Feeling a stinging pain, Man Song looked at Dang Myeong.
“When did you lay the hidden weapons?”
Now that he knew he had been caught by hidden weapons, Man Song was so shocked and flustered that he had even forgotten to use polite speech.
“Hidden weapons are not only things you throw or shoot.”
As he spoke, Dang Myeong lightly waved his hand.
WHIRR!
The needles embedded in the ground were drawn into Dang Myeong’s hand. Then Dang Myeong looked at Man Song.
“I thought you might be caught off guard, so these are not coated with poison. Please step back.”
At Dang Myeong’s words, Man Song looked at him, then sighed and shook his head.
“No.”
Man Song sighed, went to stand beside Wiji Cheong, and shook his head. Seeing that, Wiji Cheong said,“Were you not simply...... caught off guard? Besides, it was a trap.”
“I was not careless. I moved while preparing against poison and hidden weapons. I simply...... failed to pay attention to the soles of my feet. I did not think he would have laid hidden weapons there in that time.”
“Then could you not just be careful next time?”
“Next time, he will use another trick. I will only gain more shame.”
As he spoke, Man Song looked at Dang Myeong.
“They say the Tang Clan’s poison hand lies not in hidden weapons and poison, but in its Cunning...... Its reputation is indeed well-deserved.”
“Thank you for acknowledging it.”
“But...... did you perhaps scatter Poison Powder?”
“I did not.”
“Why not?”
“When people think of poison, they usually guard against poison that enters through the breath. So I thought Great Hero Man Song would prepare against Poison Powder. That is why I laid needles in places you were likely to step.”
“How did you predict the places I would step?”
At Man Song’s question, Dang Myeong smiled. When no answer came, Man Song remained there for a moment, then turned away.
“Young Master, let us go.”
“We’re leaving?”
“I have something to tell you.”
Then Man Song looked at Dang Myeong.
“May we spend the night in Chengdu today and return tomorrow?”
“Do so.”
Seeing Dang Myeong grant permission so easily, Man Song looked at Wiji Cheong. Wiji Cheong nodded and moved on.
Once Wiji Cheong left, Dang Hong quietly appeared.
Dang Hong, wearing the clothes of the Flying Heaven Unit, said, “Shall we have the Secret Shadow Unit keep watch on them?”
“There is no need.”
“What if he flees?”
“It does not matter.”
Dang Myeong looked at Dang Hong.
“Are the poisons and hidden weapons sufficient?”
“We recovered more poison and hidden weapons from two bases.”
At Dang Hong’s words, Dang Myeong nodded and lightly launched himself.
TAP TAP TAP!
Lightly kicking off the ground, Dang Myeong climbed onto a watchtower built in Tang Clan Tower and looked at the village beneath his feet.
Many buildings now stood in Tang Clan Tower.
“In about a week, Tang Clan Tower and the manor of the main house will both be complete.”
At Dang Hong’s words, Dang Myeong nodded.
Two seasons had passed since the Sichuan Tang Clan burned. During that time, they had been restoring it with truly great difficulty.
As Dang Myeong looked around the village for a moment, Dang Hong said, “What will you do when the Wiji Clan Lord arrives?”
“I will receive an apology.”
“Will he do it?”
“If he does not...... we will have to fight.”
Dang Myeong stayed silent for a moment, then said, “In truth, the name of one of the Five Great Clans under Heaven is not something we need right now. For the main house, abandoning it and strengthening our foundation would be better than preserving it.”
“Then why?”
“If the world naturally pushes the main house out of the Five Great Clans, I will accept it. If the eyes of the world say the main house is weak...... I can accept that. But......”
Dang Myeong looked down at Tang Clan Tower for a moment. In the darkened Tang Clan Tower, there were still places where lights were lit.
Though it was late at night, several Tang Clan martial artists and carpenters were still keeping braziers burning as they continued construction.
Even now, they were working to restore the Tang Clan’s original appearance one day sooner.
“It is unacceptable for the main house to be pushed out by force. If we show ourselves being pushed back by force even once, countless wolves after the main house’s poison, spiritual medicine, and hidden weapons will swarm in. The main house is the Sichuan Tang Clan. If our hidden weapons run out, we will bite with our teeth, and if our teeth are knocked out, we will clutch throats with our hands. And if our hands are severed, we will kick with our feet.”
