The Blue Serpent Sect in Seongdo, Sicheon.

Kung! Kung-kung!

Someone forcefully pounded on the back gate on the east side of the Blue Serpent Sect's main branch, which had been closed while they were solidifying their plan to swallow Ganyang.

Kkii-iik.

"Who... are you?"

The gatekeeper, who had poked his head out through the slightly opened door, was met with the sight of a young man with a huge build.

The gatekeeper, whose view was blocked by the young man's chest, raised his head to look up, and the young man with a face as large as his build, Yongcheon, smiled brightly and said.

"I'm a guest."

"A guest? My, you're a gentleman who is dark on the rumors. Haven't you heard the rumors about the Blue Serpent Sect's current situation? Don't get yourself into trouble and come back later."

The gatekeeper waved his hand and was about to close the door.

Teok!

A hand as large as a pot lid grabs the door and opens it wide.

"No, this person!"

"I said I'm a guest."

"So I'm telling you to come back later."

"Hey, I came through the back gate to avoid a useless fight... it's a bit much to go back."

"What did you say?"

The bewildered gatekeeper frowned and then made a puzzled expression.

Wait a minute, something's strange.

No matter how much it's a back gate for workers to come and go, weren't there two warriors guarding it after the fight with the Tang Family's estate began?

The gatekeeper finally looks outside through the door that Yongcheon had opened wide.

A guest with a build like a bear.

And behind him, three young men who looked to be of a similar age, and lying on the ground... the warriors of the Blue Serpent Sect?

"Oops, you saw."

"Pardon?"

"Sorry. I wanted to come in quietly."

"That's?"

Jjeok!

It was a short and thick sound.

The gatekeeper, whose face was covered by a fist, collapsed weakly while still holding the door.

"Hey! I told you to be gentle!"

"I was gentle."

"My goodness, is that gentle? He's clearly not a warrior, are you trying to kill him?"

"You son of a..."

At Chun-il's scolding, Yongcheon pouts.

"Stop it."

"Yeah."

As Cheonyeong stops him, Yongcheon snorts and turns his head away.

"Let's go in. The patrol's interval is short. If we stay long, we'll be discovered."

"Yeah."

As Cheonyeong goes inside, Yongcheon picks up the fainted gatekeeper and goes inside. It was natural that Chun-il and Hwang-sam followed, carrying the fallen warriors.

Kung!

The door closes.

Leaving Sanghui, Baekgang, and the main force of the Tang Family's estate behind, Cheonyeong's party immediately set off for Seongdo.

It was a distance that could be reached in two hours from Sapyeong to the Blue Serpent Sect.

But why would a famous horse be a famous horse?

Even though they had taken a long detour around Sapyeong to get to Seongdo, thanks to the Ferghana horse and the Dayuan horse that had been gifted by the Hyeon-gal tribe leader, they were able to arrive in Seongdo in exactly half an hour.

It was not difficult to pass through the gate guarded by the government troops.

There was no reason for them, who did not interfere in the affairs of the martial world at all, to stop them, who had clear identities. They had not done anything particularly suspicious either.

Although it was a small place, what was Ganyang like?

If someone had come to the Tang Family's estate, the government, which had finished its search, would have contacted them immediately. If they had unjust intentions, they would have even bought them time.

But the government troops of Seongdo did not do so.

On the contrary, they let them pass quickly, as if they were annoyed.

What could be known from this was that the relationship between the Blue Serpent Sect and the government was not so close.

He had expected it.

It was a place ruled by the lord of the castle.

No matter how much it was a martial sect that had settled in the main castle, wasn't the Unorthodox Faction still the Unorthodox Faction?

High-ranking gentlemen are the type to care about how they are seen. So, even if they turned a blind eye to the Blue Serpent Sect's illegal activities and received bribes, they rarely showed off their friendship with them.

Unless it was a great sect like the Nine Dragon Gang or the Black Heaven Sect.

But why did the Blue Serpent Sect, which was only a mid-sized sect, settle in Seongdo, the main castle of Sicheon?

The answer was obvious.

Would a great sect with strong pride want to bow its head to the government troops? And even if they helped each other, what was the point if they couldn't escape the government's control?

