Chapter 328: Sichuan’s Upheaval (1)

About 4 ri (approx. 2 kilometers) away from Chengdu.

There, a manor boasting a considerable scale that could be called a small village was located.

This place was none other than the Sichuan Tang Clan.

An emergency arose in the usually quiet Sichuan Tang Clan’s manor.

It was due to an unexpected visitor arriving at noon when the sun was high in the sky.

The visitor, wearing ordinary martial arts attire, had a disturbing aura with scars all over his exposed body parts.

Sensing wariness towards this man, the warriors guarding the entrance of the Tang Clan asked about his identity.

“Who are you, sir, who wishes to meet the Patriarch without any prior appointment?”

In response to the warrior’s polite question, the man briefly revealed his identity.

“Seok Pae-ung.”

“Seok… Pae-ung?”

That name sounded very familiar.

It was a name he had heard many times and was definitely…

“Th- The Green Forest Fighting King?”

“Gasp!”

Green Forest Fighting King, Seok Pae-ung.

He was one of the Eight Stars, the leader of the Green Forest Alliance, and one of the top experts in the evil path.

The warriors, upon realizing his identity, couldn’t hide their perplexity.

The lord of the Green Forest, who held a significant position in the evil path, had come alone to the Sichuan Tang Clan, which held a corner of the righteous path.

With his appearance, the Tang Clan was thrown into chaos.

All the forces guarding the Tang Clan’s manor were gathered, and they were ready for battle at any moment.

In the guest hall of the Tang Clan.

More than five hundred warriors of the Tang Clan surrounded the area.

-Tak!

Someone set down a teacup inside the guest hall.

Two middle-aged men were sitting facing each other across a round table.

They were the evil path’s master, Green Forest Fighting King Seok Pae-ung, and the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, who also held the title of Eight Stars, Thousand Poison Hand Tang In-hae.

Seok Pae-ung, who had set down the teacup, spoke first.

“What a grand welcome. To think that so many people would gather for this Seok…”

Seeing Seok Pae-ung’s relaxed demeanor despite being in the heart of enemy territory, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae clicked his tongue inwardly and then said,

“All of this is not because we acknowledge you, Warrior Seok.”

“Warrior… Hearing those words from Brother Tang’s mouth doesn’t feel bad.”

“A hero like Warrior Seok should rightfully be called warriors.”

“To call someone who walks the path of evil and leads a group of mere bandits warriors is not unpleasant, but even a passing dog would laugh at it. There’s no need to flatter me like that.”

At his straightforward way of speaking, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae’s eyes narrowed.

As Seok Pae-ung himself said, he was not someone who should be called warriors.

His martial prowess was certainly worthy of recognition, but he was merely the leader of mountain bandits and deserved to be condemned.

Nevertheless, the reason for treating him cautiously was because his ulterior motive was unknown.

‘Why did this guy come here?’

Broadly speaking, the righteous and evil paths were naturally hostile towards each other.

However, strictly speaking, the Green Forest and the Sichuan Tang Clan had no particular connections or clashes.

Yet, this guy appeared out of the blue.

In the case of Sichuan, there were also the Emei Sect, Qingcheng Sect, and others, so it could be considered the territory of the righteous path. His boldness in coming alone was concerning.

What ulterior motive did he have for visiting this place?

“Hah. There’s no other way.”

Tang In-hae, judging that it was meaningless to beat around the bush, spoke straightforwardly.

“Warrior Seok… What business brings you to our family?”

“Nothing much.”

“What do you mean by nothing much?”

“As you can see, the reason I came here unarmed and without subordinates is not particularly to fight.”

“Not to fight?”

‘Does he expect me to believe that?’

Those from the evil path were cunning enough to say one thing and mean another.

Until their true intentions were understood, they couldn’t be trusted.

Then, Seok Pae-ung laughed and got to the point.

“There’s no need to beat around the bush, so I’ll just say it. After all, it’s not my style to rack my brain.”

“…Speak.”

“I heard that the Tang Clan is keeping a woman.”

“What do you mean by a woman?”

“There’s no need to play dumb. I’ve already obtained the information.”

At these words, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae scoffed and replied,

“Warrior Seok. This Clan Leader has no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Ah. You don’t know? Then how about if I say a member of the Fire Faith Order?”

