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Chapter 157: What the Heck is This? (2)

“What in the world is this?”

When it comes to the Beggar Clan, they are responsible for the information network of the Gu Paibang.

If the heart of the Righteous Faction is the Martial Alliance, then the Beggar Clan serves as its eyes and ears.

You might wonder how such a small force can perform such a task.

Well, that’s because most of the beggars in the Central Plains belong to the Beggar Clan.

Just looking at this, you can understand.

Even in the grand cities like Hanam, beggars exist without fail.

And the myriad whispers and murmurs they produce could very well be their lifeline.

Large and small bits of information inevitably accumulate.

There’s a saying: “Many a little makes a mickle.”

Successful merchants say, “Dust is still just dust, no matter how much you gather it. Who has the time to pile up dust to make a mountain?”

But if that dust comes in waves, consistently piling up, it might just form a mountain after all.

That was the nature of the information possessed by the Beggar Clan.

There’s no such thing as useless information in this world.

What I find useless might be essential to someone else.

Thus, the information gathers so abundantly each day that it can’t all be counted.

As long as there are beggars in the world, the height of the Beggar Clan will inevitably rise.

Of course, compared to other factions in the Gu Paibang, their power might be somewhat crude, and since they’re made up of beggars, the quality appears low.

Nevertheless, the reason they could claim a place in the Gu Paibang was that many recognized their information prowess as their strength.

Chu Yong had been a member of the Beggar Clan for nearly forty years.

At the tender age of five, he had been handed over to the Great Beggar, Wu Bong-Chui, to be raised as a disciple.

Certainly, in the eyes of the world, he was an obscure disciple, but he was considered quite competent and well-placed within the Beggar Clan.

“Despite knowing that, to be stuck doing such menial tasks for ten years, what a wretched old man I must be.”

Stuck in Hanam for what seems like ages.

It had already been ten years since he buried himself in work, just waiting to be awarded his own title after this task is finished, as promised by his master.

“Chu Yong, you foolish, dim-witted beggar, are you so desperate that you’ll trust a beggar’s words?”

Do you know what the first lesson is when the Beggar Clan takes in a new member?

All beggars in the world are family, and we must trust one another to survive.

“That’s utter nonsense.”

At least in the world outside, like in the Beggar Clan, you’d know better within just a year or two.

Beggars can’t trust one another.

When they’re desperate to survive today, do you think they’ll share their meager scraps? When hunger gnaws at them, they will surely devour each other’s flesh.

“But trusting that, I must be insane. Tsk tsk.”

– My disciple.

– Yes.

— Hiccup… Once this task is over, I’ll pass on the third seat to you. So, just hold on tight… Hiccup… and keep it together…

The third seat is a significant position in the Beggar Clan.

At that level, you’d live quite comfortably in the Central Plains.

“•… being a beggar isn’t anything to boast about.”

Chu Yong understood the plight of a beggar better than anyone, so this wasn’t something to cheer about.

He focused on the boy directly in front of him.

He was likely the center of the most famous event occurring today in the Central Plains.

He could soon make a name for himself throughout the land as a Martial Artist.

“That kid sure looks intimidating.”

He was probably just a bit younger than the subordinates rolling around beneath him in the O-Kwang faction.

“That kid…”

That young Martial Artist scaled obstacles he could barely manage himself.

His integration with the physical body seemed to have begun long ago; he moved flawlessly on the Sparring Stage.

Talent, that frightening and cruel word, pricked at him coldly.

And so.

Despite the boy’s youthful voice, his speech was low and curt.

“Why did you come looking for me?”

The boy bore a look of surprise for just a moment, but then returned to a composed, impassive expression.

He didn’t seem to display any delinquent behavior, but the air around him felt oddly that way.

But.

“Is he looking down on me?”

In that regard, Chu Yong had to do some serious thinking.

The Dragon Meeting was ostensibly an event for Late-Stage Talents, yet the underlying intention was to clarify the stratification within the Righteous Faction.

Just look at the banquet to see it clearly.

They divided the seating by the support tiers allocated to each clan or alliance.

Differentiation occurred in numerous aspects, including the Sparring Stage’s barracks.

Not just the situation, but the bloodlines displayed discriminating glances and actions.

However, if you were to ask Chu Yong if this was wrong, he would just say no.

That’s simply how the world operates.

Of course, if a new talent were to rise and stand out, they might break through the discrimination.

But that was an unchanging law.

To surpass the talents supported by illustrious houses is something that can’t come from mere skill without heavenly favor.

Given that all renowned dragons and phoenixes belong to noble bloodlines, one could see.

Miracles are desired precisely because they remain miracles.

Chu Yong understood this well.

For them, discrimination and neglect was perhaps a natural principle.

It was merely utilizing the advantages they were born with.

In that sense, Chu Yong was a beggar.

Though he was considered a figure of some importance in the Beggar Clan.

Words might be fancy, but to the noble houses, he was just a beggar.

Of course, given his presence at tournaments, they probably had guessed he was part of the Beggar Clan. Their attitude would change ever so slightly.

