Even a Passing Dog Would Laugh
Gang Unso sought understanding from everyone present.
"My father is inside receiving those who arrived ahead of us, so I had no choice but to come out to greet you myself. I hope you'll forgive the impropriety."
It was a humble, courteous manner—the bearing of someone properly raised by a prestigious martial house.
Jegal Gyeong answered with a laugh.
"Haha, think nothing of it. If Lord Cheongmyeongsu is already welcoming the earlier guests, it can't be helped."
"Thank you for your consideration, White Literary Sword."
In the jianghu, Jegal Gyeong was known as the White Literary Sword, for whenever his blade moved it left residual images as though stained with ink.
Jegal Gyeong was smiling amiably when—
"Bullshit. They send out the youngest son who isn't even the heir of Cheongang and then ask for understanding? A passing dog would laugh."
Tang Cheonwi did not hold back.
"It seems you fully intend to insult us."
"H-hyung! You can't cause an incident already—how could you start like this?"
Tang Yuhyeon stammered as he tried to restrain him.
But Cheonwi did not stop.
"Ildo. What do you make of this?"
"Coming out to greet us means they already knew of our movements. Of course the clan head of Cheongang should have come himself."
"Why?"
"Because the Lord of Chilryeongak representing the Jegal Clan, along with the eldest young master and second young master of the great Sichuan Tang Clan, have arrived."
"Are we of lesser weight than the name of the Cheongang Clan Head?"
"If anything higher—never lower."
"Then what the hell is this bastard putting on airs for?"
The words were close to outright abuse.
In Naksan, Gang Unso was treated like a prince. Yet he had just been hit with foul language he had never once heard in his life.
The Cheongang Clan martial artists behind him roared.
"How dare you! Where do you think you are, spouting such nonsense?"
"Did you lot not dare first against me? You complete bastards."
Tang Yuhyeon turned pale. His brother spewing abuse the instant they set foot inside the Cheongang Clan—he had never expected this.
"That insolent bastard!"
"Young Master, just give the order. We will step forward and make that rude one kneel."
Voices rose from behind Gang Unso. They belonged to the martial artists of Cheongryu Yeong, one of the Cheongang Clan's combat units. The one who shouted was Ham Eongye, a first-class expert.
He acted up in the past too. Should I just kill that bastard?
He had been just as arrogant in the previous life. He had reveled in looking down on the Tang Clan and the Jegal Clan.
"Eldest Young Master, what are you muttering about alone?"
"I'm deliberating. Whether to kill that bastard or not."
"Huk—the Eldest Young Master has such concerns too?"
Tang Ildo stared with wide eyes, then muttered to himself.
"Why? Isn't he at a stage where just grabbing a hand can poison someone?"
Hearing that soft voice, a mischievous smile curved Tang Cheonwi's lips.
"That's a good idea."
In the previous life, Gang Unso's patience had kept anything from happening. Tang Cheonwi had no intention of letting it pass quietly this time.
"You're a surprisingly useful guy."
"That remark is rather unpleasant."
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"Keuh... it's unfair."
Tang Ildo only wore a resentful face and took no further action. Meanwhile Tang Cheonwi strode boldly forward.
"Don't block the path. Get lost."
"Young Master Unso!"
"...Make way."
It was Gang Unso's order. The Cheongryu Yeong parted to either side and cleared the path. In Tang Cheonwi's eyes, Gang Unso was tightly suppressing his anger.
He's exercising patience because of Jegal Rin.
Jegal Rin was one of the Six Dragons and Four Flowers—a promising talent known as the Blue Lotus Flower. He would want to look cool in front of a girl his own age. Falling for a provocation in front of everyone would only make him look like a brat. That was why he was enduring.
"But—!"
"That person is the eldest young master of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Tang Cheonwi."
"Whoever he is, here in Naksan we—"
Ham Eongye cut himself off mid-sentence.
