Chapter 468

“Did you have a good trip?”

“Yes.”

“How about work?”

“It was resolved well.”

Jin Ja-gang told Tang Ha-ran about meeting Tang Qing. Seeing that Tang Ha-ran wasn’t particularly surprised, she had clearly expected it to some degree.

Jin Ja-gang examined Tang Ha-ran’s face. She had been haggard from lack of sleep while caring for Poison Heaven, but now after being apart from Poison Heaven for just three days, her face was clean and refreshed.

Without needing words, it naturally showed how difficult caring for a child was.

“Our Poison Heaven was hungry, right? Let’s have a meal with mom after a long time.”

Tang Ha-ran nursed Poison Heaven. As Jin Ja-gang watched the scene pleasantly from the side, feeling like he had returned home…

Poison Heaven shook her head and wouldn’t nurse.

“Hm? What’s wrong with our Poison Heaven? Not hungry?”

Tang Ha-ran tried to nurse her several times, then lifted her head to look at Jin Ja-gang and smiled brightly.

“What did you feed her so much that she won’t nurse?”

Jin Ja-gang felt like it wasn’t his fault, but he couldn’t help avoiding Tang Ha-ran’s gaze.

“The child cried that she was hungry so… Grandfather…”

“Hmm?”

“Grandfather fed her poison…”

“Good. That’s why I deliberately sent her.”

“What?”

It seemed she hadn’t asked to interrogate Jin Ja-gang.

“Children shouldn’t be picky eaters.”

Flinch.

Jin Ja-gang became scared of Tang Ha-ran.

***

As news spread that North Li Sword Immortal and Sword King Namgung Rak would clash, a meaningful change also came to the Tang Family.

“I wish to devote myself to the Tang Family!”

Young martial artists came to the Tang Family Main Estate.

Compared to other martial family houses, the Tang Family didn’t discriminate much between men and women. The Tang Family was almost the only family house where someone capable could become family head.

Because of this, among those who came, many young female martial artists were mixed in. Many came not only from Sichuan but from other places too.

The Tang Family was in a situation severely lacking personnel due to successive internal strife. A considerable number of blood relatives had died and vassal family warriors also suffered many casualties. At this time, it couldn’t be anything but a joyful matter that talented people came looking on their own.

However, the Tang Family originally had regulations to only transmit martial arts to insiders, so they had a strongly closed tendency. They could only accept a minority connected to the Tang Family. Therefore, the Tang Family’s leadership showed difficulty. Though they were grateful people came, they couldn’t recklessly accept them.

Tang Ha-ran and Jin Ja-gang looked at the young martial artists who came from a distance. Already over a hundred people had come. Since they were coming from throughout the Central Plains, the numbers would increase further.

Since this wasn’t predicted, the Tang Family was providing lodging and meals without sending them back for now.

“They came knowing we have difficulty accepting them.”

At Tang Ha-ran’s murmur, Jin Ja-gang asked.

“Some came from far places. To come on a maybe would waste too much time.”

“Is that so?”

Tang Ha-ran said.

“For a long time, the martial world was stagnant. The gap between giant sects and small and medium sects widened so much it couldn’t be overturned, and unless you were from a giant sect, you inevitably hit a limit at some point.”

That commonly expressed as a ladder that can’t be climbed…

Knowing luscious and sweet fruit hangs at the very top but the ladder is broken so you can’t climb further…

“I understand. But isn’t the current martial world too chaotic?”

“That’s why it’s meaningful.”

Tang Ha-ran said, thinking of old times.

“I was like that too. At some point I realized my ability’s limits and gave up. But after meeting you, I dreamed again. And eventually came this far. Do you remember when I met you? Back then, both you and I were in very difficult times.”

Tang Ha-ran had been expelled from her family and almost died. Jin Ja-gang was barely catching his breath having entrusted himself to Qingcheng Sect. Enemies were on all sides and danger lurked that they could die at any time.

Tang Ha-ran had dreamed precisely at that time.

“The youths our age over there are the same. No matter how hard and difficult the martial world is, they couldn’t do nothing in an era of change. Because they know if not now, they won’t have even a chance to unfold their dreams.”

Righteous practices treat all sects equally. Forcibly placed under Shaolin Temple, everyone becomes the same.

The Righteous Alliance’s method of resolving situations with financial power is no different from the existing Martial Arts Alliance.

Whichever side takes the lead, nothing would improve from now, yet the incompatible two even joined hands.

That there would be no more changes in the world was like despair for those dreaming of a sole opportunity.

But then the Poison Dragon appeared.

Starting with meager strength, he annihilated the poison sects in Yunnan and even took over the Tang Family. He defeated the martial world’s numerous experts and even blocked Northern Heaven’s Evil Faction and the Zoroastrian Cult’s invasions.

Now the Poison Dragon wasn’t some rising star or emerging power.

Already when you say Poison Dragon of Sichuan, he was evaluated as a force comparable to the Righteous Alliance or Shaolin Temple, shouldering a pillar of the martial world.

Moreover, unlike the Righteous Alliance or righteous practices, he succeeded purely through the martial world’s method of ‘revenge’!

So to young martial artists who lost their way, Jin Ja-gang was like a ray of light. He made blood that had cooled for long boil.

Just like the showdown between North Li Sword Immortal and Sword King Namgung Rak made the entire martial world boil.

Jin Ja-gang recited words.

“Being able to come seeking opportunity is enviable in a way.”

“Why?”

“I had to create opportunities myself. Unable to trust anyone, I forcibly created cracks where not even a needle would enter and survived by squeezing through. I couldn’t even dream of seeking opportunities.”

