Chapter 31: In Wuxia Novels, the Sichuan Tang Family Are Generally Bad Guys

Tang Yeom-myeong.

Born as the younger brother of the current family head, he devoted himself to training and stayed away from alcohol and women as a direct descendant of the Tang Family.

Since childhood, he only cared about the safety and development of the family, so it was impossible for him to frequent a brothel.

However, the Moon-gazing Pavilion was different.

Having visited several times already, he climbed the stairs with familiar steps to where the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate… no, the Master of the Moon-gazing Pavilion was.

Step-.

When he finally reached the top floor, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate greeted him.

“You have arrived.”

“Yes.”

Normally, Tang Yeom-myeong would not have responded to anyone from the Black Path, regardless of their status, but this time he nodded and took a seat.

A steaming cup of tea was placed in front of him. As he stared at it, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate spoke first.

“There is no poison in it, so please drink comfortably.”

“I know. You wouldn’t be foolish enough to do that.”

No matter how confident one was in their poison resistance, no one would dare poison the tea of the Great Elder of the Sichuan Tang Family.

Still, just in case, Tang Yeom-myeong sniffed the tea to confirm it was poison-free.

The Leader of the Lower Filth Gate was not a fool, but she harbored enough resentment to attempt such a foolish act.

In any case, there was no poison in this tea. After enjoying a few sips, Tang Yeom-myeong spoke.

“We have nothing more to discuss, do we? Hand it over quickly.”

“……”

Although he didn’t specify what he wanted, both of them knew.

The intelligence held by the Lower Filth Gate.

Information on the movements and conditions of the other Five Great Families or the Nine Major Sects, or anything that could be used as leverage.

To those aiming for the world, such information was worth a fortune. Tang Yeom-myeong demanded these precious things with ease.

If it had been the head of the Beggar’s Sect, he would have pointed out his rudeness and demanded a huge price…

“……”

The Leader of the Lower Filth Gate silently opened the safe and took out a thick document.

Inside were all the high-level and top-level pieces of information the Lower Filth Gate had collected over the past few months.

Since she became the Leader, the Sichuan Tang Family had taken these valuable pieces of information without any compensation.

But…

Thud-.

This time was different. Instead of handing the information to Tang Yeom-myeong, she placed it in front of herself.

At her action, Tang Yeom-myeong raised an eyebrow and asked.

“What is the meaning of this?”

At his nonchalant question, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate gritted her teeth.

“…Before you take this, you must pay the price.”

“Price?”

“Why are you pretending-!! You promised to give me the neutralizing agent when you took the information last time-!!”

Tang Weolhwa, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate.

Despite being born with a strong resistance to poison, she had not reached the level of a fully-fledged Poison Master.

And that was because the Sichuan Tang Family had intended it that way.

The process of becoming a Poison Master involved consuming poison, which caused immense pain and side effects, so a neutralizing agent was necessary to alleviate it.

However, Tang Yeom-myeong, who was in charge of training Poison Masters at the time, deliberately withheld the neutralizing agent from her… and as a result, her weakened body could not become a fully-fledged Poison Master.

The reason he didn’t give her the neutralizing agent was… to use her as a puppet, just like now.

“It was 10 years ago…! I entered the Lower Filth Gate at the age of 15 to follow your orders…! You promised me the neutralizing agent back then… How long do you expect me to be deceived-!”

“If you become a fully-fledged Poison Master, you will try to break free from the control of the Head Family, won’t you? The intelligence of the Lower Filth Gate is still needed by us.”

Tang Yeom-myeong said, clicking his tongue as he took another sip of tea.

“You were able to become the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate at such a young age because of the support of the Head Family… Do you dare to forget that grace?”

“…Who would want such a life.”

There was indeed support from the Sichuan Tang Family for her to become the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate.

And that support… helped her poison the higher-ups of the Lower Filth Gate.

By poisoning and eliminating her superiors, she quickly rose to a high position in the Lower Filth Gate, and in the meantime, she had to constantly consume poison to faithfully follow the process of becoming a Poison Master.

A life filled with pain and guilt.

She never wanted such a life. Tang Yeom-myeong knew this well, yet he continued to pressure her.

“How could you…”

“……”

“How could you do this if you were my father… if you were my mother’s husband…”

Creating a Poison Master requires both the child and the parents.

Hand-crafted Fetal Poison.

To give birth to a child with poison resistance, Tang Weolhwa’s mother consumed poison from the moment she conceived her.

And… Tang Weolhwa remembered the fate of her mother during her childhood.

First, her nails fell out, then her entire body turned black, and next, her hair fell out, and finally, she died looking like a skeleton.

She was Tang Weolhwa’s mother before she was Tang Yeom-myeong’s wife… but he merely said this upon seeing his dead wife.

‘A decent broodmare has died.’

There was a time in the distant past when she considered him her father.

But… from the moment her mother died, the man in front of her was no longer her father but her enemy. Even now, he was just an enemy trying to use her.

Thinking of her dead mother, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate couldn’t control her emotions. And sensing the faint killing intent that leaked out…

“How dare you.”

…Tang Yeom-myeong moved first.

The conflict between the Great Elder and the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate had been festering for a long time.

