The old man, Jin Gumyeong's, eyes trembled minutely.

A small medicine bottle, shattered to pieces.

And the pungent smoke rising from within it.

"Even Jin Samhyeon…"

Two more High Heavenly Ghosts had died. They were the ones who had gone to Anhui in search of the descendants of the Eight Immortals.

Jin Gumyeong's hand rummaged through the papers piled on the table.

He picked one up, unfolded it, and read.

It was a message sent by Jin Samhyeon.

Tang Cheonyeong has met Byeon Gil-tae, the descendant of the Eight Immortals. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

His eyes trembled minutely at the short content.

Tang Cheonyeong…

He had interfered in their affairs again.

From the death of the Special Grade Zishu, who had gone to find the young lord of the Gongson Family of Dongting Lake, to the Qingcheng Craftsmen's Guild, and now.

Four High Heavenly Ghosts had died in that time.

The deaths of the Special Grade and auxiliary assassins were too numerous to count.

It wasn't that their deaths weighed on his mind. It was just that Tang Cheonyeong had been in every situation, and the Jingagu had failed in its task.

Biting his lip and narrowing his eyes, Jin Gumyeong crumpled the paper in his hand.

The events that had occurred so far flashed through his mind, and the figure of Tang Cheonyeong fit into the gaps.

And he reached a single conclusion.

"It means it's not a coincidence."

It was intentional.

He didn't know why Tang Cheonyeong was interfering in their affairs, but the fact that he knew a lot about the Jingagu was now close to a certainty.

When he first learned of the Tang Family, a rural martial arts clan from Ganyang, Sichuan, he had scoffed.

Considering them insignificant.

Weren't they just a small, newly established family?

What could a young lord, who had just shed his immaturity, possibly do?

He had thought so and ignored them.

That ignorance had returned as failure.

That neglect was now becoming an obstacle to their great cause.

In just a few years.

The Tang Family had firmly embedded its name in Sichuan and was continuing to grow.

The name Tang Cheonyeong was being talked about all over the Central Plains.

On the other hand, they had repeatedly failed in their tasks, and not only were they being chased by the martial world of the Central Plains, but their cells had been smashed.

So they cut their tail and hid in the shadows.

"A mistake."

A faint killing intent appeared in Jin Gumyeong's eyes.

In the calm, cold anger, the candle flame that lit the room flickered and shrank as if it would go out, even though there was not a breath of wind.

It must not be revealed.

The reason they had considered hiding the organization to be of utmost importance was because the Demonic Cult was behind it.

Of course, it was a fact that only he, the Lord of Assassins, and the High Heavenly Ghosts knew.

The Jingagu, an assassin organization created by the Demonic Cult.

They had established their base in the Qilian Mountains of Gansu, closest to the lands of the Demonic Cult, and had existed for hundreds of years.

The Jingagu had gone through several generations of Lords of Assassins to reach his generation, and had carried out countless contracts.

The client was always the Demonic Cult.

The targets, determined by secret orders in a secret code, did not distinguish between the righteous and the unorthodox, but the goal was the same.

Those who were at the center of the Central Plains' martial world, or those who would grow to be at the center.

From newborn babies, to boys who showed outstanding talent, to those who had built up prestige in both the righteous and unorthodox factions through a long life in the martial world.

Reasons for the contracts were fabricated even if there were none, and were packaged as someone's venomous grudge.

The place of death, the reason for death, the method of killing—none were ever the same.

Because they were all meticulously planned to avoid leaving a trail.

For hundreds of years, the Jingagu's number one goal was to erase their tracks.

Because the organization must not be revealed and its backer exposed…

But all those efforts were about to turn to dust.

Because of Tang Cheonyeong, who had suddenly started to directly interfere in their affairs.

The man had found out about the organization and was grabbing it by the roots and shaking it.

If that were all, he would have temporarily retreated and hidden.

Even if the organization suffered damage, it was more rational to lie low and watch for an opportunity than to get their tail stepped on while fighting him.

But the man had come in too deep.

"Samyang Divine Art."

The man seemed to know something he shouldn't.

The true purpose for which the Jingagu was founded.

To find the martial art left behind by a certain figure who stood in opposition to the Demonic Cult, for his friends, the Eight Immortals.

It was what their master wanted.

Tang Cheonyeong had laid his hands on something he absolutely should not have touched.

