As soon as morning came, Cheonyeong gathered the trainees of the Hoyeon Brigade and called Baekgang aside.

"Baekgang."

"Yeah."

"Take the kids and do some outdoor sleeping training."

"Huh? Outdoor sleeping training? Already?"

"Yes, go into the mountains and stay for three or four days. You know how to make a shelter, right?"

"Well, I do, but..."

Baekgang nodded.

Did he think they had just been playing with the kids for four years?

Cheonyeong had taught the Tang family members various things.

Internal arts, hidden weapon techniques, basic martial arts.

And things for survival, even how to set up the Concealing Heaven and Hiding Form formation to avoid the eyes of others.

"Go and teach them how to hunt beasts, and how to distinguish edible plants."

"Already? Didn't you say they're not yet recognized as disciples?"

"That's true, but... I have to give them a way to live. Just as I did for you all."

"Hmm... I understand."

Baekgang nodded and left with the children for their mountain outdoor sleeping training.

Watching them leave, Cheonyeong headed to the blacksmith street located on the outskirts of Ganyang with the remaining Tang family members.

How could one start a war without weapons?

Whether they were used or not, a warrior should at least hold a sword.

"A sword?"

"Yes. The shape doesn't matter. But it would be good if the blade length is a little over one foot..."

"Hmm, if it's something like that... please choose from here."

At the owner's introduction, Cheonyeong looked over the swords hanging on the wall and picked one up.

Ting!

When he flicked his finger on the blade, the strength was average.

It would surely not last long and chip.

A cheap sword.

But that's why it was better.

For dealing with cheap bastards...

"You guys also pick one that fits your hands."

"Okay!"

At Cheonyeong's words, the kids looked around and each grabbed one.

"Hmm, I'll take this."

"Huh? An iron pestle?"

Yongcheon chose a large iron pestle (a tool for pounding things in a mortar or mill) not from the weapon display, but from the section where farming tools were displayed.

"A sword, somehow... killing people, it doesn't suit my nature. Is that okay?"

Cheonyeong looked at him, who was smiling awkwardly while holding the iron pestle, with an incredulous expression.

Yongcheon... a sword would be better. If you swing that, anyone's bones will be crushed and they'll die.

"I'll take this."

As Yongcheon pointed to the iron pestle and smiled brightly, the owner became perplexed.

"Pardon? That's just something I made for fun... It's hard to even lift in the first place..."

Hwoooong!

"Hmm, you're right. It has a bit of weight. Still, I'll take this."

The owner's eyes widened as Yongcheon lifted the heavy iron pestle and swung it lightly.

With one hand...

Anyway, he's so strong.

Is his shoulder really injured?

The saying about having the strength to uproot mountains and the spirit to cover the world must be for him.

"Kehehe... so we're going to crush those Yin Hand Chamber bastards, right? Good, very good. I'll smash them to pieces."

Sanghui, who was next to Yongcheon, grabbed two short sabers, one in each hand, and laughed sinisterly.

Now that I see it, they really are... a well-matched pair.

Anyway, they had all chosen one weapon each...

"Owner."

"Yes."

"By any chance, could you make something like this?"

Cheonyeong showed him a drawing he had prepared in advance.

"What kind of... huh? Is this a needle?"

"It's a flying needle."

"A flying needle?"

"That's right."

What Cheonyeong presented was one of the hidden weapons he had used for a long time in his past.

Even if it was a regional Unorthodox Faction, from now on, it was a real fight with martial artists.

The toothpick... no, the flying wooden needle he used before was not nearly enough.

It couldn't be thrown far, and its lethality was also significantly lower.

"Hmm... something like this, I can certainly make it. By when should I have it ready?"

"As soon as possible."

"I understand. I will do my best."

"The quantity is one thousand."

"...Pardon?"

"One thousand."

"O-one thousand?"

"That's right. If the quality is decent, I will place an additional order."

"An additional order as well?"

The owner wore a blank expression at Cheonyeong's words.

If he were to use it himself, he would have made something like a three-bladed throwing star that spins well or an iron caltrop.

But for the Tang family members to use, flying needles were good.

Because it was the most basic hidden weapon.

So, one thousand.

Weren't there six people?

Even this was not enough.

Even if each person held over a hundred... they would be gone in an instant once they started using them.

How many could be thrown at once?

In a situation where life and death might be on the line, one couldn't be stingy with hidden weapons, could they?

He would never stand to see his people get hurt while trying to save hidden weapons.

"Alright, then bring them to the Tang Family's estate when they're all made."

"The Tang Family's estate... by any chance, are you, young master, from the Tang... no, the Mandeok Estate?"

