The Five Great Families Gather
As the Tang Clan Castle stood before them, Zhuge Mun let out a soft sigh and glanced at Tang Myung.
“I’ll go over and talk to those two. Calm them down.”
Tang Myung shook his head at Zhuge Mun’s words.
“Leave them be.”
Zhuge Mun shot a quick glance toward Wiji Cheong and sent a private message to Tang Myung.
[Is Wiji Cheong so dangerous that he’ll cause friction with the Northern Peng Clan?]
Tang Myung shook his head at Wiji Cheong’s private message.
[No. It’s not Wiji Cheong who’s the problem. It’s the Northern Peng Clan.]
[The Northern Peng Clan?]
[The clan that nearly joined the Five Great Families just because the main branch shook for a moment… lacks righteousness. And the Hwangbo Clan is no different.]
[But if we count that way, isn’t the Wiji Clan even worse?]
The Northern Peng Clan only lacked righteousness because they had supported Wiji Cheong’s bid. The Wiji Clan, however, had openly tried to claim the main branch’s vacant seat. From the Tang Clan’s perspective, the Wiji Clan was the more dangerous one.
[I can move against the Wiji Clan. I cannot do the same with the Northern Peng Clan. That’s the difference.]
The Northern Peng Clan would ignore Tang Myung’s words. The Wiji Clan, however, would obey them.
[They’re trying to uproot the Wiji Clan’s backbone.]
Zhuge Mun looked toward Wiji Cheong.
[Do we feel sorry for Wiji Cheong?]
[No. He’ll be happier staying on our side than becoming an enemy of the main branch.]
Tang Myung spoke directly to Wiji Cheong.
“What’s the matter? You seem so tense.”
“Huh? Ah… I’m just pretending to be calm.”
Watching Wiji Cheong feign bravado, Tang Myung continued.
“I didn’t want to bring it up, but… I know the Wiji Clan tried to enter the Five Great Families.”
“Wh-what? Who would say such a thing?”
“It’s not a threat. Since you know, I’m just telling you not to feel guilty over it.”
“T-thank you…”
Tang Myung nodded at Wiji Cheong’s words and then looked outside the hall.
“The Namgung young lord hasn’t come yet.”
Hearing about Namgung Hyeok’s absence, Zhuge Mun chuckled.
“Has the young lord been visiting someone?”
“The greatest under heaven?”
Namgung Hyeok—the young lord of the Namgung Clan and the Blue Sky Sword Dragon, recognized as the strongest among the late-stage experts. Even his nickname was the Blue Sky Sword Dragon.
“No way, no way.”
Tang Myung looked at Wiji Cheong, who had spoken out of nowhere.
“Even if he were the young lord of Namgung, he couldn’t be your rival, Myung.”
Tang Myung laughed at Wiji Cheong’s words.
“Heh heh heh!”
“Why are you laughing? I was speaking sincerely.”
“I know. But hearing those words… it brought back the days when we used to travel together. That’s why I’m smiling.”
At Tang Myung’s remark, Wiji Cheong looked confused before his face flushed slightly. He was remembering the time he had flattered Tang Myung.
Tang Myung glanced at Zhuge Mun, who had been listening in silence.
“What about the leaders of the Five Great Families?”
“They should be at the Five Dragons Hall.”
“The Five Dragons Hall?”
“Think of it as the meeting room for the Five Great Families. Follow me.”
As Zhuge Mun led the way, the Tang Clan experts followed behind him.
At the center of the Five Dragons Hall stood the main hall. The hall itself was divided into five sections, each belonging to one of the Five Great Families.
The Northern Peng Clan, Namgung Clan, Hwangbo Clan, Zhuge Clan, and Sichuan Tang Clan each had their own quarter.
Hwangbo Jin-cheon, the current lord of the Hwangbo Clan, was a man of sturdy build. The Hwangbo Clan’s martial focus naturally produced strong physiques.
Hwangbo Jin-cheon rested his arms on the back of his chair and spoke.
“Tang Myung’s strength is quite impressive.”
