"Gaaaaah..."

"Guuuuuh..."

More iron rings had been added.

From wrist to elbow.

From ankle to knee.

"You bastards! You call it a movement technique when you move that heavily? Why don't you just put up signposts telling everyone where you're going while you're at it!"

Jin Sowoon was scolding them because every time they stepped in order to execute their movement technique, deep footprints sank into the ground.

The four of them looked at Jin Sowoon with sullen faces.

'What are we supposed to do when they're so heavy?'

'Then take off these damn shackles.'

'Ah, I'm tired. So, so tired.'

'...'

He had made their bodies as heavy as a thousand catties, and now he was telling them to run lightly.

What kind of bullshit was that?

But they could not voice their complaints aloud.

Because under the exact same conditions, there was someone who was carrying out their Eldest Senior Brother's absurd orders perfectly.

TAP TAP TAP TAP!

The three hundred or so footprints he had left behind showed only faint traces.

It made one wonder if he was truly wearing all those iron rings.

"Excellent, Eunho!"

"Ah... yes... thank you, Eldest Senior Brother."

"If these things had followed even half as well as Eunho, we would have already taken the spiritual elixir and returned to the sect in glory! Tsk! Tsk!"

As Jin Sowoon subtly sided with Eunho, the resentment of the other three turned toward poor Eunho.

'I didn't know you were like that.'

'Junior Brother, I'm really hurt right now.'

'Brother Eunho, you idiot!'

He could plainly see them cursing him with their eyes, but there was nothing Eunho could do about it.

He was sick and tired of being cursed at and beaten any more than this.

"Eldest Senior Brother, how about removing a few of the iron rings? Then we would be a little faster. Don't you want to hurry back and see the elders too, Eldest Senior Brother?"

Eunho spoke while trying his best not to offend his Eldest Senior Brother.

Because ever since he had heard the words, "You tried to run away," a few days ago, he had been tormented so much for days that he could barely sleep at night.

At the very least, he needed to present the excuse that they were not avoiding training.

But Jin Sowoon did not so much as blink.

"What are you talking about? There are still more iron rings for you to wear."

"What do you..."

"Just how many iron rings do you think I can fit in a bundle?"

Jin Sowoon shook the large bundle he was carrying on his back.

CLANK, CLANK.

The sound of iron striking iron rang ominously from inside the bundle.

'Crazy bastard. How many is he carrying?'

Eunho abruptly came to his senses.

He felt bad for the others, but right now he had to take one step back.

Because that damned Eldest Senior Brother might lose his mind again and add even more iron rings to him too.

Eunho skillfully changed the subject.

"Ah! Eldest Senior Brother, but didn't you say we would take the spiritual elixir on the way back to the Taiyi Sect?"

"I did."

"Then why do I keep feeling like we're heading north?"

"Because our destination is north."

"Pardon?"

To go from Wuhan to Hefei, they had to move east, cross Hubei Province, and enter Anhui Province.

But north?

"Ah... then I suppose the spiritual elixir is somewhere below Henan Province?"

As long as they at least did not cross beyond Hubei Province, even if they had to turn back, they could reach Anhui Province quickly.

In order not to offend his Eldest Senior Brother, Eunho desperately tried to think positively.

"No, our final destination is Xi'an."

"Xi'an?"

At the answer he could not understand, he finally tilted his head.

"Was there a city called Xi'an in Hubei Province?"

There were so many city names, and such a variety of them, that ordinary people could not memorize the names of every city under heaven.

And Jin Sowoon, who was far from ordinary, smiled meaningfully.

"Well, there might be."

"Oh, I learn something new today too."

Eunho forced a laugh to humor his Eldest Senior Brother.

But at the words that followed, his face twisted into a deep frown in the end.

"But the place we're going is Xi'an in Shaanxi Province."

Shaanxi...? Xi'an...?

Eunho unfolded a map in his head and checked the location, then immediately screamed inwardly in horror.

'You crazy bastard! That's the exact opposite direction!'

Of course, he could not let the curse leave his mouth.

"How is it? Aren't you excited?"

"..."

Because he did not want to be struck by the beating that his heaven-like Eldest Senior Brother would hurl down from the heavens.

#

Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

Winter in Xi'an was cold.

In particular, during winter, the sandstorms blowing in from the desert made even outdoor life difficult.

