Kwadeudeudeuk!

It felt as if a fist had pierced his side like a spear.

"Keo-eok!"

Jangpae, whose feet had left the ground, opened his mouth wide and let out a groan reflexively.

Counterattack?

He couldn't even think of such a thing.

The moment he was struck, his mind went blank, and only one thought remained.

...It hurts.

And it hurts a lot.

The shock that had pierced his ribs reached his spine, and it felt as if it had soared up and shaken his brain.

He was just floating like a piece of paper thrown into the air, unable to do anything.

"What, are you trying to lose consciousness already?"

"...?"

Who?

Jangpae turned his head at the voice that was digging into his fading mind.

A man smiling brightly.

He looked at him with a refreshing smile like that of a boy.

He had that thought because his mind was hazy from the shock.

Whose son is he, he's so handsome... huh?

Suddenly, that smile turned hideous.

Like a demon.

"You...?"

The moment his briefly disconnected reason connected with reality, Jangpae's eyes shot open.

The Family Head of the Tang Family's estate?

His mind snapped to attention.

And with the thought that he had to escape, he hurriedly twisted his body.

Kwajijik!

But Jangpae's body was slammed into the floor by a powerful blow to his head.

He was dizzy.

It felt as if the world was spinning.

The moment he was about to come to his senses.

Kwa-aang!

Another shock was added to his head.

His forcibly clenched teeth couldn't withstand the shock and broke.

"Kkeu-eoh..."

Kwang!

Jangpae couldn't even resist or groan.

He was just being slammed further and further into the floor, his body at the mercy of the shocks that were repeatedly striking his head.

Kwang!

His kneecaps were shattered as he was forced to kneel on the floor.

Kwang!

His body sank lower, breaking the floor.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

Cheonyeong was relentlessly striking with his fists, as if hammering a human-shaped nail into the floor.

Although Jangpae's eyes had already rolled back as if his consciousness had long since flown away, Cheonyeong's fists did not stop.

Like a skilled carpenter, he used his fists as a hammer and swung them wide, continuously striking Jangpae's head as if it were the head of a nail, without any shaking.

Kwang! Jjeo-eok!

Finally, even the sound of his skull breaking could be heard.

Even the onlookers who had been cheering for the Tang Family's estate frowned at the calm cruelty.

"Th-this punk..."

The young man's face was full of bewilderment.

He had never thought that Jangpae would be taken down without even being able to throw a single punch.

And if he left it like this...

"What are you doing! You punks! Save the Guard Captain immediately!"

Had the young man ever been this desperate?

At the sharp, torn voice, the warriors who had been standing blankly threw their bodies in unison and swung their swords at Cheonyeong.

Swiaaak!

At the sound of the metal cutting through the air, Cheonyeong's fists stopped, and Jangpae, whose body was half-buried in the floor, collapsed weakly.

"These guys..."

Cheonyeong's nose wrinkled like that of a snarling tiger, angry at the swords flying from four directions.

"Die!"

The sword of the warrior who had flown in, shouting as if in a frenzy, drew a bold horizontal line.

Half a step.

Cheonyeong took one step back and leaned his upper body back.

Swiaak!

The tip of the warrior's sword passed precariously in front of Cheonyeong's neck, failing to achieve its purpose.

Pit!

As if imbued with energy, the sharp edge grazed Cheonyeong's neck, making a small cut and splattering a drop of blood.

But far from hesitating at the wound, Cheonyeong jumped into the arms of the warrior who had missed.

"Th-this punk!"

The warrior, who had failed to guard against Cheonyeong who had jumped into his range, let out a bewildered cry.

"...A shield."

"Huh?"

Pa-pa-pak!

Before he knew it, Cheonyeong's hands had brushed against various parts of his body, and the warrior's stiffened eyes shot open.

A shield... you say?

The question was brief, and with Cheonyeong's evil smile, the meaning was soon understood.

Puk! Seogeok!

"...!"

Cheonyeong lifted the stiffened warrior towards the flying swords, and the swords, which couldn't change direction in time, pierced or cut the warrior's body.

"Kkeu-euu..."

"H-Heoseong!"

Both the one who had swung and the one who was pierced were equally surprised. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

And in that brief moment of hesitation due to bewilderment, Cheonyeong's eyes sparkled like a tiger aiming for its prey.

Teok!

The warrior, whose head was grabbed, was slammed into the floor by Cheonyeong's hand.

"You punk!"

