Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1505. Who am I? (5)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
"This...."
The elders of Beggar Union couldn’t hide their shock.
The energy the unfamiliar man emanated from his entire body was unmistakably Beggar Union's supreme martial art, the Jade Mystic Divine Art (옥현신공(玉玄神功)).
An exclusive martial art of Beggar Union that only elders and above could learn. There could be no greater proof of one's identity as a disciple.
Even more shocking were the words that came from the mouth of this stranger using the divine art.
“Se- Sect Leader?”
“Sect Leader?”
The Dragon Head Sect Leader of Beggar Union. The one they all knew well.
But the appearance of that person before their eyes differed from the Sect Leader Wind Shadow Divine Beggar they knew.
“This is absurd…”
“Ho- However... isn’t that Jade Mystic Divine Art?”
"There’s more than one elder in the sect who’s mastered Jade Mystic Divine Art!"
“You fools! Was there anyone like that in our sect?”
"That’s...."
Even the elders couldn’t make sense of the bizarre situation.
No matter how many disciples Beggar Union had, and no matter how the number of elders was incomparable to other sects, could an elder who had spent his entire life with them be a complete stranger?
As far as they knew, there was no Beggar Union elder who looked like that.
Then was that person truly Wind Shadow Divine Beggar? The one who always covered his face?
“...What are you all doing?”
The man, Wind Shadow Divine Beggar, looked around with cold eyes.
One of the elders swallowed dryly and spoke up with a tense voice.
"A- Are you truly Sect Leader?"
Wind Shadow Divine Beggar looked straight at him and said.
“Ever-Drunk.” (항취(恒醉))
“Huh, gasp!”
Ever-Drunk's face, which had been filled with tension, turned into shock. ot only did the man know his name, but his tone and voice were identical to Sect Leader’s they had always heard.
"Ho- How can such a thing...."
Though his mind refused to believe it, his instincts screamed that the man before him was indeed Sect Leader.
At this, they had no choice but to look at Lone Tiger Divine Beggar.
“E- Elder! What is the meaning of this? I’m certain we were told Sect Leader had passed away!”
Anger seeped into their voices. Lone Tiger Divine Beggar was silently staring at Wind Shadow Divine Beggar.
It was undoubtedly a face he had never seen. That was precisely why Lone Tiger Divine Beggar intuited that this person was the real Wind Shadow Divine Beggar. That is, Sect Leader.
Among Beggar Union disciples, only Wind Shadow Divine Beggar could possess such martial prowess and remain beyond his sight.
Having come to a conviction, Wind Shadow Divine Beggar opened his mouth resolutely.
"Elders! What are you standing around for? Seize that criminal at once!"
"Huh?"
“E- Elder? What are you saying…?”
The elders looked astonished.
"I said to immediately apprehend that person who dares to steal and learn Beggar Union’s martial arts and impersonate Sect Leader!"
A terrifying aura erupted from Lone Tiger Divine Beggar. The momentum that burst forth like a storm instantly pushed away the energy that Lone Tiger Divine Beggar's Jade Mystic Divine Art had been flowing.
Wind Shadow Divine Beggar frowned and said in a low voice,
“Sahyung. Do you really intend to go this far?”
Lone Tiger Divine Beggar let out a sneer.
“Sahyung? What a cunning bastard, spouting such words so brazenly with that gaping mouth of yours. I have never had a saje like you. The saje you are impersonating has already met his end at the hands of enemies."
"Just how far will you....”
"Impersonating Sect Leader in Beggar Union's headquarters is a grave crime punishable by death. You will pay a severe price for this."
Wind Shadow Divine Beggar bit his lower lip tightly.
He had thought it would come to this, but experiencing it firsthand was truly devastating.
Though their paths had diverged, he was the rightful sect leader of Beggar Union. How should one feel when their own disciples deny their sect leader?
“Seize him, now!”
“Wa- Wait!”
