Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: The Tang Clan's Test
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‘As expected. Am I the only one who can eat spirit pills condensed from pure energy?’
His suspicions had turned out to be true, leaving his mind a bit tangled.
Circulating his qi was the best remedy for times like this. And he'd just taken a spirit pill, perfect timing.
With that thought, he plopped right down onto the ground.
“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Brother. That was in my mouth.”
“So?”
“It was covered in spit.”
“I wiped it clean before eating.”
This guy. Did I raise him too softly in this life?
Back in my day, oh, back in my day!
‘In my past life, I never even found a single low-grade spirit herb that others stumbled upon once or twice, and it left me with such regrets.’
Martial artists devote everything to the martial way.
The martial way meant strength. If it granted even ten years of cultivation, a martial artist would eat roadside dog shit without hesitation.
‘I've already eaten a few by now, but a spirit pill from Iron Core is a peerless elixir that would cause a stir across the world.’
Spit was nothing.
He'd wiped it with his sleeve before popping it in, of course.
And if it meant getting stronger, he could do far worse.
“I'll circulate my qi first. Everyone, wait for me.”
He'd just finished a session not long ago, so doing another made him feel a tad guilty.
With that in mind, he closed his eyes.
“Suuup. Haaa.”
This wasn't his first spirit core, but a spirit pill was still a spirit pill.
To properly gather every strand of energy within, circulating qi was essential.
About an hour later, perhaps.
Having fully absorbed it all, Yang-hui let out a deep breath and opened his eyes.
‘That's roughly a little under one japja increase.’
He'd be seventeen in about two months, but at this age, his inner energy was already nearing two hundred fifty years.
In his past life, even before dying, he'd only had about this much.
Was this right?
“Hui, my brother. Congratulations. Who knew people actually got fortunes like this in real life?”
“Watching Brother Hui, it really feels like the luck of heaven is with you.”
“Luck of heaven...”
A wry smile tugged at his lips.
Not long ago, during the fight with those black path bastards, he'd thought the same about his own heavenly luck.
Adu's senior brother, Monk Beop-gak, had shown up at just the right moment, and other strokes of fortune kept piling up.
In his past life, he'd been so unlucky, yet in this one, heaven's luck accompanied him.
Calling it simple luck felt a bit too suspicious.
“Anyway, what happened? It felt like a hard stone when I put it in my mouth.”
“You know how I once got the legacy of the World's Greatest as a fortune, right?”
They all knew about the elixir he'd taken back then, even if they didn't know about Iron Core.
He'd reported it to the clan, after all.
“It was the same kind of spirit pill. I suspect only someone whose energy or constitution has changed to match can even ingest it in the first place.”
It was a vague excuse, but plausible enough.
Chui-dal nodded vigorously.
“So it had restrictions like that. Damn, if I could've eaten it, it'd have been a fortune. What a shame.”
“You eating my fortune? Doesn't make sense.”
“You shoved a spirit pill straight into my mouth and now you say that?”
Only because he was certain Chui-dal couldn't eat it.
“Anyway, congrats, Brother Hui. Truly the luck of heaven.”
“Right? ‘Accompanied by heavenly luck’—sounds kinda cool, doesn't it?”
Instead of replying, Yang-hui just flashed a sly smile.
It's not heavenly luck, Brother Dang. ‘Arrangement’ would be more accurate.
He'd ended up with Won-u, the pet spirit beast of Sword Sage Yeo Dong-bin.
And then Won-u brought him Iron Core, the Sword Sage's legacy.
No way that was mere coincidence.
‘Whatever you want, give it a try.’
He recalled the voice from his regression once more.
Return and Fulfill Wish.
The Sword Sage might have scattered arrangements and guided him there.
But whether guess or truth, it didn't matter.
‘Fulfill my wishes. That's all.’
In that sense, he needed to squeeze everything he could out of the Tang Clan visit.
Well, bringing Geom-gak and Dok-eung along already seemed like a good start.
“Alright, long road ahead. Everyone, let's move out.”
Geom-gak wasn't just the name of a single mountain.
It was a range of peaks sharp as blades, and crossing it alone took nearly half a month.
Even that was only possible because they were all martial artists.
“Uwaa! Flat ground at last!”
“Camping for half a month straight! Feels like bugs are crawling out of my skin!”
“Ugh, inn! Find an inn! Spread out, everyone!”
Only after storming an inn as a group, cleaning up, and stuffing themselves with proper hot food could they finally relax.
“Phew. Feels like I can live again. Crossing Geom-gak is always a ordeal.”
“Tell me about it. Taking the easy route takes way too long.”
Baek Heon-so, sprawled out lazily, tossed out a question.
“How much farther to the Tang Clan from here?”
“Ah, Brother So. No worries. Sichuan's vast, so it'll take time, but from here on, it'll be smoother.”
“No rush, so we can sightsee along the way.”
“That sounds great!”
This was Baek Heon-so's first long trip like this.
Yang-hui had visited most famous spots already, so he wanted to hurry to the Tang Clan.
Well, no real rush, like Sister Dang said. And Chui-dal seems eager to sightsee too.
Truth be told, Yang-hui needed a bit more time himself.
-Kieee!
He had plenty to test and figure out about Won-u's abilities, perched on his shoulder.
And so, another month passed.
