Chapter 232
Chapter 232. To the Tang Clan Estate
Having said that, the White Tiger Unit martial artist could no longer tell him to leave. More than anything, what bothered him was that the pressure pricking at his back had vanished.
It meant the Clan Head was listening to the conversation outside the door.
Reluctantly, the White Tiger Unit spoke toward the door.
"Clan Head, the second young master of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Hyun, requests an audience."
Although Namgung Hyun had never introduced himself, the White Tiger Unit martial artist stated his name precisely.
"Let him in."
The Clan Head's permission followed at once.
Namgung Hyun stepped inside.
Once inside, his mouth went dry. Facing the Tang Clan Head at a distance of less than ten feet made him uncomfortable.
After offering his greeting under that piercing gaze, Tang Ji-ha said,
"Speak."
He made no attempt to hide the fact that he had heard the conversation.
Namgung Hyun cautiously made a request.
"This is not an answer fit to be spoken aloud. I humbly ask that you block the sound."
At once, it was as if a barrier spread out, and all surrounding sounds vanished.
Tang Ji-ha said nothing further. Yet if Namgung Hyun did not answer quickly, it felt as though his head would be taken.
Namgung Hyun did not dawdle.
"Young Lady Tang came to find me in order to create a passage."
"A passage?"
Deep lines formed on Tang Ji-ha's brow.
"Are you speaking of the formations used by the Blood Sect?"
"Yes. Young Lady Tang asked me to create a formation leading to the Tang Clan estate."
Countless questions arose, leaving Tang Ji-ha unable to choose even one. In the meantime, Namgung Hyun continued.
"I was a member of the Blood Sect, and I can create formations such as passages. For that reason, I once created a passage so Young Lady Tang could leave for the North Sea, and this time I received a request to unfold a formation leading to the Tang Clan estate."
Lowering his head to avoid the heated gaze, Namgung Hyun continued calmly.
"It seems Young Lady Tang was unable to answer your questions in order to conceal my identity. My standing within my clan is already poor, and the Namgung Clan has lost promising members and suffered great material losses because of the Blood Sect. If it were revealed that I am an adherent of the Blood Sect, I would be branded a criminal in the Namgung Clan, with no guarantee of my life. It appears that Young Lady Tang sought to protect me."
"......."
"As you suspect, Young Lady Tang is not connected to the Blood Sect and plotting something dangerous, nor did she collude with me out of romantic feelings, as people claim."
Namgung Hyun spoke slowly.
"Young Lady Tang merely took the risk of meeting me to protect the Tang Clan from the Blood Sect."
Namgung Hyun raised his head.
His somewhat gentle features, for a man, met the Tang Clan Head's gaze.
"That day, I refused Young Lady Tang's request because I feared my identity as a Blood Sect member would be exposed."
Tang Ji-ha's expression hardened.
Staring straight at that face, Namgung Hyun said,
"However, now I wish to help the Tang Clan. I have found a way to move everyone to the Tang Clan estate without exposing my identity."
"What is it?"
Tang Ji-ha could not restrain himself from asking.
Namgung Hyun let out a small breath, as if easing his tension, and replied.
"If you release Young Lady Tang from the dungeon, I will tell you."
At those words, silence fell.
After a long while, a dark voice struck his eardrums.
"Are you daring to negotiate with me using my clan and my daughter? I could take you to the Namgung pavilion right now, reveal that you are a Blood Sect member, and torture you until you create that formation of yours. Yet instead of fearing that you have shown your weakness and will have your throat torn out, you presume to measure yourself against me?"
Harsh words poured out, but unlike the tone, there was no threatening aura.
Soon, a dry laugh crept into the Clan Head's voice.
"You are not as meek as you look."
Whether praise or insult, the words tickled Namgung Hyun's ears.
Then, the chair in front of Tang Ji-ha moved.
Creeeak.
"You may sit."
When Namgung Hyun did not immediately sit, Tang Ji-ha stroked his beard.
"I know well what kind of man your father is. Even so, you chose to take this risk."
The chair slid closer to Namgung Hyun once more.
"Explain in detail how you intend to go to the Tang Clan estate. Ah, So-hwa will be released from the dungeon today."
Tang Ji-ha added this as he granted Namgung Hyun's request.
Only then did Namgung Hyun sit down demurely.
"First, everything in the rooms must be moved outside to secure as much space as possible."
He explained the same method to the Clan Head that he had told So-hwa. Having crossed passages himself, the Clan Head did not take Namgung Hyun's words as empty talk. Still, the more he listened, the more astonished he became.
And also afraid.
The dark arts of the Blood Sect were something humans should never wield as weapons.
This time, Namgung Hyun stood on his side, providing great help, but if he were to become an enemy, it seemed the clan could be annihilated.
Tang Ji-ha's mind was troubled, but now was not the time to pick between hot rice and cold rice.
It would be two more days before the Four Directions Hall Lord returned, and even if a passage to Sichuan existed, it would take another three days to travel. Using Namgung Hyun's formation was the right choice.
With him siding so clearly with them, there was no reason to refuse.
