Chapter 53
Yang-hwi glanced back and forth between the Tang Clan entourage and that of the Namgung Clan.
It made sense for the Tang Clan to be here, since they’d received the letter, but what the hell were the Namgung people doing here?
‘The First Young Master of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Cheon-yeong. It’s gotta be him.’
It hit him all over again, just how far back in time he had returned.
After all, Namgung Cheon-yeong was the one who, in the future a decade from now, would be pushed aside by his younger brother, the Second Young Master Namgung Cheon-yeong, and fall from power.
As far as Yang Hwi could remember, Cheonhu had maintained the position of Young Clan Head until at least the time Yang Hwi had turned twenty, which meant he was probably still holding the title now.
Then again, maybe he hadn’t been officially appointed yet.
Yang Hwi narrowed his eyes.
‘I don’t remember hearing anything about Namgung Clan brats showing up near Akan-hyeon in my past life.’
He had a memory sharp enough to recite entire volumes after a single read.
If he’d heard even a whisper of the name “Namgung” during his previous life, there was no way he’d have forgotten it.
- Gu-Hyung. I think you’ll have to speak on my behalf this time.
- Hm? You’re not going to handle it yourself?
- No. Just follow my lead for now.
As soon as Yang Hwi finished whispering via sound transmission, Gu-Ak stepped forward and spoke aloud:
“I am Gu-Ak, Rehabilitation lord under the Baek Clan Manor.”
He respectfully cupped his fists and continued, turning to face the Tang Clan.
“We’ve come to greet an honored guest of our manor. I didn’t expect outsiders to be present. If you were in the middle of a conversation, we’ll gladly wait.”
The one to respond was the Tang Clan’s Young Clan Head himself, Tang Gun.
“I am Tang Gun, Young Clan Head of the Tang Clan. You’ve not only sent word in advance, but even came out in person to greet us. The Baek Family Manor’s courtesy is greatly appreciated.”
“Ah, so you are the Young Clan Head,”
Despite his youth, the title deserved respect, and Gu-Ak addressed him formally.
“May I ask what your relationship is with those on the other side?”
Just then, Namgung Cheon-yeong, who had been silently studying the two groups, interjected.
“I am Namgung Cheon-yeong, Young Clan Head of the Namgung Clan.”
‘So he’s already the Young Clan Head at this point in time. That means Namgung Cheon-yeong must have been over ten years younger and still managed to overtake his elder brother, who held the position for more than a decade… just through sheer talent?’
As Yang Hwi pondered that, Tang Gun suddenly widened his eyes.
“Namgung! What brings the Young Clan Head all the way out here? I was under the impression the Namgung Clan was stationed in Anhui.”
His voice carried subtle suspicion, one that was also reflected in the stiff posture of the other Tang Clan warriors.
Yang Hwi understood perfectly why.
‘I wasn’t aware of this when I was younger, but even now, it seems the Tang Clan was being closely watched by the orthodox sects and the Five Great Noble Clans.’
Suddenly, a memory from his past life resurfaced, his first encounter with Tang Gun.
At the time, Yang Hwi had been traveling the Jianghu to improve his martial prowess and, after a certain incident, had become acquainted with Tang Gun and his sister Tang Yeon.
‘After we became close, he’d always pour his heart out whenever we drank. About how unfair it all was. About how angry he felt.’
“I must ask, Young Clan Head Namgung Cheon-yeong—what brings you to this place? Were you perhaps waiting for the Tang Clan?”
Namgung Cheon-yeong gave a solemn nod.
“Indeed. Our Namgung Clan considers the Tang Clan a trusted ally. I sensed they might be in need of assistance, so I came.”
“Assistance? With what?”
“Lewd Fox. And the installation of Bunta units.”
Tang Gun’s face stiffened instantly.
Even if the former was public knowledge, the latter was supposed to be completely confidential.
“I couldn’t just stand by and watch as a friend of our clan suffered… but I must admit, I didn’t expect things to unfold this way.”
