The Reformed Genius of the Sichuan Tang Clan - Chapter 5

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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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Chapter 5
A reward—no matter how many times you heard the word, it still resonated pleasantly.
Without having done anything particularly noteworthy, to be offered something precious—who could refuse?
“A reward…”
Dang Gangheon trailed off, lost in thought.
Dang Youxuan remained motionless, waiting for him to continue.
Even if he’d prepared something beforehand, it felt awkward to produce it immediately; and asking the opinions of others meant inviting the scrutiny of rivals.
In such circumstances, the usual tactic was to buy time by asking the recipient directly what he desired.
Then, when he spoke his true wish, everything became simple.
‘Good descendant. No matter what you’ve prepared, can you know me better than I know myself?’
He need only state what he required, and Dang Gangheon would provide it.
‘I know my own measure well enough.’
Dang Youxuan concealed his sinister smile behind his hand.
Dang Gangheon, unaware, kept his gaze lowered as he rested his chin thoughtfully.
“Hmm.”
“What troubles you, sir? He brought the Dang Family’s Secret Technique despite becoming poisoned!”
When Dang Gangheon hesitated to answer, Man Dok Jeonju struck the table repeatedly in his excitement.
To his eyes, Dang Youxuan appeared to be a great hero.
‘Of course. As the master of the Man Dok Sect, his affection for the Dang Family runs deep.’
It was possible that Man Dok Jeonju’s steadfast backing was the reason Dang Gangheon had faced so little resistance when pursuing his reckless plans to restore the Secret Technique.
So it was natural that Dang Youxuan, who had brought such a precious secret at the cost of his own suffering and sacrifice, would appear endearing in his eyes.
His wild past had long since been erased along with the secret itself.
“Shouldn’t we detoxify him at once?”
Ah. So he’s fixated on poison?
Just like one would expect from the master of the Man Dok Sect.
“About that, sir—I’m fine.”
“Don’t speak so coldly. How much pain must he have endured at such a young age!”
“No, I’m already detoxified. I’m telling you, I’m fine.”
“Eh?”
Man Dok Jeonju stared, mouth agape, shifting his gaze between the quietly smiling Dang Gangheon and Dang Youxuan’s casual shrug.
As all eyes turned toward him, Dang Youxuan deliberately raised both hands and flipped them back and forth for all to see.
“Detoxification complete, as I said.”
His hands bore no trace of the dark discoloration that poison leaves behind—they were pristine.
Of course they were; he’d never ingested poison in the first place.
If they’d begun examinations and antidotes, his deception would have been exposed, so he’d needed to seize the moment first.
What did they expect—that he’d volunteer to be tested and fed poison to confirm his resistance?
No one possessed the courage to pour cold water on this moment of goodwill.
With Man Dok Jeonju supporting him and the family head standing as witness, anyone with sense would hold back for now.
Later, if they tried another trick, he’d simply have time to build his resistance before then.
‘The Miraculous Elixir I’ve received is worth far more than this!’
This was the moment when Dang Gangheon’s paternal love shone brightest.
“Hehehehe.”
While everyone else sat in stunned silence, Elder Sahon Dokog’s laughter cut through the quiet like a blade.
“The young master’s achievements are most impressive indeed. A great blessing for the Dang Family and its head.”
He’d deliberately cut off the praise before it could accumulate further.
‘No ordinary man, clearly.’
Even without knowing that he led the opposition faction that clashed with Dang Gangheon at every turn, this much was evident.
He would not stop here.
Now that Dang Youxuan had transformed from a useful pawn into an enemy to be destroyed alongside the family head, his methods would become far more subtle and cunning.
‘I’ll need to be careful for a while.’
Now that he knew Sahon Dokog would scheme even against his own bloodline, he must proceed with caution in all things to come.
But caution didn’t mean restraint.
If he held back now, public opinion would sway him once more, or he’d end up poisoned and dead without anyone knowing—and he couldn’t have that.
‘Once I draw enough attention, he’ll naturally back away.’
Those who skulked in the shadows feared loss more than anything else.
“For someone who has deceived us all for years, you seem to know yourself quite well. Why not ask the young master directly what reward he desires?”
Deep thinker or not, Dang Youxuan was still only fifteen years old.
It was only natural that a child couldn’t match the wisdom of an eighty-year-old elder.
So Sahon Dokog was certain he would request something of poor judgment or inferior value as his reward.
But who exactly was it that dwelt within Dang Youxuan’s frame?
It was the soul of an old man who had lived nearly eighty years.
‘If they thought I was just some ordinary child, they’re badly mistaken.’
The corners of Dang Youxuan’s mouth twitched upward.
What should I ask for?
There’s still plenty of Miraculous Elixir left from last time—should I refine my Poison Essence Refinement?
Poison Essence Refinement stored in the Dantian alongside Innate True Qi purified and held absorbed poisons for future use.
Because Dang Youxuan had wandered so much, the poison he’d accumulated was meager compared to his peers.
‘If I don’t build it up now, I’ll fall behind forever.’
Then he’d never achieve his desired Martial Achievement, let alone make it through alive.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
Dang Youxuan quickly rifled through his memories, sorting out suitable poisons.
Was there any Mannyeon Hwari inner core left in the poison stores?
Or should he ask for Miin Roo instead?
‘This is really a happy dilemma. Hehe.’
Man Dok Jeonju, interpreting Dang Youxuan’s deepening contemplation as reluctance to answer, seized the moment to speak.
“Master, what troubles you so?”
