Chapter 401

After Jin Ja-gang emerged, the Tang Family Main House was as quiet as death.

Wherever one went, barely any voices could be heard.

Too many things had changed in an instant, and what would happen next was unknown.

Therefore, anxiety was etched on the faces of all who passed by.

Tang Gwi-ok quietly called Tang Sang-yul.

“I hear voices of discontent are emerging from various places.”

“That’s true. The blood relatives of the Thirty-Six Chambers who are away on external matters expressed great concern upon hearing news of King of Hell’s downfall. They’re saying they won’t cooperate with anything unless there’s a clear explanation.”

“What are your thoughts?”

“King of Hell was a tyrant, but he devoted his life to the family. But Poison Dragon is not. Their discontent is justified.”

“Are you also discontented?”

Tang Sang-yul knelt on the spot.

“I only follow the family head’s commands.”

“Nephew.”

She called him nephew, not Soul Seizing Hall Master.

A hint of question appeared in Tang Sang-yul’s eyes.

“Yes, family head. Please speak.”

“Self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the nation, bringing peace to the world. Coveting the world is only possible after strengthening internal unity within the family. Since ancient times, there has never been a successful household with internal chaos.”

Tang Sang-yul listened silently.

“Gather those expressing discontent.”

Tang Sang-yul’s brow furrowed very briefly.

“…!”

“It’s been twenty years since I had you under me, nephew. You’ve truly done well all this time. I won’t forget your efforts even from the grave.”

Tang Gwi-ok’s tone was gentle and her eyes remained kind. But Tang Sang-yul was not one who wouldn’t understand the hidden meaning in those words.

Previously, Jin Ja-gang had taken the prisoners of the underground prison hostage to escape. They were all valuable hostages.

But to prevent the same thing from happening again, Tang Gwi-ok had all the prisoners beheaded.

Such a person was Tang Gwi-ok.

In some ways, she was no less than Tang Qing, if not more.

Perhaps bringing down Tang Qing was also within Tang Gwi-ok’s calculations.

Tang Sang-yul briefly closed and opened his eyes. Then he rose from his seat and bowed to Tang Gwi-ok.

Four deep bows with head touching ground.

A bow of gratitude. Tang Sang-yul lowered his head until it touched the ground and performed four deep bows. On the fourth and final bow, he kept his forehead pressed down for a long time before rising.

But Tang Gwi-ok added no more words.

Tang Sang-yul finished his bows, rose from his seat, and left the room with heavy steps.

* * *

Divine Nun decided to leave quickly once matters seemed to be concluding.

Jin Ja-gang went outside the Tang Family Main House to see Divine Nun off.

Emei Sect nuns were waiting at a distance of two hundred zhang from the Tang Family Main House.

Divine Nun hadn’t come to the Tang family, which was no different from a tiger’s den, empty-handed. If things had gone wrong when attacking Tang Qing, the nearby Emei nuns would have immediately joined the battle.

Divine Nun, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“Nothing has been resolved yet. You’ve merely climbed over one big mountain on the path.”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“I understand.”

Divine Nun looked into Jin Ja-gang’s deep eyes, which had changed greatly from before, and said.

“Don’t become a second King of Hell. Remember that Emei Sect is always at Mount Emei.”

A threat awakening vigilance or a promise as a supporter.

It was strange but fulfilled both meanings.

Jin Ja-gang responded with a cupped-hand salute instead of words. Divine Nun also joined her palms in farewell.

Led by Divine Nun, the nuns disappeared with their robes fluttering.

Jin Ja-gang watched the Emei nuns disappear for a while before turning around.

When Jin Ja-gang returned to the Tang Family Main House, a servant waiting to guide him was there.

“The family head is waiting.”

“Please guide me.”

Jin Ja-gang followed the servant indifferently.

The servant led Jin Ja-gang through a complex winding path. Nearly two hours had passed but only the same stone walls could be seen.

But Jin Ja-gang continued following the servant without any complaints.

Then he stopped at a crossroads splitting in three directions.

The servant hesitated and turned around.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“I’ll spare your life, so go back.”

The servant’s eyes flashed with surprise. Without another word, the servant bowed to Jin Ja-gang and disappeared into a side alley.

Soon after, aged voices could be heard.

“Well now. You showed no killing intent and revealed no presence, yet how did you know we were here?”

Jin Ja-gang shook his sleeve.

A small mouse popped out. It crawled up the wall and disappeared through a crack. Bloodsucking leeches had been hidden on the wall to mask their presence.

“It’s a technique I’ve seen once before.”

“Truly befitting Poison Dragon.”

Front and back, left and right.

Fourteen people.

Masters who appeared to be at least fifty, some as old as eighty, appeared emanating a murderous atmosphere.

Jin Ja-gang looked at them and asked.

“What is this about?”

The old masters frowned.

“To be so calm even in this situation.”

“Are you looking down on us, or have you lost fear after undergoing bone and marrow transformation?”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“Neither. I’m just curious what this is about.”

“We are Tang clan members. We rushed here upon hearing news of troubles at the main family. Well, does that answer you?”

“It doesn’t.”

An impatient-looking old master spoke in a displeased voice.