"This is a place with everyone present. Watch your words."
"I apologize..."
If they claimed with their own mouths to be the kings of Naksan, it would be a statement that ignored the Tang Clan ruling Sichuan. Because the Tang Clan stood as the hegemon under heaven, the Cheongang Clan of the same region had enjoyed a spillover effect. Had the Tang Clan not been the greatest clan under heaven, the Cheongang Clan would never have grown as large as it was now.
At that moment, a strange hand settled on Ham Eongye's shoulder.
"You should count yourself lucky. That guy over there—do you know who he is?"
"..."
Ham Eongye clenched his molars and did not answer.
"I don't know if the likes of you have even heard of the Black Scale Guard."
At the words Black Scale Guard, Ham Eongye's pupils shook.
"Bear in mind that I can kill you without so much as a mouse or bird knowing."
Tang Cheonwi patted Ham Eongye's shoulder twice and walked on. Tang Ildo followed with a heavy sigh.
"Why would you reveal my identity? Wasn't it a secret?"
"How important are you that we need to keep it secret?"
"The Black Scale Guard is a secret escort group, you know?"
"So what."
Their bickering looked trivial, yet Ham Eongye knew exactly what kind of people the Black Scale Guard of the Sichuan Tang Clan were.
Damn it. To think the Black Scale Guard would be here.
His neck felt cold. If he had drawn his sword against the eldest young master of the Tang Clan, what would have happened? His head would have flown off in an instant. The Black Scale Guard were murderous ghosts of that caliber.
But he did not know that something far more terrifying than the Black Scale Guard was Tang Cheonwi himself. He never noticed the poisonous blossom slowly unfurling on his own shoulder.
In a separate courtyard of the Cheongang Clan, Tang Cheonwi's party was settling in. Tang Yuhyeon had not even unpacked; he was already scolding.
"Hyung, I've told you over and over. This isn't the Tang Clan—it's the Cheongang Clan. You have to watch your words and actions."
"I know. Stop nagging."
"You'll end up in danger. Do you know how many people are after the heir of the Tang Clan?"
At Yuhyeon's words, Tang Ildo mouthed something so no one else would hear.
"If they target him, they'll all be done for, Second Young Master."
Whether Yuhyeon heard it or not, the nagging continued.
"When you meet the Cheongang Clan Head, you really must be careful. Understood?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'll do as you say."
Jegal Rin, who had been watching the brothers quietly, tilted her head.
Is the little brother a fool? How can the atmosphere when he deals with other people be so completely different?
The lines visible to her eyes—the energy flowing from Tang Cheonwi—never once touched Tang Yuhyeon.
Even Brother Gwang cherishes me dearly, but not to that extent.
How could brothers possess such deep fraternal love? Watching them, her heart eased of its own accord.
And...
Her gaze shifted sideways, to the area near Tang Yuhyeon's heart. The presence was completely concealed, yet her eyes could not be deceived.
It seems like a spiritual beast, but I can't tell.
When no answer came no matter how hard she thought, she spoke to Yuhyeon.
"Hey, Yuhyeon."
"Yes?"
"Can you take out what's in your bosom and show me?"
"Ah—there's nothing."
Tang Yuhyeon stammered. His fluster was plain; the lie sat openly on his face. He turned to look at Tang Cheonwi.
"He must be frustrated too. Tell him to come out."
"Weren't we supposed to hide it?"
"If I meant to keep hiding it, I wouldn't have brought it in the first place. And this woman can't be fooled by anyone."
Only then did Tang Yuhyeon draw the small living creature from his robes.
"Kking!"
The Yin Spirit Ice Fox cried as if it did not want to come out. It was thoroughly sulking. The human had lured it by promising to show the nest he had prepared; instead he had dragged it to some strange place without showing a thing. Resentful at being deceived, it curled into a ball and refused to lift its head.
"Yin Spirit... Ice Fox?"
