Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Tang Clan's Misfortune (5)
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Dang Jin-seong recalled Hwa Wol-lyeong’s words.
‘When Lady Hwa spoke of her youngest junior, she said his talent reached the very heavens.’
She said Jin Je-yong became the Sword of Completion simply because he chose the sword; had he studied poison arts, he would have been the Poison Sage, and with medicine, the Medicine Sage.
At the Five Great Clans' gathering, everyone had scoffed at the Jegal Clan daughter-in-law's boasts and dismissed them, but Dang Jin-seong, who was strangely ostracized himself, felt a sense of kinship with her and had listened.
Yet even Dang Jin-seong had thought her words were mere bluster.
That is, until he met this man today.
“Copying the Tang Clan's Dragon Poison Arts? Just what are you?!”
“Did I not say? I am Jin Je-yong, disciple of the Divine Sword, Master Jin Sang-ho.”
Only after facing Jin Je-yong directly did Dang Jin-seong realize that Hwa Wol-lyeong’s words had not been wrong in the slightest.
‘I don't know if he's the Sword of Completion, but he's definitely a monster.’
When Jin Je-yong drew his sword, the killing intent that felt like it was flaying his skin sent a shiver down Dang Jin-seong’s spine, even though he had faced numerous masters.
His breath caught in his throat, and his head spun. His vision blurred.
‘Peak level, or perhaps even higher...’
Moreover, he had easily dealt with his hidden weapons and had perfectly mimicked the Dragon Poison Arts.
‘I made the wrong call.’
Dang Jin-seong had believed his martial arts skills were more than sufficient for the heir of the Tang Clan.
And he prided himself on his strategic mind, which he believed was far superior to his martial prowess.
He had intended to meet Jin Je-yong in person, dispose of him if his skills were lacking, or borrow his strength to deal with the Tang Clan Village issue if he proved capable.
With that in mind, he had set the stage.
But it was only after seeing Jin Je-yong’s true nature that Dang Jin-seong realized he was not a man to be manipulated by someone else's schemes.
‘This man is no Sword of Completion. He's closer to a fiend.’
Once Dang Jin-seong made his judgment, he immediately changed his attitude.
“How should I take responsibility for this?”
As if sensing his intent, Jin Je-yong sheathed his sword.
“That's simple. Consider this matter closed.”
As Dang Jin-seong’s attitude shifted, Jin Je-yong’s tone softened as well.
“You mean Dang Jin-wi's death? The branch family won't stand for it.”
“Just reveal his actions in full. The misconduct and attitude of Dang Jin-wi, a member of a great and prestigious clan.”
If Dang Jin-wi's forced entry into the Righteous Alliance and his abysmal work ethic were exposed, it would undoubtedly cause problems both within and outside the Alliance.
The Righteous Alliance was heavily influenced by the Five Great Clans, but conversely, if the Tang Clan expended its influence on a trivial matter, it risked diminishing its standing among the Five Great Clans.
‘But I could also use Dang Jin-wi's case to weaken the branch family's power.’
Dang Jin-seong was still entertaining such audacious thoughts.
But there was no way that would work on Jin Je-yong.
“And you can do a little promotion for our Sinnae Sword School.”
“Pro-promotion?”
The Tang Clan suddenly found itself in a position to promote a rural sword school.
* * *
“Using public opinion to pressure the minority, and using outsiders to weaken the enemy, you say...”
The current Tang Clan was so severely weakened by the power struggle between the main and branch families that it was embarrassing to call it one of the Five Great Clans.
And the clan head, in an attempt to overcome this situation, had recklessly practiced poison arts and become an invalid.
I knew very well the kind of person who would torment others in this manner.
“Something smells rotten.”
“Right? A savory... I mean, a nostalgic smell, isn't it?”
Jeok-sam chimed in with a grin at my words.
“My senior brother.”
