Chapter 1520: This Isn't My Fault? (Part 5)

While looking at the face of Pungyeong Shin Gae, whose muscles were twitching due to clenched teeth, the disciples of Mount Hua were flustered. In the midst of their embarrassment, someone chuckled.

"Ah, that's natural."

"..."

"You don't need to be so thankful. It's just a natural thing, a natural thing! Hahaha!"

Pungyeong Shin Gae completely lost his composure.

In their hearts, the disciples of Mount Hua silently applauded.

'Our Chung Myung is good!'

'Sometimes being clueless can be helpful.'

'Is he really clueless? That bastard's a ghost at noticing things, so he's deliberately feeding them, right?'

'Who cares?'

Pungyeong Shin Gae, whose complexion changed dozens of times in a second, finally sighed heavily to calm himself down.

"... Anyway, thank you."

It must be complicated and subtle.

It was true that Mount Hua had saved him, and it was true that they cut out the rotten parts of the Beggar's Union.

But, how should he put it...

When a person comes to the clinic with fingers and toes injured, and the doctor, after cutting off one limb at a time, says, 'I've treated everything, so you're fine now,' it's not easy to say something nice right away.

No, it would have been fortunate if only the limbs were cut off. In fact, half of his property flew away too... The more he thought about it, the more his head hurt.

"So, what are you going to do now?"

"For now... we need to stabilize the collapsed sect headquarters. And..."

Pungyeong Shin Gae touched his chin.

"As soon as the elders' whereabouts are sorted out, I plan to step down from my position."

"Whereabouts?"

"I don't intend to ask them for their sins, but I can't just leave them alone either. The power given to them was too great, as I realized with this incident."

"Hmm."

Chung Myung looked at Pungyeong Shin Gae with a strange gaze. As if questioning whether that was his real intention. Facing the scrutinizing gaze that seemed to expose everything, Pungyeong Shin Gae had no choice but to speak.

"If they are still in the same position, it will hinder the new sect leader from realizing his intentions. People don't change so easily, so those I've ruined must be carried away by me."

"New wine in a new bottle?"

"Yes."

Chung Myung nodded. Then he paused for a moment.

"So, the next sect leader is..."

"It's exactly what you think."

The gaze of Mount Hua's disciples turned to the side. There stood Hong Daegwang, who was standing awkwardly like a sack of barley.

"Why? What?"

Various emotions crossed the faces of Mount Hua's disciples.

"Well, yes. Actually... there's no alternative..."

"After causing such a fuss, it feels strange that that someone else is going to rebuild the sect now."

"That's right. It's true, but..."

One question arose in the faces of Mount Hua's disciples as they looked at each other.

'Is that okay?'

They seemed uneasy. That guy taking over the sect.

"Have you decided?"

"Yes, ChivalrousSword."

"...Really?"

"...."

"Really? No regrets? Is there a plan? No, what are you thinking..."

"Hey, you! Are you saying this to me!"

"No, I know this uncle ['ahjussi' strikes again]! He's not someone who can be bossed around!"

"You were the one who said you would make me the sect leader!"

"No, the situation was urgent, so I couldn't say what I wanted to say!"

"Well, what! And you call yourself a Taoist!"

Chung Myung glared.

"This is some messed up situation... No, it's not even giving scraps to beggars. Trying to save Beggar's Union made things even worse!"

"How much did I help you, you bastard!"

"Did you help? Did you?"

Pungyeong Shin Gae, smiling at the two arguing, spoke in a calm voice.

"I decided that ability was not important."

"Hmm?"

"If there are shortcomings, others can help. That's what positions are for. What's important is not whether someone has excellent abilities, but whether they walk the right path."

Already firm in his decision, Pungyeong Shin Gae's eyes were resolute.

"And this is not just my intention. There was a strong recommendation from Ilho Shin Gae. So, the resistance from the elders can be somewhat suppressed."

