didn’t know that?
He had asked because, seeing the man casually share such information with the Young Lord, he seemed to hold a considerable position within the Beggars’ Sect.
‘Damn it.’
At the word “beggar,” Geolgae’s expression soured.
Calling a beggar a beggar!
Geolgae, the beggar in question, was offended, but what could he do? Resigning himself to it, he opened his mouth for the sake of Namgung Urin’s subordinate, who was curious about his position.
“Me? The Anhui Branch Leader. Let’s just say I’ve been designated as the next Sect Leader. Ahem.”
Geolgae’s shoulders rose high with pride.
“Wow! You’re someone amazing, then?”
The unspoken question was, ‘But how did you end up in this state?’
A Branch Leader, and even the next Sect Leader. In other words, he was a disciple of the Beggars’ Sect Leader.
In terms of seniority, Geolgae held a very high position in the martial world. But what about the Young Lord’s current behavior? Wasn’t he treating him like a subordinate?
That should never happen.
If it was like this now, what would happen when Geolgae became the Sect Leader of the Beggars’ Sect in the future?
Then…
He couldn’t even imagine.
“Pah, it’s nothing.”
Geolgae was in a very good mood, having met someone who acknowledged him.
However.
“Still just a beggar.”
That was that.
“………”
Geolgae’s face flushed red.
The words ‘How dare the Young Lord of the fallen Namgung Family!’ rose to the tip of his tongue, but Geolgae had to force them down.
Just as a beggar feels awful when called a beggar, how would the Young Lord of the fallen Namgung Family feel if he were called the Young Lord of the fallen Namgung Family?
Especially since this guy didn’t seem to have a pleasant personality.
‘Damn it!’
Just as he was exercising the patience he had built up from begging since he was a child, Namgung Urin’s mouth opened again.
“Beggar. You, go over there.”
“…Why?”
“You stink.”
Of course a beggar smells like a beggar!
Did he expect the thrilling scent of a courtesan?
“…Uh, okay.”
Trapped by the undeniable logic of the martial world—that might makes right, regardless of seniority—Geolgae had no choice but to take his beggar-like stench and find a spot to stand alone.
At that moment, a carriage and twenty Hyeoncheon Sect warriors arrived before the Black Serpent Gang. It seemed they had prepared the carriage to escort Yeongchun with great care.
The Hyeoncheon Sect warriors opened the gates of the Black Serpent Gang and stepped inside. In-geol, the leader of the Black Serpent Gang, greeted them stiffly.
“Welcome.”
The Vice-Commander of the Hyeoncheon Sword Brigade had not the slightest intention of exchanging pleasantries with the Black Serpent Gang.
He was only facing these insect-like Unorthodox Faction bastards because of the Sect Leader’s orders; otherwise, there would be absolutely no reason to speak with these filthy vermin.
“Just bring out the one you caught.”
The Vice-Commander of the Hyeoncheon Sect’s Hyeoncheon Sword Brigade ordered In-geol with a disgusted expression.
‘Sons of bitches.’
No matter if the Black Serpent Gang was just a bunch of Unorthodox riffraff, they were still working for them. The proper way of the world was to at least treat them like human beings.
Then again.
Bastards who lived in the martial world didn’t exactly operate by following proper principles.
‘Look who’s talking.’
Weren’t they much the same?
‘If I hadn’t met the Masked Brother…’
Wouldn’t they still be living servile lives, surrendering to reality without the will or hope to live like human beings?
It had only been a day, but it felt like he was living in a completely different world. A pleasant, bitter smile formed on In-geol’s lips.
“What are you doing? Did you not hear me?”
Seeing no reaction, the Vice-Commander’s brow furrowed deeply.
“Understood.”
As In-geol nodded, two members of the Black Serpent Gang dragged Yeongchun out from the warehouse.
“I won’t go! Just kill me here! I said kill me, you bastards!”
Yeongchun struggled, refusing to be dragged away. Having already coordinated with Namgung Urin, he was putting on a vivid performance. A member of the Black Serpent Gang then fanned the flames of his act.
“This old man, really! Hah!”
He threw the struggling Yeongchun to the ground.
“Oh, I’m dying. I’m dying.”
Bound by ropes, Yeongchun rolled around on the ground, his eyes rolling back.
“You said you wanted to die? An old geezer who wouldn’t be out of place dropping dead from old age is making quite a fuss.”
Just then, the Vice-Commander of the Hyeoncheon Sword Brigade suddenly drew his sword and stepped forward.
“Do you wish to die! You fools don’t even know how precious this man is!”
The tip of the Vice-Commander’s sword touched the neck of Seop, the Black Serpent Gang member who had thrown Yeongchun. Seop’s body froze completely.
They hadn’t expected such an extreme reaction at all. They were told to capture him, so they did, and they treated the captured old man like a captive. They had believed they needed to act this naturally to avoid any suspicion.
This was far beyond their expectations.
While everyone in the Black Serpent Gang was steeped in confusion, their leader, In-geol, stepped forward.
It was dirty and cheap, but there was no other way.
“Haha. My apologies. My brother didn’t know any better. Please overlook it this once. As compensation, I’ll only take forty silver nyang. How about it?”
They were supposed to receive fifty silver nyang for capturing Yeongchun.
The Vice-Commander’s cold gaze turned to In-geol.
“You must think I’m a joke. Asking me to let it go for a mere ten silver nyang?”
“Then how much do you want?”
“It should be at least a hundred nyang, don’t you think?”
At the absurd demand of a hundred nyang, the corner of In-geol’s eye twitched slightly.
