Although Cheonyeong's change in attitude was incomprehensible, Baekta chewed on his words and sorted out the situation.

The identity of the dancer and the dance boy was an assassin.

If so, it was highly likely that they were colleagues with the one who had died first, and all three had been killed by Cheonyeong.

"Alright. Since you're going to answer, I'll ask comfortably."

"Yes. Be comfortable, be comfortable."

"How did you find out that they were assassins?"

Well... because I was one of them. In a group of assassins called the Jingagu.

But he couldn't reveal that fact.

Also, to draw a line with them, he had to reveal everything about himself, but there was no way Baekta could understand.

It was an incomprehensible thing.

To have returned to the past.

To make Baekta understand, and to give his story legitimacy, something else was needed.

What would be good?

Cheonyeong, who had been pondering for a moment, organized his thoughts and said.

"...Inhoe."

"Inhoe?"

"Yes, it's a small city located north of Guizhou Province."

"...?"

"You've heard of the Mandeok Estate, right?"

Baekta nodded at Cheonyeong's words.

He had already heard about his past from Nosanggae.

The story of how the Mandeok Estate was destroyed by the conspiracy of the dead Yin Hand Chamber Master, and how Cheonyeong was exploited by his creditors.

"At that time, I ran away from my creditors and relied on a group of vagrants."

"You were a vagrant in Inhoe?"

"Yes. It was a difficult time. Anyway, there was a leader of a vagrant gang named Ucheol."

"..."

"And by chance, I found out that he was selling vagrant children to an assassin organization."

"What!?"

"It's true. Although it was something that shouldn't have been done, he must have been able to make a good profit."

"What a trashy punk..."

"I was almost sold at that time too."

"So?"

"Somehow, I left Inhoe with the children of the same gang at that time, and I was able to establish the Tang Family's estate."

This much was true.

If Baekta wanted to investigate, it was something he could easily find out.

Because there were also Beggars' Sect members in Inhoe.

"But I was very curious. What kind of punks were kidnapping poor children and raising them as assassins."

"Then? Are you saying you followed them?"

"Yes."

Cheonyeong nods his head.

From here on, it was a lie.

It didn't matter if he investigated.

Because it was a fabricated story that could never be found out, no matter what method was used.

"Then, the ones who died at your hands this time?"

"It was pure luck that I found out about them."

"Luck?"

"Yes. Do you think there are no children who were sold to assassin organizations in Sicheon? Nosanggae probably didn't know either. Because they are secretive."

"Then you?"

"Didn't you hear? That the Tang Family's estate is opening a new life for vagrants?"

"Ah! I heard. My senior brother praised that part quite a bit."

"No matter how secret it is, family members tend to confide in each other. And I am the one who gave those punks hope. Is there anything they can't tell me?"

Cheonyeong skillfully packaged the lie, and Baekta came to believe that it was plausible enough.

"By any chance, is that why you gave me the condition of keeping it a secret?"

"You're quick to understand. That's right. Although I rushed here after getting information that those punks would be active at Dongting Lake, it's not good for an assassin organization to be interested in me."

"Because you might become a target?"

"Yes. I don't care about myself, but the Tang Family's estate is not okay. Because they are still weak punks."

"Hmm..."

Baekta nods his head without realizing it.

If Cheonyeong's words were true, wasn't he a pretty good punk?

Although he had revealed his position as being between Orthodox and Unorthodox, he had pitied the situation of the kidnapped vagrants.

So that no more harm would be done.

It was chivalry.

Although he was unpredictable and as changeable as if he had bipolar disorder... that was at the base of his actions.

Of course, that was Baekta's misunderstanding.

Cheonyeong had never even thought of such a thing.

But because of his words now, history would flow as it had.

He had just slightly changed the reason why the Beggars' Sect would persistently chase the Jingagu.

"If you need to, contact Inhoe County and find out. The vagrant gangs there all know the truth."

"They all know?"

"Yes. Because it was an incident where a thirteen-year-old kid destroyed a vagrant gang."

"What? He destroyed it? You?"

"Yes. I cut the tendons of the arms and legs of a punk named Ucheol. Sometimes, being alive can be more painful than dying."

"How could you do such a thing?"

"Because I'm the type who doesn't hesitate to use my hands for necessary things. I have no intention of forgiving punks who sell children for their own profit."

"Hmm..."