At the mention of sparring, Hwangbo Jin-cheon’s words made Zhuge Dong of the Zhuge Clan click his tongue softly.
“Tang Myung is also a young lord of one of the Five Great Families. If he sits with us, he must not make any careless mistakes.”
“Haha! I would hope I have that much sense.”
Laughing, Hwangbo Jin-cheon turned to the side. There sat a middle-aged man holding a teacup with both hands, sipping slowly.
“How did it seem to you, young lord Namgung?”
At the question, the middle-aged man—known as the Heavenly Fist, Namgung Su of the Namgung Clan—set down his teacup and replied.
“As a young lord of the Five Great Families, he is lacking. But as a late-stage expert, he is the best.”
At Namgung Su’s answer, the Northern Peng Clan’s leader, Jin-cheon, looked at Peng Jin in surprise.
“Than Namgung Hyeok?”
“In sparring, Hyeok would win. In life-or-death, he would die.”
“In sparring, you mean… a hidden weapon?”
“Yes. If Tang Myung uses a hidden weapon, Hyeok loses.”
Namgung Su then swept his gaze across the room.
“And the important point is not Tang Myung himself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tang Jang is a Gang Qi Materialization expert.”
At those words, the young lords paused before staring at Namgung Su in shock.
Gang Qi Materialization experts were absolute masters. Only about twenty existed in the entire martial world. Two were in the Namgung Clan, one each in the Northern Peng and Hwangbo Clans, and none in the Zhuge Clan.
“That can’t be true.”
At Peng Jin’s astonished voice, Namgung Su nodded. It was a silent nod, but the young lords exchanged wide-eyed glances.
Only Zhuge Dong smiled faintly. At this, Peng Jin asked,
“Do you know, Zhuge young lord?”
“I heard it just now.”
“Yet you don’t seem surprised?”
“With the capabilities of the Tang Grandmother living in the Heavenly Grant Forest, raising Tang Jang’s level isn’t surprising.”
At Zhuge Dong’s words, Namgung Su nodded again.
“If that’s the case… it means he could become even stronger.”
“Even if the Tang Grandmother is an absolute master who has achieved Rejuvenation, can she easily cultivate a Gang Qi Materialization expert?”
At Hwangbo Jin-cheon’s remark, Peng Jin nodded in agreement.
“Besides, Tang Jang was the strongest in the Tang Clan. Given his talent and skill, it was only a matter of time before he became a Gang Qi Materialization expert. The other five young lords, however, are no match for him.”
“The person who shortened that ‘matter of time’ to one year is the Tang Grandmother. I wonder how much she can shorten the time for the other young lords.”
Namgung Su lifted his teacup and took a sip before speaking again.
“The Tang Clan becoming stronger means the influence of the Five Great Families will grow. That is not bad for us—it is actually good.”
“Even though the Tang Clan’s power is increasing?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
Namgung Su glanced at the young lords and nodded. While Hwangbo Jin-cheon and Peng Jin looked uncomfortable, Zhuge Dong appeared perfectly at ease.
“The two young lords seem to have missed the point. Zhuge young lord, please explain.”
At Namgung Su’s words, Zhuge Dong nodded and spoke.
“Why did the Northern Peng Clan and Hwangbo Clan try to bring new families into the Five Great Families by excluding the Tang Clan?”
At Zhuge Dong’s question, the two young lords frowned.
“That was something we did thinking the Tang Clan had already fallen. Why are you bringing it up now?”
“Are you implying that because the Zhuge Clan is close with the Tang Clan, you’re trying to hold us responsible?”
At the two young lords’ words, Zhuge Dong shook his head.
“That’s not possible. I’m only asking the reason.”
“Well… in order to have a family worthy of joining the Five Great Families and to increase our influence, that’s why.”
“Correct. At the time, we thought the Tang Clan had already collapsed. Having a real family with strength among the Five Great Families would strengthen our power…”
“Ah!”
Peng Jin’s exclamation drew Zhuge Dong’s nod of confirmation.
“Yes. When a family among the Five Great Families grows stronger, so do our influence and power. Even though the Five Great Families have different capitals and live in different regions, uniting them as the Five Great Families is to strengthen the martial world’s influence.”
