Chapter 1448: I Cannot Do It Alone (Part 3)

Tang Gunak, facing Hyun Jong, bowed deeply.

"On behalf of the Sichuan Tang Family, I would like to thank you for patiently waiting despite the difficult situation."

Hyun Jong, acknowledging the gratitude, nodded.

"Of course, that's how it should be. Naturally."

It would be a lie to say he wasn't anxious. Sichuan was no longer a land where they could relax.

But Hyun Jong had waited silently.

Perhaps others wouldn't understand, but Hyun Jong did. He knew how crucial the events at the Tang Family were. As someone who had experienced similar situations multiple times as the leader of Mount Hua, he could understand.

"Gaju-nim, has the situation been somewhat sorted out?"

In response to the question, Tang Gunak looked at Hyun Jong with deep eyes. Hyun Jong unconsciously tightened his grip on his hands.

It's not difficult to confirm someone's skill improvement, but it's challenging to perceive the growth within a person. Yet, Hyun Jong could see it now. He was witnessing a rare sight. In just half a day, the head of the Sichuan Tang Family, the Poison King Tang Gunak, had undoubtedly achieved something.

Tang Gunak turned to look behind.

"I wanted to, but..."

The figures of disciples, who looked at him with firm eyes, appeared.

"It's just a small step now. It doesn't seem easy to remove everything that has piled up."

"Yes, that's right. It won't be easy."

As if understanding, Hyun Jong nodded.

Mount Hua had nothing to lose. Therefore, there was nothing to protect. It was undoubtedly a sad situation, but in reverse, Mount Hua's shedding of its past and moving forward had certainly been helpful.

But the Tang Family was different. Even if they lost the workshop and the poison labratories, they were still the Sichuan Tang Family. Breaking the solid order of the family surrounding them, and rebuilding it, would be far from easy.

Nevertheless, Tang Gunak nodded confidently at Hyun Jong.

"But now that we've started, that's enough."

A small sigh escaped from Hyun Jong's mouth. At that moment, a voice interjected.

"So, can we go now?"

The gazes of Tang Gunak and Hyun Jong turned in the direction of the voice. Chung Myung, with a pouting face, tilted his chin towards the sky.

"It seems like it's turning into night again... Another night of camping?"

"We can't afford that."

Tang Gunak shook his head, shaking his head faintly.

"It's not the Tang Family's way to cause trouble."

"You've already caused enough."

"Shut your mouth!"

"Well, damn! Did I say something wrong?"

As Chung Myung continued to shout while being dragged away hastily by the Five Swords, Hyun Jong apologized to Tang Gunak.

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's not a wrong statement."

Tang Gunak chuckled and glanced south. Despite a fleeting hint of nostalgia in his eyes, Tang Gunak turned his head north.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

Tang Gunak led the disciples and took steps.

Leaving the past behind, and moving to where they would live now.

"...Did you say you would completely settle in Shaanxi?"

Baek Cheon's face was full of confusion. Seeing his astonishment, Tang Gunak asked.

"Didn't we already agree on that?"

"Well, yes, but..."

"I know. The meaning is a bit different."

"Yes. That's what I meant."

Baek Cheon looked jittery, as if afraid he might have made a mistake. Tang Gunak chuckled.

"I just made the decision I had to make."

Tang Gunak looked back at the approaching people.

With over five hundred individuals, and considering those related to the Tang Family who would join, it would easily be a force of thousands. [!?]

"Of course, I would also like to return to Sichuan. It makes my blood boil to think that the land where I was born and raised is being trampled under Paegun's feet."

"I understand."

What if Shaanxi and Hwaeamhyun fell into the hands of the Evil Tyrant Alliance? There was no need to consider how that bad-tempered bastard would react---Baek Cheon's eyes would surely flip upside-down right away.

Losing territory wasn't just about losing land. It was almost like losing all the memories lived on that land.

"But for now, this might be better. We can't cling to a mere piece of land when talking about rebuilding the foundation of the family. Now, we need to be prepared to dig new land in a new place. For the sake of the family and...for them too."

In Tang Gunak's warm gaze, there was a hint of concern as he surveyed the family members. Although those who hadn't mastered martial arts were moving frustratingly slowly from his perspective, everyone was stepping forward without complaints.

