Chapter 238. I Am Legend.

I arrived where the Three Calamities were fighting and watched the situation.

The Divine Beggar and Cheonak were locked in a one-on-one duel, while at a suitable distance, the White-Robed Scholar sat cross-legged, observing the battle.

It was impossible to tell whether he had withdrawn or been injured.

The Divine Beggar and Cheonak were making use of a fairly wide area as they fought, and from afar, they still looked like a Yellow Dragon and a Red Tiger clashing.

Watching them like this, I felt I understood why the White-Robed Scholar had stepped out.

There was no room to interfere.

It was already a painting in which the Yellow Dragon and Red Tiger filled the pure white space to the brim.

It was a sight so beautiful that nothing needed to be added or taken away.

I could not see the White-Robed Scholar’s expression, but that bastard too was now watching the moving painting in a daze.

If anyone interfered, it felt as though they would ruin the artistry of the painting.

That was how impressive the battle between the Divine Beggar and Cheonak was.

Without going out of my way to disturb the White-Robed Scholar’s appreciation, I walked over and sat cross-legged in a suitable spot.

Only then did the White-Robed Scholar turn his head toward me.

“…….”

I ignored the White-Robed Scholar’s gaze and admired the Yellow Dragon and Red Tiger. To ascend to the realm of the Martial God, I had to see this battle with my own eyes and take it into my heart. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

I already possessed the Heavenly Jade. If I cut myself off from the world for a time, drew upon the Heavenly Jade’s power, and accumulated it as inner force, I would grow at the fastest pace. The problem was that, during that time of isolation, everyone I knew might die.

Turning my back on the world is not my way.

In truth, that was why I was going through all this trouble…….

The White-Robed Scholar interrupted my appreciation.

“……I Jaha, what happened to the Blind Scholar? Why did you come alone?”

I watched with my arms crossed, then answered the White-Robed Scholar.

“Regrettably, the Blind Scholar was killed by his subordinates.”

The White-Robed Scholar replied in a scolding tone.

“Can you not stop with those lies? Why is it a lie every time you open your mouth?”

“It’s not a lie. That’s the truth.”

I turned away from the White-Robed Scholar’s gaze……

and checked the expression of the Red Tiger fighting in the distance—no, of Scholar Cheonak.

Cheonak was still smiling.

But Scholar Cheonak was not the only one smiling. From time to time, the Divine Beggar also burst into hearty laughter as he fought. He wore an expression that said he liked Cheonak’s counterattack. In a way, perhaps the moments when those two could truly laugh were when they were competing against the Three Calamities. As soon as I saw the guild leader laughing, a smile naturally formed on my own face as well.

‘He’s enjoying himself.’

Suddenly, the White-Robed Scholar shouted at me from beside me.

“I Jaha!”

“What?”

“I asked where the Blind Scholar went. Why would that man be killed by his subordinates?”

I turned my head and glared at the White-Robed Scholar, who was disturbing my appreciation.

“You crazy bastard. I told you, he’s dead. How else would I be alive? Are you saying I’m stronger than the Blind Scholar?”

The White-Robed Scholar answered.

“That’s not it. That can’t be.”

“Exactly……”

“What about the subordinates who were following him?”

“All dead.”

The White-Robed Scholar let out a long sigh, then returned his attention to the fight.

I also resumed watching.

I had thought that watching fires and watching fights were the most entertaining things in the world, but they could not dare compare to the battle between the Yellow Dragon and Red Tiger.

Admiration escaped me on its own.

“Impressive.”

After exchanging a round of palm force, the two flew in opposite directions like streaks of light, then, the instant they stopped in midair at the same time, descended to the ground. Because there was quite a distance between us, the aftermath of the collision of palm force rode the wind and reached where I was.

For a moment, my hair fluttered.

The Divine Beggar’s voice rang out.

“Cheonak, shall we rest for a bit before continuing?”

Cheonak’s voice was even clearer.

“Old man, you’re tired. Rest for a while.”

“As if I’d be tired. Let us think a little. There were many meaningless attacks between us.”

Soon, the two sat on the ground far apart from each other, each lost in thought.

Cheonak crossed his arms and nodded.

“You’re right.”

As I watched the two of them, I somehow felt satisfied. The sight of martial artists who seemed as though they could reach the heavens resting while acknowledging each other was deeply impressive.

‘How nice.’

Only then noticing me, Cheonak asked the White-Robed Scholar.

“Where is Blind?”

The White-Robed Scholar answered.

“Looks like he was killed by I Jaha.”

From a fair distance away, Cheonak fixed his gaze on me. For an instant, I felt as though Cheonak’s eyes shone red, and then as though the tiger’s face had suddenly grown enormous. Strangely, however, there was not much fear in my heart.

