Chapter 204
Chapter 204: The Secret Return
A sigh pierced through the eardrums.
“Ah, I shouldn’t have drunk so much. I can’t muster any strength.”
Startled by the commotion, Tang Hak opened his eyes.
The pitch-black night sky was embroidered with a streak of white. His eyelids kept drooping, yet the starlight was vivid enough to feel clearly without widening his gaze.
“Ugh!”
Hwang Bo Rim hoisted Tang Hak properly, while the Black Sky Demon cast him a sidelong glance.
“What’s all this whining for, after such a short distance?”
“My head’s spinning, and carrying someone bigger than me is killing me.”
“Still feeling the alcohol? Tsk, tsk… Hwang Bo Rim, the Young Lord of the Hwang Bo Clan, and you can’t even shake off a little intoxication?”
“Do you think I’m Namgung Jin? And if I wanted to shake off the buzz, why would I drink in the first place? Such expensive liquor… Ugh, seriously, you're saying such strange things... Ugh.”
Hwang Bo Rim wanted to argue further, but couldn’t hold back the nausea. He gently dropped Tang Hak onto the ground and retreated to a corner to vomit.
The Black Sky Demon, frowning as if disgusted, turned his gaze back to Tang Hak.
Tang Hak blinked, regaining some awareness.
“Feeling more lucid?”
“…Yes.”
“Hang in there. Once we get inside, I’ll take care of you.”
Tang Hak silently nodded.
By any measure, the duel had been a disaster. Outwardly, he seemed fine, but internally, the damage was severe.
Since Tang Hak was much younger and the Young Lord of another clan, Zhuge Hyang had no choice but to be mindful of others' gazes. He had tried his best not to leave visible scars, but he was likely quite heated, as he had inflicted internal damage with the intensity of someone trying to slaughter internal organs.
“That goat-like fool struck your internal points meticulously. You’ll need a proper check when we reach your quarters. Until then, endure it. I’ll heal you inside.”
The Young Lord gazed silently at the sky, his expression gloomy.
“Does it hurt much?”
“No.”
"Are you frustrated?"
Tang Min furrowed his brow slightly. He wondered if he had to offer consolation, something that didn't fit his nature.
But Tang Hak’s loss was inevitable. No matter how talented he was, the Young Lord could not yet defeat a senior of another clan. Zhuge Hyang was recognized even within the Zhuge Clan, sent to branches, and held the position of the elder’s right-hand. For a martial artist his age, merely sparring with a Zhuge Clan elder was a feat.
Yet Tang Hak hadn’t just endured; he had fought smart.
"Still, didn't you carve cat whiskers onto that other clan's Elder? You should take pride in that."
Tang Min chuckled, recalling the battle.
“That guy will probably hide in shame for a while.”
Sparring with a much younger Young Lord was a blow to the elder’s pride, so it made sense to fight in a way that left the appearance of leniency. Leaving him battered too badly would earn him a reputation for madness.
Zhuge Hyang, known for his political cunning even among the Five Noble Clans, had been careful not to harm Tang Hak too visibly, striking only hidden points. When the Young Lord, severely injured internally, finally collapsed, Zhuge Hyang ended the fight as if bestowing mercy.
Tang Hak’s approach differed.
Wounding an elder of another clan enhanced his reputation. He focused on external injuries rather than internal ones, aiming to leave scars in conspicuous places.
The Black Sky Demon had always taught the timid Tang Hak about reputation management and worldly strategies, like a proper mentor.
The result: Tang Hak left six scars on Zhuge Hyang’s face.
The Black Sky Demon was especially pleased that his disciple had carved a cat’s whisker mark across both cheeks.
The man had returned quite triumphantly, not having seen his own appearance, but the moment he checked a mirror at home, he likely went on a rampage, smashing walls. Meanwhile, back at the tavern, Hwang Bo Rim and the Black Sky Demon doubled over with laughter, and the observing guests couldn’t help but chuckle too.
For someone with a desire for honor like Zhuge Hyang, there was no greater disgrace. Even if people had left Wuhan, a rumor of this magnitude would spread very quickly.
'I don't know what kind of excuse he'll use to stay holed up in his room. He'd rather die than walk around looking like that.'
Suppressing his laughter, the Black Sky Demon was about to praise Tang Hak when the Young Lord spoke first.
“Grand Elder always said…”
"I've given you so many good words that I can't guess which one you're talking about. What is it?"
Tang Hak blinked slowly and confessed,
"That you must believe in family unconditionally, without even asking for a reason."
Tang Min understood what he meant and fell silent. He had overheard Zhuge Hyang chattering before entering the tavern. Knowing the mindset of a timid Young Lord, he refrained from interjecting and simply listened.
"But... I don't think believing unconditionally is right."
The Black Sky Demon furrowed his brow, curious about the meaning.
Tang Hak wasn’t the type to doubt his sister or betray the clan by reporting her to the headquarters.
Yet he couldn’t continue speaking, whether due to uncertainty or the inability to voice it.
At that moment, footsteps echoed from afar.
Someone was running from the direction of the headquarters—a Hwang Bo Clan martial artist.
Upon recognizing Tang Min, he quickly cupped his hands in greeting and hurried to find Hwang Bo Rim.
"Greetings to the Black Sky Demon. Have you seen our Young Lord by any chance?"
“He’s over there.”
“Ah, Young Lord!”