"You recognized it at once."
Only Jegal Gwang did not know the name.
"What kind of animal is it?"
"Haven't you heard of the Heavenly Spirit Fox?"
Only then did understanding dawn on him.
"The king of Mount Heaven?"
"Right. A spiritual beast hard to spot even on Mount Heaven..."
She cast her gaze toward Tang Cheonwi.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Because Oppa Cheonwi is the master of this Yin Spirit Ice Fox."
"This is exactly why I want to keep my distance from people with the Heavenly Eye."
Deception was impossible. He was sitting in the palm of her hand.
"How did you obtain it?"
"By chance."
Tang Cheonwi answered shortly and offered no details. She did not mind; the origin was not what mattered.
"Do you know the prophecy about the Yin Spirit Ice Fox?"
Tang Cheonwi knew most ordinary facts, yet he had never heard of any prophecy.
"What prophecy?"
"Now you're showing some interest in me?"
She smiled brightly—a face that would have left any of the promising talents dazed if they had seen it. Tang Cheonwi, however, spoke with complete indifference.
"Forget it. What kind of prophecy?"
"A prophecy that when the master of the Yin Spirit Ice Fox appears, the world will be submerged in blood."
Jegal Gwang leaned in, curiosity lighting his face.
"So the master of that prophecy is Cheonwi?"
"At the same time, there's another prophecy."
"What is it, what is it? This is interesting."
Tang Yuhyeon and Tang Ildo also pricked up their ears.
"It said the only one who can suppress this is the master of another Yin Spirit Ice Fox."
"First time I'm hearing this."
Jegal Gwang clapped his hands as if delighted. Tang Cheonwi remained thoroughly unimpressed.
"So what's the conclusion of the prophecy?"
"One of the two will die."
"A predictable ending."
As Tang Cheonwi started for the door of the separate courtyard—
"There's still more."
Jegal Rin stopped him.
"It's not interesting. I don't want to hear more."
He left without listening further. Instead Tang Ildo asked with shining eyes.
"Lady Jegal, what is the remaining story?"
"Jegal Noona, I want to hear it—please continue."
Tang Yuhyeon also urged her, curious. Jegal Rin looked at the place where Tang Cheonwi had gone and spoke.
"The one who died is said to have protected the sun to the end in the darkness."
Tang Yuhyeon, Tang Ildo, and Jegal Gwang all tilted their heads.
"I don't understand what that means."
"How does a dead person protect the sun?"
"Can't you explain it simply?"
She offered the three of them no interpretation.
"Figure it out yourselves."
"Ah."
"Lady Jegal, this feels like going to the outhouse and not washing your butt."
"Hear, hear! Jegal Rin, satisfy our curiosity!"
Despite their protests she only smiled. At that expression Tang Ildo frowned.
"It's the same face as our Eldest Young Master."
Tang Yuhyeon knew the face well too.
"Ah! It's the exact same expression as Hyung's."
"He always does that and then refuses to speak. Right, Second Young Master?"
"Yes! He always leaves us curious and then disappears somewhere."
"If Lady Jegal is the same as our Eldest Young Master, it would be quite troublesome."
Just as Tang Ildo and Tang Yuhyeon's thoughts aligned, a martial artist of the Cheongang Clan approached.
"All the promising talents of Sichuan have gathered at the training grounds. If you have finished unpacking, please follow me."
The manner was polite yet somehow high-handed. Tang Yuhyeon, who noticed none of that, answered with a bright face.
"We're done. We'll go right away."
He took up his sword and followed the Cheongang martial artist out.
"Jegal Noona, come quickly too."
"Yeah, I'll go."
Jegal Rin moved after him. Tang Ildo watched Yuhyeon's back and muttered.
"Since he has no twists in worldly affairs, the Eldest Young Master worries. But the Eldest Young Master is far too twisted—that's the real problem."
Tang Ildo set off in the same direction as well.