TDTPF~03

Chapter 3

 The Strongest in the Tang Clan

At the sudden remark, So-hwa, who had been lost in thought, lifted her head.

“No matter how much Namgung Jin begs while grabbing my pant leg to accept him as a son-in-law, So-hwa, you cannot.”

“… Why not?”

At her light question, Tang Ji-ha opened his mouth with a look on his face as if the world was collapsing.

“You, you, So-hwa, are you perhaps harboring feelings for Namgung Jin?”

“No. I’ve never even seen his face.”

“Then why do you say such things?”

“I don’t mean anything by it. I was just curious about the reason.”

Tang So-hwa focused on her father’s response, wondering if there was some conflict she wasn’t aware of.

However, Tang Ji-ha didn’t show a serious attitude. Instead, he snorted and shook his head.

“Of course, it’s impossible. How dare he covet the Tang Clan’s treasured jewel? Even if Namgung Jin were to come, it wouldn’t happen. No, even if the Crown Prince of the Imperial Palace came…”

“Ah, Father!”

So-hwa urgently stopped Tang Ji-ha from speaking.

No matter how reclusive the Tang Clan was, one never knew when words might leak out. For him to mention the Imperial family like that… It would be best to erase the idea of the Imperial family from their minds entirely to avoid any entanglements.

Tang Ji-ha cleared his throat.

“I’m just saying.”

Tang So-hwa let out a small sigh.

She knew he meant it sincerely.

Though Tang Ji-ha was known for his cold demeanor publicly, in reality, he was someone who prioritized his clan above all else. It was hard to believe, but when he was young, he was said to have had an even gentler heart than Tang Hak.

Now, he tried to be somewhat harsh on Hak, striving to train the boy, but he truly loved him.

When Hak went missing on the Yangtze River, it became a well-known story that her father couldn’t leave the river for an entire year, even boarding a ship to search for his son himself.

And it was the same with her.

When So-hwa was framed and isolated in the cold prison of the Namgung Clan, she received a birthday gift from Tang Ji-ha. It was a very dark green ceremonial robe.

Green robes. The symbol of the Tang Clan.

It was her father’s message, telling her not to forget that she was a member of the Tang Clan.

The green robe was adorned with red embroidery, a design reserved exclusively for the Clan Head. The red Xuanwu symbol—a privilege granted only to the Clan Head—served as a solemn promise that, no matter what, he would bear the responsibility.

After that day, poisonous insects from her clan’s estate appeared in her courtyard, and poisonous flowers, whose origins were unknown, bloomed in her garden.

Even though Namgung Hyun was no longer the unwanted illegitimate child of the Namgung Clan but their head, her father, unhesitatingly handed her the Tang Clan’s weapons. Telling her that if she wished, she could kill that bastard.

So-hwa raised her head with a bitter smile.

She could see the wrinkles etched around her father’s eyes.

Yes. The Tang Clan must have many enemies.

It wouldn’t be strange if they didn’t.

They were people who, after being pricked by thorns, wouldn’t hesitate to stab someone else’s heart without a second thought.

Amidst countless enemies, her father had protected their clan, and the servants had also risked their lives to stop threats.

So even if the Tang Clan had made enemies, the reason was irrelevant.

If someone were to point a blade at them, they simply had to ensure that the other party would not even dare to draw the sword.

Tang Ji-ha seemed to read something from his daughter’s expression, furrowing his brow deeply as he asked.

“…Could it be that, at last year’s meeting of the Alliance of the Five Noble Clans, you were also keeping an eye on Namgung Jin? No, that can’t be right?”

Tang So-hwa concealed her thoughts with an innocent smile.

“No. I didn’t even attend the banquet.”

“Even though Ye-hwa didn’t come, don’t you know his face? You might have stolen a glance over the wall.”

“Ah, well, that’s because Ye-hwa went to the streets of Sichuan…”

So-hwa, distracted by her thoughts, inadvertently tattled on her younger sister’s misdeed. She quickly closed her mouth, but by then, Tang Ji-ha’s face was already contorted like a demon’s.

“… Ye-hwa went to the streets of Sichuan?”

“Ye-hwa would never go without Father’s permission. I was just saying that she went to the streets and happened to hear gossip about Namgung Jin.”

On the day of the festival, the twin sisters, Yu-hwa and Ye-hwa, snuck out, and it was a secret known only to her and the three troublemakers that they met Namgung Jin.

