The date to head to the Taoist temple was fast approaching.

Baekta was deliberately visiting and observing the large factions staying in the center of the village. Although everyone would welcome his friendly (?) visit with open arms, it must have been quite a chore for Baekta. In order to obtain information, he would have to cast aside his pride and dignity and be affable.

Also, Lee Cheongik and the three punks had each looked into their own parties and reported that they had not found anything strange in their own factions.

Only he was at leisure.

Having rested enough, he was planning to sit leisurely under the sunlight from today and contemplate the state of Body Transformation he had obtained from his three-month seclusion.

Although he hadn't skipped his energy circulation every dawn, it was only the Lesser Heavenly Circulation, and when was the last time he had done the Greater Heavenly Circulation?

Just as he had made up his mind and sat down.

"Haap! Gachang-sik!"

Go Yeonggil, who had thrown off his top, spreads his bow stance and raises his spear above his head.

"Bungpa!"

Hoo-woong! Jjeo-eong!

The spear shaft, swung forcefully, strikes the ground vertically.

"Bungchang-sik! Seomgyeok!"

Swi-a-ek!

This time, he stabs straight into the air.

Peong!

The piercing sound that bursts out forcefully at the end is truly a masterpiece.

But why is he acting like that?

"Cheongmae-yeodu! Yuyeop-sami! Mujung-chogyeon! Hap-hap!"

The Chungyeong Saber, Lee Saek, not to be outdone, runs around the yard and swings his sword. The yard is full of trajectories created by the sword.

Why is that one acting like that too?

In the meantime, if you're going to do a sword dance, you should use a wooden sword, but a real sword.

It's dangerous for people.

"Kwae, kwaehwal-jang."

Pong!

In the meantime, Gwak Wolhyeop was timidly performing a palm technique in a corner, glancing at this place.

That was more annoying. If he had just come to the center of the yard like the other punks, his gaze wouldn't have been so scattered.

Even if he tried to ignore it, his gaze kept going there.

Aren't they really crazy?

They all have their own lodgings prepared by their families, but why on earth are they coming all the way here and acting like this?

From dawn to dusk.

Haven't they ever learned at home that this is a nuisance?

"Family Head Tang."

"Why! What! What do you want me to do!"

Cheonyeong, unable to watch any longer, snaps and shouts at Lee Cheongik's words, which were casually offered with a teacup.

"You should at least say a word."

That's the reason.

Wasn't he a close acquaintance of Baekta?

Also, since he had heard that he had been a great help to Lee Cheongik, he was asking him to watch their training and say a word.

They've been doing that for several days now. Do those things even know that they are bothering others?

"If you don't say anything, I think they'll keep doing that."

"Ugh. I'm really going crazy."

Cheonyeong, as if his insides were burning, gulps down the tea even though he knows it's hot.

A word? He could say it.

But it's annoying. His mind is already complicated enough with the Jinkagu punks, but all sorts of things are getting on his nerves.

It seems they think that words that can help with enlightenment just come to mind at any time.

"Hmm, Family Head, but isn't that a little strange?"

"Huh?"

Yongcheon, who was next to him as the escort captain, tilts his head.

Cheonyeong glares at him with annoyance.

Family Head?

This punk hasn't changed even after being taught so much. Isn't his use of formal and informal language entirely up to his mood?

One day he's 'Family Head', and the next he's a 'damn friend'.

Let's endure it, endure it. It's not the first or second time this punk has been like this, so let's just say he's a friend today.

"Hah, what do you want to say now?"

"Well, I've been watching those guys train here for a few days."

"And?"

"That thing. The spear technique that Go Yeonggil is using."

"Huh?"

"It looks more like a staff or a cudgel than a spear."

"What?"

"If it's a spear, shouldn't there be a lot of cutting or stabbing attacks?"

"Ugh?"

A hint of curiosity appears in Cheonyeong's eyes at Yongcheon's words.

Could it be, this punk?

"Since I use an iron pestle, I'm a bit used to hitting attacks. Maybe that's why, but that thing called the Short Breaking Spear. Something, well, doesn't fit, should I say?"

"..."

"Anyway, that's how it is. It's frustrating to watch, but it's hard to explain in words."

Yes, he's that kind of punk. Wasn't he a punk who was originally not good with words?

But.

