During the day, Tang Mujin hammered away at the forge, crafting swords for the mysterious Guiyi. By night, he and Hong Geolge would head to the taverns, indulging in drink and revelry.
By the third night of their tavern visits, their mere presence in the alley would draw a crowd. The most eager among them were the tavern owners themselves.
“Please, come to our tavern tonight!”
“Great hero! We’ve prepared veal for you! Qing Tian Tavern! Qing Tian Tavern!”
“We have rare wines like Nobai, Motaiju, and Jian Nan Chun! This way, please!”
The reason for their enthusiasm was simple. Rumors had spread like wildfire that a young prodigy had carved the image of the Thousand-Armed Guanyin on the wall of Dengxian Tavern in exchange for his drinks.
Seeing the long line of patrons eager to view the carving at the once unremarkable Dengxian Tavern, the other tavern owners couldn’t help but clamor for the same fortune.
Thanks to this, Hong Geolge and Tang Mujin enjoyed exquisite wines and lavish meals without spending a single coin.
On the fifth day of their tavern escapades, Tang Mujin found himself gazing out the window of his room at the Xin Yue Inn.
The rain, which had been a constant companion, now fell in heavy sheets. It was as if the sky itself had sprung a leak.
“With this weather, it seems impossible to head to the tavern today.”
It was a welcome reprieve. The consecutive nights of drinking had begun to take their toll, leaving him weary.
Tang Mujin sprawled lazily on his bed, savoring the rare moment of peace.
How long he lay there, he couldn’t say. But through the relentless drumming of the rain, a faint voice reached his ears.
”…Hong Geolge! Hong Geolge!”
It wasn’t unusual for people to come looking for Tang Mujin at the Xin Yue Inn. Each time, the innkeeper would shoo them away with a look of annoyance, casting a sidelong glance at Tang Mujin.
But this was the first time someone had come seeking Hong Geolge. Tang Mujin nudged the man who was lounging on the floor.
“Hey, someone’s calling for you.”
“Who is it?”
“Listen. They’re calling your name.”
Hong Geolge sat up, straining to hear. Sure enough, the cries of “Hong Geolge! Hong Geolge!” echoed through the rain.
“I’ll go see who it is. Are we heading to the tavern tonight?”
“No, I think I’ll take a break today.”
“Alright, got it.”
Hong Geolge ambled out to the front of the inn.
There, drenched from head to toe, stood a familiar beggar. It was Xiao San Gu, Xiao Sun’s father.
Xiao San Gu clutched Hong Geolge’s hand, desperation in his eyes.
“Great hero, I need your help.”
“Please, speak freely. What’s the matter?”
“My daughter has gone missing. I came to see if you could help.”
“Are you talking about Xiao Sun?”
“Yes.”
Hong Geolge recalled Xiao Sun, the little girl who would grin despite her missing front teeth, offering him a rain-soaked rice ball with her tiny hands.
If not for her, he might still be lying somewhere by the riverbank, staring blankly at the rain.
“Could she have gone off to beg somewhere?”
“No, she always tells me before she goes anywhere. And she wouldn’t wander far on a day like this with such heavy rain.”
Suddenly, the image of the swollen waters of the Yangtze River flashed in Hong Geolge’s mind.
“Surely she hasn’t been swept away by the river…?”
“Xiao Sun is afraid of the water. She wouldn’t go near the river on a day like this. I fear the bandits have taken advantage of the rain to snatch her away. It’s likely the work of the Changshangzhai gang!”
Xiao San Gu’s shoulders trembled as he spoke, not from fear of the bandits, but from the anger that consumed him.
After all, what fear could surpass the fury of a father who has lost his child?
“Are you certain the bandits took Xiao Sun?”
“Children have been disappearing for some time now. At first, we thought they were swept away by the river. But several people have seen the bandits taking the children.”
The information network of beggars is not to be underestimated.
Though they might not have access to high-level intelligence, they are everywhere. Once a piece of information enters their circle, it circulates endlessly. With little else to entertain them, gossip becomes their pastime.
Yet Hong Geolge hesitated, struggling to comprehend the situation.
“But why would the bandits take Xiao Sun?”
Xiao Sun was just a child, not even old enough to have lost all her baby teeth.