Unable to refuse her twin sister’s insistence, Tang Hak, who had gone as a guard, ended up getting into an argument with a foreign martial artist. When the conflict happened, it was Namgung Jin who came to their aid.

This was a story only Tang Hak, So-hwa, and the twins knew — that Namgung Jin secretly treated Tang Hak in her quarters.

Despite her brother being injured, the twins couldn’t stop talking incessantly about Namgung Jin.

Though Namgung Jin was still in his early years, he held the grand title of Heavenly Bow Sword. It was said that his sword’s aura curved the sunlight and produced seven colors, but So-hwa didn’t know, as she had never seen it. She had never even seen his face.

Elegant and graceful.

She had heard the rumors about him countless times, but there was no way to know for sure. Namgung Hyun was a beauty, and so was the Clan Head of the Namgung Clan, Namgung An, so it was easy to believe that Namgung Jin, who shared their blood, would be handsome as well.

So-hwa avoided Tang Ji-ha’s gaze and absentmindedly sipped her tea. The sweet floral scent spread through her mouth, soothing her body and mind.

Namgung Jin, three years later, would be killed by a strange man while on a mission for the Murim Alliance. Such an accomplished martial artist being ambushed was rare, and people murmured that it was likely the work of someone who knew him, but no clear suspect emerged.

It was a world-shaking incident, but So-hwa didn’t pay much attention. That’s all she knew.

Namgung Jin, the Young Lord of the Namgung Clan and a genius martial artist, tragically died young. That was about it.

So-hwa set down her cup with a strange smile.

‘Namgung Jin. This life, fortune smiled upon you.’

In this life, Namgung Jin would survive. He would become the Clan Head, blocking Namgung Hyun from spreading his wings, and he would cover the sky.

I will make that happen.

So-hwa then opened her mouth to speak about the greatest weapon she knew of in Namgung Hyun’s possession—his sword, one of the Heavenly Ten Swords.

“Father, have you ever heard of the Yeonju Group?”

***

“Sister, sister, where are you?”

Tang Hak, who had quietly whispered while peeking his head in through the window frame, flinched. A thin thread had caught his eye. He cautiously pulled his head back and moved away.

… A trap mechanism?

No, why would she set up a trap in her own room?

Is it a remnant of violence?

Having been bullied so much, Tang Hak found it hard to take So-hwa’s actions positively. Narrowing his eyes, he scanned the room and then pulled a small dart from his sleeve, tossing it to sever the thread.

Plick.

But instead of any trap triggering, only a slip of paper fell from the ceiling.

Tang Hak reached out and picked it up.

Anyone could see it was a note his sister had left for him.

After all, no one else would come visit Tang So-hwa’s residence at this hour of the night, except for her crazy (?) brother.

Their father had recognized Mae-hwa as a spirit creature and declared he would take it, prompting Tang Hak to come rushing to his sister for help. Their father was strangely weak to her, after all.

Unfolding the paper, Tang Hak furrowed his brows. Sure enough, it was a message from his sister.

『I’m going to visit Grand Elder Tang Min. If you have something to say, come there.』

Tang Hak quickly folded the note.

“Heh heh, Grand Elder Tang Min, huh.”

Grand Elder Tang Min — a formidable master with the weighty title “Black Sky Demon,” but in the Murim, people knew him better by a more familiar nickname:

The Mad Green Hound.

Earning the nickname “mad hound” in a world already filled with lunatics was no small feat. It meant he wasn’t just any madman.

In Tang Hak’s memory, Tang Min once plucked out the former Clan Head’s beard just because he talked back to him, then used throwing knives to stitch the man’s clothes to the wall, one pin at a time, so he couldn’t escape.

And even though he was just a clan elder, he came away unscathed after doing that to the Clan Head…

The reason was simple. There wasn’t a single person in the clan who could restrain Tang Min.

Since that day, the only real change was that their grandfather looked a bit younger with his beard gone.

For whatever reason, lunatics seemed to understand each other, and Tang So-hwa, who had casually consumed poison like snacks since childhood, got along quite well with Tang Min. Outwardly, they now looked similar in age, and at a glance, they could’ve passed for a pair of close siblings.

Tang Hak recalled a conversation they had about four years ago.

– The mixture isn’t that hard. With the ingredients you brought, I think I could make something even more lethal than what you asked.

– Ha! That’s So-hwa for you. Alright, get to it then.

