Chapter 12. Sichuan Tang Clan (4)
After finishing his meal, Tang Jincheon returned to his office. He glanced briefly at the documents scattered across his desk before muttering aloud.
"None of this seems reliable. Don't you agree?"
"Of course. In a world where the head of a clan ditches his guards and charges off alone, it's difficult to judge everything based on just the Beggar's Sect's information."
"Still holding a grudge, are you? Don't blame me; blame your slow feet."
Standing a little off to the side was a middle-aged man in green robes with a tightly sealed mouth—Tang Yujin, his half-brother and personal bodyguard. Tang Jincheon chuckled at Yujin's subtle act of defiance.
"You may look fierce, but your antics haven't changed one bit."
"In comparison to you, Clan Leader, I have a gentler appearance. Also, they say sudden changes in a person signal impending death. I plan to live long, so that wouldn't do at all."
"That's true. That's exactly why I investigated Cheon Hwi-da."
"It seems both you and Sowol are quite fond of him. Why not go ahead and call him your son-in-law?"
"They haven't even had an engagement ceremony yet. Maybe later, but certainly not now."
Seated in his chair, Tang Jincheon quietly began reading through the information about Cheon Hwi-da recorded in the documents.
Although it was hastily commissioned and thus neither properly filtered nor neatly organized, the report was sufficient to grasp the overall flow of events.
"An orphan born in a remote village on the outskirts of Zhejiang Province. He begged for a living as a child and later joined a local criminal group called the Red Sand Gang, where he clumsily took up the sword… up to this point, it's just a typical life story."
Zhejiang Province, which had become something of a headquarters for demonic sects following the formation of the Black Lotus Sect, was a place where such stories were common.
However, what followed in Cheon Hwi-da's history was far from ordinary.
After joining the Red Sand Gang and beginning a life in the underworld, he suddenly disappeared for several days.
When he reappeared, he had killed all of the martial artists in the gang, including its leader, and vanished with their valuables. It was a feat too incredible to believe, considering the boy had supposedly never had an opportunity to learn martial arts. Whether it was his combat skills or his execution, it was hard to fathom how he could have accomplished it.
And that wasn't even the end.
Following that incident, Cheon Hwi-da continued to travel through various villages in Zhejiang Province, repeatedly wiping out infamous criminal gangs.
"There were so few survivors that I wondered if it was personal revenge, but aside from the Red Sand Gang, there was no apparent connection."
Other than the fact that those sects were notorious for their cruelty, there was hardly any commonality between them.
Moreover, it was difficult to see his actions as heroic, since he took all valuables worth looting.
It was as if he were carefully selecting targets without any potential for consequences and robbing them clean, much like a wandering martial artist from the unorthodox sects might do.
For a while, Cheon Hwi-da stirred up quite a commotion across Zhejiang Province, only to suddenly disappear—until he resurfaced in an underground market in Hubei Province.
Apparently, he had been in such urgent need of a rare poison antidote that he paid an exorbitant price for it. This likely occurred the day before he kidnapped Tang Sowol.
A few days later, there were testimonies from Yugyeong Village of him purchasing enough food and daily necessities for two people, and with that, the trail led to the present day.
"Yujin, what kind of person do you think Cheon Hwi-da is based on this?"
"Someone born among the wicked, who became even more wicked. But judging by how you're asking, he probably wasn't, right?"
"Indeed. At the very least, he didn't behave wickedly toward just anyone."
Tang Jincheon still remembered the first moment he met Cheon Hwi-da.
The boy's intense killing intent was so overwhelming that it was hard to believe he wasn't already a master martial artist. His eyes, which seemed capable of cutting through anything, carried a resolve that wouldn't crumble even when drenched in blood.
However, all of that melted away in front of Tang Sowol, like snow on a spring day.
While staying at the Tang Clan, Cheon Hwi-da didn't cause any trouble and focused solely on his training, a sight that was pleasing to see.
His sword was sharp, yet it was always directed outward.
Although slightly different, Cheon Hwi-da's demeanor was something any warrior of the Tang Clan would find familiar.
Perhaps that was why Tang Sowol felt drawn to him.
"Even so, there were too many unresolved questions, so I arranged a meal with him."
"And it didn't go well, I take it?"
"Well, it went both well and not so well."
"Could you stop beating around the bush and just explain it clearly?"
