It takes only a moment for men to become friends.

They can grow fond of each other after fighting as if to kill, or they can grow fond of each other while enjoying the same hobby. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Lee Cheongik was such a person.

He had a good feeling, was sociable, and had money...

And they could talk quite well.

As he was a person with academic knowledge, which was rare, Cheonyeong and Lee Cheongik ended up talking a lot, admiring each other.

It was true.

They had become friends purely for that reason.

"Family Head."

"Ahem! There you go again. Please be comfortable, be comfortable. Although I am a family head, I am seven years younger than you, brother."

"I can't do that. I will be comfortable later when I become a family head."

"Tsk tsk, you're so stubborn..."

Cheonyeong clicked his tongue and shook his head at his unchanging attitude.

Of course, Lee Wonik's expression was sullen all along, as if he didn't like his brother's appearance.

Why?

Are you angry?

Because I, who am younger than you, have become friends with your brother?

But now you are also a friend's younger brother...

Even though you are older, I am a close older brother who can scold you instead if you don't listen.

"By the way, you have achieved a lot in that short time."

"A lot? It's still far from it. I have to build more pavilions and increase the number of people..."

"You are very ambitious, Family Head."

"Is there anyone without ambition? I think that there is development only when there is ambition."

"I suppose that's true."

"Just you wait. Although the Tang Family's estate is currently ranked around one hundred and thirtieth by the Beggars' Sect, it will one day become a family that everyone in the world knows just by its name."

"I hope it will be so."

"Seeing you, brother, I can picture the prosperity of the Lee family."

"Thank you for thinking so highly of me. But I am still far from you, Family Head."

Praises were exchanged along with the exchange of wine cups.

Isn't it good?

It's not like praise costs money...

"But, Family Head."

"Yes?"

"It is my humble opinion, but I think that the Tang Family's estate will need talented people to develop further."

"I am also worried about that part. But, it's not easy..."

"I suppose that's true."

"For now, it would be good if there was someone to take charge of the financial part."

"It's a problem that all families worry about. By any chance, I don't know if my words will be of any help, but..."

Lee Cheongik cautiously revealed his thoughts.

But they were not words to be heard lightly.

The operation of the merchant association, the method of expanding the family's finances, and its use.

And even the methods they had used to operate the ferry.

He even gave examples, so it stuck in his ears.

The more he saw him, the more he was a man to be coveted.

If there was a person of this kind in the Tang Family's estate, it would be able to grow much faster than now.

"I have learned a lot from you, brother. You are truly learned."

"You praise me too much. I am just a little brighter in calculation than others."

Cheonyeong secretly sighed at Lee Cheongik's humility.

That's right...

We were all born geniuses, but I don't know why I'm so lacking in that. My head starts to throb when I see numbers.

"I too have been called a child prodigy quite often, but this is the first time I've met someone like you, brother. Not only are your martial arts and character are good, but you are also bright in commerce, and even handsome... Isn't the heaven truly unfair?"

"Oh dear, you are gilding my face too much."

"Gilding? Haven't you seen?"

"Pardon?"

"Look over there. Don't the people who take care of the affairs of the Tang Family's estate keep glancing at you, brother?"

"Ah..."

Lee Cheongik smiled awkwardly at Cheonyeong's words.

"Now, please drink. The distillery of Ganyang is sponsoring good alcohol, so there is plenty of it."

"Yes."

"It is fate that we have met like this, so please stay for a few days and teach me many things."

Lee Cheongik wore a disappointed expression at Cheonyeong's sincerity.

"I would like to do so, but..."

"Pardon?"

"Actually, I have come by forcing my time, so I don't have much leeway."

"Oh dear... I am so disappointed. By any chance, do you have something urgent?"

"Hmm, I suppose you will also know soon, Family Head."

"What is it?"

"Have you heard of the Assembly of Elders?"

"The Assembly of Elders?"

"Yes."

"I heard it hasn't been held for a long time and is suddenly being held this time? And the scale has expanded quite a bit..."

"You already know?"

"Yes. Someone recommended it to me a long time ago."

Cheonyeong glanced at Nosanggae, who was sitting with them and drinking.

"That's right. It is a martial arts competition hosted by the Cheongseong Sect. It was once the third largest event in the Sichuan martial world."

Even at Lee Cheongik's words, Cheonyeong's expression was listless.

Although Nosanggae had introduced it as one of the ways for a warrior or a martial family to gain fame at once, he was not very interested.

What kind of money would that be?

