Chapter 93
Tang Bi continued squeezing answers from Tang Sa-un without bothering to think for himself.
"In any case, the Family Head has only given us about a month left in the successor selection process."
Tang Sa-un spoke in a subtly suggestive voice.
"First, why not set aside the matter of the Third Young Master and focus on persuading more elders in the Inner Court to build your faction?"
"Well... I suppose that bastard can be dealt with gradually."
Tang Bi's eyes flashed.
Though Tang Ryeong, as the first son, enjoys the support of the blood relatives, many elders find him unsatisfactory as a successor due to his frail health and reclusive nature.
Tang Bi needed to sway their hearts as soon as possible to secure the successor's approval without fail a month from now.
"Fine. Then let's start by softening up those old men in the Myriad Blossoms Hall once more."
"Understood."
Tang Sa-un bowed his head and cautiously stepped outside.
"Sigh."
The sigh escaped him unbidden.
Tang Bi was already arrogant and self-righteous despite not even being the official successor. If he were to receive the successor's approval, that insufferable personality of his would only grow worse.
"This is troubling."
As he shook his head and was about to exit the Great Gate of the Water Cloud Pavilion—
"Hm?"
A clear, melodious voice reached him, and a stunningly beautiful young woman blinked at him.
"Young Lady."
Tang Sa-un respectfully clasped his hands together as his gaze met the beauty.
She was none other than the youngest daughter of the Tang Family Head—Tang Cheong.
"Did Second Brother scold you again, I see?"
When Tang Cheong giggled, Tang Sa-un hastily shook his head.
"Not at all."
Then he swiftly changed the subject.
"But where might you be headed?"
"I was going to see Third Brother."
"You mean the Third Young Master?"
Tang Sa-un's eyes wavered.
Though Tang Cheong, born a woman, could never ascend to the successor's position, she had completely won over the hearts of the Tang Clan's elders.
In terms of factional support alone, she surpassed Tang Bi and was nearly on par with Tang Ryeong.
'This is problematic.'
The issue was Tang Cheong's growing interest in Tang Gon, the illegitimate son.
'If the Young Lady were to suddenly take a fancy to him...'
The successor battle had already split between Tang Ryeong and Tang Bi.
But what if Tang Cheong whimsically decided to support Tang Gon? The entire landscape would shift dramatically.
"What? The youngest is here?"
Just then, the inner door burst open, and Tang Bi hurriedly strode out.
"Cheong-a, what brings you here?"
Tang Bi wore an uncharacteristically benevolent expression as he spoke gently to Tang Cheong.
"Have you come to have tea with this brother of yours?"
"Not at all. I just happened to run into Brother Sa-un on my way and stopped to chat."
"I see."
Tang Bi couldn't hide his disappointment.
"The Water Cloud Pavilion is always open. Come visit whenever you're bored."
"Of course."
With a sweet smile, Tang Cheong waved at Tang Bi and Tang Sa-un.
"See you next time."
As he watched Tang Cheong leave, Tang Sa-un's gaze darkened.
An inexplicably ominous premonition gripped him. But the moment he voiced it, Tang Bi's fiery reprimands would surely follow.
"Why are you just standing there like a fool?"
At Tang Bi's words, Tang Sa-un forced a smile and shook his head.
"It's nothing. Well then."
Clasping his hands once more, he hastily took his leave.
The office of Tang Pae, the Tang Family Head.
The office of the Tang Family Head, whose name resounded across the martial world, was not filled with luxurious furnishings but rather with bookshelves densely packed with volumes.
Silence.
Tang Pae sat in his office, reading an old tome titled Chronicle of a Thousand Poisons.
"I heard the Family Head has permitted the Absolute Poison Corps to stand down."
A middle-aged man standing quietly before him spoke cautiously.
He was none other than Tang Sa-un's father and Tang Pae's brother—Tang Seong.
"Heh. Have you come to complain about that?"
"Of course not."
Tang Seong's expression shifted as he waved his hands, and Tang Pae replied indifferently.
