Chapter 18
The middle-aged man's eyes glowed green as he silently gazed down at something.
It was his son, his body broken and mangled, unable to move.
"So my eldest orchestrated all of this? Together with the Black and White Twin Devils?"
"...Yes, Father."
Tang Mu-jun, standing beside him, answered.
"Ha! It seems I've truly failed spectacularly in raising my son."
Poison Rain Tang Jin-woo.
The current head of the Sichuan Tang Family had entered closed-door training for some reason a few years ago, but he was forced to emerge before the promised time.
All because of his eldest son.
And the story he heard was truly unbelievable.
"He planned to bring those vermin into Sichuan to do business, you say. Ha!"
"Father..."
Tang Mu-jun couldn't bring himself to say anything more.
"And the one who did this to Gu-hwi?"
"He escaped."
Tang Mu-jun bowed his head, his expression somewhat gloomy.
He felt ashamed.
However, Tang Jin-woo didn't see it that way.
"A man who single-handedly broke through so many warriors, tore apart the Black and White Twin Devils, and left Gu-hwi in this state. It would have been too much for you to face him alone, so there's no need to hang your head."
"But I've set trackers on his trail. Though we haven't found any clues yet, soon..."
"Stop."
"Pardon?"
Tang Jin-woo shook his head at Mu-jun's words.
"A master of that caliber will be difficult to find unless we use the Ten Thousand Li Soul Chasing Incense."
"Do you not intend to seek revenge?"
"Revenge?"
Tang Jin-woo let out a hollow laugh at his second son's words.
"For what purpose?"
Tang Jin-woo had received a full report of everything his eldest son had done, without a single detail omitted.
If it hadn't been his own son, he would have wanted to take his life with his own hands for each and every one of those horrific crimes.
How could he speak of revenge with his own mouth?
His son had sown so much hatred wherever he went.
In the end, it was all karma.
"The Sichuan Tang Family never forgets a debt, be it one of gratitude or revenge."
This famous saying that defined the Sichuan Tang Family now fell from Tang Jin-woo's lips.
"But it seems that right now, the Sichuan Tang Family needs to learn shame more than anything else, Mu-jun."
A deep sigh escaped Tang Jin-woo's lips.
"For someone to go to such lengths, they must have harbored a terrible grudge. Don't you think?"
Looking at Tang Jin-woo's dejected expression, Tang Mu-jun couldn't find any words to say.
"So there will be no revenge."
"I understand."
"That foolish boy. I am truly ashamed. So ashamed. Ha!"
The head of the Sichuan Tang Family shook his head as he left the room.
As if he would never return.
Tang Mu-jun followed behind him.
Soon, only Tang Gu-hwi, now a cripple, was left alone in the room.
But no one knew.
That his clenched fist, though his body lay motionless, was trembling ever so slightly.
"Hey, did you hear about that?"
"About what?"
"They say the Hebei Peng Family's influence has become quite formidable lately. I hear they're even considered the best among the current Five Great Families."
Hebei Province.
In a corner of a bustling tavern, some martial artists were gossiping as they ate.
"Well, with the Hebei Hegemon as their family head, it's only natural. He was once even a candidate for the position of Murim Alliance Leader."
"And though he's not currently among the Twelve Venerables of the World, they say if a spot opens up, it's sure to be his."
"Come now, how can you say that when the Emperor Sword of the Namgung Family is still around?"
"Are there still fools who think the Emperor Sword is above the Hebei Hegemon?"
"What? Fool?"
"Alright, alright, that's enough. How could we possibly know which of them is stronger or more prestigious? Everyone knows they've been neck and neck since their youth. Unless we see them truly face off, no one can say for sure. There's no point in us arguing about it."
"Ahem. Well, I suppose that's true."
"Anyway, it's a fact that the Hebei Peng Family's influence has been tremendous lately. I've even heard rumors that the Murim Alliance is trying to keep them in check."
"Oh come on, surely it can't be that bad."
"Ah, and another thing..."
The men quickly moved on to other topics, chatting excitedly as if they had never bickered.
And they weren't alone.
The tavern was filled with people discussing various martial world rumors and gossip.
The Hebei Peng Family.
The Hegemon of Hebei, known as the Roaring Tiger.
A meeting was currently underway in the Family Head's Hall.
