Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1480. The Plan Was Sound (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
In the center of Kaifeng, Beggar Union main headquarters.
Those who confirm this place with their own eyes are surprised at three points.
First, that the main headquarters was so massive and towering that it absolutely does not suit a group of beggars called 'Beggar Union'. Second, the building was so old that it looks like it could collapse at any moment.
The tall and massive pavilion was truly magnificent, but the missing tiles, rotten wood, and thick layers of dust here and there belied its scale.
And finally, when they see the dirty beggars scurrying around inside the main headquarters, along with surprise, one comes to perfectly understand that this place was indeed Beggar Union main headquarters.
Those who see this place are initially shocked, but eventually nod in understanding, and then finally click their tongues.
In a small office inside a pavilion where numerous messenger birds come and go, on the top floor of the main headquarters.
An old man sitting heavily contorted his face.
“Who moved?”
Just seeing the room that was unbelievably clean for a place used by beggars and the energy emanating from the old man showed an extraordinary atmosphere.
Even though he was wearing rags like any other beggar, since he possessed a great physique, a heavy voice, and strong energy, no one would be able to look down on him.
"It is Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung. It seems Mount Hua Five Swords also in tow."
“...At a time like this?”
“This is a report that just arrived from Luoyang.”
“Luoyang...”
The old man muttered faintly. Though his eyes were lined with wrinkles, their gleam remained razor-sharp. A cold light flickered within.
'Why would they at this situation?'
As soon as the old man finished thinking, he quickly opened his mouth.
"Isn't it that they came to get the supplies needed to build the headquarters of Heavenly Comrade Alliance?”
It was something an ordinary martial artist wouldn’t imagine, but given the famous eccentricities of Mount Hua, this possibility couldn’t be ruled out.
"It does not seem to be. They say that as soon as they appeared in Luoyang, they moved westward at once."
"Wes... west.... Then it must be Henan."
Numerous things surfaced in the old man's head simultaneously.
"Shaolin? No, not Shaolin. There's nothing they can do by going to Shaolin since Bangjang is away. Then Wudang? No, not Wudang either. Wudang is in seclusion, so even if they went there… No, that’s not it. If it’s that Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung, he wouldn't even hesitate to rip open the gate of a sect in seclusion and go in."
The old man, who muttered small and fast, gave an order at once.
"Reinforce the personnel around Wudang. We need to confirm if they’re in contact with Wudang!"
"Yes!"
The reply came quickly. But the old man’s face hardened again.
"What could they want with Wudang? No, no. It’s not just Wudang. They could pass through Henan and go to Beijing. Then the imperial palace? That's also a possibility. Certainly Evil Tyrant Alliance isn't just a problem for martial artists..."
If the imperial palace suddenly intervened and formed an alliance with Heavenly Comrade Alliance, a huge upheaval would occur in Kangho. Of course, the possibility was slim, but it couldn’t be completely ignored.
"Deploy personnel around Beijing too. We must confirm whether those bastards are heading to the imperial palace. No, not the imperial palace. If those bastards moved in advance, they would first make contact with high officials in Beijing rather than the imperial palace. Issue an alert for all of Beijing!"
"Undestood!"
The old man quickly pressed his brow and rubbed his cheeks a few times. It was a habit seen whenever he was lost in thought.
'That's not all. If they head beyond Henan to Zhejiang, they could make contact with Mount Putuo, and perhaps they're thinking of going north to contact Murong Family. Peng Family? Peng Family is...'
"Wait!"
"Yes!"
“Make sure to keep a close eye on the area around Peng Family!”
"Peng Family? But Peng Family..."
“It hasn’t been that long since the patriarch of Peng Family changed. There’s no guarantee that they won’t conspire with the former patriarch’s faction."
"I will carry it out."
The old beggar nodded briefly.
But despite giving orders to prepare for every possible situation, he still couldn’t shake his unease. The old man's face was filled with worry.
'He's like a lump of variables.'
Information itself means nothing. Its meaning comes alive only when you can predict the next action based on that information.
And prediction requires countless things. Tendencies, track records, goals, habits, relationships... even the true desires that seep damply within.
But that Mount Hua always makes it impossible to predict their next behavior. No, to be precise, one cannot know what Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung will start next.
He was someone who could do anything and could also do nothing.
‘But the problem isn’t that I don’t know what he’ll do.’
The real problem was not knowing what kind of result would come from it.
No one in the world can turn Wudang to Heavenly Comrade Alliance’s side. That was a principle as natural as water falling from top to bottom.
However, the problem was that if Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung enters Wudang, the event of that water soaring upwards might actually happen.
Feasibility? Of course that would be slim. However, aren't 'doesn't exist' and 'is slim' similar yet completely different words?"
That’s why Beggar Union has no choice but to focus all its efforts on monitoring the movements of Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword Chung Myung.
"...They haven't even finished cleaning up the mess they've already made. What could they possibly be scheming now in this situation?"
The old man gnashed his teeth before clicking his tongue.
"There's nothing we can judge in the current situation. Find their next whereabouts. We must at least secure where they are right now."
"Yes!"
"Go."
"Understood!"
It was when the one who reported prostrated and was about to quickly exit the office.
"Wait!"
"Yes!"
The man who was about to leave turned around again. The old man asked as if something had come to mind.
"What about here?"
"What do you mean?"
“How about Kaifeng? What's the probability of those bastards coming to Kaifeng? No, the possibility that they're already in Kaifeng? Right now..."
