Chapter 171: Kidnapped - Part 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 171: Kidnapped - Part 1
"Heh."
Joo So-yang let out a dry laugh as she met Tang Seo-yoon’s unwavering gaze. She could see the iron resolve burning in the younger woman's eyes.
"Tell me, Lady Tang. Can you truly handle the consequences?"
The aura swirling around Joo So-yang swelled in size, beginning to exert a crushing pressure on Tang Seo-yoon.
"Ugh..."
Exposed to the aura of a master who had reached the absolute state known as the Transcendent Realm, Tang Seo-yoon let out an involuntary groan.
It was powerful—staggeringly so.
Though she was a master in her own right, having reached the lofty heights of the Upper Stage of the Super-Peak Realm, it was not enough to withstand the sheer weight of Joo So-yang’s presence. Cold sweat poured down her face, and her entire body began to tremble. It was only a single stage of difference, yet the gap felt like an insurmountable abyss.
"I asked if you could handle it."
Joo So-yang intensified the pressure even further.
"Nngh..."
Tang Seo-yoon groaned again, her face contorting in pain.
"If you have any sense at all, you must know what it means to make an enemy of the Heavenly Sword Empress."
"...Ugh... I know... all too well..." Tang Seo-yoon managed to force the words out through gritted teeth. "To cross a titan like the Heavenly Sword Empress is a heavy burden... even for the Tang Clan, whether now or back when we were called the greatest power in the Central Plains."
She lifted her head to look Joo So-yang in the eye.
"But even so, the Tang Clan’s answer remains the same. He is one of our own. If we were to hand over a kinsman because of a threat, we would be forfeiting our honor as a Murim Clan."
"Strictly speaking, he isn't actually of your bloodline, is he?"
"No, he is the same as blood. To become a son-in-law of the Tang Clan is to become a member of our bloodline. Lack of a biological connection does not mean he is not family."
Tang Seo-yoon forced a thin smile as she spoke.
I hope my expression doesn't look too strained, she worried.
She was desperately suppressing the massive murderous aura weighing down on her entire body just to maintain that smile. She was terrified of looking unsightly. In truth, she wanted nothing more than to collapse and shiver on the floor, but she couldn't. She was the representative of the Tang Clan. She had to maintain the dignity befitting her station.
Ho?
Watching her smile, Joo So-yang felt a flicker of internal admiration. The girl had a remarkably strong will. To force a smile while being subjected to the killing intent of someone at the peak of the Transcendent Realm was no small feat. Had they met under different circumstances, they might have become close. Joo So-yang had always been fond of such spirited women.
"That is a pity. It seems our opinions are irreconcilable." Joo So-yang spoke with a look of genuine regret.
"My position will not change."
"Sigh."
Confirming her unwavering resolve, Joo So-yang let out a deep sigh. It seemed negotiations had officially broken down.
Shring.
Slowly, she drew the sword from the scabbard at her waist. As the blade emerged, a dazzlingly white sword body was revealed.
"What is the meaning of this?" Tang Seo-yoon asked, her voice laced with alarm.
"You’ll have to come with me, Lady Tang," Joo So-yang replied nonchalantly.
"What are you talking about?"
"It means you’ll have to serve as the bait to lure your fiancé out."
"Do you think I would ever allow that?"
"That is why I drew my sword. If you come quietly, there will be no bloodshed."
"Joo Yeohyeop, are you truly prepared to make the Tang Clan your enemy?" Tang Seo-yoon growled.
"My, weren't we already enemies?" Joo So-yang asked back, as if the question were redundant.
"The world will condemn you for this."
"That’s easily solved. No one will ever know."
"......"
Tang Seo-yoon was left speechless by Joo So-yang’s reckless declaration. Kidnapping a direct descendant of the Tang Clan was a monumental act—one that would bring a storm of condemnation from all sides. Yet, Joo So-yang seemed completely unconcerned with the political fallout. What on earth gave her such confidence?