Because of that, the people of Xi'an did not often go in and out of their homes once winter came, and merchants also closed their shops early.

Moreover, even the steps of the pilgrims seeking Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan came to a complete halt.

Mount Hua, called one of the Five Great Mountains, was a harsh mountain range that was not easy to climb even in midsummer, so of course no one bold enough tried to climb it in the dead of winter, and Zhongnan, mindful of Mount Hua not receiving winter pilgrims, had long refused guests under the pretext of winter training.

Because of that, it was only natural for Xi'an to become quiet when winter came.

And yet.

"Why are there so many people coming and going?"

A merchant who had been packing up his stall stopped his hands at the number of people filling the street.

"Right... it was like this yesterday too, and it's like this again today."

"... Doesn't it seem like there are strangely many people carrying weapons?"

"Hmm... what should we do?"

Someone who ran a guest house in the distance came running over and said,

"What are you people doing! Obviously, we should keep doing business!"

"Come on, with just this many people..."

"I'm on my way back from the south gate right now. The south gate is packed with people trying to enter Xi'an!"

"Really?"

"Would I waste good rice just to talk nonsense!"

At the guest house owner's words, the others opened their stalls again and called back the errand boys they had sent home.

The sudden overtime was tiring, but smiles did not leave their lips.

It was not only the merchants who were excited by the unexpected crowd.

"Let's go!"

"Yes, sir!"

At Osam's words, the beggars lined up all at once and began following him.

Four knots were tied at his waist, and his clothes were neat for a beggar.

Those passing nearby could not hide their surprise when they caught a glimpse of the knots at his waist.

Perhaps because of that, Osam felt his gait grow more dignified and his shoulders spread wide to either side.

'Heh, I'm young for a four-knot beggar.'

Considering that beggars his age were still stuck at two knots, he was practically rising rapidly through the ranks of the Beggars' Sect.

'Once I become a five-knot beggar, then...'

He might even become the youngest sub-branch chief.

Of course, he would have to complete his mandatory service in the Murim Alliance in the meantime.

When his thoughts reached that point, his brow wrinkled before he realized it.

'Tch... If only I had gone to the Academy.'

Mandatory service would amount to nothing more than a record of having worked as a lower-class warrior.

Though the period was short, the treatment one received from the Murim Alliance itself was clearly different, starting with the monthly salary.

Moreover, being from the Academy was a symbol of success in the current Jianghu.

Even in the Beggars' Sect, if one returned after completing the Academy, one could leap two ranks at once.

Otherwise, remaining in the Murim Alliance and doing the Alliance's work would not have been bad either.

If it had been him, he would have risen to at least Grand Banner Chief.

'Those old bastards with knotholes for eyes.'

Osam was certain that he was talent worthy of entering the Academy.

Judging by the growth of his martial arts, and since he had also established his foundation in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, he had a background that would not fall behind anywhere.

And yet, for some reason, Osam had been excluded from this Academy exam.

Of course, there was said to be no restriction on eligibility for the standard exam, but what madman would take the exam without the help of his gang or sect?

Then he heard that the shabby Beggars' Sect bastards who had entered in his place had not actually managed to take proper control of the Academy.

What was so impressive about an Academy without Yong So-ah, without Ilmyeong, and without Tang Seo-hee, that they could not even bend that much to their will?

Moreover, when he heard that Jin Sowoon of some sect called the Taiyi Sect, which he had never seen or heard of, had become representative, he had been as shocked as if he had heard that the sun had risen in the west.

"Useless idiots, all of them."

"Pardon?!"

"Nothing."

Perhaps it was better this way.

Someday, if he met Jin Sowoon and defeated him, he would be able to prove that he was superior to those who had attended the Academy.

Osam had long wished to meet that fellow with the ominous epithet Black Flame Dragon.

"A flower raised in a greenhouse would never come all the way here. Tsk."

Continuing to think about something that would not happen would only give him a headache.

Especially since the matter currently unfolding in Xi'an was far from ordinary.

Osam shook his head, cast off his idle thoughts, and ordered his subordinate.

"Record everything carefully. Among the people who came here, there will certainly be someone who secures the Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Oil."

"Um..."

"What?"

"Wouldn't it be better for us to go in and secure it ourselves at a time like this?"

At the beggar's absurd question, Osam snorted.

