Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Tang Clan
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Tang Clan
Aunt.
Father's sister.
Tang Seo-woo's father was the current head of the Death Gate and lord of the Tang Clan, the Poison King Tang Ji-hu.
Tang Yu-ryeon.
At least among the Tang Clan members who had introduced themselves up ahead, there was no one named 'Tang Yu-ryeon.'
Tang Seo-woo's gaze was directed this way. To be more precise, he was looking at Ha-ryeong standing behind Yuri. Tang Seo-woo hadn't called out 'Ha-ryeong's' name. What he had said while looking at her was.
—It's been a long time, Aunt Tang Yu-ryeon.
If what Yuri understood was correct.
Then Tang Yu-ryeon was Ha-ryeong's real name, and she was of an age to be called 'aunt' by Tang Seo-woo.
In other words, Ha-ryeong was the younger sister of the Dark King Tang Yu-shin.
“...”
Yuri realized that he had been under a massive misunderstanding all this time. Ha-ryeong wasn't the Dark King's illegitimate child. This also meant that the circumstances tying Ha-ryeong to the Tang Clan were far, far more complicated than Yuri had imagined.
Being the younger sister of the current lord, the Dark King, also meant she was the daughter of the retired supreme lord, the Poison King.
Yuri could guess why the Tang Clan had rejected Ha-ryeong. Her mere existence upended the succession structure of the Tang Clan and the Death Gate.
The supreme lord, the Poison King, had retired about twenty years ago. Yuri didn't know Ha-ryeong's exact age, but she was certainly older than twenty, so she must have been in the Tang Clan before then.
How had the current lord, the Dark King, accepted the existence of a much younger half-sibling who was practically his child's generation? It wouldn't disrupt the current succession. But what about the next generation? What if this profoundly younger sister proved superior to his own children?
“Auntie?”
The smile hadn't faded from Tang Seo-woo's face. She beamed with eye-crinkling cheer as she stared fixedly at Ha-ryeong standing behind Yuri.
“Surely you haven't forgotten my face? Well, it's been twelve years since you left the Tang Clan, so it's understandable if you don't remember.”
Her older brother and a collateral relative stood right beside her, but it was Tang Seo-woo who continued the conversation. She chuckled softly, stroking her own cheek with her hand.
“We were both so young back then, so of course our faces have changed. But I can't imagine the brilliant Auntie forgetting my name?”
The faint trembling stopped. She had composed her shock. Ha-ryeong clenched her molars silently once before stepping forward.
“As if I could forget. I was just a bit startled to hear the name Tang Yu-ryeon after so long.”
Standing beside Yuri, Ha-ryeong gazed at the three Tang Clan members opposite her and continued.
“It's been a long time, everyone. Young Master Tang Seo-jin, Lady Tang Seo-woo, Uncle Tang Mu-seok. Time is like an arrow, isn't it? Twelve years have flown by before we knew it. Seeing you two brings home just how much change time brings—it's truly astonishing.”
Her lips, which had been feigning composure, twitched.
“You've both grown into such fine adults.”
She uttered the words with restrained emotion. It was also a survival tactic Ha-ryeong had learned long ago in the Tang Clan.
“You've changed a lot too, Auntie.”
Tang Seo-woo knew that remark was mockery directed at her. Her smile deepened as a result, while Tang Seo-jin's eyebrow twitched. The collateral Tang Mu-seok showed no change in expression, as if he had no desire to get involved.
“Why are you here?”
“You can see that, can't you? We've come to welcome you and your companions, Auntie.”
“Since when have you cared enough to come all the way from the distant Tang Clan to fetch me?”
“A family member sharing our surname has crossed the sea to the continent and earned the splendid title of Dark Flame—how could we not come to welcome you?”
Even in the face of that sharp retort, the beaming smile on Tang Seo-woo's face didn't fade.
“Besides, you're not here alone, are you? Cloud Dragon hero and Sword Dragon hero. Especially our grandfather, the supreme lord of the Tang Clan, shares a friendship with the Sword Emperor.”
Her curved eyes turned toward Yuri and Estor.
“It was long ago, but it left such a strong impression that I remember it clearly. Twenty years ago, the Sword Emperor personally visited the Tang Clan.”
“I was too young to walk properly back then, but I've heard about it.”
“It was a misunderstanding that couldn't be helped, but it was cleanly resolved. So...”
“You want to invite us?”
Yuri spoke up.
The Tang Clan members' gazes shifted to him. In particular, the Tang siblings made no effort to hide their thick curiosity and interest as they sized Yuri up.
‘So that's the Cloud Dragon.’
Even if it was just rumors from across the sea in the West, the one drawing the most attention among the rising stars of this generation was this Cloud Dragon.
Cloud Dragon Yuri. Just a few months ago, he had been a nobody. He was called by the moniker Thundercloud, but it wasn't a title known in the light. Nor had he built fame in the shadows.
