The Administrator, who had been explaining, briefly closed his mouth. He still had not heard an answer on whether they would accompany them to Sichuan.
The Administrator added in an emotionless voice,
"If you gentlemen are willing to accompany us to Sichuan, that is."
Just then, a small chuckle slipped into the silence.
"It is rather fortunate we are to wait for the Four-Directions Hall Administrator."
Namgung An looked at Tang Ji-ha, who was seated beside him.
"Two days is plenty of time to prepare for departure. Once we return, the moment dawn breaks, the Namgung Clan will make ready to accompany you to Sichuan."
Tang Ji-ha silently received Namgung An’s gaze. It would have been a lie to say he did not feel grateful.
Even after first hinting that he would go to Sichuan, Namgung An did not make a show of it. But perhaps something felt itchy to him, for he added—smiling—words that did not need to be said.
"The Tang Clan may become our in-laws later. We cannot simply sit and watch, can we?"
"...In-laws?"
The Tang Clan Head replied in a cold voice.
For the first time, a spark lit in the Tang Clan Head’s eyes, which had remained dark all along. No matter who saw it, it was not a pleasant emotion, but Namgung An was pleased that his old friend was showing something other than despair, and spoke as if teasing him.
"Ah, Clan Head. When you return to your pavilion, please tell Tang Young Lady that there is no need to sneak over. I have never taught a man to make a woman suffer. If she sends a message, that child will go to Tang Young Lady herself."
"Sneak over? Who? Are you saying Sohwa went to the Namgung pavilions, is that it, right now?"
Excited, Tang Ji-ha forgot himself and dropped into informal speech.
Namgung An avoided answering with a smile.
From childhood, he had been adept at teasing Tang Ji-ha, and he so easily scraped at him.
In the end, the Tang Clan Head could not hold back and sprang to his feet.
"Why will you not answer? Did I not ask what you meant?"
Unable to watch any longer, the Sagye Hall Administrator opened his mouth to bring the situation back to order.
"What will the other gentlemen do?"
The two sect leaders, who had been staring blankly at the enraged Tang Clan Head as if about to grab someone by the collar, came to their senses.
"With things as they are, there is no time to hesitate. We will go to Sichuan as well."
"Wudang will go to Sichuan too. In any case, we must wait two days for the Four-Directions Hall Administrator, so we will send people to the branch office and to the Blue Tiger Unit’s inn to bring more personnel to Sichuan."
"Yes, I leave it in your care."
Even while the three of them were wrapping up the meeting, the Tang Clan Head and the Namgung Clan Head continued their war of words.
"How can you only laugh? I told you to explain what you meant by sneaking over!"
"How can I speak of such things here? Unlike you, I do not have the nasty hobby of disgracing other people’s children."
Namgung An shook his head as he looked at the agitated Tang Ji-ha.
"Now that we are on the subject, is it normal to disgracefully cast someone out of headquarters just because she entered a pavilion without a word?"
The Tang Clan Head ran out of things to say and closed his mouth.
Zhuge Inhwi had no interest in the two clan heads’ squabbling. Unable to hide his discomfort at the sect leaders’ expressions, he rose to his feet after offering them a bow.
"Thank you for coming at such a late hour. I will take my leave now and attend to my duties."
"Very well. I should return as well."
"You are working hard, Administrator."
Once the three of them rose, the Tang Clan Head too left the pavilion, a very displeased look on his face.
Still, though it was only for a very brief moment, it felt as if sunlight had shone, for an instant, into a heart that had been like a muddy mire.
***
Returning to the Tang manor, Sohwa found the entire pavilion lit, every room ablaze with light.
"Sister!"
Tang Hak, who had apparently been waiting for her at the door, ran over.
"Where in the world have you been?"
"Has Han-won returned?"
Sohwa avoided his question and asked something she was not all that curious about. Fortunately, Tang Hak did not notice that she was trying to change the subject, and answered at once.
"Yes. I hear he spoke with Father for a short while, but he has now gone outside headquarters. I think he has gone either to the Hubei branch or to the inn where the Blue Tiger Unit is staying."
Since the present situation was not something to be conveyed by letter, it seemed the Tang Clan Head had sent people in person.
"Did Father go to Sagye Hall?"