"The first son pleaded with me. He said we shouldn't spill blood between brothers right at the family's main gate, no matter what."
"Well... there were many eyes watching."
Though he said as much, Tang Seong's expression remained far from pleased.
Whether he noticed or not, Tang Pae's gaze remained fixed on his book.
"The third son has brought back quite the capable ally this time."
Tang Seong cleared his throat and spoke again.
"They say he's the winner of this year's Eastern Drifters, Western Wanderers Martial Tournament."
"The Martial Tournament? That one held in the Ronin Market buried deep in Guizhou?"
"It was originally an insignificant event, but this year's tournament had a remarkably high level of competition with the Spirit Divine Sword as the prize."
"Hmm."
"Rumors say his skills are considerable. There was some controversy, but he defeated Yeong Ji-wi, a Master of Great Righteousness, and even Seomun Gyeong of the Seomun Clan, who was called the Sword Ghost."
"Yeong Ji-wi and Seomun Gyeong..."
Tang Pae finally lifted his gaze from the book and chuckled.
"Aren't they both widely known as half-baked prodigies? You can't call someone truly formidable just for beating them."
When Tang Pae finally set the book aside, Tang Seong seized the moment to broach his real concern.
"Is there truly a need to delay the decision for another month? Wouldn't it be better to settle it sooner?"
"What are you implying?"
"The successor battle is growing excessively heated."
"Let it be. It's just the necessary throes for the main family's prosperity."
Tang Seong's face twisted with displeasure.
Even if it was at Tang Ryeong's request, had Tang Pae not permitted it, Tang Gon would have been decisively dealt with this time.
But when Tang Gon entered the Tang Clan unharmed, Tang Seong grew uneasy.
In his eyes, Tang Gon was a prodigy with far too much potential.
'Even if it's not Tang Bi, it must never be Tang Gon.'
Tang Ryeong and Tang Bi were legitimate successors. No matter what, they prioritized the blood relatives above all.
But Tang Gon held no goodwill toward the blood relatives and elders who had ostracized him. And that unsettled Tang Seong deeply.
"Family Head, it seems you've taken a liking to the third child."
At last, Tang Seong voiced the question he had long wanted to ask.
Unlike other clans, in the Sichuan Tang Clan, children born of concubines could never ascend to the position of successor from the outset.
Yet Tang Pae had granted Tang Gon an equal chance at succession.
"Favoritism?"
As Tang Pae's gaze turned sharp, Tang Seong wiped his sweat and spoke.
"I only wondered if I might be mistaken."
"What a useless thing to say."
Tang Pae, having smoothed his piercing expression, let out a faint laugh.
"It matters not whom you support—that is your own prerogative, is it not?"
"Still... I feared my choice might displease the Family Head."
"Is that how it seemed?"
Tang Pae sighed and closed the book on the table.
"There is only one reason I placed Tang Gon, that child, on equal footing for succession. It is because he lacks nothing—not in talent, intellect, nor character—compared to the others."
"Is that so? Then he is indeed qualified to become successor."
At Tang Seong's words, Tang Pae chuckled dryly.
"Only if he proves himself worthy of it."
A terrifying qi rose from Tang Pae's body.
"The position of Family Head demands unshakable power and ruthlessness. That is how our main house has survived through generations in the murim."
Only then did Tang Seong realize he had misunderstood Tang Pae.
'The Family Head merely sought an outstanding successor. He was never playing favorites.'
Tang Pae seemed to guess Tang Seong's thoughts and gave a low laugh.
"The eldest excels in wisdom and uniting people... but he relies too much on his intellect."
"That is true."
"The second has extraordinary talent in martial arts, but his temperament is impatient, and he too easily turns others into enemies."
Tang Pae smiled bitterly.
"Truthfully, the most suitable successor would be Tang Cheong, that child. If only she had been born a man."
Tang Cheong possessed both wisdom and martial prowess, along with the charisma to inspire those beneath her.
Yet it was a pity—her being born a woman meant she could never inherit the position of Family Head.
"As for the third, if only his temperament changed, he could rival Cheong-i in talent. That is the only reason I gave him a chance. Does that answer your question?"