But for a mid-sized sect like the Blue Serpent Sect, Seongdo was much safer. What crazy punk would come to the place where the lord of the castle resided and think of destroying the Blue Serpent Sect?

Whoever the founder of the Blue Serpent Sect was, he had used his head well.

He must have grown his family without any major crises.

Cheonyeong, who had passed the outer castle, observed the market with slow steps.

To observe the movements of the Blue Serpent Sect and the atmosphere of Seongdo.

Perhaps because he had sent a declaration of war in advance, everywhere he went was full of people whispering.

No one was defending the Blue Serpent Sect.

On the contrary, they were full of hope that the Tang Family's estate would drive out the Blue Serpent Sect. But, it was just a vague hope.

They knew too.

That the full strength of the Tang Family's estate could not surpass the Blue Serpent Sect.

And one more thing.

He confirmed that the Blue Serpent Sect was being careless, as expected.

They had only sent out a warrior unit called the Saman-gwi to prepare for the Tang Family's estate, and had not taken any measures such as calling in the warriors of the branches, or contacting the subordinate martial arts schools and escort agencies they had a connection with.

Only the main gate was busy.

In a wide open space visible through the wide-open gate, warriors who had finished their preparations for battle and were armed were waiting in a dense crowd, and the Blue Serpent Sect's attention was focused there.

So he had chosen the back gate.

Look, no matter how much it was a place for workers to come and go, the number of people guarding it was only two warriors.

And the gatekeeper inside was not even a warrior.

With such lax security...

"This is so easy. If you're too overconfident, it's the perfect way to get assassinated. Outer Hall Master."

"Yes, Family Head."

"Remember the path we came in well."

"Yes! But, why?"

"Do you think the Tang Family's estate has no enemies? You must always remember that a place like this can be lax and prepare for it."

"Ah! I understand. When we go back, I will discuss countermeasures for this with the vassals."

"Yes."

"Martial Arts Master."

"Yes."

"Also consider how to deploy the warriors."

"Yes."

It was a lesson from another's mistake (他山之石).

There is nothing perfect in the world. You have to learn from others. You have to fix what's done well and refine what's done well to make it even better.

Cheonyeong's party, who had thrown the people they had carried on their shoulders into a corner, carefully observed the inside and slowly approached the center of the manor.

It was still the workers' area.

The busy workers did not pay any attention to Cheonyeong's party. For them, the Blue Serpent Sect was just a workplace, and they seemed to be busy carrying food and liquor to the warriors who were gathered at the main gate.

Perhaps they had thought of Cheonyeong's party as warriors of the Blue Serpent Sect.

Then, Cheonyeong, who had discovered a young servant girl who was walking with short steps, carrying a small table, spoke to her.

"Child."

"Pardon?"

The young servant girl, who was called by the armed Cheonyeong, was startled and trembled.

She was scared.

He could well imagine how the Blue Serpent Sect treated its workers.

Cheonyeong took out a silver coin from his bosom, placed it on the servant girl's small table, and asked with a bright smile.

"Where is the Sect Leader?"

"The Sect Leader?"

The servant girl swallows her saliva at the glittering silver coin on the small table and looks at Cheonyeong.

She must be puzzled by the unfamiliar face.

But what was already in her eyes was only greed for the silver coin.

"I have come to see him because I have something urgent to tell him about the Tang Family's estate."

"Ah!"

How could a working servant girl not know what the people of the market knew?

The ominous rumor that the Blue Serpent Sect was going to have a battle with the Tang Family's estate.

Because of that, weren't the warriors armed with glittering spears and swords, and weren't they walking around the inside of the manor with a murderous look?

If he had something urgent to say to the Sect Leader about that matter?

Of course, it was proper to report it in detail.

"I saw him go to the Daegakjeon a little while ago."

"Daegakjeon?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me where it is?"

"Ah, if you go that way..."

"Yes, thank you."

Cheonyeong smiles and takes out another silver coin, placing it on the small table.

The Daegakjeon was deep inside the Blue Serpent Sect.

Quite far from the main gate.

