It wasn't very far to Seongdo, the capital of Sichuan Province.

Half a day from the Tang Family's estate.

With Cheonyeong and Yongcheon's pace, it was a distance that took less than half that time.

So there was no need to rush at all.

Cheonyeong stopped walking at the foot of a mountain overlooking Seongdo in the distance.

How could the stage begin when all the actors hadn't even arrived?

He had heard that Go Hyeon had left for Seongdo for a meeting with his business partners.

He had deliberately timed his departure to be similar to his, and he had to arrive in Seongdo first.

He had to appear before him, who would have arrived first and be gloating, and watch his face contort as if he had bitten into shit.

That's what revenge is.

"Yongcheon."

"Huh? No, what, Family Head."

"Just speak informally when it's just the two of us."

"Should I? Well, Sanghui isn't here... but why did you call?"

"If you're tired, shall we rest?"

"I'm not tired."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Yongcheon smiled brightly and nodded his head.

The huge bundle of luggage on his back.

It was the fruit of the efforts of the Tang family members who had worked day and night for several days.

An enormous amount...

A cart might be able to handle it, but even an ox or a horse would have difficulty carrying that much.

"Let's rest."

"Is that okay?"

"We have plenty of time until the appointment anyway."

"Hmm, okay, then."

Kung!

Yongcheon put down his luggage.

As expected...

It was a weight that made the ground rumble. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Yongcheon, sitting opposite Cheonyeong, took out some beef jerky from his bosom and chewed on it.

It seemed Sanghui had packed it separately for Yongcheon, who loved to eat.

"Want... some?"

"..."

You bastard, are you being stingy?

Why are your hands trembling while handing over the smallest piece?

"You eat it."

"Okay!"

So bright.

"How's your training these days?"

"Well... I don't know if I'm doing well, actually. We haven't even sparred lately."

"Hmm, speaking of which, shall we?"

"Now?"

"Well, it's just the two of us on this mountain path."

And he had time to kill while waiting for Go Hyeon to arrive with his cart full of luggage.

"Hmm... well, that's true."

"It'll be quick."

"Alright."

Yongcheon and Cheonyeong stood facing each other.

Come to think of it, it was the first time since establishing the Tang Family's estate.

"What should we do first?"

What do you mean, what first...

As if you know any fist and foot techniques other than the Six Harmonies.

"Six Harmonies. Now, come on."

"Alright."

As Cheonyeong distanced himself, Yongcheon took a deep breath and got into a stance with a serious expression.

"Hoo-hup!"

Yongcheon, holding his breath, stomped his foot with all his might.

Kung!

And his massive body shot forward as if charging... huh?

Cheonyeong's eyes widened in an instant.

The moment he thought he had stomped the ground, Yongcheon had closed the distance in an instant and was swinging a big fist at him.

Th-this bastard... why is he so fast?

Was it because he was off guard?

Since there was no time to dodge, Cheonyeong hurriedly crossed his arms to block.

First, I'll deflect it...

Kuaaaang!

"...!"

He thought he had deflected most of the force, but his body was lifted back and pushed away by the aftermath of the remaining force.

Teok! Teo-teo-teok!

"Tch! That was my finishing blow."

"..."

Cheonyeong wore a blank expression at Yongcheon's disappointed grumbling.

This bastard... what are you?

What on earth was that fist just now?

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah?"

"Did you, by any chance, use your internal energy?"

"No."

This much without using it?

If I hadn't deflected it and had taken it head-on... my arm would have been broken.

"Can I use it?"

"Yeah."

"Then wait a minute."

Yongcheon, as if preparing, evened his breath and looked around.

"Ah, that should be good."

"...?"

Yongcheon, who had approached a nearby large tree, took a stance and drew up his internal energy.

A bluish energy seemed to form around his body, and then.

"Hoo-hup!"

Peo-eong!

Ujijik, kuku-kung!

"..."

Cheonyeong could only stare blankly at the tall, large tree falling with a loud roar, raising dust.

A startled flock of birds flew up, filling the sky.

"Hoo, that's better. It's been a while since I used my internal energy... Now, shall we begin?"

Cheonyeong said to Yongcheon, who was scratching his head with an awkward smile.

"Half."

"Huh?"

"Use only half."

