Chapter 9 : Chapter 9

Chapter 9. I Wonder if I Could Meet You Just One More Time? (3)

The cause of the Tang Clan's bloody tragedy that Han Cheong-un had originally thought of.

He had thought it was Dang Seoyeon's revenge, born of her growing anger and hatred towards the Tang Clan.

Because Dang Seoyeon, who had reappeared long after causing the Tang Clan's bloody tragedy, had become a killing star that would be remembered for a long time in the history of the Jianghu, leading countless people to their deaths.

A small town could be turned into a land of death in less than half a day.

Whether they were martial artists or commoners, not a single blade of grass could grow for years in the places where she had once spread death.

Heavenly Killing Poison Flower.

It was the moniker given to her, who had become a killing star that led all the world to death as if to kill even the heavens.

What Han Cheong-un had felt when he saw the places she had passed through at that time was a deep-seated hatred and resentment towards the world.

Although he had never met her in person, he could tell just by looking at the traces.

No sane person could do such a crazy thing. And her past, which he had heard from Dang Jin, also provided a motive for her to harbor resentment towards the Tang Clan and the world. But…….

‘It was different when I met her in person.’

Dang Seoyeon did not resent the world, nor did she hate the clan.

The only thing she resented was her own fate.

She was careful with every action out of guilt for those who had died because of her, and it was ingrained in her body.

He could tell from the way she would hurriedly retreat whenever he tried to stealthily close the distance, thinking they had gotten a little used to each other.

That it was an action done out of consideration for him.

Would such a person cause a bloody tragedy out of hatred for the clan?

‘She didn't seem like it.’

Even hearing from her older brother, Dang Jin, it was the same. It was highly likely that the bloody tragedy that occurred in the Tang Clan was not intentionally caused by Dang Seoyeon. If so…….

‘There was some external factor, right?’

What could it be?

In fact, there were so many plausible factors that he couldn't jump to conclusions. For now, the best thing to do was to build more friendship and observe the surroundings.

And Han Cheong-un's daily routine flowed regularly.

Waking up in the morning, eating a meal…….

“Hmm, the Tang Clan really makes delicious food.”

Training with Dang Jin…….

“Aack! Hit me a little gentler, you demonic bastard!”

Still, he no longer said to stop hitting him.

After the training was over, he would buy a gift to get closer to Dang Seoyeon and head to the pond in the rear garden.

At first, Han Cheong-un would arrive first, but now, Dang Seoyeon was always waiting for him first.

Han Cheong-un hurried his steps so as not to make her wait long. But…….

“Stop!”

What is this?

Suddenly, there were brats blocking Han Cheong-un's path. Looking at them, they were brats who had not yet reached the age of majority.

‘Looking at their attire, they seem to be the children of the Tang Clan…….’

“What is the matter?”

At Han Cheong-un's question, the boy in the very front stepped forward and spoke crookedly.

“We were in your debt before.”

“……?”

And another boy next to him said.

“Surely you're not mistaking a one-time fluke for your real skill, are you?”

“……?”

The two boys' eyes were full of fighting spirit. Yes, that's very commendable. But…….

“Excuse me, young warriors?”

“What?”

“When did we ever fight?”

At that, the two boys' faces crumpled.

“You don't remember the duel you had with us before?”

“How dare you insult me?!”

The two boys were jumping up and down in a rage.

And Han Cheong-un thought sincerely.

‘Who are they?’

He really couldn't remember.

Judging by the flow of the conversation, it seemed he had dueled with these boys at some point, but why would he fight with such young kids?

‘Well, I'm young now too, but…….’

At that moment, the two boys stepped forward and shouted proudly.

“I am Dang Ho!”

“I am Dang Jung! Are you still going to say you don't remember?!”

At their words, Han Cheong-un nodded his head and hummed.

“Hmmmm……”

He had a face that showed he didn't remember at all.

In fact, these two were the boys Han Cheong-un had dueled with before when he was trying to become a retainer.

Although they were still young, they had decent skills for their age, as befitting the children of the Tang Clan.

