Scholar Demon Venerable

This morning, after a long time, he had been sipping and drinking Dujiang wine, which was considered a famous wine of Henan Province, that had come in as alms, and then he had fallen asleep.

About three shichen later, he had just gotten up and was about to take another sip of the remaining Dujiang wine when he heard a voice.

"Is that Dujiang wine? Well, since it's the most famous wine in Henan Province, it must be worth drinking."

When he turned his head, the owner of the Fengyun Manor was standing there.

"Gulp. What brings you here?"

"I just stopped by on my way."

Although he didn't know the reason why the suspicious owner of the Fengyun Manor had come to the beggar's den so early in the morning, Yeom-ak, the person in question, was not in a good mood.

"Hey, my head hurts from a hangover anyway, so why don't you just state your business?"

It meant to just say what he had to say and go because he was bothered.

But Cheongun pretended not to hear and recited a poem.

"Before the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao drank the Dujiang wine you are drinking and recited a poem. I remember a part of the poem called 'Jiu Dang Ge'.

'When drinking wine, one should sing, how long can life be?

It is like the morning dew, the past days were full of suffering.

Even with sorrow and sighs, it is hard to forget worries.

What can relieve worries? Only Dujiang wine.'

What do you think? Isn't it good?"

Although Cheongun recited a poem in a clear voice, Yeom-ak was indifferent.

What kind of nonsense is he talking about so early in the morning?

But since he was a guest who had come, he couldn't just treat him badly. Moreover, since he was a person from the imperial family, he endured his temper and spoke nicely.

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"When drinking wine, one should sing. How long can life be?

It is like the morning dew, the past days were full of suffering.

Even with sorrow and sighs, it is hard to forget worries.

What can relieve worries? Only wine.

Well, that's roughly what it means."

Since he even interpreted the meaning, his throbbing head hurt even more.

Yeom-ak grabbed his hair.

"F*ck! So what kind of nonsense is that!"

Yeom-ak, who had gotten angry, kicked the floor and shot out. He swung something at Cheongun.

Whoosh!

In his hand, a bone was held.

It wasn't that he had just swung it because he was angry. He was thinking of testing the suspicious owner of the Fengyun Manor on this occasion.

Cheongun lightly moved his upper body back and dodged the first attack.

Yeom-ak's bone drew a graceful curve and became a weapon, aiming for his waist.

Cheongun took a step into Yeom-ak's arms and narrowed the distance.

He scattered the point of impact of the bone.

Yeom-ak hurriedly retreated and widened the distance. But the distance that had been caught once could not be easily shaken off.

Yeom-ak's frowned expression gradually changed to one of astonishment.

He was just surprised that he couldn't shake off Cheongun even though he was unfolding the Drunken Eight Immortals Step.

"This is, damn it."

The Drunken Eight Immortals Step, which was the ultimate art among the ultimate arts of the Beggars' Sect, was being overwhelmed. And he had even drunk alcohol, but he was following the staggering movements without a single error.

Hung, hung, whoosh!

The bone danced in the air.

He unfolded the Drunken Eight Immortals Step and unfolded a palm art called the Hundred Knots Divine Palm, which was a secret art of the Beggars' Sect, holding the bone.

But he couldn't even touch a single fluttering hem of his clothes.

'This eel-like bastard...!'

Yeom-ak felt nausea rising on its own. Although he wanted to spit it out thickly right away, he couldn't. And the gap in the tense confrontation opened in an instant.

"Huh? That..."

Thwack!

A star flashed in the clear sky.

Yeom-ak flew back and fell flat on his back.

He shook his head vigorously and blinked one eye.

He had been hit squarely by Cheongun's fist. But the important thing was not that he had been hit.

He stood up abruptly and shouted at Cheongun.

"That divine step, where did you learn it?"

Cheongun made an expression as if he didn't understand what he was saying.

'He recognizes the Flying Heaven Shadowless Divine Step?'

It wasn't a strange thing. Since it was a divine step famous as the number one divine step in the world, there could be someone who recognized it.

But looking at Yeom-ak's expression, it didn't seem like he just knew it.

"The martial art you just unfolded, it's the Shadowless Divine Step, right? No, no! That's definitely the Flying Heaven Shadowless Divine Step! Right?"

