The mountain sun rises late.

But Cheonyeong and the Tang Family's estate woke up in the early dawn before anyone else.

The time was the same as always. Because their bodies remembered the training time they had been continuing.

The training of the Tang Family's estate, which had announced the start of the day to the people of Ganyang, was continuing in the Blue Green Sect.

Since the match was just ahead, shouldn't he check his body condition through the Greater Heavenly Circulation?

First, the Samyang.

As Cheonyeong sat cross-legged in his lodging, Yongcheon opened the door and gave an order outside.

"Seoil."

"Yes, Vice-Family Head."

"Form a protective formation around the lodging. There should be no noise that disturbs the family head's training."

"Yes!"

At Yongcheon's command, the warriors of the Green Warrior Unit form a circular formation at a certain distance around Cheonyeong. And Yongcheon guards the front of the door with fierce eyes.

Anyway, Yongcheon was unnecessarily serious in places like this.

Cheonyeong, who had smirked, slowly breathes and operates the Samyang Divine Art.

"Hoo..."

So far, Cheonyeong had built a solid path for his internal energy to flow through Body Transformation, and he had filled that path with Samyang True Qi through Body Filling.

The enlightenment of Body Exchange was in a completely different direction from what he had obtained before.

The reconstruction of the energy meridians. It was an experience similar to what is commonly called bone and marrow transformation.

There were no changes such as hair or teeth falling out and growing back, or the skeleton being reconstructed. So no one knew. Because there was no change in his outward appearance.

But only Cheonyeong knows.

The moment he realized Body Exchange, all the turbid qi that had been staying in his body was discharged, leaving only pure qi. Also, at the same time, his energy meridians became completely different from before. To put it in words, it would be a refreshing feeling that doesn't go away.

Anyway, he had achieved everything he could with the internal energy of his lower dantian. After this, he had to open the middle dantian, which is called the Crimson Palace, the heart.

It was a long and distant road.

Although he had memorized the contents of the secret manual without missing a single character, he couldn't grasp its meaning at all.

The end of his seclusion. He had challenged it in the hope that he might, but he had almost fallen into qi deviation. His body, which had already turned into something like a dead tree while realizing Body Exchange, would have surely bid farewell to the world that day if he had fallen into qi deviation.

"Well, it'll happen soon."

Cheonyeong smirks and closes his eyes between his slowed breaths.

The Transformed Body. For now, he had to be satisfied with this. Also, he had to get used to it.

Even if he had gained power, if he couldn't control it, it was no different from a horseshoe on a dog's paw. Neither lacking nor excessive. He had to be able to use the intended amount in the right place at the right time.

"Hoo..."

Following his long-exhaled breath, Cheonyeong gradually cuts off his mind from the outside.

The qi starts rough, then flows gently as if soothing, and flows lightly where the blood vessels are thin, and heavily and fiercely where they are thick.

The body is the foundation on which the qi unfolds, but the body should not be swayed by the qi...

Following the oral formula, he sends the energy of his dantian on his breath, and his four limbs and hundred bones overflow with strength.

A warm heat rises and warms his body, and a haze forms over Cheonyeong's shoulders, distorting the space.

"Ugh."

Yongcheon, who was by his side to guard him, groans without realizing it at the pressure that seems to crush his body.

What on earth.

It was a first for Yongcheon too.

After leaving the Tang Family's estate, he had watched Cheonyeong circulate his energy every dawn, but it was the first time he had seen him operate this much internal energy.

"Keuk, damn it."

Although he tried to endure it, Yongcheon, who found it difficult to even breathe in the energy that filled the lodging, slips outside.

"Hoo-ah... amazing. What on earth has this punk achieved?"

Even the Green Warrior Unit outside the lodging seemed to have felt Cheonyeong's energy and were glancing at him with surprised expressions.

But no one there was afraid. Rather, their faces were happy. At the fact that their family head possessed such strong power.

And amidst everyone's admiration, Cheonyeong was gradually reaching a state of selflessness.

Let it flow, but do not try to control it by force. Just as nature is.

The rapids must be allowed to flow as they are.

If the dam bursts, it bursts, and if a new waterway is created, it is created.

Just let it flow.

But he had to borrow it.

That power...

"Heup!"

A sudden stop in his breath.

Flash!

At the same time, a bright light bursts out from his opened eyes with a hot heat.

Cheonyeong slowly lowers his hands, which he had pulled to his chest as if making a half-palm strike, and presses them on the floor.

