That night.

The lodging of the Tang Family's estate, located a little away from the Taoist temple, was bustling with people.

"Come on, let's have a drink!"

Baekta, who came with a bottle of liquor and a smile, as if he didn't care about tomorrow's match.

Even though the outsiders participating in the match were given freedom, to drink openly in a Taoist temple.

"Hey, don't you see the characters on that pillar?"

"What?"

Even though Cheonyeong pointed it out with his finger, Baekta didn't care.

Quietness and Solemnity.

It meant to maintain quietness and solemnity.

"What kind of quietness is there at a feast? The Blue Green Sect will understand. Hey, Cheongik, come here! Have a drink!"

"I'll just have some side dishes. I'm trying to maintain my best condition in case I meet the Family Head tomorrow."

"What? Tsk tsk, do you think you can win by doing that?"

"..."

"That's a monster. A monster. I know because I've been hit by him."

"Well, that's true, but I'll do my best."

"Well, believing is free. Since you might meet him, I'll pray for your soul in advance."

"Hey, damn it! When you say it like that, it feels like I'll really meet him tomorrow!"

"So drink. Comfortably."

"I'm not drinking!"

"You'll lose anyway."

"I said I'm not drinking!"

Just as Baekta and Lee Cheongik were bickering.

"Hahaha! Then may I have that cup of liquor?"

It was the Black Net Saber, Hwang Jeongmun.

Although the awkwardness was gone thanks to him, Cheonyeong asked with an incredulous expression.

"Why on earth are you here?"

"Because it was wide open."

"What?"

"The Family Head said it, didn't he? That the gates of the Tang Family's estate are always wide open."

Hwang Jeongmun answered with a smile as if it were natural at Cheonyeong's words.

What a strange bastard.

Even though he lost...

And he didn't seem to mind at all, even though he was speaking informally.

"Come on, since I don't have a match anyway, let's drink until our noses are crooked."

"Oh! This person, he's a friend with a good character."

"You praise me too much. I've come on a good day. I even got to meet the Lee Family's Sword Dragon and Baekta-nim."

"It's a pity. To think your first opponent was that friend."

"That's what I'm saying. My pride was so hurt. I thought I had gained some fame, but what is Sweeping the Army? Sweeping the Army."

Hwang Jeongmun pouts and grumbles.

"Do you think that's just Sweeping the Army? What's contained in it is different from the start..."

"Oh, you saw? As expected of Baekta-nim. It's not what martial art you use that's important, but who uses it... I've had my eyes opened today."

"Oh! To know that already. For an Unorthodox Faction member, you're a pretty likable friend. Let's be friends."

"Hahaha! If you do that, I couldn't ask for more. That's right. What does it matter if you're from the Unorthodox Faction or the Orthodox Faction? It's just a distinction."

"Of course, of course. The Family Head over there is also between the Orthodox and Unorthodox."

"Yes, I've heard. His spirit is indeed great. To stand alone without relying on any place, even though it hasn't been long since he founded his family. It's something that would be absolutely impossible if it weren't for Family Head Tang."

"That's amazing. You felt that in just one match?"

"You know ten things by seeing one. Don't they say that a promising tree is different from the sprout? When I got hit with a thud earlier... wow! I thought, this person is someone I can't even compare to."

"It's not just that. I've known that friend for quite a long time..."

Oh my, that chatterbox.

He's starting again.

He'll surely say something about a story he heard somewhere.

Cheonyeong, who was smiling wryly at Baekta, turned his gaze to Hwang Jeongmun.

The other punks were the same, but that punk was a really strange bastard.

This is, he just praises whenever he opens his mouth.

Does that make sense?

It's the Nine Dragons Faction, the leader of the Sicheon Unorthodox Faction.

And he was a warrior who had always been counted among the top three of the Twelve Dragons of Sicheon.

In terms of name value alone, he was not inferior to Baekta.

Nevertheless, Hwang Jeongmun was not arrogant or wrinkled, and he did not even dwell on his defeat.

It was as if he had come to the Blue Green Sect's Assembly of Elders not to win, but to make friends.

"Um, Family Head. By the way, are you going to keep the Vice-Family Head like that?"

In the boisterous atmosphere created by the two punks talking loudly, Lee Cheongik asks Cheonyeong discreetly.

He was worried about Yongcheon.

Kneeling in a corner of the lodging with his hands raised.

He was being punished.

And he was holding a heavy rock in each hand.

Next to him, the three punks, Gwak, Lee, and Go, were fidgeting and just watching Cheonyeong's expression.

"What? Why?"

"It's a good day, and there's also the Vice-Family Head's dignity..."

"Dignity? So what?"

"What will people think..."

"Mind your own business. It's a family matter."

Lee Cheongik, whose words were cut off in a single stroke, smiled wryly.

The Vice-Family Head's dignity?

Does he even know what that punk did?

Did I ask for much?

I just told him to watch.

Not to run around busily and secretly observe like the Green Warrior Unit, but just to sit in the audience seats and observe the match.

A whopping eleven people.

