Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Tang-Baek Oath
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Tang Clan Leader's study. Clan Leader Tang Seong spoke up.
"I must say it once more. Young Master Baek. You are our Tang Clan's benefactor. Our thanks to you, benefactor."
"Our thanks to the benefactor!"
"Our thanks to the benefactor!"
Clan Leader Tang Seong, Young Clan Leader Tang Gun, and the numerous Tang Clan elders all bowed deeply to Yang-hui in unison with clasped hands.
Baek Heon-so, standing beside him, felt a flush of embarrassment and overwhelming emotion at the sheer formality of their gratitude.
'It's deliberate.'
No matter how genuinely they saw him as their benefactor, this display lowered the Tang Clan's prestige in a way.
It felt like they were emphasizing it on purpose, putting on a show for all to see.
'As long as they gain something, they're fine humbling themselves. More politically minded than I thought.'
Well, it didn't stir any resentment in him.
Favors repaid double, grudges tenfold.
Choosing this approach over an easier one revealed the Tang Clan's true nature.
But still.
'You didn't have to go this far.'
He glanced at Tang Gun. The man was always upright and affable, laughing it off even if his little brother showed a bit of rudeness.
And... his sworn brother from his past life.
"Hui, little brother... I beg you... please, the main clan..."
Yang-hui spoke quietly.
"The energy I obtained through this Baek Clan's opportunity is pure qi. True to its name, it carries the traits of exorcising evil and subduing demons, with the power to guide all things to righteousness. Moreover, the Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art of the Baek Clan embodies the enlightenment of harmonizing all energies under heaven."
He continued explaining pure qi and harmonious heaven qi.
Especially focusing on how harmonious heaven pure qi interacted with the Tang Clan's poison arts.
"That's all. I believe everything that happened today stemmed from the power of harmonious heaven pure qi."
Tang Seong looked at Yang-hui with a glint of interest.
He knew full well what it meant to explain the nature of one's inner energy in such detail.
"My brother So and I came to the Tang Clan for exchanges between allies. Perfect timing. Seems we have something to discuss together."
"Frankly, it's unexpected."
"Is it?"
"It is. I'd heard your nature was extremely calculating."
He didn't need to guess who spread that rumor.
Tang Gun averted his gaze awkwardly, while someone else chimed in.
"It's true, though, isn't it, little brother Hui? You've never been at a loss anywhere."
That left him speechless.
No, after pushing him to peak realm, this is how he talks?
It felt oddly unfair.
"What happened today... is of utmost importance and urgency to our Tang Clan. It undoubtedly ties to our family's long-cherished wish."
That was Tang Seong's point.
You hold the Tang Clan's lifeline.
Yet you're offering to share it without demanding any price or promise?
His response was.
"Yes. I have eyes and ears, so I know. Wouldn't it be petty otherwise?"
Tang Seong's eyes widened slightly.
"Petty? How so?"
"When a friend has something they need and you haggle over it. Fine with strangers, but between friends? That's petty."
"Friends..."
Emotion welled up in Tang Gun's eyes.
Though his personality was bold and open, Yang-hui was so meticulous and deep-minded that even that seemed calculated.
For such a man to say this touched the depths of Tang Gun's heart.
"Little brother Hui..."
It moved him, but another thought crossed his mind.
The Yang-hui he knew might be putting on this display with calculation too.
But.
'What good is extracting a promise from the Tang Clan?'
Yang-hui truly believed that.
'Anyone else, maybe not. But the Tang Clan? It's fine.'
Of course, if they took it and brushed him off without giving anything back, he'd feel miffed.
But isn't that what friends are?
Like feeling slighted if after treating you today, they don't buy you something small tomorrow.
Of course, he believed the friends he chose wouldn't be so stingy.
"Here's to a good partnership ahead. If this flawed body of mine aids the Tang Clan's growth, that alone would be my honor."
Tang Seong gazed steadily at Yang-hui as he returned the clasped-hand bow.
"Our Tang Clan was born from transactions."
To physicians and poison masters wronged by murim, the old sects and five great clans made this offer.
We'll give you power, martial arts.
In return, bear our shame and become shields against poisons and hidden weapons.
"Favors and grudges aren't repaid neatly in multiples. But we repay favors double and grudges tenfold. We made calculation our creed. Yes. That's how it was."
If all treat us as profit and loss, we'll do the same.
We'll repay it all doubled.
Those who vowed that gathered to form the Tang Clan.
