The feast that had continued for three days was over.

As much as the feast had been enjoyable, the atmosphere of the Tang Family's estate, which had returned to the harsh reality, was heavy.

The vassal meeting of the Samyangjeon.

"The Blue Serpent Sect is a difficult opponent."

Baekta, who had declared himself a guest and was staying, said with a hardened face after a long deliberation.

"I know."

Cheonyeong answered as if it were obvious.

"And you're still going to fight?"

"Yes."

"Why on earth?"

"Because they won't grant my request to hand over their son."

"Family Head Tang! We can't help you with this! The Tang Family's estate has to handle it all on its own!"

"I'm not asking for help. So, the guest should just watch like a guest."

"You!"

Baekta was about to shout but sighed.

There was no ox sinew like this ox sinew.

Not long after the feast was over, the Tang family immediately entered a state of war.

Gongsun Seung poured all the wealth of the Tang family into purchasing materials to make weapons, and Danya, who had filled the smithy with blacksmiths, produced weapons day and night.

It wasn't just inside the Tang Family's estate.

All the people of Ganyang were like that.

The clothiers and leather shops prepared clothes for the warriors to wear like armor, adding leather and cloth, and the pharmacy sent out all the herbalists to dig up medicinal herbs.

In the pharmacy, things needed for first aid, such as golden wound medicine and Yosangdan, were being made.

There was no shortage of hands.

Even though no one had asked them to, even the women of the common households had rolled up their sleeves and were helping as if it were their own work.

It was as if the entire Tang family, no, the entire Ganyang, was preparing to fight the Blue Serpent Sect.

But.

"Family Head Tang. I've thought about it carefully. I've requested it from the Sangbang, and I've even sent out the Wild Cats to find out about the Blue Serpent Sect's full strength in detail."

"That's a grateful thing."

"Do you think I did it just to receive thanks?"

"..."

"The number of warriors alone is over two hundred. That's just in Seongdo (the capital of Sicheon), where the Blue Serpent Sect's main base is. If you add the fifteen branches rooted in each key point such as Junggang, Deokyang, and Geumdang, it's well over five hundred. Do you think that's all? If you add the martial arts schools that have a connection with the Blue Serpent Sect, it's a thousand at a rough estimate! A thousand!"

"Hmm, what Baekta-nim says is right. The Blue Serpent Sect is not a sect to be taken lightly."

At Baekta's words, Hwang Jeongmun, the young master of the Nine Dragon Gang, who was still staying without going back home, nodded and added his words. But there was no change in Cheonyeong's expression.

"So?"

"So? Of course, you have to stop!"

"Stop?"

"Of course! Do you think the Blue Serpent Sect is some riffraff like the Yin Hand Chamber? They're one of the strongest in the Sicheon Unorthodox Faction! To put it bluntly, do you think the Tang family's full strength is a match for them? Yes, I know. You're strong. So strong that we can't even be compared to you. The masters of the Tang family, including the Vice-Family Head, are also strong. I know that if they have hidden weapons in their hands, their skills will be a match for ours."

"..."

"The Green Warrior Unit? The Blue Warrior Unit? Yes, they've grown at an incredible speed. Their numbers have also increased quite a bit. There are already a hundred of them. I saw their skills at the Blue Green Sect. But that's all. They're nothing but outside the main force in a fight against the Blue Serpent Sect."

Baekta shouted as if he were vomiting blood.

"Look. Do you think the Lee family will help you? Or the Gwak family? The Go family? Nonsense! If that happens, even the Black Net Sword over there will immediately turn around and point his blade at you as a member of the Nine Dragon Gang."

"I don't need help."

"Family Head Tang!"

"You go back too. Stop nagging. Why are you attending someone else's vassal meeting and telling them what to do?"

"You bastard!"

At the sight of him not listening, Baekta finally even let out a curse. How frustrated must he have been to do that?

"Yongcheon! You stop him! Are you just going to let this happen?"

Baekta asked for help, but Yongcheon, on the contrary, shook his head.

"It's something the Family Head has decided."

"What?"

"The Tang family does not leave grudges. A grudge made with blood must be repaid with blood."

"You have to look at the opponent to do that!"

