Chapter 12 : Chapter 12

Chapter 12. You’re Dead (2)

The Poison Hand Gate.

One of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way, they primarily used poison and had long coveted a certain treasure.

The Myriad Poisons Body.

There was no way those who practiced poison arts would not desire this.

The Sichuan Tang Clan had tried to hide information about Dang Seoyeon as much as possible, but it was impossible to hide it completely.

The Poison Hand Gate had coveted her ever since they learned of her existence. And finally…….

“We’ve obtained it like this.”

The man looked at Dang Seoyeon before him as if she were beloved.

He was truly filled with deep emotion.

The Myriad Poisons Body.

Although it was said that she was not a being who could freely master all poison arts as existed in theory, her value in application was limitless.

If used well, the Poison Hand Gate would rise to the pinnacle of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way.

She wouldn’t live long, but that didn’t matter.

What they wanted was not the person named Dang Seoyeon, but the rare poison called the Myriad Poisons Body. At that moment…….

“Grand Master.”

A subordinate rushed in and spoke.

“What is it?”

“A report from the perimeter watch. They say the Tang Clan is heading here.”

“What? How?”

The battle ended in a short time, and they left no traces when they moved.

There was no way they would make such a mistake.

“Are you sure they are coming this way?”

“Yes. A portion of our forces has remained behind to obstruct them. But it seems it will be difficult to buy much time.”

“How many are there?”

“The numbers have not been identified. However, the Tang Clan Head is visible at the forefront.”

“Damn it……”

The fact that the Tang Clan Head had come probably meant he had mobilized the elite troops directly under his command.

“Split our forces in two. Half will remain to obstruct the Tang Clan, and the other half will move the Myriad Poisons Body.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Ah, and make sure to leave those guys in the rear.”

“Will they listen?”

At that, the man smirked and said.

“They have no choice but to listen. Since we hold their weakness.”

“I will follow your orders.”

Like that, they quickly prepared to move, taking the unconscious Dang Seoyeon.

Was it because they were in such a hurry?

No one saw it.

That Dang Seoyeon’s finger moved ever so slightly.

***

The Tang Clan's pursuit team headed straight for Dang Seoyeon’s location.

The reason they could do so was…….

“This way. Hurry.”

It was because of Dang Jin, who was running at the very front.

Dang Myeong approached Dang Jin, who was beside him, and spoke.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes. The scent of the tracking incense is coming from this way.”

That's right.

They were now following the traces of the tracking incense applied to Dang Seoyeon.

When? How?

To know the reason, let's turn back time a little.

***

“Wha…… What did you say?”

Dang Jin was flustered.

Han Cheong-un had suddenly come to him while he was under probation and said…….

“You remember the tracking incense you lent me back then, don’t you?”

“……Yes.”

“I put that on your younger sister, so we need to track her right now.”

At Han Cheong-un’s words, Dang Jin wore a blank expression.

What is this person saying right now?

Out of the blue, he says his younger sister has been kidnapped. And to find her, he needs him, so he listened to what he had to say…….

“You put tracking incense on my sister?”

“Yes.”

“……On my sister?”

“Yes.”

“Tracking incense?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Does this bastard even know what he’s done wrong?

Does he think he can get away with it just by having an innocent-looking face?

So right now, Han Cheong-un was brazenly saying that he had applied tracking incense, which could be used to track and monitor her anytime, anywhere, to the cherished only daughter of the Tang Clan.

And he was saying this to him, her older brother?

Even worse, he was the one who made that tracking incense.

‘What kind of lunatic is this?’

Which part should he point out and get angry about?

He couldn’t get his bearings. But…….

“Is it possible to track the incense?”

“Father.”

“The most important thing is to find that child. Let’s sort out the rest later.”

“……Yes.”

Right. That was correct.

It was such a preposterous situation that his thoughts weren't straight, but right now, the most important thing was to find his younger sister.

‘Let’s deal with that one-of-a-kind pervert later.’

Dang Jin immediately moved to the scene.

And he was able to pick up the scent of the tracking incense he himself had made.

“It’s that way. Let’s hurry.”

***

And so…….

The Tang Clan was now able to pinpoint and track the location of the kidnapped Dang Seoyeon.

Even as they moved, the suspicion towards Han Cheong-un did not disappear from the minds of Dang Myeong and Dang Jin.

And rightfully so.

“Ahem, Young Master Han. May I ask a few things?”

Finally, Dang Myeong broke the silence during their movement.

“Please speak.”

“Why did you apply tracking incense to my daughter?”

“Ah, that was easy. I put it on the gift I gave to Young Lady Dang.”