"Friends. I won't forget those words."
What is an alliance?
A pact to align feet for mutual benefit.
In other words, a relationship for gain.
'This makes the second step solid after the first.'
His goal was to transcend alliance and treat each other as true friends.
Friends must have faith—trust between companions.
He trusted the Tang Clan. They wouldn't take a friend's gain and wipe their mouths clean.
Why? Because they were the Baek Clan's friends.
No need to feel at a loss for giving first.
Strictly speaking, the Tang Clan had given first.
'Brother Tang. I told you. Favors double, grudges tenfold? No, favors tenfold. We'll repay kindness ten times over.'
This was realizing the Tang-Baek Oath.
And repaying his sworn brother's loyalty and affection.
"Little brother Hui... I trust you. The Tang-Baek Oath... With you here, I can go without worry..."
In his past life, Yang-hui's only sworn brother was Chui-dal.
Precisely.
If counting only living sworn brothers.
Just Chui-dal.
Because he couldn't protect him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Demonic Church Calamity was deemed murim's greatest and most horrific bloodbath.
Today you'd share a meal with someone, tomorrow offer their funeral rice.
Tears of those losing friends and family formed rivers.
In that chaos, swearing brotherhood with Tang Gun was something he couldn't call fortunate.
Tang Gun... had the perfect personality for dying young.
"Brother Tang. Get up already."
"Just a bit longer."
"What's the point of burying corpses? Better use that time to kill one more and get revenge."
"Still, just a little more."
Tang Gun was a simple, good-hearted man. The Tang Clan's young leader, infamous for ruthlessness, yet top among those Yang-hui knew for his kind nature.
After battles, he'd order his men to rest while burying the dead alone. Seeing that, Yang-hui often thought:
With that temperament, he'll die soon. Shouldn't have sworn brotherhood.
The Tang-Baek Oath benefits the first to die, but this way, he'd be the one at a loss.
"Little brother Hui. Most of our Tang Clan's ultimate arts are based on the Three Yang Return Origin Art."
"Why tell me that? Isn't it forbidden to spread?"
"You're my brother, aren't you? A big brother can teach his little one some martial arts."
They'd always shared advice freely on each other's arts, but one day Tang Gun started breaking taboos.
He began sharing core insights and enlightenments—not full manuals, but fundamentals.
Murim punished leaking arts with severed meridians, and the Tang Clan was especially strict.
This was no small thing.
"Little brother Hui. I'm always grateful to you. Without you... I'd have lost far more men."
"It's paid work. What's to thank?"
"Haha! Feeling shy?"
"Brother Tang. Enough chit-chat. Let's hone our arts more."
"Right. Both you and I must refine our family arts to achieve our dreams!"
Tang Gun never stopped teaching.
Yang-hui felt half a Tang clansman, so versed in their arts.
To the point where, with his world's greatest intellect, he saw their limits, flaws, and solutions.
"The Three Yang Return Origin Art is based on the semi-Taiji three talents. That's the problem, Brother Tang."
"Why do you think so?"
"Super Peak, like Peak, seeks another unity, another singularity. For blue and red to mix into purple, they must be equal parts."
"I see. Dropping a drop of red into blue dye still leaves it blue."
"Well, that's fine. There are masters handling extreme yang true qi or yin cold inner force who reached ascension. The issue is..."
The core of Three Yang Return Origin Art was burning poison qi with yang qi.
That was why the Tang Clan never produced a single Super Peak master.
At least, in Yang-hui's view.
"But how do you know? You're not Super Peak yourself. Never learned arts dealing with it."
"Ouch, right in the sore spot."
"Haha, sorry."
"A genius like me can see without trying."
"..."
"For real."
"..."
"Hah. I'll hit Super Peak soon. Watch then. I'll look down from above and laugh at Peak losers."
Every day was hellish, dancing on death's edge, but fun.
Time with Tang Gun was joyful days for Yang-hui.
Reminiscent of another lost friend.
"Little brother Hui. Come to our Tang Clan later? I'll take you as son-in-law!"
"No thanks."
"Hey. I can give you my sister too!"
"Ah, enough!"
He feared growing closer to Tang Gun.
The more precious, the greater the pain of loss.
Like losing his father, who took in an orphan like him.
So he sent his only sworn little brother Chui-dal to the rear, yet gained another sworn brother.
For someone terrified of loss, why keep creating things to lose?
'Maybe this is how humans among heaven, earth, and man live.'
