The Breaking of the Tang Family Manor
Tang Mi-mi stared at the Tang Family Manor and spotted Tang Bul-gwi.
"Break it down and use the pieces as tinder."
"Understood."
Tang Bul-gwi laughed, rolled up his sleeves, and leaped straight into the manor.
**Thud!** **Crack!** **Crack!**
The entire hall and buildings shattered and crumbled under Tang Bul-gwi's feet. Watching him, Tang Myung felt a pang of regret and sorrow.
Tang Mi-mi, observing him, spoke.
"Do not grieve."
She lifted her foot and kicked the main gate with it.
**Boom!**
The gate disintegrated and flew apart. Tang Mi-mi continued.
"The Tang Family Manor... no, our home... exists only in our hearts. In the future, when we build one properly inside our hearts..."
Tang Myung sensed a profound awakening from her words.
"A home inside the heart... I see."
Material matters were secondary. With the Tang Family Manor already dwelling in his heart, even this model held no importance.
Tang Mi-mi had deliberately destroyed the model. Now that they had returned to the Tang Family...
"But... Grandgrandaunt."
Tang Myung called her name. Tang Mi-mi turned to face him.
"If you cannot leave this place, you will never return home, will you not?"
Tang Myung's words caused Tang Mi-mi to smile.
"Did I not say it? A home exists inside the heart."
Tang Mi-mi smiled again and spoke on.
"My body cannot enter the Sichuan Tang Family Manor... yet the moment you came to find me, my heart had already returned to the Tang Family Manor."
Smiling, she looked back at the manor.
"Therefore... it matters not where my body is."
"I offer my deepest thanks for your profound instruction."
Tang Myung nodded and, after gazing at the manor, turned his eyes to the small pavilion where he lived.
He raised his hand and brought it down with full force.
**Crunch!**
Tang Myung, who had crushed the small pavilion, looked at Tang Mi-mi.
"I wish to receive the transmission of the Golden Elixir Daoist Art."
"Now?"
"If it is acceptable, I wish to begin cultivation immediately."
Tang Mi-mi looked at him with a trace of reluctance.
"Very well."
Tang Mi-mi walked out. Tang Myung followed behind. Tang Mi-mi, leading him outside, spoke while walking.
"But I cannot teach the Golden Elixir Daoist Art right now."
"Does it stem from the low level of my mastery of the Samyang Divine Art?"
"Correct. Right now, your Samyang Divine Art seems to be at the fifth level."
"Yes."
In his previous life, Tang Myung's Samyang Divine Art had reached fourth level. In this life, while heading toward Yunnan, he had focused on cultivation and attained fifth level.
"To cultivate the Golden Elixir Daoist Art, the Samyang Divine Art must reach tenth level."
Tang Mi-mi walked toward the water's edge. She gazed at the small, clean pool of water and said.
"From today onward, you will train using this water."
"Water?"
Tang Myung looked at the water and asked.
"The Samyang Divine Art is the technique of absorbing Yang Energy. To absorb Yang Energy, wouldn't a hot place be better?"
"Then are you planning to train inside a volcano?"
"That is not the case."
"Absorbing Yang Energy for training is good, but your body is flesh and blood. Hot heat can harm it, so training in cold water is better. The cold yin energy combined with the yang energy flowing from your body will accelerate the mastery of the Samyang Divine Art."
Having spoken, Tang Mi-mi reached toward a large jar nearby.
**Whoosh!**
The large jar rose into the air and fell into the water pool.
**Splash!**
The jar filled with water. It rose again and settled in front of Tang Myung.
"Enter and circulate the Samyang Divine Art. If it is your first time training in water, your qi flow may be unstable. I will watch over you."
Tang Myung took a deep breath, removed the hidden weapons and pills from his pocket, placed them on the ground, and prepared to enter the jar.
"Take off your clothes. During qi circulation and food intake, clothing hinders the effect."
Tang Myung, startled by the request to remove his clothes, looked at her in confusion. Tang Mi-mi smiled at his gaze.
