Chapter 54
Chapter 54: Third-rate Martial Family Becomes the Best Under Heaven
“Little Brother Hwi, give us some room.”
The members of the Tang Clan were far from foolish. The moment they caught the expression shifting across the Sex-Crazed Fox’s face, they suspected a hidden hand was orchestrating events from behind the curtain, and their interrogation commenced without delay.
Before long, the Sex-Crazed Fox met a gruesome end.
He had been reduced to an absolute wreck, looking no better than a battered rag—and one thoroughly saturated with venomous toxins.
“To think an accomplice was orchestrating his escape.”
“No wonder his flight seemed so unnatural. Regardless of how close he stood to reaching the apex realm, slipping past our tight cordons should never have been that effortless.”
“Young Lord, we must look into this with far greater scrutiny.”
Tang Gun ground his molars together before giving an emphatic nod.
“Indeed. We shall unmask the culprit and strike them down, whatever it takes. Yet the most vexing part is that even this wretched fiend possessed no knowledge of who was aiding him.”
The interrogation techniques of the Tang Clan were unmatched throughout Jianghu. Specializing in deadly venoms and covert projectiles, their reputation could hardly be otherwise. Yet even so, the Sex-Crazed Fox drew his final breath without ever revealing the identity of his benefactor.
This made one thing abundantly clear: assistance had been rendered without the recipient ever realizing who held the strings.
‘It has to be the Namgung noble house. No other force possesses the finesse to guide a fugitive’s flight without him ever catching on.’
Still, blurt out the name of the Namgung noble house right now would be unwise.
He needed the Tang Clan to reach that precise deduction through their own logic.
“Brother Tang.”
“What is on your mind, Little Brother Hwi?”
“We may not possess the culprit’s name, but piecing together their identity should not prove insurmountable. It would only be natural to suspect whoever stands to gain from thwarting the Tang Clan’s objectives.”
“Hmm. A sensible thought.”
Tang Gun’s features set into a tighter scowl.
He was almost certainly directing his suspicions toward Emei and Qingcheng, their fellow neighbors within Sichuan.
Yanghwi tossed out another subtle clue to nudge his thoughts in the proper direction.
“Still, determining the truth remains complicated. He confessed that this unseen support persisted even after he crossed beyond Sichuan’s borders. That implies virtually any prominent power across the realm could be responsible, does it not?”
Keeping a sharp eye on how Tang Gun and his retainers reacted, Yanghwi pressed further.
“Yet when one considers the matter, exceptionally few organizations possess the vast influence required to coordinate such a flight. Furthermore, given that the Sex-Crazed Fox directed his path straight toward this province…”
He purposefully trailed off, leaving the implication dangling in the air.
Fortunately, the disciples of the Tang Clan assembled the pieces without needing him to spell out the final conclusion.
Tang Gun and the Chief of the First Poison huddled close, whispering in hushed tones.
‘A private discussion, is it? They must be recalling the visit from the Namgung noble house.’
Yanghwi fought to keep his expression neutral to prevent a triumphant smirk from breaking through.
With this single maneuver, he had managed to strike down two targets with one stone.
From this point on, the Tang Clan would distance themselves from the Namgung noble house and reject any overtures of assistance.
Moreover, they would feel an urgent imperative to establish dependable ties outside Sichuan.
This would provide a prime foundation for binding the Tang Clan to his own family as staunch allies.
Baek Muryang arranged an extravagant banquet within the estate grounds to honor the guests of the Tang Clan.
‘If Uncle Zhuge were to witness this, he would undoubtedly feel slighted.’
The lavish spread laid before them was far grander than the modest meal once offered during the visit of the Zhuge father and daughter. Yet such an outcome was unavoidable, given how drastically the clan’s financial fortunes had surged since those earlier days.
Riding high on spirits and fine liquor, a flushed Tang Gun declared loudly:
“I express my deepest thanks to Lord Baek! Never in all my days did I foresee receiving such magnificent hospitality after journeying beyond Sichuan!”
“Haha, what would ever give you such an impression?”
“Surely Lord Baek has caught wind… of the whispers that surround our lineage.”
Tang Gun answered as a faint shadow crossed his countenance, yet Baek Muryang merely brushed the remark aside with absolute ease.
“They say where there is smoke, there is fire, but it is equally true that three rumors can conjure a tiger out of nothing. Pay such chatter no mind, Young Lord.”
Baek Muryang was never someone to judge a person’s worth by idle gossip.
Such tolerance was woven into his nature, and a lifetime of harsh experience had only hammered the principle deeper into his character.
After all, his lofty moniker, Peerless in Chivalry, was initially coined as a biting mockery, ridiculing a man who championed justice despite possessing mediocre martial prowess.
Furthermore, there was his own lineage to consider.
