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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Sacheon Tang Clan Normalization (1)
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The Reverse Heaven energy erupted and was absorbed.
Dang Yu-wol used it as a catalyst to detonate the inner energy in his dantian.
'Kuh...!!'
A colossal wave of energy began surging from his dantian, like a tsunami.
The pain was no different from being tortured with needles pricking every inch of his body.
-Keep your wits about you.
'Of course. I can't let something like this devour me.'
There was much to do, and mountains to overcome that were absurdly high.
Was he going to yield to this paltry pain?
'This... this isn't real pain.'
His precious family torn apart and killed by the Blood Cult.
The vow of vengeance he had made.
The times he had bowed his head to his enemies.
Compared to those, this was nothing.
'I can't crumble over something this minor.'
The knowledge and enlightenment gained upon reaching the Martial God realm.
Utilizing them, Dang Yu-wol gathered all that energy.
-Ooh...
Ye-ui exclaimed in admiration.
Dang Yu-wol was handling it better than expected.
Thus, after about two hours.
When he slowly opened his eyes, a faint glow lingered in them.
-Congratulations.
"Hoo."
-In the murim world, third-rate refers to those who have formed a dantian and can begin practicing martial arts.
Dang Yu-wol slowly moved his hand.
His inner energy followed suit.
-Second-rate means being able to channel inner energy to strengthen the body.
Then what of first-rate?
Instead of answering, he grasped the flying dagger before him.
-Woooong...!!
A green energy rose from the dagger.
The mark of first-rate.
The feat of infusing one's inner energy into an external object to strengthen it.
He had formed sword energy.
-The sword energy of those who have just entered first-rate wavers unsteadily. But yours doesn't.
As Ye-ui said, the vivid green energy had settled precisely, forming its shape perfectly.
-Even if the inner energy differs, a Martial God is a Martial God, huh?
'This isn't enough.'
-Indeed. The enemies you must face are exceedingly powerful.
Still, what deserved celebration should be celebrated.
And there was something to share.
-You've finally reached first-rate. As a congratulatory gift, I'll tell you one thing.
'What?'
-You can now create some pretty useful medicines.
'Good.'
-I'm glad it helps you.
There would be many battles ahead.
In that case, medicines as potent as his poisons would prove immensely helpful.
'If I reach the Fire Transformation realm, could I make something like the Seven Great Ultimate Poisons?'
-An intriguing notion. The Seven Great Ultimate Poisons.
Ye-ui fell silent for a moment.
The Seven Great Ultimate Poisons were something even he had never attempted.
-First, tell me what level you're envisioning for these Seven Great Ultimate Poisons.
'Enough to kill a Fire Transformation expert in one hit.'
-Well. I'll give it my all for now. It's not impossible if I go all out.
'I hope so. Anyway, what medicines can you make?'
-From simple wound salves to internal injury recovery elixirs, a wide variety.
Having heard this, Dang Yu-wol decided to test it out and created a wound salve.
In an instant, a transparent medicine pouch appeared above his hand.
"Hm."
-Slice.
For the experiment, he drew a dagger and lightly cut his forearm.
As blood trickled from the skin where the sharp blade had passed, Dang Yu-wol immediately applied the salve.
"Oh..."
The effect was better than expected.
The bleeding stopped almost instantly, and the pain subsided.
-Impressive, isn't it?
'It is. If a wound salve is this good, the internal injury recovery elixir must be excellent too.'
-Use it well from now on.
One more weapon had been added to fight the Blood Cult.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"I heard the story."
The next day.
Dang Seong-u approached Dang Yu-wol, who was working at the escort agency, and got straight to the point.
"You can't tell if it's lamb or pork without the head and tail."
"...You're talking about the customary escort cargo."
"News travels fast."
"I also heard that the Sacheon Merchant Alliance is keeping an eye on you because of it."
"They have no gratitude. We took down Gihwan Escort Agency—they should be thankful."
"If you take on the customary cargo right when you're trying to claim Gihwan's spot, they might step in."
It wasn't an atmosphere of outright opposition.
Dang Yu-wol stared at him fixedly.
"Are the elders to participate in the escort agency's operations as well?"
"Not just them—other disciples too."
Not only Dang Jung-hyeop, the strongest in martial arts.
"Yes. And I'll assign you a guard detail."
They would squeeze every ounce of the Tang Clan's strength, including Dang Seong-u himself, to protect Dang Yu-wol.
That was the decision of the Tang Clan's leadership.
"It's fine. I can protect myself."
"But Yu-wol."
"Father."
"Hm?"
"Be careful."
"Of what?"
"I'm about to attack."
"...Are you trying to prove you can protect yourself?"
"Yes. Isn't this the fastest way?"
"...Hah. Even if I'm the weakest clan head in history, I'm not so feeble that a mere second-rate like you can best me."
As he lightly assumed a stance, Dang Yu-wol swiftly moved his hand.
