"Do you see this?"

At what Cheonyeong, who had come first thing in the morning, held out, the still-sleepy Nosanggae frowned and looked at it.

"What is this?"

"It's a name tag. This is an identification certificate."

Nosanggae knew that too.

He was holding it in both hands and thrusting it right in front of his eyes, so he could even feel the powerful strokes of the characters.

Anyone could see that it was a name tag and an identification certificate officially issued by the government.

He also knew how he had gotten it.

Because his subordinate beggars had been watching his every move.

Cheonyeong had essentially bought the name tag with the tiger skin. But he couldn't find fault with that reason.

Hadn't he already finished a background check on Cheonyeong?

That he was indeed the son of Mandeokjang who had disappeared seven years ago.

So, the name tag is real.

But still...

"You know I'm not talking about the name tag, right?"

"..."

"Look over there."

The place Nosanggae pointed to with a yawn.

The sky is red.

The sun is just rising.

Dawn.

"Do you know how important this time is to us beggars?"

"Hmm..."

I know.

Because I've lived as a vagrant.

Whether it's a beggar or a vagrant, the time they wake up is the same.

When the sun is at its zenith.

But am I in a position to argue about that now?

I'm in a hurry.

"Haven't you heard the saying that the early bird catches the worm?"

"That's a bird... I'm a beggar."

Ha!

Look at his firm identity.

Is he so proud of being a beggar?

Well, since he's the branch chief of the Beggars' Sect.

Well, whatever.

"Vacate the house."

As Cheonyeong said that suddenly, Nosanggae scratched his head.

The house?

Yeah, that was the promise.

But.

"I can't do that."

"What did you say?"

"Just because you have a name tag doesn't necessarily mean this land is yours, does it?"

"..."

"You need a house deed."

"What did you say?"

At Nosanggae's attitude, one of Cheonyeong's eyebrows shot up.

This damn beggar.

I went through the trouble of selling an expensive tiger skin to get a name tag.

"Hoo? What? You look like you want to try something."

"...I'm seriously considering it."

"You're going to kick me out by force?"

"It's one of the various measures, right?"

"Oh my, how scary."

Nosanggae said playfully and pretended to be scared.

And he's scratching his butt and getting up, and the smell... damn it! It's dirty.

"Anyway, what's not possible is not possible."

"..."

"I know you're the owner of Mandeokjang, but there's no proof that this land, which has been empty for seven years, is yours, so why should I vacate it? It's hard to find a branch like this anywhere else."

At the sight of Nosanggae, who was constantly poking the bonfire and pretending not to listen, Cheonyeong's eyes twitched.

His blood is boiling.

If I had my way, I'd wring his neck!

"You're a member of the Beggars' Sect, and even a branch chief... are you going to go back on your word?"

"Go back on my word? What kind of nonsense is that?"

"What? At that time, you clearly..."

Cheonyeong, who was recalling the past, made a "oops" expression.

Damn it...

Come to think of it,

"I clearly said it. Do you have proof that you're the owner? I didn't say a single word about vacating."

That's right.

There were no such words.

It would have been different if what he had brought was a house deed and not a name tag.

How could I be so stupid.

The prodigy is dead.

To be swayed by a beggar.

"I hear you've made a lot of money."

"..."

"What are you going to do with all that money? Just get a good room and sleep comfortably. The young master of Mandeokjang is thinking of sleeping outside... tsk tsk."

His veins bulged.

This damn beggar, his expression, his tone... he has a talent for getting on people's nerves.

This is really...

Should I wring a beggar's neck today? Should I pick a fight with the Beggars' Sect?

"But!"

"..."

"I can't do that in the name of the Beggars' Sect, which has a place in the righteous sects... since you have a name tag, how about this?"

"What do you mean, this?"

"Let's live together."

"What?"

"Anyway, since you don't have a house deed, it'll be hard for you to claim your rights here, right? But, I'm too soft-hearted to kick out our young master who has finally returned home after wandering the world."

This bastard even has a look of pity? A beggar captain... who's pitying whom?

"Let's use it together. Instead, I'll pay the rent on time."

"Rent?"

"Of course. Didn't you say so? That you would charge a high price for the time we've occupied it. Since we don't have a house deed right now... it's not right to retroactively charge for the time we've occupied it, so we'll pay a usage fee from now on."

"Do you have money?"

"Of course, I do. Am I just an ordinary beggar? I'm the branch chief of the Beggars' Sect. I earn more than most merchants, not less."

