Chapter 126: Dang Gi-ju
Chapter 126: Dang Gi-ju
A moment later, Dang Jeong-hu, who had been staring at me with a complex expression, opened his mouth.
"It was certainly a surprising move. But with that alone, I cannot bring myself to believe you are the true successor of the Seonwoo family. Furthermore, even if that were true, if you truly wish to become the matrilocal son-in-law of the Tang Family, shouldn't a marriage proposal formally come from the Seonwoo family first?"
At his words, I answered boldly, as if I had been waiting for it.
"You are absolutely right! So please, just give me a little time! If the Family Head grants me just a small amount of time, I will return to the Seonwoo family immediately and formally submit a marriage proposal! May I do so?"
Dang Jeong-hu, who had been watching me with an unreadable gaze for a moment, eventually nodded.
"There would be no harm in it. If you truly intend to do so, I shall temporarily suspend the marriage talks with the Hongsa Sword Gate and wait."
At those words, On Je-ung, his face drained of all color, cried out with a desperate expression.
"F-Family Head!"
Dang Jeong-hu glanced at On Je-ung and added a remark.
"However! The time I can afford to wait will not be very long. So, make haste."
"Understood! I shall depart for the Seonwoo family immediately!"
Having said that, I turned my head and looked at Lady Dang.
She had been watching my actions the entire time, her eyes glistening with tears and a deeply moved expression on her face.
I looked at her warmly for a moment, then smiled and opened my mouth.
"I shall return, Yeo Eun."
She nodded silently in response.
To anyone watching, we must have looked like affectionate lovers conversing with their eyes.
The expressions of Dang Jeong-hu and On Je-ung as they watched us were far from pleased.
Dang Jeong-hu's gaze seemed complex, while On Je-ung's expression was rotting away entirely.
But in truth, we were not conversing with our eyes.
We did so through telepathic transmission.
In that moment, I had conveyed many more words to her via sound transmission.
- Listen carefully, Yeo Eun. The fact that I am the successor of the Seonwoo family is a lie. So there is a high probability that formally submitting a marriage proposal will be impossible. All I can do for you is this much—buy you just a little time. So you must handle the rest, Yeo Eun. Don't forget, only you can change your own life. I believe in you.
Lady Dang, upon hearing my telepathic message, wore a momentarily flustered expression, but soon smiled and nodded.
But her eyes, which smiled as if she were an affectionate lover, shone with a clear light as if she had made a firm resolution.
Just like when she had spoken of going to rescue Do Mun-seung.
After that, I immediately left the Sichuan Dang Clan.
It was a judgment that moving as fast as possible was best, even to minimize variables.
Because I thought I knew what Dang Jeong-hu was thinking when he sent me to the Seonwoo family.
***
As soon as Seonwoo Jin left the Tang Family again, the members of the Tang Family who had dispersed from the main hall all returned to their places.
The same was true for the Family Head, the Poison Rock Sovereign Dang Jeong-hu.
But a moment later, Dang Jeong-hu had to meet someone who came looking for him in his office.
"Family Head, it is your son, Gi-ju."
He was Dang Gi-ju, the eldest of the Tang Family Four Killers, the famous Later-Generation Talents of the Tang Family, and the eldest son of Dang Jeong-hu, known as the Poison Dragon.
At his visit, Dang Jeong-hu replied.
"Come in."
Dang Gi-ju, who carefully opened the office door and entered, gave a single respectful bow of his head before immediately getting to the point.
"Family Head, this son cannot understand it."
At his words, Dang Jeong-hu smiled meaningfully.
Then he asked.
"What are you speaking of?"
"I speak of you granting an opportunity to that man, Seonwoo Jin. His martial prowess was certainly quite remarkable, but it is not something we absolutely need right now. Conversely, the Hongsa Sword Gate is a power that is absolutely necessary to us at this moment. Therefore, I believe the two were not even worth comparing."
Dang Jeong-hu nodded at his words.
"Yes, those are precise words. Your thinking has deepened considerably."
At his father's praise, Dang Gi-ju's expression brightened.
And he asked carefully.
"But then why...?"
