Cheonyeong hung the contract signed by Nosanggae in a well-ventilated place for the ink to dry.

"Well, now that you've reclaimed your house, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

"I hear you have a deep knowledge of hunting and medicinal herb gathering."

"Well, I don't think I'm particularly lacking."

"Then that's not bad either. If you add the money you earned from selling the tiger skin, it's close to twenty gold coins, so how about going that way? If you need, I'll introduce you to the hunters' or wild ginseng diggers' guild."

"Huh? There's a guild like that?"

"Of course. The people you fought with at the inn are also members of that guild."

"Ah."

Nosanggae explained about the guild.

Hunters and wild ginseng diggers.

Those who live by hunting and gathering.

They were always in the position of the weak, and they couldn't even complain even if they were treated unfairly.

Because the law was always on the side of the powerful.

So it's a private organization that was created.

To help each other when things are tough...

The hunters and wild ginseng diggers who had clashed with Cheonyeong's group a few days ago were said to be members of the Ganyang branch.

"Fortunately, they were also at fault, so it ended with a slight friction. But, don't be relieved. Although they are hunters or wild ginseng diggers, the power they have is no less than that of a decent martial family."

"Really?"

"Of course. Sometimes, martial sects even back them up."

"That's unexpected."

"Haha, it can't be helped."

"...?"

"Are there not many mountains in the world? For those who live with the mountains as their home, they are the best guides for the sects. They are informants about the mountains."

"I see. But I have no intention of becoming a hunter or a wild ginseng digger."

"Huh? Why? It seemed like you could make a lot of money if you went that way."

"Come on. That's no different from destroying the ecosystem."

"Eco... huh?"

"Have you ever seen a tiger chase away a rabbit and eat grass?"

"Hmm... I see. Then what are you thinking of doing? You don't have any family property left."

Nosanggae asks suggestively, trying to figure out if Cheonyeong has Yin Hand Chamber in mind.

"Well, I have a few things planned... but the first thing I have to do is change the sign."

"The sign?"

"Yes. You saw it, didn't you? Me breaking the old sign."

"Ah, that's right. But it didn't seem like you were going to use the name Mandeok Estate again."

"Of course. Does virtue feed you? It's all just plausible bullshit."

"I, is that so... haha."

Nosanggae couldn't say that Cheonyeong's words were wrong.

Because he already knew from his investigation.

What people were like when Mandeok Estate collapsed.

"Then, what name are you thinking of using?"

"You know my surname, don't you?"

"Your surname?"

Cheonyeong stood up, leaving Nosanggae, and looked for a usable wooden plank.

"Baekgang."

"Yeah!"

"Knife!"

At Cheonyeong's words, Baekgang threw the knife made by sharpening a piece of metal, and Cheonyeong, who caught it, began to carve letters on the wooden plank.

Scrape, scrape.

Wood chips fell off, and letters were carved on the plank.

Cheonyeong's expression was serious, and his hand carving the wood was so sincere that the onlookers just watched with bated breath.

He looked like a master creating a masterpiece.

After a long time.

"Hoo..."

Cheonyeong blew off the remaining chips on the plank and made a satisfied expression.

"It's... done."

Cheonyeong smiled with utmost satisfaction at the words he had carved.

The new name Cheonyeong, who had abandoned the name of Mandeok Estate, had carved with a dragon-and-snake-like handwriting.

As Cheonyeong just stared at it and smiled, Yongcheon and the children came to his side and looked at it.

But how would they know?

They are all illiterate...

"Let's see, Tang Family... Ta?"

But as if he had learned to read because he was a branch chief, Nosanggae read the characters on the sign.

"Yes, it's the name of the family I'm going to establish from now on."

"Hmm. Well. It's a peculiar name. Since your surname is Tang, it's understandable that it's the Tang family... but why the character 'Ta'? It's not a character to be used on a family's sign."

Cheonyeong just smiled.

Of course.

Ta (陀).

It means a hill.

That's the terrain where Mandeok Estate, no, Tang Family is located.

The outskirts of Ganyang, a hill located on one of the tributaries of the Yangtze River that passes through Sichuan.