“…A hundred nyang, you say?”
“That’s right, isn’t it? A hundred silver nyang is far too much for this bastard’s life, right? This just shows your level. Got it?”
What could you expect from third-rate Unorthodox scum.
Still, it can’t compare to your level of toying with people’s lives.
“Fine. I’ll give you a hundred nyang. Will that be enough?”
“…Oh? Look at you. Is your pathetic pride hurt?”
“No. It means my brother’s life is precious.”
Because that was In-geol’s heart, it was also the heart of his brothers. And that was the reason In-geol could lead the Black Serpent Gang without any trouble.
“Is that so? Well, whatever the case, it’s a good thing for me.”
Two birds with one stone.
Killing two birds with one stone.
Killing two birds with one stone.
It was a dirty job that left a bad taste, but if he captured the old man named Yeongchun, he himself would receive a precious elixir.
For a warrior, there was nothing better than becoming stronger.
And on top of that, he gets unexpected money?
There was no reason at all to refuse.
The Vice-Commander held out his hand. He meant for him to show him the hundred silver nyang.
“Yeop. Bring the money.”
“Brother…”
There was no way the Black Serpent Gang would suddenly have that much money. Especially since they hadn’t been collecting protection fees lately, there was no source of income. The money In-geol told him to bring was the money Namgung Urin had given them to secure a manor and gather people.
Therefore, it was money they couldn’t use as they pleased, but In-geol’s priority was to save his brother first.
His belief that Namgung Urin would beat him half to death but not actually kill him also played a part.
“No more talk. Bring it.”
“Understood.”
Yeop shot the Vice-Commander a glare before running quickly to get the hundred silver nyang.
“Here it is.”
A bank note for one hundred silver nyang was placed in the Hyeoncheon Sword Brigade Vice-Commander’s hand. After confirming the note, the corners of his mouth curled up.
“Good.”
But suddenly, the Vice-Commander’s sword was pointed at Yeop’s neck this time. Yeop was so flabbergasted that he glared at the Vice-Commander.
“What is the meaning of this!?”
The Vice-Commander ignored Yeop and spoke to In-geol.
“This one is also a hundred nyang. What are you going to do?”
In-geol gritted his teeth to suppress his anger.
“What are you trying to do?”
“You still don’t know what this is about?”
‘Scum!’
They must think even fifty silver nyang is a waste!
They’ve never gone this far before. Now that they’ve gotten what they want, they’re showing their true, trashy colors.
“Fine. Take it all. The old man and the hundred silver nyang. We won’t even take the silver we were promised.”
The Hyeoncheon Sword Brigade Vice-Commander clicked his tongue in mock pity.
“No, that’s not it.”
“…?”
What on earth did he want?
It was then.
*Shing.*
*Shing.*
Swords were drawn from the scabbards of the twenty Hyeoncheon Sword Brigade members.
At that moment, a thought flashed through In-geol’s mind.
“…Don’t tell me?”
“There’s a saying that it’s always the unexpected that gets you killed. Didn’t you know? The end for trash like you is always like this, isn’t it? Eaten by the strong. Or maimed fighting amongst yourselves. Or if not that… betrayed and killed by your subordinates. Well, it’s all more or less the same.”
An incredulous smile appeared on In-geol’s face.
The Hyeoncheon Sword Brigade Vice-Commander was extremely displeased to see In-geol smiling even in this situation.
It was a smile unbefitting of lowly Unorthodox scum.
In-geol, wearing a smile unbefitting an Unorthodox member, opened his mouth.
“Those who live by the sword die by the sword, so there’s nothing to be bitter about. But dying like that is the same for you guys, too. You seem to think the Hyeoncheon Sect is something special.”
In-geol gave another smile that made the Vice-Commander’s face twist, then continued speaking.
“For now, you may be favored by the Baekri Family, but you never know when you’ll end up just like us. And before the Namgung Family fell, your Hyeoncheon Sect and us were more or less the same. You know that.”
It was the truth, but the Vice-Commander didn’t want to admit it.
“You must be about to die, spouting whatever comes to mind.”
The corners of In-geol’s mouth curled up.
“Will we really die here? Or will you die here?”
*Pfft.*
The Vice-Commander let out a scoff, finding the situation ridiculous.
The Vice-Commander was skilled enough to handle the entire Black Serpent Gang by himself.
To the Vice-Commander, In-geol’s words weren’t a provocation but a futile gesture.
“It seems you’ve gone mad now that your time has come.”
But then.
Suddenly.
What was this chilling sensation climbing up the spines of the Vice-Commander and his men?
And In-geol’s face, still wearing a relaxed smile, bothered him.
‘What is it?’
That composure?
A third-rate Unorthodox member shouldn’t be able to possess such composure, should they?
Even less so for someone facing imminent death.
“Do I look like I’m spouting this nonsense because I’m crazy?”
Right.
He didn’t look it. But weren’t the words In-geol was speaking now something only a madman could say?
“Then are you spouting such words in your right mind?”
“That might be the case.”
Even In-geol himself couldn’t believe he could be so bold, so what could he expect from others?
“You finally get it?”
“Understanding is one thing. But the fact that you will die here remains unchanged.”
Things had strayed far from the Masked Brother’s plan, but he had faith that if the Hyeoncheon Sword Brigade’s swords were turned on the Black Serpent Gang, the Masked Brother wouldn’t just stand by and watch.
It was then.
Just as In-geol believed, Namgung Urin, who had been watching from afar, released his concealment and stood up.