Chapter 235
Chapter 235
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: Nangong Clan's Reinforcements
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Dang Ui-cheon, sat face-to-face with the Inner Court's master, Dang Ui-geum, exchanging words.
Dang Ui-cheon scanned the map laid out on the table, furrowing his brow.
“The Five Poisons Sect is prowling around the border region between the Western Frontier and Sichuan?”
“Yes, that's correct. They've been at it for several days already.”
“Several days...”
It didn't match the Five Poisons Sect's momentum, which had been advancing like a wildfire.
Their sudden halt, as if tripping over a rock, couldn't help but arouse suspicion.
'Is it a ploy, or do they have some other objective?'
The fact that they were lingering in the same area for days was odd in itself.
Should he assume they had another purpose?
He couldn't rule out that possibility.
But considering their past enmity and the tangled secrets from before, it was highly likely the Five Poisons Sect would get entangled with the Sichuan Tang Clan once again.
Their bad blood ran that deep.
From ancient times.
The poison arts learned from the progenitor of what was called the Primeval Murim had split into two branches, becoming the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Five Poisons Sect.
It was a rivalry stretching back ages, so no matter the beginning or intentions, the shackles of centuries-old grudge were far from light.
Thus, whatever their aims, it was safe to assume nothing good would come for the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Dang Ui-cheon took a sip of green tea and asked in a low voice.
“No word from the other sects?”
“We requested aid from the neighboring sects, but they only asked for time.”
“Hmm.”
“The Five Great Clans haven't responded yet either.”
Dang Ui-geum spoke with a heavy expression, his face dark.
“Family Head. It seems best not to expect outside support. I believe our clan must handle this on our own.”
The Sichuan Tang Clan had little exchange with the outside due to their inherent secrecy and cunning nature, but a bit of listening would reveal their reputation in the martial world and relations with other sects.
'The damages are mounting, but what can be done.'
The Five Poisons Sect wasn't merely wandering the Sichuan-Western Frontier border.
They were turning the area upside down, continuously causing all sorts of damages and casualties.
They even controlled the Silk Road heading to the Western Frontier, so the harm only grew, and resentment piled higher.
That resentment was entirely directed at the Sichuan Tang Clan, allowing a rough guess at their built-up relations with the Five Poisons Sect and the clan's reputation.
“Hmm.”
Dang Ui-cheon's expression twisted subtly.
“What of the Sa Clan, Mount Emei, and Qingcheng?”
“They're just watching the situation.”
“Like a pack of wolves eyeing prey.”
Dang Ui-geum fell silent at the voice laced with bitterness.
Dang Ui-cheon stared blankly at the map.
The word isolation came to mind unbidden.
“So, in the end, no one will come to our aid?”
“...I apologize.”
“Interesting.”
Dang Ui-cheon's expression shifted subtly.
Even though the righteous factions dominated the current martial world, no one was extending a hand to the Sichuan Tang Clan.
No, they were practically praying for its downfall, proving how heartless the martial world truly was.
Dang Ui-cheon chuckled dryly.
“Then we'll handle it ourselves. Since when has the Tang Clan relied on outside power?”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“Very well...”
He trailed off mid-sentence, pausing.
Dang Ui-cheon tilted his head and glanced toward the door.
The tightly shut door burst open as the Outer Court's master, Dang Ui-ok, rushed in.
“B-Brother! A response has arrived!”
“A response? From where?”
Dang Ui-geum's eyes widened in surprise.
In the world!
A response had come?
If it was a response, didn't it mean from the Five Great Clans on the opposite side of Sichuan?
“From the Nangong Clan!”
“The Nangong Clan?”
“The Nangong Clan?!”
The unexpected name startled both Dang Ui-cheon and Dang Ui-geum.
The Nangong Clan, not even mentioned before, was the first to reply.
Dang Ui-cheon asked urgently.
“What did they say?”
“Th-they're sending support. No, they've already dispatched an advance team, and the main force is on the way.”
“Hah!”
An exclamation escaped Dang Ui-cheon's lips.