But they were defeated one-sidedly without even being a one-move match.

Their pride had been deeply wounded.

And…….

[The Tang Clan never forgets a grudge.]

These boys had been raised with the teachings of the Tang Clan since they were young. But since they were still mentally immature, they did not fully understand those teachings.

It was the Tang Clan's tradition not to forget a grudge and not to shy away from any means for revenge, but that was only when there was a just cause.

If they were to hold a grudge and seek revenge for a defeat in a fair duel, the Tang Clan would not even be able to be part of the Orthodox Faction.

But these young boys…….

“We've come to repay the debt from that time.”

“It doesn't matter if you call us cowards! Consider it an honor that we acknowledge your skill.”

They were still too young and immature.

‘Ten of them…….’

It seemed they had chosen to increase their numbers to make up for the lack of skill.

“Haah……”

Han Cheong-un let out a sigh.

The method was too childish and vile to be overlooked just because they were still young.

What should he do about this?

Honestly, even if a hundred of them came, not just ten, these kids would not be a threat to Han Cheong-un. However…….

‘If I get into a scuffle with these kids now, the Tang Clan might make an issue of it, right?’

It would be very troublesome if he were kicked out of the Tang Clan now. So…….

“I admit my defeat. So could you please step aside?”

Han Cheong-un meekly took a step back.

He had had many experiences like this in his past life.

Whenever he, who had started from an ordinary warrior with no background, showed his talent, he would be checked by the disciples of the prestigious Orthodox Faction sects.

At those times, he had tried fighting back, and he had also appealed to the Alliance's rules, but…….

‘In the end, it always just made the situation worse.’

So what he chose instead was to just bow his head appropriately.

If what those spoiled brats wanted was their pride, what was so difficult about boosting it for them?

It was better than causing a commotion.

So Han Cheong-un chose to take a step back this time as well. At that…….

“Umm……”

“Ahem……”

Rather, the other party was flustered.

They had come to take revenge with a firm resolve, but they were flustered when the opponent bowed his head first.

‘They're still kids after all.’

Yes. If the situation could be resolved like this, that would be for the best.

Those kids, too, when they grow up, will realize how shameful what they did was……. or not, that's their business, but anyway, this was the most harmless way for now. Just as the situation seemed to be concluding peacefully…….

“Hmph, it's obvious you're just trying to get out of this situation.”

There was someone who threw a wrench in the works.

The child who stepped forward with a sharp voice was a girl with sharp eyes.

That girl said to the surroundings.

“What are you all doing? Are you going to fall for such an obvious trick?”

At that, the surrounding boys looked uncertain. And one of them said.

“No, he's apologizing, isn't he?”

“You idiot. It's an obvious lie, isn't it? Can't you see he's trying to get out of this situation?”

Smart one, aren't you?

“Wanderers like him don't know anything about honor or anything anyway. After he gets out of this situation, he'll go around boasting that he beat a descendant of the Tang Clan.”

And mean, too.

Han Cheong-un let out a small sigh and said.

“Young lady, in that case, what can I do to appease your anger?”

“Let's see? Shouldn't you at least perform a full prostration?”

The child was very mean.

A full prostration? To a warrior who values honor more than life, forcing such a humiliation was something that could lead to a life-and-death dispute.

It was not a word to be uttered lightly.

‘What is this kid going to be when she grows up? But…….’

Han Cheong-un thought.

‘Right now, preventing the Tang Clan's bloody tragedy is the priority.’

Considering Dang Jin's dedication, to whom he owed a great deal in his past life, he couldn't just throw everything away and leave.

He couldn't let that terrible thing happen again.

“Hmph, see. You can't…….”

“Will that be enough?”

“Uh……. huh?”

The girl was taken aback.

But Han Cheong-un said calmly.

“I will do as the young lady wishes. So I hope this grudge will end with that.”

“……Umm……”

The girl was a little surprised.

It seemed she didn't expect him to actually do it.

Wasn't he the master who had even defeated that Dang Jin older brother?

Of course, she didn't believe all of it.

There must have been some mistake.

