Deep in the night, in the dimly lit Blue Green Sect's Upper Hall.

A secret conversation was taking place in a clandestine meeting, relying on a single candle.

"Senior brother, what did you think?"

"Hmm."

At Ilhae's question, Il-u frowned deeply.

"What about you?"

"I... did not see."

Although he had asked back without answering, Ilhae answered readily.

He did not see.

The object was not specified, so it was a statement that contained many meanings.

But one thing was certain.

Who his words were referring to.

The young family head of the Tang Family's estate, Tang Cheonyeong.

Even though he was a warrior who had gained a high reputation as the Blue Cloud Sword and an elder of the Blue Green Sect, Ilhae could not accurately gauge his skills.

Although it could be seen as an excessive evaluation at first glance, Il-u nodded calmly.

Because Tang Cheonyeong's skills were truly at a surprising level.

To some, it would look like cruel violence, but it was impossible without being strong. The fact that he had learned such martial arts at that age was truly admirable.

"It was a peculiar martial art."

"I felt it too. It was a strange power. It was the first time I had seen such an energy art. It didn't feel like the internal energy was being emitted, but rather like it was staying in his hand."

"Hmm."

"It will be a huge obstacle to Yeon-i's victory."

"That would be so."

Il-u nodded repeatedly.

"He is as cunning as his nickname. Seeing that he has hidden his skills until now."

"Hmm."

"I am concerned. Whether he is just cunning, or if he really has something outstanding."

"Hmm."

"Sect Leader, what should we do?"

"What do you mean?"

"We can't just leave it like this, can we?"

"What?"

"If Yeon-i were to lose by any chance..."

At Ilhae's words, Il-u's face contorted.

If Yeon-i were to lose?

We can't just leave it like this?

How could he not know what he was trying to say, but he was worried.

For Yu Seongyeon, he had changed the preliminary matchups and manipulated the drawing of the bye.

It was already a problem that he had secretly passed on his enlightenment, skipping the etiquette of master and disciple, but he had even made him take the Okryeongdan, which had been passed down only to the sect leaders of the Blue Green Sect.

Is that all?

He had examined all the martial arts used by the participants in the preliminaries and secretly passed them on, so that Yu Seongyeon could compete in the main tournament in an advantageous position.

It was something that should not have been involved in the affairs of young warriors, but it was something he had done, rationalizing that it was all for the Blue Green Sect.

Even though he had already crossed the line long ago, he was engulfed in worry.

Is it right?

To harm Tang Cheonyeong and make Yu Seongyeon the winner, as Ilhae said.

The original meaning of the Assembly of Elders had faded, and as a cultivator, he had already violated the Tao, so his decades of merit were no different from a sandcastle that had collapsed.

Tang Cheonyeong.

He kept catching his eye.

His appearance, stained with Jeokseong's blood and smiling wickedly.

But in Il-u's eyes, he saw the fierceness contained in that wickedness.

What was he like?

Thanks to a brief interest, he knew his past.

The son of the fallen Mandeok Estate.

But he stood up on his own, founded the Tang Family's estate, and drove out the ruffian group called the Yin Hand Chamber...

Did someone help him?

Like they were doing for Yu Seongyeon now?

The desire to do anything for one's child would be the same for all parents and masters in the world. Therefore, they always worry. What effect their help will have on their disciple's future.

He was the same.

He had even urged the hesitant and worried Yu Seongyeon to draw a bye in the preliminaries.

Because he believed that was the way to help his disciple as a master.

It was a foolish act, but at that time, it was as if something had covered his eyes.

Perhaps he had made a child who could stand on his own walk the wrong path with his own greed for the sake of the Blue Green Sect?

Perhaps the wise men of the past had already found the answers to such worries, and had created traditions and made them live by rules? Was that why the elders had opposed his will?

Because they knew that it was right to let them make their own way rather than to pave the way for them.

The worries he had put off poured out and plunged Il-u into agony.

