2
8
2.
It is exactly the time when you get a bucketful of insults just for staying still.
So, Jin So-un was in a state of utter disbelief.
I am Gaebangdo!
I couldn’t understand the word “openness” that this beggar kept shouting about.
Do the open-minded people have the right to hurl insults at passersby?
In addition to that.
“Tagubongbeop! Tadangutae!”
Judging by the fact that he insists on shouting out techniques while using martial arts, he is clearly not in his right mind.
So, suppressing my emotions, I started beating the beggar.
“I wonder why the Beggar’s Sect even teaches martial arts to bastards like this. Tsk tsk, no wonder they get thrashed by the Demonic Cult.” These so-called intelligence organizations don’t even know which beggars within their own ranks are crazy and which aren’t.
I mean, how would someone who doesn’t even know the number of rice spoons in their own home know about another family’s situation?
Can such an intelligence organization really be called an intelligence organization?
The batting staff is swung quite fiercely, but this is a martial art whose crushing technique has already been revealed by Jegal Cheon-gi.
This beggar still doesn’t know that it is of no use unless you use an upward formula.
“Ugh! Cough!”
After striking the elbow with the scabbard to block the staff’s movement, strike the foot when the guy’s body is about to fall over.
I kicked the guy in the stomach.
“Cough!”
Then, he waited for the beggar who had floated up to fall back down, and sent him flying with a single spinning back kick.
Pow!
Because of this move, that beggar will be called ‘the guy who got kicked in the back’ from now on.
“Ugh…”
Whether the shock was quite great, or whether he was troubled by the humiliating nickname he would be called in the future, the beggar sat crouched for quite a while.
Whether they knew what was going on inside him or not, his beggar subordinates swarmed around him in a race of their own.
“padrone!”
“Boss! Are you alright?”
“You just got hit by a spinning back kick……!”
“Aaaargh! Shut up!”
Osam, who found even the worried voices rushing in from all directions annoying, gritted his teeth and pushed his surroundings away.
Because it was too shameful to just lie there saying I was in pain.
“You, you coward. How dare you…!”
A spinning back kick… … A spinning back kick… … .
In the White Path martial arts world, isn’t that an act as cowardly as throwing dirt in someone’s eyes?
For Osam, who had lived his entire life as an elite member of the Beggar’s Sect, it was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
“You scoundrel! Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”
However, the slave trader—no, Jin So-un—does not even blink an eye and instead lets out a sigh.
“Haa, this damn beggar is such a nuisance… I’m busy, so get lost if you don’t want to get beaten up again.”
“……
“That, that guy!”
The one blow just now was clearly taken because I let my guard down.
I developed a habit of shouting out the names of techniques to avoid creating innocent victims, but it ended up coming back to haunt me like this.
Nevertheless, I have no regrets. If I, a proud leader of the Open Way and a continuation of consultation, were to yield to such mere hardship, would I truly be a leader of the Open Way?
Osam stood up and straightened his shoulders.
It will go right. Be on your guard.
ha.”
Jin So-un clutched his head as he looked at that persistent beggar.
The martial artist who took a ready stance, claiming he was coming properly, was Taigu Shibacha. Judging by his appearance, it looks like he hasn’t mastered any advanced martial arts.
The priests’ training had come to a halt because of this beggar. ‘What a mess this is after coming all this way.’ Just like him, the priests also seemed to value their time, unable to take their eyes off Osam.
I was even at the point where I felt a sense of duty to get rid of this beggar quickly, if only for the sake of those little priests.
Jin So-un patted his chest vigorously as if telling them to trust only him, and smiled benevolently at the disciples.
Of course, the other four were thinking completely different thoughts: “Just hold on a little longer, please! Let us rest too…” or “The number of poor souls has increased…”
Jin So-un flicked his finger at Oh Sam.
Yeah, when has my life ever been smooth sailing? Fine, bring it on. I’ll just consider today a lesson for a mad dog.
“Tahat!”
Following the first technique, the techniques of Gwagu Gyeonmi, Gyuhwa Tagoo, and Punggu Nangyo are performed in succession.
Jin So-un unfolds the Taeeul Palman Shinbo and gracefully dodges the Tagubong.
At that sight, Osam’s eyes widen.
Even if we overlook the Dog-Beating Staff Technique, the Dog-Beating Eighteen Techniques is not a martial art that can be easily dodged.
