"Th... th..."

For this moment, even Jasu couldn't hold back and her face contorted.

Another day, another death.

This time it was Godon.

And he had died not far from the inn where she was staying.

What was the big deal about the death of a consumable?

But unlike Hwagye's quiet death, Godon's death was nothing short of a chaotic uproar.

A mistake made by Godon, who had been attacked by someone.

A broken wall.

And the randomly scattered flying needles had touched something that should never have been touched.

"What's going on with the Beggars' Sect?"

"I heard some Beggars' Sect beggars were injured last night."

"Injured?"

"Yes."

The people whispered, glancing at the Beggars' Sect members who were searching the streets with fierce eyes, holding their begging bowls.

"Search!"

"Yes!"

The Jeonghwa-ru, where Jasu was staying, was no different.

A group of Beggars' Sect members rushed into the inn.

"Aigoo, what should I do..."

Although the Beggars' Sect members were checking the faces and name tags of the dining guests one by one and even searching the guest rooms, the innkeeper could only stomp his feet and say nothing.

The guests who were being investigated were the same.

A beggar is not just a beggar.

The Beggars' Sect is a group of beggars that stands shoulder to shoulder with the Nine Sects.

Although there was a place called the Hongru Chamber that looked after the Jeonghwa-ru, not a trace of them could be seen.

It was natural.

How could they, who only had power in Dongting Lake, stop the actions of the Beggars' Sect?

Their level was already different.

Also, they knew very well that they could not get help even if they asked the authorities.

Well water does not interfere with river water.

It was one of the customary expressions referring to the non-interference between the government and the martial world.

But!

Where could such a thing be?

If a murder case occurred, the authorities should naturally dispatch an investigator.

Are martial artists not subjects of the emperor?

They should also abide by the law.

Therefore, it was against reason for the Beggars' Sect to go around investigating like officials.

But no one took issue with the Beggars' Sect's investigation.

Neither the officials, nor the people, nor the martial artists.

The reason was obvious.

Most of those called martial arts masters were often on brotherly terms with high-ranking officials.

How wide were the connections of those damn punks?

And what if they suddenly started throwing a tantrum?

It was just a nice way of saying Orthodox Faction.

In the eyes of the officials, both the Unorthodox and Orthodox Factions were ultimately the same martial artists.

Ruffians with swords.

Punks who could turn into criminals at any time if things went wrong.

And how strong were their martial arts?

There were a plethora of punks who could not be measured by human standards.

If there was friction with such punks, only the officials would get tired.

What kind of wealth and glory would they enjoy in a position where they only received a pittance of a salary?

So they left the affairs of the martial world to be resolved by the martial world, saying things like 'well water does not interfere with river water' and 'government and martial arts do not interfere with each other'.

Because that was more convenient than creating a situation that was obviously going to be troublesome.

Thanks to that, the Beggars' Sect, using the injury of a fellow member as a pretext, began to stir up the entire Dongting Lake.

Jasu, who was staying at the Jeonghwa-ru, was no different from the others.

"Eunhyang?"

"Yes."

Jasu, who had been visited by the Beggars' Sect out of the blue, revealed her identity by holding out her name tag.

"Hmm, I thought your appearance was unusual, are you a dancer?"

The Beggars' Sect member asks with a sinister gaze, looking Jasu up and down from her face to her body, whose silhouette was clear despite her clothes.

You damn beggar punk.

Although Jasu was murdering the beggar in front of her in various ways in her mind, she smiled brightly on the outside without a hint of displeasure.

Because if she got involved with the Beggars' Sect, she might not even be able to stay in Dongting Lake, let alone the commission.

"Yes, I am a dancer from Seoksu County, Hubei Province."

"Hubei Province?"

"Yes." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Hmm. You've come from where that punk Jagwi is."

The Beggars' Sect member muttered, recalling a fellow beggar in the Seoksu branch.

"Well, I don't know such a noble person..."

"What noble person? He's just a beggar-like punk. Anyway, what brings you to Dongting Lake?"

"I was on my way back to my hometown after getting a vacation."

"Is that so? Well, we'll find out if we investigate."

The Beggars' Sect member nods and returns the name tag.

Investigation?

It doesn't matter.

Because her cover identity is perfect.

"But what about that one over there?"

Jasu answered with a smile at the question, peeking into the open room.

"He is my dance boy."

"A dance boy?"

"Yes."