Cheonak spoke to me in a voice so clear it was as if he were right nearby.

“With your skill, that should have been impossible. What happened?”

I met Cheonak’s eyes and answered.

“With my skill, it was impossible.”

“I know.”

“He was killed by his subordinates.”

“Why tell such a lie?”

I guessed that if Cheonak stood up and charged right now, he would reach this place in a single breath.

But given my personality, I could not say it nicely.

“The Blind Scholar killed a palanquin bearer. The man had been screaming after I cut off his legs, and it seems he thought the screaming would get in the way of the fight. So the Blind Scholar’s legs also lost their direction. After that, even though his own martial prowess was far superior, he sacrificed more of his subordinates. If he had taken advice from his subordinates and fought me himself, I would have lost.”

Cheonak asked as though he were curious about the rest.

“And?”

“His subordinates rushed me as a group, so I froze them all at once.”

“So you have even learned ice arts. And then?”

I bared my teeth in a grin as I answered.

“The subordinates who had served as the Blind Scholar’s eyes and mouth could no longer fulfill their roles. He had lost his legs, and lost his eyes again as well. I moved around, dancing with the frozen bastards, and in the midst of it all, the Blind Scholar, who kept chasing after me to kill me, was stabbed by the sword of a subordinate who had been waiting since earlier. Why? Because he was blind.”

“…….”

“After that, I finished him off. Then did he die because my skill was outstanding? Or did he die because the Blind Scholar abandoned his subordinates? Or did he kill himself? I don’t know either. Why did that crippled bastard die? What’s certain is that, in truth, I was weaker than the Blind Scholar. As you already know.”

I crossed my arms again and glared at Cheonak.

“Senior, do you understand?”

From afar, Cheonak’s pale teeth showed. He must have been grinning broadly. Cheonak gave a slight nod, then said to me,

“Mm, yes. So you’re I Jaha. You’re lucky.”

“Luck is a skill too.”

Suddenly, Cheonak looked up at the sky and burst into laughter.

The White-Clad Scholar said to me,

“You could have explained it that way from the start……”

I looked at the White-Clad Scholar.

“Hey, Comrade Scholar.”

“What?”

“Even if someone tells you the truth, you don’t listen anyway.”

“And what is the truth?”

I glared sideways at the White-Clad Scholar.

“You people.”

“Fine. What about us? Say it.”

“What reason do you have for trying to kill the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect? Because he’s of the orthodox path? Because an order came down? Or because you sincerely want to kill him? The Leader of the Beggars’ Sect isn’t the sort of man anyone would bear a grudge against. He isn’t someone like Shi Huangdi. He’s a man who can accept alms from an ordinary passerby. He’s a man who won’t forget that kindness and will try to help when he witnesses injustice. By what justification do you people intend to kill the chief of all beggars? He has no interest in honor, power, or money. That is what the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect is. What justification do you have? What great cause? You have nothing. Men like the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect are rare. No one should kill him. That is the truth. You piece of shit who won’t listen even when it’s spelled out for you.”

“……”

“Of course, if there’s some terrifying bastard above you who gave the order, then you have to carry it out. Sure, you must. How could a slave bastard refuse an order? Was your dream for the future to become a slave, so you read books that diligently? Impressive bastard.”

“You go too far.”

I tapped my head with a finger and glared at the White-Clad Scholar.

“Think a little. Whether your thoughts are truly yours. Whether your malice is truly yours. Whether you yourself are nothing more than a slave. A scholar bastard who’s read a few books doesn’t even know what’s right. Drunk on playing at secret societies, are you? Just crawl off and die, you bastard. I told you, didn’t I? Let’s raise righteous heroes over the course of a thousand years. Let’s stop another Shi Huangdi……. A righteous hero like that grew, encountered all manner of fortuitous chances, endured twists and turns, and finally reached the pinnacle—that man is the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect. Raising righteous heroes and protecting righteous heroes are ultimately the same thing.”

The White-Clad Scholar cackled.

“Madman. Here you go again.”

My voice gradually rose until I suddenly shouted.

“By what justification do you, who were oppressed by Shi Huangdi, kill a righteous hero? There’s a man like Jing Ke right before your eyes, and you can’t even tell? You worthless scholar bastards…… Don’t go around boasting that you’ve read a few books. People who haven’t read a single line are better than you. Go die.”

Suddenly, my eyes met Cheonak’s again as he glared at me. Though I knew I shouldn’t, I pointed a finger at Cheonak.

“Senior, you’d be better off crawling off and dying too.”

