A Lingering Sting in the Aftermath
The sting of the poison’s bite was still fresh in Tang Myung’s bones as he examined Man Song.
“When exactly did you lay the poison needles?”
Tang Myung had no idea he had been poisoned, so the shock and embarrassment left him forgetting his usual formal deference.
“Poison needles are not limited to throwing or shooting.”
As he spoke, Tang Myung flicked his fingers lightly.
Whoosh!
The needles buried in the ground were sucked into his hand. Then he looked at Man Song.
“You must have been careless. There is no poison on these. Step back.”
At the words, Man Song stared at him, sighed, and shook his head.
“No.”
Man Song sighed again, moved beside Yuji Cheong, and shook his head. Seeing this, Yuji Cheong spoke up.
“Careless… that’s all? Moreover, it was a trap.”
“I was not careless. I… prepared defenses against poison and needles and moved accordingly. However… I simply failed to pay attention to the soles of my feet. I never considered that someone would lay needles in the meantime.”
“Then be careful next time.”
“Next time I will use a different poison. It will only bring more shame.”
Tang Myung looked at Man Song while speaking.
“Uncle Hong said the Tang Family’s poisons are not in needles but in hearts. Indeed, his word is law.”
“I am grateful for the acknowledgment.”
“However… did you spread the poison powder?”
“I did not.”
“Why not?”
“Normally one guards against poison entering through breathing. I assumed you, Man Song Great Hero, would prepare against poison powder. So I laid the needles where one could step.”
“How did you guess the positions where one could step?”
At Man Song’s question, Tang Myung smiled. When Man Song did not answer, he turned and stood there a moment.
“My lord, please leave.”
“Leave?”
“I have something to say.”
Tang Myung looked at him.
“May I spend the day in Chengdu today and return tomorrow?”
“Very well.”
Seeing Tang Myung agree so readily, Man Song glanced at Yuji Cheong, who nodded and walked away.
The moment Yuji Cheong was gone, Tang Hong appeared from the shadows.
Tang Hong stood in the Bicheon Unit uniform and said, “Shall I send the Milyeong Unit to keep watch?”
“It is unnecessary.”
“What if he runs?”
“It does not matter.”
Tang Myung looked at Tang Hong.
“Are the poisons and needles sufficient?”
“From the two bases we have already retrieved more poisons and needles.”
At Tang Hong’s words, Tang Myung nodded and suddenly leaped.
Tatatat!
Kicking lightly against the ground, he climbed the watchtower built in Tang Family Town and gazed down at the village below.
Tang Family Town now boasted many new buildings.
“A week will see both Tang Family Town and the main manor completed.”
Tang Myung nodded at Tang Hong’s words.
Two full seasons had passed since the Sichuan Tang Family burned. Throughout that time they had worked hard to rebuild.
While Tang Myung surveyed the village, Tang Hong spoke.
“What will you do if Yuji Family Head comes?”
“I will accept his apology.”
“Will you?”
“If not… we will fight.”
Tang Myung stood there a moment before saying, “Actually, the name of the Five Great Families is unnecessary for us now. It is better for the main family to let go of what it cannot protect and focus on building our core.”
“Why?”
“The world will naturally push the main family beyond the Five Great Families. I will accept that. If the world sees the Tang Family as weak… I can accept it. However…”
Tang Myung looked down at Tang Family Town. Even in the deepening dusk, lanterns still burned in several places.
It was late at night, yet a few Tang Family warriors and carpenters still worked by torchlight, completing construction.
They worked day and night to restore the original appearance of the Tang Family as soon as possible.
“Force cannot be used to push the main family out. Once the world sees the Tang Family being pushed, countless wolves will come to devour our poisons, elixirs, and needles. The Tang Family is the Sichuan Tang Family. When needles fall, we will bite with our teeth. When teeth are pulled out, we will grab with our hands. And when hands are severed, we will sweep with our feet.”
