The Trap Is Sprung
Tang Myung stepped into the Tang Cheon Pavilion and once again beheld the exact scene he remembered.
The mid-level experts gathered in the grand hall. Tang Mi-ryeong, tears streaming down her face as she fled. Tang Jang, roaring with bitter resentment.
As Tang Myung watched them, Tang Jang seemed to sense something and turned his gaze toward him.
Have you obtained a fortuitous encounter?
Tang Myung smiled at the sound transmission. Even in the previous timeline, Tang Jang had noticed his change immediately.
Having now lived through two deaths and gained far more experience in life-and-death battles, Tang Myung had grown even stronger.
I died and came back to life.
Tang Jang studied him for a moment, then nodded.
To lead the main family, one must possess the resolve to die. Train harder. If you ever need help, come find me anytime.
Understood.
While they conversed through sound transmission, Tang Cheon-deuk ascended the platform, looked down at the assembly, and spoke.
"The Demonic Cult has surrounded Qingcheng and Mount Emei."
At his words the mid-level experts reacted exactly as Tang Myung remembered.
The discussion unfolded precisely as it had before. Tang Cheon-deuk gave a satisfied nod.
"The Visa Unit and Pyeonbok Unit will mobilize. From this moment forward, the main family enters a full wartime posture. Combat must be possible at any time."
"By your command!"
"By your command!"
The mid-level experts cupped their fists in salute and hurried from the grand hall. Tang Myung looked at his father with open puzzlement.
Without any additional instructions, events were proceeding toward the same catastrophe as his first death.
"Bring the map of Sichuan Province."
At Tang Cheon-deuk's order a side door opened. Two men carried in a large table.
Upon it rested a detailed scale model of the entire province—mountains, fortresses, roads, and rivers rendered with exquisite precision. Tang Cheon-deuk studied it.
"Where?"
Knowing exactly what was being asked, Tang Myung pointed to a specific spot.
"Here."
Tang Cheon-deuk examined the miniature forest. As the two men focused on the model, Tang Jang and Tang Mi-ryeong returned to the hall.
Tang Cheon-deuk had sent them out through sound transmission only to call them back.
Once they stood beside him, he gestured and continued.
"An ambush awaits. The enemy consists of two units—the Blood Death Unit and the Black Wind Unit."
Both Tang Jang and Tang Mi-ryeong stiffened.
"Two elite combat units from the Demonic Cult... that will be difficult."
Tang Mi-ryeong nodded in agreement.
"I know. The ambush point is right here."
Tang Cheon-deuk indicated the location on the model. Tang Jang frowned.
"A forest. Is the intelligence certain?"
"Fifty-fifty."
"Fifty-fifty..."
Tang Jang considered it briefly, then nodded.
"True enough. Nothing in this world is ever completely certain. Even a fifty-percent chance is enough to prepare for."
"Correct."
"Assuming an ambush exists, how would you respond?"
Tang Jang studied the terrain again and pointed to a spot slightly removed from the ambush location.
"I would deploy a poison formation here, then fire explosive heat bombs into the forest."
The explosive heat bombs resembled the cannons used by the imperial army. The difference lay in their propulsion by a Peak expert's internal energy and the fact that their shells burst into countless tiny projectiles laced with extreme poison.
Like the Ten Great Forbidden Poisons, the explosive heat bombs ranked among the Ten Great Forbidden Hidden Weapons. Once used, they made no distinction between friend and foe. Everything within four zhang would be obliterated, while poison would spread up to ten zhang. Their destructive power was simply too great.
Tang Cheon-deuk nodded at Tang Jang's suggestion and turned to Tang Mi-ryeong.
"When the explosive heat bombs detonate, I will rain hidden weapons down on anyone who emerges from the forest."
Tang Cheon-deuk shook his head.
"No. Retreat."
"Retreat?"
"After detonating the bombs and confirming the ambush, withdraw immediately. Then lure them here."
Tang Cheon-deuk pointed to a village a short distance from the ambush site.
"That location? But that's Jogoo Village. If we draw them there, the commoners will die."
"By the time you set out, the villagers will already have been evacuated into the mountains."
"Then why choose that spot?"
Tang Cheon-deuk smiled at his son's question.
"The Sichuan Tang Family fights with poison and hidden weapons. We possess martial arts, yes, but our true strength lies in poison and hidden weapons. Yet both are finite resources that diminish with use. Therefore..."
He gestured across the model.
"The main family has established numerous forward bases throughout Sichuan Province. Each one is stocked with our poisons and hidden weapons. Traps laced with both are installed everywhere."
Tang Cheon-deuk looked at Tang Jang.
"By the time you arrive, the traps will be fully activated and sufficient supplies prepared."
He regarded both Tang Jang and Tang Mi-ryeong.
"The Demonic Cult's two units are powerful. In a head-on fight we would lose even if we committed three of our own units. But on prepared ground, on a battlefield of our choosing, victory is certain."
"I will accompany them."
"No. You remain with me."
"Father?"
Tang Cheon-deuk shook his head and addressed Tang Jang and Tang Mi-ryeong instead.
"Depart when ready."
"You will not set a specific time?"
"The Milyeong Unit will monitor your situation. They will coordinate preparations with your arrival."
"Understood."
After Tang Myung and Tang Mi-ryeong left the grand hall, Tang Cheon-deuk turned to his son.
"Watch closely and commit everything I say to memory."
He pointed to several locations across the model.
"Here?"
"Forward bases."
"Even the barren rocky mountains have bases?"
Surprise flickered across Tang Myung's face. Tang Cheon-deuk nodded.
"Correct."
He looked directly at his son.
"From this moment I will transmit the Samyang Divine Art to you."
"That is the exclusive martial art of the Family Head. I am..."
