Cheonyeong's party left Dongting Lake aboard a merchant ship and entered the waterway south of Hubei Province.

The Tang Family's flag was not displayed.

The waterway connecting Hubei to Anhui already had many forces based in that territory, so he didn't want to create unnecessary commotion by mentioning the Tang Family's name.

Of course, as the waterway twisted and turned, there were occasional instances of water pirates approaching to collect small tolls.

"Huh? Gunsan Faction?"

"Yes."

"Damn, that's good. Let us pass."

"Thank you. This is from my heart. Please use it for drinks."

"Oh! You didn't have to. Thank you."

The pirate captain, seeing the black dragon flag presented by the ship owner, licked his lips, but soon broke into a broad smile at the money pouch secretly handed over.

Good things are good.

They had to gain something too.

They had been pulling the boat and running hard until now...

From the ship owner's perspective, transporting Cheonyeong's party was also profitable.

If there had been no black dragon flag, would they have been able to pass through the waterway so smoothly?

They would have had to pay considerable tolls.

But since there was nothing obstructing the journey, the boat advanced swiftly toward Anhui.

Sitting on the ship and watching the winding waters, Cheonyeong thought anew that the Yangtze was truly remarkable.

The waterway that began at the western edge of the Central Plains gathered one by one to form a massive river, flowing through Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan, and Anhui before emptying into the Jiangsu coast.

With so many people's livelihoods occurring there, the Yangtze was truly the lifeblood of the Central Plains.

When you think about it, the Tang Family's ability to establish itself and expand its scale in such a short time was thanks to the Yangtze.

The enormous income earned through merchant ships.

Of course, Gongsun Seung, who was knowledgeable about commerce, had expanded the scale, and the connection with Gunsan Faction Leader Namgwangro had also helped, but he couldn't deny that the beginning was thanks to Lee Cheong-ik's ship.

"I should buy Cheong-ik a drink later."

As Cheonyeong recalled past events and muttered Lee Cheong-ik's name, Beakta made a displeased expression.

"Why would you buy that bastard a drink?"

"Huh?"

"You should buy me one! Me!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Never mind. A message came from the Tang Family. From Elder Gui, no, from Elder Noh."

Beakta pouted and handed over a note.

It seemed he had briefly disembarked at Wuling Wharf, where they had stopped to load necessary supplies, and received a messenger pigeon.

The Beggar Gang's messenger pigeon network.

Now that he thought about it, that seemed even more impressive than the Yangtze.

There was no place in the world without beggars, and wherever there were beggars, there was certainly a Beggar Gang messenger pigeon network.

Not only messenger pigeons but even flying eagles were operated, so if one set their mind to it, the Beggar Gang could gather all the news of the world in a single day.

Since Cheonyeong had gone to Anhui, it seemed they were sending news from the main family through the Beggar Gang.

"Damn it, why is the Beggar Gang using their messenger pigeons however they please? If that's the case, shouldn't the Tang Family be paying them usage fees?"

Watching Beakta continue grumbling beside him, Cheonyeong smiled bitterly.

"You're taking credit for something that doesn't cost money."

"What? Credit? Do you think this is a joke? Do you know how difficult it is to train a single messenger pigeon? Sometimes some fail to find their way home and are left behind. Sometimes they try to rest briefly and get caught by predators."

"..."

"Overcoming all those hardships and difficulties, what's established now is the Beggar Gang's messenger pigeon network. You don't even know."

Hardships and difficulties—what nonsense.

He wasn't the one who did it, yet he was taking credit shamelessly.

Anyway, every opportunity he got, he tried to make Cheonyeong feel indebted to him.

"Sigh, yes. Thank you, thank you so much. Thanks to you, I can exchange news no matter where I am in the Central Plains."

"Your expression shows no sincerity whatsoever."

"What are you talking about? I'm sincere. I'm extremely grateful."

Cheonyeong waved his hands dismissively.

"Tsk, better to suffer than die. Anyway, what's the news?"

"Hmm..."

When Beakta shook his head, Cheonyeong unrolled the tightly wrapped messenger note.

It was from Elder Gui, Lao Guanying.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"The Elder... he's taken control of all the Minglun Chamber's forces?"

"What?"

"There was a fight with the Minglun Chamber before coming to Dongting Lake."

When Cheonyeong explained the past events, Yu Seong-yeon nodded, and Beakta's eyes widened.

"So now, the Tang Family has expanded its territory again after Chengdu?"

"Yes. After the fight with the Minglun Chamber, it seems the Elder personally moved to bring all the forces under them into the fold."

"Wow!"

Beakta swallowed hard and asked worriedly.

"Cheonyeong, don't you think you should go back and check?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Isn't that what I'm saying?"

Both Cheonyeong and Yu Seong-yeon tilted their heads, looking at Beakta.

"Ugh, you thoughtless fellow, and even more thoughtless Taoist..."

"What?"

When he was openly dismissed, Yu Seong-yeon bristled and frowned.

He agreed.

That thoughtless Taoist... it fit perfectly.

"Look here."

As if frustrated, Beakta pulled out a map of the Central Plains from his chest and spread it on the floor.

"This is Sichuan, right?"

"So?"

"Look at the territory the Tang Family now controls."

"...?"

"This is Chengdu, and following that waterway leads to Ganyang, Ziyang, and Neijiang."

"Hmm."

Cheonyeong, examining the location Beakta pointed to, nodded.

Sichuan's power is divided east and west.

The orthodox sects centered on Green Blue and Emei, and the unorthodox sects centered on Jiulong and Heitian.

The territory controlled by the Tang Family penetrated the boundary between the orthodox and unorthodox sects from Chengdu down to the southern region.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Hmm. Soon we'll be similar in scale to Jiulong and Heitian?"