From now on, what Tang Gunak had to was turn the despair that hadn't fully disappeared from their eyes, into hope.

"...I apologize."

"W-What are you saying, Gaju-nim!"

In response to the awkward apology from Tang Gunak, Baek Cheon vigorously waved his hands.

"Of course, my opinion may not be that important in this matter, but in any case, if the Tang Family is willing to come to Shaanxi, it is indeed a very grateful thing. What could be more reassuring than that?"

"That's right, saying so..."

"Ahem!"

The warm atmosphere abruptly dissipated. Both Tang Gunak and Baek Cheon turned their gazes to a single point. Clear Myung appeared, the words 'I oppose this' written all over his face.

"Where?"

"To Shaanxi..."

"Where?"

"Hwa...eum."

"Hwaaaeuuuuuuuuuuuuum?"

Clear Myung's eyes flickered. Baek Cheon, who had often seen such a sudden appearance of an evil spirit popping out, took it in stride. However, Tang Gunak, who had not experienced this sight frequently, involuntarily stepped back.

"Someone who knows as much as you do, what do you say? Want to take a seat in Hwaeum?"

"Well..."

"No, this gentleman didn't seem that way, but is he shameless too? Claiming territory in such a narrow land, saying there's something to scavenge for, the Tang Family, Tang Family! We don't even have enough to eat."

"Cough. Well, it's not like it'll last for a thousand years..."

"Hey, you! What nonsense is that? At a time like this, if the Tang Family comes to help us, we should be grateful."

When Yoon Jong interjected, Chung Myung glared fiercely.

"Grateful? Did you just say grateful now? No, damn it, just having those Southern Edge bastards around is enough to make me explode, making me think about setting fire to Southern Edge Mountain any moment!"

"That statement is unrelated to Mount Hua's official stance."

"...Really, I'm scared someone's going to listen to him. This bastard claims to be a Taoist, everyone."

While the Five Swords covered their faces and muttered, Chung Myung continued without paying attention.

"And if the Tang Family crawls in there, what then? What will we eat, how will we survive?"

"No, that..."

"And how can people just be a handful? We have over five hundred people to feed and shelter! Does money just sprout from the ground?"

Upon hearing this, Jo Gol became agitated.

"Hey, this guy! Talking about money so brazenly in front of the Tang Family! How rich is the Tang Family anyway?"

"What?"

"In terms of the Tang Family wealth, our house is like a beggar's pigsty under a bridge! The Tang Family has piled up rare metals, and selling just one poison can fetch a considerable amount of money, you know?"

"Oh, really. Well said. Expensive and rare poisons, jewels and metals that can buy a whole castle, and warehouses full of goods."

"Yeah, you!"

"And where is all that stuff now?"

"Huh?"

Uh, well... In Sichuan, uh...

"It all burned down."

"Fire is fair."

"Yeah, fair. It was fair to Mount Hua too."

"Why bring that up!"

The wealth accumulated by the Tang Family over hundreds of years could not be brought with them when they rushed to escape. Most of it would have burned, or Jang Ilso would have eaten it all while laughing.

"Well, that means..."

"Yeah, so that means..."

As if pondering something, the Five Sword's eyes turned to one side.

Suddenly, in front of the pouring gazes, Tang Gunak's face was covered in cold sweat. Their eyes clearly said, 'What? Are you a beggar?'...

Huh? Soso? Why are you like that too...

"He isn't rich, he just used to be rich!"

"Cough."

Tang Gunak seemed to become more and more despondent. Baek Cheon quickly cleared his throat and spoke.

"Of course, now the situation is difficult, but the Tang Family is still the Tang Family, right? If we give a little help, they will soon prosper again..."

"Oh, they'll probably snatch up kids who have backing and are entering Mount Hua. Sharing businesses reasonably, right? Just like those Southern Edge bastards."

"...How about heading to Hanam?"

"S-Sasuk!"

"It was a mistake... The words slipped out."

Baekcheon quickly waved his hand, but he couldn't take back what was said. The Five Swords' cold gazes were cast upon him.

"Has his personality deteriorated, or was it originally bad?"

