In the deepest part of the Nangong family estate, located near Huangshan, there was a vast bamboo forest.

As if unrelated to the Nangong family, it stood apart distinctly.

Within that forest stood an unremarkable tiled cottage that people called the Green Bamboo Pavilion.

Over long years, the tiles had faded to a clear gray, and grass sprouted thickly in the gaps between joints.

Moreover, the earthen walls were patched in places, giving it a shabby appearance.

Compared to all the grand halls filling the Nangong estate, it was far too humble.

However, the Green Bamboo Pavilion was one of the most important places to the Nangong family and the most auspicious.

The place where the founder, Nangong Huang, first established the family's base beneath Huangshan.

In other words, it was where the Nangong family originated.

Thus, they maintained it while preserving its original appearance.

They kept it exactly as it was when the Nangong family was born, to reflect on their original intent.

* * *

"Alas, this is all because of you. There are plenty of fine halls, yet you choose the Green Bamboo Pavilion?"

As Beakta continuously grumbled, Yu Seong-yeon smiled and replied.

"Why? I find the green bamboo swaying in the wind quite pleasant. I can feel the old charm of the Nangong family."

"What's the difference?"

Who said it?

The sister-in-law who dissuades is more hateful.

"Shut up, you horse-faced fool! What do you know, having lived in the mountains?"

"Wh-What? Horse-faced?"

"Why? Did I say something wrong? You know nothing of worldly affairs, not even a speck."

"Th-This!"

Not only was he disrespected in front of Cheonyeong, whom he admired, but he also heard a disparaging expression about Taoists. Yu Seong-yeon's face flushed and he reacted irritably.

"You beggar? How dare you."

"What? What's this?"

"Why? Did I say something wrong? You're a beggar, aren't you?"

"Who's a beggar! It's been ages since I begged!"

"Your nature cannot be abandoned. Infinite Buddha!"

"Don't attach Buddhist invocations at random!"

"Hmph! It's my choice?"

"You brat! You're so young yet you talk back every time? Want to fight?"

As Beakta glared, Yu Seong-yeon stood his ground.

"Ho? Have you forgotten? I am the champion of the Janginjihoe. Ah, come to think of it, you lost to me then, didn't you?"

"What?"

"Seeing you provoke me like this, it seems your skills were a bit lacking?"

"You rascal! That day I went easy on you!"

"Ah, so that's how it was. I thought you were doing your best. Well, let's leave it at that."

"What? I held back because I was helping the Green Blue Sect! Fight! Right now!"

"Yes! Let's fight! Who would be afraid?"

As they rolled up their sleeves and stood up, Cheonyeong sighed.

"You two, take it easy. Don't you know why I chose the Green Bamboo Pavilion? Stop complaining from the side. You're making it hard for me to concentrate."

"Why the reason! What concentration! Why did you ask for secrecy in the first place? What crime did we commit?"

"That is correct. Good deeds should be proclaimed to all. Only then will the world know of the Tang Family Head's reputation, should it not?"

The two who had been bickering suddenly looked at Cheonyeong and shouted in unison, as if conspiring.

"Hmm."

Cheonyeong's brow furrowed, and he set down the object he had been carefully working on.

"Sigh... fine. What need is there for words between martial artists?"

"Huh?"

"Yes?"

At the sudden change in atmosphere, Yu Seong-yeon and Beakta flinched.

"The champion of the Janginjihoe, you say?"

At Cheonyeong's gaze, Yu Seong-yeon jumped in alarm and took a step back.

"You held back your strength?"

"Ah, no, that's not..."

As Cheonyeong glared with narrowed eyes, Beakta even broke into a cold sweat.

"How? Are you itching for a fight? Since you brought it up, shall I take on both of you? I've been curious about this new strength anyway."

At Cheonyeong's words, the two who had been bickering moments before closed their mouths as if they had never fought, exchanged glances, and began to laugh nervously.

Had it been before, there might have been some possibility if they joined forces.

Now it was unthinkable.