Sending both advance and main forces all the way to the Sichuan Tang Clan, over a thousand li away!
It was unbelievable.
For the Nangong Clan, with whom they had no prior dealings, to offer such proactive and astonishing support—it was hard to trust as genuine.
Dang Ui-cheon exhaled slowly.
“Unbelievable. The Nangong Clan moving this aggressively.”
“With their momentum soaring lately, they're probably showing off. But whatever their intent, if they're helping our clan, does it matter?”
“Hmm.”
Unlike the grave Dang Ui-cheon, a flush of relief lit Dang Ui-geum's face.
It felt like a blocked breath had finally cleared.
As Dang Ui-cheon, Dang Ui-geum, and Dang Ui-ok basked in delight.
“F-Family Head!”
A resounding shout echoed as a Tang Clan warrior dashed into the Family Head's quarters.
Dang Ui-cheon's face subtly hardened.
Given the urgency, something must have happened with the Five Poisons Sect...
“N-Nangong Clan warriors have arrived at the outer village!”
“...Who?”
“Nangong Clan warriors have come!”
What nonsense is this?
The letter delivered by swift hawk messenger had just arrived.
And they were already at the outer village?
It should take days just to prepare—did they fly here with the birds?
Was it a mix-up with the letter? But Dang Ui-ok had already brought it.
Dang Ui-cheon, Dang Ui-geum, and Dang Ui-ok stared at each other in bewilderment.
“What is this...”
“The Nangong Clan is here, but how...”
“...All I saw was the letter.”
Absurdity at its peak disrupts clear thinking.
Dang Ui-cheon gathered his wits and asked.
“Who exactly came?”
“The Nangong Clan's eldest young master and second young master are leading warriors.”
“The eldest and second young masters?”
“Yes!”
Dang Ui-cheon and the others were stunned again by the news that the famed later-generation prodigies, the Mad Dragon and Thunder Jade Sword, had come in person.
The Nangong Clan's direct heirs had personally come for the Sichuan Tang Clan's affairs!
“If the Mad Dragon and Thunder Jade Sword came themselves, it clearly shows how much the Nangong Clan cares for us.”
“Hah, to think they'd come in person! We're so grateful!”
Dang Ui-geum and Dang Ui-ok let out exclamations.
Gratitude shone on their faces.
When everyone else turned away from the Sichuan Tang Clan, only the Nangong Clan remembered righteousness.
The silent Dang Ui-cheon slammed the table and shot to his feet.
Bang!
With a slightly flushed face, he shouted.
“This isn't the time to sit around! Q-quickly! We must go welcome the guests—no, our honored visitors!”
“Y-yes!”
“They say the Nangong Clan's righteousness covers the heavens! To think they'd extend it even to our clan with no prior ties! Ha, hahaha! Let's go, quickly!”
Dang Ui-cheon hurriedly calmed his pounding heart and headed to the outer village.
Dang Ui-geum and Dang Ui-ok followed swiftly, like ducklings trailing their mother.
* * *
The Sichuan Tang Clan resembled a massive village.
The outer village, where the clan's branch families lived, surrounded the exterior, with the main Tang Clan stronghold like a fortress within—truly worthy of being called a citadel.
Even when the Demonic Blood Cataclysm that shook the world swept through Sichuan's martial world, only the Sichuan Tang Clan remained unburned and intact.
That was all thanks to this natural fortress called the outer village.
Crossing one ridgeline, Dang Ui-cheon and the leadership arrived at the outer village's main gate.
Expectancy and surprise were plain on their faces.
It was a crisis everyone had ignored for the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Yet the Nangong Clan—unexpected, no, one they hadn't even considered—had stepped up!
Unbelievable.
'True friends are known in times of hardship!'
He wanted to slap his past self for dismissing the Nangong Clan.
Dang Ui-cheon headed to the outer village's main gate.
Retainers, having heard the rumors, were already milling about the gate.
Dang Ui-cheon hurried to the front of the gate.
Spreading his arms wide, he welcomed the guests.
