Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Zhongjing
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Dang Mujin spent his days hammering iron in front of the blacksmiths to forge the demon's sword, and his evenings drinking with Hong Geolgae at the taverns.
By the third day of visiting the taverns, crowds would gather just as Dang Mujin and Hong Geolgae stepped into the tavern alley. The most enthusiastic among them were undoubtedly the tavern owners.
"Come to our tavern today!"
"Great hero! We've prepared veal! Qing Tian Lou! Qing Tian Lou!"
"No Bai Ge, Mo Taeju, Jin Namji Sochun! We've got all kinds of rare liquors! Come this way!"
The reason they flocked was simple. Word had spread far and wide that a young eccentric had carved an image of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin on the wall of Dengxian Lou and paid his tab that way.
Seeing lines of customers stretching out to gawk at the Thousand-Armed Guanyin at Dengxian Lou—which had nothing else going for it—the tavern owners had no choice but to flip their lids and charge in.
Thanks to that, Hong Geolgae and Dang Mujin enjoyed rare liquors and expensive dishes every day without spending a single coin.
On the fifth day of starting to frequent the taverns, Dang Mujin gazed out the window from his room at Xin Yue Inn.
The raindrops that had been falling steadily grew even thicker. Thick enough to make him wonder if a hole had opened in the sky.
'At this rate, the taverns are out of the question today.'
Perfect timing. He'd been starting to tire from the nonstop drinking these past few days.
Dang Mujin sprawled out leisurely on the bed.
How much time passed like that? Amid the roar of the heavy rain, a faint human voice called out.
"...Great Hero Hong Geolgae! Great Hero Hong Geolgae—!"
People looking for Dang Mujin showed up at Xin Yue Inn from time to time. Each time, the innkeeper would chase them off with an exasperated look before shooting Dang Mujin a glare.
But this was the first time anyone had come looking for Hong Geolgae. Dang Mujin kicked at Hong Geolgae, who was rolling around on the floor.
"Hey, someone's looking for you."
"Who?"
"Listen. Someone's calling your name."
Hong Geolgae sat up and perked his ears. Sure enough, he heard the cries: Great Hero Hong Geolgae—Great Hero Hong Geolgae—
"I'll go see who it is. You still hitting the taverns tonight?"
"Nah. Taking a break today."
"Got it."
Hong Geolgae sauntered out to the front of the inn.
A familiar beggar stood there in the rain. So Samgu, Little So-seon's father.
So Samgu grabbed Hong Geolgae's hand, drenched to the bone.
"Great hero, I need your help."
"Speak freely. What's the matter?"
"My daughter's gone missing. I was hoping you might be able to help."
"You're talking about So-seon?"
"Yes."
Hong Geolgae pictured her. The little girl's face, grinning toothlessly. The tiny hand offering rain-soaked rice balls.
If she hadn't come by back then, he'd probably still be lying somewhere by the riverbank right now, staring blankly into the rain.
"Maybe she went off begging somewhere?"
"No. She always tells me before going anywhere. And she never strays far on days like this when the rain's so bad."
Suddenly, Hong Geolgae's mind flashed to the swollen waters of the Yangtze.
"Surely she didn't get swept away...?"
"So-seon's scared of water. On heavy rain days, she doesn't even go near the riverbank. This has to be the water bandits snatching her during the downpour. Nine times out of ten, it's those Long Shang Zhai bastards!"
So Samgu's shoulders trembled as he spoke.
Not from fear of the bandits, but from rage.
Who could blame him? How could mere fear overcome a father's fury at losing his daughter?
"Are you sure the water bandits took So-seon?"
"Kids have been vanishing one by one whenever we forget about it. At first, we thought they got swept away. But plenty of folks have seen the bandits grabbing kids."
You couldn't underestimate beggars' information network.
They couldn't snag high-class intel, but they were everywhere. And once info trickled in, it lingered among the beggars for ages. They had little else for entertainment besides gossiping among themselves.
Still, Hong Geolgae hesitated. The situation didn't add up.