However, at Dang Jeong-hu's words that followed immediately, Dang Gi-ju had no choice but to freeze on the spot.
"But you are still insufficient to possess the qualifications of a family head."
His expression was cold and his tone was piercing.
Receiving his father's cold gaze, Dang Gi-ju's spirit immediately deflated, and he hung his head low.
"I-I apologize, Family Head."
The Tang Family Four Killers were all sons of the Family Head Dang Jeong-hu and young prodigies called the future of the Dang Clan.
Therefore, the world was certain that one of them would definitely become the next head of the Tang Family.
But in reality, Dang Jeong-hu found all four of them unsatisfactory.
It was the same for the eldest son, Dang Gi-ju, but all four sons feared Dang Jeong-hu himself far too much.
Of course, he knew they had turned out that way because Dang Jeong-hu himself had treated his sons in a manner that made them so.
But still, shouldn't a talent destined to become the head of the Tang Family, at the very least, never lose his own venomous energy no matter how much he was oppressed?
Just like that bastard Seonwoo Jin, who had deflected his momentum head-on earlier.
Dang Jeong-hu, who had been looking at the dispirited Dang Gi-ju with a pathetic gaze, opened his mouth and asked him.
"Do you know what it is you are apologizing for?"
Dang Gi-ju answered in a crawling voice.
"...That I dared disturb the Family Head's peace of mind with my insufficient insight...."
Dang Jeong-hu clicked his tongue.
The best he could say was that he had disturbed his peace of mind; it was utterly pathetic beyond measure.
But despite that, it was an unchanging fact that this bastard was the one closest to becoming the next Tang Family Head.
Struggling to swallow his anger, Dang Jeong-hu asked him in a low, subdued voice.
"Think carefully. If I had announced at that gathering earlier that I would take On Je-ung as a son-in-law instead of that scoundrel Seonwoo Jin, how do you think the family retainers would have reacted?"
Dang Gi-ju answered cautiously.
"Of course, I imagine the retainers' reactions would not have been favorable. But if the Family Head made the decision, what do the reactions of mere retainers matter?"
At his retort, Dang Jeong-hu let out a sigh.
As expected, this bastard was still far from ready to become the family head.
"Listen well. A family head, in critical moments, may need to push through his own will even if all his retainers oppose him. But! For the sake of that moment, in other, less crucial decisions, it is necessary to show a willingness to accept the opinions of the retainers. Only then, even if the family head's opinion differs in a critical moment, will the retainers be able to trust and follow him."
Dang Gi-ju was concentrating respectfully, his expression filled with admiration at Dang Jeong-hu's words.
Finding solace in the fact that his son at least had the will to learn, Dang Jeong-hu continued speaking.
"Do you think a family head whom the retainers do not trust can remain in power for long? That the retainers cannot be trusted also means the family head cannot trust the retainers. What tasks can you entrust to retainers you cannot trust? If you become the family head, do you intend to handle all of the Tang Family's affairs by your strength alone?"
Only then did Dang Gi-ju wear an expression of realization and admiration, bowing his head deeply to express his thanks.
"So that was it indeed. Thank you for enlightening my insufficient insight, Family Head."
After pondering for a moment, he asked again.
"Then, do you believe that securing the Hongsa Sword Gate this time was not a very important matter?"
At his question, Dang Jeong-hu shook his head resolutely, as if the answer was obvious.
"No, that was certainly an important matter."
Dang Gi-ju looked at him with questioning eyes.
It was an expression that said he could not understand what he meant.
Dang Jeong-hu grinned at his son and asked.
"But why would I forcefully push forward a matter that would accomplish itself naturally if given just a little time? Gi-ju, can you guess why I told that child, Seonwoo Jin, to go to the Seonwoo family and come back earlier?"
Dang Gi-ju fell into deep thought for a moment.
But he could not understand what Dang Jeong-hu was talking about.
What in the world did Seonwoo Jin visiting the Seonwoo family have to do with taking On Je-ung as a son-in-law and subjugating the Hongsa Sword Gate?
After pondering for a long while, Dang Gi-ju eventually had to hang his head low and speak.
