Chapter 94: Using Poison to Control Poison. -05
Tang Seogon’s body trembled like a quaking aspen.
With the sudden appearance of the young man, his thoughts had become a tangled mess, and the words would not come out properly.
But there was one thing he knew for certain.
That the situation was heading in the worst possible direction.
“Se, Second Young Lord……!”
The young man called out to him with a voice full of anguish.
His eyes were filled with a myriad of emotions.
However, Tang Seogon did not respond.
Though they were bound together by blood, in the end what mattered most was his own life.
“You’ve seen this fellow, so there’s no need for further explanation, is there?”
Gulp!
Dang Bi’s single sentence sounded like a death sentence to Tang Seogon.
Still, he did not want to die like this.
“Everything, everything was all……!”
“That’s enough.”
“Fa, Father!”
Seeing Tang Woo-hyeok cut him off mid-sentence, Tang Seogon cried out in desperation.
Yet despite his earnest voice, Tang Woo-hyeok’s expression remained unchanged from start to finish.
“Why did you do it?”
“I was wrong! Pl, please, just this once, spare me!”
Meeting Tang Woo-hyeok’s eyes, Tang Seogon realized it belatedly.
That no matter how much he denied it, it was already too late.
The moment he realized that, Tang Seogon prostrated himself.
As if performing full prostration, he pressed his body flat against the cold floor of the prison cell.
“Why did you do it?”
Yet even in the face of Tang Seogon’s full prostration, Tang Woo-hyeok’s voice did not change.
In a flat tone, he merely asked once more.
“Th, that is…….”
“I’ve already heard the reason. Even so, I ask because I want to hear it directly from you.”
“If I answer, will you spare my life?”
“Should I call you a traitor after all? Have you forgotten the iron rule of the Main House?”
Shiver!
Tang Seogon’s body trembled.
Because with those words, he could feel it.
That his current position was not that of a son, but of one who had betrayed the family.
And the Sichuan Tang Family was a family that never spared traitors.
“If you do not wish to answer, you don’t have to. That too will be your decision.”
“Pl, please give me a chance!”
Tang Seogon shouted with his eyes tightly shut.
He wanted to avoid dying like this at all costs.
No, even if he were to die, he did not want to die in such disgrace.
“There are no exceptions.”
“Fa, Father! Grandfather!”
At Tang Woo-hyeok’s resolute words, Tang Seogon screamed as tears and snot poured down his face.
But despite Tang Seogon’s desperate pleas, the expressions of the two men remained the same.
They only stared at Tang Seogon with endlessly cold eyes.
Drip.
At the same time, the limbs of the young man who had been dragged in melted away.
They became a handful of blood slurry, soaking the cold floor of the prison cell.
The young man too was a martial artist who had cultivated Poison Arts, but before a completely different level, he was no different from an ordinary person.
“It seems you have nothing to say. Very well.”
“Just a moment! When we fight the Nine Heavens Gate, I will take the lead on the front lines!”
“And what would I trust you with?”
Tang Woo-hyeok replied as if it was not worth even a moment’s consideration.
Then he slowly raised his hand.
Like the young man, he intended to melt him away with Poison Arts.
“Damn it! Damn it all!”
Clinging desperately to his fading consciousness, Tang Seogon shouted.
If he did not scream out in rage, it felt as though the resentment in his chest would never be released.
However, Tang Seogon’s mad cry did not last long.
Sizzle.
Tang Woo-hyeok was the master known as the Poison King of the era.
Thus, Tang Seogon too, no different from the young man, was transformed into a pool of poison water in an instant.
“You worked hard.”
“No. I merely did what I was supposed to do.”
“It isn’t solely your responsibility. I bear responsibility as well.”
In the underground prison cell where only the two remained, Dang Bi’s lament-filled words echoed softly.
For the sake of the Sichuan Tang Family, to become the greatest family under heaven, Dang Bi had accepted more daughters-in-law than anyone else.
Perhaps because of that greed, this result had come about, and so Dang Bi let out a deep sigh.
“It isn’t over yet.”
“That’s right. In truth, it starts now. Of course, before that, we must thoroughly tighten internal discipline.”
