Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Sichuan Tang Clan's Proposal
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Entering the grand hall to meet Mok Yeohyeon, a sense of déjà vu washed over me.
"When I went to see Nangong Hak, I met the Death God Sword Myosujae and ended up coming to the Present Heaven Sect."
Now, it was simply the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Two Sichuan Tang Clan warriors dressed in conference robes stared openly at me as I entered the grand hall.
Their gazes seemed to say, "That kid?"
The two Tang Clan warriors giving me those looks were just as young.
But I knew the reason.
It was a scene I'd witnessed countless times back at the Murim Alliance.
As the most insular of the Five Great Families of murim, they strictly distinguished between branch and direct descendants. Even when meeting Mok Yeohyeon, only direct descendants had entered.
No matter if there were older experts or masters present, such crucial meetings were always led by the direct line.
"You summoned me, Sect Leader?"
Privately, they called him Sovereign; in formal settings, Sect Leader.
"Come in. Do you know these two?"
I turned my gaze to the Tang Clan warrior in his forties and spoke.
"I've seen them from afar a few times while at the Alliance."
"Oh, is that so?"
Tang Jinok, who lacked the sinister air typical of a Tang Clan warrior, rose to his feet upon seeing me.
"I'd only heard your name at the Alliance and regretted never meeting you face-to-face. I am Tang Jinok, second son of the Tang Clan."
The woman beside Tang Jinok spoke up.
"I am Tang Garyeong."
Tang Jinok and Tang Garyeong were both masters ranked among the Twelve Dragons and Twelve Peaks, representing the later generation of murim talents.
They would likely retire their plaques after this Youth Tournament, but they had held those prestigious titles for five years.
When two Tang Clan warriors were named among murim's younger experts, it became the talk of the gossips.
Tang Garyeong was known as the daughter especially cherished by the Tang Clan Lord.
"Scholar Cheon needs no introduction from me. He's my son's sworn brother and a man I consider my own foster son."
At Mok Yeohyeon's introduction, the two flinched slightly.
Hearing such praise directly from the Unorthodox Sovereign must have hit differently.
"He's one of the few men I acknowledge."
Being a man acknowledged by the Unorthodox Sovereign carried layers of meaning.
"Ah, I see."
I knew Mok Yeohyeon was propping me up with words that weren't necessary.
His eyes were smiling at me.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but these are words better left unsaid."
I knew all too well how intense Tang Jinok's jealousy could be.
Having seen the Tang Clan's secret records in the Murim Alliance's hidden vault, it was something I hesitated to even mention aloud.
"This time, the Tang Clan has requested that we hand over the poison puppet to our foster son."
"The poison puppet is Tang Clan property, so return it we must. But I'm not sure if you're aware—when Elder Gal attacked us with it, the puppet reeked of poison aura. After I seized it, however, that aura vanished completely."
Tang Jinok frowned at my words.
"Is that true?"
"What reason would I have to lie about poison when I know so little of it myself?"
"Are you the one keeping it, Scholar Cheon?"
"Yes. I've stored it in a coffin for safekeeping. I'm no expert, but it seemed dead."
"Did you touch it?"
"A coward like me wouldn't dare lay a hand on a poison puppet."
"Then how do you know the poison is gone?"
"When we recovered it later, there was no poison aura left. That's how."
"Hmm. We'll look into it. In any case, thank you on behalf of the main clan. Scholar Cheon, thanks to you, we've recovered our poison puppet."
I offered a modest reply.
"No need for that. A treasure like this belongs with its rightful owner. When do you plan to depart? I'll have the coffin with the puppet ready."
"Right after lunch, heading straight for Sichuan. Our schedule isn't flexible."
"Then I'll have it loaded onto the cart now."
"But,"
Tang Jinok looked at me and spoke.
"Could you accompany us back to the main clan?"
I'd been racking my brain for an excuse to tag along, and here was the invitation falling into my lap.
Of course, I kept my expression neutral.
"Do I need to go in person to explain how I came to possess the poison puppet?"
I feigned nonchalance.
"Not at all. How could we ask Scholar Cheon to make that long journey over a mere poison puppet?"
Tang Jinok stared straight at me as he continued.
"Scholar Cheon's reputation has spread far and wide across murim."
"Me?"
"Many tales, but the one that stands out is your fame as the specialist in reforming scoundrels."
"Haha, if that's circulating, it must be someone poking fun at me."
"Far from it. Turning Pang Soun of the Pang Clan and Nangong Mubaek of the Nangong Family around—that's something no one else has accomplished."
At that moment, Mok Yeohyeon cut in.
"Exactly, exactly. That utter scoundrel of a son who gave me endless headaches? Our foster son turned him into a proper human being. Honestly, I never thought the boy had it in him."
With Mok Yeohyeon backing me up like that, Tang Jinok said,
"I've heard the news myself. When I learned Young Master Mok had come to his senses and entered closed-door training, I resolved then and there to invite Scholar Cheon to our main clan."
Mok Yeohyeon posed the question.
"Why? Does the Tang Clan have a scoundrel too? I thought all Tang Clan children received such strict upbringing that none turned crooked."
Tang Jinok responded.
"Exceptions exist everywhere. Our youngest grew up a bit too freely, developing a wild streak. Now he won't listen to a word anyone says."
Watching Tang Jinok calmly lay bare what could be a family disgrace, I could tell he was no ordinary man.