A dance boy is about the level of a dancer's disciple.

"He looks old for a disciple...?"

The Beggars' Sect member tilted his head as he looked at Sagyo.

"By any chance... that kind of... ahem ahem!"

A man who was old to be a dance boy and a dancer with a bewitching appearance.

The Beggars' Sect member coughs and trails off, as if he had some sinister thoughts.

"It's not the kind of relationship you're thinking of."

"My, who said anything? You're getting worked up for no reason."

Just as the Beggars' Sect member was laughing awkwardly and avoiding Jasu's gaze.

"Oh? There was a person?"

Cheonyeong, who was staying in the next room, came out at the visit of another Beggars' Sect member and looked.

"I thought it was an empty room because there was no sound. Let's say hello. Since we're staying in the next room."

Jasu bowed her head slightly and answered as Cheonyeong, who had been feigning ignorance even though he already knew, greeted her with clear eyes.

Acting all fresh.

If they hadn't known each other, he would have been unable to hold back his admiration for Jasu's beautiful appearance.

But how could he not know the cruelty hidden behind it?

That was a killer smile.

It wasn't that he would die from being bewitched by the smile, but it was a smile she made when she was really killing someone.

How he had shivered at the smile that deepened every time she was covered in blood and cut off fingers one by one.

But Jasu.

Aren't you very flustered that the Beggars' Sect has suddenly stepped in?

You know well too. How persistent these punks are.

Last night, Godon's death was, of course, his doing.

He had blocked Godon's escape route and deliberately driven him towards the Jeonghwa-ru.

Then he had deliberately thrown him at the Beggars' Sect punks who were sleeping on straw mats nearby.

A mask, night clothes, and even hidden weapons in his hand.

If he flew in like a bolt from the blue in the middle of the night with such a suspicious appearance, there was no way the curious Beggars' Sect beggars would stay still.

They rushed in like dogs that had been starved for three or four days.

Not only did this punk and that punk stick to him to find out his identity, but they also blew a whistle and gathered the beggars scattered all over.

But that's not enough.

He had to create some trouble.

Cheonyeong secretly threw a flying needle and injured one of the Beggars' Sect members who was attacking Godon.

One of the vital points.

Although it was an injury that would only cause paralysis, it was enough to make the Beggars' Sect members conclude that Godon was a villain, and it also had the effect of imprinting the fact that he had a companion.

When Godon, whom they were trying to capture, died from the flying needle that Cheonyeong had thrown, the enraged Beggars' Sect completely sealed off the vicinity.

How many firecrackers they had shot to gather even the punks who were far away.

The firecrackers that exploded all over the sky on the surface of Dongting Lake were truly a spectacle.

Thanks to that, he had a good view.

And the investigation of the Beggars' Sect that began in the thoroughly sealed Dongting Lake.

With this, they would thoroughly investigate even the incident that had occurred at the estate of the pig farmer, Hwang Haegu.

Since the flying needle found there and the flying needle found on Godon's dead body were the same, they would look into the connection.

"May I go in now?"

"Go ahead."

Jasu, who had received the name tag, slammed the door shut and went in.

Look at that.

He could tell just by looking at her expression.

Even if she pretended not to, a fire must be burning inside her.

Hadn't things gotten too complicated?

The commission date was approaching, but Hwagye had suddenly died, and they hadn't even found out the culprit, and now the Beggars' Sect was running wild because of the subsequent death of Godon.

Keu-heu-heu-heu.

Jasu, get really pissed off.

So that the taste of killing you will be even deeper.

Even now, I get angry just thinking about what you did to me.

Just as Cheonyeong was looking at Jasu's closed room, the young Beggars' Sect member who had received the name tag asks.

"Tang... Cheonyeong of the Tang Family's estate?"

The Beggars' Sect member looks a little surprised.

He was used to it now.

The next words would surely be... there was such a family?

And then, he's still so young, but he's a family head.

"Do you know Nosanggae?"

"Pardon?"

This was an unexpected question.

"I know him, but..."

"Ha ha! You are the Family Head Tang I know. I have heard a lot about you."

"...Pardon?"

Heard a lot about me?

This was also completely unexpected.

The distance between Ganyang in Sicheon and Dongting Lake was a whopping thousand li, but what did he mean he had heard a lot about him, as if they had talked every morning and evening?

"Actually, the person named Nosanggae is my senior brother."

