"Hey, kids."

"Pardon?"

"Open the doors wide."

"Yes!"

At the Family Head's words, the leaders of the Tang family scattered in all directions as if it had been prearranged.

Jinrip, who had been mindful that they might aim for a gap and attack together, wore a bewildered expression.

"What is this?"

"What do you think? It's so everyone can see what you're doing right now."

"What?"

Beolkeok!

The moment Cheonyeong's words ended, the doors in all four directions were thrown wide open. Light poured in from all sides, brightening the interior.

"You saw when you came, right? There's only one building. I don't know about later, but right now there are no obstacles to hide the Three Yang Hall. See, it's wide open, right? And in the first place, I built it so that the inside can be seen from anywhere if you open the doors."

At those words, Jinrip whipped his head around.

Outside the Three Yang Hall, the warriors of the Shadow Severing Brigade, surprised by the sudden situation, were bewildered and then drew their swords in unison. It was a natural reaction since the situation inside the hall was clearly revealed.

But what on earth were those things sticking out over the wooden fence surrounding the Tang Family's estate?

"...Why are there people?"

"Onlookers."

"O-onlookers?"

"Of course. The Myriad Virtue Inn incident has made the Tang Family's estate the center of attention in Ganyang. Everyone is wondering how the Lee family will react. I heard they were coming, so I spread some rumors in the market beforehand."

Cheonyeong's smile deepened.

In fact, even Cheonyeong, who had planned everything, could not accurately predict the Lee family's reaction.

So he had made two plans.

The case where the Lee family sends a negotiation team to smoothly resolve the situation, and the case where they send a warrior brigade to coerce them, like now.

There wasn't much to gain from the former. He would probably get some compensation.

But what if it was the latter?

There was a lot to gain. Because anyone could see that the Tang Family's estate was the much weaker party.

Wasn't there a saying, 'a heart of compassion'? No one would stand by and watch an adult bully a child.

Just in time, the Lee family had sent a renowned warrior brigade called the Shadow Severing Brigade, and because of this, he was able to realize the latter plan.

"Now, then, shall we begin?"

"Begin what?"

Cheonyeong, who had wiped the smile from his face, took a deep breath and shouted at the bewildered Jinrip.

"What do you think you're doing!"

"Huh?"

The angry voice echoed in all directions, making the Tang Family's estate reverberate.

The punk who had been grinning? All of a sudden? Suddenly?

And he was using polite speech. After speaking informally all this time, talking about the respected elder of a family.

On top of Jinrip's bewilderment at the unexpected development, confusion was added.

"After causing such great damage to the Tang Family's estate, you dare to draw your swords and threaten us!"

"Wh-what did you say?"

Although Jinrip stared with wide eyes, Cheonyeong paid him no mind and continued his shout.

"Even though your sin is so great! We provided you with training time without any inconvenience during your detention, and showed you the courtesy of taking care of your lodging and meals in our not-so-well-off situation. Also, even though we had detained them, our hearts were not at ease, so we trusted the Lee family and even handed over the criminals beforehand!"

"...?!"

"To draw your swords and aim for the life of this family's head! Is this something an Orthodox Faction member should do!"

Jinrip, who had a blank expression, suddenly realized.

What this punk was trying to do now.

"The Lee family?"

"Oh dear!"

"Tsk tsk."

The murmurs of the onlookers reached Jinrip's ears.

They pointed fingers, and their gazes... were as if they were looking at trash.

"You punk? What are you doing?"

"Alright! If the Lee family is going to be like this! I will not endure it any longer!"

Cheonyeong took a stance with a furious expression, and Jinrip's face contorted.

Kuu-ung!

At the same time, the main gate of the Tang Family's estate, made of woven wood, was forcefully broken.

"Brigade Master! What is going on!"

The fence near the main gate is much higher than in other places. So one cannot see inside. It was perhaps natural that the fourth and fifth squads of the Shadow Severing Brigade, who had been waiting in front, broke down the gate and rushed in when a sudden shout was heard from inside.

And at that sight, Cheonyeong's eyes were filled with sinister joy.

How timely.

This was not part of the plan. But wasn't it so dramatic?

Jinrip gritted his teeth.

There, the distinction between Orthodox and Unorthodox was meaningless.

Anyone could see that the Lee family was the evil one.

Probably from the reaction of the girl called the Inner Hall Master when they first came to the Tang Family's estate, until now. It had all been a provocation.

Tang Cheonyeong must have been luring him until he got the reaction he wanted. And now that the waiting warriors had even broken down the main gate... a fight was unavoidable.

The water was spilled, and the situation had escalated to a point where it could not be smoothed over.

A vile punk. A despicable and sinister punk.

But.

"Keuk, keuk keuk keuk keuk."

Jinrip suddenly burst into laughter.

His clenched fists relaxed, and his bewildered expression became leisurely.

"My, my, I've been completely hooked. Completely had."

"...?"

"Although I'm not a veteran of a hundred battles, I was confident that I wouldn't be lacking in experience anywhere, but to think I would fall for a scheme plotted by a mere brat."

Cheonyeong's head tilted at Jinrip's words.

Was that the reason he suddenly laughed?

But I've been worrying for days to create this situation.

What's wrong with a plan I've made by mobilizing all my past life's experience and knowledge?

A brat's scheme?

"You've really gone to great lengths, you Tang punk. So? What do you think will change?"

"What?"