“What’s the difference? A beggar is a beggar, no matter how you slice it.”

A sense of detachment hung heavily in the air.

Eyes that seemed to wish to avoid any conversation.

Such unavoidable reactions often revealed themselves as a matter of course.

Chu Yong was long past the point of letting such things wound him.

Instead, he used this to gradually gauge his opponents.

Just like he was doing right now.

In the case of the Shan Gu family, even if they weren’t one of the Four Great Houses, they were still a notable name.

The boy, Gu Yangcheong, was confidently considered to be the Lesser Clan Leader of the Gu Clan, so there should surely be some attitude accompanying him.

“Less than I expect…”

What he observed in the boy’s eyes was not disdain or contempt but an incomprehensible indifference.

It was faint enough to be hard to discern.

Such an aura was rare among the Late-Stage Talents that occupied Chu Yong’s memory.

Pang Woo-jin of the Peng family was one, and the Sword Dragon of Hwasan was another.

As for the Sleeping Dragon, he had never faced him, so he couldn’t say.

The So Sword Peak was someone he wished to forget.

If you stepped back a bit in time, there were many Martial Artists who still stood out.

And when he thought about their current statuses in the Central Plains, he felt he had to reevaluate his judgment of Gu Yangcheong at present.

“I come to say this… thanks to the Martial Prince’s recent tournament, the Beggar Clan sees the Prince in a very positive light.”

“You mean in the Beggar Clan, you’re talking about me?”

“Of course! How could we not pay attention?!”

He was the one who captured the Thunder Dragon with effortless ease.

Not to mention, the power of the Fire Technique he displayed from the start of the tournament was beyond words.

So he adds a little praise to butter him up.

“Who knows, you might become the new Shin Ryong…”

While Chu Yong was praising him and having a moment of flattery, Gu Yangcheong suddenly broke into laughter.

That laugh carried the clear ring of mockery.

“Shin Ryong, huh?”

The suddenly thickened atmosphere was causing cold sweat to bead on Chu Yong’s back.

What is this?

Is it just a ridiculous statement, or is he looking down on me, dismissing me that easily?

That could be plausible; he had reached the peak at such a young age, after all.

Such confidence, born not from arrogance but actual ability.

However, what came from Gu Yangcheong’s lips carried no such sentiment.

“That’s already in the hands of the Shaolin.”

His voice was languid and cold, reminiscent of the current chill of the season.

It wasn’t a mere assumption.

It was a certainty.

Chu Yong was left to awkwardly chuckle.

“Haha, what do you mean by that? Suddenly bringing up the Shaolin.”

Chu Yong didn’t let his surprise show.

Having lived as a beggar for so long, he was quite adept at keeping appearances.

The real issue was, inside, emotions were whirling as fiercely as an earthquake.

“How did he know? How could he know?”

Just like Gu Yangcheong said, the identity of the next Shin Ryong had already been decided.

Only a few within the Martial Alliance, the Shaolin, and the Beggar Clan knew.

It should be that way, but how did this boy have any inkling?

“Not only was it already decided, but he specifically named the Shaolin.”

Regardless of how much he understood, how did he come by that knowledge?

As Chu Yong internally struggled with these questions, Gu Yangcheong grinned, continuing to speak.

“Or maybe I’m mistaken?”

His demeanor lacked any sense of urgency or excitement.

“What’s going on here?”

The questions were spiraling rapidly.

The title of Shin Ryong was one everyone aimed for in the Late-Stage Talents.

It indicated being the most outstanding among the current Late-Stage Talents.

If someone knew that this lofty name had already been designated to someone else, it should absolutely stir feelings of anger.

“So you’re telling me you simply wanted to share a few words?”

“No, it’s not just that…”

Every word suddenly felt unnaturally heavy.

There was nothing particular; it was just an atmospheric difference.

He waited in silence for the other to speak.

There was no pressing need or urgency, so there was no reason to be anxious.

With sufficient background, he stood here without any shallow sense of value.

“Feels like I’m talking to an elder from a major sect.”

That was an exaggerated expression, but that was the feeling he got.

Initially, the purpose for Chu Yong’s visit to Gu Yangcheong was to gauge his demeanor up close.

But there was also a personal instinct driving him to come.

For some reason, it seemed that they were focusing on a boy named Jang Seonyeon in the room.

Perhaps there was some talk related to the alliance.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but…”

Chu Yong had no intention of refusing this.

Having been battered by the world, he was not at all in a condition to step forth in pursuit of cooperation now.

The only thought arising concerning Gu Yangcheong was.

“Perhaps I could have one foot in after all?”

The good thing about this situation was that it allowed him to connect with someone who shone brighter than anyone else.

And if timed right, it could lead to advantageous approaches.

Though if learned in the room, it could lead to difficulties down the line.

“I’ll have to find a way to survive…”

It seemed clear that upper management had no plans to assist him anytime soon.

As he kept his mouth shut wide enough to be fed, they were shutting down that very chance.

“I need to figure out how to survive on my own. If not, I’m going to starve.”