"Why?"

Why do you think?

Even a normal punch was enough to break an arm...

If he hit me with internal energy, I'd die screaming even if it just grazed me. You, whose strength itself is a foul!

"Try using half."

"Alright!"

The full-fledged sparring began.

Yongcheon, who had started using his internal energy, showed amazing skill, with his speed and the power of his fists and feet increased several times over.

It was definitely the Six Harmonies Fist he had taught.

It wasn't a natural movement like his own, which had achieved the Body Transformation.

But Yongcheon's innate strength was leading the Six Harmonies Fist in a completely different direction.

As if his already immense strength wasn't enough, a lot of Samyang True Energy was added to his fists.

Kwang! Kwakwang!

Wherever his fists and feet landed, they broke and exploded without fail.

He could feel the ground vibrating minutely every time he took a step.

This isn't the Six Harmonies Fist... it's the Great Strength Fist.

Only possible for Yongcheon, who was born with strength.

The downside was that, as expected, all his attacks were just straightforward, and his application ability was lacking.

Since he had no one to fight, it was clear that he had only learned what he had been taught to death.

But Yongcheon's real talent was not his overflowing strength or his diligence in training without rest.

The half-talent that heaven had given him.

Yongcheon could perfectly imitate the martial arts of an opponent with similar skills.

That was why the Yongcheon in Cheonyeong's memory, which only he knew, was often called Ten Thousand Copying Ghost rather than his assassin name.

A name given because he had the ability to imitate ten thousand martial arts.

It had been a great help at one time.

Yongcheon's existence was a great help in studying the martial arts of the targets... huh? Wait a minute, why did I forget this?

Cheonyeong flinched at the sudden thought.

"Uh! Cheonyeong! Danger...!"

Bbeo-eok!

"...ous."

Yongcheon's fist struck Cheonyeong's abdomen directly.

Hwiii...

He was like a kite with its string cut.

"Cheonyeong!"

Yongcheon rushed over to Cheonyeong, who had been hit by the fist and slammed into the ground.

"Are you okay?"

"Ugh... do I look okay?"

"Sorry..."

Damn punk.

If you were going to be sorry, you should have stopped your fist in the middle.

"I tried to pull back my strength..."

I barely survived because you did.

Yongcheon scratched his head and helped Cheonyeong up.

"Hoo."

He could finally breathe again.

What a monstrous punk.

What kind of fist is this strong even when he pulls back his strength?

If he reached the first stage of the Samyang Divine Art, the Body Transformation, it seemed he could smash even a whale-backed pavilion with one fist.

But even in the pain, the feeling of his head clearing was good.

Except for the Samyang Divine Art, the martial arts he was teaching the members of the Tang Family's estate were mostly those of an assassin.

The hidden weapon techniques, the internal energy cultivation method, even the lightness skill, were all things he had learned from the damn Jingagu.

That shouldn't be.

The Tang Family's estate must have its own martial arts.

The Samyang Divine Art was not an option.

He had only planned to teach it to Yongcheon.

That was why he needed other martial arts.

Martial arts that the members of the Tang family, who were not of the Tang surname, had to learn.

It was not an easy task.

Creating martial arts was not child's play.

The martial arts he would teach the members of the Tang Family's estate in the future were sorely lacking.

He could buy secret manuals.

But the ones circulating in the market would just be mediocre, no matter how high a price he paid.

And he couldn't send the members of the Tang Family's estate to other martial arts schools to learn martial arts.

But there was Yongcheon.

The talent he possessed.

The so-called, ability to imitate a martial art once seen... your martial art is my thing.

How great was that?

He could have him steal and learn other people's martial arts, and with just a slight change, it would be transformed into a completely new martial art.

Into the Tang family's own martial art.

Well, what did it matter?

They said there was nothing new under the sun.

Didn't someone say that imitation is the mother of creation?

With this... the martial arts problem is solved.

"Keuheuhaha."

"...?"

As Cheonyeong suddenly let out a sinister laugh, Yongcheon flinched and stepped back.

"Cheonyeong."

"...Yeah?"

"Please don't laugh like that. It's scary sometimes."

"Keuheuhaha."

"I told you not to laugh like that."

"Yongcheon."

"Why?"

"I really like you."

