Chapter 20: Blood Debt (2)
The Sect Leader of the Tiger Pit Sect, Ho Yeon-am. He was having a conversation with his wife, Sa Ji-won.
“The Namgung Clan has sent an invitation. They say they are holding the grand banquet a bit early this year.”
“Grand banquet? The one that gathers all the Orthodox sects and clans in Anhui Province? Why did they send that invitation to us?”
Sa Ji-won wore a puzzled expression.
And for good reason, as the Namgung Clan’s invitations were sent only to the single sect or clan with the greatest power in each county.
Since the representative of Gulai County had always been the Cao Family Manor until now, the Tiger Pit Sect had never once received an invitation from the Namgung Clan.
Ho Yeon-am spoke in a low voice.
“The Cao Family Manor disappeared this time, did they not? We are their replacement, so to speak.”
“…Their gaze will not be kind.”
Sa Ji-won spoke as if worried.
The Cao Family Manor was a family that was like a distant relative to the Namgung Clan.
The rumor that an elder of the Namgung Clan was backing the Cao Family Manor was also as good as an established fact.
Since such a Cao Family Manor had suffered the disaster of extermination and vanished overnight, the position of the Tiger Pit Sect, which had occupied their place as an unintended beneficiary, became quite awkward.
Ho Yeon-am let out a sigh.
“It is not just a matter of their gaze not being kind. They will look with fiery eyes to see if we have any connection to the extermination of the Cao Family Manor.”
“We are innocent, aren’t we?”
“Who knows? They might even manufacture non-existent evidence and pin it on us. You know it too, wife. In the martial world, there is only the logic of power. If you are weak, you have no choice but to suffer even if it is unfair.”
Ho Yeon-am was feeling a sense of shame.
For he knew all too well that all of this happened because he was weak.
Sa Ji-won held Ho Yeon-am’s hand.
“Do not worry too much. Would those of the same Orthodox path really go that far?”
“It is not intentional for the strong to behave harshly toward the weak. To the strong, it is merely a small gesture made carelessly, but to the weak, it becomes a typhoon. Do they not say that a frog dies from a stone thrown in jest? To me, the Namgung Clan appears that large.”
“In my opinion… it seems the Namgung Clan is hosting the grand banquet to calm down the uneasy atmosphere in Anhui Province after the bloodbath. Aside from the Tiger Pit Sect, all sects and clans in other counties received invitations as well. So nothing major will happen. On the contrary, we might even benefit by looking good to the Namgung Clan.”
Sa Ji-won’t words also made sense.
Not to mention the Cao Family Manor, the Black Path Gang was also a group belonging to the Heterodox sects but possessed a fairly large scale.
Since these two organizations were wiped out one after another overnight, from the perspective of the Namgung Clan, the overlord of Anhui Province, there would be a need to firmly grasp the unsettled atmosphere once.
Sa Ji-won continued to soothe Ho Yeon-am.
“And did you hear that rumor?”
“What rumor?”
“You know, that precious daughter of the Namgung Clan who went to study at the Ascending Heaven Academy. The one called Sword Flower.”
“Ah, Lady Namgung Yul. Yes. It has already been a year since Lady Namgung enrolled in the Ascending Heaven Academy.”
“Yes, yes. I heard that Lady Namgung returned to the Namgung Clan for vacation this time.”
Sa Ji-won continued with a faint smile.
“So among the ladies of the inner chambers… it is said that rumors are widespread that the purpose of the Namgung Clan’s grand banquet this time is for the family leader to boast about his daughter. Since his daughter, who is actually a student of the Ascending Heaven Academy, returned to the clan for vacation, he wants to use this opportunity to let her get acquainted with others, brag about her, and things like that…”
“Hahaha—I would rather it be for such a cute purpose. I can listen to boasting about a daughter as much as they want.”
Ho Yeon-am finally showed a smile.
However, his inner mind was still extremely complicated.
Nine Sects, One Gang, and Five Great Clans.
The Fifteen Pillars of the Orthodox Path.
The fifteen pillars supporting the Orthodox Path.
The Namgung Clan was actually one of them.
The exterminated Cao Family Manor was a distant collateral branch of the Namgung Clan, and the one enjoying the windfall from their sudden disappearance was none other than the Tiger Pit Sect.
It was certain that some pressure would definitely come.
Ho Yeon-am said.
“I must go and clarify our innocence in detail. And I should also report what happened with the Heterodox Alliance. Regarding Staff Ghost.”
