Reincarnated Swordmaster

Chapter Title: Beggar Immortal

Beggar Immortal!

He was the former sect leader of the Beggars' Sect and the master of the current sect leader, one of the Three Great Eccentrics of the Righteous Faction. With this, I had now met all three of the Three Great Eccentrics: Mount Tai Old Man, Divine Monk, and Beggar Immortal. Beggar Immortal wore filthy beggar rags, but he was a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance. His perpetually drowsy eyes dominated his features. Flanking him on either side stood a man and a woman, both dressed in matching beggar attire.

Beggar Immortal spoke to Matteo Ricci.

"We've brought compensation rivaling gold, but will you hear our conditions first?"

"Gladly."

"We offer this instrument and its score."

The man and woman beside Beggar Immortal each produced a jade-green banhu and a single booklet, presenting them to Matteo Ricci. As Matteo Ricci accepted the instrument and score, Beggar Immortal explained.

"That instrument is called a banhu, and its inscribed name is Padalgaon. To play the Padalgaon, cultivate the score and sound technique within. The martial art is called Supreme Fragrance Heavenly Melody."

Beggar Immortal's lips twitched slightly. He was undoubtedly explaining via transmission. After listening intently for some time, Matteo Ricci said,

"Excellent. These two are no less valuable than gold."

"...!!"

I was a bit surprised. No matter how you sliced it, the gold we'd brought was enough to astonish even the provincial governor—yet the banhu and Supreme Fragrance Heavenly Melody matched its worth? Manggyang, however, showed no surprise and addressed Matteo Ricci.

"This goes against propriety. We came assuming a one-on-one deal. Had we known of competitors, we'd have prepared more."

"Hmm... that's fair. It seems the governor forgot to mention you."

Matteo Ricci replied nonchalantly, while the Guangdong governor averted his gaze. Clearly, he'd withheld the information to favor his acquaintance Beggar Immortal in securing the silver phoenix fragment. I was inwardly furious, but before I could speak, Matteo Ricci continued.

"So, why don't the two of you discuss it on the top floor? There's a conference room prepared. Settle who deserves the fragment... then summon me."

Matteo Ricci conferred briefly with the Guangdong governor, then departed downstairs with his guards. In an instant, the hall held only us facing Beggar Immortal's group.

An awkward silence fell. Without a word, we slowly ascended to the pavilion's top floor. That's where the discussion would happen. Upon arrival, Beggar Immortal and Manggyang sat across from each other at a large table. Manggyang spoke first.

"I never expected the Righteous Faction's greatest luminary, whose fame reaches the heavens, to covet treasure and intervene without regard for propriety."

Beggar Immortal replied leisurely.

"I've been retired for ages, and my disciple Iron Dragon handles the Beggars' Sect admirably. Is it so wrong for an old man in the back room to trade trinkets in his spare time? If there's fault, it lies with the Guangdong governor for not mentioning your involvement. Take it up with him."

"Hmph!"

Manggyang let out a grunt. Even I, observing, was stunned.

'For all his status and fame in the martial world, he speaks of the governor so casually.'

No honorifics, just blunt criticism. Considering the governor's rank rivaled a prince's as ruler of a province, it was unbelievable. Especially as rivals—this man feared no repercussions!

Manggyang pondered briefly before saying,

"What do you intend? I see the treasure's immense value, but we won't back down easily."

"Hmm, is that so... Then let's have some frank talk this time."

Beggar Immortal leaned back slightly, grinning as he said,

"Oh, right. There's a scoundrel here who won't even greet an old friend."

"......?"

"Bone-altering disguise or not, my eyes can't be fooled. Yun."

Yi Cheong-un, standing behind Manggyang, gave a wry smile.

"Sorry about that. I had my reasons."

"Can't you drop that ugly disguise?"

"Fine."

Yi Cheong-un circulated his qi, and the appearance I'd temporarily altered with shapeshifting reverted to normal. We'd all used shapeshifting for this meeting to mask our true faces. Yi Cheong-un asked,

"You saw through the disguise—and it's been ages since we met. How'd you spot me so quickly?"

Beggar Immortal chuckled through his drowsy eyes.

"Kehe. Absolute Realm, hiding thunder qi—no matter how vast the Central Plains, only you fit. Sole guardian of the Thunder God Style."

"Been too long."

"Indeed."

Watching their exchange, I felt a chill.

'Right... they were friends.'

Yi Cheong-un had once mentioned, in passing, his friendship with Beggar Immortal, one of the Righteous Faction's Three Great Eccentrics. I hadn't thought much of it then, but now I witnessed their reunion. Beggar Immortal scratched his head and said,

"Hmm... Last I heard, you vanished decades ago during the White Lotus Cult upheaval. Have you been in seclusion, building power since?"

