Knock knock knock!

At the sound of forceful knocking, an elderly voice came from inside.

"Who is it?"

The one who opened the door a crack was an old servant of the Gongsun family, with white hair and a face full of wrinkles.

"Is the Gongsun Family Head here?"

"Yes?"

The servant looked Cheonyeong up and down, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back, smiling brightly. Though his hair was loosely disheveled, it had a distinctive shine, and his clothes clearly exuded nobility, so he seemed somewhat flustered.

"Who are you?"

"I'm someone leading a family called the Tang Family in Sichuan."

"The Tang Family of Sichuan?"

The servant tilted his head. Since Sichuan wasn't even a neighboring region, it was impossible that he had heard the name of the Tang Family, which he had never visited.

However, even if it was an unfamiliar family, since he said he led a family, the servant naturally considered him a person of high status and bowed respectfully with clasped hands.

"Forgive me for not recognizing you. But what brings you here?"

"Ah, I came to meet the Gongsun Family Head."

"The Family Head?"

"Yes."

The servant was simply bewildered. Wasn't the Gongsun family essentially ruined?

Recently, no one visited except for unsavory characters coming to collect gambling debts...

"Hahaha, there's no need to be so cautious. I had some connection with Seung when I stayed at Dongting before, so I came to visit."

"Seung... Huh? Do you mean the former Family Head?"

"Yes, I was very close with Gongsun Seung."

"Ah, I see."

Sadness flashed across the servant's face as he nodded.

"The previous... no, that person has already passed away."

"I know."

"Yes?"

"How could I, who was so close with Seung, not learn of the Gongsun family's misfortune? I simply thought I'd pour a cup of wine at his memorial tablet while passing through."

"I see."

Cheonyeong's words made the servant's face even darker.

There was a memorial tablet, but the ancestral shrine wasn't being properly maintained.

How could the brothers, who were killing each other over property, care about their ancestors' shrine?

"May I come in?"

"Well, yes. Please come in."

"Thank you."

The servant's deliberation didn't take long.

What did it matter if it was shabby?

No one had come to pour wine in a long time, so it was fortunate to have someone visit now.

Moreover, wasn't this someone who showed respect even to a lowly servant?

He didn't want to turn him away.

Even if he was scolded by the drunken Family Head for unnecessarily bringing a guest inside.

Following the servant into the estate, Cheonyeong couldn't help but frown.

The blue stones lining the path were left broken, and weeds filled every corner.

The destroyed halls and bloodstains that couldn't be cleaned, seeping everywhere, clearly revealed how fierce the fights between those uncles had been.

There were few workers visible throughout the estate, and they were all elderly.

The young people must have fled long ago.

Only the old would remain.

To maintain loyalty to the Gongsun family?

That was impossible.

They simply hadn't left.

Rather than settling in a new place, they had chosen to stay in the familiar one.

Still, the Gongsun family's former glory had collapsed to this state in just a few years.

This is why the master matters.

"This way."

The servant guided Cheonyeong to the ancestral shrine.

The shrine was even more desolate.

Weeds grew abundantly here and there.

Looking at how only the path and the space where the memorial tablets were placed seemed organized, it seemed the remaining servants had shown sympathy for the Gongsun family and maintained it as best they could.

"Is there wine?"

"Yes, there is, but..."

"I'll pay for it. Please bring it with a cup. I wasn't prepared."

"Yes?"

As Cheonyeong took out a silver tael from his pocket and offered it, the servant's eyes widened.

"That's... too much."

"It's fine. Since I came empty-handed without preparation, just consider it a gift for the visit."

He smiled gently and handed it over. The servant, who hesitated briefly, bowed deeply and ran off.

"Hmm..."

In the meantime, Cheonyeong examined the memorial tablets of the Gongsun family enshrined in the shrine.

Fortunately, they were undamaged here.

Indeed, why would they care about memorial tablets? They were just wooden plaques with names carved on them.

That's why it's even more fortunate. They were safely preserved despite the property disputes of those uncles.

"Let's see, Gongsun Yuan."

There should be a tablet.

If he was an ancestor of the Gongsun family and was called one of the Eight Immortals.

After tracing back several generations, Cheonyeong found one tablet and smiled.

"Found it, Gongsun Yuan. Let's see... the tenth generation?"

Assuming one generation was about thirty years, he was a figure from roughly three hundred years ago.

Cheonyeong frowned upon realizing the passage of time.

The Samyang Divine Skill left by Samyang Shengjun didn't mention any specific era.

"Damn, I wonder if I can find records like this."

Cheonyeong scratched his head.

Wasn't this too long ago?

At this rate, just having a name left would be fortunate.

But Jingagu... they're pursuing something from such ancient times?

This wasn't an assassin organization with history and tradition.

"Sigh, at least I've confirmed the name exists, so I need to find history related to it. Sigh, I wonder if the Gongsun family properly preserved it."

Just then, the servant returned with wine and a cup.

There was even a simple plate of food.

The power of silver.

Cheonyeong placed a cup at Gongsun Seung's memorial tablet and chuckled internally.

He's alive and well...

"Elder."

"Yes?"

"Where is the Family Head?"

"The... the Family Head?"

"Yes, I can't just secretly look at someone else's shrine and leave. I should properly greet the master of the house."

"Well, that's true, but..."

The servant couldn't hide his troubled expression.

The Family Head Gongsun Cheok had gotten drunk last night and still hadn't woken up.

"Let's go. I have things to tell him."

"...Yes."

As Cheonyeong walked ahead, the servant reluctantly followed.

What could he do?

Gongsun Cheok, who had long since become accustomed to blame and pointing fingers. In truth, what would change even if he was blamed more?

