A feast was held in the grand halls of the Nangong family estate.

It was a joyous occasion celebrating the fulfillment of the family's long-held wish—Nangong Seon-yeong's recovery.

Music played merrily, and servants continuously brought wine and food.

"Tang Family Head, I express my gratitude for the great favor you have bestowed upon us."

As Nangong Hyeok filled a cup, held it with both hands, and offered it, Cheonyeong looked up in alarm.

"Elder, why do you do this?"

The Sword Emperor Nangong Hyeok.

He who had reigned as the absolute strongest in the eastern Central Plains was now bowing and offering a cup with both hands to a junior far below him. Was such a thing common?

It was also improper by etiquette.

"Elder, please set aside such formality. I find it difficult to accept. What will people think?"

"Hahaha! What does it matter what people think?"

At Nangong Hyeok's laughter, Cheonyeong grimaced and glanced around.

But only he was flustered.

The Nangong Family Head and even the elders of the Nangong family—none of them thought Nangong Hyeok's gesture was excessive. Rather, all wore warm smiles as they looked on.

"My, Father, your arm will fall off. Tang Family Head, please accept it."

Unable to bear it, Nangong Seong-lim urged, and Cheonyeong made an awkward expression.

"Tang Family Head. I am neither the previous family head who led the Nangong family, nor a senior of the martial world who dominated the Central Plains a generation ago."

"..."

"I am merely a grandfather who cannot help but be grateful to the benefactor who saved his granddaughter. Please do not refuse my gratitude."

As Nangong Hyeok bowed even more deeply, Beakta, sitting beside him, pouted and nudged his side.

"Hey! What are you doing? Are you going to let him stay like that?"

"..."

"Accept it. The Sword Emperor's wine. I'm jealous. Really."

"That's right, this is truly an incredible thing. Infinite Longevity and Fortune."

This bastard says his Taoist greeting at any time...

At Beakta's words, Yu Seong-yeon, who was beside him, also nodded with a serious expression.

The Sword Emperor's wine.

How hard could it be to accept?

Yet for some reason, he felt he shouldn't accept it.

It was because of Nangong Seon-yeong, who was sitting in a corner.

When he saved her at the Green Bamboo Pavilion, Cheonyeong had unintentionally seen her naked body.

Though it was unavoidable for treatment, it was a very important matter for a grown woman to show her naked body to a stranger.

Had he not already seen the eyes of Nangong Hyeok and the Family Head Nangong Seong-lim shining strangely when they heard the news?

Rather than blaming him, they seemed somehow pleased.

As if it were a good thing...

That's why he couldn't bring himself to accept the wine.

He felt that if they became closer here, they might become bound by a different relationship rather than just gratitude.

"Family Head, what are you thinking about? Everyone is watching. Please accept it quickly."

Even Byeon Gil-tae whispered in a small voice, so Cheonyeong had no choice but to accept the wine.

"Then I will accept it with gratitude, Elder."

When Cheonyeong finally accepted the cup after a long time, Nangong Hyeok's face brightened, and the atmosphere of the feast continued merrily.

Fortunately, the words he had worried about were not exchanged.

Was it a needless misunderstanding?

I see. It seems I was overthinking when the person giving the rice cake hadn't even thought of it.

Well, then it's fine.

Isn't it truly fortunate?

The journey to Anhui.

He had gained much.

He met Byeon Gil-tae, one of the descendants of the Eight Immortals, and took him in as a family member.

And in the process of capturing the Manggongbaek, he reached the Strong Bow stage, and his Samyang Divine Skill made a leap forward.

Though he hadn't used it yet to see how much, he felt infinite strength in his clenched fist.

It felt as if anything were possible.

And above all, he had become close friends with the Nangong family.

He was at a point where he had nothing to fear.

"Then, is it time to step forward in earnest?"

Cheonyeong drained his cup with a mysterious smile.