Yi Cheong-un replied,

"Don't misunderstand. I'm not the Anti-Heaven Alliance Lord. I'm just here to assist him."

"Ho...? So Anti-Heaven Alliance isn't under Thunder God Style?"

"Correct."

Beggar Immortal seemed thoughtful, then turned to Manggyang.

"Anti-Heaven Alliance Lord. What's your relation to Yi Cheong-un?"

"No reason I should answer that."

"If you won't share, I've no important info to offer..."

"And if I do, you will?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

As Beggar Immortal replied slyly, Manggyang's voice grew stern.

"Our relation changes nothing. We're here to compete for the silver phoenix fragment's ownership. I won't answer irrelevancies."

"Hmm, fine."

Beggar Immortal slapped the table. Then he said,

"Tell me your relation to Yi Cheong-un and why you want the silver phoenix fragment, and I'll withdraw here and now, staking my name. How's that?"

"No."

Manggyang's eyes sharpened further.

"We're confident we can outbid you, even at greater cost. You think we'd foolishly reveal our secrets out of fear of you alone?"

"Stubborn..."

"We demand the same. Why does Senior Beggar Immortal seek the silver phoenix fragment?"

Beggar Immortal crossed his arms, grinning.

"I collect ancient relics as a hobby."

"What?"

"What I just offered Yi Madu are treasures I've gathered in my later years. Acquiring storied items lifts the spirits. When the Guangdong governor mentioned the silver phoenix fragment, I got greedy."

An implausible tale at face value. Manggyang mulled it over before responding.

"So you won't withdraw?"

"You said you're confident of winning. Same here. If you up the ante, I'll offer my disciples as guards to Yi Madu."

The man and woman beside Beggar Immortal looked up. The man was tall and handsome; the woman, clear-featured, beautiful, and pure. Despite their beggar garb, they were striking beauties. But we weren't focused on looks. Yi Cheong-un grunted,

"Your prized disciples, after years of effort?"

"Sharp eyes! Haha. Poured my heart into them."

Proudly patting his male disciple's shoulder, Beggar Immortal continued.

"They're older than they seem but have reached profound realms under my tutelage. Yi Madu can't refuse."

"Mid-forties?"

"About. Longtime students of mine."

I grasped Yi Cheong-un's implication, thanks to my own high martial attainment. Secretly transmitting to Manggyang via tongue sword,

[Manggyang, That man and woman are both transcendent experts.]

Their youthful looks despite middle age stemmed from halting decay via vast inner power and will-proof of their depths. Manggyang, startled, replied,

[Truly? I sense little aura from them...]

[Their enlightenment radiates. They're concealing their power.]

[Thanks, Baekwoong.]

Manggyang had trained some self-defense arts amid spell studies, but couldn't discern top experts hence my tip. Still, even I felt uneasy.

'What? Beggar Immortal's transcendent, sure... but raising two more?'

Transcendent experts weren't commonplace. Even famed Nine Great Sect elders rarely surpassed peak realm; transcendent was for prodigies after lifetimes of toil. Most martial artists died short of peak, let alone transcendent. Sects yearned to cultivate them, but couldn't force it. White Lotus Cult overflowed with them via sacred lotuses, millennium-honed supreme arts, and the Absolute Realm leader's personal instruction—unmatched. For Beggar Immortal to produce two transcendent experts in Anti-Absolute Realm... what capabilities did he possess? As I warily eyed him, Yi Cheong-un said,

"You've little interest in martial affairs, I know. For your old friend's sake, won't you yield?"

"Hmm. Yield... yield..."

Beggar Immortal closed his eyes thoughtfully. Finally, opening them to slits, he said,

"Very well. Tell me Anti-Heaven Alliance's goal, Alliance Lord, and I'll withdraw."

"I'm a retired old bones. Just sate my curiosity—the Alliance's rise has piqued interest."

Manggyang and Yi Cheong-un exchanged glances. Manggyang relented.

"Promise not to share this with Beggars' Sect or others, and I'll tell."

"Of course. I don't even contact my disciple Iron Dragon. I stake my name: no word to the martial world."

"Anti-Heaven Alliance aims to check the imperial palace's human sacrifices and impending cataclysm, saving the innocent masses."

"Hmm!"

Beggar Immortal's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Leaning forward intrigued, he said,

"The palace performs human sacrifices? Evidence?"

"Plenty. They summon evil kia to unleash disaster. We move to stop them before Luoyang's massive upheaval."

"Heh... heheheh!"

Beggar Immortal erupted in eerie laughter.

Giggling awhile, he said,

"Fascinating!"

"What's so fascinating?"

"Nothing. The silver phoenix fragment is yours."

