Chapter 130

Chapter 130
The chill in the air was biting.

A group had traveled from a great distance. There had been doubts about whether they would show up at all, but they had rushed to the scene the moment the word reached them, arriving with more urgency than most other organizations.

Nevertheless, this did not soften the resolve held deep within his chest. He simply ensured his expression remained neutral.

After paying his respects before Hahu Gok’s memorial tablet, Elder Tang Ha-gyo of the Sacheon Tang Clan turned to offer his sympathies.

“A brilliant light of the martial arts world has been extinguished. The news left me in a state of profound shock.”

“Your journey from such a distance was immediate—you have my thanks,” Hahu On, the patriarch of the Hahu Clan, answered with genuine appreciation.

“Please, it was the only right thing to do. My only concern was that we might have been too slow to arrive.”

“Not in the least. Everyone under the heavens recognizes the vast stretch between Sacheon Tang and this place. Your presence is more than we could ask for.”

“You are too kind. Even so, this feels like a sudden tragedy. Was it not just your seventieth celebration? I saw you then briefly, and you appeared so robust. I was told the injuries occurred during the conflict with the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

“That is the truth of it. However, he moved on without any lingering regrets.”

Hahu On managed a small, disciplined smile despite the weight of his grief.

To claim there was no sorrow or longing would be a falsehood, but the memory of Hahu Gok’s final acts—transferring the entirety of his life’s wisdom to the next generation—would remain a permanent treasure for the Hahu Clan.

“I understand. There is solace in that, at least.”

This wasn’t just politeness; Tang Ha-gyo could not entirely suppress a hint of envy. He had heard the accounts of how Hahu Gok met his end.

As the formal rituals of mourning and gratitude continued, the doors to the sanctuary were suddenly thrown wide.

“You idiot! What are you thinking, acting like this?”

Hahu Song hissed at his impulsive son, keeping his volume tightly controlled.

“I… well…”

Hahu Yeon, who had burst inside, wavered under the collective gaze of the room before quickly pulling himself together.

“The great elder of the Tang Clan has reached us.”

Hahu Song pressed a palm against his brow, unable to believe his son’s outburst.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Can’t you see the Tang representatives standing right here?”

“No, I don’t mean them. From the Tang Clan…”

Before Hahu Yeon could finish his explanation, another figure stepped into the hall.

An elderly man walked in with a slow, deliberate shuffle, carrying a jug of spirits in his left hand and a long smoking pipe in his right.

His piercing gaze, thin lips, and prominent nose gave away a sharp, uncompromising personality.

His lined robes were devoid of even a speck of grime, and his silver hair was perfectly arranged.

“S-Senior, you have graced us with your presence?”

Hahu On recognized the newcomer and bowed in sheer amazement.

While Hahu On was stunned by the old man’s arrival, it was nothing compared to the terror that seized Tang Ha-gyo and his kinsmen.

The moment the patriarch appeared, the members of the Tang family turned to stone. They were paralyzed, unable to offer a proper greeting or even draw a steady breath. The senior members looked the most shaken.

Paying no mind to the panic he caused, the old man walked quietly toward the spirit tablet of Hahu Gok.

He stood there in silence for a long time, staring at the name, before pouring spirits from his jug into a small vessel on the altar.

“This is the same brew we shared when we first crossed paths.”

As if offering a final toast to Hahu Gok, he raised the jug slightly and took a swallow.

He filled another cup and drank, then another, and another—until the vessel was completely empty.

Setting the hollow jug down on the altar, the old man spoke.

“Go on ahead of me. When our paths cross again, the next round is on you. And make sure to pass on my words to that stubborn old fool Juyu Geol-goe.”

His empty eyes stayed on the tablet for a moment longer before he slowly turned around.

“It has been a long time.”

“Indeed, Senior.”

Hahu On’s tone was filled with extreme reverence and care.

“I was told you had a massive fallout with the Heavenly Demon Cult. Reports said the wounds were grave. I set out the moment I knew, but I was still tardy. Did he find peace at the end?”

