The river, at times, is so calm that it seems to have stopped flowing.

But the back waves continue to push, and the front waves are bound to go far.

Time is the same.

Its flow is sometimes invisible.

As you get used to the repetitive daily life, the seasons change before you know it, and the fresh green leaves turn into fallen leaves and fall in droves.

The years of the Tang Family's estate were like that.

After Cheonyeong's seclusion, the Inner Hall repeated the same daily life as the Inner Hall, and the Outer Hall as the Outer Hall.

Perhaps because all of Sicheon's attention was focused on the Assembly of Elders, no one was interested in the rural Ganyang, so it was peaceful all along.

But the time of the Tang Family's estate flowed calmly, like a river that seemed to have stopped.

Hwa-reu-reu-reuk!

Ttang! Ttang! Ttang!

A huge forge, where the sound of ironworking never ceased, was created where there had been none before, and several more buildings were built.

"Cha-ap!"

"Hat!"

Also, since they did not neglect their training, the hidden weapon techniques of the Hoyeon Brigade became more detailed and stronger.

However, there was something that did not change with the flow of time.

The Tang Family's estate.

It was the signboard carved by Cheonyeong with a knife. Now that they had no shortage of financial resources, it would have been good to change it, but no one raised any issue about the shabby signboard.

It was probably because of the symbolic meaning it held.

Because the time when Cheonyeong carved the letters on that wooden board was the starting point of the Tang Family's estate.

Thanks to the unchanging signboard, from the outside, the Tang Family's estate seemed to be living in a time that had stopped.

Then one day, someone came to visit the Tang Family's estate, which had been flowing silently.

Dudududu.

The horses that appeared with the loud sound of hooves were all sleek, fine horses with soft manes, and the riders on them were martial artists with a fierce air at a glance.

But unlike their fierce air, there was no intention of threatening in their faces.

"Whoa! Whoa!"

As the reins were pulled, the horses that had run vigorously began to snort tiredly.

Pu-reu-reu-reu.

"Heh! Is this the Tang Family's estate?"

The young warrior who was looking at the main gate from on top of the stopped horse clicks his tongue in surprise.

To those who saw it every day, it was a familiar sight, but to him, who had come after a long time, it was a completely different sight.

"It's an amazing sight, isn't it? It's completely different from what the young master Lee said."

"...I know. I didn't expect it to have changed this much either."

The one called young master Lee was none other than the second son of the Misan Lee family, Lee Wonik. He, who had once formed a connection through a bad relationship, had come to visit the Tang Family's estate again.

"First, everyone dismount."

"Yes!"

At Lee Wonik's command, the warriors dismount from their horses.

"I'm telling you again, you must not lose your manners. The family head here is no different from my brother's benefactor. Do you understand?"

"Yes! Young Master Lee."

It was a completely different attitude from the arrogant one he had before.

"You guys tie up the horses first, and take care of the luggage you brought."

"Yes."

Lee Wonik, who had given the command to the warriors, approaches the firmly closed main gate.

"Hoo..."

Was it because the sin he had committed in the past was weighing on his mind?

Lee Wonik, with a tense face, stops for a moment, takes a deep breath, and knocks on the main gate with his lightly clenched fist.

Kung, kung, kung!

It was a polite knock that did not feel intimidating.

After waiting for a moment, he hears the sound of someone approaching and unlatching the bolt.

Deol-keong. Kkiiik.

A dignified young man in a blue robe with armor over it comes out from inside.

Lee Wonik tilts his head at his appearance.

Was there such a person in the Tang Family's estate?

At a glance, doesn't the air he exudes seem quite impressive?

Although it wasn't great enough to intimidate him, the neat and tidy feeling was impressive.

"And you are...?"

"I am Jin Piljae, from the Blue Warrior Unit of the Inner Hall of the Tang Family's estate."

"The Blue Warrior Unit?"

"Yes."

It was a breach of etiquette.

Since the other party had revealed their identity, it was only right to answer with their identity.

But isn't the name Blue Warrior Unit unfamiliar?

As far as he knew, the Tang Family's estate only had the Hoyeon Brigade, which was composed of vagrant children...

"Young Master Lee."

As his subordinate points out his mistake, Lee Wonik snaps to his senses and shows his respects.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I am Wonik, the second son of the Lee family."

"The Lee family?"

"The Lee family in Misan."

"Ah! So you're from that Lee family."

He couldn't not know.

Because he was Jin Piljae, who had belonged to the Hoyeon Brigade at the time of the incident.