Above me were four senior brothers: A-mun, Geum Gwi-su, Hwa Wol-lyeong, and Je Yung-geon.
My two eldest senior brothers and my senior sister were all quite a bit older and doted on me.
But my fourth senior brother, Je Yung-geon, was always trying to tear me down.
“Was my senior brother in the Tang Clan?”
“With his temperament, your fourth senior brother wasn't one to play in a small pond.”
He was so consumed by envy and jealousy, you'd think he was the human embodiment of an inferiority complex.
That was why he constantly tormented me, the youngest.
Around the age of ten, after enduring it for so long, I finally snapped when Je Yung-geon insulted our master, and I gouged out his eye.
“I remember my senior brother left the school about ten years ago. If this is where he fled, he didn't get very far.”
I muttered, thinking of Je Yung-geon.
Not only had Je Yung-geon slandered me to our master's close friend, claiming I was the Star of Heavenly Slaughter and would become an unparalleled villain, but he had also constantly tried to drive a wedge between me and Senior Brother Gwi-su and Senior Sister Wol-lyeong.
After losing an eye, Je Yung-geon’s methods of tormenting me became much more insidious.
“If it weren't for Master, I would have cut off his head.”
The only reason I stopped at his eye was because I was young and lacked the skill.
On top of that, our ever-gentle master, who had never once raised his voice in anger, had unfairly roared at me for harming my senior brother.
“Still, it's a relief we know where your fourth senior brother is.”
“Indeed.”
I shifted my gaze outside the guest room.
To enter the Tang Clan's main residence, one had to pass through the Tang Clan Village.
The structure was like that of a basin.
“If my senior brother is in the Tang Clan, he must know that I've come looking for them, right?”
“He would. And he'll still be targeting you, Instructor.”
I nodded.
Je Yung-geon would undoubtedly do so.
‘Am I his mortal enemy from a past life or something?’
I licked my lips, thinking of Je Yung-geon.
If he knew of my existence, he would surely have a trap prepared. He always did.
Of course, whatever trap Je Yung-geon prepared would be based on who I was ten years ago.
“With this, our tiresome connection can finally come to an end, my dear senior brother.”
* * *
‘I'll use him as bait and bid farewell to this damned Tang Clan.’
Dang Jin-seong muttered as he wiped the drool from Dang Ju-seong's chin.
He was the young lord of the Tang Clan, but he had no lingering attachment to a clan that had already been crumbling since the day he was born.
If anything, the titles of main family and young lord of the Tang Clan were like a curse that bound him.
Dang Jin-seong composed himself and moved Dang Ju-seong to a safe place.
Then, he walked toward the guest room where Jin Je-yong and Jeok-sam were waiting. When he arrived, Jeok-sam was gone, and only Jin Je-yong remained.
“First, I plan to escape the Tang Clan Village and request help from another of the Five Great Clans—the Namgung Clan, to be precise.”
Dang Jin-seong faced Jin Je-yong, took a deep breath, and began to speak.
He was so nervous that his hands kept clenching, as if the blood had stopped flowing to them.
He clenched and unclenched his fists before speaking again.
“It's not easy to receive outside help for our clan's affairs, but the situation is dire. The Five Great Clans have been bound by blood for generations, so the Namgung Clan will not turn a blind eye to our plight.”
He had chosen the Namgung Clan because of the Azure Sky Sword King, Namgung Cheok.
His fame would surely entice two country bumpkins who were strong but nothing more.
“I see.”
Jin Je-yong replied with a smile.
‘He bought it!’
Dang Jin-seong clenched his fist and cheered inwardly.
He kept his expression neutral, however, and spoke again.
“There's an escape route that the branch family—the Tang Clan Village—doesn't know about.”
His breath hitched.
But Jin Je-yong seemed completely oblivious, still just smiling.
“It's a secret passage known only to the clan head. It was made for emergencies, so the Tang Clan Village won't know about it.”
