After hearing Jeok Wigang’s explanation, Hong Cheongong asked,
“Did you learn all of that from the Four Divine Demons?”
“Some of it. The rest came from White Horse Heaven members I captured.”
“Captured? Then there are more of them in the Central Plains besides the Four Divine Demons?”
“Yes. I still don’t know how many.”
“Good heavens.... Are they all as strong as the Four Divine Demons?”
“Some were weaker. Some were stronger.”
“Stronger than the Four Divine Demons?”
“Yes. White Horse Heaven is a group of a hundred demons. As far as I know, the Four Divine Demons rank somewhere around the middle.”
“The middle? Then just how powerful is their Lord of Heaven?”
“I have no idea. But they tremble whenever he comes up, so I assume he’s extremely strong.”
“Did you have trouble subduing them?”
Jeok Wigang shook his head.
“Not particularly.”
Hong Cheongong stared at him in astonishment, then quickly nodded.
“Well, if you’re the hero destined to save the Central Plains, I suppose it only makes sense that you’d be stronger than the people of White Horse Heaven.”
Jeok Wigang was more surprised by how quickly he accepted it than Hong Cheongong seemed to be by the revelation.
“Doesn’t that surprise you?”
“Of course it does. Who wouldn’t be surprised to hear that you captured demons on the Heavenly Martial Emperor’s level without much difficulty? But you are no ordinary man. You are a man sent down by Heaven. It seems only natural that you’d be capable of such things.”
If he didn’t believe me, would I have to show him my strength again?
And how would I even do that?
Jeok Wigang had been considering the problem, so Hong Cheongong’s immediate acceptance somehow left him feeling oddly deflated.
“What would you have the Beggars’ Union do? Just say the word.”
Good. He doesn’t make me explain every last detail.
“Do you know about the Sichuan Divine Cult?”
“I do. Isn’t it an organization formed by people who worship the Four Divine Demons? I hear they’ve been going around proselytizing lately.”
The man really did seem to know everything.
The Beggars’ Union’s intelligence network was clearly a step above the Lower Gate’s.
“I took control of the Sichuan Divine Cult.”
“Well now.”
“In your opinion, Union Chief, what is the martial world like right now?”
“Peaceful.”
“If White Horse Heaven attacked, could it win?”
“Why do you think I’ve been strengthening the Beggars’ Union? Because I know we’re not ready.”
“Then why haven’t you warned the other sects?”
“Would they listen if I did? They’d probably say the old man had finally gone senile.”
“What if there were a way to put the martial world on edge?”
“Surely you don’t mean... using the Sichuan Divine Cult to make it look as though the Four Divine Demons have begun moving again?”
“Yes.”
“Ha ha ha. I see. And you want us to spread the rumor.”
“Exactly.”
Talking to someone who grasped the point immediately was comfortable.
“Very well. I’ll make sure the rumors grow suitably dramatic.”
“Not yet. Start spreading them only after the Sichuan Divine Cult begins its activities.”
“Understood. Then are all four Divine Demons with you now?”
“I’m still missing one.”
“Well now. Isn’t that dangerous?”
“It’s fine. I think we’ve found him.”
“Wait.... Listening-Eye Beggar asked us to look into someone not long ago. Was that...?”
“There really is nothing you don’t know.”
“Ha ha ha. I was simply curious because Listening-Eye Beggar asked me to investigate.”
“With you here, Union Chief, I suppose I don’t have much reason to worry about the Beggars’ Union.”
“You flatter me. How could I compare to a man working so hard to protect the martial world of the Central Plains?”
“I’m only doing this to protect my family. Saying I’m acting for the sake of the martial world is giving me too much credit.”
“Ha ha ha. You may see it that way, but those who witness what you do will not. I certainly don’t.”
“Well, everyone is free to see things as they please. Still, thank you.”
“Of course.”
Hong Cheongong smiled.
He would make Jeok Wigang the hero of the Central Plains.
“The Heavenly Martial Emperor must have far less to worry about now as well.”
“He keeps trying to make me take over Heavenly Martial Castle. It’s driving me crazy.”
“Of course he does. No one else could possibly satisfy him anymore. I would feel the same way in his position.”
Jeok Wigang nodded.
“Come to think of it, so would I.”
“Ha ha ha! Exactly. I like how quickly you admit things.”
“And I like how quickly you understand them. It makes things easier.”
“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”
“Oh. Did you create that formation yourself?”
“Ha ha. The Chaotic Heaven Qi-Gate Formation? I merely showed off a little.”
“There were places where it could be improved. Did you leave them that way deliberately?”
“Oh? You found them? Your understanding of formations truly is profound.”
“Before meeting you, I assumed they were mistakes. Apparently not.”
“Ha ha ha. Can you guess why I did it?”
Jeok Wigang thought for a moment, then nodded as realization struck.
“Ah. I see. That formation can’t be perfect.”
He smiled.
“If it were perfect, it would become a death formation that no one could pass.”
“Exactly. If I deployed it perfectly, no one but me could approach this place. So I deliberately weakened it. At the very least, our own people need to be able to get inside, don’t they?”
That answered Jeok Wigang’s question.
It also taught him that perfection was not always the best solution.
“White Horse Heaven probably tried infiltrating either the Beggars’ Union or the Lower Gate first to gather information about the Central Plains.”
Hong Cheongong grinned.
“Why do you think we created a false Beggars’ Union headquarters and hid the real one?”
“To weed out people who join the Beggars’ Union under false pretenses?”
“Exactly. Everyone here has been thoroughly vetted.”
“Do the other Beggars’ Union disciples not know this place exists?”
“Of course not. How could we have kept its location secret if everyone knew? Speaking of which, how did you know?”
