Not long after, the physicians from the Tang Clan rushed in and immediately began treating Tang Yeon-chil.
When they saw his condition, their faces turned pale.
“He’s barely clinging to life.”
“How could anyone torture someone this brutally?”
“This kind of cruelty… is the way of the Unorthodox Sect.”
Even while expressing their horror, they didn’t forget their duties, carefully applying medicine and wrapping his wounds in bandages.
“Ugh…”
Tang Yeon-chil groaned in pain.
Lady Tang Su-bin fidgeted anxiously at the sight.
“Lady Su-bin, don’t worry too much. Isn’t the Tang Clan’s medical expertise outstanding? Your brother will recover soon.”
“If I had just been more suspicious of him… we could’ve saved Third Brother sooner.”
“No one else noticed.”
“But…”
“So don’t blame yourself. What matters now isn’t regret but fixing things.”
“You’re right.”
She wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
“I absolutely can’t forgive anyone who dared disgrace the Tang Clan like this.”
Before long, the basic treatment was finished.
It ended quickly with several physicians working together.
They carefully loaded Tang Yeon-chil onto a stretcher since he couldn’t walk yet.
We walked up the stairs from the underground, passed through the research lab, crossed the long corridor, and exited through the side passage next to the staircase where we had first entered.
There, Escort Guard Lee Pil, who had been standing by, widened his eyes when he saw Tang Yeon-chil being carried out on a stretcher.
Soon, as if realizing what had happened, he bit his lip.
No matter how much he’d turned his back on the Tang Clan, there was no way he felt nothing for it.
I patted his back.
Then followed the others in silence.
At that moment, a thought crossed my mind.
Would the Murim Alliance, known for being so meticulous, really plant just one person like the Blood Venom Fiend in the Tang Clan?
Could a single person really create a place like that lab and prison?
No.
There must be accomplices.
People placed inside the Tang Clan for surveillance and support.
Just like Squad Leader Tang In of the Tiger’s Stride Unit, who brought First and Second Young Masters to the Punishment Assembly this morning.
Those people were probably members of the Tang Clan.
That’s how the fake managed to become the Deputy Commander without being exposed.
But now, with the fake Tang Yeon-chil caught… if he confesses who his accomplices are, they won’t be safe either.
So, the accomplices have only two options left.
One is to kill the fake Tang Yeon-chil.
The other… is to kill the real Tang Yeon-chil.
Judging from how Tang Yeon-chil only named the main culprit earlier, he probably doesn’t know who the accomplices are.
But guilt pricks the feet of the thief.
From an accomplice’s perspective, it’s natural to assume that the real Tang Yeon-chil knows who they are.
Still… with the Tang Clan now on high alert, they wouldn’t act recklessly.
Except… there’s one person who still has a chance to act.
The one who manages the Treasure-Filled Forest.
Honestly… could that lab and prison have been built without his tacit approval?
Then, when would he have the chance to go after the real Tang Yeon-chil?
Before we leave the Treasure-Filled Forest.
Huh?
That’s… right now.
At the same time, I felt a sharp tingle in my chest, like something had pierced my heart.
Killing intent.
No one else seemed to have noticed yet.
But I definitely felt it.
If the real Tang Yeon-chil dies here… all the effort we put in would be for nothing.
Lady Tang Su-bin… and Jo-ung would be devastated.
I drew my Silver Mist Sword and threw myself forward.
A million thoughts crossed my mind, but none of that mattered.
I just hated watching someone die right in front of me.
A flash of light.
I saw a concealed weapon flying toward us.
Black liquid coated its surface.
Poison.
I swung the Silver Mist Sword hard.
Clang!
The concealed weapon deflected off the blade with a sharp metallic sound.
I spun my body, driving the weapon down to the ground.
Thunk!
The weapon lost its momentum and embedded itself into the ground.
“Benefactor?”
Without answering, I charged forward.
I rushed straight toward the direction the weapon had come from.
Soon… I spotted a figure fleeing.
I took a deep breath and swung my sword.
The sixth form of the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art—Snow Swamp (雪藪).
The Swamp of Snow.
The perfect technique for binding an opponent’s feet.
I spread freezing Qi across the ground, slowing his movements.
“W-What is this…?!”
Thud.
His legs gave out, and he stumbled forward.
I dashed after him and pointed my sword at his throat.
He tried to force his neck into my blade… clearly intending to commit suicide.
