Most Beggar Gang branches are shabby.

They're located in abandoned government temples or collapsed house sites.

I don't know why.

Even though they have plenty of money...

Is it to maintain their identity as beggars in their own way?

Especially in the case of Dongting Lake, the beggars' income was quite good.

This place overflowing with entertainment facilities.

Every other person passing through is a poet or scholar, or a wanderer sightseeing at Dongting Lake with good spending habits.

When families come out for outings and see beggars, don't they encourage almsgiving for their children's emotional development and cultivation of compassion?

Yet the places where beggars live are always shabby. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Of course, their faces look good.

Because they eat well...

Oweng Gae, the branch leader of Beggar Gang's southern branch at Dongting Lake, was the same.

His face covered in old grease, sigh.

He should wash at least, but what's he so proud of?

"Hahaha! To meet the Family Head Tang! This must be a lucky day!"

"Ah, yes."

Cheonyeong smiled bitterly at the sight of Oweng Gae laughing heartily, his thick belly jiggling beneath his clothes.

Despite breaking the unspoken rule of beggars never to wake them in the morning, he seemed so delighted.

But keep some distance.

You're getting grease on me.

Yu Seong-yeon, who came with him, was already far away.

He was completely outside the branch.

That coward.

"I've heard much about you. When you visited Dongting Lake before, I even led a surveillance team under Successor Beggar's command, but unfortunately I didn't get to meet you."

"Ah... huh?"

Cheonyeong, who had been nodding absently, suddenly opened his eyes wide at Oweng Gae's words.

"Successor Beggar?"

"Huh? You didn't know? After making great contributions in eliminating the assassin organization, he is formally promoted to Successor Beggar."

"Hmm, that's good news?"

Successor Beggar of Beggar Gang.

Unless you slap the faction leader's cheek or commit some major crime, becoming the next generation's faction leader was virtually a foregone conclusion.

Kehehehe.

Such good news.

It was something Cheonyeong had always dreamed of.

If Baekta became the faction leader?

Wouldn't the Tang Family gain the best intelligence network in the world?

"Actually, I've always thought that Baekta would become Successor Beggar. With Yunnan, Blue Green Sect... there was no one to compete with."

Oweng Gae, who had been pleased, suddenly lowered his voice and leaned in close, whispering.

"I heard that the Family Head Tang played a major role?"

"Yes?"

Cheonyeong slightly pulled back his upper body as he answered.

Don't come closer.

"Not just Hu Gae, but I also heard you helped Senior Nosaeng Gae, the branch leader of Ganyang, enter the upper ranks."

Oweng Gae's eyes gleamed with greed in addition to the grease.

But did Nosaeng Gae also go to the upper ranks?

He hadn't seen him recently and didn't know the news.

"Please, I'll do my best while you're here. Please never forget the name Oweng Gae. Hehehehe."

Fortunately, he avoided the hand that tried to shake his.

By subtly putting his hands behind his back.

Oweng Gae, embarrassed by his extended hand, quickly smiled and changed the subject.

"That person over there is Qinghua Daojang, the senior disciple of Qingcheng, right?"

He seemed to recognize Yu Seong-yeon.

But since it's Beggar Gang...

"By the way, a letter from Changlim Geomson arrived, so I was going to pass it on."

"A letter?"

"Yes."

As Oweng Gae received a sealed message from his subordinate and handed it to Yu Seong-yeon, his face darkened as he read it.

"Why?"

"He says to go to Wudang."

"Wudang?"

"Yes. The Wudang Sect Leader's birthday is in five days, so he says to pay respects while you're in Hubei."

"Then just go? Why that expression?"

"No! How could you say that!"

"Huh?"

"Will you be okay without me?"

"..."

"I've been such good company for you."

Cheonyeong looked at Yu Seong-yeon with drowsy eyes.

When? You?

You're just a freeloader.

Someone who only wastes money...

But because of their friendship over time, he couldn't bring himself to say what was on his mind.

"Go."

"C-Can I go?"

"Yeah, go no matter what. Don't worry about anything."

"But..."

"Go! You bastard! Are you going to ignore your master's orders! You have to leave in five days!"

At Cheonyeong's cold words, Yu Seong-yeon pouted his lips and scraped the ground with his feet.

"You bastard! Go now! Right now!"

"Tch."

Yu Seong-yeon, with his lips protruding five fingers' worth, bowed his head to Cheonyeong with a regretful expression.

