Chapter 6

Chapter 6.

 

When Dang Myeong entered Dangcheon Pavilion, he saw the same scene he had seen before.

The senior members gathered in the great hall… Dang Miryeong, who had escaped in tears… and even Dang Jang, who had been venting his grief and anger….

As Dang Myeong watched them, Dang Jang seemed to sense something and looked at him.

[Did you gain a fortuitous encounter?]

Dang Myeong smiled at Dang Jang’s voice transmission. Even during his last death, Dang Jang had noticed the change in him immediately.

And after two deaths, Dang Myeong had gained even more experience in life-and-death duels, and he had grown stronger still.

[I died and came back to life.]

At Dang Myeong’s voice transmission, Dang Jang stared at him for a moment, then nodded.

[Only someone prepared to die has the right to lead the main house. Keep striving… and come to me anytime you need help.]

[Yes.]

While they were speaking through voice transmission, Dang Cheondeuk stepped up onto the platform and looked down.

“The Demonic Cult has surrounded the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, the senior members reacted exactly as Dang Myeong remembered.

And just as he remembered, the discussion unfolded. Dang Cheondeuk nodded.

“The Secret Serpent Unit and the Flat Bat Unit will move. In addition, from this moment on, the main house will enter a wartime footing, ready for battle at any time.”

“As you command!”

“As you command!”

The senior members performed a cupped-fist salute and hurried out of the great hall. Dang Myeong looked at Dang Cheondeuk in confusion.

Without any particular instructions, events were proceeding toward the situation that had led to his first death.

“Bring the map of Sichuan Province.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s command, one side of the great hall opened, and two men entered carrying a large table.

Inside the large case was a model of Sichuan Province. Mountains, cities, roads, and even rivers had all been recreated on a small yet intricate scale. Looking at the model, Dang Cheondeuk asked,

“Where is it?”

Knowing what he meant, Dang Myeong pointed to a spot with his finger.

“Here.”

At Dang Myeong’s answer, Dang Cheondeuk looked at the forest model he had indicated. While the two of them were studying the model, Dang Jang and Dang Miryeong came back inside.

Dang Cheondeuk had told them through voice transmission to leave and then return.

Once the two entered, Dang Cheondeuk beckoned them over and said,

“There is an ambush. The enemy consists of two units: the Blood Death Unit and the Black Wind Unit.”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s words, Dang Jang and Dang Miryeong’s expressions hardened.

“If there are two combat units from the Demonic Cult… this will be difficult.”

Dang Miryeong nodded at Dang Jang’s words.

“I know. And the ambush point is here.”

When Dang Cheondeuk pointed to the terrain with his hand, Dang Jang said,

“A forest. Is the information reliable?”

“Half and half.”

“Half and half….”

Dang Jang thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Well, when is anything ever certain? If there is even a half chance, we should prepare for it.”

“Exactly.”

“If you assume there is an ambush, what would you do?”

At Dang Cheondeuk’s question, Dang Jang studied the terrain and pointed to one side. He indicated a place just a short distance away from the ambush point.

“I would set up a poison formation here, then fire Blast Bombs into the forest.”

Blast Bombs were objects similar to the cannons used by the military. The difference was that they were not fired with gunpowder, but with the internal energy of a peak realm expert, and when the shell burst, countless tiny pellets filled with deadly poison exploded in every direction.

Like the Ten Great Forbidden Poisons of the Tang Clan, Blast Bombs were among the Ten Great Forbidden Hidden Weapons. Once used, they did not distinguish between friend and foe. Anything within four zhang would be devastated, and the poison would spread within ten zhang. Their killing power was far too great.

At Dang Jang’s answer, Dang Cheondeuk nodded, then looked at Dang Miryeong.

“When the Blast Bombs explode, I will pour hidden weapons onto anyone who rushes out of the forest.”

Dang Cheondeuk shook his head at Dang Miryeong’s answer.

“No. Retreat.”

“Retreat?”

“Once the Blast Bombs are detonated and the ambush is confirmed, retreat immediately. Then… draw them here.”

Dang Cheondeuk pointed to a village a short distance away from the ambush site.

“This place? That is Jogu Village… If we lure them there, the civilians will die.”

“When you set out, we will evacuate the civilians of Jogu Village into the mountains.”

“But why here?”