"He just left. How did you know? Ah, did you meet Clan Head on the way back? No, that cannot be. This path is the opposite direction..."
Sohwa passed the muttering Tang Hak and entered the pavilion.
Once she stepped through the main gate, the White Tiger Unit elites gathered on the first floor turned their heads toward her. They gave her a brief, simple greeting, but seemed to be in the middle of an important conversation, for they immediately continued talking among themselves.
"Sister, where are you going?"
Hurrying to follow her, Tang Hak frowned as he asked.
"If you are trailing me just because you have nothing to do, go upstairs and bring Maehwa down."
"No, it is not that I have nothing to do. Father told me again and again to be careful so you would not be in danger..."
Just as Tang Hak was continuing, Sohwa entered her room. This time, Tang Min, who had been inside, turned his head.
"Where have you been this time?"
"..."
Sohwa briefly held her tongue.
Because she felt as if everyone were watching her.
"I went out to look for a Passage to Sichuan."
"Oh, so you found the way?"
"No. I did not. However, there is one more person who might know the Passage, so I was going to send a message that way."
"Surely you are not thinking of asking that strange building, are you?"
Searching for brush and ink, Sohwa slowly raised her head and looked at him.
Perhaps worried the Young Clan Head would not understand, Tang Min paraphrased Baekgeumgak.
"Ah, you know, that place where dozens of half-wits were gathered. Those noisy, feeble good-for-nothings who were like moths flying into lamplight."
"...Yes. I was going to send it there."
"Forget it. Leave it alone."
Tang Min waved a hand.
"We may need carrier birds sent long distances later, so let Maehwa rest. The place you mentioned is not that far from here. You can send someone."
Sohwa’s hand stopped.
Because Tang Min was not wrong.
"Carrier pigeons and messenger hawks are both precious in times like this, so do not waste them. For now, wait for the Clan Head to return. Once he tells us what he has heard, that is when we should move. In the meantime, you should rest a little as well."
Only then did Sohwa completely take her hands off the brush and ink.
Arms folded, Tang Min slid his gaze toward the doorway.
"Why are you just standing there? Do you have nothing to do?"
"Clan Head told me to keep watch on Sister."
"And what is this, you saying outright that the Clan Head told you to keep watch?"
The Young Clan Head, flustered, clapped his hand over his own mouth, but Sohwa had already guessed why Tang Hak was following her, so she spoke calmly.
"I am fine."
"All right, I will be the one keeping watch here, so you go upstairs and check on Maehwa. We may have to send her on a long journey, so feed her all sorts of things and put her in a good mood."
It seemed Heukcheon Amgui had something to speak to her about separately.
And Sohwa also had something she wanted to ask him.
She opened the desk drawer and took out a jar of nuts she had collected.
"Take these and feed them to her. She will like it."
Watching their expressions, Tang Hak grabbed the nuts and left the room. Once he had gone far enough that they could no longer feel his presence, Heukcheon Amgui asked, as if he had been waiting.
"Where exactly did you go? Judging by how long you were gone, it does not seem you left headquarters."
"Grand Elder."
Sensing some kind of unease, Tang Min unfolded his arms.
"If there is someone whose hand you must borrow, and that person refuses to help, what should you do?"
As if it were an easy answer, Tang Min let out a hollow laugh.
"What a useless thing to worry about. If they refuse, you beat them until they agree."
"..."
"If it is someone beyond your level to lay hands on, tell me. I can at least take care of that much."
Sohwa had not failed to think of that herself.
However, it was one thing to snatch away an item, and another to force Namgung Hyun to draw a formation. For all she knew, a resentful Namgung Hyun might send her into a death trap instead.
"In that case, he might hold a grudge and deliberately hinder us."
"Hm, who in the world is this man? Tell me alone, and I will handle everything."
When Sohwa did not answer, Tang Min quickly gave up, as if it were not that important.
"Very well, we can speak of that later. For now, we have to quickly get our stories straight before the Clan Head returns. When you disappeared, I smoothed it over by saying I had sent you to Four-Directions Hall."
Sohwa frowned.
"Why did you tell a lie that will be exposed so quickly?"
"You say that because you have not seen the Clan Head. He was so angry he was ready to burn down the entire Medical Division."
