News spreads quickly in the streets.

"The Tang Family took over the Blue Serpent Sect?"

"It happened in a flash."

"That's all?"

"Is that not enough? My cousin who works there told me that only three or four people came to the main branch."

"What? Just three? They brought down the Blue Serpent Sect with only that many?"

"I don't know the details. But they say Cheonyeong brought down the Sect Leader in one breath, and then defeated No Gwanyeong in succession."

"Wow! That's incredible. A rising star. A true rising star."

Already, the entire city of Seongdo was buzzing with talk of the fight between the Tang Family and the Blue Serpent Sect. Inns and taverns were filled with stories about the Tang Family, with Cheonyeong at the center.

That was how it always was.

A typhoon is quiet before it arrives, loud as it passes, and leaves no trace after it goes. The heroic tales left like traces in every corner of Seongdo, swept by the typhoon called the Tang Family, began spreading through people's mouths across all of Sichuan.

"Cheonyeong, huh? Finally, an interesting young one has appeared."

"The Changlim Sword Saint called him a benefactor of the Blue Green Sect."

"That Changlim bastard?"

"Yes."

"Hmm? Is that so?"

"What should we do?"

"Well, the Blue Green Sect has sealed its gates, and Changlim hasn't returned from the Cheongcheon Alliance yet, right?"

"That's correct. The Nine Dragons Meeting is still ongoing."

"Then it would be good to meet him in the meantime. They say he's a mudfish that suddenly stirred up Sichuan, but... we don't yet know if he's a dragon or a snake, do we? And if he is of the dragon kind, we cannot let the Orthodox Faction steal him away."

"I will arrange a meeting."

The Nine Dragon Gang and Black Heaven Sect, the leaders of the Sichuan Unorthodox Faction, began showing interest in the Tang Family.

"The Tang Family? There are people like that?"

"It's said to be a family formed by gathering vagrants in Ganyang."

"What? Vagrants? They brought down the Blue Serpent Sect with just those kinds of people? What is this?"

"After multiple confirmations, it is fact."

"Damn. They fell from the sky out of nowhere. Quickly, gather detailed information about the Tang Family."

"Yes!"

The mid-tier Orthodox sects, similar in scale to the Blue Serpent Sect, had to rush about gathering reliable information about the Tang Family.

For they might become enemies someday.

And.

"What about forming a connection?"

"A connection? But we are of the Orthodox Faction?"

"Haven't you heard? He stands between Orthodox and Unorthodox. Between Orthodox and Unorthodox."

"What? Between Orthodox and Unorthodox?"

"Yes. During the Yin Hand Chamber incident, Orthodox. During the Li family matter, Unorthodox. And while resolving matters at the Blue Green Sect, Orthodox again. Looking at how he goes back and forth, it seems to be true."

"Is that so?"

"And I hear he absorbed all the forces of the Blue Serpent Sect? Isn't the Ghost Hand now his elder?"

"Ah, I heard that too."

The rumor that the Ghost Hand had become an elder of the Tang Family had already spread widely.

"And from what I've learned, that young one is called the Flood Dragon, and he seems to have thoroughly subdued the city lord."

"The city lord of Seongdo?"

"That's not all."

"There's more?"

"Yes, he's already extending his reach to the merchant circles of Seongdo."

"The merchant circles?"

"Yes. I don't know the details, but at the first gathering organized by the Tang Family, there were only three merchant groups, but at the second gathering, twelve merchant groups rushed to the Tang Family's Seongdo branch."

"What?"

It was exhausting to keep being surprised.

"And the merchant circles themselves pleaded to meet with him."

"The merchant circles did?"

"Yes, they lined up from morning to night at the front gate of the Tang Family's Seongdo branch before the gathering finally opened."

"Wow! How long has it been since they took over the Blue Serpent Sect, and they're already dealing with officials and merchants... Does that young man have multiple bodies? Does he not sleep?"

"Now is not the time to question the Family Head's insomnia."

"...?"

"What kind of people are merchants? They have an uncanny ability to smell profit. If they've taken interest in the Tang Family, it means there's money to be made."

"That's right!"

