As the reddish sun sets over the western mountain, twilight approaches, gnawing at the world.

Those who have sweated during the day return to their homes where their families await and prepare for tomorrow.

And as the lights on the street come on one by one to brighten the slowly filling darkness, there are also those who finally wake up and start their day's work.

"Heung, young master. This way."

Women, adorned with lipstick redder than the sky created by the sunset and finely dressed in silk skirts, lure drunkards with hand gestures that flutter like beautiful flower petals.

It is a fake smile.

But how many men have fallen head over heels for that smile?

The men, led by the women's delicate hands, would often return home late at night, their faces flushed, drawing staggering lines.

The time of the drunkard and the woman.

That was the sight of the night streets of Dongting Lake, which was called one of the three major entertainment districts in the world.

And when that time deepened a little more, other people revealed their true colors.

Night guests.

As befits those who have chosen the deep darkness of the time when others are asleep, their intentions are not good.

Some target the drunkards who are dead drunk and passing through secluded alleys, and some climb over the walls of other people's houses.

The assassin on the verge of death was also of that kind.

Because there was no better place to hide one's body than the darkness.

But.

Cheonyeong opens his eyes as the faint sound of a door opening tickles his ears.

The next room?

"Here is the room fee. This is a token of my gratitude for your service."

"Aigoo, thank you. Miss."

The conversation between the waiter and Jasu was heard.

But the room fee?

Then... you're checking out?

Strange.

Isn't it still early evening?

It was a long time before the assassins would move.

"Heung. The Beggars' Sect is on my mind, you say?"

Cheonyeong, who had been pondering, wore a smile.

You were impatient, Jasu.

Although there were five days until the day of the commission to execute Gongson Seung, two days had passed.

The remaining three days.

There was still plenty of time.

But the deaths of Hwagye and Godon had caused a hitch in the original plan.

Jasu must have been worried.

In case there was a problem in carrying out the commission.

Failure in a commission was something that should never happen in the Jinkagu.

No matter what, no matter what means, they were the ones who would carry out the commission.

"How else could they have succeeded in killing the commission target who was hiding in the Cheongcheon Alliance, which was called an impregnable fortress?"

Really, it was a crazy thing to do even thinking about it now.

And he himself, who had achieved it, was even crazier.

"Hardship, hardship, there was no such hardship."

Cheonyeong wore a bitter expression as he recalled the past.

"Anyway, if Jasu is moving her residence, I can't just stay still."

U-du-duk.

"Aigoo, my joints."

Cheonyeong got up, making a groaning sound like a seventy-year-old man, and stretched his stiff legs.

He had been sitting for a long time, circulating the Samyang Divine Art while waiting for Jasu to move...

Kkwa-ak.

But thanks to that, his clenched fist was overflowing with power.

The reason Jasu was moving her residence?

Of course, it was because of the Beggars' Sect.

Because Baekta was making a fuss about catching the culprit, too many people had gathered on the northern street of Dongting Lake.

There was no way she didn't know the current situation.

Because the one remaining assistant assassin would have been constantly grasping the surrounding situation like a bird bringing back a straw.

Seeing the ever-increasing number of Beggars' Sect members, Jasu must have decided that she could no longer stay on the northern street.

What situation could be worse for an assassin than having many eyes watching?

No matter how well she hid, if even a single strand of hair was seen, her own life could be in danger.

In this situation, there was only one decision Jasu could make.

Leave the street, hide in a place out of people's sight, and wait until the day of the operation.

And the location of the hiding place is.

"The southern area where the Gongson family is, somewhere on the foot of a mountain."

It must be so.

The two attacks that had started with the intention of provoking, and the friction with the Beggars' Sect, had caused Jasu to leave the city center faster than expected.

It was a good thing.

Although he wanted to repay the grudge that was deeply engraved in his bones, no, his soul, he couldn't make a place full of people a battlefield, could he?

"Jasu, we might meet a little sooner than you think."

