Chapter 7: The Formation
Upon hearing those words, Tang Min looked down at the young girl. Her inscrutable gaze was now fixed intently upon him.
So-hwa smiled and spoke in a small voice,
"If we're lucky, we might acquire a spiritual elixir from Yeonjuda, but it wouldn't do to have many eyes on it."
"...Why is that?"
"Our Family Head is strict about such things, isn't he? He'd store it in the secret vault and later bestow it as a reward upon someone who has contributed to the family. That wouldn't be right."
So-hwa shook her head.
"A treasure like that should be consumed by the Tang family's foremost person. It wouldn't do to have many eyes watching."
"Tang family's foremost person, you say."
It was a phrase he had heard for decades, but hearing it in the calm voice of his descendant stirred a novel sense of pleasure.
Tang Min had already partaken of spiritual pills crafted by the Tang family. As a world-class expert, he had consumed plenty of spiritual elixirs, yet for martial artists, such elixirs were inherently objects of craving, no matter how many one consumed.
Suddenly, So-hwa's gaze shifted abruptly towards Tang Hak.
"And if we're lucky enough to acquire another, we should give it to Haki as well."
"...Why that child?"
Tang Min's expression crumpled, irked at being suddenly grouped with Tang Hak as equals.
"Haki is the Tang family's most promising junior prodigy. We should nourish him well and raise him properly."
"..."
As words he didn't want to acknowledge lingered in his ears, Tang Min's spirits sank.
Although he acted like a soft-hearted simpleton, casting doubt on whether he truly possessed Tang family blood, Tang Hak was a genius who had appeared after a seventy-year wait. While his current level was lower compared to Tang Min's own level at that age, considering the present state of the Murim world, Tang Hak was nevertheless a genius.
Tang Hak never forgot a secret formula after seeing it just once and internalized martial arts learned within half a day. Considering his skills had yet to fully mature, it was an extraordinary talent.
This was why, even when Tang Ji-ha boasted about his idiotic son and viper-like daughter, the elders could only curse him three times instead of ten.
They, too, undeniably belonged to the Tang family bloodline, and whenever they imagined the next generation of the Tang family, they felt an inexplicable sense of fullness and delight.
A smile also crept onto Tang Min's lips.
'Even those arrogant Namgung clan members and the boisterous Peng clan members won't dare utter a peep when these children lead the Tang family someday.'
So-hwa also smiled, following his gaze.
The granddaughter, cunning as a snake, who had ridden the palanquin up the mountain despite her good stamina, gazed into the valley, her expression inscrutable.
What was she thinking about now?
It wasn't anything bad.
The fact that her thoughts were unreadable was an asset.
It was fortunate that this child was born into the direct line of the Tang family.
Tang So-hwa's talent lay more in her constitution than in martial arts. From birth, the child possessed a detoxification constitution and keen senses.
Even after consuming the Poisons administered to young children to build up their tolerance, Tang So-hwa didn't even show a change in expression, let alone develop a fever. The Master of the Medical Hall, noticing her unique constitution, altered the tolerance Poison mixture with the Family Head's permission. Yet, a mere five-year-old child noticed the change in that trace amount of the Poison mixture.
Finding this remarkable, Tang Ji-ha summoned the Head of the Poison Study Pavilion and tested Tang So-hwa.
In a typical family, administering Poison to one's children would be unimaginable, but the Tang family, as a family that handles Poisons, consistently built up Poison tolerance from a young age to prevent accidents.
Considering the cost of the ingredients, it was education for safety, not abuse.
Anyway, remarkably, the small child never suffered a stomachache, accurately guessed the days the mixture was altered, and identified the days the same mixture was administered. Considering only a trace amount was given, it was an incredible talent.
Regardless of whether they were from the direct or collateral branches, if talent was present, the Family Head had no choice but to favor them. But since it was his own daughter, Tang Ji-ha easily became irrational.
The year Tang So-hwa turned seven, that man gifted his child a poisonous gu. It was a creature cultivated with immense care even in the Poison Study Pavilion, given its enormous cost. But he gifted it to his child as casually as if it were a small animal, which caused much discussion in the elders' hall.