No matter where he went, there were idiots everywhere.

"Do you even know what the Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Oil is, that you say you'll go in and find it?"

"If you send me, I will definitely...!"

Osam struck the beggar's head.

THWACK!

"You idiot! Have you forgotten what happened on the Demonic Spirit Plateau? Even if not for that, every time a single spiritual elixir appears, the whole world is shaken. How do you think someone like you is going to obtain a spiritual elixir?"

"... I-I'm sorry."

"Of course, the best plan is to take it before anyone knows. But if you go in trying to take a spiritual elixir like the Five-Spirit Immortal Flower Oil, whose time of appearance is already fixed, a hundred out of a hundred will die. Do you understand?"

The beggars, thoroughly frozen, answered all at once.

"""Yes, sir!"""

"Moreover, the spiritual elixirs appearing this time are not just one or two. If we go in to search for every one of them, we'll miss the others too."

As Osam spoke with heavy breaths, a beggar who had been watching his mood carefully asked cautiously.

"... Th-then why are you telling us to record them? If we aren't going in anyway, it won't be easy to secure them."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk... That's why you only have two knots."

Osam glared at the beggar with disgust and continued.

"What kind of organization are we?"

"Well, one that practices the righteousness of Jianghu..."

THWACK!

"Not that. I'm asking what the largest part of our actual work is."

"... Th-that would be information gathering."

Osam clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Exactly. We are an intelligence organization. Our comrades are spread across the world, and our eyes and ears are everywhere. Therefore, no matter what bastard comes out with a spiritual elixir, he will eventually be caught in our sight. That's what I'm saying."

"... Ah, then by cowardly means later, we steal the spiritual elixir..."

SMACK!

At the pain that struck the back of his head again, the beggar could not continue.

"Watch your mouth. That is called a stratagem, a stratagem!"

"I-is that so?"

"Yes."

The beggar who had asked ultimately did not get the answer he wanted, but he did not continue speaking.

If he did, the back of his head would not survive.

But brave men always appeared elsewhere.

"But, boss..."

"What! Again!"

Another beggar opened his mouth with a confused expression.

"Um... do we have to write down beggars separately too?"

"You crazy bastards. The beggars of the Beggars' Sect have no reason to go in searching for spiritual elixirs, so why would we!"

"No. That's not what I mean. They seem to be beggars who don't belong to the Beggars' Sect..."

Osam's brow furrowed deeply.

How dare they beg and yet not belong to the Beggars' Sect.

How many begging bowls of their predecessors had been smashed to secure this territory?

And yet they dared covet this place?

"Where! Where are they! Where are those arrogant beggars who dare covet the Beggars' Sect's territory!"

"O-over there..."

The place the beggar who asked timidly pointed toward.

There, five figures were approaching through the hazy sandstorm.

They did indeed look like beggars he had never seen before...

'Huh?'

The closer those figures came, the more Osam faltered without realizing it.

Even to him, whose beggar career would lose to few, their appearances were exceedingly strange.

Their clothes were covered in dirt and dust, and their faces were full of grime, as though they had not washed for days.

Their hair was a tangled mess, and there were even traces of dried drool.

'Crazy, what are those things on their arms and legs...?'

Above all else.

Strange iron rings were dangling in clusters from their arms and legs like shackles.

And every time they took a step, they left footprints in all directions, while the distance they moved was extremely short compared to the rate at which they left footprints.

They were truly making an utter damn spectacle of themselves.

'They look too far gone to be called beggars, don't they?'

No beggars these days maintained such unsanitary appearances.

It aroused revulsion even when begging, which lowered efficiency, and above all, it often became the cause of contagious disease.

In recent times, the number one rule for beggars was, above all else, hygiene!

Hygiene!

And yet.

'What's with that one...?'

Among them, unlike the other four, there was one person walking calmly.

He was walking normally, as though he had nothing to do with the other four, while the four making an utter damn spectacle of themselves were glaring at him with eyes that looked ready to kill.

'A slave trader?'

Just as Osam had roughly finished sizing up these suspicious people, a beggar asked him.

"Boss, what should we do?"

"Bring them over for now. I need to talk to them."

If they were real beggars, he would have to educate them thoroughly, and if he was a slave trader, he would have to beat him to death on the spot.

How many commoners became slaves to fire bandits every year?

