The Tang Family, which had been crouching for about a month, moved swiftly.

The Five Great Families.

The words Namgung Hyeok had left behind made Cheonyeong look at the future of his family once again.

The Namgung of Anhui, the Zhuge of Hubei, the Peng of Hebei, the Hwangbo of Shandong, and even the Murong of the distant Liaodong.

They were all families that represented their respective regions and had a great influence on the martial world.

It would be nice to have them all under his feet someday, but for now, standing shoulder to shoulder with them was the priority.

So, the first plan he established was the conquest of Sichuan.

Cheonyeong first emptied the main house.

Gongson Seung had once said.

To give the five family members with the Tang surname a chance to grow as well.

He was right.

The Tang Family had to grow.

Not just himself, but all the family members had to grow. Also, they had to become stronger faster than others.

To do that, they had to learn not by slowly learning, but by clashing with reality.

Since he had already sent Yongcheon out as the Dongting Lake Branch Head, he drew up a new plan.

He left Sanghui at the main house.

Because the still young baby needed its mother.

He left Chengdu to Chunil, who had been the branch head until then.

Because he had done well so far.

He sent Baekgang to the Naegang ferry, and sent Hwangsam down as the branch head of the Ongjin ferry.

All the family members were split up.

The order he gave them was one.

Each of you will take charge of a different branch, manage it, and increase its people, wealth, and influence.

And he filled the empty main house with those who were not of the Tang surname.

He made No Gwanyeong the Great Elder, and made Danya, An Chilgang, and Jang Ilseok, who had been the masters of each hall, elders.

The three newly accepted senior brothers were each appointed as the branch family lords, succeeding Gongson Family Lord.

Thanks to tearing apart the Green and Blue Martial Brigades, which had been raised so far, and sending them to each branch, only the Hoyeon Brigade, composed of trainees, remained in the Tang Family.

The Tang Family felt desolate and empty.

So, he was going to start filling it up from now on.

The Black Heaven Gate was the beginning.

* * *

"Welcome."

At the welcoming words as he stood up, the guest from the Black Heaven Gate's Geumdang branch frowned at Cheonyeong.

Since he had thrown a large stone into a perfectly fine situation, it was only natural that he would be displeased.

But the Black Heaven Gate warrior, who had turned his head with an arrogant expression, carefully examined the person standing behind Cheonyeong.

Soon, recognizing No Gwanyeong, he was startled and bowed his head.

"No, isn't it Sir No Gwanyeong?"

"…"

"Hwang Jabok, of the Black Heaven Gate's Geumdang branch, greets Sir No Gwanyeong."

At Hwang Jabok's greeting, No Gwanyeong frowned.

A warrior of Sichuan.

Moreover, the warriors of the unorthodox faction tended to respect No Gwanyeong very much.

So it was natural to greet him upon seeing his face.

But it was a foolish act.

"Ahem! It seems your eyes are quite dim."

"Pardon?"

When Hwang Jabok tilted his head, unable to understand at once, No Gwanyeong showed his anger and was about to introduce Cheonyeong.

"I'll do it."

Cheonyeong, who raised his hand to stop No Gwanyeong, smiled at Hwang Jabok and bowed his head first.

"I am the Lord of the Tang Family, Tang Cheonyeong."

"Tang… pardon? The Lord of the Tang Family?"

He couldn't help but be surprised with wide-open eyes.

This man?

The rumored lord?

Hwang Jabok, who was seeing Tang Cheonyeong for the first time, stared in bewilderment for a long time.

He had heard he was young, but wasn't he too young?

To say that he had saved Green Blue Sect at the Craftsmen's Guild, gone alone to defeat No Gwanyeong, and brought down the Green Servant Sect.

Weren't there one or two rumors about him?

He was said to be a giant of eight feet tall, with a muscular body and innate divine strength, and a man with a snake-like, cunning appearance who was bright in schemes.

But he was young and handsome.

And he had a slender yet sturdy physique.

"Why? Is there a problem?"

"Pardon?"

"No, you were staring at my face so intently, and even looking me up and down."