Crumpling the message, Jin Gumyeong slowly stood up.

It was time to correct the mistake.

It was something that should not be revealed to the world, but now it couldn't be helped.

He would erase the Tang Family.

In the process, the Jingagu would reveal itself to the world, but it would be forgiven.

If he returned with the secret manual of the Samyang Divine Art that Tang Cheonyeong had secured.

He didn't need all eight volumes possessed by the descendants of the Eight Immortals.

Just one volume.

What they needed to have was just one volume.

Because their master did not need the Samyang, but wanted to prepare against it.

"…I have no choice but to make up for the mistake, even now."

He had looked down on him and his family too much and had neglected them, and that had created the current situation.

Now, he would turn that back to the beginning.

By annihilating the Tang Family.

"Hyeon."

"Yes, Lord of Assassins."

At Jin Gumyeong's call, a shadow popped out of the darkness and knelt.

"Has there been no word from Guangxi and Guangdong?"

"It seems the beggars of the Beggars' Sect are guarding and watching the target's surroundings, so it is not easy to approach."

"That would be the case."

A chilling smile appeared on Jin Gumyeong's lips.

This too was Tang Cheonyeong's doing.

He already knew of his relationship with the Beggars' Sect.

The man knew about the descendants of the Eight Immortals and was moving the Beggars' Sect to block their approach.

Also, according to Jin Samhyeon's last report, the successor of the Beggars' Sect and the monster of the Namgung Family, Sword Emperor Namgung Hyeok, had each left for Guangxi and Guangdong through different paths, as if competing.

The assassins would not be able to obtain it.

Especially since even Jin Obyeong, who was supposed to go to Guangdong, was dead.

"Tang Cheonyeong, it must be you. Everything must be you, predicting our movements and making a move in advance."

He must not overreach to obtain it.

Because he had to strive for perfection.

If he failed, he would never be able to return, and would have to bury his bones in the Central Plains.

Was it said that if you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles?

The Jingagu had already fallen behind Tang Cheonyeong.

He seemed to know about them, but they did not know Tang Cheonyeong properly.

But it didn't matter.

How Tang Cheonyeong came to know about the Jingagu, and how he knew of the existence of the Eight Immortals, was not important.

What did it matter if he didn't know?

The Tang Family.

He would strike and crush them in one fell swoop.

He would concentrate all of the Jingagu's forces, except for those who would guard the main base, on the Tang Family and annihilate them all.

"Relay the message."

"Give the order."

"The forces in Guangdong and Guangxi are to move to the Tang Family in Sichuan immediately and wait."

"…"

"Also, relay this. Send all of the main mountain's Special Grades to Sichuan. High Heavenly Ghost Jin Palhyo will lead, and Jin Sagung and Jin Yukseong will assist. The target is the Samyang. Capture Byeon Gil-tae alive and annihilate all the family members of the Tang Family, including the lord. Tell them not to leave a single ant alive in the Tang Family."

"Understood."

The man called Hyeon bowed his head and melted back into the darkness.

"Tang Cheonyeong… I underestimated you too much. I admit it was a mistake. But, with this, I will correct my mistake."

In the darkness where the candle had been extinguished by the killing intent.

Jin Gumyeong's eyes shone sharply as he thought of one person.

* * *

Arriving at Dongting Lake, Cheonyeong gathered a few people.

The Tang Family's Dongting Branch Head, Tang Yongcheon, Gongson Family Lord Gongson Seung, and the Beggars' Sect's Dongting Lake South Branch Head, Oh Neunggae.

And.

"Hahat! This is rather embarrassing."

River Lord Nam Gwangro, having been invited by the Tang Family, came and burst into a hearty laugh.

Well, it was understandable.

It wasn't a common occurrence for the leader of water bandits to brazenly visit another's family and show his face.

"I have heard much of the River Lord's fame. I am Lee Gangyeong of the Namgung Family."

"Oh! The one who leads the Thunderclap Brigade?"

"My, you even know my name. It is an honor."

Thunderclap Brigade Leader Lee Gangyeong greeted him warmly, feigning acquaintance.

He had felt it before, but perhaps due to the influence of Namgung Hyeok, who had an open mind about the distinction between the righteous and unorthodox, the warriors of the Namgung Family did not treat even water bandits with contempt.

