The Majestic Sichuan Tang Family

The Sichuan Tang Family was truly enormous and grand. I couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration at the sight.

The massive plaque reading Sichuan Tang Family hung proudly, with the sprawling compound stretching out behind it. Gazing at the clan village it formed, I murmured in awe.

No matter how I look at it, it seems bigger than the Zhuge family. Whether viewed from the side or from above, it appeared larger than the Zhuge clan's scale.

As if reading my thoughts, Ji Yeon shot a telepathic message my way.

I didn't say anything.

Why is she being so clingy? The Zhuge family is weaker than the Tangs to begin with. There's no need to feel ashamed about being smaller. The martial world is a society that values strength—whether righteous sects, demonic cults, or unorthodox factions, it's all the same. They just differ in how they wield that power and their philosophies about it. The Zhuge family, in a world that prioritizes might, holds intelligence as their greatest virtue. They can't help but lag in raw power, so there's no reason to be embarrassed about their smaller size.

No need to feel ashamed.

Ji Yeon wore an aggrieved expression. I smirked and adjusted my deathcap hairpin, lest I invite another misunderstanding. How can I not change this hair color?

…Why did they make me look like this in the first place? The question bubbled up in my mind, and I was about to ask Seol Mang when—

"The lady has returned from the first investigation alongside the clan's benefactor. Open the gates."

Dang Soso spoke in a voice cold and sunken, and the massive Tang Family gates began to creak open.

"Welcome, young miss."

"Hurry the corpses to the apothecary."

Dang Soso issued commands left and right in front of us once more. The warriors moved with perfect discipline, vanishing from sight.

"Seo-sojeo."

Turning back with a bright smile, Soso expressed her gratitude to me.

"Thank you. For forgiving my rudeness, and even so, for helping me uncover clues about the blood ghosts—I'm grateful for everything."

Dang Soso offered a formal cupped-fist salute. I smiled back, telling her it was fine.

"Father… I mean, the patriarch, should be arriving soon. We need to greet him together and make our report, so if you could provide testimony…"

Getting acquainted with the Tang patriarch couldn't hurt. Disappearing alone might look suspicious too. After a brief moment's thought, I nodded and agreed.

The Tangs were a clan sincere about repaying favors, after all.

I'd have to wait for Hwa Ryeon here anyway.

Declaring I'd turn the Tang Family into a Zhuge outpost, and Seol Mang agrees just because of the sweets. I gave it a pitiful look, and it sulked, thumping my back with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠its tail.

I'll let it slide because it's cute, I thought inwardly as I followed Soso's guidance to a suitable waiting area.

The warriors moved with machine-like precision. Tang Family fighters prepared to head back to the village they'd come from. Watching them, Hwa Ryeon furrowed her brow.

…Twenty withered corpses? The stench wafting from the bodies. Seeing them, Hwa Ryeon instinctively knew—these were victims of those blood ghost scum from the unorthodox factions. Or more precisely—

"…They seem to be victims of the blood ghosts."

"Looks like Soso finished her investigation properly."

The patriarch muttered as he sensed an incongruous energy. Steadfast as Mount Tai, yet soft and warm on the other hand—a massive aura whose contours grew harder to grasp the closer one approached.

Tilting his head at that, he then spotted Dang Soso standing with two women in the distance.

And in Hwa Ryeon's eyes—

…Master. Having been expelled, she could formally take Hayeon as her master without issue. Clutching the manual in her bosom, eager to cultivate it, Hwa Ryeon spoke to the Tang patriarch.

"Over there—that's my master."

"…Indeed it seems so."

The two quickened their steps.

"Patriarch."

A dignified man with a long beard approached Soso from behind. Soso called him patriarch and offered a cupped-fist salute. Ji Yeon greeted him as well.

I like sweets too, but come on—sweet poison?

I stared blankly at Dang Cheonjin without bowing. Soso hurriedly introduced me.

"This is Seo Hayeon Sojeo. She provided tremendous help in this investigation."

Dang Cheonjin nodded and greeted me.

"Pleased to meet you. I am Dang Cheonjin, patriarch of the Tang Family. I've already heard of our benefactor's arrival."

The patriarch smiled warmly. Then, from behind him—

"Master, it's been a while."

"…Hwa Ryeon."

Hwa Ryeon stepped forward with a bright smile. The atmosphere around her had changed noticeably.

She'd probably forgotten Huashan's arts upon expulsion. A righteous choice. Honestly, those Huashan techniques didn't seem all that necessary. They might even hinder growth, so better to forget them and learn the true Huashan arts anew. Indeed, Hwa Ryeon's energy was purer now, despite the loss.

"I arrived first and was quite flustered—they said no one as unique as you, Master, had ever been seen in the Tang Family."

"How could this lady abandon you?"

She'd even fled her sect because of me.

As we caught up, Cheonjin cleared his throat beside us.

"Ahem…! You've likely heard from Dark Fragrance Poison Bee, but with the Tang Family's situation so urgent, I'll take Soso ahead. My apologies."

He spoke as if regretting his lack of attention. I nodded, assuring him there was no need to worry.

Soso met privately with Dang Cheonjin in the patriarch's chambers to report on the village incident.

"You did well."

"No, Father—it's only what a direct descendant of the Tangs should do."

"No need for such humility… So, what happened?"

"……."

Soso recounted everything from start to finish—what she'd seen, heard, and sensed. From her first meeting with Hayeon, to the abrupt appearance of the noble guest, to the deductions about Hayeon's true identity.

"…Thus, I conjecture she is at least a peerless master treated on par with the Sword Sovereign in the Murim Alliance."

"The Nangong family's martial arts, eh."

"No mistake."

"……."

A reasonable inference. Of course—

…Red hair and red eyes…? The red hair and pupils were suspicious. But the noble guest's presence and the Zhuge family's willing provision of their token made it easy to overlook.

…Even if not a Blood Cult blood ghost, it could be natural. Huashan masters' hair often turned pink from inner energy during battle—a common sight.

If that's the case, it explains everything…

Nodding, Dang Cheonjin urged her to continue. Soso detailed the village and the blood ghosts' plans.

"They used sorcery to completely conceal the corpses, blood stench, and Scattering Hole Poison in the area… A trace amount of Thousand Leaf Poison was also detected."

"…I see. Sorcery hid those villages until now…"

Blood-filled wells. Withered corpses. Scattering Hole Poison and Thousand Leaf Poison scattered like traps. Fortunately, Hayeon had claimed most of the Thousand Leaf Poison, preventing casualties.

Soso insisted on a thorough investigation for internal traitors. Cheonjin sighed and spoke.

"The Seventh Elder betrayed us and fled."

"…!!"

A shocking revelation for Soso. As her face filled with horror—

"…Fetch that master. She must be an envoy from the Murim Alliance to collaborate with us."

Cheonjin thought to himself:

…Hwa Ryeon abandoning Huashan must be thanks to that master too.

That Hayeon held a very high position in the Murim Alliance.

A magnificent misunderstanding.