"The martial world is the same. Mid-tier sects are desperate to gather information about the Tang Family, and small sects like ours in the Seongdo and Ganyang area are moving with carts full of gifts. We must quickly get in line too."

That was the reality.

Like a stream swollen after rain turning into rapids, all of Sichuan's attention was flowing toward the Tang Family.

However, the rumors were not all favorable to the Tang Family.

After all, rumors flow without purpose and care not for the ears that hear them.

By the window on the third floor of a merchant house on the official road.

A middle-aged man with a cold expression was watching the Tang Family's Seongdo branch, where numerous people—from small Orthodox sects to figures from local merchant groups—had gathered in lines.

[Master, this is Sokha.]

At the telepathic message from someone who did not even reveal their form, the middle-aged man withdrew his gaze from the Tang Family's branch.

[Speak.]

[Cheonyeong's whereabouts were at Dongting Lake.]

[Are you certain?]

[Yes. And when he returned from Dongting Lake, he came with what appeared to be a boy of thirteen or fourteen.]

[Understood. Tell the Salju that I will investigate a bit more.]

[Alone, sir?]

[Must I explain my intentions to you?]

As displeasure entered the middle-aged man's telepathic message, a part of the ceiling trembled.

[My apologies, I was merely—]

[Enough. When you deliver my words to the Salju, tell him to do as I say. Now go.]

[Yes.]

As the order to leave fell, the presence in the ceiling vanished without a trace.

Clink.

The middle-aged man alone refilled his empty cup with alcohol.

The cup moved to his lips, and his eyes turned toward the Tang Family.

"Cheonyeong."

When the emptied cup came down to the table, a cold smile formed at the corners of the middle-aged man's mouth.

His name was Jin Il-hak.

One of the Sangcheon-gwi of Jinkagu, he had been urgently dispatched to Sichuan under secret orders from the Salju.

To uncover the truth behind the failure of the Blue Green Sect operation.

That was the task given to him. Previously, Black Mist had come and instructed that Jinkagu withdraw from all activities and focus solely on finding the Samyang Divine Art. However, Salju could not cover up the failure at the Blue Green Sect.

It was an unprecedented operation with thirty assassins deployed.

In the process, Sangcheon-gwi Jin Yiseon had died.

For Jinkagu, which had never failed even once, the shock was immense.

Thus the Salju wanted to know.

Who had interfered with his plans?

But Jin Il-hak was able to find the culprit without much effort.

Cheonyeong, the Family Head of the Tang Family.

Wasn't the world's rumors pointing directly at him?

Jin Il-hak began meticulously tracing Cheonyeong's past.

He was truly a remarkable person.

Jin Il-hak found himself increasingly drawn to this figure called Cheonyeong.

As he traced back through his past, he discovered unusual activities at a certain point.

"Dongting Lake."

Shortly after founding the Tang Family, Cheonyeong had visited Dongting Lake.

It might have been merely sightseeing.

But what was oddly disturbing was that the period he visited Dongting Lake overlapped with the death of a person Jin Il-hak knew.

The death of a special-grade assassin and auxiliary assassin dispatched to Dongting Lake.

It was an odd feeling.

Two people with no apparent connection, yet they drew attention in a strange way. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Jin Il-hak requested from the Salju and received information about the operation the assassin had undertaken.

An operation sent down to a place called the Gongsun family.

It was a simple task—killing the young family head there—but the real purpose lay elsewhere.

A clue about the Samyang Divine Art that Jinkagu had long sought.

The true purpose of the operation.

But the assassin suddenly died.

His gu had burst, so there was no need to suspect his death.

And Gongsun Seung, the target of the operation, had been poisoned.

It made no sense.

The assassin who undertook the operation died, yet the operation was completed.

After that, another special-grade assassin had been dispatched to search the Gongsun family.

Special-grade Assassin Kyu-su.

He too had died.

Behind his death was Merchant Commander Nam Gwang-ro, the owner of Gunsan Fortress and the monster of Dongting Lake.

It was strange.

Why would Kyu-su, who was pursuing the assassin's activities by investigating the Gongsun family, clash with the leader of the Water Bandits?

But there was no one to ask.

The dead speak not.

Then recently, he learned that Nam Gwang-ro was involved in the Tang Family's business expansion.