Just as Tang Min clasped his hands behind his back and turned to leave her room, So-hwa spoke up quietly.

– But there’s a problem.

– Huh? What problem?

Startled, Tang Min scowled and asked. The answer he got was something else entirely.

– It’s annoying.

– Huh?

– I’m not the Grand Elder’s personal maid, and I’m not a toddler who just learned to walk either.

His thirteen-year-old sister had put her little fists on her hips and voiced her complaint loud and clear.

– Kneading dough for three days straight is a waste of my time.

The rebellious defiance of a thirteen-year-old was clear in her words.

Without a doubt, the only person in the Tang Clan who had the guts to look at Tang Min with such an arrogant expression was Tang So-hwa, and that could be confidently said.

At that time, Tang So-hwa had been in a phase where she was full of confidence, thinking that her understanding of poisons made her someone special.

Even the Elders, or the Clan Head who resides in the scenic Nine Village Valley, would straighten their aching backs and work without complaint at Tang Min’s word – such was the
Tang Clan’s culture (?). Yet here was a thirteen-year-old Tang So-hwa protesting. To the greatest martial artist of the Tang Clan.

It was extremely disrespectful, but perhaps because he had lived such a life, Tang Min understood her attitude. He even liked it. The precious materials he had obtained back then, which were meant for use, were still stored in his secret vault, unused.

“Haha.”

Tang Hak raised his tear-filled eyes to gaze at the bright full moon.

Sorry, Mei-hwa. This older brother couldn’t protect you.

The noble spirit creature, Mei-hwa would now undergo messenger training among the small messenger birds.

No matter how gentle Tang Hak’s heart was, Tang Min was a frightening figure.

Tang Hak quickly left So-hwa’s residence.

***

The faint scent of incense spread across the pavilion, where the lanterns were brightly lit. So-hwa took a sip of the tea beside her, instead of the wine.

“Tsk. You don’t even know how precious what’s in front of you is.”

Tang Min clicked his tongue as he took a sip of the peach-scented wine.

“Ah.”

Watching the drinker take small sips made it seem like an incredibly rare and valuable wine.

Normally, one might be moved by the fact that precious wine was offered to a guest, but So-hwa realized with a touch of regret that there was rarely anyone who came to visit Tang Min.

The Tang Clan had countless main family members and branch family members living together, yet he remained lonely.

When she was younger, So-hwa thought that Tang Min enjoyed the wall people built around him. But as she grew older, she realized that was only partially true.

Even those who enjoyed loneliness didn’t necessarily hate being sought out.

Eventually, if they disappeared, one would feel disappointed, and even if they didn’t ask, their body would move instinctively to help when the person was in trouble.

Tang Min was probably the same.

The only person who freely visited Tang Min in the Tang Clan was So-hwa.

She remembered that Tang Min had always cherished her. Perhaps it was because of this attitude that he allowed her to stay close.

Just as she cherished Tang Hak.

So-hwa absentmindedly reached for the wine cup as memories surfaced. She frowned at the strong scent of the liquor that wafted into her nostrils, causing Tang Min to burst into laughter.

“Haha, what do you think? Doesn’t it smell different from the rest?”

“Yes. The aroma is lovely.”

It was lovely indeed.

It must be a very expensive wine.

The sweet peach fragrance and the clear scent of distilled liquor penetrated her senses, leaving warmth in its wake. A soft smile formed on her lips as her loosely drawn mouth curved upward.

As she gazed at the smiling Tang Min, her heart, which had been ragged and torn like rags, was filled with a clean, peaceful calm. With the cool night air filling her lungs, So-hwa spoke up.

“Grand Elder.”

Looking at Tang Min across from her, she opened her mouth again.

“Have you heard of the Yeonju Group?”

At those words, Tang Min’s eyes quickly darted as if searching his memory. The black pupils, moving like stars in the night sky, suddenly locked onto So-hwa.

“Are you talking about the Divine Physician Yeonju who vanished fifty years ago?”

The Yeonju Group was a group of physicians raised and trained by Yeonju, who was known as the Divine Physician.

Yeonju Group was not only capable of curing any illness, but it was also famous for its alchemical technique that created spiritual medicines. Many martial artists, who ate the pills made by Yeonju Group, earned fame among both commoners and officials.

Could it be the same Divine Physician that she was referring to?

As suspicion and curiosity filled Tang Min’s eyes, So-hwa calmly nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”