Chapter 1479: The Plan Was Sound (Part 4)

"Just a penny!"

"Oh, sir. Your child is truly adorable. It is said that if you bestow blessings, the child will receive blessings in return."

"If you generously donate just one dumpling, an impoverished child can happily get by for two days. Would you not share the happiness of humanity with the hungry beggars?"

Along the main street outside the heavily fortified Kaifeng.

Dozens of beggars were begging with bowed heads. However, the passerbys in Kaifeng paid no attention to the beggars, as if the sight was familiar to them.

And in a corner of the high fortress wall.

"...There are more beggars than commoners."

"That's right."

As the Five Swords lowered their bodies and surveyed the inside of Kaifeng, a disappointed tone escaped their lips.

It was neither a joke nor an exaggeration. Beggars seemed more numerous than people walking on the street. Not just along the main road. Every narrow alley was filled with beggars lying down.

"...At this point, shouldn't beggars be the ones feeding people? Can so many beggars make a living by begging in this neighborhood?"

"It seems unlikely."

Chung Myung's voice, piercing into their ears, came with a sharp tone.

"They're just talking like begging."

"Huh?"

"I said. Those beggars, believe it or not, might be the richest people in the world. If they go to a soup kitchen, they can eat as much as they want."

Yoon Jong asked, not understanding.

"Well, then why are they out on the street begging, even if they have money?"

"Don't you understand? Those bastards have been like that since ancient times."

"So why...?"

"Amitabha."

At that moment, Hye Yeon, as if knowing the answer, uttered a short exclamation.

"I've heard that according to the teachings of the Beggar's Union, begging is a necessary act for disciples regardless of wealth."

"What? They beg even if they have money? Why?"

"Because it's the lowest position."

"...Huh?"

"I haven't heard the details, but it seems that everyone begs without exception to uphold the principle of the sect, which helps those in need while looking upon the world from the lowest place and helping those in need."

"...I understand what you're saying, but..."

Yoon Jong chuckled slightly as if finding it absurd.

"It's strange. If you have money, you're not a beggar, but you beg to live as a beggar."

"Why is that strange, Sahyung?"

"Huh? Isn't it strange?

"Of course it isn't strange. That bastard isn't bankrupt."

At that moment, everyone's gaze turned to Clear Myung.

"What? Why me?"

Gradually, everyone nodded.

"That could be possible."

"Yeah, there must be some circumstances."

"Frankly, is there any condition for begging? Even those who walk around with broken heads are Taoists."

Yoon Jong suddenly thought. Perhaps Chung Myung's existence was somehow loosening the strict standards of the world.

Of course, such a useless thought had to be quickly discarded. There was still a big problem. He stared at Kaifeng with a half-annoyed face.

"The problem is not that... How are we going to get in there?"

"…Well, wouldn't it work out somehow?"

"Somehow?"

Yoon Jong glanced at him with a rare disdain in his eyes.

"Hey, you crazy bastard. How is the situation going to be resolved with the word 'somehow'? Those beggars are crawling around, not to mention loitering! It might be easier to avoid the eyes of Taesangho [some Taoist deity I think] and commit crimes."

"Sahyung. Perhaps that was never a hard task from the beginning. That guy is still a Taoist, isn't he?"

"...?"

Confusion spread across Yoon Jong's face. Just before he plunged into serious contemplation, Baek Cheon quickly spoke up.

"We need to figure out a way. It won't be possible with a complacent attitude."

"That's right, Sasuk."

"Agreed."

Tang Soso and Yoo Iseol nodded in agreement. Avoiding the surveillance of beggars scattered in all directions would be entirely impossible. Moreover, if the place they were trying to enter was the realm of the Beggar's Union, wouldn't the surveillance become even more intense as they approached?

At that moment, Jo Gol raised Baek-Ah and pointed towards the Beggar's Union main entrance.

"Hey, do you know where that bird went from here?"

Baek-Ah twitched its black nose and shook its small head. Even if it was a spiritual creature, it was futile to try to pinpoint the source of the scent at such a distance.

