Return in Glory (3)
After emerging from Cheon Cave, the Tae-eul Gate disciples raced eastward. Right after the incident, the Jongnam sect disciples gave chase.
The five fleeing figures had stirred up trouble in Cheon Cave and bolted like fugitives. Most of Jongnam's men assumed these culprits were the ones who'd created the third entrance—and in the worst case, they might possess the Oryeong Seonhwa Yu. The Jongnam pursuers thrilled at the thought of interrogating and torturing them to uncover how they'd obtained it and why they'd sabotaged Jongnam's plans.
But even with their Galaxy Swimming Steps, a supreme lightness skill of the jianghu, the distance to the suspects refused to close.
"What the hell kind of... lightness skill is that...?"
"Heh, a lightness skill like that exists?"
Far from narrowing, the gap kept widening. Normally, lightness skills in mountainous terrain slowed due to trees and jagged rocks, but these bastards moved as if sprinting across flat plains—no drop in speed whatsoever.
The Galaxy Swimming Steps should never lag behind in velocity, yet as they crossed forests and scaled cliffs, the distance stretched further. By the time Jongnam crested two mountains, they had no choice but to lose the trail.
Word that Jongnam had ultimately failed to catch the culprits quickly reached the Beggar Clan, who had observed the entire affair.
"Kekeke, those idiots..."
"Did they really think the culprits would just let themselves get caught?"
"This is why dimwits can't cut it."
The Beggar Clan, having anticipated this outcome, finally mobilized. After all, the Oryeong Seonhwa Yu Jongnam failed to claim was no longer theirs—which meant it could become the Beggar Clan's without issue.
But they couldn't afford complacency.
"Those bastards outran the Galaxy Swimming Steps. Stay sharp!"
The Quickstep Division Chief's order drew snorts from the Beggar Clan disciples.
"Noobs who can't even master basic lightness skills won't squeeze out their full potential, no matter the technique."
"If we nab 'em this time, does that mean we outdid the Galaxy Swimming Steps?"
Dubbed the Beggar Clan's "Lightning Squad," the Quickstep Division specialized in delivering urgent intel across the land faster than anyone. Formed to mitigate risks of message pigeons or hawks getting lost, they boasted unmatched endurance in long-distance pursuits over any sect or escort agency.
"Amateurs think speed alone makes a lightness skill supreme. But..."
They weren't just fast—they could sustain top speed longer than anyone.
"Time to school 'em on true lightness skill. Let's go!"
Their pursuit began half a day after Jongnam's. Yet the Beggar Clan disciples picked up the trail before the day ended.
"Heh, they're sensing us now. Speeding up bit by bit?"
"They'll tire soon enough. Pace ourselves, stick doggedly. They'll panic and burn out."
But things rarely go as planned.
"...Why's the gap widening again?"
"Huff... huff... Those bastards... they're pushing... hard?"
At his sweat-drenched comrade's words, the questioner nearly snapped, 'Pushing hard? Aren't you the one collapsing?'—but swallowed it. Fighting now would ruin everything.
"Half a day in already! They're due for a break. We'll tail at a distance, rest when they do."
But...
"Hah... hah... Aren't they... resting...?"
"Beats me, shit...!"
The culprits didn't stop. A full day without sleep into the second, and still sprinting.
Problems arose first on the Beggar Clan's side.
"Ch-Chief... the gap's widening."
"What nonsense! We're holding steady!"
"No, not them... us."
Even the fastest, most enduring of the Beggar Clan had varying skill levels. The weaker ones started lagging.
"...Damn those fuckers. How much internal energy do they have...?"
Sustained lightness skills guzzled inner energy over time. Without circulating qi mid-run, limited reserves couldn't fuel nonstop use.
But these mad culprits—what the hell?
"What now, Chief?"
"...Split the squad in half. Have 'em circulate qi, then rotate."
"Tell 'em to nap too?"
"You lunatic...! Why not tell 'em to bathe while at it?!"
"S-Sorry!"
"Contact the branch too. They're heading east—deploy beggars ahead."
"Who to send?"
"Fuck! You wanna save the pigeons for drinks later?!?!"
"S-Sorry!"
As the disciple flinched back, the chief gnashed his teeth. Falling behind galled him, but it revealed something.
That inner energy volume rules out third-rate sects. Trace their path, we'll ID the sect.
...Even if wrong.
# Day four.
The chief's head spun, vision inverting from exhaustion. Inner energy tapped out, no sleep recovery in sight.
