The Silent Roar of Flames
“Kuek!”>
Tang Cheon-deuk spat blood and collapsed to the ground, his body trembling violently.>
Tang Cheon-deuk glanced around with shaky eyes. There were no surviving elders left.>
The Heavenly Light Demon Master approached him slowly.>
“As the head of the Tang Family, I shall end your life myself.”>
Tang Cheon-deuk placed his hand on the ground to support his weakened body while watching the Demon Master approach with a mocking smile.>
Before him lay the Azure Stone Platform, inlaid with the beautiful black lotus patterns of the Tang Family.>
And there, face-down on the stone, was Tang Cheon-deuk himself.>
The sight of his desperate struggle made the Demon Master chuckle.>
“Indeed. That posture suits you perfectly.”>
Tang Cheon-deuk slowly raised his head and met his gaze with a smile.>
“If the Demonic Cult’s Heavenly Light Demon Master is the Sword Saint of our Tang Family, then it is insufficient.”>
While speaking, he pressed the patterns on the stone slab beneath him one by one. Even from his prone position, the presses were invisible.>
And as his fingers rose above the final pattern, Tang Cheon-deuk looked straight into the Demon Master’s eyes.>
“The Demon Master who stands fourth in the Demonic Cult’s hierarchy.”>
At the words, the Demon Master rushed forward in fury, hand already lifted to strike him down with his palm.>
“Who’s fourth?! I’m third!”>
The moment the Demon Master swung his palm, Tang Cheon-deuk pressed the pattern.>
Clang! Crack!>
And then…>
The Demon Master’s palm struck Tang Cheon-deuk’s head with a resounding thud.>
Boom!>
A smile lingered on Tang Cheon-deuk’s face, even as his head burst apart. In his fading eyes, the blinding flash from the exploding ground below seemed to shine directly into his soul.>
‘Live… live on, Tang Myung…’>
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boom!>
Explosives, hidden weapons, and poisons buried beneath the entire Flying Heaven Pavilion erupted in a split second.>
Kwa-kwa-boom! Boom!>
***>
Urrrllng!>
A sudden, powerful vibration made the Tang Family members instinctively turn their heads, as if guided by an unseen hand.>
Tang Myung, who had been talking with the Intelligence Unit leader, paused to observe the source of the tremor before spotting the disciples.>
The disciples stared at him with anxious eyes. Tang Myung spoke calmly.>
“The elders of our family have passed away.”>
The disciples’ eyes flared red with rage. Tang Myung continued, voice steady.>
“In our current situation, we cannot afford tears. Everyone… hold your grief inside.”>
“Kuek!”>
“Ugh!”>
Tang Myung waved his hand as the disciples tried to stifle their sobs, then stood tall and bowed deeply toward the direction of the family estate.>
“I, Tang Myung, Head of the Sichuan Tang Family, swear here. No matter how many times I must die, I will surely revive the family. And I will not live under the same sky as the Demonic Cult.”>
He bowed once more, then slammed his forehead three times against the ground.>
“The family… will fulfill this oath.”>
The disciples repeated the gesture, their voices firm despite the tears.>
“We will revive the family without fail… and we will not live under the same sky as the Demonic Cult.”>
“Tang Mi-ryeong…”>
“Tang So…”>
“Tang Pai…”>
Every Tang disciple swore the oath with quiet resolve. The elders and head who had once been their grandfathers and fathers… had all perished today.>
Tang Myung rose and addressed the disciples.>
“From this moment, the prohibition on martial arts is lifted. Senior Five should pass down advanced techniques to those disciples with sufficient talent and aptitude.”>
The unit leaders bowed.>
“Yes, Lord.”>
“Yes, Lord.”>
Tang Myung glanced at the Intelligence Unit leader.>
“We will speak again soon.”>
The leader met his eyes.>
“Are you… all right?”>
Tang Myung took a deep breath.>
“I am not. But I must not be. I have disciples to protect.”>
The leader nodded.>
“The family has no branch lineages, unlike other sects. Our only branch is the one in Chengdu.”>
Tang Myung knew this already.>
“Here is the list of those who receive our business ventures.”>
He handed over a thick book from his robes.>
Tang Myung opened it and scanned the names and annual incomes.>
“The Central Plains Express also belongs to us?”>
Tang Myung asked, surprised. The leader nodded.>
“It was established to gather information in the Central Plains.”>
After confirming every entry, Tang Myung returned the book.>
“How many disciples are currently outside the family?”>
“Twenty are traveling in the Central Plains, and ten are Intelligence Unit members.”>
“The Intelligence Unit and disciples must return to the family.”>
“I already issued those orders.”>
Tang Myung nodded.>
“There is one more thing I must ask.”>
The leader glanced aside, where Tang Hong was quietly examining the disciples with his pulse-check method.>
“I wish to recommend Tang Hong as the next Intelligence Unit leader.”>
“Tang Hong uncle?”>
“His loyalty to the Young Family Head is unmatched.”>
The leader raised his sleeve slightly. Tang Myung nodded.>
“I have heard everything my father told me about my past life.”>
“Tang Hong sacrificed himself to protect the Young Family Head.”>
“Are you… not weary of the task?”>