Cheonyeong gets ready, putting on an outer garment over the vest that was packed with hidden weapons.

In the meantime, the sound of Jasu's party's footsteps fades away from the room.

Kkiiik.

Cheonyeong, who had come outside, calls the waiter who was following Jasu.

"Hey."

"...Yes?"

The waiter, who had turned his head at Cheonyeong's call, recognizes his face and his eyes widen in delight.

It seems the favor created by the three iron coins is still valid.

The waiter, who had been seeing off Jasu's party, rushed over and bowed his head.

"Ah! Family Head Tang. Did you call? Is there anything you need?"

Ugh? Family Head Tang?

This punk... he might have known his identity.

He had shared a drink with that punk Baekta, and he hadn't particularly spoken secretly so that others couldn't hear.

Actually, was that punk Baekta's voice a little loud?

"I'd like to pay the room fee."

"Pardon? You're leaving?"

"Yes."

"It's still early evening, but it will get dark soon..."

"I hear the night view of Dongting Lake is good."

"Well, that's true."

"I'm thinking of renting a boat and taking a look around. If I go far, I'm thinking of staying the night there."

"Hmm, it's hard to come back when the night gets deep, captivated by the night view of Dongting Lake. You've stayed for two nights, and you've paid for the meals separately... so one nyang of silver will be enough."

"Here you go."

"Thank... huh? It's two nyang."

"Consider it as me cheering for the future of a diligent and quick-witted person like you."

"...!"

There was no way the quick-witted waiter wouldn't understand those words.

The waiter, who had quickly taken the money in case Cheonyeong changed his mind, bowed his head until it touched the ground.

"Aigoo, customer! Thank you. If you ever come back, I will serve you with all my might."

"You're so good-natured. Then, take care."

Cheonyeong leaves, waving his hand, holding a simple bundle of luggage.

The waiter follows him to the door on the lower floor and bows his head until Cheonyeong's figure disappears.

"Wangchil."

"Yes, master."

"By any chance... did you receive an extra service fee?"

"How did you know?"

"You punk, you can't fool a ghost. The way you're acting is exactly the way of someone who has received money."

"Aigoo, I really can't fool you, master."

"Hand it over. Let's go halfsies."

"But..."

"Ahem! Do you want to be kicked out?"

Wangchil pouts and holds out the money in his hand at the innkeeper's words.

"The lodging fee is one nyang, and I received four iron coins as an extra service fee... so here are two coins."

"Huh? Four iron coins? He only gave you that much?"

"He was more of a miser than I thought."

"I didn't see him that way... I had high hopes because he was close to the high-ranking punk of the Beggars' Sect. Tsk."

The innkeeper takes the one nyang of silver and two iron coins from Wangchil's hand.

Cheonyeong, who had heard their conversation from behind as he was walking, burst out laughing.

He gave two nyang of silver, but did he switch it in the meantime, expecting to be ripped off by the innkeeper?

...What a punk who will make it big.

Even I, who was called a child prodigy, wasn't that good.

Cheonyeong, who had chuckled softly, walked towards the ferry.

But.

...Huh?

What's with the pigeon?

Cheonyeong frowned and looked up at the sound of wings flapping above his head.

A very suspicious bird.

The way it flew up as if it had been waiting for him to leave the inn, and the way it didn't seem to have any wild feeling at all.

It feels exactly like a Beggars' Sect carrier pigeon.

But he soon cut off his thoughts.

Because far in front of him, Jasu, disguised as a dancer, was walking.

It was not the time to worry about a bird.

Cheonyeong, who had shaken his head, soon focuses on Jasu.

She must be planning to take a boat.

For the purpose of enjoying the night view of Dongting Lake, just like him.

But her intention is obvious.

She is trying to cross Dongting Lake by boat.

Also, taking a boat is better for avoiding the eyes of the Beggars' Sect than taking the land route.

The dancer Eunhyang from Hubei Province?

That seemed to be her name.

Although the Beggars' Sect had already finished their confirmation, they would not have found anything unusual.

