Chapter 202
Chapter 202. The Price of Provocation
Tang Hak could not answer.
He believed that his sister had nothing to do with the Blood Sect, yet for some reason, his mouth would not open.
Zhuge Hyang consoled Tang Hak in a voice tinged with a sigh.
"You have it hard. In the end, is this not for the sake of the clan? If you are to prove the Tang Clan's innocence, you must make a decision."
"A decision? What do you mean by that?"
"You understand, yet you say such things."
Tang Hak frowned deeply.
"No....... I truly do not understand what you mean, which is why I am asking. What do you mean?"
Tang Hak continued to stare at him with a scowl.
"Is there a way to prove our innocence?"
In the end, Tang Hak asked once more.
"Is it that I do not understand Hubei customs? When people from Hubei are misunderstood, how do they prove their innocence? You seem to have a good solution."
Zhuge Hyang moved his lips slightly.
It was because he could not immediately comprehend those foolish words.
Tang Hak suddenly opened his mouth.
"Ah! Are you advising me to help the Four Seasons Hall find the item you mentioned?"
This time, he even clapped his hands.
"If my sister is being misunderstood because of that item! Then, if I help the Four Seasons Hall track the route and catch the Blood Sect bastard, the misunderstanding about the Tang Clan will naturally be resolved!"
Zhuge Hyang was about to say no, then closed his mouth.
...... Because, unexpectedly, it sounded like it might actually work.
"If I hunt those bastards down, smash them, and hand them straight over to the headquarters, not only will the misunderstanding about the Tang Clan disappear, but we can also interrogate them to find out why they targeted my sister!"
The clueless fellow kept stumbling upon increasingly plausible answers.
As the conversation flowed in a direction different from what he had intended, Zhuge Hyang hurriedly cut him off.
"No, that is not what I meant."
"Is there another way?"
The Tang Clan's Young Lord's eyes sparkled, as if he had never harbored any hostility at all.
It seemed he truly believed Zhuge Hyang was about to give him an answer.
'What kind of idiot is this.......'
Zhuge Hyang gauged the mind of a man so clean it held nothing at all, and spoke.
"Your premise is wrong. Are you not assuming that Young Lady Tang So-hwa has no connection to the Blood Sect?"
"My sister absolutely has nothing to do with the Blood Sect."
Tang Hak answered firmly, and Zhuge Hyang shook his head.
"That Young Lady Tang So-hwa is connected to the Blood Sect is something everyone knows."
Zhuge Hyang no longer spoke in circles. He had realized that the Young Lord's way of thinking was unusual.
"No. My sister is absolutely not a Blood Sect spy."
The Young Lord remained resolute.
"I endured discomfort and explained to you why your sister is suspected of being a Blood Sect spy, yet you deny my words outright without presenting a single piece of evidence."
"Is that not natural?"
At Zhuge Hyang's words, Tang Hak blinked in confusion.
In a clear voice, untainted by a speck of doubt, the Young Lord replied.
"If you do not trust your family unconditionally, what are you supposed to do? Must you attach conditions to your trust?"
Zhuge Hyang let out a hollow laugh. It was an insult that slipped out reflexively.
Yet perhaps it was fortunate. The Young Lord before him did not seem to take it as an insult. He continued to stare at Zhuge Hyang, waiting for an answer.
Zhuge Hyang spoke in a calm voice.
"You cannot show blind faith just because someone is family."
He answered while being conscious of the gazes of the inn's patrons focused on him.
"That is religion."
"Are you saying it is normal to doubt one's family?"
The question was tinged with displeasure.
Zhuge Hyang nodded without the slightest hesitation, even with his nephew standing behind him.
"Of course. The closer the relationship, the more lies are told. Not always to deceive, but often to protect those close to us—lying and hiding the truth. You will come to understand when you conduct inspections within the Tang Clan later."
"......."
"Rather, it is only by constantly doubting those close to you that you can protect the ones you cherish and avoid betrayal."
