"You son of a bitch!"

The sword shot forward.

Ting!

But it was a powerless sword.

With a light touch, the flat of the blade was deflected and soared futilely into the air.

Bbeo-eok!

"Keok!"

Lee Ilpyeong, struck in the abdomen by the following fist, staggered back.

It was a throbbing shock that momentarily took his breath away.

Cheonyeong, who he glared at with a grimace, was just calm.

He wore a smile full of cynicism, but in Lee Ilpyeong's eyes, he could see the cold anger contained within.

At that chilling gaze that seemed to pierce his heart, Lee Ilpyeong shouted as if in a panic.

He already knew.

The power that had struck his abdomen and the cold anger approaching with a murderous momentum were enough.

Tang Cheonyeong was not a seventeen-year-old brat.

He was a grim reaper who could tear away his lifeline at any moment.

"What are you all doing! Block him! Block him, I say!"

"...Pardon?"

"You stupid fools! Do you think you'll be safe! If I go down, do you think that punk, the people of Ganyang, will forgive you!"

At those words, the bewildered warriors quickly came to their senses and rushed at Cheonyeong.

"...A meaningless struggle."

Kung!

At the sight of the warriors rushing towards him, Cheonyeong stomped his foot hard.

His slightly tilted upper body bent forward and he ran as if shot.

"He might use hidden weapons!"

At the warriors' shout, Cheonyeong wore a cold smile.

Hidden weapons?

Is that all I have?

That is just one of the things I have.

Samyang Divine Art, Body Transformation.

Six Harmonies.

Kwadeudeuk!

Cheonyeong's outstretched hand seemed to grab the head of a nearby warrior, and then immediately slammed it into the ground.

Kuuuung!

The ground rumbled.

It was anger.

It seemed as if the ground couldn't withstand Cheonyeong's cold anger and was letting out a scream.

The body of the warrior, whose head was buried in the ground, went limp.

"Come on. Anyone... I have no intention of forgiving you."

The eyes, filled with cold killing intent, seemed to fill the space and watch.

Kuuuung!

Cheonyeong, stomping the ground and running, was like a charging tiger, and his hands and feet were like those of a beast swinging its claws straight.

Kwajijijik! Peok!

He broke and tore everything his hands touched, and smashed everything his feet kicked.

But, there was no change in Cheonyeong's expression as he swam through the splashing blood and flesh.

It was a ruthlessness that showed not a moment's hesitation even in the face of screams.

"Ugh..."

Terrified by the sight, the warriors, one by one, lost their will to fight and retreated from Cheonyeong's side.

The place where his steps reached.

The path to the trembling Lee Ilpyeong was wide open.

"Lee Ilpyeong, can't you do it on your own? Can't you do anything unless your subordinates block for you?"

"...Ugh."

Lee Ilpyeong couldn't answer.

He was powerless. It felt as if he couldn't stop him, no matter what he did.

"It's lamentable. That I was brought down by the likes of you..."

"Heu-eu-eu."

Lee Ilpyeong felt his vision going dark.

He could no longer run or resist.

He saw no hope.

A situation no different from a rat trapped in a corner, chased by an angry cat.

Pathetic and shabby.

No matter how he looked around...

"Ah!"

What came into Lee Ilpyeong's eyes at that moment was none other than Ghost Hand No Gwanyeong.

He was the only one who could stop this damn brat right now.

"Ghost Hand!"

"...?"

"H-help me! Please!"

At Lee Ilpyeong's voice, shouting with all his might, Cheonyeong stopped walking and turned his head.

Ghost Hand No Gwanyeong.

Their eyes met.

"Hmm..."

No Gwanyeong, with a clearly annoyed expression, sighed.

"Are you going to step in?"

"Well... I don't know."

No Gwanyeong answered ambiguously and pondered.

"I'll give it to you! I'll give you the entire Yin Hand Chamber! Please just spare my life!"

Lee Ilpyeong struggled, as if grasping at straws.

"Hmm..."

No Gwanyeong, frowning deeply in thought, unclasped his hands from behind his back.

