Chapter 10

Chapter 10.

 

“There is no time.”

At Dang Myeong’s words, Dang Cheondeuk paused for a moment, then looked at the Unit Commander of the Secret Shadow Unit.

“Proceed.”

“As you command.”

The Unit Commander of the Secret Shadow Unit glanced at Dang Myeong once, then kicked off the ground. Once he vanished, Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“Explain.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, Dang Myeong steadied his breathing and quickly told him everything that had happened.

Dang Cheondeuk listened in silence. He did not interrupt or ask questions in the middle. He simply listened.

Only Dang Hong let out sounds of shock from time to time, gasping or groaning under his breath.

After Dang Myeong finished speaking quickly, he looked at Dang Cheondeuk.

“Your son… died three times that way.”

At Dang Myeong’s words, Dang Cheondeuk looked at him for a moment, then said,

“Draw up the Three Yang Divine Art.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s command, Dang Myeong steadied his breathing and circulated the Three Yang Divine Art.

WHOOSH!

As Dang Myeong circulated the Three Yang Divine Art, a hint of discomfort appeared on his face. In his previous life, Dang Cheondeuk had infused internal energy into his body and opened the pathways of his qi and blood.

But now, Dang Myeong was opening those pathways again by himself, so he felt a little pain.

As Dang Cheondeuk watched him, he placed a hand on the crown of Dang Myeong’s head. At that sight, tension appeared on Dang Hong’s face.

Even Dang Hong, one of his closest aides, found Dang Myeong’s story difficult to believe. It was possible that Dang Cheondeuk might not believe him and might kill Dang Myeong for secretly learning the clan’s secret art.

After examining the path of Dang Myeong’s internal energy for a moment, Dang Cheondeuk let out a soft sigh.

“It is true. I was the one who passed it on to you.”

“Thank you for believing me.”

At Dang Myeong’s words, Dang Cheondeuk poured himself a cup of tea, drank it, and remained blankly silent for a while.

He, too, needed time to understand the situation. Watching Dang Cheondeuk, Dang Hong cautiously spoke.

“Clan Lord… do you believe such an unbelievable story?”

At Dang Hong’s question, which implied that he was accepting this far too easily, Dang Cheondeuk said,

“The secret manual of the Three Yang Divine Art is fixed, but its characteristics differ depending on who learns it.”

“Its characteristics differ?”

“You will understand someday. And right now, the characteristics of his Three Yang Divine Art are mine. That means I taught it to him directly. Not through a secret manual, but through direct transmission.”

Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“Therefore, Dang Myeong is telling the truth.”

“I… see?”

Dang Hong, who did not know the Three Yang Divine Art, could only look puzzled. Dang Cheondeuk glanced at him once, then looked at Dang Myeong.

“What matters is not that. It is the Demonic Cult’s attack.”

“That is correct.”

“You said you saw the Right Envoy of Light?”

“Yes.”

After a brief pause, Dang Cheondeuk said,

“The Right Envoy of Light is an absolute master ranked fourth in the Demonic Cult. His martial prowess alone can compare to one of the Ten Great Experts of the martial world… In the main house, there is no one who can face him.”

“He said he was third.”

“That cannot be. The Left Envoy of Light is third, and the Right Envoy is fourth. That has been the Demonic Cult’s ranking for generations….”

Dang Cheondeuk shook his head.

“That is not what matters.”

After another moment, Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“If even the Right Envoy of Light has moved… then the Demonic Cult is determined to annihilate the main house.”

“The main house is strong. No matter how much they….”

At Dang Hong’s hurried words, Dang Cheondeuk shook his head.

“The main house is strong, but we must also acknowledge the enemy’s strength.”

Dang Cheondeuk clasped his hands behind his back and glanced down from the Octagonal Pavilion. There, a Tang Clan expert was hurrying toward them with lightness skill.

“It seems a message has arrived from Qingcheng and Emei.”

Because he had heard Dang Myeong’s story, Dang Cheondeuk knew what it meant and waited for him.

When the Tang Clan expert hurriedly presented the message, Dang Cheondeuk read it and nodded.

“Gather everyone who is not currently carrying out a clan duty at the Flying Heaven Pavilion. Include even newborn infants.”

“As you command.”

After the martial artist left, Dang Cheondeuk thought for a moment, then said,

“How many Demonic Cult martial artists were surrounding the main house?”

“They appeared to number roughly more than a thousand.”

“A thousand….”