Tang Myung’s cold and ruthless words caused Tang Hong to bow deeply.
“I, Tang Hong Family Head, shall become the teeth, the hands, and the feet of the main family.”
“You must. All the retainers of the main family must become the teeth of the Sichuan Tang Family.”
“Of course. Every retainer shall become the teeth of the Tang Family.”
At Tang Hong’s words, Tang Myung nodded and climbed down from the watchtower.
***
The next morning Yuji Cheong returned to the Tang Family alone.
Behind him came dozens of carts.
“What is this?”
“A repayment of the debt I owe.”
Yuji Cheong pointed at the carts and continued, “And an expression of my apology.”
Tang Myung watched as Yuji Cheong hesitated a moment before speaking.
“Send them. I will tell my father… and tell the Wulin that the main family bows to the Tang Family. Do not speak of it.”
“Your father will punish you severely.”
Tang Myung’s words, which knew Yuji Dan-il’s personality well, made Yuji Cheong shake his head.
“My father, no, the entire Wulin is mistaken. The Tang Family is not a wounded deer but a wounded tiger.”
Yuji Cheong glanced at Tang Family Town.
“Anyone who touches the Tang Family now must be prepared to face extinction. No matter how necessary the name of the Five Great Families is, the main family has no intention of becoming the first to be pushed out.”
Tang Myung looked at him and said, “If persuasion fails, I will take you.”
“I will persuade him. It is my responsibility as the Young Family Head.”
To prevent the main family from shedding blood because of what he had done, Yuji Cheong’s words made Tang Myung nod.
“Do that.”
“I am leaving.”
As Yuji Cheong turned, the Sword Ho and Man Song appeared beside him.
“I have been rude to both of you.”
Tang Myung bowed his head. The Sword Ho and Man Song returned the bow.
Then the Sword Ho looked at the Tang Family and said, “The former Family Head will be at ease.”
“Not yet.”
At Yuji Cheong’s words, the Sword Ho rose and said, “Let us go, Sword Ho-nim.”
At Yuji Cheong’s words, the Sword Ho nodded, mounted his horse, and the three rode off northward without another glance at Tang Myung.
***
Clop-clop! Clop-clop!
Riding swiftly northward, the Sword Ho glanced at Yuji Cheong.
“According to what Tang Myung said…”
“Call me Family Head.”
The Sword Ho looked at him once before continuing, “The Family Head will be greatly displeased.”
“What I said is the truth. I will not let the main family shed blood over matters that bring no benefit. That is the Young Family Head’s duty.”
“Instead, the Young Family Head will shed blood.”
At Man Song’s words, Yuji Cheong bit his lip and said, “Protecting the Young Family Head… is my duty as his personal guard.”
The Sword Ho watched the two of them and said, “You seem troubled by the Tang Family.”
The question was not precise, yet Yuji Cheong understood its meaning.
“What I saw of the Tang Family… is a tiger and a lion crouched low, ready to bite and draw blood. The moment anyone touches them, their fangs will sink into the opponent’s throat in an instant.”
Yuji Cheong glanced once more toward the Tang Family and spoke again.
“Even if it is a final desperate struggle.”
Yuji Cheong shook his head.
“The Wulin is mistaken. The Tang Family does not struggle to survive; they suppress their resentment and build their strength to repay the grudge.”
“Gratitude tenfold… resentment a hundredfold…”
Man Song muttered the most representative phrase used to describe the Sichuan Tang Family. Yuji Cheong nodded.
“A hundredfold resentment… that is why the Wulin avoids making enemies with the Sichuan Tang Family. When a grudge is born, no matter how much blood flows, the price of blood will always be paid.”
As he spoke, Yuji Cheong let out a small sigh.
Ha!
Seeing the deep sigh, Man Song looked at him and said, “Until the moment I die, I will keep you safe.”
At Man Song’s words, Yuji Cheong clicked his tongue.
“An inspiring reassurance… it is comforting.”
