Chapter 108: The Human-Faced Spider Causes Trouble - 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 108: The Human-Faced Spider Causes Trouble - 1
"Y-you! What kind of nonsense is that? We are your fathers-in-law!"
Geum Taesan, incensed, pointed a trembling finger at Sun-woo.
Even in the Murim, where fists often spoke louder than words, this was beyond the pale. To hurl such profanities at one's own fathers-in-law was unthinkable.
"How dare you speak so recklessly to the elders of the family!" Geum Taesan raised his voice again, trying to corner him.
This was an opportunity. Surely, the man was drunk and his tongue had slipped. Geum Taesan intended to use this blunder as a pretext to lecture him and re-establish the hierarchy.
Unfortunately for him, his hopes were not to be realized. A faint, greenish energy began to drift from the Tang Clan Head.
"Ugh..."
Before long, the green mist filled the inner guest room. The faces of the heads of the in-law families turned deathly pale.
C-could it be?
Though they had never properly mastered martial arts themselves, they had heard plenty about the nature of the techniques that radiated a green hue within the Sichuan Tang Clan. It was the ultimate poison art, said to have been created by the Poison Emperor, the man who was once the Greatest of All Time. It was a peerless technique that only those of the direct bloodline could learn.
The Ten Thousand Streams Return to the Source Divine Art!
The realization sent a wave of panic through the family heads. Why on earth was he circulating his internal energy now?
Tremble.
Cold sweat poured down their bodies, and an inexplicable chill began to set in. It was likely the effect of the aura Sun-woo was radiating. Even a small amount of pressure from Sun-woo, who had reached the Transcendent Realm, was more than these men—who lacked proper cultivation—could withstand.
"I shall ask you a few questions."
"W-what is it?"
Perhaps overwhelmed by the atmosphere, Geum Taesan found himself answering in polite, formal speech without even realizing it.
"Do you carry the surname Tang?"
"...No."
"Then, have you mastered the martial arts of the Tang Clan?"
"...No."
"If not that, does the blood of the Tang Clan flow within your veins?"
"...That is also a no."
"You do not carry the Tang name, you have not mastered Tang martial arts, and you do not possess Tang blood. By what right, then, do you refer to yourselves as elders of this family?"
Perhaps influenced by the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art, a tremendous weight began to settle into every word Sun-woo spoke.
Thump.
"Kh..."
"Ugh..."
"Ngh..."
"Gah!"
The family heads let out pained groans, unable to endure Sun-woo's overwhelming pressure.
"And you keep shouting about being 'one family.' Tell me, what exactly were you doing when the Tang Clan was suffering through its darkest hour during the Demonic Cult's attack?"
"T-that... it was because a chronic illness flared up..." Geum Taesan stammered out an excuse.
"I have no wish to hear it. It is obvious you were all lying low, terrified that the sparks might fly your way! Not a single person from your families visited the Tang Clan immediately after the news of the attack spread. By what right do you call yourselves family now and have the audacity to ask to be put in charge of our businesses?"
".........."
The family heads were speechless. It felt as though their hidden intention—to suck the Tang Clan dry by claiming to be Tang Jin-cheol's in-laws—had been laid bare.
"I ask you again. Do you have the right?"
"........"
"I asked if you have the right to call yourselves family!"
When they remained silent, Sun-woo raised his voice. These people were under a massive delusion. While it was true their families were connected to Tang Jin-cheol through marriage, that did not place them above the Head of the Tang Clan.
They had no right. No right to call themselves family, and no right to interfere in the clan's affairs. He had to make them realize their place so they wouldn't dare overstep again.
Even if its power had waned due to the Demonic Cult's raid, the Tang Clan was still a prestigious family among prestigious families, once vying for the title of the greatest power in the Central Plains. And Tang Jin-cheol was the head of such a place. It was time to restore the dignity of the Clan Head.
Sun-woo glared at them with a chilling gaze.
Flinch.
As soon as Sun-woo's eyes met theirs, the family heads shrank back and bowed their heads deeply. They simply didn't have the courage to look him in the eye.
"I will say this once more. The Tang Clan's businesses will never be handed over to you. If you want them, bid for them at an auction."
Sun-woo spoke again, his voice thick with intimidation.
"If you wish to object, feel free to speak up at any time. I will personally ensure that you... comply."
"......Understood."
Geum Taesan was the first to break the silence, yielding to the threat.