Cheonyeong's eyes turned cold.

Dammit...

Cheonyeong evened his breath in preparation for the ensuing fight.

He still didn't know his skills.

But, if he interfered...

Cheonyeong gripped the sword he hadn't drawn until now and prepared to draw it.

If he had to fight, he wouldn't think about the aftermath.

He would draw out all his Samyang True Energy and end it in one blow.

So that the hidden hand Nosanggae had warned about could not come out.

"Look here, Family Head Tang."

"...Yes."

"If the Yin Hand Chamber Master says that, my position is also quite difficult."

"..."

"But, let me ask just one thing."

"Please speak."

Cheonyeong, wary of No Gwanyeong who was slowly walking towards him, drew out all his strength so that he could strike at any moment.

Waiting for him to enter his range...

"Which side do you walk on?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Shrimps side with crabs. You said that, didn't you? That's why I'm asking."

"...?"

"I am indeed a shrimp. Are you a crab?"

Although he used a metaphor, the meaning was clear.

Orthodox? Or Unorthodox?

Although he asked as if it were nothing, it was clear that he would act differently depending on the answer.

He could feel it even from a distance.

That he too, with a smile, was ready to strike, just like him.

"Is it important?"

"It is."

"Why is that?"

"Because shrimps have no choice but to side with crabs."

"If I say I'm a crab..."

"There would be no need to side with the Yin Hand Chamber Master. Because the result would be the same no matter whose side I take."

"Does that mean... you, great hero, could take my side?"

"Well?"

"..."

"But, a steadfast person like you would be better than a punk who could stab you in the back at any time. Now, stop and answer."

No Gwanyeong urged for an answer and took another step closer.

The answer was already decided.

Unorthodox.

If he said he walked the same path, No Gwanyeong would retreat without a word, and the Blue Serpent Sect would no longer interfere in Ganyang's affairs.

He was pressing him to hear that answer.

Drawing out a formidable internal energy and filling the space...

It won't be easy.

I heard he was just one of the Ten Prowess of the Sichuan Unorthodox Faction, but his presence is greater than I thought.

Is it still too much with just the Transformed Body?

My internal energy hasn't increased, nor have my martial arts improved in the first place.

What if I use hidden weapons?

There might be a chance.

But even if I luckily defeat No Gwanyeong... after that, I would have to face the entire Blue Serpent Sect.

If a place has a great person like Ghost Hand as an elder, there would be a line of warriors close to his level.

The number of warriors wouldn't be small either.

If we fight, we lose.

Not only the Tang Family's estate, but Ganyang would surely become a sea of blood.

What should I do?

"That will not do!"

At that moment, someone cut into the tense atmosphere.

Clothes patched up here and there.

Nosanggae?

It was him.

But why?

"Hoh? Are you not Nosanggae?"

"It's been a while, Senior Ghost Hand."

"Ho ho, my good man. It's been a while. If the place were better, I would have gladly offered you a drink... but the timing is not good."

As if they knew each other, they exchanged formal greetings.

But as Nosanggae appeared, the presence felt from Ghost Hand became much greater than before.

Dammit... so he wasn't using his full strength.

Cheonyeong frowned at the fact that he was still a long way off.

"Senior, this will not do."

"What is it?"

"Why is the Blue Serpent Sect interfering in the affairs of Ganyang?"

"...Why?"

"The problem between the Tang Family's estate and the Yin Hand Chamber was originally due to a grudge."

"So?"

"The Blue Serpent Sect has no justification to interfere."

"No justification?"

"That is correct."

"Then..."

No Gwanyeong's gaze as he looked at Nosanggae turned cold.

"Does the Beggars' Sect have one?"

"That's..."

"It seems I am better than you. As the Family Head of the Tang family said, I am on the side of the crab, and the Yin Hand Chamber is a crab."

Although he smiled faintly, no one could respond.

How could they smile back when his internal energy was so full and pressing down that it was even uncomfortable to breathe?

