章 601: Chapter 1489: I Didn’t Come Looking For You? (Part 4)

Master Lu frowned subtly.

It was difficult to explain the reason clearly, but Lee Songbaek's gaze somehow bothered him.

"Lee Songbaek of the Southern Edge Sect."

A pitchless voice flowed out.

"Southern Edge Sect's senior disciple. Mentioned as the one who will lead the next generation of the Southern Edge Sect along with Jin Geumryong. Currently the most anticipated successor with a mature, polite, and restrained personality. Current martial arts skill is unconfirmed. There is a possibility of becoming the future leader of the Southern Edge Sect."

Lee Songbaek's eyes widened in surprise, but Master Lu casually continued.

"It seems my information is incorrect. If it were the Lee Songbaek of the Southern Edge Sect I knew, there would be no way he would've been unaware that it is against etiquette to intervene in a conversation like this without permission Or perhaps, has the Southern Edge Sect also decided to follow the boldness of Mount Hua?"

It was a blatant challenge. Lee Songbaek responded with courtesy.

"I formally apologize for that."

"Apology accepted. However, this matter is not something you should intervene in. So, step back."

"Withdrawing is not difficult. However, I would like to express one thing."

"...What?"

In response to Master Lu's clearly disinterested answer, Lee Songbaek raised his head.

"I believe there is no mistake in what you said earlier. I could clearly feel how much the Sect Leader values his disciples."

"Put aside the rhetoric and get to the point."

"...Yes."

Lee Songbaek nodded his head and spoke with determination.

"Is there not a possibility that what Sect Leader believes is right may be different from what the beggar disciples believe is right?"

Master Lu's gaze darkened.

"I don't understand what you're talking about. If you're going to spout obvious nonsense, just stop right now."

"That... "

Lee Songbaek was about to say something more when he suddenly sighed. It was frustrating for him as the words were lacking to persuade Master Lu. However, he chose not to back down and took a different approach.

Swish!

When Lee Songbaek drew his swath, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect grabbed his shoulders in astonishment.

"Lee Sohyeop! What are you doing now...!"

"Just a moment."

Gently pushing away Baek Cheon's hand on his shoulder, Lee Songbaek extended his sword forward.

"This is my sword."

"..."

"Master Lu, you must be aware that I am mastering the Thirty-Six Swords of the Southern Edge Sect. The fundamentals of the Southern Edge Sect... no, it used to be the fundamentals, but now it's a sword that has deviated from the mainstream."

"What does that have to do with this?"

"Listen."

After taking a deep breath, Lee Songbaek opened his mouth again.

"The predecessors of the Southern Edge Sect considered this sword insufficient, and judged that it could not become the best in the world with this sword. So, they tried to make the Southern Edge Sect progress with a new sword. It was undoubtedly a decision made out of faith and affection towards the disciples."

Master Lu slightly narrowed his eyes.

"But I am still mastering the sword of the past. Do you know why?"

"It seems that you and that sword go well together."

"No."

Lee Songbaek shook his head.

"The reason is simple. Because I believe it is right for me to master this sword."

For a moment, Lee Songbaek's gaze, leaving Master Lu, fell on Chung Myung.

"Of course, it wasn't someone from the Southern Edge who made me realize that it was right. But in the end, I judged that it was right for me to master this sword, and I acted accordingly. That's why I'm here now."

The gaze pouring onto Master Lu was truly resolute. It was the gaze that felt irritating. Master Lu avoided eye contact and spoke.

"What does that have to do with the current situation? I'm not so free that I can listen to you tarnishing my face."

"I just want to ask. Master Lu, you said that you did all this for the Beggar's Union. The predecessors of the Southern Edge also did this for the sake of Southern Edge. It's the same thing. But at least in my eyes, it looks different."

"Different?"

"Do you not know? Our Sect Leader also firmly believed that mastering a new sword was a better path for the disciples of the martial arts. I'm sure he did not doubt that it was for the benefit of the disciples."

Master Lu's face momentarily stiffened. It seemed as if he understood what Lee Songbaek was trying to say.

"But now, I am mastering the Thirty-Six Swords of the Southern Edge Sect. Even though I made that judgment in the past when I was weak and foolish, Sect Leader did not force me onto the 'right' path. That's why I am who I am now."

After looking down at his sword for a moment, Lee Songbaek continued speaking.

