Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: To the Tang Clan Stronghold
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"Don't throw hidden weapons into someone's eyes just because they're eyeing you."
"No need to worry. Who do you think I am? I'm Dang Un-hwi of the Half-Fiend Revival Hall, Dang Un-hwi. I've got some face now—I won't pick fights recklessly."
"If someone picks a fight while you're drinking, don't go smashing their head in first thing."
"I won't, I tell you."
"Even if someone annoying chases after you, never release your poisons. Just ignore them."
"...What the hell do you take me for?"
"A walking disaster."
"Damn, you sure cut straight to the point."
"Do you have any idea how many months I spent popping headache pills cleaning up the messes you've caused?"
"Nope."
"...I'm seriously worried about whether I should even let you go."
Tang Hoseon pressed his throbbing temples with his index finger throughout our conversation.
There was a modest send-off ceremony.
Centered around me were the agents from Jeongpungak, invited as instructors for the Wild Wind Corps training; personnel from Feng华 Pavilion to assist them; the Jade Battalion; guests and notables from various sects; and even the Shadow Venerable.
It was a procession grand in scale if you considered it that way, modest if you didn't.
But with the supreme ruler of the western martial world present, it couldn't be treated lightly.
The war with the Demonic Cult hadn't even started yet, after all.
The risk of ambushes was high, but so was the chance of crowds gathering from villages and counties along the route, so we had to prepare thoroughly.
And as you might expect, I was the overall commander of this procession.
Yet Tang Hoseon clearly didn't trust me one bit.
He'd been furrowing his brow, holding me back for ages.
"The group's been waiting a while. Think I should head out?"
"...Hah! No helping it."
Tang Hoseon let out a light sigh, then fixed me with a resolute gaze.
"If anything happens, report it immediately."
"Isn't it absurd to even think something could happen on a procession guarded by the Jade Battalion—who took down the North Sea Sect Lord—and Jeongpungak?"
"Cut the nonsense."
"Got it. I'll keep that in mind."
"...Good. Come back safe. And..."
Tang Hoseon hesitated for a moment before finally forcing the words out.
"Don't forget that the Nine Dragons Branch Family is always behind you."
My eyes widened slightly.
Words I never expected to hear from Tang Hoseon.
It was embarrassing, but... it warmed a corner of my heart, and I found myself smiling without realizing it.
"Yes. I won't forget."
And with that, the procession set off.
* * *
"We'll part ways here."
Not far from Nine Dragons County, a major fork appeared in the road.
One path led northeast to the Holy Capital, the other southeast to Guizhou.
The Lion Sword King stood on the southeastern road, laughing heartily.
I scratched my cheek with my index finger.
The Lion Sword Sect had stayed at the Nine Dragons Branch Family even though they had no business heading to the Tang Clan Stronghold.
They'd offered to help because the cleanup workload was too much for the Tang Clan alone.
Thanks to them, we assembled the procession in just half a month.
The Sword Masters had helped Feng华 Pavilion the most—and lost a ton of hair from their scalps in the process.
I'd shared drinks with the Lion Sword King every evening to unwind from the work fatigue, and we'd grown much closer than before.
He kept calling me "little brother" in that friendly way, so I'd opened up to him just as much.
After sticking together constantly, parting like this left an odd emptiness in my heart.
"You've worked hard all this time. And thank you."
I offered a respectful clasped-hands salute and bowed my head.
It was my sincere gratitude toward him.
"Hahaha! So even you can make that face, little brother. I figured you'd always be grinning like a mischievous rascal."
"I can be serious when I need to be."
"True enough. Still, in my eyes, your most charming side has always been when you're cheerful. It draws people in and leaves a strong impression."
The Lion Sword King's smile bloomed even wider as he gripped the reins.
"So keep smiling from here on out. Life's full of tough days. But if you overcome them with a laugh, face the next crisis with a positive spirit, and keep pushing through hardship after hardship like that... someday you'll rise high, little brother. High enough to look down on the world."
"......"
"That's the little brother I've seen. So show that side more often—not just to this big brother, but enough for the whole world to know."
"......"
"And no offense, but why wrinkle up that handsome face? If I had a face like yours, I'd strut it around everywhere with pride."
The Lion Sword King winked.
Pfft.
A chuckle slipped through my lips before I knew it.
Across my past and present lives, how many people had believed in me this firmly?
I'd never had a real brother, but I couldn't help thinking that if I did, he'd be like the Lion Sword King.
The kind who silently cheers on his little brother's path and believes in him unconditionally.
Who knows if I'd ever meet someone like him again.
Or even if I could.
"Take care. Next time, I'll visit the Lion Sword Sect myself."
"You better. Though we'll probably meet before then."
"?"
"Anyway, next time we meet, I'll treat you to the most expensive and delicious liquor in all of Guizhou."
"I'll look forward to it."
"Hahaha! Look forward to it all you want. I'm excited to see you too, little brother. Let's go!"
The Lion Sword King flashed a cryptic smile and spurred his horse forward with the Sword Masters.
I watched silently until they vanished beyond the horizon, then turned the other way.
The road ahead was long.
