****
They were agitated.
And so, they could not even slightly entertain the thought that Cheon Mu-ryang was a master of the martial arts world.
It was understandable, because the wild sense of intimidation that emanates from a martial arts master could not be felt from Cheon Mu-ryang.
“What are you doing over a single young brat! Do not let your guard down and strike him down for sure! It seems he learned a tune or two of martial arts and is acting up, but how dare he, knowing where this place is!”
“Then why don't you come at me first.”
Cheon Mu-ryang ridiculed the leader who was only alive at the mouth and blabbering.
The sight of him hiding in the back while being unable to do anything was comical.
“Answer me. Is it true that you came from the So-eung Gang?”
“What will you do if we say yes!”
Another person who had drawn his sword rushed toward Cheon Mu-ryang.
The will to sever his neck with a single strike overflowed, but it was only the will that overflowed.
“Tsk.”
He was lacking from the very basics.
Since his lower body could not even catch its center of gravity, Cheon Mu-ryang was at the point of letting out a yawn.
“First, I will beat you bastards up.”
Hwook!
Cheon Mu-ryang, who narrowly dodged the sword, approached the one who swung the sword in just a single step.
“Heok!”
He hurriedly twisted his body to run away, but Cheon Mu-ryang's fist was faster.
Peo-eok!
A few teeth scattered into the air.
The man who was sent flying like that did not even make the slightest movement.
“I intend to go to the So-eung Gang and demand an explanation.”
“K-kill him!”
Perhaps feeling the crisis that they would die if they did not kill him, they began to move all at once.
They were surrounding him, but in Cheon Mu-ryang's two eyes, it was merely sloppy.
“If you can kill me, try and kill me.”
Cheon Mu-ryang counted the number of the remaining people.
Since he had blown away two out of the six, there were now four left.
“Four, you say….”
Hwooong!
He raised the Cheon-gwang high.
Following that, he spoke with an expression containing absolutely no emotion.
“I shall sever the necks of about two of you.”
Flinch!
The footsteps of the four men stopped.
It was because they feared that those two would be themselves.
A laugh came out at that shallowness.
“Why? It seems you do not want to die? Even so, it is already too late.”
In Cheon Mu-ryang's field of vision, he saw the couple trembling in fear in the corner while hugging their child.
Their entire bodies were full of bruises and wounds.
It was probably the traces of being beaten before Cheon Mu-ryang arrived.
“Because you bastards have already crossed the line.”
The Cheon Family considered exploitation a taboo.
Collecting only as much as what should be legitimately paid to the country was the policy of the Cheon Family.
The So-eung Gang had broken that taboo.
Flinch.
An aura different from before blossomed from Cheon Mu-ryang's entire body.
To them, who were already overwhelmed, it struck them even more intensely.
“W-were you a m-martial arts master?”
It seemed they had finally realized that he was a person they should not have provoked.
Smirk.
Cheon Mu-ryang shook his head.
“I am not a martial arts master.”
Because Cheon Mu-ryang himself knew better than anyone that he was not yet at the level to designate himself as a master.
However, it was enough to condemn unjust corruption.
“However, it is enough to condemn you bastards.”
Hwooong!
The Cheon-gwang did not harbor any mercy.
Because these people too would not have shown mercy until now.
Paaat!
Someone's chest was split open.
Cheon Mu-ryang, who was watching the collapsing figure with indifferent eyes, swung his sword once again.
Kaaang!
Sword and sword clashed.
“I blocked it……!”
He thought he had blocked it, but that was a miscalculation.
Because the Cheon-gwang had completely shattered the opponent's sword itself.
At the same time the sword was shattered in half, the Cheon-gwang lodged itself into his heart.
“Now there are two left.”
Two had died.
Even so, he did not have the slightest intention of letting the remaining two go.
“I will make it so that you can never again act arrogantly with such shallow power.”
They struggled desperately.
However, the desperate struggle was meaningless.
Peo-eok!
Cheon Mu-ryang's fist was planted into his dantian.
Along with the sound of something breaking, he vomited blood and collapsed.
“Ah ah…….”
It was an insignificant power, but since he had lost the internal energy he had built up his entire life, that sense of loss would be terrible.
“Keo-eok!”
He even shattered the dantian of the one who appeared to be the leader.
And, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, he asked the couple.
“Do you know where the So-eung Gang is located?”
“Ah…….”
“You only need to tell me where it is.”
“I, I will guide you.”
Had they gained courage.
No longer terrified, the couple stood up.
“I will ask just one thing.”
“Yes?”
“Do you think my treatment is harsh?”
“…….”
One person had his shoulder severed.
Additionally, two people had died, and two people had become cripples.
He asked if that treatment was harsh.
“Yes. It is harsh.”
“Is that so?”
“However... we know that it is something you did for our sake.”
They shed tears.
No one had been able to step forward.
This couple, too, had only crouched in the corner and trembled whenever others were suffering.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
In front of those hot tears, Cheon Mu-ryang was able to realize once again the reason why he had to become strong.
‘It is a world where lacking strength becomes a sin.’
These people had no sin.
However, they lived like sinners.
That was because they lacked strength.
“Why did you not inform the Cheon Family of these matters?”
“Th-the Cheon Family……!”
The couple trembled in fear for a moment.
At this, Cheon Mu-ryang realized that something was going wrong.
“What happened?”
“Th-that is, well…….”
“It is alright. I am a person of the Cheon Family.”
“……!”
Their eyes of respect instantly changed into glares of suspicion.
Distrust towards the Cheon Family could be felt.
“D-did you c-come from the Cheon Family?”
“Yes. You may trust me. Because I came to root out the corruption of the Cheon Family.”
“Th-that is…….”
Even so, seeing them hesitate, he wondered if such a sight was possible unless it was a considerable amount of fear.
Unable to watch any longer, the wife spoke.
“In the past, unable to endure the evil deeds of the So-eung Gang, there was a time we sent an anonymous letter to the Cheon Family. And someone from the Cheon Family came to find us.”
“Who was that?”
“H-he said he was the Inspection Squad Leader.”
Grind.
Cheon Mu-ryang gritted his teeth.
It was obvious what kind of thing must have happened.
The fear towards the Cheon Family was understandable.
“He investigated those who sent the anonymous letters in detail.”
It was the expected sequence of events.
“And…….”
The wife could not continue her words.
That sentence was finished by the child who was held in the parents' embrace.
“The mister next door and the mister in the back house disappeared.”
“…….”
“Gaeddong's family cries every day. Dusik's family left the village altogether.”
Cheon Mu-ryang closed his eyes.
Even though such things were happening right before their eyes, the Cheon Family had not realized it.
‘It is a perfect cover-up.’
The distrust and fear towards the Cheon Family was, in a way, natural.
Perhaps, those living in Shaoxing might be hating the Cheon Family even more than the So-eung Gang.
‘Had the public sentiment been crumbling in places unseen.’
The crumbled public sentiment.
It would have a deep connection with the futile downfall of the Cheon Family.
‘Were there so many people eating away at the family like this.’
They were deceived by the scoundrel Cheon Mu-ryang.
Cheon Mu-ryang's existence was merely a single cause, and never the core of the Cheon Family's downfall.
“The Inspection Squad Leader…….”
Since he was said to be a personnel of the Council of Elders, he was nothing but a puppet.
However, cutting off that puppet was the very beginning.
“Representing the Cheon Family, I will apologize for the shameful events that have occurred all this time.”
Cheon Mu-ryang slowly bowed his head.
Seeing this, the couple harbored doubts.
“B-by any chance, may we ask who you are in the Cheon Family?”
Cheon Mu-ryang raised his head and spoke.
“I am the scoundrel Grand Young Lord of the Cheon Family, called Cheon Mu-ryang.”
“……!”
The couple was startled in surprise.
However, paying it no mind, Cheon Mu-ryang spoke to the child.
“Child, may I ask you to guide me to where the So-eung Gang is?”
“Yes! Just follow me.”
“Will that be alright?”
“Ah, yes, yes…….”
“Please gather the village people and come to the So-eung Gang.”
“……?”
“Because I intend to properly show you what the actions of a scoundrel truly are.”
Grabbing the scruffs of the necks of the two men who had fainted after losing their dantians, Cheon Mu-ryang dragged them along and walked out of the shop.
The child trotted along right behind him.
“Where should we go?”
“It is this way.”
“Let us go, then.”
The child guided him this way and that.
Soon, before long, a grand manor appeared.
