Having entered the calligraphy and painting shop, Cheonyeong simply walked towards the main hall.

Neither fast nor slow.

There was no need to seek out the warriors and attack them.

"Do you know where this is... Kuek!"

"You son of a bi... Keok!"

"St-stop him... Euheok!"

They came on their own.

Dozens had already fallen at his hands, but it was as if they hadn't learned their lesson; none of them gave up.

Well, it didn't matter.

This raid also had the purpose of picking them off one by one.

From what he had gathered so far, the martial prowess of the Yin Hand Chamber members was weak, but their numbers were not small.

United we stand, divided we fall.

Just as the saying goes, if they ganged up on them, no matter how strong the members of the Tang Family's estate were individually, it would not be an easy fight.

So, this was the strategy he had deployed.

Attack the Yin Hand Chamber members scattered across their various businesses and crush them before they could unite.

"Kuaak!"

Cheonyeong grabbed the arm of a punk who had just rushed at him and broke it.

Another casualty.

Among those who had fallen on the path he had walked so far, not a single one was unscathed.

With this, the Yin Hand Chamber's strength would be weakened in an instant.

Meanwhile, with all their businesses raided, Lee Ilpyeong's cheeks would be trembling with rage.

"Kkeueok!"

As he broke another leg, the warriors surrounding Cheonyeong hesitated and began to falter, unable to rush in readily.

Unlike them, who were tense, Cheonyeong's face was nothing but relaxed.

"You punk! What is this madness!"

At the thunderous roar, Cheonyeong whipped his head around.

Unlike the others, his attire, and the faint internal energy seeping from his voice...

When he appeared, the surrounding warriors slowly backed away, their swords still aimed.

Smirking, Cheonyeong spoke to him.

"Are you the leader?"

"That's right! I am the master of this calligraphy and painting shop!"

Cheonyeong sneered at the sight of him shouting with his sharp eyes.

Master of the calligraphy and painting shop, my ass.

Just Lee Ilpyeong's lackey.

The shop master scanned the mess Cheonyeong had made.

It was not good.

Dozens were injured.

In contrast, the attacker before him was so unscathed it was doubtful a fight had even occurred.

And he was alone.

Who on earth was he?

He didn't look that old... for what reason had he attacked the calligraphy and painting shop in broad daylight?

First, he had to confirm his identity.

"From the looks of it, the martial arts you possess are not lacking... why have you caused such a disturbance?"

"Keuk, a disturbance? The thief turning on the master with a club has its limits. Who is scolding whom right now?"

"What? The thief turning on the master?"

"That's right. You guys started the fight first."

"What did you say?"

The shop master's eyes contorted at Cheonyeong's words.

He had been reported that some madman had broken down the main gate and stormed in.

"You baaastard!"

"..."

"Who the hell started the fight first! Didn't you ignore the guard's restraint and break the main gate first!"

"That's right. I only broke the main gate. But I didn't start a fight."

"Wh-what?"

The warrior who had been shouting blinked his eyes at Cheonyeong's overly confident words.

What... what's the difference?

"I never learned how to knock on a door."

"What did you say?"

Is this how kids these days pick fights?

It was an absurd sophistry.

"I'm just looking for a culprit... I came to ask, just in case you knew. But you guys attacked first. Didn't you?"

What kind of crazy bastard is this?

Then should he have said 'welcome' to the one who smashed the main gate?

It was only natural to consider him an enemy and attack.

"Who are you? Who the hell are you to be acting so high and mighty!"

"Me? The Tang Family's estate's Family Head, Tang Cheonyeong."

"Tang... Cheonyeong?"

"Yep."

"Then you're the one?!"

The warrior's face contorted at Cheonyeong's brightly smiling answer.

The Tang Family's estate.

How could he not know that name?

Even though it was a newly established family, rumors about it were already rampant in the market.

That they were doing good deeds...

Above all, its Family Head was the son of the Mandeok Estate.