"Hah... hah... hah..."
His dire state rippled; others' forms slackened.
"Ch-Chief, you okay?"
His parched lips parted to eye his subordinate—gaze like rotten fish eyes.
"Br-Branch... any word...?"
"N-None yet..."
Rotation failed as culprits accelerated. Laggards couldn't regroup; pursuers ran nonstop.
"Pigeons... not arrived?"
Three dispatched since the first. Success meant blockers or relief by now.
No response meant failure. Coincidence for all three? The chief halted such thoughts—no energy left for doubts.
"Ch-Chief, rest a bit? You're pushing too—"
A metallic scrape escaped his lips despite the plea.
"Send... a disciple... for contact..."
Thud. His feet tangled; he tumbled.
"Ch-Chief!"
The squad halted as if on cue.
"Keep... going..."
Squeezing final strength, he blacked out.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Yet none moved to obey his last order. Eyes darted warily.
"What'd the chief say at the end? Voice too low."
"...Something like give up, can't catch 'em."
"Right! Ask the guy closest—he heard best."
The reporting disciple, met with sharp glares, yelped and bellowed.
"Ch-Chief! What should we do?! Fainting without orders leaves us clueless... Chief!"
His cry softened the squad's stares. Who wanted agony for untouchable Oryeong Seonhwa Yu anyway?
Nearby, Haomen's Xi'an branch Black Spot chief Ho Gyeak watched in awe.
"Heh heh, does the Young Master truly see the future? Knew they'd quit right here."
Fake beggars dressing clean irked him. Now genuine ragamuffins post-chase? Refreshing.
Bragged about selling maps—serves 'em right.
Annoyed those mocking Xi'an kids weren't true beggars, but whatever. Flattening the Beggar Clan's nose mattered.
Then.
"Chief, head back?"
"Huh? Back?!"
"Wh-Why?"
"You can tear yourself from this spectacle?"
He pulled a small gourd from his bosom.
"Great poets spring from great scenes, no? Who knows—you might have talent."
The hawk-stroking disciple grinned at his words.
"Shall I prep drinks? Got fresh game from the hawk yesterday."
"Heh heh! Beggar Clan courtesy delights eyes and palate."
Ho Gyeak felt decade-old heartburn vanish.
# Five days nonstop from Jutang Mountain. Haomen relayed no more pursuit.
"Finally, time to rest."
At my words, my gasping juniors collapsed without question, out cold.
"Uwaaa! Thought I was dead..."
"Gotta... see Soso..."
Even constant circulation couldn't erase fatigue buildup. Ragged breaths slowed; oblivious to surroundings, they slept.
They'd hit breaking points repeatedly yet never quit—commendable.
That grit tugged bittersweetly.
"Tch, at least circulate qi properly before crashing."
Probably... their lives ahead would be endless mad sprints.
Born without, they must swim upstream to reach desires.
Can't tell 'em to slack—stopping repeats past-life fates.
Gazing at living juniors before me, throat tightened—then.
"Mm..."
Saryeon scratched her tangled hair across her face, itchy in sleep. Awful habit.
I chuckled, reaching to tidy it—but froze.
Turning...
"..."
The gold-silver-bronze trio looked worse. Sweat-soaked faces rivaled Beggar Clan filth.
No need dumping them dirty on floors yet.
"...Gotta clean up first. Sect elders would faint."
I recalled inns and taverns en route to Tae-eul Gate. Reward their toil properly.
But.
"What're you saying?!"
Awakened Saryeon, still ragamuffin, glared fiercely.
"The world's on edge over Oryeong Seonhwa Yu. Detour to an inn?!"
Drool-crusted, eye-booger-ridden—not human. Yet gold-silver-bronze nodded too.
"I oppose too, senior brother. If we bump folks and spark another chase... ugh..."
"Me too! Better camp hidden in mountains, avoid eyes."
Well... fair points. Desperately, I added,
"Look at yourselves... this ain't human..."
"What's wrong? Less attention—perfect."
Dead serious?
"...Draws more eyes."
"Anyway, I veto. Till Tae-eul Gate, no encounters."
Saryeon clutched imaginary treasure, resolute— like a beggar guarding begged bowl... ahem.
Tch... whatever.
Fine, what's glory in finery? Bearing truer gold.
"Master Jang! Master Jang!"
Wang Soso's call halted Jang Dowon mid-pipe fill.
"What? Iron coins out again?"