"Jeokseong of the Blue Serpent Sect was involved in the death of the previous generation. Even if he didn't directly use his hands, but just handed over the poison, he has already made a grudge with us."

"Yongcheon!"

"Stop it, I'm also a Tang."

"..."

"Although we are bound by righteousness, the Family Head and I are brothers. So the previous generation is like a father to me too. Can you forgive the culprit who drove your father to his death?"

At Yongcheon's words, Baekta couldn't give any answer.

Sanghui, Chunil, Baekgang, Hwangsam.

Everyone had the same expression as Yongcheon, and their blazing pupils contained the same emotion.

"You crazy bastards!"

Frustrated, Baekta changed his target and looked at the Master of the Divine Art Hall and Gongsun Seung.

You guys, at least...

But as if reading his gaze, the Divine Work Pavilion Master, Ahn Chilgang, shook his head.

"I am a body that has already died once. I have gained a new life thanks to the Family Head, and I have no regrets even if I die at any time. And, as a vassal, how can I oppose the Family Head's decision?"

"Me too."

Not only Ahn Chilgang, but even Gongsun Seung smiled faintly and refused Baekta's will.

"Crazy, they're all crazy! They don't even know that it's been so easy until now because of heavenly luck!"

"Myeongseon."

"Why!"

"It's never been easy."

"What did you say?"

"Not even once."

Cheonyeong's words were sincere.

The word 'easy' did not suit his life.

In his past life, he had observed hundreds of times to complete a single act of killing. He had made several plans, and if he felt even a small error, he would fix it and repeat it until he finally completed it.

He had always risked his life for that completion.

It was a life where he had to become strong so as not to die, and he had to do his best so as not to die.

It was the same after he had returned to the past.

Before fighting, he had first looked for a way to weaken the opponent, and he had always looked for a way to escape.

And he had stepped forward when he was confident.

It was like that with the embroidery, and it was like that with Jin Yiseon.

However, against opponents stronger than him, he had chosen harmony rather than fighting. Well, there might have been some luck. It might have seemed that way. But even so, the word 'easy' did not suit him.

For him, who had always risked his life without looking back, from his past life until now.

And attacking the Blue Serpent Sect, now was the right time.

Under the leadership of the Changlim Sword Saint, the Nine Dragons Meeting was held at the Cheongcheon Alliance. The Beggars' Sect had already started to pursue Jingagu, and the Nine Sects would start to move.

As always, Jingagu would cut off all the tails that were exposed to the outside and would hide in the darkness.

Until they judged it was safe.

Until the strength of the pursuit against them weakened, and the moment came when they could be active again.

And when they revealed themselves to the world again, the Tang Family's estate would be in danger.

Something had changed from the memories he knew.

Perhaps they had been chasing the Samyang for longer than the time he remembered.

If the Salju found out that he had learned the Samyang, he had a feeling of anxiety that they would come to the Tang Family's estate in pursuit of the Samyang, just as they had in the past.

So he had to move now.

He had to quickly end the grudge with the Blue Serpent Sect, and he had to prepare for when Jinkagu would come to the Tang Family's estate. Because if he left a grudge, it would always become a future problem at a crucial moment.

"Cheonyeong. It's not too late even now. Although they have sealed their gates because of the incident at the Assembly of Elders, since they have a favorable impression of you, put in a request to the Blue Green Sect even now."

At Baekta's earnest words, Cheonyeong, who had been looking at him for a moment, said.

"Outer Hall Master."

"Yes!"

"The guest is leaving. Please guide him politely to the main gate."

"Yes! Family Head."

It was an order to leave.

Baekta, who was glaring at Cheonyeong, ground his teeth so hard that a sound was made.

"Damn it! Do as you please! I won't care anymore whether the Tang Family's estate is ruined or not!"

"I'll just take your concern."

"Hmph!"

Baekta turned around and left the Three Yang Hall before the Outer Hall Master, Tang Chunil, could even guide him. At his back as he walked away, snorting, Cheonyeong smiled bitterly.

How could he not know Baekta's words, his concern?

But it wouldn't change.

Even if the Blue Serpent Sect was much stronger than the Tang Family's estate.