The one that had fallen due to the Yin Hand Chamber Master's conspiracy.

Dammit, then this raid?

It meant it was entirely intentional.

But, even so...

"Tang Cheonyeong. You must be mad."

"Mad?"

"Yes, you are mad. How could I not report to the authorities when you have recklessly attacked the innocent calligraphy and painting shop in broad daylight? I will immediately report this matter..."

"Keuk!"

"...?"

"Keuk keuk keuk, this is one funny bastard."

As Cheonyeong suddenly burst into laughter, the shop master looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Thanks to you, I had a good laugh for the first time in a while. You bastard."

"..."

"You, a warrior, why do you look for the authorities first? You think they'll help you if you do?"

"What did you say?"

"Don't tell me you're trusting Jeong Hapryeo? You're not, are you?"

The shop master's eyes widened as the name of the official who had been on close terms with the Chamber Master came out of Cheonyeong's mouth.

"How do you know that name?"

"Tsk tsk, for a bastard who's called the core of the Yin Hand Chamber, you're slow on the news."

"..."

"The Jeong Hapryeo you're trusting has already been arrested."

"What did you say? What does that mean?"

"Well, did you think a guy who took bribes and committed illegal acts for the Yin Hand Chamber would be safe forever?"

"..."

"And, this was never a matter for the authorities to get involved in in the first place. Got it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Hah, why are there so many things this bastard doesn't know? Are you by any chance... an outcast in your Chamber?"

"What did you say?"

"Aigoo, it seems so. You poor bastard. It must have been hard."

The words were comforting, but the tone was clearly filled with ridicule, so the shop master gritted his teeth and glared.

You young punk.

At that sight, Cheonyeong spoke indifferently.

"Hey... keep your eyes pretty. If you keep that up, I might just gouge them out."

It was a chilling feeling.

The eerie killing intent that emanated with those words reached him, and the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.

The shop master cleared his throat, lest he reveal his startle.

The bastard, pretending he's not scared when he is.

I can see his fingers trembling.

"Well, what's the point of blaming you who seems to know nothing? I'll tell you just once, so listen carefully."

"..."

"Last night, you guys attacked the Tang Family's estate."

"The Yin Hand Chamber attacked?"

"Yes, and because of that, a member of the Tang family was seriously! injured... and I'm currently looking for the culprit. Because when I hold a grudge, I never forget it until I've paid it back tenfold."

"What does that mean! The Yin Hand Chamber attacked!"

"Ask your master what it means, and from now on, I'll ask just one thing."

"..."

"According to my investigation, a bastard named Andeukseong is behind the ones who attacked the Tang Family's estate. You're the master of the calligraphy and painting shop, in charge of the Yin Hand Chamber's finances, so you should know well, right? Tell me, where is that bastard now?"

"Umm..."

The shop master couldn't help but fall into deep thought at Cheonyeong's words.

The sudden raid was baffling enough... but how should he answer this?

Seeing as he spoke so confidently about Jeong Hapryeo, it was clear he had connections in the government as well.

And there was no way Andeukseong would have acted alone.

It must have been the Chamber Master's order...

That stupid Patrol Hall Master.

How did he mess things up so badly?

If you're going to do something, do it properly.

It was certain that he hadn't even properly assessed the martial prowess of this Tang Cheonyeong fellow.

"You bastard, I can hear your brain working from here."

"..."

"Speak. Where is Andeukseong? If you tell me... I'll just break your legs nicely and leave."

The shop master's gaze deepened at Cheonyeong's smile.

Tang Cheonyeong.

He was a very young punk.

Just by looking at his face, couldn't one see his lack of worldly experience?

But, if left alone, he would surely become a headache for the Yin Hand Chamber.

The shop master looked around Cheonyeong.

Dozens had been taken down, but the number of remaining warriors was still large.

He hadn't seen him break the main gate or beat down the warriors himself, so he couldn't tell the extent of Tang Cheonyeong's skill.