"Soon? Cheonyeong, stop talking nonsense."

"Huh?"

"The Li family head of Mishan, the Guo family head, the Gao family head. Even those belonging to the orthodox sects have signed agreements with you."

"That's right."

"It's called an agreement, but you agreed to help each other during difficult times, right?"

"That's true."

"Then the Tang Family's current power is..."

Beakta used his fingers to group together the families he mentioned and the forces the Tang Family controlled.

"Huh?"

"Do you understand now?"

"Hmm."

Cheonyeong nodded.

He understood what Beakta was trying to say.

"What are you talking about? What do you understand?"

Of course, Yu Seong-yeon, who didn't understand, just tilted his head.

"Ugh, this frustrating Taoist. The Tang Family has already grown to the point of standing shoulder to shoulder with Jiulong Faction or Heitian Sect."

"Really?"

"Can't you see from the map?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Beakta pointed at the map repeatedly to show Yu Seong-yeon.

"But why is that a problem? Isn't it good for the power to grow?"

"Good? How could it be? It might be good from the orthodox sect's perspective. But the unorthodox sects are different. From now on, neither Jiulong Faction nor Heitian Sect can ignore the Tang Family anymore."

"But the son of Jiulong Faction and the Venerable Master of Heitian Sect don't seem like bad people."

"You're being naive. The martial world doesn't run on personal connections alone. Especially for unorthodox sects, territorial disputes are fiercer than for orthodox sects. Restrictions will start coming immediately."

"Then what should we do? You called the Secondary Family Head and Gongsun Family Head to establish a branch in Dongting Lake..."

Only then understanding, Yu Seong-yeon looked at Cheonyeong with a worried expression.

"Hmm..."

Cheonyeong, staring intently at Beakta's map, fell into thought.

Heitian Sect and Jiulong Faction...

Beakta was right.

Personal connections?

Such things weren't important.

Yesterday's enemy becomes today's ally, and the friend you shared breakfast with draws a sword at the dinner table. That's the martial world.

The Tang Family had been small and mid-tier, so they had merely been observed, but now that they had grown to a similar scale, Jiulong and Heitian couldn't just watch.

There would definitely be trouble.

But now wasn't the time for the Tang Family to fight.

No matter how great Elder Gui's martial arts were, being alone was different from being part of an organization.

There was no freedom.

So what should he do?

He had left the Tang Family empty, and as Yu Seong-yeon said, to stabilize the Dongting Lake branch, Yongcheon and Gongsun Seung couldn't return immediately either.

Elder Gui's martial arts weren't lacking, but he needed someone's help.

"Cheonyeong, what will you do?"

"Hmm, we need to wait and see for now."

"Wait and see?"

"Yes. The Elder wouldn't have expanded the forces without careful consideration."

"True, Gui isn't a name to be taken lightly."

"Instead, let me ask you for a favor."

"What?"

"Order the Beggar Gang branch in Sichuan to report all movements of Jiulong Faction and Heitian Sect to the Tang Family's main base. And to me as well."

"You bastard! Are you serious? If it's discovered that we're involved!"

"That's why it has to be discreet."

"What?"

"From the Beggar Gang's perspective, it wouldn't be a loss, would it?"

"..."

"Haven't you secretly hoped for the Tang Family to become the master of Sichuan?"

"That, that's..."

"Myeongson, do you think I'm a fool?"

When Cheonyeong looked at him with a faint smile, Beakta made an awkward expression.

"From the Beggar Gang's perspective, it wasn't exactly pleasant to see the unorthodox sects' influence grow in Sichuan, which is why you established a branch in Ganyang long ago."

"That's true."

"Wouldn't the Tang Family be better than Jiulong or Heitian? Even if they're orthodox and unorthodox, respectively."

"Hmm..."

"If you need approval from above, do that. But remember, this is my help, not the Beggar Gang's help. Understand? You must remember this clearly."

"Of course. The Tang Family..."

"Never forgets a debt? How many times have I heard that? One more time and it'll be a hundred times. A hundred."

The exaggeration...

But knowing it was as good as consent, Cheonyeong smiled slightly.

The Beggar Gang's information network would be sufficient.

Elder Gui wasn't a child. He would handle things well on his own.

Right now, Byeon Gil-tae came first.

If the Tang Family suffered damage, that would be something to think about then.

There's a saying about being prepared for all contingencies, but why worry and be afraid beforehand when nothing has happened yet?

In terms of priority, Byeon Gil-tae came first.

The problems that might arise from that... he would think about them when the time came.

For now, he was satisfied with the fact that the Tang Family was gradually growing, even without his presence.

"Family Head, we've arrived at Anjian."

Just then, the ship owner pointed to a wharf visible in the distance.

Anjian Wharf, Anhui Province.

Their destination.

Turning his head to look, he could see a tall mountain range stretching far away.

"Guhua Mountain."

Cheonyeong's eyes turned cold.

Beakta had said that one of the Eight Immortals' descendants lived there.

He had to meet him first.

But...

"The Nangong family?"

"Huh?"

"Those martial artists at the wharf—they seem to be from the Nangong family? Why are they loitering at Anjian Wharf?"

Beakta, who had been carefully observing the wharf, turned back with a worried face to look at Cheonyeong.

"Listen, Family Head. This really won't do. Let's go somewhere else first. Okay?"

"No."

Cheonyeong flatly refused.

Didn't he understand Beakta's true feelings in calling him "Family Head" instead of just his name?

He was worried.

Worried that Cheonyeong might cause friction with the Nangong family.

Anyway, he worried too much.

Why would he unnecessarily fight the Nangong family?

He had told Beakta before—he would never fight unless they touched him first.

(End of Chapter)