"Snake eyes... heh heh, you must be talking about the young master."

No Gwanyeong laughed, recalling Jeokseong's face.

"But it's not him."

"It's not?"

"Of course. The young master can't give me orders."

"Didn't you say you were an elder?"

"Just because I'm an elder doesn't mean I have to listen to the young master's orders. Even the sect leader doesn't order me around carelessly. Unless it's a request."

"...What kind of system is that?"

Cheonyeong had to swallow the words 'a mess'. In case the scary old man got scary angry with a scary expression.

"Yes, it's a mess."

"Huh?"

"It's all over your face."

"I'm sorry."

"What for? It's the truth."

"You're so calm." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"It's because I'm the Ghost Hand."

"Your pride is beyond words."

"Heh heh. Because I'm worth it."

No Gwanyeong chuckled as if he found Cheonyeong's way of speaking amusing.

"That's the martial world."

"The martial world?"

"You know it well, don't you? That strength is justice, law, and rules."

It was a simple definition.

But Cheonyeong nodded in agreement. Because there were no words that could evaluate the martial world more accurately.

Cheonyeong, who had been silently nodding, asked.

"Then if you weren't hired by the young master, why did you attack?"

"Attack? Who?"

You, you. And just a moment ago.

As Cheonyeong glared at him with such eyes, No Gwanyeong said with a serious expression.

"It was a greeting."

"A greeting?"

"Yes, because I was so happy to see you. Since you weren't showing your true skills in the match, I was curious, so it was a two-for-one deal."

At No Gwanyeong's words, Cheonyeong frowned deeply.

A two-for-one deal?

After trying to kill a person.

If you were happy to see me twice, you would have put me in a coffin.

"By the way, you're truly amazing."

"..."

"Was it about a year and a half ago that I first saw you?"

"It was."

Cheonyeong answered grumpily, his anger not yet subsided.

"My goodness, what on earth did you eat in that short time to change so much?"

"I ate everything that's good for the body. Are you satisfied?"

It was true.

Wasn't the Tang Family's estate a place that had to grow faster than anywhere else?

Both himself and his family members.

Because if they didn't have strength, they would be eaten by numerous predators.

So they ate medicinal herbs as side dishes for breakfast and dinner.

Because they weren't skilled enough to make elixirs yet, they had to eat them raw.

"No way, can you get this strong just by eating? That's ridiculous. You must have had a great enlightenment."

"You could set up a fortune-telling stall."

"Yes, yes. I should think about that path too. Heh heh heh!"

"Don't think you can get away with it with a laugh. You see here? Here!"

"Aigoo, just a scratch? I was stabbed. I almost got a hole in my body. Look here!"

"Heh!"

It was absurd. He wasn't a child, but he was bragging about his wounds.

"A person with such a great name attacked from behind... cowardly."

"My goodness, I said it was a greeting. And it's not for you to talk about cowardice."

"What?"

"You, who only uses hidden weapons."

"What's wrong with hidden weapons!"

"Heh heh, you're getting worked up. Anyway, sit down. Come here."

"I'm young, so my knees are strong. You should sit, brother. Your joints must be aching because you're old."

"Heh heh, well then, stand."

No Gwanyeong laughed at the sulking Cheonyeong and sat on a nearby rock.

"There were many rumors that the Ganyang Flood Dragon was an empty name... After the Assembly of Elders is over, everyone will see you in a new light."

At No Gwanyeong's words, the corner of Cheonyeong's eye twitches.

You son of a bitch!

That punk, and this old man.

Why does everyone keep calling me a Flood Dragon? It's so annoying.

Anger is slowly rising.

But he didn't show his anger openly.

Wasn't indiscriminately showing anger something that only a low-level person who didn't know their place would do?

He knew his place.

So even if he was angry, he had to be selective. Depending on the opponent.

"Hey, please refrain from using the word 'Flood Dragon' to someone who has a complex about their name."

"Huh? You had a complex? It's not a bad meaning."

"It's not a good meaning either, is it?"

"My goodness, what's so great about a title..."

