Chapter 39: To be honest, you have to understand this

“Why the belt? What's the meaning of this?”

The old beggar promptly plopped his ass on the ground.

The meaning was clear: he wasn't gonna try to steal any booze.

“Ahem, ahem, don't be so harsh.”

“Ugh. So, what's the deal?”

Fine, I'll let it slide since you're not gonna steal my drink.

“This old man is called Nugok, the Secret Keeper. Sometimes, I'm also known as Subigu.” 

Subigu Nugok.

Though unknown to Qing, he was a famous beggar. 

His title alone spoke of his ability to keep secrets, a virtue not found amongst the Beggars' Union of the Central Plains. 

Of course, his reasons for keeping secrets weren't for some stuffy, old-fashioned value like 'trust'.

He himself had proclaimed that he sought to know all the secrets of the world. 

The idea was that if he became the most tight-lipped man alive, people would confide in him willingly.

You know, like, "The king has donkey ears!"

Humans, by nature, are twisted creatures who can't help but spill secrets the moment they hear them. It's their natural instinct.

Countless people had unburdened their secrets to this living, breathing reed bed of a beggar and found peace of mind.

Qing, unaware of all this, let out a deep sigh.

“Why the sigh, young benefactor?”

“Now even beggars want to exchange names with me. My life sucks. Does this body look that easy to you?”

The old beggar's eyebrows twitched.

If this cheeky brat were a boy, he'd have gotten a good smack and a lesson in murim etiquette. 

But she was a young girl. 

And hitting a young girl was far too crass and unbecoming of a murim elder.

What a wretched wench.

She treats a beggar like, well, a beggar! What a real beggar-like bitch!

...Wait.

Nugok flinched.

How else is she supposed to see beggars if not as beggars?

Who was he, a beggar, to call someone a beggar-like bitch?

Since when did he become such a respected elder with a superiority complex?

You’re still just a beggar, idiot.

This realization resonated with the teachings of the immortal Li Tieguai, who once said, "With a cup of wine, the earth is my bed, the sky my blanket, and the world my playground."

Suddenly, a spark ignited within Nugok's core.

A laughably shoddy flow of energy, unsteady and wavering.

Yet, within it lay the boundless generosity capable of embracing the heavens and earth.

He had unknowingly stepped into the Transcendent realm—just one step, but a step nonetheless.

Nugok burst into laughter.

Qing, oblivious to her own enlightenment, had no idea she had just helped someone else achieve a breakthrough.

She just stared blankly.

What the hell? Is he bipolar or something?

Well, I guess it's understandable if you're an old beggar.

After cackling to himself for a while, Nugok's voice softened.

“Alright, this old man has been acting foolishly. I assumed everyone would know my name just because I'm a beggar. It was a foolish, senile desire. I'm so embarrassed.”

“Why? Are you some kind of celebrity?”

“Something like that. At least in these parts, there wasn't anyone who didn't know my name.”

“What's so great about being a famous beggar?”

Qing's response was sharp.

People are generally kind when they're happy, and Qing was in no mood to be generous.

But Nugok just smiled kindly.

“You're right. You're absolutely right. What's so great about a beggar being famous? Even a passing beggar would laugh at that.”

There's no point in hitting someone if they don't feel it.

Qing's momentum fizzled out as her barbs failed to land.

“But tell me, young benefactor… The Taepyung Sword Sect isn’t particularly wicked. In fact, among the so-called righteous sects, they’re one of the more decent ones.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

If those second-rate, low-level thugs were any indication, then sure.

Qing readily agreed.

“But did you really have to beat them up like that and chase them away after taking their swords?”

“I went easy on them because they seemed somewhat decent. If they were some evil bastards, none of them would have walked out alive.” 

Actually, that would have been more fun.

Qing smacked her lips.

“Oh ho! You would have killed them all if they were evil? What a fearsome young lady you are.”

Despite his words, Nugok's expression grew even kinder.

“But still, was it really necessary for you to get involved?”

“I was already in a bad mood, and they were pissing me off.”

“Pissing you off?”

Qing sighed deeply.

Still, chatting with someone was better than wallowing in self-pity and drinking alone.

Fine. Consider this my good deed for the day.

Count yourself lucky, old beggar.

“If you’re charging protection fees, then you should actually protect the business from all extortion, not just yours. But look at this place—this owner is easy to push around, while the other gang—what were they called again?”

"It's the Joho Inn."

“Yeah, whatever. Since those guys aren’t easy targets, the Sword Sect just picked on the weak. What’s the difference between that and straight-up bullying? If they want to act like a proper sect, they should’ve stood their ground and fought. And if they couldn’t handle it, they should’ve forfeited the damn protection fees.”

"Well, that's true, but you don't understand how murim factions work, young lady."

Nugok explained.

If they fought, it wouldn't be an instant downfall for the clan, but rather a prolonged bloodbath. 

Also, as is typical for small and medium-sized clans, there's usually a larger power backing them, so things could easily escalate into a full-blown war. 

But if they gave up the protection money as Qing suggested, they would just lose their businesses one after another.

Qing stared intently at Nugok.

Why is this old man acting like their defense attorney?

Does he get free meals from them or something?

I just want to beat them up because they piss me off—why does he care?

“Ugh. If that’s how things work, then why even bother distinguishing between righteous and demonic sects? You all just gang up with swords and extort the weak anyway. ‘Taepyung Sword Sect’? Ha! They should rename themselves ‘Taepyung Business Group.’”

"Heh! Hehehehehe….!"

The old beggar suddenly burst into laughter.

He laughed so hard that he clutched his belly and pressed his forehead to the ground, gasping for air until he couldn't breathe.

