Chapter 100
A peculiar light flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes as he gazed down at the fallen Poison People.
"What an unusual shield."
The cross-section of the split shield revealed not ordinary iron but a mysterious alloy flashing with an enigmatic sheen—some special metal must have been mixed in.
That was why the Ink Sword, capable of slicing through steel like paper, couldn't easily cleave through this shield.
"This shield seems crafted specifically to counter masters with unique sword techniques."
At that moment, Sim Dok's eyebrows shot up. Though he didn't respond verbally, his silence tacitly acknowledged the truth of those words.
"Do you think you've won just by cutting down some Poison People?"
Having regained his composure, Sim Dok gathered his Poison Technique at full power and shouted:
"Don't make me laugh! The likes of you—"
Flash!
Bu Eun-seol swung the Ink Sword again, releasing two streaks of sword qi toward Sim Dok's left and right.
'He'll clearly alter the sword qi to target my head!'
Having observed Bu Eun-seol's sword techniques, Sim Dok swiftly deployed his Ink Soul Remnant Blood Claw to deflect the incoming sword qi, but—
Swoosh!
The razor-sharp sword qi, slicing fiercely through the air, didn't descend downward. Instead, it crisscrossed in rotating arcs around his shoulders.
Splat!
Blood sprayed into the air as Sim Dok suddenly let his arms drop limply. The keen sword qi had severed all the meridians near his shoulders.
"Ghhh—"
Sim Dok groaned.
The flesh wounds meant nothing, but the two streams of internal energy imbued within the sword qi had partially melted his meridians.
The sheer magnitude of internal energy—exceeding 120 years—naturally produced an effect akin to the Internal Heavy Hand Technique.
"Ugh—"
As the searing pain flared through his shoulders, Sim Dok swallowed his groans and gritted his teeth.
"You bastard!"
Sim Dok attempted to summon his Asura Demon Blood Poison Art again, intending to spread its toxic aura in all directions.
"...!"
But his eyes widened in shock.
Suddenly, his dantian felt completely blocked, as if his internal power had been sealed.
'Th-This is...'
The two strands of true qi that had penetrated his upper scapula had melted away most of the meridians near the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian.
"What... what kind of sword technique is this?"
Fear gripped Sim Dok.
The martial world had countless sword techniques, but none that could melt meridians strand by strand simply by cutting with a blade.
"A sword technique I devised."
"You? You devised a sword technique?"
"Indeed."
Bu Eun-seol gazed at Sim Dok with a faint smile.
"You may take pride in this. Since entering the martial world, this is the first time I've infused so much true qi into a strike."
Sim Dok swallowed hard.
Bu Eun-seol's bright smile looked to him like a demon baring white fangs in the darkness.
Whooosh—
At that moment, Tang Gon unleashed his Poison Spirit Extinguishing Art, gradually dispersing the toxic energy.
"You finish him."
When Bu Eun-seol pointed at Sim Dok, Tang Gon frowned.
"His shoulder meridians are severed—he's already a cripple. What's left to 'finish'?"
"Have you forgotten my words so soon?"
"I haven't. But a Poison Heart and outright slaughter are entirely different, no? Our clan may use poison and hidden weapons, but we are still an orthodox family that walks the Righteous Path—"
Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"My point is—if you show mercy even to those who have tormented your clan, how can you possibly fight and shed blood against your own kin?"
"That's..."
"Do you wish to become a chivalrous hero of the martial world? Or do you wish to become the Family Head of the Tang Clan?"
—Do you wish to become a chivalrous hero? Or the Family Head of the Tang Clan?
Bu Eun-seol's words echoed in Tang Gon's mind like a resounding gong.
To live as a chivalrous hero of the martial world, he would have to leave the Sichuan Tang Clan altogether.
A Family Head bears the grave responsibility of protecting their dependents from countless enemies.
"You're right."
Tang Gon's eyes gleamed with solemn resolve as he drew the Bloody Dart from his robe.
"I must show them—any who dare touch our clan will be slaughtered without exception. That is the iron rule of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
Swoosh!
He launched the Bloody Dart, cleanly severing Sim Dok's neck in one swift motion.
Whirr!
As the dart arced back toward him, Bu Eun-seol shook his head.
"Don't retrieve the hidden weapon."
"Why not?"
"Because the world must know it was a member of the Sichuan Tang Clan who killed Sim Dok."
"Are you telling me to steal all your credit?"
"The only 'credit' I have is slashing that bastard's body once. And even that would've been impossible without your Poison Spirit Minor Art."