"Yujin, how about making an effort to think for once?"
"I gave up on competing to become an heir thirty years ago because I hated that sort of thing."
"Ha! If you put it that way, there's nothing more for me to say."
Tang Jincheon took a sip of tea before continuing.
"I confirmed that the problem I feared doesn't exist. But I couldn't ask for further details."
"Even the renowned Poison King can't?"
"Precisely because I am the Poison King. Would you believe it if I told you that Cheon Hwi-da seemingly cured Sowol's Heavenly Poison Body when I couldn't?"
"What do you mean...?"
Tang Jincheon recounted the breathing technique he had heard from Cheon Hwi-da to his perplexed half-brother.
At first, Tang Yujin blinked in confusion, unsure of what he was hearing. But soon, his eyes sharpened.
Although he lacked talent in poison techniques and specialized in stealth, he was still a highly skilled martial artist.
He could tell that the breathing technique Cheon Hwi-da shared carried profound martial principles.
"Are you saying that Cheon Hwi-da taught you this technique?"
"He claimed it was a fortuitous encounter. I still need to verify the technique, but I doubt there will be any major issues."
"Is there really a martial artist outside the Tang Clan skilled enough in poison arts to possess such knowledge?"
"There was one among our predecessors. You know the one—they called him the 'Poison Doctor.'"
"That was nearly two hundred years ago! He'd be more of a grand predecessor, wouldn't he?"
"Even if the man dies, his knowledge remains. Remember, it was because of the Poison Doctor that we first learned what the Heavenly Poison Body really was."
Tang Sowol wasn't the only person to be born with the Heavenly Poison Body. Others had appeared in the past, but they either lived without realizing their condition or failed to find proper poison techniques to utilize it.
However, the Poison Doctor, born into a family of physicians, was different.
He quickly recognized the peculiar nature of his constitution and, armed with extensive knowledge of both medicine and poison, sought to turn his condition into a strength.
Since medicine is, in essence, a form of poison, and poison can also be used as medicine, he believed he could use his body's unique traits to save countless lives.
With that thought in mind, the Poison Doctor wandered the martial world, earning a great reputation for curing many people. It was during this time that the Heavenly Poison Body became widely known.
"Although his methods diverged from ours, there are records that his medical skills were, in fact, a highly advanced form of poison arts. They say the only thing he couldn't cure was his own infertility."
"Judging by what you're saying, it seems he eventually succeeded in that regard, didn't he?"
"Thanks to that, Sowol was able to find some peace of mind."
"Hah, if this really is an insight passed down from the Poison Doctor, we'll need to carefully consider how to repay such a favor. Did Cheon Hwi-da ask for anything in return?"
"He didn't ask for anything."
"What??"
"Oh, before that, when I asked how he wanted to be compensated for saving Sowol's life, he only said he'd like to have a meal with her."
"Wait, what...?"
"He said something about needing family, or 'companionship.' He mentioned it while looking at Sowol."
Tang Yujin was at a loss for words. Seeing his brother's dumbfounded expression, Tang Jincheon chuckled softly.
"To be honest, I still find it suspicious. Even if the breathing technique is something derived from the Poison Doctor, where did he gain his martial arts abilities? How did he know that Sowol was in danger from unorthodox sect members? How did he learn Sowol's exact location, and was the Purple Flower Poison Enhancing Grass he found in the cave truly just a coincidence…?"
"But you've decided to trust him anyway."
"I found his words about wanting to become family rather striking. And, ultimately, he has done a great favor for the Tang Clan, hasn't he?"
Saying so, Tang Jincheon gathered the documents on his desk into a pile and burned them with a flash of fire.
"That's why I've decided to arrange for Sowol to be engaged to him."
"Sounds like a good idea. A talent like that should be tied to us if possible. However, there's still the issue of the elders' opinions, as well as Sowol's feelings on the matter…"
"You needn't worry about that."
Although Tang Jincheon had explained to Sowol the benefits of bringing Cheon Hwi-da into the clan, the truth was that his decision had been based on a single reason from the start.
"Sowol already seems to have taken a liking to Cheon Hwi-da. As for the elders, they may have some complaints, but ultimately, they will follow my judgment. After all, once the side effects of Sowol's Heavenly Poison Body were revealed, they agreed that matters of marriage would be left to her and me."
