Doo-woong!

The deep resonance of a large drum spreads throughout the mountains and rivers.

The 'woo-woong!' sound echoes through every valley, making the entire Blue Green Mountain vibrate.

It was the signal announcing the start of the Assembly of Elders.

The participants and their entourages gathered in the village straightened their crouched bodies and busily prepared as if stretching.

And the disciples of the Blue Green Sect's three generations of Guang and the Taoist boy Cheong, who had arrived early and were waiting outside the village, visit each participant and offer to lead them.

It was time to head to the Taoist temple.

But the tournament rules that the disciples of the Blue Green Sect informed them of were very strange.

The participants, including themselves, were a hundred in total, and the Blue Green Sect had divided the participants into ten groups to hold the preliminaries. Ten different paths. And in the end, only ten people who arrived at the Taoist temple could participate in the Assembly of Elders.

In other words, the ten paths were the preliminary rounds.

Each group had to fight a total of four times while climbing to the summit to decide one person who would advance to the main round.

First, the ten people in the same group would draw lots to decide the matchups, and when five were left, they would draw lots again to decide the matchups. In that way, the last person remaining on each path would compete in the main round at the Blue Green Sect's Taoist temple.

It was a very strange tournament rule.

More than anything, the unfairness made Cheonyeong frown.

"It's all up to them. Why does the Blue Green Sect get to decide the groups?"

Cheonyeong lets out a small laugh.

They were funny punks. A martial arts competition should be fair, but how could the Blue Green Sect divide them into groups of ten in advance?

In the meantime, what? There's even a bye?

Complaints were already pouring out from each group. However, they couldn't express them openly.

Because it was the Blue Green Sect that had made the rules.

Also, those who were confident in their skills did not complain. Because it didn't matter who their opponent was.

"It's bullying, bullying."

Cheonyeong shakes his head.

The only fortunate thing was that the five who had been training and waiting together in the village were assigned to different paths.

"To part like this, I can't help but feel sad."

"Me too."

"I'm on the verge of tears."

As it was, a melodrama was in full swing because of the divided groups.

Gwak Wolhyeop, Go Yeonggil, Lee Saek.

As soon as they heard the news that they were to go up to the Taoist temple, those who had come to train every day came to their lodgings and were acting like that, holding Yongcheon's hand.

"I will definitely look forward to seeing you again."

"Even if I lose, I will not leave and will watch from the spectator seats."

"I will see you at the top. Please continue our relationship and give me more teachings, Vice-Family Head!"

They were greatly moved by what Yongcheon had taught them.

And it was understandable. Although it had only been a few days, Go Yeonggil had changed his spear technique to a cudgel technique on Yongcheon's teaching, and his skills had changed at once.

The sharpness had faded, but in its place, the weight had increased dramatically. It was the same for the Chungyeong Saber, Lee Saek, and Gwak Wolhyeop.

Come to think of it, it was worth crying and clinging to him.

"Vice-Family Head, even after this Assembly of Elders is over, please visit the Gwak family of Iksan someday. If you show this, everyone in the Gwak family will treat you as a distinguished guest."

Finally, Gwak Wolhyeop takes out a jade plaque from his bosom and hands it to Yongcheon.

"What's this?"

"It is a divine plaque that only the young master of the Gwak family has."

"Is it okay to give me something so precious?"

"It is."

Gwak Wolhyeop says as if making a declaration.

It was understandable how much he cherished Yongcheon.

Well, just by looking at Yongcheon speaking informally and Gwak Wolhyeop speaking formally, it was enough to know. How they felt about Yongcheon.

"Me too!"

"Please accept mine too!"

Not to be outdone, Lee Saek and Go Yeonggil also search their bosoms and hand Yongcheon items to remember them by.

If he left them alone, it seemed it would not end even if the sun set.

The participants had already started climbing the mountain.

"Are you guys that free? Everyone is packing their bags and waiting. The others have already started climbing the mountain."

"Ah!"

As Cheonyeong points out with a frown, the three who had come to their senses exchange farewells with Yongcheon.

"Then. I hope you are well until we meet again."

Cheonyeong frowns at the sight of them bowing deeply.

These punks...

Are you guys not going to see each other again? Are you going to die somewhere?

You can still watch even if you lose!

"Aren't you going? I can't go until you guys go!"

"W-we're going. We're going!"

Finally, at the sight of Cheonyeong shouting, Gwak Wolhyeop and the others are startled and leave.

In the meantime, they keep looking back with regretful expressions.

"Those punks, really."

As Cheonyeong clenches his fists, Lee Cheongik smiles and stops him.

"Leave them be."

"Leave what be?"

"They must have been very grateful. Their faces show that the worries they had while training have been somewhat resolved."

"It seems they were worried about something trivial."

"Isn't it good?"

"What is?"

"Thanks to that, the Tang Family's estate has formed a good relationship with three small and medium-sized factions in addition to the Lee family."

"A good relationship, my ass. They're just small and medium-sized factions with no power."

Lee Cheongik smiles awkwardly at Cheonyeong's grumbling.

And then.

"Um, Family Head Tang?"

"You too?"

Lee Wonik, who had been waiting by the side, asks with a very curious expression.

"I'm just asking, just in case. No matter how much I think about it, I think I'm right."

"What?"

"By any chance, at that time. When I was staying at the Tang Family's estate as a prisoner. The reason you had me train in the Welcoming Wind Fist all day, by any chance?"

It seemed he had noticed.

Well, if he hadn't realized after seeing Yongcheon's ability for the past few days, he would be a fool and an idiot.

"Aigoo, this! It's already time!"

Cheonyeong starts making a fuss at Lee Wonik's question.

