After the Shadow Severing Brigade returned, the onlookers soon dispersed.

The injured Jinrip was left at the clinic.

Having been struck by a palm containing all of his internal energy, it would be difficult for him to use his internal energy for a while, and with his limbs not even intact from the severe beating, even moving would be difficult.

He wouldn't be able to cause any problems until the Lee family's response came, so there was no need for him to stay by his side and guard him.

Therefore, he only entrusted the Outer Hall warrior, Ilseung, with surveillance.

With this, the matter of the Lee family was roughly coming to an end. All that was left was the post-processing.

How much to get from the Lee family, and...

"Family Head."

"Yeah?"

Chunil approached Cheonyeong, who was contemplating the next matter.

Tududuk.

Then, as if the splint applied to his not-yet-fully-healed injury was cumbersome, he tore it off and knelt.

At Chunil's action, neither Cheonyeong nor the members of the Tang family could hide their surprise.

"Hey, why all of a sudden?"

"I want to be strong."

"Huh?"

"I really... want to be strong."

Cheonyeong was dumbfounded at Chunil's words.

He wants to be strong.

Why is this punk being like this?

A punk who had no interest in anything other than delicious alcohol...

"Through this incident, I have realized. How lacking I am."

Chunil's expression was so serious, and his tone was full of formality towards the Family Head, so Cheonyeong couldn't even make a playful remark.

"I am a Tang."

"..."

"Also, you, the Family Head, said that there should be no retreat in a fight of the Tang family."

That was right.

That was one of the few laws of the Tang family that Cheonyeong had proclaimed.

"And also, you said that grudges must be repaid."

"..."

"But, I am weak. Through this incident, I have clearly realized that I do not have the strength to not retreat, nor the skill to repay a grudge."

At Chunil's words, Yongcheon and the other members of the Tang family also had gloomy expressions, as if they had similar thoughts.

Even though they had won the fight against the Lee family...

"In the end, I realized that I would only be a burden to you, Family Head. I want to be stronger. So much so that I won't be inferior to anyone as a warrior of the Tang family. So much so that I can proudly say I am a Tang anywhere."

"Hmm..."

Chunil spoke with sincerity, cutting off his words one by one.

Cheonyeong looked down at him intently. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

It seemed the incident with the Lee family had become a turning point for Chunil.

An awakening as a warrior.

He, who had been a vagrant, now had the desire to grow into a real warrior.

The desire to become stronger.

The path of a master.

Wasn't it what all those who walk the path of martial arts dream of?

Teolseok.

Yongcheon and the members of the Tang family also knelt next to Chunil.

"No, why are you guys doing this too?"

"We are the same, Family Head."

Sanghui said.

"I was scared."

"..."

"When the Shadow Severing Brigade came, my breath was taken away by the presence Jinrip emitted, and my legs trembled. I tried my best to pretend I wasn't, but I also thought I might lose my life. I want to be strong too."

"I want to be strong!"

Following Sanghui's words, the members of the Tang family said in one voice.

It was a change.

From vagrants to the family of the Tang.

And now, in the midst of various incidents, they wanted to become real warriors.

Cheonyeong, who had been watching them for a long time and contemplating, said.

"Are you guys serious?"

"We are serious."

"Is that so?"

"Yes!"

Their determination was firm.

At one time, Cheonyeong had thought that hidden weapon techniques would be enough.

So, except for Yongcheon, to whom he owed his life in his past life, he had not passed on the Samyang to anyone.

The hidden weapon techniques, lightness skills, and footwork that had been passed down from the Jin family and researched into his own, and the heart law that allowed him to use just enough internal energy to throw hidden weapons.

That was all.

But they wanted to become stronger. Under the name of the Tang family...

What should he do?

He thought and thought.

But the answer was obvious.

They were family now.

They used the same surname, lived in the same house, and lived with the same purpose.

They were all the Tang Family's estate, and although they did not share blood, it was not an exaggeration to say they were direct descendants.

The Samyang Divine Art.

Perhaps he should now pass on that martial art not only to Yongcheon but to all those who use the Tang surname.

So that it would one day become the representative martial art of the direct descendants of the Tang family.

"Dammit, I made a mistake."

"...Pardon?"

"I made a mistake."

"...?"

The members of the Tang family raised their heads and stared at Cheonyeong at the self-deprecating mutter.

They probably didn't know what he meant.

But, he had really made a mistake.

The age of thirteen when he had met them again.

If he had known it would turn out like this, he should have taught them differently from then on.

The first stage of the Samyang Divine Art, the Body Transformation.

