Chapter 137: Dark Clouds Over Yangtze River

‘What is this talk about?’

Yong Pung-gae, the Beggars’ Sect Sub-Branch Leader of Yuexi, located in western Anhui Province, was flustered. This was because a person from the Namgung Clan had suddenly come to express gratitude.

“So, what Great Hero Namgung Jo is saying… is that when the water bandit bastards who were waiting in a trap at the inn targeted Young Hero Namgung Han, a member of our Beggars’ Sect helped him?”

“That is correct. If I had not seen it, it would be one thing, but since I saw it, I could not just pass it over. I wish to express my gratitude, even if it is small.”

Namgung Jo politely bowed to Yong Pung-gae.

Although the Namgung Clan was the hegemon of Anhui, the Beggars’ Sect was also an organization that exerted influence throughout the entire Martial World.

Since their ages and generations were similar, the sight of them respecting each other and showing courtesy could be called a rare heartwarming story in the harsh Martial World.

“Since there are so many members, I think it will take a little time to find them. When do you plan to leave Yuexi?”

“Since we also have to gather and treat the injured, it will probably be about two days from now.”

“Two days will be plenty. I will visit you before then.”

Namgung Jo and Yong Pung-gae parted on a warm note.

Of course, Yong Pung-gae’s remaining day was not warm at all.

By the time the sun set and a bonfire lit up the night, Yong Pung-gae spewed out anger toward the beggars gathered at the sub-branch.

“The bastard who went to the inn in broad daylight and bought food to eat, step forward!”

The beggars swallowed their dry saliva and tensed up. They were so tense that no trace of their usual boisterous behavior could be found.

This was because there had been precedents where several Beggars’ Sect sub-branches were turned upside down due to such matters.

Although the Beggars’ Sect was a beggar sect, it was also a Martial World power. If they managed their operating expenses meticulously, there were sub-branches where wealth accumulated secretly.

Naturally, since Beggars’ Sect beggars were also human, there were times when they wanted to eat proper, delicious food.

There was also a time when some Beggars’ Sect beggars spent money lavishly (?).

However, this kind of luxury (?) did not last long.

The reason people gave alms to beggars was that they could not eat or dress well. They gave alms because they felt sorry for them.

A beggar who spent money lavishly was not a subject of alms.

As alms vanished, the Beggars’ Sect’s finances shrank to the point where they worried about survival.

Since then, a rule was established in the Beggars’ Sect that they must never spend money in front of others.

Of course, instances of buying snacks secretly by word of mouth did not disappear entirely. Still, as long as it was not done openly, they turned a blind eye.

However, if the situation became public like this, the story changed.

“Let’s confess quickly and find salvation. If you don’t want to take turns getting beaten all night long, come out quickly.”

At Yong Pung-gae’s ominous appearance, a Beggars’ Sect member asked cautiously.

“Suddenly, why… are you looking for that person?”

“A great individual from the Namgung Clan is looking for him.”

“No, why are those Namgung Clan bastards suddenly… again…”

Realizing the situation, the Beggars’ Sect member grumbled and complained. Then they pointed fingers at each other, suspecting and verifying each other’s whereabouts.

However, even after going through that process, the culprit (?) did not step forward.

“If you haven’t found him, track him down. Find him for sure and report back by this time tomorrow. Otherwise, I will personally teach you how to eat rice through your asshole.”

“Ahahaha…”

“Does it sound like a joke?”

The Beggars’ Sect members, who had thought it might be a joke, became solemn.

And seeing Yong Pung-gae’s glistening eyes, they were certain.

That bastard is serious.

***

As promised, Yong Pung-gae visited Namgung Jo, who was preparing to leave.

Looking at Yong Pung-gae, who seemed tired for some reason, Namgung Jo spoke.

“You’ve come alone.”

“That’s how it turned out.”

“Then…”

Yong Pung-gae spoke straightforwardly.

“It seems that the person Great Hero Namgung saw is not a member of our Beggars’ Sect.”

His abrupt tone made him seem like an official handling an annoying civil complaint. It was certain that a silent protest asking why he was bothering people was mixed in.

“Hmm… Are you sure?”

“I am certain. Because I finished checking meticulously. If it had been a Beggars’ Sect member, there would definitely have been someone who confessed… no, admitted to it last night.”

