Chapter 536: The Beginning of Upheaval.

“Did the Poison King take his medicine wrong?”

Otherwise, I couldn’t understand the words I just heard.

“The Tang Clan is stepping down from the Four Great Clans?”

“Yes. An announcement will be made soon.”

“…Crazy…?”

It wasn’t a question of whether it could happen, but a certainty that an announcement would be made.

That means…

“…You mean you’ve already sent a dispatch to the Martial Alliance?”

“Yes.”

It wasn’t that the Martial Alliance brought it up; it means the Tang Clan requested to step down.

They must have written and sent something like, ‘We wish to step down from the Four Great Clans.’

The problem is…

“Can you just step down simply because you want to…?”

The Four Great Clans is less of an official position and closer to a symbolic title.

As it’s merely a title given to the four most outstanding prestigious families in the Central Plains.

It meant that it wasn’t something the Tang Clan could just do by wanting to step down or not.

To this, the Poison King speaks to me with a wry smile.

“Does it seem impossible?”

“…”

“I believe it’s possible.”

At the Poison King’s words, heat began to rise in my head, which had previously cooled down.

“Clan Head Tang. Surely you didn’t write and send it all…?”

“Without missing a single character.”

“Are you insane?”

The events that transpired in the Tang Clan, the experiments being conducted.

It meant they had written and sent everything, even about the elders, to the Alliance.

‘Has he really lost his mind?’

Even without doing something like that, an inspection would come from the Alliance before long.

To have directly written and sent it to the Alliance, when hiding it wouldn’t even be enough…

“Are you planning to ruin it?”

It was no different from deciding to throw away the clan.

I tried to speak, flabbergasted, but…

the Poison King merely let out a dry laugh.

‘Can that guy really laugh in this situation…?’

‘No wonder he went and killed all the elders and whatnot.’

The fact that he beheaded the elders without even caring about people’s gazes, or the reason he handled things by burning himself up.

Only then did I understand the Poison King’s actions.

‘I wondered why.’

Does it mean he intended to destroy the clan from the start?

The head of a prestigious clan… destroying his own clan…?

‘Is that why Moyong Hi-ah stormed out?’

I recalled Moyong Hi-ah suddenly running off, as if she had realized something.

I wondered why she ran so urgently, but if she had predicted this, it would make sense.

‘Because the Moyong Family is commercially involved.’

And they had signed an agreement with the Tang Clan.

If the Tang Clan chose to collapse on its own here…

‘…the landscape would change.’

It wasn’t just the Tang Clan collapsing; the ensuing situation was also a problem.

Moyong Hi-ah predicted this immediately, so she seemed to have moved to respond as quickly as possible.

If the Tang Clan collapses, the landscape changes.

The meaning behind this statement is that the Tang Clan’s value is immense.

If even a prestigious family below it collapses, it causes a stir.

What if the Tang Clan did that? The ripple effect would obviously be enormous.

That’s why it’s even more puzzling.

“…Why did you make such a choice?”

No matter how I looked at it, the choice the Poison King made was incomprehensible.

‘Perhaps I thought the Tang Clan might collapse.’

It was such an incident that I thought there would be considerable damage, but…

If it collapsed due to others, that’s one thing.

I never thought the Poison King himself would consider destroying the Tang Clan.

Why did he really do that?

It was a choice I would never have made.

To this, the Poison King paused for a moment, looked into my eyes, and spoke.

“It’s thanks to the former Clan Head Gu.”

“…Pardon?”

I had to pause at the Poison King’s words.

“Suddenly, my father’s story comes up here?”

“…”

I wondered if he had revealed something, but because he said ‘thanks to’ rather than ‘because of’ the Poison King, I held back my words.

“‘He said to me,’ ‘Looking at this, are you still righteous?'”

“‘That statement is correct. At least, it wasn’t the action of a righteous sect.'”

I cannot refute it.

Regardless of the reason, the situations that occurred just before were not things a righteous sect should do.

“But.”

“That wasn’t something you, the Poison King, did, was it?”

“Are you sure?”

“…What are you referring to?”

“‘That I did not intervene. Are you, Young Master Gu, sure?'”

The Poison King asks, with eyes shining clearly.

The plan for the birth of the Heavenly Martial Body and the countless wicked deeds committed to create it.

If you were to ask if I was sure the Poison King wasn’t involved in any of it.

‘…No.’

I just believed it wasn’t so, but I had no certainty.

