Dear Sisters
After finishing his report to Tang Suryeon, Tang Hwi headed straight to Tang Ga-hui's room. Normally, he would have sent a maid to ask for permission to enter, but for a couple who had already joined their belly buttons, such formalities were utterly meaningless.
In fact, they were more of a hindrance than anything, so Tang Hwi had already secured her permission to visit whenever he pleased.
After all, Tang Ga-hui was also a woman who longed to spend every possible moment with her precious younger brother and beloved man.
"Sister. I am finished speaking with Mother. I do not think you will have to worry about any future marriage proposals."
"Mother didn't say anything?"
"She understood completely. Though she was saddened, she chose to respect your decision."
"...I see. Is it because of my filial impiety toward her? My conscience pricks me, and I feel terribly uneasy."
Tang Hwi stepped closer to the self-deprecating Tang Ga-hui and gently pulled her into an embrace.
As she rested in his arms, her nose filled with her younger brother's scent. It was a fragrance so clean and pure that the word 'pristine' immediately came to mind, possessing a strangely addictive quality.
Though they were siblings, they were now also a man and a woman envisioning a future together. Tang Ga-hui fully savored the moment.
As she relaxed and thoroughly enjoyed her younger brother's comfort, Tang Hwi whispered into her ear.
"Do not worry, sister. From now on, there will only be good news. Just trust me."
"Fufu. Yes. Your big sister will trust only her Hwi."
Then, narrowing her eyes, she gave his side a playful pinch.
"Even though you're a wicked little brother who even seduced Ga-in, your big sister still has to trust you! What else can I do at this point? And, well, it's absolutely not because you didn't say you love me the most or that our sexual compatibility is the best. You know that, right?"
Tang Hwi chose to remain silent.
To become the Young Patriarch, securing the support of the Four Pavilions was the fastest route. After all, the Four Pavilions were the very foundation and pillars that sustained the Tang Clan.
However, Tang Hwi knew all too well that it was far easier to win their favor after making a name for himself rather than desperately trying to curry favor when he had nothing to his name.
If everything went according to his plan, the upcoming banquet would elevate his reputation to new heights. For now, his best course of action was simply to ensure the banquet took place as scheduled.
He decided there was no need to draw unnecessary attention from the clan members just yet.
Leaving the Patriarch's Pavilion, Tang Hwi suppressed his presence and slipped through the Inner Court, where his relatives resided.
Once he cleared the Inner Court and bypassed the Outer Court, the Tang Clan Tower came into view. This was the domain of those who bore the Tang surname but were so distantly related to the main line that they were practically strangers.
It was also where the blacksmiths forged hidden weapons for the clan and where the fields of poison herbs were cultivated.
'I should have a proper talk with them later. A flawless, rock-solid foundation of support ensures trust in whatever I do. Holding the banquet near the Tang Clan Tower might not be a bad idea either.'
Weighing his options on how to best exploit the Tang Clan Tower, the Inner Court, and the Outer Court, he made his way toward the market district.
As an area under the direct protection of the Tang Clan, the market was bustling with life, entirely free of unorthodox sects or street thugs.
Outside a large tavern, a waiter was loudly soliciting customers, while craftsmen who hadn't been hired by the Tang Clan Tower's smithies sold handmade trinkets and accessories.
Here and there, herb gatherers carrying the sharp scent of medicinal plants could be seen.
But none of these were the people he was looking for, so Tang Hwi merely gave them a passing glance.
What he was searching for were the beggars sitting on the dirt roads, wrapped in tattered rags. Specifically, those with knots tied into their hemp ropes.
'Two knots... Hm. A bit lacking. I'll keep him as a candidate for now. That one has zero. Just a regular beggar who doesn't know a lick of martial arts. Not him, not her either...'
Tang Hwi was looking for a member of the Beggars' Sect with at least three knots.
The more knots tied to their hemp rope, the higher their rank. Tang Hwi needed at least a third-grade disciple, a sub-branch leader, to suit his purposes.
Only then would they be able to bring a massive crowd of beggars to the banquet and spread the rumors of what transpired there far and wide.
Just then, his eyes caught sight of a beggar, and he momentarily doubted his own vision.
'On the left hip... eight knots?'
Nine knots belonged to the Dragon Head Sect Leader, the absolute master of the Beggars' Sect.
And right below that was the eight-knot rope of the Junior Sect Leader, the Sect Leader's disciple and designated successor.
Finding the Junior Sect Leader here was unexpected, but not entirely shocking. After all, both the Sect Leader and the successor were ultimately beggars who wandered the lands.
They might be called the kings of beggars, but at the end of the day, they were still beggars.
However, the reason Tang Hwi stood frozen in sheer disbelief went far beyond that.
"Oof, my aching back. What're ye gapin' at like that, lad? Never seen a lass lookin' like a scruffy dog before?"
"...I was looking for a member of the Beggars' Sect, but I have never seen a female Junior Sect Leader before. I apologize if I have offended you."