If the bandits were kidnapping people, it would make more sense to take adults, whether to sell them or use them for their own purposes.
Xiao San Gu lowered his voice, speaking in hushed tones.
“There have been rumors of rogue martial artists taking young boys and girls. It doesn’t seem to be for any good reason. I fear Xiao Sun might have been taken for such a purpose. I’m terrified of what might have happened to her…”
Xiao San Gu’s voice quivered with worry, his concern for Xiao Sun palpable.
Hong Geolge tried to reassure him.
“Fortunately, I know someone who might be able to help. Please return home and wait. I’ll come to you soon.”
“Thank you, great hero!”
Xiao San Gu bowed repeatedly, his gratitude evident as he reluctantly departed, glancing back several times.
Hong Geolge made his way to the tavern alley. The people he trusted were the beggars who ran the taverns in Chongqing.
He recalled the taverns he and Tang Mujin had frequented over the past few days: Luoxing Tavern, Dahua Tavern, Qingyue Tavern, and more. He decided to start with the closest one, Luoxing Tavern, and requested a meeting with the tavern owner.
The owner of Luoxing Tavern, aware of Hong Geolge’s close ties with Tang Mujin, was more than willing to meet him. After all, who knew if another masterpiece might come their way?
Hong Geolge relayed Xiao San Gu’s story to the tavern owner in detail.
”…That’s the situation. Could you help rescue the child from the bandits?”
“I’ll pass the message up the chain. If there’s any news, I’ll let you know immediately.”
“Thank you.”
The tavern owner responded positively.
However, there was no mention of rallying the beggars to storm the bandits’ hideout or risking their lives to rescue Xiao Sun.
‘This doesn’t sit right. Maybe I should visit a few more places.’
Hong Geolge decided it was best to seek help from as many people as possible.
The responses from the other tavern owners were similar. They promised to pass the message up, assured him not to worry, and inquired if he planned to visit the tavern that evening.
After visiting several taverns, Hong Geolge finally entered Dengxian Tavern.
The owner of Dengxian Tavern offered a slightly different perspective.
“I’ll pass the message up, but don’t get your hopes up.”
Unlike the other owners, who offered only positive assurances, this one included a note of caution.
Hong Geolge felt a sense of unease, as if the tavern owner’s words resonated with the nagging feeling he’d had all along. He pressed for more information.
“Why shouldn’t I get my hopes up?”
“There are two reasons. First, there’s no evidence that the bandits took the girl, Xiao Sun. We can’t risk a confrontation with the bandits based on a beggar’s unverified claim.”
“But there have been rumors…”
“Even if the rumors are true, it doesn’t change much.”
“What do you mean?”
“The timing is bad. Look outside.”
Following the tavern owner’s gesture, Hong Geolge looked out the window. The rain, heavier than ever, poured relentlessly.
“The rain has been falling for days, hasn’t it?”
“Not just the rain. Look at the Yangtze River.”
Beyond the sheets of rain, the river surged, frothing white as it rushed by.
Compared to when he first arrived in Chongqing, the river had swollen to an alarming degree, resembling a sideways waterfall.
The Yangtze seemed on the verge of overflowing. Many people were desperately reinforcing and repairing the embankments, trying to prevent a flood.
The tavern owner continued.
“This year, the rain has been unusually heavy. If it continues for another day or two, the Yangtze will surely flood.”
His expression was filled with concern. If the river overflowed, Dengxian Tavern, built along its banks, would not be spared.
He tapped his pipe, emptying the ashes.
“If the Yangtze floods, many will lose their homes. Many will drown. To prevent this, most of the beggars are working to fortify the embankments. We can’t spare the manpower.”
”…”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. But I’ll still pass the message up.”
Listening to the tavern owner, Hong Geolge finally understood the source of his unease.
The other tavern owners’ promises had been empty, mere formalities.
Hong Geolge left, feeling despondent.
His mind was a whirl of thoughts. He had to inform Xiao San Gu, but how to break the news was a dilemma.
Should he relay everything honestly?
“I spoke to the beggars, but they advised not to get your hopes up,” he could say.
But that would surely disappoint Xiao San Gu.
Some of that disappointment would inevitably be directed at Hong Geolge himself. Human emotions are unpredictable.
