Everyone Is Waiting.

When the group arrived at the Tang Clan, they saw warriors with grim faces guarding the main gate.

“Turn back.”

They issued a solemn warning as the group approached.

Unlike the other Five Great Clans, the Tang Clan was a closed-off household.

These days they had been expanding into various businesses, yet they were still wary of outsiders.

Even so, it was rare for them to turn people away at the gate like this.

“I am Jeon Pyeong of the Mount Hua Sect. Could you please call for Tang Ho?”

An embarrassed look came over the Tang Clan warriors’ faces.

Even for the famed Tang Clan of the world, it was hard to ignore the name of Mount Hua.

On top of that, the name that had come from Jeon Pyeong’s mouth was an issue.

“Please wait a moment.”

Saying so, one of the warriors went inside.

After a short while, the one who came out was a slightly built young man.

He was thin, his build not very martial, yet his gait did not waver in the least. In addition, his hands were unusually long.

Gyo-ha could tell he cultivated a unique martial art.

And he knew what it was.

Flying dagger arts.

Overshadowed by their medicine and poison arts, the Tang Clan’s flying dagger arts were still worthy of being called unsurpassed under heaven.

“Jeon Pyeong, is that you?”

Tang Ho’s face was steeped in deep fatigue.

Tang Ho hesitated, then let out a sigh.

“Let us move somewhere else first.”

No matter what had happened in the clan, he could not just send away guests who had come from afar.

After moving to a nearby tavern, Tang Ho spoke heavily.

“I am sorry. At the moment, the main house is in no state to receive guests.”

“What in the world has happened?”

Tang Ho pressed his fingers against both eyes as if his head hurt.

“Four days ago, my uncle was murdered.”

“…!”

The group’s eyes widened.

“Inside the clan grounds, you mean?”

Tang Ho nodded. At that, Jeon Pyeong let out a sigh.

They could now understand why the Tang Clan warriors had reacted so sharply.

“Have you caught the culprit?”

“Not yet.”

At Tang Ho’s words, the group’s expressions hardened.

He was saying that they had failed to catch the culprit in none other than the Tang Clan.

“I heard that martial artists from Diancang are currently staying at the main house.”

At that point, Seo Jong-dae, who had been listening, cut in.

Only then did Tang Ho look curiously at the unfamiliar faces.

“And these gentlemen are?”

“They have come from the Kunlun Sect.”

Tang Ho’s eyes widened.

“I had heard rumors that Kunlun’s heirs had appeared…”

But he had not expected to meet them in person like this.

Soon he looked from Gyo-ha and Seo Jong-dae to the last person.

“Ah, and that one is from the Beggars’ Union.”

There was hardly any need to say it. Anyone could tell from Bong Seok’s appearance which screamed ‘I’m a beggar’, that he was a beggar.”

The Mount Hua of Shaanxi, the Kunlun which were thought to have been annihilated, and even a Beggars’ Union disciple.

Faced with such an unusual group, Tang Ho could not help feeling puzzled.

“Come to think of it, for what business have you come to the main house?”

At Tang Ho’s question, Jeon Pyeong gave a wry smile. The fact that he was only asking now showed how overwhelmed he was.

Once Jeon Pyeong explained their business, Tang Ho’s gaze changed.

“So that’s what it is.”

An awkward look came over Tang Ho’s face. It was not a matter that could be brushed aside.

Seo Jong-dae spoke again to such a Tang Ho.

“So, what has become of the Diancang Sect?”

“Ah, forgive me. My head has been all over the place.”

Tang Ho apologized, and Seo Jong-dae nodded. He understood Tang Ho’s situation as well.

Even without that, the dark patches under his eyes made it hard to feel like pressing him.

It was plain how much he had suffered over the past four days.

“The Diancang disciples are staying at the main house. They are not being detained, so do not worry.”

The group glanced at one another.

Seeing that, Tang Ho let out a bitter smile and spoke.

“Actually, before my uncle passed away, he said that someone was trying to kill him. But the method he described was so absurd that the elders of the clan ignored him…”

A look of regret came over Tang Ho’s face.