Dang Cheondeuk rubbed the teacup with a grave expression, then continued.

“You said the Jegal Clan would also be attacked.”

“Yes.”

After a brief silence, Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Hong.

“Send a message to the Jegal Clan. Tell them the Demonic Cult is targeting them.”

“As you command.”

When Dang Hong hurriedly left the Octagonal Pavilion, Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“Attack me.”

“Pardon?”

“Attack me with everything you have. Think of it as a lesson.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, Dang Myeong drew up his internal energy and shot forward.

SWOOSH!

In response to Dang Myeong’s attack, Dang Cheondeuk dodged or blocked each strike one by one and began teaching him.

SWOOSH-SWOOSH-SWOOSH!

“Focus on bare-handed techniques.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, Dang Myeong started to draw hidden weapons, then changed course and attacked with his fists instead.

After exchanging fists quickly for about half a quarter of an hour while giving instruction, Dang Cheondeuk stepped back.

Flinch!

When Dang Myeong stopped, Dang Cheondeuk said,

“Just now, I guided your attacks toward specific areas. Do you remember?”

“Yes.”

During their sparring, Dang Cheondeuk had subtly created openings and lured Dang Myeong into attacking them.

“It should work even against experts whose level is slightly higher than yours.”

“Thank you.”

At Dang Myeong’s words, Dang Cheondeuk began walking as he spoke.

“How should we overcome this crisis?”

“……The best way is to widen the battlefront.”

“Widen the battlefront?”

“The Demonic Cult is wary of the main house’s poison and traps.”

“That must be why they burned Tang Clan Tower first.”

“Right now, the Demonic Cult experts are likely stationed some distance away from the Tang Clan. I believe they are roughly two hours away.”

“Your reason?”

“During my first death, the Demonic Cult experts appeared about three hours after the Secret Serpent Unit and the Flat Bat Unit set out.”

“They waited for the two units to move away, received word an hour later, then set out from two hours away… so three hours in total?”

“Yes.”

At Dang Myeong’s answer, Dang Cheondeuk remained silent for a moment, then said,

“When you say widen the battlefront….”

“What the main house needs is time.”

“Until support arrives from the Central Plains.”

“Yes. But it will not be easy. Even if Mount Hua, Yunnan, and Zhongnan set out as quickly as possible… it will take at least five days. And if other sects come as well, it will take even longer.”

Dang Cheondeuk sighed and shook his head.

“We cannot hold out for that long.”

Then Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“When you say widen the battlefront, I assume you mean to create traps outside Tang Clan Tower as well… but that will not allow us to hold out for long either.”

“……Yes.”

When Dang Myeong sighed in frustration, Dang Cheondeuk looked at him, smiled, and patted his shoulder.

“Even so, this father of yours is proud of you.”

“Pardon?”

“How terrifying death must be…. And yet, even after dying three times, you have not given in to fear. You are still showing the will to protect the main house no matter what. How admirable and remarkable is that?”

“I died and failed three times.”

“How could that be your fault?”

Dang Cheondeuk smiled as he walked, and soon they arrived at the Flying Heaven Pavilion.

The inside and outside of the Flying Heaven Pavilion were filled with members of the Tang Clan. Even now, people of the Tang Clan were coming in, holding children by the hand.

Seeing the innocent children laughing without knowing anything and the curious faces of the adults wondering what was happening, Dang Myeong bit his lip.

There were roughly six hundred of them. If those scattered elsewhere carrying out duties were included, the Tang Clan family numbered nearly seven hundred.

After silently looking at the Tang Clan members, Dang Cheondeuk climbed onto the platform and opened his mouth.

“The Right Envoy of Light of the Demonic Cult is leading Demonic Cult experts and targeting the main house.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, bewilderment appeared on the faces of the Tang Clan family members.

Then Great Elder Dang Pung stepped forward.

“Clan Lord, what does that mean? Where did this information come from?”

“There is no time, so I cannot persuade you. From this moment on, please consider the words of me, the Clan Lord, as proof and trust me.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s firm words, Dang Pung looked at him, then performed a cupped-fist salute and lowered his head.

“Dang Pung, a member of the Tang Clan family, obeys the Clan Lord’s words.”

At Dang Pung’s words, the other family members also performed cupped-fist salutes and lowered their heads.

“Dang Jang, a member of the Tang Clan family, obeys the Clan Lord’s words.”

