"But what's really going on?"

"What?"

"Even though it's the Nangong family's territory, there are too many martial artists."

Beakta, who had disembarked at the wharf, looked around with unconcealed bewilderment.

"Did something happen to the Nangong family?"

"What's it to you?"

"It's strange. They're carefully observing passersby. As if trying to understand something."

"That could be."

"No, it's too strange. I should definitely investigate."

"..."

"Cheonyeong, you and Qing—no, Seong-yeon go find an inn and eat first."

"Where are you going?"

"To the Anjian branch."

"..."

"We need to find horses anyway if we're going to Guhua Mountain."

"Sigh, understood. But you're keeping a close watch on Byeon Gil-tae, right?"

"Of course. I've already sent Yamyeo there, so don't worry. And remember! Don't cause trouble. Understand?"

"I said I understand. Really, who takes me for a troublemaker?"

Cheonyeong complained, but Beakta, still uneasy, looked at Yu Seong-yeon and gave stern instructions.

"Watch him carefully. Understand?"

"Yes."

"I'm counting on you. If that fellow tries to fight with someone, stop him by any means. Understand?"

"Don't worry and go."

"Yes, definitely!"

Beakta gave final instructions to Yu Seong-yeon and hurried off.

"Really... what does he take me for?"

"Seems like he's seeing you correctly?"

"What, you bastard?"

"Just joking, joking. Ha ha ha!"

At Cheonyeong's reaction with a deeply furrowed brow, Yu Seong-yeon burst into laughter.

How long had they been together, and they were already so well-coordinated?

"By the way, the Successor Beggar is quite quick-witted."

"It's a disease."

"Huh?"

"An incurable disease common to all Beggar Gang beggars. Curiosity."

"Ah..."

Yu Seong-yeon nodded.

"Let's go. I haven't eaten properly in a while, so let's fill my stomach first."

"Yes."

Yu Seong-yeon, following with a smile, whispered close to him.

"But those people seem to be following us?"

It was referring to the Nangong family's martial artists following them from a distance.

"...Don't mind them."

"Huh?"

"It's obviously a suspicious combination no matter who looks at it."

"Ah, you already knew?"

"Of course. I noticed from the moment we disembarked at the wharf."

"Impressive. I only started feeling something was wrong just now."

"It's just a habit."

"A good habit. I'm glad there's so much to learn from you."

At Yu Seong-yeon's admiration, Cheonyeong smiled softly.

When arriving in a new place, he unconsciously observes the surroundings first. It was a habit ingrained since his assassin days.

The surrounding environment, the people.

Sometimes such things saved one's life.

Cheonyeong entered an inn not far from the wharf.

Beakta would find it himself.

There were beggars spreading mats and begging all over the place.

"Welcome!"

At the sound of the pearl curtain being drawn at the inn's entrance, the innkeeper hurried over to greet them.

"There are many empty seats, so please sit wherever you're comfortable."

After glancing around the inn, Cheonyeong spoke.

"That seat by the railing on this floor looks good."

"Huh?"

"Why? Is it reserved?"

"Oh, no. Please go up."

The innkeeper shook his head and guided them with a smile.

"Hmm, there's a reason for choosing that seat by the railing on this floor, isn't there?"

At Yu Seong-yeon's question, Cheonyeong smiled softly.

He was quite curious about things.

"You'll understand once you sit down."

There was no need to explain.

The moment they sat at the seat by the railing on this floor, Yu Seong-yeon nodded as if he had realized something.

"I see. I understand now. There's such deep meaning in just a seat choice."

Looking down with admiration, Cheonyeong smiled slightly.

"You pay for the meal."

"Huh?"

"You learned something."

"Come on, where would I get money?"

"True..."

Cheonyeong, playing a prank, nodded and pulled out a portable writing set from his chest.

"What are you writing?"

"What else? The money Seong-yeon will have to repay me."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"First, the boat fare from Dongting Lake to Anjian... and the tuition for what you learned from me on the way from the wharf to the inn."

"Really! You're going to do this?"

"Accounts should be clean. If you don't like it, go back."

"Wow. Despite all the affection we've shared, you really have no heart."

"Does affection feed people? I'm not that soft a person."

Cheonyeong wrote in tiny characters and left the paper on the table to dry, and Yu Seong-yeon narrowed his eyes and glared at it.

"Touch it, and that day the Green Blue Sect will have to prepare for your funeral portrait."

"Tsk..."

Yu Seong-yeon, grimacing, quickly turned his head toward the first floor.

"Huh? They've come here too?"

"Pretend you don't notice. They'll come up soon anyway."

They were the Nangong family's martial artists who had followed them from the wharf.

They had exchanged a few words with the innkeeper and turned to look toward this floor.

"What should we say when they come?"

"Who knows? First, let's hear why they followed us."

"Understood."

While they were talking briefly, the Nangong family's martial artists who had come up to this floor approached Cheonyeong.

"Excuse us."

"..."

"I am Yeo Yeon-gwang, captain of the Nangong family's patrol squad three."

As Yeo Yeon-gwang introduced himself in a restrained tone, Cheonyeong smiled and responded.

"What business does the Nangong family have with us?"

"If you don't mind, could you reveal your identities?"

"Hmm."

Though appearing polite, his tone was high-handed.

It was probably an attitude stemming from the Nangong family's pride as the masters of Anhui.

That's why his tone was so grating to the ear.

But hadn't Beakta repeatedly asked him not to cause trouble on the way here?

Though displeased, thinking of Beakta, he smiled as much as possible and answered.

"I am Tang Cheonyeong from the Tang Family of Sichuan."

"The Tang Family of Sichuan?"