"Anticipating that possibility, we've already issued alert orders. We have distributed their descriptions to those who wander around the main headquarters, and have instructed them to report to the main headquarters immediately if by any chance their whereabouts are discovered."
“A quick judgment. Good. But they won’t be fools either. If their target is Kaifeng, they will figure out a way to not be detected by us."
"We're receiving reports on anything even slightly strange."
"Have there been any unusual incidents so far?"
"Hmm, that is...."
As the person reporting suddenly lost his voice, the old man's eyes flashed.
“What is it?”
"...I'm not sure if this is something that should be reported, but, they say disciples of Southern Edge Sect entered the gate a little while ago."
“Southern Edge Sect? Why is that strange?”
“Southern Edge Sect suddenly appeared at this time...”
The old man furrowed his brow.
"Since they’ve lifted their seclusion, it makes sense that they’d be moving. Are they coming to the main headquarters?"
“I haven’t confirmed that yet.”
"What about the sect leader?"
"It seems he did not come with them."
“Then that’s fortunate.”
The lips of the one reporting slightly twitched. Because he understood the hidden meaning behind those words 'that's fortunate'.
"In any case, there's no need to worry about it. It will naturally resolve itself."
"...Understood."
"Maintain strict vigilance."
"Understood!"
The man who finished reporting nodded and left the office. The old man, left alone, chuckled softly.
"To think it's a world where one must suspect a Southern Edge Sect disciple of being a Mount Hua disciple."
How did Jungwon come to this?
The old man’s gaze turned to the corner of the old desk. A small groove was carved there. It was a mark made by something heavy having been placed there for a long time.
"...Because it hasn't been filled."
The moment what should be in that place finds its rightful position, the world will find its original flow again.
Beggar Union must make that happen.
* * *
The main road of Kaifeng where beggars and people mingled as they came and went.
In the center of the street, people dressed in pure white robes walked proudly. The edges of the snow-white martial robes were decorated with sky-blue trim. And the cloud pattern engraved on the chest.
The first thing that came to mind when seeing this outfit was the three words ‘Southern Edge Sect.’
The Great Southern Edge Sect. One of Ten Great Sects’ Righteous Sects that looked down upon the world. Among the ten sects, it was one of the top three along with Shaolin and Wudang.
Of course, to speak coldly, it was difficult to compare them to the Northern Star of Kangho, Shaolin and Mudang. But that absolutely didn't diminish Southern Edge Sect's prestige.
The disciples of that Great Southern Edge Sect were now strutting through this place.
"Hmm. They are imposing."
“The spirit of Southern Edge Sect’s disciples is truly extraordinary. It seems they've honed themselves to the bone during seclusion."
"They stand out a lot. Is it because they’re so tall?"
The beggars murmured and quickly dispersed in groups of three or four. After checking their reactions without fail, someone slowly opened his mouth.
"This..."
“...”
"Why does this work? This?"
These were words that were more than enough to represent the hearts of those walking through the center of the main street.
"Are all those Beggar Union bastards' eyes just knotholes? Do I look like a Southern Edge Sect bastard?"
“Gol-ah… Speak softly. The sound can be blocked, but the mouth cannot."
Jo-Gol sighed deeply several times with a look of utter despair on his face.
For this to work, wasn't the world truly wrong? Does this really make any sense?
"...We put on Southern Edge Sect clothes, carry swords with cloud engravings, stick some shabby beard scraps on our faces, and they can't recognize us? Does that make sense?"
“You can’t recognize me because I’m disguised.”
“Is just adding a little beard considered a disguise? If you wore a mask, even your parents wouldn’t recognize you, huh?”
“...If you actually wear a mask, they really wouldn’t recognize you?”
"Huh?"
Now that I think about it, that’s true...
Jo-Gol turned his head to look at one person.
"...Monk-nim. Your wig is crooked."
“A- Amitabha...”
"Don't go Amitabha. You're a Taoist now, I'm telling you!"
"M- Muryangsubul!"
"Alright, that’s a bit better..."
Hye Yeon was wearing a wig and constantly sweating profusely. Jo-Gol let out a deep sigh.
“No, look. Do you really think this isn’t weird? Even a three-year-old would find this strange.”
“Gol-ah.”
"yes?"
“To be honest… even if we walked around with legs attached to our faces right now, those guys wouldn’t suspect us.”
“...”
"They couldn’t possibly suspect us, actually. Right?"
Everyone's eyes naturally turned forward at Yoon Jong's words.
The one walking half a step ahead. The one wearing the perfect Southern Edge Sect outfit, and proudly carrying Southern Edge Sect's sword on his waist. Tall, with a distinguished face, and a slight arrogant smirk at the corners of his mouth.
From all around, whispers could still be vividly heard at this very moment.
“Is that person Jin Geumryong?”
"He's as amazing as I've heard. They said his disposition is slightly arrogant, he's certainly worthy of it."
"I hear that he will soon become the next sect leader?"
“So that’s why he came to main headquarter. Must be here to establish connections.”
"Hmm. His energy is impressive."
Listening to all of this, the man in front slowly raised his head. To others, it would only look like Southern Edge Sect's young lion arrogantly lifting his chin.
'…Sect Leader.'
But disguised as Jin Geumryong…No, actually, Baek Cheon’s eyes, who had just changed his hair and put on Southern Edge Sect's clothes, were clouded with tears.
'I want to die.'
From the two eyes of Southern Edge Sect's Jin Geum-yong, tears of Mount Hua were trickling down sparklingly.
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