I know.

The money the Beggars' Sect earns from selling information is unparalleled.

And yet they make a living by begging.

What kind of side job is that?

Cheonyeong glared at Nosanggae and ground his teeth.

Isn't he just trying to stick around?

Nosanggae, who was watching Cheonyeong's face turn red and blue, smiled triumphantly.

In fact, his argument was nonsense.

But the purpose is clear.

The son of Mandeokjang who returned after seven years.

If his purpose is revenge, he won't be able to avoid a fight with Yin Hand Chamber.

Even though the Beggars' Sect branch is located here, as long as Ganyang is the territory of the unorthodox sects. Furthermore, there might be a conflict with the Blue Serpent Sect, and maybe even the Nine Dragons Sect.

That's very troublesome.

The incident he might cause could become the starting point of a great war between the righteous and unorthodox sects.

And although he has found out his identity, he hasn't yet grasped his personal background. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

The four years his whereabouts were unknown.

It's full of questions.

He had to know where, under whose tutelage, and to what extent he had built up his skills.

So it's much more advantageous to watch him from the side than to leave him alone.

If he shows any sign of causing trouble, he can stop him right away.

What can he do?

He doesn't have a house deed...

He definitely won't be able to kick me out.

Also, even if he did kick me out, I was confident that I wouldn't be kicked out by force.

No matter how great his aura is, he's only seventeen.

He's still young.

How could he defeat me, a five-knot disciple of the Beggars' Sect who has been through all sorts of hardships?

There's no way he's a match in terms of thought, speech, or skill.

A kid is just a kid, no matter how good he is.

I'd rather he just attacked.

Then I could check his skills as well as the background of his martial arts.

At the sight of Nosanggae, who was smiling slyly while making all sorts of plans in his head, Cheonyeong's gaze gradually became cold.

You damn beggar.

You dare to live in my house without permission?

How much I hate the Beggars' Sect...

I've been an assassin for over twenty years.

Thinking about the headaches I got because of the Beggars' Sect, I still get angry.

I've already torn off and reattached Nosanggae's head several times in my imagination.

But wait.

Come to think of it, it's not just something to be angry about.

The Beggars' Sect... the organization with the most extensive information network in the world.

In this Ganyang, there is no organization with as detailed an information power as the Beggars' Sect.

On the other hand, what about me?

I've just returned to my hometown, and there's no way I have a way to get my hands on information.

Come to think of it calmly after suppressing my anger, there might be more to gain than to lose.

If I use this well...

The coldness disappeared from Cheonyeong's face, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Alright."

"...Huh?"

"Well, you're not wrong."

"Uh, huh?"

"Well, I would have been at a loss too. If I had been living in what I thought was an empty house for years, and the owner suddenly appeared and told me to leave."

"...No, that's."

He was about to attack just a moment ago.

The guy who was glaring at me fiercely suddenly became calm.

If he had just gotten angry and attacked, I wouldn't have been so flustered.

As an adult and a martial arts senior, I would have soothed him for a moment, and given him a lecture on revenge and how to live in the world.

But.

"Let's live together."

"Together?"

"Yes. Instead, you'll pay the rent on time. Understood?"

"Ah, th... yes, I will."

"Hmm, but we can't make a verbal contract for something like this... do you have any paper?"

"Paper?"

"We have to write a contract, right? Everything has to be clear."

At the sight of Cheonyeong, who suddenly started to take the initiative, Nosanggae blinked his eyes.

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah! Captain."

"You, go to the nearby paper shop and buy some portable writing materials."

"Yeah!"

Yongcheon, who received the money from Cheonyeong, ran off in a hurry.

"A, at this time? To a paper shop?"

"Yes."

"No, it's still early... it won't be open yet."

"Come on, where is there such a thing for a merchant? If there's a customer, that's when the door opens."

At Cheonyeong's smile, Nosanggae just stared blankly.

Yongcheon is a simple-minded guy.

Also, he listens to his words better than anyone else.

So he would break down the door, wake up the owner, and buy the portable writing materials.

"Captain!"

"...?"

As Yongcheon returned in an instant after buying the writing materials, Nosanggae's expression was one of astonishment.

Was there really a paper shop that opened at this time?

"The door?"

"It opened. With just a little force."

"Good job."

Seeing his calm expression.

This bastard... he broke it.

Among his potential, strength was already a manifested talent.