However, the child, a mere seven years old, carefully observed the creature, feeding it her blood and Poisons, and eventually tamed the poisonous gu.
Tang So-hwa didn't know this story, but the elders were so shocked by this incident that they strongly insisted that So-hwa should not be allowed to leave the Inner Compound. It was an implicit expression of their intent that, regardless of whether a matrilocal son-in-law was eventually found, Tang So-hwa could not be allowed to interact with men from other sects. They said she should be strictly confined, not even permitted to exchange words. They intended to make Tang So-hwa a living, breathing secret technique. Naturally, the fear of secret technique leakage followed this line of thinking.
The intelligent child quickly understood her weapon. She learned medical arts and poison arts as the adults instructed, without ever resorting to cunning, and practiced martial arts according to her greedy father's will.
Tang Min looked down at the small head and thought again.
This child must never be given to another family.
In truth, So-hwa would later marry into the Namgung family, but that was a future Tang Min could not foresee. No. That was a matter of her previous life, so it probably wouldn't happen in this life.
As the Black Tiger Guards moored the boat to the shore, everyone who had been waiting boarded the smaller boats.
Splash.
The boats leisurely crossed the lake. Each time the long pole pushed off the bottom, the boats moved smoothly.
Passing through the deep shadow of the valley, a cold wind stirred So-hwa's hair. It was a sensation as soft and cool as someone's touch.
Closing her eyes, So-hwa sharpened her keen senses, inhaling the fragrance carried on the wind.
Blue mountains were reflected in her clear eyes as they slowly opened.
Faintly, the scent of crushed grass and the fragrance of dry branches mingled on the wind. It seemed there was a place nearby where processed medicinal herbs were being dried.
Tracing the direction the wind flowed, So-hwa spotted one particularly tall tree. It was a Scholar Tree.
The ancient tree swayed its twigs in the mountain wind.
While the surrounding trees bore flowers or unripe green fruit, that Scholar Tree was laden only with leaves. As if someone had collected all its flowers and fruit.
Scholar Tree flowers (槐花) were a medicinal herb used for stopping bleeding. And doctors used them regularly to prevent wind-phlegm (風痰). Since Yeonjuda moved their base fifty years ago, their doctors must be elderly now.
Scholar Tree flowers, good for stopping bleeding and preventing wind-phlegm, a condition dangerous for the elderly. Elderly doctors of Yeonjuda, who treat patients with injuries, would likely pluck them all. For the patients who would come with stab wounds, and for their own aging bodies.
Tang So-hwa spoke to the martial artist poling the boat.
"Steer the boat towards the Scholar Tree."
"Scholar Tree?"
Not knowing what a Scholar Tree was, the martial artist's eyes darted around. So-hwa pointed her finger at the ancient tree.
"That old tree."
At those words, the martial artist said 'Ah' and steered the boat. As they got closer to the shore, the scent of medicinal herbs carried on the wind intensified.
***
Entering the mountain path, a strange sensation washed over her. The wind, full of grass fragrance, was strangely refreshing. A bizarre sensation of her body growing lighter with every breath.
It wasn't entirely a pleasant sensation. The air, heavy with fragrance, clung stickily to her skin.
Tang So-hwa couldn't easily dismiss that strange sensation. The forest before them was dense, yet even so, the scent of grass was too strong.
It was unnatural.
As if scent was being burned to hide something.
Just then, Tang Min's voice, accompanied by a click of his tongue, was heard.
"Well now, it looks like a real tree, yet also not."
He reached out and brushed a leaf.
"Huh? Grand Elder, could this not be a tree?"
Tang Hak asked with wide eyes. Then, Tang Min smiled slightly.
"If you turn it to nothing, you'll know if it's an illusion or not."
"Pardon?"
The moment Tang Hak asked again, flames rose from Tang Min's hand, and the leaf incinerated in a flash. But strangely, the leaf vanished without a trace, as if a bubble had popped and ceased to exist.
"Tsk, seeing as there isn't even a scent of burning, it's an illusion."
