The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family Chapter 223

Chapter 223. Blood Sect mbers of Sichuan

The Black Tiger Unit was one of the Four Tiger Units, the Clan Head's direct martial forces, but it rarely handled external affairs. They mostly dealt with the Clan Head's dirty work behind the scenes.

With the Clan Head absent, it was strange for them to be openly exchanging urgent written ssages like that.

Tang Hae-han had just returned after going through a series of bizarre incidents in Hubei, so he could not easily brush off a situation that differed from the norm.

He rose from his seat and said,

"Ye-hwa, I'll get you the red ochre later, so take Yu-hwa and go back to the inner courtyard."

After sending the twins back to the inner courtyard, Tang Hae-han headed straight for the Black Tiger Unit's hall.

As he turned the corner of the alley, the distinctive sll of a newly constructed hall stung his nose. Suddenly, the doors burst open and ard mbers of the Tang Clan poured out.

Spotting the deputy leader, Tang Hae-han stepped forward and blocked his path.

"Deputy Leader, what's going on?"

The deputy leader tried to brush past him without a word. However, Tang Hae-han blocked him again and asked,

"Please tell ."

Tang Hae-han questioned the deputy leader bluntly.

"If sothing urgent enough has happened for the Black Tiger Unit to mobilize, shouldn't the Nine Turns Pavilion be making preparations as well?"

At those words, the deputy leader stopped walking.

Tang Hae-han was soone who had been to the main headquarters. He must have seen even more than this, so knowing what information the Black Tiger Unit had just received was unlikely to unsettle him.

Moreover, just as Tang Hae-han said, they would need the Nine Turns Pavilion's help sooner or later.

Judging it acceptable to give him a hint, the deputy leader opened his mouth.

"An unidentified group is descending from Ei Mountain."

A crease ford between Tang Hae-han's brows.

"Ei Mountain? Isn't that where the Ei Sect is?"

Tang Hae-han was not worried about the Ei Sect itself.

Whether they were unorthodox factions or even a pack of lunatics, if a nearby sect could block them, he could not understand why the Clan Head's direct martial force needed to get involved.

Even if support were necessary, that should have been the job of the Sichuan branch's martial artists.

"The Ei Sect tried to block them, but the bastards split their forces and broke through the encirclent. That bizarre group numbers around three to four hundred, and they'll likely reach the Tang Clan estate within a day, so they sent an urgent written ssage warning us."

"If it's three to four hundred, how many of them are actually coming down?"

Tang Hae-han asked to gauge their strength.

Even so, at least half would probably co.

If around one to two hundred were approaching, it seed sufficient to prepare toxin solutions to coat the Ox-Hair Needles, so he thought they should prepare poisons and antidotes on the seventh floor.

While Tang Hae-han was selecting usable poisons in his head, an absurd answer ca back.

"They say only ten or so stayed behind, so it'd be better to assu all four hundred are coming."

"... What?"

Tang Hae-han frowned.

"At that level, didn't the Ei Sect practically let them pass? There's no way they could be held back by just ten or so intruders."

Tang Hae-han recalled a night he had experienced at the headquarters. The day he learned that Tang So-hwa had been kidnapped, the third son of the Zhuge Clan had refused the Tang Clan's demands and tried to stand by and let the kidnapping happen. It was an incident that made him clearly understand why the elders said that other clans' affairs were worse than matters of strangers.

The anger from that day surged up to his chest.

"They say even blocking those ten or so is difficult. The bastards use martial arts no one's ever seen, and it's hard to treat the wounded, so they can't engage in an all-out battle."

"Martial arts no one's ever seen?"

Hearing such words from the Black Tiger Unit, which gathered information as its specialty, Tang Hae-han asked blankly.

The deputy leader nodded and said,

"They say the flesh around the wound marks turns black and festers, and if you suffer internal injuries, the organs rot away in an instant. That's not the trace of ordinary martial arts."

Tang Hae-han's face hardened.

He was, at heart, soone who studied dicine. As such, he had read various records left by the ancestors to treat the Tang Clan's martial artists.

Whenever he heard of such peculiar traces of martial arts, he could often pinpoint the sect involved.

Blackened wound marks and rapidly decaying internal organs.

A sect that cultivated demonic energy that ran counter to humanity's natural vitality ca to mind.

"Don't tell ... you suspect the Demonic Sect?"

The Demonic Sect was a sect that had vanished decades ago during the Blood Demon War.

