Cheonyeong's eyes narrowed.

The Blue Green Sect's letter of acceptance.

He had received one too. Through Nosanggae, who had written him a letter of recommendation.

Only those with the letter of acceptance and their attendants could go up to the Taoist temple. It was, in a sense, an invitation.

But a trace?

"What kind of trace?"

"The bloody handprint of the dead young master of the Hyeokseon Faction."

"A handprint? Why that?"

"It was intentional. As luck would have it, it was stamped right on the characters for 'Blue Green Sect'."

"Hmm."

The letter of acceptance for the Assembly of Elders, and the handprint of the young master of the Hyeokseon Faction left on the characters for 'Blue Green Sect'.

Baekta thinks that the dead young master of the Hyeokseon Faction wanted to let people know about the Assembly of Elders held at the Blue Green Sect.

"Are those punks aiming for the Assembly of Elders?"

"Yes."

"How certain are you?"

"More than seventy percent."

"Seventy percent."

Cheonyeong chews on Baekta's words and falls into thought.

His analysis is reliable. Because he's a prodigy in that area. It must be a conclusion he reached after thinking about it from various angles.

"You suspect the participants."

"That's right."

"Have you put the Night Cats on them?"

He said that the number of participants in the Assembly of Elders had already exceeded one hundred. The number of families or sects would be about the same.

Baekta alone could not monitor all one hundred sects.

"You're quick-witted. That's right. But it's only one for each sect. It's not easy to confirm because they've brought as many as fifty attendants."

"I see. So that's why you called me? To participate in the Assembly of Elders."

"Because you knew about them before I did."

Cheonyeong frowns.

Baekta's guess is not always right. But if he made a guess with this much certainty, he must have reached a conclusion with some credible circumstances.

Because he's not a punk who talks nonsense without thinking.

"Then, what are those punks aiming for?"

"I don't know that either. I've thought and thought about it, compiling all the information the Night Cats have collected."

"One of the participants? Or one of the observers?"

"It could be. It's not uncommon for someone to die during a match. But it's a ridiculous plan."

"Why?"

"First of all, the matchups haven't been decided yet. I don't know who will face whom. And if they were aiming for a participant or an observer, would they need to come to the Assembly of Elders?"

"That's true. Damn it. Wouldn't it be better to just tell the Blue Green Sect?"

"It's not certain."

"Isn't your guess pretty close to the truth?"

"It's close, close. It's not certain."

"Still, if you let them know that there's such a threat."

"Hah, that's really troublesome."

"What is?"

"It's no different from the Beggars' Sect ruining someone else's party."

Baekta says with a troubled face.

"You know my situation now, right?"

"What, being mentioned as a future leader?"

"Yes. With the matter of Yunnan, not only my position but also my master's has risen tremendously. He has gained a great influence in the selection of the future leader. The Blood Dog, who has become my guardian, is also looking forward to making the Night Cats an official organization on this occasion."

"Damn it, if you make a fuss and it turns out that the Assembly of Elders and the assassins have no connection, it'll be a mess."

"Future leader, my ass. If I'm unlucky, I'll be excommunicated."

"Damn it. The position of leader will be gone."

"So think about it. You're a genius, aren't you? Like in Yunnan, can't you do something? If I become the leader, it's good for you and good for me, isn't it?"

"Do you think a genius is omnipotent? And I was lucky in Yunnan. Lucky."

"Hah, damn it."

Baekta and Cheonyeong let out a deep sigh.

The people who were listening next to them couldn't even open their mouths.

"You guys heard, right?"

"Pardon?"

"Well, do you have any ideas? Anything is fine, so just say it."

What? How can we?

They were at a loss for what all this was about.

Assassins, someone aiming for the Assembly of Elders hosted by the Blue Green Sect? And the leader of the Beggars' Sect?

Doesn't that mean that Tang Cheonyeong is participating in Baekta's future?

This was too big a story. It wasn't a story that the successor of a small and medium-sized faction in Sicheon could interfere in, but a story that should be discussed at a meeting of the leaders of the Cheongcheon Alliance.

"We... well, what..."

