The fist was completely buried.

Nosanggae's body bent sideways from the soaring force, his eyes bulged out, and his mouth fell open.

"Keo-eok!"

His blocked breath, after a long moment, burst out with a scream.

"Kkeu-eoh..."

He had hurriedly circulated his internal energy to block it, but Nosanggae's face contorted in pain from the shock that was far greater than he had imagined.

But was it just... one blow?

Hwoooong!

A foot, drawing a large arc, flew and struck Nosanggae's head.

Ppa-aaak!

Tung! Tung! Tung, tururu...

It was truly an unsightly sight.

Being kicked by a foot, bouncing off the ground, and then rolling.

Cheonyeong did not close the distance in an instant, nor did he soar high like a swift bird.

He just walked slowly towards the fallen Nosanggae.

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

Instead, he deliberately made his footsteps sound loud.

Ppudeudeuk, ppudeudeuk.

He even let him hear the sound of his clasped hands unlacing.

"Kkeuu..."

Nosanggae, who had shaken his head several times to clear it, was startled by the sound and drew his Dog Beating Staff.

"Hoh? You've drawn your Dog Beating Staff?"

"...Ah, I did this without realizing."

Nosanggae couldn't hide his bewilderment at having drawn the Dog Beating Staff without even realizing it.

"Does that mean the warm-up is over?"

"Huh?"

"And that we can get serious now..."

Nosanggae's eyes widened at Cheonyeong's words.

I-it wasn't serious?

That wasn't his full skill?

Considering the pain from the area he was hit, it was an unbelievable statement, but looking at his expression, he seemed to be sincere.

He was definitely smiling, but...

It was scary.

His mouth, split wide on both sides, looked so murderous.

As if he would kill a person and bury them in the mountains...

"W-wait! Wait a minute! The Dog Beating Staff was a mistake! A mistake, I say!"

Nosanggae hurriedly put the Dog Beating Staff away.

"A mistake? Didn't you say to me earlier? That you would teach me flexibility."

"Th-that's..."

Nosanggae stepped back as much as Cheonyeong approached and said.

"I didn't know you were this good! I had no idea your skills were at this level!"

"...There's no way the Beggars' Sect is that sloppy. If that's really the case, I'm disappointed. The Beggars' Sect's information network."

"Th-this is...! Fine! I didn't know! I didn't know. And if I had known you were this good from the start, why would I have said such a thing!"

"Hmm, then this is even more disappointing."

"What?"

"For someone who is the Branch Leader of the Beggars' Sect, which advocates for righteousness and justice, you're quite ridiculous."

"..."

"A moment ago, you said you would enforce your will even by force... it seems the justice of the Beggars' Sect changes easily depending on the opponent, or the situation, right?"

Nosanggae couldn't say a word.

"As for me, I'm different."

"...?"

"Whether I have power or not... I will definitely achieve what I believe is right. No matter how strong that elder from the Blue Serpent Sect is, even if the Beggars' Sect headquarters steps in to stop me!"

Nosanggae stared blankly at Cheonyeong's words.

He couldn't retort even if he had a mouth.

Why was the Orthodox Faction called the Orthodox Faction?

It was the Orthodox Faction because they pushed forward with what they believed was right without wavering, in the face of any external pressure or trial.

Nosanggae, standing before the seventeen-year-old boy, was just ashamed.

He was an adult but not adult-like, a senior but not senior-like.

He was being taught by a seventeen-year-old boy who was neither Orthodox nor Unorthodox.

The crushing sense of defeat from losing in spirit, more than losing the match, made his body sag.

The strength drained from Nosanggae's fists, and he let his hands hang limply.

"I... have lost."

At the sight of him hanging his head low, Cheonyeong stopped walking.

If he admits defeat himself... there's no need...

"Please leave now. I will only accept your concern for the Tang Family's estate."

"Hmm..."

It was the second order to leave.

He no longer had the confidence to refuse, nor the skill.

No matter what the Sangbang's order was, he had already deviated from what was right and had acted according to the interests between factions.

He had brought shame to the name of the Beggars' Sect.

"Family Head Tang."

"Please speak."

"I cannot dare to predict the extent of the power you currently possess. Perhaps your current skill is not all you have. But, Ghost Hand... is strong."

"...?"

"Please, be careful of the hand hidden in the shadows."

The hand hidden in the shadows?