As Tang Hae-han's face drained pale white, the deputy leader replied calmly,

"In a situation like this, wouldn't it be stranger if the Demonic Sect hadn't kept its lineage alive?"

The deputy leader was already convinced.

"The Ei Sect said that their Sect Leader and main forces have vacated the main mountain, so it's hard for them to support the Tang Clan. They asked the Qingcheng Sect for help as well, but their situation seems similar, so they're not expecting much."

"Isn't that the sa for the Tang Clan?"

Actually, it wasn't just "the sa."

The Tang Clan would have sent the largest portion of its forces in response to the headquarters' summons.

Right now, the Tang Clan was the most vulnerable in Sichuan.

Even Tang Hae-han of the dical Hall knew this reality, so there was no way the Black Tiger Unit, a martial force, would not.

As expected, the deputy leader's expression darkened further.

"The Ei Sect said it seems the bastards' objective isn't the Ei Sect, so they sent a few people to tail them. They said they'd keep us inford, but we need to prepare in haste before the next written ssage arrives."

It ant that the bastards' target was likely the Tang Clan.

Tang So-hwa had once been kidnapped by the Blood Sect, so it was not an unfounded suspicion.

While the Ei Sect was struggling to block a remnant force of ten or so, as many as four hundred monsters were surging toward the Tang Clan estate.

Tang Hae-han felt tense, but he swiftly mapped out what he needed to do in his mind.

Seeing Tang Hae-han shifting his feet as if he might dash off at any mont, the deputy leader also prepared to leave.

"The Leader ordered us to tell the surrounding rchants and commoners to bar their doors and then return, so we must hurry. The Tang Clan estate will soon enter a defensive posture. You should prepare as well."

The deputy leader cast a heavy glance toward the inner courtyard and swallowed his words.

However, Tang Hae-han understood what had gone unsaid.

Right now, the Tang Clan could not wage an all-out battle.

Defending the estate was the best they could do.

The Clan Head and all the main forces were in Hubei, so even if they hurried back, it would take more than ten days.

They could send word to the Tang Clan elders who might be outside the estate, but since it was unclear where they were, there was no guarantee when they would arrive. They had to be counted as effectively nonexistent forces.

The one saving grace was that the Tang Clan was one of the most skilled sects in the Central Plains when it ca to estate defense.

Using formations and poisons to block access made it a nightmare to conquer.

That was also why the Black Tiger Unit's deputy leader had spoken at length with the much younger Tang Hae-han. He regarded him as a mber of the Nine Turns Pavilion.

As Tang Hae-han stepped aside, he said,

"I'll inform the dical Hall Lord and the Nine Turns Pavilion Leader myself. Please hurry on your way."

"The Leader is probably already on his way to inform them, but explain the situation once more and help with the preparations."

"Yes, understood."

As the Black Tiger Unit departed in haste, Tang Hae-han also hurried back to the dical Hall.

* * *

Not long had passed since the sun went down. As darkness settled over the headquarters, So-hwa waited for the Blood Sect mbers who would co as they always did.

Upstairs was the Black Sky Demon, and at the door stood Han-won. Since one had to risk one's life to co here, perhaps because only the truly desperate Blood Sect mbers sought her out, the detoxification proceeded without much trouble.

Still, today, So-hwa was tense as well. The words Namgung Hyun had left behind when he visited last night weighed on her mind.

Ssshhh.

At the sound of the wind, So-hwa turned her gaze toward the window.

The chill air was thick with the scent of blood.

Keeping her eyes on the night sky, she moved her hand.

Click.

A large needle slid into the jar.

The needle, soaked through with black liquid, glittered in the moonlight.

At that mont, soone entered the inside.

"Hah."

Seeing the person panting for breath, So-hwa reached out her hand.

Thud.

She closed the window, shielding the intruder.

Worrying about what lay ahead would change nothing. All she could do was give her best to what she could do now.

If she siphoned off the Blood Demon's strength one by one like this, then eventually the Blood Sect would lose its influence in the Central Plains.

Holding the jar, So-hwa approached the intruder.

"If you've co seeking detoxification, please give your hand."

An elderly woman stared at So-hwa with suspicious eyes.

"Is it really... possible?"

Instead of answering, So-hwa drove the needle into the back of the woman's hand.

She did not respond to pointless questions.

There was no way a Blood Sect mber who had co this far, risking her life, lacked conviction.

"Hngh!"

The woman hunched over. Before long, black liquid stread steadily from the back of her hand. Pulling out the large needle would let the Gu poison drain faster, but since the woman recoiled warily, So-hwa did not approach and simply left it be.

