Chapter 675: A Fight That Cannot Be Lost
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 675: A Fight That Cannot Be Lost
"What happened to your face?"
Tang Seo-yoon asked, her expression filled with genuine curiosity.
"I got punished," Sun-woo replied, gingerly stroking his swollen cheek.
"Serves you right."
"Seo-yoon... shouldn't you be offering me some comfort at a time like this?" Sun-woo stammered, looking awkward. He felt a bit stung by her colder-than-expected reaction.
"Honestly, I think you got off easy."
"..."
"In fact, you should be glad it ended with just that."
Tang Seo-yoon had heard the gist of what happened when Sun-woo was dragged off to the training ground. That was why she felt this way. In her eyes, he was lucky to still be in one piece.
"..."
Sun-woo remained silent. He couldn't exactly argue because he knew she was right.
"Where did Lady Bukgung go?"
"She said it was time to nurse Yeon-woo and left."
"That’s a shame. If it weren't for Yeon-woo, you really might have been beaten to death."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with a look of genuine regret.
"...Aren't you being a bit too cold?" Sun-woo asked, pouting slightly. She was being heartless—utterly heartless. It was enough to make him feel truly hurt.
"Think about how you've been behaving. Honestly, I think it would be perfectly justifiable even if she broke all your arms and legs."
"What did I even do!" Sun-woo protested immediately.
"How many times did you promise not to bring more women home, only to do it anyway...?"
"..."
"Shall I list them all by name? Every single woman you've added to the count?"
"No... that's enough."
Sun-woo quickly backed down. Thinking about it, arguing was a fool's errand. His guilt was as clear as day.
"Anyway, what happened to the vanguard?" Sun-woo asked, abruptly changing the subject. He knew that if the conversation continued down this path, he’d be in for a world of hurt.
"That's actually why I asked to see you," Tang Seo-yoon replied, her expression turning serious. "Currently, all members of the vanguard are recuperating in the Medical Pavilion."
"Any fatalities?"
"None. But they're covered in minor and major injuries."
"I guess she held back her strength."
"It wasn't just her holding back. The Monarch's Flame was the biggest help."
"Sohwa's flame?"
"Yes. If the Monarch hadn't melted the frozen parts of their bodies, they might have suffered rot and needed amputations."
"Well, that's a relief in the midst of misfortune."
"It is, but... I expect a flood of protests from the Cheonmu Alliance."
"Because of Yeon-ah?"
"Exactly. Bukgung Yeon, who annihilated a vanguard of over five hundred men from the Cheonmu Alliance, is staying right here in the Tang Clan, and we aren't imposing any sanctions on her."
Tang Seo-yoon continued in a calm tone. Currently, Bukgung Yeon had entered the Tang Clan after the incident without facing any repercussions. The Tang Clan and the Cheonmu Alliance were formal blood allies, connected through Tang Jin-seol. For the Tang Clan to stand by and do nothing while their ally's men were decimated was something the Cheonmu Alliance could never view favorably.
"This is going to be a headache," Sun-woo muttered, frowning. Just thinking about the fallout made his head throb.
"But our guys were the ones who picked the fight first, right? Can't we just let it slide?"
"They did start it, but it wasn't a matter serious enough to justify critically injuring five hundred people. Besides, Lady Bukgung wasn't even the party being harassed. For her—someone not even affiliated with the Tang Clan—to intervene in a battle of nerves between two organizations and use force... it's basically handing them a reason to tear us apart."
Tang Seo-yoon's expression was grim. The Tang Clan was in a very awkward position. While the vanguard had technically started the provocation, it was ultimately just a simple power struggle between the Cheonmu Alliance and the Tang Clan. An outsider had no right to use that as a pretext for violence, especially not just because she found them annoying.
"Is there no way out?" Sun-woo asked solemnly.
"There are a few ways, but..."
"What are they?"
"The cleanest way would be for Lady Bukgung to issue a formal apology. We could pass it off as a simple misunderstanding by a foreigner who doesn't understand the customs of the Central Plains. But..."