The reason he had avoided fighting Jingagu until now was because he felt he wasn't ready yet.

In the past, the experience of meeting death through their pursuit was vivid.

He thought that a great calamity might strike the Tang Family in a fight with them.

But what about now?

He could fight.

Even in an all-out war, he would be able to settle the score with them.

Rather, it was for the best.

Guangdong and Guangxi. Byeon Gil-tae said to call the descendants of the Eight Immortals there to the Tang Family. He said they would come if the news was delivered.

If the Nangong family moves and the Beggar Gang moves, there's no way Jingagu won't know.

They will also learn that he is at the center of it.

Then he would not hide.

He would transition everything that had been done in secret to public. So that Jingagu would come to the Tang Family looking for him.

Cheonyeong, who had changed his mind, spoke to Nangong Hyeok.

"Elder."

"What is it?"

"I have a request."

"A request?!"

Suddenly, Nangong Hyeok's eyes shone, filled with anticipation.

"Speak! What kind of request is it?"

His expression said he would grant anything. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"It's about a certain person."

"Who is it? Do I need to kill them? What kind of fellow is it? No! Just say the word, whoever it is. I'll mobilize all of the Nangong family's strength to tear their limbs apart!"

At Nangong Hyeok's somewhat excessive enthusiasm, Cheonyeong smiled and spoke about the descendant of the Eight Immortals he had found in Guangdong.

"It's a person named Yeon Wi-heon who lives in Guangdong."

"Yeon Wi-heon?"

"Yes, the Beggar Gang already knows his location, so could you send the Nangong family's most outstanding martial artists to escort him to the Tang Family?"

"Is an escort needed?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, to select the most outstanding martial artists... you mean there shouldn't be even a small scratch on him?"

"There are those who are targeting him."

"Hmm."

After a moment's thought, Nangong Hyeok nodded powerfully.

"Understood, I will go personally."

"Yes? You personally, Elder?"

"Of course! Didn't you want the Nangong family's most outstanding martial artist? That's me!"

"Ah, that's true, but that's not what I meant. The Changtian Commander should be enough..."

"Changtian Commander? Of course they must go!"

"Yes?"

"Didn't you say there shouldn't be a scratch?"

"That's true."

"Don't worry. I will personally lead the Changtian Commander to Guangdong, escort the person named Yeon Wi-heon, and go to Sichuan."

"..."

The matter had grown large.

Somehow, Yeon Wi-heon, the descendant of the Eight Immortals staying in Guangdong, would receive the escort of the strongest martial artist in the eastern Central Plains.

"Rather, it's for the best. I was already very curious about the Tang Family in Sichuan because of you."

"Haha, thank you. If you come, I will treat you to fine wine."

"Of course! I'm already looking forward to it!"

Nangong Hyeok answered powerfully and turned his head toward Nangong Seong-hwi.

"Changtian Commander!"

"Yes! Father!"

"Right now! Fifty of the most outstanding martial artists from the Changtian Commander—no, no. For the sword formation to be perfect, there must be a hundred."

"..."

"As soon as dawn breaks, summon the entire Changtian Commander! I will personally select a hundred and go to Guangdong!"

"Yes! I will make preparations."

Receiving the order, Nangong Seong-hwi stopped eating and rushed off.

"Secondary Family Head!"

"Yes! Grandfather!"

"Go and bring my sword! I must sharpen my blade tonight!"

"Understood!"

At Nangong Hyeok's command, the Nangong family suddenly became busy.

Wait, why already?

The feast hasn't even ended yet.

"Ah, right! Family Head."

"Yes, Father."

"I saw earlier that the Tang Family Head lost his sword to the Manggongbaek's poison."

"I saw it too."

"How can we stay idle when the sword of the one who bestowed a great favor on the family is damaged?"

"We cannot stay idle! I will go to the treasury immediately and see if there's a usable sword."

"Usable? That won't do! Bring the best one among them!"

"Of course! I'll go right away."