That's why Jin Piljae's eyes were filled with suspicion, and Lee Wonik, who felt it, smiles awkwardly.

At one time, the Tang Family's estate was not even comparable to the name of the Lee family... for some reason, he felt self-conscious.

"By the way, what brings the Lee family here? I haven't received any notice of a visit."

"Ah, that's... we came in a hurry, so we couldn't contact you in advance."

"What do you mean?"

"My brother, no, the young master of the main family, has brought a letter to deliver to the family head of the Tang Family's estate."

"From the young master of the Lee family?"

"Yes."

"Hmm..."

As Jin Piljae just frowns without any intention of guiding him inside, Lee Wonik becomes anxious.

Is he doing this because of the bad relationship in the past?

But that problem had been resolved by mutual agreement...

"Young Master Lee."

"Pardon?"

"Since you've brought a letter, it's only right to welcome you, but there's an important matter in the main family right now, so an order has been given not to let in outsiders."

"An important matter?"

"Yes."

"What kind of matter?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"That's..."

Just as Jin Piljae was hesitating.

"Who is it?"

A booming voice and a huge shadow are cast from behind Lee Wonik.

"Ah! Deputy Family Head!"

Jin Piljae, who recognizes him, runs up and greets him.

"Huh? You're? Tang Yong..."

As Lee Wonik turns his head and is happy to see Yongcheon.

"Well! Who is this? Isn't it the troublemaker of the Lee family?"

Lee Wonik's face contorts at the loud shout.

He admits that his actions at that time were like a troublemaker, but was it necessary to say it so loudly?

"Keu-hat-hat-hat! Yes, have you been well? What brings you here?"

Although Yongcheon approached him happily, Lee Wonik's face was already like he had chewed on shit.

This dull bear of a punk...

He's speaking informally as soon as he sees him.

But Lee Wonik, instead of getting angry, politely shows his respects and bows his head.

"Wonik, the second son of the Lee family, greets the deputy family head of the Tang Family's estate, Tang Yongcheon."

"What's with the 'greets'? We're friends."

"...Pardon?"

"If you've had a fistfight and made up, you're friends, what else? Let's drop the formalities between us."

"Pardon?"

"Let's be friends. I saw that our family head also makes friends like this."

It was absurd.

Friends?

In terms of position, Yongcheon, the deputy family head, was above him, but he was much older.

A whole two years.

And yet he wants to be friends?

In times like this, it's much more comfortable to speak formally to each other.

"This friend, why has he become so timid unlike before? Straighten your shoulders."

Pang! Pang!

Yongcheon cheerfully pats Lee Wonik's back with his hands as big as pot lids.

His back almost broke.

He's gotten stronger than before... come to think of it, was he always this big?

Yongcheon, who was a head taller, even felt intimidating.

"By the way, what brings you here? It seems you've brought a lot of gifts."

Yongcheon asks, looking at the luggage that the subordinates standing behind Lee Wonik are holding.

Hah, yes, let's be friends. It's only a two-year difference...

"Ah, that's... my brother asked me to deliver a message to the family head, so I came, but it felt strange to come empty-handed."

"Ah, really? Then let's go in."

"That's..."

As Lee Wonik glances at him, Jin Piljae quickly reports.

"I stopped him."

"Huh?"

"Actually, the Inner Hall Master said that it might bring bad luck on an important day, so she ordered to forbid the entry of outsiders."

"Sanghui did?"

"Yes."

"Tsk tsk, she really needs to fix that anxiety of hers. What bad luck? What kind of person is the family head? Don't talk nonsense and call the kids to take the luggage."

"Pardon? But the Inner Hall Master."

"This punk! Who's higher?"

"Pardon?"

"Is the Inner Hall Master higher than the deputy family head?"

"Ah, no. I'll call the children right away."

"Tsk, you should have done that sooner. And escort the guests to the reception hall. I'll take the young master of the Lee family myself."

"Yes! Deputy Family Head!"

"Go on now."

Yongcheon waves his hand as if annoyed and says to Lee Wonik.

"Let's go. They're probably all gathered by now."

"Ugh."

Lee Wonik leaves a message for his subordinates to wait until the guide comes and follows Yongcheon.

"Heh! This much?"

Lee Wonik, who had come inside, couldn't hide his surprise at the appearance of the Tang Family's estate.

The paths neatly paved with blue stones, the garden trees grown in an elegant shape, the training ground with neatly arranged training tools, and the magnificent buildings.

It was a completely different place from his memory.

"It's truly a case of great changes."

"Ah, you're seeing it for the first time since then, right?"

