The Tang Clan (1)

Jin-hyeon’s dignified cry.

That cry was a roar toward the world, a vow to himself, and a lesson for his clan members.

After Jin-hyeon set his own family name upright and proclaimed the Tang Clan’s true entry into Kangho to all under heaven, the rumor struck all of Sichuan within a single day.

The one who suggested deliberately spreading the rumor was none other than Oh Gyeong.

It was the day one man became the progenitor of a clan and declared to the world that he existed. Moreover, that man was the very person who had smashed several of the Eight Martial Houses whose roots had rotted, caught murderers, and cleared away the dark clouds hanging over Sichuan.

The reactions of those who heard the rumor of the Tang Clan varied.

Some congratulated them, and some grew wary. Some were indifferent, while others sneered or felt fear.

Naturally, those who congratulated them were overwhelmingly greater in number. Great or small, the righteous acts Jin-hyeon had carried out had restored many people’s lives, and since he also shared friendship with Seol Hong-baek, said to be Sichuan’s foremost chivalrous hero, he must have seemed truly trustworthy.

On the second day after Jin-hyeon proclaimed the Tang Clan’s entry into Kangho.

Astonishingly, the Investigation and Defense Court officially sent a congratulatory envoy to the Tang Clan. Moreover, that envoy was the Deputy Court Head, the second-in-command of the Investigation and Defense Court, which allowed people to guess just how highly the Sichuan Branch valued this newly born clan.

The reputation of the Tang Clan, which had received recognition not only from the Murim but also from the Branch, rose quickly. In particular, rumors also spread that they could form far more humane trade relationships than other sects or clans, leading countless merchants to come to Ziyang County.

It was a strange thing. Since such an astonishing martial artist had founded a clan, it would have been normal for more rootless wandering warriors or masters to seek them out, but there were almost no martial artists, and only merchants packed their goods and came to trade with them.

If one thought about it, it was only natural. Several of the Eight Martial Houses had reached ruin, but some had still not completely disappeared. To ignore them and join the Tang Clan, Patriarch Jin-hyeon was far too young.

Most decisively, a rumor had spread that the Tang Clan did not easily accept even fairly strong experts.

Believe it or not, it was said that the Patriarch himself was a master with martial might at the level of a Nine Sects elder. On top of that, there was an unidentified supreme master under him, and the saber wielder serving as Steward was said to possess martial arts capable of overwhelming the heads of the Eight Martial Houses.

If they were a group of masters at that level, they would have nothing to fear for now even without a unit directly attached to the clan.

In fact, Meteor Sword, one of the Ten Great Swordsmen of Sichuan, stepped forward saying he would enter the clan, only to be turned away at the gate. A rumor spread that he grew angry and demanded a duel, but his sword broke after two saber strokes from the Steward, and he left Ziyang County as if fleeing.

With the situation like this, neither newcomers who dreamed of Kangho nor mid-level masters who wanted to slowly settle down came to the Tang Clan. To be precise, it would be more accurate to say they were watching the situation.

In that way, the Tang family of Sichuan, the Tang Clan, was making its name known to the world with certainty.

At least in the current Sichuan, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they possessed a reputation surpassing the former Sichuan Eight Martial Houses.

“Hahaha, congratulations.”

Seol Hong-baek had truly brought every last warrior of his clan.

The house was large, but it was awkward to accommodate all the warriors. In the end, they laid out seats and prepared food in the empty grounds around the house, and all the warriors sat there, drinking wine and eating food.

Jin-hyeon, no, Tang Jin-hyeon, smiled as if embarrassed.

“I apologize. The house is small…”

“Heh heh, not at all. It feels warm and pleasant instead. Is that not so?”

At Seol Hong-baek’s question, all the warriors laughed and shouted that it was.

“See? It has romance and is good.”

Tang Jin-hyeon gave a small laugh.

“Of course. When the Patriarch says he likes it, what bold soul would grumble and say otherwise?”

“Huh, was that it?”

One warrior grinned and spoke.

“We truly like it. After doing hellish training day after day, are we not having wine and meat on a good day? That alone makes it feel as if we have reached paradise.”

The warriors laughed merrily and burst into applause.

In truth, the qi presence of the Seol Clan warriors was completely different from before. They were laughing and making noise, but their qi presence had become far sharper and firmer, and astonishingly, every one of them was like that.

It seemed the clan’s overall fighting strength itself had grown by several stages. Tang Jin-hyeon quietly marveled.

“Every one of them carries an astonishing presence. The Seol Clan’s future is bright.”

If a future could become bright merely because one’s martial arts were strong, then only the strong would be praised in this world.

Seol Hong-baek’s smile was always superb.

“We simply wish to become martial artists who know when to swing our swords with a deeper and broader view. That alone is enough.”

Because he was such a man, he had supported the Seol Clan so well until now. Tang Jin-hyeon truly hoped that Seol Hong-baek would grow greater than anyone and become a great hero who left his footprints across all under heaven.

“By the way, where is Lady Seol?”

“She said she would take this chance to check on the clan and come afterward. There are guard warriors, but it seems she means to check things one more time herself.”

It was something Seol Hong-baek would have done personally, but it seemed he had entrusted it to Seol So-ha somehow.

Through this Radiant Sword Festival, it seemed he had acknowledged his daughter as a true adult. Since he had entrusted the house’s security to her, it seemed he would gradually have her participate in the clan’s major affairs as well.

“And there is something I must say to Patriarch Tang.”

Now it was not Teacher, but Patriarch. Tang Jin-hyeon smiled and spoke.

“Please speak.”

“We were the ones who taught her, but she has such a close relationship with you, Patriarch, and you have treated that child like a younger sister as well, so if it is all right, I am thinking of sending her here.”