Excluding Yang Seonhwa, who had drawn a bye, and himself, a total of nine people had shown off their martial arts.

Yes, let's exclude that punk named Yu Seongyeon too.

Because he didn't show anything.

The remaining eight had fought fiercely, so he should have seen something, but he said he hadn't seen anything.

Because he was busy eating and drinking the liquor and side dishes given by those three punks who considered Yongcheon their master. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

No matter how good the food is.

How can you not see anything?

Thanks to that, the martial arts that would have become the property of the Tang Family's estate were scattered in the air.

Damn punk.

"Family Head, I don't know what the Vice-Family Head did wrong, but please don't."

"Yeah! That's enough. Why are you bothering the Vice-Family Head for no reason?"

"Boo-boo-boo!"

Baekta helped Lee Cheongik, and Hwang Jeongmun, who was already tipsy, booed.

These punks.

And since when were you so close to him, to be 'boo-boo-boo'ing!?

Who asked you to come?

They came on their own and started a drinking party...

Why are they meddling in someone else's family affairs?

But since everyone kept doing it, he couldn't not ask.

"Yongcheon."

"Huh? No! Yes, Family Head!"

"Is it hard?"

"...A little?"

"Do you want to stop?"

"Pardon?"

"Do you want to stop being punished and go back to the Tang Family's estate?"

"To the Tang Family's estate?"

"Yeah. You can't even do what you're told properly, so what's the point of being here?"

"..."

"It's not a good sight for the Vice-Family Head to be punished like a child in front of people. Just pack your things and go to the Tang Family's estate."

"Ah, no, that's."

"Go."

Yongcheon, who had been thinking for a moment at Cheonyeong's words, shook his head vigorously.

Sanghui had told him to serve him well.

He had repeatedly said until just before he left that since the Family Head trusted him the most, he had to serve him with all his heart.

But what if he gets kicked out and goes to the Tang Family's estate before the match is even over?

"I will be punished."

"It's hard, just go."

"It's not hard at all!"

"Really?"

"Yes! Family Head!"

"Then, do as you please. You all saw, right? He said he's fine."

Cheonyeong lost interest as if he had never asked.

"Tsk tsk, what a temper. If you ask like that, who would answer properly? It's bullying, bullying."

"Hmm, I'm seeing him in a new light. I don't know the reason, but my first impression is fading a lot."

Baekta and Hwang Jeongmun openly criticize Cheonyeong. Lee Cheongik also sticks by their side and nods.

And Gwak-i-go is glaring at him as if he's going to eat him.

Those bastards?

Have they already forgotten the memory of being beaten?

"I know that punk well... his personality is very..."

Baekta quietly badmouthed him, and Hwang Jeongmun and Lee Cheongik nodded in agreement.

It was frustrating to watch.

He couldn't even argue that Yongcheon had caused a great loss to the Tang Family's estate by blowing away eight martial arts.

"You son of a bitch!"

Cheonyeong, who couldn't listen anymore, stood up abruptly, and Baekta asked.

"Why? Where are you going?"

"Mind your own business!"

Hah, a sigh escapes him.

He hadn't even found the assassin punks who had infiltrated the Blue Green Sect...

Instead of doing the investigation he was supposed to, what's with the drinking party and badmouthing?

He'd rather not see or hear it.

He felt like he needed some fresh air.

After Cheonyeong angrily kicked the door and went out.

"Look at that, that. He's so mean."

Baekta's badmouthing could be heard faintly from outside the lodging.

Damn bastard.

Without even knowing the situation...

Still, the mountain air is refreshing now that he's outside.

Led by that feeling, his steps soon move away from the lodging.

Living on the summit is not so bad.

The low-lying night clouds feel like fog at his feet.

It's somewhat atmospheric, and it feels like looking down on the world...!

Just as the darkness brought by the moonlight hidden by the clouds was giving a tranquil feeling, Cheonyeong's eyes widened at a chilling sensation on the back of his neck.

K-killing intent?

Feeling his hair stand on end, Cheonyeong quickly bent his head and laid his body to the side.

Swi-ik!

A hand that came out of the darkness grabbed the empty space where Cheonyeong's head had been.

An ambusher?

What on earth?

An attack full of killing intent in the sacred Taoist temple of the Blue Green Sect?

More importantly, why him?

But there was no time to be lost in thought.

The hand that had missed its target opened wide and pursued Cheonyeong.

Damn it!

There was no time to worry about his identity or anything.

Papak!

As he twisted his body, Cheonyeong quickly received the attack.

The hand of darkness exchanged several blows with Cheonyeong's hand.

Pa-pa-pa-pak!

It was dizzying.

The ambusher's hand was changing so fast that it was becoming difficult to block.

And his movements were so quick.

He felt like he was constantly being caught from behind.

If this continues...

Ppudeudeuk!

Samyang, Stomping!

Koo-woong!

The Samyang True Qi, drawn out in one go, gushes out fiercely towards the Yongcheon acupoint on the sole of his foot.

Hidden Form Steps, Flash Retreat!