Thumping her lower back, the woman stood up, using her bamboo staff as a cane. With a practiced flick of her wrist, she spun the staff half a turn and stared back at Tang Hwi.
Her clothes were filthy and tattered. Her entire body was smudged with dark soot, as if she had been rolling in charcoal.
Yet, despite the layers of dirt, her hair possessed a natural, silken quality, and her eyes shone like pale rubies. Beneath her ragged garments, a voluptuous, heavily curved figure made itself known—she was, without a doubt, an incredibly attractive woman.
Had she been a member of the Hao Sect, he could have easily accepted it. But a beggar... and the Junior Sect Leader who would one day lead them? Even with his countless reincarnations, Tang Hwi had never encountered someone quite like her.
As he stared with genuine curiosity, the Junior Sect Leader tilted her head and asked, "A lass can be a beggar, can't she? What's so strange about it that ye have to stare? Hey, lad. I'm Bang So-yul."
Tang Hwi flinched.
'Bang So-yul... If she is Bang So-yul, she must be the "Beggar Phoenix," one of the Six Phoenixes. She must have been appointed as the Junior Sect Leader only recently.'
"Pardon my late introduction," Tang Hwi said. "I am Tang Hwi of the Sichuan Tang Clan. It is an honor to meet the Beggar Phoenix."
"Ah, drop the fancy talk! Why're ye actin' all polite to a beggar?"
She rubbed her arms as if she had just broken out in goosebumps.
Seeing her arms turn even blacker from the soot on her hands, Tang Hwi quietly felt relieved that he hadn't offered a handshake.
"But why're ye lookin' for the Beggars' Sect anyway? What business does a fine young master have with us beggars?"
"The Sichuan Tang Clan is planning to host a banquet. It will be held near the Tang Clan Tower, and we intend to invite as many people as possible. I believed it only proper to offer alms and food to the Beggars' Sect at such an event, which is why I was searching for your members."
"Speak up like a real man, lad. Puff out yer chest and tell me—what's yer real angle?"
A beautiful Junior Sect Leader who spoke in a thick, rustic dialect.
It seemed like a massive contradiction, yet there she was, standing right in front of him.
To Tang Hwi, she was an incredibly novel and fascinating woman, and he felt a strange, pleasant flutter of amusement in his chest.
"My angle? I simply wish to sell a story that the Beggars' Sect can use for their gossip."
"Oho? I see... ehehe."
As if she had caught on to something, Bang So-yul's face took on the expression of a shrewd merchant calculating on an abacus. She let out a chuckle that sounded strangely like a middle-aged man and stared intently at Tang Hwi.
"Young master. Ye want us to spread some rumors for ye, don't ye?"
Seeing her hit the nail on the head instantly, Tang Hwi realized she hadn't become the Junior Sect Leader by luck.
The Beggars' Sect dealt in information; one could not become the Sect Leader through martial prowess alone. It was a position that demanded sharp wits, keen observation, and exceptional martial arts.
Tang Hwi could see exactly why a woman like Bang So-yul had been chosen as the successor.
'Her situational awareness and intuition are extraordinary. It certainly won't hurt to be on good terms with her.'
Ultimately, it didn't matter if the Beggars' Sect didn't show up, but it would be far better if they did. Since his plans wouldn't be disrupted either way, he saw no need to play useless mind games.
"Your deduction is correct. I plan to stir up a small incident at the banquet. I would like the news of it to spread as far and as quickly as possible."
"Hmm. But since I'm the Junior Sect Leader, if this hurts the Beggars' Sect, that'd be a bit of a problem. Ye sure there's no harm to us?"
"I can give you my word. The Beggars' Sect only needs to gather near the Tang Clan Tower, accept the banquet food as alms, and simply watch and listen. You will get to enjoy a delicious feast while watching the show unfold."
"If that's the case, I'll take ye up on it."
Using her bamboo staff to scratch her back like a backscratcher, Bang So-yul spoke.
"It's always good to feed my boys some tasty food! I'll be in yer care, young master."
She extended her hand, offering a handshake. Her gesture of sealing their cooperation with a handshake was entirely that of a free-spirited, heroic woman, but...
Looking at her soot-blackened palm, Tang Hwi felt a sudden shiver of goosebumps.
Even with a man standing right in front of her, she had just vigorously scratched her crotch over her clothes, followed by her buttocks, and now she was offering that very hand for a handshake. Was she trying to pick a fight?
He seriously debated the matter, but ultimately decided that accepting the handshake would bring him greater benefits. Tang Hwi slowly reached out and gently clasped her hand.
"...I look forward to working with you, Beggar Phoenix."
"Me too, young master!"
Squeeze! Shake, shake, shake!
Making a mockery of his attempt to keep the handshake gentle, Bang So-yul gripped his hand tightly and shook it vigorously up and down. Watching her, Tang Hwi felt a sudden, strong urge to flick her on the forehead.