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Chapter 54
“Hwi, stand back for a moment.”
The members of the Tang Clan weren’t fools. The moment they saw Lewd Fox’s expression, they sensed there might be a hidden player behind the scenes and immediately began the torture.
The result? Lewd Fox died in an utterly miserable state.
‘Yikes, he’s completely wrecked.’
The man looked like a soaked rag, completely drenched not just in poison but in pure filth.
“So, he had an accomplice helping him escape.”
“I knew something was off. No matter how strong he was, even someone close to peak level, it didn’t make sense how easily he slipped through our encirclement every time.”
“Young Clan Head, it seems we’ll need a more thorough investigation.”
Tang Gun nodded grimly, his teeth clenched.
“Of course. I’ll find this fiend and personally cut them down. But the troubling part is, even this scum had no idea who was helping him.”
The Tang Clan’s torture methods were unparalleled. Considering their specialization in poisons and hidden weapons, that was only natural.
And yet, even after enduring all of it, Lewd Fox never revealed the identity of his helper.
Which could only mean, he genuinely didn’t know who it was.
‘It has to be the Namgung Clan. If it’s them, they could easily help someone escape without the person even realizing it.’
Still, it wasn’t the right moment to bring up the Namgung Clan directly.
Better to let the Tang Clan reach that conclusion on their own.
“Tang Hyung.”
“Speak, Brother Hwi.”
“We haven’t confirmed the identity of the culprit, but it’s not hard to make an educated guess. Wouldn’t the one trying to disrupt the Tang Clan’s event be our most likely suspect?”
“Hmm. A sound point.”
Tang Gun’s expression hardened even further.
By now, he was likely suspecting the Amitabha Sect and the Cheongseong Sect, both located in Sichuan as well.
To steer him in the right direction, Hwi offered another clue.
“Hmm, tricky indeed. Lewd Fox claimed he felt like someone was helping him even after he left Sichuan… which means the culprit could belong to any faction in the world.”
He watched Tang Gun and the other clan members closely as he continued.
“That said, there probably aren’t that many forces capable of helping someone like Lewd Fox escape unnoticed. And considering he headed back this way…”
He purposely trailed off instead of finishing the sentence.
Fortunately, the Tang Clan didn’t need him to. They began murmuring amongst themselves, connecting the dots on their own.
Tang Gun and the leader of the First Poison Division lowered their voices as they exchanged words.
‘Ah, a conversation I’m not supposed to hear. They must be talking about the Namgung Clan’s recent visit, huh?’
He barely held back a smirk and tightened his face to keep his expression neutral.
With this, he had achieved two goals at once.
The Tang Clan would now distance themselves from the Namgung Clan, meaning no future assistance would come from their side.
And more importantly, they’d now feel the need to forge new connections with factions outside of Sichuan.
‘That should be enough to lay the groundwork for turning the Tang Clan into allies of my main household.’
* * *
Baek Mu-ryang hosted a grand banquet in his manor to honor the Tang Clan.
‘Uncle Jegal would probably feel slighted if he knew.’
After all, this banquet was far more lavish than the one held when the Jegal Clan’s father and daughter visited.
But what could he do? Compared to back then, the family’s fortunes had completely turned around.
With his face flushed from excitement and wine, Tang Gun let out a hearty exclamation.
“Many thanks to you, Lord Baek! I never imagined we’d receive such warm hospitality after leaving Sichuan!”
“Oh? And why would you think that?”
“I believe you already know what kind of rumors are floating around about our main house…”
Though Tang Gun replied with a slightly darkened expression, Baek Mu-ryang didn’t seem bothered in the least.
“They say there’s no smoke without fire, but if three people talk, they can create a tiger. Don’t concern yourself with baseless rumors, Young Clan Head.”
Baek Mu-ryang was not one to judge a person based on gossip.
It was in his nature, and his life experiences had only reinforced that belief.
Even his nickname, The Righteous Chivalry, was originally coined in mockery, suggesting he flaunted chivalry without sufficient martial skill.
But that wasn’t all.
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but our main house used to be called the prestigious Baek Clan. When our fortunes declined, we endured all kinds of slander and scorn.”
