Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Truly Scheming
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Returning to the White War Hall, Dang Gyujin spotted me and came rushing over after pacing the courtyard for a while.
"Where the hell have you been?! Are you hurt? Is your body okay?"
Her eyes were filled with genuine worry.
"I'm fine."
"You knew that bastard might have set some trap, and you chased after him anyway!"
"But I came back safe and sound, didn't I?"
"That's not something to say right—"
I was in the middle of getting an earful from Dang Gyujin.
Keeeek!
Suddenly, the gajo wedged itself between us and threw itself at me in an embrace.
"??"
Wondering what the hell it was doing, I just stared blankly.
Keek! Keeek! Keek!
The gajo pleaded desperately with me, its face brimming with tears.
'What the hell is wrong with this thing?'
The Fifteen Spirits were breaking out in cold sweats.
「We don't know exactly... but it seems to be complaining.」
'Who doesn't know that?'
「Roughly translating, it says the young lady from the Tang Clan has been tormenting it—」
'Huh?'
Come to think of it, it was pointing at Dang Gyujin with its half-severed wing, like it was tattling.
Then, when Dang Gyujin glared at it with axe-like eyes, the gajo quickly averted its gaze downward.
"Sis, did you perhaps—"
"Ahem! I tried to secretly lop off its head, but it was thicker than I thought and wouldn't cut easily."
"......"
「Ahem!」
「Even though it's a fairly high-grade walking corpse, the fact that it's so terrified... looks like she didn't just prick it once or twice.」
The spirits, recalling their own close calls, rubbed their necks with their hands.
I quietly stared at the gajo. What should I do with this thing?
It was too big to just keep around, and with its instincts still strong, it might bolt anywhere. Feeding it would be a hassle too.
But killing it and tossing the head felt like a waste.
As the spirits said, it was high-grade, and it'd be perfect for turning the tables on those Black Bone Ghost Valley bastards whenever we ran into them.
「It seems the young cult leader is about to show off another of his devious... ahem! No, ingenious schemes.」
「He's probably pondering what to do with the gajo. Truth be told, it's a hot potato.」
...Keek?
Sensing something ominous, the gajo took a step back.
Then it suddenly flapped its remaining wings.
If it was trying to flee, I was about to chop its head off with my hand blade, but suddenly its form was enveloped in a gray mist and shrank down dramatically.
Kiyoo!
A hawk appeared out of nowhere and circled around me.
「Oh, it has transformation abilities?」
「That explains how the Black Bone Ghost Valley guys always manage so many walking corpses. They must've known this trick!」
When I extended my arm out to the side, the hawk quietly perched on it.
It rubbed its head against my cheek, desperately trying to win me over.
"You're going to let that thing live?"
"It's begging me like this to do just that. I figure I can give it one chance."
Kiyo! Kiyoyoyo!
The gajo excitedly flapped in response to my words.
'Don't raise your talons. You'll die.'
Kiyot!
It immediately went still.
Truly, a well-behaved pet is the best.
"That's a walking corpse! Made by those demonic outsiders! Who knows when it might turn on you again—"
"Then you can just save me again when that happens, sis."
I flashed a wide grin, baring my teeth.
"You really—"
Dang Gyujin started to say something but trailed off with a deep sigh.
She'd realized that no amount of long lecturing here would get through to me.
"Fine. What more can I even say? Anyway, what about that guy?"
"I lost him. I almost had him, but he had a companion."
I didn't bother telling the full truth.
Not because I didn't trust Dang Gyujin. It was to paint a clearer picture.
"I see."
A hint of bitterness crossed Dang Gyujin's face.
Then, as if resolving something, she clenched her fist and nodded.
"Still, I'm just glad you came back safe."
"Yes. You too, sis."
"I'll look into anything related to this on my own. I'll handle the cleanup, so you rest up."
I nodded gratefully.
But it didn't seem like Dang Gyujin needed to do anything extra.
Someone else was already on the move.