“Haha! Welcome! After such a arduous journey...”
But at the sight visible through the long-shut main gate flung wide open, Dang Ui-cheon froze mid-greeting, his face blank.
“Uwaaaagh!”
“Wheeeeeck!”
“Urgh!”
Dozens of men on one side bent at the waist simultaneously, vomiting waterfalls from their mouths.
As if they'd swallowed mud, they kept retching.
Uh... drunks?
Had a group mistaken the outer village for a brothel?
But the kids' conditions...
“Uuuuugh!”
“Huergh, heeeergh!”
“Euuuugh.”
Crawling on the ground, clinging to walls, staggering.
About forty men in what might be clothes or rags stood there, the very picture of inebriated revelers.
'...The Nangong Clan?'
“They're from the Nangong Clan...”
As he quickly scanned the surroundings, a glint entered his eyes.
A tall man was staggering toward them.
Pale-faced and constantly stumbling—pitiful, but his aura couldn't be hidden.
It far surpassed an ordinary later-generation talent.
This level meant he had to be the fabled Mad Dragon.
'Then that big brute is the Thunder Jade Sword? He's no pushover either!'
The bandit-like man in dark robes had an impressive aura too.
He grinned heartily at the tall man.
“You must be the Mad Dragon...”
“F-Family Head. The Mad Dragon is over there.”
“Ah, the big one...”
“No. The one standing behind him...”
Huh?
What?
Dang Ui-cheon widened his eyes and looked behind the burly man.
Chomp chomp.
A young man chewing jerky like a cow and clicking his tongue came into view.
Slender, with a roguish air, an utterly ordinary face...
“Oh, are you the Family Head?”
Before he could even assess the Mad Dragon, the sole neatly dressed youth—Namgung Hyeok—approached with a sly smile.
Meeting his gaze, Dang Ui-cheon’s eyes gleamed.
'Hiding his aura?'
This one?
Deep, profound eyes, pure energy.
At that immeasurable depth, Dang Ui-cheon’s pupils quivered faintly.
'Hmm! The rumors were no exaggeration!'
The young expert who had bested the haughty old Nine Great Sects' later generations and claimed victory for the Five Great Clans after decades!
Beholding the famous Mad Dragon in person was astonishing.
'The rumors didn't capture even a speck of the Mad Dragon!'
“Later-generation” didn't suffice.
Expert.
Dang Ui-cheon judged Namgung Hyeok an expert who could make a name anywhere.
“Peerless prodigy” fell short.
Even his companions, all young, exuded tiger-like ferocity.
The vomiting ones had unusual auras too—it was right to call them dragons among dragons.
Dang Ui-cheon let out a low hum.
'Was the Nangong Clan's strength always this great?'
He wondered if it was the same Nangong Clan he knew.
Dang Ui-cheon couldn't help but marvel and be moved once more by Namgung Jang-cheon's boldness in sending his clan's future to Sichuan.
“We've come from the Nangong Clan. I'm the second young master, and this is my older brother, Namgung Ryong.”
“Hmm! Your visit is truly appreciated.”
“Hahaha! Of course we had to come! Are we strangers? As fellow Five Great Clans, we're family, one household!”
“Hmm!”
Dang Ui-cheon was surprised by Namgung Hyeok's hearty reply.
Family!
Yes, exactly!
“Please convey to your Family Head that we never forget this debt of grace.”
“Of course! Debts must always be repaid!”
The words seemed weighty, but they sounded good even to Dang Ui-cheon’s ears.
Dang Ui-cheon asked quietly.
“But are they alright?”
“Hahaha. Don't mind them. They must've all gotten motion sickness on the way. These kids these days are so fragile.”
“Hm?”
“Ah, it's the Sichuan heat. Let's wet our throats and talk! Where to? That way?”
“Y-yes! Right!”
Dang Ui-cheon nodded dazedly and followed Namgung Hyeok's lead into the outer village.
The still-vomiting Thunder Dragon Squad shook their heads at the sight, but no one from the Sichuan Tang Clan noticed.