"This wench!"

The enraged Hansa shouted and tried to draw the sword on his back.

"Hansa, stop."

"I'm sorry, Brigade Master."

At Jinrip's restraint, Hansa glared at Sanghui, put down his sword, and stepped back. Then Jinrip looked intently at Sanghui.

Her move was a hidden weapon. The release was clean and fast.

It was a movement that would have been impossible without a considerable amount of training.

But, what was surprising was its application.

If she had aimed directly at Hansa, it would not have been very effective. His skills were not so poor that he couldn't block that much. On the contrary, he would have likely been counterattacked.

Aiming for the horse was effective.

It was an unexpected attack, and Hansa's center was broken by the horse's staggering. If she had attacked immediately, the success rate of the hidden weapon would have been much higher.

Was it a warrior's instinct? Or had she already thought ahead?

Whatever it was, it was quite something.

"A bold girl."

At Jinrip's words, another flying needle appeared in Sanghui's hand.

"This punk and that punk, their mouths are the problem."

"Ho ho, stop it. Unless you don't value your worthless life."

"It's fine. I've never valued my life."

Although Sanghui took a stance as if to throw the flying needle, she only glared and did not release it. The presence felt from Jinrip stuck to her body like glue, making her skin tingle.

Moreover, the Shadow Severing Brigade warriors began to reveal their killing intent at Sanghui's words, which belittled their brigade master.

One against fifty-one.

Although it was a disadvantageous confrontation for anyone to see, not a trace of fear could be felt on Sanghui's face. Rather, she seemed to be looking for it. A gap somewhere other than in words.

At that sight, Jinrip asked in admiration, as if she were praiseworthy.

"You're quite something for your age. What is your name?"

"There is no law that the master reveals their name before the guest."

"Is that so? Alright. I am Jinrip. I hold the position of the Shadow Severing Brigade Master of the Lee family."

As Jinrip revealed his identity, Sanghui, who had been glaring at him for a long time, corrected her posture and put away the flying needle.

"I am Tang Sanghui, the Inner Hall Master of the Tang Family's estate."

"Inner Hall Master, you're quite young for your position."

"Age does not define a position."

"A foolish question. A wise answer. But are you going to continue speaking informally even after hearing my name?"

"I am the Inner Hall Master of a family, and one who uses the Tang surname. Whatever your status may be, I do not consider myself so low as to be spoken down to and have to speak up."

"Inner Hall Master and a Tang."

Jinrip smirked and nodded at Sanghui's words.

She was right.

Although it was small in scale, it was a place that had formed a family. If she used the Tang surname, she was clearly a direct descendant of the family head, so there was no need for her to use honorifics to him.

"Gender aside, I like your spirit. To be so upright in front of me."

"..."

"Hey, Inner Hall Master."

Jinrip's tone changed to a polite one.

"I wish to meet the Family Head, so will you guide me?"

"I will send word. Would you mind waiting for a moment?"

"I will."

The words that go and the words that come.

Isn't it so clear?

Sanghui, who had answered his polite speech with the same polite speech, bowed her head slightly and went inside.

"Brigade Master, why did you do that? To use polite speech to the Inner Hall Master of the mere Tang Family's estate?"

Hansa wore a sullen expression, as if his anger from a moment ago had not subsided.

"Hansa."

"Yes."

"Have you forgotten that the Second Young Master is being detained at the Tang Family's estate?"

"..."

"Looking at the girl called the Inner Hall Master, although her skills are lacking, she seemed to have no intention of backing down. It wouldn't be difficult to subdue her, but what if something happens to the Second Young Master's safety because of that?"

"I'm sorry. My thoughts were short."

"Be prudent."

"Yes, Brigade Master."

As Hansa bowed his head and apologized, Jinrip looked at the Tang Family's estate and wore a sinister smile. He would follow the other party's recommendation only until the Second Young Master's safety was secured.

Tang Sanghui?

Her spirit was quite something, and she seemed to have potential, but her level was still insignificant. If she could become the Inner Hall Master with that level of skill? There was no need to even confirm the strength of the Tang Family's estate.

And when she had used a hidden weapon to startle Hansa's horse, he was convinced. He had thought it was strange that the Second Young Master and the Guard Captain, Jangpae, were detained by the likes of the Tang Family's estate...

It must have been because of the hidden weapons. It must have been a joint attack.

The inexperienced Second Young Master must have been caught in his panic.

Vile things.

To get cocky after establishing one family and send a letter talking about compensation to the Lee family. Weren't they truly fearless?

But their spirit was too overflowing.

"The Family Head was right to be angry and send us after receiving the letter."

Negotiation?

He would have to. But it would not be in the way the brats of the Tang Family's estate wanted.

If he just rescued the Second Young Master...

"I might have to give the Family Head punk's buttocks a good spanking."

The Tang Family's estate would greatly regret its recklessness.

Just as Jinrip, who did not know exactly what had happened at the Myriad Virtue Inn, was floundering in the swamp of misunderstanding, Sanghui, who had gone inside, came out.

"The Family Head is waiting. Please leave your horses."

"I will."

Jinrip, who had answered with a smile, hiding his sinister heart, commanded the Shadow Severing Brigade.

"Hansa, you and the first, second, and third squads will dismount and follow. Wonpil, you and the fourth and fifth squads will guard the horses and wait."

"Yes!"

The gate of the Tang Family's estate opened, and Jinrip and thirty warriors followed Sanghui inside.

"Hah, my goodness."

The scenery inside made Jinrip even more dumbfounded.

This is a family?

The only properly built building was just one, and the rest were just being laid with foundations and pillars by carpenters and laborers. Other than that, it was all just tents that seemed to be used as temporary lodgings or a dining hall.

