Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Chongqing
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The Dengxian House Master replied lightly.
"It's nothing much. The Beggars' Sect in Chongqing is centered around the Clean Clothes Faction."
Clean Clothes Faction. Hong Geolgae racked his memory. He had once heard Ma Jeon-gae talk about the Clean Clothes Faction and the Filthy Clothes Faction.
The Beggars' Sect had two factions.
The Clean Clothes Faction insisted that a beggar's identity was merely the starting point of the Beggars' Sect, and there was no issue with wearing clean clothes and acting like an ordinary sect.
The Filthy Clothes Faction argued that to maintain the identity as a sect of beggars, they must wear filthy clothes and live by begging like ordinary beggars.
Ma Jeon-gae had never said which side was right.
Come to think of it, he might not have even had a choice in the first place. Ma Jeon-gae wasn't the clever type like other people.
Ma Jeon-gae had quietly carried on the traditions of the Filthy Clothes Faction, and he had taught Hong Geolgae the same way of life.
"...I see. Are there many Beggars' Sect members in Chongqing who run shops like you, Dengxian House Master?"
"It's no exaggeration to say that Beggars' Sect members have taken over every tavern along the Yangtze Riverbank. There aren't any mid-tier sects in Chongqing bold enough to challenge the Beggars' Sect. There are some river pirates, but we rarely clash with them."
The Dengxian House Master's words implied one fact.
That the Beggars' Sect had seized control of this massive city called Chongqing with overwhelming force.
It was an absurd notion, yet at the same time, it seemed entirely plausible. The two thoughts filled his mind simultaneously.
Hong Geolgae changed the subject.
"You said the beggars under the bridge aren't Beggars' Sect members. What happened there?"
"They didn't pay the entry fee."
"Entry fee? Do you have to pay money to become a Beggars' Sect member?"
"That's right. But it's not a large sum. Just one tael of silver—enough that anyone diligent can earn it."
One tael of silver. It might not be much to the well-off, but from a beggar's perspective, it was an enormous amount.
Forget coins—even silver was something no one handed over lightly to a beggar.
For beggars who struggled just to hold onto what little they had, let alone earn money—for those who could barely fill their stomachs—demanding they gather a hundred coins to make a tael of silver held what meaning?
Hong Geolgae's voice sharpened.
"Does the Clean Clothes Faction accept everyone who pays up?"
"No, that's not it. It's just the policy of the Red-Faced Old Beggar. The Clean Clothes Faction outside Chongqing is different."
"Red-Faced Old Beggar?"
"He's the Deputy Branch Leader overseeing the central region. The Red-Faced Old Beggar said there's no reason beggars can't work hard. A tael of silver symbolizes moderation, diligence, and ambition, so he won't accept anyone who can't even show that much resolve."
"...Does that even make sense? The Beggars' Sect is supposed to be a sect for beggars."
"There's no reason someone who once rolled in the dirt has to do so forever. In the Beggars' Sect, those who work hard are respected—it's not strange at all. A Three-Knot Elder like you should know that."
Hong Geolgae stared blankly at the Dengxian House Master.
There's no reason beggars can't work hard. It was true. Take Hong Geolgae himself—he had endured the pain and trained in martial arts under the Strange Physician to reach this point.
Yet Hong Geolgae felt an odd sensation. What was this feeling?
The answer was simple. It was alienation.
The Beggars' Sect he had heard about and learned from Ma Jeon-gae, and the one he had thought about and felt while living in Zhuul Village, was worlds apart from Chongqing's Beggars' Sect.
Which one was right, exactly? Or was this even a matter of right and wrong?
The Dengxian House Master shrugged.
"It must be hard to understand. Beggars' Sect members from out of town sometimes get angry when they hear this."
"Hmm."
"Let's set aside the complicated talk and eat first. The kitchen staff aren't busy yet, so I'll have them prepare a table of drinks."
"No, that's fine."
Hong Geolgae waved his hand.
He didn't know if the Dengxian House Master's words were right or wrong, but he wasn't ready to adapt to this new way of life just yet.
The Dengxian House Master didn't press him to stay.
"Understood. Is there anything else you're curious about?"
Now for the real point. Hong Geolgae voiced the question he had been holding in his heart.
"Have you ever heard the name Ma Jeon-gae?"
The Dengxian House Master pondered, lightly scratching his chin. But he didn't seem to recall anything definite.
"Ma Jeon-gae... It rings a bell, but I can't place it exactly. Did he live in Chongqing?"
"Yes. A long time ago."
"How long ago?"
"I'm pretty sure it was about twenty years."
"Then you'd be better off asking someone older than me. These days I run this tavern and keep my ears open, but back then, I wasn't one for gossip."
"...Understood."
Hong Geolgae clasped his hands in a light salute to the Dengxian House Master.
*
There were no particularly old people among those working at the Dengxian House. The people wandering the tavern alley were mostly young, in their prime working years.
Hong Geolgae soon returned under the bridge. It felt more comfortable there than in the tavern alley.
And there, Hong Geolgae spotted a beggar who looked just over fifty.
He wished the man were a bit older, but someone that age might still know about Ma Jeon-gae.
As Hong Geolgae approached the middle-aged beggar, the man reflexively shrank back.
"Wait, I'm not here to hurt you. I just have a question."
"I'm illiterate. I don't know anything to tell you..."
"It's not that. I want to ask if you know someone."
"Someone? Who...?"
"Have you heard of the nickname Ma Jeon-gae? Four knots. A Four-Knot Beggars' Sect member."
The middle-aged beggar thought for a moment, then clapped his hands.