"She won't apologize."
Sun-woo knew her well. Bukgung Yeon was not the type to apologize for something she didn't feel sorry for. She was a woman of iron will. If she believed she was in the right, she would never bow her head. She had more than enough power and ability to enforce her own will.
"Is there any other way?" Sun-woo asked again, knowing the apology route was a non-starter.
"If we don't care about the noise, we can just play hardball."
"Hardball?"
"We highlight the vanguard's misconduct and push back, claiming Lady Bukgung's actions were justified."
"Can we do that?" Sun-woo asked, curious. If they played hardball like that, they might end up making an enemy of the Cheonmu Alliance. He was an individual, so he didn't care, but the Tang Clan was a massive organization. Could they really make such a choice?
"We'll be lashed by public opinion... but it's not something we can't endure. The Tang Clan isn't weak."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with composure. If the Tang Clan shielded Bukgung Yeon and continued to clash with the Cheonmu Alliance, they would undoubtedly face a public backlash. Currently, the Cheonmu Alliance was seen as the righteous organization leading the crusade against the Demonic Cult. Making an enemy of them meant risking significant damage.
"Still... the damage would be substantial..."
The Tang Clan had received many benefits from the Cheonmu Alliance over the years. If they became enemies over this incident, they would likely lose all those privileges forever.
"It doesn't matter," Tang Seo-yoon said firmly. "Currently, the Tang Clan has multiple avenues to secure funds even without the Cheonmu Alliance. Furthermore, our actual martial power is enough to overwhelm them. In this situation, I don't think there's any need to cower and bow down. The Cheonmu Alliance is no longer the supreme power—the Tang Clan is."
Tang Seo-yoon looked Sun-woo straight in the eye as she spoke.
"..."
Sun-woo couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration. Her dignified, confident attitude was incredibly impressive. And she was right. In the past, the Tang Clan wouldn't have been able to manage large-scale operations without the Alliance's help. But things were different now.
Through cooperation with the Qingcheng and Emei sects, they had formed the massive Sichuan Alliance, greatly increasing their influence. They had also liquidated existing businesses to secure a vast amount of capital. Furthermore, their trade with the North Sea Ice Palace was yielding massive profits, and they even had the Imperial Palace as their backing.
Most importantly, their actual martial strength was on a different level. The Tang Clan now boasted five masters at the Profound Realm. Having five individuals who could each be considered a one-man army meant they were a force to be reckoned with. Why should they grovel to the Cheonmu Alliance? It was absurd.
"...The Tang Clan has truly become strong."
"We have. And it's all thanks to you."
Tang Seo-yoon gazed at Sun-woo with warmth in her eyes. She knew that the driving force behind the Tang Clan's growth—to the point where they no longer had to be swayed by the Cheonmu Alliance—was Sun-woo. She was grateful to him for helping her family and her home grow so magnificently.
"Everyone... worked hard for it..." Sun-woo muttered, scratching his cheek in embarrassment. While it wasn't untrue, hearing it so directly made him feel shy.
"No, it is clearly thanks to you. Without you, this kind of growth would have been impossible."
Tang Seo-yoon's expression was unwavering.
"..."
Her firm words made Sun-woo's face turn even redder. He was used to being cursed at and could handle that with a thick skin, but he was still not used to being praised. It made him feel incredibly bashful.
"So... how are you going to announce the situation regarding Bukgung Yeon?"
"First, I plan to clarify the relationship between the Tang Clan and Lady Bukgung."
"What will you say?"
"I'll tell the truth—that she is the Master of the North Sea Ice Palace. If we say she came to the Tang Clan personally to aid in the subjugation of the Demonic Cult, people will accept it to some extent."
"Hmm... true. If her identity is revealed like that, no one will suspect her of being a puppet of the Demonic Cult." Sun-woo nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. If we frame it that way, it will be seen as a mere dispute between allied forces... the situation won't escalate too far."