"I am Tang Cheonyeong."

"Ah!"

The owner, surprised to hear Cheonyeong's name, answered firmly with a hardened expression.

"I will try to make them as quickly as possible."

His expression was even resolute.

But... he couldn't help but let out a dry laugh...

Cheonyeong knew him.

One of those who had turned a blind eye to his difficulties in the past.

And now?

No matter how hard you try.

You cannot atone for turning away back then.

Because a scar engraved on the heart can be forgotten for a moment, but it can never be erased.

"Let's go."

"Okay!"

After paying for the weapons, Cheonyeong whipped around and left, and the Tang family members followed him.

"Family Head, where should we go first? Just say the word! I'll end them."

Cheonyeong answered Sanghui's murderous question.

"The hunters' association."

"Huh? The hunters'... not the Yin Hand Chamber?"

"There's an order to everything. They're the culprits of last night's attack, so of course we should visit them first."

With a smile, Cheonyeong headed towards the location of the hunters' association.

It wasn't far.

How wide could Ganyang be...

As the five warriors, led by Cheonyeong, strode down the main road, people murmured and stared.

Seeing a group of sword-wielding warriors walking together, they thought that if something were to happen, it would be big.

With such an atmosphere, not only the hunters' association, which had already received news of Cheonyeong's arrival, but also the nearby private houses had all closed their doors, lest a spark fly their way.

Kung! Kung-kung!

Cheonyeong pounded hard on the closed door.

"Is anyone in there? I am Tang Cheonyeong, the Family Head of the Tang Family's estate. I have come to talk about what happened last night."

With a crowd of onlookers watching, Cheonyeong knocked on the association's door.

But there was no answer.

It was quiet as if they were holding their breath.

"It's no use pretending you don't know. Last night, vicious assailants raided the Tang Family's estate. As a result of our investigation, we know that the hunters' association was backing them!"

As Cheonyeong revealed the circumstances of the incident, the onlookers began to murmur.

"The hunters?"

"Is it true?"

"Ah! Come to think of it, wasn't there a dispute at the inn before?"

"That's right, that's right. Now that I see them, aren't those people from the Tang Family's estate?"

"I see, they've been helping out with quite a few things lately..."

"Ah, my good man. Who is the one who established the Tang Family's estate? See over there? That young master is the young master of the Mandeok Estate."

"Mandeok Estate? Really? I heard he was dead..."

"They say he has returned."

"Hah, as expected, the name of Mandeok Estate doesn't go anywhere. They only changed the name, but seeing as the people of that house are doing good deeds like before."

"That's what I'm saying."

"Those damn bastards... they ambushed such a person? Those guys aren't hunters, they're practically assassins."

"That's right. As if hunting beasts wasn't enough, it seems they're hunting people now."

Public opinion was boiling.

And Cheonyeong, standing at the center of the commotion, smiled triumphantly.

Time and fortune.

Finally... it has come.

"Open the door. If you keep this up, I won't be able to resolve this with words either! A person from my family was injured in your attack. Furthermore, the twelve-year-old kids I took in to give them a new life were almost seriously harmed by the vicious assailants!"

Cheonyeong repeatedly pounded on the door, deliberately announcing their crimes in a loud voice in front of the people.

However, the words he shouted in his heart were completely different.

Just a little longer.

Please don't open it.

Could it be that his fervent prayer was answered?

The firmly locked door didn't even budge.

And then.

"Hah, I can't help it. How can a warrior... suffer an attack and just let it pass as if nothing happened."

Cheonyeong, who stepped back, speaking as if lamenting, grinned.

"I, definitely warned you. Everything that happens from now on is all your own doing."

Cheonyeong turned his head and called for Yongcheon.

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah?"

"Break it."

"Break it?"

"Yes, with all your might. You can use your internal energy."

"Okay!"

At Cheonyeong's command, Yongcheon spat on his palms, rubbed them together, and gripped the iron pestle he had just bought with both hands.

A door?

That thing, it's nothing if it's up against our Yongcheon.

"Hoo-eup!"

Taking a deep breath, Yongcheon imbued the iron pestle with his internal energy and swung it with all his might.

Of course, his internal energy was not that great.

But when combined with the dragon-like strength he was born with?

Hwoooong!

The iron pestle, drawing a large parabola, struck the association's door forcefully.

Kwaaaaaang!

It was like a cannonball exploding.

But it was too much.

Not only was the thick door shattered into pieces, but the nearby wall also exploded along with it.

One entire side of the wall had crumbled, revealing the leaders of the hunters' association inside, aiming their drawn bowstrings with terrified expressions.

Thank you.

For being in that state.