Cheonyeong had a strange look in his eyes at Nosanggae's words.

"It may not be enough, but please consider this as an apology for the mistake the Beggars' Sect has committed against the Family Head of the Tang Family's estate."

Cheonyeong smiled brightly at those words.

The Blue Serpent Sect's elder, Ghost Hand No Gwanyeong, who was said to be one of the Ten Prowess of the Sichuan Unorthodox Faction.

Information about him would hold a rather important position even within the Beggars' Sect.

Especially if it was the core part of his martial arts...

"It is not lacking. I will accept the Beggars' Sect's apology with satisfaction."

"Thank you. From now on, the Beggars' Sect will absolutely not interfere in the affairs of the Tang Family's estate."

"I would be grateful if you did."

Cheonyeong sincerely thanked Nosanggae and bowed his head.

Nosanggae, holding his side, bowed back in response.

The place where he was hit by the fist was throbbing.

It seemed a few ribs were broken.

Even though it was urgent, he had protected himself with internal energy, yet it was this much...

Nosanggae realized his thinking was wrong.

His assessment of him had been wrong from the start.

A warrior who made one unable to consider his age.

"Family Head Tang."

"Yes?"

"By any chance, was what you showed just now all of your skill?"

Cheonyeong smiled sinisterly at Nosanggae, who asked cautiously.

Still trying to figure me out?

"Would that be all?"

"..."

"Well, you'll find out soon enough."

Nosanggae stared at Cheonyeong, who brushed it off with a laugh, for a long time before laughing himself.

It was a funny thing.

He, who had grown old and experienced in the Beggars' Sect, couldn't even fathom the thoughts hidden in a seventeen-year-old boy's laugh.

He had truly lived in vain.

But as he said, he would find out.

He himself, and Ganyang.

No, perhaps someday, all the martial artists in the world.

"Please... I wish you good fortune in your martial path."

"Yes. Take care."

Cheonyeong smiled brightly and waved his hand, and Nosanggae turned away with a much more relieved expression than before.

"Branch Leader! Branch Leader!"

As Nosanggae came out of the Tang Family's estate's shelter, the members of the Beggars' Sect flocked to him.

"What happened?"

Oyong asked, and Nosanggae replied with a nonchalant expression.

"In this matter... the Beggars' Sect has decided to wash its hands of it."

"Pardon? What does that mean? Are you saying you will defy the order from the Sangbang?"

"Dammit, it can't be helped. I have no choice but to rewrite the report and send it up."

"Branch Leader! Does that make sense? You don't know the Sangbang Master's personality?"

"Then what do you want me to do? It's already been decided..."

"Decided?"

"Yes. If you don't like it, you can go and try talking to him."

Nosanggae grimaced, holding his throbbing side.

Damn it...

Right, you were waiting outside, so you didn't see it.

Go and get hit once yourself.

It'll wake you right up.

Oyong, who had been blinking at Nosanggae's grumbling, asked cautiously.

"Don't tell me? Did you lose?"

"..."

The silence was an affirmation, and Oyong, his eyes wide, couldn't hide his surprise.

"You really lost? To a seventeen-year-old brat?"

"Yes! I lost. You bastard! I lost quite miserably!"

"Th-that's? By any chance, did you let your guard down because he was a kid..."

"Let my guard down? Do you think I would?"

"You didn't? Then are you saying Tang Cheonyeong's skill is superior to yours, Branch Leader?"

"Keuk, superior?"

It was overwhelming.

To the point where he couldn't even reach...

"Let's go."

"Go back just like this? We can't! It's an order from the Sangbang! We must stop this fight."

"..."

"Rather... let's do a joint attack. If we deploy the Dog Beating Formation with us."

"Oyong!"

"..."

"I have already brought shame to the name of the Beggars' Sect."

"Branch Leader..."

"The Beggars' Sect will stay out of this fight. Even if the Blue Serpent Sect steps in and the Tang Family's estate is in trouble. And even if our branch has to leave Ganyang because of it."

"But... the Sangbang Master won't stand still."

"Don't worry. I will take responsibility."

Nosanggae sighed and started walking.

"Keuk! Dammit... this will probably last for a month or two."

As Nosanggae grimaced from the pain in his side with every step, Oyong grumbled.

"My goodness, what's with all the fuss, so unlike a Branch Leader? Getting hit by a mere seventeen-year-old's fist."

