A Devoted Son
With his martial arts training temporarily concluding, Tang Suryeon decided she had nothing left to teach Tang Hwi regarding swordsmanship. However, before she could begin instructing him in the clan's poison arts, she needed time to organize her thoughts. From her perspective, the energy swirling within Tang Hwi likely resembled a toxic poison laced with a Heart Demon. In truth, it was merely Demonic Qi refined to such extreme purity that it mirrored the orthodox path's ultimate clarity. Regardless, even a master of her caliber required time to devise a method to safely channel his unique energy.
Thanks to this sudden lull in his schedule, Tang Hwi found himself with some free time. He decided to spend a cozy, intimate afternoon with his sisters. While they shared his bed almost every night, they rarely had the chance to cultivate a warm, romantic atmosphere like actual lovers. He wanted to make the Patriarch's Pavilion his personal sanctuary as soon as possible.
As he sat chatting with his sisters—who were also his lovers—the topic of his physical clone came up. Tang Ga-hui and Tang Ga-in gasped in awe as they stared at the man standing before them, who looked exactly like Tang Hwi.
"Wow. Is this really your clone, Brother?"
"He looks exactly like you, Hwi. It doesn't seem like a mere illusion... It actually has a physical form."
Tang Hwi chuckled as the two girls curiously poked and prodded the naked clone. Controlling the double, he gently nudged them away, then ceased circulating the energy of the Yang-ui-shingong to dispel it. The clone vanished into thin air. Staring at the empty space where his double had stood just a moment ago, the sisters looked as shocked as if they had seen a ghost. Tang Hwi offered an explanation.
"I borrowed a little trick from the Wudang Sect's Yang-ui-shingong."
"Brother, did you steal the Wudang Sect's secret art?!"
"I didn't steal it, I assure you."
And he was telling the truth. He had simply lived one of his past lives as a Wudang Taoist.
"In a way, it's merely an advanced branch of the Taiji arts. If you delve deep into the principles of Taiji and achieve enlightenment, you can use the Yang-ui-shingong to create a clone of pure Yin. I, the original body, represent the Yang."
All things under heaven exist in a balance of Yin and Yang. Even the martial artists of the distant North Sea Ice Palace, who accumulated freezing Yin energy, had to harbor a microscopic spark of Yang energy within themselves just to maintain their physical existence. Of course, that Yang energy resided in the innate qi of the middle Dantian rather than the lower Dantian where internal energy was stored, meaning it could not be actively used.
The Yang-ui-shingong was a technique that split this fundamental Yin and Yang, dividing one's existence into two. It was obscure only because very few in the history of the Jianghu had ever mastered the art to the level Tang Hwi had.
It's not even that efficient, honestly. My five senses have to be shared with the clone, which lowers my combat capability, and any enlightenment the clone gains during meditation doesn't transfer back to the main body.
As a side note, during his past life as a Wudang Taoist, he had used this technique to sneak down to the local town and drink alcohol. It provided the ultimate alibi, allowing him to commit the perfect crime every single time.
"But Brother, can I ask you something?"
"Ask me anything. How could I ever deny a question from my adorable little sister?"
"Hehehe~ ♡"
When Tang Hwi pulled her into his embrace, stroking her hair and tracing his hand down her waist, Tang Ga-in grinned, basking in his affection.
"Then I'll just ask straight out. Can you use your clone for... bed affairs?"
"..."
For a brief moment, Tang Hwi seriously wondered if he needed to teach her some restraint.
"Unfortunately, no. The Yang-ui-shingong functions by completely separating the Yin and Yang of one's innate qi to sustain the clone. Because the clone's innate qi consists entirely of Yin energy, it is physically impossible for it to produce semen, which belongs to the Yang. Consequently, it can't even get erect."
In short, a clone created via the Yang-ui-shingong was completely impotent. However, since it caused no harm or backlash to his main body, Tang Hwi was highly satisfied with the technique. It was incredibly useful for operating behind the scenes like a mastermind.
Tang Ga-in, however, seemed to view this as a tragic waste.
"Aw, what a shame. If there were two of you, Sister and I could have had one each."
Hearing this, Tang Ga-hui reached out, careful not to bump into Tang Hwi, and playfully smacked Tang Ga-in.
"Goodness, Ga-in! A young lady shouldn't say such scandalous things."
"Who cares? As long as I please Brother, that's all that matters. Besides, while Brother might appreciate a modest woman, he also loves a naughty one! Right, Brother~?"
As she spoke, she slyly rubbed her pert breasts against Tang Hwi's firm chest. Though the layers of their robes muffled the sensation, the soft, elastic pressure still came through clearly, bringing a satisfied smile to Tang Hwi's face. Grinning, he slid his hand downward. He reached past her waist and firmly squeezed Tang Ga-in's plump buttocks through her trousers, filling his palm with her flesh.
"That is very true. No man alive would dislike his woman being wanton solely for him, Sister," Tang Hwi murmured.
"Sigh... Fine. Just don't act like this in public where others can see. I don't even want to imagine what would happen if we got caught. Oh, by the way, Hwi."