At Dang Myeong’s cold and ruthless words, Dang Hong looked at him, then lowered his head with a Cupped-Fist Salute.
“I, Dang Hong, will become the Clan Lord’s teeth, hands, and feet.”
“You must. Every family member of the main house must become the teeth of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“Of course. Every family member will become the Tang Clan’s teeth.”
At Dang Hong’s words, Dang Myeong nodded and descended from the watchtower.
***
The next morning, Wiji Cheong returned to the Tang Clan of his own accord.
Behind Wiji Cheong, dozens of carts were coming along.
“What is this?”
“Repayment for the care I have received so far.”
Then Wiji Cheong looked at the carts and continued, “And a sign that I am sorry.”
When Dang Myeong looked at him, Wiji Cheong stayed silent for a moment, then said, “Let me go. I will speak to my father...... and I will tell the martial world that our main house bowed its head to the Tang Clan.”
“Your father will beat you badly.”
At Dang Myeong’s words, who knew Wiji Danil’s temperament, Wiji Cheong shook his head.
“My father—no, the entire martial world—is mistaken. The Tang Clan is not wounded prey, but a wounded tiger.”
Wiji Cheong looked at Tang Clan Tower.
“Whoever touches the Tang Clan now must be prepared for their clan’s destruction. No matter how necessary the reputation of the Five Great Clans may be, our main house has no intention of being the first.”
At Wiji Cheong’s words, Dang Myeong looked at him and said, “If you cannot persuade him, bring him here.”
“I will persuade him. That is my responsibility as the Young Lord.”
At Wiji Cheong’s declaration that he would not let his main house shed a great deal of blood because of what he himself had done, Dang Myeong nodded.
“Do that.”
“I am leaving.”
As Wiji Cheong turned, the Sword Master and Man Song, who had appeared before anyone noticed, stood beside him.
“I was rude to you both.”
When Dang Myeong lowered his head with a Cupped-Fist Salute, the Sword Master and Man Song returned the Cupped-Fist Salute.
Then the Sword Master looked at the Tang Clan and said, “The Previous Clan Lord must feel at peace.”
“Not yet.”
Wiji Cheong said as he mounted his horse, “Elder Sword Master, let us go.”
At Wiji Cheong’s words, the Sword Master nodded and mounted his horse. The three mounted men looked at Dang Myeong once, then quickly began disappearing northward.
***
CLOP! CLOP!
As they drove their horses swiftly north, the Sword Master looked at Wiji Cheong.
“As Dang Myeong said......”
“Call him Clan Lord Dang.”
At Wiji Cheong’s words, the Sword Master looked at him once, then continued, “As Clan Lord Dang said, the Clan Lord will be greatly enraged.”
“What I said is true. I must not let the main house shed blood over a matter with no profit. That is the duty of the Young Lord.”
“Instead, you will shed blood, Young Lord.”
At Man Song’s words, Wiji Cheong bit his lip and said, “Protecting the Young Lord is...... the duty of my bodyguard.”
At Wiji Cheong’s words, Man Song’s face hardened. Watching the two of them, the Sword Master said, “Was it because you saw the Tang Clan?”
The question was not precise, but Wiji Cheong knew what he meant.
“The Tang Clan I saw was...... a tiger and a lion, crouching while bleeding as they prepared to tear someone apart. If anyone so much as touches them, they will tear out that opponent’s throat in a single breath.”
Wiji Cheong looked back once in the direction of the Tang Clan and continued, “Even if that is their final struggle.”
Wiji Cheong shook his head.
“The martial world has it wrong. The Tang Clan is not struggling to survive. They are restraining their rage and building strength to repay their grudges.”
“A favor tenfold...... a grudge a hundredfold......”
At Man Song’s words as he murmured the most representative phrase used to describe the Sichuan Tang Clan, Wiji Cheong nodded.
“A grudge a hundredfold...... That is why no one in the martial world tries to create a grudge with the Sichuan Tang Clan. Once a grudge forms, even if they must spill several times as much blood, they will claim the blood price without fail.”
As he spoke, Wiji Cheong let out a small sigh.
“Haa!”
Seeing Wiji Cheong heave a deep sigh, Man Song looked at him and said, “Until I die, I will make certain you do not.”
