The road to the Tang Clan was now more comfortable than any path we had traveled so far.
Perhaps it was due to its well-maintained condition, as it connected a village to a town.
Thanks to that, even the usually tense escorts seemed to loosen up a bit.
Or maybe it was just because we were traveling with the famous Namgung Clan.
Whatever the case, the bottom line was that there were no significant issues on the way to the Tang Clan.
“So, you know, sister, when I first ate yakgwa, I was holding onto a potato, but that potato looked incredibly unappetizing.”
“Yeah.”
“The yakgwa was so delicious… I feel bad for the potato, but honestly, yakgwa wins in taste.”
“Yeah.”
“Why is a potato even a potato…?”
“Yeah… Huh?”
Except for those two.
What was it with that crazy Namgung Bi-ah constantly coming our way?
Every time I laid eyes on her, my head started to throb.
‘Why in the world does she keep coming over?’
Here was this impressive blue carriage ready for her, and yet she insists on walking along with us.
And as if that wasn’t enough, whenever Namgung Bi-ah appeared, Wi Seol-ah stuck to her like glue, chirping away… despite my telling her not to.
‘I really need to reprimand her properly…’
It was weird that Namgung Cheonjun, the other Namgung lunatic, seemed indifferent to everything happening around him.
Given how he had acted earlier, I expected him to follow closely, but there he was, quietly sitting in the carriage.
“So he’s okay with this situation?”
Understanding the mindset of these crazies was a mystery.
Time had passed since we set out, and the sun was beginning to set.
I could understand Namgung Bi-ah; after all, she was a martial artist. But Wi Seol-ah, despite walking quite a bit, continued to chatter away with her non-stop.
I guess she’s been built differently since birth…?
“…But honestly, eating all that and not being tired seems strange.”
Wi Seol-ah certainly ate a lot, but surely walking a bit would just burn off whatever she had consumed.
She truly had a sort of blessed body.
Meanwhile, I was eating less than Wi Seol-ah, but this stupid hip of mine was already showing signs of fat.
Life is so unfair…
After looking up at the sky for a while, someone in the crowd suddenly shouted:
“I can see the Tang Clan’s flag!”
True to his words, in the distance, I could spot the green flag with the word ‘Tang’ written on it.
Their numbers seemed a little less than our mixed crew of Gu Clan and Namgung Clan.
Rushing to straighten my clothing as I noticed the flag made me think—Sigh, did my hair get messed up when I dozed off?
This is what made meetings with noble clans such a nuisance…
At least I didn’t need to act overly cordial with the Namgung Clan since Namgung Cheonjun and Namgung Bi-ah had already caused enough chaos—thank goodness for that.
The carriage slowed down, and I got ready to step out.
Once I exited, I saw Namgung Cheonjun already exchanging pleasantries with the Tang members.
“It’s been a while, Cheonjun!”
“I hope you’re doing well, Brother Tang?”
“Anything bothering you these days? You look unwell.”
“It’s probably the long journey.”
“I see, considering you came from far away. I honestly didn’t expect you to come here as well.”
“My sister promised to be here, and I was too anxious to let her come alone.”
“Oh, Lady Bi-ah. Hmm, I get it, I always feel this way, but you Namgung siblings really do seem to have a great bond. Meanwhile, our Soyeol seems to be getting fiercer by the day.”
After sharing a laugh with the person Namgung Cheonjun was conversing with, he turned to me.
“Oh! Young Master Gu! Come over here!”
When did we become so friendly for him to call me that with such a cheerful expression?
I felt a bit nauseated at the facade he was putting up, having already seen his true self.
As I approached, I could clearly see the face of the man who had been chatting with Namgung Cheonjun.
He looked to be in his thirties and had a rather naive appearance, which was surprising given he was from the Tang bloodline.
He was the Young Lord of the Tang Clan, Tang Jooyeok.
I wasn’t sure of his current title, but in my past life, he was called the Poison Lord after the Demonic Cult appeared.
Tang Jooyeok observed me and slowly approached to greet me.
“So you are the Young Master from the Gu Clan. I heard that someone from the Gu Clan would be visiting our clan. Thank you for coming all the way here. I am Tang Jooyeok.”
Even though he was older than me, he showed respect, providing a glimpse into his character.
I returned the courtesy.
“I am Gu’s—”
I was about to introduce myself but suddenly remembered that I told the Namgung folks I was Gu Jeolyub.
Why on earth did I do that?
This Gu Jeolyub kid has never been any useful, and I’ve never liked him since our first meeting.
“I’m here on behalf of the Lord of the Gu Clan. He sends his apologies for not being able to attend the event.”
I threw out a clumsy excuse.
Fortunately, Tang Jooyeok didn’t seem to care much and maintained a warm smile.
“It’s understandable; Lord Gu must be very busy. This is merely a small festival for the Tang Clan, so we appreciate your presence.”
Just when the superficial greetings were about to wrap up, Namgung Bi-ah joined us.
She slightly bowed her head to Tang Jooyeok and greeted him.
“It’s been a while, Bi-ah.”
“Hello.”
“Bi-ah, you’re getting more beautiful by the day. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Thank you…”
“Oh right, our Soyeol has been causing you trouble, hasn’t she? I apologize; she hasn’t matured enough yet to not drag you into her mess.”
“It’s alright… It was a promise.”
“Thank you for your understanding. Soyeol seems to have been waiting quite a while. You should all head out before it gets too late; we will escort you.”