Although he had heard that he had a habit of saying that he would never forget a grudge and would repay it tenfold.

Had he been like that since he was that young?

"But weren't you only in your teens at that time? Weren't most of the vagrant gangs adults? How could you, who were born in the Mandeok Estate, which was not a martial family, do such a thing?"

"Who said that? If you're not from a martial family, you don't know martial arts?"

"What?"

"Don't all families have a secret technique or two?"

"A secret technique?"

"Yes. There is a secret technique that others don't know. The problem was that I learned it after my family was ruined."

"Hmm."

Although Cheonyeong had changed the martial art he had obtained in his past life into a family secret technique, there was no way Baekta would know.

Because it was a family secret technique.

"Alright. I'll find out if your words are true or not by investigating."

"Go ahead."

"I'll ask one more thing."

"Anything."

"Do you also know the purpose of those assassins you killed at Dongting Lake this time?"

"To some extent."

"What is it?"

"Will you keep it a secret?"

Baekta nods his head with a serious expression at Cheonyeong's words.

Cheonyeong believed his answer.

Because he was the future Drunken Immortal.

In fact, there was no way Baekta would back down even if he hid it. He would surely chase him and bother him until he found out.

It was better to reveal it in advance. So that all the facts would be in his favor.

"Gongson Seung."

"Gongson Seung, the young family head of the Gongson family?"

"Yes."

"He's the commission target?"

"That's right. You would know, right? The situation of that family."

"Hmm."

How could Baekta not know?

Since it was a rather famous family in Dongting Lake, a lot had been figured out about that family.

The relationship between the uncle and the young family head.

It was entirely possible.

"That's a relief. I heard he was a talented boy with a promising future... thanks to you, he was saved."

"Can you say he was saved?"

"What?"

"Punks full of greed have already attached themselves to him. From what I've found out, there have already been two precedents."

Although it was a nonchalant statement, it was enough to surprise Baekta.

Two precedents.

The successive deaths of Gongson Gang, who had died in an unexpected accident, and the old family head, Gongson Muryang.

Although there was plenty of circumstantial evidence, the Beggars' Sect had not been able to find any special physical evidence, so they could only be suspicious.

But Cheonyeong was speaking as if he already knew the culprit.

"H-how did you?"

"Let's skip the explanation. It's a personal secret method."

Baekta was just confused at the sight of Cheonyeong winking and holding back his words.

This guy... what kind of ability does he have?

To already know something that even the Beggars' Sect couldn't find any definite physical evidence for.

"Anyway. That punk named Gongson Seung, he may be able to live this time, but will he be able to do so next time?"

"Hmm..."

It's hard to say for sure.

As Cheonyeong said, a person obsessed with greed can do anything several times to achieve their goal.

Blood relatives?

Sometimes, the profit in front of you takes precedence over such things.

Especially, the situation of the Gongson family was even more so.

"So? What are you going to do?"

"Well."

"Well?"

"I'm having a hard time coming up with an answer, so I'm thinking of intervening in someone else's life."

"Intervene?"

"Yes."

"How on earth?"

"That's..."

Cheonyeong slowly explained his plan.

In the meantime, Baekta's expression changed several times.

And then.

"That's not right! That's a crime!"

"Are you the one to talk, who secretly ordered surveillance on others?"

"Well..."

Baekta shuts his mouth as Cheonyeong looks at him with a sullen expression.

"It's a way to save a person."

"I know, I understand what you're saying. But no matter what..."

"Is there another way?"

"That... hmm..."

He couldn't answer readily.

As Cheonyeong said, there was no other way.

But, even if that action contained the chivalry of prioritizing life, it was not right to use a wrong means.

"I can't accept it. It would be better to reveal all the facts and..."

"If you reveal it?"

"What?"

"A bloodbath will ensue. Since the ones who were obsessed with greed were discovered trying to handle things secretly, won't it become a do-or-die situation?"

"..."

"Let's leave the choice to that punk."

Cheonyeong smirked, and Baekta pondered.

What should he do?

Baekta pondered and pondered between right and wrong.

The purpose is good, but the means are not.

"Cheonyeong."

"What?"

"I fully sympathize with your intentions. But, my reason doesn't seem to accept that action."

"So?"

"If I didn't know, I didn't know, but since I've found out, as a Beggars' Sect member, I have no choice but to stop you."

