“Reporting! The carriage carrying Jang Il-So, Lord of the Wicked Blade Union, is approaching Nanjing. If this continues, they will reach Nanjing within three hours!”
“Reporting! Black Demon Squad forces are passing through Changzhou, moving towards Nanjing quickly!”
“Estimated time of arrival?”
“They are taking breaks, so it’s hard to say exactly. But we think they will arrive in three to five hours.”
“Reporting! Righteous martial artists near Huangshan are gathering in Nanjing! We are trying to count them, but it’s hard because they are coming from everywhere. It looks like there are at least five thousand!”
As these reports came in, Neng San, the Beggar Union Elder, looked worried.
Every piece of news was dangerous, and it made his chest feel tight. But the next news was the worst.
“Elder!”
“Thud!”
The door to the inner chamber burst open, and a beggar with a pale face ran in.
“E-Emergency! It’s an emergency!”
“What is it?”
“A report from Jiangnan! Many carts have been seen near Huangshan!”
“Carts?”
“Yes! We aren’t sure, but it looks like they are carrying grain!”
“Grain…”
Cold sweat ran down Neng San’s back.
What did grain mean at this time? Why would anyone move grain towards the Yangtze River in such large amounts?
‘Military supplies!’
Unless Jang Il-So had decided to help the refugees, his plan was clear.
“A-Are you serious?”
Neng San’s fingers shook. Military supplies meant that Jang Il-So wasn’t planning a quick fight.
He couldn’t speak for a moment. Then, the other beggars started talking loudly.
“Why would they need military supplies? It’s just a show! The Wicked Blade Union doesn’t need grain!”
“That’s foolish! The Wicked Blade Union can go without food for a few days, but they are bringing smaller groups with them. If they want to march north, they need supplies!”
“I don’t think so!”
The information team, with their hands full of reports, shouted over each other.
Their job was to quickly look at all the new information and decide what to do. But Neng San could hear the fear in their voices.
“L-Let’s calm down! Military supplies don’t always mean they will cross the river. Maybe they will just stay near the Yangtze River!”
“Nonsense! Why would the Wicked Blade Union do that? They already have a good base in Jiujiang!”
“Enough!”
Neng San stopped the argument.
“First, send a message to headquarters and contact the Nine Sects who are going to Nanjing!”
“Yes!”
“Don’t guess about things you don’t know. Just send the information! We can analyze it later!”
“Yes!”
Several people ran out.
“Elder, what about the Heavenly Union?”
“…Tell them too.”
“Yes!”
Neng San stopped the beggar who was about to leave.
“Check with the Black Clothed Unit in Jiangnan to see if they can contact Hainan, who is heading north!”
“E-Elder, that’s…”
“Check it!”
“Yes, I understand!”
Neng San watched the beggar run out and frowned.
‘Have we become too relaxed?’
The information team was the pride of the Beggar Union. They collect and analyze all the information in the world. People say the Beggar Union knows what the person next door ate for breakfast.
Neng San was proud of the information team. But today, they seemed different.
The information system, which worked perfectly when things were calm, was now starting to fail because everything was so urgent.
‘The Jianghu has been too peaceful.’
He thought he was ready. He thought he could handle anything. But now he saw how wrong he was.
A sword gets dull if it stays in its sheath for too long. He realized that today.
“Is there still no news from headquarters?”
“N-Not yet…”
Neng San bit his lip.
‘If only the Union Lord was okay…’
He should have let a younger man lead the Beggar Union.
If he had known this would happen, he would have given the position to someone else before the current Union Lord became weak.
But now it was too late. Changing leaders now would make things worse.
‘Mount Hua.’
Neng San clenched his fist.
When he heard that Hyun Jong had stepped down as Sect Leader of Mount Hua and given the position to his disciple, Neng San thought it was a mistake.
When he heard that Hyun Jong had made the young Baek Cheon the acting Sect Leader, he thought Hyun Jong was crazy.
Most people thought so too.
Hyun Jong had revived Mount Hua. No one could deny that.
