Chapter 329
Chapter 329
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 89
>Chapter Title: Sichuan Turmoil (1)
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About four li outside of Chengdu.
There stood a vast estate that was large enough to be called a small village.
This was none other than the Sichuan Tang Clan.
An emergency had broken out in the hitherto peaceful Tang Clan estate.
It was due to an unexpected visitor who arrived around noon when the sun was high in the sky.
He wore ordinary martial robes, but the exposed parts of his body were covered in scars, giving off an unsettling aura. He was a man with a topknot.
The guards at the Tang Clan's entrance sensed danger from him and questioned his identity.
"Who might this guest be, seeking an audience with the Clan Head without any prior arrangement?"
In response to the guard's polite inquiry, the man curtly revealed his identity.
"Seok Pae-ung."
"Seok... Pae-ung?"
It was a name they had heard somewhere before.
It felt incredibly familiar. This name definitely...
"The Green Forest Battle King?"
"Eek!"
The Green Forest Battle King Seok Pae-ung.
One of the Eight Stars, the leader of the Green Forest Union, and one of the top masters of the unorthodox factions.
The guards could not hide their shock upon realizing who he was.
The lord of the Green Forest bandits—one of the pillars of the unorthodox world—had come alone to the Sichuan Tang Clan, a cornerstone of the orthodox factions.
His arrival threw the Tang Clan into chaos.
All the forces guarding the estate assembled, placing themselves on high alert, ready for battle at any moment.
The Tang Clan's guest hall.
Over five hundred Tang Clan warriors had surrounded it.
-Clack!
Someone inside the guest hall set down a teacup.
Two middle-aged men sat facing each other across a round table.
They were the unorthodox giant, the Green Forest Battle King Seok Pae-ung, and the Sichuan Tang Clan Head—who also bore the title of one of the Eight Stars—the Thousand Poison Hands Tang In-hae.
Seok Pae-ung, who had set down his teacup, spoke first.
"What a grand welcome. To think all these people gathered just for this Seok."
Even in the heart of enemy territory, Seok Pae-ung showed no sign of tension, his demeanor utterly relaxed. Tang In-hae inwardly clicked his tongue at the sight before responding.
"This is all because we acknowledge Great Hero Seok."
"Great Hero, you say... Hearing such words from you, Brother Tang, doesn't feel half bad."
"A hero like Great Hero Seok deserves to be called as much."
"To call the leader of mere bandits—who tread the path of evil outsiders—a great hero. It doesn't bother me, but even a passing dog would laugh. No need to flatter me so."
Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae's eyes narrowed at his blunt manner of speaking.
As Seok Pae-ung himself had said, he was no one worthy of being called a great hero.
His martial prowess was certainly worthy of recognition, but as the leader of mountain bandits, he deserved condemnation.
Yet they treated him with caution because his intentions were unknown.
'Why has this man come here?'
On a broad scale, the orthodox and unorthodox factions were natural enemies.
However, the Green Forest bandits and the Sichuan Tang Clan had no particular ties or prior conflicts.
For him to show up so abruptly was baffling.
Sichuan was orthodox territory, home to sects like the Emei Sect and Qingcheng Sect, and his boldness in coming alone was concerning.
What on earth was his scheme in visiting this place?
"Hoo. No helping it."
Judging that beating around the bush would be pointless, Tang In-hae cut straight to the point.
"Great Hero Seok... What brings you to our clan?"
"Nothing much."
"Nothing much? What do you mean by that?"
"As you can see, I've come here unarmed and without attendants. It's not to pick a fight."
"Not to fight?"
'You expect me to believe that?'
Unorthodox folk were known for their treacherous two-faced nature.
He couldn't be trusted until his intentions were clear.
At that moment, Seok Pae-ung smirked and got to the heart of the matter.
"No point in circling around it, so I'll say it plain. Scheming isn't my style anyway."
"...Speak."
"I've heard the Tang Clan is holding a certain woman."
