Chapter 105
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: The Sour Grape You Can't Eat (1)
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The Tang Clan's reclusiveness and viciousness were well-known facts. Even with enemies in the orthodox sects, they were born with a nature that repaid grudges tenfold, a hundredfold.
But could it really be dismissed as mere innate disposition?
Though people with unusual temperaments are occasionally born, humans are not free from their surroundings.
The Tang Clan, with its long history, was composed solely of those bearing the Tang surname. Other great families shared the same surname, but none obsessed over it like the Tang Clan.
The Tang Clan held a deep attachment to their family. Yet no result comes without cause. In its early days, the Tang Clan suffered greatly from external invasions—even from the orthodox sects. Despite claiming orthodoxy themselves, they were treated as unorthodox for using hidden weapons. The more this happened, the more insular the Tang Clan became, and the bonds of blood grew ever stronger.
In the Tang Clan's history, there were three massacres where the entire family was nearly wiped out. All in the early days. They sought aid from the orthodox sects but received no saving hand.
In the end, they realized the only way to protect the family was to grow strong on their own. After that, the Tang Clan began using poisons alongside hidden weapons. Developing poisons caused deep internal conflict. They anticipated fierce backlash from the orthodox sects. It might mean they could never again make enemies among them.
It was a momentous decision.
They had to band together internally and keep it secret from the outside. As a result, the Tang Clan's insularity thickened to a degree incomparable to other families.
Yet through that choice, the Tang Clan gained a power no one could ignore. They etched their mark on the continent's history, instilling the notion that crossing the Tang Clan meant no survival.
That is the Tang Clan of today.
Naturally, their loyalty and pride in the family were unmatched. They were indoctrinated with the teaching that clashing with the Tang Clan required resolve for life-or-death stakes. With each generation, loyalty to the family deepened, and their exclusiveness toward outsiders grew stronger.
The family itself became synonymous with personal honor.
As time passed, the Tang Clan became an object of awe in the martial world. No one dared act rashly before them. It was an unwritten rule.
Or so it should have been.
What the hell was this guy?
Tang Igun, captain of the Poison Dragon Squad, had been about to lead his men out on the clan head's orders. The clan head's command was absolute. He had been taught as much and never doubted it.
And just as he was opening the door to leave.
There the guy was.
At first, he didn't recognize him. But soon, the face clicked. As he was about to demand confirmation of his identity.
"Kang Mujin."
He stated his affiliation and name.
Tang Igun, robbed of initiative, tried to regain control, but Mujin snatched it away again.
"Is leaving guests standing outside a Tang Clan tradition?"
When a Poison Dragon Squad member, fed up with Mujin's arrogance, moved to act, Tang Igun had to stop him.
The clan head had ordered to bring him, not subdue him.
Besides, the man had come of his own accord without fleeing. Using force on such a person—if word got out—could invite ridicule.
Tang Igun ordered a messenger sent ahead and escorted him to the Heavenly Fragrance Hall, where distinguished guests visiting the Tang family were received.
Those who visited the Heavenly Fragrance Hall were mostly members of renowned sects or families, or warriors of great fame. Even they shrank in the Tang Clan's presence.
Thud!
Well, damn.
He sat in a chair, propped his feet on the table, and leaned back. At that picture of utter relaxation, Tang Igun was dumbfounded. It was too natural to pass off as a frightened thunderbolt runt disguising his fear. Exaggerating a bit, he'd stride confidently even before an emperor... damn it!
Incredibly, it was the air of someone who didn't give the Tang Clan a second thought.
Tang Igun's voice chilled.
"This is the Sichuan Tang Clan. Show some respect!"
"So picky."
Since he was a guest, he should follow their lead. Mujin obediently lowered his feet from the table.
Tang Igun disliked every single one of Mujin's actions. The lack of fear toward the Tang Clan, the casual speech—it all grated.
Still, he treated him as a guest. He wouldn't falter on the clan head's orders due to personal feelings.
'Listens well.'
It was a minor thing, but from their words and actions, Mujin glimpsed their trust in the clan head. He didn't jump to conclusions from fragments alone. If the Tang Clan's system was flawless, they wouldn't have let Tang Yeon-u run wild like that.
