The Tang Clan Head’s face was gaunt. He was exhausted from the meeting that had continued through the night. It was not because he couldn’t sleep. It was because the situation was so hopeless that no path could be seen no matter what he did.
The alliance members insisted on opening the headquarters, yet they all agreed that Tang Sohwa of the Sichuan Tang Clan must not be allowed to leave. Their own sects were worried and would depart, but they wanted the Tang Clan’s direct line to remain confined within the headquarters. In the end, that was the conclusion they reached.
The Tang Clan Head’s worries deepened. He, too, was worried about the Tang Clan and had to go back, but in this chaos he could not bear to leave his daughter behind.
“Clan Head.”
At Heukcheon Amgui’s voice, the Tang Clan Head lifted his gaze.
“I understand that your thoughts are complicated, but let us go now. All the more in times like these, one must stubbornly participate in gatherings. If you are absent, they will delight in gossip, and things afterward will not flow favorably for the Tang Clan.”
At the Senior Elder’s words, Tang Ji-ha nodded. He had thought bringing him along would be burdensome, but now he was greatly relieved. Every time his mind wavered, Tang Min would steady him again.
The two of them left the Tang residence bathed in the light of dawn. Headquarters had called all sect leaders and elder-ranked figures to the training hall, saying that there was something to announce. It wasn’t to hold a duel. There was simply no better place large enough to accommodate everyone, so they must have arranged seats there.
He vaguely understood what the headquarters intended to say.
‘...It seems they mean to announce the opening of the headquarters.’
During the meeting, opinions had clashed, yet there were a few moments when everyone’s opinions converged—one of them being when the topic of opening the headquarters arose.
As if to comfort Tang Ji-ha, Tang Min spoke pleasantly.
“I just went to check and saw that the Little Clan Head’s condition has improved greatly. It would be good if he could go out and train soon.”
“Even if the gate opens, it will not be easy to leave immediately.”
Tang Ji-ha replied coldly, but Tang Min continued brightly, not the least intimidated.
“Oh, come to think of it, Sohwa seems to have gone to the Sagye Hall yesterday.”
“The Sagye Hall?”
When Tang Ji-ha frowned, Heukcheon Amgui chuckled softly.
“They say Sohwa personally brought the Little Clan Head back from the Sagye Hall. It seems she has grown quite close with the Hall Administrator—how fortunate.”
“How is that fortunate?”
Heukcheon Amgui smiled with a meaning that was hard to grasp.
“I had thought that once Sohwa left the Tang Clan, people would be reluctant to go around with that child and that she might die quickly. But apparently she has a talent for coaxing people.”
Because words that began as insults toward his daughter ended as praise, Tang Ji-ha could not react appropriately.
Heukcheon Amgui, who had no interest in the Clan Head’s reaction, did not wait and simply continued.
“I don’t know whether she threatens people or wins their hearts. No—honestly, I think she threatens them. But since I didn’t see it myself, I’ll only make that guess. In any case, Sohwa seems to have stronger survival instincts than expected, so Clan Head, you may ease your worries a bit. Ah, if I vouch for her survival, that’s something incredible.”
When Tang Ji-ha’s eyes clouded over, Tang Min spoke in open irritation.
“Now, Clan Head. At home I may be treated like this, but outside everyone trembles at my one word.”
He did not need to be told how Tang Min was treated outside. He also knew that people trembling at his words was not because of awe.
Yet the Clan Head chose silence instead of an answer. That was the survival method he had learned during his time as Heukcheon Amgui’s disciple.
Tang Min, who had been swaggering, suddenly spoke in a serious tone.
“You cannot protect the Clan Head forever. I’ve been lucky to survive this long, but is there any guarantee you’ll be alive next year, or the year after? If you suddenly die, you won’t be able to protect her then. What will you do?”
“......”
“You can’t protect treasure just by hiding it away in a room. The world is full of madmen who will crave it and break down the door to get in.”
Tang Ji-ha thought he understood what Tang Min was saying. He listened silently.
“In the martial world, relationships are as important as martial skill. It would be good if I could crush every one of them because I’m stronger, but that’s not the only way to be strong. If that were true, only one in ten would survive and nine in ten would be dead. It’s good to be excellent yourself, but binding stronger people to you with ties and keeping them at your side is also a way to survive.”
“......”
“So if you truly want to protect them, let them grow to some degree on their own. It’s fine for the Little Clan Head to build martial skill, and fine for Sohwa to build connections and make allies.”
Tang Min smirked faintly.
“They’re both doing well.”
Heukcheon Amgui spoke with a leisurely expression.
“They’re doing dangerous things, but they seem to be tying dangerous people to their side as allies. Perhaps Sohwa may live longer than the Little Clan Head. We can’t stay by their sides forever—let them stir things up while we still can.”
Tang Min raised his voice, as if to lift the Clan Head’s spirits.