The gap had already become insurmountable.

Even the Sword Emperor acknowledged him. What strength could they possibly have?

Above all, since Cheonyeong entered a new realm, his gaze was distinctly different from usual.

Just looking at him made one's body shrink?

"It was just a small quarrel."

"Right, very trivial. Yes, trivial indeed. What we meant was to settle the score with arm wrestling, something like that."

As Yu Seong-yeon and Beakta hastily made excuses, Cheonyeong, suppressing a smile, looked at them with disdain.

"Seong-yeon."

"Yes?"

"Why don't you head back?"

"..."

"If you're just going to waste time quarreling, don't follow me around."

"No, I... I won't do that again."

Yu Seong-yeon bowed his head and answered dejectedly.

"Beakta."

"Huh?"

"Is it uncomfortable here?"

"It's not exactly uncomfortable, more like there are slightly more comfortable places elsewhere, that's all."

"Aren't you a beggar?"

"I am a beggar."

"Isn't the essence of the Successor Beggar to live freely with the sky as ceiling and earth as floor?"

"That's true, but..."

"If the Green Bamboo Pavilion suffices, be grateful. Why so many complaints? They provide meals and even station guard martial artists to protect you thoroughly. If you truly find it uncomfortable, you can go to a nearby Successor Beggar branch. Why the fighting?"

"No, I just..."

"Want to leave?"

"Come to think of it, it's not uncomfortable at all. Yes, this is practically a palace, a palace."

Beakta quickly changed his words while scratching his head, and Cheonyeong alternated his gaze between the embarrassed Beakta and the dejected Yu Seong-yeon.

These fellows...

They should have known better.

Making him say such things.

But Cheonyeong also understood Beakta's feelings.

How could he not know?

That the Nangong estate was filled with fine halls and comfortable sleeping quarters.

Still, it could not be helped.

Cheonyeong looked at the boxes piled high in one corner of the Green Bamboo Pavilion's courtyard.

These were the byproducts of the Manggongbaek dismantled on the mountain.

Teeth, bones, skin—everything.

Of course, the fist-sized poison pouch was stored separately.

How concentrated must be the poison that the great creature had exhaled, now contained in such a small pouch?

If it leaked even once, it could kill many people.

That is why Cheonyeong had requested it first.

The most secretive place in the Nangong family.

A place where even the family members could not freely enter.

That place was the Green Bamboo Pavilion.

The fact that they unhesitatingly gave the Green Bamboo Pavilion, where the family's history began, showed how precious a guest they considered him to be.

Then it was only natural to be grateful.

Yet such complaints...

Moreover, they tried to fight in such a precious place.

The future of the Green Blue Sect and the Successor Beggar was truly evident.

"These are amusing friends, are they not?"

Byeon Gil-tae beside him smiled warmly, looking at the two.

"Amusing? They lack common sense."

"Hahaha. Family Head, to describe the senior disciple and the Successor Beggar that way. What would people say if they heard?"

"What would they say? I'm just speaking the truth. Anyway, how is your progress, Senior Brother?"

"Still..."

"If you have questions, ask anytime. I'll teach you thoroughly."

"Yes, Family Head."

Byeon Gil-tae nodded and, looking at the object Cheonyeong had set down, asked.

"But how will you work with the Manggongbaek's scales? What are you making?"

"Oh, this? I'm thinking of using them as hidden projectiles."

Cheonyeong looked at the Manggongbaek scales he had been working on and smiled.

Just looking at them gleaming with silver light was pleasant.

Imagine processing scales that not even sword energy could scratch into hidden projectiles.

How many people in this Central Plains could stop them?

He had already named them.

Since the Manggongbaek was great enough to become a dragon, it should rightfully be called by a grand name.

Thus, Great Python Scale.

It would become his signature weapon in the future.

"It is unexpected."

"What is?"

"You could use other martial arts, yet you choose hidden projectile techniques that invite people's criticism..."

"What does it matter what people say?"

"Yes?"

"I don't care about that. I use what is most effective in fighting enemies."