Did it make sense for Dang Jin, a direct descendant of the Tang Clan, to lose to a boy younger than him?

The biggest reason this girl had come here was to quell that ridiculous rumor. But…….

‘He's really going to do it?’

Does he have no pride?

If it were me, I would rather fight, whether I die or not, than endure such a humiliation.

But Han Cheong-un was sincerely trying to do it.

The moment his knees were about to touch the ground…….

“What are you doing now?”

A cold remark was heard.

The moment that voice was heard, the hairs on the bodies of the children in this place stood on end. And where the voice came from…….

“Now……”

A woman wearing a dark black veil and dangling poison-warding beads all over her body was slowly walking over.

“I asked what you are all doing.”

Dang Seoyeon.

She was slowly walking over.

Anyone who knew her well would be surprised. She was someone who was reluctant to even appear in front of people, and even if she did, it was her habit to always keep her distance.

But now, the sight of her walking and approaching on her own was not just awkward, but even strange.

The girl who had forced Han Cheong-un to perform a full prostration said in a trembling voice.

“Sister Seoyeon. This is, well……”

“Enough.”

“…….”

“Actually, I didn't ask because I really wanted to know.”

Dang Seoyeon had been waiting for Han Cheong-un at the pond in the rear garden as usual.

What kind of story would he tell today?

What kind of experience would he give her?

Every day spent with Han Cheong-un was so precious to her.

To the point where she could accept that all the hardships and pain of her past life were for the happiness of this moment.

That's right. She was happy now.

It was an emotion she was feeling for the first time since she was born.

She felt like she finally understood why life was beautiful.

But Han Cheong-un was later than usual.

Anxious, she had no choice but to leave the rear garden and move to find Han Cheong-un. And she saw.

She saw the clan's children lording over Han Cheong-un and forcing him to perform a full prostration.

The reason? There must be one.

They wouldn't do such a thing for no reason.

But was that important?

Whatever the reason…….

“I can't forgive this.”

Crack. Craack. Ck.

The poison-warding beads wrapped around her body cracked, broke, and fell to the ground.

Each one was a top-grade poison-warding bead worth a fortune in platinum, but they couldn't handle the overflowing poison energy. Before she knew it, a green poison energy began to slowly overflow from her body. At that…….

The grass at her feet turned brown and withered.

The birds in the sky chirped urgently and fled.

The ground was dying, turning blackish, and even the color of the air was changing.

A terrifying poison energy.

The poison of death, which did not allow for the existence of life in this world, began to spread.

“Uh……. uh uh……?”

“Hiccup.”

The children collapsed to the ground.

Even if they were young and immature, they were the children of the Tang Clan.

The moment they saw the poison energy emanating from Dang Seoyeon, they realized. This was a disaster they could not face.

And when she gestured forward, a deadly poison energy swept forward like a wave.

There was nowhere to hide, nowhere to run. But…….

Pooooong!

A single spear shattered that wave of poison energy.

The clumped poison energy scattered into pieces, and Han Cheong-un, who appeared from between them, said.

“Please calm down, Young Lady Dang.”

“Move aside, Young Warrior.”

“This is not something to go this far for. Please calm down and suppress your poison energy.”

“…….”

At Han Cheong-un's words, Dang Seoyeon bit her lip hard.

Calm down? Why should I?

I've endured a lot, haven't I?

Endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured and endured…….

After enduring and enduring again, I finally found this one single happiness.

And I have to endure even that?

Me? Why? For what reason?

“Keuk…….”

It's annoying.

The poison energy that has gone mad to the bone causes an unpleasant headache and consumes her.

It doesn't matter anymore.

She won't endure it any longer.

At that moment, the poison energy in her body condensed like a volcano just before eruption. And just before it exploded…….

“Move aside!”

It was then.

Suddenly, a large number of people in black masks appeared from all directions and threw chains with weights attached.

Charrrrrrrk!

The chains tightly bound and restrained Dang Seoyeon, and one of them shouted.

“Deploy the Heavenly Chain Poison Suppression Formation!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

These were the Anbi.