“After that, we will hold them accountable for their crimes.”
“That we must.”
Tang Seogon, the root cause of all this, was dead, but the real matters that needed to be dealt with were only beginning now.
That was why Tang Woo-hyeok turned his body with a cold expression.
As the Sichuan Tang Family never forgot grudges or debts, they would have to move busily from now on.
Dang Bi followed behind him with a bitter expression.
As bedtime approached, Ban Hojin left his lodging.
He was heading to the Family Head’s Hall at Tang Woo-hyeok’s summons.
Following the maid who guided him, Ban Hojin tilted his head slightly.
He wondered if there was really a need to call him out at this hour.
“We’ve arrived. You may go inside.”
“Thank you for guiding me.”
“Not at all.”
Toward Ban Hojin, who treated her politely despite her status as a maid, she smiled brightly and turned away.
Having fulfilled her assigned duty, she was returning to her original post.
Giving the maid a brief glance, Ban Hojin took in the dignified atmosphere of the Family Head’s Hall for a moment before stepping inside.
“Welcome.”
“Have a seat.”
“Ah, yes.”
However, Tang Woo-hyeok was not the only one in the Family Head’s Hall.
Seeing Dang Bi seated at a place meant for conversation, Ban Hojin’s sense of puzzlement deepened even further.
“You look puzzled that we called you so suddenly.”
“Yes. To be honest, I thought you wouldn’t have time to meet me.”
“Heh.”
Tang Woo-hyeok, who had taken the seat beside Dang Bi, let out a dry chuckle.
It was the first time he had seen a Rising Junior speak so freely with him sitting right in front of them.
Even his own child, Tang Seogeon, found him difficult to face, yet Ban Hojin was the complete opposite.
And yet, Tang Woo-hyeok did not dislike it.
“You know about the iron rules of the Main House, don’t you?”
“Is there anyone among the people of Jianghu who doesn’t know?”
“There isn’t.”
At Ban Hojin’s counterquestion, Dang Bi broke into a grin.
It was a thoroughly satisfied smile.
At the same time, it was an expression of confidence.
Though they were not called the Greatest Family Under Heaven, in some ways the Sichuan Tang Family was even more famous than the Namgung Family.
“You don’t ask what we did to the traitor.”
“I didn’t think there was any need for me to ask.”
“And why is that?”
Tang Woo-hyeok asked again.
There was a trace of curiosity in his eyes.
“It’s the Sichuan Tang Family’s internal matter, isn’t it. I assumed you would have handled it properly on your own.”
“You are an outsider, yes. Still, aren’t you curious?”
“Not really.”
At Ban Hojin’s curt reply, Tang Woo-hyeok let out another chuckle.
There had been rumors that he was indifferent to worldly affairs, and it seemed those rumors were true.
“In a way, doesn’t it concern you as well?”
“There’s nothing to be gained by getting deeply involved in another family’s affairs.”
“That is wise. Still, I think it’s only proper that we tell you.”
“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like you’re blaming me.”
“Of course. Rather, I’m grateful that you prevented the worst possible outcome before it happened. That’s also why we called you.”
No matter how ruthless the Sichuan Tang Family was toward traitors and turncoats, blood was still blood.
Blood was thicker than water, and arms bent inward.
Those sayings did not exist for nothing, so Ban Hojin had harbored a slight concern, but fortunately it seemed to have been resolved well.
“I see.”
“For reference, the traitor was punished according to the Main House’s methods. As for the Nine Heavens Gate, we will settle internal matters first and then hold them accountable.”
“If you’re worried that I might speak about the Second Young Lord, you needn’t be concerned. I have no intention of going around spreading another family’s business.”
“That part doesn’t worry me. Once internal matters are handled, news of a traitor will inevitably leak outside anyway. Rather, I intend to make it known openly.”
Ban Hojin nodded.
In some ways it could be considered a disgrace, but seen broadly, this choice was the best course.
No matter how much they tried to hide it, they could never completely conceal the matter of Tang Seogon.
In that case, it was far more advantageous to reveal it cleanly and declare war on the Nine Heavens Gate.
