âThatâŠâ
Sang Man-Hee thought for a moment and then soon discarded the nonsensical thoughts he had.
âSouthern Edge my ass!â
A noble disciple of the Nine Great Sects acting insane and coming with a beggar-like look⊠Uh? Beggar? Then maybeâŠ
No, forget the Beggars Union.
âAhem!â
Sang Man-Hee cleared his throat.
Southern Edge was now in closed training. Of course, they could have opened the gates again, and they didnât hear the news yet. But even if that was the case, why would they come all the way here, leaving their sect?
So they could not be from Southern EdgeâŠ
âYou?â
At that time, the monster asked, with eyes shining. Sang Man-Hee flinched and looked at Jin Yang-Geon and him. Then, clear on whose side he should be on, he said.
âYou!â
Clearly, Jin Yang-Geon looked embarrassed. But who wouldnât be embarrassed in this situation?
Even the calmest Buddha would have sat down and fallen back if some strange man came breaking through the door.
âHow dare you cause trouble here! Are you doing this after knowing what this place is?â
âI know.â
ââŠâ
âThat is why I came. So I heard of a disciple of Mount Hua here.â
âEven though you know you!â
Sang Man-Heeâs face turned red.
âA guy who knows Mount Hua doesnât realize how scary the sect can be?â
âOhh?â
Chung Myung tilted his head.
âYou speak like you know what Mount Hua sect is?â
âI do!â
Sang Man-Hee yelled.
âWhat kind of place do you think Mount Hua is! To win over Wudang and sit as the leader of the Heavenly Friend Alliance!â
ââŠâ
The lips of Chung Myung twitched.
âAnd is that all! They defeated the Ten Thousand People clan! And defeated Yeom Pyung of the Evil Sect and the subordinates⊠why are you smiling?â
Chung Myungâs slightly trembling hand moved to his face.
And he gently tried not to laugh as his lips widened into a smile.
âAhem. Why is this⊠heheheh!â
Sang Man-Hee looked at him, shocked, thinking that this man was a lot stranger than he initially thought.
âEnough!â
âProtect the leader!â
At that moment, the warriors who had climbed over the walls on the left and right of the inner wall rushed like lightning, blocking the distance between Sang Man-Hee and Chung Myung. In an instant, dozens of swords were aimed at Chung Myung.
âTsk.â
Chung Myung clicked his tongue at the sight.
âHaa. Iâve truly gotten nicer.â
If it had been like old times, he would have drawn his sword right then and sent them to hell, regardless of who they were. Even the king of the underworld would be like, âDid that bastard send you again?â
He couldnât believe the day had come when he had to simply look at people drawing swords in front of him.
âHaa.â
He had become so kind, but Chung Myung couldnât figure out why everyone was so anxious.
âRight, sahyung?â
-Did you sell your conscience before asking, you bastard!
⊠Oh, his mouth was turning more and more foul-mouthed with time.
Did he often argue with those up there tooâŠ
âUgh. Forget it.â
It was as Chung Myung glanced at the warriors and was ready to draw his sword.
âEnoughhhh!â
âIt isnât too late! We donât have to spill blood yet!â
âCatch him! Catch that bastard!â
It seemed like there was a commotion behind, and similarly dressed beggars, the Five Swords, came running and surrounded Chung Myung.
âEuk! Kuak!â
âNo, why so many disciples?!â
âSubdue him without hurting him.â
â⊠He isnât sane.â
âJust stab him.â
Baek Cheon, Yoon Jong, and Jo Gul, who were out of breath, looked at Yu Yiseol and Tang Soso in awe.
Seeing the two confidently speak, the three shook their heads.
âHmm. AnywayâŠâ
Baek Cheon cleared his throat and stepped in front of Chung Myung.
âAre you the leader of the Golden Sword Order?â
ââŠâ
âWe greet you. We are from Mount Hua.â
âMount Hua.â
âYes, our appearance is unsightly at present, but that is because we had to rush all the way here from Shaanxi. Please understand.â
Baek Cheonâs voice was truly serious and confident.
âWe heard of someone impersonating Mount Huaâs disciples here. Whatever the reason, it is impossible to call one a disciple of Mount Hua without seeking permission from the main sect. If you cooperate in bringing out the criminal, Mount Hua will not forget the deed.â
If Baek Cheon had looked as usual, no one would have doubted him. They might even have been mesmerized by him.
But unfortunately, not now.
âMount Hua sect?â
âYes.â
âYou people?â
âYes.â
âWith that look?â
ââŠâ
Baek Cheon lightly covered his mouth with a fist and cleared his throat.
âAppearance is just a fa?ade. We areâŠ.â
âSurely, I will agree with that. ButâŠâ
Sang Man-Hee gestured to Mount Hua with a dull look.
âFrom what I know, Mount Hua is a sacred placeâŠâ
Baek Cheonâs eyes followed Sang Man-Heeâs gaze.
Behind him was the shattered door, the people of the office all scattered around and fallen. And it wasnât just one or two men, but almost 50 of them.
Baek Cheon couldnât speak right away and opened his mouth, looking awkward.
â⊠this can be explainedâŠâ
âIn what world!â
ââŠâ
âWhat kind of sect invades the land of another place, beats up their members, and forces them to give up their guests? The Mount Hua sect I know would never do something like this!â
Excuse me⊠he was not sure what kind of Mount Hua sect this man knew, but they were the normal Mount HuaâŠ.
âYou people! Itâs clear that you came here with the intention of tricking us from the Iron Clan!â
âTrick? What now?â
Sang Man-Hee exploded with anger and gritted his teeth.
