The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family Chapter 275

Side Story, Chapter 3. The Fourth Elder's Luncheon

Many attended the luncheon prepared by the Fourth Elder. People had been sent from various Tang Clan institutions to assess Hamgu.

In truth, an audience for formal induction involved procedures far more stringent than this.

The Fourth Elder was simply an exception.

Over the years, the Fourth Elder had lured countless wanderers to the Tang Clan estate, yet he had never actually inducted a single one into the Tang Clan. He would abandon the induction at his own level, before ever presenting them to the Clan Head.

He used the induction process to peek at the martial arts or petty techniques of talented wanderers, or to put them to work for his own benefit.

Even after realizing they had been deceived, the exploited young wanderers could not protest. They knew all too well how difficult it was to live after making an enemy of a noble clan.

It was an immoral practice, yet surprisingly common in the Murim.

However, when the Fourth Elder failed to correct this behavior even in old age, the Tang Clan itself began spreading word of his conduct. They hoped to prevent wanderers from arriving with foolish dreams only to be exploited. Even so, naïve martial artists who believed they would be different still occasionally ca to the Tang Clan.

Whenever the Fourth Elder brought soone he was "considering" for induction, the Chief Steward would, out of courtesy, send people—but would not write a report.

In fact, it was not just the Chief Steward.

Thus, although the Fourth Elder's luncheon was crowded, there were no distinguished figures present. Everyone looked young; anyone could tell they were all low-ranking mbers.

The Fourth Elder swept his gaze over the unfamiliar faces, then spotted Tang So-hwa and rolled his eyes. A Black Tiger Unit martial artist sat on either side of her, their faces half-covered, and he could also sense the presence of Black Tiger Unit mbers concealed around the hall.

"Well, now......."

The Fourth Elder let out an empty sigh, clearly displeased.

So-hwa understood why the Fourth Elder was upset with her.

It seed he had been reprimanded by the Clan Head.

She had begged the Clan Head to allow her to attend this gathering. In case Hamgu attempted to flee, she intended to show his face to the Black Tiger Unit mbers.

However, it had not been So-hwa who tattled that Hamgu was from the Blood Sect.

The one who had asked the Clan Head to apprehend Hamgu was the Four Seasons Hall Lord.

From the start, So-hwa had planned to deal with Hamgu quietly on her own terms.

But it seed the Fourth Elder believed that So-hwa had gone over his head and reported him directly to the Clan Head without warning him first.

So-hwa did not bother to clear up the misunderstanding.

When she first returned to the past, she too had suspected the Fourth Elder and watched him for a long ti.

However, the Fourth Elder was rely a corrupt powerbroker within the Tang Clan, not a mber of the Blood Sect.

Compared to the Blood Sect, corrupt trash was little different from a good man in So-hwa's eyes, and she felt a faint sense of guilt toward him. Thus, she willingly accepted his misunderstanding.

An awkward silence settled over the table. With people who had no real connection gathered together, there was no pretext for conversation.

After quite so ti, the Fourth Elder made a sound of clearing his throat.

"Ahem."

So-hwa looked down at the teacup that had long since gone cold.

Hamgu's nerve seed impressive even in this life.

Stealing the Clan Head's youngest daughter from the Tang Clan estate had already been an act of astonishing madness, but keeping an elder of a noble clan waiting for so long was an equally incomprehensible rudeness.

Perhaps feeling his dignity being eroded, the Fourth Elder muttered as if to himself.

"Perhaps the long journey slowed his preparations."

Hamgu had arrived at dawn that very day.

News had already spread to other institutions, low-ranking mbers had been selected and summoned, and the attendees had even had ti to tidy their attire—an excuse that made no sense at all.

Yet no one pointed this out. No one wished to offend a power-holder within the Tang Clan.

Fortunately, before long, Hamgu finally appeared.

Tap.

The attendant guiding him looked beet-red. He seed furious. It was clear Hamgu had deliberately dawdled, ignoring the attendant's urging.

Swallowing his anger, the Fourth Elder spoke in a low voice.

"You're late."

Hamgu sat down and replied perfunctorily.

"Yes. Things just happened."

As if on cue, every Tang Clan mber attending the luncheon looked at the Fourth Elder.

This ti, it was not out of deference. It was the look of people thinking, You went so far as to bring in soone like this?

Stung by their pitying gazes toward his judgnt, the Fourth Elder flinched.

