Chapter 1502

Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1502. Who am I? (2)

Editor: Hoamz

Co-Translator: Xoxo

An elderly man with his hands behind his back gazed at the rising sun beyond the window.

A morning sun after a sleepless night. It was a sun that would be pleasant to no one, but the old man's face looking at the new morning was simply filled with joy.

'It's today.'

Finally, today had come.

The day he would reclaim his place. The day he would restore the shaken Beggar Union to its rightful order.

The day that proves he was not wrong.

“…Now Beggar Union too will greet a new era.”

The old man.

A soft smile appeared on Lone Tiger Among Dog Packs Divine Beggar’s lips.

"Are the preparations complete?"

At the words of Lone Tiger Divine Beggar, who was watching the procession of people gathering at the headquarters, the man before him smiled broadly.

"Do not worry, Sahyung. It is perfect. No..."

One of the elders looked at Lone Tiger Divine Beggar with a smirk.

"Should I now address Sahyung as Dragon Head Sect Leader?"

“Don’t act rashly.”

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar raised his voice as if he were scolding someone. However, his expression was not as bad as his voice.

“A little carelessness can ruin great affairs. We mustn’t let our guard down until the very end.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar's eyes sank slightly.

"Are all the carrier pigeons coming into the headquarters being managed?"

“Yes. Do not worry. No messenger will reach the main headquarters before Sahyung ascend to the position of the sect leader.”

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar quietly nodded his head.

There aren't many options for a cornered Poongyeong Shingae. If Lone Tiger Divine Beggar were in Wind Shadow Divine Beggar's position, he would’ve sent a pigeon stamped with the seal of the sacred relic to prove his survival.

However…

'He should have paid attention to the main headquarters a long time ago.'

That message would never be opened. The main headquarters was already under Lone Tiger Divine Beggar's control. No, even if that message were opened, no one here would acknowledge it as genuine.

"I have come a long way around for something that could have been done like this long ago."

“How could this be Sahyung’s mistake? It is a method that most would not think of."

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar clicked his tongue shortly.

"But Sahyung, what if... what if the sect leaders themselves appear in the headquarters in person?"

“That won’t happen.”

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar shook his head firmly.

“If that bastard had the guts to do that, the situation would never have come this far in the first place."

“That’s true too, but....”

"And if such a thing were to happen by any chance… I too will have to be prepared to stain my hands with blood."

The elder's face hardened slightly at the word 'blood'. But even knowing what that 'blood' meant, the elder did not try to stop Lone Tiger Divine Beggar. This was already a decided matter, and this was merely a reconfirmation.

“Still, I hope that doesn’t happen. He is my saje too.”

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar, muttered quietly, composed his expression and spoke again.

"Have the invitations been sent?"

“Yes. I timed their delivery well. The invitations will be received, but no one will attend.”

A faint smile appeared on Lone Tiger Divine Beggar's lips, as if pleased with the clean handling of the matter.

Generally, abdication of a sect leader's position is a great affair of the sect. That was why renowned major sects invite esteemed individuals to grace the occasion.

However, this event could not be handled that way.

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar knows. How unnatural it is for him to succeed Wind Shadow Divine Beggar. There was no need to invite outsiders to such an event and risk causing problems.

“What of those who have entered Beggar Union now?”

“Many people from other sects have entered, but I have made it clear that unless they are sect leaders or figures of matching rank, they will not be received as guests. Currently, there is no one of such caliber within Kaifeng, so you need not worry."

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar nodded.

Though minor sect leaders might be in Kaifeng, such individuals wouldn't dare enter the main headquarters, so it wouldn't be an issue.

“Good.”

“Thank you. Sahyung.”

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar suppressed the smile that was about to form.

Outwardly, he had to become someone who had no choice but to take the sect leader's position due to his saje's untimely death. Even if it was just him and his saje here, it was not good to reveal his inner thoughts.

'It must be perfect.'

They say ‘one mistake among a thousand careful thoughts’. But for him now, not a single mistake could be tolerated. At least not until the sect leader position was securely his.

"Sahyung."

"Hmm?"

"Everything is prepared. Shall we go now?"

"Right."

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar nodded slowly.

"Let's go."

He moved his feet towards the great hall of the headquarters with confident strides.

* * *

It was a bizarre sight.

A massive great hall. But a great hall so old it seemed ready to collapse at any moment.