Beggar Immortal stood, continuing,

"Remember this: touch me not, and I shan't touch you... I'll merely watch. Heed it well."

Meaningful words.

Yi Cheong-un gruffly said,

"Same old posturing. No drink with an old friend?"

"Kehe. I'll sing my days away. Until the final moment."

"Take care."

Beggar Immortal soon descended with his disciples, withdrew, and left. Matteo Ricci then exchanged the gold for the silver phoenix fragment, telling us,

"Congratulations on securing the pair."

"What do you...?"

"No need for caution. I know it's a royal seal. You seek that dynasty's treasure, no doubt."

Matteo Ricci chuckled, adding,

"But it's unrelated to me. I seek something entirely different."

In that instant, I guessed his desire.

[I am Matteo Ricci, dispatched to the Great Ming Empire by Jesuit order... This is my guard, Hans Talhoffer.]

[Learned the Emerald Tablet's in the palace, but what a mess... No place for us. We'll take our leave.]

Indeed, in my past life, Matteo Ricci had infiltrated the palace's hall with the swordmaster Talhoffer, hunting the Emerald Tablet.

"He wants the Crystal Tablet, then."

I could've claimed the Crystal Tablet earlier but left it for world flow's sake. Giving it to Matteo Ricci might secure full cooperation...? Manggyang murmured low,

"I'd like deeper discussion. Perhaps future Alliance-Jesuit alliance."

"Ho! Most welcome. I was about to propose it."

Matteo Ricci drew a cross from his bosom, saying,

"Hearing Jesuit doctrine and our aims will reveal the path to humanity's salvation."

Matteo Ricci explained.

"We Jesuits came east to hunt powerful demon sorcerers infiltrating this land—and to find treasures bolstering the Guardian's power."

"What's that mean?"

"Hmm... complex. Do you know demons exist in this world?"

"Intimately."

Manggyang detailed our demon knowledge. Matteo Ricci sighed in relief.

"That simplifies things."

Collecting thoughts, he continued.

"The West is steeped in demonic paths, vitality waning, evils rampant. Culprit: the [Black Brotherhood], cult of the Evil God. They forced the Guardian to seal himself; protective barriers weakened..."

"Hmm..."

"Worse, demon sorcerers seek legendary eastern treasures, flooding the Central Plains. West and East alike will fall to their ambitions—thus our eastern mission."

"To save strangers? There's more."

"Naturally. To find relics freeing the self-sealed Western Guardian."

Jesuits sought to unseal the West's Guardian, bound by his own power? They came east for relics to strengthen the seal or awaken him. Hearing the tale, Manggyang queried oddly,

"Then why relinquish the silver phoenix fragment so easily? Might hold greater than gold value."

Matteo Ricci replied,

"No. I've gathered ample intel. None of the treasures it unlocks match our needs, so I traded. Better to spread Jesuit teachings in Dadu Kingdom and Guangdong with the gold."

"What good's proselytizing?"

"Our Guardian gains power from human faith. Expanding faith here bolsters him against demons and [Ancient Overlords'] kin."

"I see!"

The Western Guardian, like others, drew strength from popular belief. It all made sense. Matteo Ricci prayed briefly with cross held with sad eyes, then said,

"My Jesuit brothers pin hopes on the Emerald Tablet. Origin and trove of all alchemy, supreme relic... Hermes Trismegistus's final gift before ascension. Saint Germain fled east with it—we must reclaim it to forge the Philosopher's Stone and free the Guardian."

"...?"

Listening aside, I puzzled,

"Philosopher's Stone? Frees this Guardian how?"

"Precisely. It spends the world's balance—must stay in human hands. Sole means to forge it: the Emerald Tablet."

"I know the Stone grants immortality, infinite energy, universal creation..."

With such vast hidden powers, could Jesuits' all suffice? Yet their desperate eastbound quest to save the West silenced objection. Skin and hair aside, they were righteous fell. We left Matteo Ricci and headed straight for Balhae's royal chamber. Manggyang said tensely,

"Then, insert it."

Click.

The paired silver phoenix fragments slotted in.

Fwoooosh!!!

Blinding light erupted; the royal door creaked open. Spanning centuries, it revealed a pitch-black void within. Manggyang eyed it, unsurprised.

"As expected—law-crafted pocket dimension. Vast inside."

"Formations or traps?"

"Unlikely. Perfect key for royal blood only. And Manggyang extracted intel in a past life."

Manggyang gestured.

"Let's go."

Step...

We entered Balhae's royal chamber. Unlike the outer ruins, ancient Balhae structures dotted the interior. The expansion law resembled the Twelve Relic Lord's. Our steps halted before a jade throne—and the skeleton seated upon it.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!