A Filial Son
It might be a bit late to mention this, but the Hao Sect was, without a doubt, an unorthodox sect. They shamelessly broke the law, operating in the shadows beyond the reach of the authorities, running their finances through a decentralized network of sleeper cells. Naturally, they had no choice but to maintain ties with other unorthodox factions.
Thanks to this network, Ak Bi received a message via carrier pigeon within a single day. However, looking down at the letter from the Hao Sect, he deeply questioned whether his eyes were playing tricks on him.
"Those Hao Sect bastards... They really found a medicine that can make my little brother stand again?"
To a supreme master of the Transcendental Realm like him, the Hao Sect was nothing more than a bunch of bottom-feeding scum who peddled gossip. Yet, the sheer reliability of their information network was something even he could not ignore.
After all, while the Hao Sect was notorious for manipulating information, they never dared to play such games with their fellow unorthodox brothers. We lived in an era where the unorthodox factions could barely breathe under the oppressive weight of the orthodox Murim Alliance. If they dared to deceive their own kind under these circumstances, they would be branded as public enemies even within the underworld.
Therefore, the Hao Sect's claim had to be true. Despite this, the reason Ak Bi's brow furrowed was because the creator of this miraculous medicine was none other than Tang Hwi, the notorious degenerate of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Though rumors had recently begun to spread that the boy had changed, Ak Bi was far too grand a figure to waste his time worrying about such trivial gossip.
"Hey, Clever-Sack."
"I am the Chief Administrator, Chief."
"Right, right. Clever-Sack."
"...Yes, Chief."
Song Gae, the Chief Administrator of the Eighteen Green Forest Outposts, who had been running the entire bandit coalition while Ak Bi wallowed in a deep depression, grimaced as he bowed his head. When the boss tells you to jump, you jump. What choice did he have? Bowing his head while once again lamenting the sheer absurdity of life in the Green Forest, he listened as Ak Bi spoke.
"Has the Sect Leader of the Hao Sect gone senile? Or are the recent rumors of him losing his mind actually true?"
"Those two mean the exact same thing, Chief. But... if my sources are correct, the Hao Sect Leader is perfectly sane. In fact, their business is booming more than ever, likely due to the exceptional quality and quantity of their information. They say they can even rival the Beggars' Sect now."
"Hmm. Then this isn't some elaborate prank to mock me... Did that Tang Clan degenerate really brew an aphrodisiac powerful enough to resurrect my dead tool?"
"It is highly possible."
Without overthinking it, Song Gae shrugged.
"After all, they are the Tang Clan."
While the Sichuan Tang Clan might not be the absolute pioneers of medicine, they possessed an incredibly sophisticated level of medical knowledge. As a clan that built its strength on flying daggers and poison arts, they were naturally forced to master medicine to survive their own creations. Thus, their medical expertise was bound to be top-tier.
"Is that so? I see." Stroking his thick, bushy beard, Ak Bi fell into deep thought before suddenly snapping his fingers. "Alright. It's decided."
"Pardon? What exactly is decided...?"
"I will meet with him, just as the Hao Sect requested."
"What?! Chief, there is a mountain of paperwork waiting for your approval! Where on earth do you think you're going?!"
Their leader, who had been holed up in his room suffering from severe depression, had finally stepped outside for the first time in ages. Song Gae had been overjoyed, thinking he would no longer have to stress about losing his hair while trying to keep a bunch of rowdy bandits in line. Now, his face turned pale. Managing those wild bastards, squeezing his brain to issue orders they would actually follow, and keeping the fortress from falling apart was no easy feat. He was already worried about his receding hairline; he absolutely had to stop Ak Bi from leaving.
But his pleas fell on deaf ears.
"I'll be back!"
Boom!
"Gah?!"
Ak Bi kicked off the ground and soared into the sky. The earth shattered beneath his feet, and the resulting shockwave sent Song Gae rolling across the dirt. It seemed there was no future in which his hair would remain safe.
As usual, Tang Hwi had drugged Namgung Bu-ryun with a combination of energy-dispersing poison and sleeping poison, tucked him away in a courtesan's room, and was now killing time at the Hao Sect. Since the carrier pigeon had already been dispatched to Ak Bi, all he had to do was wait.
