Chapter 262: The Discovery of Fire (6)
Read more at Nineheavens.org
Hwiiiiiing!
The sun set, and before they knew it, the world had grown dark.
The darkened sky was as pitch-black as the darkness cast over Tang Kwan’s mind.
“…Is that all?”
“Hmm?”
Tang Kwan smiled a twisted smile.
“You called me out merely to drive a wedge between Clan Head Murong and me?”
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“I’ve felt this since before, but you have a tendency to evaluate yourself too highly.”
“What?”
“Poison and hidden weapons are terrifying. But we are all currently in the Murim Alliance. As long as we are within the boundaries of the Murim Alliance, what is more terrifying than poison and hidden weapons is this.”
Yeon Ho-jeong tapped his own head.
“Do you understand? If you want to kill me with that poison and hidden weapons, you have to stake your life. Even if you kill me, the Tang Clan will inevitably lose its leader. But those who use their heads are not like that.”
“…”
“They manipulate the world with just their head. And Murong Jun is also seeking the expansion of his faction and power with a discernment far too sharp to be evaluated as just petty tricks.”
“Such child’s play-like acts…”
“You’re wrong.”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke seriously.
“Just as you said, this is child’s play. But while children’s play ends when the sun sets, adults’ play only ends when one side dies.”
“…!”
“That is the reason I keep an eye on Murong Jun, and also fear him. That’s why I am standing in opposition to him, and why I am running around until my soles sweat in order to strike the back of his head somehow.”
“So.”
Tang Kwan asked sharply.
“What is it that you want to say? Don’t join hands with such a bastard and just return to Sichuan?”
“Then you will die.”
“What?!”
“If you cut ties with Murong Jun and return to Sichuan, the Tang Clan will not be able to avoid the disaster of annihilation.”
An immense statement popped out abruptly.
Tang Kwan’s face flushed bright red.
“What an unfunny sound.”
“That’s what I’m saying. It truly is an unfunny sound. To think that a person who has already stepped foot into the mud fight can return home unharmed, you are truly a man who knows nothing of the world.”
“…!!”
“Until Murong Jun dies or falls to ruin, our child’s play will not end.”
Tang Kwan, who had been glaring at Yeon Ho-jeong as if he would kill him, spat out his words character by character as if chewing them.
“Your words are uselessly long. Get to the main point.”
“Do not interfere in factional fights, and be together with Master Kong-kong.”
“…What?”
He didn’t think such words would come out. Tang Kwan was inwardly surprised.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“If possible, I would like to tell you to stick to our side, but in truth, neither we nor you trust each other, right? But if you return to Sichuan, Murong Jun will somehow frame the Tang Clan as a public enemy of the Murim and burn it down.”
“How can you be certain of that?”
“Because a sword that has slipped out of my hand can harm me at any time.”
“…”
“Look here. Even though you joined hands with Murong Jun, you still know nothing about him, do you?”
Tang Kwan’s cheek twitched.
Yeon Ho-jeong continued speaking.
“Go to Master Kong-kong. Go and help him. As you know, Master Kong-kong’s Buddhist faith and chivalrous spirit are so amazing that everyone in the Jianghu acknowledges it.”
“…”
“It is not too late even now. Stop doing unnecessary things and be with him.”
“…How funny.”
“I also find it funny. To think you couldn’t understand my words to this extent.”
“That guy Murong Jun will point to me as the culprit?”
“Probably?”
“Why do you think so? Without a clear explanation regarding that part, you will not be able to return alive from this place today.”
Yeon Ho-jeong took out a handkerchief from his bosom as if he had been waiting.
Tang Kwan frowned.
“What is that?”
“Catch.”
Yeon Ho-jeong threw the handkerchief.
Wuuung.
The handkerchief, flying on a powerful internal energy, was caught in Tang Kwan’s hand.
“What kind of trick are you playing?”
“Look carefully at the handkerchief.”
Tang Kwan looked down at the handkerchief with a frown.
“What is this…”
In an instant, he flinched.
‘This smell is?’
Yeon Ho-jeong said.
“It is quite faint, but isn’t it a considerable concentration? It didn’t seem like something to just pass over, so I asked Soldier Tang Sang-ah for advice. Do you know what she said then?”