"Ma Jeon-gae! Isn't he about ten or twelve years older than me? Had a cleaner face than most beggars. The brother who was often out in the hemp fields outside that village over there."
"Yes! That's him."
He had luckily found someone who knew Ma Jeon-gae right away.
His previously muddled mind cleared up in an instant.
Hearing the familiar name brought a smile to the middle-aged beggar's face. His tone grew more relaxed too.
"I knew him when I was young. But you're mistaken about something."
"About what?"
"Brother Ma Jeon-gae wasn't a Four-Knot Beggars' Sect member. He was One-Knot."
"What?"
Hong Geolgae's eyes widened.
"No way? I'm sure he had four knots."
"No. One-Knot. It was a long time ago, so maybe my memory's off and he was Two-Knot, but definitely not Three-Knot or higher. To rise to Three-Knot, you need to know martial arts."
Hong Geolgae mumbled evasively.
"As far as I know, Elder Ma Jeon-gae did know martial arts..."
"No. That brother never learned any. He was too slow on the uptake to find a master. Heartbroken, he holed up in the remote hemp fields to kill time. That's how he got the nickname Ma Jeon-gae."
In Hong Geolgae's heart, the vague doubts he had harbored until now began to take solid shape.
A Four-Knot Beggars' Sect member's rank was Protector. They guarded high-ranking figures, be it the Branch Leader or Deputy Branch Leader.
Naturally, to become a Protector, one needed considerable martial prowess.
Yet during the fight with the Ja-yang Twin Killers, Ma Jeon-gae's skill level had been, frankly speaking, nothing special. Even from the perspective of his disciple Hong Geolgae.
Yes. Ma Jeon-gae and Hong Geolgae. They were two worthless master and disciple.
That was why they had been helplessly overwhelmed by the Ja-yang Twin Killers, who weren't even famous experts—barely second-rate at best.
Hong Geolgae's doubts had sharpened even more while learning martial arts from the Strange Physician.
Unlike the Strange Physician, Ma Jeon-gae had never taught him internal arts or footwork.
He had only taught him to swing a staff diligently every day and some vaguely sloppy fist techniques.
Hong Geolgae's expression darkened.
'Master...'
Unaware of Hong Geolgae's inner turmoil, the middle-aged beggar excitedly rattled on.
"Come to think of it, when I was young, there were beggars looking for that brother. They said he stole something valuable and ran off."
He heard even more things he didn't want to hear.
Even among beggars, theft was a grave sin. It might be somewhat forgivable if it was from the rich, but stealing from fellow beggars who starved often was beyond human decency.
This wasn't the situation Hong Geolgae had hoped for.
He had wanted to hear about his master's heroic final moments from someone who knew him. He wanted people who only knew his younger days to remember him fondly.
In exchange, he wanted to hear stories from his master's past that he had never known. To share memories with someone who knew his master.
He thought that might fill the void left by his master, even a little.
Though Hong Geolgae gave no reply, the tactless middle-aged beggar kept babbling on.
"I don't know exactly what Brother Ma Jeon-gae stole and fled with, but Old Dragon Granny downriver would know. She knows every rumor and never forgets. Want to go now?"
"...No, it's fine."
The situation was clear now.
Hong Geolgae fiddled with his waist out of habit. He felt the three-knotted cord.
Suddenly, that cord felt unbearably shameful. A One-Knot Beggar tying three knots—what meaning could it have?
Looking back, Ma Jeon-gae had tied knots in Hong Geolgae's cord without any special reason.
When he was too starved to have strength, he tied the first knot, saying to buck up.
After barely waking from a high fever, he tied the second, saying it was fortunate he survived.
And on his fifteenth birthday, he tied the third, declaring him the Zhuul Village Branch Leader from then on.
It was laughable. Even the Dengxian House Master had only received his second knot recently.
"...Still, Brother Ma Jeon-gae was a good guy! He never lied or hit anyone. Sure, he was a thief, but he never stole my stuff."
Lost in old memories, the middle-aged beggar prattled on with all sorts of stories. Hong Geolgae felt as if the beggars under the bridge were mocking both him and his master. He slowly backed away, distancing himself from the middle-aged beggar and the other beggars.
Hidden by the downpour, the middle-aged beggar's figure soon vanished from sight.
Rumble—
Rain poured as if the sky had a hole in it. Hong Geolgae slumped down beside the swollen Yangtze. Tears flowed endlessly.
He had thought satisfying days would follow in Chongqing.
Because he had become a Three-Knot Elder at a young age. Because he had come to his master's hometown. Because he had come to a place full of other beggars.
But it had all been an illusion.
He wasn't a Three-Knot Elder. No, he couldn't even be recognized as a Beggars' Sect member. He didn't have even the one tael of silver entry fee.
And the master he had thought of as his parents was nothing but a fugitive thief from his hometown.
Suddenly, something surged up from his chest. Hong Geolgae shot to his feet.
"Fuck! Fuuuuck!"
Hong Geolgae spewed curses like a madman. No matter how much he yelled or the rain soaked him, the tightness in his chest didn't ease.
Hong Geolgae tore at the cord tied around his waist. He had cherished the knots until now, but he had no more need for them.
Rumble—
Thunder crashed.
Hong Geolgae gripped the cord in his hand, ready to hurl it far away, but he couldn't bring himself to, and bowed his head deeply.
Instead, Hong Geolgae approached the riverbank. The Yangtze roiled violently, on the verge of flooding.
Sobbing, he plunged his fist clutching the cord into the swollen waters.
Then, slowly, he opened his hand.
The long cord. And the three knots. Floated away on the river current.
Before long, the cord vanished from sight.
Hong Geolgae wept until dawn.