How much time had passed?

Finally calming his anger, Cheonyeong sat sprawled on the ground, breathing heavily.

Then he looked at Gongsun Yuan's wooden tablets that had scattered and fallen in all directions from his angry gestures.

They were already old objects.

Trampled and rubbed, they couldn't withstand the impact of being thrown around and falling.

The string that had held the wooden tablets together was torn, and the wooden pieces were broken into fragments.

What did it matter?

Who would know that anything remained when he had even destroyed the gourd?

Besides, it was something that shouldn't remain.

This was information only he should know.

"I'll just use it as kindling."

Cheonyeong, with an irritated expression, gathered the fragments of the wooden tablets.

He wanted to leave them as they were, but it seemed he shouldn't leave them unattended.

Zhengu.

Those damn bastards were searching for Samyang Shengong.

In his previous life, even though they had completed the assassination commissioned by the Gongsun family, they seemed unable to find clues from the gourd necklace.

So when he obtained the Secret Manual, they chased him madly.

But if they had targeted the Gongsun family, wouldn't they also be searching for the rest?

Moreover, since he had gotten involved and changed the situation, the present couldn't be the same as the previous life.

He had to confirm.

At the end of the wooden tablets, Gongsun Yuan hoped that descendants of the Eight Immortals would find the Gongsun family and recover the Secret Manual.

"In the end, I have to go to the Gongsun family? And I also need to understand what kind of war Gongsun Yuan recorded."

Though he was angry that his tasks had suddenly increased, what could he do?

He had to move before Jingagu.

He had to search for Gongsun Yuan's records remaining in the Gongsun family.

There must be something somewhere.

And he also had to find the remaining Eight Immortals and who they were.

What was needed at times like this?

"Baekta."

Let's go down first.

Burn the wooden tablets and contact Baekta through Beggar Gang.

"Ugh! I'm so frustrated!"

As Cheonyeong swallowed his curses and walked down clumsily, Namgwangro, who had been waiting, approached with a bright expression.

"Oh, are you done?"

"Done with what?"

"Huh?"

"What's done?"

Cheonyeong answered curtly to Namgwangro, who asked with great anticipation.

He was already frustrated enough.

"Listen, replacing Sanggun..."

"Ah, that?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He hadn't thought about it.

It was just an excuse to chase away Namgwangro, and he had forgotten because he only learned frustrating information.

"I noticed you seemed to be thinking hard?"

But Namgwangro, unaware of Cheonyeong's feelings, showed his anticipation with sparkling eyes.

Sigh, damn it.

What should he say?

Should he admit he hadn't thought about it?

No.

Namgwangro wasn't the type to give up.

He would definitely keep bothering him about the title.

Whatever it was, something rough would do.

Let's see, something related to water...

Cheonyeong searched his mind and recalled many names.

Gonggong.

A water deity, but it means a bad person, so it would be annoying if he found out...

"How about Zhulong?"

"Zhulong?"

"Yes. According to ancient records in the Shanhaijing, there's a massive red dragon living on Zhonghua Mountain called Zhulong."

"Hmm."

"Zhulong, who governs the four seasons and watches over human life, only observes the world without winning battles or taking enemies' lives."

"Me?"

"Zhulong."

"Ah..."

"You'll live that way from now on. Leisurely."

"Well, the sound is a bit off, but the meaning is good?"

"Isn't it?"

"Thank you. From now on, I'll be Dongting Zhulong Namgwangro. Hahaha. Brother, since I've been reborn, we should have another drink!"

More drinking?

Well, anyway, the new title was resolved without major problems.

Now it was time to deal with the postponed matters.

"We've also had a good reunion, so let's discuss the compensation issue."

"Huh?"

"I told you. Because you didn't intervene in the Black Heaven Sect matter and just watched, the Tang Family suffered great losses."

"Ah, that... I couldn't help it."

"The Black Heaven Sect paid one hundred taels."

"What? One hundred taels? Didn't you say you destroyed the Minglun Chamber and seized Neijiang Wharf on your way here?"

"Those are different things."

"..."

"Neijiang was something I obtained through effort. The compensation from the Black Heaven Sect is because of their interference."

"Well, even so, one hundred taels. I heard there was a Great Xia Meng, but you somehow got him to accept your demands?"

News travels fast.

He hadn't told detailed stories, but they knew who was there.

Well, since he came to welcome them, he must have been observing the situation.

"Who said silver?"

"Huh?"

"Gold. One hundred taels of gold!"

"W-What? Gold taels?"

"That's the least I should receive. Almost, the accumulated losses would have destroyed the Tang Family."

At those words, Namgwangro opened his mouth wide and looked at Cheonyeong.

"Y-You received one hundred taels from Great Xia Meng... you really have incredible audacity?"

"That's not all?"

"Huh?"

"Gunsan Faction remains. Come on, pay up. Compensation."

"W-What?"

"I told you. Because you made a covenant and then watched, the Tang Family suffered great losses."

As he extended his hand, Namgwangro swallowed hard with a bewildered expression.

"L-Listen. Actually, we didn't break the covenant, did we?"

"What do you mean?"

"Think about it. Our contract was about tolls, and we only made a covenant not to touch boats with the Tang Family flag. The Minglun Chamber touching the Tang Family in Neijiang wasn't related to us..."

"Ah, so you'll pretend not to know from now on? Then do that. Break the contract, and let's fight from now on."

"What?"

"What's a toll? Let's just fight. Let's see who wins and settle it once and for all."

At Cheonyeong's turnabout attitude, Namgwangro made a troubled expression.

Cheonyeong Tang.

This bastard was more than capable of it.

