How could I dare not to follow? (5)

“Sahyeong. An urgent report has arrived from Shaolin.”

The elderly man sitting behind the worn and faded large desk raised his head quietly.

Before him stood an elderly beggar, holding out a report.

On the crimson-colored paper, the words “For the Eyes of the Dragon’s Head Sect Leader* Only” were clearly written. It was a report meant only for the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect. In other words, it was a message that only the Sect Leader could open.

However, neither the one presenting the report nor the old man looking at it showed any signs of discomfort. It was clear that the old man was definitely not the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect.

“Leave it there.”

“But it’s urgent…”

“It’s probably the same old story. They’ll be telling us to tighten the reins a bit more now.”

The elderly beggar silently placed the report on one side of the desk. It was positioned neither too far in the corner nor too central, just somewhere in between.

As the old man glanced at the report, his expression darkened.

‘Beop Jong…’

He was not unaware of the situation regarding the Beggars Sect. Nevertheless, the reason for sending a report labeled “For the Eyes of the Dragon’s Head Sect Leader Only” was obvious.

‘Petty moves.’

A hint of displeasure crossed the old man’s face. It wasn’t the audacity of Beop Jong’s subtle provocation that truly bothered him. It was his own subtle irritation at the petty provocation.

With a short sigh, he inquired.

“Any news regarding the relic?”

“Regarding this…”

The old man’s face distorted slightly with a hint of disdain.

“Too late. The incompetence of the Beggars Sect has reached new heights.”

“It’s understandable, Sahyeong. Considering the nature of the item we’re looking for… we can’t just mobilize the beggars at will.”

It was a given.

The moment word spread that the beggars of the Beggars Sect were scrambling to find their own sacred relic, it would surely become a subject of ridicule throughout the entire Gangho.

That relic was such an item. It could never be lost or taken away.

“Furthermore, that…”

“Enough. I know.”

The old man’s tone, cutting off any further discussion, was slightly elevated. If it were to be revealed that the one hiding the sacred relic was none other than the Sect Leader, it would not simply end as a matter of amusement.

The old man remained silent, his face twisted with displeasure, as the elderly beggar glanced at the document on the desk.

“Are you still not going to answer this time?”

“…”

“Shaolin’s urgency is increasing. It implies that the Abbot can no longer afford to hesitate, doesn’t it? Of course, Shaolin and Beop Jong are no different from wolves, but… at least they are powerful wolves, aren’t they?”

“…”

“While you hesitate like this, if the Sect Leader were to make a foolish move, it could potentially jeopardize the entire Beggars Sect…”

“When did you become so talkative?”

“Sorry, Sahyeong.”

Old man’s sudden burst of energy made the beggar flinch, quickly lowering his head.

A short sigh escaped from the old man’s lips.

The desk was piled high with documents.

It was the office only accessible to the Sect Leader, filled with orders that only Sect Leader could authorize. Currently, the one overseeing all of this was not the Sect Leader but the old man, Ilho Shin Gae.

However, despite wielding such immense power, the expression on Ilho Shin Gae’s face remained unchanged.

“Hmm.”

The Beggars Sect was already nearly in his grasp. Sajes followed him without question, and even Buntajus were more accustomed to following his lead than the Sect Leader, who was nowhere to be found.

“Now, there is only one thing left.”

He quietly traced the indented mark on the desk with his fingertips. The spot where the symbol of the Beggars Sect, the emblem of authority, should have been.

“It’s not that I don’t have the desire to ascend to the position of the Sect Leader immediately. But without the relic and without tracing the whereabouts of the Sect Leader, we cannot proceed.”

“Sahyeong’s authority is already being acknowledged by the disciples. No one will oppose.”

“It’s not about opposition – it’s about being unable to oppose. Just like when he ascended to the position of the Sect Leader and I couldn’t oppose.”

“…”

“A power that does not go through rightful procedures and processes will inevitably cause problems. We cannot repeat the same mistake.”

“But, Sahyeong, time is running out. If we don’t secure the command chain before Sapaeryeon moves again…”

“I know.”

Ilho Shin Gae slowly massaged his temples.

