Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Tang Clan
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Under the pale clouds, the sea visible below was different from the one Yuri—Lee Soo-hyuk—knew.
The near waters resembled Earth's oceans in color, but as they ventured far enough that no land was in sight, the sea's hues became a chaotic jumble. There were blood-red expanses, pitch-black voids like the night sky. Seas that glittered gold as if light itself had pooled there, and others green like transplanted fields.
The tangle of these varied colors looked like paints crudely smeared on a palette and left to sit without proper mixing.
[Is the sea in this world always like that?]
[I've only heard it's like that in the central sea.]
This was Estor's first time riding an airship to the Eastern Continent, so seeing the central sea up close was a novelty. He stuck to the window seat all day, eyes sparkling as he gazed out.
[The central sea, which separates the two continents, is still unconquered territory. It's dotted with countless islands, some inhabited by monsters unseen on the mainland... and humans who aren't quite human.]
[Humans who aren't quite human? What's that?]
[Subhumans. Not the common goblins, orcs, or lizardmen you see on the continents... but ones far closer to humans than monsters.]
Elves or dwarves, maybe? Yuri wondered, staring down at the murky sea sprawled far below.
[Somewhere in the central sea, there are islands of subhumans or fairies, they say. Tales of explorers shipwrecked at sea being saved by mermaids, or waking up on a fairy's island, are common legends.]
Not just cute creatures like mermaids and fairies lived there. Right below, the inky black sea and the blood-red waves churning beyond it were enough to evoke in Yuri, for the first time in his life, a primal fear of the deep.
“...”
Soon, enormous bones came into sharp view from the sky. Bones from a colossal monster that wouldn't pale against an average island. It resembled a whale or shark, but focusing his gaze revealed grotesque monsters clinging between the bones.
"Don't look too deep."
Eleia, seated across from him, sneered.
"The central sea harbors strange, ominous magic. An incomprehensible abyss of the unknown. Stare too deep, and it'll drive you mad."
Three days had passed since departing Alderan, and Yuri had shared quite a few stories with Eleia—excluding possessions—especially delving into martial arts.
They were somewhat friendly now, but it was hard to tell if her words were a joke or serious.
"I've heard that story too."
Estor chimed in. It seemed it wasn't a joke.
"It's rare, but they say if you glimpse eyes reflecting on the surface... or eyes floating up from the depths... your mind shatters, turning you into a raving lunatic."
"Every rumor has roots. I've never seen it myself, but the central sea does hold magic."
"Scholars speculate it's because an evil god's sanctuary lies somewhere in the central sea. What do you think, Lady Eleia?"
"A plausible theory. Agui's infamy truly began when he slaughtered explorers on a central sea island."
Just the mention of the evil god chilled Eleia's eyes. Her possession had been twisted from the start. She loathed evil gods and desperately wished to kill one with her own hands.
"But you can't risk your life on mere possibility."
"Is the central sea so dangerous even for you, the Limitless Sovereign Eleia?"
Eleia snorted at the question.
"It's not the capricious seas, monsters, or anomalies that demand risking your life. It's a bit inconvenient, sure, but I could cross the central sea in a dinghy... or even without a boat. Though it'd be far easier with one of those 'arks' some denominations possess."
"Then?"
"What if an evil god's sanctuary truly exists in the central sea, and the evil god is there?"
Eleia turned to gaze at the sea.
"Even if I luckily encountered one now, I couldn't do a thing. I'd just die pathetically. Tenth tier. Without ascending to divinity, slaying a god is impossible."
The hand of the evil god Agui had summoned via ritual in Alderan. Eleia hadn't left a single scratch on that hand, devoid of any killing intent.
Yuri swallowed hard, shifting his gaze to the sea. Tenth tier. An impossibly distant realm for him now.
He had reached the peak of fifth tier in just two years since starting martial arts. Truth be told, he could ascend to sixth tier right now. When he tamed Gebura, sixth tier had been within reach.
But he'd gained insight there. Heart devil might be more accurate, but Yuri called it 'enlightenment.' Ascending to sixth then would have led to contradictions later, inviting qi deviation.
