The road to the Tang Clan was more comfortable than any path I had taken before.
Perhaps it was because it was a well-maintained road leading from the village to the city.
Thanks to this, the guards, who had always been on high alert, seemed to have relaxed a bit.
Or maybe it was because we were traveling with the prestigious Namgung family.
Whatever the reason, the journey to the Tang Clan was proceeding without any major issues.
"So, you know. When I first ate the sweet cake, I was holding a potato, but it looked so tasteless."
"Uh-huh."
"The sweet cake was so delicious... I feel bad for the potato, but the sweet cake seems more delicious."
"Uh-huh."
"Why is the potato a potato...?"
"Uh-huh... Uh-huh?"
Everyone else except them.
Why does Namgung Bia keep coming over here?
Every time I see her, it gives me a headache.
'Why does she keep coming over?'
There's a blue carriage right in front of her, so why does she keep coming over here and walking?
In the meantime, Wi Seol-a, who always sticks to Namgung Bia and chatters, is also very disobedient.
I need to give her a good scolding someday...
"It's strange that Namgung isn't paying attention to her."
Based on his actions so far, I thought Namgung Cheonjun would stick to Namgung Bia and follow her around, but he just sat silently in the carriage.
"Is this kind of thing okay?"
It's really hard to understand what that crazy guy is thinking.
By now, it had been a while since we set off, and the sun was setting.
Namgung Bia, being a martial artist, was fine, but Wi Seol-a, despite walking for a long time, was still full of energy and kept talking to Namgung Bia.
Is it really different from the start?
"...Actually, it's strange that she's not full of energy after eating so much."
Wi Seol-a eats a lot, but she only ends up a little rounder, which might be because she moves a lot while eating.
Perhaps this is the mystery of the human body.
I haven't eaten as much as Wi Seol-a, but I already have some fat on my sides.
Life...
While I was just looking up at the sky, someone in the crowd shouted.
"The Tang Clan's flag is in sight!"
As they said, in the distance, a green flag with the character '唐' (Tang) was visible.
The number of people seemed slightly less than the combined forces of the Goo and Namgung families.
I quickly straightened my clothes.
Oh, I took a nap earlier, did my hair get messed up?
These trivial matters make meeting prestigious families annoying...
Still, it's fortunate that there's no need to be overly formal with the Namgung side, thanks to the antics of Namgung Cheonjun and Namgung Bia.
The carriage slowly stopped, and I also got up to prepare to get out.
When I stepped out of the carriage, Namgung Cheonjun was already out, greeting the Tang Clan members.
"It's been a while, Cheonjun."
"Are you well, Brother Tang?"
"Is there something tiring you lately? You don't look well."
"It must be from the long journey."
"Of course, you came from far away. I didn't expect you to come all the way here, Cheonjun."
"My sister promised to come... I was worried about her being alone."
"Ah... Miss Bia... Yes, that makes sense. As always, the bond between you and your sister is truly admirable. Our Soyeol is getting more and more aggressive as time goes by."
'Ha ha'—he gave a typical, insincere smile and then turned his gaze to me.
"Ah! Young Master Goo! Please come this way."
When did we become so close that he calls me so cheerfully?
If I didn't know him better, I wouldn't have noticed, but it made me feel sick.
As I approached, I saw the young man who was greeting Namgung Cheonjun.
The young man looked to be in his early twenties and, despite being from the Tang Clan, known for their expertise in poisons and dark arts, he had a very gentle appearance.
He was Tang Juyuk, the young master of the Tang Clan.
I don't know his current nickname, but after the appearance of the Devil Sect, he was called "Duke of Poison" (毒代千君).
Tang Juyuk approached me with a calm step and greeted me first.
"Young Master Goo. I heard that your family was coming to our clan. Thank you for the long journey. I am Tang Juyuk."
From the way he showed respect to me, who was much younger, I could glimpse a bit of his character.
I returned the courtesy.
"From the Goo Clan..."
I was about to introduce myself by name, but then I remembered that I had introduced myself as Goo Jeol-yeop to the Namgung guys. Why did I do that?
Anyway, Goo Jeol-yeop is no help. I didn't like him from the first time I saw him.
"I am here on behalf of the head of the Goo Clan. He sends his apologies for not being able to attend."
I casually mentioned something my father never said to gloss over it.
Fortunately, Tang Juyuk didn't seem to mind and continued to smile.
"Your father must be very busy. It's natural for him to be unable to come. It's just a small festival we're hosting, and we're grateful that you came."
As the formal greetings were ending, Namgung Bia also approached from a distance.
Namgung Bia bowed slightly to Tang Juyuk as a greeting.
"It's been a while, Bia."
"Hello."
"Bia, you're getting more beautiful every day. I can hardly recognize you."
"Thank you..."
"Ah, by the way, our Soyeol was being unreasonable, right? I'm sorry, she's still immature and must have caused you trouble."
"No... It was a promise."
"I appreciate your understanding. Soyeol has been waiting for you, as well as Cheonjun and Young Master Goo. It's getting late, so let's get going. We'll guide you."
