Chapter 304: Chapter 304

“So, did the work you went to do go well?”

At the heard question, Hwangbo Won flinched.

Hwangbo Won half-opened his eyes and turned his gaze.

In that spot stood Tang Jung-ak, who had thrown the question.

There was no one who did not know that he had led the elites of the Hwangbo Family and invaded the Hunan Dan Family.

Even so, since not even any news was heard and he returned safely, a doubt arose.

“You seem to have a lot of interest in another family’s affairs, Family Head Dang.”

“Haha, another family? Since when are we strangers?”

Tang Jung-ak approached with a natural attitude.

A gaze trying to find out what had happened was clear.

But Hwangbo Won was also the head of a family, just like Tang Jung-ak.

Although they were said to be members of the same Heavenly Dao Society, the factions they possessed were strictly different.

Given the nature of having to keep each other in check to survive, sharing everything was out of the question.

“We resolved it well through conversation. There is nothing to worry much about.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Tang Jung-ak looked at Hwangbo Won, his eyes sparkling.

Although he had much he wanted to say, he did not touch him carelessly. Because even if he did not ask and dig right now, he would reveal it eventually.

Wearing a grin, Tang Jung-ak bowed his head and turned his back.

It seemed there was no need to dig into it right now.

“Family Head Dang seems to have noticed something.”

“Listen carefully, Gwon-ah. The one to be most careful of among the Eight Great Families is… the Sichuan Tang Family.”

The Sichuan Tang Family is different from other families.

It is a group hiding cleverness and sneakiness somewhere. Although they had that much power, the fact that they did not try to reveal it outwardly was also a problem.

‘The reason the Namgung Family and the Murong Family always competed for the top position was because the Tang Family did not intervene in that fight.’

Hwangbo Won knew that all too well.

Although not revealed, a thought kept arising that perhaps the skill of the former Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Family was comparable to the Five Emperors.

Many people harbored such suspicions, but they neither asked directly nor tried to dig into it.

Because there was nothing good to be gained from stirring up the Tang Family.

“What do you plan to do?”

“First, send a letter to the Namgung Family. Convey to the Family Head that I wish to meet.”

There was no way the Namgung Family did not know that Namgung Cheon was alive.

Because it was to the extent that a suspicion arose that their visit to Yueyang this time was also to see Namgung Cheon, knowingly or unknowingly. If so, they would hold hands with the Namgung Family once again.

For the Hwangbo Family, which did not possess significant power to speak of, it was better to stick to the slightly stronger side.

“It would likely be best to suppress the Tang Family’s power as much as possible.”

In the current Heavenly Dao Society, the Tang Family’s power was beyond imagination.

Although a member of another family held the position of Society Leader, the Tang Family’s power was immense enough that it would not be strange even if it was overturned at any moment.

An existence capable of overturning such a thing.

It was precisely the Namgung Family.

But there was no way all situations would go as intended.

“G… Great trouble, Family Head!”

Someone running in breathlessly fueled Hwangbo Won’t anxiety.

* * *

“…”

Only silence lingered in that place.

The Nine Sects and One Gang, those who held positions within it in their own right gathered together, frowning and only watching each other’s reactions.

Seon-jin, who sat in the highest position, closed his eyes tightly, and a sigh escaped the mouth of Bang No-baek, who stood close to guard him.

“So they are coming?”

The one who eventually broke the silence was none other than Bang No-baek.

Power was loaded in his voice as he spat out while scanning the gathering.

It was filled with resolve that he would never let anyone off easily.

“They are no ordinary people. To annihilate a branch in less than an hour…”

Bang No-baek swallowed a groan at the words that drifted over.

If it was that level of skill, they would easily be those close to the Seven Stars. In that there were as many as five such people, not just one, it seemed it would be a by no means easy fight.

Bang No-baek let out a long sigh and shook his head.

“Do we know their destination?”

Just then, Seon-jin, who had kept his eyes closed until now, quietly opened them. Since gravity was harbored in his tone, everyone looked at him and focused.

“The Martial Alliance… or…”

“Shaolin…?”

Chanting “Amitabha,” Seon-jin closed his eyes once again. Although as a Buddhist disciple he did not have the slightest desire to see blood, since they drew their blades first, the Martial Alliance could also not sit still.

He stood up from his seat.

Power was loaded in his gaze as he looked at the gathering.

“Although I do not know who they are… show them that the Martial Alliance is not dead yet.”

At that single statement, everyone wore determined expressions.

At this point when the Heavenly Dao Society’s power was inflating greatly, the Martial Alliance also had to show something. Since many people believed in and followed the Heavenly Dao Society rather than the Martial Alliance, it meant they would turn those hearts back.

To a man, they clenched their fists and nodded.

Even if they were to die, they would not die easily.

* * *

“Ah… it hurts like hell…”

Jang Sam-tae, who was holding an egg in his hand and rubbing his face, looked up at the sky. He did not know why the exceptionally dark night sky looked so bitter today of all days.

“Am I a pushover? Why does everyone only give me hell?”

Feeling angry for no reason, he gnashed his teeth and shouted.

If it were inside the estate, someone would have heard it and a fuss would have broken out, but fortunately, since he was out alone in a distant place, no one could hear Jang Sam-tae’s words.

“What on earth did I do…”

He just wanted to brew wine.

Because many good snakes were visible nearby, he had intended to catch them and nourish Dan Woo-hyun’s body.