"Hah! Those bastards who deserve to be drawn and quartered! They were really doing that?"

As people murmured, even spitting out curses, Cheonyeong added to the atmosphere.

"You were even preparing to kill?"

As Cheonyeong stepped inside, looking incredulous, one of the startled hunters unknowingly released his bowstring.

Ping!

An arrow shot straight at Cheonyeong.

Because the distance was too close, it was enough to kill even without accurately aiming for a vital spot.

However.

Thwack!

Without blinking an eye, Cheonyeong snatched the incoming arrow.

"Hah! Th-that's amazing!"

"The son of Mandeok Estate... was a martial artist?"

"They say the Tang Family's estate is a martial family."

"Still, that's amazing, to catch a flying arrow."

"Looks like the hunters are going to have a funeral now, to think they messed with a martial artist of all people."

At the act of catching the arrow, surprised murmurs erupted from people everywhere.

Alright, the show for the people ends here.

The rest... will be too cruel.

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah!"

"Outsiders shouldn't be allowed in, right?"

"Huh?"

"I have to do that thing from yesterday."

"Ah!"

That thing from yesterday.

The thing Yongcheon saw in the forest.

At those words, Yongcheon was startled and nodded his head.

"Alright. I'll guard the entrance so that no one can approach."

"I'm counting on you."

"Yeah..."

After patting Yongcheon's shoulder, Cheonyeong approached the hunters.

"Everyone, block it!"

With Yongcheon at the center, the five members of the Tang Family's estate lined up, blocking the wall.

But the hole in the wall was so big that if one wanted to see, they could see everything.

One step, one step.

Creak, creak.

The floor, pressed down with force, screamed, and with each step closer to them, Cheonyeong gradually released his killing intent, pressing down on the space.

"Ugh..."

Even if they were the leaders of the association, in the end, they were hunters. There was no way they could withstand Cheonyeong's immense pressure.

The hunters, suffocating, gasped and collapsed.

They looked at Cheonyeong with eyes full of fear, their whole bodies trembling.

It was a natural reaction.

How could they, who were not even martial artists, remain composed?

The killing intent he possessed as an assassin was amplified by the power of the Samyang True Energy.

Thud.

At that moment, one of the hunters who had collapsed in surprise shouted at Cheonyeong.

"Y-you! Don't come! Don't come near! How can a martial artist wreak havoc on a private residence! Are you not afraid of the government!"

At those words, Cheonyeong stopped walking and smirked.

"You're kidding me."

"...Huh?"

"Is it only the government and the martial world when you need them?"

"..."

"You guys tried to kill the people of the Tang Family's estate last night."

"W-we..." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"I know, it was Lee Ilpyeong who ordered it, right?"

As Cheonyeong spoke with a cold smile, the hunters' faces turned white.

"There were a few Yin Hand Chamber guys mixed in with the ones who attacked last night."

Cheonyeong resumed his stopped steps.

The terrified hunters began to retreat, sliding on their buttocks on the floor.

"Don't come! Do you think the Yin Hand Chamber will stand still!"

"And if they don't stand still?"

"What?"

"You think they'll help you?"

"They won't help?"

"Stupid fools."

"..."

"They probably said they'd take care of things, no matter what you did, right?"

A sneer formed on Cheonyeong's lips.

"Th-that's..."

"You naively believed that?"

"What did you say?"

"Lee Ilpyeong is not that kind of person. Why would he bother to take care of the aftermath? If last night's attack had succeeded... he would have pinned it all on you."

"...What?"

"It was your doing anyway, wasn't it?"

"Th-that's... but, he clearly."

"What? Said he would help? Who said that?"

"..."

"Did Lee Ilpyeong come and tell you himself?"

No.

They had just received a letter...

"The Yin Hand Chamber guys who came with you yesterday said so. That once the job was done, they were planning to kill all the hunter bastards who attacked with them."

"...!"

"You guys... were just used."

The hunters' eyes trembled minutely at Cheonyeong's words, which were full of pity.

"And... now there's no way Lee Ilpyeong will be backing you."

"...?"

"Yesterday, the official that guy was so diligently clinging to was arrested for bribery and abuse of power."

At those words, the hunters' eyes widened as if they would tear.

"Now, shall we have a little talk? If the Yin Hand Chamber entrusted a job to you, it means you have a close relationship, right? Then tell me. One by one, the places with the biggest income in the Yin Hand Chamber."

Cheonyeong smiled sinisterly and grabbed the wrist of the nearest person.

The Beggars' Sect gathers rumors, and assassins obtain information through interrogation.

Of course, the latter is much faster and more accurate.

Because it doesn't require any particular analysis.

(End of Chapter)