"Mmm. That doesn't work. Useless... Ow! Ah! I told you not to pull my hair! I'm really in trouble... Monk, I apologize. It was a slip of the tongue. Please, at least lower your fist. We shouldn't be exposed because of impulsive actions..."

Hye Yeon quietly lowered the raised fist.

"Let me say it again, I am not bald, I am shaven."

"Isn't the result the same?"

"No!"

Eventually, Hye Yeon lost his temper. Baek Cheon sighed deeply as he watched them. These two seemed to have the energy to play around even in such situations. That Jo Gol, and now even Hye Yeon...

"Hey, Chung Myung. What can we do about this?"

"Haha, Sasuk. Asking such obvious questions."

"Oh? Of course..."

"Nothing."

... Baek Cheon struggled with the impulse to beat up that carefree face. It was an anger he hadn't felt in a very long time. Come to think of it, he used to feel it quite often in the past...

"But it's not that difficult to think about. Anyway, we just need to infiltrate. We just need to find a way now!"

"Hmm."

Everyone nodded. Not because they understood. It was just because they knew there was no point in arguing when facing that guy.

"How about infiltrating at night? Then the surveillance might decrease."

"Beggars have sharper night vision. Besides, important and confidential information mostly comes out at night. Don't you know that?"

"Ugh."

Tang Soso lost words to Chung Myung's rebuttal.

"Then how about getting help from the merchants nearby? If we hide among the piles of goods, it might be difficult to notice."

"Hehe! Because of the information we spread in the business world this time, the merchants have probably become a priority target for surveillance, right? We'll be exposed before the wheel rolls twice. Anyway, you have no thoughts. No thoughts!"

"..."

Jo Gol's eyes trembled. 

"Then... um."

Baek Cheon scratched his head and spoke.

"How about disguising ourselves as beggars? If those people don't recognize us, there shouldn't be a problem moving around."

"That won't work."

"That possible?"

"Uh, really, Sasuk?"

"Rejected."

Baek Cheon shivered. These guys, when talking among themselves, throw in all sorts of nonsense... Why me only...

"Sasuk."

"Yeah?"

"Just don't say anything and stay in that corner."

"...I'm sorry."

Baek Cheon crouched down. Cheong Myung clicked his tongue as if he wanted to thrash that relaxed face. It was a rage he hadn't felt in a long time. Come to think of it, he used to feel it quite often in the past...

"But it's not that difficult to think about. Anyway, we just need to infiltrate. We just need to find a way now!"

"Hmm."

Everyone nodded. Not because they understood. It was just because they knew there was no point in arguing when facing these guys.

"How about infiltrating at night? Then the surveillance might decrease."

"Beggars have sharper night vision. Besides, important and confidential information mostly comes out at night. Don't you know that?"

"Ugh."

Tang Soso lost words to Cheong Myung's rebuttal.

"Then how about getting help from the merchants nearby? If we hide among the piles of goods, it might be difficult to notice."

"Hehe! Because of the information we spread in Sanggye this time, the merchants have probably become a priority target for surveillance, right? It will be exposed before we roll the wheel twice. Anyway, there's no plan. No plan!"

"..."

Jo Gol's eyes trembled. 

"Then... um."

Baek Cheon scratched his head and spoke.

"How about disguising as beggars? If those people don't recognize us, there shouldn't be a problem moving around."

"That won't work."

"How could that be possible?"

"Uh, really, Sasuk."

"Rejected."

Baek Cheon trembled. These bastards, when talking among themselves, throw in all sorts of nonsense... Why me only...

"Sasuk."

"Yeah?"

"Just don't say anything and stay in that corner."

"...I'm sorry."

Baek Cheon crouched down. Cheong Myung clicked his tongue.

"Well, it's probably something he said after thinking about it, but everyone knows it's nonsense, right?"

"Yeah, attempting disguise is useless anyway. It's hard to hide the fact that we are martial artists. Among beggars, there might be skilled experts hiding like shooting stars, and if a disguised martial artist enters Kaifeng, beggars will follow us before we take a few steps."

"Then, how about disguising as a wanderer?"

"That won't work."

This time, Tang Soso shook her head.

