Chapter 1448
I can’t do it alone. (3)
Facing Hyun Jong, Tang Gunak bowed deeply.
“I appreciate your patience and understanding despite the difficult circumstances, I thank you on behalf of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
Hyun Jong, acknowledging the gesture, shook his head.
“Naturally. Of course.”
If he claimed not to feel anxious, it would be a lie. Sichuan was no longer a land where they could rest easy.
Yet Hyun Jong waited in silence.
While others may not understand, Hyun Jong did. He understood how crucial the events unfolding in the Tang clan were. As someone who had experienced similar situation at Hwasan, he could grasp its importance.
“Lord Tang, have you made some progress with the arrangements?”
In response to the question, Tang Gunak looked at Hyun Jong with eyes as deep as a lake. In that moment, Hyun Jong unconsciously tightened his grip on his own hand.
It’s not difficult to observe someone’s skill progression. But it’s much harder to notice someone’s inner growth.
But now Hyun Jong could see. He could see the rare sight before him with his own eyes. In just a day, the Lord of Sichuan Tang Clan, Poison King Tang Gunak, had undoubtedly achieved something.
Tang Gunak glanced back briefly.
“Although I wanted to…”
He saw the resolute faces of the clan members looking back at him.
“It’s just a first step. It seems clearing away everything that has accumulated won’t be easy.”
“That’s right. It won’t be.”
Hyun Jong nodded .
Hwasan had nothing to hold onto. Therefore, there was nothing to protect. It was certainly a poignant realization, but in a way, Hwasan could shed of its old self and moved forward had without looking back.
But the Tang clan was different. Even if they had lost their home, they were still Sichuan Tang Clan. Like a sturdy fortress, dismantling and rebuilding the order of the clan around them wouldn’t be as easy as simply rebuilding it from scratch.
Nevertheless, Tang Gunak nodded confidently to Hyun Jong.
“But, now that we’ve started, that’s what matters.”
A small sigh escaped Hyun Jong’s lips. Then, a voice interjected.
“Can we leave now?”
Tang Gunak and Hyun Jong turned their gaze in that direction. Chung Myung looked up at the sky with a dissatisfied expression.
“It seems like it’s getting dark again… Shall we camp once more?”
“We can’t do that.”
Tang Gunak smiled and nodded gently.
“Causing trouble isn’t the Tang clan’s way.”
“I think you’ve done enough damage already.”
“Shut your mouth!”
“Agh, this damned!”
“What, damn it! Did I say something wrong?”
While being quickly pulled away by Five Swords, Chung Myung continued to shout. Hyun Jong, who let out a sigh, apologized to Tang Gunak.
“I’m sorry.”
“No need. It’s not wrong.”
Tang Gunak smiled and then glanced to the south. There was a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, but he left that sentiment behind as he turned his head northward.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Tang Gunak led the clan members forward, leaving the past behind and heading towards where they would now make their home.
“Are you planning to fully establish yourselves on Shaanxi?”
Baek Cheon’s face was filled with surprise. Tang Gunak asked, observing his astonishment.
“Wasn’t that already been agreed upon?”
“W-well, yes, but…”
“I know. The meaning might be slightly different.”
“Yes. That’s what I meant.”
Baek Cheon seemed jittery, fearing he might have made a mistake in his words. Tang Gunak smiled upon seeing him like that.
“Just made a decision that needed to be made.”
Tang Gunak glanced back at the others following behind.
“Of course, I too long to return to Sichuan. It makes my blood boil to think that the land where I was born and raised is being trampled under the feet of Sapaeryeon.”
“…I understand.”
What if Shaanxi falls, and Hwaeum falls into the hands of the enemy? There wasn’t even a need to drag that bad-tempered bastard, it was clear that Baek Cheon’s eyes would roll back in his head at the mere thought.
Losing territory isn’t just about losing land – it’s akin to losing all the memories built on that land.
“But perhaps, for now, this might be for the best. We can’t cling to plots of land if we aim to rebuild the foundation of our clan. We need to be prepared to dig new ground in a new place. For the sake of our clan, and for… their sake as well.”
