The Beggar's Final Dawn
Yi Jinpyeong bent down to gaze at No Gae's face. The old man's eyes were losing their light and focus. He examined the wound that Un Sa-nang's hand had been covering. A horrific gash that had torn away most of his upper body. Reaching out, he infused it with the energy of growth. Verdant green qi glowed as it caressed the injured area. Though he hadn't shown it, the old beggar had clearly been enduring immense pain. No Gae's face visibly relaxed.
Even in that state, the wrinkled old beggar hurled playful curses at Yi Jinpyeong.
"You damned fool. I was just starting to enjoy myself—why chase away the beauty's hand? Get this filthy paw off me right now!"
"Why prattle on with useless chatter? Stay quiet if you want me to heal that wound."
"This rotten bastard's trying to fool this body to the end. With a hole this big, what healing? Leave it be. Doesn't even hurt anymore."
"......"
The bleeding had stopped and the wound was closing, but they all knew it was futile. Un Sa-nang gently pulled Jinpyeong's hand away and placed her own back over No Gae's wound, smiling.
"Elder. My touch is a bit better, isn't it?"
Un Sa-nang tightly embraced the old beggar's stiffening body. She too was covered in deep wounds, and she'd weathered emotional storms several times over because of Ryeong-ju. Her throat was hoarse, her eyes swollen, yet she hadn't lost her smile. No Gae peered at her with eyes that could barely see, grinning widely.
"Of course! Of course! Pretty face and a heart of gold. Where's a beauty like you been hiding? What a shame. If I'd been just ten years younger!"
Jinpyeong stared at No Gae in disbelief. Ten years? Even twenty or thirty younger, the old man wouldn't have stood a chance. His gaze drifted to the empty sleeve where No Gae's arm had been. Sensing it, No Gae gave a wistful smile.
"Damn it. If my arm had been intact, I might've had a better shot. Should've caught that bastard today, no matter what."
"Tell me about it. How'd you go and pawn off your arm in the wrong place?"
A few days earlier, deep into the night. After parting ways with Yi Jinpyeong by Dongjeong Lake, No Gae's whereabouts had become a mystery. No one knew what he'd been through since, how he'd encountered Ryeong-ju before Jinpyeong, fought a desperate deathmatch with his minions, and returned like this.
"...That night after chatting with you and splitting up. I went back to my disciple and told him about the Demonic Cult. No time to wait for dawn—I planned to gather the Gangbang elders right away and lay it all out with him. But as he listened, the kid held me back. 'Master, if word gets out, we'll be swamped nonstop. When do we ever get to catch up then? I've got some fine liquor—let's share just one bottle, then call the elders.' Made sense to me."
The disciple No Gae spoke of was Gangbang elder Bang Cheonpyo—the Demonic Cult seed who'd tried to fracture the Nine Great Beggars' Union by murdering his own disciple Dan-bi-no.
"That bottle, that bottle was the problem. Rare vintage and strong stuff. Started with one glass, then two with the kid... next thing I knew, I was dead drunk. Never blacked out like that in my life. When I came to, strangers were dragging me somewhere weird, trying to skewer me like mountain bandit shish kebab. That's when I first saw that demon. Must've figured I was just some old geezer—left it to his underlings and vanished. Fought those bastards half the day, killed dozens guarding the place, and escaped. Lost one arm in the process. Not sure if my disciple got away or not. Probably got him. Haven't seen hide nor hair of the kid since."
Yi Jinpyeong frowned as he listened. No Gae still didn't know his disciple Bang Cheonpyo was the traitor? Even without being there, all the evidence pointed straight to him.
"Your disciple—"
Jinpyeong stopped, about to reveal the truth. Un Sa-nang shot him a sharp look and shook her head. No Gae, his vision blurring, missed their silent exchange and continued.
"Rookie. If you get the chance, find his body and give him a proper send-off. Tough road for that kid, and I never treated him right my whole life. Greedy as his talent was big. With me guiding him, he might've even become Bangju. But as his master, I just wandered the world, never looking after him..."
