Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1480

“Penny for a poor soul, please!” a small voice whined.

“Kind sir, such a lovely child! Blessings given bring blessings back!” another beggar called out, his voice oily and too loud.

“Just one steamed bun, good sir! A hungry boy could live two days on just one! Share your luck with a beggar, won’t you?”

The street was busy and wide, a main road in the city of Kaifeng. Tall walls like a fortress, made of grey stone, surrounded everything, making the city feel closed in. The air smelled of dust and something else, something a little rotten.

Dozens of beggars, young and old, lined the avenue, their heads bowed, hands outstretched. The people of Kaifeng hurried past, used to the sight, barely glancing at the pleading figures.

High above the street, hidden in a shadowed corner on top of the city walls…

“…There are more beggars than actual people.”

“Indeed.”

Oh Geum’s voice, laced with dismay, escaped his lips as he peered into the city of Kaifeng, keeping his body low.

It was neither a joke nor an exaggeration. There seemed to be more beggars than people walking the streets. And it wasn’t just the main thoroughfare; every narrow alley was packed with beggars lying on the ground.

“…At this point, shouldn’t the beggars be feeding the people? Can that many beggars survive by begging in this town?”

“I doubt it.”

Chung Myung’s acerbic voice cut through their hushed tones.

“Begging, my foot.”

“Huh?”

“I told you, those beggar bastards are probably the richest people in the world. They can eat as much as they want at the Beggars’ Sect headquarters.”

Yoon Jong asked, looking bewildered.

“No, then why are they out on the streets begging like that? If they have so much money.”

“How should I know? Those bastards have always been like that.”

“So why would they…”

“Amitabha.”

Just then, Hae Yeon, as if knowing the answer, uttered a short Buddhist invocation and spoke.

“From what I’ve heard, begging is something that the Beggars’ Sect disciples must do, regardless of their wealth.”

“Excuse me? They beg even though they have money? Why?”

“It’s because being a beggar is the lowest job in society. The Beggars’ Sect believes they can understand the world best by starting at the bottom and helping those who are truly in need.”

“…I understand what you’re saying, but…”

Yoon Jong chuckled, a hint of absurdity in his voice.

“It’s strange, isn’t it? If they have money, they’re not beggars, but they beg to live as beggars.”

“Why is that strange, Senior Brother?”

“Huh? Don’t you think it’s strange?”

“Of course, it’s not strange. Chung Myung often jokes, but this didn’t sound like a joke.”

At that moment, everyone’s gaze turned to Chung Myung.

“What? Why me?”

Soon, everyone nodded in agreement.

“It could be.”

“Yes, there must have been a reason.”

“Honestly, are there any rules to be a beggar? Look at Chung Myung, smashing heads and now a Taoist priest!”

Yoon Jong suddenly thought. Perhaps Chung Myung’s existence was loosening the world’s strict standards, just a little.

Of course, such useless thoughts had to be discarded quickly. There was a much bigger problem at hand. He stared at Kaifeng City with a half-dazed expression.

“That’s not the problem right now… How are we going to get in there?”

“…Well, won’t we figure something out?”

“Figure something out?”

Yoon Jong glared, a rare sight. His eyes were filled with contempt.

“Hey, you crazy bastard. Is this a situation that can be solved with ‘figuring something out’? Beggars are swarming everywhere! It would be easier to avoid trouble with the most powerful people in the city than this.”

“Senior Brother. Perhaps that was never an easy task to begin with? Chung Myung often joked, but this didn’t sound like a joke.”

“Uh…”

Confusion washed over Yoon Jong’s face. Just before he plunged into a serious Taoist crisis, Baek Cheon quickly spoke up.

“We need to come up with a plan. It’s impossible with a complacent attitude.”

“That’s definitely true, Martial Uncle.”

“Agreed.”

Tang Soso and Yu Yiseol nodded in agreement. Avoiding the surveillance of all the beggars scattered everywhere was simply impossible. Moreover, if the place they were trying to enter was the Beggars’ Sect’s secret headquarters, wouldn’t the surveillance become even tighter as they approached?

At that moment, Jo Gul lifted Baek Ah high, showing him the scenery of Kaifeng.

“Hey, can’t you tell where that bird went from here?”

Baek Ah twitched his black nose and shook his little head. It seemed impossible to pinpoint the source of the scent from this distance, even for a spirit animal.

“Tch. Useless after all… Ack! Aack! I told you not to pull my hair! I’m really going to go bald… Monk, I’m sorry. It was a slip of the tongue. At least put your fist down. We can’t get caught because of your halo…”

Hae Yeon sighed, his face calm even though his fist had been raised. He was used to Jo Gul’s teasing, but even his patience had limits.

“I’ll say it again, I’m not bald, I’m shaved.”

“Isn’t the result the same?”

“It’s different!”

In the end, Hae Yeon flared up. Baek Cheon sighed deeply as he watched the bickering pair. Those two seemed to have the energy to joke around even in this situation. Jo Gul was one thing, but even that Hae Yeon monk…

“Hey, Chung Myung. Don’t you have any ideas?”

“Haha. Martial Uncle, you’re asking the obvious.”

“Oh? As expected…”

“Nope.”

…Baek Cheon was tormented by the urge to carve up that nonchalant face. It was a rage he hadn’t felt in a long time. Come to think of it, he used to feel it quite often…

“But there’s no need to think so hard. We just need to infiltrate, right? We can find a way now!”

“Hmm.”

Everyone nodded. Not because they understood, but because they knew that complaining wouldn’t change anything.

“How about infiltrating at night? The surveillance should be reduced then.”

“Beggars have better night vision. Important and secret information always comes out at night anyway. Don’t you even know that?”

“Ugh.”

Tang Soso was speechless at Chung Myung’s rebuttal.