It was a stage that could only be achieved by strengthening and widening the meridians so that all the internal energy in the dantian could be used for the next stage.

Only after they had widened to their limit could they move on to the next stage, the Body Filling, like himself.

But he had only made them learn the Gentle Flowing Meridian, which was the heart law of the Jin family, so he had missed the timing.

Since they had not achieved the Body Transformation, even if they learned the Samyang, it would be no more than accumulating internal energy like any other heart law.

They would become stronger, but it would be difficult to become one of the top masters in the world.

Unless he obtained a spiritual beast or a spiritual herb and completely transformed their bodies.

But where could such things be easily obtained?

It wasn't for nothing that when a herb gatherer dug up a wild ginseng, they would shout 'I've seen it!', thank the mountain spirit, and even hold a memorial service.

Because it was all something that was only possible with heavenly luck.

Even one such heavenly luck was difficult, but how could he get it for all four of them?

And frankly, if he obtained such a treasure more precious than a thousand gold?

Of course, he should eat it.

"Hah, but it can't be helped. They want it so much."

Cheonyeong sighed and said to the members of the Tang family.

"You guys... are you serious?"

"Yes!"

"You won't regret it?"

"We won't regret it!"

"Alright. Then, I'll help you. So you can become strong in the shortest possible time."

"...Really?"

"Yes. If you just work hard, you'll be able to take the heads of Lee Wonik or his guard captain, Jangpae, within a month."

"Pardon? That much?"

The members of the Tang family wore expressions of disbelief.

Especially Chunil, who had fought directly with Lee Wonik, no, his guard, Jangpae, was even more surprised.

To become stronger than Lee Wonik, Jangpae...?

In just a month?

"By my calculations, it should be enough. Just that much."

Cheonyeong said with confidence, with a very nonchalant expression.

The Samyang?

Since he had already made up his mind, he intended to teach it.

Because it was a much more outstanding heart law than the Gentle Flowing Meridian they had learned.

The Welcoming Wind Fist he had obtained through Lee Wonik?

He would have to teach that too.

But that alone was not enough to become strong.

"Hah, just that much... I don't know about Lee Wonik, but Jangpae was really strong."

Chunil clicked his tongue.

But it was just that much.

But to achieve that just that much, an effort as if carving one's own bones was needed.

He was confident because he had experienced it himself.

In his past life, at the starting point of an assassin.

Cheonyeong's effort had really been like that.

He had to endure a pain so great that he wanted to commit suicide several times a day.

No one told him to live, nor tried to keep him alive.

Because it didn't matter if he couldn't endure and died.

Because no one cared about the deaths of those who died during training.

The uncollected bodies became food for beasts, and were swept away by the wind and weathered by the rain and snow, turning to dust.

But when he had overcome that harsh time, Cheonyeong had become strong.

His skills were one thing, but he had cultivated a poison so terrible that he could wield a sword without fear even in front of the martial alliance leader.

He was going to make the members of the Tang family walk the same path.

So that they could become strong in a short period of time, through a time of pain and trial so great that they would think it was much better to die.

"But, promise me one thing."

"Speak! Family Head!"

"That you will never give up."

"There is no giving up on the path of the Tang family!"

"Alright."

Cheonyeong nodded his head with a smileless face.

There would be no giving up.

Because the moment of giving up would be death.

"Family Head."

Just as he had decided to train them, the voice of the Outer Hall warrior, Myeongseok, was heard from outside.

"What is it?"

"A message from the Beggars' Sect Branch Leader."

"I understand."

Cheonyeong shouted towards the outside and stood up from his seat.

It was probably Nosanggae's answer to the favor he had asked for after the Shadow Severing Brigade had returned.

"Then rest well. The training starts tomorrow."

"Huh? Where are you going? Shall I follow you?"

"I'm just going to take a look around. You rest too. It'll be tough from tomorrow."

"Yes!"

Leaving Yongcheon's energetic answer behind, Cheonyeong left the Tang Family's estate.

* * *

Long after the sun had set, a group of people were making their way through a reed field near the Ganyang outskirts ferry.

Their eyes were full of vigilance, and the sound of their footsteps walking through the wetland was almost inaudible.

"Hurry up, the ferry is soon."

The one urging the group in a small voice was none other than Go Hyeon.

Escape.

Now that his plan to slander the Tang Family's estate by instigating Lee Wonik had been revealed to the world, he had no other choice.

Hadn't all the merchants who had belonged to the meeting left as soon as the Shadow Severing Brigade had withdrawn from the Tang Family's estate?

He had been abandoned.