It is a big deal.

Just hearing the character 'gyo' (cunning) makes me angry because it reminds me of my past life as an assassin.

As Cheonyeong glared at him with slanted eyes, No Gwanyeong laughed and waved his hands.

"Look at that glare. Alright, alright. If it were someone else, I would have gouged out their eyes and more, but I'll make a special exception for you. And I won't say the word 'Flood Dragon'. Then how about 'great serpent'?"

"Can you please stop?"

"Heh heh, your reactions are so amusing."

"Yes, thank you!"

"Heh heh."

No Gwanyeong laughed at Cheonyeong, who answered with a pout, and then asked.

"But the Assembly of Elders, what on earth brought you here?"

"What do you mean, what brought me here?"

"You weren't particularly greedy for fame, were you?"

"How could I not be? I'm a person who even breathes out of greed."

"Hey, others may not know, but I know you. You're not someone who would care about a title like the winner of the Assembly of Elders. Unless it's money. Or, is it because of the Seventy-Two Faction Sword Manual? If you're greedy for martial arts, you should become my disciple instead."

"Who said I'd be a disciple? I don't want to."

"Heh! This person, do you know what a great opportunity this is?"

"Do I have to know?"

"Of course. There's a cartload of punks waiting for me to extend my hand."

"I'll pass on that cart."

"Oh dear, what a pity. I thought I had found a good disciple in my later years."

No Gwanyeong shakes his head with an exaggeratedly disappointed expression.

Cheonyeong, who had smirked, was silent for a long time, then erased his playful expression and asked.

"By the way, may I ask you one thing?"

"I'll kindly allow it."

"Did Jeokseong help the Yin Hand Chamber during the destruction of the Mandeok Estate?"

At those words, the Ghost Hand frowns.

It was also one of the reasons he had come to see Cheonyeong.

"I found out later that he had received a bribe. After I met you. But I heard he just lent his prestige and name. Well, I can't deny that Lee Ilpyeong grew quickly thanks to that."

"I see. So it means he's not unrelated, right?"

"You could see it that way."

No Gwanyeong nodded as if it were no big deal.

"Then the young master and I are bound by a grudge."

"That's right."

The answer was so easy.

The person who was an elder of the Blue Serpent Sect spoke as if it were someone else's business.

"What would you do if I said I would take revenge?"

"Revenge... I'd have to stop you."

"Then we'd have to fight, even with you, brother."

"That would be so. Even though I'm just staying here for a while, since I have the title of elder, I can't pretend not to see the young master."

At No Gwanyeong's words, Cheonyeong nods.

He had expected it.

He had clearly said earlier that he didn't have to listen to Jeokseong's orders.

And from his words, it was clear that he was in a position where he didn't even have to care about the sect leader's orders.

But even so, he wouldn't be able to pretend not to see the sect leader's blood relative die in front of him.

"Then, we may meet next time on the battlefield with our swords drawn."

"That would be so, if it were in the wild. But isn't this a martial arts competition?"

"Pardon?"

"I can't interfere in a martial arts competition. Even if your fist is filled with a grudge."

At those words, Cheonyeong looks at No Gwanyeong.

"But, please don't kill him. Even though I'm just staying here, he's the son of the person I serve. I can understand the grudge of losing your esteemed father, but since you don't have a direct grudge, can't you show that much mercy?"

"Do I have to?"

"You have to."

"Why? If he hadn't stood behind Lee Ilpyeong, the Mandeok Estate might still be as it was."

"That's true. But, if you kill the young master, the Tang Family's estate will not be able to avoid destruction."

"..."

"It's a martial arts competition where a life-and-death agreement was signed, so what's the problem if someone dies?"

"..."

"But problems are made. Just as you were angry at losing your father, the Blue Serpent Sect Leader who lost his son will not stay still. Since he's conscious of the Blue Green Sect, he won't use his son's death as a reason, but he'll entangle the Tang Family's estate with other reasons. He'll try to annihilate it somehow."

No Gwanyeong's words are right.