"Even if we manage to conceal the aura of martial arts, among those belonging to a powerful sect like Mount Hua, there's a unique energy flowing. It's not something ordinary wanderers can produce. Instead, it will attract more attention."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. I'm not sure about the Sahyungs, as they are originally from Mount Hua, but when I was at the Tang Family before, the members of the Beggar's Union were able to distinguish us like ghosts. Beggars might be even more discerning."

"Ugh. Then there's no obvious method..."

Yoon Jong scratched his head.

In the first place, this didn't make sense. The members of the Beggar's Union had been surveilling people for a lifetime. Did it even make sense to infiltrate their headquarters without being noticed?

It might be easier to go into the Demonic Cult's headquarters, have a cup of tea with the Heavenly Demon, and come back.

"Chung Myung-ah. No matter how you think about it, this won't work. Let's try to find another way."

"There's no other way. We have to go."

"There's no way, right? Isn't this realistically impossible?"

"Why is there no way? There is! What it is..."

"I'm telling you in advance, don't even bring up that bullshit that you can storm in, beat up all the beggar bastards, and get to where you want. That's not possible."

"...Uh... It isn't?"

"Are you really thinking about it? If we do something like that, Sect Leader and Great Sect Leader will strip off our skin. Don't even dream about it!"

"Ah, but that was the easiest way."

Chung Myung seemed genuinely regretful. Yoon Jong's blood pressure skyrocketed for a moment and he grabbed the back of his head. No, what on earth was happening with this bastard's head...

At that moment, Chung Myung, scratching his chin, said,

"If the best option doesn't work, we have no choice but to use the next best thing."

"Huh? Is there a next best thing?"

"Yeah. Anyway, if we go in there, all we need to do is not get caught as members of Mount Hua."

"There's no way not to get caught. We are martial artists, and moreover, we emit a unique Taoist aura. Besides, this is Henan. As soon as we open our mouths, we'll be exposed because of the Shaanxi dialect. But how do we avoid being caught?"

"Right, right. Exactly that."

"...Excuse me?"

Tang Soso looked at Chung Myung as if asking what he was talking about. Then, suddenly, she shivered at Chung Myung's smile.

"What, what are you trying to do, Sahyung?"

"As you said. Still, if we become people who don't stand out, it'll be okay. Let's see... We can probably get a cotton cloth without even going into the city. And everyone can do some sewing, right?"

"I can't."

"Cloth can be cut."

At Yoo Iseol and Jo Gol's response, Chung Myung looked up at the distant sky. What would these chicks have lived on if they weren't martial artists?

"So, what should we make?"

"Well, I'm not going to tell you."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

"The person who knows best what it looks like is that guy over there. Ask him. He probably remembers the sleeve length too."

"...That guy?"

Everyone's gaze turned to the corner where Baek Cheon, who still had his knees drawn up, was sitting.

"Huh? Me?"

In deep contemplation about what life truly was, he was surprised at everyone's gaze and looked at Chung Myung. Chung Myung nodded.

"Uh, Sasuk. It's you."

"What is this about knowing clothes well? I haven't cared about clothes or anything...?"

At that moment, Baek Cheon's eyes widened as much as they could.

"You, you... you... You're not doing that crazy thing, are you?"

Baek Cheon's face distorted horribly.

"Oh? I guess you understand."

"Are you insane, you son of a...! Is that the idea of a disciple of Mount Hua? Coulud a proud disciple of Mount Hua, come up with such an idea? I can't do it! I won't wear that filthy thing on my body again even if I die! I won't do it! I'd rather tear off my skin!"

Baek Cheon ranted with glaring eyes. Chung Myung approached him with a smile.

"Admit it, you wanted to wear it again at least once, right?"

"Die, you crazy bastard!"

"Whoa, crazy. Seriously, he's pulling out a sword."

"Stop that gentleman, quickly!"

Trying to block the sound pouring out through internal force, Hye Yeon suddenly looked up at the sky.

"...Amitabha."

Even after going to Southern Island and back, these people haven't changed.

Then, Jo Gol said seriously.

"Monk, the light is reflecting, it's blinding. Please move a little to the side."

"...Get lost, Jo Gol."

And it seemed that Hye Yeon was the same way.