Chapter 120
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Precious Gift
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The very next morning, as soon as dawn broke, Dang Ji-in entered the VIP quarters.
"Scholar Cheon."
Dang Ji-in had bandages wrapped around several parts of his body.
He must have fought at the forefront more fiercely than anyone.
It would have been stranger if he were unscathed.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"That's a relief."
"To be honest, we had even prepared poison bombs. If the Demonic Cult had pushed into our main house, they would have been annihilated."
It meant the Tang Clan hadn't gone all out.
If they had, they would have mobilized even those unpredictable poison bombs, and with their various hidden weapons and poisons, they never would have been pushed back by the Demonic Cult.
This was why he wasn't too worried even if the Demonic Cult launched another assault.
Dang Ji-in spoke up.
"I heard the news. You went to the Sub Manor and saved the White Tiger Unit, right?"
"Saved? We just fought together. I think they let me know because it seemed like a trap."
"Huh? From what I heard, if the Scholar Sword hadn't come to the Sub Manor, the White Tiger Unit would have been wiped out. There are all sorts of stories going around."
"Who said that?"
"I heard the acting clan head is blabbing about it to everyone."
'This guy's sincerity shows up in the weirdest places.'
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"And the acting clan head came by saying he couldn't propose marriage, but as an apology, he brought compensation and left."
"I see."
Dang Ji-in stared straight at me and asked.
"It was you, wasn't it, Scholar Cheon? Be honest now. I heard you removed the demonic poison from Sub Hyunrok."
I revealed the truth I'd been keeping from Dang Ji-in.
After hearing the whole story, Dang Ji-in let out an exclamation.
"Ah, so it was all part of Scholar Cheon's scheme."
"I figured there was no benefit in letting the Tang young master know about the demonic qi. And one more thing—the Demonic Cult was surely aiming to take over the Sub Clan Manor. There's no more influential family in Chengdu than the Subs. So I wanted to foster resentment against the Demonic Cult beforehand."
"It worked out perfectly, hitting two birds with one stone, just as you planned. As expected of the Scholar Sword. It's a shame the tale-spinners don't know this juicy backstory."
"Hahaha. If this got out, I'd be known as the world's greatest swindler."
"Does that mean I've got one of your weaknesses now?"
"Something like that."
Dang Ji-in bowed deeply toward me in formal greeting.
"I will never forget this favor. You saved my life and my older sister's. Wherever Scholar Cheon calls me, no matter the place, I'll fly there and repay you with my life."
It felt like a vow from Dang Ji-in. His sincerity reached me directly.
"I won't stand on ceremony. I'll make use of the Tang young master's life when the need arises."
"Anytime, anything, however you need—use me."
His resolve was so solemn that I didn't respond lightly.
I pulled him to sit and said,
"I appreciate that sentiment."
"No, Scholar Cheon. You didn't just save me—you saved our entire clan."
"Saved the clan? That's not quite right."
Dang Ji-in's expression darkened.
"Ever since my eldest brother returned, he's been even more tyrannical. Today alone, he killed two servants attending him, saying their looks were disrespectful."
"Good grief..."
"Honestly, I was worried about how brutal his temperament is. But today, Father officially announced it. He told my eldest brother to step down as heir."
"I see."
"Truth be told, I was concerned about him running the main house."
I could picture Tang Myeong's plan. Dang Ji-in was the only one in the dark.
I nodded.
"Oh, tell the clan head this for me. I'm leaving for the Nangong Family early tomorrow morning."
"Suddenly?"
"It's not sudden. A letter arrived from the escort station earlier. Mother has arrived at the Nangong Family, but she's not well, so I need to go see her."
"Oh no!"
With Mother as the reason, Dang Ji-in had no grounds to hold me back.
"Got it. I'll tell Father right away. You should receive the gift he promised you before."
"Did I uphold my promise to the clan head?"
"Of course. I've escaped being a wastrel, haven't I?"
I smiled faintly at Dang Ji-in.
"In that case, I won't refuse."
Dang Ji-in headed straight into the Tang Clan grounds.
I figured Dang Ji-in would bring the gift.
Tang Myeong was too swamped with aftermath matters to spare even a moment.
