Chapter 133
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: The Tang Family's Warning
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Having finished their preparations to ascend Mount Emei, the group made one last stop at the market.
It was to pick up the lantern oil they had ordered in advance.
Looking at the massive jar, so large an adult man couldn’t wrap his arms around it, Hong Jeok-mun let out a soft sigh.
“Looks like I’m fated to be a porter, a job I never signed up for.”
He glanced around, just in case, but there was no one else suitable for the task.
Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi weren’t climbing the mountain, so they were out.
Ga Du-dal was also nowhere to be seen, having disappeared early in the morning.
He couldn’t very well ask the young Dan Ak-seon to carry the jar, which left only Han Seol-hwa…
But that was a thought he wouldn't dare to entertain even in his wildest dreams.
With no other choice, Hong Jeok-mun shouldered the A-frame carrier, his eyes landing on Dan Ak-seon.
The boy was standing stock-still, gazing intently at something.
“That’s the Four-Faced, Ten-Directional Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Statue of Golden Summit Temple.”
At Hong Jeok-mun’s words, Dan Ak-seon’s curiosity was piqued.
“Golden Summit Temple? Isn’t that the Emei Sect’s temple?”
“That’s right. It’s the Buddha statue located at the highest point of the temple.”
This was also the reason the Emei Sect was known as the “Buddha’s Light of Emei.”
“Fuhu Temple on the Golden Summit, which can be called the base of the Emei Sect, was originally founded as a Taoist temple.”
Before the arrival of Buddhism, Mount Emei was a sacred site for Taoism.
Later, as Buddhism flourished, it established a foothold on Mount Emei, transforming it into a Buddhist holy land.
“Besides Fuhu Temple, there are numerous other temples, but the most famous one is Golden Summit Temple.”
A colossal golden Buddha statue, over ten *zhang* tall.
It was because of this that the mist blanketing the mountain peak was dyed gold every morning.
“So that’s why it’s called the Golden Summit.”
Nodding, Hong Jeok-mun raised a hand and pointed at the wooden statue.
“The statue has many faces, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. I was looking at it because I found that strange.”
“Each face embodies the aspiration for the salvation of all beings—the desire to watch over all directions and rescue the pitiful.”
“Ah!”
Dan Ak-seon exclaimed, nodding his head.
Contrary to his appearance, Hong Jeok-mun was very knowledgeable, and his explanations were easy to follow.
“But…”
Seeing Dan Ak-seon trail off, Hong Jeok-mun gave him a curious look.
“Is there something else you’re curious about?”
“Yes. But I’m not sure if I should ask.”
Hong Jeok-mun let out a hearty laugh.
“What could possibly be difficult between us? Ask away.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Dan Ak-seon spoke cautiously.
“Did something happen between the Sect Leader and the Emei Sect?”
Dan Ak-seon had been wondering all along why I Rip was so troubled by the Emei Sect.
“That’s a bit hard to explain just standing here. Shall we walk for a bit?”
Hong Jeok-mun hoisted the A-frame carrier and started walking.
As Dan Ak-seon fell into step beside him, the rest of the group naturally followed.
Meanwhile, a small squabble broke out between Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.
“Why don’t we wait here?”
“You do that.”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to see Doctor Dan off to the foot of the mountain.”
“What if the Emei Sect nuns spot you?”
“So what if they do?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you say everyone already knows we travel together? As long as I don’t enter the Emei Sect’s grounds, they won’t make a fuss about it.”
Cho Ak-ryang scowled, glaring at Beom Gye-wi.
Perhaps because they had been apart for so long, Beom Gye-wi was reluctant to leave Dan Ak-seon’s side.
In the end, Cho Ak-ryang reluctantly followed the group as well.
He didn’t like the idea of being left all alone with no one to talk to.
As they began their ascent, Hong Jeok-mun started to speak.
“The Sect Leader and Abbess Jeongin of the Emei Sect were once in love.”
“The Sect Leader?”