A mere seventeen-year-old?

You're talking shit.

If I hadn't admitted defeat and stopped then, I really... would have been shitting blood for the rest of my life.

"Yong."

"Yes."

"Don't get involved, but watch carefully."

"...Yes."

Nosanggae, leaving behind Oyong who answered with a pout, looked at the Tang Family's estate's shelter hidden by the Concealing Heaven and Hiding Form formation and smirked.

The master of the Tang Family's estate, Tang Cheonyeong.

He had said he had not yet chosen between Orthodox and Unorthodox.

Considering his age and skill, he was worthy of being called a Heavenly Dragon, as martial artists often praised outstanding young talents.

But to walk the path of justice, his methods were too cruel to be called righteous and clear, and he lacked the generosity to forgive grudges.

And to say he walked the path of evil, his will was firm and upright.

Heavenly Dragon? Evil Dragon?

Which one was he?

If he couldn't be either...

"A Flood Dragon? Keuk keuk, well... I'm not sure."

However, the thought that he might become a typhoon that would shake the Sichuan martial world was strong.

* * *

"Family Head, you're really! A-mazing!"

After Nosanggae left, Yongcheon suddenly let out a cry of admiration as if his blocked breath had burst.

The other family members were the same.

But... Family Head is Family Head, what's with the 'you'?

This disrespectful kid.

The trainees of the Hoyeon Brigade are all watching.

Cheonyeong glanced at the kids of the Hoyeon Brigade, whose mouths were agape.

It seemed the way he spoke didn't matter.

The eyes looking at him were filled with respect, admiration... and similar emotions.

Well, not bad.

Seeing is believing, as they say. It seemed the fight with Nosanggae that unfolded before their eyes had inspired a sense of belonging and pride in the children.

"Did you all see that!?"

"Yes! Brigade Master!"

"Our Family Head is that amazing. You all are from the vagrant village, so you know how much of a master a Beggars' Sect Branch Leader is, right?"

"Yes, sir. Even the leaders of the vagrant gangs grovel before a Beggars' Sect Branch Leader..."

"You punks... you will all soon become like that."

"Pardon?"

"Hoyeon Brigade!"

"Yes!"

"Have dreams and hope! We are the Tang Family's estate!"

"Yes!"

The children of the Hoyeon Brigade answered forcefully at Baekgang's words.

Indeed, the position makes the person.

To think Baekgang could handle the children so well... it seemed he could continue to entrust them to him.

By the way, with this, the Beggars' Sect is taken care of, and now an elder from the Blue Serpent Sect...

An unexpected person had jumped into the fight with the Yin Hand Chamber.

He had planned to slowly dry up Lee Ilpyeong and repay his grudge, but it seemed he had to end it quickly.

"Baekgang."

"Yes! Family Head!"

Was it because of the atmosphere?

Baekgang answered forcefully, even using honorifics.

"The kids of the Hoyeon Brigade... how many do you think will endure?"

"With the current atmosphere... about ten?"

"Ten, you say."

The number had decreased a lot.

At first, there were over twenty, but after sending away the children who couldn't keep up, that was the number that remained.

But it wasn't a bad number.

"Good. Then let's hold the official initiation ceremony."

"Huh? No, pardon? The initiation ceremony already? We haven't even finished the basic training yet."

Basic training?

That wasn't something you set a limit for.

You start with it first because you need basic physical strength to learn martial arts, but in reality, you have to do it for the rest of your life.

"It doesn't matter. We can do the basic training and the regular training concurrently. After the initiation ceremony, each of you will take two as disciples and begin to teach them hidden weapon techniques in earnest."

"Hidden weapons, stone-throwing?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... well, if that is the Family Head's decision."

Baekgang answered after a short deliberation, and the members of the Tang family smiled.

How happy must they be?

Disciples...

"But... Family Head."

"Yeah?"

"Um, can't you give me a title or a name too?"

"..."

"Baekgang is the Hoyeon Brigade Master, and the other kids have titles too... but only I don't have one... and I'm getting disciples soon."

Cheonyeong let out a small laugh at Hwangsama's whispered words as he came up beside him.

Seventeen.

An age where you're envious of useless things.

Never mind the Yin Hand Chamber, he might have to fight a master called Ghost Hand right away.

(End of Chapter)