139. Merit Points
The Tang Clan's family dinner was far more lavish than I'd imagined.
Dang Si Hyeok had said it wasn't usually this extravagant, but if the direct descendants dined in a separate private room like this, it meant even their everyday meals were on par with grand banquets.
Truly befitting the Tang Clan, overlords of Sichuan.
"You've arrived."
"Greetings, Poison King."
Dang Mugi acknowledged me with a nod. I returned the courtesy with a cupped-fist salute to the Poison King.
Normally, this would be the moment when anyone—regardless of status—would stand, introduce themselves, and exchange greetings. But no one did.
They offered a slight bow if our eyes met, but the atmosphere felt somewhat distant and reserved.
It wasn't the kind of treatment one would give the successor of Yak Seon, no matter how I looked at it.
[Rude murim bastards.]
'Who cares? It's a fake identity anyway. And from their perspective, that's just natural.'
No matter my status, as long as I backed a different young master candidate, I was essentially an enemy until the competition ended.
They might show respect to their opponent, but reverence? Not a chance.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do—or in the Tang Clan of Sichuan, follow Tang Clan ways.
Or, more simply, just roll with it.
"Eastern Sword Dragon, your seat is over there."
Dang Mun Su, seated beside Poison King Dang Mugi, spoke to me.
The massive round table brimmed with every delicacy from land, sea, and air. At the head sat Dang Mugi and Dang Mun Su.
To their left were Dang Si Yul and his key retainers; to their right, Dang Si Hyeok and my spot.
Paeng So So was already seated, her face slightly scrunched in a frown. It wasn't because Dang Si Hyeok—her ally—had arrived late with me in tow.
"Ah, damn, this is spicy."
Or so I thought. Don't let her delicate appearance fool you; Paeng So So was a Paeng Clan girl, the epitome of simple, brutish machismo in this world.
She wouldn't give a damn about others' opinions.
'In a way, it's refreshingly bold.'
Come to think of it, she'd nearly died from grievous wounds inflicted by the eldest young master, Dang Si Yul.
Yet here she was, casually sharing a meal at the same table without a hint of resentment. Maybe that near-reckless straightforwardness was why the Paeng Clan had the best reputation among the Five Great Families.
'Scheming Namgung, straightforward Paeng, vicious Tang, sinister Je Gal. And ambitious Mo Yong.'
Even just seeing those descriptors for the Five Great Families made me lean toward the Paeng Clan.
Anyway.
- The men seated to Dang Si Yul's left are the Qishan Twin Freaks.
Sa Wol, standing rigidly behind me, informed me via transmission.
One was short, the other tall—both elderly. A clichéd pairing straight out of wuxia tales.
'Usually, one cackles "keh keh," the other guffaws "keh keh keh.'
They were the type who seemed imposing at first but were typically extras who exited stage left quickly, despite their "Twin Freaks" moniker.
- The man on the right is the Azure Hand Blade Master. He's known as a peak realm expert who operates mainly around Sichuan.
The Azure Hand Blade Master sat with his eyes closed, as if meditating even at the dinner table.
To me, a master of concepts, that screamed pure pose. Just trying to look profound.
I'd never even heard the name before.
[If Dang Si Hyeok is the third young master, where's the second? That dim-looking guy?]
'Probably.'
There was a young man glaring daggers at me. He resembled Dang Si Yul but had a strangely simplistic vibe.
The second young master, Dang Si Baek.
Even if we were on opposing sides, you should gauge your opponent before charging in. But he was already acting hostile without so much as a word—clearly clueless that it only hurt him.
[Greenhorn.]
Pa Cheon sneered. I agreed, but...
Beside Dang Si Baek sat a middle-aged noblewoman. Likely the mother of Dang Si Yul and Dang Si Baek.
'Different mothers from Dang Si Hyeok.'
Dang Si Hyeok's mother had passed away when he was young.
This household wasn't exactly peaceful, it seemed.
"Everyone, eat."
At Dang Mugi's words, the meal began.
It had that signature Sichuan spice, and the heat made it all the more enjoyable.
They'd laid out a feast ignoring distinctions between meat, fish, or fowl.
Even Paeng So So was scarfing it down, huffing "hot, hot" between bites.
The problem was—
[The Poison King is staring right at you.]
'I know.'
Dang Mugi's gaze hadn't left me once.
Being eyed by a poison arts master felt like having a gun barrel pressed to your forehead—you never knew when the trigger might pull.
My appetite vanished. I set down my chopsticks with a third of my rice bowl still full.
Then Dang Mugi spoke.
"I hear in the East, when invited to dine, one must leave some food behind."
"......We do consider it a virtue."
A chill ran down my spine again.
This crazy old fox.
He'd been watching my eating habits to verify if I was truly from the East.
No wonder he was the Tang Clan's top elder—his relentless suspicion was top-tier.
This was why Tang Clan folks had no friends.
"Eat comfortably. Your escorts as well."
"They're fine. My guards prefer eating separately."
Showing my face was enough. No need to reveal more than necessary.
"I see."
Dang Mugi said no more on the matter.
