Crack, crack.

It was a name that made him grind his teeth.

Lee Ilpyeong.

Although a considerable amount of time had passed, he had never forgotten that face.

He was a man with thin eyes that shone like a snake's.

He, who had entered Mandeok Estate as a guest, had captured his father's heart with his friendly tone and generous laughter.

At first, he was a good person.

He helped his father whenever he was in trouble, and was kind to everyone.

One day, as he was building up his reputation.

His father, who had been completely fooled by his sweet words, suddenly invested a lot of money in a business that Lee Ilpyeong had proposed.

He found out later that it was all a scam, and at the center of it was Lee Ilpyeong.

But he didn't know at the time.

Because it seemed plausible.

As people who are scammed often are...

Lee Ilpyeong, who seemed like he would give his liver and gallbladder, turned his back in an instant.

All that property passed into Lee Ilpyeong's hands in an instant.

A good-natured rich man who had never suspected anyone had fallen into a meticulous trap.

Protest?

He tried.

But there was nothing to find fault with in the documents that Lee Ilpyeong had submitted.

He asked the government office for help, but they just said they didn't know without a proper investigation.

In the end, Cheonyeong was captured by Lee Ilpyeong and his subordinates and was forced to work under the condition of repaying the debt.

Until then, he had only resented his father.

Because he had died, leaving his son with the shackles of debt.

But he saw.

The people who were drinking merrily with Lee Ilpyeong.

He was the official in charge of the Mandeok Estate incident, which had been ruined overnight with a huge debt.

And he heard.

A rumor that some of the officials had land and houses that they couldn't afford with their salaries.

That's when he knew.

That Lee Ilpyeong had intentionally approached Mandeok Estate from the beginning.

Although he had found out all the facts, the ten-year-old boy had no power.

He used his wits to escape from the hands of the creditors, but he wandered here and there and lived as a vagrant.

And he was kidnapped by Jingagu and became an assassin.

And he couldn't come back.

Forever...

After dying like that, he was now hearing that name again.

"Lee Ilpyeong... so he was the leader of Yin Hand Chamber."

A cracked voice came out from between his clenched teeth.

He, who had vowed never to forgive him along with Jingagu, who had twisted his fate.

He had just heard that name.

"H, hey... hey..."

"...?"

"Please, calm down..."

At the choked voice of Doctor Jang that he heard in his ear, Cheonyeong finally looked around.

The Samyang True Ki that he had stored in his body had flowed out with the killing intent that had bloomed unconsciously.

There was no way a mere doctor could withstand it, and it was an extremely dangerous energy for Carpenter Ahn, who was weakened by illness.

Seeing their pale faces, Cheonyeong quickly came to his senses and calmed his breathing.

"Hoo..."

After controlling his internal energy and withdrawing his killing intent with a few breaths.

"Heok, heok..."

"Cough... cough!"

Doctor Jang and Carpenter Ahn burst out the breath they had been holding.

Damn it... I didn't even know.

Instead of Doctor Jang, who couldn't properly control his body, Cheonyeong grabbed Carpenter Ahn's wrist and infused his true ki.

As the warm heat circulated in his body, the color finally returned to Carpenter Ahn's face.

It was a situation that could have been dangerous if he had been a little late in calming his anger.

"I'm sorry. I didn't even know."

At Cheonyeong's apology, Doctor Jang swallowed hard and said.

"...Were you a martial artist?"

"Yes."

"So you were. But what kind of connection do you have with that Lee Ilpyeong?"

He asked suggestively.

It was a situation where anyone would know that he had a bad relationship with Lee Ilpyeong.

Because the moment he heard that name, a killing intent had burst out.

"...Before that, I'd like to hear first."

"Yes?"

"What kind of ill-fated relationship do you have with Lee Ilpyeong?"

At that question, Carpenter Ahn, whose color had returned, stared blankly at Cheonyeong.

Doctor Jang has already told the general story.