“…Clear Yin Poison.”
“As expected, you know well. That’s right. Soldier Tang Sang-ah said the exact same thing.”
Disbelief colored Tang Kwan’s face.
“I can’t believe it. Clear Yin Poison is one of our main family’s extreme poisons. Where on earth did you get this poison?”
“From the source of the rumor.”
“What?”
“It is poison extracted from a certain inn in the Murim Alliance’s outer castle where Murong Jun started his groundwork. A considerable amount of time has passed, but the poison qi still remains.”
“…!!”
“Soldier Tang Sang-ah said this. The Clear Yin Poison does not harm a person by itself. However, I heard that it can cause death by poisoning at any time by reacting to the internal energy of someone who has learned the Tang Clan’s Triple Yang Art.”
The corners of Tang Kwan’s eyes trembled.
“Do you understand? If an investigation is conducted by any chance, the one who sprayed that poison can be seen as having sprayed it on their subordinates to cut off their tail.”
“…”
“But, tell me. Did Murong Jun learn the Triple Yang Art?”
“…”
“No. The only ones who have learned martial arts based on the Triple Yang Art are just you and Soldier Tang Sang-ah.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
“Then, did Soldier Tang Sang-ah spray this? I don’t think so.”
Tang Kwan also did not think so.
No matter how good Tang Sang-ah’s skills were, she couldn’t steal the Clear Yin Poison from inside the Tang Clan.
It was the same even for Tang Kwan. Since the extreme poisons of the Tang Clan’s secret transmission were protected by all sorts of mechanical devices and formations, stealing them secretly was impossible unless one was a Saintly Heaven Thirteen Seats of Heaven.
Furthermore, Tang Sang-ah had never come into contact with Clear Yin Poison except when she was young. Then how did this poison, this item that could only be made in the Tang Clan, leak outside?
“It is Murong Jun’s doing.”
“…That is nonsense.”
“I also don’t know how he got his hands on this poison. But who else but him would do such a thing?”
“Stop spouting nonsense! Do you know what kind of poison Clear Yin Poison is?! From a forbidden area where even elders cannot enter or exit without the Clan Head’s permission…!”
“Then it becomes an even more certain trap. It is a forbidden poison no one can steal, so who else could the culprit be besides someone with the Tang surname?”
“…!!”
Tang Kwan froze just like that.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes turned gloomy.
“I hate Murong Jun. However, his abilities at least I trust without a doubt. He is a madman who resorts to any means and methods to get his hands on what he wants.”
“…”
“Don’t actually degenerate into his stepping stone while taking your time, and I hope you wipe your cloudy eyes and look at the world.”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his body.
Tang Kwan, who had been blankly looking down at the handkerchief, shouted spasmodically.
“You bastard! Will you not stop right there?”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked back at Tang Kwan.
“My business is done.”
“Shut up! If you move even one more step without my permission, I will melt you into a handful of bloody water!”
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“If you can do it, try it.”
With those words, he turned his body again and walked away.
He was really going. Despite the threats of the extremely agitated Tang Kwan, there was not a sliver of hesitation in his steps.
Tang Kwan’s pupils were dyed dark green.
“You greenhorn!”
Piyuuuuuung!
A formless finger wind was shot at an incredible speed.
It was a terrifying martial art. The speed of the finger wind was faster than Muk Bi’s arrows. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was truly a ray of light.
Fire light rose in Yeon Ho-jeong’s two eyes.
Peo-eo-eo-eong! Hwareureureuk!
The finger wind was shattered to pieces and scattered by a single palm of crimson flame. A bright red flame caught on the scattered finger wind, and the extreme poison loaded on the finger wind was burned away just like that.
Tang Kwan’s eyes shook.
‘He blocked it?!’
Although he was excited and couldn’t properly load it with poison qi, it was a finger wind with the power to pierce even iron plates. Yeon Ho-jeong had blocked that finger wind with his bare hands.
Furthermore, not even with both hands, but with one hand.
“There is something I didn’t tell you.”
“…?!”
“This meeting, Soldier Tang Sang-ah asked me for it first.”
“…What?”