The place they arrived at, guided by the servant, was a hall that was neatly organized unlike the rest.

So much for being a Family Head...

He abandoned the shrine but had servants maintain his own quarters well.

"Family Head."

The servant called out to Gongsun Cheok in front of the hall.

His voice was so cautious.

It was enough to fully gauge the hardship he had endured.

"Family Head."

When there was no answer even after calling again, Cheonyeong suddenly approached the hall and grabbed the door handle. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Ah, ah? Wait just a moment..."

Before the servant could stop him, Cheonyeong opened the door wide, and his face contorted at the strong smell of alcohol that wafted out.

Sigh, how much did he drink?

Looking inside with a frown, Cheonyeong saw the bed and made an absurd expression.

The man must be Gongsun Cheok.

And beside him...

"Oh my!"

A woman, startled by the sound of the door opening, gasped in surprise and pulled the blanket to cover herself.

Good move.

The bastard who ruined his family calling for a courtesan.

An involuntary laugh escaped.

Shaken awake by the startled courtesan, Gongsun Cheok rubbed his eyes and sat up groggily.

"Huh? Who?"

Looking at Cheonyeong, he blinked his eyes, then suddenly contorted his face.

"Who the hell are you!"

His loud shout was so piercing it hurt the ears.

"Well, it seems you're living well."

"What? Who the hell are you? And what are you doing standing there! How dare you let someone in without even knowing who they are!"

Glaring with fierce eyes, he shouted, and the frightened servant prostrated himself on the ground.

Cheonyeong entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"You bastard! What are you doing!"

Gongsun Cheok pointed and shouted loudly, but Cheonyeong paid no attention and approached, picking up the clothes scattered haphazardly on the floor and throwing them.

"First, get dressed."

"What?"

"It's unpleasant to look at, so get dressed."

Though he spoke informally, Gongsun Cheok was startled by Cheonyeong's narrowed eyes and picked up his clothes with a subdued expression.

"You too, get dressed. I don't have a hobby of watching women's bodies."

Cheonyeong said with a laugh and sat in a nearby guest chair.

Empty wine bottles surrounded the area, with leftover food scattered about.

"Sigh, this is really a mess. A complete mess."

It seemed he'd need to clean this up before Gongsun Seung arrived with the messenger.

It would only hurt his feelings to see this.

"You bastard! Who are you? How dare you... be so disrespectful!"

Gongsun Cheok, barely dressed, spoke with a fearful expression but with considerable boldness.

"Come sit here."

"Ahem."

"Sit, I have things to tell you from now on."

"..."

As Cheonyeong gestured to a chair with his chin, Gongsun Cheok, after observing for a moment, cautiously approached and sat down.

He was intimidated.

"You there."

"Ah!"

The courtesan jumped in alarm at Cheonyeong's call.

"Open the door and air this place out. Go bring some tea too."

"Me?"

"And clean up."

"I..."

"I'll pay generously."

Cheonyeong took out a money pouch and placed it on the table.

Clink.

A heavy sound, and as Cheonyeong opened the pouch's mouth, it revealed silver taels gleaming with brilliant light.

The courtesan's eyes couldn't help but widen.

"If I do it, how much will you give me?"

In an instant, her expression changed and she smiled brightly.

Demonstrating thorough professional spirit, Cheonyeong chuckled and threw two silver taels to the courtesan.

"This is an advance. I'll give you the rest when the work is done. If you satisfy me, I'll pay quite generously."

"Yes, merchant."

The courtesan bowed with a beaming smile.

Merchant...

Just moments ago, she was in Gongsun Cheok's arms.

Cheonyeong found it absurd and turned his head to Gongsun Cheok.

But why are you acting like that?

Whether the courtesan called him merchant or not, Gongsun Cheok paid no attention and only stared at the money pouch Cheonyeong had taken out.

"Listen."

"Yes? Or rather, speak."

This was frustrating.

"You're the Family Head of the Gongsun family?"

"That's... yes. I'm Gongsun Cheok, the Family Head of the Gongsun family."

His manner of speaking toward Cheonyeong had changed, and his attitude now carried courtesy.

All because of the money pouch.

"But who are you, sir? Why did you visit the Gongsun family this morning?"

"I'm Cheonyeong Tang, the Family Head of the Tang Family of Sichuan."

"Sichuan's... ah, that Tang Family? I've heard much about it! Hahahaha!"

It was obviously a lie.

With the distance to Sichuan, was he pretending to know?

Whenever he opened his mouth...

Well, let's skip that.

Right now, just looking at his face irritated him, so he didn't want to have a long conversation.

"I came here to make you a proposal."

"A proposal?"

"Yes."

"What kind of proposal?"

"How much would it take?"

"What do you mean suddenly?"

"The Gongsun family. I want to buy it. How much would it take?"

"W-What?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Gongsun Cheok's eyes widened as he stared.

He must be bewildered.

Probably, any Family Head hearing such words would immediately become angry, drive him out, and scatter salt by the handful on every step he took.

But Gongsun Cheok was different.

His eyes only widened, and he didn't move at all.

His rolling eyeballs were still fixed on the money pouch full of silver taels.

Of course they would be.

He was one of those uncles who hurried to hold the funeral of his dead nephew because he coveted his property. He was also one who waged a bloody war over property division with his brothers to seize the family.

Meanwhile, he had fallen into alcoholism and become a wreck, and wasn't he selling off what little remained to gambling debts?

For such a man, there was only one answer to give.

"Tell me, how much are you thinking?"

Gongsun Cheok smiled with squinted eyes.

(End of Chapter)