Of course, he was careful not to let that thought show on his face.

And as Chu Yong saw him…

“This gentleman… could he be the great beggar leader?”

He already knew who he was.

The notorious Chu Yong, also known as ‘the Beggar King.’

In the Central Plains, where demons began to sweep through.

This was naturally a calamity for beggars too.

Blood calamity did not show mercy to powerless beggars.

Though the Beggar Clan survived on information, their brute strength was abysmally weak.

Moreover, there was little to no unity among them.

They simply waited for death to come.

Whatever their plans to survive came too late; the righteous faction would not easily lend a hand.

They had no use for them.

Even their own survival was sufficient burden; they couldn’t be responsible for the lives of beggars.

In such a scenario, the Beggar King became a miracle for those beggars.

Uniting those who trembled and awaited death into a cohesive force.

Mainly, alongside Wi Seol-ah, he was one of the key figures who fought back against the demons and halted the Heavenly Demon.

Could it be said that his survival instincts were extraordinary?

To consider it mere instinct would be too dismissive.

“It seems like this gentleman has been reduced to ordinary beggar life.”

This former noted leader, once brimming with charisma and flair, now appeared merely as a tattered beggar.

“Still, to be a beggar now…”

Every beggar he turned out to be quite the illustrious figure.

He had to contemplate how to proceed while watching Chu Yong, who now wore a silly smile.

“I never thought he’d approach me this soon.”

Since he had turned Nangong Cheonjun into dumplings, he had expected either the Beggar Clan or the Martial Alliance to quietly approach.

It was simply quicker than he had anticipated.

“Personal approach?”

At first glance, he would say it looked that way.

While he couldn’t figure out the intention behind it, it seemed that Chu Yong wanted to make face with him.

“That isn’t such a bad idea.”

After all, the Beggar Clan served as an official information network sanctioned by the Martial Alliance.

While the Martial Alliance was quite rotten by nature, they still held a proper place in the eyes of the Central Plains, making them useful for connections.

“Not to mention, being the Beggar King… ”

He recalled that during the unification, he was one of the prominent figures.

When they spoke of gathering beggars, he had officially claimed his position.

Back then, the item ‘Tugul-Gyeon’ he held was indeed the Divine Treasure wielded by the leader of the Beggar Clan.

So if he wanted to build relationships through a few talks, this was a figure of considerable importance.

He seemed to want something from me.

“But…”

“You’re Chu Yong, right?”

“Oh my! Calling the Martial Prince so casually, how can this beggar…”

“The proper conversations can wait until after the tournament concludes. It seems a bit early to dive deep into that now.”

“Ah…! Oh dear, it seems I’ve rushed over too eagerly…! I’m just Chu Yong, so being able to talk with you is itself a blessing.”

The overly cordial nature of his demeanor was almost comical.

What is time to such a man?

– “Even if I perish, my soul shall survive!”

He still vividly recalled the sight of him shouting as he tore apart demon ears.

He was a man who once had a certain panache about him.

“Hehehe…”

Seeing him smile so foolishly left me pondering what to say next.

“…Anyway, it’s better if we talk after the tournament is over.”

It wasn’t because it was anything special.

After all, my value would be much higher once this tournament wraps up.

At this very moment, it was a foolish waste of time when the future might hold greater worth.

“It’s an honor to finally meet you…!”

•••Yes.

While Chu Yong acted indifferent, he would secretly feel regret over the lack of meaningful conversation.

No doubt, he would be thinking along the same lines.

Surely he understood that my worth post-tournament would surpass what it was now.

That wouldn’t be all too favorable for the Beggar Clan.

“Next time, we must meet again.”

I said while extending my hand.

For the moment Chu Yong glanced at my hand, he stopped smiling and briefly froze.

“What’s this all about?”

He knew it was an act, yet he had not expected him to drop the mask so suddenly.

Of course, it was just a fleeting moment, and he quickly regained his composure.

Seizing my hand immediately afterward.

“Once the tournament concludes, I will definitely come find you!”

After our brief greeting, Chu Yong continued to bow his head in farewell as he departed.

How long would he keep that up…?

If the Beggar King felt as such in his youth, it generated a somewhat awkward feeling.

After sending Chu Yong off, I promptly returned to the barracks.

I hadn’t been away for long since I had been speaking previously.

Upon entering the barracks, I found Nangong Bi-ah sleeping on Wi Seol-ah’s lap.

I hurried over and shook Nangong Bi-ah awake.

“Ugh…

“Hey, are you sleeping!? The tournament is about to start!”

Even if he had only briefly conversed with Chu Yong, the tournament time had already arrived.

Honestly, since when has there been a crazed human who slept through a tournament?

“Ugh… 99

“What are you mumbling about? Wake up…!”

“… I already finished it…”

At Nangong Bi-ah’s murmured words, I momentarily paused.

“What?!”

Thinking I might’ve misheard, I asked again.

“I already finished the tournament… it’s okay….”

Her answer hadn’t changed.

Finished it? In such a short time…?

Then what about Gu Jeolyub…?

 

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