So he had to protect them. Perhaps protecting is humanity's essence.
But.
Everything ends.
That day came.
-Kieeeaaah!
His sword wailed like a hawk, slicing down a Demonic Church spawn.
"Huff. Huff."
Corpses of demon spawns littered around.
Even live ones.
"Reverse Heaven Blood Sword Baek Yang-hui. Indeed lives up to the name."
"Reverse Heaven Blood Sword? Bullshit. Keep that nickname for yourselves."
"Still got a tongue in this state."
"A man's gotta."
He cleaved another attacker and asked the foe.
"All a trap?"
"Yes. A stage to kill you, Reverse Heaven Blood Sword."
At that time, Yang-hui was a Peak master beyond limits, making a name.
A lowly wanderer with godlike swordsmanship, felling countless demonic Peak experts.
Perhaps too flashy.
"Didn't expect the Vice Leader for one wanderer."
The demons parted, revealing the blood-red Blood Church Vice Leader, Blood Blood Witch.
"You killed Blood Eyes with mere Peak body. You must taste divine, so I came myself."
Corpse-pale skin. Everything else red.
The inhuman beauty continued softly.
"So surrender and come."
"Shut up."
"Your names end today. Better go quick and easy?"
"Says who."
"No one will save you. We've ensured that."
"No!!!"
The shout shook the air. It was Tang Gun.
Clearly through brutal battle.
His men down to a third.
Meaning most dead.
Yet his voice steady.
"Little brother Hui. Came to save you."
"Ho. Trap enough to wipe your Tang brats. You survived well."
"Don't underestimate Tang Clan power, witch."
"Ahaha. Using innate true qi. But insufficient. Looks like Tang Clan has a secret like Reverse Blood Great Law."
As Blood Blood Witch said, Tang Gun had ignited his potential.
His men too.
Not just drawing innate qi a bit.
Using forbidden arts to burn their lives.
Meaning they set today as their last.
"Tang Clan never toys in demonic hands!"
"Hm. Either way, last day?"
"Even so, we have strength to smear your plans!"
Bloody battle ensued.
All died, becoming corpses.
Couldn't kill the Blood Church Vice Leader.
But bought time till Baek Clan reinforcements.
"Hm. Pity. Wanted Reverse Heaven Blood Sword's blood taste. Truly a shame, ahaha. Tasting postponed."
Blood Blood Witch left, reinforcements arrived.
But only Yang-hui survived.
"Brother Tang."
Tang Gun lay with guts spilled.
His empty eyes met Yang-hui's.
Why? He heard Tang Gun's voice.
"Little brother Hui... I beg you... please, the main clan..."
"The Tang-Baek Oath... With you here, I can go without worry..."
"Time with you... was so... joyful..."
Tang Gun could have lived. Escaped the trap to the rear, sacrificed his men.
At least he would have.
Yet he came.
Why... he didn't wonder.
That was Tang Gun.
He knew well.
"Hahaha, how about calling today's pact Tang-Baek Oath from our surnames? Tang first 'cause I'm the big brother!"
Tang-Baek Oath. The survivor raises the first-to-die's clan, fulfills their dreams.
So Yang-hui thought: Tang Gun's nature meant he'd die first— a loss for him.
'In the end. As expected.'
He rose. Gazed at the moonlit sky.
No tears.
Hadn't cried since his father's death.
But.
-Kieeeaaah!
The sword sang. Lamenting for its master.
No, the world wept.
Filled with hawk cries.
'Lost again. Couldn't protect. If only I were stronger.'
Void Grasp. Weapons floated from corpse hands.
A mercenary's sword for coin.
A lone hero's straight blade.
And Tang Gun's hidden weapons.
'Brother Tang. I told you. Burying dead is inefficient. Too sentimental, perfect for dying.'
Burying dead is wasteful.
Yet here he was, dancing sword requiem amid corpses under moonlight.
Waste of time too.
'If only stronger. If only.'
Feeling world as one.
Man included in heaven-earth three talents because only humans hold will amid them.
His vengeful will stood between sky and earth.
Standing alone, just wailing.
-Kiaaaah!
-Kieeeaaah!
-Kiaaaaaaaaaa!
Thus Yang-hui ascended to Super Peak.
Under roaring sword cries, he vowed.
To keep the Tang-Baek Oath.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Brother Tang. Late, but I'll keep it now.'
The Tang Clan and Baek Clan will advance together.