Chapter 54

Chapter 53

Pretending to be someone else is an incredibly difficult task.

Humans have their own sense of self, and such a self is not easily changed.

However, this was a bit different for Jo Hwi.

The experience of living as Jo Hwi in Zhongyuan after living as Jo Young-hoon in the modern era.

Jo Hwi's experience of living a completely different life, transcending the consciousness and self formed over a lifetime, could perhaps be the driving force that allowed him to use the most ideal form of Zao Hua Mian Tian Bian (Transformation of Heaven and Earth).

Surprisingly, Dang Zhaoge's daily life was quite monotonous.

What was unusual was his mission.

Surprisingly, his task was to monitor and spy on the numerous lay sects of Shaolin Temple that had established themselves in Zhengzhou.

The Beggar Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, monitoring Shaolin, the Mount Tai and the North Star of the martial world?

It was certainly a task that was hard to accept logically.

However, Dang Zhaoge's true identity was a spy recruited by the Secret Lineage, so Jo Hwi immediately grasped that the Secret Lineage, not the Beggar Sect, was behind it.

In any case, Jo Hwi faithfully carried out his mission.

Most of the lay disciples of Shaolin operated small martial arts schools, but among them were those who had founded their own sects with remarkable skills.

The most representative of these were the Juzi Gang and the Dragon Fist Sect. Dang Zhaoge's mission was to monitor the inflow and outflow of all goods and daily necessities entering and leaving these sects.

Monitoring the inflow and outflow of goods was equivalent to gauging the strength of the sect.

It allowed one to estimate the number of troops they possessed and accurately determine the scale of their assets.

However, according to Jo Hwi's observations, there was nothing particularly special.

After all, the limitations of a lay sect were clear, as they were not the patriarchs.

The Nine Great Sects, led by Shaolin, would never transmit their profound techniques outside the temple.

No matter how outstanding the experts of the Juzi Gang and the Dragon Fist Sect were, they could not surpass the seventy-two techniques mastered by the Shaolin monks.

The number of martial artists they could gather with their meager reputation was limited to a few dozen at most.

Jo Hwi couldn't easily understand the significance of monitoring such small sects of Shaolin lay disciples.

To use such a talented person as a Dang Kai for such a trivial task!

However, time flew by, and another month passed, and this time he could no longer delay his report.

Originally, he was supposed to compile and report the secret letters he had gathered a month ago.

However, Jo Hwi needed more time to refine his portrayal of Dang Zhaoge.

Deceiving the elders of the Beggar Sect and the leader of the Blood Oath Gang, who was disguised as the leader of the Beggar Sect, was a level of difficulty far beyond dealing with the new members.

Therefore, Jo Hwi delayed his report by claiming he was tracking important information for the Blood Oath Gang, and every day he visited the residence where Dang Zhaoge was staying to thoroughly study his subtle habits and expressions.

When Dang Zhaoge reacted in shock, saying it felt like he was looking at the real him, Jo Hui felt a certain level of confidence.

Inside a shabby cloth shop.

While Jo Hui was calmly organizing the secret letters in a secret room where the owner had led him, he was actually on high alert, his senses heightened.

At that moment, a hunchbacked old man entered the secret room.

The hunchbacked old man, who had just noticed Jo Hui, straightened his bent back with an indifferent expression.

Soon, he calmly tore off his human skin mask and sat down opposite Jo Hui with a smile.

"It's been a while, Dang Zhaoge."

Gray eyebrows drooping about three inches.

Two prominent dots near the forehead.

Messy, unruly hair and a noticeable overbite.

It was undoubtedly the appearance of Zui Xian Gai (Drunken Immortal Beggar) that Dang Zhaoge had described.

Jo Hui calmly took out a bottle of wine from his sleeve.

"It's Jiu Hua Mo Tai Jiu. Master."

At that moment, Zui Xian Gai twitched his nose.

"Oh! Impressive! Did you really manage to get this precious wine?"

"If you're going to ask me to do errands, you should pay me next time. Do you know how much this costs?"

Zui Xian Gai put on a dignified expression.

"Ah, as your master, I have bestowed upon you a grace as vast as the ocean! What kind of ungrateful talk is this?"

"It's to the point where even the resources of the Secret Lineage can't handle it. Would you want your disciple to beg in the middle of a mission?"

"Being a beggar and begging is as natural as a person passing gas, you brat."

"I don't pass gas."

As his disciple, who was now frowning, buried his gaze back into the documents, Zui Xian Gai brought his twitching nose back to the wine bottle.

"Ugh... Indeed, it's a fine wine. The aroma is of a different class. Next time, bring me Xue Hua Shen Jiu."

Jo Hui frowned.

"Isn't that the wine from the Zhaodaishanghui in Jiangxi that's been causing a stir recently? How could I possibly get such an expensive wine?"

"Ah! If I ask you to get it, just do it. Why are you so talkative?"

Zui Xian Gai's shameless demand made Jo Hui inwardly roll his eyes.