"Then I'll be going. While I'm away, don't get bored..."

"Shut up! Get out!"

At Cheonyeong's words, Yu Seong-yeon turned around with furrowed brows.

He was full of regret, but his pace was quick.

"Hmm, so that's the senior disciple. His light skill is remarkable."

"Remarkable? More than that, you said Oweng Gae, right?"

"Yes?"

"I'd like to ask for some help."

"Help?!"

"Yes?"

At those words, Oweng Gae's eyes widened and his neck muscles tensed.

"You there! Everyone clear out and scatter! Guard the perimeter of the branch! Hurry!"

"Yes!"

At his loud shout, the beggars jumped up and scattered in all directions.

Why so much?

"Tell me. What can I help you with?"

He was full of enthusiasm and sincerity.

His eyes gleaming as if pleading to be allowed to help was quite burdensome.

"Do you happen to know where... no, where Hu Gae is?"

"Hu Gae?"

"Yes."

"Well, he's staying at Zongduan."

"Zongduan means Kaifeng?"

"That's right."

It was Henan Province.

"Hmm, it's farther than I thought. Could you call him?"

"Yes? Right now?"

"Why?"

"Ah, since Hu Gae just attended his appointment ceremony recently... I'm not sure about his schedule."

"Well then, just send a message investigating one person."

"Which one?"

"Gongsun Yuan."

"Gongsun... Yuan?"

"Yes, it must be someone from quite long ago. An elder of the Gongsun family located in the southern part of Dongting."

"That... I can do that too."

Oweng Gae's expression noticeably darkened.

Perhaps, like Nosaeng Gae and Baekta, he had hoped to help and walk the path to success.

Greed for power from a beggar.

But it's just a bit higher.

However, Cheonyeong spoke quietly without showing it.

"Oweng Gae, was it?"

"Yes."

"The branch leader has separate work to do with me."

"Yes? With the Family Head?"

"Yes, only the branch leader will do."

"Ah!"

The dark expression vanished from Oweng Gae's face.

"Understood. I'll send an urgent messenger to Hu Gae right now."

"Thank you. But make sure to investigate thoroughly and secretly. Please emphasize that."

"Thoroughly and secretly..."

"Yes, it must absolutely not leak outside. And tell him it needs to be detailed. If it's related to Gongsun Yuan, include all the minor anecdotes."

"Even anecdotes... Understood. I'll write and send the message myself right away without delegating to subordinates."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention thanks between us."

Oweng Gae smiled and ran off quickly.

I don't know what "between us" means.

But the two people who had been close to him before.

Nosaeng Gae and Baekta had precedent for rising with full support from within Beggar Gang...

From now on, he would nod his head and do his best no matter what Cheonyeong said.

A greedy beast is always good to use.

What can you do?

He's doing it willingly.

"Family Head! I sent it. I just sent it now."

See, he's so happy just sending one messenger?

"What should I do now? What can I help you with?"

At Oweng Gae's words, Cheonyeong, who had been silent for a moment, spoke.

"Let's investigate the Gongsun family."

"...Yes?"

"The Gongsun family, the one at Dongting Lake."

"Why there?"

At the puzzled question, Cheonyeong spoke with a serious expression and grave tone.

"Because of suspicion that they're related to the assassin organization."

"W-What? The assassin organization?"

"Yes."

"No, that's... what?"

"You know? The recent crackdown on assassin organizations rooted throughout the central plains under Hu Gae's leadership?"

"Of course I know. But what does that have to do with the Gongsun family?"

"My, my. You don't know who gave Hu Gae the information to conduct that crackdown?"

"Yes?"

"It was me."

"Yes?"

"I told him everything. And now I'm suspicious of the Gongsun family."

"Ah..."

Oweng Gae nodded.

He seemed to be thinking, but he would eventually help.

Because a thick piece of meat to draw out greed had already been thrown before his eyes.

The assassin organization information that made Baekta Hu Gae.

Even if it's only suspicion, he would have no choice but to investigate.

"Let's go! I'll lead the way!"

Oweng Gae confidently headed toward the Gongsun family.

* * *

"Since then, the Gongsun family has already lost its former glory."

"Since then?"

"After the young family head died."

He didn't die.

Wasn't he alive and well in the Tang Family?

"There was a family conflict."

"Family conflict? You mean the uncles fought among themselves?"