His gaze drifted toward Gu-Ak, who had stepped forward as the representative of the Baek Family Manor.
“The Baek Family Manor, you say. Never heard of it.”
His tone was flat, almost dismissive. Considering their age difference, it was clear he was looking down on him.
A flicker of irritation crossed Gu-Ak’s brow.
- Gu-Hyung. Don’t react. Just bear with it.
“I am Gu-Ak, Rehabilitation lord of Baek clan, based in Akan-hyeon. Known as the ‘One-Day, One-Saber, One-Code’ swordsman.”
“Ah, is that so? Fine.”
Namgung Cheon-yeong turned his back on Gu-Ak and looked once again to Tang Gun.
It was an unmistakable snub.
Yang Hwi whispered again.
- Gu-Hyung, hold it in.
- You want me to just stand here and take that arrogance?
- Honestly? I’m fine with it.
To Yang Hwi, Namgung Cheon-yeong’s arrogance was actually a good sign.
‘Exactly what I was hoping for. There’s no way someone like you would ever even glance at the Baek Family Manor.’
It was close to a certainty, but still, he’d been worried their recent movements had drawn too much attention.
But now, thanks to Namgung Cheon-yeong, he could rest easy.
Keep looking up, all of you. While you’re staring at the sky, we’ll be growing beneath your feet.
And someday, we’ll be the ones driving a dagger into your throats.
If it’s within Akan-hyeon, or even just Muju, then we can make a name for ourselves. Build a real power base.
With that, he sent another sound transmission.
- Hold back for now, Gu-Hyung. Don’t worry, very soon, you’ll feel vindicated. After all, we’re the ones who captured Lewd Fox.
- …That’s true. Their smugness is about to crumble.
Namgung Cheon-yeong turned back to Tang Gun.
“Shall we go together? I’ve prepared extensively to assist the Tang Clan. We can aid in the capture of Lewd Fox and the installation of the Bunta network.”
- Now’s the time, Gu-Hyung!
Without missing a beat, Gu-Ak cut in.
“Regrettably, the Young Clan Head’s offer seems to have come a bit too late.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lewd Fox has already been captured by our manor. Quite some time ago, in fact.”
For the first time, Namgung Cheon-yeong’s expression faltered.
“What?”
Gu-Ak smiled with visible satisfaction.
“Exactly as I said. The criminal identified by the Tang Clan as Lewd Fox is currently imprisoned in the dungeon of our manor.”
“……”
Watching the expression shift on Namgung Cheon-yeong’s face, Yang-hwi realized something.
‘That bastard… he looks surprised. Like he didn’t expect Lewd Fox to be caught…’
A new theory began to form in his mind.
Could it be… the Namgung Clan was helping Lewd Fox escape in the first place?
Now that he thought about it, something felt off.
Lewd Fox might have been a depraved freak who’d spent his whole life on the run, sure. But even so, how could he have lasted several months while being hunted by the Tang Clan’s elite force, the First Poison Division?
‘What if the Namgung Clan was secretly helping Lewd Fox, then handed him over to the Tang Clan at just the right moment to earn their gratitude?’
It would be a petty and underhanded tactic for any self-respecting martial clan.
But if it were Namgung, well, that kind of scheming fit them perfectly.
“Even if Lewd Fox is all flashy power and no real depth, he’s still a master close to the peak. How did you manage to capture him?”
Judging from the way he was asking, the man genuinely hadn’t known.
He must have been wondering how they managed to flush out someone who’d been in hiding so well.
“Unlike other demon-arts users, lust-crazed maniacs are easy to catch. Scum like Lewd Fox can never give up women. Once we figured out where he was holed up, we set a trap, he fell right in.
That answer your question?”
“……I see.”
- Gu-Hyung. Time to drive the nail in and escort the Tang Clan people out.
“Young Clan Head Tang Gun, our Clan Lord has always spoken highly of the Tang Clan’s chivalry and honor that resounds throughout the martial world.
As soon as he heard that the Tang Clan might be in trouble, he immediately ordered us to provide aid.
