The Tang Family's Resolve
"Thirteen dead. Seven injured."
Tang Hong's report made Tang Myung frown. He lifted his gaze to the ceiling for a long moment.
Only after he had forced down the surge of emotion did he look back at his uncle.
"What are the gathered heroes doing?"
"They remain exactly where they were."
Tang Hong spoke carefully.
"It appears they are waiting for the Family Head to emerge."
Tang Myung was silent for a breath, then rose from his seat.
"And Elder Tang Song?"
"He sustained internal injuries from pushing his qi to the limit."
"No external wounds."
"That is fortunate. Instruct the medical hall to spare no effort."
"They have already begun treatment."
At Tang Hong's reply, Tang Myung began to walk. The Tang Family Town, which had been filled with the clamor of a banquet before the demonic heads appeared, was now deathly quiet.
People stood beneath the tents raised for the feast, watching one another nervously.
They had repelled the demons and claimed victory, yet members of the Tang Family had died.
There was no room for celebration.
Tang Myung swept his gaze across the retainers and drew up his inner energy.
"Attention!"
The voice infused with qi drew every eye. People began to gather around him one by one.
"Today the main house experiences both a joyous occasion and a sorrowful one."
Low groans rose from the crowd at his words.
"Once more we have lost fathers and brothers of this family. But I believe this: those fathers and brothers who left us today must be smiling in their hearts. They protected the family with their own hands. They protected their brothers and their children."
Tang Myung met the eyes of every Tang Family retainer.
"Those who departed today… were surely happy. Because they succeeded in protecting their family, their younger siblings, their children."
"If it was Brother Tang Sol… he would definitely… have been glad."
"That's right… Tang Chung must have died with a smile."
Amid the quiet murmurs, Tang Myung spoke again.
"Do not sink into gloom. Do not grieve. Today is the day the Tang Family showed its will to the world. The day we declared to all under heaven that anyone who invades our house will be slaughtered without exception. Therefore, do not grieve. To grieve would only wound the hearts of those who left us smiling, having given their lives to protect this family."
He continued in a firm voice.
"Today, offer wine to the departed with smiles on your faces. Tell them not to worry about their brothers or their father. Say that I, Tang Myung, will protect the family without fail. Send them off with laughter."
"We will do so."
"We will send them off smiling."
At the crowd's answering cries, Tang Myung declared.
"Any man who does not drink until he is drunk and eat until his belly is full will be severely punished by the Family Head himself."
"You heard the Family Head! Cooks, prepare more dishes! Bring out the wine!"
"Anyone who stays sober will be dragged to the disciplinary hall!"
The retainers forced cheer into their voices and began to recreate a festive atmosphere. Only then did Tang Myung turn and walk away with Tang Hong at his side.
Before long the unit leaders and warriors fell into step behind him.
Led by Tang Myung, the warriors made their way to where the gathered heroes waited.
The crowd had not dispersed. They stood in place, awaiting his arrival.
As Tang Myung approached, every eye turned toward him.
He stopped a short distance away, produced a small sachet, and hung it at his waist.
At the signal, every member of the Tang Family drew out their own sachets and fastened them to their belts.
The gathered heroes frowned and took several steps backward.
"There is no need for concern."
Tang Myung tapped his own sachet lightly.
"Beyond one zhang it is nothing more than an ordinary poison pouch with no effect whatsoever."
The heroes' expressions stiffened. To openly wear poison sacks in their presence was a clear declaration that they were not considered friends.
"Amitabha."
With the Buddhist invocation, an old monk with long white eyebrows stepped forward.
"This old monk feels great relief to see how splendidly Young Master Tang Myung leads the Tang Family."
Tang Myung pressed his palms together and bowed.
"It is an honor to meet Great Master Gak-seong. The house is in disarray; please do not take offense that we could not invite you inside."
The polite greeting brought a gentle smile to the old monk's face.
"Knowing the Tang Family has suffered a great ordeal, how could I possibly take offense?"
Having spoken, Gak-seong glanced toward the Tang Family Town before turning back.
