Chapter 281

Chapter 281
## Chapter 281. Night of the Greedy Ones (2)

—

“Aaaaaagh…”

“Uuuuuugh…”

The iron shackles multiplied once more, extending from their wrists to their elbows, and from their ankles up to their knees.

“You fools! How can you call that light-footwork when you tread so heavily? You might as well lay down markers for everyone to track your path!”

So-un-Jin reprimanded them because deep prints were impressed into the earth every time they executed their movement technique. The four disciples glared back at So-un-Jin with disgruntled expressions.

‘What else do you expect when we are carrying this much weight?’

‘Then just remove these miserable chains from us.’

‘Ah, this is brutal. It’s absolutely brutal.’

‘…….’

To demand that they sprint effortlessly after making their bodies feel as dense as a thousand geun was utter lunacy. Even so, they dared not voice their grievances aloud. There was someone right beside them who executed the Dae-sa-hyeong’s ridiculous directives flawlessly under identical constraints.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!

Across the three hundred or so paces that individual had traveled, only the faintest indentations remained. It made them question whether he was actually encumbered by a mass of iron bands at all.

“Excellent work, Eun-ho!”

“Ah… yes… thank you, Dae-sa-hyeong.”

“If these blockheads possessed even half of your discipline, we would have already journeyed back to our sect bearing the spirit medicines for a triumphant homecoming! Tsk, tsk! Unbelievable!”

As So-un-Jin openly favored Eun-ho-Lee, the irritation of the remaining three shifted toward the blameless Eun-ho.

‘I never anticipated you would turn out like this.’

‘Junior brother, I am deeply let down by you right now.’

‘Eun-ho Hyung is a traitor!’

Their eyes clearly broadcasted silent curses, but Eun-ho was powerless to alter the situation. He was utterly exhausted from being constantly rebuked and disciplined.

“Dae-sa-hyeong, perhaps you could loosen the iron bands just a fraction? Our pace would improve drastically that way. Do you not wish to return swiftly to see the elders, Dae-sa-hyeong?”

Eun-ho spoke with extreme care, trying his best not to sour the Dae-sa-hyeong’s temperament. Ever since the day he disclosed that he knew they “attempted to flee,” they had been plagued for several days to the point of deprivation of sleep. He needed to offer a rationalization that proved they were not trying to shirk their duties.

Yet, So-un-Jin remained completely unmoved.

“What nonsense are you spouting? There are plenty of iron bands left to put on.”

“What do you mean by…”

“Just how many iron bands do you think this sack can hold?”

So-un-Jin rattled the massive sack he held in his grip.

Clang, clang.

The ring of colliding iron resonated forbiddingly from within the bundle. It was madness—just how many did he bring along? Eun-ho immediately collected himself. He felt remorse for his companions, but he needed to retreat for now. That unpredictable Dae-sa-hyeong might lose his temper again and pile more weight onto him as well. Eun-ho deftly steered the conversation elsewhere.

“Ah! Dae-sa-hyeong, but did you not mention that we would gather spirit medicines on our journey back to the Tae-eul-mun?”

“I did.”

“Then why does it feel like our route is constantly steering north?”

“Because our goal lies in the north.”

“Pardon me?”

To travel from Wuhan to Habbi, one was supposed to head eastward, traversing Hubei Province to reach Anhui Province. But north?

“Ah… then I assume the spirit medicine is located somewhere south of Henan Province?”

At the very least, if they avoided crossing Hubei Province directly, they could reach Anhui Province quickly even by taking a longer route. Eun-ho desperately forced his mind into a positive outlook to avoid provoking the Dae-sa-hyeong, yet…

“No, our ultimate stop is Xi’an.”

“Xi’an?”

Confronted with an answer that made no sense, he couldn’t help but tilt his head in confusion.

“Was there a settlement named Xi’an within Hubei Province?”

Because the world was filled with countless diverse regional names, common folk could not possibly retain every single city on the map. And So-un-Jin, who was far from common, flashed a knowing grin.

