Chapter 1425
Is this Sichuan Tang Clan? (5)
As Jeok Ho glanced back at the Four Seas merchant guild, he turned his head forward again, directing his gaze at Jang Ilso’s retreating figure. Towards that back that revealed nothing of what he might be thinking.
“Ryeonju.”
“Hmm?”
“May I ask why you let them go like that?”
Jeok Ho knew that Jang Ilso was not afraid of shedding blood. No, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he had no qualms about shedding blood more than anyone else in the world.
It wasn’t because Jang Ilso had some remarkable principle that he didn’t touch the commoners. It was simply because there was no gain to be had in doing so.
If there was something to be gained, whether it was from commoners or nobles, Jang Ilso was the one who could trample over them without any hesitation.
That’s why it was puzzling.
Just by setting fire to that merchant guild, he could inflict great pain on the disciples of Hwasan. Of course, it couldn’t be considered a particularly significant deed, but then again, exterminating them wouldn’t be a difficult task either.
“If you’re hesitating because you think it’s a waste of time, then I’ll go take care of it for a moment.”
“…For what reason…”
Though Jekho cautiously spoke, but Jang Ilso interjected muttering to himself as if he hadn’t heard him at all. Soon, a strange smile spread across Jang Ilso’s lips.
“Do I really need a reason?”
“Um?”
“Let’s just say it’s a simple whim.”
A complex expression crossed Jeok Ho’s face. It was because of the answer that was not easily understood. However, he didn’t press further.
As if surprised by this, Jang Ilso asked.
“Aren’t you going to ask again? You seem to not understand.”
“I’ve already heard the answer.”
Demanding an answer from Ryeonju that he could understand would be disrespectful. Just hearing the answer was enough. Jeok Ho believed that was his duty.
Glancing at Jeok Ho, Jang Ilso twisted his red lips.
“I know you dislike Gamyeong.”
Jeok Ho’s face stiffened slightly. It felt out of place. Was there a reason for such words to suddenly come up here?
“This is why I keep Gamyeong by my side. If he were here, he would have opposed my desire to toy with them. And he would have kept them without even touching them.”
“…Why is that?”
Jeok Ho didn’t question Jang Ilso’s statement. But if the other party was Ho Gamyeong, it was a different story. Jeok Ho’s face twisted slightly uncomfortably.
Seeing this, Jang Ilso chuckled in amusement.
“What if your mother had enemies?”
“I would tear them apart. By any means necessary.”
“You’re a filial child. Tsk, how dull.”
Jang Ilso shook his head and continued.
“Yeah. So, what would you do if someone were holding your mother hostage?”
Jeok Ho couldn’t answer immediately.
The enemy of his mother must be killed. But how should he deal with someone holding his mother hostage?
The more he valued his mother, the more powerless he became. At least, it would be difficult to move easily.
“That’s why Gamyeong would have wanted to keep them alive.”
“…”
“Especially for bastards like Hwasan. As long as that guild is in our grasp, they won’t move recklessly. Understand? Harboring grudges is trivial. What matters is whether they’re useful.”
Jeok Ho pressed his lips. It was indeed a valid point.
Qingcheng and Emei had already fallen. And now, it was time for Tangga and Diancang to be sorted out. In other words, the entire Sichuan would fall into the hands of Sapaeryeon.
Everything within Sichuan would become the property of Sapaeryeon. Rather than killing them off, it would be better to utilize them as useful pawns.
He had seen the present, but if it were Ho Gamyeong, it meant he would be looking into the future.
This observation was a painfully sharp critique for Jeok Ho.
“…Then, wouldn’t it be better to send some troops now to prevent them from escaping?”
“Leave them be.”
Once again, Jeok Ho could only look at Jang Ilso with puzzled eyes.
“Tsk tsk. Seems like you don’t understand human speech. I simply told you what Gamyeong would do.”
“Then… what about you, Ryeonju?”
“I told you. Just a simple whim.”
“…”
“I just felt like it. Is that not allowed?”
Jeok Ho let out a bitter laugh for a moment. Finally, he understood. What mistake he had been making.
Jang Ilso was just Jang Ilso. His thoughts and actions were not to be understood. After all, this person couldn’t be interpreted with ordinary reasoning.
Jang Ilso smiled.
“That’s not what’s important right now.”
“Yes.”
What mattered to them now, of course, was Sichuan Tang Clan.
Jang Ilso’s gaze became sharp.
“If you want to see something interesting, you can see it at Tangga.”
At least, there wouldn’t be any there.
Neither whim, nor luxury named mercy.
❀ ❀ ❀
Before him stood a massive gate.
Sichuan Tang Clan [사천당가(四川當家)].
The calligraphy on the imposing signboard was truly magnificent. Jang Ilso looked at the gate for a while before slowly shifting his gaze sideways.
Carved on the gate was a pattern that was unfamiliar yet strangely familiar.
‘A plum blossom?’
A plum blossom pattern on the gate of Sichuan Tang Clan. It seemed terribly out of place.
But the strange glint in Jang Ilso’s eyes was not because of the discomfort caused by the pattern.
“Is this… Sichuan Tangga? This quiet place?”
