“Just one coin, please~.”
“Ugh, filthy...... Get lost!”
“......”
This was a very dark place, even within Hefei.
Located near Chaohu Lake, it was a place where all kinds of crime, prostitution, and poverty took root.
The people here never tried to go outside.
As though these dark alleys were the whole of their world, they never tried to come out into the light.
That was why anyone who wandered in without knowing better could be exposed to serious crime.
It was said that those born and raised here learned from a young age how to hit people, how to avoid being hit, and how to steal things.
“Looks like no one’s coming in here today.”
“That’s a relief~. Any news going around these days?”
Beggars sat before the entrance, begging while driving people away.
Their clothes were shabby, and if one went near them, a sour smell that stabbed the nose filled the air.
People who knew nothing would simply call them beggars.
However, anyone who knew even a little about the murim did not speak to them carelessly.
No, in places where their ears could reach, they would neither open their mouths carelessly nor try to look like martial artists.
Because even if they looked as though they were merely sitting still and begging, their eyes and ears contained everything in the world.
The Beggars’ Sect.
It was one of the core forces of the righteous faction, and the place where most beggars belonged.
They were merely beggars, but they had proper duties of their own.
Though they looked as if they were idling about like this, they were carrying out the duty of stopping civilians from entering this dangerous area.
“If it’s news...... there’s only that, after all.”
“What is it?”
“Isn’t it that one of Namgung’s young masters came out to recuperate?”
“Ah, that’s nothing special.”
“But-.”
Since there were no passersby, they began speaking openly.
The rumors coming from the marketplace were unusual.
An enormous display of money-slinging.
The story of how he had sent the butchers in the marketplace home after only half a day had already begun spreading.
Was that all?
Those who had seen the cart all said the same thing.
There had been a young master of the Namgung Clan taking away a cart loaded with rice from the government office.
Usually, they only handed out rice, but meat as well......?
The beggars of the Beggars’ Sect swallowed their saliva.
“They say he packed meat and relief rice and headed to his residence with it! What do you think that means?”
“Slurp-. Looks like we’ll be getting meat side dishes for the first time in a while. Heh heh heh. But why would he bring meat too?”
“I don’t know that part. How strange. Did Namgung not always hand out relief rice only as a formality?”
True.
Then why......?
At this strange course of action, they put forward various guesses.
“Could it be because of the Young Clan Head Competition?”
“Ah! It’s about time for that to start!”
“Isn’t that young master a sickly one? Perhaps that’s why he’s trying to win the people’s hearts with something like this.”
Who knew......
The Namgung Clan was a clan that proved everything through force, so making an achievement with mere relief rice?
It was nonsense.
They were saying this and that when it happened.
“Why are you so hard at work talking about another family’s affairs?”
“Huh!?”
“Hm......? W-When did you......?”
Rattle, rattle.
The sound of cartwheels rolling could be heard faintly.
Before they knew it, a shadow had fallen beside them, along with a sword whose uncanny bell swayed.
Namgung Yeon stood before the beggars with cold eyes.
***
“T-Thank you, Young Master.”
“I would like the Beggars’ Sect to pay no attention to what happens inside today.”
“How could we-.”
The beggars of the Beggars’ Sect met one another’s eyes.
They were beggars, but they also had the role of bringing information to each branch.
Because that role was far more important than one might think, they absolutely could not skip it.
They could end up being beaten by the branch chief until dust flew.
However, Namgung Yeon was firm.
Because this information must not spread outside yet.
The demonic cultivators.
And even those behind them.
To wipe them all out in one sweep, everything had to happen covertly and quietly.
That was why he decided to use the surest method this time as well.
Money.
Beggars too basically had to eat and live.
That was why money was indispensable even to them.
“This much should satisfy you even without any information.”
“Huh!?”
“N-No, to give us this much charity......!”
Namgung Yeon smiled faintly and spoke.
The Beggars’ Sect.
The day would surely come when he needed their help later.
The most effective way to gnaw away trash was with rats.
“Think of it as thanks for helping the righteous murim.”
“H-Ha ha! Of course! Today, we will forget everything we see and hear here!”
“No, that is not what I meant.”
The beggars of the Beggars’ Sect looked up at Namgung Yeon with dazed expressions.
These bastards.
He never got used to their slipperiness, trying not to take a loss no matter what.
Namgung Yeon sighed and spoke in a chilling voice.
“I am telling you to get lost. Right now.”
“......”
No matter that they were the righteous faction’s information gatherers, they would not dare defy Namgung.
Rumors?
Let them try.
Namgung would not care about such things anyway.
‘Rather, if they think me vicious, they’ll tremble on their own.’
A bad reputation was far better.
As the saying went, people stretched their legs only after looking at where they could lie down, and people were even more likely to push against someone rumored to be kind.
Thinking so, Namgung Yeon spoke to Manho.
“Clear them out.”