“I misidentified them, you say…”

Namgung Jo was also deeply uncomfortable in his own right.

Since he was in a situation where his discernment was being questioned, it was true that his stomach felt uneasy.

Stroke his beard and thinking deeply about something, Namgung Jo soon nodded.

“I understand. Then let’s leave it at ‘that.'”

Along with somewhat meaningful words, Namgung Jo took out a money pouch from his chest, as if it were something prepared in advance, and handed it to Yong Pung-gae.

‘Let’s leave it at ‘that.”

From the perspective of the listener, this was a phrase that made one feel strange.

“It doesn’t seem like money we should receive, but since I am a beggar, I will accept it well as alms.”

Grimacing for a moment, Yong Pung-gae took the money pouch and turned around.

Moving far away from the inn where Namgung Jo stayed, Yong Pung-gae vented his complaints.

“Ah, I told you there’s no such guy in the Beggars’ Sect. In any case, those Five Great Clan bastards are so damn suspicious.”

His accumulated annoyance pushed Yong Pung-gae’s back.

“Damn it. Should I really dig into their background?”

***

“Ha! For goodness’ sake. I wanted to express my gratitude, but they are going too far. They were experts who could only be seen as Beggars’ Sect disciples by anyone’s eyes.”

However, there was a part of it that he could understand deep down.

“Hmm… Does that mean he is a disciple they want to hide to that extent?”

Once a possible deduction opened the floodgates, the surrounding circumstances and rumors that supported it fell into place.

“Come to think of it, the news I heard through rumors not long ago was also like that. Was it that Wudang and Shaolin joined hands to secretly raise a disciple?”

Anhui is slightly biased to the east. On the other hand, the protagonist of the rumor was active at the western edge and made a name for himself.

The rumors about his genius were so extraordinary that they crossed the continent. Even while hearing the rumors, it was hard to believe easily. If the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Qingcheng Sect had not been involved, he would never have believed it.

Synthesizing the given information, Namgung Jo was able to reach one conclusion.

“Come to think of it, there was an attempt to make a joint disciple of the Nine Great Sects in the past as well. Looking at the Beggars’ Sect’s attitude, perhaps this time even the Beggars’ Sect dipped its toes in.”

He was going grandly off track.

If one synthesized it only with the given information, it could be seen as a plausible deduction at first glance, but…

“Hmm… Somehow, it seems like they are shutting out the Five Great Clans… Since it has come to this, shall I dig into it?”

At some point, he reached a conclusion similar to Yong Pung-gae of the Beggars’ Sect.

***

Setting off from Yuexi and moving diligently, before I knew it, a river of a huge width, enough to see the horizon in front, blocked my way.

“Is it the Yangtze River?”

It was a river so deep and wide that one had to board a ship to cross it.

Of course, not all channels of the Yangtze River would be this deep and wide,

However, boarding a ship was essential to cross this place.

[Even so, it’s just a step. Kakakaka!]

“Yes, yes, I know well that you are amazing.”

I let Sun Wukong’s boasting enter one ear and exit the other.

He was a gentleman about whom there were stories of playing around on clouds. Treating him seriously would only be my loss.

Rather than that, I was curious about another aspect instead.

“Did Master Bodhidharma really cross by placing his body on a single reed leaf?”

The story that is always mentioned when talking about Master Bodhidharma’s anecdotes. It is precisely the legend of Crossing the River on a Reed.

According to one theory, Master Bodhidharma crossed this huge channel using a reed leaf as a boat.

Because it was such a heart-swelling story, I was mindlessly plucking a reed leaf near the riverbank and playing with it.

[What’s so great about that? You, who have awakened the law of Assimilation, should also be fully capable of it.]

[Kyakyakyakya! I said one step is enough.]

However, perhaps because Master Bodhidharma was not here, the returning reactions were half-hearted.

“You’re all too much.”

[What do you mean too much? Do you even know what the truth of that legend is?]

“Yes?”

The truth of the legend?

[If you float a reed leaf on the riverbank, does the leaf cross the river to the other side? Or does it flutter around the outskirts and get pushed back to the riverbank where it was floated?]

Hearing Master Zhang Sanfeng’s words, it made sense.

