Chapter 528
Creak— It didn’t take long to realize who the uninvited guest was.
The moment I saw the familiar face walking through the door, I spoke without hesitation.
“Hey, Hyeok Mu-jin. Who told you to let a beggar in?”
“Been a while… you rotten bastard, listen to the way you talk.”
Gong Gi-bang, who had entered with a bright smile on his dirt-stained face, immediately scowled.
“Someone goes out of their way to visit, and you’re giving me this attitude?”
“I just called a beggar a beggar. Is there a problem with that?”
“Did you ever think maybe the beggar might feel insulted?”
“Nope. Not even once.”
“…You’re worse than Sagal. One day, you’ll be surrounded and pummeled by the entire Beggars’ Union.”
I shrugged.
“Doubt it. I’m considered a valuable asset in the Murim Alliance.”
“I swear on my begging bowl—when the time comes, you’re the first I’m taking down.”
“That’s fine. If that time comes, it means the war’s already over.”
“You mean that?”
“Yup.”
Gong Gi-bang stared at me silently, then relaxed the tension in his eyes. A faint smile curled at the edge of his lips.
“Damn it. The war’s only just begun, but you already want it to end.”
“Why? So you can punch me?”
Gong Gi-bang chuckled and shook his head.
“I’ve lived a beggar’s life, but I’m not that brainless. A war must never happen, no matter what.”
“You could earn merit and become a hero though.”
“What’s a beggar like me going to do as a hero?”
“Oh.”
A stupid question, met with a wise answer.
Honestly, I only asked because I was curious about what he thought. I clapped sincerely.
Clap clap clap.
“What’s that for?”
“I just thought, our Gi-bang’s all grown up. Imagine him saying something that thoughtful.”
“…How do you even view people? And you’re younger than me, yet you’re so damn smug.”
“If age automatically meant maturity, the world would be a much nicer place. Time passes whether you try or not.”
In that sense, Gong Gi-bang’s thinking was surprisingly solid for someone our age.
This wasn’t the modern 21st century. This was Murim, where the law of the jungle reigned supreme.
It’s naive to think all the Murim warriors currently filling Henan joined the Murim Alliance out of pure chivalry.
Especially the young ones. Their blood is boiling at this age.
Even those in their forties aren’t much different. The Great War of Justice and Evil happened before they were even born—just a trace of the past.
Among this generation who never experienced war, there are plenty with ambitions of becoming heroes by earning glory, rather than acting out of righteousness.
Rogues living like there’s no tomorrow, disciples of so-called prestigious sects and noble families—all the same.
It’s the nature of this era, and the atmosphere of Murim society, so I can’t blame them.
Still, no matter how generous I try to be, I can’t help but see them as fools.
And it’s a relief that more people joined the Murim Alliance out of real chivalry than those kinds of fools.
‘Now that I think about it, the guys around me are pretty decent, huh. Hm.’
While I was thinking that, Cheongpung’s body slid like a snake and popped up right in front of Gong Gi-bang.
“Gah! What the hell?!”
“Hehe. This is my new footwork, Mimi Steps. Don’t I look just like Mimi?”
“You look more like a dog! No—a beggar!”
At Gong Gi-bang’s scream, Hyeok Mu-jin smiled as if he were the happiest man in the world.
“Cheong Sohyeop. Could you do that again for me sometime?”
“Wow! Of course! Absolutely!”
“Like hell you can! Don’t you dare! Don’t do it again!”
Yeah, okay. Not so decent after all.
Put them all together, and it’s hard to find a group this messed up.
‘Ugh, my head hurts.’
Rubbing my throbbing temples, I brought up the question I had been putting off.
“So, what’d you come here for?”
Gong Gi-bang gave Cheongpung a wary glance before answering.
“There are some people who want to meet you and Cheong Sohyeop. I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.”
“Of course people want to meet me. There’s a whole line.”
“…Annoying as that is, I can’t deny it.”
“So, who are these people?”
Gong Gi-bang sighed and continued.
“Ten Phoenix and Dragons.”
“The Ten Phoenix and Dragons?”
“Yeah. The ones you know. Only about half of them are here, though.”
Well, obviously it’s those Ten Phoenix and Dragons. What, is there another group with that name?
The moment I heard those three words, my mind was already made up. I didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Nope. Don’t wanna. What for?”
“To build camaraderie. Nothing bad about late-blooming elites maintaining strong relationships.”
“Doesn’t sound like there’s anything good about it either. And don’t lump me in with you guys. It’s offensive to be ranked at your level.”
Gong Gi-bang’s face twisted in disbelief.
“…How can you say something so insulting so confidently?”
“Because it’s an objective fact.”
“I mean, it is, but… damn. Fine. What about Cheong Sohyeop?”
Realizing I wouldn’t budge, Gong Gi-bang quickly changed targets.
Swish swish.
Cheongpung, who had been watching Mimi the Thousand-Year Venomous Horned Serpent with intense focus, replied without even looking back.
“Hmm. I’ll pass.”
“They’ve prepared a feast for you, though?”
“I already had dumplings. And even if I were hungry, I probably wouldn’t go.”
“You could just pack it to go. Eat it when you’re hungry.”
