Tang Family of Ganyang.

It was the second day since the name of Tang Family was hung on the precarious main gate pillars that seemed about to collapse.

What to do from now on.

"What? Help people?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why?"

The children, who had become vassals, tilted their heads with a strange expression at Cheonyeong's words.

It was the same for the members of the Beggars' Sect who were watching from the side.

There must be a mountain of things to do after establishing a sect, but to suddenly help people from the day after the opening?

What on earth is he thinking?

Moreover, their house is a ruin.

It would be understandable if they were going around asking for someone's help, but to tell them to go around helping people was completely incomprehensible.

"Tsk tsk, although we were born in different places, since we've become Tangs, you are members of Tang Family. And now this Ganyang is the place where your new life has begun. In other words, it's your second hometown."

"Well... that's true."

The five of them nodded their heads, but they didn't seem to be particularly moved.

Hometown?

What's that?

Does it become food? Or does it become money?

For those who had lived as vagrants, the word "hometown" did not have a special meaning.

In the first place, they are guys who are used to receiving help but are unfamiliar with giving help.

In times like this, just...

"It's the first order I'm giving as the Family Head."

"Hmm... then, I have to do it. It's the Family Head's order."

At the sight of them easily agreeing with a completely uncomprehending face, Nosanggae looked at them as if he was at a loss for words.

So immediately?

Without even asking a question?

What kind of life have these guys lived.

"But Family Head, what should we help with?"

"Just anything."

"Anything?"

"For example, if an old person is struggling to pull a cart, push it from behind."

"...Push it?"

"Yeah. And clean up the trash on the ground... Do everything that can be helpful to people. If you think it's a good deed, don't hesitate even if it's a trivial and small thing."

"Alright. I'll do as the Family Head commands for now."

Cheonyeong smiled, nodded his head, and looked at Nosanggae.

"Branch chief-nim?"

"What is it?"

"Give it to me."

"What?"

"Information."

"Information?"

"I told you yesterday. The delinquents who are causing trouble near Mandeok Estate."

"Ah!"

That wasn't a difficult task.

It's not Yin Hand Chamber, just delinquents.

And so, the names of the delinquents that Nosanggae told him were dozens.

The most vicious among them had the name Byeon Giltae.

Well, it's a funny thing.

Because it means that the Beggars' Sect, a member of the righteous sects, knew about dozens of delinquents but was neglecting them.

But Cheonyeong, who didn't show it, called Yongcheon.

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah?"

"You go to the inn street."

"...To the inn street?"

"Yeah."

"What should I do at the inn?"

"Eat."

"Eat?"

"Yeah."

"Just eat?"

"Yeah, all day."

"All day... I'm confident in that."

Yongcheon patted his belly and showed his confidence, and the children sent him looks of envy.

You gluttons...

"Instead, if a guy named Byeon Giltae shows up and causes trouble, beat him up a little."

"Beat him up?"

"Yeah. If he dines and dashes, or harasses a woman... if he disturbs the inn's business."

"But can I do it?"

"You can. Because he'll be much weaker than a wild boar."

"Really? Hmm... if that's the case."

Yongcheon nods his head.

He's confident.

Because he has become strong enough to take down a wild boar.

But Yongcheon still doesn't know how strong he really is.

Because he has never fought properly yet.

The past four years.

Watching his growth, Yongcheon has the skill to sufficiently deal with a few members of the Beggars' Sect who are staying at Tang Family.

"But beat him up gently."

"Gently?"

"Yeah. If you beat him up wrong... he'll die."

Since it's a fist that can knock out a wild boar, a person...

"Alright. I'll eat. If Byeon Giltae shows up and causes trouble... I'll beat him up. That's it, right?"

"Yeah."

At the words he repeated as if to engrave them in his head, Cheonyeong nodded his head.

"You guys too. If you're helping people... and there's a guy who's harassing a good person... punish him." 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Us too?"

"Yeah. Instead, you have to be sure that it's the right thing to do. Understood?"

"Alright."

The children nodded their heads and answered.

"But Family Head."

"Speak."

"Do we have to... help people for free?"

"Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because this is our hometown... no, that's my order."