"Hmm..."

"The Divine Works Pavilion Master worked hard."

"It seems so. By the way, what's going on? What's this about bad luck?"

"Ah, actually, today is the day our family head finishes his seclusion training."

"Huh? Seclusion training?"

"Yes. It's been about three months."

"Three months?"

"Yeah. I don't know if you've heard, but the family head decided to participate in the Assembly of Elders held in the Blue Green Sect."

"Ah, I heard. I came here because of that too."

"Really? Then that's great. Let's go quickly. He should be coming out by now."

"Let's do that."

The place Lee Wonik followed Yongcheon to was a small building a little away from the Three Yang Hall.

Already, not only the leaders of the Tang Family's estate, but also the warriors of the Green Warrior Unit, the Blue Warrior Unit, and the Hoyeon Brigade were lined up and waiting.

"It's the family head's residence. We were thinking of building a separate seclusion training ground, but we heard it would take a long time, so he just started training in his own residence. Anyway, everyone is waiting because he's coming out today."

"Ah..."

"They're gathered over there. Let's go. Since the family head hasn't come out yet, let's at least say hello."

Yongcheon takes Lee Wonik to where the leaders are.

"Hey! What took you so long? Don't you know the sun is already at its zenith?"

Sanghui, with a venomous expression, complains at the sign of Yongcheon.

"You punk! You told me to buy alcohol!"

"Are you making the alcohol? Why are you so lazy... huh? Lee Wonik?"

Sanghui, who was scolding Yongcheon, spots Lee Wonik and frowns.

Lee Wonik, who had experienced Sanghui's venom in the past, quickly greets her.

"I-Inner Hall Master, it's been a long time."

"Yes, it's been a long time. Young Master Lee."

Sanghui, who had received the greeting with a bright smile, glares at Yongcheon.

"You... what is this?"

"What did I do?"

"I told you not to let in outsiders on an important day."

"No, he was waiting at the gate."

"And you let in someone who didn't even have an appointment on such an important day?"

"That's not it..."

"Shut up! You've only grown bigger, you have no thoughts, no thoughts."

"..."

"What are you going to do if it brings bad luck and harms the family head?"

"No, what bad luck can one guest bring..."

"Can't you shut up?!"

As Sanghui's eyes shine fiercely, Yongcheon shuts his mouth and pouts.

"What are you going to do if the guest has some impure energy on him? He's a person who has been in seclusion training for a whole three months. He's been skipping meals every day and focusing only on training!"

"I know, but..."

Yongcheon, who had become sullen at Sanghui's nagging, hangs his head and mutters as if chanting a sutra.

No wonder he snapped at the warrior at the main gate. It was a part where you could clearly see who was higher.

But, isn't that something you shouldn't say in front of a guest?

And you should say such conversations quietly so that they can't be heard, you punks.

It's just a guest in name.

There's no such poor treatment as this.

Lee Wonik, who had been put in an awkward position, wears a bitter smile.

"It seems he's coming out. Everyone be quiet."

As the oldest person in the family, the Divine Works Pavilion Master, gives a warning, silence falls at once.

In the silence, everyone's gaze is fixed on the door of the family head's hall.

Kkiiik.

The door opens weakly amidst everyone's expectations.

And a shadow slowly walks out, breaking through the deep darkness.

But...

A look of bewilderment appears on Lee Wonik's face.

Wh-what? What's that?

"Family Head!"

Is that Tang Cheonyeong?

"H-have you achieved it?"

"...Ugh. Barely."

Cheonyeong nods his head with difficulty at the Divine Works Pavilion Master's question.

"Congratulations."

"Congratulations! Family Head!"

"Tang Family! Forever and Ever!"

"Hooray!"

"Tang Family Undefeated!"

"Hooray, hooray!"

Following the Divine Works Pavilion Master's words, the people of the Tang Family's estate shout with all their might, and their voices echo throughout the area.

But what congratulations?

Can't you guys see that state? Isn't it strange?

Lee Wonik's expression becomes even more bewildered.

"You've finally achieved it."

"Hoo, I really thought I was going to die."

It really seemed so.

As if he had really died and come back to life, he was so thin that his bones were showing, and his whole body was limp without any strength.

What on earth kind of training did he do...

Just as everyone was watching.

"What are you all doing! Bring the meal immediately!"

Lee Wonik's face turns pale with astonishment at Sanghui's roar.

A-a meal?

He doesn't even seem to have the strength to hold a spoon. Shouldn't you be calling a doctor in a situation like this?!

(End of Chapter)