"Owner?"

The middle-aged beggar tilted his head and looked at Cheonyeong and his group.

His physique was like an adult's, but looking at his youthful face... at best, he was probably under twenty?

His untied hair was messy like a wild man's, and what he was wearing... was an animal skin outfit that seemed to be faithful only to the meaning of... covering the important parts.

And isn't the woman in the group wearing the same outfit?

He didn't know what the things they were carrying on their backs were, but to sum it up?

Mountain beggars?

But his expression, his posture... is this perhaps telling me to get lost?

"Well, I'll be."

It's absurd.

No matter how harsh the world is and how the world has entered an era of beggars...

For things that look like beggars to come to the place where they, who are beggars, are staying and suddenly say they are the owners.

This is too much against business ethics.

Moreover, who is he?

He is Nosanggae, the branch chief of the Ganyang County Beggars' Sect.

Nosanggae, who had tilted his head, calmed his bewilderment and said calmly.

"Hey, mountain beg... no, young brother. As far as I know, this place has been without an owner for a long time."

"I know, it's been about seven years."

"Yeah, sev... huh? How do you know that?"

"I told you I'm the owner."

Nosanggae stared blankly at Cheonyeong's calm expression.

It's not surprising.

Just by hearing the rumors, anyone could find out that it had been empty for seven years.

"But it's strange. Is it okay for someone who calls himself the owner to just break his own house's sign like that?"

"It is."

"What?"

"Because it's our house."

"Ah, of course, if that's true, I guess you can. But still, when you named it Mandeok Estate, your ancestors must have put the meaning that the family should protect."

"Heh, what family meaning? The old men put their heads together and made something useless a family motto. It's pathetic. You can see it, can't you? What happened to the reward for helping others with the name Mandeok Estate?"

Cheonyeong said, looking around the manor that was no different from an abandoned house.

At his confident attitude and tone, Nosanggae unknowingly nodded his head.

Now that I hear it, that's right... no!

"But... why have you been speaking informally since a while ago?"

"Then? Should I use honorifics to someone who has occupied someone else's house without permission?"

"Well... no."

That also has a point.

It's not right for them, who have occupied someone else's house at will, to expect honorifics from the owner...

"Damn it! But that's not right! How old do you think I am!"

"How old are you?"

"Forty-two!"

"You've eaten a lot."

"A lot..."

Is that all?

This rude young bastard?

At the sight of Nosanggae, who raised his eyes with that feeling, Cheonyeong carefully looked at his waist.

Five knots.

Five knots.

He didn't know before, but since he had lived as an assassin for a long time, he knows now.

The Beggars' Sect had a very close relationship with assassins.

They were always the chasers, and he was always the one running away.

Anyway, if the Beggars' Sect's system is the same as his memory, six knots is a vice-chief, seven knots is an elder, and eight knots is a branch master.

Five knots is about a disciple of a seven-knot elder?

And judging by the atmosphere, he seems to be about a branch chief.

But most of the branch chief-level beggars in Cheonyeong's memory were four-knot.

"Hmm."

Cheonyeong soon understood.

Well, what kind of place is Sichuan?

The Emei Sect in the south, and the Blue Green Sect in the center.

The two pillars of the Nine Sects, Buddhism and Taoism, are located there.

Is that all?

How many subordinate families have branched out from them, and how many forces such as escort agencies and martial arts schools are there.

But where is the law that says there are only righteous sects in the vast Sichuan Province?

The west is a righteous sect, but in the east, the leaders of the unorthodox sects, the Nine Dragons Sect and the Black Heaven Gate, have established their bases.

Besides that, there are countless small and medium-sized unorthodox sects and back alley delinquents... too many to count.

So how could the Beggars' Sect be any different?

Although Ganyang County is a city that cannot compare to Chengdu, since the territory of the unorthodox sects is located in the eastern region, it is natural for a disciple of about five knots to be the branch chief.

"Anyway, this is our house. Since the owner has returned... will you please leave?"

At Cheonyeong's words, one of Nosanggae's eyes twitched.