"Hah, forget it. Forget it. What can I expect from you guys? I just asked because I was frustrated."

"Yes."

As Cheonyeong waves his hand, Lee Cheongik and the others hang their heads with sullen expressions.

There was nothing else they could do.

"There's no choice. Myeongseon, let's do this."

"Huh? How?"

As Cheonyeong opens his mouth after thinking for a long time, Baekta's eyes sparkle as he looks at him.

"It's a difficult matter to make public. It's not certain. If things go wrong, there's a high possibility of a backlash."

"That's right."

"For now, let's just watch."

"Watch?"

"Yes. Since we don't know their purpose yet."

"That's true, but."

"If those punks are here and are aiming for someone, there will surely be a move. For now, let's watch the participants."

"Hoo, is that the only way?"

"The Night Cats will be watching the participants, right?"

"But it's not an easy task. If someone is disguised, they will surely imitate their appearance, speech, and actions exactly. The scope of the investigation is also too vast."

"That's right. So look at their faces." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"Faces?"

"There are a few ways to do face-changing."

"...?"

"Among them, the two most difficult to distinguish are the face mask technique and the face-changing needle."

"A face mask, you mean human skin?"

"Yes. Since they would have used a sure method, they would have peeled off the facial skin of the person they were disguising as and worn it. But, no matter what medicine you use, it's not easy to process the skin, so it'll be difficult beyond the chin."

"That's right. No matter how high-quality the item is, you can't make the skin color exactly the same."

"That's right, it's faster to check by touching it directly, but since you can't do that, tell them to look carefully at the jawline. There will surely be something disharmonious, whether it's the color or something else."

"I see. I'll do that. But what's the face-changing needle?"

"It's exactly as it sounds. You forcibly fix the position of the muscles with a needle to change the face."

"I-is that possible?"

"It's possible."

"Heh!"

"I'll tell you how to distinguish it, so teach it to the Night Cats."

"I see."

"The most important thing is the boundary between the hair and the facial skin. Usually, they stick a needle near there to pull or push the skin."

"Hmm."

Cheonyeong points to a few places on his face with his finger.

"In these places, no matter how great the face-changing needle is, it's bound to leave a trace. If you don't know, you might miss it, but if you look carefully, you'll see it."

"I see. I'll do that. By the way, where on earth did you learn such a thing?"

Baekta tilts his head, and Cheonyeong smirks.

Because it was the Jinkagu.

He was a special class.

He had learned the face-changing needle directly from them, and when he became a special class, he had also taught it to the assistant assassins.

"From a book."

"From a book?"

"Yes, I read it in a book."

"You really read a variety of books."

"Am I a genius for nothing? Reading old books is my hobby."

"Anyway, I see. I'll tell the Night Cats to watch carefully."

"Yes. For now, let's start from there. If we find even one of those punks, then we'll inform the Blue Green Sect and make it public."

"I understand. For now, that's the only way."

Cheonyeong, who had finished discussing the future with Baekta, looks at Lee Cheongik and the others and says.

"Now, you guys have to help too, right?"

"Pardon?"

"You've heard everything. About the current situation. We're all in the same boat now."

"That's true, but for us to interfere."

"Why, because it's too big a stage?"

"The Beggars' Sect, the Blue Green Sect."

"So what?"

"Pardon?"

"Do you need the size of a family to catch an assassin?"

"That's..."

Everyone shuts their mouths.

They were not confident. Because it was too much for them to handle. Also, listening to Baekta and Cheonyeong's conversation, wasn't it not even certain yet?

"Family Head Tang."

Lee Cheongik, who had been thinking for a long time, musters up his courage and asks.

"Please speak."

"Why are you doing this?"

"This?"

"Yes. I'm sorry to say this, but why is the Tang Family's estate worrying about and trying to solve the problems of the Blue Green Sect? If things go wrong..."

"Keuk, are you worried about me now?"

"That's not it."

"I know."

"..."

"If it's not an assassin and things go wrong, the Tang Family's estate will be in an irreversible relationship with the Blue Green Sect. This friend Baekta is the same."

"Family Head."