And the house site is located at the highest point there, looking down on Ganyang.

So it's Tang Family.

He doesn't need the existing Mandeok, nor the character 'Changtian' like the Nangong of Anhui.

Since it's a hill, it's 'Ta'.

There was no need to put a meaning in the name.

If you put a meaning in the name, you'll end up living bound by that meaning.

And there's no guarantee that he will live according to that meaning.

It's the job of future generations, and the job of the people, to give meaning to the name.

"The Tang family of Ganyang... well, the identity is clear."

Nosanggae laughs without any particular meaning.

Yeah, for now, it's the Tang family of Ganyang.

But, would he be satisfied with a small city like Ganyang?

It's a name he personally broke and newly established, a name passed down through generations.

Just you wait.

The name Tang Family will go beyond Ganyang, and someday it will become the number one family in Sichuan.

Also, if you say Tang Family of Sichuan, he will leave an achievement that everyone in the world will know.

"Captain, then from now on, we're... members of Tang Family?"

"...Vassals."

"Huh?"

"You guys will become the strong pillars of the Tang family from now on."

At those words, not only Yongcheon but also the children grinned.

They don't know what's what, but since Cheonyeong said so and smiled with satisfaction, they feel good too.

"Alright! Then since I'm the vice-captain! I'll become the best vassal!"

"I'm under him!"

"Shut up, I'm under him!"

"You!"

Baekgang, Chunil, and Hwangsam joined in, each claiming to be better.

Well, it's pathetic.

In the meantime, Yongcheon's position seems to be firm.

And...

Cheonyeong looked at Sanghui, who was looking at Yongcheon with a satisfied smile.

Something... like a wife watching her husband's success with pride?

"Captain! You decide! Who's the third!"

"That's right! The captain decides! Is it me or Chunil?"

"You bastards! Why are you leaving me out?! The third is me! Hwangsam!"

Looking at them who were still bickering, Cheonyeong said.

"From now on, call me 'Family Head'."

"Huh?"

"Not captain, but 'Family Head'."

"...Ah! Alright. I'll call you 'Family Head'."

The children nodded their heads.

Looking at them, Cheonyeong suddenly had a thought.

Yongcheon and the other children don't have surnames.

Because they are vagrants.

Because they were abandoned at birth, or their parents died later and they became orphans and wandered.

Yongcheon because he was born in a village called Yongcheon, Baekgang because he was abandoned at the Baekgang river, and Hwangsam because he was abandoned in front of the Hwang family's gate.

Was he the third child they picked up that year?

At least, Chunil, who was picked up under the warm spring sun, and Sanghui, a pretty child picked up on a frosty day, had better names.

"Hey guys."

"What, Family Head?"

"..."

What, Family Head...

He's really at a loss for words.

Isn't even Nosanggae secretly giggling at that ridiculous title and words?

"You should use honorifics to the 'Family Head'."

"Honorifics?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm, we're the same age..."

The children made a reluctant expression.

These guys...

But he can change the way they speak later.

Anyway, he has to teach them academics for their own personal development, so he can teach them etiquette at that time.

For now, let's think about that problem later.

"Hey guys. You guys... how about using the Tang surname?"

"Huh?"

"Tang family?"

"Then do we have a surname now?"

At the questions asked one by one, Cheonyeong nodded his head.

"Tang... Cheonyeong, Tang Yongcheon..."

Yongcheon's mouth opened wide like a basin as he repeated his name with the surname attached to Cheonyeong's name.

"I'll do it! Family Head! I want to be a Tang too!"

"Me too! It's good to have the same surname as the captain, no, the Family Head."

"Then I'm Tang Baekgang?"

"I'm Tang Sanghui. It's nice. I like it. It rolls off the tongue."

Sanghui smiled like sunshine.

But...

"What's wrong, Sam?"

"No... you guys all have plausible names..."

"Yeah."

"Tang Hwang... Sam. It's kind of strange."

Hwangsam pouted with a crying face.

Tang Hwang... Sam.

"Yeah, the nuance is a bit strange. Then you..."

Before Cheonyeong could say anything, Hwangsam shook his head.