“He did. He left peacefully, with no regrets.”

“That is a relief, then.”

The old man gave a slight nod, looking back at the tablet one last time before marching toward Tang Ha-gyo.

“U-Uncle, I trust you have been in good health…”

“Quiet.”

The old man silenced Tang Ha-gyo’s stuttering with a sharp command.

Tang Ha-gyo shut his mouth instantly, offering no pushback.

As an elder of the prestigious Sacheon Tang Clan, one of the Five Great Clans, and being nearly seventy as well as the uncle to the current leader, he was not someone typically addressed so rudely.

Yet the old man did not hesitate for a second.

Even more shocking was that Tang Ha-gyo and the rest of the Tang members—all standing with their heads lowered as if they were statues—treated this treatment as entirely appropriate.

The supreme elder of the Tang Clan and one of the Three Freaks of the martial world, the Poison Freak Tang Cheonhwa, was a figure who commanded such absolute submission.

“Ha-gyo.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“Have you people lost your senses?”

“N-No, sir.”

“Then what is this? What have you idiots been doing?”

“I don’t follow…”

Tang Ha-gyo’s voice trailed off as he tried to read Tang Cheonhwa’s temper.

“The news of your stupidity has traveled as far as the shores of Haenam-do. All of this over some insignificant Murim Alliance Leader.”

At the mention of the leader, Tang Ha-gyo’s complexion turned white. Everyone was aware that the Five Great Clans had turned their backs on the Hahu Clan because of the promotion of that specific leader.

“And this business with the Heavenly Demon Cult? No matter how I look at it, it makes no sense. What crime did the Hahu Clan commit? If anyone is to blame, it’s those fanatics who started the trouble.”

“The… the main household is in agreement.”

As Tang Ha-gyo tried to find an excuse, the long pipe in Tang Cheonhwa’s grip whistled through the air. However, he couldn’t bring himself to strike his elderly nephew, so he swung toward Tang Hoe standing nearby instead.

“Gah!”

Tang Hoe cried out and stumbled as the blow landed hard on his shoulder.

He wasn’t the only target. The pipe struck out again and again, hitting Tang Hoe’s companions, Tang Woo and Tang Eun.

Unlike Tang Hoe, who had been blindsided, the others saw it coming but did not dare to move out of the way.

“U-Uncle!”

Tang Ha-gyo instinctively reached out to stop Tang Cheonhwa’s pipe as his younger relatives took the punishment.

“You grab…?”

Seeing the spark in Tang Cheonhwa’s eyes, Tang Ha-gyo realized his blunder and immediately dropped to the floor.

“P-Please forgive me. My age is getting to me and I reacted poorly…”

“…”

Whether the mention of “age” was a tactic or not, it worked.

Tang Cheonhwa let out a sigh as he looked at the deep lines on Tang Ha-gyo’s face.

“Fine. You aren’t getting any younger either.”

Tang Cheonhwa turned his attention to the younger members of the Tang line.

They had been standing helplessly as they watched their elders be disciplined, but when his eyes met theirs, they all stopped breathing.

“What is the ultimate law of the Tang Clan?”

Silence followed. The pipe moved.

After a quick round of strikes, Tang Cheonhwa repeated his question.

“What is the sacred rule that the Tang Clan protects with their very lives?”

One of them looked around nervously before whispering.

“Wh-When we are wronged, we return it twice over. When we are shown kindness, we return it many times more.”

Only then did the pipe finally lower.

“Three decades ago, we had a violent clash with those fanatic monks from Ma Bul Temple. They were formidable, and our internal struggles over leadership left us vulnerable. The first ones to come to our aid were the Hahu Clan. They were going through their own leadership change, but someone had to kick that hesitant young lord into gear to get him to help. That man was the Sword Freak.”

Hahu On turned a shade of red, subconsciously rubbing the spot where that kick had landed years ago.

“We emerged victorious. But we bled for it, and so did they. The Hahu Clan simply laughed it off, saying it was what any friend would do, and they walked away. That is who the Hahu Clan is.”

