"Did Poison King take the wrong medicine?"
That was the only way to make sense of what I had just heard.
"The Tang Clan is stepping down from the Four Great Clans?"
"Yes, it will be officially announced soon."
"...Are you insane?"
This wasnât a vague possibility but a certainty.
In other wordsâŠ
"Does that mean youâve already sent a formal request to the Martial Alliance?"
"Thatâs correct."
It wasnât the Martial Alliance demanding itâit was the Tang Clan requesting to step down. They must have formally written to say they wanted to leave their prestigious status.
The problem was:
"Can you just leave because you want to?"
The Four Great Clans is more of a symbolic title than an official position. It simply designates the four most prominent families in Zhongyuan.
It wasnât something the Tang Clan could simply relinquish on a whim.
To this, Poison King replied with a bitter smile.
"Do you think itâs impossible?"
"..."
"I believe it can be done."
Hearing Poison Kingâs words, a heated wave surged through my previously cold thoughts.
"Master Tang, please donât tell me you wrote everything in that letter?"
"Not a single word was left out."
"Have you lost your mind?"
This meant they had sent a detailed report of everythingâthe experiments, the incidents, and even the eldersâ involvementâto the Martial Alliance.
"Has he really gone mad?"
Even without doing that, the Martial Alliance would likely send inspectors before long.
In such a precarious situation, instead of concealing the truth, he had handed it over on a silver platter.
"Are you trying to destroy your own family?"
I couldnât hold back my words, but Poison King only gave a dry laugh.
How can he laugh in a situation like this?
"Now it makes sense why he so brazenly executed the elders without caring about appearances."
He hadnât cared about the eyes on him when he beheaded the elders.
Burning himself out to get things doneâthis must have been the reason behind it.
"So thatâs why."
From the beginning, he had intended to dismantle his family.
A man, the patriarch of a prestigious clan, tearing down his own house.
"Is that why Moyong Hee-ah stormed out?"
I recalled Moyong Hee-ahâs hasty exit.
She must have anticipated this.
"The Moyong family has business ties to the Tang Clan."
Given their established agreements, the Tang Clanâs collapse would also impact the Moyong family.
"The balance of power would shift."
The fall of the Tang Clan wouldnât just be its downfallâit would ripple across Zhongyuan.
Moyong Hee-ah likely foresaw this and rushed to respond.
The value of the Tang Clan was immense.
Even when a lesser family collapses, it causes significant disruption.
If it were the Tang Clan, the fallout would be catastrophic.
Which made Poison Kingâs decision all the more puzzling.
"...Why did you make this choice?"
No matter how I looked at it, I couldnât understand.
"I might have thought the Tang Clan could face ruin."
Given the scale of their crimes, some damage seemed inevitable.
But for Poison King to willingly destroy his family? That, I hadnât expected.
Why would he do it?
If it were me, Iâd never make such a choice.
Poison King remained silent for a moment, then met my gaze and spoke.
"Itâs thanks to your father."
"...What?"
I froze.
What does Father have to do with this?
I held back my questions, recalling that Poison King had said "thanks to" and not "because of."
"He said this to me:
After seeing all this, do you still consider yourself righteous?
"
"..."
"And he was right. This was not the action of a righteous sect."
I couldnât refute that.
No matter the reasons, the Tang Clanâs recent actions were far from those of a righteous sect.
ButâŠ
"You didnât do those things yourself, did you?"
"Are you certain of that?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Are you certain I didnât get involved? Can you be sure, Young Master Gu?"
Poison Kingâs sharp gaze pierced through me.
The creation of the Heavenly Body and the countless atrocities committed to achieve it.
Could I say with certainty that he had no part in it?
"...No."
I didnât believe he was involved, but I couldnât be certain.
Reading my expression, Poison King gave a faint smile and said,
"I did not participate."
"In that caseâŠ"
"Even so, few will believe me. Thatâs the reality."
He was right.
Even if he claimed innocence, the circumstances made it unlikely anyone would believe him.
"And even if I wasnât involved, I must take responsibility."
"Why must you shoulder this responsibility?"
"Because of what you just said."
"What did I say?"
"I am the head of the Tang Clan."
"..."
His voice was calm, almost resigned.
A mix of emotions swirled within his steady tone.
"Until now, Iâve claimed to be the head but have done little. I must do something before itâs too late."
"...And that âsomethingâ is destroying the familyâs reputation?"
"Haha."
My sincere words made him chuckle, as if he found them amusing.
"Stepping down from a title of honor wonât destroy the family."
"This land is filled with people who live and die for honor."
"Thatâs true. I was one of them."
Martial artists often pursue power for the sake of honor.
For many, earning a title is their lifeâs dream.
Thatâs why they cling to their reputations, living and dying by them.
I donât fault them for it.
Itâs just how things are.
But in a place like thisâŠ
"Do you have to discard your honor?"
Was there truly a reason for Poison King to take such a path?
