Tang Hak could not answer.
He believed his older sister would have nothing to do with the Blood Cult, but for some reason his mouth would not open.
Zhuge Hyang spoke in a sighing voice, as if to console Tang Hak.
“You’ve had a hard time of it. In the end, isn’t this all for the sake of your clan? If you want to prove the Tang Clan’s innocence, you need to make a decision.”
“A decision? What do you mean by that, sir?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t understand when you do.”
Tang Hak furrowed his thick brows.
“No...... I truly don’t understand what you mean, which is why I’m asking. What do you mean?”
Tang Hak kept frowning as he stared at him.
“Is there a way to prove our innocence?”
In the end, Tang Hak asked once more.
“Is it that I simply don’t understand Hubei’s ways? How do people of Hubei prove their innocence when they are misunderstood? It sounds like you might have a good idea.”
Zhuge Hyang’s lips moved slightly.
It was because, for a moment, he could not understand that stupid remark.
Tang Hak suddenly opened his mouth.
“Ah! Are you advising me to help the Sagye Hall find that item you mentioned?”
This time he clapped his hands.
“If my sister is being misunderstood because of that item! If I help the Sagye Hall track the distribution route and catch the Blood Cult bastard, then the misunderstanding about the Tang Clan will naturally be resolved!”
Zhuge Hyang almost answered no, then shut his mouth.
......Unexpectedly, it did sound like a workable answer.
“If I find those bastards and smash them and hand them over to headquarters, not only will the misunderstanding about the Tang Clan disappear, we’ll also be able to interrogate them about why they targeted my sister!”
The fellow who had no sense kept stumbling onto plausible answers.
As the conversation flowed in a direction different from his intentions, Zhuge Hyang hurriedly cut him off.
“No, that’s not what I meant.”
“Is there another way?”
The Young Clan Head of the Tang Clan had his eyes shining, as if he had never harbored any hostility at all.
He really seemed to think Zhuge Hyang was trying to give him an answer.
'What kind of idiot is this......'
Gauging the inside of the man’s head, which was so clean it was practically empty, Zhuge Hyang spoke.
“Your premise is wrong. Weren’t you assuming that Young Lady Tang Sohwa has nothing to do with the Blood Cult?”
“My sister absolutely has nothing to do with the Blood Cult.”
When Tang Hak answered firmly, Zhuge Hyang shook his head.
“Everyone already knows that Young Lady Tang is connected to the Blood Cult.”
Zhuge Hyang no longer spoke in a roundabout way. It was because he had grasped that the Young Clan Head’s way of thinking was unusual.
“No. My sister is absolutely not a Blood Cult spy.”
The Young Clan Head was still firm.
“I have put up with my discomfort to explain to you why your sister is suspected of being a Blood Cult spy, but you are flatly denying my words without giving any grounds whatsoever.”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
At Zhuge Hyang’s words, Tang Hak blinked as though puzzled.
The Young Clan Head answered in a clear voice unstained by even a speck of dust.
“If you don’t believe in your family unconditionally, then what are you supposed to do? Are you only supposed to believe in them with conditions attached?”
Zhuge Hyang let out a short laugh. It was a sneer that came out reflexively.
If there was one thing fortunate, it was that the Young Clan Head in front of him did not seem to take it as an insult. He simply fixed his gaze on Zhuge Hyang and waited for an answer.
In a calm voice, Zhuge Hyang said,
“You can’t display blind faith just because they’re family.”
Conscious of the gazes of the inn’s patrons focused on him, he replied,
“That’s religion.”
“Are you saying it’s normal to suspect your family?”
There was a shade of displeasure in the question.
Even with his nephew standing behind him, Zhuge Hyang nodded without the slightest hesitation.
“Of course. The closer people are, the more they lie. Not necessarily to deceive you, but very often they lie and hide the truth to protect someone close to them. You’ll understand if you conduct an audit in the Tang Clan later.”
“......”
“Precisely because the relationship is close, you must constantly doubt them to be able to protect those you cherish and also avoid being betrayed.”
Tang Hak could not readily refute that.
It was because it sounded right.
Soon a thought he had never once allowed into his head drove its way in.
