121 - Sichuan, China (12) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

Though they had removed the obstacle of Tang Woonjeong, the crisis was far from over. The Tang Clan, befitting its status as one of the Great Five Families, harbored numerous warriors within its ranks, among them several who had reached the peak and even the transcendent levels of martial prowess. To reach the Patriarch's hall, Tang Hwa-seo and her group had to traverse the distance of six buildings, battling and scattering in the face of the warriors they encountered. "I'll take this on!" Jegal San declared, pulling out a jade orb from his chest as he faced the incoming warriors. "Hyewoon, we should take this on ourselves!" Ilwoon interjected, stepping up beside Hyewoon to confront five warriors of peak prowess. And then, in front of the Patriarch's hall, "Lady, it seems you'll have to go on alone from here," Mok Riwon stated, standing before the Tang Clan's First Elder, who was blocking their path. Tang Hwa-seo looked at him. His expression was cold, uncharacteristically so. In fact, he had been this way ever since they discovered the secret entrance in Geumji. "Are you sure you'll be alright?" she couldnously asked. "It's something I must do. Don't worry about me," Mok Riwon responded with a faint smile, unsheathing his sword. "I can still wield my sword quite competently, you know?" Despite his reassurances and uncharacteristic smile, they couldn't afford to be restrained by worry. The priority was to subdue the Patriarch as quickly as possible and make the fact known. "I'm counting on you," said Tang Hwa-seo, before heading towards the Patriarch's hall. The First Elder did not stop her. * Finally, only Mok Riwon and the First Elder remained. "You're not going to stop her?" Mok Riwon inquired. "The Patriarch commanded to let the young miss inside," the elder replied. "And why block me then?" "There were no orders regarding you." The Elder chuckled, a hunched over old man who, despite his slight, frail appearance, possessed an internal strength that Mok Riwon could not hope to match. "Let's formally introduce ourselves. I am Tang Cho Gun, the First Elder of the Tang Clan. Are you Mu Ryong (Silent Dragon)?" "Mok Riwon." "Your manner of speaking to a senior… Perhaps you could at least share where you've studied or trained?" "My master taught me not to grow arrogant on the reputation of our sect." "Ah, how uninteresting." Tang Cho Gun smacked his lips then suddenly remarked, "Your vitality is commendable. Not fearing the world itself suggests a bravery fitting of one aspiring to be the best under the heavens." "What are you getting at?" Mok Riwon pressed. "It’s a caution against your overzealous spirit," the elder explained, his face relaxing into ease, yet tenseness began to creep onto it. "Do you know? The process of a newly ventured warrior becoming complacent is quite the tale." Tang Cho Gun closed his eyes, beginning, "It starts the moment one faces reality. The martial world is crueler than imagined, and the tyranny of the talented even more so. Once the illusion that anything is possible shatters, one starts to compromise, eventually seeking only what one can accomplish." His tone was reminiscent. "Some establish sects, others dojos, and yet others cling to those new establishments for survival. Those who cannot even manage that become wanderers, drifting through the martial world." "…" "Eventually, they become a cog in the machine. One weed in this forest that is the martial world." "…" "It's a regrettable affair. For both you and those young members striving under the young miss." Tang Cho Gun gave a sly grin. "You’re about to learn of realities you’ve never known before." The conversation seemed disjointed. Mok Riwon did not understand why he had brought this up or his casual demeanor, but he knew one thing and spoke up. "You’re making excuses." "Excuse me?" "To my ears, all I hear is justification for the evil deeds you've committed." Tang Cho Gun quietly observed Mok Riwon, who continued, "You’ve neglected even the reason for cultivating martial prowess." To Mok Riwon, martial prowess (武) was cultivated to face trials without falling, to exist so one could step further amidst adversity and hardship. Yet, Tang Cho Gun's words suggested otherwise. He spoke not of resisting reality but of submitting to and surrendering to it, an approach Mok Riwon detested more than anything. "You’re quite the talker. Let’s see whether it’s poison or venom you spit." "Such insolence." Tang Cho Gun chuckled, stretching his back. "Seems you're too young to be lecturing your elders." "You do not fit the definition of 'elder' I am familiar with." Truth be told, Mok Riwon wasn't in top shape, not physically, but mentally. The harsh truth of the Heavenly Kill star was a painful burden, leaving him drained of the will to act. But what could be done? Enemies stood before him. And the thought of collapsing then, with so many depending on him, was unbearable. Mok Seon-o and Ma Il Seok, who had accepted him into the fold; Tang Hwa-seo, who had explained the ways of the martial world to him; and the fellow members who stood with him. ‘Just move forward.’ That was what the snake had said. Then, moving forward is the only way. With a hissing sound, a dark energy enveloped the sword, and Tang Cho Gun's expression darkened. * There was a moniker attached to the name Tang Cho Gun - Thousand Poisons (천독). It was a nickname he earned for defeating his opponents with a thousand different poisons, concocted by mixing thirty types. Of course, this was before the era of the Blood Massacre. It was a time when the martial world was not yet unified, and conflicts within the Central Plains were at their peak. During those days, Tang Cho Gun, together with Tang Saguk, who was the clan's young master at the time, traversed the martial world. They endured all manner of hardships to elevate the Tang Clan's name, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. And he learned something through it all. "The path we're on...it's not working," he realized. The martial world was vast. It was filled with countless masters, as numerous as grains of sand on the beach. What did it mean to be one of the Great Five Families? What did pride in being the foremost sect of the four directions amount to? In the end, they were merely a part of the Central Plains. "Let's stop this." The title of the number one sect in the Central Plains was too far-fetched. It was a realm far too lofty to achieve in their time, more so because that era already had its champions. [Victory! Sword Master Mok Seon-o!] A middle-aged swordsman who appeared out of nowhere at the Qinglong Martial Arts Assembly. A formidable opponent who could encapsulate the coldness of a star in his sword, dressed in wholly white martial attire. Even Namgung Hyuk of the Namgung family felt inferior before him. And that wasn't all. The Buddhist Disciple Won Myung, Thousand-Faced Demon Yeom So So, Fierce Dragon Spear Sa Baek Un - the era was filled with individuals who were leading figures of their time. "We must aim for the next generation." Perhaps, that was when Tang Cho Gun realized his defeat. It was then that he became ensnared in thoughts of giving up, realizing the unattainable height of becoming the best in the world. However, the reason he couldn't stop was...all because of Tang Saguk. "Nonsense!" Tang Saguk at that time was a man who didn't know how to back down from reality. He chose to move forward instead of giving up. "Transcendence. If we aim for the next realm, there's a chance of winning!" He was foolishly optimistic, even knowing full well what transcending the Black Heavenly Poisonous Claw meant, he still insisted on challenging that realm. Tang Cho Gun saw little hope in it. It was natural, as reaching transcendence involved an unspeakable amount of suffering, not just achieving the state itself. And so, "We've reached it." The day Tang Saguk reached transcendence, Tang Cho Gun wept. "Patriarch..." It was after Tang Saguk had become the Patriarch. Tang Hwa-seo was just conceived, and the Blood Massacre was ravaging the Central Plains. "Cho Gun, it’s chaos. An era of sorrow but also an era of opportunity." Tang Saguk declared, "Now is the time to make the Tang Clan the foremost in the Central Plains." He moved forward with the declaration to end the Blood Massacre and was defeated again. "I'll take care of this child." It was a cruel twist of fate that led Mok Seon-o, known as the Sword Saint, to adopt the child of the Blood Demon. That child he adopted after his victory was the reason. It's ludicrous to question why it was problematic. After all, it concerns the Heavenly Kill Star – a star associated with a demon that turns the martial world into a sea of blood whenever it appears. To take in such a child meant giving up all the prestige and accomplishments Mok Seon-o had built up. What would happen to the distribution of merits when the leading figure at the forefront of the Blood Massacre renounces his contributions? It leaves room for disputes. There was a need for intrigue to claim the merits he had discarded, a need dictated not by the desires of those present at the time but by the necessity of magnifying the victory for the peace of the Central Plains. All of this was a tragedy for Tang Saguk. Having reached transcendence, the very act devoured him, ensuring the Tang Clan would gain little in the ensuing chaos. That's why Tang Saguk tried to dissuade Mok Seon-o, but failed. Mok Seon-o's response was laughable. "I will turn this child into someone who knows righteousness." It wasn't funny. His naive sense of morality, his selfish ethics was the reason. He couldn't be stopped. Mok Seon-o, abandoning even his own title as the Sword Saint, left the martial world, and only vacated merits remained in his place. An inconclusive end to it all. Act the end of the Blood Massacre, the Tang Clan remained merely one of the heroes, failing to achieve the title of the greatest in the world. Was it sorrowful? No, it was regrettable. Tang Cho Gun regretted that Tang Saguk, who had fought relentlessly against the harshness of life only to be left with nothing but the empty title of 'Poison King,' ended his days in such a state. It was regrettable to see him frustrated despite his unwavering stand. Even when his persistence had turned into stubbornness, even as he sacrificed everything and withered away. Thus, Tang Cho Gun couldn't stop Tang Saguk. When he decided to use his granddaughter as a test subject, when he asked for Tang Cho Gun's assistance, Tang Cho Gun complied. He didn't want to see him fall any further, whether as a brother or a subordinate. "I am the Patriarch’s loyal servant. Use me as you wish." And so, he shared in all the evil deeds, bearing them together. And so, the day had come. With a ringing sound, Mok Riwon's sword deflected Tang Cho Gun's hidden blade and stopped just in front of his neck. The faint touch of the energy radiating from the sword made his skin prick. Defeat. What once felt special had, at some point, become an inevitability draped over him. 'Is he merely 18 years old?' Tang Cho Gun laughed emptily. Martial talent. That damned fate was once again thrusting reality in his face. "Why, do you not plan to kill me?" As Tang Cho Gun gave a sly smile and asked, Mok Riwon replied, "If there is guilt, punishment is the duty of the League." As Mok Riwon withdrew his sword, Tang Cho Gun saw someone else overlaid on his figure. Did he even need to mention it? It was Mok Seon-o. -Do not discuss revenge based on personal emotions. Laws and regulations are necessary for rewards and punishments. He was reminded of a man who, despite imposing such lofty ideals, was so powerful that one had no choice but to follow him. Probably, the martial world led by Mok Riwon would take on such a form. 'What a cursed world this is.' Mok Riwon swung the sheath of his sword, lightly striking the back of Tang Cho Gun's neck. Tang Cho Gun lost consciousness.