Chapter 11. Sichuan Tang Clan (3)
I recited the mantra that the Tang Sowol of my previous life had shared with me.
At first, Tang Jincheon, the Poison King, frowned skeptically. But as I continued and reached the latter part, his expression shifted to one of shock—bordering on disbelief—and faint relief.
"I am the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"I know."
"I am someone who can do far more than I cannot. Especially when it comes to poisons and concealed weapons."
"Who in the world would deny the authority of the Tang Clan?"
"And yet, there have been more things I couldn't do for my daughter than things I could."
A mix of guilt, relief, and a hint of gratitude filled Tang Jincheon's voice. In this moment, he wasn't a grandmaster of the Flowering Stage or the head of one of the Five Great Clans—he was simply a father.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For protecting Sowol when I couldn't."
"Even without me, things would've worked out somehow. And if we're being precise, wasn't I technically the kidnapper? Please don't concern yourself too much with it."
"The Toxin Spirit Physique is a talent so rare that even those with the so-called Heavenly Martial Body would envy it. But for Sowol, who isn't just a martial artist but also a woman, it's been nothing short of a curse. And yet, you found a way to lift that curse."
"I just happened to know the right mantra. Without me, she may have found another solution on her own."
"Perhaps. But it doesn't change the fact that you gave away something precious without hesitation."
"I only did it because I knew about your clan's creed."
"If that were the case, you would've made demands first."
…Well, he had a point. I truly had no intention of asking for compensation. After all, I was simply returning something that Sowol had originally discovered herself in the past. It would've felt wrong to boast about something so natural.
"For a long time, I thought the only thing I could do for Sowol was to find her a good match as quickly as possible."
"You have so much, yet your goals were rather modest."
"In truth, that's why I wanted to push for you to become Sowol's fiancé. I don't know how you feel, but it seemed like Sowol had taken a liking to you, so I pressed forward using the Tang Clan's wealth and influence as bait."
"F-Father?!"
Sowol, who had been quietly listening while glancing back and forth between us, turned bright red. Tang Jincheon chuckled heartily at her reaction.
Marriage is of little consequence to a vagabond like me, with neither home nor family…
But for a noblewoman like Tang Sowol, failing to marry was considered a flaw in itself. And being unable to bear children? An even greater flaw.
As someone who had been abandoned at birth and raised as an orphan, such concerns were difficult for me to fully comprehend. But for Tang Jincheon and Tang Sowol, they were serious matters.
I gave a small nod of understanding. Soon after, Tang Jincheon's tone grew more cautious as he continued.
"With the situation being what it is, I suppose it's only right that I tell you now. I hope you don't mind, but I had you investigated."
"You did well. Regardless of whether I'm a benefactor or not, if I'm a candidate for marriage, it's only proper to learn who I am."
"Thank you for understanding. I have many questions about your past, but I won't press you for answers."
"I appreciate your consideration."
"However, there's one thing I must ask. Can you answer me truthfully?"
"What is it?"
"Cheon Hwi-da. Are you, by any chance, related to the Heavenly Killing Star?"
For a moment, I was caught off guard by the unexpected question.
There are many rare and special physiques in the world—Heavenly Martial Body, Toxin Spirit Physique, Nine Yin Severed Meridians, Nine Yang Severed Meridians, and more.
These physiques bestow extraordinary talents upon those born with them but often come with severe drawbacks.
For example, those with the Heavenly Martial Body possess unmatched talent in martial arts but gradually lose interest in all other aspects of life, becoming emotionally detached.
Similarly, the Toxin Spirit Physique, which grants the body of a Toxin Master without the need for rebirth through intense training, causes one's body to grow increasingly toxic over time, making it difficult to bear children.
The severed meridian types allow for rapid cultivation and exceptional comprehension, but they drastically shorten one's lifespan.
These physiques have long been both envied and feared. While their talents are awe-inspiring, few would willingly bear the cost that comes with them.
Over the centuries, many have tried to find ways to overcome the drawbacks of these physiques, with varying degrees of success.