'If my sister were one of the Blood Cult’s people......'
Having finally touched Tang Hak’s anxiety, Zhuge Hyang spoke in a voice full of pity.
“To the Young Clan Head, everyone in the Tang manor is family. Not only that, you have more siblings than just Young Lady Tang Sohwa, do you not? You have to protect the others as well.”
He had meant to speak in a roundabout way, but Zhuge Hyang added slightly more blunt words.
“The Clan Head must also have left things in your hands because he believed you, as the one who will become the master of the clan, would make the right choice. If things go wrong, he probably hoped you would deal with Young Lady Tang. That’s why he left you and the Black Heaven Dark Ghost behind. In the Tang Clan, the only ones whose heads wouldn’t be cut off for making such a decision are the Black Heaven Dark Ghost and the Young Clan Head.”
At that line, which crossed the line, Tang Hak’s expression twisted.
That his father had left him behind to kill his sister. It was nonsense.
Rage flared in Tang Hak at the insult to his sister and father.
In truth, Zhuge Hyang’s words contained a far greater insult than what Tang Hak sensed.
It implied that the Clan Head already knew Tang Sohwa was a Blood Cult spy.
It was both the slander that he would cut off his own child as a tail.
With just a few words, he was driving the entire Tang Clan into being Blood Cult spies.
Tang Hak did not understand it to that extent, but he was already so angry that he was on the verge of losing his reason. He was about to spit out something harsh.
“Chirping away with words is so very like a Zhuge.”
The sneering voice pressed down on Tang Hak’s anger. His body hunched instinctively in reaction to that voice.
“That’s not it. In Hubei, they always check each other’s worth beforehand with elegant words and momentum like that before they fight. Jumping straight in with strikes is the rustic way.”
Hwangbo Rim came into the inn together with the Black Heaven Dark Ghost, eyes shining.
“That’s the fashionable way to provoke people these days.”
“What kind of nonsense is that......”
“It’s me, Hwangbo Rim! I’ve been going in and out of taverns in Hubei for nearly two months now. Do you think I’ve never once had someone pick a fight with me?”
The Young Clan Head of the Hwangbo family, infamous as a hellraiser, spoke with a snort.
“In Wuhan, the one who’s had the most people pick fights with him over the past two months is probably me. If you won’t believe my words, whose will you believe?”
It did not sound like something worth bragging about, but Hwangbo Rim flaunted his own reputation as he went over to where Tang Hak was sitting.
“Boy, you remember me, right? Clear off all the tables here, quick. There’ll be a show!”
Hwangbo Rim flapped both arms as he hurried the server along. The server was smiling, but his eyes were cursing. Even so, he hurriedly cleared the tables.
Watching a gambling hall appear in an instant, Tang Min let out an admiring remark.
“Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn’t sound like a lie. Just how much have you gone around beating things to pieces?”
“Hehe, do you know how many punks I’ve beaten to a pulp here?”
“How many?”
“Too many to count.”
“Tsk, tsk, the Hwangbo Clan Head must be having a hard time.”
“Hm? Not at all. The Clan Head doesn’t care how many men I beat up as long as I win.”
For a moment, the Black Heaven Dark Ghost turned his head to look at Hwangbo Rim. It was not reproach. There was admiration in his eyes.
Not noticing the jealousy, Hwangbo Rim picked up a bamboo tube that had been rolling around on the floor and broke the upper part.
Crack.
Holding the empty tube, he shouted.
“If you’re all going to watch, then pay up here. Let’s help the innkeeper repair the place. If you’ve got a conscience, you should at least pay an admission fee. If you won’t pay, get out already!”
Truly, like a master of drunken brawls, Hwangbo Rim had sorted out the situation in an instant.
Those watching from the upper floor chuckled and tossed down money. Hwangbo Rim moved the bamboo tube to catch the coins as they fell.
Clink.
“Wow, that great hero’s generosity is something else.”
At Hwangbo Rim’s muttering to himself, people began tossing money one after another. A few even switched out the coins they had been about to throw, raising the amount. Hwangbo Rim handed the now-full bamboo tube to the server.