He could not take back the steps he had already taken.

"Family Head."

It was Lee Cheongik.

"You guys go too. The feast is over."

"But."

"Do you need a guide?"

At those calm but firm words, Lee Cheongik just frowned deeply.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was nothing he could do.

Because he knew that the moment they took the Tang family's side, Sicheon would be engulfed in a great war between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions.

"I will pray for your good fortune in battle. And I'm sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about."

Lee Cheongik also left.

Gwak Wolhyeop, Lee Saek, and Go Yeonggil, who were following him out of the Samyangjeon without being able to say a word, sighed, looking back repeatedly.

"Family Head."

It was the Black Net Sword, Hwang Jeongmun.

"Why? Are you going to oppose me too? Or are you going to help?"

"No way. Don't you know better than anyone that I can't do that?"

"Then just go. Don't get swept up in this unnecessarily."

"I should. But, if you ever need my help, send someone to the Nine Dragon Gang at any time."

"..."

"Although I can't help directly, I have the power to mediate."

Hwang Jeongmun said with a grin.

It probably wasn't just 'power'.

The Nine Dragon Gang was a great sect that was comparable in scale to the Blue Green Sect or Emei, and had divided the Sicheon Unorthodox Faction with the Black Heaven Sect. How could the Blue Serpent Sect ignore their mediation?

"I will remember. Your heart."

"I will pray for your good fortune in battle."

Hwang Jeongmun left with a smile.

After everyone had left, only Cheonyeong and the family members of the Tang Family's estate remained in the Three Yang Hall.

"Everyone, listen."

"Yes! Family Head!"

"Send a letter to the Blue Serpent Sect, and arm all the family members. We are going to the Blue Serpent Sect."

"As you command!"

The war had begun.

The next day, the Tang family, with their inner garments filled with hidden weapons and red sashes tied around them, headed north.

As they left Ganyang and passed through the roads, those who saw them pointed fingers, saying it was like throwing an egg against a rock, or the arrogant rashness of a young family head, but the steps of the Tang Family's warriors, led by Cheonyeong, heading towards the Blue Serpent Sect, were more confident than at any other time.

***

"You damn punk!"

The hand of the Blue Serpent Sect Leader, Jeok Seohwa, who was crumpling the letter, trembled.

A letter with the seal of the Tang family's head.

It was a declaration of war.

That he would come, and to hand over his son.

The anger that had flared up when he had seen his son, who had participated in the Assembly of Elders and had barely returned alive with all the bones in his body shattered, erupted like an active volcano again.

The place he looked back at with bloodshot eyes was where No Gwanyeong was sitting, drinking tea with an indifferent expression.

"Elder."

"Please speak, Sect Leader."

"Is it okay now?"

"..."

"The young punk of the Tang family says he will come himself, so is it okay now? Is it okay to cut off the punk's head and burn the Tang Family's estate in Ganyang to the ground?"

He said, grinding his teeth.

When his son had returned, No Gwanyeong had stopped him from charging to the Tang Family's estate right away.

He had said what his son, Jeokseong, had done as the backer of the Yin Hand Chamber to the Mandeok Estate, the predecessor of the Tang Family's estate, and had added that he would not sit by if they attacked the Tang Family's estate while the Tang family head was participating in the Assembly of Elders.

Tak.

No Gwanyeong put down his teacup.

"Since he says he's coming, we have no choice but to greet him."

"Will you stand at the forefront?"

"I will guard the rear. If I step forward first and fight a child, won't people think it's ridiculous?"

"Do so. But you won't have a chance. Because his head will have been cut off by me by then."

At the sight of Jeok Seohwa, who had grabbed a well-sharpened sword and had stormed out, No Gwanyeong sighs.

"Hoo... are you really coming?"

His face was troubled.

But now he was an elder of the Blue Serpent Sect.

He had a responsibility, and he had a job to do.

Although the Sect Leader had said he wouldn't have a chance, for some reason, he felt that Cheonyeong would break through the Blue Serpent Sect's defensive wall and come to him, who would be standing at the rear.

If that happened.

"I'll have to cut him. Without hesitation. With all my might."

(End of Chapter)