Moreover, not only his fellow beggars but even the beggars of the same Sagyeolgae struggled to withstand his Eighteen Striking Techniques, so how could someone like Jin So-un dodge them so gracefully, as if he already knew them? ‘What is this…’ Furthermore, he doesn’t even dodge with much force. He is narrowly avoiding the Eighteen Striking Techniques with minimal movement.
The fact that he could do this meant one of two things. ‘Me… … Is there really this much of a gap between me and Jin So-woon?’ Either there was a tremendous difference in martial arts skill between them, or he had memorized all eighteen techniques of the Nine-Headed Nine Techniques.
However, it took him a year to memorize all eighteen techniques, so there was no way Jin So-un could have memorized them all.
As his thoughts reached this point, Osam realized that this was not something he could resolve on his own.
However, it was already too late.
“W-wait a moment…….”
“What do you mean, ‘just a moment’?”
Jin So-un pulled his fist, shimmering with aura, to his waist and glared at Oh Sam with venomous eyes.
“This is the price for spewing insults at me out of the blue.”
Bang.
A huge shock swept through Osam, enough to shake the organs once.
However, his body did not move an inch from his spot. ‘Cough!’ Before Osam could even let out a scream, Jin So-un’s fist struck Osam’s abdomen once again.
“This is the sin of having such bad luck looming before my eyes since morning!”
Bang.
“This is the crime of interrupting our lovely priests’ precious training time!”
Jin So-un’s foot, which had shot vertically all the way to the top of his head, struck the crown of Oh Sam’s head.
puck!
Amidst the pain that felt like his bones were being crushed to pieces and his head was splitting open, Osam recalled the scene he had seen earlier.
Four people walking in the dead of winter, sweating profusely and looking as if they were on the verge of death—a sight that would make even a beggar shudder… ‘Who would make a disciple do that kind of thing and call it training!’ He wanted to scream in indignation, but Osam had already fainted with a yike.
Tap tap.
“What a wretched… No, he really is a wretched beggar. What kind of beggar bastard is bothering me, tsk.”
As Jin So-un brushed her hands and approached them, Eun-ho asked with a look of genuine curiosity.
“Um… but Senior Brother. Who exactly are these pretty disciples? Who else is here besides us?”
“What are you talking about? You guys are the pretty priests.”
Huh? Did I hear that wrong?
Us?
“Yeah, can’t you tell by how much I’m taking care of you, treating you like gold and jade?”
Eunho was instantly struck by goosebumps and lost his ability to speak.
But Eunho.
yes.”
For some reason, it seems as though the senior disciple’s self-proclaimed affectionate gaze is directed toward his feet.
“Why are your feet stopped?”
“uh……
“Ratt?”
Eunho, who had turned his head rapidly in an instant, answered.
“It was so hard to contain my anger toward that beggar who dared to hurl insults at our pillar, Senior Brother, that I just… I am sorry.”
“okay?”
The other priests, who had been watching Eunho with bated breath, gave a small thumbs up.
Eunho let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly changed the subject to distract Senior Brother.
“But Senior Brother, didn’t you say those people were from the Beggar’s Sect? Is this okay?”
“What if it’s not okay?”
“Surely… they will call people.”
What makes openness frightening is not their individual capabilities.
Endless scale of manpower.
Moreover, everyone is building up their inner strength, however small.
Such people appear and disappear every time.
The figure of 100,000 opening degrees is merely an approximate number, and aren’t there people who say that the actual number is likely higher?
People of the martial arts world say.
It takes ten years to destroy Shaolin, but the Beggar’s Sect will not disappear even if it takes a hundred years.
Didn’t you provoke someone like that? It seems like he knew it himself and was singing the praises of ‘openness,’ ‘openness’…….
“Tsk. A beggar of openness is a beggar.”
Yeah, what does that matter?
“Hurry up and move your feet. If you don’t want to get beaten to death like that guy.”
The most important thing is not getting beaten up by the Senior Brother right now.
“Yes, yes!”
However, those steps also stopped after not going far.
Nearly twenty beggars swarmed in and blocked the path of Jin So-un and his party.
“See? What did I tell you?”
Lee Eun-ho.
“yes!”
You move your feet in place.
“…….”
“Otherwise, I’ll get rid of those things and you’ll die.”
I’m already teasing you hard!
Eunho started fidgeting and moving his feet as if he had stepped on a thorn right in place.
As expected, what we feared happened.