‘!?’

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang In-hae’s expression instantly hardened.

However, Tang In-hae quickly relaxed his expression and played dumb.

“What are you talking about now?”

“It’s no use pretending. This information comes from a reliable source.”

“…”

“The reason I came here is simple. Hand over that woman from the Fire Faith Order.”

At his demand, Tang In-hae spoke with a stiffened face.

“Warrior Seok, I don’t know where you heard such information, but coming to our family and demanding someone be handed over out of the blue is truly rude.”

“Rude? What is? Asking you to hand over a member of the Fire Faith Order?”

“My goodness, Warrior Seok!”

“If rumors spread that the great Sichuan Tang Clan is protecting a member of the Fire Faith Order, who deceive and mislead the people, do you think you can handle it?”

“You’re going too far!”

“Too far? If there’s no member of the Fire Faith Order, you can just deny it, right? Why are you only talking about rudeness and such?”

At these words, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae strongly denied it.

“…Of course, it’s impossible. How could there be a member of the Fire Faith Order in our family?”

“Are you certain there isn’t?”

“That’s right.”

“Since you’re so confident, there shouldn’t be a problem. Then let me search the Tang Clan’s manor.”

-Bang!

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang In-hae slammed the table hard.

With his strike, the table split in half.

As the split table fell to the floor, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae frowned fiercely and raised his voice.

“You dare to say you’ll search our family?”

“If there’s nothing to hide, is there a reason to refuse?”

“Refuse? How utterly rude. A mere bandit from the Green Forest dares to barge into our family, which holds a corner of the Righteous Alliance, and wants to conduct a search? Are you not afraid of death?”

Tang In-hae gave up on showing courtesy any further.

From the moment Green Forest Fighting King Seok Pae-ung said he would search the family, he had crossed the line, and his anger had reached its peak.

Even if he was one of the Eight Stars, he himself was also one of the Eight Stars.

“Do you wish for the title of Eight Stars to change to Seven Stars here today?”

“It seems the Tang Clan Leader is very displeased.”

-Gulp!

Seeing Seok Pae-ung drinking tea, Tang In-hae’s eyes flashed with surprise.

‘!?’

He hadn’t noticed, but before the table was split, Seok Pae-ung had retrieved the teacup on top of it.

This alone showed that he was no ordinary person.

At this, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae raised the poisonous energy within his body.

‘If I let this guy leave alive today, there will be great repercussions.’

Anyway, from the moment he entered the Tang Clan, the worst-case scenario had been considered.

He didn’t know where he had obtained such information, but the bastard had made a serious mistake.

If he wanted to pressure the Tang Clan by mentioning a member of the Fire Faith Order, he shouldn’t have entered the Tang Clan alone and provoked them.

If it were him, he would have at least brought the Green Forest bandits or moved public opinion outside in advance…

-Tap tap tap!

Right at that moment.

“C-Clan Leader, it’s an emergency!”

Hearing the Deputy Clan Leader’s voice from outside, Tang In-hae asked with a puzzled expression.

“What’s the commotion?”

“Right now, the Green Forest bandits have surrounded the area around our family.”

“What?”

“They’ve piled up a bunch of oil barrels and are aiming fire arrows while surrounding our family.”

At this, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae frowned and glared at Green Forest King Seok Pae-ung.

Then, Seok Pae-ung smiled brightly and said,

“I don’t know much, but I’ve heard that fire attacks are strong against poison techniques.”

“Seok Pae-ung!”

This bastard was bait.

Bait to keep all the Tang Clan’s attention focused on one place.

‘Ha!’

It was absurd.

He thought a bandit’s scheme wouldn’t amount to much, but he didn’t expect the leader himself to become bait and concentrate all the attention in one place.

Thanks to that, his excitement subsided, and Tang In-hae spoke with a calm face.

“You came prepared. But do you think you can get away with this unscathed? Fire attacks may be a way to counter poison, but Sichuan is no different from the territory of the righteous path. Do you think other righteous people will let the evil path’s group roam free here?”

At his words, Seok Pae-ung crossed his arms, raised the corners of his mouth, and replied,

“Normally, that would be the case.”

“Normally?”