He wants one of two things. Either the current whereabouts of the Sect Leader , who can pass on the position to him, or the emblem of authority that holds the same power as the Sect Leader.

The reason Ilho Shin Gae clings to the relic is simple: there’s no way to locate the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect.

“…Muheun Gae.”

Sect Leader Pung Yeong Shin Gae always wears disguise. That’s not the issue. It’s not like Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s appearance manipulation skills are particularly impressive. If someone has keen insight and observation skills, they can easily tell when he’s using it.

Despite knowing this fact, Pung Yeong Shin Gae always manipulated the disguise, steadfastly enduring any ridicule.

Then, one day, Ilho Shin Gae came to a ridiculous realization.

He didn’t know Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s real face.

It sounds absurd, but it’s true. The last time he saw Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s true face was an astonishing forty years ago. Or maybe even that wasn’t true. He couldn’t even be sure if the face he saw back then was his real face.

And now, how could he possibly recognize Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s face?

But that wasn’t the only shocking fact awaiting Ilho Shin Gae. Within the Beggars Sect, there wasn’t a single person who knew Pung Yeong Shin Gae’s true face.

For decades, he had meticulously hidden his identity, even from the sect itself.

How could that be?

How could someone hide themselves from others for not just years but decades? Especially when they lacked experience and ability when they first ascended to their position.

“It’s truly astonishing….”

Anyone in the world can be found by the Beggars Sect. But there’s no way to find someone you don’t know. Even if Pung Yeong Shin Gae… no, Muheun Gae, were to roam this neighborhood displaying his true face, not a single person in the Beggars Sect would recognize him as the Sect Leader.

So realistically, the only thing that can be found is the relic. Muheun Gae is, quite literally, a person without a face.

“I must find them, both people and things, even if their traces are elusive.”

“…”

“We don’t even know what kind of person he is, and there are only a handful of people who have seen the relic with their own eyes.”

“…Sahyeong.”

Ilho Shin Gae chuckled dryly.

“It’s as if he had prepared for this situation from the start. Ever since that young Muheun Gae took the place of the Sect Leader… No, perhaps even before that…”

A hint of weariness brushed Ilho Shin Gae’s face as he sighed heavily.

His ability to lead numerous people, his sharp analytical skills in assessing enemies, and even his unmatched martial prowess, none of it was of any help in resolving this issue.

“Catching a ghost that doesn’t even have substance with my own hands. A ghost that can’t be caught… Wait a moment!”

But at that moment, Ilho Shin Gae’s head shot up as if struck by lightning.

“…Sahyeong?”

With wide eyes, Ilho Shin Gae muttered as if possessed by something.

“No substance…? No substance? Can’t recognize?”

“Sahyeong?”

“Heh… heh heh. Heh heh heh heh heh.”

Ilho Shin Gae burst into sudden laughter.

“S-Sahyeong. Why all of a sudden?”

“No substance. Hahaha. Yes, no substance!”

He slouched in his chair, seeming drained of energy, and continued to chuckle.

“I hate to admit it, but it seems like my Master didn’t pass down the Sect Leader’s position to me for a reason. I must have been so foolish…!”

“Why…”

“Gather the elders.”

Ilho Shin Gae commanded firmly, smiling confidently. It was a self-assured smile.

“You’ve been wandering, seeking only the difficult path while an easier one lay before you. Now, everything will be resolved swiftly.”

The elderly beggar merely looked at Ilho Shin Gae with puzzled eyes.

❀ ❀ ❀

“……Are you really in your right mind?”

Hong Daekwang looked at Chung Myung with a bewildered expression, as if he couldn’t be more surprised. Then, he glanced around at the others, specifically Baek Cheon.

“Dojang is the same. No, it’s a well-known fact that he’s not in his right mind, but you, Dojangs, should have stopped this, shouldn’t you?”

“…Do you think he would have listened if I had tried to stop him?”

“Then at least you shouldn’t have agreed! What on earth is that look for?”

Baek Cheon, momentarily at a loss for words, averted his gaze and stared into the distance. Even though they were in a small, enclosed room, and there was no mountain to see.

“Even if you’re crazy, there’s a limit… Hey, monk. Your wig is crooked. Good grief.”

“Oh, Amitabha.”