Tang Hak could not immediately refute him.
Because it sounded correct.
Soon, a thought he had never once entertained burrowed into his mind.
'What if my sister is truly part of the Blood Sect.......'
Having finally struck Tang Hak's anxiety, Zhuge Hyang spoke in a voice full of regret.
"To the Young Lord, everyone within the Tang Clan is family. And it is not as though you have only one sibling, Young Lady Tang So-hwa, is it not? There are others you must protect as well."
Zhuge Hyang, who had intended to speak indirectly, added something more blunt.
"The Clan Head must have left you behind, believing that, as the future master of the clan, you would make the right choice. If things went awry, he would have wanted you to deal with Young Lady Tang. That is why he left both you and the Black Sky Demon behind. For even if such a decision were made, the only ones in the Tang Clan whose heads would not roll are the Black Sky Demon and the Young Lord."
At those words that crossed the line, Tang Hak frowned deeply.
That his father had left him behind to kill his sister—such words made no sense.
Fury surged within Tang Hak at the insult to both his sister and his father.
In truth, Zhuge Hyang's words contained an insult far greater than Tang Hak had grasped.
They implied that the Tang Clan Head already knew that Tang So-hwa was a Blood Sect spy.
It was an insinuation that he would sever the tail by killing his own child.
With just a few words, he had driven the Tang Clan into the role of a Blood Sect spy.
Tang Hak did not fully comprehend all of that, but he was already so enraged that he had lost his reason. Just as he was about to spit out harsh words—
"Tsk tsk, chattering with words really is the Zhuge way."
The mocking voice pressed down on Tang Hak's fury. His body shrank back in response to the voice.
"No, no. In Hubei, before fighting, we elegantly test each other's measure with words and presence like that. To strike out immediately is rustic behavior."
Hwang Bo Rim entered the inn alongside the Black Sky Demon, his eyes gleaming.
"That is the provocation method that is in fashion these days."
"What kind of nonsense is that......."
"It's me, Hwang Bo Rim! I've been frequenting taverns all over Hubei for nearly two months now. Do you think I wouldn't have gotten into a single fight?"
The Young Lord of the Hwang Bo Clan, infamous as a brute, spoke with a snort of laughter.
"In Wuhan, over the past two months, the one who has picked the most fights is probably me. If you do not believe me, then who exactly are you planning to believe?"
Though it hardly sounded like something to boast about, Hwang Bo Rim flaunted his reputation as he moved to the seat Tang Hak had taken.
"Waiter, you remember me, right? Hurry and clear all these tables away. The board's about to open!"
Hwang Bo Rim flapped both arms as he urged the waiter on. The waiter wore a smiling face, but cursed him with his eyes. Even so, he hurriedly cleared the tables.
Watching a gambling den spring up in an instant, Tang Min could not help but marvel.
"Judging by the atmosphere, it doesn't seem to be a lie. Just how much smashing have you been doing?"
"Heh heh, do you have any idea how many guys I've beaten up around here?"
"How many?"
"Too many to count."
"Tsk tsk, the Hwang Bo Clan Head's heart must be in a terrible state."
"Hm? Not at all. The Clan Head doesn't care how many people I beat up, as long as I win."
At that moment, the Black Sky Demon turned his head to look at Hwang Bo Rim. It was not reproach. There was envy in his eyes.
Unaware of the jealousy, Hwang Bo Rim picked up a bamboo wine tube that had been rolling on the floor and smashed off the top.
Crack.
Holding up the empty tube, he shouted.
"If you're all going to watch, then pay up here. Let's help the owner restore the shop. If you've got a conscience, you should pay a viewing fee. Anyone who won't pay, get out right now!"
Truly, like a master of drunken brawls, Hwang Bo Rim organized the situation in an instant.
Those looking down from the upper floor snickered and tossed down money. Hwang Bo Rim moved the bamboo tube toward wherever the coins fell.
Clink.
"Well now, that great warrior sure is generous."
