I didn’t come looking for you? (4)

Luju subtly furrowed his brows. Though it was difficult to pinpoint exactly why, something about Lee Songbaek’s eyes irritated him.

“Lee Songbaek of Jongnam.”

His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

“The second generation disciple of Jongnam. Mentioned alongside Jin Geumryong as a future leader of Jongnam. Currently the most promising of the younger generation. Serious, polite, and disciplined. Current martial arts level unknown. Potential future Sect Leader of Jongnam.”

Lee Songbaek’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but Luju continued indifferently.

“It seems my information was incorrect. The Lee Songbaek I know of would understand that it is improper to interrupt such a conversation without permission. Or perhaps, Jongnam has decided to follow Hwasan’s unconventional ways?”

It was a blatant rebuke. Lee Songbaek respectfully clasped his hands.

“I formally apologize for that.”

“Apology accepted. However, this matter does not concern you. So, step back.”

“Stepping back is not difficult. But I would like to say one thing.”

“…What is it?”

Clearly displeased, Luju responded. Lee Songbaek lifted his head and spoke.

“I believe your earlier words were correct. It is clear how much you care for the beggars of your sect.”

“Spare me the flattery and get to the point.”

“…Yes.”

Lee Songbaek nodded, determination shining in his eyes as he spoke.

“Isn’t it possible that what Sect Leader perceives as right may differ from what the beggars perceive as right?”

Luju’s expression darkened.

“I don’t understand what you’re getting at. If you’re just going to spout cliches, you might as well stop now.”

“Well, you see…”

Lee Songbaek hesitated, as if he wanted to say more but then sighed. He felt frustrated by his lack of eloquence to persuade Luju.

However, he didn’t retreat. Instead, he chose a different approach.

Click!

Suddenly drawing his sword, Lee Songbaek’s action startled the disciples of Hwasan, who quickly grabbed his shoulders.

“Lee Sohyeop! What are you doing right now…!”

“Just a moment.”

Lee Songbaek carefully pushed away Baek Cheon’s hand resting on his shoulder and extended his sword forward.

“This is my sword.”

“…”

“You must be aware as the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect, right? I specialize in the Thirty-Six Swords Under the Heaven. It used to be the foundation of Jongnam… No, it was the foundation in the past, but now it’s a sword that deviates from the mainstream.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“Please listen.”

Lee Songbaek took a deep breath and then continued speaking.

“Jongnam’s predecessors considered this sword inadequate and judged that it couldn’t become the best in the world. So, they tried to make Jongnam excel with a new sword. That decision was undoubtedly made out of faith in Jongnam and affection towards its traditions.”

Luju slightly narrowed his eyes.

“But I’m still practicing the old way of the sword. Do you know why?”

“Because you and that sword fit well together.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Lee Songbaek shook his head.

“The reason is simple. Because I believe it’s right for me to practice this sword.”

Lee Songbaek’s gaze briefly left Luju and landed on Chung Myung.

“Of course, it wasn’t Jongnam who made me realize that. But ultimately, I decided that it was right for me to practice this sword, and I acted accordingly. That’s why I’m here now.”

The gaze directed towards Luju was resolute and sincere. It was the same piercing gaze that had felt unsettling before. Luju avoided that gaze slightly and spoke.

“What does that have to do with the current situation? I’m not idle enough to listen to you for the whole night.”

“I just wanted to ask. You mentioned that you did all this for the sake of the disciples. Jongnam’s predecessors also acted for the sake of Jongnam’s disciples. It’s the same thing. But at least in my eyes, it looks different.”

“Different?”

“Don’t you see? Our predecessors in the sect also firmly believed that it was better for the disciples to practice a new sword. They wouldn’t have doubted that it was for the disciples’ benefit.”

Luju’s face momentarily hardened. It seemed like he understood what Lee Songbaek was trying to say.

“But now, I am practicing the Thirty-Six Swords. Even though I, in the past, was weak and dull to make such a judgment, Sect Leader did not impose the ‘right’ path on me. That’s why I am who I am today.”

Lee Songbaek glanced down at his sword once before continuing.

“I believe Sect Leader was concerned about me as well. However, he did not oppose me, despite his concerns, because it was a decision I made after careful consideration. If I, as an individual, have made a choice and am willing to bear the responsibility for it, then it should be respected. However!”

Lee Songbaek’s voice loomed over Luju like a heavy blade.