Since Lewd Fox is already in our custody, may I ask that you accompany us back to the manor?”
Gu-Ak’s tone was polite to a fault.
There wasn’t a single hint of disrespect or superiority toward the Tang Clan.
‘That’s it. Now there’s no space left for Namgung to wedge their way in.’
Had this been any other group, they would’ve preferred assistance from the Namgung Clan over a relatively unknown force like Baek Clan Manor.
After all, aligning with Namgung brought with it prestige, power, and a long history.
But the Tang Clan was different.
They were a clan that, more than any other sect or noble house, upheld righteousness, honor, and formal courtesy as the very foundation of their existence.
‘Maybe it’s a kind of overcompensation rooted in their background, but even so, the only “chivalry” in the world that could rival my father’s is the Tang Clan’s.’
To Yang-hwi, the greatest true knight of this world had always been his father, Baek Mu-ryang.
So that thought alone was the highest praise he could give.
“Young Clan Head Namgung Cheon-yeong, I’m afraid this may not be the right time. I’ll have someone personally express our gratitude for your kindness at a later date.
Let us hope we meet again under better circumstances.”
With a graceful martial salute, Tang Gun turned to Gu-Ak and bowed again.
“Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Tang Gun of the Tang Clan.
We were truly pleased to receive your letter, and I speak from the heart when I say we’re grateful for your support.”
Casting a fleeting glance toward the now motionless Namgung Cheon-yeong, Gu-Ak responded with a wide, victorious smile.
“Support? We’ve barely begun to show it, haha.
Please, allow me to escort you to our manor, Young Clan Head.”
With that, the Tang Clan and Baek Family Manor departed together as a unified group.
Left behind were the Namgung Clan’s warriors and Namgung Cheon-yeong, who could do nothing but watch them go.
“Young Clan Head… things appear to have taken a wrong turn.”
“So they have.
Perhaps the real mistake was trying to rely on scum like Lewd Fox in the first place.”
“We should have been more cautious and lured them into a place without any nearby settlements.
I apologize for my misjudgment.”
“Forget it. All that effort, wasted.
This ‘Baek Clan Manor’... just what are they?”
“From what I’ve heard, they’re a third-rate clan operating in the area.
If you permit it, I’ll investigate them in more detail.”
Hearing that, Namgung Cheon-yeong let out a derisive snort.
“Investigating a third-rate clan?
Why waste time on something so trivial? Just drop it. We’re leaving.”
“Understood!”
As they took to the skies, heading back toward Anhui, a thought crossed Namgung Cheon-yeong’s mind.
‘Baek Clan Manor, huh.
They were lucky enough to swallow the bait we laid down like starving dogs.
They have no idea what they just walked into.’
For someone like Namgung Cheon-yeong, the heir to one of the Five Great Clans and the next in line for the throne of the great Namgung of the South, there was no other way to view it.
He simply couldn’t see them as anything more than clueless fools who got lucky.
* * *
Gu-Ak and Yang-hwi led the members of the Tang Clan to the gates of Baek Clan Manor.
A banner fluttered just beside the grand, antique gate:
[We joyfully honor and welcome our noble friends from Sichuan.]
Reading that inscription, Tang Gun involuntarily shivered.
‘All my life, people have kept their distance from us simply because our clan deals in poison and hidden weapons...’
So this was Baek Clan Manor?
He felt his opinion of them rising.
At the same time, a sliver of doubt began to grow.
If they were treating the Tang Clan this warmly, unlike anyone else, maybe they had some ulterior motive.
But—
That suspicion shattered the moment he saw the man who had come out to greet them.
“Young Clan Head Tang Gun. I am Baek Mu-ryang, Lord of the Baek Family Manor. Welcome to our home.”
Tang Gun had grown up steeped in a family culture that valued righteousness, justice, propriety, and formality to the point of rigidity.
There’s a saying, “birds of a feather flock together.”
Men of the same spirit will always recognize one another.
And everything in Baek Mu-ryang, from his stance to his aura, radiated unbending integrity and heroic virtue.