"Fine, it seems I've become a villain. It looks like I've done something very wrong. But let's say the people have become hostile to our Lee family because of your incitement. So? What? What's going to change?"

Jinrip's canines glinted eerily between his parted lips.

But it seems I've become a villain?

Really, a pathetic punk.

Can't you see even when you're looking?

You're not like a villain right now, you are a villain. In the eyes of the Ganyang people.

Cheonyeong, who found his words just ridiculous, just listened quietly to Jinrip's words.

"How will the people's hostility towards the Lee family help in this situation? Can hostility alone block the power of the Lee family?"

"..."

"The public is just an audience. They might vent their anger, curse, and point fingers, deceived by the opera you've created. But that's all. When the Tang Family's estate collapses, the public is the one that forgets after a short while. After time passes."

"Hmm, is that so?"

"You brat. You don't know the ways of the martial world at all. The martial world is ultimately power. With power, even the right thing becomes justice, and with power, even evil becomes good. With power! No one will care about the process of the Tang Family's estate's collapse!"

"..."

"Does the Tang Family's estate have that much power? A warrior brigade made of those shabby brats? Your retainers who swing unheard-of weapons like iron pestles? Or you, a punk who runs wild without distinguishing heaven and earth? How ridiculous. Ridiculous... you Tang punk."

As Jinrip's words ended, Cheonyeong, who had been staring intently at him, nodded his head.

"You're right. You're right. The Tang Family's estate has no power."

"Do you finally understand? How futile your vile schemes and the hostility of mere onlookers are?"

"I suppose so. The Hoyeon Brigade, which has just started training, are guys who were wandering the vagrant villages until recently, and as for the retainers, they are guys whose skills are sorely lacking."

"Keuk keuk, it's too late to be self-deprecating."

"But."

Cheonyeong approached Jinrip.

"Have you thought a little more deeply?"

"Thought?"

"When the strong and the weak fight, people usually feel sympathy for the weak."

"What are you trying to say, you punk? I've clearly stated that hostility or sympathy..."

"But!"

Cheonyeong shouted, cutting off Jinrip's words.

"If that weak person is someone who is respected by many people, the sympathy will grow stronger."

"What?"

"And, what would happen if that weak person defeats the strong in front of eyes full of sympathy?"

"What did you say?"

"Surely, as you said, did you think I would have put on such a childish opera just to have people gather and vent their anger?"

"Th-that's what? Heup!"

Jinrip's breath caught in his throat as his eyebrows bent at Cheonyeong's cold smile.

The moment the distance narrowed to within one zhang, a massive pressure began to crush Jinrip's entire body.

Kkudeudeudeuk.

The floor screamed as if crushed by Cheonyeong's lightly stepped foot.

Jinrip looked at Cheonyeong with contorted eyes.

The smile on his lips.

But the closer the distance and the clearer the smile, the harder it became for Jinrip to breathe.

Th-what is this?

How could a punk he had considered a brat possess such power?

Peok! Peo-peok!

Finally, Cheonyeong's momentum grew stronger and stronger, and the floor was gouged out and even exploded.

"You stupid bastard. Why do you think I called only you here?"

"...?"

"Think a little. You strategically ignorant punk."

Jinrip's contorted eyes shot open at Cheonyeong's words.

And he whipped his head around and looked at the Shadow Severing Brigade outside the Three Yang Hall.

A distance of about twenty zhang.

The distance with Cheonyeong was within one zhang.

And his momentum was such that the outcome of the fight could not be predicted.

Especially for Jinrip, who had the objective of rescuing Lee Wonik first, it was a very disadvantageous situation. What if a fight broke out between Cheonyeong and himself? There was no way the Shadow Severing Brigade could help him.

"I pray you have it."

"What?"

"The strength to ramble on without even knowing your own place."

He thought for a moment.

This punk is not one to plot such a thing without confidence.

Then there was only one choice.

To attack the members of the Tang Family's estate!

"You son of a bitch! Shadow Severing..."

Swaeaek!

But before Jinrip's shout could end, a rough piercing sound erupted from Cheonyeong's fingertips.

Ah, a hidden weapon?

At this distance?

The distance is too close to predict the direction the sound is aiming for.

Never mind others, even if he himself got hurt, he had to save Lee Wonik first.

"Dammit!"

Jinrip, who had hurriedly drawn up his energy, swung his sword in front of Lee Wonik and created countless trajectories.

Kaaang!

Although it was a randomly swung sword, he had fortunately blocked the hidden weapon. But the gap created by that fleeting action created a sinister smile on Cheonyeong's lips.

You idiot.

Surely, would I have hurt the precious hostage who still had much use left?

That was just a lure.

To create a gap in you.

And that gap sometimes decides the outcome of a fight in an instant.

Kuu-ung!

Cheonyeong rolled on the floor with all his might and dug into Jinrip's arms in an instant.

"Th-this is!"

Jinrip hurriedly swung his sword to attack Cheonyeong, but.

"It's already... too late."

It had been a long time since he had achieved the first stage of the Samyang Divine Art, the Transformed Body.

The internal energy accumulated in his dantian, following the thick and sturdy meridians, was instantly released to any part of his body.

This time, it was his hand.

Try to withstand it, you Shadow Severing Brigade Master of the proud Lee family.

This is a palm strike containing my all.

Its name is the Samyang Palm.

Jjeo-eo-eong!

The moment the sword was about to be swung, Cheonyeong's wide-open hand dug deep into Jinrip's side.

(End of Chapter)