"Lady Tang, you simply followed me—the woman you’ve always admired—to the Heavenly Moon Palace to see the flowers. That is what everyone will believe."
"Do you really think that’s possible?" Tang Seo-yoon countered, finding the idea absurd.
The Tang Clan had eyes everywhere. To kidnap her right under their noses? Even for a Transcendent Realm master like Joo So-yang, it should have been impossible.
"Of course it is." Joo So-yang smiled broadly. "I have the martial prowess to knock you unconscious with ease, and I have a carriage waiting nearby to spirit you away in secret. Moving you out of here won't be difficult at all."
"You planned this from the start."
Tang Seo-yoon glared at her, realization dawning. Joo So-yang had come prepared to kidnap her the moment things went south, intending to use her as bait for Sun-woo.
"If I disappear, people will not be convinced."
It was true. Tang Seo-yoon was the one who authorized every document in the Tang Clan. No business could even be approved without passing through her hands. For such a woman to suddenly vanish to go "flower-viewing"? Even a passing dog wouldn't believe that.
"It doesn't matter. Even so, no one will suspect me."
A deep smile played on Joo So-yang's lips. She was certain. No matter how suspicious Tang Seo-yoon’s disappearance might seem, the moment it was known she was with the Heavenly Sword Empress, no one would find it strange. The title of Heavenly Sword Empress carried that much prestige and trust. Even if she left only a single note behind, no one would doubt her.
Woooooong.
Tang Seo-yoon quickly began to circulate the Ten Thousand Streams Return to the Source Divine Art. She intended to alert those nearby to the emergency before she could be suppressed.
Swish!
Thud!
"Gah!"
But she couldn't fulfill her intent. Before she could fully rouse her internal energy, the pommel of Joo So-yang's sword struck her squarely in the solar plexus. Tang Seo-yoon doubled over, groaning in agony.
Tap, tap, tap.
In that moment, Joo So-yang began striking Tang Seo-yoon’s acupoints. Before long, a wave of overwhelming drowsiness washed over Tang Seo-yoon.
The Sleep-Inducing Pressure Point...
"Joo... So... yang..."
She tried to cling to her fading consciousness, but her head soon slumped forward. She had fallen into a deep slumber.
A thick smile spread across Joo So-yang’s face. Everything was proceeding exactly according to plan.
Tuk.
She placed a pre-prepared letter on the table in the guest room. This would be enough to keep suspicion at bay. She hoisted the sleeping Tang Seo-yoon onto her back and began to move stealthily, ensuring she remained undetected.
*
Tap, tap, tap.
Geum Jeok-hwa bit her nails, trying to soothe her anxiety. Despite her efforts, the feeling wouldn't subside. Tang Seo-yoon, who was supposed to be signing off on documents, had vanished.
"Where could she have gone?"
Geum Jeok-hwa was baffled by the disappearance. Tang Seo-yoon was not the type of person to leave without a word. True to her rigid personality, she was a woman who lived her life according to a strictly planned daily schedule. At first, Geum Jeok-hwa wondered if she had gone to sleep, but she quickly shook her head. Seo-yoon had already had her rest; it made no sense for her to go back to bed. She had searched every place Seo-yoon might be, but there wasn't even a shadow of her.
Anxiety gnawed at her. A mountain of documents requiring Tang Seo-yoon’s approval was piling up, yet the woman was nowhere to be found.
Bang! Bang!
Just then, there was a knock on the office door.
"Come in," Geum Jeok-hwa called out, looking toward the door.
Creeeeeak.
The door opened, and a man entered. It was Tang Gam, who had recently been assigned to internal affairs.
"Madam, I found this letter in the inner guest room."
He walked over and handed a single sheet of paper to Geum Jeok-hwa.
"A letter?"
Geum Jeok-hwa tilted her head in confusion as she took it. Why a letter all of a sudden? She scanned the contents carefully, and soon, a look of shock crossed her face.
"Did the Heavenly Sword Empress, Joo So-yang, visit the guest room today?"
"Yes, that's correct. She arrived this afternoon, and I personally escorted her to the inner guest room."