"You stand before me as Greatgrandaunt. Do you find it embarrassing to remove your clothes in front of your great-grandmother?"
Tang Myung hesitated. Tang Mi-mi shook her head slightly and turned her back. Tang Myung stepped behind the jar and undressed.
"But why are you not teaching Bul-gwi martial arts?"
"I have bestowed upon him a talent, but he is not a Tang Family vassal. Without the Head's permission, how could I leak the family techniques?"
"Therefore, you do not teach martial arts?"
"Correct."
At Tang Mi-mi's words, Tang Myung spoke.
"Then teach me now. As Head, I will accept Tang Bul-gwi as a vassal of the Tang Family."
"I am grateful."
Undressed, Tang Myung entered the jar. Inside the jar, Tang Myung trembled from the extreme cold.
"Circulate the qi."
"The water... how can it be so cold?"
**Chatter!**
Teeth chattering, Tang Myung circulated his internal energy.
"The water is not cold. It merely feels cold due to the medicinal properties contained within."
"Ancient Yin herbs?"
Tang Myung looked at the water. It was clear, yet a faint blue aura swirled within.
"Correct. For my cultivation, I placed ancient Yin herbs with yin energy into this pond. Thus, this pond holds powerful ancient Yin medicinal properties."
"It is excellent material for making poisons."
Tang Myung's words, as Sichuan Tang Family Head, caused Tang Mi-mi to nod with a smile.
"Circulate the qi."
"Thank you."
Tang Myung closed his eyes and entered qi circulation and food intake.
Watching him, Tang Mi-mi sat in meditation and quietly observed him.
***
Tang Myung trained in qi circulation and food intake in the cold-water jar as usual today. Circulating the Samyang Divine Art in the frigid water pushed out the hot energy.
**Grandgrandaunt's words were correct. Circulating the Samyang Divine Art in cold water makes mastery progress faster.**
The coldness made the heat seem even stronger.
It appeared the Samyang Divine Art strengthened in response to the cold.
As Tang Myung circulated the Samyang Divine Art, steam began rising from the jar.
Tang Mi-mi, noticing the steam, pulled out the wooden stopper beneath the jar.
**Splash!**
Hot water gushed out. Tang Mi-mi opened the bamboo tube connected to the jar.
**Gurgle!**
Cold water flowed steadily through the bamboo and refilled the jar.
Once the hot water had become cold water again, Tang Myung focused once more on qi circulation and food intake.
After Tang Mi-mi had changed the water three times, she said.
"Enough."
Tang Myung spat out his breath.
**Haaah!**
Tang Myung, exhaling hot breath, opened his eyes. He smiled at Tang Mi-mi.
"I have reached eighth level of the Samyang Divine Art."
Tang Mi-mi nodded and fitted the bamboo stick into the jar.
Tang Myung stepped out of the jar. Tang Mi-mi lightly pushed the jar to the side.
**Splash!**
The water spilled out. Tang Myung shook off the moisture clinging to his body and lightly circulated his qi.
**Whoosh!**
The remaining moisture on his body turned to steam under the heat, making his body feel soft and full.
After drying himself, Tang Myung carefully put on his clothes. Tang Mi-mi spoke.
"Take your medicine and train privately."
"Understood."
Tang Myung walked to where Tang Bul-gwi stood. Tang Bul-gwi held a bowl of hot soup.
"It is always troublesome."
Laughing, Tang Myung took the hot soup and drank it. Tang Bul-gwi laughed.
"I make it for training purposes. Just tell me how the medicinal effects spread after drinking."
Tang Myung nodded, drank the medicine, sat in meditation, and absorbed the effects.
Watching him, Tang Bul-gwi stirred the remaining soup.
After lightly circulating qi and absorbing the effects, Tang Myung opened his eyes.
A faint green light flashed in Tang Myung's eyes before vanishing. The medicine he had just drunk was extremely toxic.
"How is it?"
Tang Myung stroked his belly and answered Tang Bul-gwi.
"It feels like my heart is racing a little."
"It must be the effect of the strong poison. Then, this evening, I will have the liver attack a little more."
"Understood."
