Chapter 102
One-Hand Life-Taking Art
Among the Eight Great Secret Arts of the Tang Clan, this was the most difficult to master—a pinnacle-grade hidden-weapon art.
But how had Tang Ryeong, with his frail constitution, managed to learn it?
"My apologies."
Tang Ryeong, who had been surveying the silent hall, spoke to Tang Pae seated in the viewing gallery.
"Second Brother's attack was too fierce, so I instinctively resorted to this technique."
Was it because a major incident had occurred at the very martial arts tournament he had proposed?
Despite the sudden mishap, Tang Pae's expression remained unchanged.
"How is it that you can use the One-Hand Life-Taking Art?"
Everyone in the Tang Clan had believed Tang Ryeong had long abandoned martial arts training.
They had assumed his visits to the Secret Cave were merely ceremonial. Yet here he was, having mastered the One-Hand Life-Taking Art—a technique so notoriously difficult that even practicing it was considered nearly impossible.
At Tang Seong's question, Tang Ryeong smiled awkwardly.
"In the past, I witnessed Father use it against Poison Hand Flying Dagger Heo Juk... I admired that martial art and chose to learn it."
Tang Ryeong had once accompanied Tang Pae into the martial world, where their old rival, the Unorthodox Faction master Heo Juk, had ambushed Tang Pae.
At the time, Tang Pae had dealt with Heo Juk in a single motion while seated in the carriage driver's seat—using none other than the One-Hand Life-Taking Art.
—Hmm.
The blood kin in the hall all wore expressions of shock. Tang Ryeong had mastered one of the Tang Clan's secret arts to perfection?
"Ahem."
Tang Seong, still standing on the martial arts stage, cleared his throat and glanced at Tang Pae.
Now that a son had died violently in this tournament, shouldn't it be halted?
"Guh—"
Just then, a groan rose as Tang Bi, who had collapsed from the dagger strike, staggered back to his feet.
"How...?"
Tang Seong nearly fainted from shock at the sight. Even Tang Ryeong, who had unleashed the technique, was stunned.
Gleam.
As Tang Bi pulled the dagger embedded in his chest, something glinted beneath his torn robes.
"The Silver Plate Armor?"
Unbelievably, Tang Bi had been wearing the clan's treasure—the Silver Plate Armor, originally bestowed upon Tang Gon—beneath his clothes.
'That bastard was right after all.'
Tang Bi's gaze locked onto the masked man standing below the stage—Bu Eun-seol, who had visited him days prior.
"Hahaha! You're saying my eldest brother has perfectly mastered one of the Tang Clan's secret arts?"
Tang Bi burst into derisive laughter upon hearing the masked Bu Eun-seol's words.
"Correct."
"Don't make me laugh. He gave up martial arts training long ago."
"Then answer me this—why would someone who abandoned martial arts enter the Secret Cave?"
"What?"
"Do you think someone as sharp as him would waste his time for nothing?"
Bu Eun-seol had gathered every detail about Tang Ryeong from Tang Gon.
He knew Tang Ryeong had entered the Secret Cave—and stayed for a full ten days.
In that moment, Bu Eun-seol deduced that Tang Ryeong had mastered a secret art and was now proficient enough to wield it flawlessly.
"You're insane."
Tang Bi snorted, as if the idea wasn't even worth considering.
"If my brother had learned a secret art, why hasn't he used it before? He's endured countless insults from other clans due to his weak martial arts."
"Unlike you, he isn't stupid."
"What did you say?"
"A beast only bares its fangs when it hunts."
Bu Eun-seol slid the wooden case containing the Silver Plate Armor toward Tang Bi's feet.
"Believe it or not—that's your choice."
With those words, Bu Eun-seol left.
That day, Tang Bi hadn't believed a word of it. But the Silver Plate Armor was a treasure that could protect his life.
Better safe than sorry.
So he wore it beneath his robes when he stepped onto the martial arts stage.
"To think my own brother would use such poison against me..."
Tang Bi trembled with betrayal as he stared at the deep mark left on the armor.
"Eldest Brother! How could you do this to me?!"