At Hwang Bo Rim's muttering, people began tossing money one after another. Some even subtly swapped the coins they were about to throw for ones of higher value. Hwang Bo Rim handed the now-full bamboo tube to the waiter.
"This is more than enough for the owner to make repairs. If there's a lot left over, tell him to give you guys some pocket money too."
The waiter took the tube without a word. The owner looked pleased, but seeing that the waiter's expression did not change at all, it seemed the owner had never once shared the money.
Zhuge Hyang, who habitually surveyed the situation, let out a hollow laugh.
"How could I possibly trade blows with a mere Young Lord? Your joke goes too far."
Zhuge Hyang believed that Tang Min and Hwang Bo Rim were trying to humiliate him. With the attitude that he would not fall for such shallow provocation, Zhuge Hyang wore a gentle smile.
But Hwang Bo Rim stretched the corners of his mouth wide and mimicked Zhuge Hyang's smile.
"Elder, perhaps...... you're scared?"
At the rude remark, Zhuge Hyang momentarily failed to control his expression.
Zhuge Hyang had no intention of fighting Tang Hak. He only meant to provoke him. Even if he spoke insultingly, the Tang Clan's Young Lord could not cause a scene. With the situation unfavorable to the Tang Clan, how could he possibly start a fight?
He had wanted to show his nephew that no matter how outstanding one's martial prowess, allies within the Alliance could not easily come to blows, which made the rogue's meddling troublesome.
To encounter one of the few exceptions right before his eyes.
And on top of that—
"Tsk tsk, why go around picking fights when you can't even fight? It's not like you've gotten addicted to being beaten."
The Tang Clan's Grand Elder did not try to stop it at all—he fanned the flames instead.
He had thought the Young Lord had come alone, but it seemed the seat had already been taken before the Black Sky Demon and Hwang Bo Rim arrived.
It was well known that the Black Sky Demon was called the Mad Green Hound behind his back. Whether they were members of the Five Great Noble Clans or the Murim Alliance, he beat them until his anger was spent, earning him that sobriquet.
The young man standing beside him was another notorious rogue, with similar rumors spreading far and wide.
This was a predicament. Rather than teaching his nephew about alliances between noble clans, he was about to teach him that one must be careful regardless of alliances.
While Zhuge Hyang's insides burned with anxiety, the two mad clan members before him changed seats.
"Grand Elder, please sit over here. It's farther from the pillar, so it won't block the view and is good for watching."
"Oh ho, that's a fine spot."
"What about snacks? If it looks boring, I'll just order something simple, but if it seems like it'll be fun, I'll order something good."
The two of them were perfectly in sync.
Zhuge Hyang ground his teeth once, then spoke.
"Are you serious?"
The Black Sky Demon frowned.
"About what?"
"Do you truly think I would lose to the Young Lord?"
"Haha, of course it's a fight you'd lose, isn't it?"
The Black Sky Demon gestured to the waiter. It was a signal to bring alcohol. Showing the leisure to order drinks, he replied to Zhuge Hyang.
"Win against the Young Lord here, and it's humiliating; lose, and it's utterly humiliating, so however you look at it, it's your loss."
The sharp-eyed waiter swiftly shoved a jar of Bamboo Leaf Green liquor into Tang Min's hands and vanished.
"Still, you've got to bear it, don't you? You're an elder of the Zhuge Clan—it's not like you misspoke by accident. Weren't you deliberately provoking the Young Lord? If the Young Lord is too young and it'd hurt your dignity too much, shall I trade blows with you in his place?"
Tang Min, having opened the wine jar, added as if muttering to himself.
"You openly insulted the Tang Clan Head and the direct line in a public place. With provocation of that level, it'd be reasonable for me to step in myself, so say the word."
Zhuge Hyang swallowed his dry saliva.
The Black Sky Demon was a man without any sense of limits.
When he gained the upper hand, he did not withdraw; he would truly beat someone until his anger was satisfied, even crippling them.
