The Reformed Genius of the Sichuan Tang Clan - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 31
Crisis and Reversal
This was all Dang Youxuan’s arrangement.
Dang Youxuan had waited for the right moment.
The moment Seonwu Yun would break free from the binding that was Gweok Hwaran through his own strength.
That was why he didn’t kill Gweok Hwaran in a single strike with the Flying Blade, though he could have.
And what was the result?
Perfect Flight.
Screeeee!
Dang Youxuan released the Flying Blade to circle Seonwu Yun’s body, shielding the wounded man from further harm, then moved closer.
‘Dead.’
With half her lower abdomen burned away, it was inevitable.
Dang Youxuan drained his full power and turned his gaze to Seonwu Yun, who had collapsed in exhaustion.
His hands, battered from repeated impacts, were covered in bruises and fractures—little more than tatters—and his breathing came in ragged gasps before he coughed dryly.
Yet as if entranced, he stood upright and could not tear his eyes from Gweok Hwaran.
Dang Youxuan extended his hand to block the man’s line of sight, then spoke softly.
“You’ve won.”
At that declaration, Seonwu Yun’s body gave way.
Dang Youxuan caught him and said with playful lightness.
“Dear me—we have an injured man. Since this was done by the Dang Clan, the Dang Clan bears the responsibility.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Come with me to the Dang Clan as well.”
“Yes. I’m grateful for your kindness, vast as the ocean.”
Seonwu Yun smiled faintly and fell asleep on Dang Youxuan’s back.
So he never saw what expression Dang Youxuan made.
Only after hearing the man’s steady breathing did Dang Youxuan emerge from the Flying Cave and pressed his lips together.
Whoosh!
The members of the Heukgang Order, hearing the sharp whistle, gathered at his side.
“You summoned us?”
“How goes the task I entrusted to you?”
“It’s been completed.”
“Gather the corpse of Gweok Hwaran and the valuables within the Flying Cave, then bring the wounded man to the Dang Clan. See that he’s cared for particularly well.”
“Who is this person that warrants such treatment?”
“The son of the Hao Wen master.”
“Is that so?”
Though Seonwu Yun hadn’t stated it himself, if he bore such a strong resemblance to the previous Hao Wen master, the likelihood of him being a descendant was considerable.
Some things remained unchanged across generations.
The fact that he hadn’t openly spoken of his parentage meant either he wished to conceal his identity or was a child abandoned as good as dead.
“What of those outside?”
“The Heukgang Order is holding them back, but many remain, curious and unwilling to leave.”
“Cleanup will be necessary, then.”
“We apologize for the trouble.”
“It’s no matter. It needed doing anyway.”
Dang Youxuan went out and gathered the members of the Heukgang Order.
At this, the crowd that had been unable to see inside while blocked by the men pressed closer.
“Isn’t that the Second Young Master of the Dang Clan we were hearing about at Ban Stone?”
“Is he stirring up trouble again, like before?”
“He said he’d prove his innocence, but it was all nonsense, wasn’t it?”
‘So much for reputation.’
But change was plainly afoot.
“Didn’t he himself say he had changed? Let’s hear him out first.”
“His eyes are so clear—would he speak falsehoods?”
For now, he had supporters.
Dang Youxuan pressed his lips together firmly, then opened his mouth.
“I am Dang Youxuan, Second Young Master of the Dang Clan.”
This time too, Dang Youxuan offered little explanation beyond a simple introduction.
“The Master of the Gueyuerok, Gweok Hwaran, was accused of human trafficking, and the Hao Wen requested our cooperation in this matter.”
“Human trafficking, you say?”
“Didn’t the Wang family’s daughter disappear a few days ago? Wasn’t that the work of the Gueyuerok?”
“Since their base lies in Sichuan, the Dang Clan could not ignore this. And indeed, the information they provided proved to be true.”
The Heukgang Order members flinched at the lie delivered without so much as a blink.
Why did he speak of what was purely the Dang Clan’s achievement as though it belonged to others, and was it acceptable to drag in the Hao Wen, an organization that wielded power in the shadows?
They had much to say and countless questions to ask.
But for now, the truth of the Dang Clan’s involvement could not be revealed.
The moment it became known that they had toppled the Gueyuerok, which controlled Sichuan’s underworld, and that the Dang Clan had taken its place, those who would seek to obstruct them would surely swarm in with false accusations in hand.
“Therefore, through our cooperation with the Hao Wen today, we have brought down the Gueyuerok, which ravaged Sichuan’s common people through fraud, abduction, and exploitation.”
“The Gueyuerok is finally destroyed!”
“Then I might be able to recover the money they took from me?”
“Splendid! Absolutely splendid!”
The common people cheered and applauded.
“But then… isn’t the Dang Clan Orthodox? The Hao Wen are Unorthodox—how can they join hands?”
“Listen here! This is far better than waiting until we’re all dead and gone!”
“Fussing over principle while people die? Are only the Nine Sects and One Faction Orthodox? True orthodoxy lies in practicing justice and righteousness.”
“Hmm, you’re right. My thinking was too narrow.”
There was some murmuring, but it soon subsided.
They understood well enough.
If the Gueyuerok had not been stopped, they might have been the next victims.
For them, the pursuit of principle was a luxury available only after their own safety was assured.
“Still, seeing the Young Master himself step forward suggests the Dang Clan entrusted this to him…”
“That must be it, right? I saw him with my own eyes today.”