He had never imagined he would actually end up dead like this.

What in the world had the method been?

As the group grew more curious, Tang Ho opened and closed his mouth several times, then let out a sigh.

“He said that someone was trying to curse him to death.”

At that absurd story, bewilderment spread across the group’s faces.

Tang Ho nodded as if he understood their reaction.

“There were no wounds on my late uncle’s body, nor any signs of poisoning. Of course, there were no traces of an intruder in his room either.”

“Then why say he was murdered?”

If the Tang Clan had found nothing, no one else would find any traces either.

It was close to a natural death.

“Is it because of your uncle’s statement?”

“If that were all, we would not be agonizing like this.”

Pressing firmly on his brow, Tang Ho went on.

“My uncle insisted he had to block the curse and pasted talismans all over his room. He rarely came out of it.”

Even within the Tang Clan, it was treated as a disgrace.

Some even said his mind was wandering because of the poisons.

But.

“…On the night my uncle died, those talismans burned up.”

“…!”

“Not all of them. A few still remain. But most of the talismans burned. Strangely, the room itself did not catch fire. Only the talismans did.”

It was truly a bizarre incident.

“Then the reason the Diancang disciples stayed is?”

“They are still a Taoist sect after all. They should be better than us.”

As Tang Ho spoke with a sigh, Jeon Pyeong checked Seo Jong-dae’s expression.

As expected.

Seo Jong-dae’s face had twisted in displeasure.

He understood how the Diancang disciples must feel.

The Diancang Sect was a Taoist sect.

However, its nature was different from other Taoist sects.

They did not sublimate Taoist teachings into the sword.

They believed that the sword itself contained the Way.

Naturally, compared to other Taoist sects, they were bound to be weak in warding arts and talisman techniques.

The Tang Clan had urged them out of desperation, and the Diancang Taoists likely could not bring themselves to refuse.

Seeing the expressions on the group’s faces, Tang Ho shook his head.

“We are not trying to entrust everything to them either. We only hope to gain even the smallest clue.”

Tang Ho’s face grew bitter, as if he were recalling memories of the man.

Tang Ho was a direct descendant of the Tang Clan. If this was his uncle, then he too had to be a direct descendant or a close blood relative.

He could not simply stand by and do nothing.

“We already requested help from Emei and Qingcheng. Qingcheng refused due to internal circumstances, but the Emei Sect said they would send someone.”

However, there was not much hope on his face.

The group could guess why the Qingcheng Sect had refused.

They were the ones who had caused the trouble.

And the Emei Sect was a sect of nuns.

The Emei Sect was also one of the Nine Sects, One Union.

But like Shaolin, it was a Buddhist sect.

They would be better than ordinary sects, but compared to Taoist sects, they were bound to be weak in talisman arts.

That was not all. Even after all that had happened, the Tang Clan still could not be sure it was a curse.

“The elders of the main house have been debating whether to seek out the successors of the Maoshan Sect…”

As he spoke, Tang Ho lifted his head,

His eyes fell on Gyo-ha and Seo Jong-dae.

There were.

A sect that, while not on Maoshan’s level, was well-versed in warding and talisman arts.

A sect that had long protected Mount Kunlun.

Seo Jong-dae’s expression twisted even further under Tang Ho’s gaze.

The more Tang Ho’s eyes gleamed, the more awkward the Mount Hua disciples’ faces became.

And Gyo-ha, who was all but the heir of that sect, tilted his head.

Saying to wait a moment, Tang Ho dashed out of the tavern.

The group marveled as he vanished in an instant.

“To think the Tang Clan’s Chasing Thunder Movement Art would be this fast.”

From today on, they would have to add movement arts to the Tang Clan’s specialties.

And Tang Ho reappeared as quickly as he had disappeared.

“The Clan Head has granted permission for your visit.”

“…”

Seeing Tang Ho’s bright smile, the group felt uneasy.

Thus they had no choice but to head for the Tang Clan.