“……”

No, not how, but why did you put it on her?

“So, what was the reason for applying it?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I applied it through a gift?”

This guy, is he pretending not to understand on purpose?

Han Cheong-un nodded with a shameless face and said.

“Fortunately, the tracking incense Sir Dang Jin made was completely colorless and odorless, so it was easy to apply.”

Is that something to say so proudly?

The dumbfounded Dang Myeong’s jaw dropped, and this time, Dang Jin asked.

“No, how did you know I could make such tracking incense and request it?”

“Of course I knew.”

“No, how?”

“What I know, I just know.”

“You have no intention of answering, do you?”

“How could that be? Oh, but there are enemies ahead.”

“Enemies my…… Keuk……”

Kaaang!

Unfortunately, a real enemy appeared.

A group of masked men blocked the Tang Clan's path. And…….

“Move!”

The moment he faced the enemies, several flashes of light shot from Dang Myeong’s fingertips and blew the enemies' heads off.

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!

Dang Myeong, who had dealt with five enemies in a single breath.

He transformed the moment he confirmed the enemy.

‘These bastards did this to my daughter?’

The motive or purpose didn't matter.

The moment he judged them as enemies, such thoughts were merely a hindrance.

“Die.”

With a cold mutter, daggers were simultaneously scattered in all directions.

“Keok!”

“Kuaaak!”

Their power was on a different level from ordinary hidden weapons.

Dang Myeong’s daggers blew off the opponents' heads and tore holes the size of watermelons in their torsos.

It was a power befitting the Clan Head of the Tang Clan.

The flashes of light scattered from his fingertips never missed.

He was the God of Death, proclaiming death, reaping a life with every single move.

The masked men, falling without resistance, couldn't even slow Dang Myeong down. But…….

“Amazing.”

Han Cheong-un, who was watching the scene from a short distance away, was inwardly impressed.

Poison Cloud God of Death Dang Myeong.

He had heard the name, but this was the first time he had seen his skill. Because in the two Righteous-Demonic Wars Han Cheong-un remembered, he was not there.

When the Tang Clan fell in the Guizhou Bloodshed Incident, the only ones left were Dang Jin, who happened to be away from the clan, and a few branch family members.

‘To think such a man was absent during the war…….’

Thinking about it again, it was just a pity.

The sight of him weaving through the enemies with swift footwork, scattering daggers in all directions, was enough to understand why the Sichuan Tang Clan was regarded as an object of terror and fear. But…….

Shwiiiiiik!

For the first time, the Clan Head’s dagger missed.

That in itself was not surprising. The opponent also seemed to be quite a master.

It was something that could happen.

But when that opponent scattered daggers with the exact same move as the Clan Head, the Clan Head’s eyes widened.

Pooooooook!

The dagger that grazed the Clan Head’s cheek went on to pierce through a large tree behind him.

The Clan Head stared blankly at the opponent who had thrown the dagger at him, then, with a ferocious expression like a demon…….

“Hup!”

With a fierce roar, he simultaneously scattered countless daggers forward.

The dozen or so daggers that left his fingertips wavered like a heat haze, then split, creating afterimages.

By the time they reached the opponent, it looked as if hundreds of daggers were descending upon the enemy.

[ Tang Clan Dagger Arts: Ten Thousand Daggers Chaotic Dance ]

The dagger arts of the Tang Clan, which had reached the peak of mastery, unfolded from the Clan Head’s hands. But…….

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pak!

The opponent’s body swayed like a ghost, and the hundreds of daggers just grazed past the enemy and flew behind him.

The moment he saw that, Dang Myeong bit his lip hard.

“Damn it……”

“Father, that just now was……?”

Dang Jin tried to say something. But before he could, Dang Myeong cut his son off.

“Dang Jin!”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Can you still track the incense?”

“Yes. It’s possible.”

“Then go. I’ll take care of this place.”

“……”

For a moment, Dang Jin was conflicted.

He had an idea why his father was sending him away. But if that was true, shouldn't he stay here and lend a hand?

If the opponent was the person he expected, even his father couldn't guarantee victory…….

Baaam!

Suddenly, Dang Jin was struck on the back of the head.

He gritted his teeth for a moment and shouted.

“Keuk……. Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

There was Han Cheong-un, with a spear resting on his shoulder, looking at him calmly.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I did it to snap you out of it.”

“What did you say?”

“You think too much.”

“Huh?”

“Being cautious is your strength, but conversely, it can also be your weakness.”

“……”

No, how long have you known me to talk like that? But for some reason, it felt like he was right.

He had been told that from time to time.

“Let’s trust the Clan Head here and go rescue Young Lady Dang.”

