Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1489

Oh Geom looked around, his face worried. The room was simple, dusty sunlight filtering through a high window.

“What did he just say?” Oh Geom whispered, his voice tight.

“He said he’ll kill him?” another man replied, eyes wide.

“Kill who? The Beggars’ Sect Leader?” a third voice asked, disbelief in its tone.

“Is that crazy fool really serious?” someone muttered.

People who had been staring in shock now quickly turned to look at Chung Myung’s back. The air felt thick with tension.

“He’s serious,” Yoon Jong said quietly, his voice barely audible.

Yoon Jong knew it immediately.

This wasn’t just a threat. If the Beggars’ Sect Leader didn’t give a good answer now, Chung Myung was really going to do something. He knew it from seeing that back so many times.

“Sasuk!”

Yoon Jong, flustered, looked for Baek Cheon. Baek Cheon was the only one who could stop that madman.

‘He has to be stopped!’

The opponent was the Beggars’ Sect Leader. It wasn’t confirmed, but that’s who he claimed to be.

To cut down such a person? With Chung Myung’s sword? This wasn’t an accident that could be easily covered up. No, this could be a huge event. It might even change the entire martial world more than the Saheuk Ryun’s Northern Advance.

“Sasuk! First, Chung Myung…”

“Wait.”

Yoon Jong’s eyes flickered.

“But…”

“I know what you mean, so wait.”

Yoon Jong shut his mouth. He couldn’t easily argue with Baek Cheon, who seemed so determined.

‘What is he planning?’

He looked forward again, feeling worried and helpless. Chung Myung’s back was still indifferent, and the Cheonsang Guild Leader’s eyes were darkly sunken.

After a long silence, the Cheonsang Guild Leader spoke.

“You’re saying…”

His voice sounded calm, but Oh Geom heard a slight tremor.

“That I am deliberately making the Beggars’ Sect weak?”

…”

“That I, the Beggars’ Sect Leader, am doing that?”

Lee Song Baek looked at Chung Myung, a little confused.

It might seem strange for a Jong Nam disciple to think this, but Lee Song Baek trusted Chung Myung almost completely. He believed Chung Myung had a good reason for everything.

But even Lee Song Baek thought this accusation was too strange.

If that man was really the Beggars’ Sect Leader, he would want the Sect to be strong. What Sect Leader would weaken their own Sect on purpose?

Thinking there might be a misunderstanding, Lee Song Baek spoke carefully.

“Um… Daojang. This seems to be…”

“You are exactly right.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader’s calm voice cut off Lee Song Baek.

‘What?’

Everyone was surprised and stared at the Cheonsang Guild Leader.

“Indeed, I can’t be judged too quickly. You are as I’ve heard.”

Chung Myung and the Cheonsang Guild Leader stared at each other.

“Many people have noticed the Beggars’ Sect’s decline, but they just laughed at my incompetence. You’re the first to understand my real intentions. Amazing.”

Yoon Jong’s mouth opened slowly.

‘What is he talking about?’

Why would the Beggars’ Sect Leader weaken his own Sect?

“Enough with the obvious words. And enough with the useless flattery.”

Chung Myung cut him off coldly.

“I want to know the reason. Why did you do this?”

“The reason…”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader slowly turned and sat in his chair, leaning back.

“Actually, I should be asking you, Hwasan Sword Saint.”

“…What?”

“Why should the Beggars’ Sect be strong?”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed.

“Tell me. Why must the Beggars’ Sect be strong? And why must I, as the Sect Leader, make sure the Beggars’ Sect is always strong? What’s the purpose?”

“What nonsense are you saying?”

“So you can use us when you need us?”

When Chung Myung didn’t answer, the Cheonsang Guild Leader chuckled.

“You probably know this. The Beggars’ Sect became one of the Nine Great Sects because of its information gathering… But unlike the Haho Sect, we don’t really learn martial arts for secret missions. We just run around, listening.”

Chung Myung stared at the Cheonsang Guild Leader.

“The countless beggars exist only to use their ears. Or to stop enemies with their numbers.”

“What…”

“You know, don’t you, Hwasan Sword Saint.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader spoke quietly, his voice hollow.

“The strength you talk about comes from a spirit that doesn’t care about life. A spirit that says, ‘Even if I die, I will see the enemy and hear their words.’ Without that spirit, the Beggars’ Sect is just a useless group of beggars. Do you know what that means?”