Tang Seong bowed deeply and clasped his hands together.
"I failed to grasp the depth of the Family Head's intentions. Forgive me."
"Do not dwell on it. Though... it is unfortunate that temperament is not so easily changed."
Tang Seong nodded quietly.
Temperament does not change easily.
Tang Gon possessed outstanding qualities, but alas, his nature was too trusting and kind-hearted.
He could be called a good man, even a Great Hero, but such a temperament was ill-suited for the position of Family Head.
"Then I shall leave the children to their own devices, no matter what they scheme."
Tang Pae nodded.
"A wise decision. They must settle it among themselves in the end."
"Understood."
Tang Seong swallowed hard.
A storm of blood was about to sweep through the Tang Clan.
"Hmm~ Hmm~"
Tang Cheong hummed a tune as she walked.
Leaving the Inner Courtyard and entering the Outer Courtyard, where the Tang Clan's retainers and external experts resided, she headed toward a small building at the western edge.
That place was none other than the Clear Radiance Cottage—Tang Gon's residence.
Inside the cottage lay a beautiful garden filled with rare and exquisite flowers. Originally, this had been the dwelling of Tang Gon's birth mother, a garden Tang Pae had cultivated for her.
"Hmm."
And standing in that garden, arms crossed as he admired the flowers, was a youth with a black sword strapped to his back—Bu Eun-seol.
"Oh?"
Upon arriving at the cottage, Tang Cheong let out a soft exclamation upon spotting Bu Eun-seol standing alone in the garden.
"Is Third Brother not here?"
Bu Eun-seol, lost in thought as he gazed at the garden, finally turned his head.
Her face was as pure and vibrant as a blooming lotus.
After a brief glance at Tang Cheong, who was staring intently at him, he nodded.
"You must be Tang Cheong."
Not only was her appearance striking, but the qi emanating from her surpassed even Tang Gon's.
Moreover, her mention of "Third Brother" allowed Bu Eun-seol to deduce that she was the youngest daughter of the Tang Family Head—the Jewel in the Palm of the Tang Clan, Tang Cheong.
"And you must be the Martial Refinement Tournament champion that Third Brother brought back—Bu Eun-seol, Young Hero Bu?"
At her casual tone, Bu Eun-seol nodded again.
"He went to the Martial Hall."
"Ah, he must have gone to give a gift to that boy who accompanied you on your journey."
Tang Gon had taken Heuk-pyo to the Martial Hall, saying he would gift him some concealed weapons as thanks for his hardships during their travels.
Surprisingly, Tang Cheong seemed to be intimately aware of Tang Gon's every move.
"How did you know?"
"Cave Master Gam Gok in charge of the armory, mentioned that Third Brother had withdrawn a few concealed weapons. So I asked him why."
Bu Eun-seol's eyes gleamed.
'The one in charge of the armory reports to her...'
As the rumors said, Tang Cheong was not only exceptional in intellect and martial arts but also held considerable influence among the experts of both the Inner and Outer Courtyards.
"Sigh."
Tang Cheong suddenly sighed and muttered under her breath.
"If he took him to the Martial Hall to gift him concealed weapons... he must be planning to teach him some techniques too."
Just as she deduced, Tang Gon was indeed instructing Heuk-pyo in a few concealed weapon techniques.
Though Heuk-pyo was Bu Eun-seol's attendant, Tang Gon had grown quite fond of the clever and amiable boy.
"Third Brother always wished for a younger brother when he was little. I suppose he's taken a liking to the boy you brought."
Tang Cheong rambled on without being asked.
Growing weary of her chatter, Bu Eun-seol silently turned to leave the garden.
"Wait a moment."
She scurried after him and asked—
"Where are you going?"
"Do you have any business with me?"
"Originally, I came to see my third older brother. Now that he's returned to the Main House, I thought he'd likely decide his next steps. But..."
Tang Cheong stared straight into Bu Eun-seol's motionless eyes and grinned brightly.
"After all, I think I'd much rather talk to you."