Chapter 234
Chapter 234. Each with Their Own Task
Tang Hae-han ran toward the main gate.
Kiiik.
As if sensing his approach, the middle gate opened first, and the deputy leader came inside.
Panting, Tang Hae-han spoke.
"The drainage hole of the moat was blocked."
The deputy leader looked Tang Hae-han up and down, taking in his mud-smeared state, and asked,
"...... Don't tell me you went out and checked the moat yourself?"
"No. There was no one on the outer wall, so I climbed up and noticed something strange in the water. That's why I removed the reservoir pipe and checked the hole."
Tang Hae-han suddenly lowered his voice.
"I believe there's a spy inside."
"A spy?"
"Yes. A Demonkin blocked the drainage hole with clothing. With the outer wall that vast, finding a finger-sized hole in just two days makes no sense. And the drainage hole is submerged underwater, isn't it? Someone who knew its location must have told them."
Tang Hae-han continued, scanning the surroundings.
"They probably couldn't find anything suitable to block it, so they hastily stuffed in their own clothes. If they only received the information after arriving at the Tang Clan estate, doesn't that mean there's a way to communicate even across the outer wall?"
Instead of replying, the deputy leader immediately ran toward the area Tang Hae-han had indicated. Tang Hae-han hurried after him.
When the two arrived at the reservoir area, they stopped at the same time.
Someone was shining a torch at them.
Tang Hae-han squinted at the light descending from the outer wall. Then the deputy leader spoke first.
"I heard you left your post. Where did you go?"
The three martial artists standing on the outer wall exchanged glances. Among them, the tallest one answered first.
"Our apologies. A group of Demonkin gathered nearby, so we hurried off to report to the unit leader and left our post briefly."
"And where are those Demonkin who gathered?"
This time, the martial artist standing beside him replied.
"We regret to say we couldn't catch them. They seemed to be on reconnaissance; the moment they were discovered by us, they fled."
"Yes. We pursued the direction they fled in, but since we couldn't leave our post for long, we returned before going too far. It seems you arrived while we were briefly chasing them toward the main gate."
It was a suspicious account, but the deputy leader did not press further. He merely added a single line in a stern voice.
"From now on, never leave your post."
"Yes. We will keep that in mind."
Tang Hae-han felt confused.
Shouldn't he ask more?
Still, believing the deputy leader had his own reasoning, Tang Hae-han silently followed as he turned away.
Kiiik.
No sooner had they passed through the middle gate than the deputy leader spoke.
"Go to the inner courtyard at once and tell the Grand Madam to prepare to leave the Tang Clan estate."
"What?"
"When the Nine Turns Pavilion Leader changed the poison to be released, he warned us not to carry torches on the outer wall. He said sulfur had been mixed in, and it could ignite."
Tang Hae-han's eyes widened.
Now that he thought about it, they had been holding torches just moments ago.
"Since they seem to have come to block the poisoning, don't try to refill the reservoir yourself. Just gather the poison. I'll send someone to the front of the Nine Turns Pavilion shortly."
The deputy leader placed a hand on the middle gate.
"It won't take long."
He seemed intent on capturing the three martial artists who appeared to be intruders by himself.
Though unease crept over him, Tang Hae-han could not stop the deputy leader. The Black Tiger Unit was one of the Clan Head's direct martial forces—among the most powerful within the Tang Clan.
For a member of the Nine Turns Pavilion to worry about the Black Tiger Unit's second-in-command would be an insult to him. Tang Hae-han clasped his hands and replied,
"I'll immediately inform the Grand Madam and then head to the Nine Turns Pavilion."
The deputy leader gave a small nod. Swallowing the words telling him to be careful, Tang Hae-han ran toward the inner courtyard.
* * *
"Brother Hae-han!"
As Tang Hae-han entered the Grand Madam's residence, he flinched. Children were huddled together in the garden. Among them, Yu-hwa spotted Tang Hae-han and ran over.
Yu-hwa's eyes were red. She looked extremely uneasy about the situation.
However, Tang Hae-han was in too much of a hurry to comfort her.
"Where is the Grand Madam?"
"Mother is inside......."
As Tang Hae-han tried to enter the hall, Yu-hwa grabbed him.
"She's in the middle of a conversation with guests."
"It's fine."
He gently removed Yu-hwa's hand and went inside.
Yet something felt off.
He had entered the Grand Madam's hall, but there were no guards stopping him.
As he drew closer to the reception room, he heard ordinary conversation. There was no fear in those voices. On the contrary, occasional laughter mixed in.
This place felt like an entirely different world.
Candlelight held in ornate lamps illuminated the room, making it bright and warm like midday.
Flowers arranged everywhere filled his vision, and a faint fragrance tickled his nose.
Creaak.
Only when the reception room door came into view did a guard emerge from inside.
"What is the matter?"
"I have something to report to the Grand Madam."
"Oh, Hae-han. Come in."
Recognizing his voice, the Grand Madam spoke with a smile.
Without suspicion, the guard immediately opened the reception room door. At once, the six ladies seated before the Grand Madam all turned their heads.
In a gentle voice, the Grand Madam introduced Tang Hae-han.