"......Understood."
"......We will keep that in mind."
One by one, the other family heads followed suit, answering with somber expressions. This incident served as a stark reminder: they and the Tang Clan were by no means equals. That remained true even now, with the Tang Clan's fortunes diminished. The thought left them feeling utterly dejected.
"And you. Head of the Lee Clan, Head of the Jeok Clan, and Head of the Gam Clan."
Sun-woo called out to the heads of the Iwol Merchant Group, the Jeok Clan, and the Gam Clan respectively.
"Please, give us your command."
"The Second Madam, the Fourth Madam, and the Fifth Madam are no longer the mistresses of the Tang Clan."
"What?! What do you mean by that!"
They shouted back in shock. This was a bolt from the blue.
"And you are no longer my in-laws."
"Clan Head Tang, what is the meaning of this!"
"On the day of the Demonic Cult's attack, those women and their respective family warriors were nowhere to be found. They had all fled."
"..........."
"..........."
"Nearly three hundred Tang Clan martial artists lost their lives that day. What were they doing during that time? Did they not abandon the Tang Clan and flee to their own families?"
"But the Madams are just women!"
"He is right! How can you expect women who haven't learned a lick of martial arts to fight?"
"The Great Matriarch and the Third Madam resolved to stay in the Tang Clan until the very end and share its fate."
"........."
"........."
"Furthermore, the warriors from the Un and Geum families fought alongside the Tang Clan's men until the bitter end."
The family heads were silenced. They couldn't think of a single word to refute him. To use the excuse of being "just women" fell flat when compared to the Great Matriarch and the Third Madam. Had they not chosen to stay and face death despite the Demonic Cult's assault?
Moreover, withdrawing their family warriors had been a fatal mistake. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they had played a part in the Tang Clan's near-destruction.
"I am finished. If we meet again, do not expect the same kindness I have shown today."
Creeeak.
Sun-woo stood up and walked out. He saw no further value in staying. The family heads in the guest room could only stare blankly at his retreating back. So much had happened so quickly that they seemed unable to process it.
"Ahem. I should go see Jeok-hwa. It's been a while."
Geum Taesan, the first to regain his senses, stood up.
"Ahem, yes. I should also see Ga-ryeo's face. Poor thing, she must have had such a hard time."
The Head of the Un Clan, also coming to his senses, stood up and followed suit. Neither of them had any desire to remain in that room a moment longer.
Soon, Geum Taesan and the Head of the Un Clan were gone, leaving only three family heads staring into space with expressions of utter despair.
*
Sun-woo began to walk with a light step. When those old geezers had first dragged him away, he had felt like livestock being led to the slaughter. Their faces were practically dripping with greed and complaints. It was obvious what they would say once they got him alone.
But as much as he didn't want to go, they were the families of his allies—the Great Matriarch and Geum Jeok-hwa. He couldn't just ignore them. So he had followed, and as expected, he was treated to some truly creative nonsense.
They wanted him to just hand over the businesses so they could "look after them" until the Tang Clan grew strong again? They were no better than common thieves. Moreover, their overbearing lectures—even if they were technically his fathers-in-law—had been incredibly grating.
Sun-woo was now the Head of the Tang Clan. He was the hero who had annihilated the Demonic Cult's Black Armored Cavalry and an absolute master who had reached the Transcendent Realm. Who did they think they were, lecturing him?
In the end, Sun-woo had made a major decision: to flip the board. He didn't know what kind of relationship the previous Tang Clan Head had maintained with them, but the current Tang Clan had nothing to lose. The Great Matriarch and Geum Jeok-hwa were on his side, and the other wives had run away, so what did it matter?
He only felt better after giving them a piece of his mind.
"Hehehe."
Sun-woo couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled the bewildered expressions on the family heads' faces. His methods had been a bit rough, but the result was perfect: he had checked the in-law families so they wouldn't overstep, and he had cleanly severed ties with the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Madams who had abandoned the clan.
How could he not be in a good mood?
Sun-woo headed toward the office with a spring in his step. Tang Seo-yoon and Geum Jeok-hwa would surely be there, working on paperwork.
It was then.
K-boom!
A massive explosion echoed from behind him.
"What the—?!"
Sun-woo spun around in surprise. Not far away, a plume of dust and smoke was rising into the air. What on earth was happening now?
Sun-woo quickly began to focus his internal energy.