The warrior who had hurriedly tried to pull his body away stumbled back and fell.

Kwajik!

His knee was shattered by Cheonyeong's foot.

"Kkeuaaak!"

Cheonyeong looked down at the warrior who was screaming like crazy, clutching his leg.

It was a calm and indifferent gaze, as if looking at a lifeless object.

"Things not even worth using hidden weapons on."

"Kkeu-euu..."

Even at the sob that sounded like a swallowed breath, Cheonyeong showed not a shred of sympathy.

Peo-eok!

"Kkeu-reuk..."

The warrior, who was struck in the face by a powerful kick, went limp.

"You punk..."

The young man couldn't hide his surprise at the situation unfolding before his eyes.

The only thing that could be called great was the first step he had taken to dig into Jangpae's arms.

He had neutralized Jangpae in one blow, and what followed could only be described as a beating.

He had subdued the following three warriors in just three moves.

Just the necessary movements.

The young man, who had also trained for a long time, knew better than anyone.

Cheonyeong's technique just now was easy to explain, but very difficult to execute.

Moreover, the cunning of using another person as a shield...

How could a punk who looked younger than himself, who was of age, look like a warrior who had been through thick and thin, wandering the battlefields?

This punk was someone who had just started a family?

"Hey."

"..."

"Your eyes are going to tear, you bastard."

Cheonyeong walked towards the young man with heavy steps.

That footstep sounded like thunder, and he flinched without realizing it.

"Why did you do it?"

"What?"

"From what I hear, it was just a mistake of spilling food."

"..."

"No matter how angry you were, did you really have to go that far with people who aren't even martial artists?"

"I... I..."

"This bastard, why are you stuttering? What about you?"

"I... am Lee Wonik."

"Lee Wonik? So what?"

The young man, Lee Wonik, whose name had elicited no particular reaction, said with his jaw clenched.

"I! Am Lee Wonik of the Misan Lee family!"

"..."

Cheonyeong's steps halted at the re-declared identity, with his fists clenched tightly.

"The Lee family?"

"That's right! I am the second son of the Misan Lee family, Lee Wonik!"

Cheonyeong frowned at the words that were no different from a shout.

"Hmph."

If it's Misan...

It was a city west of Ganyang.

But the Lee family?

Why does it sound familiar?

I'm sure I've heard it somewhere...

"Huh? The Lee family?"

Just as Cheonyeong was pondering, a surprised voice cut in from outside.

It was Nosanggae, who had followed Cheonyeong with Myeongseok.

"...You know them?"

"Of course."

"Hmm, it sounds familiar... where did I hear it?"

"The Misan Lee family. Established by a vassal disciple of the Cheongseong Sect..."

"Ah!"

Just as Nosanggae was about to add an explanation, Cheonyeong exclaimed at a suddenly recalled memory.

"Misan! The Lee family!"

He remembered.

He didn't know about the Cheongseong vassal whatever, but that name from the power directory he had seen at the Beggars' Sect branch.

The one listed right above the Ganyang Beggars' Sect branch.

"Rank, forty-ninth!"

"...Huh?"

"What?"

Nosanggae and Lee Wonik wore dumbfounded expressions at the same time at Cheonyeong's words.

Forty... what?

"That's right. That's right. It was there."

"...Aigoo. Why is your memory like that?"

Cheonyeong let out a small laugh at Nosanggae's words.

Whatever I remember with my head is my business.

But forty-ninth place.

Calculations began to run rapidly in Cheonyeong's head.

A son of a family ranked as high as forty-ninth had personally come to the territory of the Tang Family's estate and caused trouble?

He had inflicted a great deal of personal and property damage, so he had to receive compensation.

Of course, ten times.

And if the fact that the Tang Family's estate, which was evaluated at around two hundred and seventy-first place, had proudly received compensation from the Lee family became a rumor?

Hah! Now that I see it, isn't this an opportunity to raise the reputation of the Tang Family's estate?

The conclusion was set.

And what he had to do from now on.

But Lee Wonik's face, who had no way of knowing Cheonyeong's calculations, was gradually spreading into a smile.

From the looks of it, the person who had just appeared was clearly a Beggars' Sect member.

Seeing the five-knot tie at his waist, he was probably a branch leader.

So there was no way he wouldn't know about the Lee family.

The Tang Family's estate?

How could a name like that be compared to the Lee family?

Lee Wonik, who had become arrogant in an instant, said to Cheonyeong with an arrogant expression.

