Blossoms in the Carriage to the Dang Clan
Inside the carriage heading toward the Dang Clan, it was as if a single flower garden had burst into full bloom.
“Really? You lasted a full moment against Elder An Rok-san… That’s incredible!”
“Th-that… It doesn’t quite feel real to me. Is it truly that impressive?”
“Of course it is! Elder An Rok-san’s martial prowess ranks among the very best across the entire Murim Alliance—no, across the righteous sects, the unorthodox factions, and even the Demonic Cult. He didn’t earn the title of Fist King for nothing. Among all those granted the title of ‘King,’ he stands as one of the youngest. For you to hold your own against such a man to that degree, Lady Jung… I mean, Lady Jung Su-a’s martial ability is clearly exceptional as well.”
“I told you already~ Su-a is ridiculously strong right now, you know.”
“Hehe~ Hearing it put that way feels nice~ But… you really are strong, aren’t you.”
Recalling her spar with An Rok-san, Su-a’s thoughts drifted back to the overwhelming power and martial level he had displayed while soloing the Wood Hydra on Pantera.
“Both Unni and Cindy have grown truly powerful. I’ve improved as well, but since combat isn’t my primary focus, I still fall a little short compared to the two of them.”
“Hwa-ryun, you mustn’t sell yourself short either. By Earth’s standards, you’ve already stepped into the realm of peak experts. Don’t lose confidence like that.”
Jung Su-a, whose goddess-like beauty seemed to embody the East; Cindy Macglen, the Western stunner whose radiant golden waves evoked a blazing sun wrapped in fantasy; Jung Hwa-ryun, the cool intellectual beauty whose frigid expression and sharp mind made her the very definition of refined elegance; and Seo Bong-hwa, the matriarch of the Sichuan Dang Clan, whose face still bore the title of Sichuan’s Number One Beauty and whose voluptuous figure made it impossible to believe she had borne three children.
The four incomparable beauties chatted animatedly, growing close at a startling pace. From Seo Bong-hwa’s perspective, forging ties with women connected to An Rok-san could only prove useful later. Besides, they were roughly the same age as her own daughter, which naturally made her think of Dang Ga-ryeo. Most of all, she found their conversation flowed with surprising ease, allowing her to open up without the slightest discomfort.
The girls, for their part, knew an unnatural amount about the Dang Clan.
“Then… you have three children? Eldest son Young Master Dang Min, eldest daughter Lady Dang Ga-ryeo, and second son Dang Jung-gi… How impressive. You don’t look nearly old enough!”
“That’s right, Madam Seo! You still look more like their big sister than their mother. It’s amazing!”
“Thank you, Lady Cindy, Lady Su-a. Even if you’re only being polite, it makes me happy.”
It was not mere politeness, but Seo Bong-hwa simply smiled and accepted the compliment with grace.
So that’s why he targeted her in every round. Honestly, a married woman in her forties who still looks this young and beautiful, carrying such ripe sensuality… No wonder he couldn’t resist.
After a short while, the carriage arrived at the Dang Clan. The group stepped down and stared with wide eyes, taking in the sight.
“Wow… This place has evolved in its own unique way compared to the Murim Alliance, hasn’t it?”
“Pardon? Did you say something, Lady Su-a?”
“Ah… It’s nothing.”
Su-a quickly smoothed over her slip. She had unconsciously compared the Dang Clan of her Changcheon Murim days with the one from Endless Universe.
The buildings, predominantly green to symbolize the Dang Clan, fused traditional Central Plains architecture with near-future designs. Traditional pavilions stood alongside sleek modern structures. As Su-a’s group gazed at them in fascination, Seo Bong-hwa smiled warmly.
“Our Dang Clan has embraced the technologies of the wider universe faster than any other sect in the Central Plains. I’ll give you a proper tour later. For now, let’s proceed. The Supreme Patriarch contacted me through his Bio Device and asked that I bring you all to the patriarch’s hall.”
Following her lead, they reached the hall and sat in on the meeting between An Rok-san and Dang Baek. Yet it seemed the important points had already been settled in the carriage; the discussion ended quickly with the agreement that Cindy would stay at the Dang Clan while beginning her journey through the martial world, coordinating opinions as they went.
“Military reinforcement is difficult to promise at once, but we will certainly supply materials. We can coordinate the rest gradually… For now, let my grandson and the young ladies meet. Come in.”
With a mechanical hum, the round paper-screen door slid open automatically at Dang Baek’s command. Before Su-a’s eyes appeared a woman as familiar to her as Seo Bong-hwa. Led by Dang Ga-ryeo, the three heirs of the Dang Clan stepped into view.
As Dang Min the eldest son, Dang Jung-gi the second son, and Dang Ga-ryeo the eldest daughter entered, both Su-a and Cindy lit up, their eyes fixed on Dang Ga-ryeo. Seeing her after so long filled them with genuine warmth.