Does he really have the nerve to make such a demand, knowing the price of a bottle of Xue Hua Shen Jiu?

Zui Xian is a joke.

He should be called Zui E Gai (Drunken Evil Beggar).

Jo Hui sighed softly and pinched the tip of his nose.

It was a habit of Dang Zhaoge when faced with a difficult situation.

"Ah, I shouldn't have said anything. Let's get to work, Master."

"Brat."

Zui Xian Gai gulped down the Jiu Hua Mo Tai Jiu from the bottle, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and gazed at his disciple again.

"Ugh, so tell me what you have to report."

Jo Hui subtly pushed the report and the secret letters of the new members towards Zui Xian Gai.

"As you can see, there's nothing special. The financial records are similar to the last report, and there's nothing unusual about the movements of the key figures. They've just been buying more grains than usual, which I assume is to prepare for the winter."

Zui Xian Gai nodded indifferently.

"Same as usual. But is there nothing else to report besides the routine matters?"

"Nothing."

Zui Xian Gai tilted his head.

"If it's such a simple matter, why didn't you report it at the last meeting?"

Jo Hui calmly gave the prepared answer.

"I needed time to refine my martial arts skills."

"Huh, you made progress again?"

Zui Xian Gai had never seen anyone with more talent than Dang Zhaoge.

His martial talent was even superior to Qing Yun Xiao, the leader of the Huashan School, who was considered the best among the Six Great Dragons.

Zui Xian Gai's eyes sparkled.

"What kind of progress did you make?"

Zui Xian Gai was famous as a martial arts fanatic.

His curiosity was immediately directed at Jo Hui.

"What do you think of the initial movement of Tian Di Kuang Long?"

The fifteenth move of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, Tian Di Kuang Long.

Tian Di Kuang Long was one of the most powerful moves among the eighteen techniques of the Dragon Subduing Palms.

"Initial movement?"

If the preparatory stance of a move is called a basic form, then the initial movement is the first unfolding process after the basic form.

"The fundamental principle of the Dragon Subduing Palms is to strike, connect, and attack in a circular motion."

The Dragon Subduing Palms could never be performed with just one move.

It was a palm technique that emphasized the continuity of moves.

Therefore, once it started, it had to be performed in a series of at least three moves, which was both the greatest strength and weakness of the Dragon Subduing Palms.

"However?"

"While the resilience of the moves from Jian Long Zai Tian to Shuang Long Qu Shui is commendable, the overly powerful initial movement of Tian Di Kuang Long seems to prevent the subtlety of the Dragon Subduing Palms' principle of attack in a circular motion."

"Ugh...!"

Has your realm already reached this level?

In fact, the contemplation of Tian Di Kuang Long that Jo Hui pointed out, the incompleteness of the connection, was a pain and a challenge that any leader of the Beggar Sect who had mastered the Dragon Subduing Palms had faced.

Due to this fatal flaw, the Beggar Sect could never be called the best in the world, no matter how prosperous it was.

However, this problem was an unsolved challenge that no leader in history had managed to overcome.

"Or... Have you thought of a solution?"

Perhaps out of hope, Zui Xian Gai's voice was trembling slightly.

Jo Hui shook his head softly.

"I have undergone countless mental training sessions, but as a disciple, I have not yet found a solution."

Jo Hui, who again rubbed the tip of his nose.

Having learned the fatal weakness of the Dragon Subduing Palms from the sword deity, Jo Hui had already solved the problem using the abilities of the Sword Heaven Complete Body.

However, there was no reason to do something that would benefit the Beggar Sect, which he had never met before.

Zui Xian Gai sighed regretfully and burst into a hearty laugh.

"Ha ha! Still impressive. No leader of the Beggar Sect has ever mastered the Dragon Subduing Palms at the Dang Kai stage."

"Dragon Subduing Wall? What is that?"

"The incompleteness of the connection you mentioned is the only weakness of the Dragon Subduing Palms, which our sect is proud of. Many leaders have tried to overcome it, but none could. This is called the Dragon Subduing Wall."

"Ah...!"

Jo Hui, who was feigning amazement, was inwardly suffering.

Physically, the solution was actually quite simple, but it was ridiculous to call it a thousand-year-old challenge like the Dragon Subduing Wall.

Having put on such a performance, it was now time to lay the groundwork for the main topic.

"Master, why does our sect have to monitor the assets of the same Nine Great Sects? Isn't monitoring the assets of righteous sects the job of the Wulin Alliance's inspectors?"

Although Dang Zhaoge was a Dang Kai, he was still a new member, and this was a question that crossed the line.

"It's the decision of the Dragon Subduing Ten Beggars Hall. Even I, as the leader, cannot question their authority. How dare you, a new member, have doubts?"

The Dragon Subduing Ten Beggars Hall was the traditional decision-making body of the Beggar Sect.

Even the leader could not challenge its authority.