"But why have you called us?"

Of course, it seemed Oh Neunggae was not the same.

His displeasure was evident, as if he found it awkward to sit and share a drink with the water bandit leader he had been confronting all this time.

"I need your help."

"Help?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"You must have heard that the successor has gone to Guangxi."

"Yes, that Lord Tang had an urgent request… I heard it was for the sake of the martial world."

"That is correct."

"Then, the fact that you need our help is also?"

"For the sake of the Central Plains' martial world."

When Tang Cheonyeong said it as if it were obvious, Oh Neunggae nodded.

All of this was, of course, for the sake of the Central Plains' martial world.

It was about the assassin organization Jingagu, which had been disturbing the world, and he had also confirmed that the Demonic Cult was behind them.

"Even the River Lord…"

"It's Chokryong."

"…"

"Why do you keep bringing up my old title when you gave it to me yourself? I am a man reborn after receiving the name Chokryong."

Nam Gwangro pointedly corrected him.

"Yes, in any case, the reason I have gathered even Great Hero Chokryong like this is because it is for the sake of the Central Plains' martial world. The distinction between righteous and unorthodox is not necessary in protecting the Central Plains."

"Ah…"

At Cheonyeong's words, Oh Neunggae let out a sound of realization and spoke.

His face flushed slightly, as if the words that the distinction between righteous and unorthodox was not necessary in protecting the Central Plains were pointing out his own attitude.

"Ahem, but if it is a matter so important as to gather the righteous and unorthodox in one place, shouldn't the headquarters…"

At Oh Neunggae's words, Cheonyeong shook his head.

Would it be alright for the headquarters to step in directly?

The situation was already ripe for rumors to spread in the martial world.

Putting aside Baekta, it wasn't a common occurrence for the Sword Emperor to lead the Azure Sky Brigade to Guangdong.

That much couldn't be helped.

But the Beggars' Sect headquarters must not rise up.

If they stepped in, the Cheongcheon Alliance would surely intervene directly, and beyond the issue of the Jingagu, the name Samyang Divine Art could become known to the world.

There would be an overflow of those who would feel greed.

Perhaps even the Cheongcheon Alliance…

Would they tolerate him possessing a martial art that was significant enough for the Demonic Cult to intervene?

That part had to remain a secret.

He might have no choice but to receive help, but this had to be known only as the subjugation of the Jingagu.

"We are still at a stage where it must be kept secret."

"Secret?"

"Yes, Oh Neunggae, you must also know that I have been chasing an assassin organization for a long time."

"Of course. Isn't this a matter the Cheongcheon Alliance is directly moving on now? And the successor is taking the lead in exterminating them."

"That is correct."

"Don't tell me? Because of them? Then, the successor leaving for Guangxi is also?"

"It is not unrelated."

Oh Neunggae nodded with a serious face.

"I see."

"But what would happen if the headquarters found out and rumors spread in the martial world?"

"Are you perhaps worried that they will cover their tracks?"

"Yes, don't they say 'beating the grass to startle the snake'?"

"But won't rumors have already spread to them due to the successor and the Sword Emperor going to Guangxi and Guangdong…"

"That's fine."

"Pardon?"

"I was attacked on the way here."

"Attacked? No, why would they? They wouldn't be unaware of the presence of the Namgung Family's warriors…"

"What! What crazy bastards attacked you! I'll immediately!"

Oh Neunggae, who had been prying, stared with a dumbfounded expression at Nam Gwangro, who cut off his words and went on a rampage.

"River Lord, that is my role."

"Huh?"

"Ahem! What crazy bastard! Attacked you? You son of a bitch! Where are they? Those bastards!"

Yongcheon, who had calmed Nam Gwangro down, cleared his throat and shouted like a thunderbolt.

But was there a set person to get angry?

Anyway, sometimes he couldn't understand Yongcheon.

But it was a relief.

Thanks to the two of them stepping up, it seemed Oh Neunggae would not pry any further.

As for the descendants of the Eight Immortals living in Guangxi and Guangdong, he wouldn't have to worry since trustworthy people had gone.

The problem was the Tang Family.

They would know by now.

That he was intentionally interfering with the Jingagu.

And that the Samyang was in his hands.

In a situation where he didn't know what they would do, he now had to protect the Tang Family.

(End of Chapter)