Koo-woo-woo...

The floor is crushed by his light touch.

Kudeudeudeuk.

The ground trembles finely, and a low noise as if a huge beast were growling echoes from within.

"Hoo."

Cheonyeong takes a long, deep breath with his hands on the ground.

The tense Yongcheon and the Green Warrior Unit also swallow dryly, looking at the lodging.

The ground trembled.

It was a vibration that not only Yongcheon but all the warriors of the Green Warrior Unit had felt. At just a light press of his hand.

"Ugh-cha."

Cheonyeong gets up with a somewhat refreshed expression. Then he moves his head, arms, and legs to loosen his stiff joints.

U-du-duk, u-du-duk.

How long had he been sitting?

As his joints feel refreshed and flexibility returns to his body, Cheonyeong goes outside, looks at Yongcheon, and grins.

"Was there a sound of a large drum?"

"Not yet."

"Really? Then let's go."

At Cheonyeong's words, Yongcheon puts strength in his eyes and shouts.

"Green Warrior Unit! Pack your things and move out!"

"Yes!"

The Green Warrior Unit lines up on Cheonyeong's left and right, walking with their bodies tense as if they were stiff, and guarding the surroundings.

Since they had passed the Taoist gate of the Blue Green Sect, they wouldn't have to worry about anyone's attack.

And unlike them, Cheonyeong walks leisurely with his hands behind his back, as if he didn't care.

If someone had seen him from afar, they would have said he looked like the son of a rich family who had come to tour Blue Green Mountain in good clothes, not a martial artist participating in the Assembly of Elders.

* * *

Ppudeudeuk.

The martial arts competition ground prepared in the forest where old pine trees stretched straight.

The young master of the Heungmun Hall, Yuk Geumuk, grinds his teeth, glaring at one place.

Because his opponent had not yet arrived.

Although he had set out late, he had come out first, and he had already been waiting for a long time.

Even considering that the mountain sun rises late, it was a time when it had peeked over the mountain...

"You damn punk."

The target of his curse was none other than his opponent, Tang Cheonyeong.

The Thirteen Dragons of Sicheon. He had heard the name quite a lot.

But for Yuk Geumuk, who had been out at the designated preliminary martial arts competition ground for a long time, he was just annoying.

It was almost the hour of the snake. But he hadn't even shown his face.

How important is a time promise to a martial artist, but a punk who doesn't even have that basic quality is one of the Thirteen Dragons? He had obtained a name that even he hadn't?

Come to think of it, most of the rumors about him were things he couldn't understand.

Did he say he had crushed a group made of Unorthodox Faction ruffians with five family members? Did he say he had kicked out the merchant association that had been controlling Ganyang?

It must be a false rumor.

It was greatly exaggerated. Weren't the rumors of the world usually like that?

The story with the Lee family is the same.

He found out that he had vilely held the second son of the Lee family, a troublemaker, as a prisoner. What parent wouldn't bow their head to an opponent who held their son's life in their hands?

He must have threatened to kill him and obtained the Ongjin Ferry.

It was surely luck. There was nothing that punk had achieved that wasn't luck. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

In the meantime, didn't he say that the family head of a rural sect in a corner of the countryside had declared himself to be between the Orthodox and Unorthodox?

What a joke.

Was it because of the annoyance created by the wait?

In Yuk Geumuk's mind, Cheonyeong was changing into a snake punk wearing the mask of a dragon.

"Hmm, Family Head Tang is late... shouldn't we go and call him?"

"That won't do."

"..."

"The Blue Green Sect will not interfere in this match. If he does not appear by the time the sound of the large drum ends, it will be enough to treat it as a disqualification loss."

"I understand, senior brother."

Gwangmun coldly cuts off his junior brother's words, who was worried that Cheonyeong might not appear.

Doo-woo-woong!

The drum sounds. It was the drumbeat announcing the first match of the Assembly of Elders.

Woo-woo-woong!

The resonance echoes through the valley and gradually fades.

"Ha ha! Taoist masters. It seems that punk named Tang something has gotten scared and gone down the mountain."

Gwangmun sighs and says at Yuk Geumuk's words.

"The resonance has not completely ended yet."

"Heung! Well, how much is left?"

"..."

"By the way, what a pity for the Taoist masters. It would have been a chance to witness the martial arts of others besides the Blue Green Sect. It seems I will have to prepare for the next match with a bye."

