Chapter 6 : Chapter 6

Chapter 6. This is What You Wished For (3)

The moment he heard the Tang Clan Head's words.

Han Cheong-un's eyes sparkled.

‘Seoyeon. It must be. It has to be that Dang Seoyeon.’

Han Cheong-un took a sip of tea with a calm expression to avoid revealing his emotional turmoil. Then he looked at the Tang Clan Head again and spoke.

“Is there perhaps a young lady in the Tang Clan who is unwell?”

At that, Dang Myeong frowned and said.

“I was momentarily excited. It was a slip of the tongue, so please forget it.”

It was a subtle warning not to delve further.

“I was rude.”

Han Cheong-un took a step back for the time being. As he did, he thought to himself.

‘This is dangerous. If I try to approach her carelessly, I'll be kicked out of the Tang Clan immediately.’

That would be troublesome.

Han Cheong-un had two purposes for coming to the Tang Clan as a retainer.

One was to recruit Dang Jin, who was his second-in-command and right-hand man.

The second was to prevent the Tang Clan's bloody tragedy.

Dang Seoyeon was the most important person to prevent the Tang Clan's bloody tragedy.

But it was nearly impossible for an outsider male to carelessly approach the treasured jewel of the Tang Clan.

‘Let's slowly wait for an opportunity. First, I need to blend into the Tang Clan.’

After that, Dang Myeong continued to talk with Han Cheong-un about various things.

Where did you learn your martial arts?

It was self-taught.

You have tremendous talent for your age.

You praise me too much.

A calm conversation like that continued.

It was like a routine investigation, and Han Cheong-un confessed most of the facts truthfully, except for the part about his regression.

It's not like they would believe him if he said he died and came back from the distant future anyway.

“Hmm, right. Well, I understand for now.”

Having finished his general questions, Dang Myeong let out a small sigh and drank his tea.

He would find out whether the answers he heard here were true or not after a separate investigation.

There was no need to probe further in this place.

“I don't know if you know, but our clan does not allow retainers to live idly, even if they are retainers.”

“I am aware.”

“In that case, you must work in a place related to our clan. Is there any work you desire?”

The work of a retainer was varied.

Working as a guard for the clan was the most common, and besides that, they were sometimes dispatched to merchant groups or escort agencies. But Han Cheong-un wanted a different job.

“If possible, I would like to be entrusted with Young Master Dang Jin's training.”

“Training? Jin's?”

“Yes. If you entrust him to me, I am confident that I can greatly advance the young master's martial arts.”

“Hahaha. You?”

Dang Myeong glanced at Han Cheong-un's spear.

Spear.

It was the most rational weapon for a human to handle.

Even an ordinary person who doesn't know half a move of martial arts becomes a respectable soldier with just that one weapon, the spear.

In that sense, it was the most extreme opposite of the Tang Clan's hidden weapon techniques.

Unlike the spear, which could be mastered quickly, hidden weapons required at least three years of training to even be at the starting level.

Yet a young boy who uses a spear boasts that he will advance Dang Jin's martial arts?

If he took it the wrong way, he could have gotten angry, asking if he was looking down on the Tang Clan's martial arts. But…….

“I like people with guts.”

“Is that so?”

“But braggarts are an exception.”

“I see.”

Dang Myeong looked at Han Cheong-un intently and said.

“If my son's skills greatly improve as you say, then I would have to beg for your teachings even if I had to prostrate myself. But if not?”

“Then I will do anything.”

“What if I tell you to live as a warrior of the Tang Clan for the rest of your life without pay?”

“You'll provide meals, won't you?”

“Well, that……”

“That's great. I won't have to worry about food for the rest of my life.”

At Han Cheong-un's jest, Dang Myeong's lips slowly curled up.

‘He has spirit.’

As he said…….

Dang Myeong liked spirited young men.

“Fine. I will entrust my son to you for a while.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything you need?”

“Ah……. Then, could you call for the Tang Clan's craftsman for a moment?”

“Why the craftsman?”

“To create a weapon for your son to use.”

He's even going to choose the weapon himself?

Dang Myeong did not understand his opponent's intention.

But he was a person who, once he trusted someone, would trust them until the results came out.

“Fine. I will speak to the craftsman. If you tell him it is my command, he will cooperate actively.”

“Thank you.”

A smile formed on Han Cheong-un's lips.

It seemed he could easily achieve his first objective for coming to the Tang Clan.

If he spent time with Dang Jin, they would become close again like before.

Although their first meeting was not very pleasant, was Dang Jin the kind of man to hold a grudge over a few hits?

‘He's probably already forgotten all about it.’

* * *

The next day.