“I am unsure whether the Young Lord knows this, but in generations past, our family was revered as the Baek noble house. As our prestige crumbled away, we were forced to stomach every variety of scornful taunt.”
“Is that the truth?”
“If someone in my position were to waste his breath fretting over common rumors, what worth would I possess?”
Observing Baek Muryang speak with such unbothered warmth, Tang Gun regarded him with genuine respect.
Though the man presided over a minor clan, in the eyes of Tang Gun—a young lord poised to inherit immense authority—Baek Muryang stood as a true paragon with wisdom worth absorbing.
“Lord of the House.”
Tang Gun pushed back his chair, standing upright to deliver a formal cupped-fist salute.
“You not only apprehended a fugitive wanted by our family, but you have also treated our party with unmatched honor. Every son of the Tang Clan has it carved deep into his marrow that any favor received must be repaid tenfold. Having partaken of your generous grace, please grant us a chance to return the debt.”
With an appreciative smile, Baek Muryang let his gaze wander across the seated Tang Clan members.
Here were martial artists who knew how to uphold flawless etiquette and poise even amidst the revelry of a festive drinking hall.
‘The Tang Clan. A family whose temperament aligns so harmoniously with our own traditions.’
Bringing to mind the advice of Yanghwi, who had progressively stepped into the position of the Baek Estate’s chief strategist, Baek Muryang spoke up.
“To tell the truth, Young Lord, there is a certain request I would make of you.”
“Name it, please.”
“I have been informed that a physician of exceptional talent travels among your entourage. Is that accurate?”
“Indeed it is. The healing arts mastered by the Vice Chief of the Poison and Medicine Hall are magnificent enough that they truly deserve to be called peerless.”
“To speak candidly, my wife suffers from failing health. Might it be possible for him to inspect her condition?”
“Heavens. It would be our privilege.”
Only then did it register to Tang Gun that he had caught no glimpse of the lady of the Baek Estate.
Her health had taken a sharp turn for the worse of late, keeping Jeong Inhwa confined to her chamber and barely able to rise.
“Vice Chief.”
At Tang Gun’s prompt, the Vice Chief got to his feet without hesitation.
“An affliction demands immediate attention. If our hosts will overlook the rudeness of us stepping away from the hall, I shall conduct an examination right this moment.”
“Haha. Proper etiquette would urge me to demur, but I shall happily breach propriety for this occasion. Let us proceed together.”
The merriment in the banquet hall was briefly paused. Leading his younger brother and sister, Yanghwi fell into step behind Baek Muryang and the physician.
“My love. We are stepping inside for a short while.”
Resting amidst the bedding, Jeong Inhwa pushed her covers aside and began to sit upright.
“Please remain lying down. You must not strain yourself to rise.”
“Even so, an esteemed guest has arrived, and courtesy requires…”
“Before I am an honored guest, I am a healer, so please pay no heed to formalities.”
Jeong Inhwa’s face looked pale and exhausted. Yanghwi gently consoled his younger siblings, whose eyes were wide with distress.
‘In my previous life… we were never able to uncover the true nature of her sickness.’
Because her illness originated from an inherently frail physical constitution, ordinary doctors could not fathom how to concoct a functioning remedy.
Yet this time, the outcome would surely diverge.
The pinnacle of poison arts walked hand in hand with the pinnacle of medicine. The curative knowledge preserved within the Tang Clan was second to none throughout the realm.
“Given the profound faintness of your pulse, the primary disturbance appears centered around the heart. Madam, pray pardon my touch for an instant.”
Releasing her wrist, the Vice Chief gently pressed his fingertips beneath the curve of her jaw to monitor the flow once more.
“Observing how significantly the pulse fluctuates across different meridians, an immense accumulation of turbid qi has settled along the vessels of your blood. It appears you carry an innate constitution uniquely prone to drawing in turbid qi.”
Baek Muryang’s eyes flared with shock. Though he had summoned innumerable healers to examine Jeong Inhwa through the seasons, never before had anyone delivered such a precise assessment.
“Madam was not simply born with a weak frame. A congenital trait that incessantly draws in turbid qi is the true root of the ailment, which merely presented the external appearance of ordinary frailty.”
Hearing the physician’s words, Yanghwi finally understood the tragedy of his mother’s premature passing in his prior existence.
‘The fatal flaw was that Mother sought treatment solely from practitioners who treat commoners rather than martial masters. That was why they remained blind to her true ailment.’
Her affliction was fundamentally rooted in qi rather than an ordinary bodily sickness.
Her innate constitution drew in turbid qi—corrupt, destructive energies—which continuously wore down her physical vitality.
“Vice Chief. How then might we cure her?”
“The theory behind the cure is straightforward, yet… administering it is an arduous undertaking.”
“What manner of method must be employed?”
