novelraw Chapter 180 : Guests from Afar
Chapter 180 : Guests from Afar
Chapter 180: Guests from Afar
Pak Chil, one of the Four Great Disciples of the Beggars’ Union, started his mornings early.
Even before the midsummer sun rose, he would head toward the Beijing branch of the Beggars’ Union, gather various pieces of information, and begin his day by selecting the useful grains among them.
And once a week, he would head to a shabby building on the outskirts of Beijing.
“Dan Mujin Troubleshooter Office”
A signboard boldly displaying its owner’s name.
Behind it were promotional phrases written in no particular order.
‘We take on anything.’
‘A fantasy martial arts show.’
‘Zero failed requests so far.’
Several phrases that he hadn’t seen before had also been added. Among them were quite a few things that made little sense.
Those who didn’t know would pass by thinking it was a strange place, but thanks to word-of-mouth among the Beggars’ Union operatives lately, the office had become fairly well known among those in the know.
And it was none other than the business personally run by the man widely predicted to become the next Dragon Head Sect Leader.
“Oh, you’re here? Uncle Pak Chil, if there’s any work from other regions, connect me with it.”
At some point, the young future Sect Leader had started calling him “uncle” in a friendly tone.
And as soon as Pak Chil arrived, he bluntly asked if there were any good jobs in other regions.
Pak Chil didn’t think he was old enough to be called uncle yet, but from the perspective of a teenager, things probably looked different.
“Hmm, you’re here…? Would you like a cup of tea?”
As soon as Pak Chil stepped into the office, Ilhong—the staff member—inevitably held out a handful of bitter tea leaves meant for unwelcome guests.
She was said to have served the young future Sect Leader for a long time, calling him Captain.
“I’ll enjoy it.”
Pak Chil felt the bitterness spread across his mouth as he glanced sideways at Ilhong.
A handsome youth who followed Dan Mujin like a shadow wherever he went.
At first, Pak Chil had thought the future Sect Leader had simply picked up a talented person from some back alley.
But something he had glimpsed in Ilhong’s arms not long ago had changed everything.
A rough wooden seal.
It had slipped out by accident, and Ilhong had hastily picked it up and stuffed it away.
At first glance it looked like an ordinary crude stamp, but since Pak Chil had recently begun working here and gained access to the Beggars’ Union’s core intelligence, he immediately realized what it was.
‘Isn’t that… the sacred object of the Hao Sect that disappeared…?’
In particular, it looked identical to the sacred object that the missing Young Sect Leader of the Hao Sect had reportedly carried after the incident that occurred several years ago at the Hao Sect’s Beijing branch.
The Hao Sect had once stirred up not only Beijing but the entire Central Plains searching for it, so as a competing intelligence organization, it was impossible for Pak Chil not to know about it.
Because that sacred object was missing, it was said that even the current Hao Sect Leader, Black Diagnosis Bird, still had a shaky foundation of influence.
‘But I clearly heard that the Hao Sect’s Young Sect Leader who took it was a woman…’
A memory suddenly surfaced.
Pak Chil flinched and looked at Ilhong again.
Now that he thought about it, every time he saw Ilhong, the face and aura seemed far too delicate for a man.
And thinking about it now, the age matched perfectly too.
Could it be that Ilhong was disguised as a man?
Once that thought occurred to him, everything began to make sense.
Why Ilhong always stuck close to Dan Mujin.
Why those eyes constantly followed him.
And why Ilhong seemed eager to push Pak Chil away, even though their roles overlapped.
‘Heavens… she must harbor deep feelings for the future Sect Leader!’
The bitter tea leaves she had just offered must be a kind of “jealousy.”
She probably disliked the feeling that someone else was occupying the place she believed belonged to her.
It was clearly not a simple master-and-subordinate relationship.
‘Wait… the young Sect Leader also seemed to care deeply for Ilhong…’
He had heard that Dan Mujin had been stabbed several times while trying to save her, and had even thrown himself in front of a Thunderburst Bomb.
If both sides were that devoted, their relationship was certainly unusual.
‘Then… does that mean the Hao Sect’s Young Sect Leader will become the future lady of the house…?’
Pak Chil felt chills run down his spine at the foresight of the future Sect Leader.