The Great Elder had long since lost trust in the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate, who he controlled with the promise of the neutralizing agent.

Now, all that was left was for the venomous snakes with sharp fangs to tear each other’s throats apart.

Both were venomous snakes. However… it had long been decided which side was superior.

Swoosh-!

“Ugh-!”

Tang Yeom-myeong, a fully-fledged Poison Master, combined poison and Inner Qi in his technique. The Leader of the Lower Filth Gate also used Poison Arts to counterattack.

Boom-!

But unlike her, who was an incomplete Poison Master, Tang Yeom-myeong was at the level of a fully-fledged Poison Master.

Not only that, but he also had much more Inner Qi than her, more experience, and a stronger body that wasn’t weakened by poison.

Swoosh-.

In the end, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate’s technique was gradually pushed back…

Boom-!!!!

In the gap that formed, Tang Yeom-myeong grabbed her neck and slammed her to the ground.

“Ugh… you bastard…”

“You have no manners towards your father.”

Although he said that, Tang Yeom-myeong’s eyes did not see her as his daughter.

To him, Tang Weolhwa, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate, was just a tool for the family. Nothing more.

He always thought that way, so he had no hesitation even now.

Drip-.

A drop of murky poison formed on his palm.

Even as a Poison Master, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate was unfamiliar with this type of poison, and she couldn’t help but be alarmed.

Tang Yeom-myeong, who was restraining her, explained.

“I knew you would show your fangs someday. So I thought today would be a good day to teach you a lesson.”

“Let me go…!”

“This is a new poison developed by the Head Family. It’s called Heart-Breaking Gu Poison.”

“What are you going to do with that? I’m already…!”

“Poison Master. Yes, you are. But this will…”

Tang Yeom-myeong’s face showed a slight smile as he interrupted her.

“…remind you of old memories.”

Swoosh-!

With those words, he injected the Heart-Breaking Gu Poison into her.

At first, Tang Weolhwa thought she could handle it. Having lived in pain since she took her first steps, she believed a new poison wouldn’t be much of a challenge.

But…

“Ugh-!!”

…the newly developed poison from the Tang Family felt like her already severed intestines were being ground in a mortar.

Unable to bear the pain, she lost control of her body, and her vision blurred.

And over her, a cold voice continued.

“I will give you the antidote for the Heart-Breaking Gu Poison once every ten days. It will ease the pain. However, if you defy the orders of the Head Family, you will live in that pain until your last breath.”

“Ugh…”

Tang Yeom-myeong grabbed her chin as she writhed in pain and spoke.

“Daughter, why did you defy the will of the Head Family?”

“I will never… live as you want…”

Tsk, your eyes are full of poison. Fine… even if you live that way, shouldn’t you save your subordinates?”

“What…?”

Subordinates… could it be…

Realizing what he meant, she widened her eyes, and Tang Yeom-myeong nodded.

“Before coming here, I poisoned them with Mountain Air Poison.”

“……!!”

Mountain Air Poison.

A poison that inhibits the Inner Qi of those who consume it.

For a martial artist, it was a significant weakness.

“I ordered them to subdue all the Lower Filth Gate members if I didn’t come out before the first watch. But the first watch has already passed.”

“You bastard…”

“By now, the situation outside should be settled. Still, shouldn’t you save your subordinates?”

At that moment…

Step-.

They heard someone climbing the stairs.

“Someone must be coming to report the situation.”

“……”

“I hope today serves as a reminder of your place and situation. You are a member of the Tang Family until your last breath.”

Leaving those words, Tang Yeom-myeong released his grip and stood up.

Even though her body was free, the Leader of the Lower Filth Gate couldn’t move. First, the pain from the Heart-Breaking Gu Poison made it impossible to control her body…

‘Damn it……’

If she acted rashly here, she didn’t know what would happen to her subordinates held hostage outside.

‘Damn it…’

Since her mother’s death, she had tried everything to escape the family. But the family persistently clung to her…

This time, too, she was defeated.

‘Damn it……!’

As she suppressed her anger and sorrow, the footsteps climbing the stairs reached the door.

Tang Yeom-myeong spoke to the stranger.

“Is the situation outside settled?”

“…Huh?”

The person outside seemed momentarily confused but quickly responded.

“…Ah, yes! Great Elder! The situation outside is all settled!”

“Good, then as an example, cut off the head of the highest-ranking one… wait a moment.”

Tang Yeom-myeong stopped mid-command. It was because… the tone of the person outside was too casual to be a martial artist of the Tang Family.

“……”

“……”

A strange silence followed…

Swoosh-!!!

“…!”

The silence was broken by a blade thrown through the door.

Tang Yeom-myeong reacted quickly and dodged it, but…

Slash-.

“Ugh…”

In the process, his neck was slightly cut.

Black blood, characteristic of a Poison Master, flowed from his neck.

As he thought it had been a long time since he saw his own blood, he looked towards where the blade had been thrown from…

“Damn, why did the old man not come out even though I said everything was settled?”

“…Who are you?”

“Who am I?”

…A man who looked like a male entertainer in a gisaeng house swaggered into the room like a rogue.

“I’m a host here, and I heard there’s a troublesome guest, so I came to catch him. You bastard.”