“Do the disciples of the Beggars Sect know what situation they are currently facing?”

“…”

“Does the Sect Leader intend to reduce what they can do to protect them, and simply let them live as ordinary beggars… Do they know?”

Luju remained silent.

“That… Yes, Sect Leader. That…”

Lee Songbaek trailed off, unable to continue. It wasn’t out of intense emotion, but rather a sense of frustration.

This frustration was relieved by Chung Myung, who had been silently listening.

“It’s not right.”

Lee Songbaek nodded in agreement, as if that was what he wanted to say.

“Yes. It’s not right. It’s not fair.”

“No one wants their life to be decided for them for reasons they don’t even know.”

“Yes! That’s it.”

Lee Songbaek quickly nodded. Clearly, Chung Myung understood his words. That realization brought a strange sense of relief to Lee Songbaek.

Then Chung Myung spoke, which sounded almost like a sigh.

“Words are good, but just words.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t that what thieves who steal others’ martial arts would say?”

Chung Myung glanced at Lee Songbaek with an intense and piercing gaze. Whenever Chung Myung’s lips twitched with discontent, Lee Songbaek’s body seemed to shrink in response.

Lee Songbaek managed to awkwardly speak up.

“No… Well, what Sect Leader did wasn’t right, but… It’s not up to me to judge…”

“You see all sorts of things in life, don’t you? While that guy did something frustrating, it’s those around who should point it out. Where does a thief gets off with just being lectured? If I just listen to you, I’ll think Jongnam’s Sect Leader is a saint and the most noble person of the world? Huh?”

The unexpected turn of Chung Myung’s words pulled Lee Songbaek and Five Swords back to reality. Five Swords suddenly glared at Lee Songbaek.

“Wow. I almost fell for it. I almost thought Sect Leader of Jongnam was a good person.”

“Come to think of it, he was the one boasting about stealing our martial arts at the yearly tournament, wasn’t he?”

“…We need to strip away the facade.”

“Someday, it’ll catch fire. Jongnam will burn to the ground.”

“…Right. But let’s not say such things in front of them.”

“Why?”

“It’s a precaution. It makes things harder. You’ve got to strike when they least expect it.”

“Ah.”

Lee Songbaek’s hands instinctively came together in a polite gesture.

In the past, during the era when Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique was lost, one might not have been aware of where the current Twelve Movement Snow Flower Sword Technique originated from. However, now with the reemergence of Hwasan’s Plum Blossoms, it was hard not to know its origins.

Of course, the current Twelve Movement Sword Technique had deviated quite a bit from the Twenty-Four Plum Blossoms due to the desperate efforts of Jin Geumryong and the elders of Jongnam improvements. But does that mean their crimes are forgiven?

“To the disciples of Hwasan…”

“Lee Sohyeop.”

“Yes?”

“Come back to your senses.”

“…Yes.”

In response to Yoon Jong’s words, Lee Songbaek quietly bowed his head once again.

“Tsk.”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue. His frozen lips curled into a faint smile. Then, he glanced at Luju, who hadn’t even begun to think about opening his mouth.

“Well… It’s not the words themselves that are the problem, but rather the one who speaks them.”

“…”

“You must know. How crucial information is when making a judgment. It applies just the same to the Beggars Sect as well. You’re cutting off the hands and feet of the Beggars Sect, dragging it forcibly towards the life you desire.”

A chill emanated from Luju’s eyes. It was as if he had heard something profoundly insulting. But that was all. As time passed, no words of rebuttal came forth.

“It’s not that you haven’t spoken, but rather, you couldn’t speak. The people of the Beggars Sect would never agree to such things. If that were the case, the term ‘Beggars Blood for Right Cause’ would never have come to be. For the world, for righteous cause, one can discard one’s life as easily as tossing away a pebble. That’s what ‘blood for the right cause’ is all about.”

Luju bit his lip slightly. With eyes filled with a mixture of hatred and anger, he glared at Chung Myung, then slowly looked up at the ceiling. His eyes, swirling with complex emotions, gradually softened.

“I suppose so.”

A disappointed voice flowed from Luju, who had closed his eyes.

“No one will agree with what I’m trying to do. Those in power will desire the Beggars Sect to become competent, and those without power will argue that it’s right to pursue righteousness without taking care of beggars’ lives.”

“You didn’t deceive the outside world.”

Chung Myung nodded as if finally understanding.