If that really happened, the young Sect Leader would hold the Beggars’ Union in his left hand…
…and the Hao Sect in his right.
He would become an unprecedented figure commanding both the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions’ greatest intelligence organizations.
“Gah!”
Startled by the lightning bolt of realization in his head, Pak Chil sprang to his feet so abruptly that he even flung aside his teacup.
The people in the office stared at him as if he were crazy, but he had no time to care.
‘Did the young Sect Leader take Ilhong in because he had already foreseen all of this?’
If so, just how deep and meticulous must his calculations be?
Pak Chil slapped his knee in admiration.
“Burp.”
Dan Mujin was digging his nose like a beggar while letting out a belch, as if the snacks he had chewed earlier had finally digested.
But behind that seemingly thoughtless exterior must surely lie a thorough and carefully prepared grand design.
“I will serve you with absolute loyalty, Dan Mujin Master!”
“…Whoa, you startled me. What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
Even the hot-tempered behavior he always displayed—recklessly charging at anyone, whether it was Thunder Sword Murong Cheon or someone else—might actually have been carefully calculated moves.
Looking back, everything so far had indeed turned out well.
Normally, even with great caution and effort, things didn’t unfold that smoothly.
“No matter how I think about it, you alone are the one destined to lead the beggars. From now on, I, Pak Chil, will devote myself wholeheartedly to assisting you.”
“What are you even talking about…? Hey, if you’re going to be loyal, just arrange some requests from other sects. At this rate my lifespan’s going to shorten.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare something top-class!”
Shouting that, Pak Chil dashed out of the office like the wind.
Seeing the completely different level of loyalty and initiative compared to before, the people in the office looked exhausted.
“Captain, what’s wrong with him all of a sudden?”
They knew Pak Chil had been trying to curry favor with a powerful future figure, but now it was on a completely different level.
It was as if he had suddenly become a loyal retainer.
“How should I know? He’s quick though, that’s nice.”
But Dan Mujin, who usually didn’t think much about anything, simply kept cracking roasted peanuts he had taken out of his pocket.
“Wow, these are really nutty.”
Western Sichuan Province.
Towering peaks wrapped in clouds like mist.
Among them was a mountain range called Mount Emei, named because its shape resembled a silkworm moth.
Deep within it, beyond a gorge filled with thousand-year-old trees, lay a sacred domain where men could never set foot.
It was the main mountain of the Emei Sect, one of the Nine Sects One Gang of the Central Plains.
“Venerable Huiyin, what is the meaning of this? Why have you summoned all the disciples of Emei?”
Under the urgent summons of Sect Leader Venerable Huiyin, the disciples of the Emei Sect gathered from all directions, white robes fluttering, their faces filled with concern.
In front of them, the Sect Leader spoke with a grave expression.
“One disciple of Emei has disappeared.”
Those few words fell.
The courtyard of the Emei Sect fell silent as if water had been splashed over it.
Soon after, faint murmurs spread.
“Who is it? Is this another scheme by villains trying to disgrace the Emei Sect?”
“Could it be revenge for the Evil-Slaying Campaign last time…?”
Anger and agitation rose among the women.
Indeed, many in the Central Plains harbored malice and dark intentions toward the Emei Sect, which was renowned as a gathering of heroic women.
Despite the countless times the sect had punished such offenders with merciless blades, had such a thing happened again?
Just as the disciples were about to release their killing intent—
“She is presumed to have eloped with a man.”
“……”
The murderous aura filling the courtyard instantly dissipated.
Though deeply embarrassing, such things occasionally happened.
Young disciples in the prime of their youth were secluded deep in the mountains, training under strict discipline.
Sometimes, without realizing it, they developed strange feelings.
Furthermore, as one of the Nine Sects One Gang, the Emei Sect regularly participated in Orthodox faction events like the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament and traveled the Central Plains to eliminate famous demonic practitioners and villains.
Ironically, such journeys sometimes led to men and women falling for each other.
“Venerable Huiyin, who is it? Who betrayed her sisters of Emei?”
One woman asked.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the answer.
The Sect Leader of the Emei Sect replied with cold, sunken eyes.
“Venerable Huiyul.”
“……!”
Shock rippled through the disciples.
“Did you say… Venerable Huiyul?”
