Chapter 536: The Beginning of an Upheaval (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 536: The Beginning of an Upheaval (2)
Had the Poison King lost his mind?
There was no other explanation for what I had just heard.
“The Tang Clan is stepping down from the Four Noble Clans?”
“Correct. An official announcement will be made shortly.”
“…Are you insane?”
This wasn't a possibility; it was a certainty. An announcement was imminent.
Which meant…
“…You've already sent the letter to the Murim Alliance?”
“Correct.”
So, it wasn't that the Murim Alliance had raised the issue. The Tang Clan had proactively requested to step down.
We wish to relinquish our position among the Four Noble Clans. That must have been the gist of the letter.
But the problem was…
“Can you even do that? Just step down because you feel like it?”
The title of Four Noble Clans wasn't an official post, but a symbolic honor bestowed upon the four most prominent righteous families in the Central Plains. It wasn't something one could simply resign from on a whim.
To this, the Poison King responded with a bitter smile.
“Does it seem impossible to you?”
“…”
“I believe it is possible.”
His words made my calm composure begin to crack.
“Lord Tang. Don't tell me… you wrote down everything? And sent it?”
“I omitted not a single word.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
He must have documented everything—the recent events within the Tang Clan, the nature of their experiments, the full truth about the elders—and sent it all to the Alliance.
Was he truly insane?
The Alliance would have dispatched inspectors soon enough regardless. At a time when they should be concealing their crimes at all costs, to voluntarily compile and deliver the evidence themselves…
“Are you trying to destroy your own clan?”
It was tantamount to deliberately ruining the Tang Clan.
I spoke out of sheer disbelief, but the Poison King merely let out a dry chuckle.
How could he laugh in a situation like this?
No wonder he executed the elders so ruthlessly, without a care for the consequences.
The way he had beheaded them without hesitation. Was this why he was acting as if he had nothing left to lose?
Only then did I begin to understand his actions.
So that's it.
His intention from the start had been to shatter the clan.
The lord of a noble clan… seeking to destroy his own house?
Is that why Moyong Hi-ah rushed off in such a hurry?
I recalled her sudden, frantic departure, as if she had realized something. I had wondered at her urgency, but it made sense if she had anticipated this.
The Moyong Clan had significant commercial ties with the Tang Clan, including formal agreements. If the Tang Clan self-destructed here…
…The entire landscape of the Murim world would change.
It wasn't just about the fall of the Tang Clan; the ensuing power vacuum would be catastrophic. Moyong Hi-ah must have instantly predicted the ramifications and moved to respond as quickly as possible.
The fact that the Tang Clan's fall would reshape the landscape spoke volumes about their immense influence. The downfall of a lesser noble clan would cause an uproar; for a clan of the Tang's stature, the ripple effects would be enormous.
Which made it all the more baffling.
“…Why would you make such a choice?”
No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't comprehend the Poison King's decision.
I did think the Tang Clan might be ruined.
Given the scale of the incident, significant damage was inevitable. But being destroyed by external forces was one thing; I never imagined the clan lord himself would seek to tear it down.
Why would he do this? It was a choice I would never have made.
The Poison King fell silent for a moment, then met my gaze squarely.
“It is thanks to Lord Gu.”
“…What?”
I froze. Why was he suddenly bringing up my father? For a moment, I feared my father had caused some trouble, but I held my tongue because the Poison King had said ‘thanks to’ him, not ‘because of’ him.
“He said to me, ‘After witnessing this, can you still call yourselves an Orthodox Faction?’”
“…”
“He was right. These actions were not those of an Orthodox Faction, by any measure.”
I couldn't refute that. Whatever the justification, the recent events were indefensible for a righteous clan.
But…
“You weren't the one who did those things, Poison King.”
“Are you certain?”
“…What do you mean?”
“That I was not involved. Are you truly certain of that, Young Master Gu?”
“…”
The Poison King's eyes gleamed with unsettling clarity. The Celestial Martial Body Plan and the countless atrocities committed to achieve it… if he was asking whether I was sure he had no part in it…
…No.
