004. Sama Clan

Visiting someone else's house itself doesn't stir any particular emotions in Dam Cheon.

Whether it's the prestigious mansion of a noble adorned with lavish decorations, or a clan that rigorously trains its members with unwavering conviction.

Having seen such things more than once or twice, how could visiting someone else's mansion stir emotions?

However, as he approached the Sama Clan, Dam Cheon felt a rare surge of interest.

'Look at this? There's something resembling magic.'

Spells used in other dimensions.

Dam Cheon himself doesn't fully understand the principles, but he roughly distinguishes them by their aura. After all, when he climbed the Tower, he had comrades who were mages among them.

Among them, the aura was very similar to what a comrade from the Zhuge Clan used.

The Sama Clan. That is, the buildings are clearly visible.

But the path leading there or the surroundings of the buildings are strangely not perceived, you could say.

'That guy said he combined magic with formations. But it's not exactly the same. The feeling is similar, but... the level is vastly different.'

Though dense, it feels like building a wall with paper. The 'magic barrier' deployed by his Zhuge Clan mage comrade compared to that is like a fortress wall built with steel.

'That would also break with one punch from me... but I'd have to put real power into it.'

In that sense, the Sama Clan had value as a place to rely on. More precisely, you could say their potential was acknowledged.

Of course, unless they discover the concept of magic, they likely won't achieve the growth expected.

Suddenly, the magic book belonging to the guy inside the subspace comes to mind.

The legacy of a comrade who died fighting the floor boss on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠8th floor before even reaching the 10th floor. He said since he might not survive, he entrusted Dam Cheon with his legacy to pass on to successors separately.

Dam Cheon thought perhaps he had anticipated his own death.

'He said there's no need to deliver it to the Zhuge Clan.'

But coincidentally, there's someone in the Sama Clan who handles a similar power in terms of formations.

'Should I call this fate?'

Initially, he just planned to live as a parasite for a while, get some money handed to him, and leave.

However, discovering the possibility that there might be talent worthy of inheriting his comrade's legacy, his mind leans toward wanting to make this place his own territory.

Of course, he didn't plan to give it away for free.

First, he'll stay as a parasite, directly observe and judge what kind of place the Sama Clan is, and based on the potential and disposition of the person who deployed this formation, he'll draw conclusions.

"Follow closely, Dam Cheon. The Sama Clan has formations deployed, so if you misstep, you'll fall into another space. We can rescue you, but it'll take some time."

"Yes. I'll be careful."

Since he can't break the formations, he walks following Geum Wi-un's footsteps. As Dam Cheon follows his steps, his blurred vision becomes clearer.

As the hazy vision clears, the party arrives at the main gate of the Sama Clan.

It feels like being intoxicated and mentally foggy, then suddenly sobering up as if the hangover clears.

For Dam Cheon, it was a distortion of senses that didn't even register, but all the escort agency members seemed affected, shaking their heads and regaining their senses.

"Welcome, Master."

"The steward has come out to greet us. It's been a long time, glad to see you."

The middle-aged steward with hair beginning to turn white. He respectfully welcomed Geum Wi-un, the husband of the clan head, then turned his head toward Dam Cheon.

"I see the benefactor who saved Master. The Sama Clan welcomes you."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Dam Cheon."

"I am Sama Jung, the steward of the Sama Clan."

"...Hmph!"

"?"

Sama Jung came out to greet them. At that moment, Dam Cheon couldn't hold back and let out a short laugh, causing Sama Jung to tilt his head curiously.

He didn't seem to think Dam Cheon laughed upon hearing his name.

Perhaps not caring much, Sama Jung lightly forgot this moment, bowed his head, and said.

"Master. I know you need to rest from the journey, but the Clan Head requests to see you immediately."

"I understand."

"And Benefactor, please follow me. I received a letter saying you wish to rest at the clan as a parasite. I will guide you to the guest room."

"Alright."

Though not one of the Five Great Clans, the Sama Clan is among those beneath them.

The steward, the overall manager of that place, personally guiding him meant they clearly recognized him as a benefactor, Dam Cheon accepted.

While Dam Cheon was guided to the guest room by Sama Jung.

Geum Wi-un visited the Clan Head's room.

"I'll excuse myself, Clan Head."

"Come in."

Though strictly Sa-ma Ryang is the Clan Head, as husband and wife, she should warmly treat Geum Wi-un.

But the cold voice couldn't possibly be considered welcoming a husband.

