A Filial Son

Sichuan was in an uproar. The party from the Cheongeuk Merchant Group, whom Namgung Bu-ryun had invited to strengthen his personal network, had been attacked by Mudok Chae. Namgung Bu-ryun, attempting to stop them, had charged at Mudok Chae alone, only to suffer an injury to his Baihui acupoint and turn into a complete idiot. Since the flat of a sword—matching the weapon used by the bandit chief—was clearly imprinted on the crown of his head, the investigation team had no reason to doubt the story. Furthermore, Baek Yeo-ryeong, the daughter of the Cheongeuk Merchant Group, had also been caught in the fray and turned into an idiot. The maids who served her had been drugged, turning into lust-crazed nymphomaniacs.

Far from maintaining their sanity, whenever they saw a man, they would spread their legs and frantically claw at their own pussies as if begging to be ravished. Thanks to this, the rumors spread like wildfire, eventually reaching the ears of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect. With this incident dragging the Sichuan Tang Clan into the Mudok Chae mess, malicious rumors began to circulate, slandering the Patriarch: "How can we trust a Patriarch who can't even control her own husband?"

Tang Hwi did not stop at merely suppressing these rumors with the help of the Hao Sect. Instead, he fought fire with fire by leaking the deepest secrets of the Qingcheng and Emei Sects—secrets he had uncovered in his past lives. For instance, he revealed that a certain past Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect secretly had a wife, and that the famous Sword Empress of the Emei Sect from several generations ago had actually fallen in love with a man, broken her vows of chastity to give birth, and raised a family in secret.

What's there to say? I was the man in question. Tang Hwi felt a brief pang of guilt toward his past lovers, but since they had likely already reincarnated, he decided to use what he could.

"By the way, Young Master's information network is truly astonishing. It is quite remarkable how you know the secrets of not only the Emei Sect's Bright Sword Empress but also the Qingcheng Sect's Blue Cloud Sword Emperor. These are legends of the Jianghu who have long since returned to the dust."

"Precisely because they are long gone, such things can remain hidden as secrets. It's just that from the perspective of the Qingcheng and Emei Sects, who are directly involved, it's enough to drive them mad."

"I have learned a valuable lesson." The Left Protector bowed slightly in respect. Tang Hwi shrugged at his polite gesture and continued the conversation.

"By the way, has the bait been properly laid out? I believe we need to make it known that what Mudok Chae distributed was not an aphrodisiac, but an illicit drug?"

What Mudok Chae had actually used on Tang Suryeon was an aphrodisiac. However, they had claimed it was a drug, and Tang Suryeon had witnessed the maids of the Cheongeuk Merchant Group turn into lust-crazed nymphomaniacs after being corrupted by Demonic Qi. Therefore, what they used had to be framed as a malicious drug, not a simple stamina booster. Since the Hao Sect was the one distributing the actual stamina boosters, they had to fabricate the existence of a separate drug and convince the world that an unorthodox sect was behind its distribution.

The Left Protector spoke reassuringly. "There is a group of unorthodox scoundrels who will do anything for money. We have manipulated them into 'accidentally' developing a drug that adds mind-altering aphrodisiac properties to the stamina booster."

"The effects must be almost identical. Even with the drug added, the potency of the stamina booster is so overwhelming that it would likely suppress the drug's mind-altering effects."

"Indeed. However, while the original stamina booster improves one's health, the adulterated version is harmful due to the drug's side effects. Once the Tang Clan investigates, they will easily detect the drug's presence. By handing over that unorthodox group, we can completely clear your name. You will be entirely removed from the line of suspicion."

What the Hao Sect sold was the pure stamina booster developed by Tang Hwi, while the bait group sold a version that had the same immediate effect but ruined one's health, classifying it as a dangerous drug. The Sichuan Tang Clan would easily distinguish between the two, allowing them to escape suspicion. Tang Hwi nodded, finding the Left Protector's explanation quite plausible.

"Ah, that reminds me. A letter from the Green Forest arrived, addressed to you, Young Master."

"From the Green Forest?"

"Yes. It is likely regarding the Mudok Chae incident. After all, it is an undeniable fact that the Tang Clan's reputation suffered some damage."

"Here it is." The Left Protector held out a piece of low-quality paper, crumpled and folded haphazardly. Tang Hwi stared at it for a moment before looking up at the Left Protector, who simply shrugged.

"We didn't mishandle it; it arrived from the Green Forest in this exact state." At the Left Protector's defense, Tang Hwi sighed, took the letter, and unfolded it.