Chung Myung looked at Hong Daegwang with wide eyes. But soon, he let out a deep sigh.

"Don't sigh in people's faces!"

"He's not a human, he's a beggar..."

"This guy..."

The irritated Hong Daegwang snorted.

"The one most confused now is me! I thought I'd be brought to the sect headquarters and hear a lecture, but suddenly a war breaks out, and on top of that, a sect leader was created overnight!"

"So, you don't like it?"

"I like it!" [not sure...could be "I hate it" lol]

"...."

"Oh, no. That was a slip of the tongue."

The disciples of Mount Hua, as well as Pungyeong Shin Gae, looked at Hong Daegwang with eyes devoid of emotion.

"...Think it over."

"I don't think this is it."

A momentary conflict flashed in Pungyeong Shin Gae's eyes, but he soon raised his head again.

"There's no turning back."

"Ugh."

"We're done here. Let's cut ties with Beggar's Union. It's over."

Smiling at the reaction of Mount Hua's disciples, Pungyeong Shin Gae continued.

"Don't worry too much. I plan to summon Jao Gae and place him in the position of the head guardian."

"Oh!"

"If it's Grandpa Jao Gae..."

"That's a bit better."

When the word 'Jao Gae' came up, everyone nodded. In this process, no one paid attention to Hong Daegwang, who had been emotionally wounded.

"But, Sasuk. What's the difference between guardians and elders?"

"In terms of seniority, it's similar. Depending on the sect, they may use different titles, but if I were to point out the difference... Elders are usually honorary positions. But guardians hold positions with practical authority. That's how you can see it."

"What do you mean?"

"The guardian focuses a bit more on the martial aspect, protecting the sect. If you have to differentiate."

"...Understood."

He didn't understand.

Baek Cheon decided that later he would drag Jo Gol and explain it to him again. Pungyeong Shin Gae spoke again.

"And today, seeing Chumyeongae, who seems suitable for the position of a guardian, I should ask him for help as well."

"Oh, that ugly old man, Grandpa?" [remember that "Chumyeongae" = "Ugly-Faced Beggar"]

"Hey, this bastard! Saying openly that he's ugly!"

"No, he's ugly, so his nickname is Chumyeongae! If you're going to judge like that, you should curse those Beggar's Union bastards who gave such nicknames to people!"

"...Huh?"

Upon hearing that, it also... 

"Ahem!"

Pungyeong Shin Gae cleared his throat and turned his gaze slightly. Seeing this, Baek Cheon held back a smile.

'From our perspective, it's not such a bad outcome.'

Disregarding abilities, there was no one who didn't know about Hong Daegwang's passion and justice. Moreover, Hong Daegwang was the most favorable person to Mount Hua within the Beggar's Union, no matter what others said.

For such a person to become the leader of Beggar's Union would not be harmful to Mount Hua.

Besides, didn't they confirm during this incident that there were forces in Southern Edge and Shaolin that were sympathetic to Mount Hua?

This may be more than just a replacement of Beggar's Union leader.

'Especially Shaolin...'

At that moment, Chung Myung spoke up.

"When do you plan to do?"

"I should first organize the sect headquarters."

"Then, will you step down as soon as the organization is finished?"

"Shouldn't that be the case?"

Pungyeong Shin Gae seemed quite relieved. He finally got rid of the heavy burden that had always weighed on his shoulders.

"Thanks to the Chivalrous Sword, I've come to realize. The future of Beggar's Union should be entrusted to those who will live that future. Of course, it's not perfect, but..."

Having singled out Hong Daegwang, Pungyeong Shin Gae nodded.

"That's also the desire of one who has reached the time to step back."

"...."

"I can repay the sins I committed in Beggar's Union even if I'm not the leader. Now, I plan to spend the rest of my life atoning as a regular beggar in Beggar's Union, not as the leader of Beggar's Union."

Pungyeong Shin Gae's gaze turned towards the ceiling.