“Well, perhaps there is.”

“O-oh, I see. I am gaining new knowledge again today.”

Eun-ho forced a grin to accommodate the Dae-sa-hyeong’s temperament. However, his expression darkened severely at the words that followed.

“But the location we are targeting is Xi’an in Shaanxi Province.”

Shaanxi…? Xi’an…?

Eun-ho, mapping out the geography within his mind, quickly let out a silent, terrified scream.

‘You lunatic! That is the complete opposite path!’

Naturally, he could not voice the insult.

“How about it? Are you thrilled?”

“…….”

He remained silent, lacking any desire to be struck down by the lightning-fast strikes of the god-like Dae-sa-hyeong.

—

Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. Winter in this region is unforgiving. During this season, remaining outdoors becomes incredibly harsh due to the relentless dust storms blowing in from the badlands. Consequently, the citizens of Xi’an rarely venture outside their dwellings once the cold sets in, and because of this, shopkeepers secure their storefronts early. Furthermore, even the streams of travelers seeking out Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan dwindle to nothing.

Mount Hua, recognized as one of the Five Great Peaks, was a treacherous summit that proved challenging to scale even during high summer, so there was naturally no one reckless enough to attempt a ascent in the dead of winter. Mount Zhongnan, mindful of Mount Hua receiving no winter travelers, had been turning away visitors under the justification of secluded winter training. Thus, it was entirely expected for Xi’an to grow quiet during the cold months.

However,

“Why are there so many travelers passing through?”

A merchant who was packing away his outdoor stand paused his tasks, startled by the density of the crowds filling the avenues.

“Indeed… it was identical yesterday, and it remains unchanged today.”

“…Does it not strike you as odd how many individuals are carrying blades and spears?”

“Hmm… what should our move be?”

An innkeeper came rushing over from a distance, calling out to them.

“You lot! What are you doing! Naturally, you ought to keep your shops open!”

“Ah, with merely this number of people…”

“I am arriving directly from the South Gate this instant. The South Gate is utterly gridlocked with people attempting to force their way into Xi’an!”

“Is that true?”

“Would I speak falsehoods after consuming fine meals!”

Spurred by the innkeeper’s declarations, the other vendors set up their stalls once more and recalled the staff they had dismissed for the day. Though the unexpected overtime was taxing, wide grins remained fixed on their faces. It wasn’t solely the shopkeepers who were energized by the unanticipated influx.

“Move out!”

“Understood!”

At O-sam’s command, the assembly of beggars formed a line and began following his lead. Four distinct knots were fastened at his waist, and his garments were remarkably tidy for a beggar. Passersby could not mask their astonished looks as they noticed the knots displayed at his side. Perhaps due to that attention, O-sam felt his stride grow more resolute and his posture straighten proudly.

‘Hmph, I am exceptionally youthful for a 4-knot beggar (sa-gyeol-gae).’

Given that beggars of his same age group were still languishing at 2-knots, he was effectively climbing the ranks rapidly within the Beggars’ Union (Gaebang).

‘In a short while, I shall attain the 5-knot rank, and following that…’

He might even secure a position as the youngest Branch Chief in history. Naturally, he would need to fulfill his mandatory term of service within the Murim Alliance beforehand. When his train of thought arrived at that detail, his brow knit together automatically.

‘Tsk… if only I had entered the Academy.’

Mandatory service merely logs a record of operating as a low-level enforcer. Though the duration is brief, the compensation and regard received from the Murim Alliance, beginning with the monthly stipend, is drastically superior. Furthermore, possessing an Academy background is a hallmark of prestige in the modern Jianghu. Even within the Beggars’ Union, if an individual returns after graduating from the Academy, they can advance two positions simultaneously. Alternatively, it wouldn’t be a terrible path to remain within the Murim Alliance and advance through their hierarchy, since he would have climbed to at least the rank of a Great Hall Master by now.