I only had my belief that he wasn't involved; I had no proof.
Reading my expression, the Poison King offered a faint smile.
“I did not do it.”
“Then, why…?”
“Even so, few will believe me. That is the reality.”
He was right. Given the circumstances, his claims of innocence would fall on deaf ears.
“And even if I was not directly involved… I must take responsibility.”
“Is there any reason for you to go that far, Lord Tang?”
“If you need a reason, the one you just stated is reason enough, Young Master Gu.”
“What?”
“Because I am the Lord of the Tang Clan.”
“…”
His voice was calm, infused with a mix of resignation and peace.
“Until now, I have borne the title of lord, yet accomplished little of substance. Should I not do what is necessary before it is too late?”
“…And that necessary thing is to tear down your own clan's banner?”
“Haha.”
I was dead serious, but the Poison King let out a short, amused laugh.
“Relinquishing an honorary title will not ruin the clan.”
“But do we not live in a world where men live and die for honor?”
“That is also true. I was once such a man.”
That was the way of martial artists. For many, honor was the very reason they sought strength. Countless individuals dreamed of making a name for themselves, their lives defined by such titles.
I didn't necessarily see it as a bad thing—people were free to live as they chose. It simply meant there were many who valued honor above all.
But in such a world, why go out of your way to…
“Is there a reason you must discard your honor?”
Even after his explanation, I still didn't understand.
“Young Master Gu.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how to save an old tree whose roots have rotted away?”
I looked into his eyes. My lips parted slightly, but no words came out under the weight of his gaze.
He had already made his choice.
“You pull it out by the roots and plant a new seed.”
“…So you will tear out the old tree, roots and all, and start anew?”
“That is merely a figure of speech. One cannot literally tear out the roots of a clan, can one? Haha.”
If it became known that the Tang Clan had conducted human experiments, even resorting to kidnapping… they wouldn't just lose their place among the Four Noble Clans. The Alliance could easily brand them as heretics, especially given the Tang Clan's historical origins in the Unorthodox Faction.
He knew all this, yet he persisted. But why?
“It is a matter of shame.”
“…Shame?”
“I can no longer bear the disgrace, Young Master Gu. I feel remorse for the innocent members of the clan, but this is a path that must be taken.”
Was it because I lacked a conscience, or because such sentiments had withered within me? I didn't know. I couldn't grasp the conviction driving him.
Just then.
“Thank you.”
The Poison King suddenly thanked me.
My eyes widened in surprise.
“…Why are you thanking me?”
“I know that your anger stems from concern for my daughter.”
“…!”
His words struck a chord, revealing something I hadn't even admitted to myself. Was that the source of the frustration I'd felt? I had a vague understanding of the hardship Tang Soyeol would face if the clan fell.
So that's what was bothering me. That's why I was so irritated.
It seemed that was the reason—a truth I hadn't been conscious of until now.
“I have failed my son and daughter, but this is my choice.”
“…Lord Tang.”
“What follows will be shameful, but this is the lesser shame. I have not discarded my honor. Rather, this is how I protect it.”
Let that be the end of it.
That was the unspoken message in his words. So I fell silent. I had nothing more to say to him with any conviction.
It was always like this with people of unwavering resolve, who walked paths they need not have taken. They possessed a way of silencing all opposition.
As I averted my gaze slightly, the Poison King spoke to me calmly.
“I know it is a shameless request, but please look after my daughter, Young Master Gu.”
What did he mean? Was he asking me to protect her when the clan fell? Or did his words carry another meaning? I didn't know.
There was only one answer I could give with sincerity at that moment.
“…You need not worry.”
I wasn't sure about anything else, but this, at least, was genuine.
Hearing my response, the Poison King smiled, nodded, and said, “Yes. That is enough.”
I noticed he had subtly dropped the formal speech when addressing me. I didn't point it out. Instead, I sensed from his tone that he had finally acknowledged me.