Though he said so, in truth, Sim Dok had been as good as finished by Bu Eun-seol.
Yet he was trying to shift all the merit to Tang Gon.
"That won't do."
When Tang Gon shook his head firmly, Bu Eun-seol clicked his tongue in irritation.
"Do I look like I'm enduring this hardship just to inflate my own reputation?"
"But—"
"I told you before. You have what it takes to become an outstanding successor of the Tang Clan."
—You have what it takes to become an outstanding successor of the Tang Clan.
That was what Bu Eun-seol had said the day Tang Gon received the Pear Blossom Leaf. And Bu Eun-seol had kept his word ever since.
"Why... why do you go so far to help me?"
At Tang Gon's choked question, Bu Eun-seol grumbled as if annoyed.
"Who knows? Must be my mistake for making the wrong kind of friend."
Friend.
It was one of the most common words in the world.
But when spoken sincerely from a true man's lips, that word became more precious than gold and heavier than Mount Tai.
"You—"
Deeply moved, Tang Gon spread his arms and stepped forward.
"If you even think of hugging me or spouting some nonsense about gratitude, don't."
Bu Eun-seol's face twisted in disgust.
"If you attempt such a thing, I'll return the Pear Blossom Leaf to you on the spot."
Then he turned and strode out of the Cave of No Return ahead of him.
—Blood Poison Valley, an emerging power in Sichuan, has been raided! Deputy Valley Master Sim Dok is dead!
Blood Poison Valley, which had rapidly expanded its Poison Art and influence to threaten even the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Dominator of Sichuan, was suddenly attacked.
As a result, the Precious Artifacts and Extreme Poisons stored in Blood Poison Valley were lost, and Deputy Valley Master Sim Dok was slain.
Who was Sim Dok?
A Master of the Peak Realm who had rampaged through the murim for decades. His Poison Art was so formidable that even experts who threatened the Tang Clan struggled to defend against it.
—The ones who killed Sim Dok and raided Blood Poison Valley were the third son of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Tang Gon, and the elite fighters of the Poison Arrow Party!
And then, an unbelievable rumor began spreading through the murim once more.
Shockingly, the ones who had slain Deputy Valley Master Sim Dok were none other than Tang Gon and the Poison Arrow Party of the Tang Clan.
—How could that be possible?
At first, the martial world dismissed it as an absurd false rumor.
But as intelligence organizations one after another confirmed the facts, the murim gradually erupted into chaos.
Inside the Calligraphy and Painting Pavilion office.
Bang!
The door to the office of the Calligraphy and Painting Pavilion was flung open violently, and a man with blazing eyes stormed in.
It was Tang Bi.
"Elder Brother!"
Panting with rage, Tang Bi shouted at Tang Ryeong, who was seated at a rosewood desk, calmly writing calligraphy.
"Why did you give him the Poison Arrow Party?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Are you feigning ignorance?"
Tang Bi bared his teeth and stomped his foot.
"Tang Gon—that bastard attacked Blood Poison Valley with the Poison Arrow Party!"
As if his fury were about to explode, Tang Bi slammed a fist against his own chest.
"Sichuan—no, the entire murim is buzzing with rumors! They're saying the Tang Clan has produced an extraordinary figure!"
In truth, the reason the rumors had spread like wildfire in such a short time was because Heuk-pyo, under Bu Eun-seol's orders, had disseminated the information through intelligence networks.
But unaware of this, Tang Bi mistakenly believed that Tang Gon's fame was now shaking not just Sichuan, but the entire world.
"Haha."
Tang Ryeong let out a low chuckle.
"Our third brother merely eliminated a nuisance that had been encroaching on the main family's influence, no?"
"Then have you heard this rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"They're saying the Young Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan has been decided—Tang Gon! And the reason? Because the other two sons were too busy tucking their heads in like turtles!"
"Hmm."
At Tang Bi's crude outburst, Tang Ryeong's face hardened.
"So, out of those two turtle-headed sons, one has come crawling to me to complain about the other?"
"Elder Brother, that's not what I—"
"Enough."
Tang Ryeong set down his brush and spoke coldly.
"The third brother has returned after achieving a great feat. I merely provided him with the Poison Arrow Party to ensure his safety."
"Elder Brother."
"Right now, you're disparaging the third brother, who has brought glory to the main family's name. And in doing so, you're not just disrespecting me—you're belittling the entire Tang Clan."
In an instant, Tang Bi's complexion changed.
Only now did he realize that by pushing Tang Gon—who had just accomplished a great feat—into a corner, he would only further undermine his own standing and dignity.
"That thought... had not occurred to me."
