Tea was prepared in the guest quarters where Bu Eunseol was staying.
Sitting across from Tang Cheong, Bu Eunseol gazed silently at the teacup before him.
Sip.
Taking a sip of the hot tea, Bu Eunseol felt a mix of emptiness and liberation. There was no one here to ask about the tea’s flavor or pester him about pleasantries.
After a couple more sips, Bu Eunseol nodded toward Tang Cheong. “What do you want to talk about?”
“Are you planning to stay in the family long?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Does a friend need a reason to stay at a friend’s home?”
“You’re not just here to freeload, are you?”
“Perhaps.” Her abrupt questions were met with curt replies.
As the conversation veered off focus, Tang Cheong shrugged. “Fine, I’ll be direct.” She stared into Bu Eunseol’s steady eyes and asked, “Are you staying to help Third Brother?”
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol took another slow sip of tea.
There was no obligation or need to answer such questions honestly. If anyone should feel frustrated, it would be Tang Cheong, not him.
“And you?” Bu Eunseol turned the question back on her. “Why did you seek me out? To help him?”
Realizing Bu Eunseol was no ordinary person, Tang Cheong gave a bright smile. “Alright, let’s stop beating around the bush.” Taking a deep breath, she stood and gazed out the window. “The rise or fall of the family depends on who becomes patriarch.”
“…”
“Other clans distribute power well, but in our family, the patriarch holds absolute authority.” Turning to Bu Eunseol, she continued, “I want only one thing: for an exceptional person who can elevate the Tang Family to become patriarch.”
Bu Eunseol, mulling over her words, gave a cold smile. “You think you’re qualified to judge who’s fit for succession.”
“Why not?” Tang Cheong said, winking as she looked directly at him. “If I pick a side, the balance will tip immediately.”
Bu Eunseol stared at her silently.
“Originally, Third Brother wasn’t someone I considered exceptional. His heart is too gentle, and he lacks ruthlessness to lead the family,” she said, her eyes curving like crescent moons. “But from today… I must acknowledge that Third Brother is qualified.”
Her voice was clear and compelling, with a charisma that drew attention.
“Why from today?” Bu Eunseol asked.
“I think you know why,” she replied.
“I hate vague answers.”
“There are two reasons,” Tang Cheong said, smiling brightly as Bu Eunseol’s expression grew cold. “First, Third Brother has gained martial prowess equivalent to the family’s elite guard.”
The elite guard’s level of strength likely referred to Bu Eunseol himself.
“And the second?”
As Bu Eunseol asked, Tang Cheong walked slowly toward the door. “Because Third Brother’s overly kind nature will have faded.” Turning to face him, she flashed a sweet smile. “To befriend someone like you, Young Master Bu, he’d need to become someone of your caliber, wouldn’t he?”
Her words were clear and needed no further explanation. Bu Eunseol couldn’t help but let a glint of admiration flicker in his eyes.
Impressive.
As Tang Cheong reached the door, she said in a clear voice, “I enjoyed today. Farewell.” With that short remark, she stepped outside.
Sitting at the table, Bu Eunseol stared at the door she’d left through and let out a low sigh. “What a formidable woman.”
Tang Cheong was not only skilled in martial arts and strategy but possessed an uncanny insight into others’ motives. She outshone Tang Bi and seemed to combine the best traits of Tang Ryeong and Tang Gon.
Creak.
The door opened, and Black Leopard entered, sweating and beaming. “Young Master!”
“…”
“Enjoying your tea?”
Bu Eunseol, staring into the void as if he hadn’t heard, murmured, “I smell something.”
“Oh, I was practicing hidden weapon techniques with Third Young Master for two hours, so I’m a bit sweaty…”
“A strong scent of blood,” Bu Eunseol said with a faint chuckle, gazing at the distant sky.
Someone’s provoked him again, Black Leopard thought, swallowing hard and sweating nervously.
***
Sangseong Pavilion
This was where the memorial tablets of the Tang Family’s past patriarchs were enshrined.
At the top were tablets for the two saints who transformed the small village of the Tang Family into a martial world powerhouse: Poison Saint Tang Cheongun and Blade Reaper Tang Simbin.
Whoosh.
Tang Gon lit incense before the tablets, bowed, and carefully stepped outside.
“Phew.” Looking up at the distant sky, he let out a deep breath. As he turned to leave, his steps faltered.
A figure in a navy robe with silver embroidery approached slowly. With a lion-like gait and an aura that seemed to pierce the heavens, it was the patriarch, Tang Pae.
“Tang Gon greets the patriarch,” Tang Gon said, bowing.
Tang Pae nodded. “It’s been a while.” An awkward tension hung between father and son.
As the silence stretched, Tang Pae asked in a low voice, “What brings you here?”
Born to a lowly maid, Tang Gon had been forbidden from entering the Inner Court as a child. Even after Tang Pae lifted the restriction upon his adulthood, Tang Gon had never set foot in the Inner Court.
Yet here he was, visiting Sangseong Pavilion.
“Having returned to the family, it’s only right to pay my respects,” Tang Gon replied.
“Hm.” Tang Pae studied him quietly before saying, “Walk with me.”
Near Sangseong Pavilion was a small pond with a pavilion called Sangrimjeong.
Looking at the pavilion’s signboard, Tang Pae spoke softly. “Now that you’re back, have you decided your path?”