When Namgung Hyun finished speaking, Tang Ji-ha nodded.
"I will have everyone gather in the Tang Clan pavilion at once. I will ask the Four Seasons Hall Lord to fabricate a story that a passage to Sichuan has been secured, like the one to the North Sea. The Four Seasons Hall Lord is a clever man; he will come up with a suitable reason on his own."
"Yes, then as I mentioned, my room is—"
"So-hwa will be coming out shortly, so I will have you stay in the same room as her. You won't do anything strange at a time like this, will you?"
Namgung Hyun's eyes lifted silently.
"Since it's come to this, wouldn't it be better to use the rumors? People believed that nonsense about secret collusion at dawn without question. If I say I gave permission because I couldn't overcome So-hwa's stubbornness, they will think you went to her room out of concern for her and won't suspect anything."
At Tang Ji-ha's words, Namgung Hyun could say nothing. He knew well how much Tang Ji-ha loathed that rumor. Yet Tang Ji-ha looked at Namgung Hyun with an inscrutable gaze and said,
"If it is discovered that you are a member of the Blood Sect, you may come to the Tang Clan."
Only then did Namgung Hyun understand the emotion in Tang Ji-ha's eyes. It was a look born of knowing how he was treated.
The Tang Clan Head was pitying him.
"If you help us protect the Tang Clan, that debt will never be light. I, too, can protect you, so do not worry about what comes next."
Namgung Hyun was not unaware of what the Clan Head meant.
For a member of the Namgung Clan—moreover, a direct line of the Namgung Clan Head—to become part of the Tang Clan was one possible outcome.
Though it was merely an offer to take him in as a son-in-law should danger arise and protect him, he felt as though his life had changed.
His stomach churned. Had his heart ever pounded this loudly before?
As if to hide those feelings, he lowered his head and curved his lips.
"For now, I will do my utmost in this matter."
"Good. I'm counting on you."
Tang Ji-ha's final reply was concise, yet it carried a desperation deeper than at any other time.
When Namgung Hyun left, the Tang Clan pavilion fell into commotion.
And before the sun even rose, the Tang Clan pavilion was filled to capacity with people.
* * *
The Hubei Branch forces sent as reinforcements to the main headquarters arrived at the Tang Clan pavilion just in the nick of time.
A first-generation disciple of Wudang greeted the Sword Saint with a bright expression.
"It's fortunate you arrived on time. This way, please."
As the disciple led him toward the room assigned to Wudang, the Sword Saint grumbled.
"I told them we would arrive today. How could they not even wait a quarter of an hour before trying to leave without us?"
"Because the Tang Clan Head said it was urgent, the Sect Leader had no choice. He said that if you arrived late, you could come through the passage confirmed by the Four Directions Hall Lord, so there wasn't much more I could say to persuade him."
The disciple opened the door.
With ten martial artists crammed into a single room, it was so packed that even sitting on the floor was difficult.
The Sword Saint's expression twisted further with dissatisfaction.
The disciple, gauging his mood, hurried to placate him.
"In truth, the Sect Leader doesn't fully trust the Four Seasons Hall either, so it seems he believes there's a fifty–fifty chance we won't make it to the Tang Clan estate. He said that if it fails, we can return to the pavilion and wait for the Four Directions Hall Lord. He was probably planning to use the external passage together with you, Sword Saint."
"Hah."
The Sword Saint hunched his shoulders as if to hide his broad arms.
"The Four Seasons Hall Lord isn't the type to spout nonsense. He likely did find a formation leading to the Tang Clan estate."
The disciple replied in a gentle tone.
"Yes, that's why the Sect Leader also believes, at least halfway, that we'll make it to the Tang Clan."
Thud. Thud.
At that moment, the sound of drums echoed from outside. It seemed to be a signal to prepare.
"In any case, do not let down your guard. We don't know what the situation at the Tang Clan is like."
"Yes."
The martial artists in the room each drew their swords a finger's breadth from their scabbards.
Thud.
The drums sounded once more.
"How long do we have to wait?"
"They said it would take about two quarters of an hour. When the formation is complete, they'll strike the drum five times in succession."
"Then what does the drumming now mean?"
"They said it's to mark the time. They'll strike once every half-quarter of an hour, so we don't relax."
"That signal was decided by the Four Seasons Hall Lord as well?"
"Yes. He isn't accompanying us, but he sent the drums himself."
"...... That man truly does have an extraordinary mind."
Silence followed, and then the drums sounded yet again.
As the moment drew closer, the tension grew ever heavier.
Though two quarters of an hour was no short span, the steady thudding that struck their hearts each time kept the martial artists focused, preventing any lapse.
At last, the drum announcing the end of the two quarters of an hour thundered through the space.
Thud.
A hush rolled in, carried on a faint, spreading vibration.
For a brief moment, suffocating stillness reigned.
Thud Thud Thud Thud Thud.
The one beating the drum in the corridor hurriedly swung the mallet.
Unable to calm himself, a Four Seasons Hall member raised his voice.
"Fire! The forest is on fire! You must come out at once!"