Self-Introduction (2)
Yi Jinpyeong's resounding shout echoed through the air. A brief silence fell, only to be shattered moments later by a booming Puhahaha! from someone in the crowd. The laughter spread in waves, growing louder and louder, rippling outward in all directions.
This was a gathering where the leaders of over a hundred factions around Dongjeong Lake had assembled—not to mention the elders, protectors, and junior disciples of the Nine Great Beggars Sect. For a greenhorn not even in his twenties to brazenly challenge them all like a declaration of war in such a place was utterly absurd, an unreal spectacle.
Yi Jinpyeong swept his venomous gaze across the assembly. In a calm voice, he continued toward those roaring with laughter.
"Why are you laughing?"
Hahaha!
"A warrior's self-introduction is ultimately about proving the martial prowess one possesses, isn't it?"
Hahaha...
"So come at me, anyone. I'll show you exactly what Yi Gajang is—and who I am."
Ha... hahaha...
The raucous laughter gradually died down. They realized that the voice of this neither tall nor short boy was ringing crystal clear in their ears.
The boy's voice carried to every corner of the Dongbeonhoe's grounds. Only then did the expressions of those present shift, as if they'd finally grasped something.
The rumors swirling around weren't empty talk after all.
His invitation to fight anyone was dead serious.
Yes. Just a few months ago, the boy from Yi Gajang had been tormented by deep-rooted madness. The protagonist of the rumors that had rocked Dongjeong Lake months prior had clearly grown into someone with extraordinary inner strength.
In an instant, the center of the event had shifted. From the far edge of the venue, where moments ago the Yi Gajang boy had been quietly focused on devouring every scrap of food, straight to him.
Surveying the now-silent crowd, he shrugged his shoulders.
"What? Scared? No one's coming at me?"
That was when it happened.
"How utterly ridiculous."
A cold voice cut through. The crowd parted like the sea, and a man strode slowly toward him from the midst.
A middle-aged man in luxurious martial robes embroidered with ornate patterns, his sharp eyes gleaming.
Yi Jinpyeong looked at him and asked, "Oh? First challenger?"
"Challenger? Hmph! Who said anything about challenging you?"
The man snorted derisively.
"Kid. You must not know how the world works. Everyone here—the seniors gathered at this Dongbeonhoe—aren't sitting quietly because they can't fight or show off. Every place has its etiquette and rules to uphold, and there's a strict order to proceedings. Have you forgotten this is Dongbeonhoe? Forgotten that the esteemed elders of the Nine Great Beggars Sect are seated right there? Even Elder No gave you a chance to introduce yourself, but he wouldn't have wanted you running wild like some feral beast."
The man glanced toward No Gae, his eyes expectant, hoping for agreement.
But No Gae's reaction was the complete opposite of what he'd anticipated. Instead, the old beggar grinned widely and shook his head vigorously side to side.
"Nah? Full of youthful vigor—it's great! What's the problem?"
"...!"
"And why would this body ever pass up a good fight to watch? Watching fights is the most fun thing in the world!"
Wahaha!
The cheers and laughter erupted even louder than at Yi Jinpyeong's sudden declaration.
In truth, No Gae was spot on. Why would any martial artist ever refuse to watch a fight?
The man grimaced, realizing he'd picked the wrong person to appeal to. No wonder the old beggar was known for his eccentric temper—and had failed to adapt to sect life and wandered off.
Yi Jinpyeong pointed his pipe at him like a baton. "You the organizer? Or just some stuck-up old fart? Who the hell are you?"
"Not Dongbeonhoe. This body is Geum Seok-un of the Cheongun Sibbang..."
"Then why'd you step up? You wanna fight me or not?"
"You little shit! What did you take my words for? Everything has its order and—"
"If you're not fighting, get out of my way. This is my self-introduction time. Why're you butting in?"
Yi Jinpyeong waved his hand dismissively, as if the man blocking his view was nothing but an annoyance.
And that was all it took. Shouts erupted from all sides, hurling insults at the man obstructing Yi Jinpyeong.
"Yeah! If you're not fighting, move it!"
"Since when was Cheongun Sibbang part of Dongbeonhoe? Why're you worried about the program?"
"Then fight him yourself!"
"You scared?"
The man, Geum Seok-un—leader of Cheongun Sibbang, ranked thirtieth among Dongjeong Lake's factions—had tried to restore order, only to draw the full ire of every group present. His face twisted in fury.
He'd stepped forward at the covert request of the Dongbeonhoe leader, but if things kept going like this, it'd only undermine his own position and prestige. To make matters worse, the very Dongbeonhoe leader who'd egged him on was now pretending ignorance, staring off at distant mountains...
Realizing he'd been used, Geum Seok-un gritted his teeth and placed his hand on his sword hilt.
"Hmph. It's not that I refuse to fight... Looks like you need a harsh lesson. I was going to let it slide out of respect for Elder No, but it's too late now. No regrets."