As if suddenly remembering something, Tang Ga-hui asked him, "I heard that marriage talks are underway with the Zhuge Clan. I know it's just a fake engagement... but did it really have to be with someone from the Five Great Noble Clans? Won't it be incredibly difficult to break off?"
"..."
Tang Hwi felt a slight prickle of discomfort. Not only Tang Ga-hui, who had brought it up, but even Tang Ga-in, who was still snuggled in his arms, rolled her eyes upward to stare at him without moving her head. They were trying to act casual, but to a Master Realm expert like Tang Hwi, their hyper-focused attention was glaringly obvious. Unfazed by their sharp, probing gazes, he shrugged nonchalantly and delivered his prepared explanation.
"I told you, it's merely a strategic engagement. By arranging a fake betrothal with Jegal Hye, we ensure that no lesser sects or families will dare send matchmakers our way. Since we plan to dissolve it later anyway, what is there to worry about?"
"I suppose so... but wouldn't it have been easier to choose a family just below the Five Great Noble Clans? That way, we could easily force a breakup if needed."
"True. However, once I leave an irreversible, crippling injury on the Zhuge Clan's 'Monstrous Dragon,' Jegal Hye will naturally rise to become the young matriarch. At that point, she will break the engagement herself. There's no need to shoulder unnecessary burdens when we have a path that guarantees a clean, flawless resolution."
Tang Hwi stretched out his arm and pulled Tang Ga-hui into his embrace as well. Now holding both sisters at once, the two girls pressed their bodies tightly against him, each trying to claim as much of his physical contact as possible rather than shying away from each other.
"Besides, while Hubei isn't incredibly far from Sichuan, it's certainly not close either. This distance gives me plenty of free time to share my love with my dearest sisters, doesn't it?"
"You certainly have a silver tongue."
"I'm just happy I get to spend more time with you, Brother~ ♡"
Clinging to one another, they whispered sweet, affectionate words. As the atmosphere grew increasingly heated, they naturally began shedding their garments one by one, pressing their bare skin together. Before long, the room filled with sweet, melting, low-pitched moans of ecstasy.
"Tsk. What does that woman want with me now, calling me out separately like this?"
Namgung Bu-ryun grumbled as he made his way to answer Tang Suryeon's early morning summons. In the deeply patriarchal society of the Central Plains, having a wife who was not only the Patriarch of a great clan but also summoned him at her whim was a massive blow to his pride. However, his irritation quickly vanished, replaced by sheer panic the moment he stepped into the Patriarch's office.
"You're going to subjugate the Mudok Chae bandits... alone?"
"Yes. I am telling you this so you will stay quietly inside the estate while I am away. Unless they have completely lost their minds, they wouldn't dare, but one can never be too careful. They might attempt something desperate, like taking you hostage to try and stop me."
"I... I see. Yes, I suppose that is possible."
"I plan to strike during the Hour of the Horse (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM). They will likely be eating their midday meal around then, so a surprise attack at that hour should make it easy to wipe them out."
"...My lady, wouldn't it be better to go a bit later?"
The Hour of the Horse was absolutely out of the question. The female martial artist from the local dojo and the merchant group leader's daughter whom he had lured were scheduled to arrive during the Hour of the Sheep (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM). Since the bandits had already set traps along the path they would take, capturing them would be trivial. Therefore, he had to delay Tang Suryeon's departure at all costs to ensure she didn't interfere before the deed was done.
"Why should you exert yourself so early to deal with mere street thugs? If you must go, it would be far better to strike during the Hour of the Rooster (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM), when their fatigue from a long day has fully caught up with them."
They had to capture the women during the Hour of the Sheep, and then hide them or smuggle them away during the Hour of the Monkey (3:00 PM – 5:00 PM). He had to delay Tang Suryeon's raid until at least the Hour of the Rooster to secure his final cut of the payoff. Furthermore, what if those bandit bastards blabbed his name under torture? While taking bribes to look the other way could be swept under the rug using the Namgung Clan's influence, being complicit in kidnapping a merchant leader's daughter and selling her to the Green Forest bandits was a crime even the Namgung name could not cover up.
From his perspective, he had to convince Tang Suryeon no matter what. Fortunately, she nodded slowly, appearing to find merit in his reasoning.
"Hmm. Now that I hear your explanation, it does make sense."
"Indeed. They say a wolf exerts its full strength even when hunting a rabbit, but if there is an easier path, it would be foolish to take the long way around. Therefore, my lady, you should go and deal with them during the Hour of the Rooster."
"Thank you, dear. I didn't realize you cared so much about my well-being."
"Think nothing of it. We are husband and wife, after all."
Although the smile playing on Tang Suryeon's lips felt strangely chilling, Namgung Bu-ryun quickly brushed it off.
She must be radiating bloodlust because she's eager to slaughter those bandits.
He made a lazy assumption. He truly did not suspect a single thing, firmly believing that she, like any other woman, was so thoroughly enslaved by his nocturnal prowess that she would never dream of harming him.