In the early hours when the duel between Tang Do-gyeong and Ho Cheon-an was unfolding,
“What’s going on here?”
Members of the Sacheon Outcasts, finishing their training and preparing for the day, rushed outside the inn as the sound of the martial competition echoed.
What they saw were six Tang Clan martial artists covered in dust and sweat.
Seeing the Tang Clan colors, the outcasts gasped. It had been days since Tang Do-gi had tirelessly raced from the Jeomchang Faction to Sacheon City, investing every bit of his energy into martial arts training, and the eyes of these Tang Clan members sparkled with fierce spirits.
All the outcast members were mere martial artists, so it wasn’t surprising that they felt overwhelmed. However, their silence and quiet demeanor stemmed from the furious momentum of the Tang Clan martial artists.
“It’s been a long time, Uncle.”
“You little brat! Tang Do-gyeong! Just how much disgrace will you bring to the Tang Clan! I swear by the heavens, no matter what happens today, I’ll bind you and take you back to the main house!”
Despite Tang Do-gi’s fury, Tang Do-gyeong’s face remained utterly calm.
“Didn’t you say you’d disown me from the clan?”
“How dare you speak such words! You’ll be lucky to be forgiven, and yet you still have the gall to utter such sacrilege? You clearly haven’t come to your senses!”
As Tang Do-gi raised his hand, the six martial artists behind him unsheathed their weapons in unison.
Watching this, Ho Cheon-an thought,
“Is this a proper elite squad?”
What is the Tang Clan’s martial arts expertise? Hidden Weapons and Poison Techniques. Everyone knows this, but the righteous Tang Clan can’t just go around using hidden weapons and poison on people, so they train in both weapons and techniques separately.
This too is a distinctive feature of the Tang Clan.
Hidden weapons are consumables, and poisons are also consumables. As they reach higher stages, precious hidden weapons and poisons are often used, so the number that can be provided to martial artists in the Tang Clan is limited.
Special poisons and excellent hidden weapons are prioritized for those with special talents; they are the true elite of the Tang Clan, inheriting the hidden weapons and poison techniques. Those who concentrate solely on these methods will prepare their weapons in case they cannot use hidden weapons and poisons.
Having a long range and utilizing manual dexterity to create changes and effects, hidden weapons are certainly related.
However, it wouldn’t be accurate to consider them masters of side techniques. It would be more accurate to say they are using the closest available weapons among those that can generally be used in the Central Plains.
Most of those from the Tang Clan’s branch families are accustomed to the weapon techniques, so their unsheathing of weapons serves as proof of the elite combat power focusing on hidden weapons and poison techniques.
“I already told you, didn’t I, Uncle? Before being a member of the Tang Clan, I’m a man; I can’t just be swayed by whims. If I achieve satisfying results on my own, I’ll go back. Even if a rift occurs in the meantime, it’s unavoidable.”
“Are you still blabbering with that pathetic pride?”
Crack!
Tang Do-gi struck the ground with his whip.
“Subdue that brat!”
Just as the Tang Clan’s experts were about to unleash their whips, one outcast stepped in front of Tang Moon-gi.
It was Jeong Sam wielding the Half-Moon Blade.
“Oh no…”
Ho Cheon-an sighed. He had been thinking that if such a situation occurred, he would strike Jeong Sam from behind, but it was particularly problematic since it was exactly the time they were engaged in gambling.
During the time to clear things up and head outside from the third floor, the other outcasts sensing the commotion had all rushed outside, leaving Ho Cheon-an no chance to quietly deal with Jeong Sam.
“Why must you come at exactly this hour of the day?”
As Jeong Sam moved, the fellow comrades of the Sacheon Outcasts began to stand by Tang Do-gyeong, igniting a spark of fury in Tang Do-gi’s eyes.
“Step aside! How dare you interfere with the Tang Clan’s event at a time like this! Do you think that your pitiful disguise can conceal your identities, and you dare to step forward?”
Alongside the fierce momentum emanating from the Tang Clan’s martial artists! Though Tang Clan members merely wished to subdue Jeong Sam carefully since he was one of their own, their attitude toward the outcast was completely different. The overwhelming killing aura and the tidal wave of fierce energy from the peak-stage martial artists made the bodies of the outcasts tremble.
“We may be outcasts, but we are comrades who have shared joy and sorrow with the Great Hero of the Tang Clan! No matter the business of the Tang Clan, if the parties involved cut ties, how can forcibly dragging someone against their will be the business of the clan?!”
“That’s right! We will protect the Great Hero!”
“The flow…”
Ho Cheon-an quickly grasped the situation. Originally, there were fifteen comrades; among them, eight including Jeong Sam had stepped up.
