The Uninvited Guests
On the mountain overlooking the Sichuan Tang Family, a gathering of Jianghu warriors stood in silence. They wore a variety of attire, but beneath the surface tension, their gazes remained fixed on the Tang Family estate far below.
Though some were righteous cultivators and others wicked, no one dared speak. The air itself felt heavy with unspoken rivalry.
Among them stood the top disciple of Qingcheng Sect, Jeong Myeong. His eyes were fixed on the Tang Family as if lost in thought.
‘Tang Myung… truly impressive. Rebuilding an entire family estate like that…’
Jeong Myeong could not help but feel admiration for the young man who had achieved such a feat. If it had happened to Qingcheng instead, could he have rebuilt it so swiftly? Yet the thought quickly faded. All his elders and sect leaders were gone; how could he possibly lead the clan to victory?
At the same time, regret gnawed at his chest. He had not personally come to the family event to extend genuine congratulations and now stood hidden, watching from afar. He was ashamed.
‘I should have been more proactive back then… I’m sorry.’
A deep sigh escaped him as he surveyed the crowd. The mountain summit was packed; even the narrow paths leading up were filled to capacity. Those who could not bear the crowding perched on the highest tree branches, still watching the Tang Family estate below.
These warriors had come from every major sect and faction—righteous and demonic alike—drawn by the same curiosity: what hidden strength lay beneath the Tang Family’s return?
The list included the Five Great Sects, the Twelve Branch Sects, mid-level clans from Chengdu, and even some Demonic Cult remnants. Among them, many bore old grudges against the Tang Family. Their numbers were not few.
After years of being suppressed, these former enemies had finally stepped forward.
Jeong Myeong glanced sideways at Mun Sun.
“Senior Mun.”
“We cannot intervene.” Mun Sun’s voice was firm, decisive.
Jeong Myeong hesitated, then looked at him again.
“Tang Myung no longer considers you a friend.”
“…”
“Moreover, the Tang Family has not extended any formal invitation to the Jianghu.”
Mun Sun clicked his tongue softly. That was why so many forces had gathered here uninvited.
Normally, such a grand event would require formal invitations from each sect. The Tang Family had not bothered.
“In truth, if the Tang Family fails to display its true power today, we will have to tear it apart piece by piece in the future.”
A faint smile touched Mun Sun’s lips. He still remembered the humiliation he had endured at the hands of the Tang Family long ago.
Jeong Myeong sighed quietly, then turned his gaze toward the estate below.
‘Tang Myung… you must grow your friends and reduce your enemies.’
“Oh?”
Mun Sun’s curious voice drew Jeong Myeong’s attention. The warrior’s eyes were fixed on something in the distance below the mountain.
In that direction, a group of thirty riders was galloping straight toward them.
The moment the warriors saw them coming, they surged forward.
Pa-pa-pat! Pa-pat!
Hundreds of warriors began descending the mountain in a rush. Most of them carried old grudges against the Tang Family.
Wherever someone moved, others followed.
***
“Young Master, thirty riders are approaching the main estate.”
Tang Hong’s report pulled Tang Myung’s gaze toward the mountain. He already knew a large group had gathered there. The Milyeong Unit had not failed to report it.
“How do they look?”
“They have begun descending as well.”
Tang Myung turned to Tang Mi-ryeong.
“Thirty riders heading to the main estate… this does not bode well.”
Before he finished speaking, a Milyeong Unit member approached Tang Hong and handed him a piece of paper.
Tang Hong’s expression hardened as he passed it to Tang Myung.
“These are the arriving parties.”
Tang Myung scanned the list and frowned.
“The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord, the Five Poison Demons, the Spear Demon, the Five Superior Demons… and so on.”
The names were those of famous old enemies who had once pursued the Tang Family.
“Among them, the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord is close to the Gang Qi Materialization realm.”
Tang Myung paused, then asked,
“What about the others?”
“Most of the unit leaders can handle one or two of them. But the number of Peak experts is… high.”
“If we send out all our First-class and Peak experts, we can wipe them out. The problem is the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord.”
“The problem is that he might escape.”
“Exactly. We must end this here. If he flees, it will only cause more trouble.”
Tang Myung’s voice was cold. The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord would have much to complain about.
“Please deliver an order to Elder Tang Song. Also send any necessary throwing weapons and poisons.”
“Should we not summon Unit Leader Tang Jang?”
“For something of this scale, calling the Unit Leader would be wasteful. We must handle the larger matters ourselves.”
Tang Hong bowed deeply.
“Understood.”
“Then prepare.”
With those words, Tang Myung stepped out of the Tang Clan Castle, followed by the unit leaders.
***
In front of Tang Family Town, thirty riders stood in a neat line. In their midst sat an elderly man whose white hair and white robes gave him the appearance of an immortal. He gazed down at the town with calm eyes.
“The place has changed greatly since the last time I was here.”
The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord’s voice was heavy. Spear Demon, holding an iron whip, smiled and replied.