The names of the Tang Clan and Death Gate were regarded as reapers in the shadows. Among the many assassin sects, the Death Gate stood at the pinnacle.
They made killing people their profession yet maintained their sect—not just that, but ruled as a single family clan.
The Tang Clan claimed they distinguished between targets to kill and those not to kill.
Their criterion for distinction was chivalry.
They did not accept requests to kill wandering heroes.
Though they proclaimed this publicly, few in the world believed it. The same went for their declarations that the Tang Clan of this era would abandon their assassin trade and be reborn as an upright martial house.
The fact that they hadn't been wiped out despite harboring many enemies amid widespread distrust and fear was proof of the Tang Clan's might.
A man who had once been a nobody, drawing little attention even in the shadows, was now receiving the notice of the Tang Clan overlords of the shadows. Though Tang Seo-jin and Tang Seo-woo were past the age to be counted among rising stars, they couldn't help but pay attention to Yuri, who spanned generations.
‘I thought the Sword Dragon was the top among rising stars.’
Even that Sword Dragon had lost in a duel. Tang Seo-jin, once called Dragon, felt competitive toward Yuri, who was called Dragon in this generation.
‘Why is he traveling with that bitch?’
Tang Seo-woo felt a different curiosity. That bitch had guarded Thunderclap before earning her presumptuous title of Dark Flame. The title Dark Flame had come from trailing after Thunderclap's heels.
She knew that. But then why was that bitch traveling with the Cloud Dragon instead of returning to the Killing Guard Sect? Why had she returned to the East with the Cloud Dragon?
“Yes.”
Tang Seo-woo nodded with a broad smile.
“You two are companions of our family, so you're guests of the Tang Clan. That's why we're here personally to...”
“No thanks.”
Yuri answered without letting her finish. Apparently not expecting such a curt refusal, Tang Seo-woo's eyes widened round.
“...Pardon?”
“I said no. I have no intention of going to the Tang Clan right now.”
“Wait... I don't understand why you're answering like that, Cloud Dragon hero. Why not?”
Tang Seo-woo drew a curve over her twitching lips.
“And we're not here just to invite Cloud Dragon hero and Sword Dragon hero as guests. We're here for our family member, Aunt Tang Yu-ryeon...”
“Ha-ryeong.”
Once again, Yuri cut Tang Seo-woo off mid-sentence. Ha-ryeong blinked her startled eyes at him.
“Yes?”
“I'm not going to the Tang Clan.”
Even if it came off as stubborn, Yuri didn't care. He was being stubborn right now.
“So you shouldn't go either, Ha-ryeong. If you really want to, go after we're done with our business.”
The gazes of the Tang siblings on Ha-ryeong. Tang Mu-seok keeping his distance.
She had once said she wanted to make the Tang Clan regret turning away from her someday, yet when actually facing them, Ha-ryeong had been greatly shaken.
It was the same now. Even a fool could tell their relationship was fraught with uncomfortable, complicated history.
The reason the Tang Clan, which had once cast Ha-ryeong out, was now calling her back. Her recent fame? In the end, weren't they using her as an excuse to invite Yuri and Estor?
There might be other reasons. But it was the Tang Clan not stating them outright. Yuri had no desire to speculate on reasons he hadn't even heard directly.
[Why are you doing this?]
[Pathetic Ha-ryeong, do you want to go to the Tang Clan?]
[...]
[Then stay quiet.]
It wasn't just about dumping the reason for not wanting to go onto Ha-ryeong alone.
If Ha-ryeong didn't want to go, then Yuri didn't want to either.
That was all.
“That's too rude.”
Tang Seo-jin spat with a furrowed brow.
“Cloud Dragon hero. We came all this way to welcome you. We've been waiting under this blazing sun, enduring the heat for quite some time.”
Even if his fame was rising, it was insignificant before the names of the Death Gate and Tang Clan. Even if the Orsia family with the Sword Emperor was the lord of a prideful martial house, the Tang Clan didn't have to bow its head unconditionally.
This was the East, not the West, after all.
“And after we've gone to such lengths, your attitude is just...”
“Who asked you to come welcome us? You set up camp without invitation and created this atmosphere where we have to follow no matter what—that strikes me as extremely rude.”
From the start, their display of frothing dozens around them and ignoring the encirclement of hundreds was all theater to show how great they were.
“The weather is hot, sure, but if you're sweltering, it's because you're wearing those dark clothes under this blazing sun. And the ones enduring the heat and hardship are the underlings behind you, right?”
“Your response is very rude.”
Tang Seo-jin's lips curled up. A green glint flashed in the center of his dark pupils.
“I know Western and Eastern cultures differ, but when someone shows this much sincerity...”
“Calling it 'sincerity' when you do whatever you please without being asked is a problem.”
