Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: At the Tang Clan Gate in Chengdu
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Partings only get worse the longer you drag them out. Once you've decided to go, it's best to leave quickly.
Who knows. Maybe it's because I'm not used to saying goodbye.
In any case, I had no regrets, so that lunch, I decided to depart from the Tang Clan right away.
We had a grand lunch and immediately prepared to leave.
Dang Sohye put on a reluctant expression, as if she'd been ordered by the clan lord to follow along, but seeing her with all her luggage already packed and pretending otherwise was a little funny.
I wonder what will become of that girl. I had no intention of just letting the woman now in my care slip away.
The Tang Clan's people gathered in droves to see me and my group off.
Even as we passed through the Tang Clan grounds beyond the entrance, more and more followed behind us.
The rumors must have spread far and wide already. Probably about the antidote for that nameless poison and the method to rebuild a shattered dantian.
That's why they saw us off with such grateful faces.
There must have been plenty in these Tang Clan grounds suffering from that poison.
"Still, it's a relief you were here. Don't try to repay me—pay it forward to those around you. Places like Jecheon, Cheongsung, Ami... You can help even their most desperate folk, right? You're the Great Sichuan Tang Clan, after all."
"What do you take us for, Grove Lord? Leave it to us. As you say, the Tang Clan will aid everyone, join forces with them, and punish those vile scum. We'll restore justice to Sichuan."
"Reliable as ever. With the clan lord declaring it so, it'll surely come to pass. Isn't that right, Young Lord?"
"Of course, Grove Lord. The Tang Clan will do just that. This is all thanks to you."
Young Lord Dang Myeongun answered with a smile.
This guy knew everything because Dang Sohye had reported my every move to him daily.
That's why even simple conversations flowed smoothly without any hitches.
To the point where no further explanations were needed?
Seeing that, Dang Sohye really is a diligent girl. Even for the sake of her clan, it couldn't have been easy.
People are selfish. That's an unchanging truth.
But even so, there are always those who prioritize others' well-being over their own self-interest.
I don't dislike such people. They're rare, after all.
So they deserve fitting rewards.
Even if that's not what they wanted or sought.
The reward comes from my own will.
Just as we were nearly out of the Tang Clan grounds, I sensed something irritating up ahead.
Numerous presences. All trained in martial arts. Over a hundred strong.
"Ha. Hilarious. Must be a shame to see me go. Looks like some uninvited guests came to see me off."
At my words, the Tang Clan lord and his people hardened their expressions.
The clan lord glared toward the outskirts of the grounds, then growled with venomous fury.
"These insolent bastards... They've been quiet lately, and now they dare act like this? Ha! Pathetic scum! Today, I'll turn them all to a handful of poison fodder!"
The identity of those irritants was obvious.
The Black Heaven Alliance. Rabble who'd banded together to seize Sichuan.
From a quick sense, a few seemed decent.
Not total trash, then. Half-baked, maybe? Yeah, that fits.
With those thoughts, I raised a hand to stop the fuming clan lord.
He looked puzzled amid his rage. I smiled at him and spoke.
"Looks like I still have something to give you all. Hold that anger for now. Save it for after I'm gone—you can unleash it then."
"Grove Lord!?"
"Just watch."
With that, I strolled casually out the Tang Clan gate.
Those hiding their presences outside emerged one by one, and as I'd sensed, their numbers exceeded a hundred.
"Who might you be to give me such a grand welcome?"
I infused my voice with inner energy and shouted. The Black Heaven Alliance thugs buzzed in agitation.
Parting them, a man stepped forward.
A man in black martial robes, face scarred deeply, carrying a massive sword larger than himself on his back.
"I am Wi Jagang, Lord of Salmok Heaven and Alliance Leader of the Black Heaven Alliance! I have business with the Tang Clan today, so if you value your life, pretend you didn't see and pass by! No—crawl between my legs!"
The fool bellowing that seemed to be at the early Transformation Realm.
I didn't know how he'd reached that level, but his energy felt impure.
Murky. Unpleasant.
Seeing him confirmed it—half-baked trash, through and through.
Looking at him reminded me of Chae Ji-gyu.
Third Outer Hall Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Mad Wolf Blood Demon Chae Ji-gyu. His aura was like pitch-black darkness.
Black demonic qi. And yet, it felt purer for it.
Not all purity is white. Sometimes, the blackest darkness is utterly pure.
That's why this fool before me seemed so crude.
Crude enough that cutting him down wouldn't leave a trace of regret.
So I turned my gaze from him and looked back.