One senior disciple asked in disbelief.
Venerable Huiyul was the most promising genius of the Emei Sect.
At a young age she had already reached Peak Master Level, and she was regarded as a pillar who would lead the next generation of the Emei Sect.
“That is not all.”
Venerable Huiyin continued with a stiff face.
“She disappeared while carrying the sacred treasure of the Emei Sect—the Yitian Interspatial Sword.”
Had she come to think of the sword, which had been lent to her to punish evil, as her own?
“How could Venerable Huiyul do such a thing…?”
“Ah, Primordial Heavenly Lord…”
Sighs and lamentations erupted among the disciples.
Some clenched their fists in trembling betrayal.
“We must pursue her.”
One disciple raised her voice.
“We can judge her crimes later, but we must at least recover the sacred treasure!”
Another quickly agreed.
Venerable Huiyin quietly listened to the voices of the disciples.
“Where did Venerable Huiyul go?”
One of the Nine Great Elders asked, sensing the unusual expression on the Sect Leader’s face.
“…Mount Song. More precisely, Shaolin.”
The disciples’ expressions froze in disbelief.
Shaolin Temple was also one of the Nine Sects One Gang, and like the Emei Sect, it was a sacred domain that strictly forbade women.
She had chosen the one place the disciples of Emei had the hardest time approaching.
“Perhaps she disguised herself as a man using Disguise Techniques?”
“She might have blended in among the many lay disciples.”
“Then shouldn’t we do the same?”
One disciple said brightly.
The Sect Leader raised her hand, silencing the chatter.
“Are you suggesting we imitate the actions of the one who crossed the line? If we attempted such a thing and were discovered, what rumors would spread across the Murim?”
This was, after all, a forbidden domain for women.
If an Emei disciple were caught sneaking in, the humiliation would be immeasurable.
The honor the sect’s predecessors had protected with their lives would fall to the ground.
“Then what should we do?”
One of the elders asked.
“We must summon a ‘male outsider’ who can enter that place.”
Normally the affairs of the Emei Sect should be resolved by Emei disciples.
But this time, they had no choice but to borrow someone else’s hand.
If discovered, it would at least prevent the sect’s reputation from collapsing entirely.
“But Venerable Huiyin, who could we possibly trust with such a grave matter?”
“And if Venerable Huiyul truly resists, there are not many who could face her formidable martial arts.”
“And most importantly, someone with an extremely tight mouth. This must never spread.”
The disciples continued listing conditions.
The more they spoke, the more they realized how difficult those demands were.
Someone with martial arts surpassing Peak Master Level…
someone trustworthy…
and someone capable of maintaining absolute secrecy.
But Venerable Huiyin raised her hand again and stopped the chatter.
“There is one person the Beggars’ Union operatives have been praising endlessly lately.”
A martial artist who met every one of those conditions.
Someone with that level of ability and such a brilliant record—though she still could not understand why such a man worked as a mere troubleshooter.
Still, in the current situation, he was practically the only one they could ask.
“The Beijing Troubleshooter… Dog-Beating Dragon Dan Mujin.”
“……!”
Several women who recognized the name widened their eyes.
“…I saw him perform at the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.”
“He also shattered the main gate of the Tang Clan in Sichuan.”
“And he even dared to charge fearlessly at Thunder Sword Murong Cheon… Are we sure about this?”
Various testimonies poured out among the Emei disciples.
These days, he had become quite famous among the Orthodox martial artists—for many reasons.
“One thing is certain. That man has never failed a single request.”
From countless conflicts to the Blood Cult and even Jiangshi…
In every major incident, he had always produced the desired result.
In times like this, skill mattered more than character.
After calming the disciples’ concerns, Venerable Huiyin called the names of two disciples she trusted.
“Gi Hyo, Jeong Yo. Change out of your Emei robes and go to Beijing to find him.”
They said he accepted any request.
Surely he would accept this strange request from the Emei Sect as well.
“You must return before summer passes and autumn arrives.”
Her eyes darkened.
Soon, a ritual requiring the Yitian Interspatial Sword would begin within the Emei Sect.
Guests from outside would also arrive for it.
“Yes, we will find him no matter what happens.”
“Leave it to us!”
With resolute determination, the two women of the Emei Sect set out toward Beijing.