"Sigh, when people who won't even share a single bean are left, it's inevitable. They fought in wine houses, fought in taverns. They divided their forces and caused quite a commotion trying to seize as much property as possible."

"I see."

It was expected, but it seems the trouble did occur.

What would Gongsun Seung think if he heard this story?

He was someone who had left his hometown unable to personally strike down his uncles despite experiencing such turmoil.

"Countless vagrants and ruffians entered the areas controlled by the Gongsun family. They were called in by the brothers to win the family conflict. How could the shops and merchant groups under them endure?"

They couldn't possibly endure.

A rabbit fighting over one piece of food called in a pack of hyenas...

It must have been similar to Mandok Estate.

"The merchant groups left, and all the shops became the property of ruffians."

"The common people must have suffered greatly."

"Yes. Who would have thought the Gongsun family would fall so suddenly? Eventually they lost all their property, and only one person survived."

"Just one?"

"Yes, Gongsun Cheok, the second son."

"Ah..."

"The burden of having killed all his brothers seems to weigh on him. He's become quite a wreck. Well, how much blood is on those hands? It's natural for a person."

"I see."

"Recently, he seems to be staying in the only remaining estate, just drinking."

"His situation has become pitiful."

At Cheonyeong's words, Oweng Gae shook his head.

"It's karma, karma. It's what they brought upon themselves. Think about it—didn't they kill that young family head too?"

"Hmm..."

"But this fellow still can't quit gambling."

"Gambling?"

"Yes."

"There's a gambling house run by ruffians, and it seems he visits whenever his property is sold off."

"Hmm..."

Cheonyeong fell into thought for a moment.

The Gongsun family.

Once praised as "Revering Virtue and Expanding Business," it was a place whose fame spread throughout Dongting Lake and beyond to all corners.

But meeting the wrong master, it collapsed in a single day.

It would disappear.

Eventually...

Cheonyeong, walking down the street, stopped.

"Huh? Why? If we just turn that corner and go a bit more..."

I know.

Don't I know the way?

In my previous life, how many times did I traverse these streets as an auxiliary assassin sent to kill Gongsun Seung?

But my thoughts have changed.

Samyang?

I need to find it quickly. Before Jingagu does.

But now I have something to do.

Wasn't Gongsun Seung someone who cherished his family more than anyone?

Though he left his hometown and joined the Tang Family, there would still be lingering feelings for the Gongsun family in a corner of his heart.

He just wouldn't show it.

And now, hearing that the Gongsun family has collapsed and everything they built has fallen into others' hands...

It would naturally make him thirsty for alcohol, and he would regret it deeply.

"Tch, I can't leave this alone."

Cheonyeong muttered, frowning.

What can I do?

It's family business.

Besides, it's time to establish a branch at Dongting Lake.

Now that I've formed a strong bond with Namgwangro, I can't be running that far distance every time, can I?

This is a good opportunity to use the Gongsun family to expand the Tang Family's territory, which is currently limited to Sichuan.

"Family Head? Please say something."

"Branch Leader."

"Yes?"

"Let's change the plan a bit."

"The plan?"

"Yes."

"Which one?"

"You said ruffians took over the Gongsun family's property?"

"Yes."

"Please investigate them."

"What should I investigate?"

"Whether there was any conspiracy or corruption in the process of them taking over the Gongsun family's property."

"Yes?"

"There will probably be plenty if you dig. Because they're that type of people."

Nature doesn't change.

That's how ruffians are.

They're much more familiar with abnormal methods than normal ones.

"And please deliver my message to two places."

"Yes! Just tell me."

"First, Gunsan Faction."

"Yes?"

"Tell them I said to send all the faction's boats to the Tang Family."

"Yes? Me?"

"If you say I said so, they won't say anything."

"..."

"And send a messenger to the Tang Family. Tell them the Family Head is looking for the secondary family head and branch family heads, and to come quickly with a hundred martial artists."

Cheonyeong held a sinister smile.

Pirate boats.

The fastest and most convenient means of transportation.

The Tang Family's actual strength, having received the advance messenger and made preparations, would quickly arrive at Dongting Lake by boat.

"Please."

"Understood."

Hearing Oweng Gae's response, Cheonyeong knocked on the crumbling gate of the Gongsun family.

Now he would take the Gongsun family into his hands under the Tang Family name.

Expand territory while searching for Samyang.

Most importantly, to resolve the resentment of his family.

(End of Chapter)