Chapter 27

27.

Say Something That Makes Sense

Cha Seong-tae approached with a pale face, having witnessed an enormous amount of wealth entering the Plum Blossom Brothel.

"What is all this money? Where did you get it? Did you learn to steal too?"

"It's funds that Geumbong Kakju of the Black Cat Clan embezzled. Some of it is construction funds for Martial Arts Clans like the inn."

"You brought the Black Cat Clan's money here?"

Cha Seong-tae wore a dumbfounded expression.

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"It's my heart. The Shop Assistant's heart, the Low Filth Sect Leader's heart, the Thief's heart."

"I understand the thief's mentality well enough, but what if the Black Cat Clan comes rushing in? Those guys are the ones who take money, not the ones who get robbed. They're the ones who beat up thieves."

"I'm pretty good at hitting people too, so wouldn't it be alright?"

"Haa..."

I had killed The Jo Brothers, the remnants of the Black Fan Stronghold, and Geumbong Kakju so far, but I had never used my full power.

Moreover, I knew that now was a time when the Black Cat Clan Leader couldn't afford to pay attention to Ilyang Prefecture. He probably wouldn't even have enough time to train each day.

However, if I explained all of this in detail, the atmosphere would probably become even stranger, so I needed to gloss over it appropriately.

"If the Black Cat Clan invades, I'll negotiate with the Black Cat Clan Leader."

"Negotiate, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that's good."

"Or I can beat up the Black Cat Clan Leader. Or I can harass and torture the Black Cat Clan Leader. Or I can make the Black Cat Clan Leader my subordinate."

"Subordinate, that's good. Torture? That's a great idea. I was worried for nothing."

"Or I can kill him. I have plenty of methods."

While those around us who were listening intently all sighed and avoided my gaze, Cha Seong-tae muttered with a blank expression.

"I'd feel reassured if you'd just say something that makes sense. Haa..."

I looked at Cha Seong-tae and replied curtly.

"It will."

Being met with suspicion was a familiar experience, but there was also a need to reassure people.

"Good. It seems the poor souls are full of worries today. I understand. Tell the leaders of the Low Filth Sect to gather in the Purple Glow Inn's open space for a moment. I need to ease their worries."

"Who are the leaders? I still don't know exactly."

In fact, later on, I probably wouldn't know who was a member of the Low Filth Sect either, just like Cha Seong-tae. I would be going around and enlisting almost everyone in the lower classes. The Low Filth Sect was originally a group of working people. So, in a way, it was also a Labor Sect.

There is no high or low in labor.

But the Martial World had many distinctions of high and low, and they took it for granted.

That's why the majority of the Martial World was my enemy.

"First, Jang Deuk-su of the Shop Gate."

"Yes? Deuk-su hyung?"

"Are you looking down on Deuk-su hyung?"

"Ah, it's not that. His Chicken Head Noodles are really delicious."

"Just bring Geum Cheolyong, the Iron Squad Leader, and Yeon Ja-seong of the Construction Sect."

"Um, what about the person in charge of the procession from earlier?"

"Leave him alone. We need to watch him more."

"Understood."

We lit a bonfire in the open space of the Purple Glow Inn, where construction was underway, and the Sub-Gate Lords and I sat around it.

Geum Cheolyong said.

"Our Gate Lord says he has something to say."

"Yes."

Because Geum Cheolyong was present, I began to speak in polite language.

"I will now state the code of conduct for the Low Filth Sect. Please excuse me if my words are disorganized. It's not that I want to deliver fancy words, but I hope you can all empathize with my inner thoughts."

"Speak comfortably."

I opened my mouth, watching the firewood crackle and burn.

"From now on, all matters that occur within the Low Filth Sect are my fault first and foremost. If a problem arises, say that the Low Filth Sect Leader committed it. If someone comes looking for the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Low Filth Sect Leader, just tell them where I am. If someone questions something, say that it is something only the Low Filth Sect Leader knows. This is the first code of conduct for the Low Filth Sect."

In summary.

It's my fault.

I finished speaking and looked at the Sub-Gate Lords for a moment. As expected, the Sub-Gate Lords looked at each other with expressions that seemed to say, 'What the hell is this?'

The elder, Geum Cheolyong, asked again to confirm.

"Everything is the Gate Lord's fault?"

"That's right."

Geum Cheolyong tilted his head and said.

"How can this be called the code of conduct for an organization? Explain further."

"Alright. I need to explain further. I have no talent for Chicken Head Noodles, so I set my sights on the Martial World."

"Really?"

"Let's move on for now. But Geum ajusshi, who runs the Iron Squad, and Deuk-su hyung, who runs the Chunyang Inn, probably have no aspirations in the Martial World. Not now, and not in the future either. Isn't that right?"

The two nodded.

"What aspirations would we have in the Martial World?"

"That's impossible."

I looked at Yeon Ja-seong and Cha Seong-tae and said.

"These two will probably be the same."

Cha Seong-tae thought to himself, 'That's not me?' but he didn't open his mouth because of the atmosphere.

"And most of the Low Filth Sect will be like that. But I am different. I don't need to give specific examples, but countless inn Shop Assistants, Escort Warriors or Coachmans, people who make Weaponry, food, and daily necessities, and various merchants have died at the hands of Martial World people. And it's a world where you can't even argue about the injustice. Probably, it will continue to be like that in the future. Through this Low Filth Sect, I want to make sure that one person, two people, three people... die less if possible. And I intend to argue about the deaths of those who died unjustly, no matter who the other party is."

When I was active as Gwangma, countless innocent people died whenever the Demonic Sect and the Murim Alliance, Heukdo and Baekdo clashed, as if a war had broken out. There were many cases where people died with absolutely no fault of their own.

