Benefactor of the Sacheon Tang Clan (4)
In response to the Sacheon Tang Clan Lord's words, I cupped my fists in a formal salute.
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. It's the least I can do to repay the grace of saving my son."
Honestly, that was a burdensome request for an entire clan.
So I'd thrown it out without much expectation, and yet he'd accepted it so readily.
But that wasn't my real goal anyway.
"I hate to ask, but I have one more request."
The clan lord raised an eyebrow at my words.
"What is it?"
"I've heard a great deal about the Sacheon Tang Clan before. But since I've never visited in person, I can't tell if the rumors are true or not."
"Rumors, you say..."
"For example, stories about how the Sacheon Tang Clan captures mountain folk and forces poison down their throats..."
"What? Who the hell is spreading such nonsense?"
In an instant, the clan lord's surging aura turned everyone's faces pale around us.
I quickly waved my hands.
"That's just what people say. Please calm down. The others are suffering."
"Ah, sorry. I got heated there for a moment. Ahem."
"Hearing those rumors made me curious about what the Sacheon Tang Clan is really like. That's why I'm making this request."
I cupped my fists again and said,
"Please allow me to tour the Sacheon Tang Clan."
This was the true purpose of my visit to the Sacheon Tang Clan.
The plague that had swept through the Hyeongmun Sect.
The Mountain Air Poison that had nearly ruined Elder Brother Jin-ho's sub-branch inauguration banquet.
I figured that by wandering around the clan's various areas, I could determine if those were made by someone from the Sacheon Tang Clan.
If they were made here?
Then I'd need to uncover whether it was an individual's doing or the work of the clan as a whole.
Of course, my countermeasures would differ accordingly.
So touring the clan was the crucial first step in unraveling all that.
"Hm..."
The clan lord pondered my words for a moment.
It was a tough decision.
The Sacheon Tang Clan was renowned for whips and hidden weapons.
But even more famous were their poisons.
Especially since the recipes and antidotes were paramount—any leak would spell disaster.
That's why they maintained such a closed-off stance.
They even took sons-in-law rather than sending daughters away upon marriage.
Me wanting to tour the clan? Who knew what my intentions were? It had to make him wary.
If it were anyone else, he'd refuse outright. But he'd declared me a benefactor.
At last, the Sacheon Tang Clan Lord spoke.
"Do you know anything about poisons?"
I nodded readily.
"I do."
No point in half-assing a lie to someone of his stature—it'd be seen through in seconds.
"As a sub-branch leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group, we deal heavily in herbs. I can't claim total ignorance of poisons."
"Is that so?"
"And I'm a merchant. Among ordinary folk, we're probably the ones who know the most about poisons."
"Why is that?"
"Some merchants profit from honest trade, but others resort to underhanded deals for gain."
I continued,
"With bad merchants poisoning rivals to pressure or kill them, we have no choice but to study poisons just to survive."
"What?"
"I've never encountered one myself, but Father has dealt with a few such cases."
"Is Chief Chun all right?"
"Thankfully, timely antidotes or prior detection saved him each time."
"That's a relief."
His words stirred memories of my past life.
Damn, we sure used a lot of poison back then.
Especially those cowards who played righteous in public but slithered with venom in the shadows.
Of course, I never let scum like that off easy.
The Sacheon Tang Clan Lord asked again.
"So, you want to tour the clan to bolster your personal knowledge of poisons?"
"No, that's not it."
"It's not?"
"As long as the Sacheon Tang Clan's poisons don't leak to the world, why would I need specific knowledge of your poisons?"
"True enough."
The clan lord nodded.
"If our clan's poisons got out, it'd be catastrophic."
That was another reason for their isolation.
These were poisons of immense power.
If they spread, countless innocents would die.
It wasn't just about the clan's honor—it tied directly to their survival.
They could end up branded as enemies of the martial world or driven to the underworld...
Wait. Hold on.
If the Murim Alliance reached out amid such a crisis, who wouldn't take their hand?
I think I see how the Alliance might try to seize the Sacheon Tang Clan.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just a bit tired, it seems."
"Oh dear... Even with skills like yours, fatigue sets in. You must be overburdened with work. I hope we didn't drag you here unnecessarily."
"Not at all. I'm grateful for the rest. Anyway, as I said, I'm a merchant. I can't let baseless rumors sway me from profit."
I pressed on.
"But my own experiences are limited, so I'm asking to verify those rumors about your clan myself."
The Sacheon Tang Clan Lord nodded.
"Understood. You're no ordinary guest—you're our benefactor. The Sacheon Tang Clan won't refuse such a modest request."
"Thank you."
"We nearly suffered massive losses from those who tried to kidnap Jo-woong. Refusing this would be shameless."
From his words, I realized why he'd accepted my proposal for a formal document guaranteeing the favor.
They'd learned that the kidnappers planned to demand something from the clan.
It must have been a demand that could've caused huge damage or losses.
Ah, what a shame.
If I'd known, I could've asked for something bigger.
Still, no greed now.
"Thank you for granting my presumptuous request."
"Then I'll send an adjutant tomorrow morning."
"We could tour today."
