Chapter 51
“I can’t understand. If Big Brother Jinhyo didn’t order it, then why did those men try to kill Jinmyeong?”
“There’s no need to overthink it. That was exactly their plan.”
“What…?”
“If Jinmyeong had died, what would you have done?”
At Tang Cheon-yu’s question, Tang Jin-ak clenched his fists tightly.
“…With all due respect, Jin-gang, Jinhyo, and even Jinhyuk would not be lying on their beds, but in coffins right now.”
Tang Jin-ak spoke boldly of killing his own half-brothers, even in front of his father.
Tang Cheon-yu didn’t get angry but instead closed his eyes slowly.
“To stir up conflict within the Tang family by provoking you. That’s what they want.”
“But… why would they hold such a grudge against our Sichuan Tang family? Besides being used by the Grand Madam and Jinhyo, they have no real connection to us, do they?”
“True. But you already received the reports and must have guessed who they were.”
“…You mean, the traces of demonic arts?”
Tang Cheon-yu nodded. Tang Jin-ak looked confused.
“Father… but the Demonic Cult was destroyed over seventy years ago. Didn’t you say the martial alliance and all the top masters joined forces to wipe them out? Our own ancestors included. If they were wiped out, how could they be active again?”
“There’s a difference between destruction and extermination. They’re not something that can be completely wiped out.”
Tang Cheon-yu cut him off sharply.
His gaze was like a sharpened blade, and Tang Jin-ak swallowed hard without realizing it.
“There’s something odd about this incident. While talking with Gwangryong earlier, I started wondering… could it be that man…”
As Tang Cheon-yu continued, Tang Jin-ak’s face twisted in shock.
“Father! How could you say that?! He saved both Jinmyeong and me!”
“But… there’s something off, isn’t there?”
Tang Jin-ak was at a loss for words.
“It’s best to stay open-minded—trust but suspect.”
“I’ll pretend I never heard this. I’ll take my leave now.”
He couldn’t hide his shaken heart and left in a rush.
Tang Cheon-yu didn’t blame him—he understood his son’s feelings.
But…
‘…This is not something to take lightly.’
What was found were traces of the “Absorption Art,” a deadly technique once used by the Demonic Cult’s most feared leader.
Meanwhile, at the same time—
Eun Sowol and Dok Go-ryong had just finished talking with Tang Cheon-yu and were heading to Yakwangdang.
“Seems like the Lord really likes Jinmyeong and you, Uncle. He even thanked you personally.”
It was rare for the head of a noble family to give thanks, even to someone who saved their child.
“And he didn’t scold you either. He just made you the Young Lord.”
It wasn’t strange that Tang Jin-ak became the Young Lord after winning the family competition.
What was odd was how ruthlessly he crushed his half-brothers in the process.
Most parents would lose their mind if their child was left crippled and mentally broken.
But Tang Cheon-yu not only forgave him, he proudly appointed Jin-ak to the position.
And now he was sticking close to Jinmyeong, leaving his other children sick in bed.
‘Maybe he really loves their mother…?’
“…You’re too naive.”
“Huh?”
Dok Go-ryong scoffed, and Sowol looked up at him.
“He’s not just a father. He’s the head of one of the Five Great Families. He can’t act on emotions.”
Since when did fatherly love become “a foolish emotion”?
“Then… why did he do all that?”
“To stop all the fighting over family power.”
He had five wives and over ten children.
With that many, power struggles were bound to happen.
But for the Grand Madam to murder the Fifth Madam—that crossed the line completely.
She couldn’t be forgiven.
Especially when she also harmed the direct bloodline.
“The Tang family doesn’t allow splitting off the bloodline. They’re strict about lineage. But that lineage is only for the Tang family—outsiders don’t count.”
Even though they value bloodline, the Tang family formed many marriage alliances to strengthen their power.
Naturally, each family wanted their grandchild to inherit the Tang family.
What made Tang Cheon-yu furious was that the Grand Madam and Jinhyo had brought outsiders into their internal power struggle.
That was crossing a line that could not be uncrossed.
“They even dared to touch the direct descendants. That’s why the Lord decided to cut the weeds at their roots—completely.”
“Even making Jin-ak the Young Lord and letting his sons get crippled was all part of the plan.”
Dok Go-ryong muttered, then paused when he saw Sowol staring blankly at him, mouth open.
‘Five years old… Why am I saying all this to a kid?’
He thought she looked confused because she didn’t understand.
But in reality—
‘That’s terrifying! The Tang family is scary!’
Her eyes were trembling slightly.
She was too shocked to even close her mouth.
‘So all that love and kindness the Lord showed Jinmyeong was just an act?’
Jinmyeong had been so happy to finally spend time with his father…
But the father had only been making political moves all along.
Sowol shivered and brushed her arms, trying to shake the goosebumps.
Just then, she spotted someone familiar.
“Huh? It’s the bandit uncles!”
It was Go Taehung and Wonho.
Among all the fancy nobles, the two stood out in their animal skins, looking awkward and nervous.
But when they saw Sowol’s familiar face, they relaxed a little.
“What are you doing here?”
Dok Go-ryong asked.
“We were called by the Tang family to help investigate the Hongwol Merchant Guild.”
“Didn’t we already wipe them all out?”
“Yes, but it seems the Tang family believes there’s a bigger group behind them. Do you know that Yongmun Mountain is in total chaos right now?”
Sowol and Dok Go-ryong looked confused.
Go Taehung sighed and whispered.
“Jeokrangchae was destroyed three days ago.”
“You mean the bandits who worked with Hongwol?”
“Yes. The Tang family didn’t let them go unpunished.”
“And now, other bandit groups in the mountain are vanishing—one per day.”
“Why the others?”
“Some of them were involved in kidnapping and human trafficking. But this time, the Tang family’s own kin were harmed.”
The Tang family’s wrath didn’t stop with Jeokrangchae—it spread to all the other bandits.
“We were lucky we helped save the young master. That’s probably the only reason we weren’t targeted.”
They sounded deeply worried.
“Isn’t that good for you guys? Now you’re the strongest group!”
Sowol tilted her head, not getting it.
“It’s not that simple. Our group isn’t that strong.”
“Sure, we look like kings now, but if someone stronger comes, we’re done. Plus, how do we even report this to the Green Forest?”
“…You’re going to get scolded?”
“They’ll tear us apart.”
Both men shivered at the thought.
“Anyway, we owe you a lot.”
“Huh? Me?”
“If you hadn’t warned us, we might have been the ones wiped out instead of Jeokrangchae.”
“They were going to kill us once everything was over. But thanks to you, we survived.”
‘I didn’t expect things to get this serious.’
Sowol felt proud hearing she’d saved lives.
“You were sick after coming down from the mountain, right? Are you okay now?”
“Yes, I’m okay! But they said I need super expensive medicine. Do you know anything about ‘Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng’ or ‘Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Pear’? Those sound fake, right?”
She grumbled about how such things couldn’t be real, and the two men laughed.
“We’ve never seen them either, but we’ve heard stories. Like legends.”
“If that’s what you need, it’s going to be tough.”
“Ugh, exactly. I don’t even know where to begin.”
“…Hmm.”
Go Taehung looked thoughtful, then turned to Dok Go-ryong.
“I don’t know if this will help, but… if you’re looking for rare medicine, maybe try going to Yunnan.”