“That’s more than enough for the innkeeper to fix the place and then some. If there’s a lot left over, tell him to give you kids some pocket money.”
The server silently took the tube away. The owner was delighted, but judging from how the server’s expression did not change in the slightest, it seemed the owner had never once shared the money.
Looking over the scene out of habit, Zhuge Hyang let out a hollow laugh.
“How could I possibly cross hands with the young clan head? Your joke goes too far.”
Zhuge Hyang thought Tang Min and Hwangbo Rim were trying to insult him. Wearing a gentle smile, he showed that he would not fall for such a shallow provocation.
But Hwangbo Rim stretched the corners of his lips long, imitating Zhuge Hyang’s smile.
“Elder, by any chance...... are you scared?”
At the rude remark, Zhuge Hyang for a moment failed to control his expression.
Zhuge Hyang had no intention of fighting Tang Hak. He had only meant to provoke him. No matter how insulting the words, the Tang Clan’s Young Clan Head could not stir up a commotion. With things so unfavorable to the Tang Clan, how could he afford a fight?
He had wanted to show his nephew that no matter how excellent one’s martial arts, members of the Alliance could not casually fight one another, which was why the hellraiser’s attempt to stir things up was so troublesome.
To run into one of the few exceptions right in front of him.
On top of that—
“Tsk, tsk, if you can’t even fight, why go around picking quarrels? It’s not as if you enjoy getting beaten.”
The Tang Clan’s Grand Elder not only failed to stop the fight, he fanned the flames.
Zhuge Hyang had thought the Young Clan Head had come alone, and had not realized the Black Heaven Dark Ghost had arrived earlier than Hwangbo Rim to secure a seat.
It was well known that the Black Heaven Dark Ghost was called the Mad Green Frog behind his back. It was a nickname he had earned by beating his opponent senseless until his anger subsided, whether the other party was from the Five Great Families or the Martial Alliance.
The young man standing beside him was another hellraiser with similarly notorious rumors.
It was a disaster. At this rate, he would end up teaching his nephew that no matter what alliances the great families had, he had to be careful around them.
Unlike Zhuge Hyang, whose insides were shriveling with anxiety, the two madmen of the great families in front of him moved to different seats.
“Grand Elder, please sit over here. This spot is far from the pillar, so your view won’t be blocked. It’s a good place to watch.”
“Oh, that’s a prime spot indeed.”
“What should we order for snacks? When it looks like the show will be dull, I order something cheap, and when it looks like it’ll be fun, I order something good.”
The two of them got along splendidly.
Zhuge Hyang ground his teeth once, then opened his mouth.
“Are you serious?”
The Black Heaven Dark Ghost frowned.
“About what?”
“Do you really think I would lose to the Young Clan Head?”
“Haha, of course it’s a fight you’ll lose.”
The Black Heaven Dark Ghost beckoned to the server, signaling for more alcohol. Showing the leisure to order liquor, he answered Zhuge Hyang,
“Whether you beat the Young Clan Head here, it’s disgraceful; if you lose, it’s utter disgrace, so no matter how you look at it, you’re the one who comes out worse.”
Quick on the uptake, the server swiftly pressed a jar of bamboo leaf wine into Tang Min’s hand and slipped away.
“Still, you’ll just have to take responsibility. A man of the Zhuge family’s standing, an elder no less, wouldn’t have made a slip of the tongue, so you must have deliberately needled the Young Clan Head. If you think the Young Clan Head is too young and your dignity would be overly harmed, shall I cross hands in your stead?”
Opening the wine jar, Tang Min added in an almost offhand tone,
“You publicly insulted the Tang Clan’s Clan Head and direct line in a place like this. For that degree of provocation, I’d say it’s worth my personally crossing hands, so just say the word.”
Zhuge Hyang swallowed dryly.
The Black Heaven Dark Ghost was a man who knew no such thing as limits.
He was not the type to withdraw once he had gained a slight upper hand. He would really beat someone into a cripple if that was what it took to vent his own anger.
Hwangbo Rim cried out in a voice brimming with emotion.