The Heavenly Principle Annihilating Evil Art was both divine and demonic. The flames it nurtured could consume even its wielder. To push beyond sixth tier, he needed to infuse it with intent from now on.
"Lady Eleia."
Ha-ryeong emerged from the cabin, calling her name. Eleia nodded and rose.
For some reason, since the day before yesterday, Eleia had been coaching Ha-ryeong's martial arts.
Eleia's heavy swordsmanship, wielding a greatsword with brute strength, versus Ha-ryeong's assassin arts, raining hidden weapons.
Their styles differed fundamentally. Even as a Limitless Sovereign, advising deeply on unfamiliar arts was tough.
So Eleia offered her body as a sandbag, experiencing Ha-ryeong's onslaught firsthand to critique it.
High in the sky on the airship. Protected by spells, but internal rampages could still cause issues, potentially crashing it.
It was needless worry. No matter how they sparred in that vast room, no sounds or vibrations leaked out.
Much later, the door opened, and unscathed Eleia emerged.
"Clean up."
Same as before. Dozens of scattered hidden weapons on the floor, Ha-ryeong collapsed in exhaustion at the center.
"Are you alright?"
No answer came. Yuri gathered the weapons in her stead, supported her sweat-soaked form to a chair.
"Just... leave me... be."
Ha-ryeong rasped from the slumped chair. Yuri handed her a towel and water.
"How could I?"
"My sweat'll get on you. I hate that."
Ha-ryeong grimaced, draping the towel over her head.
"No smell at all."
"Get lost!"
Her honest mutter drew a shrill yell from Ha-ryeong.
The next day, land appeared in the distance.
The peaceful voyage, free of attacks, neared its end.
*
Gwangseo, home to the airship port, was a vital trade hub for sky routes—a particularly wealthy and bustling city among Eastern ones.
"I'm not getting off."
Eleia waved lazily from the sofa.
"Hate wasting time if I do. Once you lot disembark, we'll do quick maintenance and head back to Alderan."
"You came this far—join us for a meal?"
"We've eaten together a whole week. Why again?"
Eleia yawned widely, smacking her lips.
"Would've been a hassle if attacked mid-flight, but we arrived fine. If trouble brews here—unlikely—seek out the White Tiger Sect."
The White Tiger Sect, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance's greatest power in Gwangseo, had branches even in the West—a major sect.
"I've got history with the Righteous Heavenly Alliance. Name-drop me, and they can't ignore it. Hm, probably won't even need to."
"I don't even know who the White Tiger Sect leader is."
Estor answered the glance. Eleia giggled, wagging a finger.
"You don't need to. Important thing is, the sect leader knows the Orsia family. Pride's tight with the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and Eastern lords—especially Alliance Leader Swordless White Crane, who respects the Sword Emperor."
"I've never met Swordless White Crane myself, but I've heard of him from the family head."
The Sword Emperor, one of the Limitless Sovereigns, was a Westerner revered by Eastern warriors. Hearing such otherworldly connections drove home how elite Estor's connections were.
"Alright then."
Before disembarking. Eleia's gaze lingered on Ha-ryeong. Rarely, Ha-ryeong formed a fist salute and bowed slightly.
Eleia's eyes stayed on her a moment. As if sending a transmission.
During their week aboard, Yuri had asked a few times.
[It's a secret.]
[As you know, Yuri, I'm a mysterious assassin full of secrets.]
Heard that again after ages.
"Sip."
Upon disembarking, Estor inhaled deeply, closing his eyes to savor the air, lips smacking.
"What're you doing?"
"Eastern air tastes a bit different."
Yuri eyed him pitifully, sniffing subtly himself. Placebo? It did feel slightly off...
After basic procedures, they exited the port office.
Gwangseo had the White Tiger Sect plus dozens of mid-to-small sects, including some orthodox Black Dao with Black Tokens from the Black Dragon Society.
Righteous versus Black Dao: commonly, following justice and chivalry makes you righteous; otherwise, Black Dao.
To possessor Yuri, it felt less about vague justice and more about organization. Righteous major sects franchised their name, spreading branch 'chains' that recruited disciples for dues, leveraging fame.
Lesser righteous sects scouted on foot, or allied with guilds to hunt monsters-yo-kai or bountied criminals.