"..."

"Even if you are right."

"Hmm, then the answer is out."

"Hmm."

When opinions clash between those who live in the martial world, there is only one way to make a decision.

No need for questions and answers.

Even if you distinguish between Orthodox and Unorthodox, the place where power is justice is the martial world, isn't it?

In fact, he was a little curious.

The victory of half a chi that he had obtained from Jang Myeongseon, who had the name of the Drunken Immortal.

What about now?

What kind of skills did the young him have?

And how much could he, who had learned the Samyang Divine Art, compete with him?

Of course, Baekta would feel the same way.

Curiosity. He must be desperate for a solution.

"Shall we move?"

"Let's do that."

Cheonyeong and Baekta left the inn, leaving several bottles of wine on the table.

* * *

On the last day of the old family head Gongson Muryang's funeral.

Swa-a-a-a.

As if mourning his death, it rained cats and dogs.

"Family Head..."

"Sob sob."

But despite the pouring rain, many people poured out onto the street for the departing funeral procession.

The people, who had prostrated themselves without caring about the muddy ground, cried continuously.

The road would not have been lonely.

Because the good deeds he had done in his lifetime were not few, and everyone mourned for him.

However, the problem was the living.

The day after the funeral ended.

At the time when the morning sun rose brilliantly, the young family head Gongson Seung's personal servant, Lee Eokgi, stood cautiously in front of the door.

The Gongson family's family head's pavilion, Deokheung.

It was the place where Gongson Seung, who had seen off his grandfather's last journey without even a raincoat in the pouring rain the day before, was sleeping.

Although he was very tired and exhausted, he had only fallen asleep late at night, so he had deliberately come later than usual.

But it was soon time for a meeting with his uncles, who were clinging to him like ghouls.

Although he wanted to let him rest a little more, Lee Eokgi, who knew the dark inner thoughts of his uncles, had no choice but to visit the Deokheung Hall to serve his master.

"Family Head. Family Head."

It was strange.

No matter how late he went to bed, wasn't he the young master who always woke up in the dim dawn before the sun rose and read the classics?

But no matter how many times he called from outside the door, there was no answer.

"He must have been really tired. For the Family Head to oversleep."

Lee Eokgi, who had tilted his head, could not wait any longer and grabbed the doorknob.

"Family Head, it's Eokgi. I'm coming in for a moment."

The room he entered was very quiet.

Not even the sound of snoring, not even the sound of breathing could be heard.

Lee Eokgi approaches Gongson Seung, who is lying on the bed in a proper posture as if dead, and looks at him quietly.

Thirteen-year-old Gongson Seung.

Although he was young, everyone knew that he was a good fit for the new family head of the Gongson family.

Although he was still young, he was born smart, so his work was reasonable, and he was praised for being fair and just.

And how hard did he study?

Not only did he master the Four Books and Three Classics at the age of four, but he also learned the Analects and Mencius, and received a 'pass' from his teachers every time.

Not only that?

He had an outstanding talent for mathematics, so they said he would become a giant of the commercial world in the future.

Of course, it was what he had heard.

What would a servant know? If the high-ranking gentlemen said so, he would know it was so.

Hadn't the family head in his lifetime guaranteed that if Gongson Seung succeeded him, the name of the Gongson family would resound throughout the world?

Lee Eokgi really liked such a Gongson Seung.

Always humble, always working hard...

"How can he even sleep so neatly? Those punks called uncles are making such a fuss because they can't kick out a person like this. Aigoo."

Although he was furious just thinking about it, what could he, who was just a servant, do?

He could only serve Gongson Seung well by his side so that he could overcome the ordeal well.

But he couldn't let him sleep any longer.

Wasn't Gongson Seung the one who would have to be tormented by his uncles for a long time at the meeting that would soon be held?

Because he might be caught for no reason and be tormented by them, who would pick a fight over every little thing. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Even if his action was a disrespectful act of disturbing his master's sweet sleep, he had to wake him up quickly.

"Family Head, Family Head."

Lee Eokgi shook the sleeping Gongson Seung's body.

"Family Head?"

He didn't wake up easily.

"Family Head!"

Just as Lee Eokgi's voice grew louder and the force of his shaking grew stronger.

Tuk.

Gongson Seung's hand, which had been gently folded on his stomach, falls to the side with a thud.

(End of Chapter)