Perhaps what he should have done was to find the answers to these unanswered worries and pass them on to the future generations?

"Immeasurable Life Buddha, Immeasurable Life Buddha."

Il-u closes his eyes, muttering the Taoist greeting.

Ilhae was just frustrated.

"Sect Leader. Please say something..."

Ilhae urged, and Il-u, who had come through a long and long period of thought, said in a low voice.

"Junior brother."

"Yes?"

"I don't think this is right anymore."

"Pardon? What do you mean?"

"I will not say that we should reveal what we have done wrong. But we must stop. Although it is true that we have crossed the line, blinded by greed, we must stop when we know we are wrong."

"Sect Leader!"

"Junior brother, we must not go any further. It is not right to harm a person for the sake of a goal."

"But this is all for the hundred-year plan of the Blue Green Sect..."

"Immeasurable Life Buddha, Immeasurable Life Buddha."

At Il-u's muttered Taoist greeting with his eyes closed, Ilhae knew that no more words would be of any use.

"That child, he was taking revenge for his father. It seems he found out today. He must be in mental anguish. Leave him be. Let's trust Yeon-i. Even if we don't help him anymore, Yeon-i will get through it well."

"Senior brother."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"Not at all. I will take my leave now."

Ilhae bows politely and leaves the lodging.

Il-u, who was looking at the candle that was burning to the end and flickering precariously, could not help but feel sorry.

Everything had stemmed from his own greed.

What fault did Ilhae have?

He had just offered an alternative to his worries, and it was he who had chosen. It was also he who had pushed forward, blinded by ambition and not knowing that it was wrong.

But now, to say that he was wrong and to slip away...

"Immeasurable Life Buddha, I have cultivated the Tao in vain. I have learned in vain. To have committed a wrong that would still trap me in agony. I have disgraced the name of the Blue Green Sect."

A low Taoist greeting and muttering filled the room.

***

At that time, at the lodging where the Tang Family's estate was staying.

Although the match had ended in victory, there was no celebratory toast like the day before.

Because Cheonyeong had not said anything, a heavy atmosphere had continued.

He felt terrible.

He didn't know if it was because of the grudge he couldn't repay cleanly, or if he was disappointed that his relationship with the Ghost Hand had been strained.

Even those who had been using the Tang Family's estate's lodging as their own for the past few days could not open their mouths.

Because for some reason, the air around Cheonyeong seemed to press down heavily on the surroundings, refusing to be approached.

[Baekta-nim.]

"...?"

Just as only silence filled the air, Lee Cheongik, who could not bear it any longer, called Baekta. He had used telepathy in case speaking out loud would upset Cheonyeong.

[Please say something.]

[What should I say?]

[Then are you just going to stay like this? I feel like I'm going to suffocate.]

[You son of a bitch! You were resting just fine, panting! And do you think I have some special talent?]

[You're better than us.]

[Shut up! Have you ever been hit by that punk? Huh?! Why do you keep talking to me when you don't even know anything?]

[I have been hit.]

[...Ah!]

That's right.

Lee Cheongik was before him.

But that made him even more angry.

[Then, you know how much it hurts to be hit by him, and you're pushing me into a corner?]

[A corner? What are you talking about?]

[If it's not a corner, then what is it? Look at that atmosphere. It's like he'll kill anyone who even breathes next to him!]

[Heh! No way, are you scared? The one who is called the Beggar Dragon of the Beggars' Sect?]

[You...! Then you! You're the Lee Family's Sword Dragon! One of the Twelve Dragons of Sicheon, and now considered the leader!]

The angry Baekta vents his frustration, but Lee Cheongik didn't seem to care at all.

[Hey, are Sicheon and the world the same?]

[Shut up! That punk Cheonyeong's fist is fair to everyone!]

[I'm disappointed, I'm disappointed.]

Lee Cheongik shook his head without a word.

Just then.

[Baekta-nim.]