The young one speaks informally at the end of every sentence.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"Seventeen?"

"Yeah."

"Ha!"

At Cheonyeong's answer, Nosanggae burst out laughing.

Just seventeen.

A kid who was born yesterday and whose blood hasn't even dried on his head... has he never learned honorifics?

And what's this, is he going to kick me out if I stay?

"Well, I'll be. The owner who hasn't been seen for seven years suddenly appears and asks for his house... I can't just give it to him..."

Nosanggae, who was scratching his head, looked at Cheonyeong and asked.

"But, can you prove that you're the owner?"

"Prove?"

"Of course. You didn't think I'd just believe your words and say, 'Thank you for using it well,' and leave, did you?"

"Hmm..."

At those words, Cheonyeong nodded as if it made sense.

In fact, he had thought about kicking them out.

A five-knot Beggars' Sect branch chief, and around him... one four-knot and six two-knot disciples.

Could it be that there are only that many members of the Beggars' Sect in a place where there is a five-knot branch chief?

There must be at least dozens who haven't returned yet.

Nevertheless, it's worth a fight.

Past martial arts?

I've regained some of it.

But if that's all, would I have this much confidence?

The real thing is the Samyang Divine Art.

This martial art... is so amazing that even though he was still training the first stage of the Samyang Divine Art, the overflowing power in his fists is beyond words.

A five-knot Beggars' Sect member?

Based on past experience... about the level of a pre-meal workout?

Of course, I don't know for sure.

I've been living in the mountains for four years and only training, so there was no one to compare with.

It was just Yongcheon and the kids.

...Shall I try fighting?

Cheonyeong clenched his fist and then quickly released his strength.

Not yet... no.

It's the first day I've returned home.

Moreover, I don't want to be on bad terms with the Beggars' Sect.

It goes without saying that I would win, but haven't I already experienced the tenacity of the beggars while living as an assassin?

Also, even though they are beggars, they are members of the Beggars' Sect, which is no different from a pillar of the righteous sects.

I've set a grand goal of establishing a base in Sichuan and rebuilding my family...

If I beat up the branch chief and his subordinate beggars here?

It will surely become troublesome.

Let's endure it for now.

It's not like I have a grudge with the Beggars' Sect...

"What? You don't have it?"

"...Um."

"A name tag?"

"Umm."

"A house deed?"

"Um."

It's a misunderstanding.

The beggars behind Nosanggae, who misunderstood Cheonyeong's contemplation of whether to beat them up or not as him being at a loss, began to add a word each in bewilderment.

"Ha, I've seen all sorts of crazy people. You're pretending to be the owner without anything?"

"Well, I can't get into a fight with a kid at my age. Hey, kid. I've lived on the streets... so I'll tolerate your informal speech. So, will you please get lost?"

"What? Why? Is it not right to just go? How? Since you're still young, shall I give you a bone-soothing massage with a club to help you grow?"

A bone-soothing massage for growth?

Hmm, the expression is high-class.

Even if they are the same beggars, the Beggars' Sect members seem to be different.

Cheonyeong, who had been contemplating for a long time at the subtle threats of the beggars, nodded and said.

"That's right. I was too hasty in my longing. Without any proof."

"What?"

"I'll go make it. The proof that I'm the owner."

"Proof?"

"Yeah, a name tag, a house deed... etc."

Cheonyeong, who was smiling brightly and backing away, asked Nosanggae at a thought that flashed through his mind.

"By the way, what's your name?"

At that question, Nosanggae's eyes narrowed, and the beggars behind him who had been ignored shouted.

"Hey! You young bastard, you're speaking informally until the end? Is the branch chief your friend?"

"Branch chief-nim, please stay still. I'll teach that young bastard a lesson so he can't talk nonsense anymore."

"Brothers, stay still. I don't know what kind of dog bone rolled in from where, but I'll do it."

The two-knot beggars with good physiques stepped forward, making cracking sounds with their fists.

"Mister, let's stop there. If you lay a hand on our captain, we won't be able to stand it either."

