Chapter 594
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 594
Chapter Title: Dead, That Bastard
“Hm? It's empty.”
Bang Sa-uk muttered as he entered the village where his next target was located.
His senses informed him that the branch hall was completely deserted.
“Well, that's only natural, isn't it?”
He had announced his approach so blatantly.
It was a given that the Beggar Clan would respond, and the first thing they'd do was evacuate the branch hall.
Bang Sa-uk's gaze turned northward.
“They wouldn't dare empty the main hall, though. Are they planning to wait for me there?”
He was moving along an incredibly obvious path.
The Beggar Clan surely knew his target by now.
“Not that it changes anything. Heh.”
A sinister chuckle escaped his lips.
Bang Sa-uk continued northward.
His speed didn't change.
He moved at a steady pace, just predictable and responsive enough for the Beggar Clan.
Anticipating what reaction they might show.
Beggars of the clan wore tattered rags cinched with straw belts.
If you looked closely, those belts bore knots—the number indicating a member's rank.
Nine knots: the symbol of the Clan Lord.
The eight knots just below signified the successor.
Seven knots belonged to vice clan lords, elders, and protectors.
Six knots to the next tier of elders.
Among them, some would become vice lords, others elders, others protectors.
Five knots marked branch hall masters.
And now.
The men gathering in Kaifeng had six black knots on their belts.
The Black Knot Squad.
The Beggar Clan's greatest martial force.
Some of them had gathered at the call of Vice Clan Lord Cheol Dam-gae.
“You all know about the dire crisis unfolding at our main hall right now.”
A total of twenty beggars listened to his words with tense faces.
No one else was present.
Cheol Dam-gae explained the current situation in detail.
The beast's path led straight to Kaifeng, its speed unchanging.
From that, he detailed when and where it would arrive.
“Aren't our clan disciples surveilling the beast?”
One of the Black Knot Squad asked.
It was an uncharacteristic explanation for the Beggar Clan.
All speculation and prediction?
Even during the great martial war, they hadn't operated this way.
They analyzed reports directly witnessed by eyes from branches across the land to relay intelligence.
“No. I ordered all branches along its path to scatter.”
At the admission of blinding their own eyes and ears, every Black Knot member tilted their heads in confusion.
They couldn't believe the clan was taking such a foolish stance against an enemy.
[The beast is Bang Sa-uk.]
They froze solid.
Unable to utter a word.
They had heard a name beyond imagination.
How could he, who perished years ago in the Nakryong Cliff bloodbath during the great war...
Cheol Dam-gae relayed So Pung-gae's report via transmission to them.
[Thus, your mission is to confirm if it's truly Bang Sa-uk. And gauge his strength. Above all, return safely.]
The twenty warriors nodded at Cheol Dam-gae's words.
The twenty Black Knot members departing the main hall moved to intercept him along the predicted route and timing provided by Cheol Dam-gae.
To block his path midway to Kaifeng.
As always, at the same time and place, they took their positions for training.
The two children moved their swords according to Ha Mu-baek's instructions.
A faint smile tugged at Ha Mu-baek's lips as he watched.
The reason lay in Gong Hae-jun's swordplay.
It still pursued overwhelming dominance and power, but not to yesterday's extreme.
He must have gained something from his spar with Gong Hae-bin.
Above all, this was the first time deploying the Three Talents Sword Method since the match, yet it already showed such change—his talent was astonishing.
'You truly learn best from a beating.'
More than Ha Mu-baek's careful explanations and teachings, the hollow defeat to his sister.
That was likely the biggest catalyst.
Deeming it sufficient realization, Ha Mu-baek began instructing the two children step by step from then on.
He had to do it properly now that he'd taken them as disciples.
As the day's training drew to a close...
“Master.”
Gong Hae-jun spoke with resolute determination.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze turned to him.
“No spar today?”
Was yesterday's defeat that humiliating?
Gong Hae-jun's eyes blazed with competitive fire.
Even though it was to his own sister.
'What incredible drive. Even against his sister.'
It was something Ha Mu-baek had never felt or witnessed.
He'd never burned with rivalry toward Seol-lan, nor she toward him.
But that was natural.
There was no reason for anyone to harbor rivalry against Ha Mu-baek, who had transcended human limits.
And to Ha Mu-baek, Seol-lan was a little sister to protect.
He couldn't possibly understand the dynamics between siblings just a couple years apart.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze shifted to Gong Hae-bin.
“I want to spar too.”
With both children's agreement...
“Alright then. Let's spar to wrap up today's training.”
As Ha Mu-baek stepped back three or four paces...
“No commentary today!”
Gong Hae-jun declared boldly.
He must have heard the full story of yesterday from his sister.
Ha Mu-baek chuckled and nodded, and the two children faced each other, wooden swords raised.
“Yah!”
With a fierce kiai, Gong Hae-jun attacked first.
Clack! Clack-clack-clack! Clack! Clack!
The wooden swords clashed endlessly.
Utterly transformed from yesterday's flailing confusion.
Just one day, but children training martial arts progressed swiftly.
Gong Hae-jun hammered at Gong Hae-bin relentlessly, but couldn't pierce her defense easily.
Thanks to yesterday's experience?
He didn't go all-out offense.
While swinging his sword, he watched her footwork and blade movements.
Ha Mu-baek watched their childish scuffle of a spar, a glint in his eyes.
The moment Gong Hae-bin's foot moved.
She shifted smoothly, slipping into Gong Hae-jun's opening naturally.
The result.
Gong Hae-bin's victory.
Her wooden sword tip halted before Gong Hae-jun's chest.
“H-how...”
Gong Hae-jun's gaze flicked toward Ha Mu-baek, but...