“Uh… then… no way?”

[They say he placed his body on the reed leaf with one foot, and kicked excitedly like a duck with the other foot. Because others were watching and he had to keep his dignity, he kept his body erect, while subtly moving only the top of his foot. Moving the top of his foot while even breaking out in a cold sweat for fear of not being able to cross the river—that is the reality of the legend, disciple.]

“He… put in effort.”

The cruelty of reality!

I shouldn’t have listened to it. If I hadn’t, it would have remained a cool legend forever!

‘Hearing it like this, Master Bodhidharma was certainly very human when he was on earth.’

Of course, even now, when talking to him, he overflowed with human touch, but the story I just heard was somehow a bit fascinating.

Should I say it felt like hearing about childish days?

Come to think of it, the passage of the Heavy Earth Divine Art he was said to have left at Shaolin had a similar feel.

A smile came out on its own at the feeling of growing somewhat closer.

[You laughed? Kakakaka! I’m going to tell Bodhidharma! Kakakaka!!]

“Let’s grow up, please.”

‘He certainly has more human touch than those gentlemen.’

Suddenly, I missed Master Bodhidharma, who was absent.

I worried whether he was absent because his workload had suddenly increased again.

‘Did some incident happen over in Tibet?’

Enough of worrying.

Because me worrying here doesn’t mean Master Bodhidharma’s workload will decrease.

Just in time, the boat I was waiting for arrived.

Splash!

As I boarded the boat, a strange sensation climbed up through my toes.

It was a different feeling from stepping on solid ground.

“It’s ambiguous.”

One of the sayings one hears enough to drill into one’s ears when practicing martial arts is that power comes from the lower body.

From supporting force, pulling it up, to bursting forward. Everything is done based on the power of the lower body.

However, it didn’t seem like it would be easy to draw out power in such an unstable place.

I soon shook my head side to side.

‘I’m thinking of all sorts of things.’

Perhaps it was proof that I had become a martial artist to the bone. I had merely boarded a boat, yet I was already thinking about how to fight first.

“Ugh…”

Yi Hwa also let out a strange groan, perhaps unfamiliar with this rolling sensation of the body.

“My, the young lady must be on a boat for the first time. Then go stand by the boat railing. If you stay in the middle and your stomach turns, it’ll be a disaster.”

The boatman steering the boat skillfully observed the people and gave directions.

The people on board smiled like fathers and made way for Yi Hwa.

“…….”

Actually, Yi Hwa, who received the consideration, kept her mouth shut expressionlessly, as if she disliked being treated like a child. She looked like a strangely pouting kid.

I appeased Yi Hwa by stroking her head.

“…….”

Although it still didn’t seem like she liked this kind of treatment.

***

Crossing the Yangtze River on a boat was not an experience that could be called special.

However, a problem arose when the boat reached about the center of the Yangtze River.

“That… looks like water bandits…”

The boatman’s voice trembled thinly.

A boat coming down rapidly along the river’s flow spread its flag conspicuously.

“Water Dragon Fortress… My goodness. Oh, Dragon King.”

One of the Eighteen Water Bandit Fortresses of the Yangtze River.

It was the moment it became clear that it was a pirate ship of the Water Dragon Fortress.

[Kakakaka!]

This stone monkey, lacking in personality, was laughing excitedly.

[Kakaka! Those guys are trying to do something interesting. Kakakaka!]

When I wondered why, it seemed he had heard the conversation they were sharing.

“……You can hear that?”

[I read their lips. Kakaka! This is what you call lip-reading. Can’t you do it?]

‘Well, sorry for not being able to do it.’

Although the sound could not be heard, it seemed the distance was enough to see their lips.

However, that was not what was important right now.

“What are they saying?”

[They’re thinking of taking the people on board hostage to drag in the Namgung Clan? Kakaka. Considering how those Orthodox path bastards care about their reputation, they won’t be able to ignore it. Kakakakaka!]

In the end, it meant they would drag civilians into their issue with the Namgung Clan.

The thought that it was a stupid act came to me first, but…

“Ah! They are water bandit bastards.”

Those guys were originally people who plundered civilians.

“Sigh!”

A sigh escaped me first.

‘I just want to quietly take care of the peach blossoms, but why are there so many obstacles in the way.’