Chapter 82
"Are you talking about the Twin Swords of Guankou?"
Yang Jian, the Twin Swords of Guankou, a member of the Four Unrivaled Swords, was the master of the Thunderclap Sect and was not a person who could easily leave his position.
Especially since the Thunderclap Sect in Hunan was the forefront that was blocking the demonic cult in Guangdong.
Since it was such an important strategic point and a place like a powder keg, Wuyou Daoke and the Twin Swords of Guankou, who could be called the core figures of the Thunderclap Sect, had never once left the land of Hunan since the Thunderclap Sect was established.
"Do you think a poor Taoist is talking nonsense?"
"It's too unexpected... but what does that have to do with me?"
Although Yang Jian was an ultimate master of the world, from the perspective of the righteous path, or more precisely, the Martial Arts Alliance, he was a truly troublesome man.
Not only was he a great master, but his personality was unpredictable, so it was difficult to control him, and since the Thunderclap Sect was a mixture of the evil path and the righteous path, its identity was also difficult to see as a pure righteous path.
Moreover, since he was not only a member of the evil path, but was also interacting with people like the Green Forest, if he had not been in a position to check the demonic cult in Guangdong, a situation where he would have been at odds with the Martial Arts Alliance might have occurred.
That was why Tang Yizheng could not understand Wu Guang's action of moving his feet straight to the Tang Clan upon hearing that Yang Jian had appeared in Sichuan.
Yang Jian was a person who would interact with anyone he liked, regardless of righteousness or evil. Although it was an extraordinary event for him, who had not left Hunan since the Thunderclap Sect was established, to have moved to Sichuan, since his outward movements were like that, he must have been moving secretly for his own needs before. If so, it was not strange for him to have other business in Sichuan, and even to visit the Black Contemplation Fortress.
"One of the men and women who are accompanying Yang Jian is the former Qingcheng Sect leader, Xi Xichang."
In any case, from the conversation just now, Wu Guang realized that Tang Yizheng did not know that the Thunderclap Sect had suffered a disaster due to the demonic cult.
Since the rumor was now reaching Sichuan, he would hear the news soon, but judging by the atmosphere, it did not seem that Yang Jian and he had made a promise in advance.
But since Xi Xichang was accompanying him and had appeared in the vicinity of the Tang Clan.
Their destination could only be the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Except for Xi Xichang, whose purpose was too clear, the question that was still unresolved was the purpose of Yang Jian and the young man of unknown identity.
"Xi Xichang... the Sichuan Alliance is truly persistent!"
Moreover, Yang Jian! Although it was a mystery how he had drawn Yang Jian in, since they were heading to the Tang Clan together, it was difficult to avoid a commotion.
Whether it was a stroke of luck in the midst of misfortune, thanks to his child who had been born in the Tang Clan, he had maintained a state like a closed gate.
He had been able to avoid the flames of the war that had taken place in Baidao Wumen three years ago.
But since then, the Sichuan Alliance had not tired and had been constantly sending letters, asking Tang Yizheng to join the Sichuan Alliance and to lend his strength.
In the first place, since the Sichuan Tang Clan was a prestigious family of Sichuan and had frequent exchanges with the righteous sects of Sichuan, they had been with them.
There was no obligation to side with the righteous path.
But since they were asking for help as if they were asking for something that had been entrusted to them, it was a frustrating situation for Tang Yizheng.
"Since these are decisions to stop the rise of the Black Contemplation Fortress, shouldn't the head of the Tang Clan take the center stage for the sake of the martial world's comrades?"
The Martial Arts Alliance did not want the Black Contemplation Fortress to take over Sichuan as it was, nor did it want the Sichuan Alliance to subdue the Black Contemplation Fortress and to become another Martial Arts Alliance of Sichuan.
But since he had to put forward a pretext for the righteous path on the surface, he had only said what was right.
Tang Yizheng showed a bitter expression at Wu Guang's words.
Although only Wu Guang and his disciples were a headache for now, the story that Yang Jian, along with Xi Xichang of the Sichuan Alliance, might visit the Tang Clan was like rolling in a mud field while running away from a shower.
But there was still a question that remained.
Although Yang Jian was a great master who caused accidents around him, there was no reason for Wu Guang to visit the Tang Clan to warn him of that.
Tang Yizheng noticed that he was hiding his intentions.