Tang Jin-hyeon’s eyes widened. He realized at once whom Seol Hong-baek was talking about.

“Do you mean Min?”

“Heh heh, she will come with So-ha.”

“I am fine with it. If anything, the Seol Clan, where she has spent her whole life, will be more comfortable than being with a troublemaker like me.”

“I have already finished speaking with Min about that matter as well. I know that child’s personality very well, after all. She waved her hands and said no, but it seems she missed you greatly in her heart, Patriarch.”

“Ahem.”

“She is a child I cherish as well, but I could not look after her as well as you did, Patriarch. It is not right to send a person back and forth like an object, so I think it would be best for her to live as a member of the Tang Clan from now on.”

Tang Jin-hyeon nodded.

“If you say so, Patriarch, then very well. I will check Min’s own wishes once more, and if she truly wishes to remain here, I will accept her.”

“Heh heh heh, thank you.”

It seemed he already considered her a member of the Tang Clan. Seol Hong-baek’s smile was open and sincere.

“Now, it seems there are many people you must meet besides me, so let us have a separate seat this evening.”

“There are fewer people than you think.”

“Even so, do you not have matters to handle?”

As expected of someone who had governed a clan, he was quick to understand.

After parting from Seol Hong-baek for a while, Tang Jin-hyeon immediately went down the hill.

There, the White Tiger Unit was scattered here and there, resting. Song Oe was in the center, and in the distance, Heo Do’s back could be seen as he looked at the river.

Seureureuk.

When Tang Jin-hyeon appeared, the warriors of the White Tiger Unit stood even though no order had been given.

It was a natural action. On the day he killed Sang-eon, the overwhelming martial arts and grandmaster-like words and conduct Tang Jin-hyeon had deeply shocked the White Tiger Unit as well.

Song Oe lowered his head slightly. Tang Jin-hyeon also answered with a nod, then headed straight toward Heo Do.

Heo Do, who had been looking at the river with his hands clasped behind his back, turned around.

“You have come.”

“I have.”

Heo Do gave a small laugh without realizing it.

He made people laugh after exchanging only one sentence. Thinking back to the killing intent he had emitted when they first met on Manguwi Street, and the time he faced the elder of the Hengshan Sect, Heo Do wondered if he was not an entirely different person.

Tang Jin-hyeon spoke calmly.

“You waited a long time. As you likely knew, I was rather busy these past three or four days.”

“I know.”

“I knew you were waiting for me. What I am curious about, however, is why you went out of your way to wait.”

Heo Do’s face turned awkward.

“I simply wanted to at least say farewell before leaving.”

“What need is there for farewells between martial artists who live with their lives staked on a single blade?”

“Are you like this with other people too?”

“Of course not. There still is not much friendship between us, is there?”

“That is true.”

Heo Do smiled bitterly.

After observing Tang Jin-hyeon and his clan members closely during that time, he had reached one conclusion.

The Tang Clan was entirely different from the other martial families he knew.

Of course, they had only just begun, and he did not know how they would change in the future. Such were the powers of Kangho, where after generations passed, they might suddenly transform into a group of assassins.

But at least the Tang Clan of the present was filled with an astonishingly warm and unreserved atmosphere. It did not quite feel horizontal, but it was also difficult to see it as a vertical relationship.

In a sense, one could say it was halfway between the two. But Heo Do did not dislike that in-between quality.

“I think we must leave now.”

“You should.”

“In any case, we failed our mission. Once we return, it will be difficult to meet again.”

“That is not something you can know.”

“Mm?”

“As you know, I have quite a close relationship with the Branch Leader. I also have a firm grip on Sichuan’s information network.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean what happened here will not go up to the Heavenly Will Alliance right away.”

It was a meaningful statement. Heo Do’s eyes deepened.

“There are no eternal secrets in Kangho.”

“I know. On top of that, many people know that the Fifth Elder of the Hengshan Sect and the Lotus Seven Swords came to Sichuan. If no word comes from them, they will try to investigate Sichuan on a large scale.”

“Of course they will. Even if you manage to get through this matter well, the White Tiger Unit, which happened to be returning, stayed in Sichuan, so they will interrogate us.”

Heo Do closed his eyes.

“It will likely be difficult for us to remain safe.”

Tang Jin-hyeon gave a small laugh.

“So, do you regret it?”

Heo Do did not regret it. But in a situation where he did not know what would happen to his subordinates, he could not openly say he had no regrets.

“I do not know.”

“If you do not know, look closely at yourself again. And search carefully for what path suits you. The moment you find the purpose of your life, you will realize on your own how you should move.”

“Is that so?”

“What matters is probably the difference between acting and hesitating. But you have seen well what happens when one hesitates, have you not?”

Heo Do smiled bitterly.

“I will carve your words, consistent to the end, deeply into my heart.”

It was a truly strange connection. In truth, there was no reason for Heo Do to feel this sense of closeness toward Tang Jin-hyeon.

Even so, he had persuaded his subordinates to stay here, so human emotions were truly strange.

“Govern your new clan well. I sincerely hope that you, at least, will not become corrupt and will shine with chivalry.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I will soon be covered in filth too.”

“What does that mean?”

“Because lotuses bloom from filth.”

“Could you say it in a way I can understand?”

Tang Jin-hyeon smiled.

“We’ll meet again.”

“Good grief, I cannot understand you at all.”

Heo Do shook his head and shouted.

“Everyone, up! We return now!”

“As you command!”

Tang Jin-hyeon called to Heo Do, who was about to leave without looking back.

“Unit Leader Heo.”

“Speak.”

“If you have a goal, and if you want to achieve that goal, lowering your head once is not a difficult thing. You know that from experience, do you not?”

Heo Do stood still and chewed over Tang Jin-hyeon’s words, then nodded.

“Let us meet again.”

“Stay healthy.”