* * *
I left the Poison King's residence and began to walk.
I couldn't detain a man with his own path to walk. It was time for me to focus on my own duties.
I need to plan my next moves.
I had a general outline, but the specifics were still unclear.
First, I must return home.
Back to the Gu Clan. That was the necessary first step.
…If I had my way, I'd rather go anywhere but home.
There were places ripe with opportunity, like the cave in Guangdong filled with thousand-year cold iron. It was time to seek out the fortuitous encounters I had noted.
But that's impossible right now.
There were too many obligations to fulfill first. My promise with the Immortal Healer, for one. And obtaining the jewel needed for Na-hi.
Beyond those, the most pressing need was…
I need power.
It was time to train in earnest. That was what I needed most.
…I'm still not strong enough.
I had reached the Fusion Realm realm and gained the enhanced power from my dragon transformation, but it was insufficient. To face the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Demon, both my personal strength and the faction I could muster were lacking.
I still couldn't react to the Dark King's movements, and I was far from matching those who stood at the pinnacle.
On top of that…
I must reach the ninth stage.
I needed to master the Tuapacheonmu and advance to the ninth stage of the Guyeomhwalun-gong. Only then would my father tell me about my mother.
I needed time to grow stronger. And the opportunity for that…
“…is now or never.”
If anything, now was the most opportune moment. In a few years, major incidents would begin erupting one after another. Even disregarding the events I had already altered, I needed to build the strength to handle the crises to come.
There's a limit to what I can gain from fortuitous encounters now.
My internal energy was more than sufficient; it was overflowing. My physical body was also in peak condition. Ultimately, what I needed now was dedicated training.
Very well. I'll do it. I must seize the moment.
Since I had to return to the clan anyway, this was the time to consolidate my strength.
Having settled my thoughts, I headed back to my quarters.
“Hm?”
I found my father, who had been absent all night, standing in the courtyard. And with him was…
Wi Seol-Ah?
She was holding some of my clothes. What was going on?
As I entered, they both turned to look at me.
“Ah, Young Master.”
“What are you doing?”
“…Well…”
At my question, Wi Seol-Ah hid the clothes behind her back, stammering. “…I was just… doing some laundry.”
“Laundry? Those are my clothes?”
“Yes…”
She was washing my clothes? “…Why?”
Why was she doing my laundry? As I pressed with my gaze, Wi Seol-Ah's face grew progressively redder. Her pale skin made the blush especially noticeable.
“Oh, it's been a while… I just remembered… and before I knew it…”
At her awkward laugh, I couldn't help but pinch the bridge of my nose. She saw the clothes and started washing them on instinct? What kind of absurd habit was that?
But when I considered the cause, a knot tightened in my stomach.
…This is probably my fault.
It was likely a remnant of the time I had brought Wi Seol-Ah here as a servant. It seemed to have left a strange imprint.
…Now that I think about it, my laundry has been done very regularly lately.
My room was always clean when I returned from training or outings, and I'd wondered why it smelled so pleasant.
“You… Don't tell me you've been secretly cleaning my room all this time?”
“…!”
She flinched and blushed deeply at my accusatory question. I had assumed a Tang Clan servant was responsible. Had it been Wi Seol-Ah all along?
“Why would you do that?”
“…W-well… I had some free time…”
“If you were going to do it, you could have told me. It's not like you're some kind of fairy tale spirit.”
The point was, why the secrecy? At my incredulous tone, Wi Seol-Ah hung her head.
“I'm sorry…”
Sneaking in might be an issue, but from my perspective, it wasn't something she needed to apologize for.
“There's no need to apologize. If anything, I should be thanking you. Just… if you do something like that, let me know. So I can express my gratitude.”
I smiled at her reaction and almost reached out to pat her head, but I caught myself upon remembering my father's presence. Wi Seol-Ah followed my aborted movement with a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
I forced myself to ignore it and turned to my father.
“Are you leaving?”
My father's eyebrow twitched slightly.
“How did you know?”