Although he is called a beggar, he is a key figure in the Nine Great Sects.
I didn’t think I could just let it slide, especially since I had already beaten such a person to a pulp and his party had come along.
However, the senior disciple’s expression is incredibly relaxed.
Why did you all swarm in again?
At Jin So-un’s rebuke, the beggar with the most flamboyant attire stepped forward.
I am San Tie, the Sanfentazhu of the Xi’an Branch of Shaanxi Province.
Never mind the self-introduction.
Jin So-un picked his ear and kicked Oh Sam repeatedly.
“This beggar interrupted my training. How are you going to compensate me for the damages?”
The disciples of Taeeulmun were taken aback. ‘Crazy…’ ‘What is he saying?’ ‘Has he lost his mind?’ ‘Senior Brother… This is strange…’ Samcheol also trembled at Jin So-un’s attitude.
“You treat a person like this just because I interrupted your training a little?”
“What? A little training?”
Jin So-un spread his fingers wide and began folding them one by one.
On top of that, you swore and threw the first punch.
Samcheol, annoyed by that relaxed demeanor, shouted.
“Don’t you know which troop he belongs to?!”
“What do you mean? He even recited the names of the techniques out loud.”
But how dare you!
Samcheol gritted his teeth.
“Persecuting the degree of openness?!”
“If you’re not perceptive, a beggar’s fate is to end up breaking their bowl while begging. You didn’t become a beggar without knowing that, did you?”
“Reveal your true identity. I will surely reduce your sect and your allies to dust!”
Jin So-un chuckled at Sam-cheol’s threat, his eyes bloodshot.
“The world has really changed for the better. Even a nobody like the Three-Part Master is threatening retaliation. I wonder what the Murim Alliance would say if they saw the academy students being persecuted like this.”
“what……?”
Samcheol felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
Why is the status of a student dormitory student suddenly coming up here?
Academy students are strictly executive candidates belonging to the Murim Alliance.
The very status of being a student at the academy is no different from the status badge of being an executive of the Murim Alliance.
Therefore, protecting them is one of the Murim Alliance’s top priorities.
If the students of the academy go outside and suffer misfortune, the Murim Alliance will certainly take revenge in the name of the Murim Alliance.
Aside from the desire for advancement, this was one of the reasons why those without backgrounds all tried to join the Murim Alliance through the academy.
So, it was no different than saying that Samcheol would turn the Murim Alliance into dust.
“Do you intend not to reveal your identity?”
However, there is no need to panic too much.
After all, students in the dormitory are bound to form connections with one another within it.
Just then, a few beggars from the Open World were included in this batch as well.
This problem can be solved at any time through them.
No, going further, I should be able to receive an apology for being rude to my friend’s senior.
Reveal your identity first.
To do so, information about the opponent is essential.
“Good grief.”
Jin So-un shook his head as if he had grasped the situation completely and answered dryly.
Taeeulmun.
“what?”
Samcheol frowned.
A sect I’ve never heard of before… … Hmm, but why?
Taeeulmun… … Taeeulmun… … Taeeulmun… … .
It feels like I’ve heard this a lot lately…
At that moment, Samcheol’s eyes snapped open.
“Hefei New City! Taiyi Gate!”
Jin So-un clicked his tongue.
“It’s not even Anhui New City, what the hell is Hefei New City? Anyway, look at the level of those guys who name things…….”
Samcheol carefully examined the appearance of the unscrupulous opponent, one detail at a time.
A black martial arts uniform with subtle embroidery. An all-black sword tied at the waist and a vile-looking face.
And above all.
Even the front, bulging out unmistakably!
“S-surely… are you the Black Flame Dragon?”
Jin So-un frowns as if he does not like the nickname he was called.
Only then did an alarm bell start ringing in Samcheol’s head. ‘I’m screwed!’ And very severely at that. Samcheol slowly turned his head.
반 거지꼴을 하고 있긴 하지만 어딘가 비슷하게 생긴 세 명의 청년들.‘저들이 아마 철벽삼룡으로 불리는 금·은·동 형제일 테고.’얼굴에 묻은 먼지와 땟국물만 걷어낸다면 한 떨기 꽃과 같은 미모를 뽐낼 것 같은 여인.‘홍문기의 금지옥엽 외동딸 홍사련이렷다.’더구나 홍사련은 학관에 방문한 남궁태하와 개인적인 만남까지 가졌다고 했다.