When they returned to the Tang Clan, the warriors opened the gate wide for them.

They too greeted the group with hopeful eyes.

The group’s steps could not help but grow heavy.

“Young Master Tang, I should say in advance that we do not know much about talisman arts either.”

In truth he had never even learned them, but as a Kunlun disciple, he could not say that.

Beside him, Jeon Pyeong added his voice.

“That is right. I too am a Taoist sect’s disciple, but this kind of strange affair is something I have never heard of.”

Cursing someone to death. It was the sort of story one heard in the marketplace.

“Even if they’re from Kunlun, it should be no dif…”

Jeon Pyeong closed his mouth, then looked closely at Gyo-ha.

“…It might be different.”

Even Jeon Gwang and Jeon Hong unconsciously nodded.

Even Bong Seok bobbed his head. At their reactions, expectation rose on Tang Ho’s face.

“Please wait here a moment. I will send word inside.”

Standing before the hall, Tang Ho said this and went inside.

It was larger and more splendid than the other halls.

It did not seem like a hall that would be used as a reception room.

When Seo Jong-dae glanced sideways in disbelief, Jeon Pyeong nodded.

The place they were being guided to was not a reception room.

“You may go inside now. Everyone is waiting.”

Tang Ho’s words were decisive.

The hall before them was the Clan Head’s Hall.

And.

‘…So it is not only the Clan Head in there.’

With heavy hearts, the group headed inside.

Inside, as the group had expected, the Clan Head was not alone.

However, it was a little different from what they had imagined.

“Come, sit. We were just sharing some refreshments.”

A thin middle-aged man sat in the seat of honor.

He looked more like a scholar than a martial artist, his prominent cheekbones giving him a strict impression.

He was Tang Mu-gi, Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Beside him were unfamiliar men in training robes.

Each left the impression of a single drawn sword.

There were even two such men.

Gyo-ha knew who they were at a glance.

‘Diancang.’

They were staring past Gyo-ha with startled eyes.

Seo Jong-dae. He avoided their gaze.

In place of such a Seo Jong-dae, Gyo-ha spoke up.

“I am Gyo-ha of Kunlun.”

“…I am Seo Jong-dae.”

“I am Jeon Pyeong of Mount Hua.”

After that, the Mount Hua disciples introduced themselves in turn, and lastly Bong Seok gave his name.

“I am Bong Seok of the Beggars’ Union.”

Tang Mu-gi glanced at the Diancang Taoists, then gave a calm nod.

The Diancang Taoists sent uneasy looks, but did not speak.

“So, you seek the missing members of the Murim Alliance?”

“Yes.”

Jeon Pyeong bowed his head.

“Among the newly dispatched personnel are people from our main house as well. If I told you to trust them and wait, you would not listen, would you.”

Jeon Pyeong answered with silence. Tang Mu-gi nodded, as if he had expected that.

“If I were in your place and people from my own main house had gone missing, I would do the same.”

It was neither a rebuke nor praise. He was simply stating a fact.

One could not entrust everything to the Murim Alliance and simply wait.

“You said Ho is your close friend, did you not? Ho, you will accompany them.”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

“Then go back and rest.”

It was not the group who were most surprised by Tang Mu-gi’s words.

“Uncle?”

He was so shocked that the informal title he used in private slipped out.

But Tang Mu-gi did not mind.

He knew the reason.

“We have done enough for Hyeok. Emei will arrive tomorrow, but it will not make much difference. We will announce it externally as a suicide. Killing someone with a curse, really.”

Tang Mu-gi’s voice was laced with deep fatigue.

“We should have done this from the start. The elders do not wish for this matter to grow any larger.”

If rumors spread, it would only stain the Tang Clan’s name.

“We will prepare Hyeok’s funeral. So Ho, you will proceed with that understanding as well.”

Tang Mu-gi had not summoned the group to find the cause.

He had decided to bring the matter to a close, which was why he had received these guests.

“…Yes, Clan Head.”

With a complicated expression, Tang Ho bowed his head.