Jjeok! Jjeok!

In the silence, only that sound could be heard.

The ambushers, pelted by a shower of stones, couldn't even draw their bows and were helplessly falling to Sanghui's subsequent attack.

"Save me..."

Jjeo-eok!

There was no mercy.

Blood splattered on her face every time her fist swung, but Sanghui didn't even care.

With eyes that seemed to be tinged with madness, she thoroughly crushed them one by one.

"Come here, I'll kill you all."

Those nearby were struck dumb with astonishment at the sight of her letting go of the one she held and searching for another prey with a bloodcurdling voice.

Her hair, disheveled and hanging loose.

Her blood-splattered face and fiercely glowing eyes.

She was like a famished beast.

"What a vicious bitch..."

At the sight of their comrades beaten to a pulp, a few of the attackers hesitated, unable to charge, and exchanged glances.

The ambush was a failure.

The arrow aimed at Tang Cheonyeong had been intercepted by the big guy who jumped in.

If the remaining ones had been injured in the ensuing attack, there would have been no hesitation in the hunt.

But... the five were unharmed.

Moreover, what if they had skills similar to the demon-like woman before them?

They were not at a level they could handle.

In that case... the conclusion was to flee.

"Tch! Retreat!"

At those words, a few of the ambushers launched themselves to escape the Tang Family's estate.

However.

"Aha, where are you going in such a hurry?"

"...!"

In front of the ambushers who were trying to flee.

Cheonyeong was already standing there.

"Tsk tsk, no matter how low the martial world's code of honor has fallen. Your comrades who came with you have been captured... is it okay to abandon them and run away?"

At the sight of his smiling, curled lips, the ambushers quickly exchanged glances.

"Dammit! Scatter!"

Papakak!

As the warriors scattered, the smile on Cheonyeong's lips deepened and turned sinister.

Scatter?

A good judgment.

There were four ambushers in total, and he was the only one blocking them.

There's a saying that if you try to catch two rabbits, you'll miss them both.

And in this case, there were four...

Catching them all by himself was next to impossible.

In a case like this, aiming for just one was the right decision.

However.

"I'm the kind of person who can catch two, no, all four rabbits."

Smiling slyly, Cheonyeong swept the ground, grabbed some stones, and chased after the nearest ambusher.

Four had fled, three stones.

He didn't need many.

One for each person.

Ting!

Bbeo-eok!

The first one was hit in the back of the head and pitched forward.

Shwiiik! Ting! Bbeo-eok!

The second was hit in the side and sent flying into a tree.

And the third...

Oh?

You're hiding behind a tree after seeing two of them go down?

You think you won't get hit?

If he threw it with his energy imbued, he could probably pierce through a tree and strike.

But!

Cheonyeong changed the way he gripped the stone.

Hwiriring!

A strange sound emanated from the stone, which was imbued with a powerful spin.

"Wh-what is that?"

Yongcheon, who was clutching his injured shoulder, and the others who were taking care of the children on the straw mats couldn't hide their surprise.

It was understandable.

He hadn't taught them this technique yet.

The so-called, Curve!

"Curve!"

The stone, drawing a horizontal parabola, accurately went around the tree and struck the ear of the fleeing ambusher.

Bbeo-eok!

Now, one last one!

"Dammit!"

When all his fleeing comrades were taken down, the one Cheonyeong was chasing suddenly drew up his internal energy and ran with all his might.

Lightness skill?

A hunter?

This bastard is making me curious about his identity.

Kung!

As he stomped the ground hard and unleashed his Samyang True Energy, Cheonyeong's figure shot out like a flash of light.

"Ugh!"

The moment the ambusher, caught in an instant, was surprised and tried to change direction.

Hwirik! Ppa-ak!

Leaping into the air and simultaneously twisting his body, Cheonyeong's foot kicked him, and he was slammed straight into the ground.

"Keuk keuk... caught all four."

Cheonyeong looked down at the fallen man and grinned slyly.

Jjeok, jjeok-jjeok-jjeok!

"...?"

The fight was over, and all the runaways were caught, but...

"Die! Just die!"

"..."

Sanghui was still venting her anger.

It seemed he had already lost consciousness...

It seemed Sanghui might end up with a terrifying title like the Scorpion Witch.

She was usually so gentle...

Who would have imagined?

That such ferocity was hidden behind that pretty face...

"You son of a bitch! Just die!"

It seemed he had to stop her.

If he kept getting hit like that...

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah?"

"...Stop her."

