Chapter 173: Are You Acquainted With This Beggar?

Meanwhile, besides the Black Store Manager, another person was burning with fury.

“These pests who feast on the blood of the common folk! They should be hiding quietly under rocks, staying out of sight. How dare they put a bounty on my disciple? I should have exterminated them long ago, wiped out their very seed.”

A fierce blue flame erupted from Ximen Surin’s eyes.

This wasn’t a metaphor.

It was a literal eruption of internal energy, flickering like fire due to the sunset hue of the Zhu Xiang Heart Cleanse Mirror technique.

This was the fury of a master who had heard what happened.

Her anger burned even hotter because her disciple had done absolutely nothing wrong, not even the tiniest bit.

Her disciple had charged into the Unorthodox Faction to help an innocent old man and then hunted down the ya shang responsible.

While Ximen Surin could perhaps scold her for being reckless and incautious, her heart was truly commendable. She was a heroine destined to spread her name far and wide as a righteous female warrior, embodying true justice.

A disciple who deserved praise a hundred times over.

And yet, what? Ten thousand gwan of gold?

Although her disciple had cleverly hidden her name, it was bound to be revealed eventually.

Ximen Surin rose from her seat.

“It’s been a while. I suppose I should pay Jo Hyeonryang a visit.”

Jo Hyeonryang was the Grand Clan Lord of the Black Dragon Jo Clan, one of the Nine Great Clans—formerly the Ten Great Clans, before the Jin Prefecture Un Clan fell and its sole heir turned traitor.

He was more famous now as the current Murim Alliance Leader.

Originally, she hadn’t planned to attend the Murim Conference.

The one who should shine there was her disciple, not Ximen Surin herself, so she had intended to stay away deliberately.

But now… Ximen Surin was deploying.

There was an important agenda item for this Murim Conference.

With the fall of the Jin Prefecture Un Clan from the Ten Great Clans, a vacancy had been created.

The Jin Prefecture Un Clan had collapsed—or more accurately, it had been burned down from within by a defector.

Murong Seong-ik, clan leader of the Murong Clan, muttered to himself.

“That Un Yeonyeong child… she wasn’t like that before.”

Un Yeonyeong had originally been betrothed to someone from the Murong Clan while still in the womb. When she was little, she used to visit the cool lands of Liaoning every summer to escape the heat.

The young Un Yeonyeong that Murong Seong-ik remembered was a frail, weak-hearted crybaby. He hadn’t seen her since the Jin Prefecture Un Clan suddenly broke off the engagement unilaterally.

He only heard occasional rumors that she was doing well as a Murim Alliance patroller.

What on earth could have happened to make her change so drastically?

Still, thinking about what might have happened if the engagement hadn't been broken sent a shiver down his spine.

The clan that fell might not have been the Jin Prefecture Un Clan.

Then again, who knew? Perhaps the girl harbored resentment after the broken engagement.

She had been such a timid child, trembling with fear at the sight of any wild beast or bird, even creatures most girls found cute, like martens or squirrels.

How such a child could harbor enough resentment to annihilate her own clan was beyond comprehension.

In any case, ever since hearing that news, he couldn’t help but be a bit sensitive about his own children’s marriage prospects.

Which was why he couldn’t help but react sensitively to the news delivered by Warrior White.

‘Clan Leader, the Young Lord has been associating with a beggar lately! Worse, the rumors about her are bizarrely terrible, calling her a dreadful wanton woman! What should be done? And it’s not just during the day! At night, Warrior Green doesn’t stop her at all, so they see each other every night—it looks like they’re getting dangerously close! We must seize that wench—no, that woman—at once, beat her severely for her schemes, and drive her out!’

However, the handwritten note from Warrior Green told a completely contradictory story.

「Her behavior resembles that of a beggar, it is true. However, her words align with reason and logic, and she appears to be a wise woman.

Furthermore, when interacting with the Young Lord, her attitude is merely friendly, like that of an older sister. The Young Lord, too, treats her as an older sister. Therefore, discussing matters between a man and a woman is baseless slander.

Also, her martial arts are profound, possessing skills at least at the Late Stage Peak Realm or higher. She tutors the Young Lord every night, and thanks to this, the Young Lord has shown great progress recently.」

Truthfully, Warrior White was always contrary, itching to find fault in everything.

