In the room of the Sima Family Head.There, the Ten Thousand Swords, Gongpo, let out a pleasant cry under the touch of its owner, the Sima Family Head.[Kieeee! Bbugegegeeee!](It loves the oiling~ Though its personality is nasty~ The touch is meticulous!)It’s just happy to be maintained, purring away…[Kiaaaaak!](Master~ Feels good~)The subordinates of the Sima Family Head, unaware of this fact, shuddered at the eerie sound emanating from the sword.‘A sword that can k*ll with its cry alone… A terrifying sword.’Tension swept across the faces of the servants.Well, to the Sima Family Head, acknowledged by Gongpo, it just sounds like a spoiled child.“Be quiet.”Anyway, the Sima Family Head finished tending to Gongpo and sheathed it.“Sigh… I feel sorry for you.”He smiled faintly at Poong Baek, who was sitting slouched in his seat.“The Family Head seems happy.”At Poong Baek’s pointed remark, the Sima Family Head managed his expression but couldn’t hide a satisfied smile.“Well, we’ve become in-laws. How could I not be happy? I feel very good.”Since, as planned by the Sima Family Head, Mantian and Poong Ran have become lovers.Now, Poong Baek, who dotes on his daughter, has no choice but to support Mantian, hence the smile.“Must be nice. Having multiple in-laws.”However, at Poong Baek’s following words, the Sima Family Head’s pupils momentarily wavered.Even parents can’t side with a man with multiple wives and concubines.“That’s… that’s… But our Cheon is kind and has a good character, right? Even with many wives, he’ll treat Ran and you well.”“Having many wives is the biggest problem though.”“Let’s end the chit-chat here. Let’s talk business now. We’re both busy people, aren’t we?”The Sima Family Head avoided Poong Baek’s gaze and steered the conversation.And indeed, this was the main point.It was time to deal with the piled-up matters.“Call Cheongsa, Jeokrang, and the rest of the organizations.”Though expected, hearing the main point directly from the Sima Family Head’s mouth made Poong Baek’s face stiffen.“You go ahead and prepare.”A summoning order from the Sima Family Head, who is extremely cautious about revealing his identity.“Let them know who the next master to succeed me is.”Wolf-like amber eyes gleamed sharply.“It’s time to tell them.”It’s the inauguration ceremony of Sima Mantian as the young master.On the road leading into the Western Region’s Silk Desert, in the Gansu Province area.There, a slender woman wearing a man’s cheongsam and a ghost mask.The leader of the Cheongsa faction under the Sima Family.Cheongsa was in her private room, listening to her subordinate’s report while handling documents.“Oh? The new inn there isn’t paying protection money?”“Yes, but it’s a small matter. No need to worry. We’ll handle it.”“Forget it. Don’t do anything.”Cheongsa said to her subordinate, who looked puzzled.“In the martial world, when running an inn, don’t they request protection from either the Righteous or Evil factions?”A soft laugh escaped from under Cheongsa’s mask.“Either they want to d*e, or it’s a recluse master trying out running an inn as a hobby. One of the two.”No need to poke first.“If it’s the latter, we can coexist nicely, and if it’s the former, the owner will change soon anyway. We can step in then.”After all, it’s a small matter.Cheongsa didn’t need to personally bother with it. But her cautious nature made her think about such trivial matters when they came to her attention.And because of this nature, she recently fell into a big worry.After sending her subordinate away, she remained alone in the room and removed her mask.Fair skin and exotic features different from the Central Plains people, a Persian woman.The face of a Persian woman was revealed.“Sima Family Head… What exactly are you thinking…?”The Sima Family’s plan to step into the light that the Sima Family Head is pushing.Cheongsa agrees with this.Honestly, who would want to stay in the shadows? But if I had to say, I’d prefer to take over the trade duties that Poong Baek handles?‘I could do better… Family Head… Fool…’Other than that, there were no complaints.The real problem is that the Sima Family Head hasn’t officially announced his successor.“What are his intentions…?”No, of course, it’s the young master. Sima Mantian will inherit.Tap- tap-She tapped the desk with her index finger.“…Could his thoughts have changed?”Sima Yeonghwa. The hidden daughter of the Sima Family Head.“She’s good at her job.”Some of the documents Cheongsa received from above were handled by Yeonghwa.Honestly, we’re going to step into the light but…That’s just the plan.If we’re going to serve a family head, I’d prefer someone who understands this side’s workings better than the Righteous faction.The tournament hosted by the Righteous Martial Alliance.Cheongsa looked at the information sheet prominently featuring Sima Mantian’s face as the Dragon and Phoenix Association winner.