An entire floor of a large building had been completely emptied out. A desolate great hall that was only large in size but felt utterly lacking in practicality, filled with dirty beggars clad in rags.

It may seem ridiculous at a glance, but no one who sees this sight would dare to laugh. Not when they knew these beggars filling the great hall were none other than Beggar Union's elders and top disciples.

“…Looks like about half have gathered.”

"Since more than half are here, the procedure is properly met, but shouldn't there originally be more?"

"The sect leader died suddenly. There's no time to leisurely gather all the beggars scattered across the world."

“Right....”

The elders of Beggar Union are not bound to the headquarters. Most of the missing elders were those whose whereabouts even Beggar Union didn't know. They could be found if one really tried, but this wasn't a situation where they had such luxury.

The beggars whispering among themselves glanced toward the still-empty seat of honor at the front. Though it was merely a single platform placed on the flat floor of the hall, the meaning that small platform held for them was by no means small.

“So this is how it ends up after all.”

“...The sect leader has been excessive all this while."

Ugly-Faced Beggar (추면개(醜面丐)), one of Beggar Union elders, clicked his tongue with a tsk.

"He practically abandoned the sect."

"What can be done about his illness?"

"Then he should have at least designated a successor quickly. How is it right for someone so ill not to even appoint a successor beggar? This was bound to happen anyway."

Ugly-Faced Beggar clicked his tongue briefly again.

If anything, he was on the side that defended the sect leader. The other elders' complaints about the sect leader were incomparable to his. How bad must it have been for them to agree to seat the sect leader’s sahyung in the position of the next leader?

“It’s fortunate that Sahyung Ciwu Beggar isn’t here. If he were, things would’ve gotten out of hand...”

“...What could a yangban who’s already left Gaebang do? He won’t even be able to enter the main headquarters.”

Ugly-Faced Beggar clicked his tongue briefly.

Ciwu Beggar had been the one who most vehemently opposed Lone Tiger Divine Beggar becoming the sect leader. If he had not stayed in the Yangtze River, the situation likely wouldn’t have escalated this quickly.

‘Why did you sever your own limbs, Sect Leader?’

If Ciwu Beggar had been prevented from going out and being kept to the main headquarters, at least the situation where Lone Tiger Divine Beggar seized all power after his death wouldn't have occurred.

But the ship had already sailed. He could only resent the foolish sect leader.

"Shouldn't we just hope that the new sect leader will do well? In fact, in this kind of situation, wouldn’t Sahyung Lone Tiger Divine Beggar be better than some half-baked successor?”

“You think so?”

“Do you not, Sahyung? He is Lone Tiger Among Dog Pack, after all.”

“...How can a tiger know the thoughts of dogs?”

"What?"

"No."

Ugly-Faced Beggar waved his hand.

Lone Tiger Among Dog Pack, what a fine title. It suits that Lone Tiger Divine Beggar very well.

'But if that's the case, he shouldn't have joined Beggar Union.'

Beggar Union wasn't a place that should be led by someone outstanding. It was a place that should be led by someone who can understand more people and who has hot blood in their heart.

‘The sect is doomed.’

Ugly-Faced Beggar let out a heavy sigh. There was nothing he could do now.

Then.

Thud.

The door at one side of the great hall swung open forcefully, and several beggars strode in with dignified bearing.

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar and the core elders following him.

The beggars standing along the walls of the great hall looked at them with serious eyes. Some with cheers in their eyes, others with concern.

However, Lone Tiger Divine Beggar stood proudly on the not-so-high platform as if he didn't care about anyone's gaze.

Twitch.

Ugly-Faced Beggar's face slightly distorts. Only Beggar Union’s sect leader could stand in that position. That was the authority that all Beggar Union members, who aspired to lowly places, had given only to the sect leader.

Yet Lone Tiger Divine Beggar, who had not yet officially taken the sect leader’s seat, had stepped up there on his own.

As Ugly-Faced Beggar gnawed on his lip, Lone Tiger Divine Beggar spoke while standing atop the platform.

“As most of you have heard, we received word that Sect Leader passed away last night.”

The beggars held their breath.

"The greater problem is that the sect's divine object could not be found on Sect Leader's corpse. We have lost both Sect Leader and the divine object overnight."

A look of bewilderment appeared on the elders' faces when they heard those words.

“A- Are you saying we lost the sacred relic?”

"Exactly."

“No. How could that be....”