‘Those blind old fools with knot-holes for eyes.’

O-sam firmly believed he possessed the talent required to gain entrance to the Academy. Both regarding the rapid advancement of his martial skills and holding a pedigree that stood equal to anyone, thanks to establishing his foundation in Xi’an, Shaanxi. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, O-sam was passed over for this Academy selection. Granted, while there is no official restriction on eligibility for the open examination, who under heaven was crazy enough to attempt the tests without the backing of a major sect or syndicate?

He had caught wind that the incompetent Beggars’ Union representatives sent in his place failed to establish dominance within the institution. What was so remarkable about that Academy anyway, which lacked any presence of Yong-so-ah, Il-myeong, or Dang-seo-hui, that they couldn’t even grasp authority over it? Moreover, when news reached him that So-un-Jin from an obscure sect named the Tae-eul-mun had claimed the position of Representative, he was as stunned as if he had been told the sun had altered its course.

“In any case, those miserable fools.”

“Pardon me?!”

“It’s nothing.”

It was preferable this way. If he encountered So-un-Jin down the line and bested him, he could demonstrate that he was far superior to the elites who attended the Academy. O-sam eagerly anticipated facing that individual with the intimidating moniker “Black Flame Dragon” at any moment.

“There is no chance a pampered youth reared in a greenhouse would venture out to this rugged terrain. Tsk.”

Fixating on occurrences that had no reality would only cause his head to ache. Particularly since the current happenings unfolding in Xi’an were proving to be highly abnormal. O-sam shook his head to clear his thoughts and barked orders to his subordinates.

“Document every single detail with precision. Among the figures arriving here, someone will inevitably manage to lay hands on the Five Spirits Immortal Flower Oil (O-ryeong-seon-hwa-yu).”

“Um…”

“What is it?”

“Would it not be far more advantageous if we entered and claimed it for ourselves during this window?”

O-sam smirked at the beggar’s preposterous inquiry. Truly, fools were plentiful in every corner.

“Do you even comprehend the true value of the Five Spirits Immortal Flower Oil to suggest we just stroll in and seize it?”

“If you command me to go, I will absolutely…!”

O-sam delivered a sharp slap to the beggar’s head.

“You simpleton! Have you forgotten what transpired at the Demon Spirit Plateau? Even setting that aside, the entire martial world erupts in chaos whenever a single rare medicine surfaces. How on earth do you expect us to simply walk away with a spirit medicine?”

“…I-I apologize.”

“Obviously, the ideal approach is to abscond with it when no one is the wiser. But if you try to intercept a spirit medicine whose emergence is widely anticipated, like the Five Spirits Immortal Flower Oil, you will find yourself dead a hundred times over. Do you comprehend?”

The terrified beggars answered as one.

“““Yes!”””

“Furthermore, the elixirs revealing themselves this time are numerous. If we focus on hunting them down one by one, we will end up losing track of the rest.”

As O-sam spoke while catching his breath, a beggar who was monitoring his temperament inquired tentatively.

“…I-In that case, why do you order us to log them? If we have no intention of entering the fray, tracking them won’t make it simple to acquire them.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk… this is precisely why your rank remains at a mere two knots.”

O-sam, glaring at the speaker with undisguised contempt, went on.

“What type of syndicate do we belong to?”

“That would be… an order dedicated to upholding the righteousness of the Jianghu…”

Whack.

“Not that, you fool. I am asking what our primary operational function actually is.”

“…T-That would be, i-information gathering.”

O-sam clicked his tongue in profound annoyance.

“Precisely. We function as an intelligence syndicate. Our brethren are scattered across the realm, and our eyes and ears cover every corner. Consequently, regardless of which scoundrel emerges with the elixir, they will ultimately cross our paths.”

“…Ah, so we intend to employ a cunning scheme to extract the medicine from them afterward…”

Smack!

The speaker was cut off as sharp pain radiated across the back of his skull once more.