"The level of the competition seems to be quite high? With your skills, brother, you would be outstanding among your peers."

"Ha ha, how could that be? I am still far from it. I haven't even achieved the thirteenth change yet."

"The thirteenth?"

"Yes."

Cheonyeong did not ask further.

Because it was a great discourtesy to pry into someone else's martial arts.

But Lee Cheongik, as if he didn't mind, confided his worries.

Was it because of the alcohol?

No way.

He was sincerely showing his heart to Cheonyeong, whom he considered a friend.

"Actually, my family is a vassal of the Cheongseong Sect."

"I have heard."

"So we have inherited the martial arts of the Cheongseong Sect, and over a long period of time, it has been changed into that of the Lee family."

"..."

"One of them is the Clear Wind Red Haze Sword that I have learned."

"Clear Wind?"

"Yes."

At those words, Cheonyeong searched his old memories.

The assassin, Sagyo.

In that life, Cheonyeong had to fight various kinds of enemies.

Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic.

Because he did not belong anywhere, there were commission targets everywhere.

Would a monk not have an enemy?

Anyway, Cheonyeong had to study the martial arts of his enemies for every mission.

To survive...

Of course, it was possible because Yongcheon was by his side.

The Myriad Scribe Ghost, Yongcheon.

His ability to reproduce another's martial arts as if copying them was of great help in studying the enemy's martial arts.

Among those enemies was the Cheongseong Sect.

But he had never heard of a sword art called the Clear Wind Red Haze.

"By any chance, are you talking about the Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword?"

"Ah, you know the sword of the Cheongseong Sect? That's right. The Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword is the original form of the Clear Wind Red Haze Sword that my family learns."

"Ah..."

Although the true transmission of the Cheongseong Sect had been passed down, it seemed the name had been changed over the years.

But wasn't the Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword a sword art that the second-generation disciples trained in?

"I don't know if you know, but the Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword is a sword art that the second-generation disciples of the Cheongseong Sect learn."

As expected...

"The second-generation disciples who have completely learned the Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword can then learn another advanced sword art."

"You mean it's a foundation?"

"Yes. Only when one has perfectly mastered the Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword does one get the qualification to take the test to be selected as a first-generation disciple. Our family has learned the Clear Wind, which is no different from a twin to the Blue Cloud."

"Ah!"

Cheonyeong nodded at Lee Cheongik's explanation.

There is an order in academics as well.

No matter how much of a child prodigy one is, one is not made to read a book containing lofty wisdom from the beginning.

First, one is taught the Thousand Character Classic to learn the meaning and use of characters, then one is made to read a text that discusses the character of a human being, and then one is taught a text that contains the principles, logic, and wisdom of all things in the universe.

Just as with writing, martial arts also have stages, and the martial arts learned at each stage are different.

The deeper the history and tradition of a sect, the more detailed its system is.

The reason for teaching the Six Harmonies to the children of the martial arts academy was the same.

The Six Harmonies is a basic art that makes the use of the body natural.

Of course, since he had reached the enlightenment of the Body Transformation through it, he did not need any other martial arts.

In the end, it was a variation.

By adding a curve to a straight movement, and giving a variation such as changing the striking point, it is transformed into a completely different martial art.

But how could that application be easy?

It sounded like boasting, but Cheonyeong had not yet seen a single person like himself.

He seemed to understand what Lee Cheongik was talking about.

The sword that the Lee family learned is a variation of the Blue Cloud Red Haze Sword that the second generation of the Cheongseong Sect learns.

If that becomes the foundation of the sword art that the first generation learns?

"I see. Perhaps the reward of the Assembly of Elders was a manual (secret book) for the sword that goes to the next stage of the Blue Cloud, no, the Clear Wind."

"Yes. It is the manual of the Cheongseong Seventy-Two Wave Sword."

At those words, Nosanggae nodded as if he already knew.

"Thanks to that, this competition seems to be held on a scale several times larger than the existing ones."

"That's right. Since they don't even distinguish between Orthodox and Unorthodox, I heard that not only Sichuan but also the swordsmen of the world are participating, aiming for the manual of the Seventy-Two Wave Sword."

"Hmm... giving away a unique martial art?"

"Yes."

It was a strange thing.

Just like everything else, martial arts also develop.

The Seventy-Two Wave Sword would be the same.

It had either developed, or a more outstanding martial art that could replace it had been created.

But was it possible?

If they gave it as a reward without distinguishing between Orthodox and Unorthodox, their own sect's martial art might be used for the wrong things...