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah?"

"Have you memorized it all?"

"Roughly."

"Roughly?"

"Not just the spear, but everything they're doing."

"E-everything?"

"Isn't it obvious? They're repeating the same movements several times a day. Even the brats from the Hoyeon Brigade could memorize it."

Lee Cheongik and Lee Wonik, who were next to him, wear a bewildered expression at Yongcheon's words.

What did he do?

Memorize? Their martial arts?

"Ha ha! Vice-Family Head, you're quite a joker."

How absurd must it be for him to be laughing openly?

If you could memorize it all just by watching, would that be martial arts?

The reality is that there are many who can't do it even if you show them and explain it. Yes. If you could do it all just by watching, how many punks would train in the same martial art for decades?

...is the expression.

But that's because they don't know Yongcheon's talent. That he's a punk who can copy not only the martial art he's seen once, but also the chronic habits of the person using that martial art.

Of course, it's only possible for martial artists of a similar level or a lower level than himself.

Lee Cheongik's martial arts would be absolutely impossible no matter how many times he showed them. But just like himself, Yongcheon had also grown.

If it's the skill of those three...

"Can you imitate it?"

As Cheonyeong asks, Lee Cheongik laughs with an even more bewildered expression.

"Family Head, you two are really close. You're so in sync even when you're joking."

But Yongcheon nods his head, barely listening to Lee Cheongik's words.

"Hmm, roughly? I can't imitate the flow of internal energy, so I don't know if the power will be the same."

Cheonyeong grins at those words.

As expected...

This punk is a real living treasure of the Tang Family's estate.

It was a good thing he brought him. Hadn't he obtained three martial arts before the Assembly of Elders even officially began?

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah?"

"You try it."

"Try what?"

"Those guys are thirsty for enlightenment right now. You go and help them."

"Me? Aish, that's ridiculous. How can I help them? If it were you, maybe."

"You can do it too."

"Huh?"

"You trust me, right?"

Yongcheon even nods his head at Cheonyeong's question and answers.

"Of course. The family head is the person I trust the most. I consider him the closest. Several times more than those guys."

"So go and try."

"Really?"

"Yes. Trust me and go, and tell them what you felt."

"What I felt?"

"That should be enough. They'll probably be so grateful that they'll bow to you. Maybe they'll even call you 'big brother' and serve you from now on."

"That much?"

"Even more."

"Hmm."

Yongcheon glances at the people who are training at Cheonyeong's words.

"Alright. If the family head says so, then it is so."

"But, deliver it politely. Don't speak informally."

"Okay."

Yongcheon, though half-believing, approaches Go Yeonggil.

"Haha, Family Head. As if the Vice-Family Head would give any teaching, what a joke."

Lee Cheongik, who saw Cheonyeong grinning at Yongcheon's back, stops talking and blinks his eyes.

"It's not a joke?"

"Watch. You'll see when you watch. Whether it's a joke or not."

"Pardon? No, what do you mean? So he really memorized it?"

"I said watch."

A smile deepens on Cheonyeong's lips.

Lee Cheongik, who had been wearing a blank expression, finally looks at Yongcheon, who had approached Go Yeonggil.

Aish, no way?

If that's true, is he a genius too? It's not like the Tang Family's estate is a gathering of geniuses.

"Um."

"Ah, Escort Captain. What is it?"

As Yongcheon speaks, Go Yeonggil stops his training and looks at him.

"I've been watching you."

"Yes."

"That's a staff technique, right?"

"Pardon?"

"What you just did. It looked like a staff technique to me."

At that moment, Go Yeonggil was at a loss for words.

A staff technique?

"Is it not? Then is it perhaps a cudgel technique?"

A-a cudgel technique?

Go Yeonggil's eyes, startled, grow as wide as lanterns.

Yongcheon was right.

Unlike Lee Cheongik's case of a branch family, the martial arts of small and medium-sized factions were often improved over generations from something that had flowed in from somewhere and changed to look like their own faction's martial art.

The Short Breaking Spear was also originally developed from a cudgel technique. He didn't know its origin. From what martial art it had developed, or what its name was.

However, it had been refined and refined to become a spear technique.

But how did this person?

Suddenly, Go Yeonggil turns his head and looks at Cheonyeong.

Could it be? Family Head Tang?