Who would have known that one of them would flee midway, and how could he know that fellow would glare at the estate with a strange expression and emit an odd energy?

If one looked into it, it was an incredibly unfair matter from Jang Sam-tae’s perspective.

He wanted to grab someone and complain to them, but since there was no such human, he let out a sigh.

Since even Mae-hyang, who at least kept his side, wore a disgusted expression.

What was a mere snake anyway.

“These people do not know how precious I am.”

Would the estate even run if this Jang Sam-tae were not here?

Starting from cleaning up to meals.

He even ran minor errands.

Jang Sam-tae, who was in charge of overall housework, was an indispensable human.

Furthermore, who was the one looking after So-mi?

Although she hung out with Namgung So-hye often lately, Dan So-mi still sought out Jang Sam-tae and stayed with him.

Yet he was treated worse than a neighborhood dog?

It made no sense.

Also, while Dan Woo-hyun worked him like that, did he not even pay him a proper wage!

Thinking up to that point, Jang Sam-tae flushed red.

“Bloody hell…”

He sprang up from his seat.

Yes, they must know Sam-tae’s value at least once. He had to make them realize that the saying ‘be good to someone while they are around’ did not come out for no reason.

Although Jeok Mu-seong would suffer, what of it?

Jang Sam-tae declared a strike.

* * *

“…What is this?”

“Meals.”

Early morning.

The people gathered in the dining room looked at the dining table with dazed expressions. There were only all kinds of wild greens, and meat was not even in sight.

Even the rice was undercooked to the extent that it clearly showed it was made in a rush.

At least the rice Dan So-mi ate was fully cooked, but those given to others were to the extent that raw grains were simply chewed.

Every single side dish brought up had a strong feeling of being improvised.

Dan Woo-hyun looked around with a peculiar expression.

The fellow who should have been together was not in sight.

“Did you make this?”

“Yes, I had no choice because I had to make it in a rush.”

Namgung So-hye grumbled with a dissatisfied expression. It was after finishing early morning martial practice.

Since the breakfast time was fixed, she had come to the dining room to eat, but because there was not a single prepared dish, she had no choice but to cook.

“What about that Sam-tae fellow?”

Sado Hak frowned, looking at the rice that could not be picked up even with chopsticks.

If that fellow had been here, he would not have done this kind of thing.

“Well. I did not see him.”

“You did not see him?”

“Hahaha, this fellow has gone lazy to the bone!”

Sado Hak and Namgung Cheon stood up from their seats.

Their bodies were all old.

Because they knew better than anyone how important breakfast was in starting the day, they intended to teach Jang Sam-tae, who did not set it up properly, a lesson.

Thinking that a storm would blow again from the morning, everyone present sighed inwardly.

Even Gwon Mu-jin and Ma Jang-gang prayed for Jang Sam-tae’s soul without realizing.

But the two old men who returned a little later tilted their heads in wonder.

“He is not there?”

“He is not.”

“He is not there?”

At the words that Jang Sam-tae was not there, Dan Woo-hyun knit his brows.

Although he had heard the sound of him going out last night, he did not think that he would not have returned even by now.

Sado Hak frowned deeply.

“Did this fellow pass out in the red-light district again?”

“No!”

Mae-hyang immediately protested and shouted.

She shouted resolutely that such a thing could never happen.

Even the few pennies of silver in Jang Sam-tae’s possession were now in Mae-hyang’s hands, and from the perspective of someone who received and spent living expenses almost like getting an allowance, he could not go to such a place.

“He will return soon.”

“Since he is a fellow with no place to go anyway…”

However, at Dan Woo-hyun’s words that followed, Sado Hak nodded and sat down.

Although it was a meal he did not like, he was grateful just to fill his stomach.

Since he was a fellow with no place to go anyway, if left alone, he would crawl back on his own.

“Excuse me… is everyone not being too harsh on Uncle Sam-tae? Shouldn’t we at least worry a bit…?”

Namgung So-hye asked with an awkward smile.

If there was a person who had not returned all night, it was proper to worry. However, there did not seem to be anyone in this estate who worried about Jang Sam-tae.

Even Dan So-mi, who could be said to be the closest to Jang Sam-tae, only ate her food and did not utter a single word.

‘Just what is that Jang Sam-tae’s value of existence…’

Namgung So-hye pitied Jang Sam-tae, truly thinking so.

“Do not worry. He will return soon.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s words that drifted over, Namgung So-hye forced a smile. When he spoke that resolutely, it was hard to follow up with further words.

Just then, it was Mae-hyang who raised her voice.

“No, something might have happened to him!”

Her eyes were wavering as if she was truly worried.

“His feet are fast, so it is fine. If there is anyone in the Central Plains who can catch him, it would only be around us.”

A short exclamation of wonder was heard.

Zhuge Yeon nodded, thinking that the two old men regarded Jang Sam-tae that highly.

Because in her eyes, there was no one who acknowledged Sam-tae.

Zhuge Yeon spat out.

“…Perhaps he fled because he disliked the people here.”

“…”

“Honestly, it is enough to make him sick of it, right? Being beaten up like that every day. Even I would hate it.”

Zhuge Yeon did not even seem to care much about the fact that everyone stopped eating as if struck to the quick.

“So, who is going to do the cleaning and laundry today?”

At the subsequent words, everyone cast their eyes down and quietly shut their mouths.

Enjoyed the chapter?

If you like our work, consider supporting us on Ko-fi. This site solely runs on donations. Every donation helps us keep translating!

Support on Ko-fi