Is it the Demonic Cult?
But he immediately shook his head. This area was packed with numerous powers—not just the Tang Clan, but the Qingcheng Sect, the Emei Sect, and various major merchant guilds. Attacking the Tang Clan now would be like sticking one's head into a tiger's mouth.
Then who could it be?
Sun-woo was puzzled. Who would dare cause such a commotion in the Tang Clan's territory while the Poison King was present?
Sun-woo blurred into motion. He had to identify the source of the noise immediately.
*
"Huff... huff... huff..."
A man wearing a martial arts uniform embroidered with a crane against an indigo background was breathing heavily. He was Un-jeok-ja, a Taoist of the Qingcheng Sect known as the "First Sword of Qingcheng."
"Pant... pant... pant..."
And before him, a woman with a shaved head, wearing gray monastic robes, was also gasping for air. She was Bulheo Satae, a master of the Seven Killing Spear—a technique so thick with murderous aura that it was nearly suppressed even within the Emei Sect, the defenders of Buddhist law.
These masters, representing Qingcheng and Emei, glared at each other with flashing eyes.
"Huff... huff... Bulheo Satae... why don't you just give up?"
"Pant... pant... Un-jeok-ja, why don't you be the one to back down?"
Despite their ragged breathing, neither Un-jeok-ja nor Bulheo Satae lowered their weapons. It was clear they didn't trust each other.
Un-jeok-ja felt a surge of irritation. How had things come to this?
"Wow, who's stronger?"
It was then. A beautiful, melodic voice tickled their ears from a distance. The moment they heard it, their hearts began to race again.
It was because of that woman. She was the reason he had come to blows with Bulheo Satae of Emei.
Un-jeok-ja stole a glance at her. Even a brief look exposed him to an explosive, seductive aura that felt like it would burst his lungs. Long black hair, a tiny face, eyes that sparkled like stars, a sharp nose, and crimson lips—not to mention a figure that was both voluptuous and incredibly slender.
She was a peerless beauty. In his forty years of life, Un-jeok-ja had never seen a woman so breathtaking. His heart hammered against his ribs, spiraling out of control.
It was then. A surge of murderous aura erupted from behind him.
Clang!
Drip.
Blood began to trickle down Un-jeok-ja's cheek. He had managed to deflect the spear's trajectory at the last second, but a clean evasion had been impossible.
"What do you think you're doing!"
"What are you doing? Did you think I was so easy that you could afford to look away mid-fight?"
Bulheo Satae glared at him with pure distaste. He was an annoying man, but she had at least respected his martial prowess. Seeing him gawk like a fool over some girl made her blood boil.
"And don't you dare set your sights on her. That young lady is coming with us to Emei."
"What nonsense! You'd turn a perfectly fine woman into a nun?"
"Are you insulting the Emei Sect right now?"
"It's not an insult, it's the truth!"
Shouts began to fly back and forth between Un-jeok-ja and Bulheo Satae.
The peerless beauty—the Human-Faced Spider—watched them with an amused expression. She didn't know why they were fighting, but they were certainly well-trained.
"So, who's stronger?"
Her enchanting voice echoed in their ears once more.
"Qingcheng, of course!" Un-jeok-ja barked.
"Don't be ridiculous! It's obviously Emei!" Bulheo Satae shouted back, refusing to be outdone.
Boom!
Astral Qi swirled as their battle resumed in earnest.
Clap, clap, clap.
The Human-Faced Spider began to clap delightedly at the spectacle.
"Hehehehe!"
It was then.
Whoosh—
A sudden, chilling aura enveloped her entire body.
"Huh?"
The Human-Faced Spider felt a sense of deja vu from the familiar energy. It was friendly, yet terrifying. Terrifying, yet friendly. Who could possibly radiate such an aura?
The Human-Faced Spider began to tremble violently as she looked around. Then, she saw Sun-woo sprinting toward them from the distance.
That was it. The source of that friendly yet terrifying aura was Sun-woo.
"Hieee!"
Terrified, the Human-Faced Spider tried to flee the scene immediately.
However...
Grab.
In the blink of an eye, Sun-woo had closed the distance and snatched her by the scruff of her neck.
"What the hell did you do?" Sun-woo asked coldly, dangling her in the air.
"Ha... hahaha..."
In response to his question, the Human-Faced Spider could only offer a very awkward, strained laugh.