The Reformed Genius of the Sichuan Tang Clan - Chapter 58

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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 58
‘What’s his game?’
Dang Youxuan had kept a close eye on Hae Muyoung from the preliminaries onward, suspicious of a connection to Yompabang.
Yet Hae Muyoung’s true intent remained opaque.
Who—or what—was the target?
Why had he locked eyes with him at all?
But Hae Muyoung soon turned his head away.
“Let the Martial Exhibition Match begin!”
“Haaaah!”
Jeong Yeon drew his sword with a shout.
And yet.
Clang!
The first strike collided with a razor-sharp sword aura.
Clang!
The second strike—his blade was batted far aside.
Whoosh!
On the third strike, the blade pressed straight to his throat.
“Victory to Hae Muyoung of Cheonggeommun!”
The movements had been clean, economical, flawless.
But the crowd’s shock ran deeper than that.
“Did you see that? He ended the whole match in one breath!”
“Hmm. Can’t afford to underestimate a minor sect.”
“I’ve never seen a Martial Exhibition Match end this fast before.”
“So that’s what they mean by lightning-fast movement!”
“Cheonggeommun, was it? There’s genuine mastery in that school.”
Three exchanges. Only three.
Until now, aside from Dang Youxuan, no one had concluded their match in three exchanges or fewer.
‘That’s not an Orthodox Faction blade.’
Orthodox Faction swordwork pursued the Way.
Whether it came from a famous established sect or a mysterious single-lineage tradition, from foundational martial arts or the secret techniques of One Strike Fatal Kill—
even in the smallest details, the Way was woven through.
Yet Hae Muyoung’s blade contained nothing of the sort.
How could one judge from merely three exchanges?
‘Who am I, after all?’
A man who had been the greatest under heaven a hundred years past, possessed of Perfect Memory—there was nothing he could not discern.
‘And it’s not a Heterodox Faction blade either.’
Dang Youxuan remembered his fight with Jang Yeom Ho of the Fire Sect.
Having mastered fire arts, the movements spread wide and grand.
The opposite of Hae Muyoung’s swordwork, which had bored straight through the opponent’s weakness with a single cut.
‘Then was he sent not by Yompabang, but by Jeokhaebang?’
Not by Yompabang, with whom there had been conflict, but by Jeokhaebang, with whom there had been no contact?
‘I need to meet with Seon Woo Yun.’
One who belonged to the Heterodox Faction understood the Heterodox Faction best.
If he could discern the relationship between Jeokhaebang and Yompabang, he might uncover Jeokhaebang’s true intent.
……
His gaze crossed with Hae Muyoung’s again as the latter descended from the platform.
‘Make one careless move, and I won’t let it slide.’
But as Hae Muyoung bowed his head, Dang Youxuan withdrew his stare.
* * *
‘Is this the Manbok Shop?’
Dang Youxuan altered his appearance using the Bone Shrinking Technique and entered a miscellaneous shop decorated at its entrance with black and crimson cords.
The clientele was clearly not common folk—alongside the fine wares such as books, ornamental jewelry, and intricately carved wooden figurines, there were several tables where one could browse while taking tea.
Because of this, despite the shabby interior, the atmosphere carried a refinement that would rival a pavilion catering to the upper classes.
When Dang Youxuan found an empty seat and sat, a shopkeeper approached and respectfully placed a sheet of paper before him.
“Welcome. Feel free to look around, and if you’d like to see silks, simply write down the quantity and I’ll bring them promptly.”
Dang Youxuan scanned the interior from left to right as if browsing the wares, then picked up a brush and wrote a single character.
Gold.
As though that were all, he slid the paper forward, and the shopkeeper deftly took it, folding it so its contents remained hidden.
“Ah, something we have in preparation. This way, please.”
Instead of replying, Dang Youxuan simply nodded.
The attendant glanced left and right before entering the room, then closed the door behind him.
When he carefully pushed the bookshelf aside, a hidden chamber was revealed.
“This is as far as I’m permitted to go. Once you step inside, I’ll close the door and withdraw.”
Dang Youxuan followed the path illuminated by the Night Illumination Pearl and torchlight, and the door slid shut behind him with a soft grinding sound.
The sound of bones being reassembled echoed down the corridor until he reached its end, where it finally ceased.
“My, that’s quite a harsh sound.”
At the familiar voice, Dang Youxuan broke into a slight smile.
“Did I startle you?”
“Not at all.”
Seon Woo Yun answered with a voice full of playful mischief.
“I’ve barely left the place, yet everyone’s been buzzing about you. They say you’ve earned quite the Ranking Index?”
“Quite the Ranking Index—what nonsense. Has everyone’s Ranking Index in Zhongyuan died?”
Please accept praise as praise. I’m not fabricating things that don’t exist, am I?”
Seon Woo Yun grumbled that Dang Youxuan didn’t know how to engage with people, but Dang Youxuan meant every word.
‘A Ranking Index can be overturned at any moment.’
Even he, who was called the greatest master under heaven, hadn’t started with the highest Ranking Index from the beginning.