"The main compound is vast. Even starting now, it might take until tomorrow to finish. Is that all right?"
"Ah..."
I replied quickly.
"Tomorrow morning it is."
.
.
.
The banquet ended.
I returned to my annex with the adjutant.
Then sat at the table.
I had some thinking to do.
That's when it happened.
A voice suddenly rang out.
"It is you. So, now that you're back, what do you plan to do? How utterly shameless."
Huh? What the hell?
I stepped outside.
In the courtyard stood Yi Pil Warrior and a young man I'd never seen before—around the same age as Yi Pil.
"You ran away saying you hated the Sacheon Tang Clan..."
The commotion drew me and the other guards out, leaving Yi Pil looking flustered.
The young man, seemingly misunderstanding, declared triumphantly,
"I've hit the mark, haven't I? Saving Jo-woong must have some ulterior motive..."
"Who are you?"
The youth turned to me at my question.
"And who might you be, grilling my guard like that?"
"Your guard...?"
I told him,
"You entered without fuss, so you must know who I am."
The annex had two guards posted.
They hadn't stopped him, so he had to be someone of rank.
"Ah, my apologies. I'm Tang Jun-ryeong, squad leader in the Sacheon Tang Clan's Flying Gold Squad."
"Eun Seo-ho."
I gave only my name.
No need to fully introduce myself to someone berating my guard.
"I couldn't help overhearing, Squad Leader Tang. Saving Young Master Tang Jo-woong was pure chance, and Yi Pil acted on my orders."
"..."
"The Sacheon Tang Clan Lord himself confirmed as much. To face such misunderstanding here is disappointing."
Tang Jun-ryeong looked flustered.
"Th-that's..."
But he quickly composed himself and cupped his fists.
"I spoke out of turn."
"Apology accepted."
I kept the momentum.
"Now, why were you raising your voice at my guard?"
"Before that, let me ask: Your guard?"
"Yi Pil is my bodyguard."
His face twisted in disbelief.
"A Sacheon Tang Clan member as some merchant's guard? How far have you fallen, Tang I-pil!"
Tang I-pil?
So Yi Pil Warrior was originally from the Sacheon Tang Clan, with the Tang surname?
That explains it...
I figured a Sichuan native skilled with hidden weapons was talented, but a Tang clansman? Never guessed.
But that changed nothing.
Whatever his circumstances, Yi Pil was my bodyguard.
"Some merchant? Don't insult my liege."
Yi Pil bristled at being called a mere merchant's guard.
How could I ignore someone like that?
"Yi Pil."
"Yes, my liege."
"You know him?"
He nodded.
"Yes. My half-brother. Well, former half-brother, since I discarded the Tang name and fled."
"I see."
I turned to Tang Jun-ryeong.
"And it seems you think my guard came here with some agenda, but that's not the case. Yi Pil was reluctant to come at all."
That much was true.
When I said we were heading to the Sacheon Tang Clan, he'd seemed uneasy.
"But the clan lord insisted everyone who saved Young Master Tang Jo-woong must attend, so he came against his will."
I continued,
"Besides, we won't stay long. Even as a mere merchant, I'm quite busy carrying out His Majesty's decree."
"Ahem."
At my logical explanation, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
His face screamed embarrassment.
Yet he wouldn't back down.
"Still, a Tang clansman as a merchant's guard? Unthinkable."
"If the clan lord knew Yi Pil was guarding me, would he approve?"
"Of course not."
"Yet he said nothing about it."
"..."
"His silence means acceptance. Pointing it out now implies the clan lord is wrong?"
"Kuh..."
Tang Jun-ryeong's face contorted.
Time to ease off—no need to corner him completely.
Even a rat bites when trapped.
I smiled.
"I get it—you're worried about your runaway brother. But he's doing well, so no need for concern."
I added politely,
"Please don't worry and head back."
"Sigh... Fine, I'll trust your word and go. Just don't bring further shame to the Sacheon Tang Clan."
With that, Tang Jun-ryeong left the annex.
Whew, finally gone.
Yi Pil let out a small sigh.
"I expected someone might come, but not my brother. It was awkward... Thank you for helping."
"What are you talking about? When my guard's in trouble, it's a liege's duty to step in."
"But... you won't ask about the details?"
"If you could've endured it, you wouldn't have fled. You hated it that much."
"..."
"No need to dredge up bad memories."
He smiled faintly.
"You're a good man, my liege."
"Took you this long to figure it out?"
Seo-u Warrior chuckled, lightening the mood.
"I've known for ages."
Even Yeo Eung-am Warrior smirked.
"Same here. You're late to the party—disappointing."
Yi Pil gave a soft laugh at the teasing.
"You warriors are good men too. If you'd been my brothers, I never would've run."
"Then do better from now on."
At Yeo Eung-am's words, he chuckled again.
"Actually, my mother was a poor mountain folk."
The sudden revelation sobered the air, but Yi Pil continued calmly.
"She saved my father when he collapsed wounded in the woods, and somehow... I was born."
His expression was detached, as if recounting someone else's tale.
That spoke volumes about the deep-seated pain he carried.