Dudududu!

Recently, the sound of horses running could be heard incessantly in the wasteland outside Geumdang.

Two passersby, looking at the white dust cloud rising in the distance, exchanged words.

"It seems the Tang family branch is training again."

"What kind of training is it? I heard the Tang Family is not a military gate."

"How would I know? They say they're practicing some kind of formation, but they don't allow any outsiders to approach."

"Hah, my…"

"What can we do? They say the Black Heaven Gate might attack soon."

"That's what I'm saying. I just hope we don't get caught up in it."

"So which side are you going to bet on?"

"Which side?"

"The Black Heaven Gate and the Tang Family."

"Huh? What do you mean? Is there a bet?"

"You're so out of the loop. Two of the most prominent clans in Sichuan are competing, so why wouldn't there be a bet? The town is buzzing with that story right now."

"Really? Let's see… I think I like the Tang Family."

"The Tang Family? Why?"

"Isn't it so? It doesn't matter to us who becomes the master, so it's better to be on the side that's easier to live with."

"Now that I hear it, that's true. The Black Heaven Gate smells of the martial world, but the Tang Family smells of people."

"Exactly. Sometimes they seem like merchants."

"Perhaps because the lord is young, his management doesn't seem to be rigid. Anyway, so? You're saying the Tang Family?"

"If I were to bet, I'd have to go with that side."

"Then let's go. What's the point of watching them train? The gambling house is packed with people."

The atmosphere in Geumdang was already heated up with talk of the war.

A power struggle in the martial world.

It was not a frequent occurrence, as it had been under the Black Heaven Gate for a long time.

But it wasn't strange either.

Geumdang was originally the border between other factions and the Black Heaven Gate, and they had seen countless fights between martial artists that had frequently occurred in the vicinity.

People's only interest was who would win.

* * *

"Lord! Lord!"

While training was in full swing according to the plan Cheonyeong had set up.

A messenger came running in a hurry.

"It's the Black Heaven Gate! Two corps of the Iron Blood Corps are said to have crossed the Yeonje Pass of Deokheung."

At the shout of the messenger, who was shaking the letter that had flown in from the Beggars' Sect, Cheonyeong shouted vigorously at the warriors who were training.

"Stop! Everyone stop and line up!"

"Yes!"

The warriors, who had become covered in dirt, answered, and the sound of the horses, pulled by the reins, snorting and pawing the ground, filled the air.

"Bring it."

"Yes! Lord!"

As Cheonyeong held out his hand, the messenger respectfully offered the letter with both hands.

Arrival at Deokheung Yeonje Pass, a total of two hundred warriors, the commander is Golden Lion Sword Yeo Chungbin. The main warriors are…

"He said he didn't want to do it."

Cheonyeong thought of Baekta and smirked.

Although he had grumbled, seeing as the content of the message was quite detailed, it seemed he had given strict orders to his subordinate branches.

"Lord, did it arrive from the Beggars' Sect?"

"Yes. The Black Heaven Gate has finally moved. It seems they have sent two corps."

"This is the worst."

No Gwanyeong, who knew that the number was not small, frowned deeply and accepted the letter that Cheonyeong held out.

"There are many names I know. If it's Golden Lion Sword Yeo Chungbin, the Black Heaven Gate Lord has made a rather strong move."

"Do you know him?"

"He is also one of those who were called the Ten Prodigies of the Sichuan unorthodox faction. I have heard many things about him."

"It won't be easy then."

At No Gwanyeong's words, Cheonyeong frowned with one eye.

The ten strongest warriors in the Sichuan unorthodox faction.

No Gwanyeong was also among them, with the martial name Gwi-su.

"The reason he is called the Golden Lion Sword is because his sword technique is a heavy sword. It is said that once the Thirteen Golden Lion Swords are unfolded, their fierceness is like a storm."

"How does he compare to you, Elder?"

"Well. I have never met him, but I am confident that I will not lose."

At No Gwanyeong's confident statement, Cheonyeong smiled.

