Cheonyeong, who had come outside, frowned as he glanced at the closed door. As if waiting, the Outer Hall Master, Chunil, and Guhwang approached.

From their expressions, it seemed they were curious about what had been discussed inside.

"How did it go? Was the alcohol good? How much are they giving? Are they saying let's do well in the future? Ah, it's frustrating. Tell me quickly."

I just came out.

How many questions are you asking at once?

And wasn't there one mixed in that didn't fit the situation at all?

Damn, you drunkard!

"Family Head Tang, what did the Association Head and the leaders of the merchant association say?"

"Well."

"...What do you mean, 'well'?"

"They suddenly told me to become a dog, so I refused and came out."

"Pardon? A dog?"

"That's what they said."

"Ah..."

As he answered with a bright smile, Guhwang's expression turned serious.

"As expected... was it so?"

"You seemed to know, how the merchant association would come out."

"I had expected it."

It seemed Guhwang already knew.

The atrocities of the merchant association.

Well, wasn't this Guhwang, who had been running a leather shop in Ganyang for over twenty years?

He would have known more about the merchant association than anyone else.

"Well, I'm not particularly displeased. I'm also glad to have learned what kind of evaluation the Tang Family's estate is receiving."

"Pardon?"

"Isn't it the truth? The people are cheering day after day because we took care of the Yin Hand Chamber, but... the actual evaluation is just this much, as they said."

Cheonyeong spread his thumb and index finger as Go Hyeon had done and winked.

"Hoo, what will you do now? If you go like this, you will never have a connection with the merchant association."

"What do you mean, what will I do? I have no intention of becoming a dog, so I'll have to do it without the help of the merchant association."

"Pardon? But... it won't be easy."

"Well, it's fine. I've never walked an easy path."

"Th... um..."

Guhwang frowned.

How could he not know Cheonyeong's heart?

At an age full of vigor, having just dismantled the Yin Hand Chamber, he would be full of triumph, but to be called here and hear all sorts of things, how much must his pride have been hurt?

But he was a Family Head.

As long as he had family members, no matter how few, he had to endure it, even if it was dirty and cheap at times.

"Family Head."

"Yes."

"Problems in the martial world can be solved with strength."

"That's right."

"But the commercial world is different."

"I also know that."

"For the sake of your family members..."

"I don't want to."

"Pardon?"

"They will understand my decision. Because they are that kind of people."

Cheonyeong said, glancing at Chunil.

"Of course! If we don't understand you, Family Head, who will?"

Chunil, who was quite quick-witted, thumped his chest and laughed gallantly.

Of course, he wouldn't know.

He probably wouldn't even understand the organic relationship between commerce and the martial world.

He was just a guy for whom the Family Head's order was paramount.

Guhwang, who was looking at the two of them, sighed and said.

He had to persuade him.

That sometimes, one must know how to bend.

"Family Head Tang."

"Yes?"

"It's a given, but the Tang Family's estate... is a small sect. It's a place that has just been established."

"Yes."

"From a merchant's perspective, the Tang Family's estate is of no help."

"I know."

"Then why?"

"You mean why I didn't bow my head?"

"..."

Guhwang didn't answer.

But how could Cheonyeong not know that it was an affirmation?

He was being considerate of him.

Even though the answer was obvious... he couldn't bring himself to say it to his face.

"Shopkeeper Gu."

"Yes..."

"As you said, warriors and merchants are different."

"..."

"A merchant must bow his head for profit, but a warrior must hold his head high for pride."

"But..."

"I know. That with the scale of the Tang Family's estate, it's not the time for that. I should be more flexible than anyone."

"...You know, and yet?"

"If you keep bowing, it becomes a habit."

"Pardon?"

"Don't worry and just watch. What I do from now on."

Cheonyeong smiled brightly and turned away.

Guhwang, who was watching his back, could only sigh.

If it was the people of the merchant association he knew, they would immediately try to block the flow of money to the Tang Family's estate...

"Hah... what am I to do."

If he helped the Tang Family's estate and got on the bad side of the merchant association, his own standing in the Ganyang commercial world would be in jeopardy.

* * *

Cheonyeong, who had come out of Hoeseong-ru, walked the main road without a word.

Although he had talked big to both the merchant association and Guhwang, he was worried.

He thought it would be the end once he brought down the Yin Hand Chamber, but a new enemy had emerged.