"Okay!"

It seemed only Yongcheon could do it.

The person to stop Sanghui.

He was injured, but his muscles were so developed that the wound wasn't severe.

"What are you guys just staring blankly at? Go get them."

"Okay!"

At Cheonyeong's words, Chunil and Hwangsama ran towards the four ambushers who had collapsed while fleeing.

There were twelve attackers in total.

Among them, only three were still conscious.

And barely at that.

Thanks to Sanghui's thorough beating.

"Unmask them."

At Cheonyeong's command, the Tang family members removed the ambushers' masks.

Who on earth could they be?

To suddenly attack the Tang Family's estate.

Seeing as they shot arrows from a distance, it was clear they came with a purpose...

The only suspects were the Yin Hand Chamber.

"Huh?"

At that moment, Yongcheon, who was examining the ambushers' faces, tilted his head.

"Why? Do you know one of them?"

"This one... he's a hunter."

"A hunter?"

"You saw him too. The one who came to see us before because of the leather we sold."

"Ah!"

Come to think of it...

Cheonyeong lifted a burning piece of wood from the campfire to illuminate the face.

"You're right. A hunter."

It was definitely one of the guys who had come talking about some association.

"Hah! They're crazy. They still haven't come to their senses after getting beaten like that?"

"P-please spare me."

One of the hunters said with a frightened face.

"Spare you? You're kidding me. Don't you see this?"

Cheonyeong pointed to Yongcheon's shoulder.

An arrow was stuck in it.

It wasn't even deeply embedded... and seeing him move, it was hard to believe he was the one who got hit by an arrow.

While the condition of the attackers Sanghui had crushed was more serious, they were the ones who attacked first anyway.

"If you're a hunter, you should be hunting beasts, are you hunting people?"

"We were wrong. Please, please forgive us."

The three who were fully conscious slammed their heads on the ground and began to beg, rubbing their hands together.

"Hah... Dammit, I thought it was the Yin Hand Chamber..."

Wait a minute, no. That's not it.

Something smells fishy here.

They did this just because of some leather?

That can't be right.

Is killing a person that easy?

"Who ordered you?"

"Please spare us. We just... the order came down from the association."

"The association?"

"That's right. They said they would take responsibility for the aftermath..."

"Hmm."

Eyes filled with fear.

A deathly pale complexion.

It didn't seem like they were lying.

But why the hunters' association?

They were confident they could handle it if a murder occurred?

"No, that's not it. That can't be right. There's no way a mere hunters' association would have that much power."

If they said they would take responsibility for the aftermath, it surely meant there was a backer.

It wouldn't be the government... the only suspect was the Yin Hand Chamber.

Cheonyeong, who was looking at the fallen men with narrowed eyes, stopped his gaze on the four that Chunil and Hwangsama had dragged over.

Those guys...

He had clearly seen them run away.

The one who had lost consciousness after being hit by Cheonyeong's curveball while fleeing had even learned lightness skill.

They were people who had learned martial arts.

In that case?

"Chunil."

"Yeah?"

"Go get some cold water here."

"Okay!"

Chunil, who took the alcohol bottle Cheonyeong held out, scurried off and soon returned with it full of water.

It didn't take long.

A river flowed below the hill of the Tang Family's estate.

Chwaak!

Cheonyeong splashed water on the face of one of the unconscious men.

"...Umm."

The man, who came to his senses from the splash of cold water, blinked his eyes and was startled to see Cheonyeong squatting in front of him.

"Who are you?"

"...?"

"A guy who has learned lightness skill... can't be a hunter. Are you from the Yin Hand Chamber?"

"...What are you talking about?"

"What do you mean? Huh?"

"I don't know of a place called the Yin Hand Chamber."

"You don't know?"

"I... am from the hunters' association."

"Hoh? Is that so?"

Cheonyeong grinned slyly at the man's answer.

His answer was wrong from the start.

A hunter active in Ganyang doesn't know the Yin Hand Chamber?

He had to say something that made sense.

"So you're a hunter, is that it?"

"That's right. I am a hunter."

"Alright. Then let's say that for now. There are many ways to get an answer."

Smiling slyly, Cheonyeong woke up the remaining three.

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah."

"Let's drag these guys over to that forest." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Sanghui flared up at Cheonyeong's words.

"Don't you see his shoulder? What are you saying to an injured person?"

"..."

Where?

He was hit by an arrow, but he looks perfectly fine.

"I'm fine. Why are you getting angry at the Family Head over something so trivial?"

