A Filial Son

*Crash!*

The chief of the Mudok Chae slammed his fist down, shattering the meeting room table in a fit of uncontrollable rage. His fury was entirely justified, sparked by a warning sent from the Green Forest Eighteen Forts to every bandit stronghold in the Central Plains, not just those under their direct banner.

It was a direct warning from none other than the Green Forest Lord himself. Had this threat come from one of the leaders of the Five Great Clans or the Nine Sects and One Gang, they would have laughed it off. But a warning from the Green Forest Lord—the undisputed sovereign of their own underworld—was something they dared not ignore.

The Unorthodox Faction was already the public enemy of the Orthodox Faction. If they couldn't even stand united among themselves, they might as well beg for death.

"Fuck! If the big boss of our own trade hands down a unilateral decree like this, how the hell are we supposed to make a living?!"

"Chief, shouldn't we pack up and run right now? I don't know what's gotten into him, but this is the first time the Green Forest Lord has ever issued a public decree stamped with his personal seal. If we defy him, we're finished in this business."

"But why does it have to be right now of all times...!"

The chief's gaze drifted to a corner of the meeting room. Piled there was a massive stash of the notorious 'aphrodisiac' that had recently become the talk of Yibin City.

Rumor had it that anyone who consumed it would lose their mind to sheer lust and ravish the nearest woman. There were even whispers that it could affect masters of the Transcendental Realm. They had planned to use it to capture powerful female martial artists for their pleasure, and sell the rest in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠other regions to secure a massive fortune.

Yet now, they were forced to flee Sichuan before they could even use a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠single grain of it. They would have to abandon the very aphrodisiac they had emptied the stronghold's emergency coffers to purchase.

A normal merchant group or escort agency would have hired laborers to transport the cargo, but who in their right mind would work for a bandit fort? They could kidnap commoners to carry it, but attempting to move such a large shipment that way would inevitably trigger the Orthodox Faction's surveillance and lead to their swift annihilation.

"We have no choice. We'll use Namgung Bu-ryun... We'll squeeze everything we can out of that bastard for one last big score, and then we run."

"Huh? What use is that pathetic child who wags his tail for pocket change...?"

"He may be pathetic, but he's still a chueseo who married into the Sichuan Tang Clan. There are plenty of people who want access to his connections. Besides, the bastard is exceptionally skilled at laying women, so he's built up quite a network of female acquaintances."

Because Yibin City was under the direct jurisdiction of the Sichuan Tang Clan, there were no minor sects within its borders. However, Namgung Bu-ryun held decent sway among the smaller sects in the neighboring regions. Among his contacts were the daughter of a minor merchant guild leader and a female martial artist from a small training hall.

"We'll use Namgung Bu-ryun to lure those bitches here. Then, we'll use the drug to take them hostage. Grinding it into powder weakens its potency, but if we burn this entire stash at once, the fumes will be incredibly toxic. It might actually work on a Transcendental Realm master, just like the rumors say."

A sinister, greasy smile spread across the chief's face.

"Not that a supreme master of that caliber would ever set foot in our fort anyway. At best, they'll be at or below the Peak Realm. Since they're martial artists, their bodies will be well-toned, meaning their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cunts will be nice and tight. We'll take turns riding the martial artist, and we'll hold the merchant's daughter hostage to extort a massive ransom from her father."

"Chief, have you lost your mind? If we do that, we're dead men!"

"I've already thought of a way out. We disband the fort. Once we're no longer bandits, the Green Forest will have no reason to hunt us down. And who's going to track us down once we scatter to the winds? Personally, once I secure this massive payday, I'm retiring to the countryside. I'll live out my days in luxury with the ransom money. You lot can take your share and live however you want. What do you say?"

As the chief boasted confidently, the bandits exchanged glances, their faces twisting into wicked grins. They weren't bandits for nothing. Despite knowing the extreme danger of the plan, they were men who had gathered under the banner of the Unorthodox Faction precisely because they couldn't control their own greed.

"Sounds perfect! Let's make a grand return in gold!"

"You idiot, it's 'grand return in silk.'"

"Bwahaha! I've always loved the tight pussy of a woman who knows martial arts."

Every single one of them agreed to the chief's plan. Watching them eagerly jump into his dangerous scheme, the chief sneered inwardly.

Idiots. You fools can fuck those bitches all you want. I'm taking the merchant's daughter and escaping on my own.

The chief planned to lock her away somewhere, wait for the heat to die down, and then send a private ransom note to the merchant guild to extort the money. Though the Green Forest bandits called each other brothers, they were still part of the Unorthodox Faction. If you let your guard down for even a second, they would strip you down to your undergarments. That was the nature of their kind. Of course, his dream of taking the fortune to his hometown, opening a small training hall, and living a peaceful life was entirely genuine.

And then...

"What a bunch of pathetic fools."