The moment had come.
Taking a deep breath, Tang Gon said firmly, “I intend to keep pursuing the successor position.”
“Weren’t you returning to give it up?” Tang Gon flinched, but Tang Pae gave a faint smile. “Just my assumption.”
“I… did plan to, but I’ve changed my mind.”
“Why?”
Tang Gon’s eyes gleamed as he took a deep breath. “I want to stand side by side with my friend.”
“You mean that Bu Eunseol you brought.”
“Yes.”
Tang Pae’s eyes held a curious glint. “Is he that exceptional?”
Tang Gon smiled proudly. “Yes. He’s the most remarkable and… ruthless person I’ve ever met.”
“Ruthless…” Tang Pae echoed, a strange smile on his lips.
Ruthlessness—the one flaw that had held back the otherwise talented Tang Gon.
“Very well. Return,” Tang Pae said, nodding.
Tang Gon clasped his hands. “Then…”
As he turned to leave, Tang Pae spoke. “To become the family’s successor, you must become a cold-blooded man without tears or mercy.”
A battle among kin. To be confirmed as successor, he’d have to fight his own brothers.
Tang Gon’s eyes flashed. “I’m already prepared.”
“Good.” Tang Pae drew a blackened leaf from his robes—a dark Pear Blossom Leaf.
“This is…” Tang Gon said, stunned as he took it.
“I permit you to learn one of the Tang Family’s secret techniques,” Tang Pae said calmly.
Tang Gon’s body trembled. Despite being a successor candidate, his inability to learn the eight secret techniques reserved for direct bloodlines had hindered his ability to build a faction.
No concubine’s son in the family’s history has ever been taught the secret techniques.
Due to fierce opposition from the elders, Tang Gon had been barred from the secret vault. But now, learning one of the secret techniques would put him on equal footing with Tang Ryeong and Tang Bi, giving him a chance to gain supporters.
“I didn’t withhold the techniques because of the elders’ opposition,” Tang Pae said.
In the Tang Family, the patriarch’s authority was absolute. No one, not even the entire family, could sway Tang Pae’s will.
“Back then, your desire to become successor wasn’t strong enough.”
It was true.
If Tang Gon had fiercely desired the position, he would’ve persuaded Tang Pae and learned the techniques first. Instead, driven by pride and defiance, he’d left to build his own power in the martial world.
“But now, I see that desire and ambition in your eyes,” Tang Pae said.
“Thank you…” Tang Gon said, tucking the Pear Blossom Leaf away and clasping his hands. “I won’t disappoint you.” Bowing deeply to Tang Pae, Tang Gon straightened his shoulders and turned.
“By making a friend… can a serpent become a dragon?” Tang Pae murmured to the air, watching Tang Gon leave.
“Wu Gang.”
A faint voice responded from the void. “Your orders, sir.”
“Report every move that boy makes to me, down to the smallest detail.”
“Understood.”
Looking at the distant sky, Tang Pae smiled. “The next successor will elevate the family’s prestige even further.”
***
“A concubine’s son learning the family’s secret techniques?”
Crash! Smash!
Hearing that Tang Gon had entered the secret vault to learn a technique, Tang Bi began smashing the furnishings in his study.
“Has Father gone senile?!”
“Young Master, please lower your voice,” Tang Sa-un cautioned.
Tang Bi’s anger turned on him. “You’re no better! You said he’d give up the successor position! Does this look like giving up?”
Thud!
A dragon-carved inkstone, crafted by a master of Baeksong Brush House, smashed into a pillar beside Tang Sa-un, shattering into pieces.
“My apologies,” Tang Sa-un said as blood dripped from a scratch on his cheek.
Seeing this, Tang Bi finally calmed and shouted, “Where is Tang Gon now?”
“Before entering the vault, he’s at the armory with Master Gam, selecting weapons.”
“Got it.” Storming out, Tang Bi headed swiftly toward the great armory at the north gate.
Passing dozens of pavilions, he finally saw the black-painted armory.
“What the hell are you doing?!” Tang Bi roared, spotting Tang Gon in front of the armory. “You bastard…” His shout trailed off.
Standing there were not only Tang Gon but also Bu Eunseol, Master Gam of the armory, and Tang Ryeong.
“Second Young Master,” said Master Gam, a white-bearded elder, acknowledging him.
Tang Bi reluctantly clasped his hands. “Master Gam. Eldest Brother is here too.”
As he grudgingly greeted them, Tang Gon also clasped his hands. “Second Brother.”
“Second Brother, my foot!” Tang Bi snarled, baring his teeth as he locked eyes with Tang Gon. “What makes a concubine’s son like you think you can learn the family’s secret techniques?!”
“Second Brother, Father permitted this,” Tang Ryeong said.
“Are you just going to stand by, Brother?” Tang Bi said, pointing furiously at Tang Gon. “You should’ve gone to Father to stop this!”
“Brother,” Tang Ryeong began, raising a hand to speak, but Tang Gon interjected calmly.
“Second Brother seems displeased that I’m entering the vault.”
“What? You dare say that?!” Tang Bi growled. “If you give up now and slink back to the Outer Court quietly, you might keep your life.”
“That’s exactly why I’m going—to keep my life,” Tang Gon said with a broad smile, gesturing to the sword at his waist.
“If I master the Poison Spirit Dissolving Technique, I won’t die by your hand, will I?”
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