Ugly-Faced Beggar, who had been watching the situation unfold, suddenly shouted.
“If that man is Sect Leader, then the one who should be kneeling right now is none other than you, Lone Tiger Divine Beggar!”
At that, wavering flickered across the faces of several elders.
He was right. If that person was truly Beggar Union’s sect leader Wind Shadow Divine Beggar, then Lone Tiger Divine Beggar should pay the price for falsely fabricating his death.
But Lone Tiger Divine Beggar showed no panic whatsoever and instead asked calmly.
“On what grounds do you regard that man as Sect Leader?”
"...What?"
“Do you have any evidence?”
Ugly-Faced Beggar closed his mouth. Of course, he had no clear proof. But the man's voice and his martial arts…
“You would recognize someone as Sect Leader just because he suddenly shows up, claiming to know Beggar Union martial arts despite never being seen before? Is Beggar Union sect leader's position so trivial?"
"That’s..."
“You bastard!”
Lone Tiger Divine Beggar’s killing intent surged as he glared at Wind Shadow Divine Beggar.
"If you are truly Sect Leader Wind Shadow Divine Beggar, then naturally you would possess the sect's sacred relic! Show it. If you do, I will stretch out my neck and pay the price for my sin. So? Do you have the sacred relic?”
After a short silence, Wind Shadow Divine Beggar sighed and opened his mouth.
“I do not have the sacred relic with me now.”
Murmurs of ‘I knew it’ rippled through the crowd. Wind Shadow Divine Beggar slowly shook his head and said,
“But there is a way to retrieve it. If you allow me…”
“Blue Dog Unit (청구대(靑狗臺))! Seize that man and force him to his knees at once!”
"Yes!"
The doors behind Lone Tiger Divine Beggar opened, and a flood of beggars with piercing eyes poured into the great hall.
“S- Stop!”
Ugly-Faced Beggar screamed desperately as he hurriedly blocked their path.
"Th- This is not how to resolve this matter!"
“Come to your senses, Elder Ugly-Faced Beggar.”
But Lone Tiger Divine Beggar rebuked him coldly.
“This is a man who doesn’t even possess the sacred relic, who has barged into the headquarters and is impersonating Sect Leader. If we are swayed by such a person, what would the world say about Beggar Union?"
“....”
“The truth will be revealed once we capture and interrogate him. If you continue to stand in the way, Elder Ugly-Faced Beggar, I will assume you too have other intentions.”
“Th- This....”
Ugly-Faced Beggar turned in panic, hoping to rally the other elders to calm the situation. But what he faced were only the cold gazes of the elders.
At that moment, Ugly-Faced Beggar realized.
'It doesn't matter.'
Most of the elders weren't curious whether that person was the real Wind Shadow Divine Beggar. No, even if that person were Wind Shadow Divine Beggar, they seemed as if they wouldn't care.
“How… How can you all do this!”
The angry Ugly-Faced Beggar raised his voice. The mocking tone of Lone Tiger Divine Beggar cut through the air.
“You don’t understand, Elder. Don’t you see? That man can absolutely not be Wind Shadow Divine Beggar.”
“Why…”
“If he were truly Wind Shadow Divine Beggar, it would mean "The leader I know is not such a person. has been deceiving us all along. It would mean that Sect Leader, who claimed to be bedridden, was actually perfectly fine, and that all the things he postponed using his illness as an excuse were actually done to throw Beggar Union into confusion. Don’t you get it?”
Ugly-Faced Beggar gasped and shut his mouth. Lone Tiger Divine Beggar shouted in a more confident voice.
"The Sect Leader I know is not such a person. No, if he is truly the sect leader of Beggar Union, then he could never behave like that! Which is why that man can never be the sect leader. Do you understand?”
Lone Tiger Divine Beggar glared at Wind Shadow Divine Beggar with a face twisted in fury.
“Sect Leader’s intentions were often inscrutable, but he always acted for the sake of the sect. To paint such a leader, my saje! As a villain who tried to destroy Beggar Union from within! You shameless bastard!"