He was not just looking at the ceiling, but at someone lying above it.

"Shifu would also hope for that."

"Tsk."

Chung Myung clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

"Just dying without atoning."

"Chung Myung-ah!"

"Watch your mouth! Oi, watch your mouth!"

To others, it might sound impolite, but Pungyeong Shin Gae just chuckled. The person in front of him was the only one in this world who could scold his master.

And he knew that those harsh words were spoken out of a heart full of pity.

Chung Myung's gaze turned to Hong Daegwang.

"Regardless, now we have to talk about this guy, right?"

"...."

"Beggar's Union sect leader..."

Chung Myung's face gradually twisted. The incident that started to restore Beggar's Union, somehow the result seems to be somewhat...

"Ugh. Anyway, the acting leader."

"Hahaha! Please speak, Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword!"

Hong Daegwang raised his chin triumphantly. Chung Myung, without realizing it, punched that chin.

"Kya!"

"Oi, Chung Myung-ah!"

"That's the leader! The leader!"

"Not yet! It's not yet!"

"But if you act so brashly like this!"

"He's making me want to act brashly!"

"Well, that's true, but...!"

Even the renowned Baek Cheon couldn't argue with Chung Myung's words.

However, the person who received the blow, unaffected, chuckled and stood up with a broad smile.

"Uh, it's okay."

"Huh?"

"If you think about it, it was Mount Hua that made me the leader, so a little chin flick is nothing! Hahaha!"

"Chung Myung-ah! Endure it!"

"No, why are you getting so angry!"

"To be honest, it's irritating, Sahyung."

"...Honestly, me too."

Hong Daekwang was someone who made you realize why the word 'triggering' existed. Chung Myung groaned.

"Kkuung, so what are you going to do now?"

"What?"

"Beggar's Union! I mean, you're becoming the head of the Beggar's Union! What are you going to do with the Beggar's Union now?"

While rubbing his red, swollen jaw, Hong Daekwang mumbled.

"What am I going to do? It's obvious."

"Yeah?"

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. As you know, I'm not very smart."

"Yeah, you lack awareness too."

"And you don't have any talent."

"You're not good-looking either."

"...Do it in moderation, you bastards."

Hong Daekwang gritted his teeth. Then he took a deep breath and his face became serious.

"Nevertheless, I think I was able to come this far because I have an eye for people."

"Hmm?"

"Among them, what I'm especially good at is finding someone who can guide me."

Hong Daekwang straightened up. His appearance so far disappeared, and a firm and determined expression took its place.

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. No, Chief of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance."

"Yeah?"

"As soon as I take the position of the sect leader, I will request membership in the Heavenly Comrade Alliance from Chief Chung Myung. Please do not reject the intentions of this sect."

Facing the serious expression on Hong Daekwang's face, Chung Myung's face also became serious. Hong Daekwang continued speaking.

"I will do my best to help the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. To face the crisis that has come upon the world!"

"Hmm."

Chung Myung clasped his hands together slowly and politely.

"If the Sect Leader says so, we, Heavenly Comrade Alliance, will also sincerely welcome the Beggar's Union."

Once again, Chung Myung's eyes sparkled as he exerted more strength in his handshake.

"And everyone will strive to fulfill what the Sect Leader desires from the Beggar's Union."

"We just have to believe."

The two shook hands.

When they first met in Luoyang in the past, neither of them had fame or position.

Yet, the two shaking hands here were now representing a sect and an alliance.

As the two exchanged glances, they slowly let go of each other's hands.

It was when the deeply moved Hong Daekwang was about to speak.

"Kkeum."

Chung Myung's face twisted strangely.

"But, um... "

"Yeah?"

"...I don't know if this is a good thing to do."

"..."

The disciples of Mount Hua Sect empathized greatly with Chung Myung's words, which seemed to pluck their inner thoughts. Of course, in their hearts.