No Gae's tone brimmed with loneliness and regret. Whether he truly believed Bang Cheonpyo innocent or just wanted to, who could say? Wise as he was, probably the latter. Either way, Un Sa-nang was right. Better No Gae never knew the horrors: selling out his aged master, slaying his young disciple with his own hands, then refusing to repent to the end, smashing his own skull in a final escape attempt.
So Yi Jinpyeong lied.
"I'll look into it."
"...Thanks."
No Gae raised his one remaining hand. It reached in a completely wrong direction from where Jinpyeong sat. His sight was gone. Death was at hand. Silently, Jinpyeong grasped the wrinkled, cold, stiff hand.
Jingang and Jinun, now recovered, approached cautiously. Four youths watched over one old man's final moments. No Gae had saved them with his life—past rescuing future, as he'd said.
Sensing them, No Gae glanced around.
"Saw your brothers clear as day. Fine lads, all of you."
Jingang, watching quietly, placed his hand over Jinpyeong's on No Gae's. Jinun did the same. Feeling the three brothers' hands, No Gae smiled faintly. Seeing it, Jinun spoke in a voice thick with tears.
"Elder, you can't just flop over like this. Untie those belts—let's see who can pack away more grub!"
"Well now. You're as hopeless as the youngest. Can't you see the hole in my gut? Who you mocking?!"
No Gae barked playfully, and Jinun hiccuped. Laughter erupted from those gathered for the old beggar's end.
Putting aside the jest, No Gae grew solemn again.
"Anyway, I meant every word. Most folks today never saw it, but I caught a glimpse of Yi Gajang as my master described. If he'd seen you lot, how happy he'd be!"
He panted after speaking. Jinpyeong chided him gently.
"Quit with the nonsense. Who rejoices at another's family thriving?"
"My master did. Revered Yi Gajang more than anyone, felt guilt too. And what 'other'? Your family's arts advanced all of Central Plains martial arts bit by bit... We're all descendants of the world's greatest, Yi Gyeol, aren't we?"
The whole Central Plains his heirs? Jinpyeong was speechless at the stretch. But it hid a plea: don't ignore his sect—or all murim—amid the Demonic Cult threat.
Silence from Jinpyeong drew a bitter smile from No Gae.
"I know. No amount of nonsense erases what we did to your house. No need to forgive us. Just promise one thing."
"What now? Already promised one wish earlier."
"Look at this stingy bastard. Man's on his deathbed—can't you just say yes?"
"Yes, yes. Out with it."
No Gae gripped Jinpyeong's hand tightly.
"Never lose. To that demon."
"Boring request. That even count as one?"
"Not boring. Never."
"......"
"This old No Gae honed his arts a lifetime. Never compared openly, but I knew I wouldn't lose to anyone in the Central Plains. But facing that monster today, clashing qi... all illusion. Know how crushed I was? How bad I wanted to run? You can't imagine."
Jinpyeong hadn't noticed. No Gae had shown no sign.
More steadfast than any Gangbang master from his past life, fighting nobly.
"But you were different. Fell over and over, yet sprang back charging. Like you never knew surrender. Like the writhing demonic qi held no fear. And more—each time you rose, stronger. Thanks to you, I found courage, hope, gave everything—more—to the end. Even if it ended like this..."
The old man's voice faded. The group leaned in to hear.
"Anyway, I realized: if anyone's stopping that demon, like a century ago—only Yi Gajang in the Central Plains. So never, never lose."
The old beggar gripped hard. Dying strength made Jinpyeong's hand ache.
"My friend, worry not. I've never lost once, nor will I. To anyone."
Jinpyeong replied calmly, firmly. Relieved, No Gae bared yellow teeth in a grin.
"Yi Gajang. You qualify. To be called greatest under heaven. Masters of the Central Plains..."
Suddenly, No Gae's face brightened. His lightless eyes blinked rapidly.
"Oh! Look. The damned darkness finally lifts. What a long night..."
The three brothers looked up. Night hadn't ended; the world remained shrouded. Only No Gae's sky might be dawning.
Turning back, they realized his breath had stopped. Slowly, Jinpyeong reached out, closing the eyes of his old comrade-in-arms.