“......As commanded.”
Rattle, rattlerattlerattle-.
The cart rolled noisily.
It was a loud cry, enough for everyone in the slums to hear.
To someone, it would be precious food capable of filling a starving stomach.
Conversely, to someone else, it would be poison enough to make them regret every year they had lived.
Which one, then, was salvation?
‘Perhaps being the first to escape this mortal world is salvation.’
Namgung Yeon walked into the secluded alley with emotionless eyes.
The image of this place burning overlaid itself before him.
It felt as though the faces of the rioters who had seethed here and the rampaging demonic cultivators were looking at him.
Jingle-.
As if putting all of it to rest, the bell of the Demonic Spirit Sword rang.
It truly was strange.
Whenever bad memories surfaced, hearing this bell made those thoughts vanish completely.
‘A divine object is still a divine object.’
Right now, it had the durability of an ordinary fine steel sword, but if it absorbed demonic energy or wicked energy, it would become even sturdier.
Jingle-.
When the bell rang once more, the small vacant lot was already filled with people from the slums.
Curiosity, wariness, and all manner of other subtle emotions.
Some looked at the food with greedy eyes, and some let out sighs of relief.
There were also a few who wore expressions that said what had to come had come at last.
“Ooh, relief rice......!”
“I-It looks like there’s something else this time too?”
“Sniff, sniff. C-Could it be meat......?”
The murmuring grew louder.
Namgung Yeon silenced the commotion.
THUD—!
When he lightly stamped his foot, people clutched their chests and backed away.
A Tremor Stomp using true energy.
Its aftermath had affected even the bodies of civilians.
First, the place became quiet.
In the next moment, Manho’s eyes widened like lanterns.
‘His true energy control is......?’
That made no sense.
What was this?
He had felt the Young Master was extraordinary from the first battle at the martial hall, but to think it was to this extent.
And seeing how he did it as naturally as eating a meal, Manho became certain.
‘He is a far greater master than I thought.’
That meant no one knew what would happen in the Young Clan Head Competition.
While Manho was in shock by himself, Namgung Yeon opened his mouth.
“Taking pity on you, I have personally packed meat side dishes and brought them here.”
“Ooooooh-!”
“O Namgung......!”
“Thank you! Truly, thank you!”
To the people of the slums, meat side dishes were something they could not eat unless they stole them.
And yet he had personally packed and brought this many side dishes!
Naturally, they had no choice but to be moved.
Feeling them begin to murmur again, Namgung Yeon spoke.
The boiling emotions rushed in like a tide, making it difficult even to stand.
However, there was nowhere left to retreat now, so he would have to hold firm.
Normally, when handing out this food, several escort warriors would be needed.
‘The reason is simple. Because no one knows when these people might turn into monsters and rush in......’
Namgung Yeon spoke in a powerful voice.
“If you intend to fight, do not let it enter my sight. Otherwise, you will see blood.”
Shhhk-.
He drew the Demonic Spirit Sword, showing that he could swing it at any moment.
Perhaps they were pressed down by his spirit.
No one answered.
No, so he thought.
Had it not been for the person who suddenly popped out.
***
As though representing everyone, the person who suddenly popped out yelled at the top of his lungs.
At a glance, Namgung Yeon looked sickly.
And he had not brought many guards either.
So this person must have judged that he could wring something more out of him.
He approached Namgung Yeon and raised his voice, spitting as he spoke.
“Who do you think you are, threatening us?! Do you think being some highborn lord makes you everything?!”
“......”
Namgung Yeon strode toward the man shouting at him.
Jingle-.
The bell rang violently.
A nauseating stench rose at once.
It was not only the stink of the pit that came from the slums.
The filthy smell of demonic energy reeked from him.
Unable to endure it, Namgung Yeon swung his sword.
SPLAAASH—!
In an instant, the surroundings were dyed with blood.
It had happened so suddenly that no one could react.
“I should have cut him down from a little farther away.”
“......”
“Now filth has gotten on the food I took the trouble to bring.”
“Young Master, are you all right?”
Manho hurriedly drew his sword and stood guard over the surroundings.
Nam Hoho, who had seen murder for the first time, was frozen stiff.
Perhaps because he had been drenched in hot blood, tears had even welled up in his eyes.
Jingle-.
The Demonic Spirit Sword began greedily devouring the corpse’s energy.
As the demonic cultivator’s power was sucked into the sword, Namgung Yeon opened his mouth again.
“I know you will not be able to leave anyway. Do not concern yourselves with this, and fill your starving bellies.”
“Act in order, unless you want to end up like this!”
Thanks to Manho supporting him appropriately, the people moved in orderly fashion.
He could see the complexions of several people from the slums turning pale.
Along with a thick killing intent rising from them.
They would be excited after seeing blood.
Yes, hurry and bare your fangs.
Your filthy, revolting bodies must become fertilizer for salvation.