'Appearances differ, but talent shows through.'
Would a father not know his son's genius? Especially the Tang Clan's head. The Tang Clan's poison arts were hailed as the world's best. Poisons and medicine were two sides of the same coin, inseparable. That's why experts in poison often excelled in medicine. It was unconvincing that the clan head was unaware of his child's talent.
'If he's barely holding his position, it's a leadership issue.'
Though not acknowledged as a son, he had concealed his martial prowess. Reaching such a high level without instruction was improbable.
"No tea?"
"You won't want to drink it."
"Would the mighty Tang Clan do that to a guest in their own home?"
"Gutsy."
Tang Igun acknowledged Mujin's boldness, at least. Most shrank upon entering the family grounds. For they could be poisoned unseen. Even if fine now, death might come later.
Of course, there was no precedent of harming guests who came properly. But treating Mujin as just any guest was a stretch.
The Green Water Squad sent to fetch him had returned bested. He expected an arrest order, but again, it was "bring him." The commands lacked clarity.
"Not guts—certainty. I might become a guest etched in Tang Clan history."
"Hmph. You think highly of yourself, but reality will hit soon."
"Or not? Shall we grant each other's wishes?"
"Think I'd fall for such a sloppy provocation!"
The guy had iron discipline. Even in clear advantage, he showed no openings. Definitely superior in ability and caliber to the Green Water captain.
Creak!
The door opened, and three entered.
Snap!
As they did, Tang Igun bowed in respect and waited outside the reception hall.
The unassuming middle-aged man at the center was, unexpectedly, the Tang Clan head, Poison Lord Tang Myeonghu. His forgettable face was the most favored type in the martial world.
The more memorable, the quicker the death.
Flanking him were Elder Tang Myeongjin to the left and Chief Steward Baek Ungil to the right.
Mujin made his assessments.
Similar features suggested a younger brother; the steward's mustache didn't scream cunning. Not an easy look to pull off.
Mujin rose slowly and cupped his fists in salute.
"Kang Mujin of the Pine Tiger Sect. It's an honor to meet the Tang Clan's heroic leader."
"Unlike the rumors, you're brazen."
"I don't know what you heard, but it's a clear misunderstanding."
"Misunderstanding?"
"Yes. How long will you keep me standing? My legs hurt."
Ho!
Tiger's liver for breakfast? Even before the clan head, his attitude didn't waver. Fearless—too fearless. The clan head could turn him to a puff of toxic ash on the spot.
"Sit."
"Thank you."
One might expect a thrashing, but Tang Myeonghu calmly offered a seat. His sharp words belied any emotional fluctuation.
"I admire your nerve. But if you've mocked me, you'll pay. Now, clear the misunderstanding."
"I'm the Tang Clan's benefactor. It can't be anything but."
Tang Myeonghu's face flickered with intrigue, but Elder Tang Myeongjin and Chief Steward Baek stared in disbelief. They knew the full story, yet here he called himself a benefactor to their faces.
Unprecedented gall.
Diamond indestructibility layered on his face wouldn't be amiss. But he'd misjudged his opponent. Underestimating the Tang Clan would be too much for one man to bear.
Hm.
The intrigued gleam in Tang Myeonghu's eyes sank heavily. Interest was one thing; judgment another.
"No word games. Be careful from now on. No more chances to speak."
"As you know, I saved Tang blood kin. Four of them. Still not a benefactor? You're bolder than you look."
"If you'd caused it, that changes things."
"Even if I did, the choice was theirs. If you can't trust that, ask the Beggars' Sect."
"Think the Beggars' Sect will protect you?"
"Not them—the truth."
He slyly shifted the frame.
To those knowing the full context, it sounded forced. But nitpicking made rebuttal hard.
The rumors Mujin spread wouldn't vanish: Young Lord Tang Yeon-cheon and collaterals Tang Jin-woong and Tang Jin-cheol tried to kill Tang Yeon-u.
As blood kin relying on each other, such an accident wouldn't have happened. Unfortunately, the Tang Clan saw kin slaughter kin, nearly losing lives.
Mujin's instigation would be buried, but the Tang Clan's value tarnished.