"The rumors are… ah, no. Hwang Jabok of the Black Heaven Gate's Geumdang branch greets the Lord of the Tang Family."

Flustered by Cheonyeong's smile, Hwang Jabok even knelt and bowed his head.

"I apologize. I did not think the Lord would be here, so I failed to recognize you and made a mistake."

Hwang Jabok had no choice but to apologize for greeting No Gwanyeong first.

No matter how high No Gwanyeong's name was in Sichuan, he was already a person of the Tang Family, and that name was by no means higher than the Lord's.

"It's alright. It can happen. But, I'm curious as to why your esteemed family wanted to see the Tang Family."

"Ah, that is."

Hwang Jabok, surprised by the unexpected person, made a troubled face.

It was a message that would have been no problem if it were just a branch head dispatched from the Tang Family, but it was difficult to deliver it directly to the Lord.

-Withdraw the Tang Family's branch immediately.

It was what the branch head had told him to convey.

In vulgar terms, it meant to get lost.

How could he deliver that directly to the Lord? And with No Gwanyeong here too.

"Why? Is there a problem?"

"No, that's not it…"

With not only the Lord but also No Gwanyeong, one of the Ten Talents of Sichuan, present, a cold sweat ran down his back.

How was he supposed to say this?

"Please speak. I will listen attentively."

And despite the huge difference in their status, he was even polite.

After a long period of deliberation, Hwang Jabok said in a barely audible voice.

"Um, that is…"

"Hey! The Lord is waiting, isn't he? Why are you dawdling so much!"

"No, that's…"

As No Gwanyeong's voice rose, Hwang Jabok, who was about to open his mouth, shrank even more.

Damn it!

Why did he have to catch the branch head's eye and come to deliver such an order?

"Elder, why are you shouting? I was surprised."

"I apologize, Lord. It's just that this man is making us wait so long."

"Please step back."

"Yes."

When Cheonyeong frowned, No Gwanyeong bowed his head and stepped back, and Hwang Jabok could only swallow hard, unable to spit out the words lingering in his mouth.

"Warrior Hwang."

"Yes?"

"So, the message to be delivered is?"

"Th-our branch head… would like you to withdraw the Tang Family's branch…"

Hwang Jabok, with his neck shrunk, said in a barely audible voice, glancing at No Gwanyeong and Cheonyeong.

"Hmm, that's quite strange."

"Pardon?"

"It seems there has been some misunderstanding."

"Pardon? A misunderstanding?"

"Yes."

"What kind?"

"Please look around."

At Cheonyeong's words, Hwang Jabok, looking much more intimidated than when he first arrived, scanned the interior of the inn's second floor.

What on earth was he supposed to be looking at?

"Did you see?"

"Pardon?"

"This is an inn."

"Yes."

"I am saying that it is not a branch."

"Pardon?"

"It means that the Tang Family has only bought an inn in Geumdang County as part of its business expansion."

"Ah, that's."

"But you say it's a branch, so what is it if not a misunderstanding?"

At Cheonyeong's smile, Hwang Jabok just blinked his eyes.

"Hmm, it seems you don't quite understand. It can't be helped. Words originally change every time they pass from mouth to mouth. To clear up the misunderstanding, I will have to meet the branch head myself and speak to him."

"Pardon? Our branch head?"

"Hmm, now that I say it, I have made a big mistake."

"A mistake? What do you mean by that?"

"I came to Geumdang County and didn't even pay my respects to the Black Heaven Gate branch first, so isn't it my fault?"

"…"

"It seems the branch head has sent Warrior Hwang to point that out. Since I bought an inn and opened it without paying my respects."

"Pardon? That's not it."

At Cheonyeong's words, Hwang Jabok's expression hardened.

"Warrior Hwang."

"Yes?"

"Will you guide me to the branch head?"

"Y-you want to meet our branch head?"

"Of course. Since it has come to this, I must pay my respects and clear up the misunderstanding."

Cheonyeong, who stood up with a smile, spoke to No Gwanyeong.