"Must you spend all that spare time in my office?"
"It's not like I have other acquaintances in the Hao Sect. Isn't it better to hang out with the one person I actually know?"
"If I recall correctly, I have always worn a veil whenever we met, Young Master..."
"It's a figure of speech. Don't be so cold. Doesn't your superior ever tease you for being such a boring fellow?"
"......"
Having his sore spot poked, the Left Protector fell silent. And for good reason—just a few days ago, the Young Master of the Hao Sect had nagged him relentlessly, calling him utterly boring. Even though the Left Protector's face was hidden behind a veil, Tang Hwi smirked, his eyes curving into a sly, knowing crescent as if he could see right through him.
"Ah, I hit the nail right on the head, didn't I? Then again, I've rarely seen a Protector who actually knows how to have fun."
"There is absolutely nothing wrong with my—gasp!"
Cutting his own defense short, the startled Protector instinctively drew his weapon. A flash of cold light erupted from beneath the desk where he had been working. In the blink of an eye, the wooden desk split cleanly in half, and a razor-sharp blade came to rest against Tang Hwi's throat.
"What's the matter? Is it really that shocking that I figured out you're a Protector?"
"...You are remarkably calm."
A blade pressed against one's throat meant death could strike at any second. Yet, Tang Hwi maintained his smug, unbothered smirk.
He isn't acting. This is genuine composure born from the absolute certainty that he can escape at any moment, even with my sword pressed against his jugular!
As a high-ranking member of the Hao Sect, the Left Protector had encountered all walks of life. He had seen plenty of fools try to bluff their way through life-or-death situations. Because of that experience, he could easily distinguish between a desperate act and genuine, bone-deep confidence.
"A real man shouldn't piss his pants just because a little steel is touching his neck. Besides, if your superiors find out you raised a hand against a Special Guest, wouldn't you be the one in real danger?"
"......"
"Heheh. Don't worry. I'll keep this little incident between us."
"...Thank you for your generosity, Young Master."
Sheathing his sword, the Left Protector secured it back at his waist. He looked at Tang Hwi and asked,
"How did you know?"
"It was an easy guess."
Despite having a blade at his throat just moments ago, Tang Hwi calmly lifted his teacup and took a slow, leisurely sip. Setting the cup back down on the table, he continued,
"I just took a wild guess."
"...Excuse me?"
"I guessed because you're so incredibly stiff and boring. But you bit the bait hook, line, and sinker, drawing your sword immediately. That made it a very easy guess, didn't it?"
The Left Protector felt a sudden, burning urge to strip off their titles and throw hands with Tang Hwi right then and there. He would probably lose, but at least he might get to land one satisfying, legally justified punch!
It was just as Tang Hwi was thoroughly enjoying teasing the Left Protector to pass the time.
Flinch.
"......"
They turned their heads in perfect unison. Their senses—the highly refined perception of the Master Realm—had just picked up an overwhelmingly massive presence.
A master of a far superior realm, who made absolutely no effort to conceal his presence, was boldly marching straight toward the Hao Sect.
Exchanging a brief look, the two men stood up. A distinguished guest had arrived; they could hardly sit idly by.
Stepping outside the Cheonglu, they were met by a middle-aged man of colossal stature staring intently at them. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, waiting with an air of supreme confidence.
"Are you the bastards who sent me that pigeon?"
"Yes, Elder. I am Geum Jwa, the acting manager of this establishment. Please, follow me. I shall escort you to a suitable room."
"A quiet room is all I need. And don't bother placing any pretty girls by my side when I can't even use my damn tool anyway—unless you're trying to mock me!"
"Understood. I shall ensure we are not disturbed."
"Good. ...But who is this kid? An elder arrives, and he doesn't even bow? Hmph! Back in my day—!"
As the eighty-year-old man prepared to launch into a classic "back in my day" rant, Tang Hwi quickly bowed his head.
"I am Tang Hwi of the Sichuan Tang Clan. It is an honor to meet the legendary King of the Green Forest."
"...Huh?"
Hearing the introduction, Ak Bi was utterly dumbfounded. He had never imagined that a wet-behind-the-ears brat would be the one to brew the medicine to cure his limp dick.