"It is a joyous thing to see the Tang Family rise once more. Amitabha."
"The words 'rise once more' are difficult to accept. There is still a long road ahead."
"As it should be. As it should be. You must build a Tang Family greater and more splendid than before."
At Gak-seong's words, Tang Myung surveyed the gathered heroes.
"The Nine Great Schools, the Five Great Families… and many other sects besides. It seems every faction of note in the martial world is present."
He looked up at the mountain that overlooked the Tang estate.
"And there appear to be those who have yet to descend…"
Tang Myung turned back to the crowd.
"Though many heroes have come, the Tang Family currently faces mourning and cannot receive guests. Please withdraw."
He offered a polite fist salute and bowed. The heroes exchanged glances. Then Mun Sun spoke.
"Since you do not desire our hands, we shall leave. However, this one has a question for the Family Head."
"Speak."
"I am concerned that the Tang Family is using poison and hidden weapons without restraint."
Tang Myung laughed.
"Hahaha!"
His loud laughter twisted the faces of Mun Sun and several other heroes.
"What is so amusing?"
Mun Sun asked through clenched teeth. Tang Myung's smile remained.
"Hearing your words, it seems you refer to the Tang Family's Ten Great Forbidden Poisons and Ten Great Forbidden Weapons."
"That… is correct. Are not the Ten Great Forbidden Poisons and Weapons taboo throughout the martial world? To use such things freely would tarnish the Tang Family's reputation, would it not?"
Tang Myung smiled again.
"The Ten Great Forbidden Poisons and the Ten Great Forbidden Weapons… Do you perhaps know their origin?"
"Origin?"
Mun Sun faltered at the word and glanced at those around him. Unease flickered across the heroes' faces.
A middle-aged expert spoke up.
"Are they not forbidden because they are cruel and vicious?"
Tang Myung looked at the man.
"I greet the Salma Sword, Tae Myeong-ja of the Kongdong Sect."
Seeing Tang Myung treat him with respect, Tae Myeong-ja cleared his throat and returned the salute.
"Tae Myeong-ja of Kongdong greets the Sichuan Tang Family Head, Hero Tang Myung."
Tang Myung nodded and continued.
"My late father once spoke of the Kongdong Sect."
"What did the Thousand-Hand Poison King say?"
"That there are two righteous sects in the world, yet because the world is blind it fails to see their power and looks down on them."
"Two righteous sects? Which are they?"
Tang Myung sighed.
"The Tang Family and the Kongdong Sect."
Tae Myeong-ja's eyes narrowed.
"What sect under heaven would dare look down on our Kongdong?"
Watching the displeased elder, Tang Myung smiled and shook his head.
"It is embarrassing to say with my own mouth, yet… among the Five Great Families the weakest is the Sichuan Tang Clan. Among the Nine Great Schools the weakest is the Kongdong Sect. Is that not the evaluation of the martial world?"
"What nonsense is this!"
Tang Myung smiled at the man who had burst out shouting.
"Will you claim my words are wrong?"
Tae Myeong-ja's face flushed crimson. Yet he could not deny it.
"……"
Tang Myung continued.
"The Kongdong Sect is called the Demon-Subduing School. A truly splendid reputation, subduing demons with demonic methods. However… the martial arts of Kongdong are steeped in killing intent. As the saying goes, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. When facing demonic heads and heretical experts, nothing surpasses the arts of Kongdong."
"Yet someone who knows this still speaks such words?"
"However!"
Tang Myung looked directly at Tae Myeong-ja.
"What about during martial gatherings or sparring matches against fellow orthodox experts?"
"What do you mean?"
When Tae Myeong-ja frowned, Tang Myung smiled and went on.
"If the difference in cultivation is overwhelming, that is one thing. But when late-stage juniors of similar level fight, can Kongdong disciples freely use their sect's supreme techniques? If they unleashed the Demon-Subduing Sword Art carelessly, they would sever the heads of their fellow orthodox juniors, would they not?"
"That is…"
Tae Myeong-ja could not continue. Just as Tang Myung said, during inter-sect sparring or tournaments, Kongdong disciples could not employ their full power.