Before the voices could rise further, Lone Tiger Divine Beggar continued firmly.

“Sect Leader passed away after hiding the sacred item, so there is no way to find it. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that he did not tell anyone of its whereabouts.”

Some of the elders’ faces grew flushed with anger.

A sacred relic symbolizes the sect. It should never be a personal possession, so how could Sect Leader treat it so carelessly?

"Then what should we..."

“As you know!”

The voice of Lone Tiger Divine Beggar suppressed those who were roaring with determination.

“Kangho is in utter chaos right now. The place of the ark cannot be left empty for even a single day. Especially now that the sacred water has been lost!”

The elders held their breath.

All eyes are focused on Lone Tiger Divine Beggar.

“And so, in place of the late sect leader, I shall convene this grand council as an elder of Beggar Union, to appoint the next sect leader. Right here and now!”

Lone Tiger Divine Beggar clenched his fist tightly.

“The next sect leader must be someone who can lead Beggar Union through the approaching calamity, someone more capable than anyone else. Moreover! It is clear that they must be a capable person who can restore Beggar Union, which the previous sect leader destroyed, to its original state!"

"That's right!"

“Of course!”

Ugly-Faced Beggar bit his lips again as he heard the shouts that erupted as if orchestrated.

'So this is how it flows in the end.'

Ugly-Faced Beggar felt the sighs flowing from his mouth die down in the shouts and closed his eyes as if turning away.

* * *

"Watch properly."

“Ei. Who do you think is going to come? With those beggar bastards glaring like that.”

“If anything happens, you won’t escape a severe punishment. We just have to stay alert for two hours.”

"I keep telling you nothing will happen. Can't you see that everyone's too scared to even come near? Besides, we already said no one below the level of a sect leader would be allowed in. Who would dare… huh?”

One of the guards at the front gate of the headquarters trailed off mid-sentence and blinking absentmindedly. A group of people was quickly approaching from ahead.

“Who is it?”

“Stop them first.”

The beggars took out their staffs from their waists and crossed them as if blocking the gate.

"Halt!"

The approaching group stopped right in front of the main gate at their voices.

“Go back. Beggar Union is currently holding a major sect event. You cannot enter unless you are a person befitting the status of a sect leader!”

The lead figure smiled gently at this.

“Then please open the gate.”

"If you understand, then just… Huh? What did you just say?”

The one at the front drew his sword from his waist and held it forward. Then, clasping his hands holding the sword, he firmly cupped his fists in salute.

“I am Baek Cheon, the Acting Sect Leader of the Great Mount Hua Sect. I have come to congratulate Beggar Union's ceremony, so please convey this and I request that you open the gate."

"Huh...?"

At those words, the beggars’ eyes went wide.

Baek Cheon? Mount Hua….

"Baek Cheon!"

Only then did the beggars discover the plum blossom pattern engraved on the young man's chest and were greatly shocked.

“Ba- Baek Cheon?”

“Mount Hua’s Righteous Sword? Baek Cheon?”

Baek Cheon spoke calmly while looking at the astonished beggars.

“An acting sect leader should be more than sufficient to be considered a person befitting the status of a sect leader.”

"Tha- that's..."

The beggars glanced at each other in confusion. What now…

“Is there a problem?”

“P- Please wait a moment. We need to check the criteria …”

"Criteria?"

Baek Cheon stared at them intently and opened his mouth.

“There are two criteria. The person must be equivalent to a sect leader. And the sect they belong to must be befitting of a great sect.”

“....”

“It is a matter of course that the position of an acting sect leader is equivalent to that of a sect leader. So, are you all now saying that Mount Hua is not worthy of being called a great sect?”

The faces of the beggars turned pale at this.

The great sect.

It was a term that doesn’t have a strict classification, but in this age, no one would dare call Mount Hua a minor sect anymore. Especially not Beggar Union.

One wrong word here could lead to something extremely serious. There’s no way a mere gatekeeper could bear such responsibility.

"If that is not what you think."

Baek Cheon, with a graceful smile on his lips and his back to the sunlight, spoke gently.

“Would you please open the gate?”

“...W- We will open it now."

The beggars, dripping with cold sweat, opened the gate as if possessed. Baek Cheon nodded at the sight and moved forward.

“Let’s go in.”

"Yes!"

It was the moment Baek Cheon’s footsteps heavily echoed through the old headquarters of Beggar Union.

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