Chapter 67 – That’s Not the End

Chapter 67 – That's Not the End

Tae Ju-ha stared intently at Geum-myeong, who was sitting beneath the fluttering Red Dragon Flag.

He was carving a fist-sized piece of wood with a dagger. The wood, which he had begun carving saying that the child had nothing to play with, gradually took on a round shape, and before long, it was reborn as a spinning top.

Geum-myeong, who neatly smoothed out the rough wood grain, smiled with satisfaction.

“You are skilled with your hands.”

“Yes? Ah, something like this is done in no time. It is nothing special. Haha.”

Tae Ju-ha asked an unexpected question to Geum-myeong, who was smiling awkwardly.

“Why did you become a waterway fort?”

“Isn't it the same for everyone? Well, as I tried to make a living, it naturally turned out this way.”

“Have you never thought about wanting to live a different life?”

“A different life? Well… I am not sure. I have never thought about such a thing.”

“………”

When there was no response, Geum-myeong's voice grew quieter.

“Um, did I make some kind of mistake…?”

“It is nothing. You may go now.”

With a polite bow, Geum-myeong headed toward the storehouse, saying he would find a string that fit the spinning top. He quietly fell into thought as he watched Geum-myeong's retreating back.

“……”

Tae Ju-ha vividly remembered what happened ten years ago.

The red blood that stained the Yangtze River.

The burning giant ships and the acrid smoke.

The countless people who vanished miserably.

It was a terrible memory that he never wanted to experience again. However, if something like Moon-Dominating Stronghold happened again, it was also a future that would eventually arrive.

Rattle.

At that moment, the spinning top that Geum-myeong had left behind rolled to Tae Ju-ha's feet. Tae Ju-ha picked it up and spun the well-crafted top this way and that. It had quite a decent shape.

‘It looks decent.’

Then, he suddenly wondered. If he had learned carpentry, would he have become a carpenter instead of a waterway fort? Perhaps he might have even become a master spinning top craftsman. Such thoughts followed one after another.

It was not that he did not know they looked like a wicked group of the Black Path in the eyes of others, but who on earth was born that way from the beginning?

These people were the same.

They simply did not have the opportunity to choose a different life.

What if there had been another opportunity?

If someone gave them a new opportunity…

‘An escort agency…’

Couldn't many things change?

Tae Ju-ha recalled San-ho's proposal once again.

An escort agency run by the Yangtze River Waterway Forts. Was that not absurd?

However, in front of his eyes was someone who had already made the impossible possible.

The one who had pulled up a life he himself had given up on back into the realm of the living.

The noble person who had easily resolved the rebellion of the Waterway Forts.

Perhaps this was that opportunity.

Tae Ju-ha stared quietly at San-ho. Watching him stretch like a cat and prepare to disembark, a small chuckle escaped Tae Ju-ha's lips.

The sunlight sparkled, and the breeze was cool.

The Red Dragon Ship was busy with preparations for docking, and the new friends he had made were preparing to return home.

It was an extremely peaceful day.

So much so that he wished such days would continue.

“……Should I try grasping it?”

Tae Ju-ha finally made up his mind.

The change that would reshape the landscape of the Jianghu had already begun.

“We have arrived.”

“Elder, let us go.”

“To think I would step foot into the Tang Clan again. It feels needlessly embarrassing.”

“When we get there, I will show you something cute, Owner.”

“Are you by any chance talking about that Torong or whatever it was?”

“Senior will be surprised too. When you see my cute little ones.”

“…I suppose it would be more than just being surprised, though.”

In that way, the bizarre combination finally arrived in Sichuan.

***

Near the main gate of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

The hall leaders and elders of each hall were pacing around the entrance anxiously. This was because they had received news that Clan Leader Tang Hwa-seon and his party had passed through Chengdu.

“Are they still not in sight?”

“They passed through Chengdu a moment ago, so they will arrive shortly.”

At that moment, a servant ran over quickly to deliver the news.

It was the news that the party had passed the entrance of Tang Clan Village.

Before long, San-ho could be seen walking toward the main gate.

“That…”

The first one to make a sound was one of the elders.

“What is that…?”

The second one to spit out something resembling a sentence was Martial Hidden Hall Leader Tang Tae-seon.

“……..Good heavens.”

The last one to be shocked, covering his mouth, was Young Clan Leader Tang Hae-soo.

San-ho, who was walking energetically toward the main gate, looked exactly the same as when he had left, but…

“Could all of that be, by any chance…?”

Everyone present gaped open-mouthed and could not find their words at the long procession following behind him.

“I am back!”

However, as if it had nothing to do with him, San-ho greeted them in a booming voice. He was even bright and cheerful.

