Swish! Swish-swish!

It was a fist so fast that it created wind.

Papapak!

The steps, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, were so dazzling that those watching clicked their tongues.

"Wow..."

Even the woman from the Tang Family's estate passing by with a laundry basket.

"Hah!"

Even the carpenters of the Divine Work Pavilion who were building the Tang Family's estate's buildings.

"...Amazing."

Even the trainees of the Hoyeon Brigade who were training in the training ground, sweating profusely.

They couldn't just pass by and stopped in their tracks, their mouths agape in admiration.

Was it because of that atmosphere?

Even though his body was not in good condition as the aftereffects of using the Six Meridians Heart Law had not yet fully recovered, Lee Wonik's shoulders straightened.

It felt like he was performing a one-man show on a huge stage.

He thought this must be why everyone wants to be the main character.

"Hoo..."

Lee Wonik, who had finished the form training of the Welcoming Wind Fist, which consisted of twelve forms in the first half and nine forms in the second, stopped his movements and slowly controlled his breathing.

When he looked around with his eyes narrowed, it was full of onlookers.

Did you see, you punks?

This is the Welcoming Wind that the Lee family boasts of... you son of a bitch!

What was he getting so cocky about?

Lee Wonik glared at the moon-viewing terrace below the Tang Family's estate's pavilion with narrowed eyes.

The Tang Family Head, Tang Cheonyeong.

"...What are you looking at?"

Lee Wonik stealthily averted his gaze as Cheonyeong glared at him.

Damn punk.

After losing consciousness at the Myriad Virtue Inn, he woke up to find himself at the Tang Family's estate.

He was so surprised to see the punk looking down at him as soon as he opened his eyes.

He said he would be detained until the Lee family compensated for the damages he had caused.

He had already sent a letter.

The mere Tang Family's estate talking about compensation to the Lee family?

He was a madman.

But he couldn't say anything.

His body would flinch on its own even if the punk just slightly raised his hand...

Then he said, what's the point of playing around, and told him to train.

While under detention?

Training?

He wondered what kind of bullshit this was, but...

It was better than Jangpae and the escort warriors.

They...

Lee Wonik stealthily shifted his lowered gaze and looked at the construction site in full swing.

Jangpae, wrapped in bandages, was carrying stones even though his body was not well, and the escort warriors were carrying lumber.

"Hey! You punk! That's not that way, it's this way!"

And the old man called the Divine Work Pavilion Master was constantly scolding them.

Their labor was being exploited under the pretext of paying for the rampage they had caused at the Myriad Virtue Inn.

To make men who had lived their entire lives as warriors do construction work.

The reason he was told to train and not forced to do labor like them was probably because of his own status.

He must have been concerned.

So he was probably treating him in a manner befitting the status of the second young master of the Lee family.

But why the Welcoming Wind Fist?

Specifically?

Why on earth...

"Hey!"

"...Yes? Why?"

Lee Wonik was startled and answered at Cheonyeong's voice that had dug into his confusion.

Dammit, now honorifics come out on their own.

To a punk who was three years younger, even if he was the head of a family...

But what could he do?

He had already found out the damn punk's skills.

"You're not doing the training you're supposed to, and you keep getting distracted?"

"..."

"If you've rested enough, start quickly."

He hadn't even rested much.

His breathing had just calmed down.

"How long do I have to do this?"

"What?"

"I've already repeated it twenty-two times, haven't I?"

Lee Wonik pouted and grumbled.

Unlike before, he was like a gentle lamb.

"Keuk, you're full of shit. You're trying to slack off after only twenty-two times."

"What?"

"Why? Are you bored because you keep doing the same thing? Should I spar with you? With one arm on the line... how about it?"

As Cheonyeong shot up, Lee Wonik's eyes widened and he waved his hands, then took his stance again.

Damn punk.

As if he wouldn't win anyway.

He might as well just tell him to cut off one arm and offer it.

Just you wait.

He said he sent a letter to the main family, right?

Once the people from the main family come...

"Aren't you going to do it quickly?"

"...Cha-ap!"

Lee Wonik flinched at Cheonyeong's shout and began his Welcoming Wind Fist training.