"Senior brother?"

"Yes. We studied under the same master."

At those words, Cheonyeong looked at the Beggars' Sect member intently.

He had been focused on Jasu, so he hadn't looked closely, but now that he saw it, the knot... four?

"Huh? By any chance, are you a branch leader...?"

"Yes. I am Baekta, in charge of the Dongting Lake North Branch."

"Ah."

Cheonyeong looked at Baekta with slightly surprised eyes.

A branch leader?

And a senior and junior brother of Nosanggae?

The reason Cheonyeong couldn't help but look puzzled was.

"I'm too young, right?"

"Pardon?"

"Everyone says that. When they see my face."

"...Ah."

Cheonyeong nodded with an awkward expression.

He was too young.

So he hadn't even thought he would be a branch leader.

About twenty-five or six?

Baekta's age looked to be at most that.

"Actually, I am the youngest."

"The youngest?"

"Yes, the eighth."

"If you're the eighth..."

"Yes. Should I say I was the last disciple that my master, who has now retired to the position of an elder, took in his later years?"

"I see."

"Having a great master, I learned and practiced well, so despite my young age, I was entrusted with the important task of being the Dongting Lake North Branch Leader."

"Ah..."

He was still dumbfounded.

A Beggars' Sect branch leader is usually a fourth-knot disciple.

The reason Nosanggae had become the Ganyang branch leader as a fifth-knot was because Ganyang was in the territory of the Unorthodox Faction.

And the age of a branch leader is usually around forty.

But to become a branch leader at an age that seemed to be just over twenty, how skilled must he be?

"Actually, I often exchange letters with my senior brother, Nosanggae, and lately, there have been many stories about you, Family Head."

"Stories about me?"

"Yes, that there is a warrior who has established a family at a young age like me."

He wasn't young.

Although his appearance was that of an eighteen-year-old youth, wasn't an experienced assassin who was well over thirty hiding inside?

"By the way! I heard you beat up my senior brother, Nosanggae, like a dog."

"Pardon?"

"Keuk keuk, my senior brother was very angry. He said there was a punk worse than me."

"Ah, it turned out like that..."

Cheonyeong smiled and scratched his head at Baekta's words, then flinched.

Wait a minute, what did he just say?

"Then did you also, Branch Leader, to Nosang, no, your senior brother?"

"About three times?"

"Ah..."

"My master often made us do practical sparring."

"I see."

"But I hit him on purpose once."

"On purpose?"

"Yes."

Baekta smiled good-naturedly.

"You know him well, right? My senior brother's personality."

"...We're not that close."

"Really? That's strange. My senior brother said you were very close."

"That's what that person thinks."

As Cheonyeong grumbled, Baekta smiled faintly.

"Keuk keuk, you really know his personality well."

"Then let's just say that. But why are you doing the work of interrogating people, Branch Leader?"

Isn't this kind of work usually done by subordinates?

"Haha, what does it matter who does it? And I can't just stand with my hands behind my back just because I'm a branch leader. Leading by example is my life philosophy."

"I see."

Cheonyeong nods.

My, what a troublesome life philosophy.

Why bother when you're in a high position?

"Ah, instead of this, shall we go down and have a drink? There are many things I want to talk about."

Cheonyeong wore an awkward expression at Baekta's show of favor.

The way he was looking at him...

A puppy full of curiosity?

It felt like something troublesome was about to stick to him...

But come to think of it, it wasn't a bad connection.

To live as a martial artist, there was no reason to be on bad terms with the Beggars' Sect beggars.

If he was lucky, he could borrow all their eyes and ears that watched the world.

Didn't he know from having used Nosanggae well?

Moreover, if it was Baekta, who was a branch leader and a fourth-knot disciple at a young age?

His future is bright.

He is a person who will be much more helpful than Nosanggae if he gets to know him.

Who knows?

Maybe this punk will grow up straight and become an elder of the Beggars' Sect?

And if a problem arises while fighting Jasu soon, he might be of help.

Isn't there a saying that the more the merrier?

Since he had come all the way to Dongting Lake, it was a pity to just get talented people.

He had to get at least one connection.

And then.

Cheonyeong glances at the closed door of Jasu's room.

What's going to happen...

It was still daytime, and since the Beggars' Sect was watching with wide-open eyes, there was no way she would move recklessly.

Also, she couldn't leave.

At least she had to complete the commission.

(End of Chapter)