283. Night of the Greedy (4)
Inside the squalid den built beneath the Qingming Temple, the Beggars' Sect's Xi'an branch's third sub-division, Jin Sowoon looked around and let out a small sigh of admiration.
"How the hell do you beggar bastards live so damn flashily?"
Samcheol trembled with rage, barely holding it in.
If it weren't for that idiot Oh Sam kneeling beside him with a clueless look on his face, he'd have turned Jin Sowoon into pulp right then and there. Just the pretense of justification would have spared him this humiliation.
"Hey, we got a guest here. You got nothing for him?"
......Hold it in. Hold it together.
Among those who came to the Beggars' Sect to buy information, none arrived empty-handed. They were customers who could pay, but the Beggars' Sect were beggars. Most guests brought their own food and offerings for the beggars, so the sect had no special hospitality like tea prepared for visitors.
But the guest's piercing glare made Samcheol feel like he had to offer something.
"Ahem. Water, perhaps?"
Samcheol forced a smile and tried to play host, but Jin Sowoon let out a long sigh.
"Sigh, what am I even expecting from beggars. Just hurry up and bring the goods."
No, if you knew we were beggars, why even ask in the first place......!
Clenching his fist so hard his nails drew blood, Samcheol signaled another beggar, who soon brought a small box. Samcheol carefully opened it and slid it toward Jin Sowoon.
"Here it is."
The moment Jin Sowoon reached for the box, Samcheol slammed it shut with a thwack.
"......What the hell?"
Jin Sowoon's eyes sharpened instantly. Samcheol glared right back without backing down.
'......This is gonna get ugly.'
Kneeling beside them, Oh Sam was dying under the pressure of their clashing auras.
"Jin Gongja, think carefully. If you take this, any future cooperation with the Beggars' Sect is off the table."
"......What bullshit are you trying to pull?"
"Of course, we have our faults. But this stems from mutual misunderstanding. Without consideration, future cooperation will be difficult."
"A beggar's using fancy words. Say it simply."
At Jin Sowoon's sarcasm, a vein bulged on Samcheol's forehead, but he quickly regained his composure.
"Even if this ends here, the Beggars' Sect has many eyes. We'll remember this incident."
Even if they were at fault—no, especially because they were—they had to speak boldly. They couldn't pay a price every time they screwed up. They couldn't afford to lose momentum.
But Jin Sowoon just snorted.
"You threatening me?"
"I'm saying think it over again. For both our sakes."
No matter how crazy the guy was, they couldn't yield here. Especially since he was crazy—who knew what he'd demand later? The first button had to be fastened right......!
Ignoring Samcheol's desperate plea, Jin Sowoon grumbled.
"You beggars are so damn shameless. You screw up and then threaten the other side."
"That's the law of the jianghu."
The strong don't suffer losses. The weak always do. That's why every sect desperately strives to become strong.
In that sense, Samcheol pointed out that between Tae-eul Gate and the Beggars' Sect, the latter was the stronger force, claiming superiority.
"I know. I know it damn well."
So some common sense does get through. Samcheol inwardly sighed in relief.
"What'll it be? You really taking it?"
It must feel unfair as hell to Jin Sowoon right now, but if Tae-eul Gate ever needed the Beggars' Sect's help in the future, they had to show retreat here. Even the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families yielded a step to the Beggars' Sect. It benefited their own sects later.
But.
"Got it, then......"
"......?"
A smug grin spread across Jin Sowoon's face.
"Move your hand. This is mine now."
"......"
Samcheol's jaw dropped.
'Risking his sect's future over a single map?'
Of course, if it was an extraordinary map, it might be worth it. But this was just something the Beggars' Sect had made. There might be spirit herbs, but the odds were low. And even if there weren't, they couldn't be held accountable.
'More than that, they can't even enter the Heavenly Cave in the first place.'
Betting his sect's future on a scrap of paper like that. He'd heard the Black Flame Dragon was crazy, but he never imagined this level of recklessness.
As Samcheol stared in shock, Jin Sowoon tapped the box.
"Information groups have to see the big picture. Spot distant futures and possibilities, invest when the opponent's power is small. Prioritize profit over pride, focus on emerging powers rather than protecting entrenched ones. That's the essence of an information network."
The box creaked in his grip.
"Those obsessed with protecting their bloated privileges have lost that essence."
With that, Jin Sowoon snatched the map from the box.
"And an information group that's lost its essence? I don't need it anyway."
"......"