"It's truly strange. How could a young man who just founded his family join hands with a monster like a merchant commander?"

A cold smile appeared at the corners of Jin Il-hak's mouth as he murmured to himself.

"And how did he also connect with Baekta, the leader of the Beggar Sect who was at Dongting Lake at the time? Hehehehe, in the end, you are at the center of all these incidents. Cheonyeong, Family Head of the Tang Family."

His eyes grew colder than his smile.

"And one more thing—when he went to Dongting Lake, he was alone, but when he returned, why were there two? And he returned with someone of similar age to the young family head of the dead Gongsun family."

Among the numerous conjectures passing through his mind, one conclusion emerged.

What if Cheonyeong knew about Jinkagu?

Anyone hearing this would call it absurd.

But no matter how much he thought about it, all circumstances pointed to that.

It was the only explanation that made sense.

The death of the assassin at Dongting Lake, the death of Kyu-su who investigated the incident, the failure of the plan that infiltrated the Blue Green Sect—it all made sense.

"In any case, if I observe you, everything will become clear."

Jin Il-hak placed a silver coin on the table and stood up.

* * *

In the inner sanctum of the Tang Family's Seongdo branch.

The residence of Cheonyeong, which occupied the hall called the Great Enlightenment Hall, did not extinguish its lights even as the night grew deep.

"Sanghui."

"Yes?"

"The children are back."

"Already?"

"Yes, it seems the Elder is doing well."

At Cheonyeong's words as he flipped through documents, Sanghui's face brightened.

No Gwanyeong, the Dokgak-gwi, and Vice Family Head Yongcheon and two hall masters had been dispatched to take control of the Blue Serpent Sect's branches.

Sanghui should have gone with them, but circumstances did not allow it.

The work at the Seongdo branch was too busy.

Carpenters from the Divine Work Pavilion had been dispatched in large numbers for building repairs, and Gongsun Seung himself came to the branch for consultations with newly connected Seongdo merchant groups.

If that were all, Sanghui would have gone.

But as the Inner Hall Master of the Tang Family, she had to attend to those who came upon hearing the rumors.

"How are things on your end?"

"It's difficult."

At Sanghui's firm answer, Cheonyeong let out a quiet laugh.

"Still, do not treat them poorly."

"I'm doing that. That's why it's even more difficult. You told me to treat all who come with great respect."

"What can we do? That's how people are. Right now we're making a name for ourselves and causing a stir, but if bad rumors start spreading, it becomes uncontrollable. If the Tang Family opens its doors and discriminates based on status and the size of families, people will quickly leave."

"I know. I know."

Sanghui pouted as she spoke.

"These days, people even bring daughters as gifts."

"Daughters? Why?"

"Obviously. Since you're of marriageable age, they're trying to tempt you with their daughters, aren't they?"

"What? Hahahaha."

Cheonyeong burst into laughter despite himself.

"Why don't you get married now?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm serious. That way I can also have my wedding with Yongcheon, right?"

"What does that have to do with me? You two can do it yourselves. Since we're on the subject, why not have your wedding soon?"

"That's nonsense. How can we have our wedding when you're living alone? When you get married, then we'll have our wedding. Remember that!"

At Sanghui's loud protest, Cheonyeong shook his head.

Why was she shouting so loudly?

She brought up the topic of marriage herself, and now...

"Instead, why don't you find a good match now? It seems marriage proposals are coming in regularly."

"Stop it. I'm not in a position for that right now."

"What kind of position? Won't you continue the family line? All the Tang Family's household members are only looking at you. At times like these, it's the Family Head's duty to secure an heir."

At Sanghui's words, Cheonyeong smiled bitterly.

She had studied well; her words were quite logical.

Yes, he would have to marry someday.

But not now.

At least not until Jinkagu was completely eradicated.

Cheonyeong, having made up his mind, looked at Sanghui and spoke in a subtle tone.

"Sanghui."

"What?!"

At Cheonyeong's call, Sanghui responded with a sharp, irritable voice.

"When Yongcheon returns, get married. I will consult with the elders and set a date."

"I don't want to! I absolutely will not get married before you!"

She refused vehemently, but...

Why was her face turning red? Why was her body twisting?

(End of Chapter)