Compared to him, the words of Warrior Green—who was taciturn (being mute), serious, and had volunteered for the arduous night guard duty—were far more believable.

But both testimonies ultimately described her as a beggar.

The clan had its dignity! How could a direct descendant of the main lineage associate with a beggar, and a female one at that—not even a member of the Beggar’s Union?

Besides, Warrior Green was single, while Warrior White had two wives.

Warrior Green knew nothing of the affairs between men and women; he didn’t understand the natural progression where an older sister might become a maiden of interest, and that maiden might become a wife.

He didn’t have to look far for an example; Murong Seong-ik himself had suffered the indignity of his younger brother stealing his son’s wet nurse.

After pondering what to do, Murong Seong-ik decided to hear the story from the source.

His son, of course, not the beggar.

“Jun-ah,” Murong Seong-ik began calmly, “I hear you’re associating with an… unusual friend these days?”

“Ah! You mean the beggar older sister?” Murong Jun replied cheerfully.

“Mm.” Murong Seong-ik paused, already feeling stuck. Beggar older sister? A beggar is a beggar, an older sister is an older sister. What in the world is a ‘beggar older sister’? Is it even appropriate to attach ‘older sister’ after ‘beggar’? And this was coming from the mouth of a direct descendant of the great Murong Clan!

“Yes,” he continued, trying to keep his composure. “Is she an acquaintance you met somewhere?”

“Not an acquaintance, she’s a friend!” Junnie insisted brightly.

“Mm.” They’re already friends? Murong Seong-ik’s expression grew even more serious.

“You know, Father,” Junnie leaned in conspiratorially, “Warrior White told me before that all female beggars are dirty, umm…”

“What’s wrong?”

“The beggar older sister told me not to use bad words, and that’s a bad word. She said I should be especially careful in front of my parents.”

“I’ll give you special permission just this once. Go on.”

“He said… that all female beggars are dirty sluts…”

“That bastard Warrior White…!” A vein bulged on Murong Seong-ik’s temple.

“See?” Junnie looked up earnestly. “It really is a bad word, right…?”

“Yes,” Murong Seong-ik said, forcing calmness into his voice. “You should never use such words carelessly. Not only in front of your father, but using such terms in conversation with anyone will only harm your own dignity, Jun-ah. You mustn’t use them.”

“Ah! The beggar older sister told me that too! She said using bad words is like shouting ‘I’m a bad person,’ so it’s better not to use them at all.”

“Mm.” Murong Seong-ik’s expression softened slightly. Warrior Green’s note did say she appeared wise, her words aligned with reason and logic. Indeed, Warrior Green is trustworthy.

“Mm. And? Did you learn anything else?”

“Ah! And also…”

Murong Jun excitedly recounted Qing’s teachings on gender equality to his father.

To Murong Seong-ik’s ears, it sounded overly favorable to women, but it was fundamentally sound instruction on proper conduct, speech, and mindset. Since a woman taught it, it naturally favored women, but the virtues discussed were ones men ought to uphold anyway, so there was no real issue. It was just that most people knew these things but chose not to follow them.

“What do you think, Father? Is it all correct? My sister said if I hear something I don’t understand, I shouldn’t try to figure it out alone but check with an adult…”

“Excellent,” Murong Seong-ik beamed and opened his arms. “Everything you said is correct.”

An excited Murong Jun leaped into his father’s embrace.

But Murong Seong-ik’s heart wasn’t light. Instead, it felt heavy, as if weighed down by a boulder. Hearing that his son had tried to buy a beggar woman’s bosom with a gold sycee made him feel dizzy, like falling from a thousand-foot cliff.

Moreover, her advice to check with an adult when hearing something unfamiliar… Everyone had been so excited about teaching martial arts to his youngest son, blessed with the Heavenly Martial Body. But until now, not a single person had taught him these fundamental human principles that should be naturally observed. Including Murong Seong-ik himself—he had assumed it was so obvious that his son would naturally know, or figure it out when he grew older. Come to think of it, how could someone learn without being taught? Usually, the mother should step in to provide such guidance, but… Ah, my wife, why did you leave us so soon…?