After forging identical iron coins for her coin-tossing dark arts—sparking fury at her recklessness—she haunted his forge daily.
"C'mon, Master. I track my coins now."
"...Good on ya."
"Heard the news?"
"What?"
Lighting his pipe indifferently, Jang Dowon paused at her tale.
"Brother Jin's coming back!"
"Brother Jin... Jin Sowoon?"
"Yes! Worried he'd skip break too—but he's coming!"
"...Hmph. Whatever."
Despite gruff words, fiddling pipe betrayed him; Soso rolled eyes.
"Master Jang too! You waited daily."
"Only 'cause that punk sends absurd materials—drives me mad!"
"Anyway, arriving Daecheon Merchant Group tonight. Tae-eul folks prepping welcome. You'll come, right?"
"Hmph! No greeting for some pretty boy. He'll show if needed."
Men and their dishonesty.
Soso stood briskly.
"Hoho! You will. Sending new clothes! Wear 'em."
"Clothes?"
"Brother Jin and seniors returning in glory. We match the vibe."
"Such a hassle..."
"See ya later!"
Her sunny dash drew Jang Dowon's chuckle. Wang's sole heiress, feared spoiled—yet slyly endearing.
"Born that way, or Tae-eul changes 'em...?"
Half-year at Tae-eul; felt at home, outsider pangs rare.
One face surfaced atop.
"Reason he cherishes sect, huh."
Puffing long, Jang Dowon eyed forge wall. Sunlit window gleamed crimson-black blade.
Crafted painstakingly from Jin Sowoon's bizarre materials and impossible specs—not mere weapon, but divine artifact.
"Cheokgwanggeom. Finally meeting your master."
Half-regret, half-joy, he tsked fondly.
Hong Moon-gi fidgeted stiffly, formal robes chafing.
Wang Geumsan beamed.
"Sect Leader Hong, robes uncomfortable?"
"Nonsense. Hefei's finest tailors, no?"
Recalling tailor's quip—silk suit cost two top escorts' monthly pay—Hong shook head.
"Sorry. Soso's mischief—wants to show Sowoon sect folk no longer toil."
True; finery versus ragged sect would weigh heavy.
Wang's words eased the silk.
"Soso's deep despite youth. Like her father?"
"Kekekeke! You see it too? Pretty face dooms without brains—worrywart, kekeke!"
Jin Taesan approached, frowning beside booming Wang.
"Sect Leader, why idle chat...? Merchant lord's daughter boasts drag half-days."
"Hey! When did I ever?"
Coughing, Wang reopened.
"Why's Sowoon arriving tonight? Could sleep over tomorrow."
"...Beats me. Up to more nonsense."
Jin Taesan shook head—son unpredictable.
Then, servant burst in panting.
"Merchant Lord... s-someone here."
"Hm? This hour?"
"Yes. Claims Jin Sowoon..."
Servant knew Jin Sowoon as Jin Taesan's son; all awaited him and brothers.
Yet lukewarm reaction puzzled.
Jin Taesan probed.
"What's the issue? Let him in."
"W-Well..."
Hong Moon-gi interjected.
"No. Us greeting returning disciple here? Nah. Let's go out."
"Great idea!"
With Hong leading, Wang agreed; hall folk eagerly headed to gates.
Son, disciple, senior brother—to welcome warmly, steps quickened.
"Sowoon's finally here!"
"About time!"
Sect pride: reclaimed lost arts, conquered impossible for sect.
Longed-for, steps hastened—then.
"Nooooo! I'm Daecheon Merchant Lord's son! Tae-eul's top disciple!!"
Ruffian yell, sweating servants' backs visible.
"J-Just wait... we'll check inside..."
"No!!! What to check?! We sent word— all Tae-eul disciples!"
Youth bickering with servant; four others claiming same beside him.
But appearances... off.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Tae-eul folk speechless, frozen. Wang Geumsan spoke first.
"Just checking... Tae-eul a Beggar Clan lay branch?"
Jin Taesan sighed.
"...Taoist lineage."
Right? Our Taoists? Then...
"...What the hell's that?"
Expected academy elites returning glorious—filthier than beggars storming Daecheon gates.
"S-Some circumstance...?"
"No way! Robbed? Academy students?"
And then.
"Dad! It's me—your proud son Jin Sowoon!"
Sweat-masked face, sole gleaming eyes. Jin Taesan yearned to disown more fiercely than ever—the mad-eyed lunatic, no, his son.