He had chased away a tiger, and suddenly a rabbit was trying to act like a king.

He had never thought the merchant association would come out like this.

Commerce and the martial world.

It was not a relationship of superior and subordinate.

It was a relationship of mutual help according to each other's needs, having established their own independent domains.

No sect in the world neglected the commercial world.

They shared because they had different things.

For the Tang Family's estate to take deep root in Ganyang in the future, the help of the merchants was desperately needed.

But he didn't like it.

He didn't like what they were doing.

From what he heard, it seemed they hadn't hesitated to do all sorts of dirty things to secure their own profits, giving the Yin Hand Chamber an allowance...

"Hmph, the commercial world..."

"Family Head."

Just as Cheonyeong was deep in thought, Chunil, who was walking beside him, called out, staring blankly at an inn. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Why?"

"Since we're out... shall we have a drink before we go back? We came out of Hoeseong-ru in such a hurry, I didn't even get to taste the alcohol."

Alcohol?

This damn punk!

The Family Head is worried sick about the future of the family!

And you're thinking about alcohol?

"From your expression, you seem to have a lot on your mind."

"...Huh?"

"At times like that, there's nothing like alcohol, is there?"

Cheonyeong let out a small laugh at Chunil's words, which he couldn't tell if they were selfish or comforting.

Well, there's nothing like it.

"Buy a few bottles. Let's go and share them with the family members."

"Yes!"

Just as he returned to the Tang Family's estate with Chunil, who had come back with an armful of alcohol.

"Family Head! Family Head!"

"Huh? Divine Work Pavilion Master?"

"There's big trouble."

"Pardon?"

"The material suppliers have suddenly notified us that they will not be delivering goods."

"Pardon?"

Cheonyeong's eyebrows twisted in different directions at Ahn Chilgang's words.

"Family Head!"

"...?"

Why you too?

It wasn't just the Divine Work Pavilion Master.

The Inner Hall Master, Sanghui, grumbled with a face full of annoyance.

"They say they won't be supplying food ingredients from now on."

"What?"

"Family Head!"

"..."

Baekgang, you have something too?

"Someone from the cloth shop just came by... they said they can't give us the clothes we ordered for the Hoyeon Brigade kids this time."

"What? They can't give them?"

"Yes. They said they would pay the penalty fee separately."

"..."

Cheonyeong's face contorted.

It was too obvious who had ordered this.

The driving force was tremendous.

How long had it been since they met, and they had already moved?

And clothes, food, and shelter.

Weren't they saying they would mess with the most necessary things for a person to live?

"...These guys."

Cheonyeong gritted his teeth and smiled.

The image of Go Hyeon's vile smile came to mind.

He wanted to go right now, grab him by the scruff of his neck, and pull out all his beard.

But they were the commercial world.

There was no justification to do anything with force.

Whatever machinations they had done behind the scenes... they had just shown him their power, not with force, but with the power they had.

"What should we do?"

Everyone looked at Cheonyeong.

What do you mean, what should we do?

They've picked a fight with the Tang Family's estate, we can't just avoid it.

I'll fight you.

But this time, it's not the way of the martial world, but the way of the commercial world.

"Divine Work Pavilion Master."

"Yes."

"For now, please continue the construction slowly with the materials you have."

"I understand."

"Inner Hall Master."

"Yes?"

"What about food for now?"

"Hmm... about two to three meals?"

Cheonyeong, deep in thought, asked again.

"If we eat sparingly?"

"Two days?"

"Good. That should be enough."

"Pardon?"

"Hoyeon Brigade Master."

"Yes, Family Head."

"From today, the Hoyeon Brigade will begin survival training."

"Survival training?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, I understand."

Although the training schedule had changed abruptly, Baekgang nodded his head because it was the Family Head's order.

"Tell Yongcheon to take this opportunity to teach the Hoyeon Brigade kids how to gather medicinal herbs and how to hunt."

"Is the Vice Family Head going too?"

"No, this time, the entire Tang Family's estate will go."

"The entire estate?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, I understand."

"You've done it before, right? Be sure to bring back medicinal herbs and animal skins to sell."

"Yes."

Baekgang nodded his head.

Having given the instructions, Cheonyeong turned his body without delay.

"Where are you going?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"If you've decided to fight, you have to know your opponent accurately."

"Pardon?"