‘Wait—hold on. I’m still thinking about this.’
But Man Dok Jeonju pressed on as if the matter were his own concern.
“What would a warrior of the Dang Family need? Surely a blade worthy of him and martial mastery!”
“Indeed, indeed.”
Those who might have objected felt no strong disagreement and nodded along, though their expressions wavered.
“Therefore, let a Secret Blade be crafted for this young master, and let him master one Secret Technique.”
“An excellent proposal.”
Dang Gangheon smiled with satisfaction at Man Dok Jeonju’s suggestion.
Since it involved securing one Secret Technique, no opposition arose.
Save from one.
‘What? An excellent—what?!’
Dang Youxuan couldn’t object openly, so he pounded his chest in frustration.
‘All the Secret Techniques are already in my head, for crying out loud. I’m the one who should be teaching you lot, and you’re sitting here spouting nonsense? Enough with the idle talk—give me my poison already!’
He wanted to grab Man Dok Jeonju by the shoulders and shake him, demanding an explanation for these high-handed decisions wrapped in a gentle smile.
“To the second son, Dang Youxuan, we grant the right to wield a Secret Blade and to master one Secret Technique, and—”
Before any other word could be spoken, Dang Gangheon drove the wedge home.
Realizing there was nothing his strength could do against this, Dang Youxuan swiftly gave up and reined in his appetite.
There was no profit in getting worked up over such things.
Better to spend that energy figuring out how to use what he’d won.
“—one bottle of Miin Roo.”
Sometimes fortune favors the prepared, after all.
Dang Youxuan broke into a smile and bowed slightly.
“I receive this gratefully.”
A soft smile flickered across Dang Gangheon’s lips and vanished.
The visage of a father dissolved, leaving only that of the Family Master.
His voice, stripped of all warmth, echoed through the hall.
“Since this matter involves the Secret Techniques of the Dang Family itself, a thorough investigation is required. Tenth Elder.”
“I await your command.”
At Dang Gangheon’s call, the Tenth Elder, Dang Jangcheong, rose at once and bowed.
“Investigate whether there have been any suspicious movements within Sacheon of late and report back. Punishment will be determined according to the severity of any additional charges discovered.”
“I shall obey.”
“As for the children who came forward as witnesses, discipline is warranted, but we shall reduce its severity in consideration of their age. Thirteenth Elder, this falls to you.”
“I shall obey.”
Dang Gangheon nodded.
Only one person in the hall trembled at the swift, merciless pace of the proceedings.
“And Eighth Elder—a word with you, if you please.”
“……Yes.”
“Come to the Gaju-jeon at sunset.”
“As you wish.”
Dang Yi bowed his head low.
He understood well enough.
When the hunt fails, the hunting dog is discarded.
Whoever had orchestrated this affair, whoever had accused Dang Youxuan, the punishment would fall upon him alone to bear.
It was the price he had chosen to pay.
‘Fool.’
Dang Youxuan clicked his tongue softly.
“With that, I declare this emergency meeting adjourned.”
Dang Unyeop announced the closure.
Some appeared calm on the surface while seething inside; others savored the reversal with undisguised delight; still others sensed the currents of power shifting beneath their feet.
Glances sharp with their own calculations converged on Dang Youxuan from every corner.
The more those burning eyes accumulated, the heavier his head grew.
Who would move next? What play would they attempt?
But for now, Dang Youxuan chose not to burden himself with such calculations.
He knew how to savor victory.
‘At least I won’t hear “reckless fool” for a while.’
The Elder Council had summoned even the busiest of their members just to interrogate one person—so he’d saved himself the effort of rebuilding his reputation separately.
‘They’d wanted to break the Gaju-jeon’s influence and eliminate a rival heir all at once. By now, they must be writhing.’
Who told them to lay hands on the Gaju-jeon in the first place?
An advisory body should act like an advisory body—serve as a pillar of wisdom and stability for the family’s elders, not overreach.
Wasn’t it their greed, their wandering gaze toward dangerous power, that brought this ruin upon them?
‘Pathetic.’
He was just thinking he ought to raise a solitary toast tonight when Dang Gangheon called him to heel.
“Dang Youxuan—follow me.”
“Yes.”
Dang Youxuan turned, as habit dictated.
A friend?
None.
A trustworthy elder?
None.
Brothers?
He’d count himself fortunate if they merely refrained from trying to kill him.
So Dang Youxuan followed Dang Gangheon without so much as a backward glance.
As he left the meeting hall, he caught the reactions of those within—
“Hm.”
His eyes met Dang Jongtcheon’s.
As he passed by the window, sunlight briefly spilled across the man’s face before vanishing—a fleeting moment, yet enough for Dang Youxuan to read it.
Hostility, barely masked.
‘Why?’
During the meeting, Dang Jongtcheon had restrained the heated Dang Yi.
Whether intentional or not, that restraint had allowed Dang Youxuan to slip through the emotional current unswept, seize the initiative, and steer the tide in his favor.
A man of Elder Council standing would not have aided him without purpose.
Yet the hostility was unmistakable.
‘Strange.’
Dang Youxuan’s eyes narrowed.
But he did not slow his pace.
A peculiar certainty gripped him—they would meet again, soon enough.
Sacheon Dang Family: Redeeming the Fallen, Genius
Author |
Lee Il-yeong
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(주) Samyang C&C
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Editorial Department
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G720:N+A063-20260615052
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© Samyang C&C Corporation – The contents of this book may not 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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