As the atmosphere became menacing, Yongcheon, who was next to him, pushed his large body forward and threatened the beggars.

The children next to him also took a step forward.

As if a fight would break out at any moment, Cheonyeong smiled and stopped them.

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah, tell me."

"Stop it."

"What?"

"I said back off. There's no good in making a useless commotion."

"But..."

"He's not saying anything wrong."

"Kugh. Alright. If that's the captain's will..."

Yongcheon, who had been glaring at the beggars at Cheonyeong's words, stepped back with the children.

"You guys should stop there too. I don't want to make a useless conflict on the first day I've returned."

"What?"

"You young bastard, you're speaking informally until the end."

Unlike Yongcheon, as the beggars were about to pull out their clubs, Cheonyeong smiled brightly and said.

"Mister."

"..."

"Let's not cross the line. If you pull out the club... it'll be difficult for me to just let it go."

"What? This bastard..."

"I said it, didn't I?"

"..."

"I'm the owner here. The head of a family asked for the name of the branch chief of the Beggars' Sect here."

At Cheonyeong's words, the beggars couldn't say anything more.

It wasn't because his words were right.

The one step he took.

That was it.

They couldn't take another step, nor could they completely pull out their clubs.

He's clearly smiling...

A kind of killing intent that they had never felt before lingered around.

The back of their necks prickled with a chilling killing intent, as if their whole bodies would be cut to pieces if they took just one more step.

"Stop, stop and back off."

Nosanggae, who couldn't watch anymore, stopped his subordinate beggars and made them back off.

Then he looked at Cheonyeong with a strange expression.

What the hell?

The killing intent that had filled the air just a moment ago was completely gone.

At the same time as he stepped forward.

There's no way he felt it wrong.

It was definitely killing intent.

Strong and eerie enough to make his subordinates unable to move.

But is the release and withdrawal of such a killing intent so simple?

A seventeen-year-old?

How on earth?

"You made a good judgment. To the Beggars' Sect, a club is no different from a sword, right? If you had pulled it out... well, think about the result yourself. I don't start fights, but I'm not the type to refuse a fight that's been started."

At Cheonyeong's smile, Nosanggae's expression hardened.

"You, you're quite something."

"...Quite something? Could it be just that?"

"What?"

"Heh heh."

Cheonyeong giggled, and the distorted-faced Nosanggae introduced himself.

"Nosanggae, the branch chief of the Ganyang County Beggars' Sect."

"Nosang (on the road)... heh, it's a pretty fitting name. Anyway, I'll remember it. I'll have to collect a debt."

"A debt?"

"Of course. I told you. This is my house."

"What's that?"

"What do you mean, what? If you lived in an ownerless house without permission, you should pay the overdue rent."

"What?"

"Prepare a hefty sum. It's a good location, so it won't be cheap. Then see you later."

Cheonyeong turned around at the end of those words and waved his hand.

Nosanggae, who didn't take his eyes off the back of Cheonyeong, who was already walking far away, said to his subordinate beggar.

"Oyong."

"Yes, branch chief-nim."

"Find out about the son of Mandeok Estate... who was said to have disappeared."

"The son of Mandeok Estate?"

"Yeah."

"Why...?"

"...Find out. And find out in detail the reason why Mandeok Estate collapsed and those related to it."

At Nosanggae's words, the two-knot disciple Oyong tilted his head.

But he had to find out.

As far as Nosanggae remembered, the son of Mandeok Estate had disappeared when he was ten.

Seven years have passed since then.

A boy who says he is seventeen and the owner of this place.

But, is it really possible?

To have an aura that makes him nervous in just seven years...

Impossible.

Even among the rising stars of the Nine Sects, and among the successors of the families that have reigned as the five great families of the martial world, there are few who have such an aura.

Let alone the son of Mandeok Estate, who is not even a martial family...

"What on earth happened in those seven years?"

Nosanggae frowned as he looked at the dark clouds that were beginning to fill the clear sky.

Even the weather is gloomy, which makes him feel uneasy for some reason.

He felt as if a storm was about to hit the quiet Sichuan.

(End of Chapter)