At Man Song’s words, Wiji Cheong smacked his lips.
“Old man, that is truly...... comforting.”
The thought of speaking to Wiji Danil and telling him to apologize to the Tang Clan...... was beginning to frighten him.
***
The front of Tang Clan Tower had been decorated with red cloth and lanterns. A place had been prepared to celebrate the Tang Clan, which had collapsed in the spring bloodbath, raising new buildings today.
At the entrance of Tang Clan Tower, Dang Myeong and the family members stood looking at the completed buildings. They looked at the buildings with eyes full of emotion.
Dang Myeong also looked at the buildings, then slowly entered Tang Clan Tower. Behind him, nearly two thousand people entered.
The place that had been desolate and burned now held bright new buildings.
Walking through those streets, Dang Myeong and the family members soon arrived at the manor located at the center of Tang Clan Tower.
Compared to the former Sichuan Tang Clan, it was an extremely small manor.
But...... in the eyes of the Tang Clan’s people, it was an extremely joyous and proud manor.
Because......
「Sichuan Tang Clan」
On the manor hung a plaque reading Sichuan Tang Clan, majestic in a calligraphic hand like a flying dragon.
After silently looking at the Sichuan Tang Clan building, Dang Myeong looked at the family members.
“We will not hold a separate ceremony. For us, the grudges and vengeance that remain are greater than any ceremony. But starting today, for two days, we will eat and drink to our hearts’ content.”
“Waaaaah!”
“Waaah!”
When the people roared, Dang Myeong looked at Master Wang off to one side.
Master Wang stood there smiling, dressed in fine festive clothes.
“There will be enough food and liquor, I trust.”
“Ha ha ha! Do not worry. Every drop of liquor in Chengdu has been moved to Tang Clan Tower, and every tavern in Chengdu is closed today and tomorrow. Ha ha ha! With all the chefs who should be making food here, how could they conduct business?”
At Master Wang’s words, Dang Myeong performed a Cupped-Fist Salute and looked at the people.
“Everyone, enjoy the banquet.”
At Dang Myeong’s words, the family members roared. Dang Myeong then entered the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Only if he moved aside would the family members be able to eat, drink, and rest comfortably.
When he entered Tang Clan Fortress, Dang Hong and the four Unit Commanders came to his side.
“We must secure the perimeter thoroughly.”
“The martial artists of all five units are on standby.”
At Dang Miryeong’s words, Dang Myeong nodded.
“We have not announced it publicly, but anyone who has the means to know will know that the main house is holding a banquet, so those with grudges will aim for today and tomorrow. There is no better day to run rampant than a feast day.”
“We have already made sufficient preparations.”
At Dang Miryeong’s words, Dang Myeong nodded and looked outside, where the sounds of the banquet could be heard.
“Aunt, what situation do you think would be most disadvantageous for us?”
At Dang Myeong’s question, Dang Miryeong thought for a moment and said, “Since the Wiji Clan formally apologized to the main house, the martial world is watching the main house’s strength.”
At Dang Miryeong’s words, Dang Myeong nodded. As promised, Wiji Cheong had persuaded Wiji Danil, and the Wiji Clan had formally apologized to the Sichuan Tang Clan.
The martial world was astonished by the Sichuan Tang Clan’s underlying strength. After all, the Sichuan Tang Clan, which had suffered enough damage for Tang Clan Fortress to burn, had suppressed the Wiji Clan.
“Those with grudges against the main house will certainly come.”
At Dang Myeong’s words, Dang Miryeong continued, “What worries me most is...... the great fiends of the previous generation coming.”
When Dang Myeong looked at her, Dang Miryeong sighed and said, “One hundred, two hundred, even three hundred first-rate experts would be threatening, but with the main house’s hidden weapons, we can handle them. Even in the martial world, if the main house repelled hundreds of martial artists, that would be enough to spread our renown. But...... if a small number of great fiends came, and we could not handle their Martial Prowess...... it would be disastrous.”
At Dang Miryeong’s words, Dang Myeong sighed and nodded.
This was exactly what he was worried about. A small number of absolute experts coming and running rampant......
‘Uncle Dang Jang must break through his wall and emerge......’
Dang Jang was in closed-door training, cultivating to break through his own wall...... His Martial Prowess was needed.
The Martial Prowess of the Tang Clan’s foremost expert.