A Filial Son
With the members of the Taesang Pavilion completely wiped out, the strongest masters of the clan were Tang Suryeon, who had reached the Transcendental Realm, along with Tang Sua, the Head of the Dark Poison Pavilion, and Tang Bun, the Head of the Eunwon Pavilion, both of whom were in the Master Realm.
Under the luxurious protection of these three acting as his dharma protectors, Tang Hwi calmly integrated his newfound enlightenment.
Reaching the Late Master Realm was synonymous with mastering the ultimate heights of martial arts achievable by a mortal. Having filled the void at the end of his Heavenly Demonic Dragon Scale Dance by completing it with the Holy Poison, Tang Hwi successfully ascended to the Late Master Realm.
There is still enlightenment remaining. If he wished, he could even shatter the barrier leading to the Transcendental Realm right now. The vast accumulation of experience from his past lives was more than enough to break through that wall.
However, he chose to delay it. No matter how rich his mental experience was, the physical experience engraved upon his current flesh was still lacking. The essence, technique, and body had to achieve perfect unity, but his physical vessel was not yet ready to sustain the Transcendental Realm.
If he ignored this and forced his way into the Transcendental Realm, he would inevitably face a massive, insurmountable wall in the future. Moreover, he was surrounded not only by his dharma protectors but also by numerous members of the Tang Clan Tower. It would be impossible to silence them all. If a youth of his age were to reach the Transcendental Realm, he would constantly be targeted and kept in check by rival factions from all directions.
I will use this enlightenment to perfect my body first. He would bring his incomplete Vajra Body to absolute mastery. Like an impregnable fortress, he would become a Vajra Guardian, protecting his family from any irresistible, tyrannical forces.
As if his physical vessel was responding to his resolve, a brilliant, five-colored, heavy wave of true qi erupted from Tang Hwi's entire body, beginning to swirl violently around him.
The pinnacle of the Master Realm. Witnessing the phenomenon of the Five Qi Converging to the Origin—a state achieved only upon reaching the Late Master Realm—Tang Bun, the Head of the Eunwon Pavilion, showed a rare look of astonishment.
"My word... The Five Qi Converging to the Origin. My nephew's growth is truly terrifying. This is a great blessing for the Tang Clan. Congratulations, Patriarch."
Tang Bun was Tang Suryeon's half-brother, but he and Tang Sua were full siblings born of the same mother. While offering his congratulations to Tang Suryeon, he nudged his sister, Tang Sua, in the ribs with his elbow to snap her out of her daze.
"Sua, what are you doing? I know Yuseong's choice is tragic, but a great blessing has befallen our clan. How can you just stand there silently?"
Startled by Tang Bun's sound transmission, Tang Sua quickly pulled herself together and offered her congratulations. "...My congratulations as well, Patriarch."
"My thanks to both the Head of the Eunwon Pavilion and the Head of the Dark Poison Pavilion."
Receiving the congratulations of her half-siblings, Tang Suryeon watched Tang Hwi as he harmonized the five-colored light into a single, unified force.
Vrooooom. The spectacle of the multicolored lights beautifully embroidering the air as they merged was a magnificent sight to behold. Soon, the colors coalesced into a single entity, gradually turning pitch-black. Watching this, the collateral members of the Tang Clan Tower gasped in continuous admiration.
"Ah... How beautiful."
"The color of his true qi looks like highly pure obsidian. It is pitch-black."
"It is not completely pitch-black. Since it is a poison art, it is a black hue with a subtle green shimmer."
Looking at Tang Hwi, whose aura appeared pitch-black due to his pure Demonic Qi yet carried a faint green shimmer from his poison arts, someone murmured:
"The Black Tortoise... Doesn't he look just like the Black Tortoise, one of the Four Guardian Beasts mentioned in the Huainanzi?"
"The Black Tortoise... Isn't that the legendary beast that is a fusion of a tortoise and a serpent? Come to think of it, I believe it was said to be black."
"The name fits perfectly. 'Hyeon' meaning black, and 'Mu' meaning martial—together, they make Hyeonmu, the Black Tortoise. It is the perfect title for Young Master Tang Hwi right now."
"Then he shall be called Squire Black Tortoise."
While the collateral members of the Tang Clan Tower debated his title, Tang Hwi successfully completed his transition into the Late Master Realm. Finally opening his eyes, he rose from his seat, clasped his hands in a polite martial salute, and bowed.
"Thank you for acting as my dharma protectors, Patriarch. My gratitude also goes to the two Pavilion Heads."
"Indeed. How does it feel to have reached the Late Master Realm?"
"It has made me realize once again just how narrow-minded of a person I was."
"...Hm?"
Reaching the Late Master Realm at the mere age of twenty-one was a talent that fully justified immense pride. Moreover, having just broken through, it would be entirely natural for him to display some arrogance, as the intoxicating sense of omnipotence usually took time to subside.
