Chapter 5 : Chapter 5

Chapter 5. This is What You Wished For (2)

Dang Jin couldn't understand.

What did this brat just say?

How dare this young pup…….

“Here I come.”

Dang Jin's thoughts were cut short.

Han Cheong-un had already made the first move.

It was Han Cheong-un who had yielded the first move until now, but this time was an exception.

He began to advance first.

‘This punk.’

Dang Jin was momentarily flustered, but his body moved as it had been trained.

The first thing a warrior of the Tang Clan does when an enemy approaches is to step backward with footwork.

At the same time…….

“Take this!”

As Dang Jin swung both his hands, dozens of hidden needles flew forward from within his sleeves.

He was certainly different from the previous two.

The flying hidden needles covered a wide range and were flying quite sharply. But…….

Hwoooong!

As Han Cheong-un swung his spear once in a wide arc, a rough spear wind raged and knocked the hidden needles down.

But even before all the hidden needles had fallen…….

“It’s not over yet.”

Dang Jin's next move came flying.

From his fingertips, fifteen steel beads flew out at different intervals, aiming for the vital acupoints of Han Cheong-un's entire body.

They were hidden weapons that could break bones with a single hit. But…….

Ting!

Han Cheong-un's spear precisely deflected the steel bead. Starting with that…….

Tiiing! Ting ting! Tititititing!

Han Cheong-un's spear, moving elegantly with minimal movement and along the shortest path, deflected all the steel beads thrown by Dang Jin.

“This guy is pretty good.”

Dang Jin widened the distance again and took out a hidden dagger from his sleeve.

The main hidden weapon of the Tang Clan, far more threatening than hidden needles or steel beads.

The true value of the Tang Clan's hidden weapon techniques was said to be demonstrated when they held a hidden dagger. And…….

“Go!”

A single hidden dagger flew with a speed and discipline on a different level from before.

Han Cheong-un turned his head to dodge the attack, but at the same time…….

“It's not over yet.”

As soon as he dodged the first hidden dagger, a second one came flying. And even before the second hidden dagger reached Han Cheong-un, a third one was already leaving Dang Jin's fingertips.

Three, four, five, six…….

A continuous attack of hidden daggers, flying ceaselessly like a horizontal rain. But…….

Kaang! Kang! Kang!

Han Cheong-un walked forward calmly, even against Dang Jin's perilous attack.

Dodging, deflecting, striking away…….

Not a single one managed to graze Han Cheong-un's collar.

“Th… this guy…….”

Only then feeling a sense of crisis, Dang Jin threw his hidden daggers even more urgently, but Han Cheong-un closed the distance with a composed expression.

And when Han Cheong-un had finally closed the distance.

“Hut?”

“You're out of hidden daggers, aren't you?”

That was true.

The hidden daggers in his clothes and sleeves were all gone. But…….

“Take this!”

Dang Jin took something else out from his clothes and threw it.

A purple powder thickly covered Han Cheong-un's face. That was…….

“Poison powder?”

“Th… that’s?”

For a moment, the members of the Tang Clan watching from the side were startled. Using poison during a duel was a taboo of the Tang Clan.

But now, Dang Jin, a direct descendant of the Tang Clan, had broken that taboo.

‘This is damn…….’

The steward of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Dang Chan, who had arranged the duel, was greatly alarmed. Using poison in an officially arranged duel?

If he were to die by mistake, the Tang Clan would bear a far greater dishonor than just losing a duel.

“Stop immediate……”

Buuuung!

It was then.

Han Cheong-un spun his spear at high speed and scattered all the poison powder.

Dang Jin was dumbfounded by that exquisite move. And Han Cheong-un…….

“I have no personal feelings against you.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

“Even though you ignored me, showed a rude attitude, and even used poison during a duel, I still have no personal ill feelings towards you.”

Doesn't sound like it.

Just as Dang Jin was about to say something.

Han Cheong-un said with a gentle smile.

“So just accept it.”

There was no need to ask, what?

Crrrack!

A powerful blow came flying.

It was the sound of Han Cheong-un's spear handle striking Dang Jin's knee.

Dang Jin floated up into the air with a pain as if his knee was about to break.

Thud!

And the moment he fell to the ground.

Han Cheong-un, holding the spear upside down, began to thrash him in earnest.

“Wai… Wai- Keok! Hey, I said wai- Kraak!”

Whack! Crack!

“You lowly bastard……, Keuk, Eok! How dare you… to the Sichuan Tang Clan…… Keok…… direct descendant…… Ueuuk. Aack!”