Sure enough, he had accurately recognized Cheongun's divine step.

Cheongun said a word to such a Yeom-ak.

"What about it?"

"That's right! Give it to me."

"What?"

Cheongun made a dumbfounded expression.

What kind of martial art is the Shadowless Divine Step that you're telling me to give it to you?

"That's my ancestor's."

Cheongun looked at the Blood Emperor at Yeom-ak's words. The Blood Emperor shook his head.

[Is the Shadowless Divine Thief crazy? To become a beggar.]

He was the Shadowless Divine Thief, who was famous as the number one great thief in the world. How much was his fortune that he would have lived as a beggar? It was nonsense.

Cheongun looked at Yeom-ak coldly and said.

"The Shadowless Divine Thief was a member of the Beggars' Sect?"

"That's right, the Shadowless Divine Thief was a member of the Beggars' Sect. So his martial art is the Beggars' Sect's."

It was a very convenient logic. In a way, it sounded like it was true.

So Cheongun asked.

"This is the first time I've heard that the Shadowless Divine Thief was a disciple of the Beggars' Sect."

"Ah! His disciple entered the Beggars' Sect and passed down the Flying Heaven Shadowless Divine Step."

Smirk.

Cheongun smiled at the corner of his mouth. He roughly understood what he meant.

"The disciple of the Shadowless Divine Thief was a member of the Beggars' Sect, so where did the idea of telling me to give you the Shadowless Divine Step come from? And if the Shadowless Divine Step was dedicated to the Beggars' Sect, wouldn't that martial art still remain in the Beggars' Sect?"

At Cheongun's sharp remark, Yeom-ak hesitated.

"Well, it's there, but it's not the complete version. Anyway, it's ours, so give it to me."

"You crazy bastard. How many disciples did the Shadowless Divine Thief have? And listening to you, it doesn't seem to be the complete Flying Heaven Shadowless Divine Step, so where are you being so stubborn?"

"Hmph. You're talking nonsense. Ask everyone. Is the Flying Heaven Shadowless Divine Step a martial art of the Beggars' Sect or not?"

"Hahaha. Then why don't you unfold it?"

At Cheongun's words, Yeom-ak gritted his teeth. There was no way he could unfold it.

But the leader of the Beggars' Sect, Yeom-ak, whose eyes had gone crazy over the treasure, lit up his two eyes.

"I'm telling you clearly, it would be better to give it to me."

He was on the verge of rushing at Cheongun right away. Around him, beggars had also flocked like a pack of dogs. There were also those who were sitting on the floor and watching, and there were also those who were staggering from being drunk.

The problem was that they were each holding a club and standing towards Cheongun.

The Blood Emperor, who had glanced at the appearance of such members of the Beggars' Sect, said with a voice full of emotion.

[Ho... it's been a long time since I've seen the Great Dog Beating Formation.]

It was a formation of the Beggars' Sect unfolded by hundreds of people.

Although it seemed sloppy, it induced the opponent's carelessness, and their feint attacks included a high level of psychological warfare. It was a formation that ended the moment the opponent was careless at the noisy and sloppy appearance.

Since it contained the principles of yin and yang and the five elements, its changes were endless.

But Cheongun was not afraid. He just sent a telepathic message to Yeom-ak, whose eyes had gone crazy with greed.

-Are you going to fight with the eight hundred thousand imperial guards?

"Gasp, that..."

Yeom-ak momentarily sucked in a breath of air.

Looking at such a Yeom-ak, Cheongun sent another telepathic message.

-This martial art is a martial art that His Majesty the Emperor has bestowed upon me. It is not something that a guy like you can dare to covet.

Yeom-ak's two eyes sank coldly.

'Damn it, I should have fought with the Dog Beating Staff from the beginning.'

Regret washed over him. If he had known that Cheongun was such a master, he would have unfolded the strongest martial arts, the Dog Beating Staff Technique or the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, from the beginning.

But he had looked down on Cheongun and had been defeated.

'Should I ask for another round?'

But it was an ambiguous situation to fight again.

Since Cheongun had mentioned the Emperor's name, if he attacked again, the imperial guards might rush in.

As the leader of the Beggars' Sect, Yeom-ak, was having various thoughts, Cheongun said a word.

"Kaifeng is going to get noisy."