Yet, contrary to expectations, Tang Hwi's remarkably humble attitude deeply surprised not only Tang Suryeon but also the siblings Tang Sua and Tang Bun standing beside her. This meant that Tang Hwi had already mastered that sense of omnipotence, anchoring his mind firmly without letting it waver.
"An apology belongs to the heart of the victim, and harboring resentment is their natural right. By ignoring that and forcing forgiveness in such a manner, I realized just how narrowly I was viewing the world."
Watching Tang Hwi, who wore an expression resembling a high monk who had attained nirvana, the three of them fell silent. Just as they wondered if he had somehow gained a twisted enlightenment—
Thud.
Tang Hwi suddenly dropped to one knee and called out.
"Patriarch. Having reached the Master Realm at the age of twenty-one and elevated the clan's honor, I would like to make a single request."
"W-What is it?"
As Tang Hwi's burning gaze locked onto her, Tang Suryeon trembled, instantly recalling the look in his eyes when he had ravished her.
Could he possibly be about to ask for something lewd in a place like this? Is he planning to openly humiliate and degrade me now that he has brought such glory to the Tang Clan?
Normally, she would have maintained an iron-clad composure, her mind as calm as still water. However, having just comforted Tang Sua by saying that parents are always on their children's side, her emotions were already in a state of flux. In this vulnerable state, she found herself completely overwhelmed by the very gaze Tang Hwi wore when he dominated her body.
She, who had only been 'pretending' to be a victim, had now brainwashed herself into believing she was a 'real victim.' While Tang Suryeon's baseless, wild delusions ran rampant, Tang Hwi finally got to the point.
"Please appoint me as the Young Patriarch!"
"N-No, you can't!"
"?"
"?"
"..."
"..."
A heavy silence descended. No one could utter a single word.
After wrapping up the situation and returning to the Patriarch's Pavilion, Tang Suryeon wished she could find a hole to crawl into and die.
Though she was alone in her room with no one to see her, her face was flushed so red it practically radiated heat. She felt like thrashing around in sheer, agonizing embarrassment.
A mother, of all people, had fantasized about being ravished by her own son, leading her to blurt out something entirely inappropriate for the situation. Naturally, no one else understood the true meaning behind her outburst. Unless they could crawl inside her mind, who could possibly guess?
"Uggghhh...!"
Throwing a tantrum completely unbefitting her age, she stomped her feet before throwing herself onto her bed.
Her custom-made qipao—designed to look elegant while accentuating her feminine weapons—creased and wrinkled, but she was in no state to care. Utterly betraying her dignified attire, she kicked her legs ungracefully, sending the blankets flying. It was as if she had regressed to her youth, back when she was a blushing maiden radiating a rosy, girlish aura.
Tang Suryeon was well aware of how ridiculously childish she was acting. But she couldn't help it; the shame was erupting from deep within her like an active volcano.
A mother who, while her son asked to be named the Young Patriarch, fantasized about him ravishing her and accidentally screamed "No!" in response. Where on earth could one find such a vulgar, depraved mother?
If only I could turn back time. Just one day... No, back to the day I parted ways with Namgung Bu-ryun...
Though it was only a fleeting thought, wanting to turn back time to just a day ago meant she didn't actually find sleeping with Tang Hwi all that unpleasant. Tang Suryeon desperately tried to deny this.
Yet, the very fact that she had to deny it so desperately... She could feel it herself. Her heart was gradually leaning toward Tang Hwi. Otherwise, there was no way such a ridiculous response would have slipped out of her mouth in a public setting. At this point, denial was no longer an option.
Barely managing to compose herself, she rose from the bed.
"Whew. Still, I need to handle today's work first..."
"Mother, you're finally up."
Freeze.
She froze mid-motion. It was an awkward, half-risen posture that would make anyone look like a stone statue. Her legs were bent at an uncomfortable angle, putting immense strain on her thighs, but as a martial artist, she remained absolutely motionless as if it required no effort at all.
Just when had he entered her room? Moreover, hadn't she just been squealing like a little girl and kicking the blankets? Her tomboyish antics from her youth had completely slipped out.
To have her childish, immature side witnessed by her child—and her son, who was also her lover, no less?
I... I want to die.
Yet, as if to prove that false hope is the cruelest torture, even though her Transcendental Realm senses fully grasped the reality, she couldn't let go of her last shred of hope. Praying for even a one-in-a-million chance that he had only just arrived, she asked:
"Hwi... Did you... see anything?"
"Well, since you were kicking the blankets so hard, Mother, I got a very clear view of your undergarments."
"Kyaaaaah!"
Ultimately defeated by her overwhelming shame, Tang Suryeon let out a cute shriek and dove back under the blankets.