"Sect Leader must have been worried about me. Yet, he did not oppose me. Because it was a decision I made after careful consideration and a commitment to take responsibility for my choices as a martial artist. If I had made that commitment as a martial artist, it should naturally be respected. However!"

Lee Songbaek's voice extended towards Master Lu like a weighty blade.

"Do the beggars of the Beggar's Union know what situation they are currently facing?"

"... "

"The Sect Leader is trying to do less to protect them and make them live as ordinary beggars...Do they not know that?

Master Lu did not respond.

"That's... yes, Sect Leader. That's..."

Lee Songbaek couldn't continue his words. It wasn't due to intensified emotions. It was simply because things had become stifling. Chung Myung, who had been quietly listening, spoke up on his behalf.

"That's not right."

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

"Yes. It's not right. It's not fair either."

"No one would want their life to be decided for unknown reasons."

"Yes, that's right."

Lee Songbaek quickly nodded. Clearly, Chung Myung understood his words. Thinking about it that way, Lee Songbaek felt strangely uplifted.

At that moment, Chung Myung spoke like a sigh.

"Nice words, but just words."

"... Yes?"

"Isn't that something those who stole others' swordsmanship have no right to say?"

Chung Myung cast a cold and sharp glance at Lee Songbaek. Whenever Chung Myung's lips twitched as if displeased, Lee Songbaek's body also involuntarily twitched. Although Lee Songbaek awkwardly tried to speak.

"No... that's not what Sect Leader did now...."

"As you live, you'll see all sorts of things, huh? It's true Master Lu did something frustrating, but think about the person to point it out. Where does a thief get the right to criticize someone else's words? If I just listened to your words, I'd think your Southern Edge Sect Leader was some saint? Huh?"

It had a negating effect. In response to Chung Myung's words, the Five Swords quickly regained their senses and glared at Lee Songbaek.

"Whoa. I almost made a mistake. If I had heard a bit more, I might have thought that Southern Edge's Sect Leader was a good person."

"Think about it. Isn't that guy the one who stole our swordsmanship and boasted about it at the Mount Hua-Southern Edge Gathering?"

"...We need to strip off the hypocrisy."

"Someday, it will burn. Southern Edge."

"...Sago. You shouldn't say such things in front of Southern Edge people."

"Why?"

"It makes preparation difficult. You have to strike when they're not thinking about it."

"Ah."

Lee Songbaek's hands involuntarily joined together politely.

Unlike in the past when the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword technique was used in actual combat, not it was impossible not to know where the current Snowflake Twelve Stances originated.

Of course, the current Snowflake Twelve Stances had deviated a lot from the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword techniques, thanks to the desperate improvements by Jin Geumryong and the Southern Edge. But did that mean the sins they committed had disappeared?

"What can I say to the Mount Hua disciples..."

"Lee Sohyeop."

"Yes?"

"Open your eyes." [not sure]

"...Yes."

At Yoon Jong's words, Lee Songbaek quietly lowered his head again.

"Tsk."

Chung Myung, who clicked his tongue, laughed inwardly and then looked at Master Lu.

"Well... There's an issue with the person who spoke those words, but the words themselves are not wrong."

"..."

"You would know. How important information is when making a judgment. That applies to the Beggar's Union too. You are just chopping off the hands and feet of Beggar's Sect disciples and forcing them into a life you chose."

There was a chill in Master Lu's eyes. Like someone who heard extremely insulting words. But that was all. Even as time passed, no words of rebuttal came out.

"It's not that you didn't say it, but that you couldn't say it. Since the Beggar's Union disciples would never agree to such a thing. If that's the case, the term 'Blood of the Beggar's Union' wouldn't have originated in the first place. For the world, for righteousness, one can abandon their life like a firewood. That's the blood of the Beggar's Union."

Master Lu bit his lip gently. Staring at Chung Myung with his eyes filled with resentment and anger, he gradually tilted his head back and looked up at his ceiling. His eyes, which were swirling with complex emotions, slowly closed.

"That's right."

A disappointed voice flowed from Master Lu, who closed his eyes.

"No one will agree to what I'm trying to do. Those with power will want the Beggar's Union to be competent, and those without power will say it's right to act without regard their lives."

"You didn't deceive the outside world, did you?"

Now that he understood, Chung Myung nodded his head.