"No, but..."

"I said I'm fine. Don't worry."

"Okay."

Cheonyeong's eyes narrowed as he watched Yongcheon and Sanghui's conversation.

Damn them... it's so annoying to watch.

"Family Head, but why are we taking them to the forest?"

Yongcheon asked, but he didn't feel like answering.

Then should I interrogate them here?

When all the kids have woken up from the commotion?

What he had to do from now on was very bad for the education of growing children.

It was something they would have to learn someday as people of the Tang Family's estate... but not yet.

"Bring them. I need to have a talk."

"...hmm so."

Yongcheon wore a dubious expression, but at Cheonyeong's command, he grabbed the scruffs of the fleeing men and followed.

There were four of them... two in each hand.

He's so strong.

How does that look like an injured person?

Everyone tilted their heads at the sight of them disappearing into the darkness of the dense, gloomy forest.

And a short while later.

"Kkuaaaak!"

Screams that seemed to tear the forest apart began to be heard from the deep darkness.

"Wh-what is that sound?"

Just hearing it gave them goosebumps.

What on earth was happening in the forest...

"Kkeueeeok!"

"Uaaak!"

"S-spare me... Aaaaak!"

The chilling screams that continued for a while suddenly stopped.

Not long after, Cheonyeong walked out of the forest, lightly dusting off his hands.

Behind him, Yongcheon walked out with an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

His hands were even trembling...

Injured by an arrow?

He looked like the mental shock was more severe.

"Yongcheon."

"Uh-huh?"

When Cheonyeong called, he was startled and even stepped back.

"What's wrong?"

"N-no. It's nothing..."

Yongcheon waved his hands, his round eyes filled with fear.

Well, it was his first time seeing the interrogation process.

But who wanted to do that?

They wouldn't answer when he asked nicely.

"You're no fun... Baekgang, put the kids to bed. They have training tomorrow, can't have them losing sleep."

"Hoyeon Brigade Master, Tang Baekgang! I understand!"

Baekgang, having received the order, sent the future warriors of the Tang Family's estate, who were just blinking, not knowing what was going on, to bed.

In the meantime, Cheonyeong sat by the campfire as if nothing had happened.

The conversation in the forest was quite informative.

The four who had attempted to flee were indeed warriors from the Yin Hand Chamber.

After thinly slicing their skin, pulling out their fingernails one by one... and showing them a few other minor techniques, they began to pour out stories he hadn't even asked for.

What their names were, how old they were, where their hometowns were, and how many bad things they had done in their lives.

They cried and wailed, regretting their wrongful lives.

They begged and pleaded, saying they would never do it again, that they would only live righteously.

As if he would forgive them.

Why were they begging in front of him?

They should be asking for forgiveness from the people they tormented.

After pushing them relentlessly, one name came out of their mouths.

"Andeukseong."

He was the Patrol Hall Master of the Yin Hand Chamber.

Of course, the one who gave the order would be Lee Ilpyeong.

He must have incited the hunters with whom they had friction.

Saying that if they just killed them, or inflicted a near-fatal wound, they would take care of the rest.

Borrowing a knife to kill an enemy.

It means to eliminate an enemy by borrowing another's sword.

"The bastard... he used his head a little."

A smile deepened on Cheonyeong's lips as he stared at the campfire.

His face, colored by the firelight and cast in shadow, looked incredibly sinister.

"If it turns out like this, I'm grateful. Very grateful... Keuk, keuk keuk keuk keuk."

A justification to attack the Yin Hand Chamber.

He needed that.

But how grateful was he that they came out like this?

The six with the Tang surname.

No, Lee Ilpyeong had not only endangered the lives of just six people.

The vagrant children.

He had threatened the lives of children who were barely twelve years old.

As a justification for war... it was enough.

You guys started this.

In the name of justice... no, I will deal with you according to the laws of the Tang Family's estate that I have established.

What is done to us will be repaid tenfold.

"Keuk keuk keuk."

At Cheonyeong's laughter, filled with killing intent, Yongcheon was startled and watched him warily.

"What's wrong? Why do you keep getting startled? Is it because of the arrow in your shoulder?"

As Sanghui looked at him with worried eyes, Yongcheon said in a low voice.

"It's because you haven't seen... the Family Head's true form. That was truly..."

A demon.

It was so scary... he had even wet himself a little.

Yongcheon repeatedly vowed in his heart never to defy Cheonyeong again.

The Tang Family's Departure from the World