"If that's the case, it shouldn't be an issue. Still, it's surprising that Sowol has feelings for Cheon Hwi-da… then again, considering what happened, it's understandable."
She had left the clan with high hopes, eager to step into the martial world, only to be told by someone younger than her to go back home.
Naturally, she had refused, but the next day, she was defeated in direct combat by the same boy and subsequently kidnapped.
For Tang Sowol, who had grown up as the youngest child of the Sichuan Tang Clan, adored by all and born with an innate talent due to her Heavenly Poison Body, the experience must have been a tremendous shock.
Yet, the situation she had feared never came to pass. Instead, the month she spent living in the cave had been more enjoyable than she had expected.
In the end, there truly had been someone targeting her life, and Cheon Hwi-da had taken up his sword to fight for her.
Later, she learned that one of the enemies had been a martial artist of peak-level mastery, meaning Cheon Hwi-da had genuinely risked his life to protect her.
Recalling all of this, Tang Yujin nodded.
"I can see how anyone would fall for him under those circumstances."
"Coming from someone who has taken four concubines, that sounds particularly insightful."
"If you're envious, why not remarry? It's already been over ten years since my sister-in-law passed away, and even the youngest, Sowol, is all grown up now."
"I'm not interested."
Tang Jincheon swept aside the ash that had piled up on the desk before speaking again.
"While I do intend to arrange the engagement, I'm not planning to rush into marriage right away. We still need to observe Cheon Hwi-da a bit longer. Sowol's feelings might change over time, too."
"That's what engagements are for. But we can't keep watching forever. Do you have a timeframe in mind?"
"Ten years."
"…Ten?"
"It takes ten years to truly judge a person's character."
"Isn't that a bit too long? By then, Sowol will be thirty."
"People are already gossiping that her marriage is delayed. At this point, waiting a bit longer won't make much difference."
"Just admit it already, Clan Leader… no, Brother."
"There's no need to rush into a marriage anymore, so why should I? I just want my daughter to stay by my side a little longer."
"But she's marrying into our clan anyway. It's not as if she'll be leaving."
Tang Jincheon snorted at Tang Yujin's exasperated response.
"How would a man with only sons understand the feelings of a father with a daughter?"
"You're not the only person in the world with a daughter, Brother. You're just unusually overprotective, and you should recognize that."
"I'm rather average, thank you very much."
Pretending not to hear Tang Yujin's retort, Tang Jincheon raised his voice as if to drown it out.
While Tang Yujin usually respected his brother as a reliable clan leader, a close older sibling, and a steadfast warrior, he couldn't help but sigh whenever a matter involved Tang Sowol.
"Haa… I wonder what you'll do if Sowol and that Cheon Hwi-da end up causing trouble."
"What did you just say?"
"Well, Cheon Hwi-da may be young now, but who knows what might happen in the future? Do you really think nothing will happen if you keep them bound by an engagement for so long, especially when they're both in their prime?"
Tang Yujin trailed off, but his meaning was clear.
Tang Jincheon's eyebrows twitched as he struggled to control his rising breath before responding.
"If that happens, one of them will have to die."
"Are you planning to make Sowol a widow?"
"Ah, I misspoke. What I meant was, I'll teach them a lesson in a duel."
"That doesn't sound much different."
"Still, if it's a sparring match and not a life-or-death duel, they won't end up dead. Besides, Cheon Hwi-da isn't an ordinary kid, is he?"
Tang Jincheon calmly refilled his empty cup with tea. However, instead of drinking it immediately, he rubbed his fingers over the cup's rim, sprinkling in a pinch of purple powder, turning the tea into a mildly poisonous concoction.
As Tang Yujin sighed at the sight of his brother turning ordinary tea into poison tea out of sheer habit, Tang Jincheon murmured in a composed tone.
"Anyway, since he's going to be part of the Tang Clan, he'll need to develop some basic poison resistance. I'll start by training him with poisons that won't be life-threatening…"
"This is all for Sowol and Cheon Hwi-da's sake," Tang Jincheon added, listing off various types of poisons under his breath.
Watching his half-brother in silence for a while, Tang Yujin let out a long sigh.
"I should probably prepare a special elixir for him in advance…"
For the first time, Tang Yujin felt a pang of sympathy for Cheon Hwi-da.