Hong Geolge didn’t want to face Xiao San Gu’s frustration.
Perhaps he could omit the negative parts and focus on the positive?
“I’ve spoken to several beggars. They all responded positively, so I’m sure they’ll resolve the issue,” he could say.
That seemed like the best approach. Even if the beggars didn’t act, Xiao San Gu would blame their leaders, not him.
Lost in thought, Hong Geolge found himself near the bridge.
The beggars weren’t under the bridge. The river had swollen so much that one wrong step could sweep them away.
Hong Geolgae went to find So Samgu to relay the situation.
“I’ve informed several members of the Beggars’ Sect. They promised to pass the message up the chain, so surely help will—”
Before he could finish, So Samgu cut him off with a shout.
“Do you really think those people will help us? They look at us like we’re animals just because we’re not part of their sect!”
Hong Geolgae’s expectations were dashed. So Samgu had no faith in the Beggars’ Sect. Flustered, Hong Geolgae tried to calm him down.
“Still, martial artists won’t turn a blind eye to injustice. They have a sense of honor, after all…”
“What does honor have to do with martial artists? Even those river bandits are martial artists, and so are those from the unorthodox sects! Besides, the Beggars’ Sect is in cahoots with the bandits! Have you ever heard of them fighting in the past decade?”
So Samgu’s voice rose in anger, drawing other beggars who rushed over to restrain him.
A memory surfaced in Hong Geolgae’s mind. The first time he met the leader of the Dengshan Sect, he had mentioned something in passing.
—There aren’t any mid-level sects in Chongqing that can challenge the Beggars’ Sect. The river bandits are around, but they rarely clash.
Yes, the Beggars’ Sect doesn’t fight the bandits.
Would they break the peace and oppose the bandits for beggars who mean nothing to them?
No.
Would they risk their lives for beggars who mean nothing to them?
Certainly not.
The voices of the beggars trying to calm So Samgu pierced Hong Geolgae’s ears.
“Come on, So Samgu. We know you’re upset, but taking it out on Hong isn’t right.”
“Exactly. It’s not like Hong took So-seon away. Besides, he’s the only one who listened to us. We have no choice but to trust the Beggars’ Sect for now…”
Suddenly, Hong Geolgae felt a wave of shame. But there was nothing he could do.
He hung his head and slowly backed away, turning to leave.
He wanted to return to the New Moon Inn, forget everything, and just sleep.
‘Everyone said it wasn’t my fault. There’s no need to feel guilty.’
As he trudged along, someone called out to him.
“Hey, you there.”
He turned to see an old beggar woman.
Right now, Hong Geolgae didn’t want to talk to anyone. All he wanted was to drown his thoughts in alcohol.
He ignored her and turned away.
But the old woman wasn’t about to let him go.
“Can’t you hear me? You’re the one who was asking about Ma Jeonga, right?”
The mention of his master’s name made Hong Geolgae stop and look at her. The old woman chuckled.
“Looks like I was right. Why were you looking for Jonggyeon?”
“Jonggyeon?”
“Didn’t even know his name, did you? I mean Ma Jeonga.”
Hong Geolgae frowned.
“His name is Honggyeon, not Jonggyeon. Get your facts straight.”
“No, it’s Jonggyeon. I knew his father too, so I wouldn’t mix up his name or family name.”
Had his master changed even his family name to escape? The thought darkened Hong Geolgae’s already gloomy mood.
“It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s Honggyeon or Jonggyeon. You should be on your way.”
“No, I’m curious too. What’s your relationship with Ma Jeonga?”
Hong Geolgae couldn’t bring himself to proudly declare that Ma Jeonga was his master.
How could he admit that a notorious thief was his teacher?
“We just happened to cross paths.”
“Then do you know where Ma Jeonga is?”
Her persistent questioning was irritating. Hong Geolgae replied curtly.
“Why do you want to know? Did he steal something valuable from you too?”
“No, of course not. Ma Jeonga isn’t a thief.”
“I heard he stole something and fled Chongqing.”
“What nonsense is that? As far as I know, Ma Jeonga never stole anything.”
The old woman added one more thing.
“The only thing he ever stole from Chongqing was a person.”