“I didn't do a thing today.”
Ha Mu-baek spoke first.
Gong Hae-bin sheathed her wooden sword, ending the day's training.
On the way back to the inn...
“We'll leave Shangnan tomorrow.”
Ha Mu-baek said calmly.
Ha-bin and Hae-jun froze.
It was expected since begging to learn martial arts.
They'd momentarily forgotten amid the morning joy of being accepted as disciples.
Now Master announced his departure abruptly.
Of course they'd go with him.
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
They tried to reply calmly, but their voices trembled inevitably.
How could they not?
Leaving their parents' embrace for the first time since birth.
And so suddenly.
The path back to the inn was silent.
Upon returning, during dinner, Ha Mu-baek announced tomorrow's departure.
Eun Cheong-seon paused, then nodded.
She'd steeled herself when entrusting the children to him.
She recalled the kids' joy that morning, finally accepted as disciples.
Eun Cheong-seon couldn't simply rejoice.
It meant Ha Mu-baek would take them when he left.
She'd resolved with her husband Gong Yeop-myeong, but a parental ache lingered.
“Please take good care of the children.”
Eun Cheong-seon bowed deeply, and Ha Mu-baek rose, cupping his fists in return.
Gong Yeop-myeong brought out heaps of dishes.
He too bowed to Ha Mu-baek.
“Thank you for accepting them. Please take care of them.”
Now thirteen-year-old Gong Hae-bin and eleven-year-old Gong Hae-jun.
Sending off such young children filled him with worry, but seeing Ha Mu-baek return the bow steadied Gong Yeop-myeong's heart.
This man is someone I can trust with them, he thought.
That night, the inn closed half a shichen earlier than usual.
To spend time with the children.
The dining hall was quiet.
Ha Mu-baek drank alone, while Gwan Po eyed him cautiously.
“Something on your mind?”
At Ha Mu-baek's question, Gwan Po approached carefully.
“What should I do from now on...”
“It's your path. You figure it out.”
“Is my dantian alright?”
“Still a couple months more. I told you before.”
Even so, Ha Mu-baek vanishing before his eyes left Gwan Po uneasy.
He knew the hellish pain was gone, healing complete, but...
“Worrying won't fix it. It's like fretting why the baby in the womb, not even three months along, hasn't been born today. Even the Great Immortal couldn't help. It takes time. And it doesn't matter if I'm here or not.”
Pour.
Ha Mu-baek refilled the empty cup.
Once it was just right, he looked at Gwan Po.
“So, what do you want to do?”
“I don't know.”
“How were the last couple days?”
Referring to yesterday and today as errand boy.
“Not complicated. It was good.”
Sitting in the corner just holding a seat for the inn let all sorts of thoughts clutter his mind.
But.
Running around busily as errand boy yesterday and today had cleared his head.
Then Ha Mu-baek's departure tomorrow muddled it again.
“What's so complicated? What do you want to do?”
“I don't know.”
The same answer.
“Really?”
Ha Mu-baek stared intently at Gwan Po.
That gaze seemed to pierce right through him.
Under it, Gwan Po bowed his head.
“I... I want revenge. Thinking about it makes me impatient...”
His tightly hidden true feelings spilled out.
Gwan Po still couldn't shake that nightmare.
The fiend emanating demonic qi alone, crumbling the clan.
Doubt if he could avenge himself against such a monster, fear if he even should—it tangled his thoughts.
Ha Mu-baek lifted his cup, then set it down.
“Revenge, huh...”
He muttered briefly.
He understood the sentiment well.
Ha Mu-baek lived for it too.
Still did.
His own revenge wasn't over.
He'd only recently erased the Blood Cult.
The Demonic Cult remained.
Those rats were even more entrenched than the Blood Cult.
Truly vermin-like bastards.
The difference between Ha Mu-baek and Gwan Po: Ha Mu-baek lived solely for revenge.
Gwan Po feared, agonized, tormented by his foe's might.
“Ignore all conditions. Think of just one thing. Do you want revenge? With your own hands?”
At Ha Mu-baek's question...
“I'd love to do it myself, but honestly, I'd be fine if that damned bastard just died. There's Master's dying words too...”
Gwan Po's master had left him with: never think of revenge, just survive.
Wishing his disciple's life and happiness.
But the massacre unresolved tormented Gwan Po.
Now it's over, forget it, follow Master's words and just survive.
Guilt toward his slain family, survivor's remorse.
Above all, self-loathing at hiding alive while the beast thrived.
These compounded.
Leading to dread the end but conclusion: live for revenge, hence anxiety over healing.
As long as the clan enemy, Fiend King Ak-cho, lived, that bloodbath continued for Gwan Po.
Pour.
Ha Mu-baek refilled his cup.
“Fiend King, right?”
“...”
Gwan Po couldn't answer.
That day's terror resurfaced.
The man asking now was an even scarier monster, but it didn't erase past horror.
“Dead, that bastard.”
“Pardon?”
Gwan Po jumped at the sudden words.
“Ran into him by chance and killed him. Demonic Cult bastard.”
The cup went back to Ha Mu-baek's lips.
Gwan Po stared in disbelief.
That monster?
Talking about it like swatting a neighbor's rat?
Ran into him by chance, Demonic Cult, so just killed him?
Gwan Po gaped blankly.
Ha Mu-baek's voice reached his ears.
“Revenge. Yeah, you have to do it. But a life obsessed with it... well, it's too harsh and grueling. You might even get consumed by it.”
Refilling his cup, Ha Mu-baek muttered.
To Gwan Po or not, unclear.
“So live easy from now on.”
Ha Mu-baek smirked and downed the cup.