“Is that so?”
“So what use would it be for a man like me to fuss over what others say?”
Baek Mu-ryang smiled gently as he spoke, and Tang Gun looked upon him with admiration.
Though Baek Mu-ryang was the head of a now-humbled clan, Tang Gun, himself the heir and future patriarch of the Tang Clan, found him to be a true exemplar of chivalry, someone worth learning from.
“Lord Baek.”
Tang Gun stood and offered a formal martial bow with both fists cupped.
“It’s already a great debt that you helped capture a fugitive for our house, and now you’ve even treated us with such hospitality. We of the Tang Clan are raised with a family creed: repaying grace twofold is etched into our very bones. Now that you’ve extended such generosity, I ask that you allow us a chance to return the favor.”
Baek Mu-ryang looked warmly upon the Tang Clan members present at the banquet.
Despite enjoying the festivities, they maintained perfect decorum and observed all proper etiquette.
‘The Tang Clan… Truly a house that aligns well with our own traditions.’
Recalling a recent piece of advice from Yang-hwi—who had lately been acting as his chief strategist—Baek Mu-ryang opened his mouth.
“Truth be told, I do have a favor to ask, Young Clan Head.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“I heard that someone in your entourage is an excellent physician. Is that true?”
“That’s correct. The Deputy Master of Yakdok Hall possesses enough skill to be ranked among the very best.”
“My wife has not been well lately. Would it be possible to have her examined?”
“Oh dear… Absolutely. I would be honored.”
It was only then that Tang Gun realized he had yet to meet the Lady of the Baek Manor.
In fact, Jeong In-Hwa had been bedridden and barely able to leave her chambers due to her worsening condition.
“Deputy Master.”
At Tang Gun’s call, the Deputy Master of Yakdok Hall immediately rose to his feet.
“When it comes to illness, even a day matters. If you’ll forgive me for stepping away from the table briefly, I’d like to examine her right away.”
“Oh… Though it’s proper to decline out of politeness, I’ll commit one rudeness this time. Please, come with me.”
The banquet paused momentarily. Yang-hwi, along with his younger siblings, followed behind Baek Mu-ryang and the Deputy Master.
“My dear, we’re coming in.”
From the bed, Jeong In-Hwa pulled aside her blanket and slowly sat up.
“Please, you should stay lying down.”
“But… With guests here, it would be rude…”
“He is a physician before he is a guest, so it’s alright.”
With her sickly complexion, Jeong In-Hwa looked frail. Yang-hwi quietly comforted his two siblings, who wore deeply worried expressions.
‘In my past life… we never even found out what her condition was.’
Because her illness stemmed from an inherently weak constitution, most ordinary physicians failed to offer any effective diagnosis or treatment.
But this time was different.
Where there is poison, there is medicine, the Tang Clan’s medical arts were among the most revered in all the martial world.
“Her pulse is exceedingly faint. It seems there’s an issue with the heart. Pardon me, madam.”
Releasing Jeong In-Hwa’s wrist, the Deputy Master gently pressed beneath her chin and took her pulse again.
“Judging by how the pulse strength varies by location, it appears a substantial amount of turbid energy has built up along the blood pathways. She may have a constitution that naturally accumulates turbidity.”
Baek Mu-ryang’s eyes widened slightly. He had summoned countless physicians over the years, but none had ever delivered such a detailed diagnosis.
“Madam is not inherently frail. It only seemed that way due to the accumulated turbidity. Her true condition stems from her body’s tendency to gather that turbid energy, not a lack of vitality itself.”
Yang-hwi listened silently as the Deputy Master explained the diagnosis, finally understanding why Jeong In-Hwa had passed away so early in his past life despite all his desperate efforts.
‘The problem was that Mother only called in physicians who dealt with regular people, not martial artists. That’s why they could never make the proper diagnosis.’
Her condition was not rooted in a physical defect, but rather in the flow of qi.
By nature, her body accumulated turgid qi—impure or stagnant energy—which gradually wore down her health.
“Deputy Master, then… how should we go about treating it?”
“The treatment itself is simple. But receiving it… is not.”
“What kind of method makes it so difficult?”
