The Mad Dog Inspector of the Martial Alliance

Chapter 75 : Honor and Loyalty (2)

A sect's nameplate is nothing more than a wooden sign. But its essence is the pride and face of a sect, so damaging the nameplate is an insult to the sect and a direct challenge. If someone were to do such a thing, they would become a mortal enemy of that sect, or a bloody tragedy would follow.

What if the nameplate of one's sect was broken, and they did nothing? Just ran away?

That would be such a disgrace that a martial artist of the orthodox sect would want to bite their tongue and commit suicide on the spot, and the sect leader of the sect would likely have their qi and blood flow in reverse, vomit blood, and die.

The weight of a nameplate was not that much for the ruffians of the Black Way, but it was certainly enough to make them unable to hold their heads up properly. For the Black Way, violence and the authority that came from that violence were like a lifeline. How could a ruffian who couldn't even protect their own nameplate be an object of fear to anyone? As a member of the Black Way, they would never be able to recover.

Yang Gwan broke the splendid black nameplate of a Black Way sect, the Black Bear Sect, which had been swept away by Jang So-gil's ruthless preemptive attack, in half and threw it into the furnace. And using the iron spear as a poker, he poked at it and asked Jang So-gil.

"Time, what time are you talking about? Most of what you say, Young Master So, is so out of the blue that it's hard for me to understand."

Jang So-gil ran his hand through his hair once and brushed off the ash. Then he leisurely walked around the burning garden with his hands behind his back and replied in a voice that could barely be heard.

"Mmm, it's because the words came out while I was thinking. Since we have a lot of time, let me teach you step by step. Yes. That's right. First, I have to talk about the difference between me and Military Advisor Sima. It will be a long story, are you okay with that?"

"Well, go ahead. I'll be listening."

"Good. People who are called strategists, tacticians, military advisors, staff officers, and brains are all smart. Of course, Military Advisor Sima and I are too."

"That's right. They're brains because they're smart."

"But even if they are smart people, since each has a different personality and taste, the way they think is all different. So when they make a judgment about something, even if the same result comes out, the process of reaching it is completely different."

"How is it different?"

"Military Advisor Sima thoroughly prepares all parts based on the information he has collected. He plans in advance how to deal with each case that can happen by assuming the enemy's movements. If you do this, you can respond to any unusual situation. He is a truly traditional type of military advisor, and most military advisors are people who think in this way."

"What about you, Young Master So?"

"I look at the person."

Jang So-gil moved his hand in the air and drew a person's face. His skill was quite outstanding, and since Yang Gwan's eye for things was also good, he could tell who he was drawing. It was probably the appearance of the person named Po Chungryang.

"What kind of person is that person? What does he like, and what does he dislike? What makes him angry? After collecting and memorizing the basic information, I create that person inside me. And in the flow of time, I substitute the progress of all things and the opponent's response, and I dress the person inside me with the clothes of information. Can you understand?"

"Mental Image Martial Arts Practice?"

It was a traditional martial arts training method of drawing the enemy to be confronted in one's mind, so most martial artists knew the method, but since only those with very outstanding enlightenment could execute it, there were few who actually could.

"Your story, Young Master So, sounds similar to the ideal mental image martial arts practice method."

"Hmm, I certainly think it's on the same track. Anyway, since I think in that way, I was continuously drawing the fellow named Po Chungryang in my thoughts."

"What kind of fellow is he?"

"He's a smart fellow, but he doesn't have the rash judgment and arrogance that smart fellows often commit. This means he's very tricky."

"Is that so?"

"Fellows who think they are smart often fall into the trap of arrogance. Even Military Advisor Sima is careless when he is careless. But the fellow named Po Chungryang is a safety-first person who considers safety the most important thing, so he even taps a stone bridge before crossing it. These kinds of fellows never fall into any decent trap."

"Then does that mean he is more outstanding than Military Advisor Sima?"

Jang So-gil slowly shook his head.

"No. There is no superiority or inferiority in a person's disposition itself."

"But to be smart and yet not know carelessness and to have a cautious nature, doesn't that mean he's the best?"

"Where is there a versatile disposition that stands superior in everything? Everything has two sides."

"Two sides?"

"For example, conceit can be an arrogance that makes one easily fall into a trap, but it is also the action and execution power to make a quick decision and move boldly when it is important."

"Then what about safety-ism?"

"A slowpoke who is obsessed with safety and cannot be bold when it is time to act, and cannot move when it is time to move."

At the firm and clear words, Yang Gwan's head tilted.

On what basis was he so firmly asserting that Po Chungryang was a coward?

Finding a clean wooden chair, Jang So-gil quickly sat down on it. Then he crossed his legs and grinned.

"You're thinking, 'On what basis does the Young Master assert so firmly?'"

"Heop! How did you know that?"

"Your thoughts are all visible on your face."

If one's thoughts were visible on their face, it was the worst disadvantage for a martial artist. If you fought like in a martial arts competition where you shouted and announced where you would attack and what move you would use, you would never be able to win against an enemy of the same level.

"Th-that's..."

"It's a subtle change that only someone of my level can notice, so you don't have to be afraid that your moves will be predicted."

"D-did you know that too..."

"Hehe. Did you really think so? You simple fellow."

As Yang Gwan's face turned red, Jang So-gil held his stomach and laughed.

To tease a person again, what a personality!

"Stop teasing and please continue the story!"

"Alright, alright. You fellow, your temper... Anyway, the reason I asserted that Po Chungryang was a coward and a wimp is because his actions are so slow."

"Slow?"

"If I were him, I would have already pushed out Sect Leader Hong Yukpyo and become the sect leader of the Beggars' Sect a year ago."

"Is that such an easy thing to do?"