The Hwang Bo martial artist froze as he spotted Hwang Bo Rim vomiting in the corner. He hesitated, thinking to wait until the man finished before approaching. Tang Min asked him,
"Why have you come out? Didn't I say we'd be late?"
“Ah, I came to deliver news immediately!”
It seemed the Hwang Bo martial artist wanted to inform the Young Lord first, and seeing that Black Sky Demon didn’t mind, he spoke as Hwang Bo Rim continued retching.
“Tang So-hwa has returned to the headquarters.”
Tang Min froze at the news.
Tang Hak, lying on the floor, propped himself up.
"I didn't see it personally, but there's an uproar at the headquarters. When I asked, they said the Four Directions Hall, which had gone to the North Sea, has returned. But the atmosphere was strange, so I hid and listened, and someone whispered that she returned on her own feet. They said she entered the Four Seasons Hall along with the Four Directions Hall Lord..."
The Black Sky Demon removed Tang Hak’s upper garment, immediately checking his vital points, and scanned Hwang Bo Rim and his follower with a sharp gaze.
“Both of you, stand guard.”
“Yes!”
The Hwang Bo’s martial artist quickly ran over, sensing the urgency.
Tang Min performed an internal healing technique. After treating Tang Hak’s internal injuries, he stood up as if in a hurry and said,
“Rim, open your mouth.”
“Huh? Ugh!”
Before Hwang Bo Rim could even question him, Tang Min threw a pill that hit the back of his throat. Swallowing the pill by accident, Hwang Bo Rim furrowed his brows.
“Ugh, what is this?”
“It’s a detoxification pill to sober you up. The effects will kick in shortly, so once you’re clear-headed, find a messenger bird and send a letter to the Tang Clan. The Young Lord should go to his quarters, change, and wait there.”
Without another word, the Black Sky Demon vanished. Looking toward the direction where his presence had dissipated, it seemed he had dashed to the headquarters.
Seething, Hwang Bo Rim glared at the empty air where the Black Sky Demon had been.
“No! If I’d known I’d sober up so fast, I wouldn’t have drunk such expensive wine! Hak, wait—where are you going?”
As Tang Hak tried to rush toward the headquarters, Hwang Bo Rim grabbed his arm.
“I’m going to the headquarters.”
“Stop. Why do you think the Grand Elder told you to stay in your quarters and ran ahead first?”
Hwang Bo Rim shook his head.
“He looks like he's going there to cause a scene, so go in slowly. Don't let the Young Lord of the Tang Clan get the stigma of causing a ruckus at the headquarters for no reason.”
“I don't care.”
Tang Hak replied coldly and moved along the path where the Black Sky Demon had vanished. He ran as if he had never been injured, too fast for the Hwang Bo’s martial artist to catch.
Clicking his tongue, Hwang Bo Rim gestured to the martial artist.
“Find a messenger bird and deliver a letter to the Tang Clan. I’ll try to follow Hak.”
“Huh? But if the Young Lord gets involved in a commotion, wouldn’t that be a problem?”
“It’s fine.”
Hwang Bo Rim straightened himself as the detoxification pill took effect and spoke seriously.
“Because I’m going there to stop the Black Sky Demon.”
“…You’re just going to watch, aren’t you?”
Without replying, Hwang Bo Rim returned to the headquarters.
The Hwangbo martial artist felt something was wrong, but since he had been traveling with someone who was already significantly ‘wrong’ to begin with, he let the situation pass easily as usual.
He made his way to a large inn where foreigners stayed. He remembered that the innkeeper lent messenger birds to guests. Not knowing who the owner of the inn was, the Hwang Bo martial artist went to an inn in Wuhan without a moment's hesitation and sent a message to the Tang Clan.
* * *
Darkness had fallen over the headquarters, and silence reigned. A few torches moved busily through the quiet.
Following the flickering lights, rumors spread: Tang So-hwa, who had escaped interrogation, had returned.
The headquarters’ martial artists should have imprisoned her in the dungeon, but they didn’t. The Four Directions Hall Lord, who had traveled to the Northern Sea, had instructed that no one be told of her return. It would be officially announced later by the Alliance Leader.
Though the martial artists wondered if it was right to follow this order, since the Four Seasons Hall Lord had also said to obey, they had no choice but to remain silent.
A martial artist, glancing at the Four Seasons Hall, voiced a doubt.
“…I wonder how the Four Directions Hall returned so quickly. Did they turn back halfway from the Northern Sea?”
“Considering they rescued Extreme Ice Grass and even brought back Cold Iron, it seems they must have gone to the branch office.”
“Cold Iron?”
“Yes, the large iron plate wrapped in cloth. That’s the Cold Iron. The Black Tortoise Pavilion Leader sent it straight to the forge.”
The martial artist scoffed.
“Nonsense. Where would they find such a huge Cold Iron? Half of it would cool before it could even be shaped. How could they make such a long plate?”
Tang So-hwa returning on her own feet was shocking, but that shock was halved by the return of the Four Directions Hall Lord, who had gone to the North Sea.
While the martial artists debated, Tang So-hwa had time to meet the Four Seasons Hall Lord.
Creak.
After sending all the Hall members outside, the Four Seasons Hall Lord carefully closed the hall doors and returned to the Winter Pavilion.
The two women sitting in the pavilion quietly waited for him to take his seat.
The Four Seasons Hall Lord smiled as he sat down.
“I’m relieved that both of you have returned safely.”