With all his might, lest he be told he was doing it half-heartedly...

"The punk should have done that from the start. He only listens after getting cursed at."

As Lee Wonik's training began, Cheonyeong sat on the moon-viewing terrace again and rested his chin on his hand.

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah."

"How many more times do you think he needs?"

"Hmm... I've memorized it all, but that punk's movements are slightly different each time, so I think it would be more certain if I watch a couple more times."

"Alright. Then let's make him do it two more times."

"Okay."

Yongcheon answered brightly at Cheonyeong's words.

Lee Wonik's training?

Of course, it was to show Yongcheon.

The Lee family's Welcoming Wind.

If Yongcheon remembered it correctly, he would record it in a book.

Just like with the Six Harmonies, he would extract the core through a little research and transform it into a completely different martial art. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

In other words, stealing another family's precious martial art.

What did it matter?

Wasn't it the law that a martial art changes completely depending on the flow of the energy contained within it?

It was truly fortunate, as one Six Harmonies was not enough.

If he had beaten up another's family member, that much additional compensation should naturally follow.

What was left was compensation for property damage.

And then.

"The merchant association."

Cheonyeong's eyes narrowed, and his thinly closed lips twisted into a crooked line.

His prediction that the merchant association was involved in the Myriad Virtue Inn incident was spot on.

A hundred-year-old knotweed?

Those bastards, they spent quite a bit of money.

Even a ten-year-old one is precious, but to offer a hundred-year-old item and plot to use the Lee family to drive out the Tang Family's estate.

It was a kind of commission.

When he found out that fact, he could have gone and confronted them right away.

But.

"This is why you have to be good at using assassins. If you fail a commission, you'll get a backlash."

You dare to plot against me?

I'll return that scheme exactly as it is.

Don't they say to start a fight and stop a bargain?

"Keu-heu-heu-heu."

As Cheonyeong laughed, Yongcheon was startled and looked at him.

"Family Head, I really hate that laugh. It gives me the creeps. Can't you please not laugh like that?"

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah?"

"Look ahead. Don't look at me."

"...Uh-huh."

Yongcheon whipped his head around at Cheonyeong's glaring gaze.

* * *

"What? The Shadow Severing Brigade? The Lee family's Shadow Severing Brigade is coming?"

"Yes! The carrier pigeon sent by the outpost master at Barley Pass has just arrived."

"Hah!"

As the sun began to set, a commotion broke out at the Ganyang Beggars' Sect branch.

Nosanggae's face contorted at his subordinate's report, and he had to clench his fists and shoot up.

Not a negotiation team, but the Shadow Severing Brigade?

They were rumored to be the strongest warrior brigade in the Lee family's possession.

Sending them meant that the Lee family head was furious.

Well, what parent in the world wouldn't be angry when their son was beaten up like that and detained?

"Oyong!"

"Yes!"

"Let's go to the Tang Family's estate."

"To help?"

"No! Why should I? It's a fight between martial world forces."

"Then... why are we going?"

"Of course! To watch the fight."

"Pardon?"

"What's more fun than watching a fire or a fight? As a member of the Beggars' Sect, I can't miss such a good spectacle."

"..."

"The Shadow Severing Brigade? They're amazing. But... I don't think the Tang Family Head is that easy."

"Pardon?"

"Keuk keuk, I'm already looking forward to what kind of stunt he'll pull this time. Let's go! If they've passed Barley Pass, they'll arrive soon. If we're late, we'll miss all the good spectacle!"

Without giving Oyong a chance to stop him, Nosanggae rushed towards the Tang Family's estate.

Oyong, who was watching his back, sighed and shook his head.

The Beggars' Sect was not the only one interested in the visit of the Shadow Severing Brigade.

"Finally! They've come?"

"Yes! It's the Shadow Severing Brigade! The Shadow Severing Brigade!"

"Ooh! The Lee family head has made a truly wise decision!"

The merchant association head, Go Hyeon, who had been waiting endlessly for news from the Lee family, rushed outside without even properly arranging his clothes at the news brought by the messenger.

"Immediately, contact the leaders of the merchant association and tell them to come to the Tang Family's estate!"

"Pardon? All the leaders?"