But a seventeen-year-old...

No matter how crazily he trained, there would be a limit.

Moreover, the punk was alone.

Even though quite a few had been taken down, the number of warriors was still more than double, and if he and the main force of the calligraphy and painting shop stepped in?

After a deliberation that couldn't even be called a strategic analysis, the bewilderment on the shop master's face disappeared and a smile formed.

"...You clearly said the authorities couldn't interfere, right?"

"Of course. This is my response to your attack."

"Is that so?"

The shop master's eyes turned cold at Cheonyeong's answer.

"Then why don't you... go find him and take him yourself."

As the shop master finished speaking and raised his hand, the warriors who had backed away swarmed in, surrounding Cheonyeong in layers.

Unlike before, they had even drawn their swords.

As the killing intent emanating from all sides touched his body coldly, Cheonyeong grinned slyly.

"You're not unaware of what it means to draw a sword, are you?"

"How could I not know?"

"Ah, is that so? Then that's a relief. It means I can go all out too. Until now, I was holding back my strength... just in case someone died."

"Hmph! What are you all doing! Kill him!"

As the shop master's order fell, killing intent rushed towards Cheonyeong from all directions.

"Keuk keuk. It's been a while... this kind of situation."

He was Cheonyeong, the assassin.

How many times had he been surrounded in an enemy camp like this?

The reason he had been able to survive for so long was because he had the skill to match.

"Hoo..."

Cheonyeong slowly evened his breath.

It was an urgent situation where a blade could cut his flesh at any moment, but he did not hurry.

"Die! Brat!"

Shwaaak!

The sword of the first warrior to arrive fell before his eyes.

Teok.

Cheonyeong lightly gripped the hilt of the sword he had bought from the blacksmith street.

Even if it was a cheap sword... there was no problem in cutting off a neck.

Seuk!

The sword was drawn.

And it grazed the warrior's neck, drawing a short arc.

Puhak!

Blood gushed out, and the head fell to the ground.

"Thanks for drawing your sword first. In return, I'll kill... all of you."

A cold killing intent colored Cheonyeong's eyes as he held his sword.

Shwaak!

It spread out in all directions along with the sword.

"Keuk!"

Cheonyeong's unhindered movements were like lightning.

Every time the sword drew an arc, arms were cut off, and legs were severed.

Blood splattered in all directions.

"Haap!"

The moment he was surrounded by the charging warriors, Cheonyeong stomped the ground hard and unleashed his Samyang True Energy.

Kuuuung!

The ground shook, and the shockwave created by his internal energy spread out in all directions.

"Kuaak!"

The screams of the warriors swept away by the storm spread like a plague.

Tta-ang!

A deflected blade was caught in Cheonyeong's hand.

Cheonyeong, gripping the pieces he had broken with force, scattered them in all directions.

In a fight against many, the most effective weapon was undoubtedly hidden weapons.

It was especially effective against a swarm of enemies like this.

The line of battle collapsed in an instant from the sword fragments that tore and pierced their flesh.

"Kkeueueu..."

An enemy, groaning as he collapsed.

Cheonyeong cut off his neck without a moment's hesitation.

And in the midst of the gruesome scene of slaughter, he looked at the shop master with murderous eyes and smiled.

"A good choice. This was a very good choice."

"Y-you..."

The shop master's complexion turned pale at the threat delivered in a low murmur.

Something was wrong.

It was a miscalculation.

Numbers? They were useless against him.

How... how could he be so strong?

He was never at a level they could handle in the first place.

Cheonyeong walked, stepping one by one on the ground that was now stained with pools of blood.

The frightened warriors faltered and backed away at the sight of his glaring eyes and blood-soaked figure.

It was the first beginning of making the Tang family's name known.

Too cruel to be called Orthodox, yet with a justification that had no wrongdoing to be called Unorthodox.

"Shop Master."

"..."

"I pray you are a decent warrior."

The Tang Family's Departure from the World