* * *
Among those joining the march to the Holy Capital, one person was the last I'd expected.
Tang Chukyung.
"No, you idiot! That's not what I'm saying!"
"Hmm. It seems Elder Chukyung needs to watch his words. There are many ears about—how can you be so reckless?"
"Damn it! Let 'em hear if they want! But we gotta settle this first! Who the hell puts mint and chocolate in mala tang?! Mint and chocolate together are revolting enough—how do you even come up with that monstrosity?!"
Tang Chukyung bickered nonstop from the Shadow Venerable's carriage all day.
At first, people eavesdropping had hoped for deep elder discussions on the coming martial world situation.
But now that they knew it was mostly pointless chatter, they mostly ignored it.
"Even so, mint and chocolate together? That's just wrong. How can anyone like that toothpaste smell?"
"Why not? I love both. They've got that sharp, tingling kick."
I shook my head as I sided with Tang Chukyung when Tang Ye-won suddenly approached.
I was a bit surprised, but not awkward.
We'd talked a lot over the past half-month and built some rapport.
I scowled.
"You got something wrong with your tongue or what?"
"Not at all. People call me a gourmet."
"Yeah, right."
"Tsk tsk! Foolish mortal who doesn't know the joys of the tongue. Fine, big sis will introduce you to a street vendor in the Holy Capital who makes killer chocolate treats."
"I don't like sweets."
Tang Ye-won bantered lightly with me, then sighed.
"Fine. What am I even doing talking to a drunk like you."
"You got something to say? Spit it out."
At my half-hearted toss, Tang Ye-won hesitated a bit before speaking.
"Just... came to say thanks."
"For what?"
"...The betrothal thing."
"Oh, that?"
"Yeah. Looks like it'll fall through thanks to you. We're handling it quietly, no public announcement—just letting it fizzle out."
"Good for you."
I smirked.
I'd wondered if the Shadow Venerable had just ignored it since she hadn't said a word, but apparently they'd had a long, deep talk.
Since Tang Ye-won had no interest in the betrothal anyway, it wrapped up nicely.
The engagement had been forced by the Shadow Venerable in the first place to console a despairing Tang Hoseon back then—and now that he was spreading his wings again, it wasn't really needed.
I'd already racked up major achievements as a Tang clansman and was starting to make a name in the martial world.
But keeping it off the public record was the smart move.
If word got out I was single?
This handsome face, sharp mind, peerless skill, stacked background... Ugh, women everywhere would be clamoring for me—nothing but a hassle.
Being this perfect is a curse, huh?
"So... you're thinking something obnoxious right now, aren't you?"
Tang Ye-won eyed me suspiciously.
I just smiled and changed the subject.
"Anyway, since you're here, tell me about the Tang Clan Stronghold."
"The Stronghold?"
"Yeah. Or the Holy Capital's layout. I haven't heard much. Can't head into my new home totally blind."
"Hmm, hard to explain off the cuff."
Tang Ye-won tapped her chin thoughtfully, then spoke.
"You know the main clan divides into inner and outer compounds, right?"
"More or less. Inner for direct lineage, outer for branches."
"Close enough—inner houses the core facilities and key personnel, outer supports with auxiliary setups."
The Tang Clan Stronghold—the ancestral seat of the Sichuan Tang Clan—got its "gata" from the word for hill.
In essence, it was the clustered settlement of all those bearing the Tang name.
This stemmed from the Tang Clan's inherently insular nature, centered on tech like poisons, hidden weapons, explosives, and metallurgy that demanded utmost secrecy.
Tang clansmen rarely strayed far from the Stronghold.
Training, work, meals, shopping, housing—all in one place, no need to venture out.
The branch families and sub-branches were no different.
That was why the Elder Nightwing Hall clung so close to Nine Dragons County.
So when the Shadow Venerable announced opening the Stronghold's doors, the Sichuan martial folk were stunned.
In hundreds of years of history, it'd never happened.
「The Tang Stronghold's isolation was infamous even in the New Cult. No matter how many spies we sent, that stubborn atmosphere always exposed them.」
「You're probably the first New Cultist welcomed with cheers into the Stronghold, Young Cult Lord.」
"You'll see when you get there, but the inner compound's key facilities—"
I listened intently to Tang Ye-won's explanations.
Which zones were open or restricted, the flow of defensive formations, the types of poisons researched in the Myriad Venom Hall lately, the properties of the mysterious metal unearthed from nearby mines.
All classified intel.
Even the wraiths were hooked.
Whether it was trust in me or because I'd basically been tapped to lead the new Wild Wind Corps, making this level of disclosure fine—I didn't know.
But it was a huge help.
To plan how the Dark Demon Divine Flower Clan would embed itself in the Stronghold, I needed at least a rough layout.
That very morning, I'd secretly received a letter from Il-no.
Sealed tight with the blazing blue flame—the sacred emblem of the Dark Demon Divine Flower Clan.
Heart pounding, I'd carefully opened it.
Inside was just one word, in flowing script achingly familiar to me.
—Arrived.
The Vampire Ghost Horse had already reached the Tang Clan Stronghold, awaiting my arrival.
Reincarnated Demon God Chronicles