Crack! Craaack! Thwack!

“Stop. Please……. my bone there……. Uwaaak!”

Whack! Whack! Thwack! Rat-a-tat-tat-tat!

“S… save… me…….”

Dang Jin.

He would later recall this.

[Dog Beating Staff Technique? That's nothing. If you really want to know what it's like to be beaten like a dog, you have to experience 'that'.]

* * *

There were some twists and turns, but…….

Han Cheong-un safely became a retainer of the Tang Clan.

Honestly, it was only natural after showing such overwhelming skill.

Dang Jin was a master who ranked among the top ten among the rising talents of the Tang Clan.

How could anyone find fault with the skill of someone who had utterly crushed such a master?

Furthermore, considering Han Cheong-un's age, his future potential was even more limitless.

The steward of the Tang Clan, Dang Chan, gave Han Cheong-un a grand welcome and gladly accepted him as a retainer.

“You can use this room.”

Arriving at the room he was guided to, Han Cheong-un showed a look of difficulty. Looking at the furniture and the scroll hanging on the wall, it was by no means an ordinary room.

“I do not need such a luxurious room. A normal guest room would be sufficient.”

“Hahaha. It is common sense in the Jianghu to be treated according to your skill. So don't feel burdened.”

“Is Young Master Dang Jin’s condition alright?”

“Ah. He’s fine. You beat him up quite skillfully. His muscles were a bit bruised, but his internal organs and bones were all unharmed.”

Of course. That's how he beat him.

Well, he wasn't sure about the emotional scars, though.

“That kid has always been too arrogant and insolent. You've given him a good lesson, so don't feel sorry for him in the slightest.”

“Thank you.”

After the steward left, Han Cheong-un was left alone in the room and let out a sigh.

“Hoooo……. No matter how much the Vice Grand Master requested it, was I a bit too harsh?”

Han Cheong-un was a righteous man of the Orthodox Faction.

He had never harmed a person out of his own anger or personal feelings.

But this time, for the first time, he had beaten Dang Jin like a dog. Of course, he had done so because of a request from Dang Jin, the Vice Grand Master during the Evil-Annihilating Squad days, but…….

‘I guess I had some personal feelings mixed in too, right?’

To repay the disregard and contempt he received with personal violence?

He had never done such a barbaric and lawless act in his past life.

But now that he had done it this time…….

“This is nice.”

Hey now.

“How should I put it? It feels like something stuffy and blocked in my chest has been cleared out, a refreshing feeling of openness! Hmm, not bad.”

Judging by his expression, he seemed genuinely refreshed.

In any case, Han Cheong-un was gradually adapting to his new life.

* * *

The Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Poison Cloud God of Death Dang Myeong.

He usually received a report of the day's events before finishing his daily routine. And today…….

“Dang Jin lost?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

Upon hearing Dang Chan's report, he frowned for a moment before speaking again.

“Who was the opponent?”

“He was an unknown warrior, a young man who is still young. He revealed his name to be Han Cheong-un.”

“How young was he?”

“He said he was fifteen.”

“Fifteen?”

Dang Myeong's eyes narrowed slightly.

If this was true, did it not mean that his son had lost to a child ten years younger?

“His sect?”

“He did not reveal it.”

“You couldn't even guess?”

“With my insight, I could not tell.”

“…….”

Dang Myeong thought.

The Jianghu was a wide place.

It was a place where there could be as many hidden masters as there were known masters.

What was important was whether that existence was an enemy or an ally.

“Did you see any hidden intentions?”

“I do not know. But to find that out, we will have to watch him over time.”

“That is true.”

The most dangerous enemy is an unseen one.

It was better to keep dangerous enemies where you could see them. And if they were not an enemy…….

‘Then I must do my best to accept him into the Tang Clan.’

He was a warrior who could defeat Dang Jin at the mere age of fifteen.

Considering his future growth potential, it was worth considering marrying him to one of the clan's children and accepting him into the family.

“I must see him once. Call him tomorrow.”

“I understand, Clan Head.”

* * *

The next day.

Han Cheong-un was able to meet face-to-face with Dang Myeong, the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“I see you for the first time. I am Dang Myeong.”

“I am Han Cheong-un.”

This was also the first time Han Cheong-un had met Dang Myeong in person.

‘So this person was the current Clan Head of the Tang Clan.’

Meeting him in person, he could certainly feel the aura befitting the Clan Head of one of the Five Great Families.

However, that made it all the more regrettable.