“Mind your language. That is termed a ‘stratagem,’ a stratagem!”

“I-Is that so?”

“Indeed.”

The inquisitive beggar failed to get the clarification he truly sought, but he chose not to press the matter. Had he continued, his skull wouldn’t have survived intact. Yet, a reckless individual always steps forward from another quarter.

“However, Boss (Wang-cho)…”

“What! What now!”

A different beggar initiated the conversation with a perplexed countenance.

“Um… by any chance, must we record unaffiliated beggars as well?”

“You mindless idiots, why would members of the Beggars’ Union be searching for spirit medicines, so why waste the effort!”

“No. It isn’t that, it’s just that I believe they are beggars who possess no allegiance to our Union…”

O-sam’s eyebrows knitted together tightly. How dare outsiders beg within this territory without being part of the Beggars’ Union. How many beggar bowls belonging to past generations had been shattered to secure and cultivate this domain? And yet they presumed to encroach on this soil?

“Where! Show me! Where are these insolent wanderers attempting to infringe upon the jurisdiction of the Beggars’ Union!”

“O-Over there…”

The beggar indicated a direction with a hesitant gesture. In that quarter, five human silhouettes were advancing through the swirling dust storm. They certainly bore the appearance of destitute wanderers he had never encountered before…

‘Hmm?’

As the group drew closer, O-sam paused mid-stride against his own volition. Even to someone like him, who possessed unmatched experience dealing with the destitute, their presentation was bizarre. Not only were their garments caked in heavy layers of dirt, but their visages were caked in filth, indicating they hadn’t bathed in a great many days. Their hair hung in wild tangles, and dried fluid stained their faces.

‘Madness, what are those objects secured around their limbs…?’

Most peculiar of all, they had heavy iron bands fastened to their forearms and shins like penal fetters. And with every stride they attempted, they left deep craters in the soil, moving forward incredibly slowly despite the effort expended. They appeared as though they were suffering through some sort of physical convulsion.

‘They seem to be in far too critical a state to be categorized as simple beggars.’

Among modern wanderers, none allowed themselves to maintain such a hazardous level of filth. Because when soliciting charity, it creates intense disgust and reduces contributions, and above all, it frequently serves as a vector for pestilence. As a fundamental principle, the absolute top priority for beggars in this era is cleanliness! It was all about hygiene!

However,

‘And who might that individual be…?’

Among the group, completely distinct from the other four, walked one person who advanced with absolute composure. He traveled with a normal gait as if he shared no connection with his four companions, while the remaining four who were struggling through convulsions glared at his back with homicidal intent.

‘Could he be a human trafficker?’

When O-sam concluded his preliminary evaluation of the suspect group, a subordinate inquired.

“Boss, what are your orders?”

“Bring them before me immediately. I require an interrogation.”

If they proved to be authentic independent beggars, he would provide them with a severe lesson in protocol, and if the leader was a human trafficker, he would batter him to death on the spot. How many innocent folk were reduced to captives by marauding bands every year? O-sam felt a surge of righteous anger swell within his chest as his Beggar’s Staff (Ta-gu-bong) grew warm in his grip.

“…….”

However, the subordinate who approached the suspect group addressed the individual resembling a slaver, but the man merely dismissed him with a flick of his hand as though dealing with an annoying insect. The subordinate, attempting to press the issue a few more times, returned at a swift trot.

“Um… he states we should mind our own affairs?”

This brainless fool… you simply retreated because he dismissed you?

“Did you proclaim my authority?”

“Ah!”

Ah? What do you mean, ah? Ha, truly, what am I to do with these simpletons? O-sam ground his teeth together to contain his rising fury.

“…Go back this instant and inform him properly.”

“Understood, sir!”

The subordinate, recognizing that O-sam’s temper was reaching a boiling point, sprinted back quickly to deliver the message once more. Having received the warning, the slaver shifted his gaze between the subordinate and O-sam, then dismissed him with another wave of his hand. Consequently, the subordinate ran back to O-sam yet again.