"A woman? What are you talking about?"
"No need to play dumb. I already have the information."
Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae snorted in response.
"Great Hero Seok. This Clan Head has no idea what you're referring to."
"Oh? You don't know? Then how about if I say she's from the White Flower Cult?"
'!?'
Tang In-hae's expression hardened in an instant as soon as the words left his mouth.
He quickly schooled his features and feigned ignorance.
"What nonsense is this?"
"Deny it all you want, it won't help. This intel came from a reliable source."
"......"
"The sole reason I've come here is this: Hand over that White Flower Cult woman."
At this demand, Tang In-hae replied with a stiff face.
"Great Hero Seok, I don't know where you heard such things, but to barge into our clan and demand we hand someone over is utterly rude."
"Rude? How so? For asking you to turn over a White Flower Cult member?"
"Hah. Great Hero Seok!"
"If word got out that the great Sichuan Tang Clan was sheltering White Flower Cult members who deceive the masses, could you bear the consequences?"
"You're going too far!"
"Too far? If there's no White Flower Cult member, just deny it. Why go on about rudeness and such?"
Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae vehemently denied it.
"...Of course there's no such thing. How could a White Flower Cult member be in our clan?"
"You're certain there's none?"
"That's right."
"You're so confident, then there's no issue. Allow me to search your estate."
-Bam!
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Tang In-hae slammed the table hard.
With a surge of his palm force, the table split in two.
As the shattered table crashed to the floor, Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae glared fiercely and raised his voice.
"You dare search our clan?"
"If there's nothing to hide, why refuse?"
"Refuse? You insolent wretch. For a mere Green Forest bandit to storm into our clan—a pillar of the Justice Alliance—and demand a search? Are you not afraid of death?"
Tang In-hae abandoned all pretense of courtesy.
The moment the Green Forest Battle King Seok Pae-ung demanded to search the clan, he had crossed the line, pushing Tang In-hae's anger to its peak.
No matter that he was one of the Eight Stars—Tang In-hae was one as well.
"Do you wish for the title of Eight Stars to become Seven Stars here and now?"
"The Clan Head seems quite upset."
-Slurp!
As Seok Pae-ung drained his tea, a glint flashed in Tang In-hae's eyes.
'!?'
He hadn't noticed it before, but Seok Pae-ung had retrieved his teacup from the table before it split.
That alone proved he was no ordinary man.
Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae began to draw up the poison energy within his body.
'If I let this one leave alive today, it'll spell big trouble later.'
He had already considered the worst-case scenario the moment the man entered Tang Clan territory.
He didn't know where he'd gotten the information, but the fool had made a grave mistake.
If he wanted to corner the Tang Clan by mentioning the White Flower Cult, he shouldn't have come alone to provoke them inside.
If it were him, he would have at least brought Green Forest bandits or stirred up public opinion beforehand...
-Tatata-tak!
It was right then.
"C-Clan Head! Big trouble!"
Tang In-hae frowned at the voice of the Outer Hall Leader from outside and asked.
"What's the commotion?"
"The Green Forest bandits have surrounded our clan."
"What?"
"They've piled up oil barrels everywhere and are aiming fire arrows at us, encircling the entire estate."
Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae scowled and glared at Green Forest Battle King Seok Pae-ung.
Seok Pae-ung grinned and said.
"I wouldn't know much about it myself, but I hear fire attacks are effective against poison arts."
"Seok Pae-ung!"
This man was bait.
Bait to fix all eyes of the Tang Clan on one spot.
'Hah!'
It was exasperating.
He had thought a bandit leader couldn't scheme much, yet he hadn't expected the leader himself to play the decoy and draw all attention.
His excitement subsided, and Tang In-hae spoke with a now-calm face.
"You came prepared. But do you think you'll get away unscathed? Fire attacks may counter poison, but Sichuan is as good as orthodox territory. Do you think the other orthodox pillars will stand by while your unorthodox rabble runs amok here?"