âIsnât this a ploy to drag away the disciple of Mount Hua and render him unable to ask Mount Hua for help? You think I donât know.â
Tak!
Chung Myung, who had listened to all that, unconsciously hit his palm with his fist.
âDoes that even sound right?â
âYah, you! Bastard! Whatâs so right about that?â
âThis is what happens when you insist on speaking!â
âYou will be scolded!â
âRight, you should get scolded!â
Sang Man-Hee frowned as he looked at the beggars, who were scolding one another.
âLeader!â
Yoon Jong, the one who didnât fight, looked to the side at Sang Man-Hee and said,
âYou are being deceived now. The person inside isnât a disciple of Mount Hua! We are the true disciples of Mount Hua!â
â⊠You people?â
âYes.â
Sang Man-Hee looked at Yoon Jong blankly and then asked,
âPut yourself in my position and think.â
âUh?â
âIf you were in my position, which of you or the person inside would be considered the disciple of Mount Hua?â
At those words, all five of them turned their heads and saw Jin Yang-Geon.
Dressed neatly in a white robe and carrying a sword, anyone would consider him to be a Taoist monk.
âHmm.â
All of them looked at each other and nodded.
As those who had been together for a long time, they could understand each otherâs emotions. Bright smiles appeared.
âThis wonât work.â
âEven if it were me, Iâd be fooled.â
âRight. Even the sect leader would be fooled.â
This was a mistake from the start.
Sang Man-Hee clicked his tongue, seeing the disciples of Mount Hua laugh awkwardly.
âWhere do these frivolous things come fromâŠ?â
Jin Yang-Geon showed a glimpse of the dignity of a Taoist, but also the dignity of a nobleman in every action. The amount of work these people do is like that of robbers.
Even a three-year-old child wouldnât have a hard time choosing who the real disciple was.
âNo more need to speak! I will make you pay dearly for daring to invade my place and cause this mess! What are you all doing?â
At that moment, Chung Myung smiled and spoke triumphantly.
âSee? Didnât I tell you? Didnât I say speaking wonât work?â
âIt is all because of you! You bastard!â
âWhen you say it verbally, try saying it out loud at least once! And right! Please, Chung Myung!â
Chung Myung shrugged his shoulders and looked at Jin Yang-Geon beyond Sang Man-Hee.
âYou bastard, just stay there.â
As Chung Myung cracked his neck and let his hands hang down, the Five Swords moved to the left and right.
But their faces showed anxiety. First, they prepared to fight, but they couldnât shake off the thought of punishing innocent people.
Yoo Jong asked Baek Cheon.
âSasuk, is this alright?â
Baek Cheon answered with a serious look.
âThink about it, Yoon Jong.â
âUh?â
âIt happened. And suppose we let the impersonator escape now. In that case, the accident will be considered a real one, and you wonât gain anything here, right?â
ââŠâ
âAnd if we have to get into trouble, we need to at least get something out of it. Letâs catch him first! Something will work out after!â
Yoon Jong, who was speechless, felt a moment of skepticism.
Was it really okay for this person to become a Mount Hua sect leader?
âWhat are you doing? Take them down and make them kneel!â
âYes!â
The men began to close in and narrow the encirclement on the party. Chung Myung and Sang Man-Hee clicked their tongues.
Although the ones outside did suffer, they were still warriors who werenât entirely trained. The true strength of this place came from those inside. In addition, the elders who came late were also joining.
Sang Man-Hee, who thought the results were clear, turned around and went back to the room.
Jin Yang-Geon was waiting for him in the same position as the first time. He was sitting motionless as if, for the first time, despite the absurd situation, the Taoist could be understood.
âI am sorry for the trouble.â
âHaa⊠haha. You say such unnecessary things.â
âWe will soon handle it, so just wait.â
âThey seem to have come for me, but I am not dealing with them directly.â
âWhat are you even saying! Is there any need to use a butcher knife to kill a hen? We will handle it, so donât worry about it.â
âHahaâŠ.â
Jin Yang-Geon smiled and glanced out. When Sang Man-hee turned slightly, he gulped.
âThis is insane!â
What was happening? Why were they calling him an impersonator?
âI need to run as quickly as possible.â
The plan has already gone awry. If those guys were captured and they had to confront them, it would be a major setback for him.
âLeader.â
âYes, Taoist.â
Jin Yang-Geon smiled, looking at Sang Man-Hee.
âThe task at hand is to request reinforcements from Mount Hua, so I will have to move right away.â
âAh, you will? And the people outside arenât even checkedâŠ?â
Jin Yang-Geon shook his head.
âFlies come to those who have fame. If I handle them one by one, there will be no end to it.â
âAh, right!â
He gathered up the slips and got up.
âIf you put in the request now, the answer will come within three days. Then we can talk again.â
âYes. Then take care ofâŠâ
It was then.
âKyaaaakkkkk!â
âEik?â
The scream that came from outside didnât seem like a human scream, and then something white flew out and landed right on the table between the two.
Crack!
The table shattered. At the same time, the expensive teaware also broke down right then.
âThis⊠this pathetic⊠euk? Third elder?â
Sang Man-hee, who was getting angry and wanted to ask what was so tough about dealing with beggars, was shocked as he looked at the person lying with foam in his mouth.
The third elder, a warrior of the Golden Sword Order, was squirming with his eyes closed. His legs, which seemed to have turned stiff, were trembling.
â⊠Th-third elderâŠâ
Sang Man-Hee, who realized that the situation was wrong, raised his head andâŠ.
âReinforcements?â
Tak.
Finally, Chung Myung stepped into the room.
âWe are here, you bastard, the reinforcements from Mount Hua!â
His lips emitted white steam, resembling a grinning demon from hell.