“What you deceived was none other than the Beggars Sect itself, right?”

“…”

“The Beggars Sect could truly see you as bedridden. Or perhaps there’s a body double at play. Either way, you’ve hidden yourself even from the sect to deceive them, yet you stay here unable to leave, still close to the Beggars Sect. Like a ghost.”

Luju’s body trembled slightly.

Chung Myung sensed an unfathomable sorrow in that demeanor. There are things in this world that no one can understand, but there are also things that must be done. He knows better than anyone how lonely it is to do them.

“I won’t say you’re wrong. But you’re not right either. If you truly wanted it, you should have persuaded the beggars of the sect.”

Luju lowered his head and slowly opened his eyes. The raging hatred seemed to quiet down. But that didn’t mean his gaze towards Chung Myung had turned friendly.

“I appreciate the insight.”

“…”

“But I have no intention of changing my ways now. I’ll continue to save as many beggars as I can, even if it’s deemed the wrong path.”

He seemed even more determined.

“The conversation ends here. Leave.”

“Wait a moment.”

Jo Geol, startled by the abrupt dismissal, interjected.

“Just leave? Oh no. Is it acceptable to just say so much and then leave? What will you do if we inform the world of this fact?”

“Will you inform them?”

“Well, no, that’s not it. I’m not trying to threaten you… I just thought maybe we could… negotiate or something…”

Watching Jo Geol’s flustered reaction, Luju calmly spoke.

“If you want to inform them, go ahead.”

“That’s… um, really?”

“I said go ahead.”

Jo Geol blinked.

Was it really okay to disclose all this? To tell the world that the supposedly bedridden Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect was thriving at the top of a luxurious pavilion?

“If that happens, those within the Beggars Sect will split into those who believe your words and those who don’t, and this will reignite conflicts among us. Ultimately, I may be ousted, but I’ll persist stubbornly until this war ends. Then, the Beggars Sect may refrain from meddling in this dirty war. Thanks to you, things might even become easier.”

“Oh, no, I didn’t mean…”

Jo Geol was left speechless, unsure of what to say. Upon reflection, it seemed entirely possible that things could unfold as Luju described.

“Don’t expect me to change my mind. If it were that easy to sway me, I wouldn’t have held out until now.”

Luju stared directly at Chung Myung.

“Especially you, Hwasan Geomhyeop. I’m different from those you’ve dealt with before. There’s no chance I’ll change my mind through conversation with you. So, don’t waste your efforts and just leave. The Beggars Sect won’t align with Gupailbang or Cheonumaeng.”

As if cutting with a knife, Luju’s words caused Baek Cheon to sigh deeply.

‘Is it impossible?’

With such a firm statement, it seemed there was nothing more to be done. Attempting further persuasion here would only provoke unnecessary resistance.

Nevertheless, coming this far wasn’t entirely futile. With that thought in mind, Baek Cheon began to speak.

“Chung Myung, let’s just…”

But then it happened.

“It’s only natural that it won’t change. After all, the judgment isn’t yours to make anyway.”

“…Huh?”

“Isn’t that right?”

As Chung Myung, with a subtle smile, fixed his gaze on Luju, he sighed.

“Are you resorting to force now? Well, I guess there’s no other choice. The only thing left is the possibility that I’m not the Sect Leader. However, Hwasan Geomhyeop, no matter how much you try to force it, I am indeed the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect.”

“Oh, I guess that’s right. But what should I do? I’m not talking about that?”

“…You’re not?”

Chung Myung smirked sarcastically.

“It was a bit confusing, but now I understand perfectly.”

Baek Cheon, slightly bewildered, lowered his voice and asked.

“What are you talking about, Chung Myung? I don’t understand the situation.”

“It’s simple logic, Sasuk. Just because he is called the Sect Leader doesn’t mean he is necessarily the Sect Leader.”

“What do you mean…”

“What’s so hard to grasp? Look at Hwasan for instance.”

“Oh…”

Baek Cheon immediately grasped it and looked back at Luju with newfound understanding.

Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect.

With just those two words, everyone present assumed that the person in front of them bore the responsibility for everything the sect entailed. But that might not be the case.

“Tell me.”

Chung Myung smirked coldly as he stared at Luju.

“Who’s behind you? Who told you that you should make the Beggars Sect like this?”

In that moment, Baek Cheon saw it. It was the first time Luju’s complexion changed drastically.