Chapter 76: To the Upper Layer (1)

The malatang shop was a mess. Battalion Commander Tang Jihye gnawed on her thumb while jiggling her leg uncontrollably. It was the kind of sight that made anyone watching feel uneasy.

“Captain, you think that’ll fill you up?”

One of the squad members tossed out a casual remark.

“How about a nice hot bowl of malatang instead? The broth today is absolute perfection. So…”

Tang Jihye’s glare silenced him instantly. Jang Chwiyen, unable to stand it any longer, let out a sigh.

“We just saw and heard it, Captain. Rookie’s with the Commander-in-Chief. Not just anyone—the Commander-in-Chief himself. And worrying won’t change a thing.”

Jang Chwiyen played the role of coolant in the battalion. He tempered Tang Jihye’s quick-to-rise temper. He’d been by the young lady’s side for a long time, ever since the Tang Clan.

Even she, raised so delicately that she rarely listened to anyone, made a point of heeding Jang Chwiyen’s words.

“Worrying won’t change a thing. I recommend relaxing and trusting Rookie for now.”

“…You’ve only met Lee Taebaek twice today, haven’t you? You’re awfully favorable toward him. Uncharacteristically so. Jang Chwiyen, this isn’t like you. Did you two strike some kind of deal?”

“A deal? Hardly.”

Jang Chwiyen smiled faintly and shifted his gaze to the malatang. Now ownerless, it had cooled completely, its aroma all but gone.

As his expression turned serious, Tang Jihye blew a strand of hair back from her forehead.

“That guy…”

The captain’s head had cooled. Jang Chwiyen nodded to the squad members posing as customers. They placed their bowls on the counter and filed out of the shop. Now alone, the only sound was the TV noise seeping into the yellowish walls.

Only then did Jang Chwiyen continue.

“He has this knack for making you want to trust him. Reminded me of the old Family Head. Knows the romance of the jianghu, you might say.”

“He reminds you of Grandpa… no, the Poison Master…?”

“Not so much a resemblance as sharing that ability to draw people in. The Family Head may be called Poison Master now, but back in his Dark Master days, no one knew the ways of the jianghu better. He was ruthless to enemies—to the point you’d be grateful just to be on the same side.

But to his own people? Warm as could be. He even left the Tang Clan Tower whenever he had time, using a single needle to tend to the common folk. Sure, medicine’s advanced in the City… but back East, the Family Head was a true divine healer.”

“…So what.”

Tang Jihye rubbed her temples gently with her thumb.

“Grandpa’s just a vengeful ghost now.”

“Can’t be helped. He lost his child.”

“They were my parents too.”

“To me, he was my lifesaver.”

Jang Chwiyen stated firmly. She frowned briefly at his lecturing tone, then leaned back deeply into her chair.

“So what are you trying to say? That Lee Taebaek impressed you so much you’re transferring to the 9th Battalion?”

“Haha, you do love to tease, young lady. I’m here to guard your side. Why else would I have left the Tang Clan? But what I mean is, he reminds me of the Family Head in his youth—so the Great Existence is sure to take a liking to him.”

“You still haven’t figured out Lee Taebaek’s character. He’s no ordinary guy. I’ve been hanging around the Hundred-Fold Sect branch lately, chatting with some beggars. Guess what they call him in Beggar Clan circles?”

“Something like ‘gigolo,’ maybe?”

Tang Jihye shook her head in exasperation.

“They call him the Fox. Says he sucks the marrow right out of beggars’ spines. One branch leader lost a ton of weight because of him.”

“The Great Existence is broad-minded. His depths are beyond ordinary folk. And with his magnanimous spirit representing the jianghu, if he likes Rookie, he’ll give as much as he can.”

Jang Chwiyen said as he gathered the bowls one by one. The red broth swirled in tiny eddies in the sink.

“……”

The last bowl left was Lee Taebaek’s. Tang Jihye glanced between it and Jang Chwiyen, as if debating whether to toss it.

“What’re you doing. Worried something big happened? His last worldly possession, so you’re gonna pray for his soul or something?”

“If only his mouth matched half your looks, young lady. Men would line up. Truly a pity, says I, Jang Chwiyen.”

Tang Jihye was about to snap back when the entrance flap rustled. The two whipped around in unison. And sure enough.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Lee Taebaek looked a bit fatigued. He spotted Tang Jihye and tilted his head, then took his seat. His next words were something else.

“Malatang’s gone cold… Well, after all that time.”

Tang Jihye stared in bewilderment. Jang Chwiyen too, though he soon covered his shock with a hollow chuckle. He asked Lee Taebaek.

“How’d the outing go?”

“Eh, so-so.”

Lee Taebaek added nonchalantly, snapping apart wooden chopsticks.

“As of today, the Resistance and the Great Existence are officially cooperating. Oh, right—3rd Battalion’s got a lot of missions in the upper districts. You can use the subway now. Can’t go deep into the upper layers—beyond his influence—but the entrances are fine.”

“……!!”

Jang Chwiyen and Tang Jihye’s eyes widened as they stared at each other. Too stunned for words.

Another hollow chuckle escaped. Then booming laughter erupted from his mouth. Jang Chwiyen laughed so hard tears welled up.

