Chapter 118. Decision

Though not as imposing as the Tang Clan's main hall, the air in the Clan Head's quarters carried a similar weight.

A suffocating silence dragged on without end.

The faint shadow on the Clan Head's face receded, revealing a chilling expression. The lantern flickered in the draft as someone entered the hall.

Before the visitor could speak, the Clan Head lifted his gaze. A guard, seeing that look, immediately opened the door.

Creak.

At the threshold stood the Black Sky Demon and Han-won. Yet the one who should have been with them was nowhere to be seen.

The Clan Head's questioning gaze was clear, and so the Black Sky Demon skipped formalities and spoke.

"The tracking incense given by Clan Head was cut off midway up the northern mountain."

Tang Min's voice was grave.

"It wasn't swept into a waterfall, nor were there traces of a beast dragging it away. It simply vanished, as though it had evaporated into the sky."

The Clan Head wordlessly fixed his eyes on Tang Min—an indication he was listening to the Grand Elder's words.

"Since it disappeared in the crevice of the rocks, there must be a formation there. Still, even if a formation exists, it makes no sense for the tracking incense to break off like that. If there is an entrance, there must be a gap, and air must flow—meaning the tracking incense should inevitably seep through."

Perhaps displeased with the Clan Head's silence, Tang Min pressed in a low voice.

"Clan Head, you must report this to the Alliance Leader. Even now the tracking incense grows fainter—time is of the essence."

"......"

"Clan Head."

It was then.

The Black Sky Demon's gaze shifted backward.

Tang Hak entered the quarters, his expression stiff as stone.

His face was pale as he gave a clasped-fist salute to the Black Sky Demon, then immediately stepped beside him to face the Clan Head.

The Clan Head again did not speak.

Something seemed to surge within Tang Hak at his father's gaze, his eyes flushing red.

With a trembling voice, the Young Lord reported.

"The Alliance Leader said he is unwell and cannot grant an audience."

"......"

"I waited, hoping he might at least send word, but I was told the Alliance Leader even refused to meet with the Four Seasons Hall Lord."

The faces of those standing before the Clan Head hardened.

The Black Sky Demon could not contain himself and raised his voice.

"Even if reinforcements from the Tang arrive, it will take ten days. We must move ourselves at once. Quickly—"

Tang Min fell silent.

The Clan Head had raised his hand. He opened the chest beside him.

A small wooden token, no larger than a finger, was placed on the table.

Only then did the Clan Head speak.

"Before So-hwa went to the Alliance Leader's quarters, she gave me the Token of Gratitude."

The Clan Head's gaze turned toward the Young Lord.

"She said it was not yet the time, and asked me to pass it on once your heart had become steadfast. Since it was her first time seeing the Alliance Leader, I thought she was simply being cautious."

With an unreadable expression, the Clan Head continued.

"But now that I think on it, it seems So-hwa already knew she was in danger."

His voice carried a chill.

"And it seems the Alliance Leader, too, knew that child had become a target."

"Then... was that why the Alliance Leader asked for So-hwa? To lure the Blood Sect dogs?"

When Tang Min cautiously asked this, the Clan Head replied in a low voice.

"I do not know."

Yet despite his words, there was no wavering in the Tang Clan Head's voice.

"The Alliance Leader said Tang Clan's physicians were fine. He even had the Four Seasons Hall Lord send the Tang Clan a note requesting medicinal herbs. Tell me—does it not strike you as strange that the Alliance Leader, of all people—that unnerving man who stares at others for longer than an incense stick's worth—failed to notice So-hwa had been replaced?"

The Tang Clan Head added in an icy tone.

"Whether the Alliance Leader was trying to protect her... or whether he knowingly aided in having her taken, I will have to see with my own eyes."

At last, the Tang Clan Head rose to his feet.

After receiving the Divine Physician's note from Tang Hae-han, he had sat like a stone statue for hours—this was his first movement.

It meant he had made his decision on the Tang Clan's course.

As the Clan Head stood, the others fell in behind him as if it were agreed beforehand.

Their steps were by no means fast.

For it was both a decision to rescue one of their own, and at the same time, an action that would turn the Murim Alliance into their enemy—thus it could not be taken lightly.

