Tang Family was established in Ganyang, located in the south of Sichuan.

The first head of the family was Tang Cheonyeong.

The first vassals were Tang Yongcheon, Tang Baekgang, Tang Chunil, Tang Hwangsam, and Tang Sanghui.

It was a scale so small that it couldn't even be a source of pride, with only six members in total.

A ruin with no decent buildings in sight.

Tang Family, with only a sign hanging.

It was no different from a new sprout that had struggled to grow on the melted ground after a cold winter.

Of course, the opening banquet had to be modest.

Who on earth could he invite?

Even if he invited them to a ruin with no decent place to sit, there was no great person who would accept.

For now, six is enough.

Of course, the beggars of the Beggars' Sect were watching...

But someday, there will be a day when a huge building is built here and it is filled with people.

Whether it's sincere, or for their own benefit, a day will surely come when everyone will enjoy the banquet with a smile.

Cheonyeong imagined the distant future and spread a cloth wide in the place where the shrine of Mandeok Estate had been.

An incense burner?

What does it matter if there's no such thing?

If you stick an incense stick in the ground, that's an incense burner.

"Everyone, come and sit behind me."

"Yeah!"

At his solemn words, the children knelt down with tense expressions.

Trickle.

As each of them received a cup with both hands, Cheonyeong filled it with alcohol and knelt down in front of them.

"I report to the gods of heaven and earth!"

Cheonyeong, holding the cup with both hands, shouted in a loud voice towards the empty air.

"Tang Cheonyeong! Tang Yongcheon, Tang Baekgang, Tang Chunil, Tang Hwangsam, Tang Sanghui! The six of us were born on different days and in different places. But, today! We are reborn with the same surname... so from now on, we will live as members of Tang Family, united with one heart and one mind."

Cheonyeong's voice was serious, and the atmosphere was more solemn than ever.

"As the first head and eldest of the Tang family, I swear! I will take care of the younger brothers by my side, and strive to make the name of the Tang family known throughout the world by helping them move in the right direction."

Cheonyeong's back, which everyone was looking at, looked very reliable.

This is like... although they were born on different days, they vowed to die on the same day and at the same time...

Isn't it like the Oath of the Peach Garden.

Even without the peach blossoms, the solemn atmosphere and the oath were enough to overwhelm the children's hearts.

How could their hearts not tremble when they reported to the heavens that they had a home and were becoming a family?

Although they had lived as vagrants, they were now living under the surname of Tang. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A life where they no longer wander the streets or beg.

A life where they can proudly say to anyone, "I am a Tang!"

"If!"

"...?"

"These people break today's oath! As members of the family! If they embezzle money behind the Family Head's back, I will bring down heavenly punishment on behalf of the heavens. If they steal money, I will cut off their hands! If they harbor greed, I will gouge out their eyes!"

Huh?

What is this?

For some reason, heart is trembling for a different reason...

"If they disobey the Family Head's order and run away! I will cut off their two legs and make them clearly know the wrath of the heavens!"

"..."

"Also!"

There was no end.

It was a vow to make them half-dead even if they committed an act equivalent to betrayal, not just betrayal.

But... what would the children, who had never performed such a ritual, know?

They just thought that getting a surname was this difficult... they should have just lived as vagrants...

"Now, since we have reported to the gods of heaven and earth, empty your cups as a sign of the oath."

"Huh? The cups..."

The children stared blankly.

"Hey! What are you hesitating for! Can't you hear the Family Head's order? Are you not afraid of heavenly punishment?"

"But..."

"Drink!"

"..."

"...Should I force it into your mouths? With the cup?"

It was no different from a threat.

"Damn it!"

The children squeezed their eyes shut and emptied their cups.

Cheonyeong, who looked at them with satisfaction, smiled and said.

"Now, we are one family."

"...Uh huh."

The vassals of the Tang family answered without a word.

No way, would Cheonyeong really kill them... he's a guy who would... and more.

Starting with emptying the cups, the enjoyable opening banquet finally began.

Eating and drinking...

"Hey, you."

"Hey! What do you mean, 'you'? How can a branch chief... even if it's small, I'm a Family Head who leads vassals. So you should call me by my title."

"Ah, I'm sorry. Hey, Tang Family Head."

"Yes, please speak."

"By any chance... is there none for us?"

"What is it?"

"Over there..."

Where Nosanggae pointed, they were eating and drinking...

So, his Adam's apple is constantly bobbing... let's eat together?

"There's none."

"Huh?"

"There's none. Just enough for us to eat."

Does that make sense?

There are still two jugs of alcohol left, and there are several plates full of side dishes.

"There's none. The kids eat a lot. You know, right? How much growing kids eat. The food expenses... phew."

Cheonyeong waved his hands and shook his head.

You damn guy...

How can you be so stingy?

We even made a contract and agreed to live together.

"You, you're very stingy. But your predecessor was Mandeok Estate, who was full of virtue all over the world."

"Didn't you see me break the sign? Virtue, my ass... my principle is that we have to live well first."

It was an expression that wouldn't bleed even if you stabbed it.

But if he endures it, his stomach is crying out at the smell of food... and his Adam's apple is moving restlessly at the fragrant smell of alcohol.

"I don't know what people will think of Tang Family. That the newly established sect, unlike Mandeok Estate, has not a speck of generosity, or... that they don't even think of helping the poor... our kids have loose lips."

