The Silver Dragon's Warning
The hall fell silent as all eyes turned to Tang Myung.
Tang Cheon-deuk spoke first.
“Do you understand what that means? It is to disregard the justice and chivalry of our house and to abandon our blood oath.”
“The Demonic Cult is using a diversionary tactic, Father.”
“A diversion?”
“They intend to strike Qingcheng and Emei in order to draw us out.”
Tang Myung added further explanation. Because the Tang Family’s poisons favored the defender, the Demonic Cult would try to lure them outside the estate.
“If we march out, their experts will be lying in ambush.”
“Correct.”
Tang Myung nodded and met Tang Cheon-deuk’s gaze.
“You were planning to send the Visa Unit and the Pyeonbok Unit as reinforcements.”
“How did you know?”
“With Uncle Tang Jang present, even the Demonic Cult’s supreme experts could be handled. With Aunt Tang Mi-ryeong there, even a great number of enemies could be countered by her Myriad Blossoms Rain.”
Tang Cheon-deuk studied his son for a moment, then nodded.
“You have grown.”
The Tang clansmen turned to look at Tang Myung.
He continued.
“Once the Visa Unit and Pyeonbok Unit leave the main house, the Demonic Cult will move their main force in secret and launch a surprise attack.”
“The Visa Unit and Pyeonbok Unit are strong.”
At Tang Jang’s words, Tang Myung clasped his hands and bowed his head.
“As a disciple of the main house, how could I not know their strength? But the enemy is the Demonic Cult. If the Black Wind Unit and Blood Fiend Unit move together…”
Tang Jang’s eyes narrowed.
The Demonic Cult was a single power that had once fought the entire martial world.
Even as the Tang Family’s strongest expert, he could not face the leaders of two Demonic Cult units at once.
A surprise attack would make it even more dangerous. Poison only reached its full effect when prepared in advance; if used in haste, its power was halved.
“Can they move their main force while still surrounding Qingcheng and Emei?” Tang Mi-ryeong asked.
Tang Myung answered.
“If the Demonic Cult maintains the encirclement, our house will focus on defense and wait for reinforcements. We will not take a single step outside the estate.”
Tang Cheon-deuk pondered, then spoke.
“You are right.”
“Qingcheng and Emei will do the same. They will rely on their formations and mountain gates to defend and will find it difficult to divert their main forces.”
“So their true target is us.”
“Once our two units are gone, the Demonic Cult’s main force will come straight for the estate. Our house is the hardest place for them to deal with during an invasion, so they plan to eliminate us first with this diversion.”
Tang Jang spoke.
“Then Qingcheng and Emei will strike their rear.”
“They will not,” Tang Myung said with a sigh.
Tang Jang frowned.
“According to you, Qingcheng and Emei will watch our house fall into crisis and do nothing. They are not such petty men.”
“It is not because they are petty, but because they will have justification.”
“Justification?”
“The Demonic Cult will leave part of their force at Qingcheng and Emei while sending their main army against us. Qingcheng and Emei will then have the excuse that they must deal with the Demonic Cult and cannot come to our aid.”
Tang Jang looked to Tang Cheon-deuk. After a moment of thought, the Family Head spoke.
“But all of this is mere speculation. Moreover, if we do not march out, Qingcheng and Emei will remain in danger. If we abandon our sworn allies in their hour of need, the martial world will brand our house as cowards.”
He turned to the senior experts.
“The Young Family Head’s words have merit, yet we are the Sichuan Tang Family. We cannot stand by while our blood allies are in peril. Is there anyone who shares the Young Family Head’s opinion?”
Tang Hong clasped his hands and bowed.
“Bicheon Unit Leader Tang Hong believes there is merit in the Young Family Head’s words.”
Though Tang Hong had supported him, Tang Myung already knew the outcome.
“Anyone else besides the Bicheon Unit Leader?”
“The Young Family Head’s words have merit, but we are the Sichuan Tang Family. We must rescue Qingcheng and Emei.”
At Tang Jang’s words, the other experts nodded.
Tang Cheon-deuk spoke.
“We will send sixty experts in total—the Visa Unit, the Pyeonbok Unit, and ten elders from the Elder Hall.”
Concern flickered across Tang Myung’s face.
It has changed.
In the previous timeline, only fifty experts from the two units had been dispatched. This time, ten elders had been added.
Tang Cheon-deuk had found merit in his words and strengthened the force.
After a brief pause, Tang Myung clasped his hands and bowed.
“I will go as well.”
“You? According to your own words, this rescue force is marching into a death trap.”
“That is precisely why I must go.”
Tang Myung met his father’s eyes.
“The stratagem I offered was not to save my own life, but for the sake of our house.”
Tang Cheon-deuk studied him, then nodded. It was true.
If Tang Myung did not join the rescue force, his plan would appear to be nothing more than fear of the Demonic Cult’s reputation. But if he went despite knowing the danger…
“Very well. Prepare to depart at once. We leave in half an hour.”
“As you command!”
Tang Myung answered and hurried out of the hall. Tang Cheon-deuk called after him.
“Young Family Head, remain a moment.”
Tang Myung stopped and looked at Tang Hong.
[Tell the Bicheon Unit that the chance of death on this journey exceeds ninety percent.]
[Ninety percent… Do you truly believe it will come to that, Young Family Head?]
[…Yes. So tell them to bring out everything they have been saving.]
[Understood.]
Tang Hong left the hall with a grim expression. Tang Myung walked toward Tang Cheon-deuk.
“Do you still hold the same conviction?”
“If you wish me to prove it with my head, I can. But you cannot take it now.”