But as if he had read Cheonyeong's gaze, which wanted to hear it directly from his own mouth, Carpenter Ahn slowly opened his mouth.

"He is..."

Sympathy for a fellow sufferer.

They say that those with the same illness feel pity for each other.

Since he had noticed that the source of Cheonyeong's illness was Lee Ilpyeong, of course, the resentment that he had been suppressing in his heart had to burst out.

Ahn Chilgang.

He was a man who had lived his whole life as a carpenter.

Anga Mokhyang.

It was the most famous construction company in Ganyang.

Whether it was the government or a merchant family... it was said that there was no building that his hand had not touched.

It was a long time ago, so it wasn't accurate, but it was a name that Cheonyeong had also heard of.

But Mandeok Estate was mainly about academics, and Anga Mokhyang was mainly about architecture, so there was no exchange.

"One day, a guy came to me, saying he wanted to learn my skills."

Carpenter Ahn continued to speak, staring into the air as if retracing the past.

Ahn Chilgang, who was very fond of the disciple who seemed to read his mind and act, taught him everything he had.

And he was betrayed.

Countless transactions were made in his name, and the work that he could never complete with his strength returned as a huge penalty.

In the end, his business was taken away, and Ahn Chilgang was kicked out onto the streets.

And with tears in his eyes, he is said to have made a vow never to work as a carpenter again.

But...

"That disciple, that Dongseung whom I taught with such care! Cough! Cough!"

Carpenter Ahn, whose face was flushed red, coughed painfully.

He was furious.

Just as he had been when he thought of Lee Ilpyeong, he was the same with the name Dongseung.

Seeing his bloodshot eyes, if he had been a martial artist, the room would surely have been filled with killing intent.

"Hey, calm down. Control your breathing... you've just been treated for your illness."

"Ugh."

Doctor Jang examines Carpenter Ahn's condition.

"It was all that Lee Ilpyeong's doing. I knew it when I saw Dongseung offer my business to him."

"Then the abandoned lumberyard?"

"It's one of the places that Dongseung runs."

"I see."

Cheonyeong, who had heard the whole story, asked further.

"By any chance... did you report the situation at that time to the authorities?"

"I did. But it was useless."

Carpenter Ahn's expression became empty.

It was futility.

He seemed to know even without hearing the answer.

Although the situation was different, wasn't the method similar?

In the end... the authorities are also in on it.

Just like with Mandeok Estate.

"By any chance, was the judge in charge of the Anga Mokhyang case at that time Jeong Hapryeo?"

"No, how do you know that name, young master?"

As expected...

It's the same guy.

Chief Clerk Jeong Hapryeo.

He was the official in charge of the practical affairs of Ganyang County, which was ruled by the Jihyeon, that is, the County Magistrate.

Most of the County Magistrates are rotating positions controlled by the central government, so they change after a short time, but the subordinate officials are different.

Unless they are promoted, they stay in one place for almost their entire lives.

In other words, a local official who has seized real power?

Stagnant water, no, rotten water.

Of course, it has to have a foul smell...

It's already water that stinks of corruption.

Just as Mandeok Estate was, Anga Mokhyang must have been the same.

No matter how much he complained, they wouldn't have listened.

But, it's different now.

The current him was not the powerless ten-year-old kid of that time, and Mandeok Estate was no longer a family that only studied outdated academics, but had become Tang Family, which would be reborn as the best martial family in Ganyang.

And that difference must also be in Anga Mokhyang.

Because Carpenter Ahn also has a common enemy with him.

But before that.

"But why is Yin Hand Chamber harassing you? Is it because of the debt?"

"That could be a reason. But, it's probably because they think I have the decisive evidence."

"Decisive evidence?"

"Yes. The evidence that the officials took bribes."

"...Yes?!"

"There's a transaction ledger. Dongseung, that guy had it, but my servant happened to pick it up... Fortunately, that child hid with it."