"All you deceived was none other than the Beggar's Union. Isn't that right?"

"..."

"The Beggar's Union might really think you're bedridden. No, maybe there's a body double. Anyway, you deceived the Beggar's Union to deceive the beggars, and even though you hid yourself to deceive the Beggar's Union, you're still staying here, unable to leave. Like a ghost."

Master Lu's body shivered finely.

Chung Myung felt an indescribable sadness in that figure.

There were some things that couldn't be understood by anyone in the world, but had to be done. He knew best how lonely the person who did this was.

"I won't say you're wrong. But it's not right either. If you really wanted that, you should have persuaded the beggars."

Master Lu lowered the head he had been holding up and slowly opened his eyes. The intense hatred that had been swirling subsided. However, it didn't mean that his gaze had turned friendly towards Chung Myung.

"I appreciate the criticism."

"...."

"However, I have no intention of changing my ways now. I will do my best to save even one more member of the Beggar's Union until the end, even if it's the wrong path."

He was rather more resolute.

"This conversation ends here. Go back."

"Wait a moment."

Surprised by the sudden order for departure, Jo Gol interjected.

"Just go back like that? Wait, how can you just say this and leave? What if we reveal this secret to the world after leaving here?"

"Reveal it?"

"No, that's not it. It's not a threat, but... at least tidy up something..."

Watching Jo Gol stammer in confusion, Master Lu calmly spoke.

"If you want to reveal it, go ahead."

"Yes?"

"I said, reveal it."

Jo Gol blinked his eyes.

Was it okay to reveal all of this? The story that the head of the Beggar's Union, who claimed to be ill, was living well and eating well at the top of a luxurious entertainment house?

"If that happens, even within the Beggar's Union, there will be those who believe your words and those who don't, leading to internal divisions and conflicts. In the end, I may be expelled, but I will endure stubbornly until this war is over. Then, the Beggar's Union will not interfere in this dirty war. Thanks to you, things might get easier."

"Ah..."

Jo Gol was left speechless. Listening to it, it seemed that things could really go that way.

"Don't think of changing my mind. If it were so easy to change, I wouldn't have endured until now."

Master Lu looked straight at Chung Myung.

"Especially you, Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. I am different from those you have faced so far. A conversation with you will never change my mind. So, don't waste the effort and go back. The Beggar's Union will neither side with the Ten Great Sects or the Heavenly Comrade Alliance"

In response to the words that seemed to cut like a sword, Baek Cheon sighed deeply.

'Is it not possible?'

Saying this much, there seemed to be nothing more to try. If they tried to force it more here, it would only provoke unnecessary resistance.

Anyway, coming here wasn't meaningless. Thinking so, Baek Cheon spoke.

"Chung Myung. For now, let's go back...."

That's when it happened.

"Of course, it's not going to change. After all, it's not up to you to make the judgement."

"Huh?"

"Isn't that right?"

Seeing Chung Myung's subtle smile, he sighed.

"Are you forcing it now? Well, there's no other way. The only possibility left is that I might not be the head of the Beggar's Union. However, Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. No matter how hard you try to force it, I am the head of the Beggar's Union."

"Yeah, that's right. But what should we do? I'm not talking about that."

"...No?"

Chung Myung sarcastically smirked.

"It was a bit confusing, but now I understand clearly."

Baek Cheon, slightly bewildered, asked in a lowered voice.

"What are you talking about, Chung Myung? I don't understand the situation."

"It's a simple logic, Sasuk. Just because he's named the head of the Beggar's Union doesn't necessarily mean he's the head of the Beggar's Union."

"What does that mean...?"

"Why make it difficult? It's the same with Mount Hua right now."

"Ah...!"

Baek Cheon, who immediately understood, looked at Master Lu again.

The head.

With just those two words, people in this place thought that the person in front of them was responsible for everything in the Beggar's Union.

But it might've not been the case.

"Tell me."

Chung Myung smiled coldly and looked at Master Lu.

"Who is behind you? Who told you to make the Beggar's Union the way it is?"

In an instant, Baek Cheon saw it.

Master Lu's complexion changed dramatically for the first time.

[Side note: when I add "not sure", it doesn't that I don't understand what's happening---it means I'm not sure about the accuracy of the translations. I mean, I'm the one intentionally interpreting those phrases to make sense in context. Just a heads-up to take the labeled phrases with a grain of salt!]