He could no longer stay in Ganyang.

The Tang Family's estate was a problem, but there was no way the Lee family would leave him alone.

"Dammit..."

Go Hyeon, who had sent his family members away as soon as he returned home, gritted his teeth and pushed through the reeds.

Tang Cheonyeong, if only that punk hadn't appeared...

Because of that punk, his thirty years of glory had become a bubble.

Go Hyeon glanced at the luggage carried by his guards.

The wealth he had accumulated over the past years.

He would make a comeback.

And he would definitely return and get his revenge.

Go Hyeon quickened his pace, determined to bide his time.

The ferry was not far.

If he just passed this reed field...

"Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"..."

Go Hyeon's hand, which had been pushing through the reeds, stopped at the voice that had come out of nowhere.

"Wh-who are you!"

In the place he looked at with wide eyes was a masked stranger.

"Can't you tell just by looking?"

"..."

"A reed thief."

"A reed thief?"

"Yes, if you steal in the mountains, you're a mountain bandit, if you steal on the water, you're a water bandit, and since I'm thinking of stealing in a reed field, of course I'm a reed thief."

Go Hyeon blinked his eyes in bewilderment at the words spoken with a smirk.

A reed field... you're just saying you're a thief, you bastard!

"You crazy punk! Do you know who I am!"

"I know, well."

"What?"

"A rat running away because it's afraid of the consequences after causing trouble."

The two eyes revealed above the mask curved with a smile.

The stranger who had identified himself as a reed thief was, of course, Cheonyeong.

He had expected Go Hyeon to run away, so he had asked Nosanggae beforehand.

To keep an eye out.

Why would he let go of the punk who had aimed for his life?

The reason he had just left him at the Tang Family's estate was because there were many onlookers.

Should I say I wanted to show a side of me that showed mercy as the Family Head of the Tang Family's estate?

"Hah, I've seen a crazy thief."

Go Hyeon looked back and forth between the masked Cheonyeong and the guards following him and laughed in disbelief.

For a thief, he was so confident.

Moreover... alone?

No matter how much he had lost his base in Ganyang and was on the run...

"Hah, first the brat from the Tang Family's estate, and now all sorts of things are picking a fight. Worms that wouldn't even be able to meet my eyes normally... what are you doing! Cut off that punk's head immediately!"

Go Hyeon shouted nervously at his guards.

As the guards drew their swords and spread out as if to surround him, Cheonyeong shook his head and smiled.

"Kick, wasting your lives for no reason. Things with no skill just trusting in numbers."

"Die!"

The guards rushed towards Cheonyeong.

Dozens of blades.

The very moment anyone would have sensed the thief's defeat.

Swiiik!

Cheonyeong's hands crossed and gathered, then spread wide.

Swaeaek!

Peok! Peo-peok-peok!

The swords couldn't even be swung.

"...Huh? Uh, uh?"

Go Hyeon couldn't adapt to the situation unfolding before his eyes and just blinked.

What on earth had happened?

Why had the guards who were rushing towards the thief suddenly fallen like sparrows hit by stones?

And why were they stuck on the ground, unable to move?

"There were guards... but they're gone?"

"..."

"Now you're alone?"

As Cheonyeong smiled and approached, Go Hyeon was startled and stepped back.

"W-wait! Are you going to kill me now? For no reason?"

"So what? People die for no reason a lot."

"Are you not afraid of the law!"

"The law, my ass. You ran away so cunningly that no one will know."

"What?"

"It'll probably be wrapped up as a mysterious murder case in a reed field."

"...!"

As Cheonyeong got closer, Go Hyeon's foot got caught and he fell on his butt.

"S-spare me."

"..."

"Please... my family is waiting. Please, I beg you."

Cheonyeong looked down at Go Hyeon's plea.

"Hmm, I'm worried. If I kill you cleanly, there will be no loose ends."

Cheonyeong, who had been pondering with a frown, sighed.

"You were lucky."

"...!?"

"I was once an assassin, but I'm not now, so I don't just kill people. Instead."

Cheonyeong grinned and said to Go Hyeon.

"Give me everything you have."

Cheonyeong decided to just take the money.

Wouldn't that be enough?

If he let him live, he would surely come back for revenge someday.

Then do so.

He could just rob him again then.

On a dark night, in a reed field near Ganyang.

Go Hyeon had to leave Ganyang after being robbed of all his wealth by an unknown thief.

Report?

A punk with so much to hide, what report?

And who would know?

Right now, I am not the Family Head of the Tang Family's estate, but a reed thief.

(End of Chapter)