-Woooong...!!!
-Chaaeng!!!
A low vibrational hum accompanied a streak of light flying toward him.
"Ugh...!!"
If not for the warning, he wouldn't have blocked it.
It wasn't just the power infused in the flying dagger Dang Yu-wol had thrown.
"When did you...?! That was just now the Soul-Chasing Phantom Dart!!"
The Tang Clan's secret martial art, sealed away after the battle with the Five Poisons Sect.
The hidden technique that had eliminated numerous Five Poisons Sect experts had been revived in his hands.
"I'm at first-rate now, but..."
Dang Yu-wol gazed earnestly at Dang Seong-u, who stood on the cusp of the supreme realm.
"Against Father as you are now, I could win even head-on."
'This kid...! Until recently, his martial prowess was barely second-rate...'
And even that was untrained, so he struggled to beat fellow second-rate Tang Clan disciples in spars.
'A meteoric rise, indeed...'
As a father, he couldn't be happier.
But as clan head leading a family, he had to take it seriously.
"You... you haven't learned a demonic art, have you?"
A growth spurt like this, but straining the mind until one became a demonic cultivator—a forbidden martial art.
Considering what Dang Yu-wol had been up to, it was a reasonable suspicion.
'If he's been hanging with the wrong crowd and gone astray...'
As a father, he worried.
At his concern, Dang Yu-wol burst into laughter.
"The only inner energy in my body is the Three Yang Return to Origin Art. If you wish, check my pulse."
With nothing to hide under heaven, Dang Yu-wol extended his hand.
Seeing this, Dang Seong-u closed his eyes.
'If he's saying this much, it can't be a lie.'
"Then how? How did you grow this much in such a short time?"
"Father's son is someone who excels when he tries. You've always said so."
"That's just what fathers say to their kids."
If mere effort led to such growth, the world would be full of experts.
"Sigh. Then how did you learn the Soul-Chasing Phantom Dart?"
"I practiced alone."
"Without a manual?"
"It was hidden in the clan library."
"What?!"
Dang Seong-u was shocked, and Dang Yu-wol led him to the library.
"What's here?"
Reaching the inner section of the library, where ordinary Tang Clan records were kept, he looked puzzled.
"Look here."
As he pulled out a few books, the wall parted, revealing a worn manual.
The cover read Soul-Chasing Phantom Dart.
"Good heavens...! To think such a thing was here!! How did you find it?!"
"Just stumbled upon it...?"
"A fated encounter. A fated encounter indeed."
-He spins a good tale.
'I can't say I saw it in those beasts' records after the Tang Clan was wiped out.'
"I heard even you never learned the Soul-Chasing Phantom Dart, Father."
"Y-Yes. Not just me—Jung-hyeop either."
"If you master this, it'll help advance the Tang Clan."
"Yes. Yes. Have the others learn it too."
He knew the "others" Dang Seong-u meant were the elders who could wield martial arts.
Since they were needed for the Tang Clan's advancement, he nodded lightly.
"With this, can I go alone?"
"...Yes. I can't stop you anymore."
The Soul-Chasing Phantom Dart Dang Yu-wol had demonstrated earlier was far from amateurish.
'And if he uses poison on top...?'
As he said, handling even supreme experts wouldn't be difficult.
"One thing—I want you to promise me something."
"What is it?"
"If something dangerous happens, promise you'll run."
"..."
"Reviving the Tang Clan is good. But as your father, I want you safe."
'Dangerous matters.'
-Danger is relative, after all. Compared to fighting the Blood Cult, nothing is truly dangerous.
After a brief exchange with Ye-ui, Dang Yu-wol smiled faintly.
"I will."
With a light bow, Dang Yu-wol returned to Sacheon Escort Agency.
There was much preparation needed to properly mobilize it.
"Es-Escort Agency Head proxy!"
As he worked in the agency head's office, a call came from outside.
"The escorts are here right now!"
"Escorts?"
Why them?
Wondering, Dang Yu-wol went outside.
As the servant said, quite a few first- and second-rate warriors had gathered.
"What's this about?"
"W-We heard Sacheon Escort Agency has a lot of work."
Gihwan Escort Agency had collapsed, and they were swiftly absorbing its assets.
And now they had taken Seongdo's customary escorts too.
'Sacheon Escort Agency lacks manpower right now.'
'They're only personally training Yang Jin and Jin Ho-gang from the Tang Clan.'
'Someone like me is way better than those guys.'
-Their thoughts are transparent. Reminds me of the Maesa Magol anecdote.
'How are they so predictable.'
-They think they'll snag a key position in the Tang Clan if they play nice.
Not bad.
So Dang Yu-wol smiled.
"Interviews start now."
"Int-Interviews?"
"Not martial skill?"
"Character is the most important."
Stating it firmly, Dang Yu-wol went inside, and the escorts hurriedly followed.