아직 세간의 인식으론 보잘것없는 문파에 불과하지만, 개방과 같은 정보단체의 입장에선 언제 커다란 폭발을 일으킬지 모를 벽력탄이나 마찬가지였다.‘흑염룡…… 저 자식은 당최 어디로 튈지 모를 인물이고…….’그리고 그 중심에 선 자가 바로 흑염룡 진소운.
눈앞에 선 불량한 왈패의 정체였다.
“진소운…….”
삼철이 짓씹듯 나직이 물었다.
“왜…… 학관을 이용해 돌아가지 않고 여기까지 온 거지?”
학관생들은 자신의 지위를 잘 이용한다.
학관에서 주는 많은 혜택 중의 하나가 바로 고향에 편히 돌아갈 수 있도록 배려하는 것.
만약 진소운이 그 혜택을 잘만 이용했다면 이런 불상사는 애당초 일어나지 않았을 일.
하여 그 연유를 묻는 것이다.
하지만 진소운은 귀를 후비적 파며 무심히 툭 내뱉었다.
“내 맘이니까.”
돌아온 대답에 삼철이 샐쭉한 표정이 되었다.
“내가 내 맘대로 움직이겠다는데, 이것도 거지들에게 허락을 받아야 하나?”
너무 당연한 논리에 더 이상 꼬투리 잡을 부분도 없었다.
오삼이 두들겨 맞은 건 억울한 일이지만, 그가 상대를 제대로 파악하지 못하고 시비(?)
를 건 것 또한 잘못.
이쯤에서 마무리 하는 것이 옳았다.
“좋다. 서로 간에 오해가 있었던 듯하군. 여기서 조용히 마무리 짓는 게 어떤가?”
무림학관이란 배경이 무섭긴 하지만, 자신들은 어디까지나 개방이다.
태을문에 비하면 거대한 문파이자 정보단체.
그런 개방을 적으로 돌리는 건 태을문도 바라지 않을 터.
“그러지.”
훗, 역시나 개방의 힘을 두려워하는군.
대충 알아들었겠거니 생각하며 삼철이 돌아서려 할 때.
“단.”
뒤통수에서 진소운의 목소리가 이어졌다.
“피해 보상만 제대로 해 주면.”
피해보상?”
삼철은 바닥에 자빠져 눈깔을 뒤집은 오삼을 봤다.
그리고 고개를 들어 몹시 멀쩡한, 아니 더 나아가 껄렁껄렁한 자세로 서있는 진소운을 봤다.
대체 누가 누구한테 피해보상을 한단 말인가?
“저 거지 새끼 때문에 우리 사제들이 수련을 제대로 못 했단 말이지. 더불어 연약한 내 마음을 거친 욕설로 갈기갈기 찢어놨거든. 시간적, 정신적 피해 보상을 받아야겠어.”
하!”
흑염룡의 혓바닥이 어지간한 바늘보다 날카롭다더니.
숫제 말 같지도 않은 말을 내뱉는 솜씨가 일품이다.
삼철은 어처구니가 없어 헛웃음이 나왔다.
“자네는 개방의 후환이 두렵지도 않은가?”
“뭐래 거지새끼가.”
역시나 미친…… 아니, 진소운은 기대를 저버리지 않았다.
“잘못을 저질렀으면 책임을 져야 할 거 아냐! 개방에선 그런 기본도 안 가르쳐?!”
“저기 엎어진 거지 놈은 멀쩡히 가만히 있는 사람에게 시비를 걸고 주먹을 날렸다. 단순 사실만 살펴봐도 원인 제공자와 피해자가 분명한데 뭔 자꾸 궤변을 늘어놓고 있어. 이 거지새끼가!”
그의 말대로 사실만을 놓고 봤을 때 분명 개방의 잘못이 맞다.
다만 이런 경우 서로 간의 오해가 있었기에 그냥 넘어가기 마련이건만…….
“피해보상 안 할 거야? 그럼 몸으로 때우든가.”
잠깐.”
곧장 검을 뽑으려는 진소운의 태도에 삼철이 손을 뻗어 시간을 벌었다.
그의 머리는 지금 인생 최대로 빠르게 회전하고 있었다.‘뒤가 없는 새끼다. 잘못 일을 키웠다간 불똥이 어디로 튈지도 모른다.’그간 흑염룡이 저질렀던 기행들을 보라.
그가 휩쓸고 지나간 곳은 마치 황충이 지나간 것처럼 처참한 폐허가 되지 않았던가.