“But……”

“So frustrating……”

Han Cheong-un sighed and pointed at the unidentified assailant who had dodged the Clan Head's attack.

“Dealing with that is the Clan Head’s role and duty. But saving your sister is something only you can do.”

“Umm……”

“Then we should divide the roles and move quickly. Where is the time to hesitate?”

“……”

What he said was right.

Dang Jin glanced at his father and said.

“You won’t lose, right?”

“Who do you think you’re talking to?”

“I’ll trust you.”

Dang Jin left that one sentence and threw himself forward. And Dang Myeong, without even giving his son a glance, said.

“Number One.”

“Yes. Clan Head.”

“The Anbi squad will follow Dang Jin.”

“Yes, sir!”

And so, Dang Myeong sent all his subordinates away.

Once no one was around, he looked at the assailant before him and said.

“First, let’s hear your excuse.”

“……”

“Uncle!”

At those words, the masked opponent let out a groan and took off his mask.

The face that was revealed was one Dang Myeong knew well.

“It’s been quite a while since you’ve called me uncle. Clan Head.”

First Elder Dang Pyeong.

He revealed his face before Dang Myeong.

And at the same time, a considerable number of the masked figures revealed their faces.

Confirming their identities, Dang Myeong’s eyes widened.

“Dang Jo, Dang Seong, even you guys……”

The ones who revealed their faces were those called the key figures of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

They were people who often had friction with him and tended to side with the elders, but they were still blood relatives of the Sichuan Tang Clan. But…….

“Have you all gone mad as a group?”

“……Clan Head.”

“How could you commit such an act unless you were mad?”

At Dang Myeong’s thundering rebuke, some of them slyly turned their heads away.

But Dang Pyeong, who led this affair, instead smiled and said.

“My dear Clan Head.”

“Speak.”

“I am trying to correct your late father’s mistake.”

“What did you say?”

“Trying to create a cursed existence like the Myriad Poisons Body was a mistake in itself. Was it not?”

Grind.

Dang Myeong ground his teeth.

It was indeed his late father who had decided and pushed forward with creating the Myriad Poisons Body. But for such words to come from the mouths of the elders who had taken the lead in helping at that time…….

“So? To correct that mistake, you sold my daughter?”

“Children can always be born again.”

“……”

“How can one who is the Clan Head of the Tang Clan be so heartless?”

At that moment, something inside Dang Myeong snapped. And then…….

“Ha…… Hahahaha.”

Dang Myeong laughed.

A laugh filled with remorse burst out.

‘To think I trusted such people as the key figures of the clan……. I’ve lived in vain. Lived in vain.’

Even while watching his emotions roil, the others did not dare to rush in.

Right now, Dang Myeong should have been full of openings, but no openings could be seen. No, on the contrary…….

‘Dan…… Dangerous.’

‘We have to get away.’

A martial artist's intuition and a living being's instinct warned them.

To leave this place right now. And when Dang Myeong’s laughter stopped.

“I thought there might be some reason.”

“……”

“I even imagined that perhaps you were in an unavoidable situation, with some weakness being exploited.”

“……”

“But to think you were this kind of trash as a person.”

“……”

“It’s so disgusting I can’t listen anymore.”

“Clan Head, now……”

“As the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, I command.”

“……”

“First Elder Dang Myeong, who betrayed the clan and abandoned the ties of heaven. You and the trash present in this place.”

“……”

“All of you will be expelled from the clan. Furthermore, as the price for threatening a blood relative of the Sichuan Tang Clan, you will be executed here.”

“Do you think you alone can handle all of us, Clan Head?”

Dang Myeong gripped a dagger in one hand and gathered poison energy in the other, saying.

“I am an elder of the Sichuan Tang Clan. I am a martial artist who has been active as a mainstay of the Tang Clan since before you, Myeong, learned to walk.”

Usually, in a sect, the ones with the greatest military power are the elders of that sect.

In that sense, the title of First Elder of the Sichuan Tang Clan could mean that Dang Pyeong was the top master of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“And the people here are not to be taken lightly either……”

“You’re talking nonsense.”

Dang Myeong’s cold words cut off Dang Pyeong’s long speech. And then…….

“You’re mistaken about one thing.”

“What……. Hmm……?”

Dang Pyeong stopped talking mid-sentence.

From his nephew before him, an energy surpassing his own was beginning to rise.

“Why do you think that father of mine chose me from among his many sons? Our father and son relationship wasn’t even that good.”

“……”

“The answer is simple.”

“……”

“Because I was the strongest in the entire Sichuan Tang Clan.”

With those words, Dang Myeong’s form blurred and vanished.

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