In the early dawn, just before sunrise.

Drip.

Under candlelight, long, slender fingers fill a tea vessel.

Wisps of steam rose and dispersed throughout the room.

One wall of the room was occupied by bookshelves filled with various books, so clean that not a speck of dust could be found.

Whoosh.

A man with a satisfied smile traced his brush across paper spread on the floor.

Following the soaked ink, orchid leaves bloomed.

With each brush stroke, leaves accumulated, and an orchid painting with an elegant atmosphere gradually took shape.

Tap.

The man who set down his brush looked at the painting with satisfaction, then reached out and picked up his teacup.

It didn't suit him at all.

His skin was so white and fair without blemish that many women would envy him.

But there was a sense that his jade-like appearance seemed somehow pale and cold.

Jade-faced Divine Dragon Zhuge Wuhui.

The Zhuge family, famous as the first martial family of Hubei Province.

He was the second son of the current family head Zhuge Changyun, and he held not only wisdom but also a position among the Seven Dragons and Five Phoenixes in martial arts.

"Is it Yunshang?"

As Zhuge Wuhui spoke as if he had sensed the approach, an answer came from somewhere.

"Young master."

"You, why are you always so secretive?"

"My apologies."

"Apologies for what? What's the matter? If you came this early in the morning, you must have something to say?"

At those words, Yunshang entered the room and knelt before the painting.

"An orchid painting?"

"I thought of it and painted it."

"You lack nothing in calligraphy and painting."

"Ha ha! Did you come at this early hour just to praise me? Don't beat around the bush, speak."

As Zhuge Wuhui urged him with a hearty laugh, Huang Yunshang spoke calmly.

"Last night, one of the gambling dens in the southern part of Dongting Lake was completely destroyed."

"A gambling den? Could it be the place run by Heukgal Faction?"

"Yes."

"Hmm..."

At Yunshang's answer, Zhuge Wuhui furrowed his brows.

Heukgal was currently one of the ruffian gangs with significant power in the southern region of Dongting Lake.

It was also a place Zhuge Wuhui had been paying attention to recently.

Dongting Lake.

Where Hubei Province and Hunan Province, where the Zhuge family was located, met.

That place had remained as unclaimed territory for a long time due to the monster at Gunsan Island, Sanggun Namgwangro.

No official wanted friction with Sanggun.

However, because the Yangtze River flowing from west to east passed through the granary in Hubei Province, through Jingzhou, and reached Dongting, it was a place the Zhuge family couldn't abandon.

But recently, Sanggun Namgwangro's activities had become sparse.

In fact, he had become completely reclusive.

When Zhuge Wuhui inquired through Beggar Gang, he learned that they had formed a connection with the Tang Family of Sichuan and had virtually stopped attacking passing boats.

Tang Family of Sichuan.

A name that had recently been discussed beyond Sichuan.

Hadn't a family that hadn't even reached mid-tier status accomplished great deeds at Green Blue Sect?

He had heard it was frequently mentioned at the recent Nine Dragons Assembly held without the Five Great Martial Families.

He had laughed it off, thinking, "It seems there was quite a talented individual."

Just a mid-tier faction.

No matter how talented an individual was in founding a family, history and tradition weren't easily created.

Hadn't many families in the Central Plains shown similar patterns?

A brief glimmer.

It couldn't be more than that.

And the key point wasn't the Tang Family, but that Sanggun's recent activities had become sparse.

For the Zhuge family, this was good news.

How inconvenient it had been with Gunsan Faction in the center of the Yangtze crossing Hubei?

For whatever reason, if Sanggun had virtually ceased activities, this was an opportunity.

If they could obtain Dongting Lake, they might be able to control the entire waterway passing through Hubei Province.

For the Zhuge family, Dongting Lake was a stepping stone to fly higher.

Thus Zhuge Wuhui was dispatched.

He began gradually expanding territory from the northern part of Dongting that bordered the Yangtze River.

To avoid rumors, he had to even avoid Beggar Gang's eyes, so he moved carefully, and it took quite a long time.

As this work progressed step by step, his gaze reached even the southern part of Dongting.

The Gongsun family, which had extended its influence over the southern part of Dongting through generations.

Since they were more famous in the merchant world than in the martial world, it wasn't easy to approach them.

Because they were respected by the people and had high reputation, any careless move could provoke opposition from officials or commoners.

But they were collapsing on their own.

After the bitter property dispute between brothers ended, the new family head Gongsun Cheok didn't care for the family, and lost all his property while indulging in pleasure and entertainment.

How fortunate was that?

Even just coveting it could invite criticism from the people, but they were collapsing on their own and losing reputation.

After assessing the situation, Zhuge Wuhui did nothing.

He simply left them alone.

For the unorthodox remnants clinging like demons to devour.

The appearance was good.

If the Gongsun family collapsed and the southern part of Dongting became a haven for ruffians?

The Zhuge family could enter without any hindrance, drive out the ruffians, and bring good governance.

Occupying the south after the north, and building widespread reputation among the people.

It was then that Huang Yunshang brought news of Heukgal Faction.

Zhuge Wuhui, laughing lightly, picked up his teacup and blew on it, asking.

"Whose doing is it? Taecheon Faction? Ssanghwan Faction? Well, what does it matter who? We'll benefit from their fighting anyway."

"It's not a ruffian faction."

"Huh?"

At Yunshang's words, the teacup Zhuge Wuhui was holding stopped before reaching his lips.

"Not a ruffian faction?"

"Yes."

"Then who?"

Furrowing his brows in question, Yunshang spoke.

"It's Cheonyeong Tang, the family head of the Tang Family."

"What? Who?"

At first thinking he had misheard, Zhuge Wuhui suddenly lifted his head and looked.

"Cheonyeong Tang."

