Ch. 29
"Aigoo, I'm dying."
"Hey, you beggar bastard! Where are you begging!"
No, what's wrong with a beggar begging?
He was about to stand up and show the dignity of the Beggars' Sect, but Yeom-ak was panting.
"Huh?"
Seeing that his eyes had gone crazy, it seemed several people would have a funeral today.
Come to think of it, the person who had kicked him a little while ago also seemed to be Yeom-ak.
"F*ck, no wonder it was familiar. Kaak, ptui!"
The Drunken Beggar spat thickly.
But he did not attack Yeom-ak. All he did was step back like a puppy that needed to poop.
Yeom-ak glared at the Drunken Beggar and then said to Cheongun, who was standing there blankly.
"Is the owner here?"
"I am the owner. Do you have any other business besides begging?"
Cheongun did not treat him carelessly just because he was a beggar. He knew well what kind of power the beggars had here in Kaifeng.
Moreover, he knew who the beggar in front of him was. He had even met him several times before.
"Are you the one from the imperial family?"
"..."
Cheongun smiled without a word.
To come here and act like this meant that his identity had already been revealed. Although he might not know his status.
Kaak, ptui!
Yeom-ak spat on the floor.
Although he knew that Cheongun was an official, he could not wag his tail like a mangy dog. At the very least, the leader of the Beggars' Sect did not lack power compared to most officials.
So he spoke his mind thickly.
"Let's just take it easy. Where are you running wild in someone else's house without even giving alms?"
"Running wild... I don't think we've caused any harm to the Beggars' Sect."
"Haha, this gentleman, he doesn't know the ways of the world."
Yeom-ak's eyes flashed, and he pushed his face in front of Cheongun.
He felt his stomach churn because it seemed the young guy was acting cocky just because he was an official.
"Hey, you gentleman. No matter how much of a beggar we are, you shouldn't do that. Especially if you're going to operate in the home of the Beggars' Sect of the world..."
"Will this be enough?"
Cheongun suddenly cut off the leader's words and took out a promissory note in front of him, shaking it.
The promissory note swayed back and forth in front of Yeom-ak's eyes.
Yeom-ak's head also swayed in time with the swaying promissory note.
The strength had already left his two eyes.
"Uh, what's that... how much is that?"
"One hundred taels of silver."
"Hmm..."
For a moment, Yeom-ak's mind became complicated.
The amount was neither large nor small.
He could just take the promissory note and retreat, or he could be a little more stubborn.
'If I'm going to get it anyway...'
Just as Yeom-ak was about to say it was not enough, Cheongun lowered the hand that was shaking the promissory note and said a word.
"If you don't want it, then don't."
Grab.
"Who said I don't want it, it's enough! It's more than enough. I'm the leader of the Beggars' Sect! This is enough."
Yeom-ak snatched the promissory note from Cheongun's hand as if to take it away.
Cheongun smiled and said.
"Come and see me sometime. I'll be waiting."
At Cheongun's words, Yeom-ak glanced at Cheongun and then asked with a puzzled expression instead of answering.
"Have we met somewhere?"
"Well, I think this is our first meeting."
"Strange. I feel like I've seen you somewhere..."
Yeom-ak also knew Cheongun.
It was impossible not to know Cheongun, who was famous as the number one genius in the world. Moreover, since they were in the same Kaifeng, they had met several times.
But he did not recognize Cheongun's changed appearance. Since his muscles and bones and even his facial features had changed, it was perhaps natural that he didn't recognize him.
Yeom-ak also didn't think deeply about it, as if he were bothered, and said as if to let it go.
"Well, alright. By the way... the Hyeokryeon Manor. If you watch them so openly, they will notice. You should rather entrust it to us."
"I'll think about it."
"I'll do it for a cheap price, so think about it carefully. I've been pretending not to know and helping because it seemed to be because of Young Master Cheongun... but it's only a matter of time before those guys find out."
"Is that so?"
"No, this gentleman, the leader of the Beggars' Sect is talking... if you don't want to believe me, then don't."