At the path leading to the Alliance Leader's quarters, a man was standing.

"I greet the Tang Clan Head."

Zhuge In-hwi placed both hands together with proper courtesy, then spoke in a calm voice.

"I have heard from the Young Lord about the Tang Clan's concerns. However, acting in this way goes against the rules. Since the Alliance Leader has refused an audience, you must respect his will."

To the Four Seasons Hall Lord's suggestion came only a cold gaze in reply.

As if expecting this, the Hall Lord added in an even tone.

"Tomorrow, the Alliance Leader has promised to attend the banquet. You may meet him then directly. Also, at first light tomorrow, I will personally request an audience with the Alliance Leader to ask that Young Lady Tang and Divine Physician be sent back to the Tang Clan."

"Hall Lord. No—Zhuge In-hwi."

The Clan Head answered, fixing his eyes on him.

"There is a saying that passes as common knowledge among the Five Noble Clans. When the Zhuge Clan speaks of tomorrow, it means refusal—and that one must prepare an alternative. For when tomorrow comes, a new reason will arise, and you will again fail to keep your promise."

"......"

"The alliance of the Five Noble Clans takes precedence over that of the Murim Alliance. Step aside, In-hwi. I came to reclaim a member of the Tang Clan, not to harm the Zhuge Clan's Young Lord."

A faint smile touched Zhuge In-hwi's lips.

"The Young Lord of the Zhuge Clan is not me, but Elder Brother Ji-hwi."

"By next year, you will be the Young Lord again. Why Ji-hwi holds the position this year is none of my concern. I have neither the thought nor the time to listen to the affairs of another clan. Step aside. This is my last warning."

But the Hall Lord did not move.

The wide path seemed filled by that single young man alone.

It was an action that placed the alliance of fifteen sects above the alliance of the five clans.

And now, the reason became clear why the Zhuge Clan Head, who cherished his third son, had instead chosen the second son—who had blinded that third son—as Young Lord.

Zhuge In-hwi had become wholly the Alliance Leader's man.

If it were any other time, Tang Ji-ha would have pondered at length over this change in the Zhuge Clan, but now no thought came to him.

So much so that action came before thought.

As on that day when he first tried to abandon the seat of Young Lord and nearly severed his own tendon before the Grand Clan Head, all thoughts were erased, and only a single clear goal remained.

It was the will to find his child, who had been seized and taken into peril, and bring her back to the Tang Clan.

The blade he sent toward the Four Seasons Hall Lord cut his hair and tore his robe as it returned. It had missed the vital point.

The Hall Lord realized that the Tang Clan Head did not yet intend to harm him.

But the killing intent was by no means at a trivial level.

It was only that its direction was not toward him.

If the Tang Clan Head discovered that Young Lady Tang was not within the quarters, he would clash to the death with the Alliance Leader. Not only the Clan Head, but the Black Sky Demon standing behind, and the Tang Clan retainers who openly released killing intent, would do the same.

Before it broke into war, the Hall Lord had to suppress the Tang Clan's momentum enough to make dialogue possible.

If even one alliance member defied the Alliance Leader's order, the Murim Alliance would crumble in an instant.

Zhuge In-hwi drew an iron wire from his sleeve with an unmoving face.

And the moment the Tang Clan Head's presence surged before him, he swept it swiftly across. The sharp gust flew in an arc like sword energy. But the Clan Head was already past him.

The Hall Lord turned at once. The curved wind struck out, linking four points in four directions, lashing at the Tang Clan Head's ankle like a whip. While the Clan Head faltered, Zhuge In-hwi leapt and landed before the doorway.

No sooner had he turned to face the Tang Clan Head than a dozen needles rained down.

Tak. Tadadak.

The fine poison darts, as thin as ox hair, struck against Zhuge In-hwi's iron wire and fell weakly.

Not a single word was exchanged.

The strikes came so swiftly that even the wind seemed slow.

Zhuge In-hwi did not counterattack, instead focusing his iron wire solely on neutralizing the Clan Head's assault.

Wind and hidden weapons.

The pairing was the worst possible match, and only thus could Zhuge In-hwi withstand more than half a quarter-hour of the Clan Head's assault.

But it was only up to half a quarter-hour.

Taaak.

His long robe tore, and the silver fabric was stained red.