Tang Bi clasped his hands together and bowed his head.
"Thank you for enlightening me, Elder Brother."
"Enough. Leave."
"Then I shall take my leave."
As Tang Bi exited dejectedly, an unprecedented glint of killing intent flickered in Tang Ryeong's eyes.
"This complicates matters."
The truth was, Tang Ryeong had known for a long time.
That Family Head Tang Pae had secretly marked Tang Gon as his successor in his heart.
Yet Tang Ryeong had been able to smile and let it pass because Tang Gon had lacked every single qualification needed to become the Young Clan Head.
But now things were different.
The current Tang Gon was, in both name and reality, fully qualified to become the successor.
"Perhaps there's no other way."
A murderous smile curled on Tang Ryeong's lips. His gaze remained fixed on Tang Bi's retreating back.
Upon returning to the Sichuan Tang Clan, Tang Gon received an unprecedented welcome.
As he entered the main estate, elders from the Inner Courtyard—including Elder Tang Pyo—along with blood relatives came out to greet him. Tang Pae bestowed great rewards upon Tang Gon and his entire party.
To Tang Gon, he gifted one of the clan's treasures: the Silver Shell Armor. To Bu Eun-seol, he presented the Jade Shell Pearl.
And to the youths of the Poison Arrow Party, he granted fifty taels of gold each.
Both Tang Ryeong and Tang Bi sent subordinates to deliver congratulatory greetings, though these were merely formalities. Neither came to see Tang Gon in person.
But several days later, Tang Pae delivered shocking news.
—This time, the Young Clan Head will be decided by the victor of the Martial Arts Tournament!
The Tang Clan's blood relatives were stunned by this announcement.
Until now, the selection of the next Young Clan Head—the future Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan—had been solely the Family Head's decision.
Yet out of nowhere, he declared the tournament's winner would become the Young Clan Head?
—The matchups will be: Tang Ryeong versus Tang Bi, and Tang Gon versus Tang Cheong.
Not only was there suddenly a tournament, but Tang Cheong—who could never become Family Head—was included among the successor candidates?
The Tang Clan's blood relatives were utterly bewildered.
—Tang Ryeong, Tang Bi, Tang Gon, and Tang Cheong each command comparable factions, and their temperaments have their own strengths and weaknesses.
In other words, all are qualified to become Family Head, so martial prowess will determine who rises above the rest!
However, once the reasoning was fully explained, the blood relatives nodded in understanding.
Tang Pae's words were both logically sound and impartial, showing no favoritism toward anyone.
Besides, who would dare defy the solemn decree of the revered Family Head?
With only four days remaining until the selection of the Young Clan Head, an air of impending conflict loomed over the Tang Clan.
Inside the banquet hall of Clear Radiance Cottage.
Having returned from Blood Poison Valley, Tang Gon was unwinding with Bu Eun-seol, the two of them drinking alone.
"Everything feels utterly surreal."
Tang Gon downed a large cup of Jiannan Spring and shook his head with a laugh.
"Between the affairs of the main house and the rumors spreading through the murim... it all feels like a dream."
"It is no dream."
At Bu Eun-seol's reply, Tang Gon let out a wry chuckle.
"Not long ago, I thought myself a lone wanderer in this vast world, with no one to rely on."
Wiping his lips, he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
"But after you came... I gained Father's formal recognition and a support base no lesser than my brothers'."
Picking up his cup again, Tang Gon smirked.
"Not to mention, since word spread that I killed Deputy Valley Master Sim Dok, I even earned an epithet. 'Soul Gatherer of the Tang Clan,' or something like that."
In the blink of an eye, Tang Gon had gained everything.
Yet none of this had been achieved by his own efforts. Without Bu Eun-seol, none of it would have been possible.
Perhaps that was why. Despite the drinking, Tang Gon's expression remained far from cheerful.
"Why that face? Does the epithet displease you?"
At Bu Eun-seol's question, Tang Gon smiled bitterly.
"It only reinforces the feeling that all of this is a dream."
"What do you mean?"
"Father never wanted me to become Young Clan Head."
Tang Gon set down his cup.
"Setting everything else aside, in martial arts, I can't hope to match Tang Bi. Holding a tournament to decide the successor is no different than choosing that brute outright."
He let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
"I thought I'd finally caught up to them. Truthfully, I'd even begun to hope. But a Martial Arts Tournament... and pitted against Tang Cheong, no less? It's disheartening."
"You're misunderstanding something."
Bu Eun-seol refilled his cup and smiled.
"Your father wants you to become the Young Clan Head."