‘To think that such a master died without even playing a role in the Orthodox-Unorthodox Grand War…….’

The two Orthodox-Unorthodox Grand Wars that Han Cheong-un remembered.

Among them, Poison Cloud God of Death Dang Myeong had never played a role.

Because he…….

No, to be precise, because the majority of the Tang Clan died even before the first Orthodox-Unorthodox Grand War began.

The incident that happened not long after the Guizhou Bloodshed Incident.

It was because of the Tang Clan Annihilation.

The Sichuan Tang Clan, the hegemon of Sichuan.

That huge clan was shattered to pieces.

And it happened in just one day.

When the Emei Sect and Qingcheng Sect hurried to see what had happened, what they saw was the deadly poison that filled the Tang Clan.

The poison, which even the masters of the Jianghu dared not approach, was so deadly that it melted not only living things but also stones and trees.

The masters of Emei and Qingcheng waited for three days and nights for the poison to weaken a little before hurriedly entering.

But there were no survivors.

This was the Tang Clan Annihilation.

The Jianghu was shocked.

The Murim Alliance dispatched an investigator to find out the truth.

At first, they thought it was an accident caused by a new poison being tested at the Sichuan Tang Clan.

In fact, the Murim Alliance also came to that conclusion.

But the truth of that incident was revealed after the second Orthodox-Unorthodox Grand War began. It was…….

“……Are you listening?”

“Ah, I apologize.”

Awakening from his thoughts, Han Cheong-un bowed his head and apologized. Dang Myeong offered Han Cheong-un a cup of tea he had poured himself and said.

“Don't be too nervous. I just called you because I wanted to ask a few things to you, who has become a retainer of our clan.”

“Please ask anything.”

“Right. I heard you have no sect. Is that true?”

“Yes. I do not.”

“You don't have one? Or you can't reveal it?”

To Dang Myeong's sharp questioning, Han Cheong-un answered calmly.

“I learned some basic martial arts at the Murim Alliance when I was young, but that is all.”

“…….”

“I swear to the heavens, I have never been taught martial arts by anyone else since I was born.”

“…….”

As Han Cheong-un spoke so confidently, Dang Myeong nodded his head for the time being.

But he still had his doubts.

“A fifteen-year-old young man who has never learned martial arts separately defeated my son……”

“I was lucky.”

“You are too modest.”

“It is true. I obtained… a fortunate encounter.”

“A fortunate encounter?”

“Yes. Actually, I was climbing a mountain in Guizhou when……”

Han Cheong-un appropriately embellished the story of how he obtained the Human-shaped Heavenly Ginseng.

Since the Human-shaped Heavenly Ginseng was already in his stomach, there was no chance of it turning into a bloody incident. And…….

“What? A large snake with red eyes?”

“Yes. That is correct.”

Dang Myeong showed more interest in the spiritual beast that was guarding the place than in the Human-shaped Heavenly Ginseng.

“Weren't its scales black and extremely hard?”

“They were. Even when I stabbed it with all my might with a spear, it was fine.”

“What color was the poison?”

“That was……. was it green?”

“Where is it? That thing?”

Dang Myeong grabbed Han Cheong-un by the collar and shook him as he questioned him.

“Clan Head. Please calm down first.”

“Do I look like I can calm down? I asked you where it is!”

“It is already dead. And it's completely dried up.”

“Huh?”

Han Cheong-un appropriately embellished the story, saying that the snake had died from a whole-hearted attack he had struck.

And that when he found the snake again, it was completely dried up.

“Dr… dried up, you say?”

“That is correct. When I touched the scales, they crumbled just like that.”

“Impossible. There's no way the body of a Thousand-year Black-Scaled Serpent would crumble so easily.”

“A Thousand-year Black-Scaled Serpent, you say?”

“Hooo……”

Dang Myeong sighed and said.

“A Thousand-year Black-Scaled Serpent. It is a precious creature that ranks among the top five poisonous creatures known in the Jianghu.”

So it was a famous one.

He didn't know what it was and just thought it was a big snake.

“Hoo……. Can you at least tell me where the body is? I'd like to send someone to check just in case.”

“Yes. That is not difficult.”

Han Cheong-un obediently revealed the existence of the cave where he had obtained the Human-shaped Heavenly Ginseng. And he asked carefully.

“But is it so precious that you are obsessed even with its corpse?”

“It is precious. Very precious. And……”

Dang Myeong let out a deep sigh for a moment and said.

“If I had its inner core, I might be able to save our Seoyeon……”

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