Seok Pae-ung crossed his arms, lips curling as he replied.
"That would be true under normal circumstances."
"Normal?"
"What do you think I did on my way here? Word that the Tang Clan is sheltering White Flower Cult members is probably spreading far and wide by now."
'!!!!!'
-Crush!
Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae's clenched fist tightened.
'...We've been had.'
This man was no simple bandit.
He knew how to employ proper strategy.
If rumors spread that the clan was protecting White Flower Cult members, the Justice Alliance and other orthodox forces would have no pretext to aid them rashly.
To the shaken Tang In-hae, Seok Pae-ung extended his fingers and said.
"Clan Head. I didn't come here to wage war. If the Tang Clan and my Green Forest clash, the sacrifices on both sides would be immense, and it could spark another great orthodox-unorthodox war. That's why I'm making a peaceful proposal."
"A peaceful proposal? Hah!"
"I'll give you four days. Choose one of two options within that time: Either hand over the White Flower Cult members you're protecting, or let us search the estate."
"......"
"Four days only."
-Clack!
With that, Seok Pae-ung rose from his seat.
Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae spoke in a low voice laced with killing intent.
-Hummm!
"You think I'll let you leave so easily?"
"With all your clan's forces gathered around this guest hall... If we two Eight Star bearers fight right now, where do you think the damage will go?"
-Grind!
Tang In-hae ground his teeth at Seok Pae-ung's smug words.
"Do you think this Clan Head lacks the resolve for that?"
"Clan Head. Get a grip. Are you really willing to throw away the great Tang Clan's honor and brace for sacrifices just to protect one White Flower Cult member?"
"......"
Tang In-hae had no more words.
The man had blocked all escape routes.
As he said, if they fought here and somehow repelled Seok Pae-ung and the Green Forest—by some stroke of luck—the damage would be unimaginable, and the Tang Clan would bear the infamy of protecting White Flower Cult members.
"Four days."
With that, Seok Pae-ung strode out of the guest hall boldly.
Soon after he left, Outer Hall Leader Tang Cheol-yong entered and said.
"Clan Head!"
At Tang Cheol-yong's call, Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae slumped into his chair as if drained of strength and said.
"I need some time to think."
"Clan Head, this isn't a matter of thinking it over. If word gets out that we had that wench, it'll be harder to contain the fallout than fighting the Green Forest bandits."
"Didn't I say I need time to think!"
"...Are you still hung up on that precognition ability or whatever?"
"......"
Tang Clan Head Tang In-hae fell silent at the question.
Tang Cheol-yong clicked his tongue and continued.
"Clan Head, you need to let go of that obsession now. Even if that wench Song-a inherited your grandmother's ability, she's thoroughly a White Flower Cult member. Do you think a child like that will use her power for you, no matter our clan's branches or whatever?"
"......"
Outer Hall Leader Tang Cheol-yong sighed as he approached the still-silent Clan Head.
Just what was this precognition ability that had the Clan Head showing such attachment even in the face of the clan's crisis?
* * *
At the same time.
In the city of Deyang, two days' travel northeast of Chengdu.
A group was having a meal at one of the inns there.
It was none other than Mok Kyung-un's party.
After nonstop travel, they had stopped in this village to rest and replenish supplies upon entering the plains region.
-Clack!
Mok Kyung-un set down his chopsticks midway through his noodle soup.
Seop-chun looked puzzled at the half-eaten bowl and asked.
"My lord, is the noodle soup not to your taste?"
Mok Kyung-un shook his head at the question.
He smacked his lips and said.
"We don't have time for a leisurely meal. We'd better hurry a bit."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
Mok Kyung-un glanced at a group on the second floor of the inn, whispering while armed with weapons, then stood from his seat.
Rising, he curled his lips slyly and said.
"Some mountain bandits are eyeing their prey."
'!?'
[End of Chapter 89: Sichuan Turmoil (1)]