“Well, I don’t really have much of an appetite these days.”
“W-What did you say?!”
Gong Gi-bang looked like he’d just been stabbed. Honestly, both Hyeok Mu-jin and I were just as shocked.
– ‘Is he crazy? Is he actually insane?’
– ‘Captain, did I hear that right?’
– ‘Yeah. You heard it right. He said he doesn’t have an appetite.’
– ‘That guy… that’s not Cheongpung. He’s definitely a spy from Dark Heaven.’
– ‘Honestly… it checks out.’
A flurry of unspoken conversation flew through the air in silence and exchanged through glances.
That’s how shocking Cheongpung’s sudden declaration was.
‘Cheongpung of all people, saying he doesn’t have an appetite.’
It was almost as surprising as the founding of the new Murim Alliance. But despite the shocked stares from everyone around him, Cheongpung remained completely unfazed.
“Anyway, I’m good. You go ahead, benefactor.”
“Huh? Oh… nah, I’m not going either.”
“Really? Hehe. Then I’ll just keep working on what I was doing. I think there are still a few things I can improve in Mimi Steps.”
I had no idea what was going on, but one thing was clear.
Time was moving, and things were changing around us—and even Cheongpung was beginning to change in some way.
‘That guy…’
Staring at Cheongpung for a moment, I then turned toward Gong Gi-bang.
“Anyway, you should get going.”
“Yeah, I guess I should. The conversation dragged on longer than expected—I’m going to be late.”
Still casting glances at Cheongpung with lingering disbelief, Gong Gi-bang turned away and muttered,
“They’re gonna be pretty disappointed. Especially Lady Ju. She seemed really excited.”
“Disappointed? Please. I already met some of the Ten Phoenix and Dragons during the Saintly Sword Tournament. Eventually, we’re bound to run into each oth—”
I suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Gong Gi-bang’s last comment echoed loudly in my head.
“Wait. Who?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“No, just now… you said someone was really looking forward to it.”
“Oh. Lady Ju?”
Right. I didn’t mishear it.
“Lady Ju… you mean, that…”
“Of course, I mean the Lady Ju you’re thinking of. Ju Hwaran, the young mistress of Yongbong Escort Agency. Also known as the Hidden Thorn Flower.”
A memory suddenly surfaced in my mind.
In Murim terms, it was only two or three months ago, but for some reason, it felt like forever.
Ironically, it was one of the clearest memories in my mind.
‘The moon is so bright tonight.’
Yeah, that night really was unusually bright.
Or maybe… it wasn’t the moon that was so bright, but someone’s face.
After all, I wasn’t looking at the moon that night.
‘Jin Dae-hyeop…’
‘Do you think I… can really do this?’
The damp, desolate voice that lingered in a garden full of blooming flowers still echoed in my ears.
What did I say back then?
Lost in thought, I murmured to myself.
“…It’s okay even if you can’t.”
“What? What’s okay?”
I suddenly snapped out of it.
The gentle moonlight, the scent of flowers, the voice—they were all gone. Even the face that had flickered in my mind disappeared.
The only thing left in front of me was Gong Gi-bang, standing there with a puzzled expression.
A small sigh slipped out before I knew it.
“Gi-bang.”
“Yeah?”
“Why are you so ugly?”
“Wow. That was sincere. No, wait—I don’t even think you felt bad about it. I was feeling good for a second there.”
Gong Gi-bang’s ugly face twisted in frustration.
“This bastard… seriously, you keep—never mind.”
I shook my head, cutting him off.
“Let’s go.”
“What?”
“Don’t ask again. Let’s go meet those Ten Phoenix and Dragons or whatever. After hearing about the feast, I suddenly got hungry.”
“Huh?”
Gong Gi-bang blinked in surprise, completely forgetting he was supposed to be mad. Then he hurriedly nodded.
“Yeah, sure! Everyone’s going to be happy to see you.”
Doesn’t matter who welcomes me.
It’s just… well.
‘I guess I just wanted to see her again.’
Yeah. That’s all it is.
And I do owe thanks related to Jeok Cheon-Gang too, so I’ve got every reason to go.
‘It’s just the right thing to do. As a person.’
Muttering to myself inwardly, I started walking. Gong Gi-bang’s loud voice followed after me.
The three-story guest inn was grand and luxurious. With its massive scale and steep prices, it wasn’t a place common folk could afford to enter—and it lived up to that standard.
With that in mind, it made perfect sense that the group of three men and one woman occupying the top-floor window seat were far from ordinary.
“Lady Ju, won’t you have a drink?”
“Oh ho, the lady doesn’t care much for alcohol. Isn’t that right, Lady Ju?”
The handsome young men in silk robes and heroic headbands didn’t notice.
They had no idea what Ju Hwaran, the Hidden Thorn Flower, was truly thinking.
‘When is he going to arrive?’
At some point, the chatter around her faded into nothing.
She didn’t know when it started, but her body had tilted toward the window, and her eyes kept scanning the open pane and staircase below.
‘Gong Sohyeop sounded so confident. Should I go down and check?’
Just as her mind spun with questions and doubts tangled like a knot—
Jingle.
The chime of the inn’s door echoed—and Ju Hwaran shot up from her seat.