“Yes. It would be good to do so.”
Sa Ji-won also nodded.
Eventually, the topic of their conversation shifted to Sword Flower Namgung Yul, who was said to have returned to the Namgung Clan.
“By the way, Lady Namgung will be the protagonist of this grand banquet.”
“Of course. Does just anyone enter the Ascending Heaven Academy? It is a place where even the most outstanding talents from the Fifteen Pillars of the Orthodox Path enroll. On top of that, since her family is the Namgung Clan, she is by far the number one marriage prospect in Anhui Province. They say the procession of marriage proposals coming in already circles Anhui Province several times.”
“The Ascending Heaven Academy… I heard the tuition and fees there are astronomical? I heard it costs about four years of operating expenses of a typical small-to-medium sect from a student’s enrollment to graduation.”
“Since he is seeing such a daughter after a long time, how much do you think he wants to boast about her?”
Hearing Sa Ji-won’s words, Ho Yeon-am suddenly showed a dark expression.
“Our Ye-yang is actually not inferior to Lady Namgung at all…”
“Dear. Why do you say such things?”
“It is just true. Is Ye-yang inferior to Lady Namgung in appearance? In talent? In character? If there is only one thing she falls behind in, it is meeting incompetent parents. I should support her before it is too late…”
However, to do that, even the funds to operate the Tiger Pit Sect right now were showing the bottom.
Recalling that fact, both Ho Yeon-am and Sa Ji-won fell silent.
The feelings of parents who could not provide abundant support to their child were always like this.
…At that very moment.
Bang!
The door of the inner room opened.
Ho Ye-yang rushed in with a flushed face.
“Mom! Dad!”
Her always polite form of address also changed to how it was during her childish, tomboyish days.
As if he had never sighed, Ho Yeon-am welcomed his daughter with a broad laugh.
“Ah, my daughter. It is better that you call me Dad instead of Father. Please call me that from now on.”
“Dad! No, Father! Now is not the time to talk about that!”
Ho Ye-yang suddenly thrust something before her parents.
<Martial Alliance – Ascending Heaven Academy / Notice of Admission>
Looking at it, Ho Yeon-am and Sa Ji-won’t eyes widened.
“Wh-what is this? When did you take the entrance exam for the Ascending Heaven Academy?”
“My goodness! Look at this! It’s a perfect score in all examinations of wisdom, virtue, and physical strength! O-our daughter is the t-t-top student!”
The couple shouted in surprise together.
Holding their daughter, who was the apple of their eyes, they began to pour out questions.
“You rascal! Why did you crumple this notice of admission like this?! It’s something to be passed down as a family heirloom for generations!”
“It’s a celebration, a celebration! We should hold a grand banquet too!”
Just then, Ho Ye-yang spoke.
“Ah. Mother, Father. The tuition…”
As soon as the topic of tuition came up, Ho Yeon-am immediately cut Ho Ye-yang off.
“Do not worry about such things at all! Even if I have to pull out and sell all the pillars of this sect, and hand over all the moles that came along to the herbal medicine shop, I will prepare the money!”
“Ugh, what do you mean moles! Anyway, this man is really a champion at exaggerating. Daughter~ Mom has some emergency funds hidden away. With that, there will be no impact on the Tiger Pit Sect. Do not worry about anything and just focus on studying.”
Ho Yeon-am and Sa Ji-won were trying their best to reassure Ho Ye-yang.
However, something happened that completely blew away even the slightest bit of burden in their hearts.
…Clank!
Ho Ye-yang had set down the money bag.
Gold ingots of an amount far greater than the payment of the Swift Tiger Escort Agency that had been taken by Staff Ghost spilled onto the table.
Looking at Ho Yeon-am and Sa Ji-won, who were shocked as if about to faint, Ho Ye-yang shouted with a tearful voice.
“Do not worry about anything now! Since I retrieved all the money!”
* * *
The next morning.
Ho Ye-yang rode her horse out for a walk near the lakeshore.
Beside her, Chui was lighting a mugwort fire to drive away insects.
Ho Ye-yang looked at Chui and said.
“Lucky Charm.”
“…”
She was calling Chui Lucky Charm in jest.
Because since Chui came, things had strangely gone well.
Ho Ye-yang leaned down toward Chui and asked.
“I haven’t seen you much lately. Where do you go wandering around outside like that? Huh?”
“…”
Chui did not answer this time either.
