The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family

Part 1

Chapter 17. Opportunity

So-hwa rose from her seat. Then she walked toward the deputy leader and Tang Hak.

Giving up on descending the mountain and deciding to wait for Tang Min was not purely a choice made for the household.

Stopping in front of the deputy leader, Tang Hak, and the still-unharmed members of the Black Tiger Unit, So-hwa spoke in a low voice.

"It's a poison that causes necrosis of the internal organs after paralysis. They call it Blazing Herb Poison because it dries up your insides like you've swallowed a ball of fire and brings burning pain."

Though the topic was serious, her voice was light.

"How do you think I knew about that poison?"

So-hwa asked the silent ones.

"Blazing Herb Poison is a poison of the Tang Clan kept in the Poison Pavilion. It means someone has leaked the Tang Clan's secret technique."

Danjangcho and Gyeonhyeol Bonghu were plants and trees infamous for their poison. They were common ingredients in assassinations. However, they were never mixed. This was because combining different types of poison to act simultaneously was an extremely difficult technique.

Blazing Herb Poison first activates the poison of Gyeonhyeol Bonghu, causing paralysis in the limbs. Then the poison of Danjangcho invades the bloodstream, destroying internal organs. So if mistaken for a paralysis poison and treated as such, one would miss the internal bleeding.

On the surface, it appears to be symptoms caused by Gyeonhyeol Bonghu, but it cannot be cured with its antidote.

Even someone well-versed in poison would only realize the combination after performing an autopsy.

A grotesquely constricted heart.

Charred, necrotic internal organs soaked in blood.

Because it's a technique that achieved the impossible coexistence of poisons, once an autopsy is done, suspicion naturally falls on the person who made it.

They may have listed several suspects, but it's obvious that the Sichuan Poison Sect would be among them.

That is, if Namgung performed an autopsy on the corpses.

Tang So-hwa's eyebrow lifted.

She turned her gaze toward the Black Tiger Unit and spoke again.

"Right now, on Emei Mountain, the Murim Alliance's Anhui branch's martial force is present."

Though the deputy leader and Tang Hak were already aware, the other members didn't know yet.

"I don't know why the Anhui branch came all the way here without requesting help from the Sichuan Branch. I can only guess. Maybe they thought we would interfere with their work."

Sharing the information, So-hwa let out a sigh. It was a somewhat exaggerated action.

"But seeing how things are unfolding, I understand why the Anhui branch couldn't trust us. It seems someone led them to suspect the Tang Clan."

Tang So-hwa continued speaking, taking in the faces of the Black Tiger Unit one by one.

"So we should meet them and speak directly."

She stepped one foot closer and spoke.

"To ask what misunderstanding the Anhui branch had, and whether they still plan to hold onto that misunderstanding even after seeing us dying before their eyes."

Despite the frightening words, Tang So-hwa's expression softened. Her gaze, which had been fixed especially on Yun-jin, now flowed toward the deputy leader.

"Let's wait for the Anhui branch here. We need to hear directly from them who will take responsibility and how they will take responsibility for suspecting the Tang Clan."

"You mustn't, Young Lady. We've been ordered by the Clan Head to prioritize the survival of the direct descendants. You must descend immediately."

The deputy leader rejected her suggestion without even a moment's hesitation.

"There's no helping it, is there? Even if we survive today, something like this will happen again."

Tang So-hwa spoke in a bitter voice, the corners of her eyes drooping.

"It's already happening. If the Anhui branch had shared the truth with us in advance, this wouldn't have happened. But because of them, we ended up in danger. Even the Young Lord of the Tang Clan was at risk of death."

Her gaze shifted to Tang Hak. But her younger brother didn't appear frightened—instead, his brow merely twitched. Perhaps because he was still a Tang by blood, it was anger, not fear, that showed in response to the betrayal.

So-hwa steadied her wavering resolve, having momentarily considered sending a messenger bird.

Today, they would not die.

Probably.

Tang So-hwa took a deep breath as she caught the scent of pine resin riding the night breeze.

"Well now, I wonder how the Anhui branch plans to take responsibility for this."

Unable to tell what she was thinking, the deputy leader couldn't answer readily.

It was because Tang So-hwa had been deliberately exaggerating her actions and tone since earlier, as if performing for someone.

"If the headquarters of the Murim Alliance approved this nonsense after hearing Anhui's report, then this isn't something we can just let go."

Despite the bitterness in her voice, Tang So-hwa wore a faint smile. Stroking her chin with her fingers, she muttered as if to herself,

"But if this was something Anhui branch did on their own, then it's a different story."

As if contemplating, Tang So-hwa slowly paced back and forth in front of the Black Tiger unit, then suddenly stopped. Coincidentally, it was in front of Yun-jin.

"Instead of protesting to the headquarters, we should hold the Anhui branch accountable."

Tang So-hwa narrowed her eyes at Yun-jin. The gaze that emerged between her gentle curves was chilling. It was a calm stare, completely devoid of emotion.