Tang Myeonghu nearly scoffed at Mujin's piercing retort. Elder Tang Myeongjin and Chief Steward Baek winced beside him. The family's reputation was one of awe. But denying their brutal methods to instill fear was tough. It gave ammunition to detractors.
'This bastard!'
'Fearless fool!'
Rage boiled in Tang Myeongjin and Baek Ungil, but they held back. The Beggars' Sect was involved. And next sect leader candidate Hong Mu-gae. They feared no clash, but stirring the Beggars' Sect was messy.
'If rumors spread, it'll be noisy.'
'Things are twisting absurdly.'
They'd overlooked the key from the start. With Hong Mu-gae knowing, coercion was tricky.
"Impressive eloquence for a warrior."
"I hear that often."
The Demon King inside raged, 'Quit yapping bullshit!' Lamenting every sight imaginable, he openly mocked Mujin.
-No shame in you?
'Kings are shameless.'
-Even a king would die of shame.
'Life's a chain of embarrassments. No need to feel them.'
-Absurd nonsense!
It should sound sophistic, but the Demon King sensed odd conviction. Life brings mistakes aplenty in hindsight. Who doesn't feel shame? Living in constant mortification is hard. Life doesn't grant that much time.
"Even so, the Tang Clan doesn't yield to pressure."
"Pressure? Scary words. Ignoring it doesn't change truth."
"True. Merit is merit. But barely offsets the crime. Far short for clan guest status."
This guy reads the board better than he looks.
His words pressed relentlessly, yet he gave Mujin openings, steering slyly to his advantage. As rumored, the Sichuan Tang Clan rivaled the Zhuge in wits—foxes all.
'Handling poison demands brains, after all.'
-Rat poison for you.
'We had the Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity Body.'
-True.
'Easy way.'
-Was easy.
Mujin and the Demon King were cut from similar cloth. Hated studying, hated suffering.
Better invest in easy Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity than master myriad toxins. One skill covered all—efficient.
"I don't know Tang history well, but I know you're stagnating lately."
"Sounds like regression. Dangerous words. Explain, or trouble brews."
"Poisons need ingredients, right? But how many effective weapons for your potent poisons? Old relics from ancestors won't cut it."
"Never felt lacking. No force dares mock our main house."
His presence as clan head was formidable, befitting the Poison Lord dominating the room.
Yet their faces weren't fully convinced. The Tang Clan's prestige was high. No sect belittled them. But for more, shortcomings existed.
Family secrets not aired outside. Known only to leadership, but soon a public one.
"No issues, then. Too bad—long trip to the Five Poisons Palace."
The Five Poisons Palace in southern wilds was an outsider force compared to the Tang Clan. Remote, minimal continental sway.
Still, as poison sects, they competed for supremacy in their domains.
"Mentioning Five Poisons Palace to inflate value? We're not merchants."
"But you have merchant talents? I hear the Tang Clan is quite wealthy."
Leading martial family, yet they ran merchant groups with diverse means. Collaterals not rising high loyally served as merchants.
Sichuan's half was theirs—exaggeration barely. In wealth, Amitabha and Qingcheng paled. But their Nine Great Sects' foundation couldn't be ignored.
"You don't know everything. The richer, the thriftier. No investments in losses."
"I wouldn't sell at a loss either."
With that, Mujin placed a bundle on the table. Plain cloth, unremarkable. But as it unraveled, revealing contents, it drew all eyes.
"...The Poison Horn Dark Dragon's horn!"
"Just a part, yet your discernment is impressive as expected."
Sly words.
The Poison Horn Dark Dragon's horn was a mighty weapon alone, but to poison sects, a priceless treasure and elixir. It controlled and neutralized poison qi in use. More valuable to Tang than warriors' divine weapons.
And "just a part."
"Thought luck turned, but empty-handed after all."
As Mujin rose, Tang Myeongjin and Baek Ungil stepped forward. Knowing its value, they couldn't let him go. Tang needed every part—not just the horn.
With Five Poisons Palace mentioned, retreat impossible. If it went there, poison sect supremacy might shift.
"Rasher than you look. Sit. Talk calmly."
"I'd love to, but seems the clan head disapproves."
"Ah, my face does that. Causes misunderstandings sometimes."
"I see."