"I believe it's the latter. The blood is bad. Where can blood from the Southern Edge bastards end up?"

"That makes sense."

"...Bitches."

Observing the Five Swords, who were bickering, Tang Gunak let out a deep sigh.

"I might not know everything, but there shouldn't be a need to snatch disciples. It's more likely that we'll end up being snatched."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"Some of the Tang Family's women expressed a desire to enter Mount Hua."

"...Actually, I wanted to feign ignorance, but your voice was so loud that I couldn't help but overhear...Didn't you plan to teach the Tang Fmaily's martial arts instead?"

"Naturally, for those who wish, we will do so. However, as you both know, the Tang Family's martial arts are not universal."

"...That's true."

Poisons and hidden weapons are martial arts that take a lifetime to master, and reaching its peak is elusive. The Tang Family was renowned for achieving success through this martial art.

"There's no need to force them onto the thorny path of martial arts because they're late-starters. If they wish to enter Mount Hua, I'll permit it."

"Well, hearing it makes it sound funny, doesn't it? Why would you allow that when we're not accepting disciples? This nobleman seems to have no understanding of the current situation... Oops! Mmhm!"

Baek Cheon covered Chung Myung's mouth with his hand in one swift motion, while using the other hand to undo the ropes binding his shoes. [not sure? lol] And then he stuffed a cloth into Chung Myung's mouth like a gag.

"...That has more uses than I thought."

"Indeed."

"Get this bastard away!"

"Yes."

As Chung Myung was dragged away, Tang Gunak sighed and opened his mouth again.

"It's not just the women. We'll also open the path to Mount Hua for children who haven't properly learned the Tang Family's martial arts yet."

"Actually, from our perspective, we couldn't be more grateful..."

Baek Cheon looked awkward and turned his head towards a certain direction.

"...Are you okay with it?"

There, Chung Myung, with his limbs bound, glared daggers, conveying the message, "Just wait until those Tang Family bastards show up. I'll show them hell myself."

"...They'll handle it themselves."

Tang Gunak said with a bitter expression. Of course, it wasn't ideal, but...

"So, we'll leave it to you..."

Boom!

At that moment, Chung Myung effortlessly cut the ropes binding him and spat out the cloth that was in his mouth like a bullet.

"No, whether they are disciples or apprentices! So what about the money! To invade someone else's land and claim a place, you have to pay a land tax!"

"...He's doing his Evil Sect thing."

"Come to think of it, if this guy was born in Gangnam and became a member of the Evil Sect, Jang Ilso wouldn't have been able to rampage like that."

Instead, a different hell would have unfolded.

"Are we going to feed five hundred penniless poor? Are we supposed to do charity work?"

"Yes."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung looked at Yoon Jong. Yoon Jong calmly said.

"That's right. We're Taoists. We do charity work."

"Uh? Really? Are Taoists supposed to do that?"

...Dew formed in Yoon Jong's eyes. Oh, Heavenly God. Where did it all go wrong? Where did it all...

"Ahem! Anyway, I absolutely can't approve of it! It's irritating enough that those bastards in Hweum are having their way, and now adding more..."

"I have money."

"...Huh?"

Chung Myung turned to Tang Gunak.

"Did you bring some?"

"As you can see, I didn't bring any."

"Well then, do you carry some extra with you regularly?"

"Who takes money to the battlefield?"

Although Chung Myung's eyes softened for a moment, they instantly became sharp.

"Then where does the money come from!"

"The Tang family leave Sichuan for a while because of the Demonic Cult in the past, right?"

"Oh? It was like that."

"Since then, we have distributed about a third of the property to other regions and battlefields to prepare for any contingencies."

"How much?"

"A third."

"Uh... I mean, that's...?"

One-third of the Tang Family wealth, which had been sucking on the blood of Sichuan people for hundreds of years, um...

Chung Myung suddenly looked up at the sky and then lowered his head again. Looking at Tang Gunak, had an unexpectedly warm smile on his face.

"Welcome to Shaanxi. Hehe. What's the use of having friends if not for this? Rest as you want from now on! We'll take care of things for you!"

...Just a moment ago, Tang Gunak was seriously contemplating whether to go to Hanam and rely on Shaolin.