“Even so, it’s one thing for an outsider to speak, and another for the Family Head to reveal it first. I’ll keep quiet for the time being.”
At Ban Hojin’s reply, Tang Woo-hyeok’s eyes gleamed.
Not asking why meant he understood his intent.
Even at first meeting, he had felt there was something unusual about him, and the more he learned, the more he liked him.
Oh Jung-geon’s praise had not been exaggerated for nothing.
“Thank you for understanding. We’ll leave the matter of the traitor and the Nine Heavens Gate at that. Let’s move on to compensation. As you know, the Main House never forgets favors or grudges. So tell me. Is there anything you desire from the Main House?”
“There isn’t.”
Ban Hojin answered without the slightest hesitation.
He knew the disposition of the Sichuan Tang Family well.
That was why he had anticipated the conversation flowing in this direction.
But no matter how he thought about it, there was nothing he deserved to receive from the Sichuan Tang Family.
More precisely, he had already received more than enough.
Just exchanging blows with the Nine Heavens Gate had satisfied him.
“Truly?”
Wondering if he was refusing out of politeness, Tang Woo-hyeok asked again.
The possibility was slim, but he asked just in case.
Though Ban Hojin was mature beyond his years, he was still only of coming-of-age age and might be reading the room.
“There isn’t.”
However, Ban Hojin’s answer remained the same.
There was truly nothing he wanted, so there was nothing else to say.
“Hahaha!”
At that sight, Dang Bi let out a hollow laugh.
Judging by his expression and demeanor, he wasn’t declining out of politeness or courtesy.
That much he could tell.
And so Dang Bi couldn’t help but laugh.
“If time were pressing, I’d give you time to think. From my position as well, this isn’t something I can just let slide.”
“Then let’s do this.”
Dang Bi cut off Tang Woo-hyeok mid-sentence.
Then he looked at Ban Hojin with a meaningful gaze.
A gaze that anyone would find burdensome.
So Ban Hojin naturally avoided his eyes and lifted his teacup.
“What do you think of my granddaughter?”
“I don’t like her.”
“Huh!”
At Ban Hojin’s immediate reply, once again without a moment’s hesitation, Tang Woo-hyeok wore a stunned expression.
He had never imagined he would be rejected so bluntly.
And not just a refusal, but a direct statement of dislike made Tang Woo-hyeok glare at Ban Hojin without realizing it.
“Huh. Seorin, you say? Why?”
Dang Bi, who had brought it up, was equally unable to understand.
Not simply because she was his granddaughter, but even at this very moment, marriage proposals were pouring in for Tang Seorin.
From prestigious families and great sects renowned throughout Jianghu.
Yet Ban Hojin rejected Tang Seorin in a single stroke, and Dang Bi found it hard to believe.
“She’s not my type.”
“Hah.”
Following Dang Bi, Tang Woo-hyeok also wore an incredulous expression.
He had never imagined there would be a man in all the world who would say such words about Tang Seorin.
But Ban Hojin went even further.
“I have one thing I want now. I’d like it if I didn’t have to hear anything about Young Lady Tang from now on. Then I’ll be going.”
Tang Woo-hyeok and Dang Bi were left speechless, as if struck dumb.
They had never expected such a thing to be requested as compensation.
But since Tang Woo-hyeok himself had spoken those words earlier, he couldn’t say no.
And so the two of them could not stop Ban Hojin as he left the Family Head’s Hall in an instant.
“I’d heard he was bold, but I didn’t think to this extent.”
“Why? I like it even more. Confidence is far better than timidity. And bluntly speaking, doesn’t it take someone like that to handle Seorin?”
Unlike Tang Woo-hyeok, who shook his head, Dang Bi chuckled.
Though he was her grandfather, he knew well his granddaughter’s sharp and fiery temperament.
To be frank, most women of the Sichuan Tang Family were fierce by nature.
In that sense, perhaps someone with that kind of personality was better suited to be Tang Seorin’s match.
“It seems Father has taken a liking to that child.”
“And haven’t you? Bluntly speaking, is there anyone else like him?”
“There isn’t.”
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