The Poison King, reading my expression, smiles slightly and says.

“I did not do it.”

“Then…”

“Even if you say that, fewer people will believe you. That’s the reality.”

That’s right.

That was the reality.

Even if you say you didn’t do it, if the situation is like this, fewer people will believe you.

“And. Even if I didn’t intervene, I must bear that responsibility.”

“Is there any reason why you, Clan Head Tang, would have to do that…?”

“If you’re asking for a reason, what Young Master Gu just said is the reason.”

“Pardon?”

“Because I am the head of the Tang Clan.”

“…”

As if comfortable, or perhaps resigned.

Countless emotions were mixed in the calm voice that flowed out.

“Until now, while calling myself the clan head, it seems I haven’t done much of substance. Shouldn’t I do something before it’s too late?”

“…And of all things, is it to take down the family name?”

“Haha.”

I said it sincerely, but the Poison King let out a chuckle, as if finding it amusing.

“Even if you step down from a position that only holds honor, the family won’t be ruined, though.”

“Isn’t this a land full of people who live and die for honor?”

“That’s also true. I was like that too.”

That’s how warriors originally were.

It’s a life where many people strengthen themselves for the reason of honor.

There were also many who dreamed of gaining just a name’s worth.

That’s why they live and die for a single alias.

I don’t see that as a bad thing.

What does it matter what other people’s lives are like?

It just meant there were quite a lot of such people.

In such a place, why would you…

“Is there a reason you must abandon honor?”

Is there a reason the Poison King has to do so?

Even after hearing his words, I don’t understand.

“Young Master Gu.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know how to fix an old tree whose roots are already rotten?”

I look into his eyes.

My lips parted.

As I met the Poison King’s gaze, I had nothing left to say.

He had already chosen.

“‘It’s to pull it out by the roots and plant new seeds.'”

“…So, you’re saying you’ll tear it down entirely, like a rotten tree, and start over?”

“That’s just words; it’s not to the roots, is it? Haha.”

If you consider that the Tang Clan conducted human experiments and even went as far as kidnapping for it.

Not to mention the roots, they could have been branded as unrighteous by the Alliance, not just losing their position among the Four Great Clans.

Since the Tang Clan was originally from the unrighteous path, it would have been easier.

Knowing all that, you’re still going to do it?

Why on earth?

“It’s embarrassing.”

“…Embarrassing?”

“I can’t stand the embarrassment, Young Master Gu. I’m sorry to the children, but this is something that must be done.”

Is it because I lack conscience, or because all such feelings have already dried up?

I don’t know.

I couldn’t accept his conviction.

At that time.

“Thank you.”

The Poison King suddenly expresses gratitude to me.

Hearing those words, I widened my eyes.

“…What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Why is he suddenly thanking me?

“I know that you, Young Master, are getting so angry because of my daughter.”

“…!”

My heart sank at the Poison King’s words.

It was because I realized a fact I didn’t know.

Was that the reason I felt stifled by the Poison King’s words?

I had a vague idea of what Tang Soyeol would experience as the Tang Clan collapsed.

‘Because that bothered me, I got so annoyed.’

That seems to be the reason.

It was a fact I didn’t even know.

“‘I’m sorry to my son and daughter. But this is my choice.'”

“…Clan Head Tang.”

“It will be very embarrassing going forward, but this way, it will be slightly less embarrassing. I haven’t abandoned honor. Rather, this is how I protect my honor.”

“So don’t say anything more.”

The Poison King was telling me that.

So I closed my mouth.

To say anything more to him, I had no words I could confidently say.

It was always like that.

People who possess firm convictions and walk paths they don’t need to take would make people shut their mouths like that.

While I was slightly avoiding his gaze.

The Poison King spoke to me calmly.

“‘It’s shameless, but please take good care of my daughter, Young Master Gu.'”

What kind of request was that?

Does it mean to save her if the Tang Clan falls?

Or if it means something else, I don’t know.

The only answer I could give right now was one.

“…Don’t worry.”

I don’t know about anything else, but this is sincere.

The Poison King, hearing my answer, nodded with a smile and said to me.

“‘Yes. That’s enough.'”

The Poison King subtly dropped the honorifics with me.

And I didn’t make any comment about it.

Instead, from that tone, I could feel that he had finally acknowledged me.

---

Leaving the Poison King’s residence, I moved my steps.

Since I couldn’t hold onto the person who had future plans, it was time for me to do my own work too.