"You didn't beat him up, did you?"

"No, but the owner was a little surprised."

Anyone would be surprised.

If a giant like Yongcheon tore down the door and went in.

But it's fine as long as he didn't beat him up.

Personal injury would be a headache, but property damage... I can just pay for the door later.

"Well, shall we make a contract?"

"Ah... let's do that."

Scribble, scribble.

Cheonyeong began to write the contract with a single stroke of his brush.

Was he called a prodigy for nothing?

He can write a simple contract in an instant.

"Here, please sign here."

"...Ah, I'll read it first."

"Go ahead."

Cheonyeong held out the contract he had written.

Party A and Party B.

And...

"What is this?"

"What is it?"

"No, I mean this special clause at the bottom."

"Ah, that? I took some care for you."

"Huh?"

"Come on, you can't get blood from a flea. How can I take money from a beggar?"

"Well..."

"Instead, let's just share information."

"Share information?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"Information that will help me adapt well to Ganyang."

"...That's not difficult, but."

"I'm not asking for heaven-grade or human-grade. Just earth-grade is enough."

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

"How do you know that?"

"What? That the Beggars' Sect's information is divided into three grades: heaven, earth, and human?"

"Th, that's right."

"Is there anyone who doesn't know that?"

There is.

Many.

People who haven't traded information with the Beggars' Sect can never know.

Then has that guy already exchanged information with the Beggars' Sect?

Nosanggae became even more curious about Cheonyeong's identity.

What the hell did he do during the past seven years, or to be precise, the four years after he escaped from the hands of the creditors?

"Now, shall we sign?"

"..."

"Or, will you please leave?"

"You're going to kick me out by force?"

That would be better.

Because I can check his skills.

As Nosanggae asked with a little anticipation, Cheonyeong smiled brightly and answered.

"Why would I?"

"What?"

"Haven't you heard the news yet?"

"..."

"Come on, you're the branch chief of the Beggars' Sect, but your information power is not very good."

"What's that?"

"The tiger skin. He seemed to like it very much. The Lord Governor. Thanks to that, the Lord Jihyeon, who might have a chance to get a promotion, was so happy that his mouth was stretched from ear to ear. I said I'd get him another one next time..."

"Huh?"

"How about I throw some cold water on it? If I hint that I'm about to be kicked out of Mandeokjang because the Beggars' Sect is interfering, what will happen?"

"What did you say? You're going to use the government as your backing now?"

"Why is that?"

"Why! Don't you even know the saying that the government and the martial world don't interfere with each other!"

"I know."

"What?"

"The government and the martial world don't interfere with each other. The government doesn't interfere in the affairs of the martial world, and the martial world doesn't refuse the requests of the government."

It was a customary term.

It's not a law, but it's a saying that everyone knows.

Of course, that saying was about the government and the martial world, not about martial citizens or government citizens.

"Am I... a martial artist now?"

"Huh?"

"You've investigated Mandeokjang, right?"

"Well..."

"Was it a family related to the martial world?"

"But you're already a martial artist..."

"Who says so?"

He has nothing to say.

And for good reason. At this point, Cheonyeong is just the son of Mandeokjang, and he hasn't shown any actions as a martial artist yet.

To be more precise, a hunter? Or a wild ginseng digger?

"Well, shall we think about it? The Beggars' Sect, which started a fight with me, who is not related to the martial world. Whose side will the government take?"

He was at a loss for words.

If he causes more trouble, a rumor will spread that the Beggars' Sect is harassing the son of Mandeokjang, who has returned to his hometown after a long and hard time.

And he has become close with the Lord Jihyeon...

"Damn it, you didn't just buy a name tag with the tiger skin."

"Of course."

At Nosanggae's words, Cheonyeong grinned.

"Shall we sign?"

"Kugh."

After thinking for a moment, Nosanggae had no choice but to sign the contract.

He had to give information, but since he had said he was not a martial artist himself, he thought he could refuse to give information about the martial world.

But...

Looking at the signature, Cheonyeong thought.

A tiger skin.

How expensive is that.

Did he really just sell it for money?

Of course, he had to build up his name tag and connections as a bonus.

And now, he can also get the information power of the beggars.

Nosanggae, right?

You chose this.

Let's see how well you endure, beggar tenant.

I'll show you what the tyranny of a landlord is.

I don't know what you're thinking, trying to live here, but I'll suck you dry and kick you out.

(End of Chapter)