"You didn't visit the Tang Clan just to deliver this news, did you?"
Since he was about to have another argument with the visitors who would soon arrive, Tang Yizheng had no intention of dragging out this uncomfortable meeting, whatever Wu Guang's intentions were.
"Haha... are you saying that a poor Taoist has come to see the head of the Tang Clan with another intention?"
"Then am I not?"
Wrinkles formed on Wu Guang's nose at Tang Yizheng's irritable words.
Although he was the head of the Tang Clan, he was also an elder of the Martial Arts Alliance and the Wudang Sect.
He had no intention of being treated rudely.
"Then I have one thing I would like to ask the head of the Tang Clan."
"Please speak."
Wu Guang took out a plaque from his pocket.
"This plaque is an item that the leader of the alliance has personally given for the order of the Martial Arts Alliance and the safety of the martial world."
The Martial Arts Plaque.
The characters 'Alliance Inspection' were written on the plaque. Tang Yizheng's complexion, who saw the plaque, darkened noticeably.
"A while ago, a petition came into the Martial Arts Alliance, and since its contents were so serious, this alliance did not delay and sent me out for an investigation."
Tang Yizheng hid his tension inwardly and prayed to the ancestors of his family.
Please let it not be the thing he was thinking of.
"Poison is the easiest way to harm a person. If this is abused, it can take not just one person's life, but hundreds and thousands of lives. Since this alliance knows such a danger, we have been stopping the experiment of the poison man that the Tang Clan was trying to do."
Wu Guang, as he spoke, examined Tang Yizheng's complexion with sharp eyes.
Although Tang Yizheng's expression was calm, his wavering gaze could not escape Wu Guang's two eyes.
"I will ask the head of the Tang Clan. Is it true that a poison man has appeared in the Tang Clan?"
Although it was Wu Guang who was questioning him, the questioning, which was done while holding out the Martial Arts Plaque, was, in the end, a questioning of the Martial Arts Alliance, which was revealing the authority of the Martial Arts Alliance.
The fact that the Martial Arts Alliance, which was thousands of miles away, had set out to investigate the Sichuan Tang Clan, which was not even a member of them, was an example of their arrogance.
But to be at odds with the Martial Arts Alliance was a completely different problem from the Sichuan Tang Clan teetering between the Sichuan Alliance and the Black Contemplation Fortress.
Although it was not exerting its power to check the demonic cult, since the Martial Arts Alliance was the largest group that encompassed the martial world of the world at the time, its fame had a power that was difficult for the righteous path people of the entire martial world to refuse.
If the Martial Arts Alliance were to point out the Tang Clan as a public enemy of the martial world because of the matter of the poison man, the Tang Clan might face the crisis of the destruction of their sect.
Although Tang Yizheng didn't know who, how, and for what reason had sent such a letter to the Martial Arts Alliance at this time, he could not reveal the existence of the poison man to the Martial Arts Alliance.
"Absolutely not!"
Although Tang Yizheng had strongly denied it, if he had been planning to go back after hearing his one word of answer, Wu Guang would not have come this far and would not have taken out the Martial Arts Plaque.
"This Wise Sword believes the words of the head of the Tang Clan. But for a definite report to the Martial Arts Alliance, I would like to stay in the Tang Clan for a few days and to look around this place."
"Hmm...!"
Although it was a request, it was no different from a notification.
Although Tang Yizheng did not hide his unpleasant expression, he could not refuse this and to amplify the suspicion.
Although it was Wu Guang and his disciples for now, if he were to refuse this matter, the Martial Arts Alliance would form a larger investigation team and to visit the Tang Clan.
At that time, it was clear that even Tang Yizheng would not be able to refuse.
"Alright. I will make sure that you have no inconvenience during your stay."
"Wu Guang, on behalf of the alliance, expresses his gratitude for the consideration of the head of the Tang Clan."
The fact that Wu Guang was bringing up the Martial Arts Alliance until the end was surely a trick to gain an advantage in a battle of wills with him.
Tang Yizheng tried not to show his complicated feelings on the outside, with the feeling of being taken advantage of with his eyes wide open.
'Nezha...'
The 'poison man' that his wife, Mrs. Yin, had given birth to fourteen years ago.
Although the long-cherished wish of his family for several generations had finally been fulfilled in his generation, the born poison man had a completely different appearance from Tang Yizheng's expectations.