He only kept his mouth firmly shut, lost in thought.
“Why you!”
Ho Ye-yang raised her fist and playfully gave Chui a flick on the forehead.
Only then did Chui raise his head.
Ho Ye-yang laughed.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“…Just. This and that.”
Chui made an excuse clumsily.
How could he honestly tell her what he was thinking?
That he was planning to break into the Namgung Clan and create a blood-soaked mess.
Chui recalled the past.
The name that had come out of Ho Ye-yang’s mouth at that time.
‘…An elder of the Namgung Clan covered up the collusion between the Cao Family Manor and the Black Path Gang, and the case of the Tiger Pit Sect that was unjustly ruined because of it.’
The Namgung Clan was an ultra-large power whose autonomy within Anhui Province was tacitly recognized.
Naturally, they had the duty to intervene in the disputes of small, minor sects or clans to maintain public order.
However, there were bound to be corrupt factions even within the Namgung Clan.
Chui knew of the existence of high-ranking officials who turned a blind eye to the dirty and ugly conspiracies occurring in the power struggles of subordinate forces, taking bribes in return.
An elder-level tycoon who was listed on Ho Ye-yang’s hit list.
Also, one of the many pursuers who had driven a blade into him in his past life.
Chui planned a cold and sharp revenge, recalling the face of that very bastard.
Just then, Ho Ye-yang broke Chui’s thoughts again.
“Are the kids still bullying you a lot lately?”
She seemed to have slightly misunderstood Chui’s silence.
When Chui remained silent, Ho Ye-yang glared as if she couldn’t let it slide.
“Just warning them is meaningless. This won’t do.”
“…”
“Chui. Do you want to leave together with your sister?”
“?”
At Ho Ye-yang’s words, Chui twitched one eyebrow.
Then, Ho Ye-yang continued with a serious expression.
“Your sister, you see, was admitted to the Ascending Heaven Academy this time.”
“…”
Hearing those words, Chui nodded.
Ho Ye-yang in the past life had also said similar words.
That she took the entrance exam for the Ascending Heaven Academy and became the top student, that she too could have attended that place where the world’s best young talents went, but she could not because she had no money, and that if she had entered that place, her life would have changed a lot.
That Ho Ye-yang was saying those words now with a bright smile.
Chui thought that her dream would not be broken in this life.
“Chui, I’ve watched you all this time, and I thought you are taciturn, diligent, and also seem very talented. That’s why I’m asking—if you don’t mind, let’s go to the Martial Alliance together. They say an enrollee of the Ascending Heaven Academy can bring a few assistants to aid their personal life. The academy also covers half of their wages and general living expenses.”
In fact, for a servant living day-to-day, it was a proposal with no reason to refuse, indeed even overwhelmingly generous.
For entering as a regular employee of a public institution like the Ascending Heaven Academy under the Martial Alliance could be said to be achieving success in life.
On top of that, the quality of life would rise leap by leap, and they even paid wages separately.
Ho Ye-yang continued to speak.
“I will definitely enroll in the Ascending Heaven Academy. I will go and compete proudly with other prominent young talents of the Fifteen Pillars of the Orthodox Path. And I will widen my horizons, build a network, and return to the Tiger Pit Sect. They say I could remain and continue working in the Martial Alliance, but… I still want to return home where Father and Mother are. So I want to grow our family greatly.”
Her ambition was bold.
Like the sun just rising beyond the horizon of the blue sea, though it was still dim, it would soon shine brightly and illuminate heaven and earth.
And Chui intended to quietly watch it behind the sunset, like a shadow.
‘…Once this matter is wrapped up, she will be able to do well on her own from then on.’
Recalling what would unfold at the Namgung Clan, Chui nodded.
Just then, Ho Ye-yang asked.
“You will go with me, right?”
“If circumstances permit.”
“What’s that~ playing hard to get!”
Ho Ye-yang cast a sidelong glance as if disappointed.
She continued to speak, as if she definitely wanted to bring the hardworking Chui along.
“Then I will consider it as going for now. Since it will be a long way to the Martial Alliance, organize things in advance if you have anything to wrap up. You didn’t lend money to anyone or anything like that, right?”
“I have some debts to collect.”
“What? You have debts? Then you must settle it all. Collect everything you are owed!”
At Ho Ye-yang’s playful words, Chui quietly nodded to himself.
“…Of course.”
Debts must be collected.
Every single coin, even every single drop of blood.
Unrivaled Spear Ghost