Most of Kongdong's techniques overflowed with killing intent and lethal moves; they were simply unsuitable for friendly bouts.
"That is why their results in tournament standings have always been poor."
"……"
Looking at the silent elder, Tang Myung continued.
"Yet if the Kongdong Sect were to use their supreme techniques without restraint, who could possibly stop them? Who would dare claim that Kongdong occupies the lowest seat among the Nine Great Schools?"
"Ahem! Ahem! Well… that is true."
Pride flickered across Tae Myeong-ja's face as he spoke. In truth, this was the common belief among all Kongdong disciples.
They could never use their full strength in tournaments or sparring. Naturally their results suffered. Yet they held absolute confidence that if they could unleash their supreme arts freely, they would never be defeated.
"The same is true for the Tang Family. The martial world places us beneath the Namgung, Huangfu, Peng, and Zhuge Clans, yet… during sparring and tournaments the Tang Family has always restricted the use of hidden weapons…"
Tang Myung drew a dagger from his sleeve.
"To this size. Have any of you ever seen us employ tiny, nearly invisible needles such as the Wu Mao Needle during friendly bouts? And as for poison, it goes without saying that we have never used it."
The gathered heroes fell silent. Tang Myung looked at them and continued.
"Moreover, although the Tang Family is famous for hidden weapons and poison, we never use poison in sparring or tournaments. Both Kongdong and the Tang Family fight with both hands tied behind our backs in friendly matches. We possess supreme techniques but cannot use them. That is why my father lamented that both our houses are undervalued by the martial world."
"That… is true."
Tae Myeong-ja unconsciously nodded. Mun Sun quickly interjected.
"Ahem! The important matter right now is not this story about the Tang Family and Kongdong."
Tae Myeong-ja frowned at him.
"This story?"
He stared at Mun Sun.
"Daoist Mun Sun's words are rather strange. Are you saying the evaluation our Kongdong receives from the martial world is justified?"
"That is not what I meant, Tae Myeong-ja."
"Not what you meant… To my ears it sounded exactly as if you were saying the martial world's evaluation of our sect is fair."
At Tae Myeong-ja's cold tone, Mun Sun looked troubled. Though neither had voiced it aloud, even the Kongdong Sect found that evaluation uncomfortable.
They were confident of victory in real combat, yet they could not use lethal techniques in sparring. Therefore their results suffered, and the world labeled them the weakest of the Nine Great Schools.
"Amitabha."
Shaolin's Gak-seong chanted once more and spoke.
"It seems the Tang Family Head has a deeper intention behind his words."
Tang Myung nodded.
"Kongdong refrains from using its supreme techniques in order to avoid injuring the spirit of its orthodox comrades. The Tang Family likewise refrains from using its lethal hidden weapons and poisons for the same reason."
"Amitabha… A truly benevolent heart."
"However…"
Tang Myung glanced at Gak-seong, then turned to Tae Myeong-ja.
"When Kongdong faces not orthodox comrades but wicked beings such as the heretics and demonic path, does it show mercy with its sword?"
"Of course not. Our sect's blade chooses the path of killing one to save a hundred. Against those who would live and shed tears of blood from a hundred others, we subdue demon with demon through the Demon-Subduing Arts."
Pride shone on Tae Myeong-ja's face. The martial world called Kongdong's sword cruel, yet the sect walked that path without hesitation.
Kill one to save a hundred.
Tang Myung nodded at the proud declaration, then looked at the gathered heroes.
"Then what is the problem with the Tang Family using the forbidden weapons and poisons?"
He gestured toward the corpses of the heretic experts.
"Are there any righteous men among them? Furthermore…"
He turned to Shaolin's Gak-seong.
"When experts of the heretic path charged into Shaolin with blades drawn, would you have served them tea?"
"That is… Amitabha."
When Gak-seong could not answer, Mun Sun spoke.
"A taboo exists because there is a reason for it to be taboo. Is the problem not that you have undone that taboo?"
Tang Myung looked at him and smiled.