The members of the Tang Family's estate were just puzzled by Cheonyeong's sinister smile.

* * *

"Oh! Who is this? Is it not the Family Head of the great Tang Family's estate?"

"It's been a while."

The place Cheonyeong headed to was none other than the Ganyang Beggars' Sect branch.

"For the Family Head of the Tang family to visit the Ganyang branch like this, I can't contain my joy."

Nosanggae, with a somewhat exaggerated gesture and tone, came out to greet him personally and guided Cheonyeong to a seat.

Just as the Blue Serpent Sect's Ghost Hand had, he too had Cheonyeong in mind.

The master of a new rising family whose future was drawing attention.

He was sure to make a big mark, no, even a small mark in the martial world in the future, so there was no harm in building a connection in advance.

Especially since the Sangbang Master, the Drunken Beggar, who had been informed that Ghost Hand was keeping an eye on him, had shouted at the top of his lungs, spitting saliva.

That he must bring the Tang Family's estate to the Orthodox Faction...

"So, what brings you here? The master of the great Tang Family's estate wouldn't visit this shabby beggar's den for no reason, would he?"

"...Stop it. It doesn't suit you."

"Hey, I can't do that. You're the Family Head of the great Tang Family's estate."

Cheonyeong looked at Nosanggae, who was constantly smiling and trying to please him, with narrowed eyes.

And what's with those hands, respectfully gathered and rubbing together?

"Should I just... leave?"

"Heh heh! My good man... it was a joke."

"It's too much."

"Keum!"

At Cheonyeong's point, Nosanggae asked with a lukewarm expression.

"Tch! What a boring person. But really, what brings you here? I heard you were so busy with the Tang Family's estate's affairs after bringing down the Yin Hand Chamber that you didn't even have time to blink."

"You wouldn't not know, would you?"

"I wouldn't not know?"

"Of course. There were beggars everywhere..."

"Well... I was just doing my duty."

"Duty, my ass. A beggar should be thinking about begging, not following people around."

"That is the duty of a Beggars' Sect beggar."

"Well, do whatever you want with that... you already know my situation, right?"

"What? The thing where you met with the merchant association and caused a scene?"

"Since you know, I don't need to explain."

"Tsk tsk, why did you have to do that? It would have been the most necessary force for the Tang Family's estate right now."

Nosanggae said, poking at the campfire.

"There's nothing to be gained by fighting with the merchant association. Go and apologize now."

"Apologize?"

"Then? Are you going to leave it as it is? Don't talk nonsense. That side is different from the martial world. If the money dries up, do you think the newly established Tang Family's estate can survive?"

"Is that so?"

"Of course. It's not like you can beg like our Beggars' Sect... it might be different later when the name of the Tang Family's estate grows, but for now, it's hard without the help of the commercial world. And it's not something you can do anything about with force."

"I see."

"Right. So go and apologize. When you live as the head of an organization, there are times when you have to bow your head even if it's dirty."

At Nosanggae's advice, which seemed to come from the bottom of his heart, Cheonyeong let out a small laugh and said.

"That's right. It's a difficult fight for me right now, isn't it?"

"Of course."

"But... since everyone is saying that, I'm getting stubborn."

"Huh?"

"They've picked a fight... I can't just stand still."

"Uh-huh?"

Cheonyeong grinned at the bewildered Nosanggae and said.

"I need information on the merchant association. Down to the trivial details."

"...Are you asking me to help you fight the commercial world right now?"

"Help? Just sell me the information."

At those words, Nosanggae couldn't hide his bewilderment.

It wasn't a matter of Orthodox or Unorthodox.

The merchant association was a place that also had connections with the Beggars' Sect branch.

No matter what the Sangbang Master's order was, if it became known that he had helped, the problem would become quite big...

Why on earth did this punk always torment him with such difficult choices?

"You need this, right?"

"..."

As Nosanggae hesitated, Cheonyeong took out a neatly folded contract from his bosom.

It was a lease agreement.

A bill for the cost of the Beggars' Sect's occupation of the Tang Family's estate.

A proof that he was still a tenant... a shackle.

Nosanggae, who had been staring at it for a long time, suddenly grabbed Cheonyeong's hand.

To be precise, the contract.

And with a solemn and serious expression, he said.

"I will serve you with all my heart and soul. What do you need? Customer."

(End of Chapter)