Chung Myung didn’t answer. The Cheonsang Guild Leader’s face twisted. He spoke as if spitting out the words.

“The Beggars’ Sect’s strength that you want is paid for with the blood of beggars.”

Yoon Jong trembled.

But the Cheonsang Guild Leader continued, not caring about their reactions.

“To make the Beggars’ Sect strong, I just have to push the disciples into Gangnam, whether they live or die, put them around the Saheuk Ryun, and use the blood they shed to find the enemy. That’s how the Beggars’ Sect has always done it.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader shrugged.

“So what’s left?”

…”

“Righteous Blood Beggars’ Sect. The Beggars’ Sect sheds blood for righteousness. What’s left besides those words?”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader’s voice rose, as if his anger was escaping.

“They say it so easily. This is what the Beggars’ Sect must do, they say. Even if it means sacrifice, we must find out.”

…”

“Would they say that if the sacrifice was their own Sect member’s life?”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader chuckled.

“No. They wouldn’t. Everyone values their own life. But the lives of a few beggars mean nothing in this martial world.”

“That’s not true.”

Yoon Jong couldn’t stand it and spoke. The Cheonsang Guild Leader glared at him.

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Then you didn’t resent us when we lost Jang Il-So’s trail?”

Yoon Jong was speechless and closed his mouth.

“Really?”

A strange smile appeared on the Cheonsang Guild Leader’s lips.

“Some people say the lives of beggars are important. But when a crisis comes, everyone shouts that we need information, that we must find the enemy’s trail, or more people will die.”

…”

“So go to Gangnam, full of enemies, and stick to them.”

Yoon Jong felt suffocated. He wanted to say it wasn’t true, but he couldn’t. What he felt didn’t matter.

What if Yoon Jong said they shouldn’t sacrifice beggars for information? The world might not accept it. It would keep demanding it. The Beggars’ Sect had to get more information.

Then Chung Myung’s low voice broke the silence.

“So that’s why you did this?”

Chung Myung smirked.

“Being bedridden was a good excuse. If you’re in bed, you don’t have to meet other Sect leaders, so you don’t have to listen to requests or pressure.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“You also stopped the Beggars’ Sect disciples who would have rushed into enemy territory.”

“That’s right.”

“You withdrew the Beggars’ Sect disciples from dangerous places, and you did nothing when the Sect split and fought.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader nodded.

“And the reason for all of that is… you just didn’t want to help others?”

“You’re wrong, Hwasan Sword Saint.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader shook his head.

“I just wanted to save one more Beggars’ Sect disciple.”

…”

“We are just beggars. The Beggars’ Sect is where the lowest people in the world gather to avoid being oppressed. But the world tells us to give up our last thing: our lives.”

Chung Myung’s lips twitched.

“The ones who get the information you want aren’t the skilled experts in the Beggars’ Sect. They’re the ones begging in the villages, worrying about food for tomorrow. Is it right to ask for their lives?”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader ground his teeth.

“If you really need something, you should do it yourselves. Why ask us?”

“The Beggars’ Sect has been paid for that. Are you going to deny it now?”

“So I’m saying I’ll give it up!”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader shouted like thunder.

The air tensed. Chung Myung and the Cheonsang Guild Leader glared at each other.

The Cheonsang Guild Leader shrugged, then realized he was angry and sighed.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten angry.”

He rubbed his eyes with a trembling hand, showing the pressure and pain he felt.

“Maybe I just wanted to tell someone this. Maybe that’s why I didn’t stop you from coming here.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader sighed and shook his head.

“Go back.”

“Bangju.”

“You wanted to find me and fix the Beggars’ Sect. You thought the Beggars’ Sect had to play its part in the war.”

…”

“And you were sure you could do it. You’ve always gotten what you wanted. I know you’re capable.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader glared at Chung Myung.

“But I won’t change my mind. I won’t sacrifice beggars for information. If you really want it, kill me here. Then you might get what you want. Many people at the main headquarters want the Beggars’ Sect to be strong again.”

The Cheonsang Guild Leader held his head high.

“Is that an answer?”

…”

Chung Myung quietly made a fist. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it.

He didn’t know what to say.

How could he argue with someone who wanted to save even one beggar’s life, no matter the cost?

Chung Myung closed his eyes, feeling defeated.

“I don’t understand.”

Lee Song Baek spoke clearly. His bright eyes stared at the Cheonsang Guild Leader, who was full of regret.