"...I believe we have no need to comply with this request from the Murim Alliance."
"Are you suggesting we refuse when all the other families have already given positive responses?"
"But we don't necessarily need to be swayed by the decisions of other families."
"Now is not the time for such stubbornness."
"Stubbornness? Did you just call it stubbornness?"
The room buzzed with murmurs.
The Hebei Peng Family was currently grappling with a difficult issue.
As the elders argued back and forth, each insisting their opinion was correct, the man seated at the head of the room finally spoke.
"Enough."
At his words, everyone fell silent.
The noisy hall suddenly became quiet.
A man with an imposing build, piercing eyes, and an overwhelming aura.
This was Peng Mu-gang, the current head of the Hebei Peng Family, known as the Crouching Tiger of Hebei.
"Jin-ah."
"Yes, Father."
A handsome young man answered.
"What do you think?"
At Peng Mu-gang's words, the young man smiled slightly.
After glancing around at the seated elders, he met Peng Mu-gang's eyes and spoke.
"I believe our Peng Family should be the quickest to comply with the Murim Alliance's request."
"And why is that?"
"What the Murim Alliance is asking for is nothing extraordinary. It's to help check the external forces that once invaded the martial world long ago. Moreover, they're only asking us to bolster their support troops, not the main force. Their request is very reasonable."
The young man paused briefly, glancing at Peng Mu-gang's expression before continuing.
"Protecting the Central Plains from outside threats is the duty of anyone who calls this land home. Besides, this troop support is for a short period. I don't think it's something we need to agonize over."
"But if we start complying with the Murim Alliance's demands, they'll keep making unreasonable requests in the future."
One of the elders raised an objection.
The young man responded without hesitation.
"That's precisely why."
"Pardon?"
"It's important to show that we're willing to comply with very reasonable requests. If we start opposing them on issues like this, that's when they'll really start finding fault with us."
"Hmm."
The elder who had objected took a step back.
And listened carefully to the young man's words.
The others in the hall did the same.
"We must not let people think our Peng Family blindly refuses the Murim Alliance's requests. We need to create an image of a Peng Family that carefully considers each situation before responding. Then people will wonder what reasons we have when we do refuse. And those reasons will later become justifications that protect our family."
The young man continued, looking at Family Head Peng Mu-gang.
"That's why we should respond faster and more decisively than anyone else to requests like today's. This is a battle of who can present more plausible excuses and justifications."
"Hmm, excuses and justifications, you say."
Peng Mu-gang stroked his chin, lost in thought for a moment.
The young man added with a grin:
"After all, those are the most important things in the Orthodox Faction."
"Excellent. You've already learned to see through such games."
"Not at all. I'm merely repeating what many of the elders here already know."
Peng Mu-gang looked at his son, who answered humbly, with a satisfied smile.
Everyone in the hall inwardly marveled.
Great Young Master Peng Seo-jin.
He possessed insight and composure beyond his years.
Truly befitting one of the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes said to lead the future of the martial world.
Once, the Peng Family had a woman who was also counted among the Six Dragons and Four Phoenixes along with Peng Seo-jin.
Now they were no longer called the Four Phoenixes, but the Three.
And no one dared to bring up that story in front of the Family Head.
It was a forbidden topic, like the dragon's reverse scale, never to be mentioned in Peng Mu-gang's presence.
But then,
"Re-Reporting to the Family Head!"
There was a commotion outside, and the most experienced warrior among the Peng Family's gate guards hurriedly entered the hall.
"What is it?"
"Y-Yes, well, that is..."
The warrior stammered.
Knowing this man rarely made such a fuss or showed such confusion, Peng Mu-gang's face creased with curiosity.
Various thoughts raced through his mind.
Had someone attacked? In broad daylight?
That couldn't be. Was it the Murim Alliance then? If not that, then what?
Meanwhile, Great Young Master Peng Seo-jin stepped forward and spoke.
"Report properly. What has happened?"
"...The Young Lady..."
"What are you saying? Speak clearly!"
"Young Lady Peng Seo-yeon has returned!"
At those words, everyone's eyes in the hall widened impossibly.
Boom.
An incredible energy filled the hall.
For a moment, everyone felt a pressure that made it hard to breathe.
Then Peng Mu-gang slowly opened his mouth.
"Say that again. Who did you say has returned?"
His face had become utterly rigid.