Yongcheon looked at Cheonyeong with narrowed eyes at his sinister gaze.

"Don't tell me you're... that way?"

"Keuheuhaha. Shut up."

Although he could see Yongcheon was afraid, Cheonyeong didn't stop laughing.

How could he stop this?

When you, who will become a library as vast as the Shaolin's Sutra Depository in the future, are right in front of me.

"Keuheuhaha."

"Hey! I told you not to laugh! I keep thinking that way and it's scary!"

"..."

As soon as Yongcheon shrieked, Cheonyeong suddenly stopped laughing.

"They're here."

"...Huh? What is it?"

"The punk I'm going to trample to bits from now on."

Cheonyeong pointed a finger straight towards Seongdo.

A horse leading the way.

And two carriages following behind it.

Go Hyeon of the Ganyang Merchant Association.

He had just arrived and passed through the main gate of Seongdo.

"Keuheuhaha, now, shall we go?"

Cheonyeong took a forceful step towards Seongdo.

"...Dammit, I told you not to laugh like that."

Yongcheon, who had slung his luggage over his shoulder, followed him.

From a distance.

* * *

"Welcome, Lord Go."

"Aigoo, how long has it been? Chief Steward Hwang. Have you been well?"

"Heh heh, well? As I get older, there's no place that doesn't hurt."

"Oh dear... where does it hurt? I will inquire about things that are good for the body."

"How grateful. I am always grateful for your thoughtfulness, Lord Go."

"Don't mention it. Are we strangers?"

"Now, please come in."

"Yes."

Go Hyeon, who had arrived in Seongdo, headed straight for the Munjeong Merchant Group.

Munjeong, one of the three major merchant groups in Seongdo.

It was one of the places with immense influence in the capital, and a huge merchant group that could not be compared to the Ganyang Merchant Association, which was just a local merchant.

The one who greeted Go Hyeon was Hwang Boin, one of the four chief stewards in charge of the practical affairs of the Munjeong Merchant Group. Although he was called a chief steward, considering the scale of the merchant group, he was in a position where the name of the Ganyang Merchant Association head couldn't even be brought up.

"There are more goods than usual. And unfamiliar merchants as well."

Go Hyeon, who had gone inside, clicked his tongue at the sight of the piles of luggage everywhere and the merchants waiting for their turn.

"There are many. But, the quality is getting worse, so it's a big problem."

"Oh dear, what happened?"

"You know, right? This business is extremely competitive. Since there are so many competitors, the quality of the goods we handle should at least be good... but it feels like it's getting worse."

"The checks from other merchant groups must be considerable."

"Don't even mention it. We're only one of the three major merchant groups in Seongdo. If you consider the whole of Sichuan, can we even make a name for ourselves? It's killing me. It's killing me."

"Hmm..."

"So this time, the Merchant Group Master has taken a special measure."

"A special measure?"

"Yes. We've decided to have a competition among the merchants who handle the same goods."

"A competition, you say..."

"It's literal. He's saying he will trade with the place that handles better goods."

"Ah... so that's why they."

"Yes. They are waiting for their turn."

"Hmm, there will be quite a shake-up."

"It will be so."

Merchants prioritize profit.

No matter how old a business partner is, if they are not helpful to the profit, they are mercilessly cast aside.

However, Go Hyeon, who had looked around inside, was inwardly relieved.

Fortunately, he didn't see any merchants handling leather...

"By the way, you'll have to be a little nervous this time too, Lord Go."

"Pardon?"

"There's someone who has sent a message, saying he will sell leather."

"Wh-what's that?"

Go Hyeon's eyes widened at the words that were like a bolt from the blue, and he whipped his head around.

He had looked high and low, but he didn't see any leather...

"Ah, there they come. I hear they were personally recommended by the provincial lord."

At Hwang Boin's words, Go Hyeon whipped his head around and stared.

A recommendation from the provincial lord?

Until now, he had practically monopolized the leather trade with the Munjeong Merchant Group, so what kind of... punk...

"Huh?"

Go Hyeon's face hardened like a stone as he spotted the two figures just entering the Munjeong Merchant Group.

"Oh? Lord Go is here too?"

"..."

Cheonyeong waved his hand with a bright smile, as if he had no idea.

(End of Chapter)