As Yeom-ak spoke, he repeatedly examined Cheongun's expression. He examined what business he had come for from the imperial family by asking and answering various questions.
But Cheongun's expression did not change a bit.
"Tsk."
Yeom-ak licked his lips.
He felt something was off about using force.
Although Cheongun looked like a pale-faced scholar, he had a strange feeling. His body naturally bowed, and it was clear that he was hiding something.
In fact, the reason he had suddenly come today was to see the owner of the Fengyun Manor. He had planned to find out who the official sent from the imperial family was, and also to find out for what reason he was doing this here.
He was the leader of the Beggars' Sect of the world, and this Kaifeng was their home, wasn't it?
Of course, he had a rough idea of what he had come for. But he needed confirmation.
'This guy, he's not easy.'
In the end, he only found out that Cheongun was not an ordinary person.
Since he had taken care of his business, there was no reason to stay any longer. Since he had received a hundred taels for the dog's price, he would be able to eat a hearty meal today.
"Anyway, I'm going."
"Go well."
Cheongun watched the leader of the Beggars' Sect and the Drunken Beggar who were turning around and walking away.
The Blood Emperor, who was next to him, said with an interested gaze.
[That guy, he's not an ordinary guy.]
"Yes, he has been famous as a genius since a long time ago. They say there were many people who wanted to adopt him as their son."
[Haha. To be the leader of the Beggars' Sect at a young age, it must have been noisy.]
As the Blood Emperor had said. The leader of the Beggars' Sect usually rose to the position of leader in his forties or fifties.
But Yeom-ak was only in his early thirties. He was that outstanding, so he had received the recognition of the elders.
"It seems the Beggars' Sect has already noticed the movements of the Jinyiwei and the Eastern Depot."
[There's no way the Beggars' Sect wouldn't know.]
"They might draw my face and send it to the imperial capital to find out my identity."
Not only him, but they might also draw the faces of the active Jinyiwei and find out together.
"I must call in the Jinyiwei right away."
* * *
Although the leader of the Beggars' Sect had visited, there were no rumors about the Jinyiwei or the imperial family anywhere in Kaifeng.
The fact that he had met the leader of the Beggars' Sect at the main gate of the Fengyun Manor also did not become a rumor.
It was all possible because the Beggars' Sect had kept their mouths shut.
Cheongun called all the Jinyiwei to the Fengyun Manor.
Although over a hundred people had gathered in the Fengyun Manor, there were many rooms to stay in.
Since it was a manor of no small scale, it could accommodate about a hundred people without difficulty.
After that, Cheongun's daily life did not change much.
He studied the Blue Demonic Dragon he had received from his master with the Blood Emperor and soothed his frustrated heart by practicing martial arts.
The Jinyiwei also concentrated on training.
Cheongun watched the Jinyiwei's training and helped them for an hour a day. Because the deeper their martial arts became, the more helpful they would be to him.
In the meantime, he gave another order to a few Jinyiwei.
"Find out about the forces in Kaifeng and the nearby forces."
"Yes, Your Excellency!"
As his master had advised, he was thinking of finding a force to pressure the Hyeokryeon Manor.
In less than half a day, Thousand-household Commander Seok Deok-jo brought the information.
"Your Excellency. There are quite a few large forces near Kaifeng. Among them, there are a few places that are on bad terms with the Hyeokryeon Manor."
Seok Deok-jo handed a report with the investigation contents to Cheongun.
Cheongun examined the report.
Six forces were written in the report. Their personnel and scale were also roughly identified.
Three caravans and two evil factions. In addition, there was also one righteous faction.
Wanshang Fortress
Shenhua Merchant Guild
Liuhua Caravan
Black Sword Gang
Red Turban Gang
Yinxian Family
Seok Deok-jo spoke as Cheongun examined the report.
"They have all suffered losses recently because of the Hyeokryeon Manor. The caravans are pushed by military force, and the two evil factions are pushed by the halo of the Hyeokryeon family."
"What about the righteous faction, the Yinxian family?"