"Master, I don't expect you to be a righteous hero. But monitoring the lay disciples of Shaolin is not something a Beggar Sect member with a sense of righteousness and ambition can be proud of. Please assign me to a different mission."

Zui Xian Gai shouted.

"What are you babbling about! When you begged to become a beggar, you didn't talk about righteousness!"

"Master!"

"Being a beggar means you have to sweep the lowest levels of the world! How can you, who has delved into all the grudges and plots of the martial world, claim the ideals of a martial artist!"

Zui Xian Gai's fierce reaction left Jo Hui speechless.

He understood Dang Zhaoge's intention to volunteer as a beggar, but if Zui Xian Gai continued like this, his purpose would be completely blocked.

"Moreover, you...!"

Zui Xian Gai, who had been angrily scolding, suddenly clamped his mouth shut.

He soon sighed and gazed into the air.

"Do you have nothing more to say to this master?"

"..."

Zui Xian Gai's eyes were as deep as an abyss.

"You are the most talented among the Dang Kai candidates. If time passes, you might even achieve the legend of the Absolute Dragon. But why haven't I chosen you as a Dang Kai yet?"

Jo Hui's expression turned to disbelief, and Zui Xian Gai sighed even more deeply.

"Sigh... Disciple, disciple. Isn't it time for you to confide in this master? Don't you know how terrifying our sect can be?"

At that moment, Jo Hui was certain.

Zui Xian Gai, the leader of the Beggar Sect, already knew that Dang Zhaoge was a spy of the Secret Lineage.

"Master, I... I..."

Zui Xian Gai, perhaps not wanting to reveal his emotions, got up from the table and turned to the opposite side.

"How foolish. So foolish."

However, the next words from Zui Xian Gai left Jo Hui as stiff as a statue.

"If you were a true spy, you should have protected yourself until the end. Why did you so easily let yourself go? Your lack of loyalty is the first reason you haven't become a Dang Kai!"

'Oh, man.'

Is this what they mean by 'beyond the point of no return'?

Jo Hui came to Kaifeng in Henan because Zhengzhou was a major hub of the Wan Jin Merchant Guild.

Zhengzhou was close to Kaifeng, where the influence of the Beggar Sect was widespread, and it was certain that the Beggar Sect would also be aware of the main activities of the Wan Jin Merchant Guild.

Naturally, Jo Hui sought out promising young talents within the Beggar Sect through information channels.

While approaching Dang Zhaoge and extracting various information, it was as if the jackpot was rolling in.

'But isn't this a bit too serious?'

It was Zui Xian Gai.

A great elder of the righteous sect, almost on par with the Seven Martial Seats, despite not being one of them.

Such a formidable figure was under the influence of the Secret Lineage, or rather, it was ambiguous to even call him a spy.

If things had reached this point, it was not an exaggeration to say that the entire Beggar Sect was an information asset of the Secret Lineage.

However, what Jo Hui was most curious about was how Zui Xian Gai knew about Dang Zhaoge's betrayal.

Jo Hui always surrounded himself with a mental barrier to block sound waves when talking to Dang Zhaoge, and he thoroughly checked if anyone was eavesdropping within a radius of two hundred feet.

As if reading Jo Hui's perplexed mind, Zui Xian Gai's eyes turned sinister.

"Are you curious about how I found out?"

"..."

Zui Xian Gai took another sip of Jiu Hua Mo Tai Jiu and stroked his beard.

"I was the one who recommended you for the Dark Merchant position, valuing your talent. I was the one who personally injected the Wan Li Zhui Zhong Xiang (Ten Thousand Mile Tracking Incense) into your body. Did you think the activities of the Secret Lineage were so trivial?"

"Ah...!"

As Jo Hui's face showed surprise, Zui Xian Gai's expression turned even more sinister.

"Who are you? Who extracted the Wan Li Zhui Zhong Xiang from your body and injected it into someone else's?"

"..."

"Very few people know the methods of our Secret Lineage. Were you recruited by the Night Butterfly? Or are you working with the Hong Lian group? What kind of schemes are filling your mind?"

From Zui Xian Gai's few words, Jo Hui could infer many things.

At the very least, it was clear that the Beggar Sect was the public face of the Secret Lineage.

It was astonishing.

He never imagined that one of the Nine Great Sects could be completely controlled by the Secret Lineage!

In any case, it seemed that Zui Xian Gai believed Dang Zhaoge had betrayed them after erasing the Wan Li Zhui Zhong Xiang and joining a mysterious organization.

Given how perfectly he was portraying Dang Zhaoge, it was understandable that Zui Xian Gai couldn't think of anything else.

"Hmph."

A snicker escaped from Jo Hui, and Zui Xian Gai looked bewildered.

"Laughing? Do you not realize how serious your situation is?"

Jo Hui became even more provocative.

"Then should I cry? You, the master, are confessing to driving your disciple into the depths of evil. I can only laugh. The 'Xian' (Immortal) in your title is so disgusting it makes me want to vomit."

"What