Watching them celebrate from his hiding spot, Tang Hwi's clone looked down on the laughing bandits with utter disdain. Yet, a deep, satisfied smile spread across his face as he watched them move exactly as he had predicted.

Seeing the bandits rejoice, completely oblivious to the fact that they were dancing in the palm of his hand, Tang Hwi had to actively suppress the urge to burst into laughter.

In truth, he possessed perfectly normal stamina pills with no side effects. The only reason he had leaked a variant that amplified lust in proportion to physical stamina to the Hao Sect was because he knew it would inevitably spark these exact rumors.

If it had the power to induce such intense arousal even in a master of the Transcendental Realm, what would it do to those of lower realms or ordinary people? Naturally, the visible side effects would appear far more pronounced, and they would quickly brand the stamina pill as a legendary aphrodisiac.

Thus, Tang Hwi had subtly manipulated his connections—established during his time as the general manager of the family banquet—to make it incredibly easy for these bandits to acquire the pills. Driven by their insatiable greed, the bandits had purchased them in bulk. Then, right on cue, Ak Bi had issued the sudden, unquestionable decree ordering all bandits to evacuate Sichuan immediately, just as Tang Hwi had requested.

Now, all that's left is to make sure Namgung Bu-ryun meets with these bastards.

With the stage set, it was time for Tang Hwi's main body to make his move. At that moment, utilizing the information gathered by his clone, Tang Hwi formulated his plan and set it into motion. He made his way to the Patriarch's Pavilion, entering Tang Suryeon's office.

"Mother. I have something to report regarding Father."

"Oh? It must be something out of the ordinary."

Since Namgung Bu-ryun's daily routine rarely deviated from squandering his time in brothels, Tang Suryeon had previously instructed Hwi not to bother reporting unless there was a significant change. Seeing her son seek her out so solemnly, she looked up at him with a curious expression.

This actually makes me feel a bit uneasy.

It wasn't that Tang Suryeon deeply trusted or relied on Namgung Bu-ryun; their relationship was more akin to a long-estranged couple who had simply grown indifferent. Even so, how would she feel when she discovered that Namgung Bu-ryun was dragging the Tang Clan's prestigious name through the mud by taking bribes from rogue bandits unaffiliated with the Green Forest?

The sheer sense of betrayal would completely shatter whatever lingering affection she had left. Her heart would break, and she would feel a profound emptiness. Although Tang Hwi was orchestrating this to claim her entirely for himself, forcing his mother through such emotional turmoil did not leave him entirely comfortable.

But a rotting limb must be severed without hesitation.

Leaving Namgung Bu-ryun to his own devices was a ticking time bomb. The bandits had proven to be vile creatures, acting exactly as anticipated the moment they were nudged. If left unchecked, there was no telling what catastrophic disasters their unchecked greed might bring upon the clan. Just as the flap of a butterfly's wings in the far west could summon a devastating tempest on the other side of the world.

"Mother. Please, listen to what I have to say with a calm mind."

"What is it?"

"I have uncovered evidence suggesting that Father has colluded with the Unorthodox Faction."

"...Tell me everything."

"Yes. It happened like this—"

Tang Hwi began his explanation, weaving a tale of how he had accidentally spotted Namgung Bu-ryun meeting with members of the Mudok Chae—a bandit fort near Yibin City that had somehow evaded all previous subjugation attempts—while investigating his father's frequent brothel visits. He explained how further investigation had revealed that Namgung Bu-ryun was indeed receiving regular bribes from them.

As Tang Suryeon listened, her expression grew increasingly heavy and solemn.

"When I served as the general manager for Sister's celebration, I established partnerships with various merchant groups using my own connections rather than the family's influence. According to the information I gathered through those networks, every single time our clan launched a subjugation campaign against the Mudok Chae, the bandits managed to flee just before our forces arrived."

"Sigh... Hwi. I know you understand the gravity of what you are saying. Since you have come to me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠without concrete physical evidence, you must have a reason... What is it you wish to propose to your mother?"

"To be frank, I do not care what happens to Father. However, because I worry about the pain this will cause you, Mother... I want to give Father one final chance."

"A chance?"

"Yes."

Seeing a flicker of hope wash over Tang Suryeon's face at the mention of giving him a chance, Tang Hwi felt a pang of guilt, but he maintained his flawless facade and pressed on with his performance.

"You will announce a sudden subjugation campaign against the Mudok Chae, Mother. And you will deliberately let the exact date of the raid slip to Father beforehand. That is the entirety of the plan."

"...You want to see whether your father leaks the information to the Mudok Chae."

"Yes. If Father leaks the information to them yet again, I believe we can no longer turn a blind eye."

Tang Hwi was absolutely certain. Namgung Bu-ryun would undoubtedly betray Tang Suryeon. Why? Because those bribes aren't just lining Father's pockets.

A portion of those bribes was flowing directly into the hands of the Grand Patriarch and the Elders.

I will use this opportunity to wipe out Father, the Grand Patriarch, and the Elders in one fell swoop.