“Looking at his clothes, he fought directly. Impressive for one so young!”
“Didn’t they say there were circumstances before? Then maybe he was deliberately acting wild all this time?”
“Having been quiet for a while, then showing himself now—it makes sense!”
He felt the reputation that had been trampled underfoot begin to turn.
To truly overturn public opinion and change impressions, displaying the opposite image was invariably most effective.
‘It’s working perfectly.’
Dang Youxuan suppressed the corners of his mouth from rising.
“Having dared to ravage the innocent common people of Sichuan, we cannot stand idle. The Dang Clan shall investigate this matter thoroughly.”
“Ahhhhh!”
“Magnificent!”
“Let not a single one escape!”
Dang Youxuan flashed a smile toward the crowd, then turned to leave.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir!”
* * *
After Dang Youxuan’s departure, at a merchant establishment in Sichuan.
At the Yunlong Zuiyue Tower, a celebration was in full swing over the fall of the Gueyuerok.
“…And then Dang Youxuan appeared just like that and handled everything—it was so magnificent!”
“He kept his word. A true man indeed.”
“Truly the younger brother of the Shadowless Covert Snake and the Fiery Venom Tiger.”
“From what you’re saying, it seems he really has reformed his heart!”
An elderly martial master, who had been listening quietly, murmured his thoughts aloud.
“Reformed his heart—yes. We should call him the Wolf of Reformed Heart.”
“That’s a splendid epithet!”
After that, tales of Dang Youxuan’s exploits continued, and the cheerful atmosphere showed no signs of fading.
* * *
Leaving behind personnel to clean up the area around the Gueyuerok, the others turned back toward Heukmu Tower.
“Young Master, might this old man ask you something?”
“By all means.”
“Why did you bring in the Hao Wen?”
Though none had voiced it aloud, all the Heukgang Order members had been wondering this, and now they leaned in to listen.
“If we suddenly recover our power, won’t there be much to guard against?”
It was a brief answer.
Yet Dang Lei’s years were sufficient to grasp its meaning.
The Heukgang Order members’ experience served them likewise.
“My thinking was too limited.”
“Since this came about so suddenly, don’t reproach yourself.”
Tap-tap.
Dang Youxuan lightly treaded upon the halls of Heukmu Tower.
“Now, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first.”
“Take your time. We’ll finish organizing the rest and report to you.”
“Much obliged.”
Dang Youxuan smiled faintly and left Heukmu Tower.
If he turned right from here, he would reach his quarters.
But Dang Youxuan walked left without hesitation.
Thud. Thud.
His footsteps only ceased when they reached the Library Hall.
He glanced cautiously around before stepping inside.
Click.
The Library Hall, unlit and dark, offered a sensation altogether different from daylight.
Dang Youxuan walked toward the only wavering light deep within the shadowed hall.
There sat Dang Jongcheon, a familiar Folding Screen at his back.
“You’ve sent everyone away, I see.”
“Without ears that don’t listen, you wouldn’t speak freely to me at all.”
When Dang Youxuan stepped before him, a sharp gaze fixed upon him.
Dang Youxuan did not avoid that gaze—he met it directly.
Then he smiled slightly, brushing it off.
“What has stirred your curiosity enough to watch me?”
All the way back from Gueyuerok to the Dang Clan, Dang Youxuan had felt a watchful presence.
No malice emanated from it, making its source difficult to pinpoint, but since few knew he had moved alongside the Heukgang Order, he suspected it was Dang Jongcheon.
Which is why he had come to the Library Hall, where Dang Jongcheon often spent his time.
“Let’s have tea first.”
As Dang Jongcheon poured, Dang Youxuan sat across from him.
He sipped the tea offered to him without brushing away the dust and bloodstains clinging to his clothes.
He detected no poison.
It was merely a well-brewed green tea.
As the fragrant warmth loosened his exhausted body, Dang Jongcheon withdrew his gaze and set down his cup.
“Dragging in outside forces—a troublesome move indeed.”
“Vigilance is still necessary.”
Dang Jongcheon nodded instead of answering.
“Since coming to the Dang Clan, I’ve discovered a pastime I’ve grown fond of. Do you know what it is?”
“Of course. You have come to enjoy candid conversation—exchange without pretense or formality.”
“A clever answer.”
“Thank you.”
Dang Jongcheon took a sip of tea and deliberately created a silence.
“I’ve never cared for sitting across from someone with whom true conversation is impossible. But lately, I’ve begun to think that with you, ‘conversation’ might actually be possible.”
‘There’s no reason to refuse.’
In fact, this was what he had wanted.
Dang Youxuan refilled his cup as he spoke.
“It would be my honor.”
At that, Dang Jongcheon’s eyes grew distant.
After the silence broke, his voice emerged weighted with gravity.
“Then let me speak of something trite for a change.”
“By all means.”
Sichuan Dang Clan: Reformed Heart, Gifted Genius
Author |
Lee Il-young
Publisher |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Editor-in-Chief |
Editorial Department
Published by |
Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. – Dream Books
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7F Gwangseong Building, 28 Bongeunsaro 114-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
UCI |
G720:N+A063-20260615052
Blog |
blog.naver.com/dreambookss
Twitter(X) |
@dreambookss
Submission |
[email protected]
© Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. — No part of this book may be used in any form or by any means without the written permission of Dream Books.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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