‘I should start planning my schedule soon too.’

The major schedules are organized, but…

I hadn’t decided what to do first from now on.

‘First, I need to go home.’

Return to the Gu Family.

That’s what I need to do first.

‘If I had my way, I’d want to go somewhere else instead of home, but.’

Including the cave in Guangdong where ten-thousand-year-old iron is piled up.

It was time to go and acquire the fortuitous encounters I had organized one by one, but…

‘It’s too much to do that right away.’

There were many things to handle before acquiring fortuitous encounters.

The promise with Sin-ui is also like that.

The jewel to be used for Nahi was also like that.

Even if it wasn’t this, the most important thing here was…

‘I need strength.’

Time for serious training.

That was the most needed time.

‘…It’s still not enough.’

Reaching the Hua Realm, of course, and gaining the increased strength from becoming a dragon.

Despite that, it was insufficient.

Especially to face the Heavenly Demon and Blood Demon, my individual strength and the forces I can create are insufficient.

I still can’t even react to the Dark King’s movements, let alone reach those who have ascended higher.

Furthermore.

‘I need to reach the Gu Formation too.’

Along with practicing the Tuapachonmu, I also had to reach the Gu-yeomhwaryun-gong formation.

Only then would my father tell me about mother.

“I need time to build strength.”

And the situation where I can do that.

“…Probably, there won’t be any other time but now.”

At least, now is the best time.

“If just a few more years pass, incidents will erupt one after another.”

Even excluding the things I twisted.

“To handle the major events that will occur in the future, I must cultivate strength.”

‘Now, even gaining from fortuitous encounters has its limits.’

My potential is more than enough, overflowing.

My body was also perfectly sculpted, so what I ultimately had to do was my own training.

“Yes, let’s do it.”

“You have to do it when you need to.”

“If I have to return to the clan for a while anyway, this is the time to build strength.”

As I returned to my quarters, making plans like that.

“Hmm?”

I saw my father, who hadn’t been seen all night, standing in the yard.

And with him was…

‘It’s Wi Seol-ah!’

Wi Seol-ah was holding my clothes in her hand, doing something.

“What the…?”

As I entered, both of their gazes turned towards me.

“Ah, Young Master.”

“What are you doing?”

“…Uh…”

At my question, Wi Seol-ah hid the clothes she was holding behind her back and hesitated before continuing.

“…I was… doing some laundry.”

“Laundry…? What? You don’t mean… that?”

“Yes….”

When I pointed at the clothes with my hand, she confirmed it.

“She was washing my clothes?”

“…Why?”

“Why are you washing my clothes?”

When I asked with that intention, Wi Seol-ah’s face turned redder and redder.

Her skin is so fair that it was particularly noticeable.

“‘Oh, after so long…. I suddenly remembered…. I couldn’t help myself.'”

At her sheepish smile, I couldn’t help but pinch the bridge of my nose.

“Does she mean she washed it without realizing it just because she saw the clothes?”

I wondered what kind of nonsensical instinct that was.

“But trying to find the cause made my stomach ache particularly.”

‘…This is probably my fault.’

“Is it because I brought Wi Seol-ah as a servant?”

“It seems she’s developed some strange habits.”

‘…Come to think of it, it seems like my laundry has been done often lately.’

“Or my room was cleaned when I returned from training or going out.”

“I thought it smelled nice for some reason.”

“You…. Did you clean my room secretly?”

“…!”

At my question, asked out of curiosity, I saw Wi Seol-ah flinch and blush.

“I thought the Tang Clan’s servants were doing it, but it was Wi Seol-ah who did it?”

“Why are you doing that?”

“…Uh, just… I had some free time….”

“If you were going to do it, you should have at least said something. You’re not some mythical wife who does chores secretly.”

At my exasperated remark, Wi Seol-ah lowered her head.

“I’m sorry….”

“Sneaking in might be an issue.”

“At least from my perspective, I thought it wasn’t something she needed to apologize to me for.”

“You don’t need to apologize. That’s what I should say. Just… if you do something nice, tell me. So I can thank you.”

Smiling at Wi Seol-ah’s reaction and about to pat her hair.

I realized my father was next to me and stopped my hand.

Seeing this, Wi Seol-ah looked at my hand with a disappointed expression.

I managed to ignore it and asked my father.

“Are you leaving?”

At my question, my father’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“How did you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“That I was planning to leave.”

“…Well, that’s…”

I had a feeling.