"When you have an agenda, you reveal your own flaws first. They say the second son suits the role of Tang Clan head better than the first."
Noticing my hesitation, Tang Jinok pressed on.
"Of course, we'll pay a price fitting the service."
Mok Yeohyeon jumped in once more.
"I gave a hundred thousand pyong of land just to bring our foster son here. Now I'm curious what the Tang Clan's gift will be."
Tang Jinok's expression remained unchanged, but Tang Garyeong's brow furrowed ever so slightly.
"Our Tang Clan isn't as flush with gold as the Present Heaven Sect, so we can't offer such lavish gifts. But we promise a reward that will satisfy Scholar Cheon."
I'd already mentioned to Mok Yeohyeon beforehand that when the Tang Clan came for the poison puppet, I'd tag along with them.
"There's a rare herb in the Tang Clan for Mother, so I told him I'd go to procure it—and that's why he's shoving me forward like this."
Judging by such things, Mok Yeohyeon was truly a simple, honest soul.
"Foster son, to forge good ties between the Present Heaven Sect and the Tang Clan, you'll need to step up. Meet the Tang Clan Lord and give him a thorough rundown on the Demonic Cult's recent movements. I've spoken to my two old friends about it, but it'd be best coming from you properly."
He gave me another sly nudge.
I played along seamlessly.
"If my foster father insists, then I'll head to the Tang Clan."
I'd reframed the issue—not as a matter between me and the Tang Clan, but between the Present Heaven Sect and the Tang Clan.
That way, they couldn't treat me carelessly.
Tang Jinok had tried approaching me directly first, then seeking permission—and failing—he could only smile bitterly to himself.
"What a cunning scholar, sharp as they come. But if he can reform Tang Ji-in..."
Among the rumors I'd heard entering Jiangxi Province, the claim that Scholar Cheon was the Scholar Divine Sword was too outlandish to take seriously.
Probably just ignorant fools hyping up a scholar swinging a sword.
But seeing how he'd reformed those notorious scoundrels, I couldn't dismiss it entirely.
"The Pang Soun and Nangong Mubaek I knew were the last people I'd want to cross paths with again. Yet he'd turned them around, and now they're building reputations as righteous wanderers. There must be some special method unique to that scholar."
That was why the Tang Clan head had dispatched Tang Jinok personally.
Come, see for yourself, and decide.
If it's baseless rumor, don't invite him. If it's real, invite him by any means necessary.
"Even the famously cold Unorthodox Sovereign Mok Yeohyeon is clinging to him like that—his abilities can't be fake."
They agreed to depart after lunch.
After Tang Jinok and Tang Garyeong withdrew, I had a brief talk with Mok Yeohyeon.
"When you go to the Tang Clan, I'll prepare an escort for you. Take them."
"No need. How could I accept such excessive treatment?"
"Come now, you're my son too, foster or not."
I let out a chuckle at his near-forced insistence.
"According to intel from the sect's intelligence division, Demonic Cult followers chasing Kunlun Sect remnants have entered Sichuan. Sichuan could turn into a battlefield. Take the escort."
"I'll take your word for it, foster father. But I'm the Scholar Divine Sword."
I kept up the bravado to the end.
"If I show up with an escort, the Sichuan Tang Clan will take offense. They'll think we don't trust them."
Mok Yeohyeon pondered briefly before nodding.
"Fair enough. You're not the type to get beaten down wherever you go. Alright. But I'll inform our Sichuan branch—if you need manpower, use them."
"Thank you for the consideration. I'll call on them if needed."
"Good. That's wise."
As Mok Yeohyeon turned to leave, he asked,
"It won't take long, right?"
"Once I reform the Tang Clan's youngest son and secure the herb, I'll head straight back."
"Got it. With my boy in closed-door training and you gone too, it'll feel lonely around here."
His words said one thing, but his eyes were smiling.
"You'll have plenty to prepare yourself, foster father. Especially digging into the Demonic Cult's movements."
"I know. That's why I'm bolstering the intelligence division right now."
"You should forge ties with the Beggars' Sect too. That'll require the Sovereign to step in personally."
To negotiate with the Beggars' Sect Leader, Mok Yeohyeon had to move himself for the rank to match.
"They say the Beggars' Sect Leader is a slippery one. Not sure it'll work."
I flashed a grin at Mok Yeohyeon's pessimism.
"I hear the Present Heaven Sect holds the Beggars' Sect's sacred relic, the Jade Bamboo Staff. Take that, and the Sect Leader will rush out barefoot to greet you."
"Haha, just how much does our foster son know? Acquiring the Jade Bamboo Staff was top secret."
"Am I not your foster son?"
I slipped by sly as a weasel over the wall, earning a glare from Mok Yeohyeon.
"Those who secure information win wars."
With talk of war arising, Mok Yeohyeon asked,
"Does Scholar Cheon think the Orthodox-Demonic Great War will break out?"
"The signs are there now, too many to ignore. Wars start when the strong make their move, triggered by the enemy weakening. The Demonic Cult has grown stronger, while the Murim Alliance has weakened."
Mok Yeohyeon closed his eyes briefly and nodded.
His face showed full agreement with my words.
"True. In war, the weak always get pounded. This Seat prefers dishing it out over taking it."
I left the grand hall and headed to meet Yuseong. It had been a while, so I had a few things to entrust to him.
As I approached the manor where Yuseong stayed, lightning crackled in the sky above his residence.