“So the Tang Clan becoming stronger is also good for us.”
At Hwangbo Jin-cheon’s words, Zhuge Dong nodded and continued.
“Moreover, the Sichuan Tang Clan has no branches. They only have power in Chengdu. That means… even if the Tang Clan’s power grows, it will still be confined to Sichuan Province.”
“Oh ho!”
“That’s right!”
Hwangbo Jin-cheon and Peng Jin slapped their thighs and nodded in agreement.
If the Tang Clan’s strength remained within Sichuan, the other young lords had no reason to worry.
But…
Peng Jin laughed and looked at Namgung Su.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the title of Heavenly Fist Clan is changed to the Tang Clan.”
At Peng Jin’s laughter, Namgung Su lifted his teacup and sipped.
“One is not the whole.”
“What do you mean?”
“Huuu!”
Namgung Su merely lifted his teacup again. He offered no further answer. Yet…
[One is not the whole…]
Zhuge Dong alone felt a strange aftertaste in Namgung Su’s words.
[One is not the whole…]
Repeating the phrase, Zhuge Dong fixed his gaze on the Namgung Clan with narrowed eyes.
[Could the Namgung Clan have someone like the Tang Grandmother?]
Suddenly, a voice reached Zhuge Dong’s ears.
“The lord of the Sichuan Tang Clan has arrived.”
The words from outside caused everyone to turn toward the entrance. There stood Tang Myung with Zhuge Mun.
As the young lords rose and sat, Tang Myung smiled and bowed.
“Tang Myung greets Uncle and Uncle.”
At Tang Myung’s courtesy, Namgung Su nodded.
“Uncle… since this is a private matter, may I speak plainly?”
“Of course.”
After a moment’s silence, Namgung Su spoke to Tang Myung.
“It’s a shame Tang Cheon-deuk left so soon. He must have worked hard.”
Tang Myung bowed and lowered his head at Namgung Su’s words. Watching him, Peng Jin and Hwangbo Jin-cheon smiled and invited him to sit.
“Let’s talk about the past later. Come, sit here.”
Once Tang Myung took his seat, Zhuge Mun sat on the side.
“Go and bring the young lords.”
Peng Jin spoke and then looked at Tang Myung.
“I watched your sparring with Jang-yeong. Your martial skill has improved greatly.”
“Because there was a reason I needed to become stronger.”
Looking at Tang Myung’s unashamed admission of growth, Peng Jin smiled.
“That’s right. Grow stronger. That way we can give the Demonic Cult a proper blow.”
“Indeed. Ah! And shouldn’t we greet the Tang Grandmother as well?”
“Haha! Of course. She’s the greatest senior of the Five Great Families—we must greet her.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Tang Myung’s eyes landed on Namgung Su. Namgung Su, however, seemed focused on sipping his tea after the initial greeting.
At Tang Myung’s gaze, Namgung Su looked up.
“Do you have something to say?”
“The Demonic Cult will target me. The Bright Warrior will appear.”
Tang Myung’s words caused the faces of Namgung Su and the other young lords to freeze.
“The Bright Warrior?”
“Where did you hear that?”
Zhuge Dong asked urgently, and Tang Myung replied.
“I cannot reveal the source. But the target is clear. He may even be inside the Martial Alliance.”
In his previous life, the Bright Warrior had appeared at a similar time. Therefore, he would definitely appear now. That was why Tang Myung had left the Heavenly Grant Forest. Or perhaps he had already reached the Martial Alliance, targeting the Tang Clan.
“Are you certain?”
Tang Myung nodded at Zhuge Dong’s question.
“Along with the Bright Warrior will come the Seven Overlords of the Demonic Cult—Cheol-pungjin of the Eight Overlords, and Bok-gu-jin of the Seven Overlords, as well as their disciples.”
At Tang Myung’s words, the young lords’ faces hardened.
“All the experts within the top ten of the Demonic Cult are Gang Qi Materialization experts. That means…”
The Demonic Cult had three Gang Qi Materialization experts hiding within the Martial Alliance or nearby.