“……”

Cheonak picked at his ear, then said to the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect,

“What the hell kind of bastard is that? Did I hear him right? Did he just tell me to crawl off and die?”

When Cheonak rose from his seat, the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect also stood and said,

“That’s just the kind of fellow he is, so try to understand.”

“Is that so? Then you shouldn’t ask me to understand.”

In an instant, Cheonak vanished and appeared right before my eyes. As my hair whipped about, the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect arrived almost simultaneously and said to Cheonak,

“What are you doing to a junior so far beneath you?”

Cheonak grinned, then plopped down on the spot and glared at me. It seemed he had come to chew me out.

“Jaha, watch yourself.”

The Leader of the Beggars’ Sect gave me a look telling me to restrain myself, then sat down as well.

In the blink of an eye, I, the White-Clad Scholar, Cheonak, and the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect were sitting in a circle, observing one another’s expressions.

Cheonak said to me,

“Hao Sect Master, do keep talking.”

I straightened my back, then answered,

“Shall I? Senior Cheonak.”

“Yes. Our pale-faced brat of a junior.”

I felt as if Cheonak might suddenly swing his forepaw and tear me to death, but I couldn’t hold back what I wanted to say.

“It is like a man possessed of outstanding strength, unable to contain his anger, suddenly rushing into the yard to wring a chicken’s neck and kill it.”

Cheonak pointed at himself with a startled expression.

“Me, you mean?”

I nodded.

“Killing a chicken out of nowhere is already an ugly act, but there are those who do the same to people. Slaughter committed without a great cause is the work of common brutes. Bastards who treat the weak like livestock—people like that are the reason I stepped into the jianghu, to kill them.”

“And who the hell are you?”

“I am the leader of those who work.”

I pointed at the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect with my hand.

“Our Senior Divine Beggar is the leader of beggars. We know why the weak are weak.”

Cheonak looked at the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect, then back at me.

“There’s a reason the weak are weak?”

I nodded.

“……Because they’re busy trying to survive. Because they have families to feed, they don’t have time to train in martial arts like we do. They don’t want to live like slaves either, but because they have wives and children, and aged parents to care for, they willingly live like slaves. They work and receive money. They rise at dawn and sleep late at night. Most people in the world live this way, and yet bastards who not only use such people like chickens or oxen without a second thought, but even beat them to death, are demonic path bastards like you. It’s because you don’t know why weak people are weak. But Senior Divine Beggar and I know. The Beggars’ Sect began with the intent to protect beggars whose bodies were infirm. And the Hao Sect I created exists to keep working people from being beaten to death at will by martial artists of the jianghu.”

I looked at Cheonak, then also at the White-Clad Scholar beside me.

“I was never a slave to begin with. I do not take orders. Had I been born in the age of Shi Huangdi, I would have been Jing Ke. Poverty could not mock me.”

I pointed at Cheonak.

“Even a strong man like you, Senior, cannot look down on me lightly. That is who I am.”

Cheonak laughed with an expression of utter disbelief.

“What confidence does a bastard who looks like he’d die the moment I hit him have?”

With somewhat vacant eyes, I looked around at Cheonak, the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect, and the White-Clad Scholar.

“The sun and moon already contained within me are crossing in defiance of the natural order. I will never die alone. If the sun and moon are forced to collide and I explode, we will vanish together.”

My vision blurred for a moment, and then I saw the entire world dyed purple.

The clear sky, the faces of the scholars, even the complexion of the Leader of the Beggars’ Sect as he looked at me with concern, were all dyed purple.

It seemed the Purple Haze Divine Art had unfolded even though I had not intended it.

But unlike before, my mind was calm.

I merely wanted to have a conversation, and so I threatened Cheonak, who belonged to the Three Calamities.

“If you strike me, we become legends here and now. I’ll die, but the Three Calamities will die too, and so will the White-Clad Scholar.”

As if pondering what nonsense this was, Scholar Cheonak looked at the White-Clad Scholar as though seeking his opinion.

After pondering for a moment, the White-Clad Scholar said to Scholar Cheonak,

“……Don’t hit him, you bastard. Look at his eyes. You don’t mess with a madman.”

For a moment, thinking that if I gulped down the saliva pooled in my throat my bluff would be exposed at once, I blurted out whatever nonsense came to mind.

“I am legend.”

As soon as I finished speaking, I naturally swallowed the saliva gathered in my throat, then managed my expression. Cheonak was still glaring at me, but I activated the aesthetics of letting go and maintained an expressionless face throughout.

“……”

I found myself thinking that if I had known this back then, I wouldn’t have lost money at the gambling house. To think I could have such useless thoughts even in the midst of this.

Life is a subtle thing.