The empty box. Samcheol stared blankly, unable to process Jin Sowoon's words.
Every phrase pierced the Beggars' Sect's current flaws exactly.
A reckless punk who didn't fear heaven? A mindless madman?
'I got it wrong!'
The Black Flame Dragon didn't act on whims. His casual words were steeped in profound strategy.
Oh Sam had started the quarrel, but Jin Sowoon had escalated it. Even his intent to clash directly might have purpose. Goosebumps rose all over Samcheol's body.
'And he's barely past twenty......'
Jin Sowoon stood, ignoring Samcheol completely, and nudged Oh Sam with his foot.
"Hey, you......"
"Yes."
He stared piercingly into Oh Sam's face.
"I've been wondering since earlier."
Even dazed Samcheol found himself listening intently. What deep question would he—
"If your name's Oh Sam, are you the fifth born or the third?"
Huh? What the—
"Didn't hear me?"
"......Pardon?"
"Fifth or third?"
"Th-third, sir. It's the 'bright' Oh."
"Tch, why name yourself to confuse people."
Smack. He lightly smacked Oh Sam's head and walked out of the den.
What the hell......
Samcheol couldn't wipe the baffled look off his face.
Did he misjudge? Was he just a madman after all......?
He'd always found Jin Sowoon hard to read, but now he was even more baffling.
"Senior Brother, you okay?"
Hong Saryeon's concern broke the silence Jin Sowoon had kept since leaving the den. He tilted his head.
"Huh? About what?"
"The Beggars' Sect. It's not a group you can just make enemies with so easily."
The Beggars' Sect's power lay in countless eyes, ears, and mouths. Their words could turn a hero into a murderer, and without them, navigating the jianghu's complexities was impossible. Even if you crossed the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, never cross the Beggars' Sect—that's what they said.
Tae-eul Gate not bowing to their arrogance felt good deep down, but the consequences worried her.
Especially as Tae-eul Gate expanded into nearby provinces while growing the Great Heaven Merchant Group. Who knew what backlash might come.
Yet her senior brother seemed......
Saryeon's mouth went dry.
"I heard the Beggars' Sect is essential for jianghu affairs. From big problems to small, nothing gets solved without them. Is this really okay......?"
Tae-eul Gate had far to go. No, Jin Sowoon himself had mountains to climb.
For him to soar high, the Beggars' Sect might prove more vital than Tae-eul Gate itself.
But the one who should worry about his future was utterly nonchalant.
"Don't worry. Tae-eul Gate'll be fine without those beggar bastards."
"No, that's not—"
Saryeon glanced at Eunho. If anyone understood the Beggars' Sect's importance, it was the sharp Eunho.
"Eunho. Shouldn't you talk him out of it?"
"No need to worry."
"Huh?"
Eunho pointed at Jin Sowoon, who was now distracted window-shopping.
"Senior Brother's crazy, but he doesn't act without prep."
Even the sect's sharpest mind, Eunho, was relaxed, so Saryeon swallowed her growing doubts.
"Ooh, I wanna try that too!"
"......"
......Worrying about Senior Brother might just be a loss for her.
"Let's find a place to stay first, Senior Brother."
Xi'an's streets teemed with people, even as the sun set.
Inns were full, people leaving disappointed, others stamping their feet in frustration without rooms.
This was where local beggars' info shone—real-time updates on full inns and brothels, for a price.
But word of the den incident must have spread; beggars hawking avoided Jin Sowoon's group, just glaring from afar.
Saryeon's worries resurfaced.
"Sigh...... This is what I was afraid of."
But Jin Sowoon and the gold-silver-bronze brothers were all utterly relaxed. As frustration built—
"Senior Sister."
Eunho grinned and patted her shoulder.
"Take a look."
"At what?"
Eunho nodded toward Jin Sowoon.
In that time, he'd pulled a black token the size of two fingers from his bosom and hung it on his sword sheath.
And soon enough.
"Excuse me."
A waiter approached the group.
"Are you the great hero Jin Sowoon?"
"Yeah."
"Your lodgings are ready. I'll guide you."
"Thanks."
"No trouble at all."
Saryeon was dumbfounded by the sudden turn.
Xi'an wasn't a frequent stop, yet a waiter appeared like he'd been waiting. And he led them not just to any inn, but a large, popular one packed to the brim.
"This way."
But the waiter bypassed the main inn, guiding them to the back.
There, a detached pavilion with a small pond awaited.
"Shall I prepare a meal first? Or bathwater?"