The warm atmosphere was abruptly cut short. Both Tang Gunak and Baek Cheon turned their gazes simultaneously to one place, where Chung Myung stood with a face that screamed, “I am against that.”
“Where?”
“Shaanxi…”
“Where?”
“Hwa…eum…”
“Hwaaeeeeum?”
Chung Myung’s eyes bulged. Baek Cheon was used to this sudden display of rage and took it in stride. However, Tang Gunak, who was less accustomed to such outbursts, instinctively flinched and took a step back.
“A man of your knowledge, really? Settling in Hwaeum?”
“Well, it’s just that…”
“I didn’t expect this from you! No sense of decency! What’s there to gain by the Tang clan settling in that tiny land? We already don’t have enough for ourselves.”
“Ahem. It’s not that we’ll stay there forever…”
“Hey, you! What do you mean by that? We should be grateful if the Tang clan comes there in times like this.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Yoon Jong interjected. Chung Myung glared fiercely at him.
“Grateful? Did you just say grateful? Damn it, it’s already infuriating to have those Jongnam bastards in Shaanxi, it makes me so angry that I’m thinking about burning Jongnam Mountain to the ground one day!”
“…I must inform you that this statement does not reflect the official position of Hwasan.”
“I’m genuinely terrified someone might hear this. This guy is a Taoist, everyone.”
Five Swords murmured while covering their faces, but Chung Myung paid no attention and continued speaking.
“And if the Tang clan crawls in here too, huh? What are we supposed to live on then?”
“Well, that’s…”
“And do you think there are just a few people? Feeding and housing over five hundred people! Do you think money just springs up from the ground when you dig?”
At this point, Jo Geol snapped back.
“Hey, you brat! How dare you talk about money in front of the Tang clan! Do you know how rich the Tang clan is?”
“What?”
“Compared to the Tang clan’s wealth, our place is just a shabby beggars den under a bridge! Do you have any idea how much rare metals and poisons they have stashed away? Just selling one of those rare poisons would bring in a fortune.”
“Oh, right. Well said. Expensive and rare poisons, jewels and metals that could buy a castle, and wealth stacked high in their warehouses.”
“Yeah, exactly!”
“And where is all that now?”
“Huh?”
Well… back in Sichuan…
“All burned to the ground.”
“Fire is fair.”
“Yeah, it’s fair. It was fair to Hwasan too.”
“Why are you bringing that up now!”
The wealth accumulated by the Tang clan over centuries hadn’t made it with them on their escape route. Most of it either burned down or was likely gobbled up by Jang Ilso while he was laughing manically.
“So, what you’re saying is…”
“Yes, exactly what I’m saying…”
Five Swords paused, deep in thought, and then they all turned to look at one person.
Under the sudden barrage of cold stares, a bead of cold sweat trickled down Tang Gunak’s face. Their eyes clearly conveyed, “What’s this? You’re just a beggar?”
Huh? Soso? Even she seemed to share the sentiment, which pained him the most.
“We’re not rich – we were rich!”
“Erm…”
Seeing Tang Gunak becoming increasingly sullen, Baek Cheon quickly cleared his throat and spoke up.
“Of course, the situation is difficult now, but… isn’t the Tang clan still the Tang clan? If we help a little, they can soon prosper again…”
“Oh, they’ll prosper and then steal away the students we could have recruited to join Hwasan. Split the business too, right? Just like those bastards from Jongnam.”
“How about moving to Henan instead?”
“Sa-Sasuk!”
“That was a mistake… It just slipped out.”
Baek Cheon quickly waved his hands, but the words couldn’t be taken back. Five Sword’s cold glares were unwavering.
“Is it because his personality has worsened or was it always bad?”
“I think it’s the latter. Bad blood, you know. Where would Jongnam’s blood go?”
“There’s some truth to that.”
“…Bastards.”
Tang Gunak sighed deeply as he watched Five Swords bicker.
“Regardless, there’s no need to worry about losing disciples. In fact, we’re the ones at a disadvantage.”