Cheonyeong, who had created distance in an instant, had a hidden weapon in his hand.

Swae-aek!

As he twisted his body to face the ambusher, a hidden weapon was shot from Cheonyeong's hand.

Ta-da-da-dang!

"H-he blocked it?"

And the ambusher immediately closed the distance and flew at him.

Damn it, I threw it with all my might.

He's not an easy opponent.

And to close the distance to neutralize the hidden weapon.

He's a master.

More than anyone who participated in the match.

Damn it, if this is the case, I have no choice but to draw out all my strength!

Samyang, Body Exchange!

Swi-ik!

Towards the enemy's incoming palm, Cheonyeong forcefully extended his pulled hand.

Jjeo-eo-eong!

The two hands that clashed created a rough collision sound, and both sides retreated at the same time.

"Keuk!"

Not only his palm but also his wrist throbbed.

But for a warrior who uses hidden weapon techniques, retreating is an opportunity!

Jja-reu-reuk!

Cheonyeong added Samyang True Qi to the hidden weapon in his hand.

Punk, try to block this.

This hidden weapon will be different from before.

I'll pierce your whole body!

Even if you block it, it's useless.

I'll throw it to buy time, and then immediately dig in and attack.

Samyang...

But Cheonyeong had to stop without throwing the hidden weapon.

The world was brightly lit by the moonlight that had come out from behind the clouds.

And the identity of the ambusher.

"Keuk, keu-ha-ha-ha! Have you been well?"

"You are?"

The one who greeted him as if he knew him was none other than the Ghost Hand, No Gwanyeong.

"No... brother?"

The one who had told him to call him 'brother' familiarly from now on.

"Yes, it's me."

At his appearance, smiling in greeting, Cheonyeong's face contorted.

"What on earth... are you doing!"

Cheonyeong shouted.

"Hahaha! Are you angry?"

Then am I not angry!

How can I not be angry?

To attack from behind in the dark without any warning, and with killing intent?

"Were you trying to kill me?"

"Brother, calm down first."

"Calm down? Do I look like I can calm down right now?!"

"Haha, this person."

Just as No Gwanyeong let out a hollow laugh at Cheonyeong's angry expression.

"What's going on!"

Taoists of the Blue Green Sect approached from all sides.

With their swords drawn.

Well, the sound was quite loud.

Because he had struck No Gwanyeong's palm with all his might.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry. I've caused an unnecessary disturbance."

"You are?! Ok-hyeon of the Blue Green Sect greets the great master, Ghost Hand No Gwanyeong."

Ok-hyeon, a first-generation disciple of the Blue Green Sect who was on night patrol, recognized No Gwanyeong and greeted him politely.

"But what brings you here? As far as I know, the lodging of the Blue Serpent Sect is not here."

"I came to see a close friend, and in my joy, I caused a bit of a disturbance."

"A close friend?"

"That's right."

Ok-hyeon glances at Cheonyeong.

It's Tang Cheonyeong, who has advanced to the main tournament.

But a friendship with the Ghost Hand?

"We met after a long time and exchanged a few blows, and it seems it was quite noisy. I'm sorry if I disturbed the peace of the Blue Green Sect."

"Ah, not at all."

Ok-hyeon hastily shook his head at the Ghost Hand's apology.

The opponent is the Ghost Hand.

Who in Sicheon would not know his name?

And although he would be an enemy to be fought in a group if met on the battlefield, wasn't this the Assembly of Elders where there was no distinction between the Orthodox and Unorthodox?

"I would like to continue my conversation with my close friend... would you mind leaving us?"

"Ah!"

At those words, Ok-hyeon nodded and gave an order to his subordinates.

"He is a distinguished guest of our sect. Everyone, sheathe your swords and return to your posts."

"Yes!"

And then.

"Great Master No, it is night. No matter how distinguished a guest you are..."

"Heh heh, I apologize once again. We have exchanged greetings, so there will be no more disturbance."

"Yes."

Ok-hyeon bowed his head and turned away.

Cheonyeong, who had been watching the scene, asked with an incredulous expression.

"A distinguished guest?"

Although his expression and voice were full of sarcasm, No Gwanyeong answered with a smile as if he didn't care.

"I am a distinguished guest. Because I am called one of the Ten Masters of the Sicheon Unorthodox Faction."

"You were invited?"

"No. Do you think the Blue Green Sect would have invited me?"

"Pardon?"

"I just came. I knocked on the door, and they opened it."

"Is that possible?"

"Heh, this person. Have you already forgotten who I am?"

"..."

"I'm an elder of the Blue Serpent Sect."

"Ah!"

Cheonyeong let out an exclamation.

That's right.

He is an elder of the Blue Serpent Sect.

He had enough reason to come to the Assembly of Elders.

But why is he so brazen when he came without an invitation?

If it were me, I would have been offended at being ignored and wouldn't have come.

But more than that, a thought that flashed through Cheonyeong's mind like lightning.

"No way? Did the snake-eyed bastard tell you to do it? To kill me?"

(End of Chapter)