"F*ck, it's not my fault."

"Who said anything? I just don't want it to get any noisier."

Looking at Cheongun, who was smiling brightly, Yeom-ak spat.

"Kaak, ptui! Damn it, the great Beggars' Sect is being threatened from the morning."

Yeom-ak understood Cheongun's meaning.

It meant that he was going to do something, so he should make sure it didn't become a rumor.

In the guy's words, there was also a hidden threat that he would not be left alone if he didn't listen to his words.

And he had even mentioned the imperial guards and the Emperor. If he didn't listen, he didn't know what would happen.

But he couldn't just listen either.

Yeom-ak pointed at his throbbing one eye and said.

"You see this? It's not free."

"What do you want?"

"Martial arts, of course. If possible, I would like the Flying Heaven Shadowless Divine Step."

Looking at Yeom-ak, who was grinning, Cheongun smiled back.

"Impossible."

"F*ck, of course. Then what are you going to give me?"

"If you need a lightness skill, I can give you one that's worth using."

"What?"

At the words of a useful martial art, Yeom-ak corrected his posture.

At Yeom-ak's question, Cheongun said calmly.

"Do you think that's the only lightness skill I know?"

Yeom-ak ran up and stood in front of Cheongun. Then he rubbed his hands together like a beggar and said.

"What kind of lightness skill are you going to give me...?"

"Well, I'll see how you do."

"Don't tell me it's something that's rolling around in the market?"

"Oh, this person. Would I give you just anything? Just trust me."

"Well... I trust you, I trust you. As expected of you, Your Excellency... hahaha."

It was a sudden change of attitude.

But Cheongun did not rebuke Yeom-ak. No matter what anyone said, he was a beggar, and among the beggars, he was the king.

* * *

Hyeokryeon Jongdo was astonished as he looked at his nephew, who had become a rag in front of him.

He was the person he had sent to the Beggars' Sect two quarters of an hour ago. He was a fairly smart and quick person, so he was a key figure in the Hyeokryeon Manor.

But he was at a loss for words at the words that came out of his mouth and asked again.

"So you're saying, the leader of the Beggars' Sect, Yeom-ak, wants to see me?"

"Yes, he said he would smash us if you don't come running right away..."

"Haha, this is really something."

It was something that didn't even make sense.

The current leader of the Beggars' Sect was only in his early thirties. He was a person with outstanding skills among the rising stars, so much so that he had once occupied one of the Five Dragons.

Then he had gotten a little older and had become the leader of the Beggars' Sect, and had stepped down from the position of the Five Dragons.

"That arrogant and dog-bone-wielding guy, he said to come running and bow my head if I don't want to die?"

"Th-that's right."

Thump!

Hyeokryeon Jongdo slammed the table hard.

The table was smashed.

The teacups and documents on the table scattered on the floor.

"How dare these beggar bastards...!"

Hyeokryeon Jongdo trembled with indignation.

The other people stopped such a Hyeokryeon Jongdo.

"You must endure it, master."

"Don't forget that he is the leader of the Beggars' Sect."

"Keung."

A groaning sound came out of Hyeokryeon Jongdo's mouth.

The leader of the beggars of the world was calling him. But the guy's age and usual behavior made it difficult to recognize him as the supreme leader of a great sect.

"Master. You must meet him unconditionally. No matter how much of a mess he is, isn't he the owner of one gang of the nine sects and one gang?"

"That's right. The elders of the main family will not be happy if you offend him."

At the words of the executives, Hyeokryeon Jongdo let out a long sigh.

"Damn it! At this important time... how can these beggar bastards block my way!"

Hyeokryeon Jongdo wanted to avenge his subordinates right away. He had the power to annihilate the Black Sword Gang in one shichen.

But because of the leader of the Beggars' Sect, he could not move right away.

He also knew. If he made the leader of the Beggars' Sect uncomfortable, the Hyeokryeon Manor might disappear overnight.

The Beggars' Sect was an existence that he could not guarantee he could appease even if the head of the main family, the Hyeokryeon family, stepped forward.

"This has become a headache."

At that moment, one of the people who had been sitting quietly said with a firm expression.

"Master, given Yeom-ak's personality, he would usually just let it go, but something is strange."

(End of Chapter)