"The Family Head's order... yeah, alright."

"Then you all can go now. Don't overlap your routes. Instead, if people ask, be sure to say. That you're from Tang Family. Understood?"

"Tang Family... yeah!"

"Here, this. This is your activity fund for today."

Cheonyeong generously distributed silver coins to the children, starting with Yongcheon.

If you make them work, of course you have to give them money.

Even if it's family.

"So much?"

"Yeah. Eat whatever you want."

"Yeah! Then I'll be going."

The children, who had carefully put away the money, left Tang Family with excited faces and headed to the city.

Cheonyeong looked at them with satisfaction.

The first start of Tang Family.

For now, he has to build up good deeds and make the name of Tang Family known in Ganyang.

So at first, it's of course free service.

Nosanggae, who was watching the backs of the children leaving the house with satisfaction, asked with a puzzled expression.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Hey... I'm just a little curious..."

"Please speak."

"Are you from a righteous sect?"

"Yes?"

"No, listening to your words... it seems like you're walking the path of a righteous sect."

At Nosanggae's words, Cheonyeong smiled and shook his head.

"I don't know. It's still the beginning, so either way... but is that important?"

"Hmm. Not yet, but..."

At Nosanggae's words, Cheonyeong let out a small laugh.

A righteous sect? An unorthodox sect?

What does that matter?

There's something he realized while living as an assassin.

Just because it's 'righteous' doesn't mean it's always right, and just because it's 'unorthodox' doesn't mean it's always wrong.

Because there were quite a few beasts wearing the mask of justice among the people who died at his hands.

But if he had to choose, it would be a righteous sect.

Strangely, people had a lot of prejudice about that one name, 'righteous'.

"Well, I'm thinking of thinking about it slowly. I don't really want to be bound by the distinction between righteous and unorthodox."

"Yeah, well, it's just the beginning."

Nosanggae nods his head.

He just opened his sect.

It wasn't a boisterous opening, and he didn't have many disciples like a huge sect. The only congratulatory delegation was the beggars who were freeloading.

A sect started like a child's play by a group of kids in a rural town.

The spirit was quite something, but it was a scale that was hard to even attach the name of a martial family to.

But watching that child's play, for some reason, he wanted to add a word.

"Hmm, hey."

"Please speak."

"I'm saying this out of concern, so listen carefully."

"Please speak."

"By any chance, how long are you thinking of helping people without any compensation?"

"What do you mean?"

"People, you see. When they get used to help, they always just want to receive help."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. That's why martial families don't carelessly help people."

"..."

"For now, since you've just established Tang Family, you're trying to win people's favor, but you can't do that forever."

"By any chance, is that the reason? The reason the Beggars' Sect knew about the delinquents' behavior but turned a blind eye?"

"It's similar."

"Similar?"

"That's right. How great would it be if we could help with everything. But if we go around solving their problems every time they groan... what will happen from then on? People will try to rely on us every time. Can you take responsibility for all of that?"

"Hmm, I understand to some extent. I'll think about it deeply."

At Nosanggae's worried words, Cheonyeong nods his head.

The meaning of Nosanggae's words.

Cheonyeong knew the meaning of those words better than anyone else.

Did he really not think of that one thing?

During his twenty-odd years as an assassin, he had already seen many sects and many people.

The people's hearts?

He had already felt that when Mandeok Estate collapsed.

When he bestowed virtue, everyone depended on that name and praised it, but when it was collapsing, no one extended a helping hand.

So it will be different.

Free service?

No way... is my aim just fame and praise?

He knows better than anyone how meaningless such things are.

Because he clearly remembers the faces that turned away when Mandeok Estate collapsed.

The reason for helping people is to make them depend on Tang Family, as Nosanggae said, in addition to making the name known.

To get them addicted to the help of Tang Family.

So that people come to them, complaining and asking for help.

That's enough.

At some point, people will say that Ganyang is Tang Family.

Whether to help them later or not... isn't it ultimately his choice?

By any chance, even if someone points a finger at him for not helping later, it doesn't matter.

Why should he care about the evaluation of the people?

If it's good, it's good, but even if it's evil, it will be a necessary evil.

A being that must exist even if you point a finger at it.