At Cheonyeong's answer, Yeo Yeon-gwang tilted his head.

He seemed not to know.

That was clear enough just from the faint sneer at the corner of his mouth.

Yes, well... the news probably hasn't spread yet.

Even if it had, it wouldn't have spread widely enough for a patrol squad captain to know.

"It seems my knowledge is limited. I haven't heard of it. But could you show me your identification tablet?"

"..."

At the changed tone and the smile he was holding back, Cheonyeong's face hardened.

Even if not knowing was understandable, "could you show me?"

An unknown sect, younger than him.

The moment those two things coincided, his casual tone immediately returned.

But he had to endure.

Beakta had asked so earnestly—he couldn't cause trouble right after arriving in Anhui.

Just as Cheonyeong was about to suppress his irritation and take out the identification tablet.

"Isn't this too rude?"

"...?"

Suddenly Yu Seong-yeon stepped forward.

He, who had been listening quietly, now showed displeasure toward Yeo Yeon-gwang.

Suddenly?

Even he was enduring, so why was this one getting angry?

Cheonyeong tried to stop him, but Yu Seong-yeon shot back at Yeo Yeon-gwang.

"Everyone in the Central Plains knows Anhui is the Nangong family's territory, but inquiring into others' personal information without reason is a taboo of the martial world, is it not?"

"..."

"If you wish to know someone's identity, shouldn't you first explain your reason? And why do you ask so high-handedly in the meantime?"

Though he pointed out the faults one by one and expressed anger, only a sneer deepened at the corners of Yeo Yeon-gwang's mouth.

It was inevitable.

There are three things to be careful about in the martial world.

The elderly, women, and children.

There was no young male martial artist among them.

Why would he regard a young martial artist from the unknown Tang Family of Sichuan as anything special?

Especially in Anhui, where the Nangong family's power extended in all directions.

"This person is the Family Head of the Tang Family. Therefore, ask again with proper respect."

"What? Proper respect?"

At Yu Seong-yeon's words, Yeo Yeon-gwang snorted.

"Speaking of respect in the Nangong family's territory. The Tang Family may be buried somewhere in Sichuan, but you certainly have impressive spirit."

"What?"

"It seems you're the Family Head of a rural sect and his friend, so show me a credible identification tablet first. Then I'll believe you."

"This bastard...!"

Yu Seong-yeon bristled and stood up, while Cheonyeong watched quietly with an enigmatic gaze.

The Green Blue Sect's senior disciple.

Someone who had received teachings from none other than Sword Immortal Changlim.

Would he have only learned martial arts?

What the orthodox sect is... how the orthodox sect should be...

He must have heard such teachings until his ears grew calluses.

So he would have grown straight and upright.

But who speaks of orthodoxy in the secular martial families steeped in worldly affairs?

When placed in a disadvantageous position in terms of interests, they were no different from unorthodox sects.

The Zhuge and Nangong spoke of being orthodox, but they didn't hesitate to do far crueler things than unorthodox sects for family profit.

Perhaps Changlim sending him to his side wasn't because his martial arts were lacking, but to teach him more about the conspiracies and schemes that ruled the martial world.

At least in Changlim's eyes, Cheonyeong was about the same age as Yu Seong-yeon, appearing as if he had experienced all sorts of hardships.

Wasn't he being raised to take responsibility for the Green Blue Sect's next generation from the beginning?

So he would let him be.

He was curious how this situation would be resolved.

And Beakta had told him not to cause trouble, not Yu Seong-yeon.

So there was no reason to stop someone who stepped forward unable to bear the injustice of the Nangong family's martial artists.

Unless it was to cheer him on.

"Ho? What's this action? Are you trying to stand against us?"

"Stand against? That's ridiculous! How can someone bearing the Nangong name not see his own faults and only blame others!"

"What?"

As Yu Seong-yeon spoke sternly, not only Yeo Yeon-gwang but all those who came with him turned cold.

It was probably the first time.

The Nangong name.

Though he was merely a patrol squad captain, in their territory he wielded power second to none, and everyone should have bowed and scraped, yet how could they easily accept a young martial artist they had never heard of speaking sternly?

"You insolent fool! Seeing you get angry without reason, it seems there's something you're hiding! If you won't reveal your identity, I'll find out by force."

"How barbaric! Fine. Go ahead and try! I want to know how great the Nangong name really is that you act this way!"

Seeing the Nangong family's martial artists, backed by the family's prestige, act so arrogantly, Yu Seong-yeon, thoroughly angered, took a firm stance, and the Nangong family's martial artists instantly surrounded him.

Unable to bear the sight, Cheonyeong spoke to Yeo Yeon-gwang.

"Listen."

"What? Are you going to add your strength as his ally?"

At Yeo Yeon-gwang's words, Cheonyeong smiled softly and shook his head.

Add strength? What strength could he add?

The opponent was the Green Blue Sect's senior disciple... could they even match him?

Cheonyeong had something else to say.

"Fight here?"

"What?"

"Look, see how the innkeeper's face has turned ashen?"

Cheonyeong gestured with his eyes toward the innkeeper below.

"We have no money to pay for damages. If things break, will the distinguished Nangong family's patrol squad captain pay for everything? Then let's do it here."

No matter how much they relied on the Nangong family's name, could they reasonably cause trouble at an inn?

"Come outside! I'll straighten out your habits once and for all!"

At Cheonyeong's words, after a brief moment of hesitation, Yeo Yeon-gwang turned sharply and shouted loudly.

It remained to be seen whose habits would be corrected.

Cheonyeong was already imagining them getting beaten and smearing the Nangong family's face.

(End of Chapter)