But contrary to my expectations, it was Tang Myeong himself who entered the VIP quarters.
"You must have a mountain of things to handle right now. Thank you for making time."
Tang Myeong replied,
"No matter how busy I am, how could I handle Scholar Cheon's affairs through someone else?"
His face looked somewhat weary.
Being clan head was a position of heavy responsibility, demanding constant decisions and choices.
For a man like Tang Myeong, the Tang Pae token must not have satisfied him.
He might have thought his eldest son, flawless otherwise, just needed proper guidance before—but this incident must have driven home that Tang Pae wasn't cut out to be clan head.
"I heard from Ji-in that you're leaving for the Nangong Family tomorrow."
Tang Myeong used his third son's name familiarly.
"Yes. Mother has arrived at the Nangong Family, but she's unwell, so I need to go."
"Scholar Cheon is truly a filial son."
After praising me, Tang Myeong said,
"If your mother's condition doesn't improve and worsens, bring her to our main house. Don't think our medical arts are lacking."
"I'll consider it if there's no improvement."
Tang Myeong continued casually,
"By now, Scholar Cheon is no longer an outsider to our house."
"Pardon?"
"It means you're bound to us by deep ties."
"..."
I stayed silent, unsure what he was getting at.
Tang Myeong held something out to me.
"I promised you a gift, but anything else seemed too meager, so I made up my mind and decided on this."
The way Tang Myeong boasted made me expectant.
"This is...!"
I could tell at a glance it was no ordinary item.
"This is a merit plaque given only to a few elders of our clan."
It was palm-sized. The front was intricately engraved with "Tang," and the back bore "Institute."
"Its official name is Elder Hidden Plaque, because it doubles as a hidden weapon."
Tang Myeong pressed the center firmly, and four razor-sharp blades sprang out.
"The Elder Hidden Plaque is made of darksteel, sharp enough to slice through iron swords."
From his words, it was a hidden weapon as a gift.
Below my expectations, I didn't react.
Seeing that, Tang Myeong smiled faintly.
"With this Elder Hidden Plaque, you can obtain anything you want from any Tang Clan branch across the Central Plains—be it poison, herbs, or even warriors. You can issue a full mobilization order for branch warriors. It's equivalent to a clan head's command. I've instructed all branches to assist you with whatever you need when you show this plaque. Well, is this a decent gift?"
For a martial artist, the ability to freely use the Tang Clan's warriors and resources was more valuable than any treasure.
"It's too much."
Tang Myeong shook his head.
"Not at all. Our Tang Clan tradition is to repay grudges tenfold and favors a hundredfold. In that spirit, I'll order a new Jiangxi branch near Sanwu Village. Ah, but let the Sa Clan Lord know first."
This meant he'd establish a branch near Sanwu if needed, letting me borrow the Tang Clan's power anytime.
"You don't need to go that far."
Tang Myeong raised his hand.
"It's no trouble. The marshes and swamps around Poyang Lake have rare herbs, poisonous plants, and venomous creatures that don't grow elsewhere. We've long planned a branch there. Since Sanwu is near Poyang Lake, we'll set it up close by."
Even so, how could I miss his consideration?
Moreover, I couldn't refuse for Sanwu's safety.
I couldn't shake the feeling that this bound me closely to the Tang Clan.
'Tang Myeong is cunning. He makes offers I can't refuse, ensuring our ties can't be cut.'
Even if there were ulterior motives, the Elder Hidden Plaque was precious.
It held value comparable to the Nangong Family head's guard plaque.
"I gratefully accept the clan head's kind gesture."
I took the plaque without refusing and tucked it away.
"You'll find many uses for it in life. The martial world isn't a place where one can stand alone. You need forces to act as your hands and feet."
Then Tang Myeong produced a wooden box.
"The plaque is more than enough, Clan Head."
"No. Didn't I say favors are repaid a hundredfold? This box contains antidote pills. They can neutralize any poison except formless ones. Ten pills in all—rare even in our main house, so use them wisely."
Tang Myeong's boasting knew no end.
I swallowed a wry smile inwardly and said,
"Thank you."
I knew well how precious the Tang Clan's antidotes were.
"Thank you for reforming Ji-in."