“She must take herbal medicine to fortify the body against the turgid qi, and then regularly undergo Qi Purge Technique to expel it. Once enough of it is cleared, we can proceed with the Marrow Cleansing Ritual to fundamentally correct the body’s constitution.”
“….”
Baek Mu-ryang fell silent.
Both Qi Purge Technique and the Marrow Cleansing Ritual were highly advanced medical techniques that required a martial artist at or beyond the Peak Realm to perform effectively.
Especially Marrow Cleansing Ritual—it demanded the cooperation of multiple peak-level practitioners, specialized training, and rare medicinal ingredients.
In short, neither was realistically possible for Baek Manor in its current state.
“My lord, I’m fine. Please don’t worry about me,” said Jeong In-Hwa gently.
“…Young Clan Head, I have a heavy request. I believe the Master of Yakdok Hall is at the Peak Realm. Would it be possible to ask him to perform the Qi Purge Technique?”
But before Tang Gun could respond, Jeong In-Hwa firmly refused.
“My lord… How can I accept a treatment that requires another man’s hands on my body? I just can’t.”
“My dear… I can’t bear to see you suffer anymore.”
“Even so, I don’t believe it’s proper.”
Jeong In-Hwa, daughter of the most learned scholar in the region, had been raised with the strictest etiquette. To her, receiving a marital medical treatment that required bodily contact from a man other than her husband was simply unthinkable.
“…I understand. For now.”
Turning to his son, Baek Mu-ryang said,
“Hwi, would you take over the banquet for me? I need to spend more time with your mother.”
Then, he turned to Tang Gun.
“Young Clan Head, Hwi is intelligent and capable enough to take my place. I ask your forgiveness for stepping away from the banquet ahead of you.”
“Not at all. It’s perfectly understandable. I don’t see it as discourteous.”
With Baek Mu-ryang staying behind to persuade Jeong In-Hwa, the others returned to the banquet hall under Yang Hwi’s lead.
‘Father… most likely won’t succeed in persuading her.’
That left only two options.
Either his father would have to reach the Peak Realm himself to perform Qi Purge Technique…
Or they’d need to hire a female expert practitioner to do it.
‘No… there’s a third option. Heh… I could ask Master Eumhu.’
A spark of clarity lit up in Yang Hwi’s mind.
If Master Eumhu agreed to the request, the problem could be resolved in one move.
Still, he didn’t plan to ask immediately.
‘First, I’ll see if our main house can handle this on its own. If that fails, it won’t be too late to ask then.’
Which meant, more than ever, their main house needed to strengthen its position, and one such opportunity was standing right in front of him.
“Tang Hyung.”
“Speak, Brother Hwi.”
“There is something Father originally intended to propose. Would you be willing to hear it?”
“Of course.”
“Forgive me, but I’ll speak through silent transmission.”
- I heard from someone in the Namgung Clan that you’re planning to establish a branch house. Is that true?
Tang Gun blinked in shock, visibly torn between surprise and unease.
-Impossible… How is he using silent transmission at that age?
Ah, right. Yang Hwi remembered—Tang Gun couldn’t use silent transmission yet.
It required precise control over one’s qi, a level typically only achieved by martial artists at the First-Class Level.
-I suppose I’m just unusually gifted, haha.
-That’s not something one can brush off as simple talent… But yes, it’s true.
- Then may I ask… would you consider allowing our house to support you in establishing that branch?
-And what kind of support would that be?
Yang-hwi paused briefly to gather his thoughts, recalling the plan he’d discussed and finalized with Baek Mu-ryang.
- Make our main house your branch base, Tang Hyung. We propose an alliance equivalent to a blood pact.
-Huh?!
Tang Gun’s eyes widened.
A rush of emotions flickered across his face.
Yang-hwi waited silently for his reply.
‘He’ll likely ask me why. I’m ready.’
He had all the logic and rationale prepared. If Tang Gun asked anything, he could answer with confidence.
But then—
-I’m afraid… that might be difficult.
Wait—what?
‘That’s… not the answer I expected.’
-May I ask… why?
Tang Gun, his expression grave, finally opened his mouth.
“…The reason is simple.”
---The End Of The Chapter---
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