"But why would water bandits take So-seon?"
She was just a child. A little girl whose baby teeth hadn't all fallen out yet.
If bandits were kidnapping people, they'd go after adults to sell or use as playthings—not kids.
So Samgu lowered his voice.
"There's been talk of dark path martial artists buying up young boys and girls. Nothing good about it, that's for sure. I'm scared So-seon's been taken for something like that. Worried she's already been hurt..."
His voice shook as he spoke. He could barely hold back his worry for So-seon.
Hong Geolgae patted So Samgu's shoulder.
"Lucky for you, I've got just the man to ask for help. Go home and wait—I'll come by soon."
"Thank you, great hero!"
So Samgu bowed repeatedly, then turned back several times as he left.
Hong Geolgae headed straight for the tavern alley. The people he trusted in Zhongjing were the Beggars' Sect affiliates running the taverns.
He recalled the ones he'd visited with Dang Mujin over the past few days: Luoxing Lou, Da Hwa Lou, Qing Yue Lou, and so on. He ducked into the nearest, Luoxing Lou, and requested a meeting with its owner.
The Luoxing Lou owner knew Hong Geolgae was tight with Dang Mujin, so he gladly met him. Who knew—a little luck might bring another carving.
Hong Geolgae relayed So Samgu's story in detail.
"...That's how it is. Could you help rescue the kid from the water bandits?"
"I'll pass it up the chain. If word comes back, I'll let you know right away."
"Yes. Thank you."
The Luoxing Lou owner gave a positive response.
But there was no talk of rallying Beggars' Sect affiliates to wipe out the bandits or staking their lives to save So-seon.
'Something feels off. Maybe check a few more places.'
Hong Geolgae moved to another tavern. Better to ask as many as possible, right?
The owners all reacted similarly. They'd pass it up the chain. No need to worry too much. Planning to stop by tonight?
After hitting several taverns, Hong Geolgae entered Dengxian Lou last.
Its owner reacted much like the others—but with a slight difference.
"I'll mention it up top, but don't get your hopes too high."
Unlike the others' pure positivity, he added a negative outlook.
It clicked with the nagging unease Hong Geolgae had felt. He shot back immediately.
"Why not?"
"Two reasons. First, there's no proof the water bandits took that girl So-seon. No reason to clash with them on a beggar's word with no evidence."
"But the rumors have been going around for ages..."
"Even if they're true, it doesn't change much."
"What?"
"Timing's bad. Look out the window."
Hong Geolgae followed the owner's pointing finger. The heaviest downpour in days hammered relentlessly.
"It's been raining for days."
"Not the rain—the Yangtze."
Beyond the rain, the Yangtze flowed white with foam.
Swollen beyond compare to when he'd first arrived in Zhongjing. It looked like a waterfall sideways.
The river seemed ready to burst its banks any moment. That's why so many people were desperately reinforcing and repairing the embankments—to hold against a flood.
The Dengxian Lou owner continued.
"It's been raining abnormally heavy this year. One or two more days, and the Yangtze will definitely flood."
Anxiety filled his face. A Yangtze flood would surely doom riverside spots like Dengxian Lou.
He tapped his long-stemmed pipe to knock out the packed tobacco ash.
"When the Yangtze floods, plenty will lose their homes. Lots swept away and drowned. To prevent that, most Beggars' Sect affiliates are out building embankments. No spare manpower."
"..."
"Sorry I can't be more help. Still, I'll pass it up top."
Hearing this, Hong Geolgae finally understood the source of his unease.
The other owners' words had meant nothing—just polite talk.
Hong Geolgae turned away in a daze.
His mind raced. He'd already promised So Samgu, so he had to go tell him. But what to say?
Tell him everything straight?
'I told the Beggars' Sect. But they said not to expect much.'
That would crush So Samgu.
And some of that disappointment would turn on Hong Geolgae right there. Human emotions were unpredictable.
He didn't want to face So Samgu's wrath.
So, cut the bad parts and deliver only the hopeful ones?