Even the Family Head left.

During the feast...

Due to Nangong Hyeok's active stance, the seats were suddenly empty.

I should have mentioned it tomorrow morning.

Cheonyeong, smiling awkwardly, looked at Beakta and Yu Seong-yeon and said.

"Myeongson."

"Why?"

"You go with Seong-yeon and bring the person in Guangxi."

"Us?"

"Yes."

"Hmm."

As Beakta pondered for a moment and waved his hand, a figure nimbly jumped over the Nangong family's wall.

It was Yamyeo, the secret shadow Beakta employed.

He seemed to have been watching the interior all along.

Even so, to jump over someone else's wall without permission.

But no one in the Nangong family seemed to care.

"Did you call, Successor Beggar?"

The person who quickly approached Beakta and knelt was someone Cheonyeong also knew well.

It was the person he had seen at Dongting Lake before.

"Hwan-dong."

"Yes!"

"Summon all the Yamyeo staying near Anhui Province."

"All of them?"

"Of course, the Sword Emperor is selecting a hundred from the Changtian Commander, so we can't fall behind, can we?"

"Hmm, would two hundred be enough? Should I gather all the kids near Guangxi Province as well?"

At Hwan-dong's answer after a moment's thought, Cheonyeong couldn't hide his bewilderment.

T-Two hundred?

Is this bastard going to war?

But perhaps conscious of the Nangong family, Beakta glanced at Nangong Hyeok and said.

"That should be enough. The target is Guangxi, Guihang Village. Since the Nangong family says they'll depart as soon as dawn breaks..."

"I'll have them depart immediately."

"Good! Escort the person named Jeon Yang of Guangxi Province and arrive at the Tang Family in Sichuan before the Nangong family."

At Beakta's words, Nangong Hyeok stared with wide eyes.

"What? Successor Beggar! How can you be so cowardly?"

"Cowardly? There was no set time for when to depart in the first place. And Guangxi is much further. Of course we should depart first."

"That cannot be! Our Nangong family will be first in this matter!"

"We will never lose."

Cheonyeong looked at the two burning with competitiveness with a bewildered expression.

Wait, is this something to fight about?

Why are they competing over something like this?

It's truly useless pride.

"Sigh, really."

Cheonyeong shook his head with a sigh.

Anyway, it seemed they would be moving on a large scale unexpectedly. Both the Nangong family and the Beggar Gang.

If such a large number of people move, rumors are bound to spread.

No, rather, it's better for rumors to spread. So that Jingagu knows all of this and targets him from now on.

Secrecy?

He had done enough of that.

Now that he understood their purpose to some degree, he would eliminate them as they came—no, he would go directly and wipe them out.

Whether it was Jingagu or whoever was behind them.

"Jin Gu-myeong's expression will be worth seeing."

Before long, the feast ended, and Cheonyeong returned to the quarters the Nangong family had prepared separately.

And Nangong Hyeok, who remained at the feast, spoke to Nangong Seon-yeong, who had said nothing until now.

"Yeong."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"How do you feel?"

"Yes?"

"About that man called Cheonyeong Tang."

At the mention of Cheonyeong's name, Nangong Seon-yeong's face flushed.

He was the benefactor who saved her life, and the man who first saw her naked body.

"I..."

"There is no doubt he is a good fellow. If it were up to me, I would want to make him my grandson-in-law immediately."

"Grandfather."

"Do not worry. I do not wish to force your choice over such a matter, so I have given him no hints."

"..."

"However, observe from the side and make your judgment."

"..."

"You also prepare. Come with me to Guangdong, and then we shall go to Sichuan together."

"Yes."

Nangong Seon-yeong answered softly, her face flushed, and Nangong Hyeok wore a pleased smile.

How could he interfere in matters of the heart between man and woman?

But if they were to be bound together...

"Hehehehe."

Nangong Hyeok simply laughed, his thoughts unclear.

(End of Chapter)