Tang Myung’s question softened the leader’s gaze.>
“We all only wish to serve the family.”>
Tang Myung paused, then asked.>
“If you decide to do so… I will not object.”>
The leader bowed and stood.>
“Now, cultivate.”>
As he left, Tang Myung made his way to the cave’s corner, sat in lotus position, and entered the Great Master of the Three Yang Divine Arts.>
***>
One month later…>
Urrrllng! Urrllng!>
A waterfall cascaded down. A single head slowly emerged from behind the mist.>
Splash! Splash!>
The figure scanned the surroundings, then leaped out and vanished swiftly into the distance.>
Moments later, the same figure reappeared, diving back into the waterfall.>
Beyond the veil, hidden within the rocks, lay the Tang Family’s secret passage.>
“How did it go?”>
Tang Myung asked. The leader paused, then replied.>
“No Demonic Cult experts were visible, but orthodox experts from the family are present.”>
“Orthodox experts? Qingcheng? Amethyst?”>
“No. The experts are from Xingqing Sect, Taeyang Sect, and Guseok Sect in Chengdu.”>
“Why are they here?”>
“The distance is great; I cannot determine their purpose.”>
The leader turned to his subordinates.>
“Search Chengdu and its outskirts. Report back immediately.”>
“Yes, Lord.”>
The units rushed out. Tang Myung thought for a moment.>
“Prepare the disciples for departure.”>
“Understood.”>
The unit leaders dispersed to ready the disciples. Moments later, they returned in haste.>
“The Demonic Cult has withdrawn.”>
“How?”>
“Six of their martial units were wiped out at the family estate. The Heavenly Light Demon Master barely escaped with his life.”>
“What about Qingcheng and Amethyst?”>
“They surrounded us and then left. That is all we know.”>
Tang Myung nodded.>
“We are returning to the family.”>
Anger and grief burned in the disciples’ eyes as they followed Tang Myung out of the tunnel. The avengers of the Tang Family surged behind them.>
***>
At the Tang Family estate, the experts of Xingqing, Taeyang, and Guseok Sects gathered. They had draped cloths over their faces and bodies, hung pots over fires, and boiled water.>
Xingqing Sect Leader Xinghua Zhan eyed his side. Small boxes lay nearby.>
The experts sprinkled a mysterious powder into the boiling water.>
“Is this effective?”>
Taeyang Sect Leader Zhao Huadao nodded.>
“A secret recipe bought with a fortune from a famous medical hall. Mixing the powder with herb decoction supposedly neutralizes the poison.”>
“Even after the Tang Family’s retaliation…”>
Xinghua Zhan’s worried tone made Zhao Huadao chuckle.>
“If you are scared now, just withdraw.”>
Guseok Sect Leader Guseok Muwik smiled.>
“Exactly. Withdraw if you are afraid.”>
Guseok Muwik gazed at the Tang Family estate, now reduced to ashes and charred wood.>
“We do not have time. Bandits will surely come soon, seeking the Tang Family’s treasures.”>
“That is true. Major sects have been eyeing the Tang Family’s medicinal pills, poisons, and hidden weapons, but they have held back out of respect.”>
Zhao Huadao examined the boxes.>
“Do you know what kind of medicinal pills and poisons are inside? And their value?”>
“The Tang Sect has been exterminated, and we are standing this close…”>
Guseok Muwik’s face hardened. Distant figures approached in the distance.>
“S… Sichuan…”>
“Tang Family…”>
“Tang Myung…”>
The faces of Xinghua Zhan and Zhao Huadao turned rigid. And there, leading the group, was…>
“The Silver Dragon of the Heavens… Tang Myung…”>
The sight of the Young Family Head, accompanied by Tang Family warriors, including the strongest expert Tang Jang, made their expressions freeze in shock.>
***>
Step, step, step…>
Tang Myung stared at the charred remains of the Tang Family estate, biting his lip until it bled.>
“Father…”>
“Hu…”>
“Hu… hu…”>
“Our home… our home…”>
“Hu!”>
Tang Myung turned toward the orthodox experts, ignoring the disciples’ cries behind him. His eyes fell on the boxes bearing the Tang Family’s lotus emblem.>
“Thieves…”>
Tang Myung spoke coldly.>
“Xinghua Zhan, Zhao Huadao, Guseok Muwik… cut off their heads. And the Visa Unit, Pyeonbok Unit, and Cheonbi Unit—bring me the heads of the three sects’ direct disciples.”>
“Yes, Lord!”>
With a roar, the three units charged toward Chengdu. The remaining martial units—Milyeong Unit and Manmu Unit—advanced toward them.>
Xinghua Zhan and Zhao Huadao bowed hurriedly.>
“Young Master Tang, this is a misunderstanding…”>
“That is correct. We are here only to assist after learning of the Tang Family’s tragedy.”>
Tang Myung’s gaze remained cold.>
“Your explanations…”>
He looked at the burning Tang Clan Castle.>
“Deliver them to my father. Kill them.”>
The Milyeong and Manmu experts rushed forward.>
Papa-pat!>
In an instant, the Milyeong Unit’s hidden weapons flew. The Manmu warriors charged at the three sect leaders behind them.>
The three sect leaders fell like skewers, pierced by the hidden weapons of a single Tang Family martial disciple.>
Even the leader of a great sect was no match for one of the Tang Family’s Second-class warriors.>
“Hah… run!”>
“Escape!”>
The experts panicked and fled, but the Tang Family masters were not the ones to miss them. The Tang Family needed someone to vent their rage on. Thieves who had stolen from a burned family estate were more than enough targets.