A hollow laugh escaped Jang Ilso’s lips.
It was so quiet, it was almost deafeningly silent.
Of course, the Tang clan would have been quiet at any time and place. Moreover, those who greeted Jang Ilso would not have shouted or shown hostility, even if they were prepared to fight him. It was normal to hold your breath and target him, even if your heart was full of the intention to fight back.
But this silence did not stem from a determined resolve. This… was the stillness that comes when there’s no one around.
Moreover…
“Rye-Ryeonju. Smoke…”
Jang Ilso laughed.
Beyond the grand gate, black smoke billowed from various parts of Tang clan’s manor. It seemed as if the calamity had already swept through once.
Another enemy? Could that be possible?
Throughout the journey to reach this place, not a single enemy was encountered, indicating something ominous had occurred here. Jang Ilso’s expression contorted slightly.
‘Sichuan Tang Clan…’
He thought that the Tang clan was something that could not leave its domain due to its nature, but was his judgment wrong?
“Regardless, I must confirm.”
Jang Ilso gestured forward.
“Open it.”
“Yes!”
Boom!
The ancient gate of the Tang clan, which had been guarding this place for so long, shattered into pieces.
The sight that unfolded before them left everyone with a grim expression.
Inside, there wasn’t a single soul to be seen. The grand halls, which should have been splendidly adorned, were partially burned and crumbling. They were on the verge of becoming ashes.
“This is…”
If someone were to witness this scene alone, they would never believe that this was the renowned Sichuan Tang, which held such fame throughout the Central Plains.
“Hmm.”
As everyone struggled to find words, Jang Ilso shook his head.
“Did just one blow do all this? Surely, our esteemed Tangga wouldn’t flee without a fight.”
“…”
“…And to set fire to their own house. It leaves me feeling empty.”
Jang Ilso laughed as if finding it amusing, but others couldn’t bring themselves to laugh.
Who could have imagined that the Tang clan would be involved in such a situation?
“This is outrageous…”
Jeok Ho bit his lips.
Other sects might resort to such actions, but not the Tang clan. By its very nature, the Tang clan was not a place one could simply abandon.
“Search every inch!”
Jeok Ho’s voice burst out vehemently.
“They might be in disguise. There’s no way they’d just flee without a fight. Find out where they set the fire, and make sure they’re not hiding anywhere! Right now!”
“Yes!”
Except for the Red Dogs guarding Jang Ilso, all others dispersed in all directions.
“Tsk.”
Jang Ilso clicked his tongue briefly.
‘Strange.’
Of course, he wasn’t a God, so it wasn’t particularly surprising that his expectations were off.
However, something felt different about this situation. A strange sense of unease twisted Jang Ilso’s insides.
‘I can’t make sense of this.’
The scenario of the Tang clan deviating from his expectations, setting fire to their own home, and fleeing? That was undoubtedly a possible situation.
What bothered Jang Ilso was the sense of urgency apparent in the spectacle before him.
If they truly decided to abandon this place, they would have set the fire more thoroughly. They wouldn’t have wanted to leave anything behind for Sapaeryeon
So what does the confusion scattered throughout this entire place mean?
It’s almost like the traces left by those who were pushed away without any intention of doing so.
“There’s… nothing here!”
“The place that seemed to be their poison warehouse has been completely engulfed in flames! All sorts of poisons inside have burned!”
“The weapons in the warehouse are now charred and unusable. It seems like the warehouse caught fire on its own.”
Voices of dismay echoed from all directions.
Jeok Ho’s face twisted, but Jang Ilso just chuckled. It was the moment he wanted to give the command to stop this unnecessary nonsense.
“Rye-Ryeonju, over here…!”
Jang Ilso narrowed his eyes.
“There… there’s someone here!”
The messenger who rushed to report wore a complex expression. It seemed he was at a loss for how to explain the situation. Jang Ilso began to walk towards the source of the report.
“Let’s see.”
Clang!
It was a faint sound.
Clang!
But the sound echoed far beyond the silent chambers. Fragile yet resolute, it seemed like it could break any moment, yet it persisted, echoing widely.
Clang!
In the center of the workshop, now halfway reduced to ashes, an old man wielded a hammer. Before him was a furnace, small like his own diminutive frame. With a swift motion, the hammer, which had soared through the air moments before, now descended, striking the heated iron atop the anvil.
Clang!
With a pair of tongs, the old man carefully examined the red-hot iron held close to his face. His eyes, cloudy yet clear, appeared introspective and deep.
Clang!
Again, the old man brought down the hammer. Drawn by the sound, Maninbang began to gather around him, yet he continued his work as if only he and the furnace existed in the world, paying no heed to the crowd.
It’s a strange sight indeed.
Even though they may not be the strongest in the world, they can easily be called the most vicious in the world. The fact that the most formidable fighters of Maninbang hesitated to intervene in the presence of this clearly lone old man spoke volumes.
They seemed unsure of how to handle the situation, merely observing the old man’s hammering from a distance, uncertain of what to do next.
And then, with a perplexed expression, Jang Ilso spoke, looking at Tang Jopyeong.
“What on earth… is this…?”
His face distorted as if it cracked.
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