"Tsk! I'll just be Tang Hwangsam. I don't want to be left out and feel like I'm being bullied."

"..."

At Hwangsam's decision, Cheonyeong smiled wryly.

He was going to ask if he wanted to change his name...

Well, since he himself wants to be Tang Hwangsam.

"Alright! Then today, we've reclaimed our house, and we've got a surname!"

"Alcohol!"

"Meat!"

You damn kids. That's all you have in your heads.

No matter how much you're in your growth period, how much did you guys eat at the inn...

But just for today.

"Alright! Yongcheon. Go with Baekgang and buy plenty of alcohol and meat dishes!"

"Wooooo!"

At the silver coin Cheonyeong held out, the children's faces bloomed with smiles.

"We'll be right back."

After Yongcheon and Baekgang disappeared towards the city in an instant, Cheonyeong hung the sign he had made on the collapsing main gate.

Tang Family.

He will put down the roots of Tang Family, not Mandeok Estate, in Sichuan.

The beginning is a collapsing main gate, but someday, it will become a family that everyone in the world has to bow their heads to.

"The Tang family of Ganyang, Tang Family. It's a new family."

"Yes."

At Nosanggae's words, Cheonyeong nodded his head as he looked at the sign.

"So, what kind of family do you want to become in the future?"

"Of course... a martial family."

"...Mar... what?"

"The Nangong family of Anhui, the Zhuge family of Hubei, the Peng family of Hebei, the Hwangbo family of Shandong, the Murong family of the north. The Yan family, the Jingagu! etc.!"

"..."

"We will stand shoulder to shoulder with them. As the Tang family of Sichuan."

At Cheonyeong's confident ambition, Nosanggae snorted inwardly.

He's talking crazy.

No matter how big you dream... a seventeen-year-old is going to stand shoulder to shoulder with the famous families of the Central Plains?

He just hung a sign... and with a few kids...

Is it even possible?

He was so dumbfounded that he couldn't even speak... huh? Wait a minute!

"Huh? Wait a minute! What? A martial family?"

"Why?"

"Y, you then mean you're going to enter the martial world?"

"Of course."

"No! You clearly said earlier! That Mandeok Estate is not a martial family and made a contract!"

"I did."

"What?"

"But it's not Mandeok Estate now. It's Tang Family."

"Damn it! Where is there such a thing? This makes the contract invalid!"

"Hoo? Invalid?"

"Of course it's invalid!"

"I don't think so."

"What?"

"Well, you didn't read the contract carefully."

Cheonyeong held out the rolled-up contract with a sly smile.

"Do you see this?"

"..."

"The branch chief of the Beggars' Sect... made a contract with me, Tang Cheonyeong, not Mandeok Estate."

"But this is not right! I didn't know it was a martial family then!"

"Why is that?"

"Why!"

"Whether it's a martial family or a merchant family, what does that have to do with the contract? Is there any such content in the contract here?"

"...What?"

"Was there a clause that said you can't walk the path of a martial family after the contract? There wasn't, right?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Nosanggae's eyes widened and he examined the contract.

There's no way.

Because he didn't even write it in the first place.

"Damn it! Then the contract is void. We'll leave this place now."

He couldn't sell information to a martial family.

Because if Cheonyeong were to attack Yin Hand Chamber, a rumor might spread that the Beggars' Sect helped, or that a righteous sect was behind it.

"Oh dear... our tenant, you keep reading the contract carelessly."

"What did you say?"

"Here... do you see? The contract period."

"..."

"Tang Cheonyeong, hereinafter referred to as Party A, the tenant cannot terminate the contract without the permission of Party A. The period is..."

"Th, this..."

At Cheonyeong's words, Nosanggae's face turned bright red.

"How about it, shall I formally protest to the Beggars' Sect? That I made a contract trusting the name of the Beggars' Sect, a member of the righteous sects, but the branch chief thinks of the promise as a piece of shit... If you're okay with that, you can leave now. Tenant-nim."

Nosanggae couldn't say anything and just huffed and puffed.

But what can he do?

This is not something I chose in the first place, but something you chose.

You should have read the contract carefully and signed it.

For your information... the contract is for one year by default.

(End of Chapter)