"Elder."

"Yes, Lord."

"What would be a good gift for the branch head?"

"Since it's an inn, a good bottle of liquor should be fine."

"Hmm, it's a small gift, but it can't be helped. Since I haven't prepared anything else… Elder, please prepare it yourself."

"Understood."

No Gwanyeong, who received the order, rushed down.

"Now, then, shall we go?"

"Pardon?"

"I said let's go see the branch head."

"Ah, yes."

Every time Cheonyeong smiled and patted his shoulder, Hwang Jabok's shoulders drooped lower and his neck shrank.

At that sight, a strange smile appeared on Cheonyeong's lips.

Could it be that he didn't know the inside story?

There was no way they, who had managed Geumdang County for a long time, didn't know that what the Tang Family had bought was a tavern.

But he had bought a tavern on a main street that was easily visible to people and then changed the sign.

Tang Family Geumdang Branch.

It was a truly ambiguous name.

Although it had the appearance of a tavern, anyone could see that it was a branch of the Tang Family.

News of it would inevitably reach the Black Heaven Gate's main house, and they would think of it as a provocation.

No, he had induced them to think so.

How angry must the Black Heaven Gate Lord be that they had built a branch in their territory without permission?

Of course, he would tell them to kick them out.

Cheonyeong, who had come down below the inn, smiled at Hwang Jabok.

"Now, then, shall we go?"

"Pardon? Yes. But if you're going to pay your respects, what about them?"

Hwang Jabok said, glancing at the people standing in two lines behind Cheonyeong.

"Ah, they are the inn's staff. You'll be seeing them often in Geumdang County from now on, so it's good to get to know their faces. And who knows? Your esteemed branch might become a regular at our inn."

"Are there so many staff members?"

"It's our first time opening an inn in Geumdang County. Isn't it that you need a lot of hands at the beginning? I gathered all the quick-handed fellows from the inns owned by the Tang Family."

At Cheonyeong's words, Hwang Jabok laughed awkwardly.

His words were a thousand times right, but…

The number was a problem, but the attire was also a problem.

Why were the inn staff wearing clothes that warriors wear?

If the Lord, No Gwanyeong, and even the warriors went to the branch in formation, what would people think from afar?

And.

"Um, why the inn owner?"

"Because someone has to carry the liquor bottle."

"The liquor bottle?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Hwang Jabok couldn't hide his bewilderment.

There were so many people.

He couldn't understand that part at all.

"Why? Is there another problem?"

As Cheonyeong tilted his head, No Gwanyeong scowled and spat out harsh words.

"It seems the Black Heaven Gate branch doesn't educate its warriors properly. To be so rude to the Lord continuously. I don't even like the idea of going to greet a mere branch head first."

Hwang Jabok felt as if the sky was turning yellow.

There was no trial like this.

He had to think.

Because if things went on like this, something bad would happen, and it would be big.

"Um, Lord Tang?"

"Yes?"

"Come to think of it, this doesn't seem right."

"…"

"How can we just greet you when you are coming to pay your respects first? I will go first and report, and we will set a good day…"

At Hwang Jabok's words, Cheonyeong grinned.

That won't do.

Because you guys have to attack first when you see me coming. So that the pretext will be on the Tang Family's side.

"What are you waiting for? Come on! Let's go!"

Cheonyeong grabbed Hwang Jabok's sleeve and pulled.

From behind them, who were walking ahead, came the sound of vigorous walking in two lines.

Hwang Jabok just gave up.

F*ck, I don't know anymore.

What power did he have?

The opponents were the Lord and No Gwanyeong.

He could only hope that nothing would happen, that the branch head would make a wise decision.

But an uneasy premonition always came true.

As soon as they got close to the branch, the warriors guarding the entrance blocked the door with surprised eyes and aimed their swords.

The moment Hwang Jabok was about to shout in surprise.

"Oh? We came to pay our respects, but you're pointing your swords at us."

"…?!"

When he turned around, there was Cheonyeong, smiling with a face more terrifying than a ghost.

(End of Chapter)