A hideous appearance like a monster, and a power that put the surroundings in danger depending on his emotions.
And crucially, when he had tried to learn the martial arts of the Sichuan Tang Clan, he had often spread a poison mist around, so it was impossible to handle him.
To think that he could not be handled, where in the world was there a more dangerous and difficult weapon to handle than this?
Tang Yizheng closed the gates of the Tang Clan and thoroughly hid Nezha.
Not only the people of the house, but also the martial artists of the Tang Clan, except for a few, could not know of Nezha's existence.
The problem had arisen in the recent year.
It was when it was revealed that Nezha, who had been confined, had secretly gone out of the village.
The angry Tang Yizheng had scolded Nezha.
But Tang Yizheng also knew well that Nezha was secretly walking around the Tang Clan, getting wet with the night dew.
Not only was there his wife's tearful request, but since he was still his child, he was in a situation where he was turning a blind eye to Nezha's actions of secretly walking around in the manor of the Tang Clan because his heart was shaken by pity.
'Until these people leave, I have to hide Nezha in a deeper place.'
Since the Tang Clan was a place where many secret experiments were conducted and dangerous poisons were studied, there would be a limit to Wu Guang's investigation.
Tang Yizheng, recalling one of the secret places of the Tang Clan, thought that he should hide Nezha there.
"You can't do this!"
"Move aside!"
While Tang Yizheng was lost in thought for a moment, a noisy voice was heard from outside.
Someone was making a fuss outside the chamber where the head of the Tang Clan and Wu Guang were having a private meeting.
"Hmm?"
Wu Guang, whose ears were familiar with the voice of the girl that was heard in the commotion outside, got up from his seat and went out of the chamber.
Tang Yizheng also went out of the chamber with Wu Guang, and there, a woman in a Taoist robe was having a dispute with the subordinates of the Tang Clan.
"Naye, what is this commotion!"
Wu Guang, who had found his disciple, who was surrounded by numerous martial artists of the Tang Clan with an excited face, scolded her loudly.
It was not Dao Weibu, but Shen Naye, who had committed such a rash act and had brought shame to her master's face, which was very bewildering.
"Is it your disciple?"
"Yes... I'm sorry about this."
Shen Naye, as soon as Wu Guang and Tang Yizheng appeared, pushed away the martial artists who were blocking her and hurriedly ran towards Wu Guang.
"Master, we're in big trouble!"
"Big trouble?"
Tears were welling up in the eyes of the approaching Shen Naye.
Wu Guang, realizing that the situation was not ordinary, hurriedly moved his feet to Shen Naye's side.
"My senior... my senior..."
Clang!
Shen Naye, who had wiped away her tears, drew her Tai Chi Sword and aimed it at the martial artists of the Tang Clan who were looking at her and Wu Guang.
As if her voice was trembling and not coming out easily, Shen Naye, who had composed her breathing, slowly opened her mouth again.
"My senior has been murdered..."
"Wh-what did you say?"
"What?"
Wu Guang, at the news that was like a bolt from the blue, trembled his body in surprise.
Tang Yizheng, who was watching him from behind, was also surprised and raised his voice.
To think that Wu Guang's great disciple had suddenly been murdered in the Tang Clan, he could not come to his senses, wondering what that young girl was talking about.
"Tell me in detail!"
The staggering Wu Guang barely regained his balance and asked Shen Naye with a sharp voice.
"When I went out because of a big commotion outside... my senior was already dead and was lying on the floor."
"I can't believe it... lead the way!"
Although he was a poor disciple, Dao Weibu was one of the top rising stars in Wudang.
There was no way he would have passed away so vainly.
And never before his master!
Wu Guang flew his body in one go and followed Shen Naye to the disciples' chamber, and Tang Yizheng and the subordinates of the Tang Clan also hurriedly followed him.
As Shen Naye had said, a man who looked like Dao Weibu was lying on the floor in a corner of the front yard of the chamber in a miserable state.
"Weibu!"
Wu Guang let out a sorrowful scream and was about to rush to Dao Weibu's body.
"No, master!"
Wu Guang, at the voice of Shen Naye, who was stopping him, composed his feelings of anger and sadness.
Looking closely, the grass around Dao Weibu was all withered and dry, and since a mist was rising here and there, it was clear that poison was spread.
(End of Chapter)