The emotional detachment of the Heavenly Martial Body was mitigated by having its bearer learn various martial arts from different sects, which eventually became a tradition among the Nine Great Sects.
For the Toxin Spirit Physique, it was long thought that bearing children quickly was the only solution. But in my previous life, Sowol had discovered a method to control her body's toxic reaction.
As for the severed meridians, countless physicians studied the condition until they established a viable treatment, albeit one requiring rare medicinal herbs and the aid of a skilled martial artist.
The Heavenly Killing Star, however, was a different story.
Like the Heavenly Martial Body, it bestowed unparalleled martial talent. However, it came with a severe flaw—the bearer struggled to control their killing intent, often becoming a danger to those around them.
Unlike other physiques, the Heavenly Killing Star's drawback posed a threat not just to the bearer but to others as well. And because no solution had ever been found, the physique was considered a curse of fate, beyond human intervention.
Hence, it was named the Heavenly Killing Star, a star of death decreed by the heavens.
The rule regarding anyone discovered to have this physique was simple: they were to be executed immediately. In rare cases, mercy was shown by imprisoning them under constant surveillance, only to be executed if their killing intent ever went out of control.
It was no wonder that the Heavenly Killing Star was feared and loathed, given that its bearers had repeatedly caused massacres in the martial world.
And now, Tang Jincheon was asking if I had any connection to such a physique.
Without realizing it, my eyes narrowed. Noticing my reaction, Tang Jincheon quickly shook his head.
"Don't misunderstand me. I'm not accusing you of being a Heavenly Killing Star. After all, I saw with my own eyes how you immediately suppressed your killing intent the moment you heard Sowol's voice. That's something even most martial artists would find impossible, let alone someone with that physique."
"Well, that's true."
"The reason I brought it up is because of your martial arts."
"My martial arts?"
"Yes. When you were unconscious, I examined your condition briefly, and I noticed something unusual about your internal energy."
Ah…
I immediately understood what he meant. The internal energy I cultivated using the Wave-Breaking Death Art was imbued with killing intent.
While it lacked purity compared to orthodox arts, its power was equal to that of any supreme martial art.
Of course, it was highly unstable, to the point where falling into Qi deviation wasn't out of the question.
However, the killing intent imbued in my internal energy came from my own life experiences. It couldn't overwhelm me.
Unfortunately, no one else knew that.
To Tang Jincheon, it likely appeared as though I had learned some highly dangerous demonic martial art.
If he had indeed investigated my past, his suspicions would have only grown.
After all, I was once just an orphan scraping by under a minor bandit faction. Then, one day, I had slain those very bandits and disappeared without a trace. Without some fortuitous encounter, such a transformation would have been impossible.
And now, I was using a martial art that appeared both powerful and perilously unstable.
As expected, Tang Jincheon spoke in a grave tone.
"Even the most notorious demonic masters of the martial world wouldn't dare practice such a dangerous form of internal energy. If anyone could, it would have to be…"
"You're thinking that while I may not be a Heavenly Killing Star, I could have learned martial arts left behind by one."
"…Exactly. Even if you're fine now, such techniques will only grow more dangerous as time passes. Perhaps you had no other choice before, but now things are different."
"Different, how?"
"If you wish, the Tang Clan can offer you our internal energy cultivation method. Since you would need to rebuild your foundation from the ground up, we'll provide you with the necessary medicinal support. Why not abandon that dangerous martial art?"
Of course, while he was offering the Tang Clan's method, it wouldn't be their highest-level secret art. Still, it wouldn't be some mediocre technique either—it would likely be a Rising-class cultivation method, capable of reaching the Peak Realm with steady practice.
Rising-class methods were priceless treasures that many factions would kill for. Wars had been waged over rumors of their existence alone.
Tang Jincheon's offer was undoubtedly one of goodwill.
But it wasn't one I could accept.
"I appreciate the offer, but I must decline."
"May I ask why?"
"No matter how humble it may seem, I wish to climb the mountain I've built with my own hands."