The Black Net Saber, Hwang Jeongmun, sent a telepathic message.

[Shut up! You bastard! If you want to do it, you do it!]

Baekta shouted silently without even listening. Hwang Jeongmun, who had suddenly been cursed at with informal speech, felt unfairly wronged.

What did I do... I just called his name.

"Um, by the way, where did the Vice-Family Head and Brother Gwak go?"

Lee Saek, who had been groaning and silent the whole time, asked in a whisper.

"Huh?"

Come to think of it, he hadn't seen them for a while.

In fact, to comfort Cheonyeong, wasn't Yongcheon, who was his family member and friend, more suitable than him, who was a step removed?

"I saw the two of them go somewhere earlier."

As Go Yeonggil answered, Baekta turned his head sharply.

"Where?"

"Well, I don't know."

Just as Go Yeonggil was tilting his head and speaking.

"Family Head! Family Head!"

Yongcheon burst through the door, his voice as large as his body echoing through the lodging.

On each of his shoulders was a large liquor jar.

"I brought some side dishes too."

In Gwak Wolhyeop's hands was a bundle so heavy that it was sagging to the ground.

"Huh? Why are your gazes like that?"

"Ah, that's..."

At Yongcheon's question, everyone glances at Cheonyeong as if watching his expression.

But there was no way the clueless Yongcheon would understand the meaning.

"Come on, everyone, come here. Phew, I went all the way down the mountain to get this."

"..."

"What are you doing? I said come here."

At Yongcheon's words, starting with Baekta, one by one, they hesitantly gathered around the liquor jar and sat down.

"Family Head!"

At Yongcheon's call, Cheonyeong turns his head and looks at him.

"You won, so why are you so down? It's the semi-finals now, right?"

"..."

"Wow, really, the semi-finals. Our family head is really amazing. The family members and the people of Ganyang will be so happy. Right?"

Cheonyeong smirks at Yongcheon's grinning face.

"Yeah."

"Then what's the problem? Let's have a drink! We should celebrate."

"..."

"And it's good to forget in the liquor, right? Whatever it is."

At Yongcheon's smile, Cheonyeong's gaze changes.

Does this bastard even know how he's feeling right now?

There's no way he knows.

Because Yongcheon is a person who doesn't have a single bit of that kind of sense.

But.

"Yeah, let's drink."

Thanks to that, Cheonyeong, who had momentarily shaken off the worries in his head, joined the drinking party.

A pleasant drinking party soon followed.

"I got hit so hard then. Phew, you guys really can't imagine."

It was Yongcheon who led the atmosphere of the drinking party, which had started in a somewhat awkward situation.

He was a very good Vice-Family Head.

Thanks to that, the people who sat at the drinking party that night treated each other without reservation, and soon forgot their age and status and became friends.

As the atmosphere ripened with the liquor they had drunk all night, and one by one they got drunk.

"It'll be hard for an old man to join in."

No Gwanyeong, who was standing outside the door, smiled bitterly.

He had come to say goodbye.

Because he felt he had to soothe the disappointment of Cheonyeong's words that he would see him as an enemy when they met again.

Although Cheonyeong had asked for help in the fight against the assassins who might have infiltrated the Blue Green Sect, it was no longer possible.

Because Jeokseong's condition was worse than he had thought, and he had to return to the Blue Serpent Sect.

And he had to stop the sect leader.

At least until the Assembly of Elders was over and the Tang Family's estate returned to Ganyang.

If they were going to fight anyway, wouldn't a head-on confrontation be better?

For both himself and him.

"You punk, this is my last consideration for you, whom I've taken a liking to."

No Gwanyeong, who was looking at the closed door of the lodging, looked at the liquor bottle in his hand and said.

"The liquor... I'll have to drink it alone."

No Gwanyeong's steps, as he walked into the darkness so as not to disturb the pleasant time, were somehow heavy.

And the liquor... was bitter.

(End of Chapter)