Tang Min clicked his tongue and placed his hand against the thick tree trunk. Samadhi True Fire (三昧眞火), a technique that generates fire with internal energy, spread from his touch and instantly engulfed the tree. However, just like before, the tree merely vanished, leaving neither ash nor the scent of burning.
Tang So-hwa's eyes fixed on Tang Min became displeased.
She had heard that Samadhi True Fire had the power to burn paper or toxins in the body...
Perhaps his skills improved because he lived steeped in alcohol every day?
The appearance of the Tang family's foremost person from the outside was utterly alien.
Perhaps noticing Tang So-hwa's displeased gaze, Tang Min called out to her.
"So-hwa."
"Yes."
Tang Min approached with long, purposeful strides, surveying his surroundings with interest.
"Seeing that we're trapped in a formation, it seems we've come to the right place."
Tang So-hwa calmly surveyed her surroundings.
The world inside the formation was unnaturally peaceful. It merely made intruders circle back to where they started, without harming them.
So-hwa pondered.
She had heard that Yeonjuda was a righteous sect that treated patients regardless of status. But Yeonjuda was showing vigilance towards outsiders.
Even if they didn't attack first, they were clearly hiding themselves.
Indeed, not everyone who sought out Yeonjuda must have been a patient.
So-hwa raised her head. Then, the blue sky met her gaze.
How did Namgung Hyun meet Yeon-a? He definitely wouldn't have crushed Yeonjuda by force.
Yeon-a wouldn't have dedicated her life to someone who harmed Yeonjuda.
As her thoughts continued, laughter as light as the wind was heard beside her.
"Tsk, a child should have a child's charm."
"Yes?"
"Well, your thoughts are quite lengthy, aren't they?"
The moment her eyes narrowed at his inscrutable words, Tang Min walked towards where the tree had disappeared. Noticing what he was thinking, Tang So-hwa opened her eyes wide.
"Ah, no, you mustn't!"
She wanted to find a way for Yeonjuda to reveal themselves and greet them, but the impatient Tang Min was attempting to burn away the formation.
"Ah, it's alright. It's alright. It's not dangerous, so don't worry."
"That's not it!"
Since the goal was to win Yeonjuda and Yeon-a's favor, she didn't want to destroy the formation. But before she could finish voicing her objection, Tang Min raised his internal energy. It was the instant Tang Min was about to unleash Samadhi True Fire upon the forest.
Clang.
A sharp tearing sound pierced her eardrums.
"Grand Elder, there's someone!"
Tang Hak also seemed to sense something, staring towards the bushes and drawing a hidden weapon. So-hwa's gaze also turned towards that spot.
From a place where no internal energy had been felt moments before, a sweet fragrance wafted forth. It was a delicate scent, like the thick scent of peaches and the fresh scent of pears.
Before any order could be given, all the Black Tiger Guards, save for the three protecting the direct descendants, charged into the forest.
Clang. Clang.
Beyond the forest, the cold clang of metal clashing was heard loudly.
"The small one is quite fierce."
Tang Min's voice, with a hint of laughter, was heard.
He must have seen something, for he was smiling, even though nothing was visible. He pulled Tang So-hwa sharply behind him and stepped a pace forward.
"You stay back."
Tang Min parried the sword blade aimed at his eyes with the shuriken in his hand.
Clang.
With her view blocked by Tang Min, So-hwa couldn't make out the situation. She could only see the sword that jutted out from behind his form and vanished. It was an incredible speed, so fast she wouldn't have perceived it had she not learned eye techniques.
Surely not...
A certain doubt flickered through her mind just as Tang Min's voice, full of laughter, was heard.
"Jin-hu, I'm fine, so don't come closer."
At Tang Min's relaxed voice, the vice-commander who had charged out of the forest halted his steps. The vice-commander quickly understood and immediately changed direction towards Tang So-hwa and Tang Hak.
"It's dangerous here, please move to that side."
The siblings retreated from the path, following the vice-commander. Only then did the situation begin to become clear.
A girl clad in shabby clothes, wielding a large sword as tall as herself, charged at Tang Min.