"It seems so."

"Right? So..."

"I don't care."

"Huh?"

"I don't listen to others' words well in the first place, and I don't care about others' gazes or rumors."

"Hey! You! Are you really going to be like this? We're tenants! Tenants!"

"I know."

"And we're also guests of the banquet."

"I didn't invite you."

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

"Think about it, did you bring a congratulatory gift? Or, did you send a wreath?"

"That's... as you know, I'm a beggar, so I don't have money."

"Didn't you say before that you earn more than most merchants, not less?"

He had nothing to say.

The damn guy has a good memory, and his way with words is even better.

This guy is definitely from an unorthodox sect.

He's definitely from an unorthodox sect.

He even forgot his dignity as a branch chief and bowed his head to ask... would it hurt to share some food?

At Nosanggae's completely sulky expression, the smiling Cheonyeong said.

"Hmm, but!"

"...?!"

"I've learned quite a bit of writing, so I can't go against the words of the ancient sages."

"Oh! Right? Right! As expected, you're different because you're a learned person! I knew it from the beginning."

"Let's trade with information."

"What?"

"The earth-grade information that the Ganyang Beggars' Sect branch has."

"Information?"

"Do you remember the contract? That I would receive the rent in information from now on."

"That's true, but..."

"It's still a long time before I receive the rent... how about it? In exchange for sharing today's banquet food, you give me some information I need?"

"That's..."

"If you don't want to, then don't. Damn it, the kids are going to eat it all. They're already big eaters."

As Nosanggae hesitated, Cheonyeong turned his head away coldly.

He couldn't miss it.

He had to catch it.

What's so great about that earth-grade information... the back of his head was tingling from the resentful gazes of his subordinates.

Another jug already...

You damn guys... I told you to savor the taste and aroma of precious alcohol.

At this rate, another jug will be empty in no time.

"Wait!"

"...?"

"Alright. I'll give you the information."

"You should have done that from the beginning."

"Instead! There's a condition."

"A condition?"

"Yeah."

"I'll listen first."

"Even if it's earth-grade information, I can't give you all the information."

"What do you mean?"

"It means we will judge the content of the information you want and give it to you."

"It's conditional?"

"I can't help it. I'm also in the position of a branch chief."

"Alright. Let's do that."

Cheonyeong smiled brightly.

But how could he not know the thoughts of the Beggars' Sect?

The sect that brought down Mandeok Estate is clearly an unorthodox sect.

And if the Beggars' Sect has investigated him, they would have predicted what he would do next.

Revenge on the creditors who ruined his family.

A fight with the unorthodox sects will surely begin, and it's not good for the Beggars' Sect to get involved.

Because a rumor will spread that the Beggars' Sect is backing Tang Family.

So it's awkward.

"What information do you want?"

"The delinquents who are causing trouble near Mandeok Estate."

"Huh?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Nosanggae's eyes widened and he blinked.

Not Yin Hand Chamber?

"I thought about what I should do first if I change Mandeok Estate into a martial family. Isn't it public security, of course?"

"Th, that's right."

"I can't tolerate the fact that there is a group that disturbs the public welfare in the place where Mandeok Estate, no, Tang Family is."

"That's a righteous thought."

I thought he would look for information on his enemies first... no way? Does he still not know who the enemies who ruined his family are?

Well, he was ten years old.

No matter how much of a genius he is, he has only lived within the fence of his family...

Then that's fine.

If it's that way... there will be no trouble at all.

"Alright. I'll cooperate. I'll hand over all the related materials tomorrow morning."

"Thank you. Then, shall we enjoy the banquet together? Please call your subordinates over there too. If there's not enough alcohol or meat, we can just buy more."

"Oh! Our Tang Family Head is so generous! You will be blessed. Hahaha!"

Nosanggae burst out laughing and called over the members of the Beggars' Sect who were just swallowing their saliva.

It was a pleasant banquet.

Everyone gathered, ate, drank, and chatted...

"Here, take it! On behalf of the Beggars' Sect, I congratulate you on the opening of Tang Family."

"Thank you."

Nosanggae, who was in a good mood from the alcohol, emptied his cup repeatedly.

Looking at him, Cheonyeong smiled faintly.

He's stupid.

It was obvious what Nosanggae would be thinking.

He must have been worried about what would happen if he went to the creditors and caused trouble.

But would he?

Now that he has just re-established his family?

That doesn't make sense.

The saying Cheonyeong hated the most was "hitting a rock with an egg."

If you keep hitting it, will it eventually break?

What's more foolish than attacking when you know you're no match?

Although he had become the Head of Tang Family, inside him was Cheonyeong, who was an assassin.

An assassin on a mission never acts rashly.

He knows all too well that a small mistake can mean life or death.

There is no next time for an assassin.

Only when every moment is perfect does he go on a killing mission.

Now that he has established his family, he has to slowly expand his territory and build up the family's power.

He has to gain the people's favor, and hone his skills like sharpening a sword.

Of course, he also has to secretly gather information about the creditors.

And when the decisive moment comes?

Their heads will already be rolling on the ground.

When his father died, he had decided.

That he would repay the grudge tenfold.

That is the first law of Tang Family.

The sin of ruining the family. The price is only death.

No matter what others say...

That will be the beginning of Tang Family's history.

And so on that day.

Tang Family finally revealed itself to the world.

(End of Chapter)