"Most effective?"

"Of course. What could be better for neutralizing enemies? Plus, attacking from a distance increases survival rate."

"Hmm."

"People's opinions matter less than my followers not dying."

"I see."

"Later, I'll teach you too. Since you've become part of the Tang Family, you should naturally know hidden projectile techniques."

At Cheonyeong's grinning expression, Byeon Gil-tae smiled softly.

Hidden projectile techniques are called the martial arts of the weak.

They are also said to be dishonorable and sinister.

Thus, people regard them only as a last resort for survival and do not openly practice them as their main technique.

But Cheonyeong's thinking is different.

Protecting, surviving—these are the top priorities.

When you think about it, there is no better martial art than that.

Moreover, Byeon Gil-tae had already seen Cheonyeong's hidden projectile techniques.

They were not used in hiding but deployed openly, and his projectiles were neither cowardly nor sinister.

Rather, they were wondrous.

"By the way, what should we do?"

Byeon Gil-tae, who had been lost in thought, snapped back at Cheonyeong's voice.

"Yes? About what?"

"We need to go to Guangdong and Guangxi, but we can't carry all this, and these are precious items so we can't send them through a courier service."

"How will you go to Guangdong and Guangxi?"

"There are descendants of the Samyang there too."

"Yes?"

"You didn't know?"

"That is so. We do not communicate with each other."

"I told you before? That some people are targeting the Samyang."

"Yes."

"I'm investigating through the Successor Beggar and there are no signs yet... but I'm uneasy about it."

"Hmm, then why not summon them to the Tang Family in Sichuan?"

"Summon them?"

"Yes."

"..."

"Since you're already investigating through the Successor Beggar, convey your intentions to them."

"Hmm, convey my intentions?"

"Yes."

"Will they come?"

"They will come. If they have continued the predecessor's will like I have."

At Byeon Gil-tae's words, Cheonyeong nodded.

Byeon Gil-tae had wanted to verify him. After that, he was prepared to give his life to keep the secret.

So that only one person would inherit the Samyang.

That was the will they had passed down through generations.

"Fine, let's say they come. But as I said before, there are people targeting us. If they're ambushed on the way to Sichuan, it would be troublesome. I'm still anxious about it."

"Hahaha! Family Head."

"Huh?"

"Why do you not use what you already hold in your hand and instead move yourself?"

"What I hold in my hand?"

"Yes."

"What is that?"

"Did the Sword Emperor not say?"

"Huh?"

"That he would help with anything?"

"Ah!"

At Byeon Gil-tae's words, Cheonyeong exclaimed.

Why hadn't he thought of that?

The Sword Emperor Nangong Hyeok, he could receive his help.

If the Sword Emperor moves, the Nangong family's main martial artists will follow like guards.

Jingagu?

What could they possibly do against the Sword Emperor?

Yes, he said he would repay the favor. I just need to give him the opportunity.

And those two.

Cheonyeong glanced at Yu Seong-yeon and Beakta.

Looking at them today, they're the type to fight over nothing when they have nothing to do.

He had done things for them before, so who would complain about putting them to work?

Moreover, wasn't it possible that Jingagu's backer was the Demonic Cult?

The Samyang must not fall into their hands.

In other words, searching for the Samyang was, broadly speaking, the same as protecting the Central Plains' peace. So it was only natural for the Successor Beggar and Green Blue Sect to step forward.

They would protect the Central Plains' peace, and he would gain the descendants of the Samyang.

"Kekeke, Senior Brother."

"Yes?"

"You're smarter than you look."

"Ah, well. Hahaha!"

"Good! Then there's no need to hesitate. I'll go find them and ask right away."

"Do so."

Though called Family Head, Byeon Gil-tae, praised by the younger Cheonyeong, laughed awkwardly.

It was at that moment that Cheonyeong stood up from his seat.

"Tang Family Head! Tang Family Head!"

A young man they had never seen before had come to the Green Bamboo Pavilion.

(End of Chapter)