"I didn't do much. I just talked a lot with the Tang young master. Clan Head, if you converse more with him, you'll understand him better."
"Hahaha, thanks to Scholar Cheon, I've realized once more how trivial and insignificant worldly truths are. Even the mightiest mountain is just piled stones and dirt."
Tang Myeong gazed at me steadily before leaving the VIP quarters.
Even amid their busyness, the Tang Clan tried assigning Tang Jin-ok and Tang Ga-ryeong as my escorts.
But knowing they couldn't spare a single hand, I firmly declined.
Beyond aftermath, they were busy containing the poisons released from the poison hall.
Before departing, I visited the Murim Alliance branch to see Wang Cheong.
Wang Cheong looked regretful when I said I was heading to the Nangong Family.
He needed me on this battlefield.
But I couldn't stay just to fight.
Mother came before anything else.
"Captain Wang, the White Tiger Unit has taken heavy losses, so no more solo operations. From now on, unite with the Tang Clan and Mount Qingcheng Sect."
Wang Cheong sighed.
"Do you think I don't know that? I've sent letters to the Tang Clan and Mount Qingcheng about joint operations since arriving, but they insisted each sect handle its own."
I pulled out two letters.
"Captain, this one is from Elder Hong Myeong of Mount Qingcheng. It says they'll actively unite with the White Tiger and Azure Dragon Units against the Demonic Cult from now on. They're sending warriors to the branch."
Wang Cheong snatched it almost desperately and read.
"This is the news I've been waiting for. Mount Qingcheng and Mount Emei haven't supported the Alliance actively, making things tough."
He read the other letter and smiled with satisfaction.
"The Tang Clan will help too."
Sichuan's martial world was so insular and independent that even Alliance orders barely worked.
Mount Qingcheng and the Tang Clan moved on their own.
But now, with White Tiger and Azure Dragon Units allying with them, they'd passed a major hurdle.
Mount Emei would have no choice but to join.
With the Tang Clan, Mount Qingcheng, and Mount Emei actively resisting, their subordinate clans would follow, preventing total collapse to the Demonic Cult.
"Scholar Cheon, you've done something huge."
"How could it be my doing? It's just everyone banding together in crisis."
"No. Without you, Sichuan's martial world would still be acting independently."
I also bid farewell to Pang Soun, Zhuge Dowon, and Un-sang.
They were comrades who'd fought together coming to Sichuan.
"Brother, once this is wrapped up, I'll come to the Nangong Family."
Knowing Pang Soun had called in Fengyun, I left room.
"I might end up in Sanwu more than Nangong. Once Mother's better, I'll return to Sanwu."
"I'll track down your whereabouts and visit."
Zhuge Dowon simply bowed in greeting without words.
He probably had much to say, but conveyed it through his eyes.
Un-sang was every bit the Taoist warrior. His firm gaze felt transcendent.
Seeing him, I could gauge Wudang Sect's strength.
"Until next time."
Nangong Seongjin handed me a letter as I left for the Nangong Family.
"Please deliver this while you're there. I haven't sent word in ages."
"Of course."
"I wanted to fight more Demonic Cult scum here with you, Scholar Cheon. Shame."
"As you know, I'm just a scholar—combat's not my forte."
Nangong Seongjin burst into laughter at my words.
He looked like he'd heard the funniest joke ever.
"Hahaha, right. I forgot for a moment you're a scholar. Anyway, next time we meet, let's be brothers."
I nodded.
"I treat Mubaek like my own brother. So naturally, Young Master Nangong Seongjin would be the elder brother."
"I only regret not knowing Scholar Cheon sooner. See you next time."
After brief goodbyes, I left the branch.
I picked up Yeoseol, who was waiting at the relay station, and we departed.
I tried not to draw attention to Yeoseol in front of others. Understanding, she never felt slighted.
Yeoseol loved it more than anyone.
Traveling intimately, just the two of us.
"Big brother. Let's sightsee on the way."
"We need to get the Spirit Mountain Flower to Mother quickly."
"A few days' delay won't hurt. We've waited decades."
"It's not about that. Let's treat Mother's illness first, then sightsee when we head to Ye Manor later."
"Tch, fine."
Yeoseol pouted regretfully but soon followed my lead.
She was still my good little sister.