Finally… I would be entering the Tang Clan of Sichuan after a long, tough journey.
It would have been much nicer if it weren’t for Namgung Bi-ah sticking closely to me, and the relentless death stare from that Namgung son…
Ah… I just want some dumplings.
This journey was undoubtedly exhausting.
The Tang Clan of Sichuan.
A prestigious clan that has rooted itself in the Sichuan region for centuries, renowned for its expertise in poison and blacksmithing.
In sharpness, there’s the Namgung Clan.
In audacity, the Peng Clan.
In delicacy, the Moyong Clan.
Compared to the aforementioned three, the Tang Clan might seem a step behind, but they had a couple of things that separated them from the rest.
One of those was the Military Exhibition of the Tang Clan, a product of their confidence.
Their martial arts skills were famous for their use of poison, but their craftsmanship in metallurgy was beyond comparison.
The weapons created by the finest artisans of the clan could easily be considered masterpieces.
This clan was responsible for crafting many of the weapons used by the Murim Alliance, and they had the honor of fashioning the Sword Emperor’s weapon through generations.
Many families lined up eagerly for a chance at receiving gifts forged by the Tang Clan.
“But they certainly aren’t going to hand them out willy-nilly.”
It could be due to their noble status or simply their pride, but the Tang Clan was notorious for not easily offering their crafted weapons to outsiders.
Even if money was involved, they wouldn’t budge.
But there was no shortage of money on their end either.
In any case, the Military Exhibition isn’t just a mere event; it’s a festival to showcase their weapons, now close to perfection.
The reason for hosting such events could be summarized as:
“We make great weapons. Treat us well, and we might consider giving you some of them.”
Something along those lines.
I’ve even heard that they occasionally distribute items showcased during the exhibition.
Still, it didn’t exactly pique my interest. Of course, if I were to acquire one, I’d probably sell it for a high price.
I didn’t quite get what intent the Tang Clan had with showcasing their crafts, but that wasn’t why I was here.
“I need to prepare to find the secret vault.”
Let’s not forget the real reason I came here: the Geumyeonchun and their mysterious vault.
Three days after the Military Exhibition of the Tang Clan—only three days granted to me. The only info I had about the vault was a mere rough location.
Even that information wasn’t entirely reliable.
If I didn’t find the secret vault within these three days, I might end up spilling the beans about the Geumyeonchun’s secrets at the Beggar’s Sect just to be done with it.
“…How complicated.”
“What are you thinking so hard about, Young Master?”
“It’s nothing.”
Wi Seol-ah called to me when she noticed my furrowing brow.
Following the guidance of Tang Jooyeok, I entered the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
Though I had been here in my previous life, seeing the grandeur of the clan again after relying on faded memories left me astonished.
The Tang Clan was noticeably larger than the Heaven market I visited for the Nine Dragons Ceremony.
“Just as I thought, they are truly a noble clan.”
The roots of the righteous factions were vastly different, even in scale.
Now that we arrived and unpacked our luggage, I decided to take a little jaunt around.
No one told me not to wander, so I figured it would be fine if I explored a bit.
I announced I was going for a walk, and with Wi Seol-ah quickly in tow, we started walking together.
Soon after, we found ourselves surrounded by a forest of trees. Just how big must a clan be to have a forest like this?
Creak, creak. with every step I took, the sound of crickets chirped in my ears.
Following the sound of the crickets filling the woods, I noticed fireflies flickering, signaling that summer was approaching.
As we continued along the path, we stumbled upon an artificial lake. Though it wasn’t enormous, it was intricately designed, and it felt like an exquisite display.
The sight of fireflies dancing over the water and lotus flowers floating on the surface was so stunning that even someone like me couldn’t resist calling it beautiful.
“Wow…!”
What about Wi Seol-ah? She was all the more entranced, her eyes shining brightly with awe.
For a moment, I considered patting her head in that delightful moment.
In the end, I refrained from doing so.
“It’s so pretty, Young Master!”
“Right?”
Wi Seol-ah twirled as if dancing alongside the fireflies, causing me to rub my eyes with the back of my hand.
At times.
There were moments where Wi Seol-ah would remind me of the version I knew in my past life.
Just like now.
The present Wi Seol-ah did not have her moonlit hair nor those sharp, frosty eyes she once did.
Instead, her hair was dark like the night sky, and her face was perpetually lit with a smile.
Things were so different from the girl I once knew.
“Then why do I keep trying to find that old Wi Seol-ah in the current one?”
I chuckled at my own wandering thoughts.
“Why am I even thinking of this? It’s just a silly regret.”
“What?”
“Nothing, let’s head back. It’s nearly time for bed.”
I felt we had admired enough scenery.
Just as I turned to leave, already envisioning a restful night ahead now that we had arrived at the clan…
“Who are you?”
A voice as sharp as a blade pierced my ears.
I turned to see Namgung Bi-ah’s astonished expression alongside another unknown figure.
The owner of that voice radiated an aura of mystery as she spoke again.
“This is a place where outsiders aren’t permitted. Who are you?”
The moonlight illuminated her face, revealing her features.
Suddenly, a sense of realization struck me; I knew exactly who she was.
The distinct dark green eyes glaring through the night were unmistakable.
The Poison Queen, Tang Soyeol.
The first person in history immune to all poisons.
The Iron Maiden who would single-handedly fight against thousands of demons that would appear in Sichuan in the near future.
And,
In my previous life, she was one of the few people who I had personally killed with my own hands.
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