"Even if that path is shrouded in darkness and fraught with danger?"
"No matter how narrow or treacherous, it's my path. I can't abandon it so easily. And even if, as you say, I stumble along the way… as long as someone is there to catch me, I'll be fine."
"…Hah."
Tang Jincheon let out a sigh, somewhere between admiration and sympathy. He nodded slowly.
"If that's your resolve, so be it. Just remember that my offer remains valid should you ever change your mind."
"I'll keep that in mind."
I gave a slight bow, and Tang Jincheon smiled in satisfaction.
"Also, while the mantra you provided seems legitimate, we'll verify it on our end as well."
"Of course. I only passed along what I happened to hear. I'm sure you, Poison King, are far more knowledgeable in this field."
"Hmm… Apologies for prying after saying I wouldn't, but could you tell me how you came to learn it? I can't help but be curious."
Well, it made sense. After all, the mantra was something Tang Sowol had developed herself after reaching the Flowering Stage.
For Tang Jincheon, a master renowned for his poison arts, encountering a poison-based technique on par with his own must have been quite the surprise.
But there was no way he'd believe the truth, so I had to come up with something plausible.
"In this vast world, while the Tang Clan is undoubtedly the pinnacle of poison arts, it doesn't hold a monopoly on all poison techniques. Let's just say it was a stroke of luck."
"Hahaha! Fair enough. The martial world has always been vast. Perhaps I've grown complacent, intoxicated by the hollow title of Poison King."
Tang Jincheon laughed heartily and picked up his chopsticks again.
"We've talked too long during the meal. I'll have the food reheated."
With a cheerful expression, he summoned the head chef.
After that, the rest of the meal passed peacefully, with only light conversation to accompany us.
***
After finishing the meal, I walked with Tang Sowol back toward our rooms.
"Ugh, I'm so full."
"Gross, Master Cheon."
"Oh, come on. Didn't we already see everything there was to see in that cave? Let's not make a fuss over something this minor."
"I-I was considerate back then! We didn't share any… embarrassing moments!"
"True. You made sure to go back and forth that long distance every time nature called. I found it rather inconvenient."
"Ahhh! Stop! No more talking about that! At least not in front of me!"
Tang Sowol let out a high-pitched scream and began slapping my back repeatedly. She didn't use internal energy, but she also didn't hold back, so it stung quite a bit.
And yet, for some reason, seeing her react so fiercely was amusing.
After a while of playful bickering, Tang Sowol suddenly let out a long sigh, as if all her energy had drained away.
"Haaa… Honestly, I'm still reeling. The conversation went in a completely different direction than I expected, and to think that the curse of the Toxin Spirit Physique could be resolved so easily…"
"Well, life's like that sometimes."
"Not usually. Things don't usually fall into place so neatly. Be honest with me, Master Cheon. How long have you been planning this?"
"Planning what?"
"The whole engagement thing!"
She bit her tongue while saying "engagement" and ended up tearing up as she covered her mouth.
"You really need to be more careful."
"…Just answer me, please…"
She spoke weakly, clearly trying to avoid biting her tongue again. Seeing her like this, I chuckled and shook my head.
"I didn't plan to become your fiancé. How could I have known that saving your life would lead to marriage talk? Even you didn't see it coming, did you?"
"…True."
"But yes, if you're asking whether I intended to leave you indebted to me… the answer is yes."
"…Ah…"
Tang Sowol let out a small sound of realization, her voice soft and weary.
"Just out of curiosity… when did it start?"
When, huh… Excluding memories of my previous life, it would have to be…
"From the moment I first saw you."
"...?"
Tang Sowol tilted her head, not quite grasping what I meant.
So, I added a brief explanation.
"When I met your gaze, heard your voice, and saw that awkward smile of yours—I knew."
"W-Wait, Master Cheon?! What do you mean by that?!"
Tang Sowol's panicked voice echoed behind me, but I pretended not to hear as I quickened my pace.
Even for me, it would've been too embarrassing to face her right now.