"Young Master Gu."
"Yes."
"Do you know how to fix a tree whose roots have rotted?"
He looked me in the eye, his lips barely moving.
His gaze rendered me speechless.
He had already made his choice.
"You must uproot it and plant new seeds."
"...So youâre going to tear down the whole tree and start over?"
"Thatâs just a metaphor. Surely I wonât uproot everything. Haha."
If the Tang Clanâs experiments, abductions, and atrocities were revealed,
Not only would they lose their seat among the Four Great Clans, but they might also be branded as a demonic sect.
Considering their origins as an unorthodox sect, it would only be easier to label them as such.
And yet, he chose to proceed. Why?
"Because Iâm ashamed."
"...Ashamed?"
"I canât bear the shame. Young Master Gu, I owe my children an apology, but this must be done."
Was it because I lacked a conscience, or because all my emotions had dried up?
I couldnât understand his conviction.
Then,
"Thank you."
Poison King suddenly expressed his gratitude.
His words widened my eyes.
"...Why are you thanking me?"
"I know youâre angry because of my daughter."
"...!"
His words made my chest feel heavy.
I hadnât realized it myself, but he was right.
I knew what would happen to Tang So-yeol once the Tang Clan fell.
"Thatâs why Iâve been so frustrated."
It wasnât something I had consciously acknowledged.
"I owe my children an apology, but this is my choice."
"...Master Tang."
"Iâll face much more shame, but this is the only way I can preserve my honor."
He was telling me not to argue further.
So I closed my mouth.
There was nothing more I could say with confidence.
People with unshakable convictions, who tread paths others wouldnât, always have a way of silencing others.
As I averted my gaze, Poison King spoke calmly.
"Young Master Gu, I must ask for your help with my daughter."
Whether he meant to protect her from the fallout or something else, I didnât know.
But my answer was clear.
"...Donât worry."
If nothing else, this much I could promise.
Hearing my reply, Poison King smiled and nodded.
"Good. Thatâs all I needed."
His tone was casual, as though heâd finally acknowledged me.
******************
I left Poison King's quarters and began to walk away.
I couldnât keep someone who had plans of their own tied down, and it was time for me to focus on what I needed to do.
"I should start setting a proper schedule for myself."
While I had already outlined the major tasks, I hadnât decided on the immediate steps yet.
"First, I need to return home."
Returning to the Gu family came first.
"âŠAlthough, if it were up to me, Iâd rather go somewhere else."
There were places like the cave in Guangdong filled with eternal cold iron, or other hidden opportunities Iâd identified. It was time to start claiming those one by one.
"But doing that right now is unrealistic."
There were too many unresolved matters before I could begin seeking out opportunities.
For instance, the promise with the Divine Doctor or finding the gemstone for Nahi.
Above all, however:
"I need strength."
What I needed most was time for serious training.
"âŠIâm still lacking."
Even after reaching
Haegyeong
and gaining the additional power from becoming a dragon, it still wasnât enough.
To face Cheonma or the Blood Demon, I needed not only personal strength but also a strong faction to back me.
Right now, I couldnât even react to Amwangâs movements, and reaching the heights of those above me felt like a distant goal.
Moreover:
"I need to master the ninth level."
I had to not only continue practicing the
Tua Pacheonmu
technique but also elevate the
Guyeomhwaryun Gong
to the ninth level.
Father had promised to reveal the truth about Mother only once I reached that level.
I needed time to build my strength. And the best time for that was:
"âŠProbably now, if ever."
This was the most opportune moment.
In just a few years, events would start to unfold in rapid succession.
Even if I ignored the ones I had altered, the major incidents that lay ahead required me to be stronger to handle them.
"Opportunities alone wonât be enough anymore."
I had more than enough external blessings.
My body was already in peak condition. What was left was for me to hone my skills through sheer effort.
Yes, it was time.
If I had to return to the Gu family temporarily, I might as well use that time to grow stronger.
With that thought in mind, I returned to my quarters and noticed something unusual.
"Hmm?"
Father, who hadnât been seen all night, was standing in the yard. And with him wasâ
"Wi Seol-ah?"
Wi Seol-ah was holding my clothes in her hands.
Whatâs thisâŠ?
As I entered, their gazes turned toward me.
"Ah, Young Master."
"What are you doing?"
"âŠUmâŠ"
At my question, Wi Seol-ah quickly hid the clothes behind her back and hesitated before responding.
"âŠI was just⊠doing some laundry."
"Laundry? Of what? Donât tell meâŠ"
"YesâŠ"
When I gestured to the clothes, she confirmed it.
She was washing my clothes?
"âŠWhy?"
Why were
you
washing my clothes?
When I asked, her face began to turn red.
Her pale skin made the flush even more noticeable.
"I⊠I just remembered something. Before I realized it, I was alreadyâŠ"
Her embarrassed smile made me furrow my brow without realizing it.