“I missed you!!!”

‘What on earth did he do for a kid who went out alone to bring back all these people…?’

The youngest son of the Sichuan Tang Clan returned from his first venture into the Jianghu.

……With a trailing line of incredible things behind him.

***

“Clan Leader.”

Tang Tae-seon, with a dazed expression, approached Tang Hwa-seon while looking at the long procession. Not only Tang Tae-seon, but the elders of the Tang Clan also had faces that showed they did not know how to take this situation.

“There is no way to explain it yet… Do not ask.”

However, Tang Hwa-seon did not fully understand this situation either. Behind his awkward self, a cart loaded with luggage rattled past.

“Is that cart sent from Drunken Lotus Pavilion?”

A martial artist who saw the characters for 'Drunken Lotus Pavilion' written on the cart asked. As Tang Hwa-seon nodded, he carefully lifted the cloth covering the cart.

“Oh, isn't this Blue Moon Liquor? The famous liquor brewed by the owner of Drunken Lotus Pavilion himself!”

He let out an exclamation of admiration at the sight of the smooth white porcelain liquor bottles lined up.

The Blue Moon Liquor of Drunken Lotus Pavilion, which was counted as the best tavern under heaven—at its precious appearance, even the other elders temporarily forgot their confusion and their eyes sparkled. Since the amount brewed each year was not large, it was a famous liquor that could only be tasted if one had the affinity.

“Yes. I brew it myself every year.”

“……?”

A man wearing a face veil spoke from one side.

“Besides that, I brought precious liquor and good ingredients, so make sure to deliver them well to the chef.”

‘Could this man be the owner of Drunken Lotus Pavilion? I heard he was in his eighties…?’

When the young man who looked to be in his thirties finished speaking and went inside, the martial artists who still did not know his identity tilted their heads in confusion. However, before they could resolve their curiosity, an even more surprising procession followed.

“Is that insignia, by any chance…?”

A dark blue flag hanging on the cart that entered next. Upon seeing the wings embroidered in white on it, the elders' mouths fell wide open. It was the symbol of the Heavenly Simurgh Squad directly under the Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance. A cart bearing that insignia meant it was a gift sent by the Alliance Leader.

“Why suddenly from the Martial Alliance…?”

When the elders expressed bewilderment at the sudden gift from the Alliance Leader, a martial artist walking alongside the cart approached.

“It is an honor to meet the heroes of the great Sichuan Tang Clan. I am Seomun Gang, Captain of the Heavenly Simurgh Squad of the Martial Alliance.”

“………!”

Seomun Gang, who offered a polite cupped-fist salute, greeted the elders beside him as well and pointed to the cart as he spoke.

“It is a small token of sincerity from our Alliance Leader. Please do not refuse it.”

The captain of the Heavenly Simurgh Squad had personally brought the gift sent by the Alliance Leader. Though the reason was unknown, it was certain that the Martial Alliance wished to establish a good relationship with the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“Heh, from the Alliance Leader? Suddenly?”

The elders nodded with dazed expressions.

However, this was not the end.

The final procession that followed.

“That, that…!”

Upon seeing the man in red martial robes perched on the cart, everyone was so shocked that their eyes nearly popped out. The shape of a dragon drawn on his chest. That was the symbol of the Yangtze River Waterway Forts.

Behind him, carts were entering one after another in a line.

“Is that, by any chance, the Waterway Forts'…”

As one of the elders spoke with a stiffened face, the man in the red martial robes leaped down from the cart. His sand-colored hair fluttered softly in the wind.

“Since it felt a bit awkward to come to my friend's house empty-handed, I prepared plenty of precious gifts, so I hope you like them!”

Tae Ju-ha smiled and gestured with his hand.

It was a bizarre sight, the likes of which they had never seen in their lives. The best tavern under heaven sent plenty of precious famous liquor, the captain of the squad personally brought a gift from the Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance, and now even the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Yangtze River Waterway Forts brought gifts?

And that too, all of them together?

Seeing the head of the unorthodox faction and the captain of the Martial Alliance walking together, the Tang Clan elders tilted their heads sideways.

Could this… really be happening?

‘What on earth is this bizarre combination?’

While they were plunged into confusion in this manner, the last cart finally went inside before they knew it.

Tang Hwa-seon, who was looking at the high walls of Tang Clan Village, said in a low voice.

“Convene the Elders' Council by the authority of the Clan Leader.”

Tang Hwa-seon's determined expression.

Looking at the bizarre guests and San-ho standing in front of all these people, the hall leaders could easily guess the full story of this situation.

That the child had brought a massive change to the Tang Clan.

***

The very first thing Clan Leader Tang Hwa-seon of the Sichuan Tang Clan did was convene the Elders' Council.