“Why not?”
“Because my head is needed to fight the enemy.”
“That means…”
Tang Myung met Tang Cheon-deuk’s gaze, then bowed deeply.
With his head lowered, he continued.
“I will likely never see you again, Father.”
“…You are that certain?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you not try harder to persuade us?”
“I thought I could, but I had forgotten the stubbornness of our house for a moment.”
Tang Cheon-deuk gave a small laugh.
“Indeed. Our house’s stubbornness is unmatched under heaven.”
He looked at his son.
“Then how do we overcome this crisis?”
“Empty Tang Family Town and spread the Ten Great Golden Poisons throughout it. Spread them as widely as possible.”
“A wide dispersal of the Ten Great Golden Poisons… You truly believe the Demonic Cult’s main force will come here.”
“Yes.”
Tang Cheon-deuk closed his eyes for a moment, then took a small jade bottle from his robes.
“This is the Heavenly Treasure Pill. Take it.”
“The Heavenly Treasure Pill is passed down to the Family Head.”
The Heavenly Treasure Pill was a rare elixir given to the Young Family Head to compensate for insufficient martial prowess when ascending to Family Head. Even the Sichuan Tang Family’s head could consume it only once.
“It would have been given to you when you became Family Head. And if your words are true, there may be no other chance to give it to you.”
Tang Cheon-deuk opened the bottle and took out a golden pill. As Tang Myung began to speak, Tang Cheon-deuk flicked his finger.
Whoosh!
“Gah!”
True to the name of the Tang Family, masters of hidden weapons, the pill shot straight into Tang Myung’s mouth.
Gulp!
Startled, Tang Myung clutched his throat. Tang Cheon-deuk pressed his shoulder down to seat him and placed a hand on his head.
“There is no time. Circulate your energy.”
Whoosh!
At Tang Cheon-deuk’s words, Tang Myung drew up his inner force.
Tang Cheon-deuk’s energy merged with the Myriad Rivers Return to One Divine Art and spread through Tang Myung’s body.
The Heavenly Treasure Pill’s energy began to move in harmony with it.
***
Tang Myung stood with the Bicheon Unit members. Having already heard the explanation from Tang Hong, their faces were filled with resolve.
Tang Myung looked at each of them in turn.
Thank you. Truly.
He silently offered his gratitude to the men who had, in past timelines, given their lives to carve a path for him and the family.
“Tang Myung.”
At the call, he turned his head.
Tang Jang was approaching with twenty-four Visa Unit members.
While most Tang experts had a lean, agile appearance, the Visa Unit members all possessed sturdy, powerful builds.
Tang Jang looked at Tang Myung.
“Did you consume the Heavenly Treasure Pill?”
“Yes.”
“So my brother believes your words.”
“…Yes.”
Tang Jang thought for a moment.
“How much have you absorbed?”
“Thirty percent.”
Tang Jang nodded.
“I do not believe everything you say. But even if I do not, the damage will be severe if your words prove true. Therefore… you will take command until we reach Mount Qingcheng.”
“Thank you.”
Tang Jang looked at him curiously when he accepted without protest.
“It is a heavy burden. You do not refuse?”
“I will think only of minimizing the damage to our house. And, regrettably, I must hold command if I am to reduce that damage.”
“A regrettable and arrogant statement. Still… I hope your words are correct.”
Tang Myung nodded. Soon after, the Pyeonbok Unit arrived.
They were clad in thick cloaks that covered their entire bodies. With every step, a faint metallic clinking could be heard.
It meant their bodies were openly covered in hidden weapons.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
Even Tang Mi-ryeong, wearing a cloak, clasped her hands in salute. Tang Jang looked over the assembled warriors from the two units and one squad.
“This mission is to rescue Qingcheng and Emei. The commander of this mission is the Young Family Head, Tang Myung. If the unit leaders’ orders conflict with Tang Myung’s, follow Tang Myung’s orders.”
“As you command!”
“As you command!”
Tang Mi-ryeong saluted Tang Jang with clasped hands. He gave a small nod and looked toward the wide-open gates of the Tang Family estate.
Staring at the massive doors, large enough to be called castle gates, he spoke.
“We depart.”
Whoosh!
Tang Jang launched into movement arts, and the Tang warriors followed behind him.
Flutter! Flutter!
The cloaks billowed in the wind, spreading out behind them in a magnificent sight.
***
As they raced from Chengdu, where the Sichuan Tang Family resided, toward Mount Qingcheng, Tang Myung recalled the terrain in his mind.
There had been signs of battle along the path they had taken to request aid.
Here.
Tang Myung scanned the surroundings and quickly sent a voice transmission to Tang Jang.
[It is an ambush.]
At the transmission, Tang Jang kept his eyes forward and sent a message to Tang Mi-ryeong.
The transmission spread rapidly in all directions.
[Mi-ryeong.]
At Tang Jang’s signal, Tang Mi-ryeong lightly shook her cloak. In an instant, the Pyeonbok Unit members did the same.
Then…
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Countless daggers shot out in every direction, flying toward the nearby forest.
The moment Tang Myung warned of an ambush, they had blanketed the suspected area with hidden weapons.
And then…
Boom boom boom!
Some of the daggers exploded, spreading black energy in all directions.
“Aargh!”
“Agh!”
Screams erupted from the forest. Tang Jang’s face hardened at the sounds.
Tang Myung’s words… were correct.
With that thought, he gave a hand signal.
Whoosh whoosh!
At the signal, the Visa Unit members moved their fingers rapidly.
Shhhk! Shhhk!
Poison sprayed from their hands and spread across a designated area.