"Everyone seems hungry, so food first?"
"Understood."
The waiter bowed deeply and left.
Saryeon couldn't process it.
"What the hell is going on?"
Unlike her bewilderment, Eunho smiled warmly.
"Senior Brother's tight with the Haomen."
"Tight?"
"Yeah. As a 'guest'."
Saryeon's jaw dropped.
A Haomen 'guest'? Wait, that even existed......? And Senior Brother qualified?
'What the hell kind of guy is he?'
As Saryeon pondered her enigmatic senior brother, excited Eunho approached Jin Sowoon.
"Senior Brother, you could've taken a small room, but went for the pavilion. Must be to fully enjoy the vacation vibe, right?"
"Huh?"
Jin Sowoon paused unpacking his bundle and looked at Eunho.
"What're you on about?"
"Huh? Then why the pavilion......?"
"Hyah!"
Before answering, Jin Sowoon pulled out iron rings from his bundle.
No, why bring those out here......?
"Training in a guest room annoys others."
"......"
"Pavilion? Noise won't matter."
He'd said he'd only train on the way to Xi'an!
Lied again!
Grievances erupted like a volcano, but fearing more rings, the four clamped their mouths shut.
Leaving his pathetic juniors sprawled out, declaring they couldn't move, Jin Sowoon stepped into Xi'an's streets. Despite the fallen sun, crowds filled the way.
'More than recorded.'
More people than the Murim Alliance's Xi'an branch report from his past life.
Of course, useless details weren't worth recording.
Those gathered, sniffing the scent of the fourth Five Spirits' Flower Oil in sixty years.
Xi'an brimmed with tension as they vied for it.
'Especially a lot.'
Zhongnan Sect disciples, who shouldn't appear in winter, were numerous. They strutted with lay disciples of secular sects, as if proclaiming ownership of Shaanxi.
Then.
"What?! What did you just say?!"
A loud shout erupted from the street.
Passersby turned, some with excited anticipation of a fight.
"Having disciples patrol all night is pointless stamina drain. Better rest and guard near the Heavenly Cave......"
Slap— A sharp sound, and the protester's head snapped aside.
"Insolent fool."
The striker and victim wore different uniforms, yet the victim offered no resistance. The hierarchy was clear.
"How dare a mere layman open his mouth so boldly?!"
"......"
"Just do as you're told! Don't rack that worthless brain!"
Tch, figures.
They were masters at drawing lines.
The old man who'd slapped spun away, his group glancing at the victim before following.
But.
'Why's he look familiar?'
Staring at the victim's profile, their eyes met as he turned.
"Hm?"
It was none other than Cheol Sunjik.
"Tch."
I started to wave but quickly lowered my hand.
I hadn't known Zhongnan's influence over Jukhyeonbang ran that deep—it was shocking.
The Cheol Sunjik I knew wouldn't fully accept such treatment.
'But he has no choice.'
Acting on his moods would harm others. Loving his sect above all, he'd endure.
I turned away, pretending not to see, and continued walking, memorizing faces to watch in the Heavenly Cave.
Then.
"Hm?"
Cheol Sunjik, whom I'd passed, now stood before me again.
"......"
Not in the mood for chit-chat after that scene, I tried to pass.
Cheol Sunjik spoke lowly.
"Representative Jin."
"Back to 'Representative Jin' now?"
I feigned casual first-meeting ignorance.
"......You saw it, didn't you?"
Tch. Came all this way to ask that?
I answered flatly.
"Didn't see."
"......I didn't even ask what."
Damn, should've skipped that scene.
"What changes if I did?"
Cheol Sunjik's present mirrored my past. That discomfort made me avoid him earlier. His current self dredged up old memories.
Looking down, his clenched fists trembled faintly. Not just from the cold.
"Do I look pitiful? Or ridiculous?"
White breath puffed with each word in the biting winter air. His eyes, icier still, seemed deeper than ever.
I met his gaze briefly and shook my head.
"You look fine."
"......"
Knowing how he'd endured, his mindset—I understood.
"Like someone who almost tripped on a rock."
Cheol Sunjik's eyes wavered sharply.
"Representative Jin, you really......"
After hesitating, he spoke again.
"Here for the Five Spirits' Flower Oil?"
Lying about coming to Xi'an for anything else from Hefei would be silly, so I answered honestly.
"Why else come to Xi'an?"
"Then you'd best turn back."
"......?"
Cheol Sunjik continued calmly.
"The Five Spirits' Flower Oil already has an owner."