Not happening.
Thud!
I struck the back of his neck and knocked him out.
“Master!”
“Benefactor!”
Lady Tang Su-bin and the escort guards rushed over and froze when they saw who it was.
“The manager of the Treasure-Filled Forest…?”
“He’s one of them.”
“What…?”
“Think about it. Could they have built that lab without this guy turning a blind eye?”
Lady Tang Su-bin’s eyes widened.
“I… I never even thought of that.”
“Of course. In a situation this shocking, anyone’s mind would freeze.”
I was the same.
That’s why I was a little late realizing it.
This truth… was something that never came to light in my previous life.
.
.
.
Clan Lord Tang Gyu-jeong was speechless for a long time.
That’s how shocking the report from the Crimson Camellia Division was.
“What did you say? There’s a secret space in the Treasure-Filled Forest… and Yeon-chil was imprisoned there?”
“Yes, Clan Lord.”
“Then… the person I saw this morning…?”
“We believe he’s a fake. He must be captured immediately.”
“Who uncovered this?”
“It was Lady Tang Su-bin and Benefactor Eun Seo-ho.”
Without hesitation, Clan Lord Tang Gyu-jeong issued an order.
“Seize the fake in the Tiger’s Stride Unit right now!”
“Yes, sir!”
Just then, another martial artist arrived with additional intel on the culprit.
“The Blood Venom Fiend… Have Commander Tang Dae-jeong step in. Capture him alive at all costs.”
“Yes, sir!”
If anyone could do it without major losses… it’d be Commander Tang Dae-jeong.
After the failed attempt to kidnap Tang Jo-ung, he’d vaguely suspected who was behind it.
And if his suspicions were correct… this incident was orchestrated by the same group.
“The Murim Alliance…”
Clan Lord Tang Gyu-jeong ground his teeth.
The Murim Alliance was originally meant to be a gathering where leaders of the Orthodox Sect discussed cooperation, upheld righteousness, and worked together for the martial world.
But at some point… it began to change.
On the surface, it still seemed respectable.
‘It started… after the new Alliance Leader was elected.’
The Alliance Leader’s slogan was the Unification of the Martial World.
But the problem… was that his methods were far too strange.
To think they’d pull something like this just because we didn’t agree with them!
A few years ago, something terrible happened to the Zhuge Clan.
Back then, the Zhuge Clan Lord warned us to be careful because the Murim Alliance nearly wiped them out with one of their schemes. I thought it couldn’t possibly happen to us.
But no… the unimaginable has happened. This time, the target was the Tang Clan.
Suddenly… I missed my father.
The father who disappeared one day, saying, “This clan is yours now. Lead it however you see fit.”
How reassuring it would’ve been if Father were here at a time like this.
‘Father… I’m still not ready to be the Clan Lord.’
Just then, a guard’s voice came from outside.
“They’ve moved Third Young Master to the Medical Pavilion.”
His head was a mess, but he couldn’t just sit here doing nothing.
He stepped out of his office and headed toward the Medical Pavilion.
A moment later…
Upon arriving at the Medical Pavilion, he furrowed his brow.
The place was under extremely tight security.
“Father!”
Lady Tang Su-bin ran to him the moment she saw him.
“Su-bin.”
“Father… Brother Yeon-chil…”
Tears welled in her eyes again.
Clan Lord Tang Gyu-jeong gently patted her head.
It was a wordless gesture of comfort.
“But why is the security here so strict?”
“While rescuing Brother Yeon-chil… he was almost killed by the manager of the Treasure-Filled Forest.”
“What?!”
“Thankfully… Benefactor Eun acted at just the right moment and stopped it.”
“Benefactor Eun… You mean Eun Seo-ho?”
“Yes.”
Lady Tang Su-bin continued.
“In fact… it was Benefactor Eun who discovered the secret chamber. He’s the one who found it.”
She detailed everything that happened today.
Hearing it… Clan Lord Tang Gyu-jeong let out a heavy sigh.
“Haa…”
Just how many times had they received favors from Eun Seo-ho?
Calling him Benefactor wasn’t enough. They should be calling him Great Benefactor.
He stepped inside the Medical Pavilion.
A strong scent of incense filled the air.
The kind used to soothe the body and mind.
Having just heard the full situation from Lady Tang Su-bin, he bit his lip at the scent.
He passed the people bowing to him and followed Lady Tang Su-bin’s lead to the patient’s room.