They were the secret unit of the Tang Clan, who only listened to the Clan Head's orders.

They had been observing Dang Seoyeon from a distance and were prepared in case her poison energy ran rampant.

They tightly bound Dang Seoyeon with the chains and then directly injected their qi to suppress her poison energy.

Just as the Sichuan Tang Clan was skilled at handling poison, they were also skilled at suppressing it.

As dozens of masters joined forces to suppress her, the poison energy that Dang Seoyeon was emitting gradually subsided. But…….

“Keuk…….”

“Eok!”

“Gr… Grand Master. It's dangerous. The poison energy is flowing back……. Aack!”

Screams began to erupt from the Anbi members from all directions.

Dang Seoyeon's poison energy was pushing back their internal energy and, in reverse, was starting to infiltrate through the chains.

The skin revealed beyond their masks was gradually turning purple, and some of them vomited black blood.

“Do not let go of the chains! Hold your positions no matter what!”

Dozens of Anbi masters were trying to suppress Dang Seoyeon's poison energy with their combined strength. But…….

“Keoheok…….”

“Cough…….”

It was impossible.

Their opponent was a Myriad Poisons Body.

In the distant future, she would be called the Heavenly Killing Poison Flower and plunge the Jianghu into fear as a great killing star.

In the first place, if they could suppress her, a terrible incident like the Tang Clan Annihilation would not have occurred.

‘What should I do? Should I step in?’

Han Cheong-un was conflicted.

Could he step in here and suppress Dang Seoyeon's poison energy? The internal energy he had cultivated was, strictly speaking, of the orthodox Daoist lineage.

It was possible to suppress poison energy and purify demonic qi. But it was questionable whether it would work on a Myriad Poisons Body…….

“Kuaaaak!”

“Yukho?!”

‘There's no time to hesitate.’

If this continued, all of the Anbi would fall. Just as he firmed his resolve and was about to step forward…….

“Everyone, stand back!”

With a resounding voice, a man passed over Han Cheong-un's head.

“Clan Head?”

“Ooh!”

It was the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Dang Myeong.

He advanced towards his daughter, who was emitting plumes of poison energy, without hesitation. And then…….

Papapapapapat!

He threw the hidden needles he held in both hands.

As expected of the Clan Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

With the thin hidden needles, he managed to pierce through Dang Seoyeon's poison energy and suppress the vital acupoints of her entire body.

“Cough…….”

Dang Seoyeon, who had been releasing poison energy, vomited blood and writhed in pain as her vital acupoints were forcibly suppressed. But it was still not enough.

Dang Myeong quickly approached, then stretched out both his hands and placed them on Dang Seoyeon's head and lower dantian. And then…….

“Endure it!”

He began to absorb the poison energy himself.

He began to quickly suppress and absorb the poison energy in her lower dantian and the poison that had spread in her head.

“Ah……. Aaaaaaaaack!”

In the process, Dang Seoyeon's body trembled violently as she screamed in pain.

It was happening again.

The pain of having her true qi directly sucked from her lower dantian and the pain of the poison that was stirring throughout her body, as if eating away at her.

It was a pain she had experienced her whole life but could never get used to.

Watching his daughter tremble in excruciating pain, unable to even faint, the Tang Clan Head bit his lip hard.

If he hesitated here, the time of pain would only be prolonged. He hardened his heart and absorbed the poison energy even faster.

Fortunately, thanks to the Clan Head personally absorbing the poison energy, her poison energy was suppressed to some extent. At that…….

“Now is the time. Put all your strength into the poison suppression formation.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Anbi warriors, having received the Clan Head's order, suppressed Dang Seoyeon's poison energy with all their might.

When the poison energy had completely subsided, all that was visible was the pitiful sight of Dang Seoyeon, unconscious and bound in chains.

The Tang Clan Head carefully supported his daughter. And then…….

“Ilho!”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

To the subordinate who answered, Dang Myeong spoke, emitting an icy aura.

“Detain everyone who was in this place. And find out what happened.”

“Yes, sir!”

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