“Perhaps because I’ve been observing my father often lately, I could sense a subtle difference.”

“I just had a feeling you would.”

“…Hmm.”

“But, what were you talking about with her?”

“It wasn’t anything special.”

“It meant he wasn’t going to tell me.”

I immediately looked at Wi Seol-ah, but…

“…Ugh….”

“Wi Seol-ah also avoided my gaze, as if to ignore my words.”

“What the…? Making me anxious.”

“I wanted to ask more, but I decided to hold back for now.”

“…Let’s move past that. Are you really leaving now?”

“Since the commission is all finished, there’s no reason to stay any longer.”

“That means he finished the Poison King’s request.”

“This meant that in just one night, he had dealt with all the elders.”

“Then, why don’t we go together? I’ll be leaving tomorrow at the latest.”

After saying that, I was surprised inwardly.

“Normally, I should have cheered when he said he was leaving.”

“That I would be the one asking my father to go together.”

“I was simply flustered.”

“My father seemed surprised by this, widening his eyes, which was rare.”

“No…. Well, I just thought I’d try it, you know… since I have to go anyway.”

“I made excuses.”

“It felt like I had to say it that way.”

“Hearing this, my father said to me.”

“It’s impossible.”

“It was a refusal.”

“I figured as much.”

“I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit awkward.”

“Normally, it would have been fine to do so.”

“My father, uncharacteristically, began to add an explanation.”

“If it gets any later than this, they will get very angry.”

“Who?”

“…”

“He didn’t answer, but looking at his eyes, he seemed quite troubled.”

“Meanwhile, within that.”

“-Three days have… flown by.”

“What could that mean?”

“Anyway, it means we can’t go together.”

“…Then, I guess it can’t be helped. I’ll see you at the clan…?”

“Just as I was about to give up lightly and say goodbye.”

“My father held something out in front of me.”

“It was his hand.”

“My father’s large hand.”

“…?”

“I looked at my father, wondering what this was about.”

“My father just kept looking at me.”

“As we stared each other down like that, my father finally spoke to me.”

“‘Grab it.'”

“Ah.”

“Only after hearing those words could I understand my father’s intention.”

“I immediately grabbed my father’s hand.”

“The size difference between our hands was so great, my hand was enveloped by my father’s.”

“Come to think of it.”

‘Is this the first time?’

“Holding hands with my father like this, it seems like the first time.”

“I had no memory of ever holding hands like this.”

“At most, a few seconds. After a short time without any sentimentality, the arm that was shaking hands was quickly released.”

“‘I’ll go on ahead. Come back safely.'”

“…Pardon?”

“I had to pause at my father’s words.”

“What? Wasn’t he going to check something?”

“I naturally thought he would?”

“Father…?”

Poof-!

“Soon, my father disappeared before my eyes, turning into embers.”

“…Are you really leaving like this?”

“Just a handshake and then disappearing like that?”

“This is absurd.”

“He appears out of nowhere and disappears nonchalantly.”

“My father was still a difficult person.”

“Haha.”

“Saying that, I examined my hand.”

“My father’s hand was hotter than I expected.”

“Is it the influence of the fire arts?”

“I let out an awkward laugh.”

“What remained was warmth and an indescribable emotion.”

Tap tap.

“I roughly brushed off my hand and looked at Wi Seol-ah.”

“Wi Seol-ah was looking at me with her characteristically large eyes.”

“For some reason, it felt like the corners of her eyes were smiling.”

“It was pretty, but, how should I put it….”

‘Annoying.’

“So I ruffled her hair.”

“Eek!”

“It was Wi Seol-ah’s cute scream, heard after a long time.”

“Y-Young Master, just a moment…!”

“Who told you to look at me like that.”

“After I diligently ruffled her beautiful hair a few times, Wi Seol-ah scrunched up her nose.”

“Seeing that, I retracted my hand.”

“I knew she’d get sulky if I did more.”

“I stepped back slightly and said to Wi Seol-ah.”

“Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”

“Yes.”

“It feels like we’re saying ‘let’s eat’ after a long time.”

“Fortunately, Wi Seol-ah also looked pleased.”

“Then.”

“If possible, I should call the kids too. It would be nice to eat together.”

“…Yes.”

“…Does she dislike that?”

“Her expression turned a bit dark.”

‘It must be my imagination.’

“There’s no way Wi Seol-ah dislikes food.”

“I roughly nodded and started walking.”