“And above all, wipe that deathly look off your face. If you appear so intimidated and dejected, those inside will look down on you. Ah! What did I say happens when they take you lightly?”
“You said even the most trifling men will rush in.”
Heukcheon Amgui dropped his hearty manner and spoke in a cold tone.
“Then let’s enter with confidence.”
Heukcheon Amgui clapped his hands.
“Do you remember what I used to say when you were young, whenever you said you didn’t want to go to the Clan Alliance meeting?”
He remembered, but not wanting to say it, Tang Ji-ha shut his mouth.
But Tang Min did not preserve the Clan Head’s pride and said it anyway.
“It’s not that the Namgung and Pang clans are ostracizing you.”
“I have never been ostracized.”
“You’re the one ignoring them.”
Tang Min, whose inner strength accumulated in seclusion was immense, regarded the Clan Head’s murderous aura lightly and smirked.
“You’re old enough now, Clan Head. Can’t you easily snub a dozen or so sects?”
Tang Ji-ha understood the Senior Elder’s words. Without realizing it, he had felt isolated and sunk into gloom.
He was right. Even if those people had found weaknesses in the Tang Clan, there was no need to be influenced by them.
Tang Ji-ha straightened his expression into a cold face.
“Yes, let’s go.”
Having resolved himself, the Clan Head entered the meeting hall with a different bearing.
***
The training hall was already full. The Tang Clan Head recalled that the Alliance Leader had recently held a meeting here. Except for the bright sunlight now shining where darkness had once covered the hall, the atmosphere was similar.
A few members of the headquarters faced the many alliance members. The hall was packed with elder-ranked figures, so youthful faces stood out. The Sagye Hall Administrator standing on the headquarters platform was no exception.
The Deputy Alliance Leader presided over the meeting from the center of the platform. It seemed the Alliance Leader wasn’t attending today.
“Today, we intend to reopen the headquarters.”
Since everyone expected those words, there was no agitation. Over the silence, the Deputy Alliance Leader’s voice rang out.
“We plan to finish preparations by the wine hour (19–21) and open the gates. Those with urgent business may go out today. Of course, you may remain at your pavilions if you wish. Just inform the chief in advance when vacating, and report how many people will remain if you stay.”
The Deputy Alliance Leader explained the procedures for reopening. The explanation was long, but perhaps because no one interrupted, it ended quickly.
“Also, there’s something I must say about the recent unfortunate incident at headquarters.”
At those added words, the Tang Clan Head swallowed his breath. He thought Sohwa would be mentioned.
“The Sagye Hall Administrator will speak.”
After the Deputy Alliance Leader stepped back, the Hall Administrator came forward. But something about the atmosphere felt strange. The Administrator paused briefly before speaking.
“Before I speak, there’s something I’ll show you.”
While his slow voice brushed the alliance members’ ears, the guards at the door moved to one side. They folded the screens behind the platform, revealing carts that had been hidden there.
Not just one. Several carts were filled with finely crushed minerals.
The headquarters fighters waited until they had poured out the minerals. Soon a small hill the height of a man formed between the platform and the alliance members. The five-colored minerals emitted a mysterious light—less beautiful than ominous.
As everyone’s eyes fixed on the minerals, the Administrator spoke calmly.
“This is the substance called Oseoksan, discovered in a building on the day the Hubei branch caught fire. Since this was shared among the fifteen sects, all of you should know what it is.”
He continued slowly.
“It was kept in the Sagye Hall’s archive, but someone attempted to break in and steal it.”
While he spoke, the headquarters fighters who had carried the goods moved toward the entrance.
Bang.
They shut the doors of the training hall.
The Administrator observed the scene and spoke in a steady tone.
“Because this is a terrifying object that could be taken at any moment, we intend to burn it here before everyone’s eyes.”
At that moment, the Tang Clan Head’s gaze moved to the right. The Zhuge Clan’s Little Clan Head flinched and half rose from his seat.
The Administrator finished speaking and immediately threw the flame that had been prepared on the platform.
Whoosh—
When the wind fanned the fire, it instantly caught the minerals. Smoke began to coil up toward the sky.
“Administrator, what are you doing!”
Someone shouted while covering his nose.
“As I said, it’s dangerous material, so we’ll destroy it before everyone.”
“But this smoke...!”
“It will end soon. Please take your seats.”
A Qingcheng elder began to speak but then closed his mouth. He sat down as if bewitched by the Administrator’s words.
At the moment the fire caught, the wind shifted. Like sweeping with a broom, it pushed the smoke forward. So when the Qingcheng elder rose, the smoke had already reached those before him.
Zhuge Inhwi directed the wind so that the smoke drifted upward and then spoke calmly.
“From now on, what you hear will not be remembered until the day your brainwashing ends.”
He looked at the unresponsive listeners and continued.