"But what if it's the other way around?"

"Pardon?"

"Let's take Baekta as an example."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's say it's revealed that an assassin came to the Blue Green Sect. If it had been left alone, the guests gathered at the feast would have been harmed. Then what would people think of the Blue Green Sect?"

They would criticize it.

If someone died, they would blame the Blue Green Sect for everything.

Since they firmly occupy a place in the Nine Factions, even if they can't point fingers openly, dissatisfaction and complaints will spread throughout the world.

The reputation of the Blue Green Sect will fall to the bottom in an instant.

"But, what if Baekta, who had suspected this in advance, secretly investigated and prevented the damage? Then what would people think?"

"People, ah!"

"With the matter of the Yeongin Negotiation, Baekta has already come close to the position of future leader. He's become famous. In the meantime, if he solves the problems of the Blue Green Sect?"

"...!"

"Baekta will now solidify his position as a future leader. He might even build up an achievement worthy of becoming a leader in the future. If by any chance he doesn't become the leader, will the Blue Green Sect, which has received a favor, stay still? That Changlim Sword Immortal?"

It's a plausible statement.

Because the Changlim Sword Immortal had enough power to put pressure on the Beggars' Sect.

If things went as Cheonyeong said, they might really be facing a future leader of the Beggars' Sect.

"What about the Lee family? What about the families of the others?"

"We..."

"The families, which are nothing more than small and medium-sized factions in Sicheon, helped Baekta. They prevented the problems that would have occurred in the Blue Green Sect. Will the Blue Green Sect stay still? They, who are the leaders of Sicheon and a prestigious family of the Orthodox Faction?"

As Cheonyeong's words continue, the eyes of Lee Cheongik and the others grow wider and wider.

"Now you see? This is an opportunity. A heaven-sent opportunity that may never come again in your life."

"But the risk for us to handle is..."

"Usually, the greater the risk, the greater the reward you can get when you succeed. Just like the saying, 'invest in a crisis'."

"..."

"I'm not asking you to do much. Just look around. See if the people of your own family who came with you are okay. And see if the people you fought in the martial arts competition are okay. With just that much help..."

"I'll do it!"

Before Cheonyeong could finish his words, Gwak Wolhyeop shouts, his eyes shining with enthusiasm.

The Gwak family of Iksan.

When would they ever form a connection with the Blue Green Sect?

Winning is not the problem. No, with a monster like Tang Cheonyeong or Baekta, he couldn't even dream of winning.

But if he indebts the Blue Green Sect with this matter?

The Gwak family can immediately raise its reputation. And Gwak Wolhyeop will have built up an achievement that no one in the history of the Gwak family has ever achieved.

Also, if Baekta becomes the leader of the Beggars' Sect?

Being beaten by Cheonyeong? Him speaking informally?

He doesn't even care anymore.

As he said, this place might really be a heaven-sent opportunity. An opportunity to change his life.

"I-I'll do it too."

"Me too!"

Go Yeonggil and Lee Saek, who had similar thoughts, shout, not wanting to be left behind.

And Lee Cheongik says with a long sigh.

"I have one question."

"...?"

"What is your reason, Family Head? Is it to raise the reputation of your family? Or is it because of your friendship with Mr. Baekta? Or is it an investment for the future leader of the Beggars' Sect?"

At his question, Cheonyeong smiles eerily and answers.

"Whatever it is, what reason do you need to mess up the punks who live off the lives of others?"

"I see. Then I'll do it too. According to your will, Family Head."

Yes, whatever it is.

But behind Cheonyeong's smile, there is another meaning hidden.

It's not for anyone. This is because of my deep-rooted desire for revenge that has been carried over from my previous life.

"Oh, and may I say one more thing?"

"What is it?"

"Please speak informally to me too."

"Pardon?"

"Ah, that's. For some reason, I feel alienated and distant."

"But I'm your junior."

"I've never thought of you as my junior."

Lee Cheongik says, looking straight at Cheonyeong.

Is it something to be proud of?

But since he asked to speak informally first, it's good for me.

"Let's do that, then."

(End of Chapter)