He hadn't bothered to check Tang Hwi's age before coming, subconsciously assuming that anyone bold enough to summon him must be an experienced elder. To find a young rising star who had barely reached adulthood standing before him was a massive shock.
However, his bewilderment quickly vanished.
This kid... is quite something for his age.
Although Ak Bi was an external martial arts master whose control over internal energy was somewhat unrefined, he was still more than capable of assessing those weaker than him. Discerning Tang Hwi's realm, Ak Bi's trust in him ticked upward. After all, the words of a high-level master carried far more weight than the empty boasts of an ignorant fledgling.
"Let's take this inside. Too many eyes out here."
"Yes. Please follow me."
Geum Jwa led them deep into the building, guiding them to a lavishly decorated private room reserved for VVIP guests. Once they were seated, Ak Bi glared at them. In truth, he was merely looking at them, but his naturally fierce and rugged features made even a simple glance look like a death stare.
"So. Are you the cheeky brat who claims to have made an aphrodisiac that will actually work on me?"
"Yes, I am indeed that cheeky brat."
"?"
Ak Bi blinked, momentarily speechless. He had never met a junior who would throw his own sarcasm right back at him with such ease. A quick glance to the side showed Geum Jwa trembling with shock—a reaction his veil couldn't possibly hide—proving that Ak Bi wasn't the only one stunned by the boy's audacity.
"For a noble clan brat, you certainly lack fear."
"It is not a lack of fear, but an abundance of confidence. I am absolutely certain that the Heavenly Strength Great King would never kill me, given how desperately you need the medicine I brew."
"Did it never cross your mind that I could simply torture you and rip the recipe from your throat?"
"I can assure you, if you try, I will simply die under torture. The King of the Green Forest will never learn the recipe, and your lower half will remain dead for the rest of your days."
Ak Bi stared intently at the boldly speaking Tang Hwi. Having been active since the previous generation of the Murim, Ak Bi had lived long enough that retirement would not have been out of the question. Though his speech was crude and his manners rough, he was by no means a fool. Had he been stupid, he would have been stabbed in the back and betrayed long before he ever became the King of the Green Forest. Thus, simply by locking eyes, he could read a great deal about the young man before him.
He is deep. For the first time in a very long while, Ak Bi felt a creeping sense of awe. Deep, unfathomably deep. On the surface, he is as calm as a placid lake, but beneath lies an abyss of sheer madness. Is this truly the mental state of a youth who has barely reached adulthood?
Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed Tang Hwi's existence. Even the legendary Heavenly Demon of distant Xinjiang was hard to believe, but Tang Hwi felt even more monstrous. At least one thing was certain: even if Ak Bi used every torture method in his arsenal, Tang Hwi would stay true to his word and take the recipe to his grave.
"You are certainly no ordinary brat who would break easily. What is it you want?"
"The complete evacuation and protection of all bandit forts managed by the Eighteen Green Forest Outposts within Sichuan."
"I understand evacuation, but what do you mean by protection?"
"Killing bandits is easy. But completely eradicating them is no simple task, even for a master of the Transcendental Realm. Surely the King of the Green Forest knows this best."
"That's true. My boys are exceptionally gifted when it comes to running away."
Killing a bandit was easy. But when men who spent their entire lives eating, sleeping, and breeding in the mountains made up their minds to flee, even a Transcendental Realm master would find it nearly impossible to hunt down every last one. Even if Tang Suryeon herself drew her sword to annihilate the Mudok Chae, she would fail if they caught wind of her approach and scattered into the wilderness.
"Therefore, I want the King of the Green Forest to personally lead your forces and wipe out any rogue bandit forts hiding in Sichuan."
"Fine! If my cock actually stands again, I'll gladly do that much for you!"
"Then we have a deal. I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise."
Geum Jwa's jaw dropped as he watched the two men shake hands. From his perspective, he believed Tang Hwi was orchestrating all of this simply to destroy the Mudok Chae, the very fort that paid bribes to his biological father, Namgung Bu-ryun.
To go to such lengths just to ruin his own father... How utterly ruthless!
As a result, Sichuan was about to become a clean zone, entirely free of the Green Forest bandits. Geum Jwa silently vowed to send an urgent report to his superiors: Never, under any circumstances, cross the Tang Clan.