Black Dao was simple. Like Black Snake Gang in Logos village, most dominated locales, taxing and running usury, gambling dens, brothels—shady businesses galore.
Both wielded blades like thugs, but righteous didn't extort commoners. At least, those calling themselves righteous claimed so.
'Is that the baseline for justice and chivalry?'
First time in the East. Air tasted different; culture would too. He was tense.
“...”
But not this different.
Across the office, hundreds gathered, all eyes on them.
Most armed, so not welcoming Western foreigners on a sleek airship. Yet no hostility in their gazes. Tension, confusion, curiosity...
Then why the weapons? Easy guess. Hostility and killing intent focused elsewhere. Hundreds of blades pointed not here, but there.
Opposite Yuri, Ha-ryeong, Estor.
Ten people. Three seated, seven standing behind.
An eerie crew. The seven rear guards wore black robes and massive black sedge hats covering shoulders, faces masked.
The three seated skipped hats and masks but donned similar black robes.
Most striking: the central woman. Black cheongsam-like garb hugging her curves, legs crossed on the chair. Despite her masked guards' parasol-sized umbrellas, she had her own over one shoulder.
—Around them, dozens frothed at the mouth, collapsed. Easy count.
Hundreds with drawn weapons encircled the ten. But none closed beyond a distance. They'd edge forward hesitantly, then flinch back.
“...”
Yuri frowned, glaring ahead. No need to mind the hundreds. Focus on the ten in black. Especially the three seated emanated unsettling auras, sans overt hostility or killing intent.
"You've finally arrived."
The woman with the umbrella spoke. Yuri naturally focused on her.
Impossible not to. Her black robe bore an emblem he'd seen: gold-threaded snake and scorpion. Only one clan used such venomous symbols.
The Tang Clan, rulers of the Poison Sect.
"Cloud Dragon Yuri, Sword Dragon Estor Orsia. A pleasure to meet you."
She rose slowly. Tilting her umbrella back revealed a radiant smile.
"I'm Tang Seowoo."
That name startled Yuri. Tang Seoyoo—known. Current Tang head, Poison Sect leader. Forbidden fruit of Limitless Sovereign Venom King Tang Yushin.
Flower-like serpent. Black Demon Flower Snake Tang Seowoo.
"Tang Seojin."
Dark Soul Poison Dragon Tang Seojin, also Venom King's child.
"I'm Tang Musok."
Pursuing Killing Flying Guest Tang Musok. Not direct lineage, but elite among Tang-surnamed warriors.
Those three Tang warriors meant the seven rear guards were Poison Sect assassins.
“...”
Ha-ryeong stared speechless. She clamped her gaping lips, schooling her face to neutrality. But it wouldn't settle. Why were Poison Sect and Tang Clan here? Too much to process.
"I'm Yuri."
He noted her turmoil, stepping forward to shield her from the Tang warriors' eyes.
"Honored to meet famed Tang Clan members... but honestly, perplexing. What's going on here?"
"No misunderstanding, please."
Tang Seowoo smiled brightly.
"We were just waiting here when they picked the fight. This is Righteous Heavenly Alliance turf, so Black Dao this, that. We know White Tiger Sect rules the city, but getting abused just for being Black Dao—when we've done nothing—is too much, right?"
She gestured dramatically around. Dozens twitching, foaming. Beyond, hundreds armed and glaring.
"We're only ten, yet so many oppress us. You Western young heroes might not get it, but we value honor too. Oh, we didn't kill any. We know the weight of death."
"Why are you here?"
Her eyes widened at the question. She blinked a few times, tilting her head.
"Strange question. Cloud Dragon hero, do you really not know?"
"Yes."
Why Tang Clan here.
Not clueless, but uncertain. Never heard full details of her ties to Tang Clan.
"...Ah."
Tang Seowoo's eyes sparkled. Spotting Ha-ryeong's rigid face behind Yuri, she smirked.
"You haven't heard a thing, have you."
Giggling, she continued.
"Long time no see, Aunt Tang Yuryeon."
Tang Yuryeon?
New name aside, the address stunned Yuri's mind.
'Aunt?'