'I passed it to several Beggars' Sect folks. They all responded positively, so the sect will surely step in and handle it.'
That felt like the best play. If the sect didn't act, So Samgu would blame their leaders—not him.
Before he knew it, Hong Geolgae had reached the bridge area.
The beggars weren't under it. The water had risen too high; one slip and they'd be swept away.
Hong Geolgae found So Samgu and delivered the news.
"I visited several Beggars' Sect affiliates and told them. They're all passing it up top, so surely help—"
So Samgu bellowed, cutting him off.
"Those bastards help us? They treat us like animals just 'cause we're not sect beggars!"
Hong Geolgae's assumption shattered spectacularly.
So Samgu didn't trust the Beggars' Sect at all. Flustered, Hong Geolgae tried to soothe him.
"Still, if they're martial artists, they won't turn a blind eye to injustice. They've got a sense of chivalry too..."
"What does chivalry have to do with martial artists? Those water bandit scum are martial artists, and so are the dark path fiends and demon heads! Besides, the Beggars' Sect are in bed with the water bandits! I haven't heard of them fighting even once in the last ten-plus years!"
So Samgu bellowed. Other beggars rushed over and restrained the agitated man.
A memory surfaced in Hong Geolgae's mind. Something the Dengxian Lou owner had mentioned offhand their first meeting.
—Zhongjing has no mid-tier sects bold enough to challenge the Beggars' Sect. There are water bandits, but they hardly ever clash.
Right. The Beggars' Sect didn't fight the water bandits.
Would they shatter the peace and make enemies of the bandits—for beggars who meant nothing to them, even if they died?
No.
Would they sacrifice sect members' lives—for beggars who meant nothing?
No.
The beggars held So Samgu back, chattering to calm him as their words drilled into Hong Geolgae's ears.
"Hey, So Samgu. I get you're burning up inside, but taking it out on Great Hero Hong is no way to act."
"Yeah. Hong didn't take So-seon. And he's the only one who's stepped up after hearing us out. Right now, we just wait and trust the sect..."
Suddenly, shame overwhelmed Hong Geolgae. But there was nothing he could do.
He hung his head, backed away, then turned and walked off.
He wanted to return to Xin Yue Inn, forget it all, and sleep.
'They all said it. It's not your fault. No need for guilt.'
As he trudged along, someone called out.
"Hey, you there."
He turned to see an old beggar woman.
Hong Geolgae wanted nothing to do with strangers right now. Just get blackout drunk—that was it.
He turned away without answering.
But the old woman had no intention of letting him go easily.
"Didn't you hear me? You're the one who was looking for someone who knows Ma Jeon-gae last time, right?"
His master's name hit him like a slap. Hong Geolgae reflexively faced her. The old woman cackled.
"Looks like it is you. What business do you have hunting down that Kind Dog bastard?"
"Kind Dog?"
"You went looking without even knowing his name? Ma Jeon-gae."
Hong Geolgae scowled.
"His name's not Kind Dog—it's Hong Gyeon. Get it right before you come at me."
"No, it's Kind Dog. I knew his old man too—think I'd mix up his given name or surname?"
Had his master fled Zhongjing after changing his surname too? His already gloomy mood sank further.
"Not my business. Hong Gyeon or Kind Dog, whatever. You should head on your way too, granny."
"No, I've got questions. What's your connection to Ma Jeon-gae?"
Hong Geolgae couldn't proudly declare Ma Jeon-gae his master.
A sticky-fingered One-Knot Beggar as a teacher? Absurd.
"Just crossed paths somehow."
"Then, do you know where Ma Jeon-gae is?"
Her prying grated on him. Hong Geolgae snapped back.
"Why do you care? Did he steal something precious from you too?"
"No, nothing like that. Ma Jeon-gae's no thief."
"I heard he stole something and fled Zhongjing."
"What nonsense? Far as I know, he's never stolen a thing."
The old woman added one more line.
"The only thing that guy ever stole from Zhongjing was a person."