* * *
The new visitor arrived about half a shichen after Dang Gyujin left the White War Hall.
"Dang Unhwi of the White War Hall comes to pay respects to the Branch Leader."
Whoosh!
Through the wide-open window stood a handsome middle-aged man with his hands behind his back.
The wind tousling his hair made him look almost mystical.
Beside him, Uncle Dang Gon was prostrating rigidly, full of discipline.
「Hm, we felt it during the day, but his presence is impressive. He wouldn't fall short compared to most elders of our cult. Ahem! Of course, nothing compared to me in my prime!」
「No wonder his reputation as the Mad Wind Wild Sword shook the western martial world. He hasn't slacked on training either! But he seems way stronger than his younger brother— what's he on about?」
「This brother of mine, really!」
Branch Leader Dang Hosan narrowed his eyes.
"Branch Leader, is it? I let it slide during the day with all the people around, but even now with just the two of us, you're keeping your distance? It almost sounds like you're rebuking me."
"If it came across that way, I apologize. However."
"However?"
"I believe the father-son bond begins with the father tending to and soothing the son's pains."
In an instant, the prostrating Dang Gon snapped his head up.
『Y-Young master! Have you lost your mind? Say it was a slip of the tongue right now!』
Truth be told, I hadn't planned to charge in like this from the start.
But this guy shows up out of nowhere and starts getting under my skin. How could I not snap?
「Hah, gasp! Those eyes! It's those eyes again!」
「We need to get out of here—」
Every time I activated the Three Hundred Eyes, people around me reacted just like that.
I wasn't mad at Dang Hosan for any particular reason.
It was that brazenness.
I thought I had some face myself, but it was nothing compared to his.
The timing of his visit was suspect too.
Right after the fight with the Fifteen Spirits?
"Did you come to praise me? For dealing with the intruder in the dead of night?"
『Intruder? What do you mean? Did someone ambush you, young master?』
Dang Gon genuinely seemed clueless.
But Dang Hosan remained silent as an iron mask. Meaning he knew.
As expected.
That gaze I felt after beating the Fifteen Spirits belonged to Dang Hosan.
From start to finish, he'd watched the intruder run amok.
If Dang Gyujin or I had gotten hurt there, I wonder how he'd have reacted?
"And?"
He remained calm.
"Then you must have known Mother was colluding with outside forces from the beginning."
"Think I only knew that much? I even knew they'd strike during the Clan Head's visit."
"!"
「W-What?」
「This guy's a sly fox himself! As expected of the Tang Clan's poison masters—devious as ever.」
"You're not surprised yourself. You already figured out who's behind the intruder?"
Even Dang Hosan's composed face showed a flicker of surprise at that.
"Dang Gon, looks like you were wrong."
He stroked his chin and turned his gaze to Dang Gon.
Dang Gon, still lost in our exchange, belatedly came to his senses.
"What do you—"
"It's not that the second young master changed. He was just biding his time."
"......"
"He fooled even my eyes all this time... This child is truly a son of the Tang Gate in his deviousness."
Tang Gate. Not the family home (家), but the gate (門) of those united by purpose.
The people of the Tang Clan proudly called themselves that.
In recognition of forging new lineages in poison arts, hidden weapons, mechanisms, formations, and more.
And among those lineages was one other.
Schemes (計略).
The people of the Tang Gate never easily revealed their thoughts to others and knew how to weave plots and intrigues for greater gains.
Because of this, the jianghu folk pointed fingers calling them devious, but the Tang Gate took it as pride.
Dang Hosan praising me meant he saw me as a master in that very field.
Just as he'd long awaited his moment to uncover the black curtain plotting against the Nine Dragons Branch Family, I'd fooled everyone dreaming of my own day to soar.
Even the Branch Leader himself.
He thought it was praise, but to someone like me who'd lived a pure-hearted life leaning on conscience, it was nothing short of an insult.