A place where it would take some time to rush over even if a commotion broke out.

"It'll be enough."

Cheonyeong, who had smiled brightly, says to the servant girl.

"Child."

"Pardon?"

"Go home for today."

"Pardon? But I still have work..."

"If you have any close friends among the workers, tell them the same. Because it seems there will be a big commotion soon."

Cheonyeong gives a warning and walks away.

The servant girl, holding the small table, tilts her head and then remembers that she has dishes to wash and runs off in a hurry.

***

The Blue Serpent Sect's Daegakjeon (大覺殿).

Cheonyeong, who was looking at the characters written on the sign, smirked.

*A punk from the Unorthodox Faction, and 'Great Enlightenment' (大覺).*

*It seems they think they're Buddhist disciples who serve the Buddha.*

"Stop!"

As Cheonyeong's party approached, the warrior guarding the gate of the Daegakjeon stops them with a fierce gaze.

Then he observes them carefully.

"I haven't seen you before."

Cheonyeong grins at the warrior who is tilting his head and asks.

In a time like this, momentum is half the battle.

"Is the Sect Leader inside?"

"The Sect Leader... why are you looking for him?"

Although he was young, he asked in a casual tone, and the warrior, who was slightly taken aback, asked cautiously. He had not even dreamed that the young men in front of him were from the Tang family.

"Is he inside?"

"He is, but."

"Is that so? Then."

As he approached to go inside without a word, the warrior blocked Cheonyeong's chest with his hand.

"Who... are you? The Sect Leader has ordered that no one be let in. And since I have not seen you before, you must reveal your identity."

Cheonyeong stares intently at the warrior who is blocking his way and then lowers his gaze.

The hand on his chest.

Cheonyeong said in a low voice.

"Yongcheon-ah."

Hoo-ung! Jjeo-eok!

A huge fist was swung with the sound of the wind.

Ku-dang-tang!

The warrior, who had been sent flying forcefully, hit the closed door and then slid down, losing consciousness.

"You X-bastard, where do you think you're putting your hands on a noble body?"

Yongcheon's way with words has improved a lot.

*A noble body (貴體)...*

Cheonyeong pats Yongcheon's shoulder and.

"Let's go in. Don't close the door, leave it open."

"Yes!"

He steps inside the door.

Before they had even reached half of the garden, the warriors who were inside rushed at them with their swords.

Because they had seen their fallen comrade.

"Yongcheon-ah."

"Yes!"

"Don't save your strength."

"Yes!"

Yongcheon spits on both hands, rubs them together, and then grabs the iron ball he had been carrying on his back.

"Chun-il and Hwang-sam, you guard the door."

"Pardon? We're not helping?"

"Who?"

As Cheonyeong tilts his head, Hwang-sam and Chun-il smirk and turn around.

"We will guard the door."

"Yes, if they come in, shoot them."

"Yes!"

At those words, Chun-il and Hwang-sam take out a handful of hidden weapons in both hands.

People are like that.

Even if they have the skill to jump over a wall, if the door is open, they will come in through the door.

To take their turn.

Then of course, they would become a porcupine.

Hoo-woo-ung! Kwa-a-ang!

In the meantime, Yongcheon's iron ball cut through the empty air, showing off its immense destructive power.

"Keuk!"

Blocking is useless.

Because the iron ball, filled with Samyang True Qi and flickering with a blue light, breaks everything, whether it's a sword or a body.

All he had to do was walk leisurely towards the Daegakjeon.

Kwa-a-ang!

The warriors who were blocking Cheonyeong's path are sent flying in all directions by the swung iron ball. They are slammed into the ground, and they hit the stone lanterns and trees and collapse.

No one gets up again.

How can a punk with broken bones get up with the strength of his muscles?

And.

Beol-keok!

"What is this commotion!"

The Blue Serpent Sect Leader, Jeok Seohwa, bursts out with a roar and reveals himself in front of Cheonyeong.

He recognized him at once.

Because he looked exactly like that unlucky punk, Jeokseong.

Cheonyeong smiles brightly and waves his hand.

*Hello? My name is Tang Cheonyeong.*

The Tang Family's Departure from the World