"It's not an easy thing. It's a very difficult thing. But that fellow could have done that difficult thing."

To become the sect leader of the Beggars' Sect, you have to hold a 'Beggars' Sect Grand Assembly'. It is a great event where all beggars above the One-Knot Beggar gather.

"All beggars above the One-Knot Beggar gather?"

"Yes. It's a huge meeting where a hundred thousand beggars of the Beggars' Sect gather. They say that at that time, Kaifeng becomes a sea of people."

A gathering of a hundred thousand beggars. Just thinking about it was a dizzying sight.

"The beggars choose the sect leader themselves. Among the several people who have come out as candidates, they give their own belt to the person they want to serve as the sect leader. The belt is the life of a beggar, so it is a matter of entrusting one's life. What's surprising is that the belt of a One-Knot Beggar and the belt of a Seven-Knot Beggar are all counted as one belt."

"...It's fair."

"That's right. Fairness, equality are the words that the Beggars' Sect loves the most. But because of that, if you aim for that point, the conquest of the Beggars' Sect is easy. What would happen if you firmly grasp the beggars from the One-Knot to the Three-Knot Beggars like Po Chungryang? You can become the sect leader even if you completely neglect the great beggars above them. One belt of a Seven-Knot Beggar or one belt of a One-Knot Beggar. A belt is one anyway."

It meant that if he had hurried the great cause, he could have become the sect leader of the Beggars' Sect at any time.

"But the reason he hasn't done it so far is because he's afraid of the backlash. If even one of the elders of the Beggars' Sect does not accept the result and swings his fist, Po Chungryang will die."

"That is a very dishonorable thing to do..."

"That's right. The possibility of an elder of the Beggars' Sect, who lives by honor and loyalty, doing that is extremely low. To be so cautious because he's afraid of that extremely low probability, how stupid and how much of a coward is he?"

"So that's why there has been no reaction so far."

Jang So-gil and Yang Gwan had been secretly cleaning up the fake beggars of the Beggars' Sect while sweeping away countless Black Way sects so far. In fact, they had already eliminated twenty-six of the fake beggars of the Beggars' Sect, choosing only the Three-Knot Beggars. And yet, there was no reaction, so what a coward he was.

"That's right, but it's about time. It's time for Po Chungryang to resist."

"So that's what that meant."

"Yes. It was a pretty good story, wasn't it?"

It was a rather long story, and by the time it was finished, the nameplate of the Black Bear Sect had become a pile of ashes. It was a really good story.

Yang Gwan, while stretching his body, asked.

"Then what do you think he will do now?"

"I don't know."

"What? You don't know?"

"Yes. I don't know."

Jang So-gil shook the tip of his foot and pouted his lips.

"There's a saying in Go that after a long thought, you make a bad move. It means that the result you come up with after thinking for a long time is the worst move, and smart cowards often do that. After mulling over their own failure for a long, long time, they suddenly think, 'Now is the time to throw a game-changing, decisive move!' and then they go on a rampage and make a huge bad move. They make an absurd misstep, make a self-destructive move, and then they just explode. Even if it's something that will harm their own body or completely ruin them, they can't distinguish right from wrong and commit even incomprehensible acts without hesitation."

"Uh, uh..."

"It's better to predict the smart and active ones. The worst choice of a smart coward is unpredictable in which direction it will fly. The best move is limited, so it can be predicted, but since there are thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of millions of worst moves, how can one predict that?"

As if he didn't like it, Jang So-gil scratched his head nervously.

"So what we need to have is a mind of a clear mirror and still water that can respond calmly without being flustered no matter what sudden situation arises. Do you understand?"

A clear mirror and still water.

A mind like a clear mirror and calm water.

Indeed, could he do it?

* * *

Jang So-gil muttered.

"A clear mirror and still water, my ass."

"Young Master So, you said that yourself."

"Yes, yes. A clear mirror and still water, my ass."

Jang So-gil had been staying and eating only at the post stations run by the Martial Alliance for safety since leaving Luoyang. Today, he was about to start his day at a post station in a village a little distance from Kaifeng, but there was a guest who had come without any notice. And that guest was a huge figure.

Jang So-gil took a slight deep breath, pressed down on his pounding heart, and cupped his fists.

"My origin is humble, so I have no name. I was once just called So, and I still call myself that."

"I don't think you're at an age to be called So anymore, but it strangely suits you. Then I will also call you So."

"Yes."

"I also have a humble origin, so I don't have a particular name. I am just called Man Bakja because I know old songs and music well. I would be grateful if you would also call me that."

Indeed, was there anyone in Kaifeng who didn't know the name of Man Bakja? He was a peak master who had gained fame through several heroic journeys, and there were not even fifty in the entire martial world who could match him. He was a person who was a symbol of the Beggars' Sect along with Hong Yukpyo.

It was not unreasonable for Jang So-gil to act politely. As for Yang Gwan, his eyes were filled with admiration, and his behavior was even more cautious.

But why on earth was this person here? A sinister premonition gave So goosebumps on his back.

Should he talk a little more and dig for information? No, that was not a good judgment.

Man Bakja's gruff nature, who hated formalities and considered excessive etiquette an insult, was famous. The act of beating around the bush and digging for information was highly likely to be felt as a provocation.

Come to think of it, all the elders of the Beggars' Sect were like this. It would be better to speak directly.

"For what business have you come today?"

"That is..."

Man Bakja was a shabby old man who was skinny from malnutrition and had red cheeks, perhaps from excessive drinking. His red cheeks became even redder. It was because even he himself thought that what he was about to say was absurd.

He mumbled for a long time and then squeezed out the air in his lungs and confessed.

"Young child. So, I have come to stop you. Shamelessly and embarrassingly."

(End of Chapter)