At Tang Bi's anguished cry, Tang Ryeong replied in a chilling voice.
"Second Brother. The main house is built on blood."
"Brother!"
"Do you know why Uncle Seong is the only one of Father's brothers still alive?"
Madness flickered in Tang Ryeong's eyes.
"The rest would have betrayed him. It's our family's tradition to cut down traitors before they sprout."
Tang Bi knew this well.
But he had believed his relationship with Tang Ryeong was different. No matter their quarrels, Tang Ryeong had always maintained a gentle demeanor.
"I thought we could coexist peacefully, even if I became Family Head!"
Tang Ryeong shook his head.
"Did you? But I always planned to eliminate you once I took the position."
"What?!"
"You're ambitious and foolish. Sooner or later, you'd have rebelled, using my frailty as an excuse."
Tang Ryeong pointed at Tang Gon, standing in the distance.
"Third Brother once knew his place too... but now, he's changed."
Tang Bi's eyes lost focus.
So that's how it was.
The face of Tang Ryeong he had known was nothing but a carefully crafted mask.
The real Tang Ryeong was not only ruthlessly cold but also a man of immense ambition.
"Brother... you truly are the ideal clan head for the Tang Clan."
"I appreciate the acknowledgment. So, will you surrender?"
"Hahaha."
Tang Bi suddenly burst into hoarse laughter.
"Now I understand why Father insisted on the Poison Heart. It's because he saw right through your blackened soul."
Thud.
Stripping off his outer robe and tossing aside the Silver Plate Armor, Tang Bi bared his teeth.
"If I surrender, you'll easily crush Tang Gon and claim the position of Family Head."
A murderous blue aura radiated from his eyes.
"Unfortunately for you, that plan won't work."
Hiss—
A sickly yellow miasma of poison began seeping from Tang Bi's body.
At last, Tang Bi had drawn upon one of the Tang Clan's forbidden arts—the Five Poisons Silk Transformation Art.
'This... is troublesome.'
Tang Ryeong let out a quiet sigh as he observed Tang Bi's state.
'The original plan was for him to fall in a single strike from the One-Hand Life-Taking Art. But...'
His gaze shifted toward Tang Gon, standing in the distance, and then to Bu Eun-seol beside him.
Tch.
The moment their eyes met, Bu Eun-seol curled his lips into a faint smile, and fury boiled up inside Tang Ryeong.
'So it was him who orchestrated this.'
Even if Tang Gon harbored malice, he wasn't cunning enough for such schemes. The Silver Shell Armor had undoubtedly been Bu Eun-seol's doing.
'Regardless, I must finish Tang Bi quickly.'
Tang Ryeong glanced at the hidden dagger concealed in his sleeve.
The One-Hand Life-Taking Art was a flawless technique—one that never missed its mark. But Tang Bi had already experienced it once. A perfect ambush would be impossible now.
'To deal with Tang Bi, who has mastered the Five Poisons Silk Transformation Art to Grand Perfection...'
Click.
Tang Ryeong drew the Soft Sword hidden in his cincture.
'Not the One-Hand Life-Taking Art—I must use the Sun and Moon Sword Art!'
"Haaap!"
At that moment, Tang Bi, his muscular body radiating a sickly yellow aura, lunged forward.
Tang Ryeong, gripping the Soft Sword tightly, unleashed the Sun and Moon Sword Art with all his might.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
The rigidly extended Soft Sword pierced Tang Bi's chest. Though it barely missed his heart, the wound was severe enough to cast doubt on whether he would ever fully recover.
Yet Tang Bi's hand had nearly reached Tang Ryeong's shoulder.
A palm strike, infused with the full force of the Five Poisons Silk Transformation Art, slammed into Tang Ryeong's shoulder.
"Even if I use True Void... I'm no match for you, elder brother."
Tang Bi, looking down at the sword embedded in his chest, dropped to his knees.
Thud.
As Tang Bi collapsed, the waiting physicians hurriedly carried him away.
"The victor is Tang Ryeong!"
Despite the brutal fight, Tang Seong's voice remained indifferent.
The Tang Clan's blood kin watching the spectacle also showed no change in expression.