“Ptooey, this sucks.”

Dang Jin was blatantly showing that he was holding a grudge.

“You brat! By the Clan Head's order, you are to serve this young warrior as your master and seek his teachings for a while. Will you not straighten up your attitude?”

“Waaaaah!”

“You braaaat!”

Dang Chan, who was Dang Jin's uncle in private, burst with anger, but Dang Jin's grudge did not dissipate.

It was embarrassing enough to lose to a kid ten years younger than him, but now he had to learn from him?

Dang Jin's pride, having been born and raised as the direct descendant of a prestigious family, would not allow it.

Seeing Dang Jin, Han Cheong-un thought.

‘Vice Grand Master. You were right.’

Memories of the past came to him automatically.

The words that Dang Jin had spoken complainingly when he was drunk.

[The me of the past really needed to be beaten to a pulp and then some. Even then, it's a toss-up whether I'd come to my senses.]

The hand holding the spear shaft naturally twitched.

Originally, Han Cheong-un was a good Grand Master who listened well to Vice Grand Master Dang Jin's words.

So shouldn't he be faithful here as well?

“Ahem, Steward.”

“Hmph……”

“Please leave the rest to me.”

“Understood. Please be strict with your teaching.”

“I will.”

Thus, Dang Chan disappeared, leaving only a beaming Han Cheong-un and a sulking Dang Jin in the training ground.

“My introduction was insufficient before, wasn't it? I am Han Cheong-un.”

Han Cheong-un greeted him with a polite fist-and-palm salute. At that, Dang Jin lifted his chin stiffly and said.

“I am Dang Jin. The direct descendant of the Sichuan Tang Clan's Clan Head.”

I'm a young master from a very well-off family. You know what'll happen if you mess with me, right?

“As you know, I have received permission from the Tang Clan Head to look after the young master's martial arts.”

Yeah. I got your dad's permission.

“My teaching method might be a bit strict, but I believe Young Master Dang Jin will follow it well.”

If you defy me, you'll die.

“Hmph, what do you know about the Tang Clan's martial arts to guide me? Don't be ridiculous.”

Dang Jin wanted to avoid Han Cheong-un's guidance one way or another. The memory of the previous assault was too vivid.

Dang Jin was also a warrior, and his body was accustomed to the pain of training.

But the memory from that time…….

‘Seriously, how can you beat someone like that? And how did not a single bone break even after being beaten to the brink of death?’

That was more terrifying.

If he had been seriously injured, the clan would have at least protected him, but since it was just excruciatingly painful and his bones and muscles were fine, even the clan's physician…….

[It's nothing serious, so don't make a fuss. Geez, I'm busy as it is…….]

said this.

He was very hurt.

And it was all because of that punk.

Just as Dang Jin was about to glare at Han Cheong-un…….

“Is there something on my face?”

“Ah……. No, it's nothing…… sir.”

He flinched for a moment and ducked his head.

So quickly that even Dang Jin himself was flustered.

‘Do I have so little spirit?’

Dang Jin was overcome with emotion.

No matter how severely he had been beaten, this was still too damaging to his pride.

‘I am a descendant of the great Sichuan Tang Clan.’

Dang Jin, having made a firm resolution, lifted his head again…….

“What is it?”

“No……. it's nothing…….”

but he quickly turned his head to the side again.

He couldn't understand.

“Ahem……. ahem…….”

What is this?

This wasn't just submission out of fear.

The moment he tried to confront that brat, an unknown sense of resistance rose from within his heart.

What on earth was this?

“I've prepared something for the young master's training, but the craftsman said it would take a few days. So, for the time being, let's focus on simple duels to check your skills.”

“Understood…… sir.”

This is driving me crazy.

What on earth is this?

* * *

Three days after the training began.

There was no particularly grueling hellish training.

Han Cheong-un, as he said, only conducted duels at a level to check Dang Jin's current martial arts proficiency.

In the process, he learned two things.

One was that this young brat was much stronger than him.

During the duels, he would get angry and unleash a heartfelt ultimate technique, but the opponent would easily dodge it as if it were no threat at all.

His defeat in the previous duel was not due to carelessness or arrogance.

It was just that the difference in pure skill was great.

And the second was…….

“Then your accomplishment in the Soul-Chasing Flying Butterfly hasn't surpassed the sixth level yet.”

“That's……. right.”

“You can both use and detoxify Crane's Crest Red and Snow Poison Flower?”

“Um, well, yes.”

“What about the Seven Treasures Soul-Chasing Poison?”

“I haven't been given permission for that yet.”

“Tsk tsk, you need to work harder.”

“…….”

Dang Jin was dumbfounded.