Osam's chest burned hot, and it felt as if his Dog-Beating Staff was heating up.

"..."

But when the beggar who had gone to the suspicious fellows spoke to the one who looked like a slave trader, did the slave trader not wave his hand as though annoyed?

After trying to speak to him a few more times, the beggar came trotting back again.

"Um... he says not to mind him?"

This imbecile... He said that, so you just came back?

"Did you reveal my identity?"

"Ah!"

Ah?

What do you mean, ah?

Ha, what was he supposed to do with these fools?

Osam clenched his teeth to hold back his surging anger.

"... Grrrind. Hurry up and go tell him."

"Y-yes, sir!"

The beggar, having noticed that Osam's mood had soured, quickly ran over and delivered the message again.

Perhaps after hearing the story, the slave trader looked back and forth between the beggar and Osam, then waved his hand again.

Then the beggar came trotting back again.

'Th-that idiot...!'

Unable to endure it any longer, Osam pulled out his Dog-Beating Staff and strode toward the slave trader.

"B-boss!"

THUD!

"Stay out of this, you idiot!"

After sending the beggar flying with one punch, Osam stood in front of the slave trader with a menacing air.

"You son of a bitch, I could chew you up and it still wouldn't be enough. Do you know who I am?!"

"..."

The slave trader gave no answer even to Osam's threat.

Then he soon opened one eye crookedly and glared at Osam.

'Ha, fuck. His gaze is definitely dry, so why do I feel my knees going weak for no reason?'

With his pride wounded, Osam drew in as much breath as he could, puffed out his chest, and shouted.

"I'm Osam, boss of Ilseong Bridge in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, you son of a bitch!"

He deliberately thrust even the four knots forward.

If he introduced himself to this extent, an ordinary Jianghu figure would be unable to hide his shock and his face would stiffen.

But the slave trader before him wrinkled his face as hard as he could, as though he had tasted shit.

"What is this damned beggar bastard from Xi'an saying?!"

"..."

What was this reaction?

Osam was dumbfounded.

Judging by the fact that he carried a weapon, he had to be someone with roots in Jianghu.

Did he not know the Beggars' Sect?

If he knew the Beggars' Sect, he should certainly know that he must not treat a beggar belonging to the Beggars' Sect carelessly.

The power of the Beggars' Sect did stem from the nearly hundred thousand beggars it possessed, but the true power of the Beggars' Sect was the information gathered by those nearly hundred thousand beggars.

In the end, this man might have learned some martial arts, but he knew nothing about the ways of Jianghu.

One could tell just by looking at his face.

His skin was smooth, as though he had never suffered hardship anywhere.

"You damned brat..."

"Hey, beggar. Piss off while I'm asking nicely. Before I smash that Dog-Beating Staff or whatever it is and your begging bowl."

The slave trader waved his hand as though annoyed.

Seeing that, Osam's patience finally reached its limit.

"Today, I shall catch one dog bastard and set Jianghu's justice straight."

"What the hell are you saying, dumbass?"

Osam infused inner qi into his Dog-Beating Staff and swung it at once.

He would absolutely show this fool a painful lesson...

THWACK!

"?!"

But his opponent blocked the Dog-Beating Staff imbued with 7-star power with his sheathed sword.

Then he even yawned as though it were trivial.

"Is that all?"

"..."

Then his eyes gleamed as he rolled his wrist around and around.

"You clearly started it first, beggar."

The moment Osam felt that something had gone wrong.

"... Wait!"

"If you're going to say you're sorry, save..."

"That's not it! What is your name!"

"What's a beggar going to do with that?"

"So you do fear the Beggars' Sect's retaliation after all?"

At Osam's desperate struggle, the slave trader snorted.

"Bullshit..."

Then he answered proudly.

"I'm Jin Sowoon."

Jin Sowoon.

Hmph, even his name sounded just like a slave trader's... huh?

"Jin... Sowoon? ... Black Flame Dragon?!?"

"Black Fla... Hah. Yes. That's me, you son of a bitch."

Had he not desperately wished to meet Jin Sowoon?

But he realized the atmosphere was very different from what he had expected.

Especially the four people beside Jin Sowoon.

"..."

Seeing the four people who had been rolling around like slaves somehow looking at him with very pitying gazes, his heart began to pound violently.

'Ah, shit. Am I fucked?'