‘Th-That absolute imbecile…!’

O-sam, unable to tolerate the disrespect a moment longer, brandished his Beggar’s Staff and marched directly toward the slaver.

“B-Boss!”

Thwack!

“Stand down, you fool!”

O-sam, sending his subordinate spinning away with a single blow, confronted the slaver with a hostile demeanor.

“You miserable wretch, do you have any inkling of who stands before you?!”

“…….”

The slaver offered zero acknowledgement to O-sam’s open provocation. Instead, he narrowed one eye and appraised O-sam coldly. Ha, ridiculous. It was a completely indifferent look, so why did he feel an unbidden tremor in his legs? O-sam, his self-respect wounded, drew in a deep breath to expand his posture and bellowed.

“I am the leader of the Xi’an Ilsung Bridge in Shaanxi Province, O-sam, you scoundrel!”

He intentionally thrust his four knots forward for emphasis. If he presented himself in this manner, any standard martial artist would be unable to conceal their alarm and would turn rigid with caution. However, the slaver before him simply knitted his brows into a look of profound disgust, resembling someone who had just ingested filth.

“What gibberish is this miserable Xi’an beggar spouting?!”

“…….”

What was this? This response? O-sam was utterly dumbfounded. Judging by the weapon he carried, he had to be someone belonging to the Jianghu. Could it be he was ignorant of the Beggars’ Union? If he possessed any knowledge of the Union, he would certainly recognize that one does not treat an official member with such blatant disregard. The authority of the Beggars’ Union stems from a membership numbering a hundred thousand, but the information harvested by those hundred thousand individuals constitutes the true strength of the organization. Ultimately, this fellow might have mastered a few martial forms, but he appeared completely unversed in the dynamics of the martial world. Just observe his visage—does his complexion not look smooth and untroubled, as if he had never experienced a day of hardship?

“You arrogant brat…”

“Listen, beggar. Depart while I am offering you the chance politely. Before I shatter that stick of yours along with every single bowl in your possession.”

The slaver dismissed him with a wave of his hand, treating him like a nuisance. Observing that gesture, O-sam’s restraint finally shattered.

“On this day, I shall discipline a stray dog and enforce the righteousness of the Jianghu.”

“What is this lunatic prattling on about?”

O-sam channeled his inner force into the Beggar’s Staff and brought it around in a sweeping arc. He would absolutely deliver a painful lesson to this ignorant fool…

Thud!

“?!”

Yet, his adversary arrested the Beggar’s Staff—which carried seventy percent of his full strength—using only his scabbard. He even offered a bored yawn as if the attack were entirely inconsequential.

“Is this the extent of your skill?”

“…….”

Following that, his gaze flashed with intensity as he shifted his grip on his weapon.

“You are clearly the one who initiated this conflict. Beggar.”

Just as a sense of deep foreboding washed over him.

“…Hold on!”

“If you intend to offer an apology, save your breath…”

“Not that! Reveal your name to me!”

“What use does a beggar have for my identity?”

“Are you truly without fear regarding retribution from the Beggars’ Union?”

Faced with O-sam’s desperate gamble, the slaver let out a mocking laugh.

“Absurd…”

Then, he declared his identity with absolute certainty.

“It is So-un-Jin.”

So-un-Jin, he claimed. Hmph, even the moniker carries the ring of a human trafficker… hold on a moment?

“So-un… Jin? …The Black Flame Dragon?!?”

“Black Flame… Haa, very well. That is precisely who I am, you idiot.”

Had he not yearned to cross paths with So-un-Jin? However, he suddenly perceived that the reality of the situation departed drastically from his imagination. Particularly regarding the four individuals flanking So-un-Jin.

“…….”

His heart began to thump erratically as he noticed that the four figures who were being driven like pack animals were staring at him with expressions overflowing with profound sympathy.

Ah, curse it all, have I stepped into a disaster?