A place where you have to smile in front of them even if you curse them behind their backs.

That place is, my Tang Family.

"Then for now, I should go out too."

"Where?"

"We can't keep living like this. We're not beggars."

Cheonyeong said, looking around Tang Family.

"Why beggars? What's wrong with that?"

Nosanggae pouted and got annoyed.

It's a place with not even a single small room, let alone a building.

Only beggars or vagrants live with the sky as their ceiling and the fields as their floor.

He had to build a house.

"By any chance, do you know a good civil engineer?"

"A civil engineer? What kind of person are you looking for?"

"Since we're building it anyway, it would be good if it's the person with the best skills in Ganyang."

"Hmm... good skills..."

Nosanggae thought for a moment.

Let's see, a company that is unlikely to be related to Yin Hand Chamber...

"Ah! Go find Carpenter Ahn."

"Carpenter Ahn?"

"Yeah. He's a person with a lot of talk and trouble, but he'll be perfect for your current budget."

A lot of talk and trouble?

Cheonyeong tilted his head and said.

"Oh my, you're even thinking about the landlord's budget, you're a very good tenant."

"It's the rent."

"Yes?"

"This month's rent."

Cheonyeong's expression changed in an instant, and he said as if he was at a loss for words.

"The story about Carpenter Ahn... let's just say I didn't hear it. I'll find out myself."

"You'll have to go."

"I said I don't want to. That kind of rent."

"Tsk, what a waste. I was trying to get away with it... Then let's take out the rent story. In fact, it's not certain if he'll work again."

Nosanggae said as if he was disappointed.

"You should have done that from the beginning. To think of getting away with the rent with just one carpenter."

"Heh heh."

"But where can I find that person named Carpenter Ahn?"

"The abandoned lumberyard."

"The abandoned lumberyard?"

"Yeah, I heard he's doing odd jobs there."

"Odd jobs? And at an abandoned lumberyard... didn't you say he was a skilled carpenter?"

"He used to be. But now..."

Cheonyeong's face contorted even more.

What are you saying and then stopping?

And an abandoned lumberyard.

It's a place where useless wood is turned into things like firewood.

A skilled carpenter, why?

"If you persuade him well, there will be no carpenter with better skills than him. He's a bit stubborn, but... the price is cheap."

"The price... the word 'cheap' really hits home. Then I'll see you in the evening. Tenant-nim."

Cheonyeong, who had asked for the location of the abandoned lumberyard and confirmed it, left Tang Family.

And Oyong, who was watching him with a puzzled expression, asked.

"Branch chief-nim."

"Why?"

"Why... Carpenter Ahn?"

"Because he's good at his work."

"But you know Carpenter Ahn's situation well, don't you?"

"Situation?"

"Yes."

"What situation is there?"

"Don't you know that his debt is related to Yin Hand Chamber?"

At Oyong's words, Nosanggae was speechless for a moment.

His expression also hardened.

Oyong, who was watching him, touched his forehead.

He didn't know. He didn't know.

Haa... damn it, how can a person who is a branch chief be so indifferent...

"Damn it! Is it true?"

"Of course! The reason he's at the abandoned lumberyard is because Yin Hand Chamber forced him to. Don't you know that a martial artist from Yin Hand Chamber is following him around?"

"Yin Hand Chamber? Why?"

"I don't know the reason for that."

Nosanggae stared blankly at Oyong and then his face contorted.

"Damn it! Then what do we do now?"

"Haa, that's why I told you to look at the information records from time to time."

"I did look."

"Then why don't you know?"

"How can I remember all of that? I'm not a genius like Tang Cheonyeong."

"Haa..."

"Damn it..."

Nosanggae frowned as he realized his mistake.

What if he hears something strange from Carpenter Ahn and finds out that Yin Hand Chamber is his enemy?

"Yong."

"Yes."

"Send the kids. Put the kids around the Tang Family Head and his vassals."

"Yes?"

"It's absolutely not okay with Yin Hand Chamber. If a fight is about to break out, you must stop it. Understood? Huh?"

At Nosanggae's order, Oyong's eyes narrowed.

He's the one who made the mess...

(End of Chapter)