It was built on talent and cultivation as the foundation, then shaped by countless battles and experience.
“Even if you’d participated, you’d have beaten several of them.”
“How could I insert myself into a gathering meant to strengthen the Orthodox Faction’s unity? If I were discovered, I’d be dead meat.”
“But you were there all the same.”
“Ah, that’s true.”
When Seon Woo Yun knocked his fist against his palm, Dang Youxuan laughed silently.
“Any more information on that bastard?”
“Unfortunately not. He hid who was backing him quite thoroughly.”
“It’s not Haomun, is it?”
“The branch commanders here are far too incompetent to pull off anything like that.”
Seon Woo Yun shook his head.
The situation seemed rather serious.
“The only one with any real possibility would be the eldest brother, but he’s so fixated on becoming the Haomun leader that he has no interest in something like this.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Actually, come to think of it, it’s not fortunate at all. If it’s not Haomun, which handles Zhongyuan’s information, then what kind of audacious fool would attempt something like this?”
“Could it be the Green Forest Bandits? Recently they’ve been trying hard not to be overshadowed by the Changjiang Water Route Fortress.”
“Those fools don’t have much in the way of brains. Rejected.”
“Then perhaps a newly emerged faction… If so, the lack of information makes sense. I’ll focus my investigation in that direction.”
“Do that.”
Dang Youxuan nodded.
“Time is short, so let’s move to the main matter now.”
Seon Woo Yun immediately produced a small chest.
Inside, banknotes and gold were stacked densely.
“As you instructed, I invested everything in the Dang Clan only.”
Before participating in the Yongfeng Competition, when Dang Youxuan had met with Seon Woo Yun, he had commissioned him to make investments.
In his own victory and his brothers’ wins.
“In all my years, this is the first time I’ve seen the Orthodox Faction place money on the Yongfeng Competition.”
Did it matter that they were Orthodox?
Only a fool would miss an opportunity to make money.
‘The Yunlong Trading Company exists, but I need money to move behind the scenes beyond that.’
Growth requires a solid foundation to stand upon.
Without money or resources, one eventually reaches a ceiling.
Dang Youxuan shamelessly counted the banknotes and gold, then tucked them into his sleeves.
“Tell the other brothers not to place any more bets after the next match.”
“Why?”
“Earning too much draws suspicion.”
“But wouldn’t betting large sums on your victory in the Finals Round be enough to raise suspicion anyway?”
“Which is why we shouldn’t give them any further reason to be suspicious.”
There were many who would rise up in arms if they discovered this was his orchestrated game.
People celebrate when they line their own pockets, but resent it when others do the same.
The day he was discovered, everyone might unite to bring down the Dang Clan.
“Then I’ll be more cautious in my movements.”
“Good. I’m counting on you.”
As Dang Youxuan rose, Seon Woo Yun smoothly guided him toward the exit.
“Destroy everything and return.”
“Understood.”
* * *
Morning of the Finals Round, this round.
Dang Youxuan stood apart from the crowd, studying the bracket.
Though his reputation had improved considerably through the efforts of himself and his companions, the Dang Clan was still perceived as a dangerous sect that wielded poison.
But what fool would change their identity because of others’ eyes?
Now that they’d reached the Finals Round, keeping distance to avoid scandal was the wisest course.
‘Besides, there’s someone I need to meet.’
Footsteps.
He sensed a presence beside him.
Without turning his head, Dang Youxuan asked quietly, “Did you see who your opponent is?”
“Hae Muyoung of Cheonggeommun.”
Mu O, dressed in a crimson-sashed robe and dark surcoat, with a Red Jade Token at his waist, answered with ease.
“And you?”
“A martial artist from Huashan named Qinglan.”
“Huashan has many skilled fighters, so be cautious. Especially—it seemed as though Qinglan was watching you carefully.”
“I think it’s your opponent who should be careful.”
Dang Youxuan gestured with his eyes toward Hae Muyoung.
“Did you watch his matches?”
“I did.”
“What’s your assessment?”
“He’s not an impossible opponent. But he’s certainly someone to be cautious about.”
Mu O’s gaze fixed on Hae Muyoung.
“His goal doesn’t seem to be victory in the tournament.”
“The prize?”
“That either.”
Dang Youxuan nodded slowly.
A man whose identity and name were both lies would hardly harbor pure intentions.
And if he belonged to the Heterodox Faction, his purpose would be far more than simply chasing the Ranking Index or fracturing the Orthodox Faction.
At worst, murder might occur—not targeting a single victor, but many.
“Be careful.”
“You as well.”
Mu O looked at Dang Youxuan directly for the first time as he spoke.
“Don’t you dare lose. I want to see your Concealed Weapon Technique in action.”
Dang Youxuan turned to meet his gaze.
‘Really now. Who’s supposed to be worrying about whom?’
A quiet laugh escaped him, and he turned away.
When no answer came immediately, his gaze lingered.
“So be it.”
Only after taking a few more steps did Dang Youxuan offer his reply, and Mu O broke into a bright smile.
The Sichuan Dang Family’s Genius of Karmic Redemption
Author |
Yi Il-young
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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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