Hong Jeok-mun smiled gently at Dan Ak-seon’s bewildered expression.
“He may be a shabby old man now, but in his youth, the Sect Leader was quite a handsome man. He had a full head of hair, too.”
“Ah!”
Dan Ak-seon glanced over his shoulder at Beom Gye-wi.
Beom Gye-wi, who was following behind, caught his eye and, without knowing why, broke into a wide grin.
Feeling inexplicably sorry, Dan Ak-seon smiled back.
Hong Jeok-mun continued his story.
“Their tale is still considered one of the greatest love stories in the Central Plains.”
That was only natural, as it was the story of a romance between a royal and a beggar.
“Before she entered the Buddhist path, Abbess Jeongin’s secular name was Ju Eun-ye. She was none other than Princess Jeongnan, a woman of imperial blood.”
“A Princess? Does that mean she’s the daughter of a Prince of the Blood?”
A Prince of the Blood was a son or brother of the emperor who was granted the title of king but not a fiefdom.
A Prince of a Commandery was the rank just below, given to the emperor’s sons other than the Imperial Grandson. The female equivalent was the title of Princess.
Hong Jeok-mun nodded.
“That’s right. Her grandfather was the emperor at the time; she was a member of the imperial family.”
However, Ju Eun-ye was a renowned tomboy with immense curiosity.
One warm day, she slipped away from her guards and ran away from home, all because she wanted to see Guilin.
There, she got into trouble with a martial arts sect from the unorthodox factions, and a righteous warrior from the Beggar's Sect, who happened to be passing by, saved her from the crisis.
“That warrior was the Sect Leader, wasn’t he?”
“It’s an obvious story.”
This incident led Ju Eun-ye to admire I Rip.
She was captivated by his free-spirited and heroic nature, so different from the stuffy, formal members of the imperial family she was used to.
“Isn’t it only natural for a pair of passionate young people, traveling the martial world together, to fall in love?”
But when her royal status was revealed, I Rip found himself in a difficult position. The imperial family, as expected, vehemently opposed their relationship and began to exert direct pressure on the Beggar’s Sect.
“The Sect Leader had to make a choice.”
Either abandon the Beggar’s Sect and live in seclusion with Ju Eun-ye, or give up his relationship with her and protect the Sect.
“The Sect Leader chose the Beggar’s Sect.”
Hong Jeok-mun smiled bitterly.
“Devastated by his decision, she renounced everything in the secular world and became a nun.”
Dan Ak-seon sighed at the sorrowful tale.
“That’s a sad story.”
“The Sect Leader once said, ‘No matter which path I chose, how could I not have regrets?’”
“Couldn’t he have just left the Beggar’s Sect?”
“I secretly wished for that myself, but…”
Hong Jeok-mun trailed off, shaking his head.
“You know how stubborn that man is, don’t you?”
The grace he had received from the Beggar’s Sect.
To honor his vow to dedicate his life to it, I Rip gave up love.
“He pretended to be fine on the outside, but he must have been weeping tears of blood on the inside.”
“So that’s why he’s uncomfortable around the Emei Sect.”
“No.”
“...?”
“It’s that he lacks the courage. To face her again.”
Just as he finished his story, Dan Ak-seon looked around with a puzzled expression. Han Seol-hwa, who had been following silently, was now blocking the path ahead.
The same went for Cho Ak-ryang and Beom Gye-wi.
They had split to the left and right, flanking Dan Ak-seon closely.
Following the gazes of the three, he saw a dozen men standing in a set formation in the distance.
Hong Jeok-mun frowned and set down the A-frame carrier with the jar.
At that, the men from the other side approached.
A distinct flower pattern was embroidered on their sleeves.
“The vipers of the Tang Family.”
The flower embroidered on their sleeves was the symbol of the Tang Family.
Moreover, it was a chrysanthemum, representing the direct bloodline.
The group from the Tang Family walked slowly forward, stopping at a distance of one *zhang*.