“What do you mean?”
“That I was about to leave.”
“…Just a feeling.”
Perhaps because I'd been observing him closely lately, I could sense a subtle shift in his aura. “I just had a feeling you would.”
“…Hmph.”
“By the way, what were you two talking about?”
“Nothing important.”
That was his way of saying he wouldn't tell me. I immediately glanced at Wi Seol-Ah, but she averted her gaze, pretending not to see my question.
What was this? They were making me uneasy. I wanted to press further, but decided to let it go for now.
“…Alright, I'll drop it. Are you really leaving now?”
“The request is complete. There is no reason to linger.”
That meant he had fulfilled whatever task the Poison King had asked of him. It also implied he had dealt with all the elders overnight.
“Then, why don't we go together? I'll be leaving tomorrow at the latest.”
After saying it, I was inwardly surprised. Normally, I would have been relieved to hear he was leaving. To suggest we travel together was baffling, even to me.
My father seemed equally taken aback, his eyes widening slightly—a rare sight.
“No… I-I just thought, since we're both heading the same way… It was just a suggestion.”
I rambled on, making excuses. For some reason, I felt compelled to explain myself.
Hearing this, my father replied, “That won't be possible.”
It was a flat refusal.
“I figured.”
I scratched the back of my head, feeling awkward.
“Normally, it would be fine, but…” Uncharacteristically, my father began to explain. “If I delay any longer, she will be very angry.”
“Who?”
“…”
He didn't answer, but the look in his eyes suggested he was in a genuine predicament.
Amidst the silence, I heard a faint, ethereal voice whisper, -It's been well over… three days, you see.
What did that mean? Regardless, it clearly meant we couldn't travel together.
“…I see. Then I suppose it can't be helped. I'll see you back at the clan…?”
Just as I was about to give up and bid farewell, my father extended his hand toward me. His large, calloused hand.
“…?”
I looked at him, confused, but he simply stared back in silence. After a brief standoff, he finally spoke.
“Take it.”
“Ah.”
Only then did I understand. I reached out and took his hand. The difference in size was immense; my hand was completely enveloped by his.
Come to think of it…
Is this the first time?
I believe it was the first time I had ever held my father's hand like this. I had no memory of it.
The handshake lasted only a few seconds—too brief for any sentiment to surface—and then it was over.
“I will go on ahead. Return safely.”
“…What?”
I froze. What was that? I thought he was checking my pulse or something. Wasn't that a given?
“Fath…?”
Pat-!
Before I could call out, my father vanished into a shower of embers, disappearing before my eyes.
“…He's really gone? Just like that?”
A handshake, and then he disappears? How absurd. He appeared out of nowhere and left just as casually. My father remained an enigma.
“Haha.”
I looked down at my hand. My father's grip had been warmer than I expected. Was it due to his flame arts?
An awkward laugh escaped me. All that remained was a lingering warmth and an indescribable emotion.
Tuk, tuk.
I casually brushed off my hand and looked at Wi Seol-Ah. She was watching me with her characteristically large eyes. And for some reason, the corners of her eyes seemed to be curved in a subtle smile.
It was a pretty sight, but somehow…
Irritating.
So I suddenly reached out and ruffled her hair.
“Eek!”
It was the first time in a while I'd heard Wi Seol-Ah's cute shriek.
“Y-Young Master, wait…!”
“Who told you to look at me like that?”
After mussing up her fine hair a few more times, Wi Seol-Ah scrunched up her nose. I pulled my hand back, knowing she would sulk if I continued.
I took a step back and said, “Let's go eat. I'm hungry.”
“Yes.”
It felt like it had been a while since we'd decided to have a meal together. Thankfully, Wi Seol-Ah looked pleased.
Then…
“We should call the others, too. It's better to eat together.”
“…Yes.”
…Did she not like that idea? Her expression seemed to darken for a fleeting moment.
It must be my imagination.
There was no way Wi Seol-Ah would object to a group meal.
I gave a noncommittal nod and started walking.