So-hwa returned to the table, closed the lid of the jar, and said,

"It's finished now. You may go."

"......."

"Do you have more to say?"

"Is that... all?"

So-hwa rely smiled at the question and did not look at the woman.

As if they had coordinated their words, the Blood Sect's mbers always asked the sa thing once the Gu poison was removed.

From their uniform reactions, she could vaguely tell how viciously and for how long the Blood Demon's blood had tornted them.

Every single one felt emptiness before joy at the swift detoxification.

Even the Main Blood Hall Lord had reacted the sa way.

Without a word, So-hwa put the jar into a drawer and turned around.

The elderly woman was reflected in her eyes. Was she fifty, or sixty? She must have been under the Blood Demon's dominion longer than the Main Blood Hall Lord. Perhaps because of that, she could not hide her overwhelming expression.

So-hwa's gaze dropped lower.

Co to think of it, this woman did not seem to be soone from the headquarters.

She wore a servant's clothes, but they did not fit her, and the sleeves were rolled up twice.

At a ti when guests were staying at the headquarters, an elderly servant would not dress herself so sloppily. At her age, she would rather be the one criticizing the attire of maids or other servants.

'Where did she co from?'

Quite so ti had passed since the antidote was demonstrated, so if she were a Blood Sect mber staying in Hubei, there had been ample ti to obtain a servant's clothes and enter properly. There was no need to do sothing this rushed and reckless.

When So-hwa stared at her without a word, the Blood Sect mber lowered her gaze, as if checking whether the detoxification had truly worked.

Soon, the Blood Sect mber snapped her head up. Since this too was a reaction So-hwa had seen countless tis, she spoke calmly.

"If you need antidotes to give to others, I can provide them. However, the storage period isn't very long, so......."

"Hngh."

Suddenly, the Blood Sect mber burst into tears.

"Hngh-Waaaaah!"

No, she began to wail.

This was a reaction So-hwa had never seen before, so she could not say anything.

Usually, the Blood Sect mbers were frightened of the Black Sky Demon upstairs and wanted to leave the hall as quickly as possible.

The Blood Sect mber shed tears and said to So-hwa,

"Thank you. Truly, thank you."

So-hwa's expression remained indifferent as she received the thanks.

She was doing this because she needed to. There was no need for gratitude. And she did not want thanks from a Blood Sect mber either. The Blood Sect was the enemy that had annihilated the Tang Clan.

When So-hwa did not respond, the woman, swept up in emotion, sobbed and muttered,

"I never imagined it would truly be possible. Hngh, it was good that I hurried. Hngh, if I'd been just a little later......."

As the pointless words dragged on, So-hwa quietly walked toward the window.

She thought that if she opened it, the woman might get scared and leave on her own.

However, perhaps sensing that intent, the woman sprang to her feet.

"W-wait, just a mont!"

So-hwa, her hand resting on the window, turned her head toward the woman. The Blood Sect mber hurriedly said,

"I-it's not much of a repaynt, but there's sothing I should tell you."

So-hwa slowly lowered her hand.

It ant she was willing to listen.

Yet when it ca ti to speak, perhaps fear took hold, as the woman's lips trembled.

After watching her for a mont, So-hwa asked,

"You don't seem to be a Blood Sect mber from the headquarters. Where did you co from?"

She was not especially curious. She had asked lightly, just to ease the tension, but an astonishing answer ca back.

"I-I ca from Sichuan."

So-hwa's eyes took on a strange light.

The woman rambled, spilling her words.

"I heard it from soone who crossed over into Sichuan. They said the Blood Demon...... was furious. I thought it sounded strange, but then I heard that a dicine had been made that could remove the blood, and that he was going to te out punishnt because of it, so......."

Perhaps out of fear, the woman could not explain properly and often left out pieces of information. However, Tang So-hwa understood every fragnt of the broken aning.

In a cold tone, So-hwa asked the Blood Sect mber,

"Did the Blood Demon send an ard force to Sichuan? To punish ?"

The Blood Sect mber flinched hard.

Then, as if steeling herself, she nodded.

"Was it the Blue Blood Hall? Or the Red Blood Hall?"

So-hwa nad the Blood Demon's ard forces that she knew. If it were them, there was little to worry about. Their main forces were almost annihilated, so it seed unlikely they could not be stopped by the Tang Clan.

However, words that completely defied her expectations pierced her ears.

"Do you... know about the Demonic Sect?"