I see. Family Head Tang had been watching him carefully and had told his subordinate to deliver the teaching.

If you prepare diligently and wait for the right time, heaven will help you.

It seemed that the effort he had put into training for the past few days was finally paying off.

"If you use it as a spear, the power drops significantly."

"Pardon?"

"Because you're forcibly distorting its original shape. It can't exert its full power... hmm. It's hard to explain in words, so I'll show you."

"Pardon? What?"

"Can you give me that?"

"Pardon?"

"The spear. All I have is an iron pestle."

"Ah, here."

Go Yeonggil hands over his spear as if possessed.

And Cheonyeong, Lee Cheongik, and Lee Saek and Gwak Wolhyeop, who had stopped their training, all look at Yongcheon.

"Hmm, it's too light. Well, it shouldn't matter."

"Pardon?"

"Just watch."

Yongcheon, who had grinned, moves away from Go Yeonggil and takes a stance.

"Huh?"

Go Yeonggil was dumbfounded.

The stance Yongcheon took was clearly the starting stance of the Short Breaking Spear?

"Hmm, was this the first form?"

Kung!

Yongcheon moved.

Holding the end of the spear shaft with both hands, he moves his left and right feet forward in succession, the Advancing Step.

Swi-a-ek! Pa-ang!

Then the straight-stabbing Seomgyeok.

Go Yeonggil's eyes widen, and his mouth falls open.

That's definitely the Short Breaking Spear's.

"Bungchang-sik! Seomgyeok?!"

That wasn't all.

Hwirik! Pa-ang!

All the movements that began with twisting his body and swinging forcefully were those of the Short Breaking Spear.

Not only Go Yeonggil, but also Lee Saek and Gwak Wolhyeop stared at Yongcheon with their mouths agape. Even if they didn't know all the forms, how could they not know that what Yongcheon was performing was the Short Breaking Spear?

But he's reproducing it exactly?

Lee Cheongik's surprise was bound to be much greater than theirs.

Is that possible?

Among them, only Cheonyeong was smiling with satisfaction.

Swi-ik! Jjeo-eo-eong!

Yongcheon's movement ends with the Gachang-sik and Bungpa of the Short Breaking Spear.

"Hoo, all twelve forms. Is that right?"

"Ye-es."

Go Yeonggil nods his head with an expression as if his soul had left him.

"It's hard to explain, so I'll change this to a staff technique and perform it."

"A-a staff technique?"

"I'm originally specialized in hitting."

Whether Go Yeonggil was surprised or not, Yongcheon began to move.

Kung!

The movement that began with stomping his foot, no, the speed.

"Haap!"

Swi-a-ak!

Every time the spear was swung, a wind sound that was incomparable to Go Yeonggil's was created.

It was powerful enough to create a wind nearby and make the collars of their clothes flutter.

"A-a-ap!"

Kwa-a-ang! Peo-eong!

The moment the spear shaft forcefully struck the ground, the ground was dug up and dirt flew up. It was natural that the spear shaft, unable to withstand the power, shattered into pieces.

"Ah!"

Yongcheon, with only the handle of the spear left, couldn't hide his bewilderment.

He had just intended to demonstrate.

"I-I'm so sorry."

"..."

"The spear..."

As Yongcheon apologizes with an expression of being unable to hide his regret, Go Yeonggil's hands tremble.

"How."

"Pardon?"

"How on earth did you do it?"

"What?"

"How on earth did you change the Short Breaking Spear!"

Unlike his forceful shout, Go Yeonggil falls to his knees and grabs Yongcheon's trouser leg.

"Please teach me, please."

"Pardon?"

It was a plea.

A supplication.

His two hands were full of the will not to let go of the trouser leg. And everyone stared blankly at that sight.

"I-it was true. It wasn't a joke, he really learned the Short Breaking Spear by watching."

Lee Cheongik, who was next to him, mutters, his body even trembling. Of course, Cheonyeong was still just smiling with satisfaction.

This punk Yongcheon. He hadn't even been told to watch and learn, but he had moved so proactively.

Although it was only the outward appearance, the operation of internal energy could be studied and applied later.

With this, the Tang Family's estate had obtained the 'Short Breaking Spear'. No, was it the Short Breaking Staff?

The Tang Family's Departure from the World