I dismissed her as a mere beggar woman, but it turns out she was my son’s benefactor! I was taught to regard everyone I meet as a teacher, yet I became complacent with age! I must summon that woman immediately and express my deepest gratitude…

“…And, and also,” Junnie piped up again. “Right! The beggar older sister proposed marriage to me!”

“What?” Murong Seong-ik’s warmth vanished. “How dare she? And so, how did you answer?”

“I said I don’t like women who cover their faces. You told me that, Father. That women who cover their faces do so because they’re too hideous for others to look at…”

“Yes. I did say that.” Murong Seong-ik let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Phew. Well done. You did very well.” He felt immensely grateful for his own teaching, which he barely remembered giving.

Now I see! She’s not the child’s benefactor but a black-hearted schemer! It was a plot to seduce an innocent child and improve her own miserable lot in life!

“Jun-ah,” he said sternly, “let me tell you just in case. Marriage is a crucial matter for the clan, and it’s absolutely, absolutely not something you should decide on your own. And especially not with that beggar woman. Absolutely not. Not even if dirt enters this father’s eyes, do you understand?”

“I said I didn’t want to either,” Junnie confirmed. “So the beggar older sister said that now, no matter what, she would absolutely never marry me.”

“What!” Murong Seong-ik bristled. “How dare a beggar speak such nonsense!” Hearing that made him angry for a completely different reason.

“Ah, Father?” Junnie looked startled.

“Ahem. It’s nothing. Forget about it.” Murong Seong-ik cleared his throat. “She said she wouldn’t marry you? Could you tell me more details?”

Hearing the full story, it was… ambiguous. Was this a cunning, bewitching scheme, or just an older sister teasing a younger boy she knew? It was impossible to judge just by hearing it relayed; one needed to see the person’s eyes, gestures, and tone.

In that case, there was only one way forward.

He would know if he spoke to her directly.

Peng Daesan was having the absolute worst time.

Leaving the clan estate only meant being bothered by swarming women, so he had simply shut himself away, focusing solely on training. He had even made progress, breaking through to the Late Stage Peak Realm.

But Peng Daesan didn’t stop training.

Because, some time ago—

“Hey, little brother!” Peng Choryeo had sidled up to him. “I always thought you looked at women like they were stones, but my, oh my. Look at you now.”

“What is it, Older Sister?” Peng Daesan asked tiredly.

“I saw, you know? This and that. You sly little thing.” She jabbed his side repeatedly. For the record, Peng Choryeo had never grasped the concept of controlling her strength in her entire life, so it hurt quite badly.

Along with the pain in his side, Peng Daesan’s voice dropped a notch due to her implicitly—no, overtly—annoying, slick attitude. “What exactly is it that you saw?”

“Her. Qing-ah. She was pretty, wasn’t she?” Peng Choryeo smirked.

Peng Daesan was dumbfounded. Why that name, all of a sudden?

“Are you referring to Young Miss Ximen Qing?”

“Yes! That Ximen Qing!” Peng Choryeo’s eyes glinted playfully. “Your friend, right? That’s what they say? Your frieeend? The friend of the Jade Qilin. Girlfriend. Female friend. Lady friend.”

To Peng Daesan, Peng Choryeo was more than an older sister but less than a mother. She had practically raised him. That wasn’t a metaphor; it was a plain fact. Drawing on that long-suffering bond, Peng Daesan suppressed his irritation.

“Older Sister. I’m genuinely getting annoyed now. Could you please stop?”

“Hmm, but you know,” she continued, ignoring him, “you really need to step up your game. She’s about to reach the Transcendent Realm soon. Although, since she underwent Overhaul Rebirth, should I say she’s already been there and back? Hey! Where are you going?”

“…I’m going for wall-facing meditation,” Peng Daesan stated flatly, turning away. “And don’t misunderstand. It’s just that if that woman reaches the Transcendent Realm, I’ll be genuinely annoyed if she taunts me about it.”

“O. Kay. Got. It. Good. Luck. Lit-tle. Bro,” Peng Choryeo drawled after him.

The expression on her face at that moment had been so infuriating that he’d felt like kicking away even the debt of gratitude he owed her for raising him.

Then, damn it.

Once the ‘unavoidable companion’ arrived at the Peng Clan of Hebei, it was literally impossible to avoid them. He should have escaped before then, but he had been so engrossed in his training that he had completely forgotten.