"I apologize, Family Head. With my insufficient insight, I simply cannot fathom the depth of the Family Head's intentions."
At that, Dang Jeong-hu clicked his tongue again and spoke.
"Tsk, tsk, you fool. Think carefully. I gave that boy Seonwoo Jin time. But at the same time, that means I gave On Je-ung time as well. What do you think that snake will do while Seonwoo Jin returns to the Seonwoo family?"
At those words, Dang Gi-ju's face brightened in an instant.
He let out an exclamation of admiration, as if he finally understood.
"Ah! Then?!"
"Yes, if it's that bastard On Je-ung, he will absolutely never allow Seonwoo Jin to set foot in the Tang Family alive again. He'll probably try to kill Seonwoo Jin by any means necessary in the meantime."
"Indeed! Then it's not even something we need to involve ourselves in! The problem will resolve itself if we just wait!"
But Dang Gi-ju, who had been shouting in excitement, suddenly recalled something and asked Dang Jeong-hu again.
"But if, despite that, the bastard Seonwoo Jin returns to the Tang Family perfectly alive, what do we do then?"
At that, Dang Jeong-hu answered with a smirk.
"If that happens, wouldn't it mean the bastard On Je-ung is utterly useless? Or that the bastard Seonwoo Jin is far more formidable than we imagined."
Then, as if recalling Seonwoo Jin's appearance from earlier, he spoke with a grin.
"If that truly happens, it would mean he is fully worthy of being welcomed as a member of the Tang Family. Though the Hongsa Sword Gate would be a regrettable loss, the bastard would undoubtedly bring even greater benefit to the Tang Family in the future. So, it wouldn't matter to us whether he returns or not, would it?"
Hearing this, Dang Gi-ju bowed his head deeply once more with an expression of admiration.
"Indeed! This humble one is truly awed by the family head's wise and profound scheme!"
But Dang Jeong-hu, who had been smiling contentedly as he thought of Seonwoo Jin, was utterly unaware.
Of the fact that Dang Gi-ju's eyes, beneath his deeply bowed head, had gone cold...
***
At the same moment, Hongsa Sword Dragon On Je-ung burst into the lodging where the Hongsa Sword Gate's disciples were staying, his face twisted in rage.
Then, without warning, he struck No Ji-wang, his direct subordinate who had been idly chatting with comrades.
"You stupid bastard!"
Puh-eok!
"Kkeu-eo-eok!"
Struck by this sudden bolt from the blue, No Ji-wang rolled on the ground and hastily asked On Je-ung, his expression one of utter bewilderment.
"Yo-young master, why on earth?!"
But On Je-ung did not answer.
He simply continued to beat him mercilessly.
"You worthless bastard! This is all because of you!"
Puk! Pak! Pook! Puk!
"Kkeo-eo-eok! Eok! U-eok! Kkeu-eo-eok!"
The subordinates who had been present with On Je-ung at the great hall knew the situation, and knew that No Ji-wang had only followed On Je-ung's orders.
But none of them dared to utter a word.
They knew that if they needlessly intervened, they too would be beaten alongside him.
A moment later, On Je-ung stopped the beating only when No Ji-wang had completely lost consciousness and was merely twitching.
"Uuuugh."
On Je-ung kicked No Ji-wang, who had been reduced to rags and was groaning in pain, and shouted.
"Throw this useless bastard away!"
At that, the subordinates, who had been watching the beating without daring to breathe loudly, hurriedly dragged No Ji-wang outside.
Watching this scene as if observing an insect, On Je-ung slumped into his chair and yelled at the remaining subordinates.
"What are you doing?! Shouldn't you be devising a plan?! A way to overturn this situation!"
But no solution was going to spring forth just because he suddenly squeezed his subordinates for one.
His subordinates merely watched each other's reactions with tense expressions.
It was then that someone entered the room and spoke.
"I suspected as much, and here you are, just as I thought. How utterly pathetic."
The speaker was Dang Gi-ju, the eldest of the Tang Family Four Killers, who had been in Dang Jeong-hu's office moments before.