It seemed it would be as Yuk Geumuk said. The sound of the drum was now so faint that it could barely be heard.

"Phew! I barely made it before the drum sound ended."

Gwangmun turns his head at the voice of Cheonyeong, who had just entered the martial arts competition ground.

"Ah, it seems you were out early. I'm sorry. My steps are slow, so please understand."

Although Cheonyeong smiles and apologizes, there was no way Yuk Geumuk would be in a good mood.

Although he was apologizing, where on earth did that look like the attitude of a late person? He didn't seem to have hurried at all.

"Damn it! Taoist! What are you going to do? The drum sound has already ended! How can I face a punk who can't even keep a time promise?"

Cheonyeong indifferently looks at Yuk Geumuk, who is shouting at Gwangmun.

My goodness, what an angry punk. Anger is the root of all diseases. Fine, I'm not that kind of person, but I'll apologize one more time.

"I'm sorry."

"Heung! Do you even know what you're sorry for? You reckless punk! They say you have no father, so it seems you haven't even learned proper home education."

As Cheonyeong bows his head, Yuk Geumuk, who had become spirited, speaks down to him and scolds him.

Hah, what did you just say?

To a poor punk who lost his parents early and has no one to rely on, what did you say about home education?

A slight anger welled up.

It wasn't even past the martial arts competition time, but if the words coming at him were like this.

"My goodness, your temper is like a horned colt."

"What?"

"And if you have ears, listen."

"What?"

"Listen."

"..."

"Woong, woong-woong, woo-woo-woong. How is it? You can hear it, right? The drum sound is still there. No way? Is your hearing not very good? My goodness, did you have some kind of accident? Or did you get presbycusis at a young age?"

"What! You punk!"

"Still, your voice is loud. That's good, the sound of the large drum is nothing compared to it."

"Th-this!"

"This is what you call arriving just in time. I don't waste even a moment of time."

As Cheonyeong openly teases and provokes him, Yuk Geumuk's face turns bright red as if it would burst.

Why did you have to provoke a person who was just standing there? A punk who can't even win with words.

"Young Master! It's a provocation. Didn't they say he was cunning? He's trying to make you careless. Take a deep breath and regain your composure."

The head of his entourage hastily calms Yuk Geumuk, who was even trembling with anger.

"Ugh, hoo... hoo-ah-ah."

As if he thought those words were right, Yuk Geumuk calms his ragged breath.

Of course, to Cheonyeong, it was just pathetic.

Provocation? Why would I?

You started it first.

"Stop! Both of you, stop it. I will not tolerate excessive language before the match."

Gwangmun looks back and forth between Cheonyeong and Yuk Geumuk and gives a warning.

This punk is also funny. He should have given that warning earlier. The war of words has already ended and it's in a lull. Anyway, there's not a single corner of him that I like. From the management of the tournament.

"Anyway, since Family Head Tang arrived before the drum sound completely disappeared, we will begin the martial arts competition. Both of you, please take your places."

"Ah, wait."

"What is it?"

As Cheonyeong raises his hand and delays the martial arts competition, Gwangmun looks at him with an unpleasant expression.

"Can an outsider observe?"

"..."

"It seems that person is not an attendant of the young master who looks like a burning sweet potato."

The one Cheonyeong pointed to with his finger was one of the five people behind Yuk Geumuk.

"It doesn't matter. Observation is free."

"Ah! I see. Then one more thing!"

"What now?"

"No, this time I'm not asking you, I'm asking my opponent."

Cheonyeong takes his eyes off Gwangmun and looks at Yuk Geumuk.

"Are those four all your family members, excluding that punk?"

"Are they four?"

"Hmm, then did you send them somewhere else?"

"That's obvious! I can beat a punk like you anytime, so I have to check out the other opponents in advance. Don't you even know that much!"

"Young Master!"

"Tch! Hoo, hoo."

Yuk Geumuk, who had shouted, is pointed out again and calms his breath.

A burning sweet potato. Although his temper is terrible, he's kind.

Doesn't he answer well?

By the way, did he say that his family members went somewhere else to check out the next opponents?

What a good thing. I was going to check if there were any Jinkagu punks among the participants and their family members.

Excluding the Blue Green Sect Taoist punk, six including the burning sweet potato.

"It'll be over soon."

Cheonyeong grins and steps in front of Yuk Geumuk.

The Tang Family's Departure from the World