“Then how about getting help from the local merchants? It would be hard to notice if we hid in a pile of luggage.”

“Heheng! Because of rumors spread by spies this time, merchants have become the number one surveillance target! We’ll be discovered before the wheels turn twice. You really don’t think, do you!”

“…”

Jo Gul’s eyes twitched.

“Then… um.”

Baek Cheon scratched his head and said.

“How about disguising ourselves? If those people can’t recognize us, there shouldn’t be any problems moving around.”

“That won’t work.”

“Do you think that would work?”

“Ugh, really, Martial Uncle.”

“Rejected.”

Baek Cheon’s body trembled. Those bastards, they listen to even the most idiotic things when they’re talking among themselves… Why only me…

“Martial Uncle.”

“Yes?”

“Just don’t say anything and stay huddled in that corner.”

“…Sorry.”

Baek Cheon shrank back. Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

“I guess you said it after thinking about it, but everyone knows it’s nonsense, right?”

“I know. Even if we disguise ourselves, it’s hard to hide the fact that we’re martial artists. There must be countless masters hidden among the beggars. If a disguised martial artist enters Kaifeng? Dozens of beggars will follow us before we even take a few steps.”

“Then, wouldn’t it work if we disguised ourselves as martial artists?”

“It won’t work.”

This time, Tang Soso shook her head.

“Even if we can somehow hide the energy of a Taoist, people from groups like Mount Hua exude a majestic aura. It’s something that ordinary martial artists can’t produce. It’ll be even more noticeable.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Senior Brothers, you’re from Mount Hua, so you might not know, but when I was in the Tang family, I could distinguish people from the important martial arts groups as if by magic. The beggars will probably be even better.”

“Ugh. Then there’s no good way…”

Yoon Jong scratched his head vigorously.

This doesn’t make sense in the first place. The Beggars’ Sect has been monitoring people their whole lives. Is it even possible to enter their headquarters without being detected?

It would be easier to enter the Demonic Sect’s headquarters, have a cup of tea with the Heavenly Demon, and come back.

“Chung Myung. No matter how I think about it, this won’t work. Let’s find another way.”

“There’s no other way. We have to go.”

“I’m telling you, there’s no way! Isn’t this realistically impossible?”

“Why isn’t there a way? There is! And that is…”

“I’m telling you in advance, don’t say any nonsense like just charging in, beating up all the beggar bastards, and arriving at the place we want to go. That won’t work.”

“…Oh… It won’t work?”

“Are you even saying that? If we do something like that, the Sect Leader and the Supreme Elder will try to peel our skins off. Don’t even dream about it!”

“Aww. That’s the easiest way.”

Chung Myung smacked his lips as if he was really disappointed. Yoon Jong’s blood pressure soared in an instant, and he clutched the back of his neck, gasping. Seriously, what’s in this bastard’s head…

Then, Chung Myung, who had been scratching his chin, said.

“If the best isn’t possible, we have no choice but to use the second best.”

“Huh? There’s a second best?”

“Yeah. Well, anyway, even if we go in there, we just need to avoid being discovered as Mount Hua disciples.”

“I’m telling you, there’s no way to avoid being discovered! We’re martial artists, and martial artists who exude the unique aura of a great sect. And this is Henan. We’ll be exposed as soon as we open our mouths because of our accent. So how can we avoid being discovered?”

“Yes, that’s right. Exactly that.”

“…Yes?”

Tang Soso looked at Chung Myung as if asking what he meant. Then, she shuddered as she saw Chung Myung’s smile.

“What, what are you trying to do, Senior Brother?”

“Just like you said. We just need to become people who aren’t suspicious. Let’s see… We don’t necessarily have to go inside the city walls, we can probably get cotton cloth around here. And everyone can do some sewing, right?”

“I can’t.”

“I can cut cloth.”

Chung Myung looked at the distant sky at Yu Yiseol and Jo Gul’s answers. What would these bastards have done for a living if they hadn’t become martial artists?

“So, what are we going to make? What’s the plan with the cotton cloth?”

“Oh, I’m not the one who’s going to tell you that.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“The person who knows best what it looks like is that gentleman over there, so ask him. He probably even remembers the sleeve length.”

“…That gentleman?”

At Chung Myung’s gesture, everyone’s gaze turned to one place. Baek Cheon, the huddled mess, was still sitting blankly in the corner with his knees together.

“Huh? Me?”

He, who had been deeply contemplating what life was, looked at Chung Myung in surprise at everyone’s gaze. Chung Myung nodded.

“Yes, Martial Uncle. You.”

“Clothing that you know better than me, what kind of… I haven’t really cared about clothing…”

At that moment, Baek Cheon’s eyes widened as much as they could.

“You, you… You don’t mean, you crazy bastard, you don’t mean…?”

Baek Cheon’s face contorted hideously.

“Oh? Looks like you understand.”

“A disciple of Mount Hua! Is that an idea that a proud disciple of Mount Hua can come up with? I can’t do it! I can never wear that filthy thing on my body again! I won’t do it! I’d rather tear off my skin!”

Baek Cheon’s eyes blazed with fury as he struggled. Chung Myung smiled and approached, placing his hand on his shoulder.

“Honestly, you wanted to wear it again at least once, didn’t you?”

“Die, you crazy bastard!”

“Whoa, crazy. He’s really drawing his sword.”

“Stop that gentleman, quickly!”

Hae Yeon, who had been blocking the sound leaking out with his inner energy, suddenly looked up at the distant sky.

“…Amitabha.”

Even after going to Hainan, these people haven’t changed.

At that moment, Jo Gul said seriously.

“Monk, the light is reflecting and it’s blinding me. Please move a little to the side.”

“…Just die, Jo Gul.”

And it seemed that Hae Yeon felt the same way.