I have no sympathy whatsoever for the crazy monkey bastards who have learned Martial arts and die fighting each other.

But I cannot tolerate a Shop Assistant who mindlessly carries alcohol and snacks being beaten to death for no reason.

Geum Cheolyong asked.

"I understand a little, but what does that have to do with having aspirations in the Martial World?"

Geum Cheolyong still seemed confused by my words.

I continued to speak.

"It's related. If those who are injured or dead are members of the Low Filth Sect, I will find out. If they are killed by Heukdo, I will kill that Heukdo. If Baekdo killed them, I will kill them before going to the Murim Alliance to argue about what's right and wrong. I will become the protector of those who work normally. However..."

I looked around at the people once.

"I know that protecting the weak itself is inevitably bound to clash with the existing vested interests. The Low Filth Sect Leader can gain justification first, no matter who he fights. That's because I am the advocate for the weak."

In my past life, I had no justification, so I easily earned the title of Gwangma.

Thanks to that, I was criticized too easily, and I was pointed at too easily.

No matter what I did, I was called a madman, and I even took on crimes that I didn't commit.

In fact, there were many times when I didn't bother to explain because it was too annoying.

With my temperament added to that, I became a public enemy of the Martial World in the shortest amount of time.

I don't want to do that now.

Who would know the feeling of having to run away from the Murim Alliance while training to kill the Demonic Sect Cult Leader?

The situation is different now.

If I don't properly utilize this rare opportunity, I'm not a madman, but a fool.

Yeon Ja-seong replied first.

"I understand."

Cha Seong-tae raised his hand and then opened his mouth.

"What I don't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠understand a little is... wouldn't all of these codes of conduct only have meaning if the Gate Lord's skills are incredibly strong? Let's say the Black Cat Clan invades tomorrow. According to the code of conduct, we have to snitch that the Gate Lord committed this. No, let's say it's not the Black Cat Clan. How are you going to handle the countless sects and experts in the future?"

"That's a valid point."

I looked around at those who were holding their breath and waiting for my words, and then I said something that was hard for them to believe.

"It would be resolved if I become The Greatest Under Heaven in the future."

"......"

In the moment of suffocating silence...

Cha Seong-tae quickly brought his hand to his mouth, but he failed to stop the "Pfft."

With that as a signal flare, Geum Cheolyong burst into laughter, Jang Deuk-su also laughed while clutching his stomach, and even Yeon Ja-seong was grinning. As if gaining courage, Cha Seong-tae also burst into laughter, and the Sub-Gate Lords made a commotion while laughing uproariously.

"Euhahahahahaha."

"Keuhahahahaha."

"The Greatest Under Heaven... from Ilyang Prefecture..."

"The Shop Assistant bastard... Ah, sorry."

I smiled gently, watching the Sub-Gate Lords laugh.

In fact, it was funny to me too.

The Purple Glow Inn's Shop Assistant being The Greatest Under Heaven...

In the end, I also burst into laughter with the Sub-Gate Lords.

"Hahahaha..."

I laughed for a long time, then became serious with Cha Seong-tae.

"You, laugh a little less. You want to die. The crazy bastard even has tears ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in his eyes."

"Yes."

Geum Cheolyong said as if he felt good just hearing my words.

"You're still young, so if you work hard every day, you might become a famous expert in the Martial World in a few decades. A man should have great ambitions. I will support our Gate Lord."

Yeon Ja-seong said with innocent eyes, as if he didn't have any particular doubts.

"I will support you too. Please become The Greatest Under Heaven. I will be a supporter of the Gate Lord while also being a member of the Low Filth Sect."

Yeon Ja-seong's ambition was also to be The Greatest Under Heaven in the field of construction, so his determination to support this mindset was firm.

My gaze turned to Jang Deuk-su, who hadn't said a word.

Jang Deuk-su's feelings were like this.

'The Greatest Under Heaven isn't child's play.'

I watched Jang Deuk-su's complicated expression and said.

"Deuk-su hyung thinks it's impossible."

Jang Deuk-su was an honest man, so he nodded and replied.

"Wouldn't it be?"

"In what way?"

"There are countless sects, experts, and forces in the Martial World, and there are so many geniuses who are excellent at Martial arts that you can't even count them, and most of them start training in Martial arts before they even take their first steps, right?"

"That's usually the case."

Jang Deuk-su expressed the words he had picked up from somewhere like this.

"Even so, the The Greatest Under Heaven of the era is said to be sent from the heavens."

That's right.

The Greatest Under Heaven is a person sent from the heavens.

And, the man marked by a mysterious being from the heavens is me.

"That is me."

In fact, what's more important than the result is the mindset.

"Ultimately, whether you become The Greatest Under Heaven or not is not that important. What's important is how hard you work while living for it. A man who doesn't set a goal and dedicate himself to it is not a man. Shop Assistant Lee Jaha will dedicate himself to the goal of becoming The Greatest Under Heaven, but what will those of you here live for..."

I pointed at the Sub-Gate Lords with my finger and said.

"Think seriously."

Suddenly, at this point, I wondered if I was really the man called Gwangma in my past life.

But, it's true.

I had no plan in my past life, but now I have a plan.

If I take good care of the Low Filth Sect in the future, I will be able to fight against the Murim Alliance and clash with the Demonic Sect. If I become a man who advocates for the weak, there will be no reason to be branded as a public enemy of the Martial World like before.

I need to gain justification...

I can argue about justice with the Baekdo bastards.

I can fight with the Mado monkeys with force.

And I can beat the crazy Heukdo bastards to death or take them as subordinates.

This is the power of justification.

When someone pushes an opinion that is different from the majority of the world onto the world.

If they succeed, they become a revolutionary, and if they fail, they become a madman.

Unlike my past life, I was going to become a successful madman.