“Elder, please! Name the Black Heaven Dark Ghost! My lifelong dream is to die after seeing the Black Heaven Dark Ghost’s Mancheonhawoo (secret Tang heir technique)!”
“Who on earth would use Mancheonhawoo in a tavern fight? Hold on. Are you belittling another clan’s secret art as some back-alley brawling trick?”
For some reason suddenly incensed, the Black Heaven Dark Ghost grabbed for Hwangbo Rim’s collar. Hwangbo Rim darted aside and shook his head vigorously.
“Of course not! You know I idolize the Black Heaven Dark Ghost! Those nonsense words just slipped out because I couldn’t contain my respect.”
Listening to the crazy conversation between the two lunatics, Zhuge Hyang let out a sigh.
“All right, let’s just say I’ve lost.”
He turned his body toward Tang Hak and apologized.
“My apologies, Young Clan Head. My words were excessive.”
When Tang Hak did not respond, Tang Min cut in.
“Young Clan Head.”
Having already emptied one jar of bamboo leaf wine, the Black Heaven Dark Ghost shook the empty jar at the server as he spoke.
“Come now, it’d be a shame to waste the seat.”
The pressure not to accept the apology made Zhuge Hyang lift a brow.
“It seems the Black Heaven Dark Ghost wishes to see a fight between me and the Young Clan Head.”
Ignoring Zhuge Hyang’s words, Tang Min kept his gaze fixed solely on the Young Clan Head.
“Young Clan Head.”
“Yes, Grand Elder.”
“There are people who wag their tongues with no guts to fight. It’s because they are certain they won’t die.”
Zhuge Hyang’s chilly gaze flicked over the two members of the Tang Clan.
“Most of the time, they’re clever enough to calculate where they’ll be able to lie down before they move, so you have to let them know very clearly that there’s no place to lie down in front of me.”
Tang Min’s eyes dropped to the empty floor.
“And how could we possibly lay an elder of the Zhuge family flat on the ground?”
With an unreadable look, Tang Hak stared at Zhuge Hyang.
Zhuge Hyang gave a strange smile.
“Young Clan Head, do you intend to cross hands with me?”
Tang Hak brought his hands together.
“Yes.”
The surrounding noise vanished. It was because everyone was holding their breath.
Zhuge Hyang gazed coldly at the Young Clan Head, then swallowed a sigh. No matter how tangled things had become, it was his own karma.
As the Black Heaven Dark Ghost had said, this was a fight where he would lose whether he won or lost. The best he could do was finish it quickly; that would be the only way to save face. He needed to wrap it up in a way that looked like a senior instructing a junior.
Having decided on a course, Zhuge Hyang made a gentle face and crooked a finger.
“I’ll concede. Come at me.”
But as he shifted his body slightly, he caught sight of Zhuge Daejeong’s expression. Even though he should know the difference between his uncle and the Tang Clan’s Young Clan Head, Zhuge Daejeong was shaking his head as he stared at his uncle, who had just declared he would yield three moves. His face was vacant.
No matter how outstanding the Young Clan Head might be, Zhuge Hyang thought, it should be difficult to overcome the gap of years.
'What in the world did he see to make him incapable of making a sane judgment like that?'
Zhuge Hyang concluded that his nephew’s nerves had been so shaken he could no longer think normally, but there was still a vague unease in one corner of his heart.
“No. There’s no need for you to yield.”
The Young Clan Head refused his consideration.
“That’s it! Now this will be fun.”
Hwangbo Rim rubbed his hands together in delight.
Whether he did not hear Hwangbo Rim’s voice or simply did not care, Tang Hak raised his hand slightly with a cold face. Beneath the lifted sleeve, a hand covered in scars was revealed. While Zhuge Hyang’s gaze fell there for a moment, Tang Hak spoke.
“I have no desire to treat someone who insulted my clan as a senior and learn from him. I will fight in earnest, so please be prepared.”
Though he was going out boldly, in the end Tang Hak raised his speech to a degree that was excessive, but his face remained cold.
With a strange smile, Tang Min settled himself into a comfortable posture. Just as the fight was about to break out, he spoke to Hwangbo Rim in a relaxed voice.
“Rim, order the best snack they have here.”