"They had a fight with the Hyeokryeon Manor and there was a fight, and it is said that several people died and dozens were seriously injured. It is said that a place called the Zirong Palace mediated at the right time, so it did not worsen."
Cheongun put down the report and asked.
"The Zirong Palace?"
"It is a fairly well-known righteous faction in the martial world. Its headquarters is in Mount Tang, which is at the northern end of Anhui Province. The palace master, the Tangma Great Hero, Qiu Huliang, is known as a peak-level martial artist, and his unique martial art, the Thirteen Swords of the Xuanliu, is classified as a number one in the martial world."
The palace master of the Zirong Palace, the Tangma Great Hero, Qiu Huliang.
He hated the evil and demonic paths to the extreme, and it was known that over a hundred people from the evil factions had been killed by his hands.
Cheongun was lost in thought for a moment.
It seemed he needed to find out what kind of relationship the Hyeokryeon Manor, the Yinxian family, and the Zirong Palace had.
"Contact the Anhui provincial office. Tell them to find out about the Zirong Palace and attach a person."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Cheongun took out the golden plaque that represented his status as a Pacification Envoy from his bosom.
It was a golden plaque that the Emperor had personally appointed and that could be used to freely use the soldiers in the garrisons throughout the Central Plains.
Usually, a Pacification Envoy could mobilize or receive help from the Jinyiwei of the area in charge of the mission. It was generally not authorized to directly give orders to the Anhui provincial office, which was not Henan Province, like now.
But Cheongun held a different power from the Pacification Envoy appointed by the Jinyiwei Da Yingban.
Since the Emperor had personally appointed him, he had an authority comparable to the Da Yingban.
Cheongun took out that absolute power.
"Thousand-household Commander Seok, there is something that bothers me, so tell them to select skilled people. If things go wrong, tell them firmly to be prepared."
"Don't worry."
Seok Deok-jo stood up from his seat, greeted him, and went out.
Cheongun, who was left alone, was lost in thought.
'I can't miss even a small thing.'
If it was a matter related to the Hyeokryeon Manor, he could not ignore anything and pass over it.
Moreover, the incident where they had tried to harm him was the only incident among the things that had happened in the Hyeokryeon Manor over the past year that they had not been able to solve on their own and had received outside help.
Cheongun examined the report again.
'The Black Sword Gang and the Red Turban Gang are suitable, but...'
To start a fight with the Hyeokryeon Manor, which was classified as a righteous faction, an evil faction was better.
An evil faction was suitable for picking a fight and making unreasonable threats.
If you thought about the scale or power, the Yinxian family was better, but they were the same righteous faction. In addition, there was a difficulty because others had intervened once.
"Hmm..."
As Cheongun was thinking and thinking again, the Blood Emperor, who was watching, opened his mouth.
[What are you worrying about so much?]
"I was thinking about who would be better between the Black Sword Gang and the Red Turban Gang."
[What's the problem?]
"The Black Sword Gang is less skilled than the Red Turban Gang, but they have tenacity, so they are famous for being stubborn. The Red Turban Gang has the scale, but their behavior is too bad."
At Cheongun's words, the Blood Emperor smirked.
[I thought it was something else. It's not a big deal, is it?]
"What?"
[Tsk tsk. I know what you're worried about, but you're not making subordinates right now, are you? What does it matter what their behavior is, whether they have skills or not? Can't you just keep the Hyeokryeon Manor guys in check and make the hidden guys crawl out?]
"That's true, but..."
Cheongun felt uneasy.
One was lacking in skill, and the other had the skill but a very bad reputation.
But to just use them, he felt uneasy somewhere.
Looking at such a Cheongun, the Blood Emperor spoke again.
[Tsk tsk. Don't just pick one, just use both.]
"Use both?"
The more people who know, the higher the possibility of information leaking.
Moreover, aren't they an evil faction? Those who risk their lives for profit.
If they didn't listen to his words and did something strange, his efforts so far could be in vain.
As if he knew Cheongun's worries, the Blood Emperor said.
[You don't seem to know what the underworld is yet.]
"..."
[The underworld. It's a simple place where everything is decided by force.]
(End of Chapter)