"Of course! Of course."

"..."

"No, just spread a rumor on the main road! That the Lee family might annihilate the Tang Family's estate over the Myriad Virtue Inn incident."

"A-annihilate?"

"Only then will the onlookers come running in droves, won't they?"

"Do we have to... Hmm, I understand. I will spread it quickly."

"Alright!"

Go Hyeon rushed outside.

This was it.

Now everyone in Ganyang would see.

The fall of the Tang Family's estate...

And everything would return to its original state.

Both Ganyang and the merchant association.

"Keu-heut-heut! Keu-hat-hat-hat!"

Go Hyeon let out an unending laugh and rushed towards the Tang Family's estate.

His body felt as light as if it would fly away.

He felt as if a nagging tooth had already been pulled out.

* * *

Dudududu!

Fifty-one horses ran in a line, shaking the ground.

Although they were covered in dust from running without rest, there was no one on the horses whose gaze was not sharp.

"Halt!"

Finally, at the command of the leader who had arrived in front of the Tang Family's estate, the fifty or so horses stopped in unison.

Just from the way the horses formed a line, one could tell how strict their military discipline was.

"...Hmph, what is this?"

The sturdy man with tiger eyes, Jinrip, frowned as he looked at the Tang Family's estate situated on the hill.

He had heard about the Tang Family's estate before leaving Misan.

That they were heroes who had saved Ganyang from a wicked Unorthodox Faction...

But what was this?

Not a long wall... but a wooden fence made of tightly woven wood?

And beyond that, what looked like a building was just one.

It was absurd.

He had heard that although it was small, it was the place that represented the Ganyang martial world.

Also, if they had an inn called the Myriad Virtue Inn, it should at least be an estate...

"Hansa."

"Yes! Brigade Master."

"Did we come to the wrong location?"

"I know, right. It looks more like a mountain fortress than a family estate."

Hansa, who seemed to be at a loss himself, tilted his head and pointed to one place.

"Brigade Master, over there..."

"Huh?"

The place where Hansa's fingertip was pointing.

Tang Family's estate.

Seeing that name written, it seemed they had come to the right place.

"Hah!"

But it was absurd.

A useless wooden board roughly carved...

Although the carving skill could be said to be very excellent, that was a nameplate?

Just as he couldn't contain his bewilderment.

Kkiiik.

The fence below the nameplate opened.

He only realized there was a door after it opened.

"Who are you?"

A rather good-looking woman who had come out said to Jinrip.

It was Sanghui.

"...Ahem, is this the Tang Family's estate?"

"Yes."

It seemed it was definitely the right place.

Jinrip's bewilderment turned into a sneer.

Whether it was people or buildings, what one sees has a great influence on one's heart.

Just as one unconsciously looks down on a beggar, Jinrip, who had seen the appearance of the Tang Family's estate, had developed a sense of contempt, which was unusual for him.

If it was a place like this, there was no need for the Shadow Severing Brigade to come, was there?

And fifty of them at that.

"Go and call the master."

"..."

Sanghui frowned at Jinrip's words.

"From the looks of it, I can roughly guess where you're from... but you are truly without manners."

"Wh-what did you say?"

"If you've come to someone else's house, isn't it proper etiquette to dismount from your horse and reveal your identity with respect? But to so abruptly order the respected elder of a family to come and go... The Tang Family's estate does not receive guests without manners."

At the sight of Sanghui turning her body coldly with a greeting, the Shadow Severing Brigade warrior, Hansa, flared up in anger.

"You wench! How dare you, in front of whom!"

"..."

At those words, Sanghui stopped walking and slowly turned her head.

"Who are you?"

"The likes of you wench!"

That one phrase.

Sanghui's gaze turned cold.

"...It seems you think you can run your mouth just because it's open."

"What did you say? You wench!"

It was at that moment.

Pii-ing!

Jinrip's face hardened at the sharp piercing sound.

And then.

Hiii-ing!

The horse Hansa was riding suddenly reared its front legs and began to go wild.

Kung!

In the end, Hansa couldn't keep his balance and fell to the ground.

Fortunately, he avoided being slammed into the ground by twisting his body, but his face turned bright red.

(End of Chapter)