Blood spread across his upper body as though poppies had bloomed.

Even so, Zhuge In-hwi did not yield and continued to resist.

Tak. Tat.

He knocked aside several hidden weapons, but more than that pierced his body.

Without letting slip a single groan, Zhuge In-hwi kept swinging his iron wire, though his wrist faltered. A thick shuriken, not a needle, came flying precisely at his wrist.

If struck, the hand holding the iron wire would be severed.

The Tang Clan Head seemed to expect Zhuge In-hwi to retreat. But instead of retreating, Zhuge In-hwi thrust his hand still closer toward the shuriken.

It was at that moment, even the composed face of the Tang family head was distorted.

Kwaaang.

The flying shuriken plummeted to the ground.

An iron wire, resembling the one Zhuge In-hwi held, had struck down the Tang Clan Head's weapon.

The metal was inferior to Zhuge In-hwi's, but the seal of the Zhuge Clan engraved on the side and the grip crafted for a hand trained in the same martial art were the same.

The Young Lord of the Zhuge Clan, standing between the Four Seasons Hall Lord and the Tang Clan Head, cupped his fists.

"I greet the Tang Clan Head."

Though his tone was calm and peaceful, beads of sweat gathered at Zhuge Ji-hwi's temples. It seemed he had rushed here in great haste.

"I believe that attacking an Alliance member within the headquarters is a grave crime."

Zhuge Ji-hwi cast aside his own iron wire.

Tak.

With bare hands, the Tang Clan Head could have cut off his breath in an instant if he wished. Yet Zhuge Ji-hwi attempted mediation in a steady voice.

"Please calm down for now."

"Stand aside."

"Isn't finding Young Lady Tang the priority?"

At those words, the Tang Clan Head, who had briefly withdrawn his killing intent, once again sharpened his edge. He thought Ji-hwi meant to use So-hwa as a bargaining chip.

"It will take quite some time for reinforcements from the Tang Clan to arrive. To find Young Lady Tang immediately, do we not need the support of the Alliance?"

Zhuge Ji-hwi glanced about.

"But right now, there are many watching eyes."

The Tang Clan Head's gaze followed. Martial men from other sects, apparently drawn by the commotion, now stood upon the rooftops watching the scene.

There were young martial artists, looking confused, and elders, sternly watching over them.

Lowering his voice, Zhuge Ji-hwi whispered.

"Please, uphold the rules of the Alliance first."

Silence descended.

Though many were gathered, the surroundings were hushed.

The Tang Clan Head's eyes moved to the Four Seasons Hall Lord. The blind man regarded him with that peculiar, opaque gaze.

The bloodstained long robe of the Hall Lord came into his sight.

Tang Ji-ha admitted to himself that he was agitated.

He had crossed the line.

Time was urgent, and in his eyes, there was no line. But to others, it was not so. Tang So-hwa was a member of the Tang Clan, the daughter of its head. It was urgent for the Tang Clan alone; for the other sects, it was someone else's matter.

Objectively, if all stood against the Tang Clan, he might not only fail to meet the Alliance Leader, but even be prevented from leaving the headquarters to search for So-hwa.

Tang Ji-ha slowly withdrew the hidden weapons in his hand and straightened his posture.

Zhuge Ji-hwi exhaled a long sigh openly. Though he had also lost his composure enough to intervene, it seemed he was indeed afraid.

At his breath, the Hall Lord's pupils flicked past to the elder brother behind him—but only for an instant.

"What is the meaning of this, Tang Clan Head?"

A hurried voice fell between them.

The Tai Chi Sword Saint approached him with a question.

The Tang Clan Head answered briefly.

"A member of the Tang Clan has gone missing."

With reproach in his tone, the Tai Chi Sword Saint asked again.

"Then why are you butchering the Hall Lord? Or is it that the Hall Lord himself carried out the abduction?"

The Tang Clan Head was about to reply—

"Who has gone missing?"

Muso had already stepped down from the wall and was approaching. His eyes showed that he already knew who it was.

He only asked because he could not bring himself to believe it.

Receiving Muso's gaze, the Tang Clan Head forced down the surge of emotion and spoke.

"It seems the one who abducted my daughter is in the Alliance Leader's quarters."

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