The man at the front stepped forward.
He looked to be in his late thirties.
His unusually pale complexion and the reddish glint in his eyes created a strange contrast, giving him a unique aura.
His gaze was fixed on Cho Ak-ryang, sharp and glittering.
“As expected of the Blood Hand Honored One. Your nerve is truly second to none.”
Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes narrowed.
“Have we met?”
“This is our first time meeting. But how could I, of all people, not recognize you?”
After this prelude, he smiled and continued.
“The Thousand Hands Dark Emperor, who died by your hand… he was my uncle.”
“...!”
Cho Ak-ryang’s brow twitched.
While not the man who killed his father, an uncle was still direct family. Yet the man was smiling as he faced Cho Ak-ryang.
That made him all the more chilling.
“My apologies for the late introduction. I am Dang Ryeong. Though I am lacking, I serve as the Fortress Master of the Tang Family.”
The Tang Family, centered around the main family and its direct lineage, had reigned as the hegemon of Sichuan for ages, living in a clan village. The houses, built along the slope, formed a single massive fortress.
This village itself was called the Tang Family Fortress.
The Fortress Master was the second most important position after the family head.
“Are you here for revenge?”
At Cho Ak-ryang’s question, the man who introduced himself as Dang Ryeong smiled faintly.
“Regrettably, no.”
“Then?”
A chilling killing intent flashed in Dang Ryeong’s smiling eyes before vanishing.
“I heard you dared to set foot in Sichuan again, so I came to pay my respects.”
Cho Ak-ryang’s eyes curved into a soft smile.
“Did you just say ‘dared’?”
Dang Ryeong’s gaze shifted to Dan Ak-seon, who was standing next to Cho Ak-ryang.
“I heard that once that boy’s joint petition is complete, members of the orthodox factions will no longer be able to enter the valley.”
“...?”
“If we cannot go, then you all should have a place like that as well, shouldn’t you? That would be fair.”
Only then did Cho Ak-ryang understand what Dang Ryeong was trying to say.
“So, what you’re saying is… I should never set foot in Sichuan again?”
Dang Ryeong did not answer.
He simply wore an enigmatic smile.
“Interesting.”
Cho Ak-ryang’s lips curled up.
“It’s been a long time since someone has provoked me so openly.”
Dang Ryeong retorted, not backing down.
“It has also been a long time since someone has set foot in Sichuan after making an enemy of our family.”
The name “Poisonous Heart of the Tang Family” was not for nothing.
The Tang Family never forgot a grudge against their kin, and when it came to the death of a family member, they had never once failed to exact revenge.
It was no exaggeration to say that this relentless pursuit of vengeance was what had built the Tang Family of today.
A notorious reputation built over many long years.
It became the shield that protected the Tang Family, and it was the reason why no one in the present-day martial world dared to make an enemy of them.
But there were always exceptions in the world.
Especially Cho Ak-ryang.
“You have a lot of guts.”
The smile on Cho Ak-ryang’s lips deepened.
“But you’re not smart.”
Cho Ak-ryang had a few principles.
One of them was to never back down from a fight someone else started.
“Your skills had better be as good as that shameless face and tongue of yours. Otherwise, this day next year will be the anniversary of your death.”
As Cho Ak-ryang unleashed his killing intent, Beom Gye-wi grinned and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him.
At this sight, Dang Ryeong’s brow furrowed.
“I have no grudge against you.”
“Ptooey!”
Beom Gye-wi spat out the piece of beef jerky he had been chewing as a snack.
“Now you do. You’ve made me lose my appetite.”
Even facing the formidable killing intent radiating from the two masters, Dang Ryeong remained composed.
“If we fight here, someone will surely die, don’t you think?”
It was a statement of the obvious, and for a moment, they wondered at his words.
But his next sentence sent Cho Ak-ryang into a rage.
“If you return the Soul-Severing Needles, I will withdraw quietly.”