‘Is this guy from the Tang Clan?’

To Dang Jin's surprise, Han Cheong-un was well-versed in the Tang Clan's martial arts and poisons.

It wasn't just that he knew many types.

He knew all the types of martial arts that a direct descendant of the Tang Clan could learn and even the order in which they learned poisons.

This was not information that an outsider could easily know.

‘Who is it? What kind of crazy bastard leaked such confidential information to the outside?’

He didn't know who it was, but the one who carelessly revealed the clan's training system was a traitor.

If their identity was revealed, they would be severely punished according to the clan's laws…….

‘No, they just need to be beaten to a pulp. They need to be beaten exactly as much as I was.’

thought Dang Jin.

Anyway, three days passed in this manner, and on the next day.

Han Cheong-un appeared at the training ground with a beaming smile.

“What are you so happy about?”

“Ah, the item I ordered has finally arrived.”

“…….”

“Take a look. This is Young Master Dang Jin's unique weapon that I personally ordered.”

“A unique weapon……”

Dang Jin let out a smirk.

To a warrior of the Tang Clan, the term unique weapon was quite unfamiliar.

Weren't most of the weapons they used hidden weapons launched from their hands?

The recovery rate was low, and it was common to lose them in actual combat.

That's why in the Tang Clan, the more of a master you became, the less you were picky about your weapons.

You were only recognized as a master if you could display your full skills even with a rusty, cheap hidden dagger.

And when your realm reached its peak, you had to be able to use everyday objects like chopsticks or coins as deadly tools.

That was a master recognized by the Tang Clan.

But a unique weapon?

“Ahem, hey, it seems you don't know yet because you're still new……”

He was about to point it out with a cough, but Han Cheong-un opened the box first.

“Here, take a look. This is the Silver Flowing Fly that will become your unique weapon.”

“…….”

The moment he saw it, Dang Jin was speechless.

A sharply honed hidden dagger and a thin silver thread connected to it.

This was an unconventional weapon that no one in the Sichuan Tang Clan used.

“You connected a hidden dagger with a silk sword?”

“That's right.”

Dang Jin silently looked at the weapon intently.

Theoretically speaking, such a hodgepodge weapon was not good.

A hidden dagger must be swift.

A silk sword must be stealthy.

If one could handle two weapons with different characteristics well, that would be a huge advantage.

But the characteristic of these two weapons was that they were extremely difficult to handle.

But he was being told to handle these two together?

‘Even father can't do this.’

To be frank, he should refuse this. But…….

‘What is this?’

The moment he saw that weapon, his heart pounded without him realizing. The image of himself fighting with that weapon was drawn so naturally in his mind.

A countless horde of the Unorthodox Faction rushing in.

He fights against them by throwing the Silver Flowing Fly. And…….

[Come! I am Dang Jin, the Vice Grand Master of ……!]

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

“No……. uh……. it's nothing.”

Dang Jin shook his head, breaking out in a cold sweat.

For a moment, he felt as if he had been possessed by something.

What was that strange delusion that had just popped into his head? Even when he tried to recall it, he couldn't remember it well.

He just had a feeling that it was very important.

‘If I hold that weapon, will that memory come back?’

Dang Jin raised his hand and grabbed the Silver Flowing Fly.

Even though it was the first time he held it, it felt strangely familiar in his hand.

“How do I handle this?”

“…….”

“Young Warrior?”

“Ah, no. I'm just overwhelmed with emotion…….”

Han Cheong-un nodded with a pleased expression. And he spoke to Dang Jin with a determined expression.

“You asked how to handle the weapon, didn't you?”

“That's right. I don't know how to handle this weapon. But if you teach me, I will diligently……”

“Ah, it's alright. I don't know either.”

“…….”

What, you bastard?

The words came up to his throat, but he barely held them back. And Han Cheong-un said.

“I know that weapon suits the young master well. But I don't know how to handle it. Well, I know a few techniques in my head, but it's not like I can demonstrate them……”

“No, then how are we supposed to train?!”

To the shouting Dang Jin, Han Cheong-un said.

“Hahaha. That's simple.”

Hwooong!

Han Cheong-un raised his spear and aimed it straight at Dang Jin. And he said…….

“There is no better training in this world than actual combat.”

“……Huh?”

“From now on, I will push you to the point just before death. Please respond well with that weapon.”

“So now……”

“Then let's begin.”

“Wai… wait!”

“There's no 'wait' during training!”

And Han Cheong-un's spear, which had split into dozens, flew fiercely, aiming for the vital acupoints of Dang Jin's entire body.

“You crazy bastard!”

Dang Jin of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

His ordeal continues for a little longer.

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