Qing's expression grew colder.

This guy's just a crazy beggar.

This is why I can't stand beggar scum.

Qing had once had a bad experience with a beggar.

She had every right to despise them.

Qing tuned him out.

She picked up the bottle and poured herself another drink. How many times had she filled and emptied her cup?

Finally, the old beggar straightened up, wiped his eyes, and asked,

"May I ask for your master's name?"

Why is he asking about my master?

Qing was about to snap back when their eyes met, and she flinched.

There was that familiar warmth in the old man's eyes.

The same warmth she saw when her master looked at her.

Even though all she had done was snarl at him and talk back!

Cheong, feeling strangely softhearted, answered honestly.

"Her surname is is Ximen, and her given name is Surin." 

"Ah! Senior Ximen!"

Nugok exclaimed in recognition.

Qing double-checked,

"You know my master?"

"I've met her a few times. About twenty years ago, she fought alongside this old man in Yeo-leng. Tell me, does she still throw punches first whenever he’s annoyed"

Qing immediately understood.

Oh! He knows the legendary knuckle noogie! That damn thing…

"So, you're a disciple of the Divine Maiden Sect." 

"Not exactly. She said I'm an external disciple."

"Oh, an external disciple. That's quite rare…"

There's no reason to keep a cherished disciple outside the sect.

A master who wished to pass down everything wouldn’t just teach techniques—they’d also secure a disciple’s connections (guanxi), their place in the sect, their future within the hierarchy.

But since this was the Divine Maiden Sect they were talking about, something about it made sense.

After all, wasn’t it one of those notoriously secretive sects where disciples were rarely allowed to leave?

What reason could there have been to grant her such freedom?

"You've entered the Peak Realm, young lady." 

"Entered? I'm already at the late stage of Peak Realm! This lady is a master." 

Nugok was impressed.

"May I ask how old you are this year?"

"I don't know exactly. Master said I'm around twenty."

"Senior Ximen has taken a young phoenix under her wing!"

Nugok’s admiration deepened.

Late stage of Peak Realm at only twenty years old! 

She was practically guaranteed to be the next greatest under heaven.

"...!"

Suddenly, it hit Nugok like a bolt of lightning.

In the past, the righteous martial world had been dominated by the Nine Great Sects.

But nowadays, people only spoke of the Eight Great Sects.

The Beggars' Union, eliminated.

All thanks to the Martial Emperor Emperor, who had been notoriously hostile toward them.

His hatred for the Beggars' Union was well known.

Now, with his newfound understanding of beggar hate, Nugok could finally comprehend the Emperor’s deep-seated resentment.

Goddamn. Even I think beggars are trash now.

Nugok recalled Qing's initial attitude and the look in her eyes.

It was pure hatred for beggars.

Oh no. This could be a disaster…!

He had to make a good impression.

Wasn't she practically guaranteed to be the next best female martial artist, even if she wasn't the next best under heaven?!

The words of the best female martial artist held immense power over other female martial artists, enough to change their lives.

“By the way, young benefactor, do you have some kind of grudge against beggars? Not all beggars are bad people, you know.”

“Ugh, don’t even get me started. Every single one I’ve met was a total piece of shit.”

Qing was ready to unleash a rant.

The bare minimum needed for human survival, the vile establishment trying to take even that away, the constant struggle against their wickedness, the days spent on the front lines fighting for territory…

But just as she was about to launch into her story…

The Taepyeong Sword Sect reappeared. 

Led by the lumpy-faced Nam Gang-jeong, about twenty martial artists came pouring in. 

Just as Qing had said, they had brought their mommies.

Nam Gang-jeong pointed at her.

"There, that woman!"

His choice of words wasn't bad, considering he could have called her names like "bitch" or "wench."

Guess there was some merit to beating them up without drawing blood.

Qing smirked lazily.

Just when she was starting to get bored, round two was about to begin.

Qing slammed her hand on the table.

Just as she was about to rise, though, a middle-aged man from the Taepyeong Sword Sect spoke first.

Because sitting right there, in full view, was the Beggars’ Sect’s Seven-Knot Beggar, their Elder of Justice.

The middle-aged man bowed respectfully.

“Elder Subigu, is that truly you?”

"Oh ho, if it isn't One-Eyed Sword Of Angyeong."

"If I had known you were in Angyeong, I would have invited you through the front door. Please forgive my ignorance for trespassing."

“Oh, don’t mind me. What kind of beggar expects a formal welcome? Still, I appreciate the thought.”

The atmosphere was quite amicable.

Oh no. This isn't good.

Qing frowned.

“Elder, are you acquainted with this lady?”

"Ahem. Well…"

Nugok winked at Qing, as if to say, Don’t worry, I’ll handle this.

And indeed, Nugok had that kind of authority.

What the hell is this old man doing now?

He was ruining everything.

I shouldn't have bothered with him in the first place. This is messed up.

Why do beggar scum always get in my way?

It had the opposite effect of what he intended.

"After hearing your story, I wouldn't say it was entirely your fault, but there were some oversights…"

Qing slumped back in frustration and refilled her cup.

She hadn’t even been paying attention anymore.

Although Qing didn't think much of it, it was quite a feat to casually lift a wine barrel the size of a child's head with one hand and pour the wine without spilling a drop.

It was a display of mastery.

Qing figured they would just deal with their own mess and completely tuned them out, focusing on her drink.

Then, hearing footsteps approaching, she looked up to see a handsome young man speaking excitedly.

"Young lady! Let's spar!"

Qing looked at the young man with half-lidded eyes.

Who the hell is this guy?

Another one?