Saying he would apologize to the Tang Family to Yuji Dan-il… the thought began to frighten him.
***
In front of Tang Family Town, red banners and lanterns hung everywhere. The site had been prepared to celebrate the new buildings rising again after the bloodbath of spring.
At the entrance of Tang Family Town, Tang Myung and the retainers stood watching the completed structures. Their eyes shone with emotion as they gazed at the buildings.
Tang Myung also looked at the structures, then slowly entered Tang Family Town. More than two thousand people followed.
The once-ruined, burned areas now held gleaming new buildings.
Walking through the streets, Tang Myung and the retainers soon arrived at the main manor located at the center of Tang Family Town.
Compared to the previous Sichuan Tang Family, the manor was on a far smaller scale.
Yet… to the eyes of the Tang Family people, it was an extremely joyful and proud manor.
Because…
“**Sichuan Tang Family**”
A plaque bearing the characters “Sichuan Tang Family” hung proudly in bold flying-dragon script inside the manor.
Tang Myung quietly studied the Sichuan Tang Family buildings and then looked at the retainers.
“We will not hold a ceremony. For us, the lingering grudge and revenge are greater than any celebration. However, for the next two days, eat and drink to your hearts’ content.”
“Wow!”
“Waa!”
At the retainers’ cheers, Tang Myung looked toward the King Great Person.
The King Great Person stood in fine ceremonial robes, smiling.
“Food and wine should be sufficient.”
“Hahaha! Do not worry. All the wine from Chengdu has been moved to Tang Family Town, and every wine tavern in Chengdu is closed today and tomorrow. Hahaha! All the chefs who must prepare food are here. How can they do business?”
At the King Great Person’s words, Tang Myung bowed and looked at the people.
“Enjoy the banquet to your heart’s content.”
At Tang Myung’s words, the retainers cheered louder. Tang Myung entered the Sichuan Tang Family so that the retainers could eat, drink, and rest comfortably without worrying about him.
Inside the Tang Clan Castle, Tang Hong and the leaders of the four major units gathered around him.
“We must remain vigilant.”
“All the members of the Five Units are on standby.”
At Tang Mi-ryeong’s words, Tang Myung nodded.
“We have not informed the outside world, but everyone knows the main family is holding a banquet. Those with grudges will attempt to strike today and tomorrow. There is no day better for unrestrained violence than a feast day.”
“We have already prepared sufficiently.”
Tang Myung nodded at Tang Mi-ryeong’s words and looked outside where the sounds of the banquet rang.
“Aunt, in what situation do you think we would be most disadvantaged?”
After a moment of thought, Tang Mi-ryeong said, “Because the Yuji Family formally apologized to the main family, the Wulin is watching the main family’s strength.”
Tang Myung nodded. Yuji Cheong had kept his promise and persuaded Yuji Dan-il to formally apologize on behalf of the Sichuan Tang Family.
The Wulin was surprised by the Sichuan Tang Family’s power. The Sichuan Tang Family, which had suffered severe damage when the Tang Clan Castle burned, had suppressed the Yuji Family.
“There will surely come those who bear a grudge against the main family.”
Tang Myung’s words were continued by Tang Mi-ryeong.
“The most worrying aspect… is the arrival of former elders.”
Tang Myung looked at her. Tang Mi-ryeong sighed and said, “Even first-class experts at the hundred, two-hundred, and three-hundred levels are intimidating, yet with the Tang Family’s needles we can handle them. If hundreds of warriors have already been repelled from the main family, we can surely display our prestige. However… if a small number of elders arrive and we cannot withstand their martial might… it will be disastrous.”
Tang Myung sighed and nodded at Tang Mi-ryeong’s words.
What concerned him most was exactly this: a small number of absolute experts arriving and causing havoc…
‘Uncle Jang must climb the wall and come out soon…’
Tang Jang, who had closed the doors to train alone against his own wall, needed his martial strength.
The martial strength of the Tang Family’s greatest expert.