Sa-ma Ryang as Clan Head has a cold side, but Geum Wi-un couldn't hide a bitter smile at her permission devoid of affection.

'Is her anger still not resolved?'

But this is unavoidable.

Since it's strictly due to his own mistake.

Geum Wi-un calmly accepted it, entered the Clan Head's room, and acted like a subordinate.

"Return completed, Clan Head."

"...Please report."

"Yes."

He relays the story of his journey to Sa-ma Ryang, who continues her work without looking away.

After hearing all that, Sa-ma Ryang narrowed her brows and summarized.

"External martial arts enough to annihilate the Black Tiger Stronghold, immeasurable martial prowess due to a divine opportunity presumed to be from a divine being. A eccentric whose attitude toward others changes depending on resolving sexual desires... And he showed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠interest in our clan's formations?"

"Yes. Clearly, the Dreamlike Maze Formation should distort the senses, but he passed through the formation's path with clear eyes. It seemed as if Mount Mo's spiritual energy had no effect on him at all. And seeing the Dreamlike Maze Formation trying to affect him, he showed a reaction seeming interested."

"Then, using spells as bait, can we tie that master to our side?"

"The possibility is low, but it seems worth trying. Even if rejected, we won't suffer losses."

"Hmm."

Sa-ma Ryang, who had been working, stopped, put down her brush, and regulated her breath. Habitually sinking into thought with someone present, she looked like a narcolepsy patient.

But those close to her know it's not that.

The flow of thought is as vast as the sea, and the knowledge possessed spreads like a grassland to the horizon, making organization take a long time.

Actually, Sa-ma Ryang accelerated her thinking, split it, and activated each parallelly.

'A master interested in formations. Truly only learned external martial arts?'

'Perhaps conversely, learned formations and filled deficiencies with external martial arts.'

'Either way, being an incredible master remains unchanged. Must build connections.'

'Such a master has no reason to covet the clan's formations. Truly just interest level.'

'Since he enjoys women, attach a child from the clan's bloodline?'

'Impossible. Enjoying many women means ordinary women becoming wives is judged difficult.'

'Then, what's the best currently?'

Numerous thoughts exchange opinions and comprehensively reach conclusions.

The split thoughts reunite into one.

Sa-ma Ryang reaches a conclusion close to the answer.

'The second best is building friendship enough to receive favors from him. The best is acknowledging his lustful tendencies and attaching as many women with the clan's blood as possible to make him a clan member.'

A secluded master who killed Heuk Dang in one move with external martial arts and exterminated the Black Tiger Stronghold without staining blood.

Though Cheon-wang-dan is a great elixir, its prestige falls short compared to Shaolin's Great Recovery Pill or Huashan's Purple Cloud Pill, so there's no reason to covet it.

Plus, seeing formations and showing interest, passing through unaffected, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠means he truly coincidentally came to rely on the Sama Clan temporarily.

If possible, attaching multiple women wouldn't matter, so making him a clan member is good.

Having concluded thus, Sa-ma Ryang first turned her gaze to look at Geum Wi-un.

A person with charisma but ordinary. She fell for that charisma, and considering benefits from that charisma, they married.

As his wife, Sa-ma Ryang well knows his talent for quickly befriending others, so she gave him orders.

"Master."

"Yes, Clan Head."

"Please build friendship with him as much as possible. To the extent of becoming sworn brothers."

"I'll do so."

This is natural for those belonging to martial families, so Geum Wi-un nodded without hesitation.

Originally, Geum Wi-un is quite hearty, so he has more than one or two sworn brothers.

She calculated his capability, deemed it sufficiently possible, and ordered him to succeed as much as he can.

"And if possible, check if we can make him a clan member."

"What does that mean?"

"Try naturally pairing him with a pretty girl among the grandchildren of the elders who only eat and waste. But only check. Be careful not to let him feel any coercion."

In the Sama Clan's decline, the incompetence of the previous generation elders also played a part.

Using their flesh and blood to increase the clan's power, Sa-ma Ryang hesitated not.

Geum Wi-un also had no complaints about this instruction, knowing the elders are smart and handle accounting well but haven't deeply learned martial arts, so they aren't much help.

"Yes. I'll naturally arrange the flow."

Having ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠charisma and being hearty, good at befriending people, but he too is a Sama Clan member.

If he were only good enough to protect elders who only eat and waste, he wouldn't have entered the Sama Clan as a son-in-law.