"It's late, it's late. The other punks must have gone a long way already."

"Family Head?"

"Yongcheon! What are you standing there blankly for? Aren't you going to move quickly! My goodness, you're so slow! How are you going to make a living like this?!"

Cheonyeong makes a fuss, nagging the innocent Yongcheon with an angry expression.

And Lee Wonik glares at his back with narrowed eyes.

That's right, that's right.

If he had known about Yongcheon's talent in advance, he would never have shown the Welcoming Wind Fist even if a knife were at his throat.

"Little brother."

"Yes."

"It's okay."

"Pardon?"

"The Tang Family's estate will become huge. It's enough to think that we played a part in it."

"But..."

"And who knows? The Welcoming Wind Fist that you feel was stolen might make the relationship between the Lee family and the Tang Family's estate even stronger. Let's think of it that way."

"Brother."

"But."

Lee Cheongik, who had comforted his brother, says, looking at Yongcheon, who is being tormented by Cheonyeong.

"Let's just keep the Vice-Family Head's talent between you and me."

"Pardon?"

"It's a dangerous talent. If someone with malicious intent tries to use that talent."

"I understand."

"Yes, yes. Let's get going."

"Yes, brother."

Lee Wonik erases his sullen expression at Lee Cheongik's words and hurries to leave.

"Family Head."

"Huh?"

Lee Cheongik approaches Cheonyeong, bows his head, and says.

"I will do my best to see you at the top."

Cheonyeong smiles and answers him.

"I'll be waiting."

"Yes."

With Lee Cheongik as the last, everyone left. The party that had gathered for a while scattered and began to move towards the summit.

Cheonyeong, who had been watching for a while, says.

"Yongcheon."

"Yes!"

"Choose two warriors from the Green Warrior Unit and send the horses back."

"Pardon? You're not going to have them wait at the foot of the mountain?"

"They're expensive horses, so it would be troublesome if someone stole them."

"That's true, but."

"And we'll be staying for quite a while."

"Hmm... I understand. I'll do that."

Yongcheon, who had received the order, chooses two warriors from the Green Warrior Unit and sends them back to the Tang Family's estate with the horses.

Cheonyeong, who had watched the two leave with a farewell, takes a step towards Blue Green Mountain.

"Now, then, shall we go?"

"Yes! Family Head!"

The preliminary round of the Assembly of Elders had begun.

The place where Cheonyeong and the Tang Family's estate were heading was the one located on the east side among the ten mountain paths.

* * *

"Tch, to arrive only now. What on earth do they think the Assembly of Elders is?"

An unpleasant voice, and gazes that looked them up and down.

It was the attitude of those who had been waiting at the place where the first martial arts competition would begin, towards Cheonyeong, who had arrived last.

"Tsk tsk, it seems you're from some merchant group... it seems your family didn't even teach you manners."

"That's right. My goodness, merchant punks have no interest in the etiquette of the martial world."

"What's with that outfit? It's obvious it'll get torn in a fight, what a waste of money."

These punks.

Why is everyone so on edge when they've just met?

Although he had expected this kind of reaction, he was annoyed by their attitude towards him.

"Now, now, please calm down. Why are you all like this before we even start?"

Finally, the Taoist of the Blue Green Sect, who had been dispatched to each group to manage the tournament, steps in to mediate.

"You are the family head of the Tang Family's estate, right?"

"That's right."

"I have heard much of your reputation as one of the Thirteen Dragons of Sicheon. I am Gwangmun, a third-generation disciple of the Blue Green Sect, who is in charge of managing this place."

The Taoist's polite greeting. But the corner of his upturned lips contained a sneer, and a disregard for the regional sects.

It was as if the words 'flood' were contained in the words 'Thirteen Dragons of Sicheon'.

The other participants, who had been sneering about merchants and such, started whispering inaudibly, as if they were a little surprised after learning his identity. Something about a flood.

Although he wanted to beat them all up, he held back.

Because he had to go through the preliminaries.

"I am Cheonyeong, the family head of the Ganyang Tang Family's estate."

"The progress of the tournament is the same as what was previously delivered, so we will proceed immediately. Please draw."

Gwangmun holds out the container in his hand to Cheonyeong.

It seems he's trying to decide the matchups.

Cheonyeong looks at Gwangmun for a moment.

The nine who had arrived before him were already waiting.

They would have all drawn the slips in the container, and the bracket would have already been confirmed. The empty spot would be his.

And yet he tells him to draw.

Pathetic. Although he wore the mask of a Taoist, his actions were no different from a third-rate ruffian.

But Cheonyeong puts his hand in the container without showing any expression.

Although he didn't want to, if this was the law of the Blue Green Sect, he would follow it. And it was possible that one of the Jinkagu punks was among the nine who had arrived first.

Just one slip.

As he takes it out and unfolds it, Gwangmun nods his head and says.

"You are number one."

There was no tension or surprise. Because everyone would have known that that was his spot.

"Everyone, listen."

Gwangmun shouts to the waiting people.

"Since you have just climbed the mountain path, please rest on the first day. The first match will begin tomorrow at the hour of the snake, under the observation of the disciples of the Blue Green Sect! When the drum on the summit sounds, it will begin simultaneously in all the martial arts competition grounds!"

Tomorrow? He could start right away, but he's dragging it out again?

"Please, I hope you will prepare your bodies during the given day and achieve the best results. Immeasurable Life Buddha."

With the Taoist greeting, Gwangmun and the other disciples of the Blue Green Sect disappear.

But number one.

The number isn't bad.

As if it were the number of the winner from the start.

The Tang Family's Departure from the World