“She must ingest restorative elixirs to shield her body against the corruption while routinely undergoing acupoint circulation (推宮過穴) to purge the gathered turbid qi. Once a sufficient quantity of the poison has been expelled, marrow cleansing (伐毛洗髓) must be enacted to fundamentally reconstruct her constitution.”
“…”
Baek Muryang’s lips drew into a tight, strained line.
Acupoint circulation (推宮過穴) and marrow cleansing (伐毛洗髓).
Both procedures demanded the involvement of an expert who had stepped into the apex realm or beyond to yield any meaningful success.
Marrow cleansing in particular necessitated the synchronized power of multiple apex realm grandmasters performing an esoteric discipline alongside extremely precious medicinal treasures.
Neither requirement was within reach of the Baek Estate as it stood today.
“Husband. I am alright. You must not torment yourself.”
“…Young Lord. I have an audacious plea to make. It seems the Chief of the Medicine and Poison unit has attained the apex realm. I beseech his assistance in conducting acupoint circulation.”
Before Tang Gun had the chance to voice his consent, Jeong Inhwa spoke out in firm opposition.
“Husband. To endure a treatment that necessitates the direct touch of an unfamiliar man… I cannot submit to such an act.”
“My love. I cannot stand by and watch you waste away any longer.”
“Husband. Even if that is true, what is improper remains improper.”
Jeong Inhwa was the daughter of the most renowned scholar of the province, reared under the strictest standards of propriety. To her mind, bearing the torment of sickness was vastly preferable to permitting acupoint circulation from any man other than her spouse.
“…Hah. We will set this aside for the moment.”
Baek Muryang cast his gaze toward Yanghwi.
“Hwi. Will you look after the banquet in your father’s stead? It seems I must remain here to converse with your mother a little longer.”
He then addressed Tang Gun with an apologetic bow.
“Young Lord, Hwi is astute and dependable, fully equipped to act in my place. Please forgive my impoliteness for abandoning our company so early.”
“Think nothing of it. I comprehend your circumstances entirely and harbor not the slightest offense.”
Leaving Baek Muryang behind to gently persuade Jeong Inhwa, the remaining group was led back to the banquet hall under Yanghwi’s direction.
‘Father… will almost certainly fail to sway her.’
That narrowed their paths down to two options.
Either his father had to break through into the apex realm to administer the acupoint circulation personally,
or they would have to hire an apex-level female expert to undertake the process.
‘Wait, there is a third path. The Sound Empress… I could turn to my Honored Teacher.’
A realization struck Yanghwi like a bolt of light.
If she consented to lend her aid, this hurdle would be swept away effortlessly.
Nevertheless, he was reluctant to solicit the Sound Empress right away.
‘We should attempt to resolve this through our family’s own capability first. Should our efforts fall short, seeking her aid later will not be too late.’
Viewing things through that lens, their clan needed to build its martial and political foundation at an even faster pace.
And one avenue toward that goal sat directly in front of him.
“Brother Tang.”
“Speak, Little Brother Hwi.”
“Originally, my father wished to confer with you regarding a certain matter. Would you be willing to listen to me instead?”
“Certainly, go ahead.”
“Pardon my conduct, but I will speak through qi transmission.”
— From what reached our ears via the Namgung noble house, it seemed your clan intends to establish an external branch. Is that accurate?
Tang Gun’s face instantly shifted into an expression of sheer astonishment and disbelief.
“How in the world? At your tender age, how can you already wield qi transmission?”
‘Ah. Now that I think about it, the Tang Gun of this era has yet to unlock qi transmission.’
Under ordinary circumstances, one required the refined qi sensitivity and internal control typical of the first-rate realm before they could project their voice secretly.
“I just happen to be somewhat gifted, haha.”
“I hardly think mere gift accounts for such a feat. But to answer your question, yes, that is accurate.”
— Would it be agreeable if our family assisted you in founding this new branch?
“What sort of assistance do you mean to offer?”
Yanghwi revealed the proposal he had meticulously refined and reviewed alongside Baek Muryang.
— Please designate our family as the Tang Clan’s external branch, Brother Tang. I am suggesting a partnership tantamount to a blood alliance.
“What?!”
Tang Gun’s eyes flew wide open.
A tumultuous storm of emotions passed through his expression.
Yanghwi quietly observed Tang Gun, waiting for his response.
‘He will undoubtedly inquire about our rationale and the underlying factors.’
Every argument necessary to convince Tang Gun was already sharpened and waiting.
Yanghwi was entirely confident in his ability to address any inquiry they could throw at him.
And yet…
“I regret to say that will prove impossible.”
‘What?’ That was completely contrary to what he had anticipated.
‘What detail did I overlook?’
“May I inquire as to the reason?”
Wearing an intensely solemn expression, Tang Gun answered.
“…The reason is quite simple.”
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