Well, let's not worry about it.

It had nothing to do with the Tang Family's estate, and there was a law of individual circumstances.

Perhaps they were just giving away the core.

However, it was certain that the sword manual was something that the Lee family desperately needed.

To move further forward.

"But I have not yet achieved the thirteenth change."

"..."

"If I could just realize that thirteenth change, I would be able to aim for the manual of the Seventy-Two Wave Sword."

Worry clouded Lee Cheongik's face.

It was understandable.

He was an outstanding person.

The knowledge he had learned and practiced was enough to make Cheonyeong marvel.

Nevertheless, the pressure he had as the eldest son of the family must have weighed on his shoulders.

Because of that, he must have become impatient.

In his heart to achieve something quickly.

"Your father seems to have high expectations."

"Hoo, it has become so. But how can I blame him? This is also a burden that I must bear as the eldest son."

"..."

"Although my younger brother's personality is somewhat aggressive, the friction he caused with the Tang Family's estate was all for my sake. He was blinded by the hundred-year-old knotweed... He thought it would be of great help to my achievement, so he did something he shouldn't have."

Cheonyeong's shoulders flinched at Lee Cheongik's words.

A hundred-year-old knotweed...

It was the item that was in the luggage that Cheonyeong had taken when Go Hyeon had attempted to escape before.

"Ah! That item...?"

As Cheonyeong stealthily averted his gaze, Nosanggae clapped his hands and looked at him.

Hey, what are you doing?

What's with that look?

His lips are twitching, it seems he has something to say... don't, right?

"Family Head Tang!"

"..."

This son of a bitch.

"By any chance, don't you know?"

"Wh-what?"

He wanted to block Nosanggae's grinning mouth right away.

Even by punching him...

Because he was the only one who knew that Cheonyeong had temporarily become a thief then.

"No, that why... that... wasn't there?"

Nosanggae, who couldn't bring himself to say that he had robbed Go Hyeon because Lee Cheongik was there, persistently clung to him.

This damn punk.

I can't leave him alone any longer.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. What wasn't there?"

"No, that..."

"Branch Leader."

"...Yeah?"

"Come to think of it, is it okay to leave the branch empty for so long?"

"Ugh?"

"A person who is a branch leader shouldn't do that. The mediation has ended well, and it's getting late, so you should go back."

"Why? There's so much alcohol left. I'll stay and play a little longer. We're not strangers."

We are strangers.

The moment you spouted that useless nonsense just now, we became complete strangers.

"Go. The Eldest Young Master must be tired too..."

"No, then I'll just eat this."

"Just go."

Cheonyeong gritted his teeth and smiled as he pushed Nosanggae's back.

Go! Get lost!

Nothing is working because of you!

If you keep resisting, you might not live out your full lifespan!

Nosanggae flinched at the killing intent full in his eyes and stood up as if he couldn't help it.

It was the gaze from when he had mercilessly beaten him in the past.

"Ah, th-that's right... I had something to do... I had forgotten. Oh-ho-ho, oh-ho-ho-ho."

Nosanggae, who had been pushed on the back, scratched his head and laughed, then greeted Lee Cheongik.

"It was a good conversation. Let's see each other again later."

"Pardon? Are you really going?"

"I have to. My body is tired..."

Nosanggae said, glancing at Cheonyeong at Lee Cheongik's question.

But how could Lee Cheongik not notice that awkwardness?

Although he didn't know the reason, he felt that Nosanggae was scared.

Lee Cheongik, who was looking at Cheonyeong and Nosanggae, smirked and stood up to greet him.

"It's a pity, but it can't be helped. If fate allows, we will meet again."

"Let's."

Nosanggae left as if he were being chased out, and a brief silence followed.

Nevertheless, the wine cups were exchanged, and the two emptied their cups without a word.

Awkward...

Damn Nosanggae.

To say such useless things and make the atmosphere like this.

Come to think of it, that knotweed was as good as his, so he didn't have to worry about it.

Because the one who picks up what has fallen first is the owner.

But it was five hundred nyang of gold... he had received a ferry with a huge interest in its entirety... and now they were friends...

Hah, this is why you shouldn't make friends carelessly.

After a long deliberation, Cheonyeong said to Lee Cheongik.

"Brother Lee."

"Yes, Family Head."

"By any chance, may I take a look?"

"Pardon?"

"Who knows? I might be of help in your enlightenment about the thirteenth change that you haven't been able to solve."

(End of Chapter)