How chaotic. And what were those brats lined up in one corner?

"They are the warriors of our family's Hoyeon Brigade."

"Hoyeon Brigade?"

Neither Jinrip nor the warriors of the Shadow Severing Brigade who were following him could hold back their smirks.

Where on earth did it fit the word 'grand spirit'?

Where was there that much spirit?

Probably any martial artist would have shown the same reaction.

The second generation of the Hoyeon Brigade, who had just been newly accepted and had started training, were children selected from among the vagrants.

The already skinny children had just started the intense physical training of the Tang Family's estate, so they were exhausted and looked more shabby than mangy puppies.

Jinrip forced himself to erase his smile and followed Sanghui.

He felt as if he was losing even the will to fight he had.

How on earth did the Yin Hand Chamber collapse? Although they were a group of ruffians, they had quite a few connections to the Unorthodox Faction.

Wasn't the reason the Lee family hadn't advanced into Ganyang until now not because of the Yin Hand Chamber, but because they were worried about a conflict with the Unorthodox Faction forces lurking behind it?

"The Family Head is waiting inside the main pavilion. He has only permitted the Brigade Master..."

Sanghui stopped in front of a rather well-built pavilion and said to Jinrip.

"A fine building."

"As it is the main pavilion of the Tang Family's estate, our Divine Work Pavilion Master has paid quite a bit of attention to it."

"I see."

Jinrip nodded at Sanghui's explanation and looked up at the nameplate.

Three Yang Hall.

Although it was a single story, it was as tall as a two-story pavilion, and it was a well-structured building that seemed to have been touched by a rather skilled carpenter. But it looked like a horseshoe on a dog's paw.

In a ruin like this with a wooden fence...

He thought it would be a waste to demolish it after a while.

"Hansa."

"Yes. Brigade Master."

"I will go in alone, so you all wait outside."

"Yes! Brigade Master."

Hansa answered forcefully on purpose at Jinrip's words. He had an expression as if he were on a picnic.

Normally, he would never have sent the Brigade Master in alone, but.

Having seen the internal scenery of the Tang Family's estate and the tired-looking children called the Hoyeon Brigade, he didn't think there would be any danger.

Kkiiik.

The door of the Three Yang Hall opened, and Jinrip followed Sanghui inside. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Inside the bright hall, a grand chair was placed, and on it, Cheonyeong was sitting, waiting for Jinrip.

In front of him stood Baekgang and Hwangsama, and Chunil, with splints on his arms and legs and bandages wrapped all over his body, revealing only his face, was sitting in a chair.

Jinrip, who was slowly scanning the scene, felt dumbfounded.

Wait, what's that?

The Second Young Master and the five guards, including Jangpae, were kneeling, and standing in front of them as if to guard them, an iron pestle?

Never mind the punk who was the Family Head, the rest were standing stiffly, their tension palpable.

It was clear that they had sent the Inner Hall Master, Tang Sanghui, to greet him and had hastily arranged the place.

Jinrip felt as if he had stumbled into a children's playhouse.

But, for now, the Second Young Master's safety was the priority.

"I am Jinrip, the Shadow Severing Brigade Master, who has come under the order of the Lee Family Head."

As Jinrip revealed his identity, one of Cheonyeong's eyebrows tilted crookedly.

He walks in confidently and just nods his head?

"Jinrip?"

"That's right."

"Hmph."

Cheonyeong, who had tilted his head with narrowed eyes, said to Jinrip.

"A punk who's not even ready to talk."

"What?"

"I don't feel like talking to you anymore, so get lost."

"...?!"

"Some useless thing comes visiting."

It was an unexpected reaction.

What, this dog-like?

The girl called the Inner Hall Master at least seemed to have some spirit, but wasn't this punk just plain rude?

A punk who's just playing the big boss in a tiny family.

Families of a similar size, no, of a scale that couldn't even be compared to the Tang Family's estate, had not treated him, the head of the Shadow Severing Brigade, like this. But for the sake of Lee Wonik's safety, Jinrip gritted his teeth and endured.

"Family Head Tang, your words are harsh."

Cheonyeong sneered at the sight of Jinrip, who was barely maintaining a smile, his eyes twitching.

Oh?

He's even gritting his teeth...

He's angry because a young punk spoke to him informally?

"Harsh? What about you?"

"Y-you punk?"

"Who taught you to just nod your head in greeting to the respected elder of a family? Did the Lee Family Head tell you to do so?"

"..."

"If it's not the Lee Family Head, is it because you lack learning and don't know the etiquette towards the respected elder of another family?"

Cheonyeong even rested his chin on his hand, which was on the armrest, and sat askew.

"If you've come to talk, greet properly first. Or just get lost."

It was complete arrogance.

He was an insolent brat.

Fine, you punk. Let's see after I rescue the Second Young Master.

"My rudeness... please forgive me. My thoughts were short."

"Really? Then try thinking for a long time and acting."

Jinrip endured and endured the words full of ridicule, and bowed his head.

"Family Head Tang, I am..."

"Sir."

"..."

"We're not friends, are we?"

Cheonyeong pointed it out, as if teaching a child to speak.

Jinrip, whose patience had reached its limit, clenched his fists and said.

"Family Head Tang, sir."

"See, you know how to do it, but you keep getting on my nerves. Continue."

"I am Jinrip, the Shadow Severing Brigade Master of the Lee family."

Jinrip's face, as he bowed his waist, was contorted like a demon, and his face was red as if it would burst.

Cheonyeong, who was looking down at his head, smiled brightly.

The Tang Family's Departure from the World