Dang Jin-seong said, glancing at Jin Je-yong.
He seemed to have fallen completely for Dang Jin-seong’s incredible acting, not suspecting a thing.
At least, that’s how it looked to Dang Jin-seong.
“Once we escape the clutches of the Tang Clan Village, we'll flee straight to Anhui Province, where the Namgung Clan resides. Then, on my honor as the young lord, I will inform the Namgung Clan, and all the Five Great Clans, of the Sinnae Sword School and the Divine Sword.”
Dang Jin-seong laid out his plan without taking a breath.
His mouth was dry from the tension.
Still, he managed to deliver all his prepared lines to Jin Je-yong without missing a single one.
“Hmm, I see. The Namgung Clan... One of Master's acquaintances had a similar surname.”
‘Hmph! How could a country bumpkin from who-knows-where have a connection to the Namgung Clan, established in Anhui?’
Dang Jin-seong retorted in his mind.
“The Namgung surname is quite common.”
“...Well, let's just go with that.”
Jin Je-yong gave a meaningful smile.
The smile made Dang Jin-seong flinch, but the die was already cast.
Just then, Jin Je-yong opened the guest room door and stepped out first. The meaning was clear: they had talked enough, and it was time to be led to the secret passage.
“But what about your disciple?”
“Jeok-sam will be fine. Let's go.”
Jin Je-yong pushed Dang Jin-seong’s back.
Propelled by a force he couldn't resist, Dang Jin-seong was practically shoved out of the guest room.
“Ah, did you know?”
As Dang Jin-seong reluctantly led the way, Jin Je-yong asked out of the blue.
“Know what?”
Jin Je-yong grinned and said.
“That any scheme is powerless before the sword.”
Dang Jin-seong froze in his tracks.
‘Don't tell me he knows I'm trying to use him as bait?’
There were several secret passages within the Tang Clan compound, but the one Dang Jin-seong was currently leading him to was known to the branch family.
His plan was to lure Jin Je-yong there to draw the branch family’s attention, while he and Dang Ju-seong escaped through the true secret passage reserved for the clan head.
“Wh-what do you mean by that?”
“It's nothing. Just a reminder to have confidence in your own martial arts.”
Jin Je-yong lightly patted Dang Jin-seong’s back, telling him to relax.
“We are martial artists, after all.”
As he spoke, Jin Je-yong’s eyes were like a bottomless abyss, without a single speck of light.
Dang Jin-seong swallowed hard.
He forced his stiff legs to move again.
‘It's fine. He doesn't know!’
He reassured himself.
* * *
“Sir, as you instructed, we did not block your junior brother's passage and let him proceed to the main house, but...”
The chief of the Tang Clan Village sought out the one-eyed man.
The one-eyed man was a burly, muscular giant who looked more like he belonged to the Paeng Clan or a group of bandits than the Tang Clan.
He replied with a gentle smile.
“You did well. Had you drawn your blades on Je-yong, there would have been nothing but casualties.”
“He is your junior brother, so his skills must be outstanding, but we are the Great Sichuan Tang Clan. Surely we can handle someone who is not even thirty...”
“Chief, you must give up any thought of defeating Je-yong with force. No one at our school could ever beat his sword. Not the eldest senior brother, not our senior sister, and not even me.”
The one-eyed man spoke with a bitter smile.
The eldest senior brother had been defeated by a five-year-old Jin Je-yong and had stormed out of the school. And their senior sister had given up on competing with her youngest junior.
Only the one-eyed man had stubbornly faced his sword for years.
“I am not belittling the Tang Clan's strength. Jin Je-yong is one beloved by the sword. And to his enemies, he is a fiend who shows not a shred of mercy.”
“Haha, then how can we possibly capture him?”
“But even he does not know that I am here. And with the help of the Tang Clan Village, what chance does he stand, even if he is the Sword of Completion?”
The one-eyed man, Je Yung-geon, said with a venomous smile.