Maybe Hyun Jong didn’t do it all himself. Maybe he just watched.
But he shouldn’t have stepped down. There was no reason to change something that was working well. When things are good, you should keep them that way.
But now he understood why Hyun Jong had stepped down and given the position to a young man.
“What about the other sects? Have the Nine Sects answered our request for help?”
“No answer yet!”
“Still?”
“Yes. Our people are waiting for their orders, but no answer has come.”
“Why!”
Neng San was angry.
“It’s been a while since we sent the message! Do they think they can just ignore this, damn it!”
The beggar answered quickly.
“I-I will send another message!”
“You son of a…”
Neng San hit the floor with his bamboo staff.
“What are you all thinking!”
His shout echoed outside the hall.
Qingcheng Mountain.
“They say the Wicked Blade Union is almost in Nanjing.”
“Hmm.”
Byeok Hyeon-Ja, the Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect, looked serious.
“Sect Leader, beggars are waiting at the mountain gate. Should we answer them?”
Byeok Hyeon-Ja nodded slowly.
“Tell them Qingcheng will answer Shaolin’s call and go to the Yangtze River as soon as we are ready.”
“Yes, I will. Should I tell the disciples to prepare?”
“Yes. We must prepare. People are watching.”
Byeok Sang, the Qingcheng Elder, looked surprised.
“You don’t plan to go?”
“I must go. Qingcheng is one of the Nine Great Sects and a leader of the righteous path. How can I not go?”
“…Then?”
“But we don’t need to rush.”
Byeok Sang looked stiff.
“Sect Leader, the enemy is moving fast.”
“I know. It will be a big fight. That Overlord won’t give up easily.”
“But how can you…”
Byeok Sang stopped, and Byeok Hyeon-Ja smiled strangely.
“You don’t understand. I didn’t say I wouldn’t go. I said I would go after we are ready.”
“…”
“We can’t help if we aren’t prepared. So let’s do our best.”
“…Yes, Sect Leader.”
Byeok Sang bowed, but he didn’t look convinced.
Byeok Hyeon-Ja smiled.
“I am just curious.”
“…Yes?”
“Qingcheng has been attacked many times. We fought the Demonic Path, the Evil Sects, and people from beyond the border.”
“That’s what Qingcheng is proud of.”
“But now… I had a thought.”
“What…”
“What if Nanjing isn’t as close as we think?”
Byeok Sang closed his mouth.
“Hanam too. We can run to help them anytime. Martial artists can run there in a few days.”
“That’s true, but…”
“But our ancestors never got help from Hanam. They always fought on their own.”
Byeok Sang looked serious. He understood what Byeok Hyeon-Ja was saying.
“So I wonder, when we were in trouble, were they really too far away to help?”
“Sect Leader…”
“Isn’t it funny?”
Byeok Hyeon-Ja stared out the window.
“They sit in the safest place and watch the fire. They must have always felt this way.”
He looked sad.
“So let’s wait. I want to see how they watched Qingcheng Mountain burn. Don’t worry. I don’t want Shaolin to fall. I will go, but not too soon…”
But he wouldn’t hurry.
Byeok Sang knew what he meant and bowed his head.
“What do you think? Am I wrong?”
Byeok Sang looked up and said calmly.
“We shouldn’t hold onto the past.”
Byeok Hyeon-Ja’s eyebrows twitched. Then Byeok Sang smiled.
“But martial artists are patient. If we can get something good by waiting, shouldn’t we do it?”
Byeok Hyeon-Ja stared at Byeok Sang, surprised, then laughed.
That was the answer he wanted.
“Tell the disciples to prepare. They should know.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Byeok Hyeon-Ja smiled as he watched Byeok Sang leave.
“…Beop Jeong, why did you act so important?”
Byeok Hyeon-Ja wondered what Beop Jeong was doing now.
But he really wanted to see Beop Jeong after he lost the war with the Wicked Blade Union.
Would he still look so proud?
“…Don’t die, Abbot. I want to see you again. Haha.”
His laughter echoed in the hall.