The Tang Clan was a family built on bloodshed.
This was a history that repeated endlessly—the very force that kept the Tang Clan unshaken.
"Next, Tang Gon and Tang Cheong."
Hearing his name called, Tang Gon glanced at Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo before nodding.
"Then, I'll go."
Unlike before, his expression was calm, his gaze icy.
Whoosh.
At that moment, Tang Cheong gracefully ascended the Martial Arts Stage with an elegant Movement Technique.
"Brother."
"Cheong-a."
Tang Gon's greeting was light, but his face now carried an air of dignity absent before.
Only after witnessing the battle between Tang Ryeong and Tang Bi had he truly understood the weight of being the Young Clan Head.
'To become the Family Head means becoming a ruthless guardian who will protect the Sichuan Tang Clan at any cost.'
Finally enlightened, Tang Gon stared straight at Tang Cheong and spoke.
"I hope you'll face me with everything you have."
Drawing upon his Internal Energy, his cold gaze locked onto her—eerily reminiscent of how Bu Eun-seol faced his enemies.
"Uncle Seong."
Then, Tang Cheong turned to Tang Seong and spoke.
"I forfeit."
As Tang Seong's expression twisted in surprise, Tang Cheong grinned brightly.
"Even if I win this tournament, I can't become the Family Head anyway, right?"
"But—"
"Besides, Third Brother seems to have finally come to his senses."
Turning back, she winked at Tang Gon.
"Before, he was absolutely unfit to be the Young Clan Head... but now, he's worth rooting for, don't you think?"
'So that's how it was.'
Only now did Tang Gon understand Bu Eun-seol's words.
—"Those raised with overflowing love sometimes fail to recognize it."
'I was loved.'
By his father, Tang Pae. By his youngest sister, Tang Cheong. By the Tang Clan's blood kin, who had supported him after seeing his potential.
And by the friend and his servant watching him from afar.
He had never been alone.
"I can forfeit with peace of mind, right, Third Brother?"
Tang Gon nodded solemnly at Tang Cheong's playful question.
"I won't let you down."
"The victor is Tang Gon!"
Tang Seong's voice boomed once more.
"For the final match, Tang Ryeong, step onto the Martial Arts Stage!"
Tap.
At his command, Tang Ryeong ascended the stage once more.
His left shoulder was shattered, his body exhausted.
Yet his aura still surpassed Tang Gon's.
Sshhk.
Without hesitation, Tang Gon drew the sword at his waist. Tang Ryeong smiled faintly.
"You've changed."
The old Tang Gon would have refused to fight an injured opponent.
But now, he was different. For victory, he would ruthlessly exploit any weakness.
Even against his own blood, he had grown cold enough to slit throats without hesitation.
"If you had shown this side of yourself sooner... I would have dealt with you first, above all else."
Tang Ryeong looked at him with regret.
"You're truly fortunate."
"Indeed. I've been far too fortunate."
Tang Gon grinned, clasping his hands together.
"Shall we begin?"
"Hahaha. Very well."
Tang Ryeong drew his flexible sword and nodded.
"Let this be a fight without regrets."
His smile was radiant.
'I have no regrets.'
Born with a frail body, he had endured grueling training in secret, overcoming Heavenly Punishment.
Yet in the meantime, an unforeseen variable had emerged—Tang Gon, revealing himself as a Hidden Dragon.
'No. I foresaw everything.'
Tang Ryeong had had countless chances to kill Tang Gon.
But he had been curious—would Tang Gon truly break past his limits and become a threat?
And now, the answer, the outcome, stood before him.
'I was too complacent.'
To become the Tang Clan's Family Head, one had to be colder than anyone else. His failure to do so had led to this.
'And in my impatience, I tried to kill the second son.'
When Tang Gon suddenly rose to prominence, Tang Ryeong had acted rashly, making the wrong choice.
What if he hadn't tried to kill Tang Bi? Then his shoulder wouldn't have been injured either.
'What a pity.'
Tang Ryeong felt regret.
Regret that he couldn't show Tang Gon all the martial arts he had mastered.
And that in this final fight, there was nothing but defeat.