“At the Hall of Reports, anonymous secret reports are frequent. Few people attach their names. Even so, the flood of information recently has been strange. Normally, documents coming into Sagye Hall have purpose. Their blades point toward someone specific. But the recent reports had no end in sight, which was odd.”
No one answered, yet the Administrator went on as if he had heard one.
“Now I think I know why. What that person sent wasn’t a sword but a shield. It was information instructing us to protect alliance members, so I intend to use it as they wished.”
Unclear words seeped into the minds of those seated.
“Oseoksan shows great difference depending on a person’s constitution. When first testing it, a protector must always be nearby. Some wake within a quarter of an hour after inhaling the smoke, others hover between life and death for three days.”
Zhuge Inhwi calmly explained Oseoksan’s nature.
“The principle of Oseoksan is that, when intoxicated by the smoke, the organ governing memory is damaged, so to protect existing memory the organ temporarily turns every sound sensed into false memory. The newly formed memory takes precedence in the mind and dominates all conflict between memories. Even former emotions are crushed beneath it. This is no different from brainwashing.”
His words were frightening, but those before him didn’t react.
“Moreover, Oseoksan’s effect is so strong that even faint smoke can damage the organs. If you inhale too much or eat it directly, you lose consciousness, and in severe cases die. At the Hubei branch, when Oseoksan was burned in the fire, dozens collapsed and nearly died.”
Luckily, someone visiting that day had sensed Oseoksan’s reaction and quickly cleared the toxin before the organs failed, saving everyone’s lives.
Those who inhaled the smoke listened blankly.
“But even this fearful thing has a limit. Human organs can recover on their own, and the organ that governs memory normally restores itself within a month. When the organ regains lost memory, it expels the false one that protected it. But this applies only to a body exposed once. Those exposed twice recover memory after two months; those exposed three times after three months. Repeated exposure permanently damages the organ so memory can never return.”
Zhuge Inhwi looked at the dozens before him and spoke the main point.
“If this is your first exposure to Oseoksan, you’ll remember my words in a month. But if you’ve been brainwashed by it before, you’ll recall in several months—or perhaps never.”
“......”
“In a month, we’ll know the truth. I swear I will help you. I’ll find the sects the Blood Cult infiltrated up to the top ranks and catch them. The anonymous informant gave this message to protect the alliance, so I’ll use it as intended.”
The rising smoke climbed thinly into the sky and vanished. Zhuge Inhwi gestured, and masked fighters holding papers moved among the alliance members. They dipped each person’s finger in ink and took a fingerprint, then wiped the finger clean. The papers recorded that their fingerprints had been taken while under Oseoksan’s brainwashing. The fighters tied small pouches to each person’s waist.
Listening to the rustle, Zhuge Inhwi explained.
“There’s someone who analyzed Oseoksan and created an antidote to prevent brainwashing. But its effect doesn’t last long, so the Medical Division is improving it now. What we just gave you is her antidote. It doesn’t block Oseoksan for long, but you might need it, so keep it. If you ever go where Oseoksan smoke appears, take it. Since you heard this while intoxicated, you’ll probably take it instinctively.”
The Administrator sensed the fighters had nearly finished. It was his first time using Oseoksan, so he spoke only what he knew. He didn’t know how those who recovered memory later would react. That was all he intended to say.
The burning ended; the last thin smoke rose and broke apart in the sky. Zhuge Inhwi was about to finish. A month later, when the alliance members regained their memories and came to headquarters, he planned to reveal that the one who made the antidote was Tang Sohwa, clearing her name. Arguing right and wrong with words was what he did best; he was confident he could vindicate her.
‘But still...’
Something caught in his chest. It bothered him that a Young Lady more than ten years younger than himself was risking her life going north to the Northern Sea, while for a month she would be treated as a traitor.
‘It’s necessary, but...’
Feeling the ashes cool, he closed his eyes.
“...You’ll remember these words as well when the brainwashing ends.”
The Administrator had no intention of using Oseoksan to control anyone’s will.
‘But... is it so wrong to ask this much?’
When they regained their memories, he only wanted to ask them, for a moment, to set aside interests and see the truth. It depended solely on their will. In the end, the words he couldn’t swallow escaped.
“While you’re fighting for your clarity, Tang Sohwa of the Sichuan Tang Clan will go to dismantle the Blood Cult. Her work is directed by the Sagye Hall, so she’s not fleeing interrogation. I, the Sagye Hall Administrator, guarantee this myself, so when your brainwashing ends and you regain today’s memories, I hope you’ll also remember the hardships she endured.”
The words he meant to keep short kept lengthening. Controlling his heart, the Administrator spoke in a low voice.
“I hope you’ll remember that the one who placed the antidote in your hands stood unbowed against the Blood Cult’s tyranny, uncovered its secret alone, and sought to protect you all.”