"Still, it will not do. If the Blue Serpent Sect insists on interfering, as the Branch Leader of the Beggars' Sect, I too have no choice but to request the Sangbang."

"Request the Beggars' Sect?"

"That is correct."

"Hoh? That's great... actually, I also have an unresolved connection with the Drunken Beggar of the Sichuan Sangbang."

Nosanggae's face contorted at No Gwanyeong's words.

The Sangbang Master, the Drunken Beggar.

He was one of the nine elders of the Beggars' Sect, Nosanggae's master, and the person who controlled the entire Sichuan Beggars' Sect branch.

He had fought with Ghost Hand No Gwanyeong several times, and their skills were so evenly matched that it was still impossible to say who had the upper hand.

"The Sangbang Master will not refuse either."

"Hoh, is that so?"

No Gwanyeong wore a sneer at Nosanggae's steadfastness.

"Yes, it is something I also wish for. But... as for me, I have not yet heard an answer."

"Pardon?"

"The Family Head of the Tang family has not yet answered. The cart should not be put before the horse. Wouldn't it be better to fight after that?"

"Ah!"

Nosanggae, who let out an exclamation, looked at Cheonyeong.

Right, all the answers were with Cheonyeong in the first place.

Because the justification itself would change depending on which side he took.

Nosanggae did not doubt it.

He believed in the uprightness he had seen in him so far.

Also, wasn't Cheonyeong the son of the Mandeok Estate, which had been doing good deeds in Ganyang for generations?

Although he was trying to rebuild the family under the name of the Tang Family's estate, one could not ignore his origins.

"Hoh? You believe in him..."

"Yes. I am firm."

"Well... but he uses hidden weapons, doesn't he? Shouldn't that be considered our side?"

No Gwanyeong was right.

No one in the Orthodox Faction used hidden weapons.

Because they considered it cowardly.

However.

"I did not know you were so petty, senior."

"Wh-what? Petty?"

"Yes. You are not just petty, but narrow-minded."

"You punk!"

"How can you divide Orthodox and Unorthodox based on the weapon used?"

"What did you say?"

"On which side does the great hero, Divine Archer Hwang Piljae, stand?"

"Uh-huh?"

"What about the Flying Dagger Sect of Honam? Are they an Unorthodox Faction?"

"..."

"In the end, what determines Orthodox and Unorthodox is not the weapon, but the path one walks."

"Umm..."

Even with Nosanggae's pressing, No Gwanyeong had nothing to say.

He couldn't deny it.

Bow and flying dagger.

Although they were ambiguous as weapons of the Orthodox Faction, how could one call them an Unorthodox Faction?

"Keung... dammit, you beggar punk. Your tongue has gotten quite sharp."

"With someone's help."

Nosanggae, who had won the war of words, grinned and glanced at Cheonyeong.

He hadn't missed a single word of what Cheonyeong had said once.

Just as he had, No Gwanyeong couldn't retort.

"Tch! Then it can't be helped! Let the Family Head of the Tang family decide!"

No Gwanyeong, who had turned his head away as if sulking, asked.

With a terrifying momentum.

"Yes! You decide. Which side are you on! If you say you'll walk the same path even now, I will take responsibility and help rebuild the Tang Family's estate. With all my heart and soul."

"..."

It was baffling.

Why were these guys suddenly jumping into someone else's fight and making such a fuss?

What did it matter if it was Orthodox or Unorthodox...

But it seemed he couldn't avoid answering.

"Answer quickly!"

"Quickly!"

"..."

These guys have already decided on their answers...

"I am."

As Cheonyeong's lips parted, No Gwanyeong and Nosanggae simultaneously widened their eyes, looked at him, and swallowed hard.

"The Tang Family's estate."

"...What?"

"Uh-huh?"

"The Tang Family's estate is just the Tang Family's estate. However..."

Cheonyeong, who had paused for a moment, looked at the two alternately and said calmly.

"Whichever side becomes an enemy of the Tang Family's estate, I am willing to fight. And I have no intention of ever backing down. That is the law of the Tang family that I have promised to my family members."

(End of Chapter)