Tang Cheonhwa’s sharp gaze pressed down on Tang Ha-gyo and the others, who remained with their eyes glued to the floor.

“And yet, not only do you fail to return that kindness—you try to betray them because of some alliance leader?”

“Betray them? We would never!”

Tang Ha-gyo shook his head violently.

“If this isn’t a betrayal, what would you call it? The Heavenly Demon Cult is harassing the Hahu Clan with lies, and you—the people who should be their voice—stay quiet. If that isn’t a knife in the back, I don’t know what is.”

“That was the decision of the Murim Alliance…”

“Don’t give me your pathetic excuses. My patience for your age has run out.”

Tang Ha-gyo flinched and fell silent as the pipe looked ready to swing again.

“The disaster with the Beggar Clan as well. No—that’s even worse. Ha! The greatest elder of the Beggar Clan loses his life, and everyone turns their backs on them. I am too ashamed to show my face in public!”

Tang Cheonhwa’s heavy sigh filled the sanctuary.

“It is this pathetic cowardice that has brought this danger upon us all.”

No one could find the words to argue as he pointed out how the southern regions were now in jeopardy because of the Heavenly Demon Cult’s expansion.

“Yeon took the visitors to the sanctuary. I’ll have him come find you to let you know they’ve arrived.”

Sima Geon offered his thanks to Hahu Mong outside the steward’s office.

“I appreciate it. There’s no rush—it isn’t an emergency.”

“Don’t say that. Who could be more important guests to this house than you? I’ll go inform them immediately.”

Hahu Mong was well aware of Hahu Gok’s connection to Sima Geon and the others, and the weight they carried with the Hahu Clan. He was never anything less than perfectly polite.

His hurry to depart, however, was mostly due to the silver-haired black wolf standing next to them.

Cheol Woo tried to shield the wolf from Hahu Mong’s sight, but the image was already burned into the man’s mind.

“Understood. We will settle into the guest rooms, so please send Yeon there.”

Sima Geon, noticing Hahu Mong’s discomfort with the beast, gave him a reason to leave.

“Of course—straight to the shrine.”

Hahu Mong hurried away without a second glance. Sima Geon reached down to pat the wolf’s head.

“I suppose we really do need a leash for you.”

“He’ll lose his mind. You know how much he despises them.”

Cheol Woo expressed his worry, remembering the fits the wolf threw at the mere sight of one.

“There’s no other way. We can’t let him run loose here. We won’t be staying long regardless. Ask Yeon for something appropriate later.”

“Understood.”

Hahu Mong had guided them to the same quarters where Sima Hyeon and Sima Ho had stayed previously—situated right next to Hahu Gok’s personal rooms.

Sima Geon carried the unconscious So Su-rin inside first, while the others followed behind with the gear.

“You’re staying out here.”

Noejeon let out a chuckle, rubbing the neck of the grumbling wolf as he stayed behind to keep watch.

He was in the middle of keeping the wolf from following the others inside when the creature suddenly spun around, showing its teeth with a deep, guttural growl.

“What’s the matter? Calm down.”

Noejeon tried to soothe him, but the snarling only got louder. The fur on the wolf’s back stood up, radiating a sense of lethal intent.

Noejeon’s expression turned grim.

The wolf only behaved this way when an enemy was near.

“Well now! This is certainly a fascinating discovery.”

Tang Cheonhwa stepped out from behind Hahu Gok’s quarters, watching the wolf with intense curiosity.

“Is that actually a wolf?”

“I beg your pardon? Ah, yes. It is.”

Noejeon nodded without thinking.

“It certainly doesn’t look like a common one. The size, the shade of the coat…”

As a curious Tang Ha-gyo stepped closer, the wolf snapped its jaws, revealing sharp teeth.

“Don’t get any closer, elder. It’s quite dangerous.”

Tang Cheonhwa let out a smirk at Noejeon’s caution.

“Dangerous for me? Or for the beast?”

Before Noejeon could say another word, Tang Cheonhwa reached out his hand. The wolf, which had been snarling with such ferocity, suddenly went completely still.