"He is the son of the Medical Hall Lord. He is also a talent of the Tang Clan who entered the Nine Turns Pavilion at a young age."
"Ah, I recall the Medical Hall Lord boasting about him some time ago."
One of the ladies replied with a small laugh.
Tang Hae-han recognized the middle-aged woman. She was the wife of the Chief Steward. It seemed that the women who oversaw the Tang Clan had gathered in the Grand Madam's reception room.
Given the circumstances, it appeared the Grand Madam had brought them into the inner courtyard to calm their anxieties.
Tang Hae-han showed proper courtesy to the Grand Madam and then spoke directly.
"My apologies, Grand Madam, but I ask that you dismiss those around you."
"It's fine. Speak. The ladies here can be trusted. If a day ever comes when we cannot trust them, then the Tang Clan will be no different from a house with its pillars collapsed."
At those words, Tang Hae-han could not argue back. Or rather, he had no composure left to persuade her to clear the room.
"There is a Demonkin spy within the Tang Clan."
Thus, he threw out the shocking words at once.
"They have already colluded with the Demonkin and seem to be communicating even now, so you must leave Tang Clan estate at once. If they launch a surprise assault on the inner courtyard, the Grand Madam and the direct line will be their first targets."
"That makes no sense. Leave the Tang Clan estate in the middle of the night? Aren't the Demonkin outside right now?"
One of the ladies asked.
Tang Hae-han did not wish to explain the entire situation in detail and looked at the Grand Madam. Yet she showed no sign of wanting to dismiss the other ladies.
"Reinforcements are coming through the rear gate, so it would be best for you to quickly join them, accompanied by the Red Tiger Unit."
"Hm, with all of the Tang Clan's forces gathered inside the Tang Clan estate, is it just my imagination that this seems like the safest place?"
Another lady interjected. Turning her body toward the Grand Madam, she lowered the ends of her brows.
"Grand Madam, please decide carefully. If you rush out in this situation, wouldn't that be even more dangerous? How would you break through the Demonkin outside? You might instead end up luring those beast-like creatures over here. If reinforcements truly are on the way, it may be better to move together once they have fully arrived at the rear gate."
No sooner had she finished speaking than Tang Hae-han cut in.
"I am not part of the Martial Force Division, so I don't know how escape routes are secured or how to assist in the Grand Madam's withdrawal. Therefore, I cannot honestly say that going outside is safer."
The Grand Madam fell silent. She seemed willing to hear Tang Hae-han out as well.
"However, what I personally confirmed is that someone blocked the moat's poisoning outlet, and that there is a Tang Clan member conveying our internal situation to the Demonkin. There is a high chance they are still communicating even now."
Tang Hae-han's face was expressionless, but his voice was dreadfully dark.
"If the Tang Clan estate's defensive system has collapsed and a spy is aiding the Demonkin, then the fall of the outer wall will be only a matter of moments. Once the formations on the outer wall become meaningless, we will have no choice but to face the Demonkin with only the Tang Clan's own strength, and at present, our internal forces are in a very fragile state."
"......."
"The deputy leader of the Black Tiger Unit, who has far more combat experience than I do, advised that the Grand Madam leave the Tang Clan estate and join her natal family's reinforcements. I came to convey those words."
After sweeping his gaze around the room, Tang Hae-han continued.
"Of course, the decision is yours, Grand Madam. I am merely reporting the situation outside. Please decide which is safer, remaining inside or going out."
Tang Hae-han clasped his hands in respect and turned his body. As he was about to leave, the Grand Madam hurriedly asked,
"Where are you going?"
"As I said, it has already been two hours since the moat's poisoning outlet was blocked. All of the poisonous miasma in the moat will have dissipated, so we must urgently release poison into it again."
Tang Hae-han had no intention of sowing panic, but he felt it was something that needed to be said, so he added this.
"The Demonkin also know that the poisonous miasma in the moat has vanished, so it would not be strange if they crossed the outer wall at any moment. There is no time, so I will depart without first seeking your permission. Please understand."
As he left the room, a heavy silence settled over the reception room. No relaxed voices or laughter followed.
No sooner had he stepped out of the hall than Ye-hwa rushed at him.
"Brother Hae-han! Where are you going? Stay here too! They say this is the safest place!"
Tang Hae-han took something from his sleeve and pressed it into Ye-hwa's hand.
"If things become dangerous, share this pill with Yu-hwa, then scatter the sand and run."
"Hm? Poisonous sand?"
Ye-hwa looked with interest at the small wooden box and pouch he had handed her.
"It's dangerous, so take the pill first before touching the sand."
"Do you think I wouldn't even know something that basic?"
Ye-hwa replied lightly, but Yu-hwa's face had gone pale. She seemed to have realized that the situation was taking a turn for the worse.
Still, Tang Hae-han left the twins behind and exited the hall. His heart was far too pressed for time.
It was a moment when each had to stake their lives on their own task. The martial forces would fight the Demonkin, the inner courtyard would protect the future of the Tang Clan, and he, too, had to focus on his own duty.
Tang Hae-han returned to the Nine Turns Pavilion, determined to restore the Tang Clan's collapsed defensive system.