Ho Cheon-an had estimated it would take five days for the Tang Clan’s experts to arrive. Yet here they were, already bothering the comrades when they had barely made their stance.
Considering the fact that about half of the members had strayed from their ranks, it wasn’t merely Ho Cheon-an’s maneuvering, but indeed the overwhelming spirit of the Tang Clan that soared far beyond Ho Cheon-an’s expectations.
“What are you all doing! Those who have stepped forward! How do you plan on handling the consequences of your actions? If you don’t withdraw immediately, you will be permanently expelled!”
Yu Sa-yeon intervened.
“As a man, I cannot withdraw before the Sacheon Outcasts!”
“Even if I am expelled and shed the disguise, I cannot step back from this matter!”
“… You guys!”
While some who acted out of a momentary impulse were with Jeong Sam, most standing alongside Tang Do-gyeong were outcasts who were feeling the limits of their self-taught techniques and the barriers of their status. People without connections cannot obtain proper teachings and martial arts, no matter how much money they have, and these outcasts were stuck at that very spot.
They didn’t want to miss out on the chance that Tang Do-gyeong represented.
Becoming Sacheon Outcasts was also facilitated by the fact that learning martial arts was easier in this position, so they were unhesitating in throwing off their disguises for the chance to learn martial arts.
Seeing from the sidelines, Tang Do-gi sharply interjected.
“This level of interference isn’t insignificant. Anyone who steps forward here, I, Tang Do-gi, swear that today’s resentment will be repaid tenfold.”
The outcasts couldn’t answer, but none of them retreated. Tang Do-gyeong was alternating his gaze between the outcasts and the Tang Clan members, looking perplexed by the situation.
“Ha, shit…”
Ho Cheon-an let out a deep sigh. After Tang Do-gi’s declaration, the aura radiating from the Tang Clan’s experts seemed to shift. The fierce energy just a moment ago had changed completely. Previously, they might have fought with rough hands swinging whips, but now, recalling the sake of the Tang Clan’s Inwon, the tension in the outcasts was becoming sharper.
If the clash continued, there might be casualties among the outcasts, and Ho Cheon-an could only guess how the remaining members would react to witnessing bloodshed.
If all the outcasts attacked, even the Tang Clan martial artists wouldn’t escape unscathed.
The martial artists from the clan were peak-stage fighters, while the outcasts were mostly at the top level; however, if a true massacre ensued, the outcasts would become far more threatening than any martial artist. The life of an outcast perceived as being beneath the martial artists was riddled with dangers and blood.
Not just any random outcast, but the Sacheon Outcasts who had clawed their way up from the jaws of life and death were true experts in carnage.
Even if a few among the Tang Clan’s martial artists were to die or get injured, that could very well happen.
Knowing this truth, even Tang Do-gi, whose anger had reached its peak, took a step back when the outcasts stepped forward.
“The killing intent from the Tang Clan members seems a bit excessive.”
Yeo Jin-sang’s muttering pierced through Ho Cheon-an’s ears.
“What do you intend to do? Even if it’s the Tang Clan, this feels too oppressive.”
“We’ll intervene once blood is spilled. After all, we’re family.”
The dynamics shifted.
Watching the Tang Clan members release their fierce intent without reservation, the neutral and Bo Hwa-ro faction outcasts began to ease their killing intent little by little.
Some took a step forward, while others reached for their weapons.
The expressions of the Tang Clan martial artists also darkened.
The killing intent the outcasts exhibited was something they experienced daily in life-or-death battles. While their momentum may be lesser, the sharpness of the killing intent from the outcasts could surpass that of the Tang Clan martial artists.
It was indeed a state where tensions could ignite any moment.
“Wait!”
Ho Cheon-an’s hand shot up.
In his hand was the Blood Jade Plaque.
“Blood Jade Plaque…!”
“Is that the author?”
All eyes from both the Tang Clan’s martial artists and the Sacheon Outcasts were instantly drawn to Ho Cheon-an. Taking a deep breath, Ho Cheon-an pushed through the crowd and stood before Tang Do-gyeong.
“Great Hero of the Tang Clan. This trouble is arising due to you, yet you remain silent.”
“I…”
“What will you do? The test to become a Sacheon Outcast is ongoing, and we are in the middle of a gambling match. However, I must say, I’m not sure if risking these matters in opposition to the Great Hero’s clan is worth it.”
“Brother Ya…”
“A mere wager, and if you wish to become a Sacheon Outcast, you can come to me anytime. The Blood Jade Plaque will be kept safe by me; why not finish your clan’s affairs and plan for the future?”