“One of the Four Divine Demons discovered this place long ago. My grandfather stopped him.”
“Good heavens.... The Beggars’ Union truly came close to destruction, then. Does the Heavenly Martial Emperor know about this place as well?”
“That much I don’t know.”
“Well, it hardly matters even if he does. He isn’t the sort of man who would go around telling people.”
“True. Then who is the Union Chief at the fake headquarters?”
“Who else? My shadow. He wears a human-skin mask identical to my face and acts according to my orders.”
“And the elders there?”
“The same. Every one of them is a substitute.”
“If they betrayed you, this place could be exposed.”
Hong Cheongong laughed.
“Naturally, I prepared for that.”
“You put some kind of restriction on them.”
“Indeed. The moment they try to reveal anything about this place... their minds will be reduced to that of an imbecile. And yet they still volunteered to serve as my double and the elders’ doubles despite that risk. I’m grateful to them.”
“People like that would never betray you.”
“True. But nothing in this world is perfect. I still had to prepare for the possibility.”
“You’re right.”
“My guess is that White Horse Heaven would never willingly set foot in a den of beggars.”
“Why not?”
“If you possessed strength like theirs, would you choose to live as a beggar?”
Jeok Wigang chuckled.
“Fair point. And the Beggars’ Union isn’t the only place they can obtain information.”
“Exactly.”
“Still, you should investigate once, just in case.”
Hong Cheongong nodded.
“Very well. There’s no harm in making certain.”
Then he smiled at Jeok Wigang.
“Still, I suppose this is fortunate. It seems I misinterpreted the heavenly signs.”
“How?”
“Ha ha ha. The divination said that an honored guest would come to the Beggars’ Union today, but that something momentous would happen as well. Perhaps they were the same omen after all. What greater event could there be than joining forces with you?”
“Thank you for seeing it that way.”
“If you ever need information concerning the orthodox factions, tell Listening-Eye Beggar. Whatever you want, we’ll obtain it.”
“That sounds suspiciously like you plan to attach him to me.”
“Ha ha ha. Don’t take offense. It will make it easier for us to stay in contact. Besides, he has a fair amount of fame in the martial world. He should prove useful whenever you need to deal with people from the orthodox factions.”
Jeok Wigang nodded.
“All right.”
“When the time comes to spread the rumors, tell me. I’ll mobilize everything the Beggars’ Union has and make sure the entire martial world hears about it.”
“That’s reassuring.”
“I’m the one who feels reassured. Ha ha ha!”
“I came empty-handed. I should at least leave you something.”
“Hmm? No, no. There’s no need.”
“I want to.”
“Ha ha ha. Very well.”
Jeok Wigang took a leather pouch from inside his clothes and held it out.
“What is this?”
“Pills I made. If the Beggars’ Union is nurturing any promising young disciples, give them these.”
Hong Cheongong opened the pouch.
A crisp, refreshing energy surged out as though released under pressure.
“Good heavens! Th-this energy....”
The mere aura emanating from the pills was already extraordinary.
What would happen if someone actually swallowed one?
“This is too much. How could I possibly accept spirit pills this precious?”
“Take them. You should have one yourself, Union Chief. You need to become stronger than you are now.”
Seeing Jeok Wigang’s serious expression, Hong Cheongong could no longer refuse.
He nodded.
“Very well.”
Only after hearing that answer did Jeok Wigang relax and smile again.
“I’ll send you weapons and other equipment separately.”
“Weapons too? We already have weapons.”
“Those won’t do. If you’re going to fight, you should prepare properly.”
“This is embarrassing. It feels as though I’m doing nothing but taking from you.”
“I’m the one who should feel sorry. I’m using the Beggars’ Union to protect my family.”
Hong Cheongong chuckled.
That was what Jeok Wigang said, but everything he was doing was ultimately for the protection of the entire Central Plains.
If all he wanted was to protect his family, there was no need for him to go to such lengths or travel from place to place like this.
Hong Cheongong was grateful that Jeok Wigang even took care to phrase things in a way that would keep others from feeling indebted to him.
“I should get going. One of my younger brothers needs to get married, so I have to hurry back.”
“Ha ha ha. That is certainly something worth celebrating. Very well. Let’s go. I’ll see you out myself.”
“Thank you.”
Listening-Eye Beggar set out with Jeok Wigang.
The Union Chief had given him a special order.
And that order was—
Do whatever Young Master Jeok tells me?
He was an elder [N O V E L I G H T] of the Beggars’ Union.
He had age and seniority on his side.
And now he was supposed to wait hand and foot on some young brat barely into adulthood?
He looked at Jeok Wigang.
Still, it wasn’t entirely bad.
From now on, the martial world would revolve around Jeok Wigang.
And Listening-Eye Beggar had just been given the good fortune of watching all of it unfold from right beside him.
If anything, this worked out perfectly.
Now he didn’t have to rack his brain for excuses to keep following the man around.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“No reason. From now on, if there’s ever anything you want to know, just ask me. I’ll find out everything for you.”
“You really don’t have to. I have my own intelligence network.”
“The Lower Gate’s information is poor quality. The Beggars’ Union’s intelligence is the finest there is. Didn’t we find that last younger brother of yours for you?”
“That’s true.”
The Lower Gate had found him eventually as well.
But when it came to matters involving the orthodox factions, the Beggars’ Union was unquestionably faster and its information ran deeper.
That did not mean the Lower Gate’s intelligence network was small.
The two organizations perfectly compensated for each other’s weaknesses, and now that Jeok Wigang also had the Thousand Flowers Sect, there was little chance he would ever lack information again.
The world would soon become noisy.
Before that happened, there were two things he needed to do.
Get Baek Ryeongso married and find Kang Mujin.

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