Tang Min openly clicked his tongue, apparently displeased with the Clan Head.
"I do not know why he insists on controlling every little thing. I taught him that anyone who wants to handle people must know how to wait with composure, but your father is so timid he does not know how to cultivate patience."
Grumbling his complaints, Tang Min let out a long sigh.
"Still, what can we do? He is the Tang Clan Head, so we have to adjust. Hurry up and sort out what to say."
Since there was not much time, Tang Min did most of the talking, and Sohwa simply listened.
Before long, a commotion rose outside. The Tang Clan Head had arrived.
Sohwa turned her head toward the window.
"Relax. The Clan Head will probably meet the White Tiger Unit first."
He thought the Tang Clan Head would seek out the armed force before anything else.
However, hardly had the Tang Clan Head returned to his room when someone came to the door of her room.
"Young Lady Sohwa. Clan Head has ordered you to come to his room."
The Tang Clan Head summoned her first.
Sohwa rose to her feet at once. When Tang Min followed her out of the room, the White Tiger Unit martial artist spoke in a flustered voice.
"I am sorry, but Clan Head did not order that the Grand Elder be brought."
"He must have thought I would come on my own, so there was no need to mention me."
The White Tiger Unit martial artist could not stop Heukcheon Amgui. He could only lead the two of them to the Clan Head’s room, unable to hide his anxious expression.
"Clan Head, I have brought Young Lady Sohwa and the Grand Elder."
There was no reply. The door simply opened without a sound.
The atmosphere in the room was dark.
Sohwa stepped inside and offered her greeting to the Clan Head. Instead of inviting her to sit, the Clan Head asked in an icy voice,
"Where have you been?"
"I went to Four-Directions Hall."
The Clan Head’s face hardened.
"You went to Four-Directions Hall?"
Sohwa did not wish to say it, knowing it was a lie that would soon be exposed, but she spoke as Tang Min had instructed.
"Yes. You told us that if anyone suspicious appeared, we were to report it at once, so I went to see the Four-Directions Hall Administrator."
"Is that so? And what did the Four-Directions Hall Administrator say?"
The Tang Clan Head did not seem to believe Sohwa’s words.
The spreading flow of his qi in all directions was sharp.
At that, Heukcheon Amgui cut in as if to divert the Clan Head’s attention.
"Clan Head, what does Sagye Hall say? Are they sending support?"
Fortunately, Tang Ji-ha turned his gaze to Tang Min.
"No. Headquarters says they will not send support."
At those words, Sohwa’s face hardened. Tang Min practically jumped.
"What? How can they say they will not send support? According to Han-won, did the Sagye Hall Administrator not seem to believe the cultist’s words?"
"The Administrator believes it is a ploy by the Blood Cult to divert our eyes in order to strike headquarters."
Tang Min looked extremely dissatisfied, but he did not raise an objection to the Clan Head.
"Then when will you go to Sichuan? If there is no need to wait for support from headquarters, can we not depart at once?"
"We cannot receive support from headquarters, but the three sects remaining have decided to accompany us to Sichuan. Wudang said that since their Hubei branch is close to their main sect, they will bring more people as well. I expect the Taeguk Sword Sovereign will accompany us."
"Oh, that big bear is coming. Good."
Heukcheon Amgui’s face visibly brightened. Just as he was relaxing at this unexpected gain, the Clan Head said something strange.
"However, the Administrator asked that we not depart immediately, but wait about three days. I intend to do so for now. If the people of Wudang arrive in the meantime, we will depart together."
"What? When every moment counts, why wait three whole days?"
"It seems Sagye Hall has interrogated a cultist and learned the Passage’s location."
Tang Ji-ha looked back and forth between Sohwa and Tang Min with cold eyes.
"The Four-Directions Hall Administrator has gone to confirm that path. They say it will take two days, three at the latest."
At those words, Tang Min flinched hard.
The Tang Clan Head let out a hollow laugh as he looked at Sohwa.
"Why? Did the Four-Directions Hall Administrator not tell you that much?"
"..."
It was not a question.
He already knew it was a lie. The Tang Clan Head let out a small sigh, as if suppressing his anger.
"I have so far tried to pretend not to know until you spoke first, but I am at my limit. Answer properly: where have you been?"