"Look at this rootless fuck. Why keep dragging me into it? I told you it has nothing to do with me."
No Gae's gruff retort. Geum Seok-un's surging rage turned toward Yi Jinpyeong.
"You... you bastard! Draw your sword, now!"
Among all those he'd challenged, Yi Jinpyeong carried no proper weapon on him.
He held up the pipe clutched in one hand.
"Come on in. This is more than enough for me."
Geum Seok-un's face flushed crimson, and the crowd burst into another round of thunderous wahaha laughter.
***
At the center of the venue. A vast table atop a high dais.
The elders and protectors of the Nine Great Beggars Sect sat alongside the Dongbeonhoe leader. Thanks to the significant elevation of their banquet seating over the rest, they had a clear view of the entire grounds—like noble royals looking down upon lowly commoners.
The peaceful banquet had been proceeding smoothly until the sudden appearance of No Gae, the senior Beggar Sect figure, stirred up a commotion. That drew attention to the Yi Gajang boy, who then issued his out-of-nowhere declaration of war against the assembled warriors. The Beggar Sect luminaries chuckled indulgently, exchanging words.
"Heh heh. Right, Yi Gajang was here in Dongjeong Lake."
"Indeed. I'd completely forgotten about them. Not that the family means much these days..."
"This spontaneous turn of events is rather entertaining. Feels raw and alive, doesn't it?"
"Perhaps our meticulous Dongbeonhoe leader had even this scripted out."
"Haha. You think? Leader, was this planned too? Surely you didn't secretly recruit Elder No Gae without telling us?"
Hahaha.
The Dongbeonhoe leader laughed awkwardly.
Things had been fine up until No Gae appeared. Unpredictable as he was, he was still a VIP who elevated the event's prestige. They'd even scrambled servants to fetch dog meat for his tastes—something not on the prepared menu—out of respect for the occasion.
But for such a trivial matter to steal the spotlight? No way the event could proceed properly like this. Banquets had set orders, including introductions where sect representatives would approach the Beggar Sect elders one by one to share drinks and greetings.
And sure enough, that damn old beggar—and now this Yi Gajang punk—were sucking all attention and disrupting the flow...
With the crowd hooked, he couldn't douse their interest himself as host. So he'd sent a covert transmission to Geum Seok-un of Cheongun Sibbang to intervene.
Outwardly a rival to Dongbeonhoe, but in truth propped up by his secret backing...
Yet the situation refused to follow his script. It devolved into a standoff between Geum Seok-un and the Yi Gajang kid, and the Beggar Sect elders—now fully intrigued—even turned in their seats for a better look. Some shamelessly lifted their rears to peer closer.
"Oh? Elder No has no intention of stopping this?"
"All the better. Curious to see what level Yi Gajang's descendants have reached these days?"
"Kekeke. What's to expect? Hasn't time proven it already?"
"Still, that shout laced with inner strength just now..."
"Indeed. Let's see it."
Far off, Geum Seok-un shot him a glance amid the standoff with the kid. Is this right? No plans to stop it?
The Dongbeonhoe leader turned away, gazing at distant mountains.
***
Yi Jinpyeong glanced at his brothers.
"Brothers. Doesn't look like anyone's planning to stop me?"
Yi Jingang replied, "Little brother. Wasn't this your plan from the start?"
"Ahem. That's a misunderstanding."
Yi Jinun added, "Jinpyeong. When have you ever listened to us?"
"Hmm. Now that's a huge misunderstanding."
The old beggar—No Gae—watched him with an intrigued expression alongside his disciple, the Beggar Sect elder.
No one intended to intervene, confirmed.
Yi Jinpyeong slowly swung his pipe and nodded.
Anticipation swelled among the crowd. Though they'd jeered and mocked him with the mob's momentum, everyone active around Dongjeong Lake knew Geum Seok-un of Cheongun Sibbang was no pushover.
Just what skills would the Yi Gajang third young master—the one endorsed by No Gae—display?
Geum Seok-un, wearing an incredulous scowl, let out a ha ha laugh toward the sky before lunging at Yi Jinpyeong without warning.
The movement was shockingly swift and unexpected. A silver sword gleam flashed, slicing toward Yi Jinpyeong's body in an instant.
Yi Jinpyeong didn't flinch.
Didn't dodge.
No one even tried to stop it this time.
Toward the charging foe, he simply swept his pipe down from above in a single stroke.
A simple move. But the result...
Clang!
Geum Seok-un's sword snapped in two, and the pipe smashed straight into his forehead.
Kwak!
Geum Seok-un slammed wretchedly into the ground.
"Gangju-nim!!!"
His attendants rushed over in panic to check on him. But Geum Seok-un only twitched his limbs spasmodically, offering no response.
A simple, overwhelming victory.
Silence blanketed the area.
Even those on the distant dais—the self-important Beggar Sect folk—had all shot to their feet.
Yi Jinpyeong grinned.
"Next challenger. Step up."