At his entrance, On Je-ung, who had been carrying himself with the arrogance of an emperor just moments ago, leapt up from his seat in shock and cried out.
"Gi-giju hyung-nim! You've come?!"
At that, Dang Gi-ju shouted at him with a cold expression.
"You stupid bastard! Just how long do you intend to disappoint me?! I told you repeatedly to mind your conduct, at least until you became a member of the Tang Family! Couldn't you control yourself for that short time and coveted another man's sword?! And didn't even recognize that he was Hwa Yeong-bin's sworn younger brother?! You worthless bastard! Do you even have a brain?!"
These were verbal abuses On Je-ung, who had lived an enviable life as the heir to the Hongsa Sword Gate, had likely never heard anywhere else.
And in front of all his own subordinates, no less.
On Je-ung's face flushed bright red with terrible shame and fury.
But the words that came out of his mouth were utterly groveling.
"I-I'm sorry, hyung-nim. It's all my fault for being so lacking."
On Je-ung absolutely could not defy Dang Gi-ju.
His Hongsa Sword Gate had thrived and grown under the Tang Family's protection, and he himself had even been discussed as a matrilocal son-in-law for the Tang Family, all because Dang Gi-ju had marked Hongsa Sword Gate as his own faction and nurtured it.
Dang Gi-ju glared at On Je-ung with cold eyes, eventually let out a sigh, and asked.
"So, what do you plan to do now?"
At his question, On Je-ung bowed his head even lower and answered in a barely audible voice.
"Th-that, I am thinking now..."
At that, Dang Gi-ju exploded in anger.
"You stupid bastard! Is your head that slow?! Shouldn't you be taking measures to ensure that the bastard Seonwoo Jin can never set foot in the Tang Family alive again?!"
At those words, On Je-ung's head shot up.
His face brightened as if he had just thought of a brilliant idea.
"Ah! That's right! As expected of hyung-nim! You are magnificent!"
Glaring at him with a contemptuous expression, Dang Gi-ju continued.
"Didn't you say you had established ties with a useful assassin sect the other day? Immediately contact them and place the commission. Tell them you will provide any amount of money, and that the bastard must be killed."
Of course, the one providing any amount of money would be the Hongsa Sword Gate, not Dang Gi-ju, but On Je-ung offered repeated thanks as if he had received an immense favor.
"Yes! Understood, hyung-nim! Thank you! I will make sure not to betray your expectations!"
"Tsk!"
Dang Gi-ju clicked his tongue and began to walk out of On Je-ung's room. Then, as if a thought struck him, he turned his body back and spoke.
"And... see if you can find a way to make contact with Am Hyeol-hyang."
At that, everyone present, including On Je-ung, stiffened rigidly.
"A-Am Hyeol-hyang, you say?"
Am Hyeol-hyang, along with the Blood Cult's Guyueumma Ji Gi-eum, was one of the only two assassins to be ranked among the Thirty-Six Stars of the World.
One of the Four Gods, positioned directly beneath the Absolute Beings in the martial world.
Dang Gi-ju was now telling On Je-ung to make contact with that very Am Hyeol-hyang.
Dang Gi-ju spoke again.
"Shouldn't we prepare for the possibility that the assassin sect fails? That is why I am telling you to find a way to contact Am Hyeol-hyang. Why, can you not do it?"
At those words, On Je-ung hurriedly shook his head.
"N-no! I will do my utmost to find out immediately!"
Dang Gi-ju looked at On Je-ung with the same contempt one would give an insect, shook his head once, and turned away.
He was a bastard too greedy, stupid, and pathetic, but even so, Dang Gi-ju could not give up on marrying On Je-ung to Dang Yeoeun and making him a matrilocal son-in-law.
For if Hongsa Sword Gate, which was practically an extension of his own hands and feet, became a full-fledged force of the Tang Family, his own power within the clan would grow that much greater.
It was a project that Dang Gi-ju, who sought to be the next family head, could never abandon.
Therefore, Dang Gi-ju absolutely could not let that Seonwoo Jin live either.
For his own sake, the bastard had to die.
Dang Gi-ju's eyes gleamed cold, like a snake's.