The moment he arrived… he couldn’t take another step.
Someone was lying on the bed, wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
“Y-Yeon-chil…”
“Father?”
The person on the bed responded weakly.
“Yeon-chil… is that you?”
“Yes, Father… It’s me, Yeon-chil.”
“…Really?”
“Ugh, seriously… How could you not recognize your own son? Should I buy you some tonic for your eyes or something?”
That familiar, smooth-talking tone.
Different from the fake’s, but still familiar.
Clan Lord Tang Gyu-jeong’s face turned pained.
“I’m sorry… Your father… didn’t even recognize his own son.”
“Huh? Father… Are you crying? Wow… What an honor. I get to see Father cry.”
“I’m really sorry.”
Biting his lip, he walked out of the room.
Right then, someone rushed over.
It was Deputy Commander Tang Dae-jeong’s deputy.
“Clan Lord! We’ve captured the fake Tang Yeon-chil… or rather, the Blood Venom Fiend, Bae Dugap.”
Clan Lord Tang Gyu-jeong issued his order in an icy voice.
“Convene the Punishment Assembly immediately. Mandatory attendance for everyone.”
“Yes, sir!”
.
.
.
I was standing in the Martial Training Grounds.
The Clan Lord had convened the Punishment Assembly.
And since he’d declared mandatory attendance, everyone had no choice but to gather here.
In the center of the Martial Grounds, a man was kneeling.
A face I’d never seen before.
But the human-skin mask placed beside him… and the clothes he wore… made it clear.
This was the Blood Venom Fiend, Bae Dugap, who had been impersonating Tang Yeon-chil.
Kneeling beside him were the prison guard and the manager of the Treasure-Filled Forest—both of whom I’d caught.
The interrogation began.
I realized why the Clan Lord insisted on mandatory attendance.
He knew.
It was impossible to identify every accomplice.
So this… was a warning.
Even if someone escaped suspicion this time… this was as far as mercy would go.
If anyone was caught next time… they’d witness the full wrath of the Tang Clan.
The interrogation lasted nearly two hours.
By the end… most of the truth had come out.
As I’d guessed… this plot had been in preparation for three years.
“Imprison the criminals in the inner dungeon.”
“Yes, sir!”
The martial artists dragged away Bae Dugap and the others who sided with him.
And yet… a question lingered in my mind.
The most important thing hadn’t been asked yet.
Who gave the order for all this?
Which meant… the Clan Lord already knew.
The Clan Lord addressed everyone.
“As the Clan Lord… I admit my negligence. I offer my sincere apologies to you all.”
His voice, amplified with the technique derived from the Lion’s Roar, echoed through the entire Tang Clan.
“…”
“And so, I declare… I will never be careless again. From this day forward, no one will dare target the Tang Clan! None of you should grow complacent either. Uphold the honor of our main family until it reaches the heavens!”
“We will obey with utmost devotion!”
I returned to the annex.
Because of this unprecedented event, the Tang Clan was in a state of constant motion.
I let out a long sigh and leaned back in my chair.
‘Guess I can finally relax a little now.’
Ever since I blocked the attack from the manager of the Treasure-Filled Forest… security around Tang Yeon-chil had become the highest possible level.
I didn’t need to worry anymore.
Thinking too much had left me with a headache.
“Palgap. Let’s go for a walk.”
“Yes.”
Palgap followed me as I slowly strolled through the garden.
This was the garden open to guests, so it wasn’t under particularly heavy guard.
Up ahead… I saw someone.
It was Escort Guard Lee Pil.
So this is where he’d come after saying he was stepping out.
In front of him stood a middle-aged woman.
A woman I’d seen a few days ago.
Lady Tang Su-bin’s words came to mind.
— She’s the first wife of my youngest uncle. My uncle is currently dispatched to the Murim Alliance, but his wives are here.
Which meant… this woman was Escort Guard Lee Pil’s aunt.
Then… her voice rang out.
“Have you come to beg for more scraps?”
“That’s not it.”
“Not it? You’re just like your mother. Shameless. Utterly shameless!”
“Don’t insult my mother.”
“I bet when Jo-ung was almost kidnapped… you thought it was the perfect chance to worm your way back into the main family. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”
Hearing that… I let out an involuntary sigh.
‘Like mother, like son,’ she said.
That… kind of sounds like she’s insulting herself.
–TL Notes–
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