Tang Myung nodded, sat in meditation, and checked his physical condition while continuing qi circulation and food intake.
**Eighth level of the Samyang Divine Art... At this pace, I will reach tenth level before the vassals return. Once the vassals return... I will immediately transmit the Samyang Divine Art to the Deputy Head and the five Great Unit Leaders and have them cultivate the Golden Elixir Daoist Art.**
Although gathering vassals in the Heavenly Grant Forest, they would eventually have to return to the Tang Family.
For that, the vassals would need to become strong. At the very least, three Gang Qi Materialization masters would be required.
Thus, he would teach the Samyang Divine Art just as in his previous life.
As Tang Myung circulated the Samyang Divine Art, Tang Mi-mi approached.
"Vassals are arriving in the Heavenly Grant Forest."
Tang Myung looked at her.
"Have they come?"
Tang Mi-mi nodded and pointed in a certain direction.
"Go and bring them."
Tang Myung leaped to his feet. Tang Mi-mi handed him a wooden box she held.
"It is a pill that blocks the poisons and medicinal energy spreading through the Heavenly Grant Forest. You do not need to eat it; simply wear it around your neck."
"Understood."
Tang Myung took the box, spread his light martial technique, and ran. Tang Bul-gwi mounted Tangho and followed behind.
"Ride."
"Thank you."
Since his light martial technique was slower than Tangho's speed through the forest, Tang Myung climbed onto Tangho's back.
Tangho dashed like lightning through the forest.
***
More than a hundred people cautiously walked through the Heavenly Grant Forest. They were the Tang Family vassals.
Tang Mi-ryeong carefully scanned her surroundings.
**This is the Heavenly Grant Forest... Just as Hong said, the name of the forest bestowed by heaven truly fits.**
Tang Mi-ryeong looked ahead, watching the towering tree trunks and leaves that covered the sky.
In front, an old bald man with a cheerful face walked ahead.
Occasionally glancing back and waving his hand to hurry them along, Tang Mi-ryeong followed him and asked.
"How much farther do we have to go?"
The old man looked around, saw the vassals following, and moved his hand toward the ground.
**Papapapat!**
The ground beneath his fingers formed characters.
**One. One.**
The words "one day" caused Tang Mi-ryeong to say.
"Is the forest really that big?"
**Because there are many people. If you spread your light martial technique, you will arrive in half a watch.**
The man who had been writing suddenly looked at a spot and wrote again.
**Tangho is coming. Do not be startled by the tiger.**
"Tangho?"
**It is the tiger raised by my master.**
The man turned his head to Tang Mi-ryeong after looking at a place. He waved his hand at the vassals. Tang Mi-ryeong told them.
"A tiger will appear. But it is raised by Greatgrandmother Tang Mi-mi, so there is no need to fear it."
At Tang Mi-ryeong's words, the vassals looked at the forest with curious eyes.
And a shout came from the forest.
"Come quickly!"
With the shout, Tang Myung appeared riding Tangho. Tang Mi-ryeong clasped her hands and knelt on one knee.
"Pyeonbok Unit Leader Tang Mi-ryeong greets the Head."
"We greet the Head!"
"We greet the Head!"
The Tang Family vassals shouted together. Tang Myung smiled and clasped his hands.
"Welcome."
The vassals looked at him with tears of emotion. Tang Myung smiled and met each of their eyes one by one.
He then looked at Tang Mi-ryeong. Seeing her, his own eyes grew red without him realizing it.
**I could not protect you... I am sorry...**
He was about to meet Tang Mi-ryeong, who had died in this life after her arms were torn off while fighting to protect him.
Tang Myung looked at Tang Mi-ryeong and then at the vassals behind her. It was not only her.
The vassals who had run to protect him and died were standing behind.
Looking at those vassals, Tang Myung bit his lip.
**In this life, I will definitely protect you.**
Tang Myung, having sworn in his heart, said.
"I will lead you to the new Tang Family Manor."
Watching Tang Mi-ryeong and the vassals, Tang Myung felt his eyes welling with tears. He hurriedly turned and walked away.