Finally... Following Tang Juyuk's guidance, we ended our arduous journey and entered the Sichuan Tang Clan.
If it weren't for Namgung Bia, who was sticking to my side, and Namgung's son, who was glaring at me, it would have been a pleasant trip...
'Ah... I want to eat some dumplings.'
It was definitely a very tiring journey.
******************
Sichuan Tang Clan (四川唐門).
A prestigious family that has been rooted in the Sichuan region for centuries and is known as the best in the Central Plains in terms of iron and poison.
The sharpness of the Namgung Clan.
The audacity of the Hebei Pang Clan.
The refinement of the Murong Clan.
Compared to these three clans, the Tang Clan might be a step behind in everything, but conversely, the Tang Clan has something far superior to the other three.
The Tang Clan's annual event, the Tang Weapon Exhibition, is one of the manifestations of this confidence.
They are famous for their unique martial arts, which include dark arts and poison techniques, but the ironworking skills they possess are unparalleled.
The weapons made by the artisans known as the best in the Central Plains in ironworking.
It would be a shame not to call them art.
The Tang Clan has been the maker of the swords of the Sword Master and the successive leaders of the Martial Arts Alliance.
The various sects and families that use swords line up to wait for the Tang Clan's swords.
'...But they don't give them easily.'
Perhaps due to the Tang Clan's reputation or pride, they do not easily hand over their weapons to outsiders.
Even if you try to buy them with money, it's unlikely that one of the four great clans of the Central Plains would be so desperate for money that they would sell.
In any case, the Tang Weapon Exhibition is essentially a festival to showcase the high-quality weapons the Tang Clan has made over the year.
If I had to guess the underlying reason, it might be something like:
"We can make things this well."
"If you treat us well, we might give you something like this."
Occasionally, during the Tang Weapon Exhibition, they would distribute one of the items on display.
I'm not particularly interested. Of course, if I get one, I can sell it for a high price.
I don't know what political or strategic purpose the Tang Clan has in showing these things, but that's not my goal.
'I need to prepare to find the secret chamber.'
Let's not forget the purpose of coming to Sichuan.
I came to find the secret chamber of the Jin Chanyan family.
After the Tang Weapon Exhibition, I have only three days. The only information I have is the general area where the secret chamber is located and its surroundings.
Even that information is not entirely accurate.
If I can't find the secret chamber in these three days, I might just go to the open market and release all the information about the Jin Chanyan family.
'...Complicated.'
"Master, what are you thinking so hard about?"
"Nothing."
While I was wracking my brain, Wi Seol-a spoke to me.
I followed Tang Juyuk's guidance and entered the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Although I had been here in my previous life, the Tang Clan's grandeur, which I saw again, was overwhelming.
Compared to the Tianyi Merchant Guild, which I visited for the Nine Dragons Association, the Tang Clan was much larger.
'Indeed, one of the four great clans.'
The roots of the righteous path are different. I was following the guide, and after unpacking, I thought I would take a short walk before going to bed.
Since no one told me not to, I could take a look around.
I started walking with Wi Seol-a, who followed me when I said I was going for a walk.
As I walked along the path, a forest filled with trees appeared. How big must the clan be to have a forest?
Chirp chirp. The sound of crickets could be heard with each step.
Following the sound of crickets filling the forest, I walked slowly.
The fireflies appearing ahead made me feel the approach of summer.
As I walked along the path, an artificially created lake appeared. It wasn't very large, but it was meticulously decorated.
The scene of fireflies flying and lotus flowers floating on the water was so beautiful that even I, who have no sense of aesthetics, could appreciate it.
"Wow...!"
What about Wi Seol-a? As expected, her eyes widened, and she smiled.
For a moment, I considered stroking her head.
But I didn't.
"It's so beautiful, Master!"
"Indeed."
Wi Seol-a danced lightly, following the fireflies. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand at the sight.
Sometimes.
Wi Seol-a overlaps with the figure from my previous life.
Like now.
The current Wi Seol-a doesn't have the shining hair that seemed to hold the moon or the eyes that were like a blade of frost.
She has black hair like the night sky and a face that always seems to be smiling with happiness.
The situation is so different from back then.
Why do I feel like I'm looking for her in the current Wi Seol-a?
I chuckled at the thought.
"Just a silly attachment."
"Uh?"
"Nothing, let's head back. It's time to sleep."
I think I've seen enough.
Now that we've reached our destination, I can sleep a bit more comfortably today. I was about to turn around and head back with Wi Seol-a when...
"Who are you?"
A sharp voice that seemed to pierce my ears rang out.
I turned my head in the direction of the voice.
There, Namgung Bia, looking surprised, and another person were standing.
The owner of the voice was that person. The unknown woman spoke to me again.
"This is a place where outsiders cannot enter freely. Who are you?"
As the moonlight shone, the face of the woman, who had been hidden in the shadows, became visible.
Only then did I realize who she was.
The deep green eye on one side was the evidence.
Poison Empress (毒妃) Tang Soyeol.
The first ever Ten Thousand Poison Immunity (萬毒不侵) in Tang Clan history.
The Iron Lady who single-handedly blocked thousands of demons that invaded Sichuan.