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Lee Songbaek was on his way back to the courtyard Southern Edge had rented. Although this city was the headquarter of Beggar Sect, it was developed well enough like any other cities, so finding a place to rent was not hard. The only difference was the overwhelming number of beggars.
But Lee Songbaek wasn't thinking about how to go back, his feet had carried himself to the destination; nor did he think how to explained what he had been doing this whole day, because though his clothes was in a good condition, he had been buried under rubble and stones, the supposedly clean had become grow wrinkled and stick with dusts and other, but passable enough if compared to a beggar.
So what was on Lee Songbaek's mind right now was something completely different.
It was Chung Myung's wearing Southern Edge's sect uniform.
He admitted, he did said that it was wrong for a disciple of another sect to wear Southern Edge's uniform, but he couldn't discard the image of Chung Myung wearing his own sect's uniform.
He looked nice in white and blue.
Like wearing his clothes.
Like showing to others that he was his.
Lee Songbaek's fist punched his own face and the nearby beggars startled at the sudden act.
"I have gone crazy...", Lee Songbaek murmured to himself as he rubbed the slightly swollen cheek, staggering toward the courtyard where he stayed.
The beggars behind him looked at each other, one of them, "Did something happens to Southern Edge's Lee Songbaek...?"
It was fortunate that they didn't know what was running in Lee Songbaek's mind.
Lee Songbaek gently pushed the door to the courtyard. Because Southern Edge wanted to reestablished their relationship with Beggar Sect, they didn't know how much days it'll takes considering the condition of Beggar Sect's Leader. In consideration to that and to not delay the disciples' training, the elders decided to rents a whole courtyard. It provided privacy and also enough spaces for those who came, to trained.
Calculating roughly from the sun's position, the other Southern Edge's disciples should be training right now; so that's why Lee Songbaek dared to go in from the front door.
Although he was involved with another sect's business, but he, on the surface, had formally asked permission to take a day off. So unless anyone were to voiced out about his involvement—which was none other than Mount Hua's sect; if that were to happen, he would hunt them down until the end of his life—no one would have noticed.
But life was never smooth sailing. When Lee Songbaek walked to his room, his body twitched as he felt a sensation overcoming him. He knew what it was—killing intention. Hadn't he experienced this when fighting against Chung Myung?
But it lacked the sharpness and mercilessness of that man, rather, there were profound abyss lurking underneath his feet.
The door opened, and there was the man whom he wouldn't want to meet the most right now.
"And where have you been from since yesterday?" Jin Geumryong asked with an expression that lacked any hint of warmth. Since the day he was beaten by Chung Myung, he had never seen the man smile anymore.
Lee Songbaek took a deep breath. "I was strolling around the city," he answered. "I have received permission from elders for that."
It was a perfect answer. There was no way a sect could limit or surveillance how every single disciple spent their day off.
"Including going to the red-light district?"
Lee Songbaek flinched.
"Moving together with people who were wearing Southern Edge's uniform?"
Lee Songbaek's finger began to sweat.
"Who were likely Mount Hua's Five Sword and Divine Dragon?"
Lee Songbaek felt dizzy.
He wanted to mouthed: Sahyung, how did you know that? Answering this way would admit that he had truly done so; but lying was against his principle too.
Jin Geumryong unsheathed his sword. He walked toward Lee Songbaek, and the sharp blade was pointed to his neck, just barely enough to scrap his skin.
"You do know the consequences for doing such, don't you?"
Lee Songbaek swallowed hard.
"I..", he didn't know what to answer. Looking at Jin Geumryong who was ready to swing his sword, he couldn't muster anything to defend himself in front of truth. In the end, he sighed, "... Sahyung, please at least let me explain myself."
***
The story was long enough to be told until evening.
Lee Songbaek was kneeling down. He didn't dare to look at Jin Geumryong in the face throughout his confession.
"So you accidentally encountered Mount Hua's Divine Dragon wearing our sect's uniform."
"Yes."
"And you follow him to the red-light district where the bird he was trying to catch heads there."
"Yes."
"There you met the real Sect Leader of Beggar Sect."
"Yes."
"Throughout the entire time, you heard Divine Dragon—Mount Hua's plan and spoke of nothing."
"It wasn't a situation where I could voice my own thoughts..."
"Then Divine Dragon decided to drag you along to his plan."
"Yes."
"You helped him sort out the mess within Beggar Sect."
"Yes."
"And you fought along with him until the conflict was concluded."
"Yes."
Lee Songbaek shrunk further. The floor was everything he dared to look at. Thankfully too, because of that, Lee Songbaek didn't see Jin Geumryong's facial twitches. Anyone who saw it would know he was angry but for something else.
"Lee Songbaek."