“Makes me reflect. I pride myself on spice that no one rivals, but your straightforwardness leaves me in the dust—kahahaha! Damn, my heart’s racing. Can’t have that. Gotta crank up the heat levels from today!”

“Hey! Any hotter and you’ll kill people!”

“If you die from it, you don’t deserve to be my customer.”

“…You two are insane. A matching pair.”

Ignoring her, the two men’s gazes locked with fiery intensity. Lee Taebaek liked Jang Chwiyen too. A real man pursues romance. Sure, his cover was malatang chef, but the blood in his veins ran as hot as kimchi stew.

“I’ll make you a fresh one. Wait.”

“I’m Korean. Go easy.”

“While we’re at it, care to try level 12?”

The bowls had cooled, but the heat was rising.

“Sure.”

Ingredients surged like a tsunami alongside the flames from the blazing wok. Damn, biting down on a cigarette while cooking. Continental chefs traded hygiene for romance.

Awesome. Truly.

“Ugh……”

Unable to bear their hearty laughter, Tang Jihye buried her forehead in her arms. Her head throbbed. But the face she tried to hide held no displeasure. A family-like, warm atmosphere like this—how many years had it been?

Not bad, honestly.

Dusk spread from the west. Hong Geolgae watched, hands clasped over his hunched back. Beyond the jagged horizon loomed the presence of his once-sworn enemies.

The current Lukaken Magic Tower, formerly the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Watching stirred memories of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. The day he’d clashed endlessly with those Demonic Cult bastards. The brutal struggles under the grand banner of the Orthodox-Demonic War. Utter devastation.

How much blood had been spilled, how many lives lost because of it.

Yet Hong Geolgae felt the present was closer to death than the past. Was it age? Or that encounter with ‘him’? For an old man who’d lived his fill, it was unseemly sentimentality. He turned with an awkward smile.

The beggars stood in formation. The Tattered-Robes Faction and, unusually, even the Blue-Robed Faction had gathered. His influence remained unchanged, whether before or after the Beggar Clan’s split.

Clack.

All saluted the Dragon Head Chief in unison with perfect fist-palm salutes. Their refined motions belied their ragged clothes. This was the first time since parting with Lee Taebaek that Dragon Head Chief Hong Geolgae had summoned the entire Beggar Clan.

“Seo Punggae.”

Seo Punggae stepped forward, maintaining his salute.

“Your command.”

“As of today, we’ll cooperate with the Resistance for the time being. We’ll share our infrastructure as much as possible. Speak freely if you have objections.”

“None.”

The Great Existence scanned the assembled beggars one by one. Their eyes burned with resolve.

Not the glassy shine of puppets, but the vibrant gaze of living humans.

“Listen up.”

Hong Geolgae raised his voice, infusing it with internal energy to reach the back rows clearly.

“This is an age of peace. Better than scraping grass off mountainsides for food—perfect for packing on visceral fat. A paradise for beggars like us. I’ve lived content with that. Because there was as much grease on your chins as grime.”

“……”

“But I was born in the Central Plains. A man of the jianghu. Not born here, I hoard tattered memories as drinking snacks in my dying days. So I don’t like this place—this peaceful vibe in Lake City.”

I plan to raise my banner once more in my twilight years. I don’t like you lot looking down on me from behind like some great man. Call it dementia; even I up to this morning thought the same.

The assembly fell silent. A burning hush.

“Then your blood, flesh, and sacrifice are inevitable. The old-timers who roamed the Central Plains with me will be used to it, but for you city-born beggars, it’s a heavy tale.

Thus I command: Those who don’t wish it, leave now. I promise—no blame. I’ll tell the elders not to frown on you. So please, don’t waste your precious lives on this senile fool.”

The speech ended. No ripples of dissent.

Minutes passed. Not a single departure.

Hong Geolgae’s face hardened like stone.

“Foolish lot… Determined to…”

Tsking in mild disapproval, he continued.

“Elders, listen. From now on, gather intel focused on Megacorp—especially Siesta. Coordinate with the Resistance without a single error. We’ve already talked it over.”

“We shall obey.”

“Good.”

His wrinkled gaze shifted to the Blue-Robed Faction on the right flank. Jin Sobang stood at the front, thrust into heavy responsibility by the crisis.

“Are you prepared to follow the Beggar Clan’s way once more?”

“The Way is the path.”

Jin Sobang replied.

“If the one who opens that path says so, this Sobang will follow. All who remain here feel the same. Though the Blue-Robes’ prestige has waned from unfortunate events, our bonds are stronger than ever. Your command.”

“I’ll relay through Seo Punggae. Too many details for here—it’s operational.”

“Understood.”

“Dismissed, beggars.”

At the dispersal order, all saluted once more and scattered. As darkness gradually deepened, one remained to attend the Dragon Head Chief.

“Something to say?”

It was Seo Punggae.

“How was the young hero?”

“Just as you said. Spat half-chewed insults, arrogant to the point I nearly turned him into a puppet.

Yeah, a viper of a man. Wouldn’t spill everything on his mind, even under psychological pressure.”

“Then.”

Seo Punggae hesitated before speaking.

“…What about him stirred you, Elder?”

“Who knows.”

Hong Geolgae burst into hearty laughter.

“Guess I’ve been bitten by his fangs.”