“Alright. We're here.”
“Welcome, everyone. To the Tang Clan.”
[Sichuan Tang Clan Grounds] Five characters carved in a bold, dragon-like script on a wooden pillar.
The Tang Clan at last.
“Let's head in.”
The biggest difference between the Tang Clan and other families.
The Tang Clan was a family, but also called the Tang School.
Just as the Baek Clan had its manor, massive martial clans spawned villages around them.
With excellent security, commoners flocked and settled.
Back when the Baek Clan was the Baek family seat, Akgan County had grown the same way.
But.
The Tang Clan Grounds were different.
The old man passing through the village. The able-bodied men working.
Even the kids playing in the open fields.
All bore the Tang surname, all members of the Tang Clan.
A village, a school, a family.
That was the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
“From here, it's my home turf.”
[Grand Sichuan Tang Clan] Unlike the pillar at the entrance, a proper plaque hung here.
The calligraphy is the same.
Plaques usually hung above the main gate, connected to the walls.
But the main gate before them had no walls on either side.
As if declaring no need to separate inside from outside.
That was the moment.
Hm?
A fierce aura pulsed from within.
The energy was closing in rapidly.
The one who appeared was...
“Gun, Yeon. It's been far too long.”
“Clan Lord. Young Clan Leader Tang Gun reporting completion of mission.”
“Uncle! I missed you!”
Tang Gun prioritized his official report.
Tang Yeon openly showed her joy at seeing family after so long.
Beyond the two blood kin, the Tang Clan Lord Tang Xing turned his gaze to Yang-hui.
“Members of the Baek Clan, welcome to the Tang Clan.”
Grand Sichuan Tang Clan Lord, Sichuan Poison King, Tang Xing.
Yang-hui received the man's gaze fully and slowly offered a formal cupped-fist salute.
“Baek Yang-hui of the Heaven-Covering Baek Clan of Gangseo pays respects to the Clan Lord.”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A vast space decorated in the Tang Clan's signature green.
This was the Clan Lord's office.
“I've heard much from Gun and Yeon. Pleased to meet you.”
“The honor is mine. I've long heard of your great name, Clan Lord.”
Before the Tang School Exhibition, rumors painted the Tang clansmen as vicious in temperament.
Yet Tang Xing seemed utterly composed at first glance.
Of course a clan lord wouldn't lack poise.
That was when he thought it.
Huh?
Rumble rumble rumble—
A terrifying pressure spread, making the air tremble.
The source was Tang Xing himself.
It's almost customary for martial seniors to test juniors like this, but so suddenly?
He glanced at Tang Gun and Tang Yeon, seated with him.
They'd already stood and retreated behind.
Tang Gun shook his head helplessly, while Tang Yeon frowned as if to say, here we go again.
“Baek Yang-hui and Baek Heon-so of the Baek Clan. Word is you're both exceptional talents.”
“......Urk.”
The groan like a death rattle came from Baek Heon-so.
Even with his grasp of heroic spirit, enduring a peak supreme expert's pressure was too much.
Yang-hui reached out to shield him, then changed his mind.
-So. Use your heroic spirit mastery to push back. See if you can endure.
-Yes, Brother.
Baek Heon-so gritted his teeth at the transmission and began resisting the pressure.
This kid's been working hard.
Not bad progress? Good job.
Even Tang Xing's face showed a glint of interest.
This should satisfy him... no.
Poison began seeping into the pressure.
Truly a Tang Clan Lord.
The Tang Clan's signature arts were poison techniques and hidden weapons.
No visible signs, yet poison laced the air.
Proof his poison mastery had reached the pinnacle.
Probably a type that clears right up with the antidote. Still, poisoning a first-time guest?
Maybe the rumors of Tang viciousness weren't baseless.
“Cough!”
Unable to hold out, Baek Heon-so hacked up a cough.
Yang-hui chuckled softly and draped his sleeve in front of the boy's face.
Air currents stirred in the office, drawing all the poison toward Yang-hui.
Tang Xing's eyes flashed again.
The concentrated poison grew fiercer, but Yang-hui kept smiling calmly.
“Impressive.”
The pressure and poison surged abruptly stronger.
“Thank you for the praise.”
But it wasn't enough to shake Yang-hui's composure.
“......Gun and Yeon were right. A true prodigy.”
The pressure vanished like it was washed away, the poison sucked back into Tang Xing.
He must've judged pushing further would cross the line.
“They say Sichuan food is famous for its spice, and truly, the Tang Clan lives up to it. Quite the stimulating kick.”
“......”
Considering the Baek-Tang alliance, testing juniors this harshly on first meeting was rude—a subtle jab.
But Tang Xing said nothing, merely silent.
Sending only an inscrutable gaze.
“That settles it. Young Master Baek, I have a request for you.”
“I'm listening.”
“Become a son-in-law of the Tang Clan.”
Shock rippled through the office.
Son-in-law. A marriage proposal.
From the Tang Clan, no less—its weight was immense.
Far too heavy for casual mention on first sight.
“......”
Yang-hui sank into thought for a moment.
The rude pressure test out of nowhere.
And now a one-sided marriage offer.
I see.
He had a rough idea of Tang Xing's thinking.
“No thank you, Clan Lord.”
Yang-hui spat the blunt refusal with a grin.