"Is that true?"

"Yes. But, he seems to have a guess too. He has harassed me several times. The servant seems to have escaped well, but I am living under surveillance like this. I can't even dream of revenge."

Carpenter Ahn, who had finished speaking, sighed in frustration, but a bright smile appeared on Cheonyeong's lips.

Yeah, there's no way there isn't.

Those with a guilty conscience have a very outstanding habit of keeping records.

Because they know that's their way to survive.

Bad guys usually don't trust others easily.

No, they don't trust others.

So they make a ledger in preparation for the future.

Even when he was an assassin, he had received several requests to find such ledgers.

One of the most effective ways to attack an opponent.

Of course, from Yin Hand Chamber's point of view, even if it is revealed, they won't suffer a big blow.

What honor do unorthodox sect guys have?

Aren't they guys who are involved in all sorts of crimes in the first place?

If a problem arises, they can just dispose of all their property and disappear.

But the officials are different.

They can lose everything they've built up their whole lives in an instant.

Perhaps the reason Yin Hand Chamber is monitoring Carpenter Ahn is because of the pressure from the official who took the bribe.

Then that's great.

It can't be better than this.

If a fight with Yin Hand Chamber breaks out, the officials will surely get involved.

The government and the martial world don't interfere with each other?

Is such a customary saying important to those who have taken bribes?

Their source of money is about to be cut off...

But if it's the ledger that Carpenter Ahn has... he can take out the officials before the fight with Yin Hand Chamber.

Then what's left is Yin Hand Chamber.

Tang Family and Yin Hand Chamber can have a proper fight over the territory of Ganyang.

"Heh, heh heh heh."

As a good idea came to him, Cheonyeong began to giggle, and Doctor Jang and Carpenter Ahn looked at each other and tilted their heads.

"Old man."

"...Yes?"

"Will you make a deal with me?"

"A deal?"

At Cheonyeong's sly smile, Carpenter Ahn made a puzzled expression.

"It's something you're good at."

"What?"

"I'd like you to build a house."

"A house?"

"Yes. It doesn't matter how long it takes."

"...That's not difficult, but Yin Hand Chamber won't just stand by. If my benefactor suffers any hardship because of me..."

At Carpenter Ahn's worried expression, Cheonyeong shook his head.

Hardship?

Nonsense.

He wasn't someone who would be defeated by a small unorthodox sect that had its territory in Ganyang.

Who was he?

The strongest assassin produced by Jingagu.

A person who could easily enter the depths of the Nine Sects, and who had never had his shadow stepped on even after being chased by the Beggars' Sect his whole life.

Moreover, now that he even has the Samyang True Ki...

Yin Hand Chamber?

Even if their grandfather came, he would be no match.

If necessary, he can just wring the neck of the leader of Yin Hand Chamber.

But that's too easy.

He came back all this way, so should revenge be so easy?

Now it's not an assassin, but Tang Family.

Now that he has become the master of a sect, he will fight in a way that befits it.

He will thoroughly destroy them.

He will break them into small pieces like grains of sand, and trample on them.

"Old man, I'm fine."

"..."

"I also had a bad relationship with those guys a long time ago. Isn't it called 'enduring hardships to achieve one's goal'? If I can just destroy Yin Hand Chamber, I won't mind a little hardship."

"But..."

"And also! As long as you've made a contract with me... you won't have to worry about Yin Hand Chamber."

Carpenter Ahn was even more puzzled.

What on earth is this person's identity, to be so confident with such a youthful face?

"Instead."

"...?"

"I'd like to use that ledger that the old man is said to have."

"The ledger?"

"Yes. I'm not just saying I'll use it. The old man's resentment towards Yin Hand Chamber, I'll resolve it for you."

"..."

"You will also participate in my revenge."

"P, participate?"

"Yes. Because from now on, I'm thinking of erasing Yin Hand Chamber from Ganyang, no, from this world."

(End of Chapter)