Yuri smiled back just as widely. In truth, there was no need to sharpen his words this much. He could have been polite and gracious, promising another time.
But Yuri didn't want to. Why? The reason was easy to find. At the Alderan exhibition. Ha-ryeong had been excessively sharp and mocking toward Leisi.
Yuri now was no different from Ha-ryeong back then.
Tang Seo-jin and Yuri kept their gazes locked on each other. Though both wore smiles, no one present believed they were smiling sincerely.
The air carried the scent and taste of iron. It was the smell of blood. The killing intent slowly rising from the Death Gate assassins pressed down on Yuri.
Though Tang Mu-seok was the eldest and highest in tier here, he held no decision-making power. The ones who could decide were the Tang siblings, and between them, the younger sister Tang Seo-woo held the stronger voice.
‘This has gone too far.’
Tang Mu-seok swallowed a sigh as he glanced at the siblings. The Tang Clan was one of the top prestigious houses among Eastern martial clans. The Death Gate assassins under its rule obeyed the direct descendants' commands unconditionally.
Growing up in such an environment from childhood made them authoritarian and arrogant.
Tang Seo-jin, who had once earned the title Dragon, had excessive confidence in his skills and rarely failed to get what he wanted. Like most black path martial artists, he resorted to force when things didn't go his way.
His younger sister Tang Seo-woo was the cherished golden flower monopolizing all affection. She was even more extreme than her brother in doing whatever she wanted, and once intrigued, she obsessed to excess.
“You're refusing the Tang Clan's invitation?”
Tang Seo-woo's smile twisted. That refusal gave her a novel thrill. They, direct descendants of the Tang Clan, had come personally to invite, and yet refusal?
“When the Tang Clan invites, I should say it's an honor and follow unconditionally?”
Of course you should. She thought it but didn't say it aloud.
“This is a problem. We came all this way determined to escort you, and now this... unwanted commotion.”
Tang Seo-jin spread his arms dramatically as he spoke.
“With all these eyes on us, if we can't take you along, what becomes of the Tang Clan's face?”
“Haha.”
It was absurd that they had caused the mess themselves yet spoke of face. It confirmed that Eastern martial artists were no different from armed thugs in the end.
“Everyone has their position, so how about this?”
Tang Seo-jin spoke as if offering a grand concession.
“We duel over whether you'll go to the Tang Clan or not.”
“A duel?”
Estor, who had been swallowing his boiling anger while listening, twitched an eyebrow. Unable to hold back any longer, he stepped forward.
“We've clearly refused, so what kind of du—”
“Fine.”
Yuri pushed Estor, who was trying to shove past him, back and answered.
“Out of respect and consideration for Young Master Tang Seo-jin's position, I'll duel you. However, you must unconditionally accept the result.”
“Accept? Hahaha, of course. So, will you be the one stepping up?”
Tang Seo-jin gave a sinister smile as he glanced at Estor.
“I don't mind if my opponent is the Sword Dragon hero. Or how about this? I'll fight you both in succession.”
“Hahaha.”
Yuri couldn't hold back his hollow laugh this time either. In truth, Tang Seo-jin's confidence was justified. He had reached the 5th Tier and earned the Poison Dragon title five years ago. Having passed thirty some years back, Tang Seo-jin was already at the 6th Tier.
They spoke of a duel, but the outcome was predetermined.
“No need for successive duels. Settle it with a single bout against me.”
“Good. Let me warn you in advance—don't worry too much.”
Tang Seo-jin drew the folded fan from his waist as he spoke.
“Of course I won't use lethal strikes. No poison either. Ah, you can go all out, hero.”
—Snap! The black folded fan unfurled fully. Yuri wasn't sure of the exact material, but it didn't seem to be made of paper. He stared at the black folded fan and the chilling smile beyond it on Tang Seo-jin's face.
“And... even if you lose, I won't hold any grudge against you, hero. I'd appreciate the same from you.”
“Of course.”
“Haha, I like your straightforward answer. In the East, these kinds of duels are also a custom for building camaraderie between martial artists. Even if you lose, you think of it as a valuable lesson and laugh it off.”
Should he break an arm or a leg?
Or smash that nose. Tang Seo-jin pondered what kind of defeat to gift this insolent punk. Since he had to take them as guests, he couldn't cripple him completely or give a humiliating thrashing.
He had to stay within the bounds of 'no choice'...
“Through such exchanges, we become brothers in arms someday. Cloud Dragon, I hope you gain good instruction.”
Subtly.
No, blatantly signaling his victory.
“I look forward to learning from you.”
Yuri nodded with a smile.
6th Tier Dark Mist Poison Dragon.
No lethal strikes, no poison. Even considering that, it was a tough opponent that normal Yuri wouldn't bother fighting.
Yet why?
He felt like he could give it a shot.