“Dang Miryeong, a member of the Tang Clan family, obeys the Clan Lord’s words.”

As the family members lowered their heads in unison, Dang Cheondeuk performed a cupped-fist salute and lowered his head.

“Thank you.”

Dang Cheondeuk looked at each of the family members, then said,

“Qingcheng and Emei are currently surrounded by the Demonic Cult.”

“Qingcheng and Emei?”

“Ahem!”

When Dang Pung made a low sound, the experts who had been muttering in shock closed their mouths.

“Please continue.”

At Dang Pung’s words, Dang Cheondeuk nodded and explained the situation. As they listened, tension appeared on the faces of the Tang Clan experts.

After explaining the situation, Dang Cheondeuk said,

“The main house will not send support.”

Gulp!

Those who were about to raise objections could only swallow.

“The main house… will escape from this place.”

“Esc…”

One person, startled by the word escape, flinched and began to speak without realizing it, then hurriedly closed his mouth.

Looking at those martial artists, Dang Cheondeuk spoke.

Along with his low voice, the Secret Shadow Unit moved.

Watching them, Dang Cheondeuk looked at the platform, then turned to Dang Myeong.

“Remember this.”

Then Dang Cheondeuk walked across the platform, shifting his steps.

Press. Press. Press.

Dang Cheondeuk walked here and there across the platform, pressing down with his feet. Then… the space beneath the platform opened, revealing a black hole.

“The Secret Serpent Unit and the Flat Bat Unit will move through the passage and confirm whether there are any problems. Once you reach the end of the passage, secure the surrounding area.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, the members of the Secret Serpent Unit and the Flat Bat Unit bit their lips and lowered their heads.

“As you command.”

The Secret Serpent Unit and the Flat Bat Unit dropped into the passage and vanished.

“Each unit will immediately secure the necessary supplies and return.”

“As you command.”

When the members of the three units scattered, Dang Myeong looked at the experts.

“The experts of the outer compound and inner compound will send the main house family members down into the passage now.”

“As you command.”

“As you command.”

The experts left the great hall, carried or held the people outside, and dropped down into the passage.

As Dang Cheondeuk watched them, Dang Pung approached him and performed a cupped-fist salute.

“Clan Lord, I have one request.”

“Speak.”

“The main house has protected this place for several hundred years. We cannot simply hand over the foundation of the main house without a fight. Therefore, the elders and I will remain….”

Dang Pung smiled as he spoke.

“And show the Demonic Cult bastards who enter this place hell.”

At Dang Pung’s words, Dang Cheondeuk smiled.

“Of course. We cannot hand over the main house without spilling even a drop of blood.”

“Thank you for allowing it.”

“And I will stand there with you.”

When Dang Pung spoke in surprise, Dang Cheondeuk shook his head.

“The Clan Lord must protect the main house.”

“This is a matter of our clan’s foundation being trampled beneath the enemy’s feet. If the Clan Lord of the main house is absent from such a place, the world will laugh.”

Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“From this moment on, you are the Clan Lord of the Tang Clan.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, Dang Myeong bit his lip, then performed a cupped-fist salute and lowered his head.

“Dang Myeong receives the Clan Lord’s command.”

There was no time to refuse or act humble. And….

‘This is Father’s decision.’

As Dang Cheondeuk looked at him, he removed the ring from his hand and put it on Dang Myeong’s finger.

“This is the Flying Heaven Ring.”

Looking at the Flying Heaven Ring, the symbol of the Tang Clan’s Clan Lord, Dang Myeong bit his lip. Dang Cheondeuk smiled and said,

“Dang Jang knows how to use the Flying Heaven Ring. Learn it well… and go down.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, Dang Myeong looked at him, then performed a cupped-fist salute and lowered his head.

“I hope I will not see you again.”

At the incomprehensible words, Dang Pung and the others looked at Dang Myeong in confusion. But Dang Cheondeuk, who understood what he meant, smiled.

“Yes, let us not meet again. Hahaha!”

If they met again… it would mean Dang Myeong had died again. It would mean this plan had failed too.

So it was better not to meet.

Dang Myeong let out a deep sigh and entered the passage. Dang Hong and the Flying Heaven Unit followed after him.

SWOOSH-SWOOSH-SWOOSH!

Once Dang Hong and the Flying Heaven Unit entered, Dang Cheondeuk paused for a moment, then looked at the elders.

“Then… let us prepare.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, Dang Pung and the elders nodded and left the great hall.