So what’s the difference? (3)

The beggar, running until the rice in his hand scattered everywhere, hurriedly entered the secluded hut, pushing aside the hanging rag curtain.

“Branch Head!”

“What?”

Hong Daekwang, who was half-lying in a corner of the hut, quickly sat up and asked.

“What’s going on? What happened?”

“The people split in half and fight like crazy. I looked around a few places, but they’re all similar.”

An involuntary groan escaped from Hong Daekwang’s lips.

“Those bastards, they’re really too much. How much has Cheonumaneg done for them all this time?”

“Do people remember such things? They’re not thinking about what else they might give in the future. A person who has lived as a beggar all his life must know how harsh the world is.”

“Do you think they don’t know because they’re ignorant? It’s because they’re bursting with frustration!”

Annoyance crept onto Hong Daekwang’s face.

The fact that public opinion was split fifty-fifty didn’t seem so bad to hear. After all, it meant that half of the people understood Cheonumaeng’s position.

But that was a story without considering the situation until now. Until this incident spread, the commoners overwhelmingly supported Cheonumaneg, not Gupailbang.

For the past few years, Gupailbang had done nothing for the commoners, while Cheonumaneg had not only supported them in the Yangtze river region but also risked their lives rushing to Hangzhou to drive out Demonic Cult, didn’t they?

Anyone with ears and a brain couldn’t help but support Cheonumaneg in such a situation.

In such circumstances, the fact that public opinion was split in half meant that the justification presented by Beop Jong had been accepted. This time Gupailbang finally dealt a real blow to Cheonumaneg.

‘That rotten bastard…’

Hong Daekwang gritted his teeth.

The cunning Beop Jong didn’t present the truth as it was. While pretending to convey the facts as they were, he subtly inserted the interpretation that Cheonumaeng had refused cooperation with Gupailbang for their own benefit.

It was somewhat awkward to come forward and point it out, it would sound more like an excuse.

“It’s natural to win the position of Shaolin’s leader in a fierce competition…”

Yet, the reason for the disgust was that the position of Shaolin’s leader was supposed to represent righteousness, not cunning politics.

“Is there no word from Cheonumaneg?”

“What is there to say? It’s not exactly a false story.”

In fact, it was true that Cheonumaneg had rejected Beop Jong’s proposal to join forces. Of course, there might be differences in details, but people didn’t pay much attention to others’ minor circumstances.

“Did you not have anything to say? Isn’t it true that Cheonumaneg looks like it’s now bowing down to enter Gupailbang?”

“Well, that’s how we see it, but in the eyes of ordinary people, Gupailbang is still much bigger and has a deeper history.”

“Hmm… I guess that makes sense.”

“So, if the two sides join forces, naturally Cheonumaeng will disappear, and Gupailbang will remain. That’s how it looks in theory.”

“That feels odd.”

Dong Kwak scratched his head in confusion.

Anyway, as a member of Gupailbang, one should feel pleased that the commoners show a bit more favoritism towards Gupailbang. However, as someone who had lived in Hwaeum, close to Hwasan, it wasn’t entirely pleasing. Hence the strange feeling.

“So what? Did you just listen and not say anything?”

“…What else was I supposed to do?”

“Hey, you! Did you just sit there and listen to this nonsense from ignorant people without saying anything? You should have pointed it out! That’s not how it works!”

“Oh, Branch Head. Pull yourself together!”

Dong Kwak waved off Hong Daekwang as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“No matter how close we are to Hwasan, how can we refuse orders from above? What we should be doing now is not defending Cheonumaneg, but spreading the Abbot’s stance to the world, isn’t it?”

“So what? Are you saying I should spread those words defaming the folks from Hwasan?”

“Who said anything about going that far? Even if we can’t follow orders, it doesn’t mean we can go completely against them. If we go against them and get marked by the higher-ups, even you, Branch Head, won’t be able to save us. Don’t you get it?”

“Ah, damn it.”

In the end, Hong Daekwang, cursing under his breath, let out a heavy sigh.

“The ones who call beggars dirty are the funniest. There are so many truly filthy ones out there. It makes my rotten guts churn! Mine are rotten!”

“Be careful of what you say. It could really backfire.”

“What if it does? Where else do I have to go? I’ll just join Hwasan!”

“…They won’t accept you, will they?…”

“What? Hwasan Geomhyeop is my friend, you idiot!”

“Isn’t it more important what Hwasan Geomhyeop thinks?”

“But what about this bastard?”

As Hong Daekwang grabbed the wooden club next to him, Dong Kwak flinched and quickly averted his gaze.

“Ah, damn it!”

Another curse escaped from Hong Daekwang’s lips.

Where they were now was within the Yangtze river basin. Along with Shaanxi and Sichuan, it was one of the three places in the world where Cheonumaneg had the most favorable public opinion. If even here the public opinion was divided, one could only imagine what it was like elsewhere.

“No matter how fickle people’s hearts are, public opinion changes like the wind, but… people can be so cruel sometimes. How…”

“Is that because they dislike Cheonumaneg? Or is it because they’re anxious? I think it’s because they’re anxious.”

“What’s there to be anxious about? What?”

“Well… it’s true that Cheonumaneg was the only one who responded to the massacre in Hangzhou… but… they didn’t actually save the people of Hangzhou.”