"Do you understand now?"

"...Huh?"

"Who you have just committed an outrage against."

"Outrage... what?"

"The Tang Family's estate?"

"..."

"Kneel and apologize now. If you do, I will show mercy..."

"Has this guy lost his mind?"

"...What?"

"He's the one who did wrong, and what, an outrage? Apologize? My goodness, I'm at a loss for words."

Lee Wonik's face contorted at Cheonyeong's words.

"What did you say?"

"A vassal of the Cheongseong Sect, isn't that an Orthodox Faction?"

"..."

"A punk who calls himself an Orthodox Faction, just because he got his clothes dirty, he smashes the leg of a poor waiter, and wrecks the hand of the manager who tried to stop him?"

"...It was a natural thing to do!"

"Natural?"

"These punks, my face..."

"You're full of shit."

"What?"

"Does your face come from the clothes you wear?"

"What?"

"A person has to have character. Character. Anyway, there are always punks like this. So noble, so noble."

Lee Wonik, who was at a loss for words at Cheonyeong's sarcasm, wore a contorted expression.

"Alright, well... I've wanted to try it for a while."

"What did you want to try?"

Cheonyeong's lips twisted into an eerie smile at Lee Wonik's words.

"True education."

"What?"

"Fixing the character of a rich kid who has gone astray because he wasn't taught properly."

And the reputation points that will come from straightening out your crookedness.

"You punk, I'm definitely! Of the Lee family..."

"Shut your mouth. If you want to hear nice words."

"..."

"So what if you're from the Lee family? What about it? Do you know that I am the Family Head of the Tang Family's estate?"

"What?"

"A brat who is so forward. Did the so-called Young Master Lee not learn his manners? Where do you get off speaking informally to the respected elder of a family?"

"...Huh?"

"Huh, my ass. Come here, you bastard. I'll teach you some manners first."

"Th-this punk..."

As Cheonyeong sneered and approached, Lee Wonik flinched and stepped back.

"H-hey! Family Head Tang!"

And it was Nosanggae who was surprised to see that.

"Why?"

"He said he's the Young Master of the Lee family!"

"I know. Rank forty-ninth."

"Forget the rank! He's from the Lee family!"

"So what?"

"The Lee family is a vassal of Cheongseong! And in the southern part of Sichuan..."

"Ah, you talk too much."

"Huh?"

"Cheongseong or whatever, what does that have to do with me?"

"Huh?"

That punk is a precious one who will raise the reputation of the Tang Family's estate.

Also.

"Can't you see? That punk has touched my family member, and has caused great damage to the Myriad Virtue Inn, which is run by the Tang Family's estate."

"I know, but..."

"That's all."

"..."

"Whether it's an Orthodox Faction or whatever, if they have caused damage to the Tang Family's estate... they have to compensate ten times. Got it?"

"Hey. It's not that simple a problem."

"It is a simple problem. In the Tang Family's estate's calculation method."

As Cheonyeong tried to approach Lee Wonik again, Nosanggae grabbed his hand.

"Family Head Tang, please, let's talk. Talk. If you become enemies with the Lee family."

"Branch Leader."

"..."

"Let go. If you don't want to die with him."

Nosanggae, at that murderous gaze, unknowingly loosened his grip.

"Hah... I'm really going crazy."

For Nosanggae, it was a situation that would naturally make him frown.

This damn troublemaker of a Tang Family's estate master.

The Yin Hand Chamber was one thing, but the Lee family?

An Orthodox Faction.

Moreover, wasn't it the Lee family, which wielded considerable power in Sichuan?

No matter how much the fault was with the Young Master of the Lee family, it was not something to be handled with force.

It wasn't that he didn't understand Cheonyeong's actions, but how could a person who was a Family Head not think politically at all?

From his expression and gaze... he seemed to have the momentum to really kill him.

Nosanggae really wanted to leave Ganyang.

Because of the Tang Family's estate...

"You said you were Lee Wonik, right?"

"..."

"From now on, it's reputation... no, true education time. Let's get a beating first."

Anger welled up.

But should a Family Head be swayed by anger?

A hot heart and a cool head.

I will pass judgment, but I will handle it to the extent that the Tang Family's estate does not suffer a loss.

Cheonyeong, even in his anger, had already finished his calculations.

About the many things that would happen in the future.

If anger had a temperature, this was a cold anger.

(End of Chapter)