She washed my clothes
without thinking about it
? What kind of instinct was that?
But as I searched for the reason, a dull ache filled my chest.
"âŠThis feels like itâs my fault."
Was it because I had brought her into the Gu household as a servant?
It seemed some strange habits had stuck with her.
"âŠCome to think of it, hasnât this happened a lot recently?"
Whenever I returned from training or going out, my room would be clean, or thereâd be a pleasant scent lingering in the air.
"You⊠Have you been cleaning up behind my back too?"
"âŠ!"
When I asked, Wi Seol-ah flinched, her face growing even redder.
So it wasnât the Tang Clanâs servants after allâit had been her all along.
"Why were you doing that?"
"âŠI just had some time on my handsâŠ"
"If you were going to do it, you couldâve said something. What are you, some kind of secret housekeeper?"
The important thing wasâwhy had she been doing it secretly?
She lowered her head at my exasperated tone.
"Iâm sorryâŠ"
It might have been wrong for her to sneak around, but from my perspective, she had no reason to apologize.
"You donât need to apologize. Iâm the one who should be thankful. Just⊠if you do something nice, let me know so I can thank you properly."
I smiled, reaching out to ruffle her hair, but then stopped when I remembered Father was watching.
Wi Seol-ah glanced at my hand, her eyes filled with a hint of disappointment.
I forced myself to ignore it and turned to Father.
"Are you leaving now?"
Fatherâs eyebrows twitched slightly at my question.
"How did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That I was planning to leave."
"âŠJust a feeling."
Maybe because Iâd been watching him closely lately, I could sense subtle differences in his demeanor.
"I just had a hunch."
"âŠHmm."
"So, what were you talking about with her?"
"Nothing important."
Which meant he wasnât going to tell me.
I looked at Wi Seol-ah for answers, but she avoided my gaze.
"âŠHmm."
What was this about? It was making me uneasy.
I wanted to press further but decided to let it go for now.
"âŠAnyway, are you really leaving now?"
"Thereâs no reason to stay any longer now that my tasks are complete."
In other words, he had fulfilled Poison Kingâs requests.
That meant he had dealt with all the elders overnight.
"In that case, why not leave together? Iâll be heading back tomorrow at the latest."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I surprised myself.
Normally, I wouldâve been thrilled to see him leave, but here I was suggesting we travel together.
Father seemed just as surprised, his eyes widening slightly.
"Well⊠I just thought, you know, since Iâm going that way anywayâŠ"
I trailed off, trying to sound casual.
Father responded,
"Itâs not possible."
It was a refusal.
"Figured as much."
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly.
"Under normal circumstances, it might have been fine."
Father added an unusual explanation.
"But if I delay any longer, sheâll be furious."
"Who?"
"âŠ"
He didnât answer, but his expression looked troubled.
I thought I heard him mutter something about âthree days being too long,â but I wasnât sure.
Either way, it meant he wasnât coming with me.
"âŠThen I guess Iâll see you at the Gu family estate."
As I was about to give up and bid farewell, Father extended something toward me.
His hand.
A large, calloused hand.
"�"
I looked at him, confused, but he simply stared back.
When our silent standoff continued, he finally spoke.
"Take it."
"Ah."
Realizing his intention, I grabbed his hand.
My hand was practically swallowed by his much larger one.
It occurred to me:
"Is this the first time?"
I couldnât recall ever holding Fatherâs hand like this before.
It lasted only a few seconds before he let go.
"Iâll go ahead. Be careful on your way back."
"âŠWhat?"
I was caught off guard.
Hadnât he wanted to confirm something?
Before I could ask furtherâ
Fwoosh!
Father vanished into flames before my eyes.
"âŠHe really just left like that?"
An abrupt handshake and he was gone.
Unbelievable. Showing up suddenly and disappearing just as suddenly.
Father was as enigmatic as ever.
"Haha."
I laughed wryly, looking down at my hand.
His hand had been unexpectedly warm. Probably from his flame arts.
All that remained now was a faint warmth and an unnameable emotion.
I brushed my hand off and looked at Wi Seol-ah, who was watching me with her large, expressive eyes.
Her gaze seemed to hold a hint of amusement.
It was charming, but alsoâŠ
"Annoying."
So I ruffled her hair.
"Eek!"
Her soft squeal was adorable, a sound I hadnât heard in a while.
"Young Master, please wait!"
"Who told you to look at me like that?"
After tousling her silky hair for a bit, I stopped, knowing sheâd sulk if I went too far.
Stepping back, I said,
"Letâs get something to eat. Iâm hungry."
"Yes."
It had been a while since I felt like having a proper meal with her, and she seemed happy about it.
"Letâs invite the others too. Itâll be nice to eat together."
"âŠOkay."
Her expression darkened slightly at that suggestion.
"Iâm imagining things."
Thereâs no way Wi Seol-ah would dislike having a meal.
Nodding lightly, I headed off with her in tow.