Tang Gam spoke as the memory returned to him.
"Do you happen to know when she left?"
"I believe she left shortly after her meeting with the Young Lady."
Geum Jeok-hwa’s face began to turn pale. That meant Tang Seo-yoon had left the Tang Clan with her—and it had happened half a day ago.
"Is something wrong?" Tang Gam asked, noticing her reaction.
"N-no. Thank you for bringing the letter."
She expressed her gratitude while subtly dismissing him.
"It was nothing. Please call for me if you need anything else."
Sensing the dismissal, Tang Gam bowed once and turned to leave. Once he was gone, Geum Jeok-hwa’s expression became incredibly grave.
The letter didn't contain much. It simply stated that since the flowers were in full bloom around the Heavenly Moon Palace, she was taking Tang Seo-yoon with her to see them. But that seemingly trivial content was riddled with problems.
Having worked closely with Tang Seo-yoon on countless matters over the past few months, Geum Jeok-hwa had a good grasp of her character. She knew for a fact that Seo-yoon was not someone who would irresponsibly abandon her work and just leave. It was no exaggeration to say that the entire Tang Clan was currently waiting on Tang Seo-yoon’s approval for everything. No matter how much the Great Matriarch and Geum Jeok-hwa helped, Seo-yoon was the final decision-maker.
For such a woman to go flower-viewing with Joo So-yang? Even a passing dog wouldn't believe it. A sense of foreboding took root in her mind.
Could she have been kidnapped?
But she immediately shook her head. It seemed too absurd. Why would the Heavenly Sword Empress kidnap Tang Seo-yoon? There was no motive or justification. But the alternative—that she went willingly—was equally nonsensical.
A whirlwind of thoughts raced through her mind. None of the events made any sense.
After a long time, she walked over to her desk and sat down. She picked up a brush and began to grind ink. She couldn't just sit still. While she didn't understand everything, one thing was certain: Tang Seo-yoon had not gone flower-viewing of her own accord. Whether she went voluntarily or by force, the situation was dire. In the worst-case scenario, she had to consider the possibility of kidnapping.
She began to write a letter to the Heavenly Moon Palace. Her heart urged her to send a pursuit team immediately, but doing so before knowing the full story could escalate the situation unnecessarily. First, she had to verify the facts of whether Tang Seo-yoon had actually gone to the Heavenly Moon Palace with Joo So-yang. And if she really was there, she had to get her back. Whatever was happening, it certainly wasn't by Seo-yoon's own will.
She moved her brush boldly across the paper and soon finished the letter. She summoned a messenger pigeon from the Heavenly Moon Palace, tied the letter to its leg, and released it toward the Heavenly Moon Gate. Its destination was the Heavenly Moon Palace. She watched silently as the pigeon spread its wings and flew vigorously toward its goal.
*
"Sun-woo! Why are you just pacing around instead of going in!"
Yorang pounded her small fist against her chest in frustration.
"Just wait, you damn fox," Sun-woo snapped back at her.
He was currently agonizing over a major dilemma: was it really okay to enter the Tang Clan like this? He had promised Tang Seo-yoon he would be back in two months. She had even given her blessing, saying that much time was perfectly fine.
But somehow, he had wasted three months just learning the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, and then spent several more days cleaning up the mess he’d made. If he went in now, Tang Seo-yoon might actually kill him.
Sun-woo was filled with dread. Tang Seo-yoon had a strange, commanding presence in every word she spoke. She also possessed a charisma that forced people to listen. If she started pressuring him with her cold, logical arguments, it was going to be a very painful time. Sun-woo clutched his head, wondering if he should have at least bought a gift before coming back.
But soon, he regained his composure. Worrying wasn't going to solve anything; he might as well just face the music.
Sun-woo took Yorang’s hand in his left and Ok-ryeong’s in his right. Feeling their warmth gave him a sudden surge of courage. He took a slow step toward the gate where the Tang Clan’s plaque hung.
He had finally arrived at the Tang Clan.