The meal ended quickly. Servants cleared the table in a flash and set out desserts.
Dang Mugi pulled out a massive tome-like book and handed it to Dang Mun Su.
Dang Mun Su, receiving it, spoke.
"Today's dinner serves not only to welcome our guest but, as mentioned, to calculate the merit points for the young master competition."
Dang Si Hyeok whispered quietly beside me.
"That's the merit points regulation codex."
......It was as thick as the civil law textbook I'd taken for a gen-ed class in college.
A book nearly a handspan thick just for merit calculations.
This place kept proving why "vicious" was the word for them.
"Per the regulations, we'll tally merits to date. First, Eldest Young Master and interim young master candidate Dang Si Yul."
Dang Mun Su continued.
"Cumulative merits thus far: 70,000 points. Add 10,000 for recruiting the Qishan Twin Freaks. However, subtract 30,000 for leading numerous Tang warriors on an expedition that failed. Total: 50,000 points."
"However."
Dang Mugi, who had been listening, interjected.
"I was the overall commander of that expedition, so per Chapter 7, Article 3, Clause 1, the deduction should be reduced."
Dang Mun Su flipped through the codex, nodded, and said,
"The Supreme Clan Lord's words are correct. Reduce the deduction from 30,000 to 10,000. Current merits: 70,000 points."
"......Thank you."
Dang Si Yul looked frustrated but accepted it since the codex decreed it.
"Pretty fair, right?"
I nodded at Dang Si Hyeok's words.
In the murim world, ruled by raw power, seeing rules enforced felt inherently just.
"It wasn't always like this. About 200 years ago, a mysterious figure called the Fair One advised against fighting and urged creating rules. This codex was built over years from there."
"......The Fair One?"
"An enigmatic wanderer, never seen again anywhere after."
I had a gut feeling.
This reeks of the First Heavenly Demon again.
No way people in this world would create something with chapters, articles, and clauses on their own.
'What the hell was he up to?'
Might as well chalk it up to the First Heavenly Demon's side character antics—some ancient master of unknown origins.
Anyway, not important right now.
"Next, Second Young Master Dang Si Baek. Cumulative merits: 10,000 points. No updates."
Dang Si Baek nodded absently.
"However, Second Young Master Dang Si Baek has transferred his merits to Dang Si Yul, for a combined total of 80,000 points."
It almost resembled a modern election tally.
"Finally, Third Young Master Dang Si Hyeok. Cumulative merits: 18,000 points. However."
Dang Mun Su, flipping through the codex, said,
"Per Chapter 3, Article 8, Clause 2 of the merit regulations, restore the 10,000 points deducted for failing the Black Ox Line recovery mission. The rightful owner has been found."
"Thank you."
"Additionally, merits for recruiting Yak Seon's successor and the Eastern Sword Dragon."
Recruiting the Qishan Twin Freaks had netted 10,000 points. They probably scored based on reputation and martial prowess per the codex.
[Wonder how many points they'll give.]
Me too.
This would reveal how highly the Tang Clan valued me.
"Per the codex calculations: Award 50,000 merit points to Dang Si Hyeok."
......Whoa.
I was genuinely surprised by the generosity.
It was nearly double the cumulative merits Dang Si Hyeok had earned so far—in one go.
Simply put, I was worth about five times the Twin Freaks.
[Yak Seon's successor, and publicly a Super Peak expert.]
True, I'd grown numb to Super Peak masters from the cult, but they weren't commonplace.
One could dominate a region unchallenged.
Only the Poison King's presence kept the Qishan duo's murderous glares in check; otherwise, they'd have started something already.
"Thus, Dang Si Hyeok's total cumulative merits: 78,000 points. For reference—and as you all know—the competition ends upon reaching 100,000 confirmed points."
Dang Si Hyeok struggled to hide his elation.
78,000 versus 80,000—a mere 2,000-point gap.
With 100,000 as the win condition, the summit was in sight.
Did Dang Si Hyeok lack ambition? No, but his affectionate nature—uncharacteristic of a Tang—made competing against brothers a burden.
'As for me, I'm all for it with open arms.'
Is this what it feels like to be a kingmaker?
Then it happened.
Silent until now, Dang Si Yul raised his hand.
"Clan Lord, please recalculate the merits."
Dang Mun Su asked,
"What do you mean?"
"There's an unreported matter."
"Ho? Speak."
"Suppose one discovers and eliminates a threat to our Tang Clan in advance. How would those merits be tallied, Clan Lord?"
"It depends on who or what."
"Demonic cultists?"
Gasps rippled at Dang Si Yul's mention of demonic cultists.
Tension surged in me too. Was he targeting me?
"It varies by rank and responsibility."
"A demonic cult branch."
My tension eased, replaced by suspicion.
"Finding a demonic cult branch alone merits 10,000 points. Eliminating them adds another 10,000."
Dang Si Yul declared triumphantly.
I nearly lost control of my expression.
"We've found a demonic cult branch hiding in Sichuan."
Not from shock or panic.
There were no demonic cult branches in Sichuan.
Pretending to be the Heavenly Demon