“E- Elder! What does that....”
“Don’t you understand? In this world, who would want to throw Beggar Union into chaos?”
“....”
“Are you saying my saje, Beggar Union Sect Leader, was a spy for our enemies? How dare you spew such nonsense here?”
Killing intent poured out from Lone Tiger Divine Beggar's two eyes.
Looking at this alone, he seemed like a sahyung extremely enraged at those who would sully his saje's honor. It was difficult to doubt.
But the elders of Beggar Union here realized the true intention of Wind Shadow Divine Beggar.
If that person were the sect leader?
Then Beggar Union would have to acknowledge that the sect leader had neglected the sect all this time using a nonexistent illness as an excuse, and they would have to announce to the world that the notices sent to all the other sects were merely a misunderstanding.
Could there be a greater disgrace than this?
A sect whose sect leader abandoned it, and which even mistook that sect leader's death and sent reports throughout the world. Could there be another sect in the world more ridiculous than this?
No, it would be a relief if it ended with mere ridicule.
Worse, they might be forced to admit that Beggar Union had fallen victim to a decades-long plot by Magyo, unwittingly harming Kangho. Even if they didn’t admit it, the world would certainly point fingers at Beggar Union.
How on earth can such a situation be resolved?
Wind Shadow Divine Beggar opened his mouth again in a heavy voice.
“I know what wrongs I have committed. If I had no intention of correcting them, I would not have come to stand here.”
“....”
“So please, allow me to reveal the truth for now. That is the first thing I, as Sect Leader, must do for Beggar Union.”
As soon as Wind Shadow Divine Beggar finished speaking, Lone Tiger Divine Beggar roared like thunder.
"You dare keep spouting nonsense till the end! An outsider like you has nothing to do for Beggar Union!"
“Sahyung! No, Lone Tiger Divine Beggar!”
“Shut that mouth, you wicked scoundrel!”
Wind Shadow Divine Beggar bit his lips and looked around.
By now, everyone would probably have realized it. That he was truly Sect Leader Wind Shadow Divine Beggar. That only his appearance had changed, but he was the one who had been leading Beggar Union all along.
But… the elders who met his eyes quietly turned their gaze away, or stared at him with eyes full of resentment. In that moment, his chest dropped and words failed him.
“Do you have any proof that you are Sect Leader?”
“How dare you impersonate Sect Leader! You bastard who should be chewed up bones and all!"
“Do you think Beggar Union is a joke!”
Those who followed Lone Tiger Divine Beggar raised their voices loudly. Even those who did not follow him could not bring themselves to meet Wind Shadow Divine Beggar’s eyes.
Wind Shadow Divine Beggarwas never here in the first place.
If it were so, then everything would be fine. Regardless of the truth.
"Elder...."
"Do not worry, Ugly-Faced Beggar.”
Lone Tiger Divine Beggar spoke with a sat Ugly-Faced Beggar's feeble voice.
"We must ascertain the truth, so we will not kill him. I will capture him alive and find out everything he has plotted, from one to ten.”
Ugly-Faced Beggar nodded weakly.
This was not the truth. Nor was it right.
But if things proceed like this, at least the union’s safety can be preserved with fewer people harmed.
Ugly-Faced Beggar glanced at Wind Shadow Divine Beggar. Wind Shadow Divine Beggar felt a pang in his heart at the sight of those complex and strange gazes. He was gripping his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, but he was unaware of thje pain.
The gazes of all those looking at him from this place were telling him crystal clear.
An indifferent voice reached his ears.
“You felt sorry and sad for those who died for their Righteousness, so you wanted to make them protect their own safety?”
“...Chivalrous Sword.”
"Look closely. This is Beggar Union you created. This is the end result of those who lose what must not be lost and protect only their own safety."
Those words cut Wind Shadow Divine Beggar's soul more sharply than any renowned sword.
|Note
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