At Dang Myeong’s question, Dang Cheondeuk smiled.

“The main house fights with poison and hidden weapons. We have martial arts as well, of course, but the main house’s true strength is hidden weapons and poison. However, hidden weapons and poison are consumed when used. Therefore….”

Dang Cheondeuk looked down at the map model, then continued.

“The main house has established attack bases throughout Sichuan Province. These places contain hidden weapons and poison belonging to the main house, and traps made from poison and hidden weapons have been installed throughout them.”

Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Jang.

“By the time you arrive, the traps will have been activated, and the poison and hidden weapons will have been fully prepared.”

Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Jang and Dang Miryeong.

“These two Demonic Cult units are strong. If you fight them head-on, we cannot win even if our side has three units instead of two. But… if the battle takes place somewhere prepared, on a battlefield of our choosing, then victory is certain.”

“I will go with them.”

“No. You will stay with me.”

“Father?”

At Dang Myeong’s words, Dang Cheondeuk shook his head and looked at Dang Jang and Dang Miryeong.

“Set out when you are ready.”

“Do we not need to set a time?”

“The Secret Shadow Unit will monitor your situation. They will prepare everything according to your arrival.”

“Understood.”

After Dang Jang and Dang Miryeong left the great hall, Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“From now on, watch carefully and remember everything I say.”

Dang Cheondeuk tapped several places on the map model with his finger.

“What are these?”

“Bases.”

“There is even a base on a rocky mountain?”

When Dang Myeong was surprised that even an ordinary stone mountain was a base, Dang Cheondeuk nodded.

“That is right.”

After speaking, Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“From now on, I will pass on the Three Yang Divine Art to you.”

“That is the Clan Lord’s martial art. I….”

“Learn it. I am not telling you to master it immediately. Just remember it.”

Understanding what Dang Cheondeuk meant, Dang Myeong looked at him.

“Are you assuming that I might die again and return to the past?”

“Once can be called coincidence, or perhaps heaven’s grace. But twice… is different. And since it has happened twice, a third time may also be possible.”

After speaking, Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong. His gaze had grown completely hard.

“But….”

Dang Cheondeuk’s eyes seemed to demand an answer, and Dang Myeong nodded.

“I will not take death lightly.”

“Good. My son would not be foolish enough to think that way.”

Then Dang Cheondeuk said,

“Even so, I am teaching you in advance, just in case.”

“But the Clan Lord’s martial art….”

“Yes. The Three Yang Divine Art is the Clan Lord’s martial art. That is why only I and my father, the previous Clan Lord, can use it in the main house. Therefore… once this matter with the Demonic Cult is resolved, I will pass the position of Clan Lord to you.”

“How could I possibly?”

“I have neither the reason nor the time to persuade you. I am the Clan Lord, and I have decided. You only need to obey.”

With those words, Dang Cheondeuk explained the Three Yang Divine Art to Dang Myeong as simply as possible.

Even the flow of internal energy was taught directly by Dang Cheondeuk, who circulated his own internal energy and engraved the path into Dang Myeong’s body.

Originally, it would not have been transmitted this way. The Three Yang Divine Art was supposed to be passed down by explaining each line of the mnemonic chant and carefully guiding the successor through every step.

Through that process, enlightenment would be passed down as well, so it was not something that should be transmitted so hastily.

But… there was no time. That was why he was passing it on like this.

After quickly teaching Dang Myeong the mnemonic chant and internal energy circulation path of the Three Yang Divine Art, Dang Cheondeuk looked at him.

“Now, let us prepare.”

Then Dang Cheondeuk called out,

“Unit Commander of the Secret Shadow Unit.”

SWISH!

When the Unit Commander of the Secret Shadow Unit revealed himself, Dang Cheondeuk asked,

“What about the search of Tang Clan Tower?”

“The members of the Secret Shadow Unit have spread out and are currently searching it.”

“So there is no conclusion yet.”

“That is correct.”

At the Unit Commander’s answer, Dang Cheondeuk nodded and asked,

“What about the Elder Hall?”

“Except for the three who are in seclusion, they are receiving supplies from the Hidden Weapons and Poison Hall.”

If it had been a fight between individuals, the poison and hidden weapons they carried would have been enough. But this was war.

That meant they needed to be fully supplied with poisons and hidden weapons they would not normally use.

