When the doorman rushed in and reported the news, the owner of the Green Blue Pavilion felt as if the sky was singing.

Ruffians suddenly?

What in the world was this?

Not just one, but the Cheol-young Faction, Gongbaek Faction, and Bisa Faction.

Ruffian factions active in Dongting Lake had come in groups and set up camp in front of the Green Blue Pavilion.

He had thought something like this might happen someday after the Heukgal Faction was destroyed...

But all three at once was too much, wasn't it?

If a fight broke out?

The owner of the Green Blue Pavilion stared blankly at his establishment.

His entire fortune...

What should he do?

Should he ask for help from the people staying in the private quarters?

They seemed like martial artists...

"Sigh."

But he had to greet them anyway.

They had been waiting in front of the Green Blue Pavilion since earlier.

The owner of the Green Blue Pavilion, with drooping shoulders, walked out with weak steps.

"Th-Three heroic gentlemen, what brings you to grace the Green Blue Pavilion with your honored presence?"

Praying to every god he knew that nothing would happen, the owner of the Green Blue Pavilion spoke as humbly as possible with shrunken shoulders.

"Ah, are you the owner of the Green Blue Pavilion?"

"Yes, I am Sim Hak."

"Sim, the pavilion owner. Ha ha."

Sim Hak felt something strange.

For how many years had he been doing business by catering to customers' preferences?

Just by looking at voices and expressions, he could distinguish troublemakers from distinguished guests.

But the attitudes and voices of the troublemakers before him seemed strange.

This wasn't the reaction of a troublemaker...

"I am Gongbaek."

"I'm Lim Cheol-young."

"Gong Han-su."

"..."

Since there wasn't a soul in Dongting Lake who didn't know those damn names, there was no need for introductions, yet they introduced themselves?

"I heard that the Second Young Master of the Zhuge family is staying here. Is that correct?"

"Huh? The Zhuge family?"

It was the first he'd heard of it.

The Zhuge family was a martial family wielding tremendous influence in the adjacent Hubei Province... wait?

At that moment, Sim Hak remembered the guests in the private quarters.

Weren't they the ones who organized their own groups and kept watch day and night?

Meanwhile, they were people who said they wanted to stay quietly, rented the entire private quarters, and even paid extra.

Could they be...

No evidence was needed.

One just had to be quick-witted.

People had said there was a noble air about them.

If such renowned ruffians all gathered to ask about someone, who else could it be but the Zhuge family?

But why were they looking for the Second Young Master?

Surely not to fight?

No, that couldn't be.

They didn't have enough lives for that.

They might be confident among themselves, but compared to a prestigious martial family, they were nothing...

In any case, he had to inform them immediately.

Sim Hak quickly sent a signal with his eyes to the doorman.

Go... inform them, quickly!

"But what brings you here?"

"That person summoned us."

"The Zhuge family?"

It was absurd.

Why would the Second Young Master of the Zhuge family meet with back-alley ruffians?

But he couldn't lose his manners.

The Second Young Master would leave after a brief stay, but the Dongting Lake factions would remain with him forever, wouldn't they?

"I apologize. The guest staying in the private quarters only said they wanted to stay quietly and didn't mention that there would be visitors."

"Hmm, that's understandable. That's understandable. But look here."

Lim Cheol-young thrust forward the letter he was holding.

"Huh?"

Sim Hak's eyes widened as he read the unfolded letter.

He really did summon them?

"He's in the private quarters?"

"Yes."

"Will you guide us?"

"Huh?"

"He summoned us, so how could we hesitate? Quickly, guide us to the private quarters."

Normally, they would have pushed through and caused chaos, but the ruffians, wanting to look good to the Zhuge family, were nothing but polite and courteous.

Of course, Sim Hak felt like dying.

What should he do about this?

Let them in? Or not?

He felt like a whale caught between two whales, his back about to split.

Unable to do either...

At that moment, the doorman emerged from the private quarters with one of the guests.

It was Huang Yunshang, Zhuge Wuhui's bodyguard.

"Huh?"

Huang Yunshang, who had followed the doorman out after hearing someone was looking for them, stopped in his tracks upon seeing the ruffians filling the courtyard.

"Huh? Second Young Master? It's the Second Young Master! Everyone, pay your respects!"

At Lim Cheol-young's shout, mistaking Huang Yunshang for Zhuge Wuhui, nearly two hundred ruffians knelt and shouted powerfully.

What in the world was this?

Why were ruffians gathering in groups?

Moreover, Second Young Master?

They had never revealed their identities to anyone.

They had been staying secretly so even the Beggar Gang wouldn't know, yet how did these people know their identities?

"L-Listen here. What are you saying?"

The flustered Huang Yunshang asked, and Gongbaek answered powerfully.

"We came upon receiving your summons, Second Young Master. Thank you for finding us. I am Gwang-yeong."

Huang Yunshang was even more bewildered.

Gwang-yeong? What Gwang-yeong?

Then Huang Yunshang's eyes caught the expressions of the people.

The tavern keeper, and the expressions of people gathered outside watching.

It was contempt.

He felt a kind of hostility equating ruffians with himself.

"Second Young Master."

"I am not a Second Young Master!"

"Huh?"

"Bodyguard... this damn!"

Huang Yunshang, who had unknowingly protested and revealed his identity, contorted his face.

"Ah, you're the Second Young Master's bodyguard? It's an honor to meet you."

"..."

"The Second Young Master..."

"Shut up! What honor are you talking about!"

Finally, Huang Yunshang opened his eyes wide and shouted loudly.

Then the ruffians looked flustered and frowned.

"Listen here, bodyguard."

"What? Listen here? Bodyguard?"

At Lim Cheol-young's sudden anger, Huang Yunshang squinted one eye.