No matter how fast the Tang Family's estate had grown, it couldn't be compared to the Blue Serpent Sect, which occupied the largest city in Sicheon, Chengdu.

No Gwanyeong had pointed that out.

But why?

Were his words a consideration for the Tang Family's estate?

It seemed that the weight was more on the safety of the Tang Family's estate than on Jeokseong.

"Did you come to tell me that?"

"To see your face after a long time."

"It's an undeserved consideration. Both then and now."

At Cheonyeong's words, No Gwanyeong smiled faintly and said.

"Because I wanted to see you."

"...?"

"I'm curious to see how far you can grow. Because all that's left in my later years, where I have no attachment to anything, is curiosity."

Cheonyeong smirked.

Curiosity.

Then, No Gwanyeong continued.

"Actually, I'm feeling curious right now."

"What kind of curiosity?"

"Why the Assembly of Elders?"

"..."

"You still haven't answered your purpose."

"To win."

"Win? Heh heh, a passing dog would laugh."

"It's true. I have a reason. For various reasons."

"Alright, let's just say that. If you don't want to say it, then don't. After I went to the trouble of thinking for you. Tsk!"

Cheonyeong stares at No Gwanyeong, who is making a displeased expression.

A person who has aged as much as he has is sulking like a child.

It's true, I really plan to win and go back.

To repay the support of the people of Ganyang, make some money, and on top of that, take a pile of martial arts.

But Cheonyeong, who had thought for a moment, sighed and quietly brought up the more fundamental reason for his trip to the Blue Green Sect.

Because he didn't think he would believe him even if he said again that winning was his purpose, and maybe he could be of help.

"It's because nothing is certain yet."

"Huh? What? What's not certain?"

At his appearance, showing interest as if he had never been sulking, Cheonyeong let out a small laugh.

"Actually, it seems there was a request at the Blue Green Sect."

"What? An assassin? Really?"

"It's not even certain who the target of the request is, or if they have even infiltrated."

"..."

"Unfortunately, I haven't even caught a tail yet."

"It means there might not be one. That's why you couldn't inform the Blue Green Sect."

"I can't pour cold water on someone else's feast."

"Hmm."

No Gwanyeong, who had finally understood Cheonyeong's purpose for participating in the Assembly of Elders, nods.

But for what reason...

Weren't the Blue Green Sect and the Tang Family's estate completely unrelated? There would be no reason to help.

"By any chance, have you had a bad relationship with those assassins?"

"Your insight is extraordinary."

"I'm that kind of person."

"Heh."

At his ready admission, Cheonyeong shook his head and said.

"It's a rather long bad relationship."

"Hmph."

"By any chance, could you look into it?"

"What?"

"Whether there are any who have secretly infiltrated the Blue Green Sect, or if there are any among the current participants of the Assembly of Elders who are suspicious."

"Why should I?"

"Pardon?"

"Although I came as a guest, I'm not on good terms with the Blue Green Sect. If an assassin causes a disturbance, it's something to be happy about. Why should I."

"Then I can't help it."

"But!"

"...?"

"Since it's your request, I'll pay attention."

It was permission.

Cheonyeong smiled brightly at No Gwanyeong, who answered with a wink.

The more hands, the better right now.

And if that hand is the Ghost Hand's, even better.

"Thank you, brother."

"Do you express gratitude with words?"

"No way? You want money?"

"Where would I use money? I heard there's a brewery at the Tang Family's estate."

"...?!"

"I'll look forward to some good liquor."

"I'll have the best one prepared."

"Heh heh, you're really to my liking. You're quite quick-witted."

No Gwanyeong laughed happily.

And Cheonyeong, who was looking at his laughter, also smiled.

The Ghost Hand.

He might be terrifying to some, but to Cheonyeong, he was a person who made him feel like he wanted to lean on him.

Like a rock on the roadside that you meet while trudging along a long road.

He didn't know the reason.

Well, what reason is there for being drawn to someone?

A rock is just something you rest on for a while and then leave.

Damn it! He's making my heart unnecessarily warm.

For a master of the Unorthodox Faction.

(End of Chapter)