"Learn it. I am not asking you to master it immediately. Simply remember it."
Tang Myung understood the true meaning behind the words and met his father's gaze.
"Are you preparing for the possibility that I may die again?"
"Once can be dismissed as coincidence or heavenly mercy. Twice, however, is different. And if it has happened twice, a third time is also possible."
Tang Cheon-deuk's eyes had grown hard as stone.
"Still..."
Seeing the question in his father's stare, Tang Myung nodded.
"I will not take death lightly."
"Good. My son would never entertain such foolish thoughts."
Tang Cheon-deuk continued.
"Nevertheless, it is better to teach you now, just in case."
"But the Family Head's martial art..."
"Correct. The Samyang Divine Art belongs solely to the Family Head. Only my father and I have ever practiced it within the main family. Therefore, once this matter with the Demonic Cult is resolved, I will pass the position of Family Head to you."
"How could I possibly..."
"There is neither time nor need to persuade you. I, the Family Head, have decided. You need only obey."
With those words, Tang Cheon-deuk explained the Samyang Divine Art in the simplest manner possible.
He even circulated his own energy to personally imprint the circulation pathways directly into his son's body.
Normally such transmission would never occur this way. Each formula would be taught individually, each point clarified, allowing enlightenment to be passed along with the technique.
Accelerated instruction like this was never done.
Yet time was a luxury they did not have.
Having rapidly taught both the formulas and the energy pathways, Tang Cheon-deuk looked at his son.
"Now, let us prepare."
He called out.
"Milyeong Unit Leader."
Swish!
The Milyeong Unit Leader appeared. Tang Cheon-deuk asked immediately.
"What of the search in Tang Family Town?"
"Unit members are currently spread throughout the area conducting the search."
"So no conclusion yet."
"That is correct."
Tang Cheon-deuk nodded.
"And the Elder Hall?"
"All except the three currently in closed-door training are receiving additional supplies at the Poison and Hidden Weapon Hall."
Individual combat could be managed with personal stocks, but this was war.
They needed ample reserves of the poisons and hidden weapons they did not normally employ.
Tang Cheon-deuk nodded once more, then looked at his son.
"Where do you believe the main family stands within the martial world?"
"We are one of the Five Great Families."
"Beyond that. Let us speak in terms of ranking."
Tang Myung remained silent.
Tang Cheon-deuk chuckled.
"It is uncomfortable to say aloud, isn't it? Most likely we are seen as the lowest among them."
Tang Myung nodded.
"Yet when it comes to killing, no sect can match us. Neither Shaolin nor Wudang—none can rival the lethality of the Sichuan Tang Family."
"Correct."
Because the Sichuan Tang Family belonged to the Righteous Faction, they restrained their use of poison and hidden weapons except against the most heinous demons. That was why the Ten Great Forbidden Poisons and Ten Great Forbidden Hidden Weapons existed.
Against the Demonic Cult, however, all restraints vanished. They could unleash every forbidden weapon without hesitation.
In that scenario, a single Tang Family expert could kill more enemies than ten masters from Wudang or Shaolin combined.
"A prepared Sichuan Tang Family is strong."
Tang Cheon-deuk stared intently at his son.
"If something like this happens again, ensure the main family is fully prepared."
"I will."
"And if, on such a day, I should ever oppose your judgment... you may kill me."
"Father!"
When Tang Myung looked shocked, Tang Cheon-deuk smiled and produced a Heavenly Treasure Pill.
Tang Myung swallowed it without protest.
"Circulate your energy according to the Samyang Divine Art. I must make my own preparations."
With that, Tang Cheon-deuk left the hall. Tang Myung assumed a proper meditation posture and began circulating his qi.
Jogoo Village was a modest settlement. Tucked against the mountain, its inhabitants made their living through herb gathering and farming—a perfectly ordinary small village.
Twenty experts from the Tang Family now hid within it.
All were white-haired elders. Sending too many active experts would risk detection, so twenty members of the Elder Hall had come, along with Tang Myung himself.
Swish!
A Milyeong Unit member appeared beside the elders.
"They will arrive in one incense stick's time."
The elders turned to Tang Myung.
"Shall we begin?"
At the words of Tang Pung, the Great Elder and former leader of the Visa Unit known as the Heavenly Tempest Asura, Tang Myung bowed respectfully.
"Please begin."
Although command of the operation had been given to him, he could not disregard the experience and wisdom of Tang Pung and the other elders.
Following Tang Pung's orders, the elders dispersed throughout the village.
Tang Myung cracked open a window and secretly observed the road ahead.
Soon he saw the Visa Unit and Pyeonbok Unit racing toward them at full speed, using their light footwork.
"Retreat!"
"Return to the main family at once!"
Shouting loudly enough for the enemy to hear, the martial artists bounded across the rooftops of the village buildings.
Swish!
Through the narrow opening, Tang Myung's eyes met Tang Jang's for a brief instant.
Swish!
As Tang Jang passed, black-clad and blood-clad figures began pursuing the village at high speed.
Papapat!
The moment the black and blood warriors entered the village, the fleeing Visa and Pyeonbok Units scattered in every direction.
"After them!"
The black and blood warriors gave chase. Then...
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Several houses exploded violently, spraying hidden weapons in all directions.
"Aargh!"
"Uwaah!"
Screams rang out as warriors fell. Some deflected the hidden weapons with swords and other arms.
Others dragged nearby comrades in front of them to use as shields.
Yet not everyone could block them all. The explosions had created a meticulously calculated net of hidden weapons.
Caught within that deadly web, the warriors collapsed one after another. In an instant nearly sixty men lay dead.
This was the true power of the Tang Family's absolute hidden weapon formation. Once sufficient preparations and defenses were in place, no one could escape the lethal combination of poison and hidden weapons.