“They were burned to the ground, weren’t they?”
Spear Demon looked at Tang Family Town with a hint of regret.
“If it had been consumed by raging flames, that would have been quite the sight. A shame.”
“Don’t worry! I will show you that sight again today!”
Among the five short-statured elders, the bald, sinister-looking Five Poison Demon sneered. The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord nodded in agreement.
“Even if the elders and Tang Cheon-deuk are dead, the Tang Family’s poison remains as potent as ever.”
The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord’s concern made the Five Poison Demon nod.
“It was the Tang Family’s poison that caused us to be pursued. Our own poison surpasses theirs, and yet they dared to try to kill us!”
“So you no longer fear their poison? What about the Top Ten Gold Poison?”
The Five Poison Demon hesitated, then answered.
“Top Ten Gold Poison cannot be used casually.”
“If necessary, it can still be employed.”
“Hmph. In any case, worry not about the poison.”
Tang Myung stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the riders.
“They are coming out.”
The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord leaned forward and studied the scene. Through his eyes, the Tang Family warriors could be seen emerging from the town.
***
Tang Myung rode toward the thirty riders, accompanied by the warriors. As distance closed, he scanned them with a cold gaze.
“Those who came with ill intent will receive no hospitality. If you wish to die, come in.”
Tang Myung’s words stunned the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord’s face.
“A-haha… is that how it is? Is this a declaration of war?”
“You cannot have come with good intentions toward the main estate, can you?”
“Correct.”
“Then I will extend you the proper courtesy. What business does the main estate have? The main estate currently does not accept outsiders. I apologize, but I must ask you to leave. If you do, there will be no trouble.”
“There is no need. I crossed the entire Central Plains just to see the grand fireworks the Tang Family promised.”
“Then there is no reason to be polite.”
As Tang Myung spoke, he glanced sideways.
“Pyeonbok Unit Leader. If you refuse to withdraw, I will kill every last one of you.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Tang Mi-ryeong answered and charged forward, leading the Pyeonbok warriors.
Twenty-five Pyeonbok warriors hurled themselves at the enemy. The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord turned to Tang Myung.
“They came without knowing our identities… and yet they charge?”
“Good people do not come; those who come are not good.”
Tang Myung’s cold words made the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! If that is how you intend to kill, what is the difference between us?”
“Those who seek to harm the main estate are no better than devils themselves.”
The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord’s laughter grew even louder.
“Hahaha! Tang Cheon-deuk really left behind an incredible man with a sharp tongue.”
Tang Myung and the warriors behind him were watching. The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord studied them with a faint smile.
“I can guess who you are… but can thirty people stop us?”
Tang Myung looked at the ten demonic riders accompanying the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord.
“You…”
Tang Myung examined each rider one by one, then spoke.
“Can you truly confront the main estate, the Sichuan Tang Family?”
The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord’s cold gaze swept over the Tang Family warriors. More than a hundred stood behind Tang Myung, yet the number of Peak experts among them was small; most were First-class masters.
In contrast, the ten riders with him were all veterans who had long since entered the Peak realm.
The Thousand Mountain Demon Lord raised his hand lightly.
“You have spoken much with the dead.”
With that, his body shot forward like an arrow toward Tang Myung.
“Kill them all!”
“Kahaha! Today I will make a necklace of the Tang Family’s heads!”
“Hahaha! I will string their skulls on my spear like fish!”
The demonic riders spurred their horses forward with cruel grins.
Some horses screamed as their spines snapped and they collapsed.
Hiiiiik!
“Kahaha!”
Tang Hong moved instantly to block the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord’s charge.
“Elder Tang Song.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Tang Song appeared from nowhere and shot toward the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord like lightning.
“Thousand Mountain Demon Lord!”
“Kaha! I thought all the Tang Family old men were dead! Looks like there’s still one old fool left!”
The two collided mid-air with a thunderous clash.
Pa-pa-pat! Pa-pat!
Cha-cha-cha-ching!
The sound of metal rang out as the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord deflected the barrage of throwing weapons Tang Song unleashed. He retreated in a flash.
“This madman! Using the Golden Butterfly Flower!”
The Golden Butterfly Flower was one of the top ten throwing weapons of the Sichuan Tang Family.
“I created it to be used! Why can’t you just let it be?”
Tang Song’s hand now held a golden butterfly-like throwing weapon. He waved it, and small golden butterflies sprang from the flower.
Pa-da-da-dat! Pa-da-dat!
The butterflies chased after the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord with sharp wing sounds.
“This madman!”
Purple powder bloomed in the air behind the Thousand Mountain Demon Lord, following the butterflies’ flight.
The Golden Butterfly Flower had become one of the Tang Family’s ten forbidden weapons not only for its power but also for the poison it contained. The poison seeped out with each wingbeat and was golden poison—the Gold Poison that rendered inner energy unusable once absorbed.