Indeed, what kind of person was No Gwanyeong?

He was a person who had once been called one of the Ten Prodigies of the Sichuan unorthodox faction, and a warrior strong enough to be under the name of the Three Western Sovereigns.

"However, if one or two of the squad leaders join in, it will be difficult to be confident of victory. Also, if those two corps were to deploy a formation… even you, Lord, will have a hard time."

"Is it that much?"

"Because they were personally raised by Seoak when he was in his prime. Since they have practiced against him…"

"Hmm."

Cheonyeong nodded.

If they had created a formation while sparring with Seoak, it was worthy of being called not easy.

Because the gap between him and Seoak was still large.

But he had already set up a way.

Unless they used a great formation, it would be useless.

"For now, we should also move. If it's Yeonje Pass, it's as if they have just departed."

"Then, we must go to Seopryeong Plain quickly?"

"Yes, it seems we should hurry. Because we have to wait for them on their path first."

Since the territory of Geumdang County stretched long from east to west, there were a total of five plains to the village, and Seopryeong Plain was located at the entrance of Geumdang County.

While preparing for the fight with the Black Heaven Gate at the Geumdang branch, Cheonyeong had made that place the first battlefield.

They must not leave Geumdang County.

Because the purpose of this fight was to defend against the invading enemies.

"What are you saying? The strategy you set up, Lord, has been thoroughly learned and taught. They will flinch at the sound of a horn."

"Then let's depart, I will follow right behind."

"Yes!"

Gwi-su, who had received the order, gathered the squad leaders of the One-Horned Demon Corps.

They, who had once belonged to the Blue Servant Sect, had worked together with No Gwanyeong for a long time.

When they had surrendered to the Tang Family and had taken over the twelve branches, wasn't it No Gwanyeong who had led them?

"From now on, we will fight a war with the Black Heaven Gate!"

"Yes!"

"This will be an important turning point in the future wars."

"Yes!"

"Risk your lives! Do you understand!"

"Yes, we understand!"

At No Gwanyeong's words, the morale of the One-Horned Demon Corps soared as if it would pierce the sky.

For them, it was the first battle after belonging to the Tang Family.

They had to show something.

Because they had not yet achieved any merits since their creation.

"We will depart soon! Everyone, run without any leisure!"

"Yes!"

No Gwanyeong shouted loudly and approached Cheonyeong, greeting him in a way that was no different from a military salute.

"Lord! Then, we will depart first."

"I will follow soon."

"Yes!"

No Gwanyeong, who had obtained permission to depart, got on his horse.

His gaze became fierce.

Looking at him like that, he had the appearance of a veteran general.

"Depart!"

With a vigorous shout and a crack of the whip, a hundred men and horses began to gallop down the main road.

Cheonyeong, watching them disappear in an instant with a cloud of dust, smiled faintly.

The first dispatch of the Tang Family.

They had to win.

He didn't know how long the fight with the Black Heaven Gate would last, but the morale would change depending on who took the victory in the first fight.

And that victory would be deeply imprinted on people.

The Tang Family would show with that victory that they were no longer just a clan from the outskirts of Sichuan that had only grown in size.

"We will surely… win."

* * *

"Corps Leader! It's Seopryeong Plain!"

At the subordinate warrior's words, Yeo Chungbin, who was on his horse, looked at the vast plain in the distance.

The border of Geumdang County.

And in the center of that plain, a hundred men and horses were waiting as if they had formed a military formation and were lined up.

"Is it the Tang Family?"

"It seems so."

A sneer appeared on Yeo Chungbin's lips.

It was a fight between clans.

No matter how much the Black Heaven Gate was the leader of the unorthodox faction, they should have declared war and set a date and place.

And wasn't the pretext on the Tang Family's side?

But his lord, Maeng Yung, had ignored all procedures.

What etiquette was there to protect in fixing the habit of a reckless youth who had taken the land of the Black Heaven Gate with a cunning scheme?