“Where did this nobody come rolling in from to try acting like the master!”

Other old masters clicked their tongues.

“What is that niece thinking? If she’s gone senile, she should step down from the family head position. Where did she bring in this nobody with no lineage to overthrow her brother?”

Jin Ja-gang stared at them and asked.

“So specifically, what are you displeased about?”

One master shouted.

“Didn’t you dare covet King of Hell’s position and cause trouble for our family!”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t deny it.

“I did.”

That was the end. With Jin Ja-gang cutting off his words like that, the old masters found it hard to continue.

“Such insolence!”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the old masters one by one and said.

“Since you seem not to understand, I’ll say it one last time. I’ll spare your lives, so go back.”

The old masters’ eyes widened.

“Y-you you…”

The earlier words about sparing them weren’t directed at the servant but at themselves!

“I acted according to procedure under authorization from the three Poison Sect Cliques. What was wrong about that?”

The old masters shouted.

“You bastard!”

“You may not like my actions. The way I handled things may be inconvenient. Then protest according to procedure at the family meeting.”

“This bastard dares! After King of Hell, you’re trying to humiliate us too with your three-inch tongue! But such tricks won’t work on us!”

The old masters began showing killing intent.

Sensing the killing intent, anger slowly began entering Jin Ja-gang’s brow.

“You’re neither mountain bandits nor street ruffians, yet what are you doing secretly luring someone out in broad daylight?”

The old masters’ faces reddened as they shouted angrily.

“You’re acting as if this is your own house! This is the house where we were born, our hometown!”

“If we kill you and bury you here, no one will know!”

Jin Ja-gang looked at them quietly and asked.

“Are all of you here?”

“Do you think we’re laughable! Even King of Hell couldn’t ignore us gathered here!”

Jin Ja-gang shook his head.

“It seems you’ve fallen into a trap.”

“Hmph. Are you scared now?”

“No, you have. Someone gathered all the discontented in one place.”

“What?”

The old masters were furious.

“Everyone, there’s no need to listen to more of this bastard’s cunning words. Let’s first cut off his limbs, then carry him to question the family head.”

“Where does this young brat…”

The old masters raised their internal energy and approached Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang raised his hand.

Soul Seizing Thread was released.

“I knew you were here yet came along obediently.”

“Hmm?”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes turned cold.

“Why do you think I did that?”

Poison liquid flowed from Jin Ja-gang’s palm and trickled down along Soul Seizing Thread. The poison liquid flowed toward the direction where the masters who had appeared from where Jin Ja-gang came were located.

The old masters, sensing something ominous, rushed at Jin Ja-gang from all directions.

Jin Ja-gang pulled Soul Seizing Thread.

Whiiii!

Because Jin Ja-gang had released it earlier while walking, Dark Thread that had been spread on the ground shot up like a spring. The ankles and shins of three Tang clan masters in its trajectory flew off.

Without looking back, Jin Ja-gang turned toward the remaining three directions. One whose feet were severed rolled and threw his sleeve at Jin Ja-gang. Three poison needles hit Jin Ja-gang’s back.

Jin Ja-gang paid no attention and ran in another direction. The one who threw the poison needles was embarrassed. But he couldn’t worry about embarrassment. Flowers began blooming from his severed leg. He quickly pressed acupoints to prevent poison spread and bit an antidote pill.

But blood foam was already boiling from the severed area.

“Aaahhh!”

The old masters took out hidden weapon tubes from their sleeves and fired them.

Bang!

Countless poison needles poured out. Jin Ja-gang steadied his breathing, brought both hands together, then extended them forward like twin palms.

He manifested Wudang Sect’s One Inch through Dark Thread and White Thread. Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art Seven Light Emperor’s extreme, tremendous internal energy flowed into Dark Thread and White Thread. Dark Thread and White Thread explosively swept in all directions.

Swooooosh!

The poison weapons bounced away.

Some fired poison arrows. But even the poison arrows were shredded by Soul Seizing Thread’s whirlwind.

All walls, structures, and people in front of Jin Ja-gang were scraped by Soul Seizing Thread. Walls peeled, structures fell, limbs were severed.

It was terrifying destructive power.

Those scraped spewed blood foam, while those unharmed were busy retreating.

With this single move from Jin Ja-gang, the Tang clan masters were seized with fear.

“Wh-what…!”

Jin Ja-gang retrieved Soul Seizing Thread and said.

“It seems you didn’t hear much news about me before coming?”

“Wh-what?”

“King of Hell collapsed on his own, but his subordinates who blocked my path, I killed them.”

Those even slightly scraped by Soul Seizing Thread were suffering, spewing blood foam. Only five remained unharmed.

The five old masters ground their teeth and retreated.

“To dare use lethal force freely within the Tang Family Main House.”

“You bastard, you absolutely won’t die peacefully!”

The old masters looked at each other, then split left and right and ran. They tried to escape by stepping on walls and climbing over barriers.

But those who leaped up absurdly disintegrated in midair.

Into five or six pieces.

Blood droplets formed in the air.

As if spider webs were spread, thin threads were strung everywhere.

It wasn’t Jin Ja-gang’s Soul Seizing Thread.