Chapter 1486: I Didn’t Come Looking For You? (Part 1)

[I just realized, "Master Lu" ("Wonju") might mean "owner of [the Pavilion of Heaven]. Aka, "building owner" or "Boss"? I'll keep referring to him as Master Lu for now for clarity. Also, "pleasure house", "entertainment building", and "tavern" are used synonymously here.]

The clear sound of the Millennium Golden Pigeon's pure cry spread through the quiet pavilion.

'Is it him…'

Master Lu of the Pavilion of Heaven. The owner of the Millennium Golden Pigeon.

It was clear that he was the person they had been searching for so hard. However, the moment Baek Cheon reached the answer, he could only fall into even greater confusion.

'But why did this guy try to find him?'

Baek Cheon's gaze was about to turn to Chung Myung when he spoke.

"Indeed."

"...Huh?"

"It seems difficult to distinguish even close relatives by appearance alone. It can certainly deceive the public's attention."

The gap between Baek Cheon's eyebrows narrowed significantly.

"Besides..."

Master Lu's gaze turned to one side. Lee Songbaek, who received that gaze, lowered his head.

"If Lee Songbaek of Southern Edge is with someone who looks like this, no one would dare to doubt."

"Hmm."

A dry cough kept bursting out from Lee Songbaek's mouth.

"I..."

"There's no need to worry."

Master Lu cut in.

"I won't bother to tell Southern Edge about this. There's no need to share what I know with others."

"..."

The expressions of Baek Cheon and Lee Songbaek stiffened slightly at the same time.

Not spreading rumors was a welcome thing, but there was an implication in those words that someday this fact could be utilized for his own benefit.

"That is..."

Baek Cheon tried to salvage the situation somehow, but Master Lu opened his mouth again.

"It doesn't seem like it's your turn to ask questions. You haven't answered my question yet. I will ask again. Why did you come looking for me?"

"..."

The initiative immediately shifted to the man.

Having been caught with no weakness to grasp, it was difficult for Baek Cheon to have an equal conversation with the man. No, perhaps he was a difficult opponent even without catching any weaknesses.

'Like this...'

He was being swept away by the other's intentions. If this continued, he might end up losing without gaining anything and being driven away.

In the midst of such a crisis, a sour voice rang in Baek Cheon's ears.

"Reason?"

"...Rather than a reason, it's a mission."

"Reeeeason?"

"..."

Chung Myung's face twisted. A perplexity that didn't suit Master Lu emerged on his face.

"Hey."

"...Yes?"

"Do I need a reason just to meet the owner of a tavern?"

Confusion appeared on the expressionless face of Master Lu.

"Why the hell is this tavern owner making such a fuss? In my time, if a customer called, the owner of even a ten-story tavern would run down barefoot! Anyway, these days! Right, Sasuk?"

"...Isn't that a bit different from that?"

"What's different? It's the same. That guy said he was the owner of the building!"

"Yeah. Then... it's the same. If you say so, it must be."

"Isn't it? Mister Owner?"

When Chung Myung shot back with a chubby face, forced laughter flowed from Master Lu's mouth. However, it was also true that there was nothing to say. After all, he introduced himself as the owner of this building.

"… It is said that Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword is so unbound that he cannot be judged by common sense. It seems that the rumor was true."

The man let out a short sigh and nodded.

"That's right. No matter what they say about Cheonsangro or whatever, it's just a rooftop. There's no need for a significant reason to look for the owner of a rooftop. Especially if the other party is the Hwasan's Chivalrous Sword, it's not something a mere rooftop owner can deal with."

"That is true. It's just a tavern after all. There's no need for a significant reason to look for the owner of an entertainment house. Especially if the other party is the Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, it's not something a mere building owner can deal with."

"Hmm. It's not like I'm boasting that much. Hehehe. Sasuk, this guy seems like a better person than I thought, doesn't he?"

"...Wake up, you bastard. Before I lose my mind."

"Oh, that's right."

Chung Myung quickly straightened his distorted face and opened his mouth again.

"It's nice to be praised highly, but it doesn't seem like you're just an ordinary building owner. I didn't think that anyone would set up such a thing in the middle of the bustling Kaifeng, where beggars swarm like ants."

"That's wrong."

"Hmm?"

"It's not that setting up something like this in Kaifeng is extraordinary. It's because this is Kaifeng that such a building can be set up here."

Chung Myung's eyes sank slightly.

"Hmm. Clumsy Evil Sect bastards won't be able to set foot anywhere because they're scared of the Beggar's Union, and those beggars will have no choice but to keep their distance because of their status as beggars, are you saying that?"

Upon hearing Chung Myung's words, a brief glint passed through Master Lu's eyes.

"Exactly."

"Even so, officials with full pockets wouldn't just leave a place like this alone, right? How much did you have to bribe them?"

"Not at all. I haven't given them a single penny."

"Huh? Why?"

The man spoke calmly.

"Those who need this place the most are them, the Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword."

"...Them?"

"That's right."

The man nodded and continued.

"You may not understand, but ordinary officials always live in fear that their words and actions could be exposed to someone. As the weight of shared conversations increases, their obsession with secrecy becomes pathologically strong."

"..."

"So, such a place is necessary for them. A place where they can have a conversation without worrying about the Imperial Palace or Kangho and feel at ease."

"Why not just go to a secluded place? Why so stupid..."

Chung Myung stopped speaking and smirked.

"Oh. Those guys can't tell if it's really secluded or not. As long as they aren't martial artists."