“No matter how deep the gap is, a father and daughter relationship is a father and daughter relationship. Soldier Tang Sang-ah said she didn’t want to see her father fall to ruin miserably. So she asked me to persuade you.”
“…!!”
Tang Kwan’s eyes shook as if there was an earthquake.
He recalled his daughter’s voice.
‘It is a life I had already laid down before my departure. If you intend to take it back, please do so as much as you’d like. I will wait.’
His daughter’s retreating back, saying so with a smile and turning around, was truly coldness itself.
Tang Kwan couldn’t help but feel a sense of despondency.
She came because she was worried about her father, but the gap between father and daughter only grew deeper. She only spouted hideous words like being a doll or taking back her martial arts.
Emotions that could not be described with pen and tongue, and confusion.
To Tang Kwan, who momentarily lost strength and looked up at the sky, Yeon Ho-jeong said.
“If you have any intention of confronting Murong Jun, it would be best to avoid a place where it’s just the two of you.”
“…”
“If you’re going to confront him, do it in front of everyone watching. Only then won’t Murong Jun be able to spout nonsense either.”
“…What kind of trick is that again.”
Tang Kwan’s voice sounded exceptionally lethargic.
Yeon Ho-jeong shrugged his shoulders.
“I benefited a bit from Soldier Tang Sang-ah in this mission. I am saying this not for your sake but for Soldier Tang’s sake, so there is no need to thank me.”
“…”
“I’ll be going now.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who emerged from the forest, set his path toward theArmy-Destroying Pavilion.
At that time, Tang Sang-ah revealed herself from an alley.
“Is it over?”
“Yeah.”
Yeon Ho-jeong said with a troubled face.
“I did it because you said it was fine, but is it really fine?”
“Of course.”
“…”
“If breaking the alliance with Clan Head Murong is the path that is ultimately beneficial to my father, then immediate confusion and pain must be endured.”
That’s right.
The one who sprayed the Clear Yin Poison was none other than Tang Sang-ah. And meeting Tang Kwan and provoking his anger was also a pre-planned act.
Yeon Ho-jeong sighed.
“I’m sorry.”
“If you say that, Army Commander, it makes me feel sorry instead.”
“It might have taken some time, but we definitely would have found a way. There was no need to go this far.”
“Army Commander.”
“…Speak.”
“Do you know what I learned while doing this Operations Group mission?”
“…”
“It is exactly the importance of time.”
Tang Sang-ah smiled bitterly.
“Father is planning to kick me out of the clan anyway. Using the affection between parent and child is something I don’t even care much about.”
“…”
“I am just satisfied with this if my father can step away from this dirty board even if it’s through this way.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been quietly looking at Tang Sang-ah, asked as if tossing it out.
“Do you have time?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if you have time right now.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Let’s go to the Army-Destroying Pavilion. Muk Bi will probably still be before her meal too, so let’s have a meal among ourselves.”
“I’m fine, though…”
“I am not fine. Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
Thus, the two people headed to the Destroying Army Pavilion.
“By the way, about the Clear Yin Poison. Where did you get that?”
“I made it.”
“You made it? The Tang Clan’s secretly transmitted extreme poison?”
“I learned all the knowledge about poisons and hidden weapons, as well as martial arts, from my grandfather.”
“…Dark King.”
“Father probably still doesn’t know. The fact that you can make Clear Yin Poison even by mixing medicinal ingredients that cost less than a few pennies.”
“…”
“I guess our father and daughter are destined to live like this. Perhaps we might never understand each other forever.”
* * *
The next day at noon.
Kwang!
Murong Jun, who was having a meal with the Mount Hua Sect Leader Immortal Yong-hwa, Clan Head Namgung In of the Namgung Clan, and the Kongtong Sect Leader Deung Cheon-gyo, was startled seeing the person who barged in unexpectedly.
“Clan Head Tang?!”
“Oh, has the Clan Head arrived?”
Tang Kwan glared at Murong Jun with coldly glaring eyes.
In an instant, Murong Jun had a premonition that something had gone wrong.
Immortal Yong-hwa quietly stood up from his seat.
“For now, have a seat…”
At that time, Tang Kwan spoke in a dreary voice.
“That you are aiming for Master Kong-kong, is it the truth?”