The Dang Ga-ryeo of Endless Universe carried a subtle sense of otherness compared to the one from Changcheon Murim. Her facial features remained identical. In the previous world she had been listed among the Four Beauties of the Murim, and true to the title of “Beauty” shared by those four women, she possessed a face lovely enough to shame the moon and flowers, along with the bountiful chest strongly inherited from her mother. While not quite as massive as Seo Bong-hwa’s, Dang Ga-ryeo’s breasts still far surpassed the average and easily qualified as magnificent.
Yet what stood out most was the slight sharpness at the corners of her eyes. She was a stunning beauty, but the impression of a strong-willed spirit and the aura reminiscent of a female general remained exactly as it had been in Changcheon Murim.
Her clothing, however, had changed. While Seo Bong-hwa and Dang Seo-gun wore traditional court attire from the previous era, Dang Ga-ryeo wore a green cheongsam. Beneath it clung a second layer reminiscent of Su-a’s nano-suit, tracing every line of her body. A holster at her waist held a pistol slightly smaller than the one Cindy favored.
Dang Min entered with a powerful build befitting a martial artist and a handsome face capable of melting any woman’s heart. The second son, Dang Jung-gi, looked exactly like the arrogant wastrel who had shamelessly flirted with Su-a during the first round of Changcheon Murim. The only difference was the cybernetic glasses perched on his nose.
“Introduce yourselves. Especially you, Ga-ryeo. These are the envoys who have come to form an alliance with the Dang Clan. And the blonde lady there is Cindy Macglen, disciple of the Fist King, who has agreed to spar with you.”
At Dang Baek’s words, Dang Ga-ryeo’s eyes sparkled with fighting spirit as she looked at Cindy. For a brief moment she stared in awe at Cindy, Su-a, and Hwa-ryun. Three women so beautiful they could stir desire even in members of the same sex had gathered in one place; the shock was shared by Dang Min and Dang Jung-gi as well.
“It is good to meet you, promising talents of the Dang Clan. I am An Rok-san, elder of the Murim Alliance.”
“It is an honor to meet the Fist King. I am Dang Min, eldest son of the Dang Clan.”
“It is a pleasure. I am Dang Ga-ryeo, eldest daughter of the Dang Clan.”
“…I am Dang Jung-gi, second son of the Dang Clan.”
While Dang Min and Dang Ga-ryeo introduced themselves with confidence and dignity, Dang Jung-gi offered only the barest greeting to An Rok-san before turning his blatantly lecherous gaze toward Su-a and the women beside her. Su-a felt a surge of disgust, but knowing exactly what kind of person he was, she let it pass without comment.
Dang Baek frowned at his grandson’s rudeness, yet refrained from scolding him in front of guests. Su-a, Cindy, and Hwa-ryun returned the greetings, and the conversation smoothly moved on.
“While we must also discuss military dispatch in response to the Federation’s request… as you already know, the primary reason we have come to the Dang Clan is to allow my disciple Cindy to begin her journey through the martial world. Thank you for accepting so readily. Lady Dang, are you agreeable?”
“Of course. I was already curious about the disciple of the Fist King. I would be grateful for your guidance.”
Though momentarily dazed by Cindy’s breathtaking appearance, Dang Ga-ryeo quickly steadied herself. She met Cindy’s eyes directly, burning with competitive fire. Cindy answered with a smile that refused to yield.
“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it too, Lady Dang. Let’s put on a wonderful show.”
“Since Ga-ryeo has accepted, we only need to decide on a time for their match. However, I have a proposal, Elder An Rok-san. If it is acceptable… would you permit the other young ladies to spar with my grandsons as well?”
“What? Father! That’s—”
Seo Bong-hwa panicked and tried to stop him, but Dang Baek’s stubborn nature was not something even his daughter-in-law or son could easily override.
“The aura surrounding Lady Jung Su-a and Lady Jung Hwa-ryun feels far from ordinary. If the two ladies are willing, I would like them to spar with my grandsons Dang Min and Dang Jung-gi. I wanted to give these children firsthand experience of just how strong the experts of the kangho and the universe truly are. Naturally, if you accept my request, I will prepare suitable compensation.”
While Su-a and Hwa-ryun exchanged uncertain glances at the unexpected suggestion, Dang Jung-gi—surprisingly—spoke first.
“Very well. If it is the Supreme Patriarch’s command, I will accept.”
His unusually proactive attitude left Dang Seo-gun and Seo Bong-hwa staring at their youngest son in astonishment. The setting in which he was overshadowed by his outstanding older brother and sister, resulting in a rotten personality, terrible behavior, and the label of the Dang Clan’s shame, existed in both Changcheon Murim and Endless Universe. That was why every family member except Dang Baek now looked at him with wide eyes.
An Rok-san spoke first after hearing the young man.
“Why not give it a try, Su-a, Hwa-ryun? It will certainly be valuable experience.”
With permission—disguised as a recommendation—from An Rok-san, the leader and final decision-maker of the group, Su-a broke into an intrigued smile and accepted. Seeing her older sister agree, Hwa-ryun nodded as well.
“Sounds fun! I was actually curious how strong Earth’s martial artists really are.”
“If Elder An Rok-san permits it, I have no objections.”