Tang Ha-ran laughed. Not mockery. Because she understood Jin Ja-gang’s life best, she could now laugh about the past.

“So help them continue dreaming.”

“How can I help?”

“You’re someone who broke the rules that governed the martial world and rose independently. To them, you’re like an example of the success they dream of.”

One who broke the rules!

The system Venerable Woo-am spoke of.

Ultimately, Jin Ja-gang had unknowingly become someone who revolutionized that.

“I see…”

“Yeah. Right.”

“I haven’t systematically learned martial arts I can teach them, and I’m only using poison utilizing my own body.”

“Your very existence gives them hope. Being able to dream is important. No matter how hard and difficult the body is, even if hanging from a cliff’s edge, it becomes the driving force to move. Then people can somehow survive. So, now…”

Tang Ha-ran gestured with her eyes.

“Go and say something from a senior’s position. It will be a great strength to them.”

“But…”

Jin Ja-gang wanted to ask if it wasn’t a pointless act. Making them dream when the Tang Family’s regulations can’t accept them is cruel.

Tang Ha-ran said with firmly resolved eyes.

“They came seeing you, but the rest is up to me. So now it’s my turn to respond to their wishes. Like we wanted so much in the past.”

Though talented people were needed, the reality of being unable to accept them was a great burden to acting family head Tang Ha-ran. And simultaneously, it was also a matter requiring strong will to resolve the situation.

Jin Ja-gang nodded. He could feel Tang Ha-ran’s will.

“But… what’s this?”

Tang Ha-ran was holding out Poison Heaven.

“What do you mean, it’s your child.”

“…”

Tang Ha-ran entrusted Poison Heaven to Jin Ja-gang.

“I have to enter the meeting. Please take care of her. Poison Heaven’s dad.”

“…”

To stand before them again, taking Poison Heaven? Again?

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t get angry or bring himself to frown. It was his own child after all.

Moreover, since she ate Tang Qing’s poison too, other people couldn’t easily handle her, so it couldn’t be helped.

Jin Ja-gang felt the sky turning yellow for a moment as he held Poison Heaven and walked toward the young martial artists.

The Tang Family’s work handling was systematic. They provided lodging for those who came and were creating a register for future management.

Because of this, most of the young martial artists who flocked together were gathered in one place, greeting newly arrived people and introducing themselves to each other.

Not just men but many female martial artists too, so even knowing the Tang Family wouldn’t accept them, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

“I’m someone surnamed Mo who came from Chongqing. I was captivated by Poison Dragon Hero’s life story and came to Sichuan.”

“I’m a disciple of Nanwu Sect. Our Nanwu Sect is on the Righteous Alliance side, but it seemed like continuing to stay would make us unable to do anything. So I severed ties and came here.”

“I admire Poison Dragon Hero too, but recently I liked how the Tang Family handles matters.”

Several agreed.

“That’s right. I heard they actually consoled the vassal families that raised rebellion.”

“I was also impressed by that story. Wouldn’t it be perfectly justified to kill them all? I heard they only issued execution orders to the leaders who led the rebellion and gave the rest fair opportunities.”

“That means they’re confident. Because now the Tang Family has Poison Dragon Hero.”

One by one from around them gathered and joined the conversation.

“I hear the acting family head’s reputation is deeper than expected.”

“That person is Poison Dragon Hero’s wife.”

“Just what kind of person is Poison Dragon Hero? To take such a person as his wife.”

“I hear he’s very merciless…”

“No. From what I heard, he’s someone with clear judgment, so if you don’t antagonize him unnecessarily, he won’t lay hands on you.”

“There’s also a story that his head is extremely brilliant and he brought down King of Hell with just a few words.”

A young male martial artist said in a slightly lowered voice.

“There’s also a rumor that he’s the world’s greatest beauty.”

Several female martial artists’ faces flushed.

“There’s a rumor that Ice Phoenix, said to be the greatest beauty among the Three Dragons and Four Phoenixes, is staying at the Tang Family having fallen for Poison Dragon Hero.”

“Ah, Ice Phoenix’s sect Southern Sea Sword Sect also suffered great disaster during this great chaos period. That she still hasn’t returned, could it be…”

“No way.”

Amid various stories being exchanged, suddenly the atmosphere changed.

Everyone stopped what they were saying and looked at the Water Flower Gate leading toward the inner estate.

A young man was walking out.

By age, he looked similar to those gathered.

But seeing the Tang Family’s warriors bow their heads and show respect to him, everyone realized.

“Poison Dragon!”

It’s the Poison Dragon!

But seeing what he was doing, questions arose.

“But why is he holding a baby?”

“He could be holding a baby. But why specifically…”

Jin Ja-gang could hear all their talk.

Thump thump thump thump.

From far away, White Ape also came running over the wall.

Kyaa kyaa!

Jin Ja-gang’s face hardened.

Why White Ape of all things!

She didn’t come close when he was with Tang Ha-ran, but as soon as they separated, she followed.

Jin Ja-gang glared at White Ape. White Ape was clever and knew Jin Ja-gang wouldn’t hit her even if he tried.

“Stay quiet.”

White Ape squeaked as she climbed onto Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder. After climbing up, she played with Poison Heaven with her fingers, teasing her.

Giggle giggle!

“…”

But that scene also looked impressive to the young martial artists.

“Goodness…”

“Even a spiritual creature at will…”

A brave one stepped forward and asked.

“Excuse me! Are you Poison Dragon Hero?”

Kyaa. Giggle giggle.

Jin Ja-gang forcibly held back his brow from furrowing and tried hard to smile, but his face only hardened further.

“I am Jin Ja-gang.”