He was the leader of Sichuan's unorthodox faction, and wasn't he the one who fought even in front of Meng Sheguang, called one of the Three Sages of the central plains?

Meanwhile, though not mentioned yet, this fellow knew all his secrets.

If he spread rumors everywhere out of spite?

"O-Fifty taels!"

"Yes?"

"No more than that!"

At his sudden shout, Cheonyeong stared at Namgwangro and then smiled.

"Who asked for money?"

"Huh? No? You said one hundred gold taels earlier..."

"Come on, how do you see me? Is Gunsan Faction the same as the Black Heaven Sect, complete strangers?"

"Huh?"

"How could I ask Gunsan Faction for one hundred taels?"

"Then?"

"Let's renegotiate."

"Renegotiate?"

"Yes, but we'll lower the percentage from before."

Namgwangro blinked.

Not money, but percentage?

It was something to be relieved about, but given the other party, shouldn't he hear how much they'd cut?

"H-How much?"

"Seventy percent of the original."

"What!? You're cutting thirty percent? Per boat? Do you know how much that is?"

"Of course I know. Even if I don't have talent in mathematics, I calculate much faster than you?"

"But thirty percent?"

"My, you're getting excited again."

"How can I not get excited? Even if Gunsan Faction has enjoyed abundance without much effort thanks to you, thirty percent is too much. That's..."

"It's possible."

"What?"

Cheonyeong shook his head and continued.

"Your thinking is so short-sighted. Sigh."

"What?"

"Brother."

"Why!"

"Think about it. The Tang Family seized Neijiang Wharf through this battle."

"I know!"

"What does that mean?"

"...?"

"All merchant ships coming down from northwestern Sichuan will now fly the Tang Family flag."

"Huh? Sichuan's..."

"Can you estimate how many that would be?"

"Well, so..."

"At least double or more."

"D-Double?"

"I haven't calculated exactly, but it would be more?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Namgwangro's eyes widened.

Even now it's abundant.

Since trading with the Tang Family, income has increased noticeably. It's just a matter of counting passing boats, so there's no worry about pirates getting hurt.

And now all merchant ships from northwestern Sichuan fly the Tang Family flag, so if the renegotiation succeeds, income would be more than double.

"Thirty percent is cheap, isn't it?"

Namgwangro, persuaded by Cheonyeong's words, kept nodding.

"So let's think about it."

"About what?"

"Considering the entire Yangtze River pirate faction, what's your current standing?"

"Well... about this much?"

Namgwangro thought for a moment and held up all five fingers.

"Right? Even generously, you're in the top five?"

"That's right?"

"But if your income doubles here, and you expand your martial artists further, equipping them with quality weapons and martial arts?"

"...!"

"Isn't it time not to plan for retirement, but to dream of becoming the King of the Yangtze?"

"B-Becoming the King of the Yangtze?"

"Of course, it's a secret between us."

Namgwangro's throat bobbed larger than it ever had.

"Y-You... could it be? Me?"

"Let's try. I can't help openly, but..."

"Family Head Tang!"

"After all, where does the loyalty of pirates come from? Feed them well, clothe them well... yes? You know?"

Namgwangro nodded faster.

Good.

"Seventy percent of the original. Enough?"

"Of course! Absolutely!"

For Namgwangro, filled with ambition for power, even fifty percent would have been enough.

"But if you watch passively like this again. I'll see what I do."

"That won't happen. Whoever interferes with the Tang Family's waterway, I'll go personally and smash them! Yes!"

"That's a very good attitude. Then, shall we go write a new contract?"

"Let's go!"

Namgwangro walked ahead toward the pirate base readily, and Cheonyeong, following behind, held a sinister smile.

When does a person succeed doing just one thing?

Jingagu is Jingagu.

Samyang is Samyang.

Tang Family is Tang Family.

Anyway, with this, he had laid the groundwork to obtain the Yangtze.

Even if he was a naive person swayed by a few words, he would trust in Namgwangro's ambition and his efforts.

If someone with such remarkable martial prowess as to be called Sanggun, armed with vast capital, truly became the King of the Yangtze, it might happen.

On land, Beggar Gang. On waterways, Yangtze River pirate factions.

Good.

Already it felt like the world was in his hands.

Though the Tang Family was still only discussed as a mid-tier faction in Sichuan, one day it would surely extend to the entire world.

"By the way, brother."

"Speak, brother!"

Namgwangro answered powerfully, and Cheonyeong smiled gently.

He seemed ready to answer anything.

Now, then, it's the Gongsun family's turn.

"Is there a Beggar Gang branch nearby?"

"A Beggar Gang branch?"

"There is. But why? If you're looking for it too."

You would find it.

But if you tell me, it saves time.

"Where is it?"

"Damn, I don't want to be involved with those bastards if possible... but if it's for you, I can't help it. I'll guide you personally when dawn breaks."

"Personally?"

"Of course? As your brother, how could I send you alone to those vicious bastards?"

He seemed crazy.

If Namgwangro showed his face, they'd start fighting immediately.

"Just send me one surveillance boat. I'll handle it myself."

"But I should go..."

"War will break out."

"..."

"Please send it early in the morning."

"Understood. I'll tell the surveillance boat captain right away."

"Ah, that person?"

Cheonyeong also knew that person.

The first officer he met at Gunsan Faction.

"Let's go first. Go and write a new contract."

"Yes."

Returning to the pirate base, Cheonyeong chose one of the many bonfires scattered around and threw the wooden tablets he had brought into it without hesitation.

One down.

"Damn, I have to search for seven more."

He was already tired.

It seemed his fate was to never run out of work.

(End of Chapter)