In the bloodline-centric Sichuan Tang Clan, this was a procedure that had to be gone through to decide the critical affairs of the family.

“What on earth were you thinking, Clan Leader, to bring them into the Tang Clan?”

“I truly never expected to live to see the day the Chief Stronghold Leader of the Waterway Forts steps foot in Tang Clan Village.”

The Supreme Elders of the Elders' Council whispered among themselves.

In the current Tang Clan, there were two people who held the greatest power.

The first was the Clan Leader, Tang Hwa-seon. As the position representing the Tang Clan, his authority was absolute.

The second was the Leader of the Elders' Council, Tang Hwan. The one who represented the Elders' Council, which was composed of the family's elders.

The elders who stepped back from the front lines became Supreme Elders and belonged to the Elders' Council. Originally, the Elders' Council was merely an advisory body to assist the Clan Leader, but since they were the elders of the older generation bound by blood, their opinions had reached a level equal to that of the Clan Leader.

“Speak, Clan Leader!”

Tang Hwan, the Leader of the Elders' Council, asked as if frustrated.

Tang Hwa-seon scanned those seated one by one and spoke in a low voice.

“As you all know, there has been a chronic problem in the Tang Clan that has remained unresolved.”

“A problem?”

“Yes, it is the finances. A vast amount of funds is needed every year for the poisons, hidden weapons, and the maintenance of Tang Clan Village… but everyone in this room knows that our business sites do not generate enough profit.”

“………”

“Therefore, I judged that an alliance with a new power was necessary.”

Tang Hwan glared at him with fierce eyes.

“…I hope the new power you speak of, Clan Leader, is not by any chance those Waterway Forts.”

“It is.”

“Ha! Have you truly gone mad? Or has the Tang Clan crossed over to the unorthodox faction without my knowledge?”

“The Sichuan Tang Clan is a proud member of the Five Great Families. That fact will never change.”

“If so, why on earth do you speak of such a bizarre thing?”

“On the surface, the Yangtze River Waterway Forts and the Sichuan Tang Clan will not be directly linked.”

Tang Hwa-seon explained the plan step by step.

First, the goods of the Meteor Merchant Guild will be guaranteed by the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Second, the Meteor Merchant Guild will leave the transportation of the cargo entirely to the Waterway Forts.

In other words, the Sichuan Tang Clan contracts with the Meteor Merchant Guild, and the Meteor Merchant Guild contracts with the Yangtze River Waterway Forts, forming a double contract. It was merely a superficial contract, but appearances were also important.

“Even so, we will ultimately not escape the criticism of the world. How can the proud Tang Clan of the Five Great Families form a connection with the Black Path? Over my dead body!”

At Tang Hwan's sharp voice, Tang Hwa-seon stared at him intently.

“If so, what should we do? Should we just sit idly by and wait for the impending financial crisis?”

“Would I ever wish for such a thing? Mind your words!”

Tang Hwan slammed the table with a loud thud.

Unperturbed, Tang Hwa-seon calmly continued.

“From Sichuan, which was excluded by the Central Plains, to establishing ourselves as a member of the Five Great Families. You know better than anyone else how much effort was required.”

When Tang Hwan narrowed his eyes and fell silent, Tang Hwa-seon looked him straight in the eyes.

“Who the Sichuan Tang Clan is, how far we can go for the family's interests, and what happens if someone touches us!”

“……”

“Was it not you, Council Leader, who taught me that?”

“……Clan Leader.”

“I will pass on the exact same teaching to my children. I will hand down a strong and wealthy family so that no one dares to make the Tang Clan an enemy. If someone throws stones, I will be the one to get hit, and if someone swears, I will bear the insults.”

Tang Hwa-seon's chilly voice fell upon everyone's ears.

“So that when the children throw hidden weapons and use poisons, they will not hesitate for trivial reasons.”

“……!!”

“I am not ashamed. No, rather, I am only proud to have found a way to resolve the chronic problem of the Tang Clan.”

Tang Hwa-seon said, recalling San-ho's face.

“This is an opportunity. Perhaps we may never find it a second time. Can you really say no to a child who brought back something no one in this room could even think of? Will you place the exact same burden as ours on the shoulders of the other children?”

I cannot let that happen.

With Tang Hwa-seon's words as the end, a heavy silence hovered over the Council Leader's room for a long time.

After a long silence, the first to open his mouth was the Leader of the Elders' Council, Tang Hwan.

“Originally, there has been no precedent for allowing a rising star to attend a meeting of the Elders' Council, but… I must hear that child's story directly this time.”

Tang Hwa-seon, nodding slowly, said to the servant outside.

“Go and bring San-ho.”