To Tang Gun, the energy this man gave off was unmistakably genuine.
‘I may have never heard of their clan before, but just looking at their Lord, I can already see where this household is headed.’
“Why would the Lord of a household speak so formally to someone who’s not even a clan head? Please speak comfortably.”
“Haha, may I truly do so?”
“Of course. You’ve even extended your generosity to our clan. It’s only proper that I make the request.”
“Then I’ll do just that. I appreciate the kindness, Young Clan Head.”
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, Tang Gun went straight to the point.
“I know it’s a little improper of me, but… may I see Lewd Fox first?”
Baek Mu-ryang nodded without hesitation.
“I understand well the customs of the Tang Clan.
Hwi, take them down.”
“Yes, Father!”
Hearing the bright, cheerful response from the young boy, Tang Gun suddenly recalled something.
“That kid… he called me ‘Tang-Hyung’ earlier.”
Judging by the way he addressed Baek Muryang, he had to be the clan lord’s son.
That explained it.
Tang Gun had been caught off guard earlier by the child’s sudden familiarity.
“Tang-Hyung! This way!”
“...My young lord. That title feels… awfully familiar, doesn’t it?”
“Isn’t all under heaven one family? You may call me Junior brother if you’d like.”
“……”
Tang Gun hesitated, but soon smiled softly.
“Very well, Junior brother. You certainly have a way with people, don’t you?”
Yang-hwi chuckled quietly as he watched the exchange.
If Tang Gun had belonged to any other noble household, this wouldn’t have worked.
But—
‘He told me once how the world treated him coldly just for being part of the Tang Clan. It wounded him deeply as a child. Looks like I scored some points here.’
“It’s not that I’m good with people, I just found you easy to like, Tang-Hyung.”
“Hahaha! Smooth talk like that definitely counts as being good with people!”
“In any case, the dungeon is this way. It’s a little run-down, so please don’t mind it.”
The prison had been built back when the Baek Clan Manor was still in its prime.
Inside, Lewd Fox lay sprawled out, covered in blood.
He had been treated just enough to stay alive, but that was it.
When he saw Tang Gun in his martial uniform bearing the Tang Clan’s emblem and the warriors behind him, his eyes snapped open.
“So you really brought the Tang Clan here, huh? Good. Very good.
Listen up, Tang bastards! That brat knows I used your aphrodisiac poison! He knows everything! Ahahahahahaha!”
Lewd Fox didn’t doubt the rumors about the Tang Clan even a bit.
It was all useless bluster, of course.
But still, Tang Gun’s reaction was... unexpected.
“Junior brother. Looks like you’ve uncovered one of our clan’s secrets.”
He said it with a straight face, causing Yang-hwi to suppress a smirk.
‘He wants to test me, huh?’
“Indeed. Since I now know the secret, I suppose we should become even closer.”
Tang Gun stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter.
“You’ve got more guts than most grown men.
Hahaha! That’s right. Once you know a secret, you’re in for life, aren’t you? Hahaha!”
And then—his laughter stopped dead.
His face turned as cold and murderous as a god of slaughter.
He gave a brief nod to the First Poison Division Leader and the warriors behind him.
From their bodies, a terrifying aura of poison began to leak into the air.
‘Yep. Typical Tang Clan. They’re ready to kill him on the spot.’
Before things could go too far, Yang-hwi quickly stepped forward.
He didn’t care whether they killed the man or not, but there was still something he needed to ask.
“Tang-Hyung, before you do anything, I have a question. Just a moment of your time.”
“Hm? Go ahead.”
Yang-hwi crouched next to Lewd Fox and asked bluntly:
“Hey. You didn’t escape on your own, did you? Someone helped you, right?”
Lewd Fox fell silent.
But his expression gave everything away.
Even a demon-arts master who’d been through hell and back couldn’t keep a poker face in the face of death.
‘Gotcha. So the Namgung Clan really was involved.’
They could kill him later.
But for now, it was time to squeeze him dry for every bit of information he had.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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