To summarize the crudely written contents, it was essentially an apology from Ak Bi. Or rather, it was a letter filled with excuses. He claimed that even though he was the leader, just as not everyone listens to the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance, there are always rogue elements among them. He promised to crush them thoroughly and offer compensation, begging Tang Hwi not to cut off his supply of the medicine. It was filled with such desperate pleas.

It was painfully obvious that the man had never received a proper education, as the same points were repeated over and over. Reading Ak Bi's apology felt like grading a presentation written by a primary school child.

"It seems the Heavenly Strength Great King has absolutely no idea how to sugarcoat his words."

"Is it that bad?"

"Would you like to see for yourself?"

"If it is not an intrusion."

Taking the letter, the Left Protector began to read. As his eyes scanned the page, his expression grew increasingly strained, as if he were developing a headache. Once finished, he folded the letter back up, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠"It is indeed... quite something."

"Honestly, it feels like reading a schoolboy's essay."

"...I think this every time, but you are truly a courageous man, Young Master. There is likely no one else under heaven who would speak of the Green Forest King so dismissively."

"Even commoners curse the Emperor behind his back. What I say about one of the Ten Great Masters of the Jianghu in private is my own business."

The Left Protector stared intently at Tang Hwi. This mysterious young man clearly knew that the Young Sect Master was eavesdropping from the hidden room next door, yet he paid it no mind. It had been several days since they began trading under the knowledge that Tang Hwi held a 'Special Guest' status. Their relationship could be described as comfortable, but if asked whether there was trust between them, he would have shaken his head. Why, then, did this man speak so freely in front of him and the hidden observer? Curious, the Left Protector decided to ask.

"Young Master Tang, what would you do if I were to report your words to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Green Forest King?"

How would the man before him respond? This young man who held his own clan, Mudok Chae, and even the Eighteen Green Forest Outposts in the palm of his hand, manipulating them like chess pieces... what would he say?

"What else? I'll run to my mother and tattle on you. I'll tell her the Green Forest King and the Hao Sect are bullying me."

"..."

"Why are you looking at me like that? The elder in my house has a higher status than all of you combined. Why shouldn't I tattle?"

"......No. I suppose there isn't."

His reply ended in a question mark. That was how deeply bewildered the Left Protector was. A young man who had reached the Master Realm at the tender age of twenty-one, and his ultimate solution was to cry, "I'm telling my mom!" like a five-year-old child. No matter how many eccentric figures the Left Protector of the Hao Sect had encountered, he couldn't help but be utterly flabbergasted.

Hieek? Is this guy out of his mind?!

The Young ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Sect Master, eavesdropping from his hiding place, screamed internally. Tang Hwi was, without a doubt, an entirely unpredictable man.

The Yin-Yang Semen did not brainwash or implant behavioral suggestions; rather, it created a powerful, instinctual pull that persisted until the target fully accepted Tang Hwi into her heart and achieved perfect harmony with him. Therefore, Tang Hwi judged that it would take some time for Tang Suryeon, a master of the Transcendental Realm, to completely surrender to its influence.

And sure enough, Tang Suryeon was actively avoiding him, using the busy aftermath of the recent incident as an excuse. This meant Tang Hwi had plenty of time before he could fully claim her as his lover.

To make efficient use of this downtime, Tang Hwi paid a stealthy visit to the Taesang Pavilion.

The Taesang Pavilion. Unlike the four main pavilions that supported the Sichuan Tang Clan, this was where retired Elders and former Patriarchs spent their remaining days, waiting for death. Though they held no official power, their lingering influence could not be ignored. Since the clan was currently in utter chaos and Tang Hwi had secretly erected a barrier around this vast area, no one would notice his intrusion. In the first place, unless summoned by the Patriarch, these old fogies rarely stepped foot outside the Taesang Pavilion. Even amidst the current uproar, they lived leisurely, like Daoist immortals drifting above the clouds.

I must eliminate the parasites that harm my family.

The current chaos was the perfect opportunity to purge them. If he didn't act now, he might never get another chance. Slipping into the Taesang Pavilion under the cover of night, Tang Hwi came face-to-face with one of the Elders.

"Huh? You are..."

Before the Elder could finish his sentence, Tang Hwi lunged forward.

"What?!"

Using the Bow-Body Shadow-Leap, he launched himself almost vertically from where he stood. His fist shot forward like a cannonball, obliterating the Elder's head.

Though the old man managed to react—befitting someone at the early Master Realm—his decrepit, rusted body could not keep up. Tang Hwi, whose physical body had nearly achieved the Vajra Indestructible Body, unleashed a full-power punch that shattered the Elder's skull in a gruesome display. Fragments of bone scattered across the floor as brain matter and blood splattered in every direction.

Having sent one old man to King Yama, Tang Hwi casually shook out his fist and muttered to himself, "One."

Fourteen left to go.