“What do you think I did on my way here? The rumor that the Tang Clan is protecting a member of the Fire Faith Order is probably spreading throughout the vicinity.”

‘!!!!!’

-Clench!

Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae clenched his fists tightly.

‘…We’ve been tricked.’

This guy wasn’t just an ordinary bandit.

He knew how to employ proper strategy.

If rumors spread that the family was protecting a member of the Fire Faith Order, the Righteous Alliance and other righteous factions would have no justification to help hastily.

Seok Pae-ung, seeing his perplexed state, extended his fingers and said,

“Tang Clan Leader. I didn’t come here to wage war either. If the Tang Clan and the Green Forest were to fight, there would be great sacrifices on both sides, and this could become the cause of another righteous-evil war. That’s why I want to make a peaceful proposal.”

“A peaceful proposal? Ha!”

“I’ll give you four days. Within that time, choose one of the two options. Either bring the members of the Fire Faith Order you’re protecting obediently, or let me search the Tang Clan. You’ll have to decide.”

“…”

“Only four days.”

-Tak!

With those words, Seok Pae-ung rose from his seat.

Then, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae spoke in a low voice filled with murderous intent.

-Rumble!

“Do you think I’ll let you go easily?”

“It seems you’ve gathered all the Tang Clan’s forces around the guest hall… If the two of us, who hold the title of Eight Stars, were to fight right now, where do you think the damage would go?”

-Grind!

At Seok Pae-ung’s triumphant words, Tang In-hae gritted his teeth.

“Do you think this Clan Leader lacks the resolve to do that?”

“Tang Clan Leader. Come to your senses. Are you willing to tarnish the great Tang Clan’s honor and risk sacrifices just to protect a single member of the Fire Faith Order?”

“…”

At these words, Tang In-hae couldn’t say anything more.

The bastard had already blocked all his escape routes.

As he said, if they engaged in a fight here, even if they were lucky enough to defeat Seok Pae-ung and the Green Forest, the damage would be beyond imagination, and the Tang Clan would be stigmatized for trying to protect a member of the Fire Faith Order.

“Four days.”

With that, Seok Pae-ung confidently left the guest hall.

Not long after he left, Deputy Clan Leader Tang Cheol-young entered and said,

“Clan Leader!”

At Tang Cheol-young’s call, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae slumped into a chair as if drained of energy and said,

“I need some time to think.”

“Clan Leader. This isn’t a matter of thinking. If rumors spread that we were keeping that wench, it will be difficult to handle the situation compared to fighting the Green Forest bandits.”

“Didn’t I say I need time to think!”

“…Don’t tell me you still have lingering attachments to that so-called precognitive ability or whatever?”

“…”

At his question, Tang Clan Leader Tang In-hae closed his mouth.

Then, Tang Cheol-young clicked his tongue and said,

“Clan Leader. It’s time to let go of your attachments. Even if Song-ah, that wench, inherited her grandmother’s ability, she is thoroughly a member of the Fire Faith Order. Do you think such a child, regardless of being a branch family of our family, would use her power for the Clan Leader’s sake?”

“…”

Deputy Clan Leader Tang Cheol-young, who had approached the Clan Leader, who still remained silent, let out a sigh.

Just what kind of precognitive ability was it that the Clan Leader showed such lingering attachments even in the face of a family crisis?

***

At the same time.

Deyang, a city about two days away from the northeast of Chengdu.

In an inn there, a group was having a meal.

They were none other than Mok Gyeong-un’s party.

They had been traveling without rest, and as they entered the plains, they stopped by a village to have a quick meal.

-Tak!

Mok Gyeong-un put down his chopsticks while eating meat noodles.

Seeing the bowl of noodles, not even half-eaten, Seop Chun asked with a puzzled expression,

“My lord. Is the noodle soup not to your liking?”

At his question, Mok Gyeong-un shook his head.

Then, he licked his lips and said,

“There’s no time to enjoy a leisurely meal. We need to hurry a bit.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”

Mok Gyeong-un glanced at the group on the second floor of the inn, whispering to each other while carrying weapons, and then stood up from his seat.

Rising from his seat, Mok Gyeong-un raised the corners of his mouth sardonically and said,

“The mountain bandits are eyeing my prey.”

‘!?’