Hong Daekwang’s face stiffened at those words.

“So what? What’s wrong with that?”

“It’s not that it’s wrong… but… what do you think the people who witnessed that incident thought? Wouldn’t they have thought that if Demonic Cult had deliberately attacked them, they would have ended up like the people of Hangzhou?”

Even Hong Daekwang couldn’t come up with a rebuttal to that statement. He fell silent, feeling bitter.

Although everyone whispered about it, the massacre on Hangzhou had caused a great shock throughout the Central Plains. It was shocking enough to realize that the supposedly eradicated Demonic Cult was still alive and well, but the most shocking thing was their brutal methods.

If they couldn’t stop Demonic Cult, everyone knew what kind of state the Central Plains would be in.

“Because of the fear and anxiety, don’t you want the orthodox factions to become stronger? So that even if Sapaeryeon or Demonic Cult come knocking, we can sufficiently defend ourselves.”

“Just because they’re divided into two factions, you think they can’t handle a single one!”

“Oh, Branch Head, why is it that a guy who doesn’t usually behave like this suddenly loses his composure when it comes to matters related to Hwasan? It’s not about blocking them, you know. Even if I sacrifice myself to block Demonic Cult after you’ve already perished, what’s the point?”

“… “

“Thanks to Sapaeryeon and the massacre in Hangzhou, people have also realized that if these sects are weak, they might be sacrificed. No, it’s more accurate to say that they’re just realizing it now.”

Hong Daekwang openly expressed his resentment.

“Hey, you! Then we should support Cheonumaneg even more! When have Gupailbang’s bastards ever risked their lives to help the commoners? They’ve always just stood by and watched from behind! The situation where people in Gangnam are suffering because of Sapaeryeon, who’s responsible for that?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Dong Kwak spoke hesitantly.

“Actually, well… the legitimacy lies with them. It’s better to reconcile than to confront each other. From the people’s perspective, and also theoretically, it seems right.”

“What, you?”

Hong Daekwang’s eyes flashed with anger.

“You, idiot! That’s just bullcrap. Theoretically! In theory! In the grand scheme of things! Spouting such nonsense and then messing everything up! In the grand scheme of things, everyone’s doomed anyway, so why force-feed them lies!”

“… “

“You should look at the big picture. Does everything get solved if you just look at the bigger picture? Those who pretend to know everything end up messing everything up!”

“… Why are you taking it out on me? Go talk to the people. Why are you doing this to me?”

“Ah, damn it.”

Once again, with a grunt, Hong Daekwang rolled over and lay back. His face was flushed with pent-up anger.

“Sect Leader has also grown too old. Is this a situation where we can just listen to Shaolin and spread rumors around? We should have left Gupailbang and joined Cheonumaneg a long time ago.”

“That’s not easy. It is true that Namgung and Tangga have left Five Great Families, but no one has really broken away from Gupailbang yet, right?”

“…”

“The moment a faction breaks away from Gupailbang and joins Cheonumaneg, Shaolin will do everything to suppress it, but how will they handle that? Especially us, we can’t handle it. Other sects may have their territories secure, but aren’t we, beggars, people who live by begging and scavenging all over the Central Plains? Even if we were just driven out, thousands would starve to death.”

“Who doesn’t know that!”

Hong Daekwang burst out yelling.

“Hey, you! Is it really like the Beggars Sect to keep your mouth shut out of fear of starving to death? Are you really a beggar? How is that different from the logic of those Sapaeryeon bastards who plunder to survive?”

“Well…”

“Some are running to Gangnam, where Sapaeryeon are clamoring to make money and gain influence, saying they’ll save the commoners, while others, scared of starving to death, spread baseless rumors like old raccoons.”

Hong Daekwang’s voice gradually faded.

“I didn’t join the Beggars Sect for this…”

“You speak as if you came in with some great purpose. You just came because you are a beggar.”

“Oh, come on!”

Hong Daekwang impulsively threw the club he was holding.

“Ouch!”

Dong Kwak, hit on the head by the club, staggered backward and screamed.

“Why are you deliberately provoking me! Do you want to die today?”

“Ahh!”

Dong Kwak quickly retreated towards the entrance, yelling in pain.

“In any case, don’t do anything unnecessary. The atmosphere is already tense after an elder leaving not long ago. If you mess around here, you’ll be a perfect example of failure! If you’re not happy with the Beggars Sect now, endure it like a stubborn old man and become the Sect Leader, or change it!”

“Aren’t you leaving?”

“Just don’t do any unnecessary things!”

With these words left behind, Dong Kwak hurriedly rushed out. Hong Daekwang, who had been glaring at the entrance where Dong Kwak had left, sighed heavily and sat down.

“…Becoming a leader and changing things would freeze me to death.”

If there was such an intention, it would have changed already.

He understood when he saw Hwasan. If you want to change, you shouldn’t wait. Holding onto the idea of ‘someday’ and patiently waiting eventually turns you into someone who complies with the rules of the past.

“What would you do, Hwasan Geomhyeop?”

Once again, Chung Myung’s face came to mind. When everyone called him reckless and foolish, in the end he proved that he wasn’t wrong.

“This feels disgusting.”

Hong Daekwang opened the drawer and took out a bottle of cheap liquor. It seemed like he would have to drink until he passed out tonight.