"Cheony... eong? The family head of the Tang Family?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Yes?"

"Ah, no."

Zhuge Wuhui, who had been so confused he asked repeatedly, regained his usual composed expression.

Didn't he know Huang Yunshang better than anyone?

If he said it directly, it must have been verified multiple times already.

Then it really was Cheonyeong Tang.

But why?

He should have been taking care of his own family in Sichuan. Why was he here?

"From what I've learned, Cheonyeong Tang bought the Gongsun family's estate."

"What? He bought the Gongsun family?"

Since he was even more surprised than before, his voice rose.

It was too unexpected news for him.

"Why would Cheonyeong Tang do that?"

"I'm not entirely sure about that. However, it appears that Gongsun Cheok hid the fact that the estate was mortgaged to loan sharks when selling the Gongsun family's property. I confirmed Cheonyeong Tang grabbing Gongsun Cheok by the collar and leaving, followed him, observed, and came to report to you."

Suddenly his mind went blank.

It was a completely unexpected direction, and it was a development he had never considered as a possibility.

Suddenly the Tang Family?

Why would they buy the Gongsun family?

"The relationship with Sanggun? Could it be? Are they thinking of expanding their power using the Yangtze River?"

"That seems difficult to believe."

"Difficult?"

"Except for a few servants who were already there, only Cheonyeong Tang is at the Gongsun family."

"What? You're saying Cheonyeong Tang is alone at the Gongsun family right now?"

"Yes."

It was truly absurd.

What was he thinking?

If he intended to expand his territory to Dongting Lake, he should have brought his forces with him.

At the very least, he should have had an escort.

It was subtle. That subtlety made Zhuge Wuhui's nerves sharp.

"What happened to Heukgal Faction?"

"They were annihilated."

"What?"

"More than ten deaths occurred, and among the wounded, none are expected to recover."

"All hundred-plus men were dealt with by him?"

"Not exactly. All deaths were because they blocked his path..."

"He... he killed them just for blocking his path?"

"It seems so. The other wounded were said to be because they got in the way on the road."

"Ha! How can such a cruel person exist?"

"In any case, Cheonyeong Tang threatened that if he saw any Heukgal Faction members from now on, he would kill them on sight... so they all scattered. Some were absorbed into other factions."

It was just one night.

In that short time, Cheonyeong Tang had destroyed the gambling den, dismantled the faction, and reversed the power structure of the southern part of Dongting Lake.

This is not good.

Though not of tremendous scale, he was someone who had recently become known in Sichuan.

It would be difficult for him to hold such a massive interest as Dongting Lake, but isn't Sanggun backing him?

If Sanggun were to support him, the plan Zhuge Wuhui had been working on for years might come to nothing.

What law says that someone backed by Sanggun who seized the south wouldn't covet the north?

"Hmm. So? What are his subsequent movements?"

"That's a bit strange."

"Strange?"

"After capturing Gongsun Cheok and going inside, he hasn't come out."

"He hasn't come out?"

"No. We tried to observe, but somehow Beggar Gang's branch has been stationed around the Gongsun family, guarding it."

"What? Beggar Gang?"

Zhuge Wuhui, who had maintained his composure throughout, seemed to lose it as he roughly struck the table.

The fallen teacup broke and spilled water on the orchid painting he had just completed.

"Oh no!"

Huang Yunshang lamented and picked up the painting to wring out the water.

But the quite angry Zhuge Wuhui, unconcerned, asked.

"Beggar Gang? Why would they help the Tang Family?"

"I'll investigate."

As Yunshang bowed in answer, Zhuge Wuhui, after brief consideration, shook his head with narrowed eyes.

"No, that's not it."

"Yes?"

"I need to meet him directly."

"You mean Cheonyeong Tang?"

"Yes, I must meet him. How can I judge a person based on rumors alone? I need to see him directly, talk with him, and understand his true intentions."

A faint anger appeared on his jade-like face, and Zhuge Wuhui stood up.

"Yunshang."

"Yes, young master."

"Tell the Tang Family head at the Gongsun family that I wish to meet him."

"Understood. But this is..."

As Yunshang showed the painting he had wrung out, Zhuge Wuhui frowned.

"Discard it. It's already ruined."

* * *

"Damn it! I'm pissed!"

Cheonyeong, who returned to the Gongsun family only after dawn broke, couldn't contain his anger.

It was because of Gongsun Cheok, whom he had dragged here by the collar.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

Gongsun Cheok, kneeling in front, startled at the small call.

He had seen how terrifying Cheonyeong was last night.

"Tell me. How much was the estate mortgaged for?"

"That is..."

"About one hundred taels."

"O-One hundred taels?"

"Yes."

"How much did you lose at the gambling table?"

"Two hundred fifty..."

"Damn it!"

Cheonyeong burst out loudly and opened his eyes wide.

In other words, he hadn't paid back any of the mortgaged estate's debt, then after being dragged to the gambling den and receiving money from Cheonyeong, he lost an additional fifty taels on top of that?

What kind of crazy bastard was this?

"Argh. A tiger gave birth to a dog, gave birth to a dog."

"Yes?"

The frightened Gongsun Cheok shrank and only watched Cheonyeong's expression.

He looked exactly like a dog.

Anyway, how do I solve this?

I should have brought some with me.

The gambling den was full of money.

But I completely destroyed the gambling den, so that's that, but what about the loan sharks?

Should I just sweep them out too?

While he was thinking seriously, Wang Shik approached cautiously.

"Um, family head?"

"Yes?"

"A guest outside asked me to deliver this."

Wang Shik held a letter.

Cheonyeong snatched it, unfolded it, and read it. With a distorted face, he crumpled the letter and threw it.

"This damn bastard. A second son, not even a family head, dares to summon me?"

(End of Chapter)