더구나 명분이 저쪽에 있는 상황.
태을문은 두렵지 않으나, 무림학관과 무림맹이라면 상황이 다르다.
개방은 결국 지진 않겠으나, 이 일이 문제가 되면 분타주인 자신의 목은 날아갈 것이 분명한 상황.
차라리 적당한 수준에서 일을 마무리 짓는 게 더 나은지도 몰랐다.
판단을 내린 삼철이 결연한 표정으로 말했다.
“어떤 대가를 원하는 거지? 돈인가?”
진소운이 뽀양한 앞섬을 쓸며 비웃는다.
“거지새끼들이 돈이 있어 봤자지.”
삼철은 부들부들 떨리는 몸을 겨우 억눌렀다.
분명 자신은 거지가 맞다.
그래, 거지가 맞는데…… 왜 저 개새끼가 외치는 ‘거지새끼’라는 단어는 이리 귀에 재수 없게 쏙쏙 박히는 걸까.
그래도 참자, 참아.
상대는 미친…… 아니, 학관대표 흑염룡이다.
그래서 뭘 원하나?”
진소운이 피식 코웃음을 친다.
“니들 이번에도 지도 팔아먹고 있지?”
“하여간 마령고원 사태를 겪고도 교훈도 못 얻은 새끼들.”
진소운의 얼굴에 경멸이 어렸지만, 삼철은 분노를 꾸욱 참아냈다.
“그거나 가져와. 그럼 없는 일로 퉁 칠 테니까…….”
“장보도를 말하는 건가?”
지금 오령선화유 장보도가 한 장에 금전 이십 냥이라는 금액에 거래되고 있다.
한낱 실수 하나로 그걸 내놓으라니.
이거 그냥 미친 게 아니라 아예 도둑놈이잖아??
“장보도의 가격이 얼마인 줄은 알고 말하는 건가?”
“장보도는 무슨…… 그냥 천동굴을 그려놓은 지도인 줄 내가 모를 줄 알고?”
“……!”
삼철의 머리털이 삐쭉 섰다.
저놈이 그 사실을 대체 어떻게 알고 있단 말인가!
개방이 오령선화유 장보도로 팔고 있긴 하지만 실제 오령선화유가 있는 곳을 그려놓은 지도가 아니다.
어디까지나 천동굴이라 불리는 복잡한 굴 내부를 그려놓은 것일 뿐.
거기에 오령선화유가 어디쯤 나올 것이란 예측만 하고 있을 뿐이다.
그럼에도 지도는 불티나게 팔려나가고 있었다.
지도 한 장에 금전 이십 냥이라는 말도 안 되는 금액이지만, 하나뿐인 목숨을 지키고 오령선화유를 가질 수 있다는 기대감까지 계산하면 저렴하기 그지없으니까.
“대체 무슨 소릴 하는 건지…….”
“시치미 뗄 생각이면 없는 일로 치고.”
다시금 검을 뽑으려는 진소운.
“잠깐!”
“왜?”
삼철은 다급하게 물었다.
“그건 어찌 알았…….”
“금전 이십 냥.”
응?”
진소운이 손가락 두 개를 까딱거렸다.
“어떻게 알게 된 건지 알고 싶으면 이십 냥을 내라고. 정보를 사고파는 놈이 양심도 없이 공짜로 정보를 얻으려 하네.”
“살 거야?”
뭐야, 얘. 진짜 정체가 뭐야.
되었소.”
“지도는??”
고민하던 삼철은 결국 결단을 내렸다.
어차피 지도가 있어 봐야 들어갈 수 없는 곳이다.
It is much better to hand over the map than to continue arguing with this dangerous person.
Fine.
Then that’s it.
That was when the two reached a dramatic settlement.
Osam, who had fainted, barely managed to get up, and upon spotting Samcheol, wailed like a baby bird finding its mother.
“B-Branch Master! That fellow! It is him! Not knowing the terror of the 100,000 Beggars, a mere academy student dares to… the elite of the Beggars…….”
However, Osam’s earnestness did not continue.
Puff puff puff puff puff!
This was because, in an instant, the Chwipalseon Kwon exploded from Samcheol’s hand and struck O-Sam in the jaw.
As he was losing consciousness once again, Oh Sam looked at Jin So-woon, who was mocking him, and thought, ‘No, why… me…’ Of course, no one explained the reason.