"It seems the saying that the Tang Family is close with the beggar bastards is not a lie. Seeing as they are out on Seopryeong Plain and waiting in advance."

"We should have cracked down on them in advance."

"Crackdown?"

At the words of the warrior next to him, Yeo Chungbin smiled and shook his head.

"What are we afraid of? Although the Tang Family is a rising power, will the result change if they know we are coming and prepare?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"I'm sorry. I misspoke."

At the words full of rebuke, the subordinate hastily bowed his head.

"It's alright. What's so wrong about expressing what's on your mind? By the way, didn't they say the Tang Family used this tactic when they fought the Blue Servant Sect?"

"That's right. I heard that one of the Blue Servant Sect's warrior units was destroyed at Sapyeong."

Sapyeong, the dancing land.

There was only one path, and the surrounding wetlands were full of reeds taller than a person.

The fight between the Tang Family and the Blue Servant Sect was one of the stories that had been talked about quite a bit.

But Seopryeong Plain was an open field with a clear view in all directions.

It was a completely different terrain from Sapyeong, so there was no place to hide warriors.

Even if they had hidden support in the distant mountain foothills, the distance was far.

"It's strange."

"Perhaps they have hidden the artifacts they used when they fought the Myeongryun Faction at the Naegang Ferry?"

"Hmm."

He had heard of that too.

Did they say that a martial arts clan used hidden weapon techniques, which were used by ambushers, as their main force?

And that they had even made an artifact that could shoot hundreds of flying needles at once.

Perhaps, as his subordinate said, they might have brought such artifacts on their horses.

"For now, we will approach slowly."

"Yes!"

Although his face was full of a sneer, Yeo Chungbin did not overdo it.

He was being cautious because he didn't know what the opponent had prepared.

As the distance gradually closed and their faces became clearly visible, Yeo Chungbin, who had stopped the formation, shouted loudly at a familiar face and bowed his head.

"It's been a long time! Senior Gwi-su."

"…"

No Gwanyeong did not answer.

He just glared fiercely at Yeo Chungbin because he thought it was rude to be greeted first in the presence of the lord.

"It seems you won't accept your junior's greeting."

"The lord of my family is with us."

"The lord, you say? Are you perhaps referring to the person next to you?"

Yeo Chungbin, with the same sneer, rolled his eyes and looked at Cheonyeong.

Yeo Chungbin, who had placed his two hands holding the reins on the horse's head, finally acknowledged Cheonyeong and nodded his head.

"So you are the lord of the Tang Family. Nice to meet you, I am Yeo Chungbin."

"I am Tang Cheonyeong."

"I would like to greet my senior whom I have met after a long time, so will you give me your understanding?"

"Please do."

Cheonyeong readily gave his permission.

He did not question his rude words and actions at all.

"The lord says it's alright to talk, Senior."

"Hmm."

Even though Cheonyeong had given his permission, No Gwanyeong's expression was not bright.

How could he not know his intention?

He was trying to break his spirit through disrespect.

"Senior, why the Tang Family?"

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't the Black Heaven Gate court you so much when you were at the Blue Servant Sect? I was also looking forward to being with you, Senior."

"…"

"At that time, you stubbornly refused, saying you couldn't betray the Blue Servant Sect, so I thought that was it, but I'm asking because you chose the Tang Family, which has a grudge with the Blue Servant Sect."

Yeo Chungbin pointed out No Gwanyeong's betrayal.

"From what I see, the faces of the warriors behind you are familiar. It seems they are the warriors of the Blue Servant Sect."

"They are now family members of the Tang Family."

"It's a funny thing. No matter how much we are pointed at as the unorthodox faction, there is a duty to be kept as a warrior. To surrender to the enemy and pledge loyalty. It is truly a shameful thing."

Making the enemy excited before a fight to dull their sword was the basis of provocation that had been passed down for a long time.

But despite having given his permission, the gaze of Cheonyeong, who was starting to get annoyed at the meddling, began to turn cold.

Who are you to meddle in someone else's family affairs?

(End of Chapter)