Hwang Bo Rim cried out as if deeply moved.
"Elder, please! Choose the Black Sky Demon! To see his Rain of Ten Thousand Heavenly Blossoms and die—that's been my lifelong wish!"
"Who the hell uses Rain of Ten Thousand Heavenly Blossoms in a tavern? Hold on. Are you belittling another clan's secret technique as a marketplace brawl?"
Perhaps suddenly angered, the Black Sky Demon reached out to grab Hwang Bo Rim by the collar. Hwang Bo Rim-nimbly hopped aside and shook his head vigorously.
"Of course not! You know how much I admire you, Black Sky Demon! That was just nonsense that slipped out because I couldn't contain my respect."
Listening to the deranged exchange between the two rogues, Zhuge Hyang let out a sigh.
"Yes, let's say I've lost."
He turned toward Tang Hak and apologized.
"My apologies, Young Lord. I went too far with my words."
When Tang Hak did not respond, Tang Min cut in.
"Young Lord."
By now having emptied an entire jar of Bamboo Leaf Green, the Black Sky Demon shook the empty container at the waiter, signaling for more.
“Say, isn't it a waste of opportunity?”
At the pressure not to accept the apology, Zhuge Hyang raised his eyebrows.
"It seems the Black Sky Demon wishes to see a fight between the Young Lord and me."
Tang Min ignored Zhuge Hyang's words and fixed his gaze solely on the Young Lord.
"Young Lord."
"Yes, Grand Elder."
"Sometimes, there are those who wag their tongues without the guts to fight. It's because they're certain they won't die."
Zhuge Hyang's icy gaze swept over the two members of the Tang Clan.
"Such people are usually clever enough to calculate where they can safely lie down before acting. You must make it perfectly clear to them that before me, there is no place to lie down."
Tang Min's gaze dropped to the empty floor.
"And how, exactly, am I supposed to lay an elder of the Zhuge Clan flat on the ground?"
Tang Hak looked at Zhuge Hyang with an unreadable expression.
Zhuge Hyang formed a peculiar smile.
"Does the Young Lord intend to trade blows with me?"
Tang Hak brought his hands together.
"Yes."
The surrounding noise vanished. Everyone was holding their breath.
Zhuge Hyang stared at the Young Lord with cold eyes, then swallowed a sigh. Even if matters had become tangled, it was the result of his own karma.
As the Black Sky Demon had said, whether he won or lost, it was a losing fight. At the very least, ending it quickly would preserve some dignity. He would resolve it in the manner of a senior instructing a junior.
Having settled on a course, Zhuge Hyang curled his finger with a gentle expression.
"I'll yield. Come at me."
But as he briefly turned his body, he caught sight of Zhuge Daejeong's expression. Knowing the gap between himself and the Tang Clan's Young Lord, Zhuge Daejeong shook his head at the sight of his uncle declaring a three-move concession. His face was vacant.
No matter how outstanding the Young Lord might be, he believed it was difficult to overcome the weight of years.
'What did he see, to lose his sense of judgment like that?'
Zhuge Hyang thought his nephew had grown faint-hearted and could no longer think straight, yet a sense of unease lingered in one corner of his mind.
"No. There's no need for you to yield."
The Young Lord rejected his consideration.
"That's it! This'll be fun."
Hwang Bo Rim rubbed his hands together in delight.
As if he could not hear the sound, Tang Hak slightly raised his hand with a cold expression. Beneath the rolled-up sleeve, a hand covered in scars was revealed. While Zhuge Hyang's gaze fell there for a moment, Tang Hak spoke.
"I have no wish to learn from a senior who insults my clan. I will fight in earnest, so please be prepared."
Tang Hak, who had spoken boldly up to that point, raised his tone excessively at the end, yet his face remained cold.
Tang Min formed a peculiar smile and relaxed his stance. Just as the fight was about to break out, he spoke in an easy voice to Hwang Bo Rim.
"Rim, order the best side dishes this place has."