A ruffian who wouldn't last even a second if he drew his sword...

"Look here. The Second Young Master sent a messenger directly to us and delivered this letter. How can a bodyguard shout and block us?"

"A letter?"

Huang Yunshang quickly snatched the letter Lim Cheol-young offered.

"What is this..."

It was absurd.

Wasn't this the content of Zhuge Wuhui summoning the ruffians to the Green Blue Pavilion?

The one Gongbaek had was the same, and so was the one Gong Han-su had.

But this wasn't Zhuge Wuhui's handwriting, was it?

What bastard would do something like this...

"Ah!"

Suddenly Huang Yunshang's eyes widened.

Right now, the identity of the bastard wasn't the important issue. The authenticity of the letter wasn't important either.

What mattered was the situation unfolding before his eyes. The fact that people had heard the conversation between him and the ruffians.

Moreover, with so many people filling the main road and coming to the Green Blue Pavilion, how many people must have seen this?

"The... rumors..."

All the talk in Dongting Lake would be directed at the Zhuge family.

"Damn..."

Huang Yunshang ran to the private quarters without further thought.

And Cheonyeong, who had spread false rumors to the people and incited them, then arrived earliest by running across rooftops, sat near the railing on this floor of the Green Blue Pavilion where he could see everything below, unable to suppress his laughter.

"Ha ha ha."

Perfect.

The irritation that had accumulated over several days suddenly lifted.

That bodyguard's expression.

He had run to the private quarters, so there would probably be quite a commotion.

Zhuge Wuhui absolutely couldn't come out.

Everything was flowing unfavorably for the Zhuge family.

If he showed his face to the people, no matter how much he beat the ruffians, threatened them, or made excuses, the already-spread rumors would spread along with speculation.

Now it was useless for the ruffians to leave.

Unless the authenticity of the letter was confirmed, they would keep talking about it.

That the Zhuge family had summoned them and then gave them the cold shoulder.

Of course, he would make sure they spread it in a good light for themselves.

"Hmm, now that I think about it... is the current family head of the Zhuge family that bastard Zhuge Changyun?"

It must be. Since Cheonyeong was around twenty years old.

An old man obsessed with formations.

Like anyone obsessed with one thing, Zhuge Changyun was truly a terrifying person.

Not content with layering formation upon formation to catch him, he even became part of the formation himself.

How dangerous was that...

Thinking of the hardships he endured back then, his teeth still ground.

"Anyway, that man seems to care greatly about the Zhuge family's reputation... I'm curious what reaction he'll have when he hears these rumors."

A sinister smile appeared at the corners of Cheonyeong's mouth.

He could already vividly see what would happen to Zhuge Wuhui.

Why did he have to touch the Tang Family anyway?

A bastard who couldn't even handle the consequences of making enemies...

"But I can't end it at this level."

Rumors eventually die down.

As time passes, people will realize everything was just hearsay.

"Ha ha, I absolutely won't let it end like that."

After watching the ruffians leave spewing curses, Cheonyeong headed to the Gongsun family.

It had been ten days since he came to Dongting Lake.

Enough time had passed for the Tang Family's servants to arrive after receiving the Beggar Gang's messenger.

Now, let me push them forward.

Before the rumors lose their power...

* * *

The Tang Family's servants arrived secretly at the Gongsun family following Oweng Gae's guidance.

He had pre-arranged for them to disembark from the water pirates' boats.

Having barely calmed the rumors, it wouldn't do to be seen with water pirates, would it?

"F-Family Head."

"You're alive. Knowing you're alive like this, I could die without regret."

The servants prostrated themselves and wept endlessly.

Standing before them, Gongsun Seung, taking in the sight of the Gongsun family that had lost its former glory, clenched his teeth but forced himself to smile to comfort the servants.

"Thank you for your hard work, and thank you."

"Family Head."

"You protected it. This Gongsun family... It must have been difficult."

Gongsun Seung crouched down and gently patted the servants with a soft hand.

The sight seemed to sting, as everyone touched their nose.

After comforting the servants for a long time, Gongsun Seung stood up and approached Cheonyeong.

"Family Head."

"..."

"Thank you."

He bowed.

With his clothes neatly arranged, the bow was full of sincerity.

His shoulders trembled slightly.

Cheonyeong simply left him be.

He needed time to collect his emotions.

Time passed like that, and Cheonyeong spoke.

"Your uncle."

"...!?"

"I've locked him in a room."

Gongsun Seung, who had stood up, clenched his teeth, and his clenched fists trembled. Bloodshot anger appeared in his eyes that struggled to contain rage.

It was understandable.

It wasn't just because he had tried to kill him.

The position of family head gained by killing his own brothers.

He must be angry that the family he had seized that way had been brought to ruin.

"You have time, so resolve your feelings on your own. It's not yet time for you to appear."

"Huh?"

"Ah, and later, let's search for something with me."

"What?"

"A book." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"A book?"

"Yeah, I searched everywhere, but I couldn't find it."

"..."

"I think I'll need your help."

Gongsun Seung looked at him with puzzled eyes.

But at the sinister smile lingering at Cheonyeong's lips, he burst out laughing.

Surely he was plotting something again.

No, he had already plotted it and was now moving to action.

"Then I'll step back."

"Alright."

Glancing at Gongsun Seung, Cheonyeong turned to the Tang Family's servants.

"You all."

"Yes! Family Head!"

"This is the Gongsun family head's main residence."

"..."

"A place where history and tradition have been built over a long time."

His dignified words made them listen intently, and the sincerity conveyed to their hearts.

"It would be troublesome if the house that has returned after so long was full of garbage, wouldn't it?"

"Yes!"

At the powerful response of the Tang Family's martial artists, Cheonyeong smiled and spoke.

"Tonight, we finish the cleaning."

(End of Chapter)