Tang Seo-yoon had made a rational judgment. Currently, the Murim was consumed by hatred for the Demonic Cult. Hearing that the Cheonmu Alliance's vanguard had been wiped out, people would naturally suspect a spy from the Cult. The atmosphere was that sensitive.
However, if Bukgung Yeon was revealed to be an ally, those suspicions would vanish. It would shift from a clash between the Alliance and a mysterious force to a internal squabble between allies. In that case, they wouldn't face one-sided condemnation. Disputes between allies over conflicting interests were common enough.
"I imagine the Cheonmu Alliance will still protest fiercely..."
"They will. They'll likely be foaming at the mouth, demanding we hand Lady Bukgung over."
Tang Seo-yoon's eyes sparkled. The Cheonmu Alliance had been humiliated. To restore their honor, they would certainly demand custody of Bukgung Yeon.
"But I have no intention of handing her over. Our relationship with Lady Bukgung is far more precious than our relationship with the Cheonmu Alliance."
"Will the Alliance just sit back and take it?"
"In the worst-case scenario, they might try to force a choice."
"A choice?"
"Yes. Whether we choose the North Sea Ice Palace or the Cheonmu Alliance."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke calmly. "And when that time comes, we'll just show them where our will lies."
"Will that be okay?"
"I've said it before, but yes, it's fine. Because the Tang Clan has Jang Sun-woo."
Tang Seo-yoon looked at him with eyes full of absolute trust. Sun-woo gave a sheepish smile. Being the object of such total confidence was more embarrassing than he'd imagined.
"Well, of course, I don't think it will actually come to that worst-case scenario..."
"Why not?" Sun-woo asked, puzzled. Knowing Lee Jae-won's personality, he didn't think the man would just leave the Tang Clan alone. Lee Jae-won was incredibly prideful and obsessed with his reputation. He wouldn't tolerate the Tang Clan disrespecting the Alliance.
"Currently, the Tang Clan is serving as the primary logistics base. Most of the supplies gathered for the war against the Demonic Cult are stored here, and we're providing the housing for the Alliance's member sects. If they break with us now, they'll all end up sleeping on the streets."
Tang Seo-yoon explained. The Tang Clan was the only major family located on the route to Mount Tianshan, where the Demonic Cult was based. If the Alliance made an enemy of the Tang Clan, their entire plan to use the clan as a logistics hub would collapse. And without that hub, the Alliance's martial artists would have nowhere to stay. No other power in the region had the scale to accommodate them all.
In short, the Tang Clan held all the leverage.
"They can't afford to turn their backs on us so suddenly. Not if they have any sense."
Sun-woo nodded as he listened. Her logic was sound. Unlike the Cheonmu Alliance, which had everything to lose, the Tang Clan was in a position where they didn't need anything from them. He realized the Alliance wouldn't be able to act rashly.
"So, it's a fight we can't lose."
"That's right. We can't lose, and I have no intention of letting us lose."
Tang Seo-yoon's eyes shone with determination. It was a look that inspired total confidence. Seeing that look, Sun-woo felt his own trust in her soar.
He thought to himself: If things go the way she says, I might get to see Lee Jae-won's face get crumpled beyond recognition.
*
"So... you're saying the identity of the person who... annihilated the vanguard... is the Master of the North Sea Ice Palace?"
Lee Jae-won spoke with a look of utter disbelief. The unexpected identity of the culprit left him reeling.
"That was the announcement," Zhuge Chan replied, nodding.
"And what actions did the Tang Clan say they would take?" Lee Jae-won asked again, his voice tight.
"They announced that they would not be taking any action whatsoever."
"What!?"
Lee Jae-won's face contorted in absurdity. No action? What kind of absolute bullshit was this?
"It seems the Tang Clan has judged that the Master of the North Sea Ice Palace was in a position where the use of force was justified," Zhuge Chan said, looking apologetic.
Upon hearing those words, Lee Jae-won's face began to crumple hideously. A wave of maddening irritation surged within him.