“This here is the So-eung Gang.”
The whispering child.
Cheon Mu-ryang stroked the head of such a child once.
“Thank you. Now return to your parents.”
“Yes! Hyung, gain strength!”
The child ran back the way he came.
Watching that sight, Cheon Mu-ryang felt his heart becoming somewhat touched.
“Strength, he says…. I must bring it out.”
Cheon Mu-ryang walked straight toward the gatekeepers guarding the So-eung Gang.
“Halt! This place is the So-eung Gang.”
“I know. I came to meet the Gang Leader, so how about you open the way?”
“What? You arrogant bastard, where do you think you are right now!”
“L-look at that!”
The two gatekeepers saw the things that Cheon Mu-ryang had come dragging along.
“Heok!”
They were unmistakably the martial artists of the So-eung Gang who had gone out to collect the spot tax.
“I, the Grand Young Lord of the Cheon Family.”
Cheon Mu-ryang pulled out the name plaque that would prove his identity.
A dragon symbolizing the Cheon Family was engraved on it.
“……!”
“Open the way.”
“Ah, yes, yes!”
Fortunately, they recognized the name plaque of the Cheon Family.
Had they not been earnestly requested.
That if a person possessing the name plaque of the Cheon Family were to come, they were to not make any sort of restriction whatsoever.
“Where is the Gang Leader?”
“Ah, h-he is over there.”
The tallest soaring pavilion.
The office of the So-eung Gang Leader would be there.
“Ah ah, I do not need a guide, so even if some sort of commotion breaks out, it would be best for you to focus only on your original duties.”
“Pardon?”
Cheon Mu-ryang gave a short warning and headed towards the place where the So-eung Gang Leader was.
“Wh-what does he mean?”
“Who knows. Let's just shut up and stay put.”
“What should we do with these gentlemen?”
“What do you mean what should we do…. If we recklessly touch them, we might be severely punished.”
The two men were trembling in anxiety.
It was at that moment.
Kwaaaang!
“Heok!”
Presently, a deafening roar resounded.
That direction was the place where the office of the So-eung Gang was located.
“…….”
The gatekeepers, who had stopped their idle chatter, looked at each other at the same time.
“W-we are…….”
“Because we are gatekeepers…….”
“Let us just stay here.”
“Indeed, indeed. Shouldn't we guard the main gate?”
They comforted themselves like that.
However, that too was only for a moment.
Rumble.
Due to the residents of Shaoxing who came swarming in, the complexions of the gatekeepers turned starkly pale.
“What do we do?”
“I, I do not know either…….”
Looking at the two men who were still collapsed and the people who were swarming in, the gatekeepers were in a situation where they could neither do this nor that.
“This is d-driving me crazy. Of all times, when it is our shift…….”
<><><>
The office of the So-eung Gang Leader.
The So-eung Gang Leader was fiddling with some documents.
“Cover it up, you say?”
The night before, the subordinate of the Inspection Squad Leader had come secretly and issued instructions to conceal all documents related to the corruption.
“Not a chance.”
However, thinking that he might be subjected to having his tail cut off when the situation ran to the worst, the So-eung Gang Leader intended to keep a minimum amount of insurance.
“Who are you trying to deceive.”
It was a rule that a villain recognizes a villain.
The So-eung Gang Leader had no intention of suffering a loss.
Around the time he was fiddling with the documents like that, a commotion was heard from outside the door.
“Y-you cannot do this!”
“What is it?”
Kwaaang!
Ending with the voice of the flustered servant girl, the door was smashed.
“……!”
The So-eung Gang Leader kicked his seat, stood up, and took up his sword.
Hwoong!
“Who is it!”
“Ah ah, So-eung Gang Leader-nim? To think it would be this difficult to meet you.”
Flinch.
The So-eung Gang Leader became tense.
It was because although he sought to find an opening to launch an attack several times, he could not find any blind spots.
‘Who is it?’
Around the time that question arose.
Cheon Mu-ryang smiled and spoke.
“Ah, my introduction was late. I am called Cheon Mu-ryang, the Grand Young Lord of the Cheon Family.”
“G-Grand Young Lord!”
The two eyes of the So-eung Gang Leader glared wide open.
The smiling Cheon Mu-ryang.
However, his two eyes were not smiling.