Hye Yeon, with his neck flushed red, fiddled with his perpetually troublesome wig. Chung Myung, annoyed by listening any further, cut in sharply.

“Ah! Enough with the nagging.”

Then he gestured with his chin towards Hong Daekwang.

“What are you going to do about it? Give me an answer.”

Hong Daekwang chewed on his lips and stared at Chung Myung.

“……Is everything I heard true?”

“Do you think I have the time to hold onto a beggar and spew nonsense?”

Hong Daekwang let out a long sigh and rubbed his face with his dirty hands.

“So, the King of Beggars I knew was actually the head of the sect, but not really the true head. He was more like a puppet controlled by a hidden figure. That hidden figure is indeed hidden but not a villainous one – he’s a legendary former Sect Leader. And the reason that Sect Leader did all this, although it seems bad, was actually for a good cause. The Sect Leader I saw might have been a decoy, but that decoy was also…”

“Please, stop, Buntaju.”

“……I suppose I’d feel the same if I were in your shoes.”

“Amitabha. Consider it fate.”

Hong Daekwang stared blankly at the ceiling, his face devoid of expression.

“……What kind of bullshit is this?”

It felt as if the world he knew had collapsed in an instant.

What made him even more frustrated was that Chung Myung he knew, while often speaking nonsense, has never lied.

“Well, let’s think about that later.”

“…How can we think about this later, you lunatic?”

“What’s past is past. What’s important is the future. So, for now, you have to become the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect…”

“Why do you get to decide that, you madman…?”

“How many times do I have to say it? There’s simply no one else.”

“And why do you get to make that judgment…?”

Tears welled up in Hong Daekwang’s eyes. How on earth was he supposed to make sense of this situation?

“Anyway, we don’t have time, so just follow me for now. We’ll think about the rest after you become the Sect Leader.”

“…What are you planning to do?”

“What do you mean, what am I going to do? Those guys have power but no authority, so they can’t do anything. This is the perfect time for us to strike…!”

At that moment.

“Do-Dojang!”

The door to the secret room they were hiding in burst open with a bang.

“What the!”

“Is it the enemy?”

The swordsmen of Hwasan immediately drew their swords and aimed them at the door.

But it was none other than Lee Songbaek who had thrown open the door.

“What, what’s the matter, Sohyeop? You scared us!”

“Hey, take it easy on the door…”

“Something terrible has happened!”

“Huh?”

Only then did everyone take a good look at Lee Songbaek. They had been too busy clutching their startled hearts to notice, but the usually composed Lee Songbaek’s face was now noticeably pale.

Baek Cheon quickly asked.

“What is it, Sohyeop?”

“Baek Cheon Do… No, Vice Sect Leader! Something terrible has happened. There’s a rumor spreading outside right now.”

“What rumor?”

“The Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect! The Sect Leader!”

“Yes, what about him?”

“He has passed away!”

The disciples of Hwasan were startled and asked again.

“What? He’s dead?”

“What do you mean? He was perfectly fine just a moment ago. How could he have died so suddenly?”

“That’s impossible!”

“Then what’s going on?”

Everyone was visibly shocked and began to murmur among themselves. Baek Cheon, staying calm, asked again.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes! The news just came from the headquarters. Everyone outside is talking about it.”

“…What on earth…”

Everyone, dumbfounded and unable to comprehend the situation, naturally turned to look behind them. When something was hard to understand, their eyes instinctively went in that direction.

However, Chung Myung, whom they turned to, was staring blankly into space as if he had been hit on the back of the head.

“Chung Myung-ah?”

“Uh…”

Chung Myung, with his mouth wide open, forced an awkward smile.

“Wow… That elder or whatever he is, he’s no ordinary guy. He managed to pull this off like this?”

“What exactly is going on?”

“It’s not the situation that matters… If we don’t solve this by today, we’re finished.”

“What? Ha ha. You’re just trying to scare us again, aren’t you, Chung Myung?”

Baek Cheon’s eyes widened as he saw thick beads of sweat pouring down Chung Myung’s forehead like a waterfall.

“Ch-Chung Myung…”

“…Or maybe, it’s already too late.”

No, this is truly a crisis…