"Yes, Sahyung."
"I'll not tell the elder about this, but you do know what will happen if the same things were to happen again."
Lee Songbaek's bobbed his head up and down. He didn't understood why Jin Geumryong would not report to the elder about his action, but he was grateful for that decision.
A small smile grown on his mouth. Truly, despite his sahyung's cold demeanor, he was actually kind to his fellow martial arts' brother. That was something Lee Songbaek's figure out after interacting with Jin Geumryong long enough.
"Thank you, Sahyung, I'll never forget your lenient."
Because things would've become disastrous if the sect would find out. Perhaps he wouldn't be alive by now.
Although he slightly wondered why his sahyung decided to keep this secret with him, some things are better not to be asked.
Jin Geumryong hummed in agreement and raised from his seat, walking over the door. "You should keep your involvement with that guy lower, although the Sect had opened its door and revert back to original style, it was still not stabl—"
His words was cut off. Jin Geumryong and Lee Songbaek simultaneously looked over the sliding door at the opposite of the room, that door was connected to a small garden outside.
Jin Geumryong didn't continue his words and walked over. When he opened the door, his sight was greeted with the subject of their conversation. Jin Geumryong's lips twitched.
"Hehe." Chung Myung smiled. "Now, now, how about you guys continue your talk? I'm just passing."
But the opened liquor jar clearly stated this man had been here for a while.
In fact, Chung Myung had been there when Lee Songbaek was explaining halfway to Jin Geumryong. He could've come in to stop them but Jin Geumryong didn't look like he would cut a person into two; to put it plainly, he didn't seem that angry. The other reason was that he was curious how Lee Songbaek would tell others.
Though Lee Songbaek did recount the story truthfully, some of the section was omitted, especially when they met the old man who experienced the war with Heavenly Demon first-handed.
In a sense, what should be told, had been told; what shouldn't be told, was omitted.
Lee Songbaek didn't lie but he also didn't tell the entire truth.
Chung Myung thought that Lee Songbaek was straight and a little bit dense, but he turned out to be more sneakier than he had expected.
So obviously, a smile found its way to his might, because the guy he acknowledged turned out to have more brain than just sword.
Being strong was important, but being able to manage through the period without using a sword was equally important and sometimes could also determine life and death.
Didn't Chung Myung learnt this lesson with his life?
Jin Geumryong's finger twitched. His nonchalant expression turned into one with anger. He unsheathed his swords and slash over Chung Myung, to which Chung Myung easily somersault backward.
"Eavesdropping on the matter of another sect... Divine Dragon—no, Chivalrous Sword, there are boundaries you ought to respect!"
But Chung Myung simply brought the alcohol to his mouth and took a sip. With his tongue sticking out to lap the remaining liquid, he answered, "Then what should I call someone who secretly has been buying information about me, even hiring someone to follow without their sect knowing, a stalker?"
Ching Myung beamed even further, "but it is also thanks to you that I realized I am now that famous."
Lee Songbaek blinked in astonishment. "Sahyung has been...?"
Jin Geumryong's expression twitched, it changed like an asura possessing the body of a mortal.
His body took a stance and his leg spread; from his sword, hints of blue aura emerged. Chung Myung bawled into a laugh, and when Jin Geumryong's sword came forth to him, his sword, still sheathed, blocked over it.
"Brat," Chung Myung spat, barely audible enough for only the two to listen. "Admit it, did your heart end up fluttering for this old man?" Then a click of tongue follows. "Your taste is pretty heavy there."
If a mouth can be stitched, there will be many who are willing to stitch that stinky mouth.
Their swords retreated and Jin Geumryong came forth again with momentum. Blue and red sparks danced upon the air, causing sparks and disturbance
Seeing this, Lee Songbaek paled. He had just managed to explain to sahyung peacefully, what would happen if others were to rush in? How should he explain Chung Myung's appearance? One must acknowledge that Chung Myung had become the most hated enemy to the Southern Edge sect.
Lee Songbaek rushed over, wanting to stop and pushed these two people away from engaging into a fight. "Please stop! You'll attract attention!"
But the matter of stopping or not lies not in his decision.
But, Chung Myung for once, did stepped back and jumped over Jin Geumryong's head, landing beside Lee Songbaek.
A hand clasped on Lee Songbaek's shoulder. Chung Myung gaze settled on Jin Geumryong. "I am actually here to invite Lee Songbaek for a drink but... Maybe your sahyung would like to join too?"
A tsktsk came again. 'Dongryong and his brother are truly... none of them are sane' didn't go unheard.
Jin Geumryong's cheek trembled. No, his whole body did. He rushed to grab Chung Myung on the neck, and unfortunately, Lee Songbaek was standing in between them so he too, became a victim of it.