"Ahem. I rember the day I first t you, Hamgu. Wasn't it after I was captivated by that remarkable stealth art with which you shook off the Jangha Sect for several days? Haha, it truly was impressive."

The Fourth Elder spoke awkwardly, as if performing a play. Yet instead of preserving his face, Hamgu replied arrogantly.

"Ah, yes. I also rember being surprised that soone who was an elder of the Tang Clan of Sichuan would marvel at sothing so trivial. It was the day I realized that age and discernnt do not necessarily go hand in hand."

At that rudeness, the lips of the Tang Clan mbers watching Hamgu fell open.

The Fourth Elder's beard trembled, but Hamgu paid no heed and drank the tea set before him.

"Hmm, it's gone cold."

So-hwa quietly looked at Hamgu.

In her past life, she had thought his face slick and polished, but now it felt ordinary. Moreover, he was far more impudent than she had heard.

The Blood Sect mber before her seed like the complete opposite of Yu-hwa.

He was far from timid, and not an ounce of consideration showed.

'...... Was it that confidence that drew her in?'

Yu-hwa had been fragile and timid; perhaps the brazen confidence of a stranger had seed novel to her.

At that mont, his gaze drifted toward her.

When their eyes t, he gave a strange smile.

Without thinking, So-hwa slipped a hand into her sleeve, then thought it was a good thing she had left all the poison in her quarters.

Seeing how her murderous intent flared at a single look, she could understand why Zhuge In-hwi had been so anxious as to send repeated warnings by letter.

Swallowing a sigh, So-hwa lowered her gaze to the table, deliberately avoiding his eyes.

Then, a Tang Clan mber from the Chief Steward's office asked,

"Can you show us your specialty?"

Judging by the sharp edge to his tone, he too found Hamgu thoroughly distasteful. Sensing that hostility, Hamgu replied coldly.

"Well. I don't particularly feel like showing it."

So-hwa felt heat rising from all around.

The Tang Clan mbers were hardly mild-tempered themselves; it looked as though they might strike Hamgu at any mont.

'Even if I don't lay a hand on him, it seems he won't live to et the Hall Lord.......'

Just as that thought crossed her mind, Hamgu added sothing astonishing.

"Still, there is one person here to whom I would like to show my humble skills. I've t soone unexpected."

At those uncharacteristically humble words, So-hwa raised her gaze—and imdiately t his eyes. He was staring at her with a slick, shining look.

"If Young Lady Tang So-hwa wishes it, I'll consider it."

He even knew her na.

"Of course, you may summon privately after this gathering ends."

A silence fell at such reckless, absurd behavior.

Hamgu acted as though he lived only for today, with no thought for consequences—almost as if this were his sole objective.

Having grasped the situation, So-hwa let out a small, incredulous laugh.

She didn't know why, but it seed he had switched his target to her.

"Is he out of his mind......."

From behind her ca Han-won's muttered whisper.

Almost simultaneously, Ran-hee quietly signaled him to be silent.

So-hwa, who had been about to respond to Hamgu, closed her mouth.

If Hamgu followed the sa path as in her past life, he would infiltrate her quarters, just as he had once secretly sought out Yu-hwa's residence.

'If a strange intruder breaks in and is poisoned, isn't that unavoidable?'

At the sudden thought, her brows slowly lifted.

That would be an accident, not a violation of the Four Seasons Hall Lord's request.

Having finished her reasoning, the corner of So-hwa's mouth slowly curved upward.

"I know it's a joke, but those aren't unpleasant words to hear."

Those seated exchanged glances, their expressions asking what in the world had just happened.

Working as they did within the Tang Clan's core institutions, their access to information was swift. As such, they were well aware of Tang So-hwa's temperant.

An ordinary person might have thought the atmosphere strange, but Hamgu was the opposite.

He had heard the rumors that Tang So-hwa was a woman coveted by the Namgung brothers, the Main Blood Hall Lord, and even the Four Seasons Hall Lord. Thanks to such baseless gossip spreading through the world, he mistakenly believed Tang So-hwa to be notorious for her many affairs, and so he naturally assud her interest in him was only fitting.

Hamgu answered the barrage of questions thrown at him from all sides in a perfunctory manner, all the while stealing glances at Tang So-hwa. Each ti, Tang So-hwa curved her eyes in response.

They were the eyes of a snake gently watching its prey before snatching a frog—yet the frog, unable to recognize its natural predator, basked in that gaze.

And after the luncheon ended, Hamgu vanished from the Tang Clan estate without a trace.