Because the cover identities of the Jinkagu are truly perfect.

So the Beggars' Sect, who were busy with their inspections, would not be very suspicious of her taking a boat.

Jasu would probably think it didn't matter even if something happened in the middle of Dongting Lake.

Because if worse comes to worst, she can just jump into the water.

An assassin faces various situations during a mission.

So, water skills were a mandatory requirement for the assassins of the Jinkagu, and it was nothing for them to endure for about a quarter of an hour in the water by learning a breathing method called Sea Breath, which was similar to Turtle Breath.

So, one of the first places they choose when they have to escape is water.

The problem is that he, who was following Jasu, also had such an ability.

"Welcome!"

The boatman of a small pleasure boat decorated with colorful lanterns was busy welcoming customers.

A flat-bottomed boat.

The boat, which had a space made like a small guest room on top, was large enough for about ten people.

Although it looked empty, Jasu asks politely.

"Are there two seats?"

"Of course. It just so happens that there were no reservations, so it was empty."

"Then two seats, please."

The boatman's mouth becomes as wide as a basin as Jasu hands over the fare in advance.

"Aigoo, with a beauty whose face shines so brightly on board, the dignity of our pleasure boat seems to rise several times. Now, please come aboard."

"Thank you."

Jasu, who had taken the boatman's outstretched hand, smiles brightly and gets on board.

Cheonyeong, who was watching from behind, was just dumbfounded.

That fake wench.

Well, the boatman wouldn't know.

That Jasu always wears that smile even when she's killing people.

If he found out, what kind of expression would he make?

Cheonyeong approached the pleasure boat with a smirk.

Cheonyeong, who had paid the fare and gotten on, saw Jasu sitting at the stern and acknowledged her.

"Well, who is this? Isn't it the person who was staying in the next room?"

"...Ah!"

Jasu bursts out laughing at the friendly greeting.

"It's the young master from the next room. It seems you've come out for a walk."

"Of course, of course. The fame of the night view of Dongting Lake is widespread throughout the world."

"That's right."

"Ha ha, since I'm shy, it's nice to have a familiar face rather than a stranger. It wouldn't be rude to sit next to you, would it?"

"Rude? Since you've paid the fare, it would be your choice where you sit, Family Head."

"Oh? You know me?"

Jasu answers with her usual bright smile as Cheonyeong wears a slightly surprised expression.

"I overheard you talking with the Beggars' Sect beggars."

"Ah! At that time~ look at my mind. So that's what it was. It feels really good that such a beautiful young lady remembers me. Ha ha!"

Cheonyeong, who had burst out laughing, squeezed into the seat next to Jasu.

"I am also honored to meet a handsome man like you, Family Head."

"Now, then, shall we enjoy the cruise together? Hey, boatman! Since there is such a beauty, I want to enjoy the cruise quietly. Can I pay for the remaining seats?"

"Pardon? As for me, I just need to receive the seat fee, but... the price will be a burden."

"Ha ha! A man shouldn't not spend that much money when he's with a beauty. Tell me. How much will it be?"

"Hmm, it's two nyang of silver."

"In addition, if there is alcohol, I will pay for that as well. It would be a shame to be without alcohol in the company of a beauty."

The boatman, who had just finished preparing for departure, wore a troubled expression at Cheonyeong's words.

"There is alcohol... but the side dishes are not very good."

"That's enough. Won't the night view of Dongting Lake be the side dish?"

Cheonyeong, who had paid the boatman, offers the alcohol he had received to Jasu.

"Now, since this is also fate, let's drink."

"Yes, Family Head."

Cheonyeong hid his true self in his cheerfulness, and Jasu hid it in her bright smile.

But this time will not be long.

Excluding the boatman, there was Cheonyeong, Jasu, and one second-class assassin.

What if it costs a little more money?

Two nyang of silver would be enough for Jasu's travel expenses.

The funeral song... let's make it your scream.

(End of Chapter)