“The young master is too immersed in the Righteous faction. He’s practically a Righteous faction person.”It seems the Sima Family Head deliberately raised him that way but…“Could he be planning to straddle both the Righteous and Evil factions, light and shadow?”A terrifying plan! A scary man!?Ah… So many thoughts.Personally, Cheongsa supported Yeonghwa.Being fellow Persians.And because the region is Gansu Province, there’s a lot of interaction with Yeonghwa’s family, the Baehwa Church.Dealing with the Baehwa Church is profitable. And…If I stand by the young Yeonghwa and support her well.Then just like that-In the Sima Family Head’s direct command (Poong Baek, Cheongsa, Jeokrang) three-pillar system.I become the second-in-command under Sima Yeonghwa and the rest become leftovers.Though my martial arts rank is the lowest among the three.Among the three, no one makes money and has a business mind like Cheongsa.…And then, the caw of a crow sounded.“Cawwwww!”Cheongsa snapped out of her fantasy, nerves on edge, and opened the window.Without passing through elsewhere.If a crow comes directly to her residence, it’s.A crow with a letter tied to its leg enters the room through the open window.It’s the Sima Family Head’s messenger crow.The letter’s content was simple. Come to the main house within a few months.Really simple content.But the fact that the Sima Family Head, recently attacked by the bl**d Church, is summoning his key officers now.“He’s announcing it… The successor…”The moment Cheongsa’s worries became reality.In the dark mountains of Bingzhou.“Leader, what do you think the Family Head is thinking by summoning us?”The leader of the Jeokrang faction under the Sima Family.A man with distinct features and a muscular build.Jeokrang answered his subordinate’s question expressionlessly.“Do you really need to know?”He took out a cigarette, lit it, and put it in his mouth.“Sima Family Head is my boss, my Khan.”As if telling them not to think unnecessary thoughts, he put strength into his eyes.“Go when told, come when called.”And he finished what he was doing.“Groooar!”The beast, smelling the cigarette, revealed itself.Normally, it would avoid humans.But it learned. That humans are easy prey.“If you take protection money, you have to work.”Jeokrang approached the bear that had come down from the mountain and attacked a village, learning the taste of human flesh.“Growl?”In one swift motion, he grabbed the bear’s waist.“Huup!”And slammed the bear’s head into the ground.Crunch-!The hardest thing in the world is the ground. The bear’s neck broke, and its breath stopped.Mongolian wrestling, Bokh.“Killed without a wound. The skin will fetch a good price.”In fact, such hunting was the main income source for the Jeokrang faction.Though the organization is run under the Sima Family Head’s orders, they weren’t skilled in this area.A small elite martial faction.“Leader, what should we do with the meat?”“It’s a bear that ate humans. Just take the gallbladder to sell and throw away the meat.”“Understood. Then for meals…”Jeokrang thought for a moment and opened his mouth.“We have some rice. Let’s make do with simple rice porridge.”The subordinate nodded without a word and took out cooking utensils to prepare the porridge.Bubble~ bubble~.Jeokrang looked at the steaming white porridge and reminisced about the past.Once, caught in a rival faction’s trap.He was isolated in the mountains with the young Sima Family Head.The only food they had was a sack of rice.Even that wasn’t enough to make rice, so they made porridge.And the Sima Family Head went hungry.He gave his share to his subordinates.When Jeokrang asked why the leader of the group was going hungry, the Sima Family Head answered the same.‘Because I’m the leader,’ he said.Sima Family Head… No matter what purpose he called us for.No matter who he chooses as his successor.For Jeokrang, the only true master is ‘Sima Family Head.’*In the private room of the Sima Family Head.There, Jang Sam-i poured tea into the Sima Family Head’s cup and asked what he was curious about.“Master, is it true that you gave your own food to your subordinates when you were isolated before?”“Oh? Really?”Yeonghwa, who was next to him, also became curious.The Sima Family Head sighed at their gaze and told them.“…It’s true.”And just before Jang Sam-i could exclaim ‘Heh~’ in admiration.“If they go crazy from hunger and stab me in the back, what then?”The very Sima Family Head-like reasoning came out, and Jang Sam-i slightly opened his eyes and thought to himself.‘Wow… Look at how this guy thinks.’The Sima Family Head fundamentally doesn’t trust people.So, he creates reasons for his subordinates not to betray him.“Very much like you… Hehe, it’s complete.”Yeonghwa lowered her gaze again and finished the embroidery she was working on.It’s not just any embroidery.“Look at this! It’s big brother’s embroidery!”The Sima Family Head’s eyes sparkled at the embroidery depicting the chubby baby Mantian.“This is indeed a masterpiece. Well done.”Jang Sam-i looked at the father and daughter who resembled each other in a peculiar way.The Sima Family Head doesn’t trust others’ trust.…Therefore.He can purely love his flesh and bl**d, his family, who have no reason to betray him.At least, that’s Jang Sam-i’s imagination.‘Sigh~ I should go see the young master.’Jang Sam-i stepped out of the room to go play with Mantian.