"Exactly. And... if they are of that level, the act of seeking a secluded place itself draws attention, as you were hiding your visit to this place."

Chung Myung nodded as if understanding.

"And there's nothing particularly strange about meeting another high-ranking official by chance while drinking at an entertainment house. Is that it?"

"Exactly. The social price to pay for secrecy is relatively cheap."

Chung Myung scratched his head and chuckled.

"That's why I don't understand what those nobles and rich people are thinking and living for."

Letting out a deep sigh, Chung Myung looked at Master Lu with a sly expression.

"So? Are you the one who makes money by letting those gentlemen feel at ease and pick up their words?"

"There seems to be a misunderstanding."

"Hmm? A misunderstanding?"

"I don't eavesdrop on their conversations. I just leave them alone to have their conversations."

Chung Myung chuckled.

"You seem to know me so well, but it looks like there's one thing you don't know well. I..."

"You hate people who lie to your face. Especially a blatant lie that's easy to expose."

"..."

Chung Myung stared at Master Lu in silence.

"I know it is difficult to easily admit. I must be well-versed in information enough to be able to discern their identity right away, so it's unlikely I'd simply let go of possibly valuable news."

Everyone nodded. Wasn't that common sense? Otherwise, why would they bother creating a place like this?

"But the Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. Do you know what must be prioritized in order to use information to gain advantage?"

"...What is that?"

"It's the existence of information itself."

..."

Chung looked at Master Lu with blank eyes. It wasn't out of surprise. It was just that he couldn't figure out how to react to this obvious statement.

However, Master Lu calmly continued.

"In a place where everything is open, information does not arise. But here, information is created. If this place did not exist, information would not exist."

"..."

"As more information arises in the world, the more information available for use. Merchants make money by selling grain, but without farmers who grow grain, merchants cannot exist."

"So?"

Chung Myung looked at Master Lu with cold eyes.

"Are you the one who grows that information?"

"In a way, yes."

"Hahaha."

A ridiculous laugh emerged from Chung Myung's mouth.

"I wondered what kind of big shot would come chasing after that pigeon."

Chung Myung's mouth twisted oddly.

"...This is just a madman." [...another one.]

Master Lu looked at Chung Myung without answering. His eyes were still calm, but the gaze clearly reached Chung Myung.

"That evaluation is fair. However."

Master Lu raised his head quietly.

"That evaluation cannot be justified coming from you. Because you are the one more mad than I am."

"..."

"After sharing the story, now it's time for you to answer my question."

The man paused for a moment, breaking the tension in the air. Then, after capturing everyone's attention, he spoke again.

"Why have you come to find me? Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword?"

This time, everyone turned their gaze towards Chung Myung. It was a question that intrigued them as well. However, Chung Myung, once again, did not provide the answer they sought.

"I didn't come looking for you?"

"Hmm?"

Chung Myung shrugged.

"I just followed the sparrow. I thought I could spare those beggars and meet the guy who's keeping an eye on me."

"..."

"Yeah. In other words, someone who can freely manipulate individuals on the level of Beggar's Union's elites and utilize specialized messengers. Someone in power who can receive my movements faster than the total force of the Beggar's Union."

A sly smile played on Chung Myung's lips.

"Do you understand?"

"..."

Master Lu's face stiffened, becoming rigid.

"I thought I would meet someone like that when I came here. As far as I know, there is only one person in the world who can do something like that."

"I believe there is some misunderstanding..."

"Beggar's Union..."

"..."

"Sect Leader."

Master Lu's eyes pierced through Chung Myung.

The Beggar's Union Sect Leader.

The ones who were surprised by those words were not Master Lu, but the Five Swords.

"Chung Myung, what's that supposed to mean? The Sect Leader is currently ill, and his condition is grave...."

"That's what I was going to say."

"Huh?"

"I came to meet a sick man, but when I arrived, there was no sick man. [not sure] Instead, there was a madman here. Wouldn't you be embarrassed if you were me?"

"Ah...."

Chung Myung chuckled.

"So, there are one of two conclusions."

"One of two?"

"Has the Beggar's Union's Sect Leader been deceiving the world and has been having a good time here?"

"..."

"Or has the Beggar's Union already been taken over by someone else and has been manipulating the sect as they please? That gentleman would be a villain."

The gazes of the Five Swords turned intensely towards Master Lu.

"I think that's too much."

"So, how should we interpret someone who can issue orders to the Beggar's Union's main force, which has been urgently dispatched to Luoyang, and receive specialized reports from the branch leader?" [not sure]

"That's..."

The Five Swords fell silent.

Certainly, there was no other interpretation possible.

"So, which one is the answer?"

"That's something you need to ask that gentleman, not me. Hey."

Chung Myung's eyes, filled with playful amusement, met Master Lu's gaze. At that moment, Mast Lu's body twitched slightly, as if he felt a strong pressure from the seemingly inconspicuous gaze.

"Who are you?"

Simultaneously, tension built up in the bodies of the Five Swords. Depending on the answer, a fight for their lives might break out in this place.

But the one holding all the keys, Master Lu, found himself unable to easily open his mouth.

"I am..."

After hesitating for a while, Master Lu's head drooped. It was a surrender, a declaration of giving up.

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword... I've been so cautious, yet..."

"..."

"Your words are correct."

"What?"

"Huh?"

"What does that mean?"

As suspicion-filled voices erupted from the Five Swords.

"Let me formally introduce myself. I am the current the Beggar's Union's Sect Leader."

A triumphant smile appeared on Chung Myung's lips.