"First, let's wait for them. I need to see with my own eyes whether the one who made this decision is a victim or a perpetrator before I can report properly to the Clan Head what really happened."

"But..."

Still keeping her gaze on Yun-jin, So-hwa responded coldly to the deputy leader.

"Don't worry. If we die here, the one in the biggest trouble will be Namgung."

For the first time, Tang So-hwa mentioned Namgung instead of the Anhui branch.

Yun-jin's expression still didn't change. And that made it all the more unnatural. Even when met with a blatant stare, he didn't avoid it. His eyes showed neither injustice nor anxiety. Tang So-hwa studied Yun-jin for a moment before slowly turning her head away, as if letting him go.

Her gaze turned to a tree that soared toward the night sky.

'I'm curious about your choice.'

Only after seeing that will I be able to make my own judgment.

Whether you're someone worth saving, or no different from Namgung Hyun.

Passing by Yun-jin, So-hwa spoke to the deputy leader.

"If I fail to properly report the situation to the Clan Head, wouldn't that make me no different from a spy? Instead of providing useful information, I might end up turning the Tang Clan into enemies of the Murim Alliance—and putting us all in danger. Don't you agree?"

As if answering her question, a fierce wind blew through.

Like a midsummer shower, the leaves rustled noisily. The breeze carried a clear fragrance. A fresh scent like pine and a crispness like autumn air. It was the scent of the familiar internal energy she'd grown sick of smelling over the past five years.

The familiar revulsion welled up in her throat, but So-hwa did her best to keep a smile on her face.

Namgung's distinct internal energy was spread all around. Yet, even after hearing her words, they held their breath.

It was still unclear whether it was Namgung Hyun or Namgung Jin leading that group. Of course, it could be the two of them together, or it could be someone else entirely in their place.

Only one thing was certain.

Namgung was silently watching the Tang Clan.

Even though they had rescued the Yeonju Group's physician and the injured martial artists, and had witnessed the battle against the attacking enemy, they still—

They might have realized their mistake and were staying silent to flee quietly, or they might be waiting for a more decisive moment to reveal themselves.

Either way, Namgung would have to make a choice soon.

So-hwa looked toward the end of the path they had come from.

A searing heat was rushing in, like the flames of a fire demon bearing down on them.

It wasn't Tang Min.

Nine flames were rapidly approaching, stabbing at her skin.

'...Grand Elder.'

So-hwa clenched the hidden flying dagger inside her sleeve.

She knew it was presumptuous to worry about him, but now that things had come to this, she couldn't deny her fear.

Even so, she couldn't retreat now.

This was both a crisis and an opportunity.

The first chance to change her life once more.

Even if she were to die here, it wouldn't be a meaningless death.

If her father scoured Emei Mountain to uncover the truth of what happened, and if he discovered what had taken place here, he would at least be able to sense the danger looming over the Tang Clan.

Moreover, if the direct descendants of the Tang Clan were to die, the Murim Alliance wouldn't be able to brush this aside so easily.

The Clan Head was a wise man—he would never let this matter slide and would protect the Tang Clan with unyielding strength.

Yet despite her resolve, her young body trembled in fine shivers.

"Step back."

So-hwa raised her gaze at the low voice.

A martial artist from the Yeonju Group stepped in front of her.

"This is not someone you all can handle."

The middle-aged man said curtly, then positioned himself at the front, forming a defensive formation. The other martial artists quickly organized themselves and set up their guard. The burning heat that had been surging in was blocked by a thick wave of cold.

But So-hwa couldn't set aside her anxiety.

The closer it came, the clearer it became.

The cold released by the martial artists was too feeble to endure the approaching flames, like thin ice melting the instant it touches fire.

Crash!

Without so much as a scream, one of the martial artists at the front was struck down. In that instant, brilliant flashes of light erupted from all directions—blades and bodies moving too fast to see. The formation shattered, and the martial artists were overwhelmed before they could react.

"Sister!"

With Tang Hak's shout, a great gust of wind blew beside her. Before she could even react, a swordsman who had suddenly lunged at So-hwa's right flank retreated just as quickly.

Claaang! Clang! Clang!

As if intending to turn the enemy into a beehive, the deputy leader unleashed dozens of hidden weapons in an instant.

The one who deflected all the hidden weapons leapt onto a tree trunk.

Clinging sideways to the tree like a spider, the figure crouched low.

It didn't seem human. It looked more like a beast—or a giant insect.

The surrounding heat grew ever more intense. Somehow, these figures radiated heat endlessly, like molten lava.

Their numbers were only a third of those that had attacked earlier, yet the tide of battle had completely reversed.

The fragile balance they had barely maintained collapsed all at once.

So-hwa suddenly felt a searing sensation at the nape of her neck.

It was like a flaming arrow flying at her from behind. The heat closed in before she even had time to register it.