Dang Cheondeuk nodded. After a brief pause, he looked at Dang Myeong.

“Where do you think the main house stands in the martial world?”

“The main house is one of the Five Great Clans of the martial world.”

“Not that kind of standing… Hmm… think of it as a ranking.”

“…….”

When Dang Myeong said nothing, Dang Cheondeuk smiled.

“Yes, it is rather uncomfortable to say, is it not? Most likely, we are regarded as being at the bottom.”

Dang Myeong nodded at Dang Cheondeuk’s words.

“But when it comes to killing people, no sect can match the main house. Whether it is Shaolin, Wudang, or any other sect, none of them can match the main house’s killing power.”

“That is true.”

Because the Sichuan Tang Clan was part of the righteous faction, it refrained from using poison and hidden weapons unless facing an utterly wicked demon. That was why the Ten Great Forbidden Poisons and the Ten Great Forbidden Hidden Weapons existed.

But against the Demonic Cult, things were completely different. Hidden weapons and poisons that were normally forbidden could be used as much as they pleased.

If that happened, a single Tang Clan expert could kill more people than ten experts from Wudang or Shaolin.

“When the main house is prepared, it is strong.”

Dang Cheondeuk looked at Dang Myeong.

“If something like this happens again… make certain the main house is prepared.”

“I understand.”

“And if… on such a day, I oppose your opinion… you may kill me.”

“Father.”

When Dang Myeong stared at him in shock, Dang Cheondeuk smiled and took out a Cheonbo Pill from his robes.

Dang Myeong did not say that it belonged to the Clan Lord or anything of the sort. He immediately swallowed the Cheonbo Pill.

“Circulate your qi according to the Three Yang Divine Art. I must prepare as well.”

After speaking, Dang Cheondeuk left the great hall. Dang Myeong sat cross-legged and began regulating his breath and circulating his qi.

***

Jogu Village was a small village. With a mountain behind it, it was an ordinary little village where people lived by gathering medicinal herbs and farming.

And twenty experts from the Tang Clan had secretly taken position in that village.

All of the experts were white-haired elders. If too many experts from the Tang Clan moved out, they might be discovered, so only twenty experts from the Elder Hall and Dang Myeong had taken their places there.

SWISH!

A member of the Secret Shadow Unit appeared beside the experts of the Elder Hall.

“They will arrive after one cup of tea’s time.”

At the member’s report, the elders looked at Dang Myeong.

“Shall we begin?”

At the words of Great Elder Dang Pung, the Heavenly Explosion Asura and the former Unit Commander of the Tang Clan’s Secret Serpent Unit, Dang Myeong lowered his head.

“Please begin.”

He had been given command authority over this operation, but he could not disregard Dang Pung’s experience or the elders’ long years of wisdom.

At Dang Pung’s order, the elders scattered throughout the village.

Dang Myeong cracked open a window in the village and quietly looked ahead.

Soon, he saw the Secret Serpent Unit and the Flat Bat Unit racing toward them while using lightness skill.

“Retreat!”

“Run back to the main house as fast as you can!”

The martial artists shouted loudly, clearly intending for the enemy to hear, and began racing away by stepping across the village rooftops.

SWISH!

Through the crack of the open window, Dang Myeong’s eyes met Dang Jang’s.

SWISH!

Once Dang Jang passed by, men in black and men in blood-red clothes began rapidly pursuing them toward the village.

PAPAPAT!

The moment the men in black and the men in blood-red clothes entered the village, the fleeing Secret Serpent Unit and Flat Bat Unit scattered in every direction.

“Chase them!”

The men in black and blood-red clothes pursued them. And then….

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

With thunderous explosions, several houses burst apart, spraying hidden weapons in every direction.

“Gaaah!”

“Aaagh!”

Some of the martial artists screaming as they died managed to knock aside the hidden weapons with swords and other weapons.

Others dragged nearby comrades in front of them to block the hidden weapons.

But they could not block them all. The explosions had created a meticulously calculated field of fire made from hidden weapons.

The martial artists caught in that field of fire collapsed under the assault of hidden weapons. In an instant, nearly sixty martial artists fell where they stood.

This was the power of the Tang Clan’s hidden-weapon killing formation. When it had been sufficiently prepared and defended, no one could escape this killing formation of hidden weapons and poison.