「How dare this punk call the young cult leader devious so lightly!」
Oh, these old coots are finally saying something I like?
「How can he compare that scum to the young cult leader! The young cult leader is the devious serpent with the tongue and head to devour the central plains beyond our cult!」
「Rightly said!! Moreover, the young cult leader never forgets a marked foe and drags them to ruin with unyielding persistence! Just give the order, young cult leader! We'll dump that guy in the sewers right now!」
...Just you wait. After I send this uncle packing, you're next.
"I'll say one thing first."
The way Dang Hosan looked at me had subtly changed.
"Whatever shadow war you wage with Sanyeong, I won't interfere. If you win by the law of the strong, everything she holds becomes your spoils."
That confirmed it. The Nine Dragons Branch Family was truly, utterly full of beans—split to pieces.
A wife eyeing her husband's seat and a husband scheming to devour his wife.
But for me, it was very welcome news.
An implicit permission to go all out against Namgung Sanyeong from now on.
Made me want to rampage even more.
"But don't interfere with what's mine."
"Please define the scope."
"Don't hinder them from targeting the Clan Head."
I quickly turned it over in my mind.
Was Dang Hosan plotting to borrow a third party's blade for a borrowed knife murder against the Dark Venerable?
Or was he coordinating with the Dark Venerable to lure enemies into a trap with a scheme to draw out the superior foe?
But Dang Hosan revealed none of his intentions.
Still, his message was clear.
—Look away from the Dark Venerable. If you meddle, you die.
I forcibly stopped my lips from twisting into a smirk. Damn, when told not to do something, my instinct is to dive right in—what now?
"Yes. I'll keep it in mind."
"Good. That was all I came to say, so I'll be—"
"Shouldn't you give a reward before you go?"
"A reward?"
Dang Hosan halted mid-turn.
I gave a friendly smile.
"I did take down enemies bold enough to target the Nine Dragons Branch Family, didn't I? A little recognition would motivate me plenty."
"You're right."
Faint.
A hint of a smile leaked from between Dang Hosan's lips.
Dang Gon's face showed slight surprise.
"For someone devious enough to fool even me, ordinary rewards won't cut it... What would suit you?"
"May I make a specific request?"
"What is it?"
"I want to go to the Grotesque Forest."
"The Grotesque Forest?"
Dang Hosan tilted his head in genuine surprise.
"Yes. I've heard it's teeming with all sorts of venomous insects and monstrous beasts. I'd like to seclude myself there for closed-door training after the Clan Head's visit."
The Grotesque Forest was the forbidden holy ground that made today's Sichuan Tang Clan what it is.
A demonic realm so perilous even seasoned poison masters perished there.
「Young cult leader, you're after 'that'!」
Reborn into the Tang Clan, there was something I absolutely had to obtain.
With it, I could rapidly recover my previous life's power.
"Authority over the Grotesque Forest belongs solely to the Clan Head. I can make the request, but I can't guarantee approval."
As expected. I smacked my lips in disappointment. Guess I'd have to wait until after the Dark Venerable's visit.
"But what I can give as a reward right now... Ah, perfect, I have this."
Dang Hosan pulled something from his bosom and offered it to me.
A butterfly perched on his index finger.
So exquisitely crafted, its twin wings fluttered like the real thing.
"My lord, that is!"
But Dang Gon, watching from the side, reacted unusually.
What's the big deal?
"Will you take this at least?"
He had no intention of handing it over personally. Take it if you want.
I racked my brain wondering what it was, but nothing came up.
I glanced at the elder spirits, who all shook their heads cluelessly. Useless.
'Hey.'
「Yes sir! Fifteen Spirits, deploy!!」
Figuring it must be something, I secretly sent one spirit and reached out.
The Iron Butterfly flapped vigorously before quietly landing on my index finger.
"Huh, gasp!"
Dang Gon looked like he might faint.
"So it was yours after all."
Dang Hosan smiled more brightly than ever before vanishing from the room.