“Excuse me? What do you mean by that?”
“The daughters of the Tang clan want to join Hwasan.”
“…Though I’d rather pretend I didn’t hear it, the Lord’s voice was too loud to ignore… Didn’t you agree to teach them Tang’s martial arts instead?”
“Of course, I’ll teach those who wish to learn. But as you know, Tang’s martial arts aren’t universal.”
“…That’s true.”
The art of poison and hidden weapons is something that takes a lifetime to master and even then, reaching the pinnacle is challenging. That’s why the Tang clan is renowned.
“They are late-starting martial artists, so there’s no need to force them onto a thorny path. If they wish to join Hwasan, I’ll permit it.”
“Now, this is getting funny. We’re the ones accepting disciples, so why do we need your permission? Do you not understand the situation… Mm! Mmmm!”
Baek Cheon quickly gagged Chung Myung by shoving his head band into his mouth and then tied it tightly.
“…That seems to have multiple uses.”
“Indeed.”
“Get that bastard out of here!”
“Yes.”
As Chung Myung was dragged away, Tang Gunak sighed and continued speaking.
“It’s not just the daughters. We plan to allow even the younger children who haven’t yet been properly introduced to Tang’s martial arts to enter Hwasan.”
“From our perspective, that’s incredibly generous, but….”
Baek Cheon turned to look at a specific spot with an awkward expression.
“…Are you sure about this?”
There, with his limbs bound and radiating murderous intent with his eyes, stood Chung Myung, who seemed to be saying, ‘Just let those Tang brats step foot here. I’ll personally send them to hell.’
“…They’ll have to endure it.”
Tang Gunak said reluctantly. Of course, he wasn’t entirely convinced.
“So please take good care of…”
Suddenly, with a loud ripping sound, Chung Myung broke free from his bindings and stood up abruptly. He spat out Baek Cheon’s head band like a cannonball.
“That’s not about disciples or anything else! So, what about the money? If you want to settle on someone else’s land, you have to pay a fee!”
“…Just go join the Evil Sect.”
“Come to think of it, if this bastard had been born in Gangnam and joined an Evil Sect, Jang Ilso wouldn’t have been able to run wild like that.”
Though a different kind of hell would have unfolded instead.
“How are we supposed to feed and house over five hundred penniless people? What are we, a charity?”
“Yes.”
“Huh?”
Chung Myung turned to look at Yoon Jong. Yoon Jong spoke calmly.
“That’s right. We are a Taoist sect. We do charity.”
“What? Really? Is that what a Taoist monk supposed to do?”
…Tears welled up in Yoon Jong’s eyes. Great Celestial Immortal, where did it all go wrong? Where did it all…
“Ahem! Anyway, I absolutely cannot accept this! It already drives me crazy to see those beggars from the Beggars’ Sect freeloading in Hwaeum, and now you want to add more freeloaders…”
“We have money.”
“…What?”
Chung Myung turned sharply to Tang Gunak.
“Did you bring it with you?”
“As you can see, I couldn’t bring it.”
“Then what, do you usually carry a lot of money with you?”
“Who carries money into a battlefield?”
Chung Myung’s eyes, which had momentarily softened, hardened again.
“Then where’s the money coming from!”
“Didn’t the Tang clan leave Sichuan for a while because of the Demonic Cult in the past?”
“Yes? They did…”
“Since then, we’ve kept about thirty percent of our wealth distributed in other regions in case of emergencies.”
“…How much?”
“Thirty percent.”
“Uh… So that means…”
Thirty percent of the Tang clan’s wealth, accumulated over hundreds of years by squeezing the lifeblood out of the people of Sichuan… Uh…
Chung Myung looked up at the sky briefly and then lowered his head. A warm smile spread across his face as he looked at Tang Gunak.
“Welcome to Shaanxi. Hehe. Isn’t it great to have friends? Stay as long as you like! From now on, we’ll protect you!”
…At that moment Tang Gunak seriously considered whether he should just go to Henan and seek refuge at Shaolin.
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