The many Tang Clan retainers watching me.
A subtle worry showed on their faces.
They didn't think I'd be harmed, but they couldn't fully shake the concern.
Only three watched without a hint of worry.
Seolha. Yeonhwa. And Young Lord Dang Myeongun.
See? Told you he's got potential. Sharp intuition.
"You don't use swords, so this won't greatly aid your growth! But it's good experience to witness it once. So watch closely! It'll prove invaluable someday!"
"What nonsense is this? You dare turn your back on me!?"
The so-called Black Heaven Alliance leader shrieked from behind, and I leisurely turned.
Tsk. As expected. No class. No dignity. None at all.
This guy's actually making me miss Chae Ji-gyu. Who would've thought I'd reappraise him like this.
"Let us call this sword 'Friend'! It is my gift to the Tang Clan, future hegemons of Sichuan!"
With those words, I drew the Dark Radiance Sword.
The blade gleamed pure white. Sword aura soared sky-high.
The Black Heaven thugs' eyes widened impossibly further.
Small wonder. The sword aura wreathing my blade stretched over ten zhang.
That is what Friend means.
A steadfast presence that stands solidly by your side without a word.
No doubts in mutual trust. When true hardship strikes, aid extended before the plea even leaves your lips.
The sword aura I manifested embodied such a friend.
A sturdy sword. A trustworthy sword. One inspiring no doubt.
A sword that sprang to mind now, hoping they would see me this way, as I saw them.
The sword swung.
The fool—alliance leader or whatever—who'd flinched and drawn his massive sword at my aura's eruption screamed in terror and swung to block.
But that was it. He cleaved in half along with his blade.
Block? Laughable. He wasn't even worthy to try.
No clamor ensued. No screams or chaos.
Just one bisected half-baked fool, and a few Black Heaven dregs caught in the aftermath with scarcely a corpse left.
And the massive scar cleaved along the main road.
"I'd love to swing sideways once more, but this will do. You have eyes, so you know. From now on, submit quietly to the Tang Clan's investigation. If you've sins to answer for, accept the punishment due."
My words barely ended when wails erupted, and the Black Heaven thugs fled.
No one tried to stop them.
A few more half-baked ones lurked among them, but rather than rally the rest, they bolted first.
Pathetic lot. The limit of rabble.
Too ashamed to call themselves martial artists.
No convictions, no pride. No self-respect, no ferocity.
Just cravens clinging to life. Perfectly suited to the term "rabble."
"Ta-da."
Before the now-empty Tang Clan gate.
I spun around, arms spread playfully, and they all stared blankly.
Ah, these gazes. Addictive.
Something strange got me hooked here at the Tang Clan. Makes me want to show off more.
In any event, the Black Heaven Alliance ambush at the Tang Clan gate was resolved.
A mere hiccup. Though for them, with their leader dead, it'd be a grave matter.
But honestly, after seeing a ten-story sword aura bisect a man, who could blame them for fleeing?
"Heh... Heh heh. Grove Lord. Showing us that... Heh, truly. You've set the Tang Clan's sights too high!"
"What's wrong with that? It's good. Goals should be lofty. At least now you'll strive to block a single strike of mine, right?"
"Heh heh heh. Too much. Far too much. Goals must feel attainable to inspire will!"
"Eh. For someone saying that, your eyes tell a different story. You want to try taking it right now, don't you?"
I grinned as I spoke, and the clan lord laughed in turn.
Yes. That's the spirit. The fire of a true man.
That's how it should be. Not cowering in fear, but burning to clash with full power, whatever it takes.
Like the clan lord and young lord. And Dang Sohye too.
Young Lord Dang Myeongun. He was cut from the same cloth as the clan lord.
Never ceases to impress. He's got real promise. I like him.
The Tang Clan's future is bright. That kid will become something extraordinary. No doubt.
Plus, I liked that Dang Sohye had the same gleam in her eye.
No flinching. No dazed stupor.
Seolha and Yeonhwa knew my prowess, so that made sense, but Dang Sohye's reaction was unexpected.
Definitely worth keeping close. Absolutely.
Besides, she harbored vast energy within. Absorb it all, make it her own, and she'd reach quite the realm.
Truly a promising one. Sincerely.
"Alright. This farewell's dragged on. Time to go for real. Seolha. Yeonhwa. Dang Sohye. Let's move."
At my call, the three women approached.
The Tang Clan retainers clasped hands, bowing their heads in farewell.
A clean parting. But with folks we could meet again anytime.
Thus, having gained a fine friend, we departed the Tang Clan.