Chapter 196 – To the Hometown (8)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“…….”

A heavy silence flowed.

Tang Kwan looked at Tang Sang-ah with terrifying eyes.

On the other hand, Tang Sang-ah’s expression looked comfortable. It was no ordinary feat to maintain a relaxed expression while her father glared at her fiercely.

A moment later, Tang Kwan opened his mouth.

“I cannot allow it.”

“…….”

“I will speak well to the Murong Clan Head, so go back to your residence and rest.”

“I am going to go.”

Tang Kwan shouted angrily.

“Do you even know what kind of place that is, saying you are going?!”

“It is a land of death. Since the Combat King Yang Cheon is even entangled in it, if I make a slight mistake, my life could be blown away.”

“You know that, yet such words still come out of your mouth?!”

“It is the path I have chosen.”

“There is no such thing as a path to die a wonderful death anywhere. Go back now. I cannot send you along on this mission.”

“The Leader of the Practical Operations Group, Commander Yeon, has already put my name on the operation order.”

“I can just tear up that piece of paper.”

“Even if you burn it, I will go.”

Pusss.

Poison qi swayed from Tang Kwan’s body. Due to his surging anger, his poison arts had opened up on their own.

“Do you want me to tie you up tightly and lock you up with my own hands?”

Tang Sang-ah looked straight into Tang Kwan’s two eyes.

“Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

“Are those words even making sense?!”

“Because I am truly curious.”

“A blood relative of the Tang Clan is moving as she pleases without the Clan Head’s permission? If you weren’t my daughter, it wouldn’t be strange if you were immediately locked up in the underground prison!”

“Was I a daughter, to you?”

“What?”

Tang Sang-ah poured out words as if she had made up her mind.

“Since when have I been a daughter to you, Father? Was it since grandfather personally taught me? Or was it since the family members evaluated me higher than Yang-seon?”

“……!”

“If not that, was it since you resolved to send your uselessly talented, burdensome daughter to the Murong Clan?”

Tang Kwan’s bridge of his nose trembled.

It was an unexpected rebellion from his daughter. He was flustered, and angry at the same time.

When Tang Kwan tried to open his mouth again, Tang Sang-ah added one more word.

“Wasn’t it fine if I just left the clan?”

“……!”

“That was what you wished for, Father. For me, a thorn in your eyes, to not become a stumbling block to the successor, Yang-seon.”

He never thought she would openly talk about such a problem to his face.

While the flustered Tang Kwan hesitated, Tang Sang-ah threw a bombshell remark.

“I don’t know if you will believe it, but I understand you, Father. Because there are the clan’s laws and history. That is why I have endured and lived until now.”

“…….”

“But if you try to suppress even my desire to find my own life outside the clan, then I will have no choice but to abandon the Tang surname.”

“Wh-what did you say?!”

Tang Kwan’s face flushed bright red.

“Have you truly gone crazy!”

To abandon the Tang surname? This was no different than saying she would sever her ties with the clan.

If it were a sect, it would be excommunication. In the sentiment of the Central Plains, it was a scarier phrase than saying she would end her life.

Tang Kwan truly could not understand the current situation. Why had his usually docile daughter suddenly become so radical?

Tang Sang-ah’s expression slowly stiffened.

“Then what is it that you want, Father? Do not interfere with Yang-seon, and do not live as I wish either. I am not a person but merely a doll, is it this?”

“You wench! Are you trying to fight with your father right now!”

“What am I in your eyes, Father? Am I a daughter, or just a part of your property?”

“……!”

“Since we are talking, let’s talk about this too. Because I also came with my mind made up.”

Tang Sang-ah closed her eyes.

“If you think of me as a daughter, please respect my choice. But if you think of me as an object you can dispose of at any time, kill me right here.”

Tang Kwan’s face turned pale white.

Saying she would abandon her surname wasn’t enough, she even asked him to kill her. He never imagined such extreme words would pop out of his daughter’s mouth.

Brrr.

The poison qi that had been slowly leaking out faltered.

Tang Sang-ah opened her eyes.

In her eyes, she saw the distorted face of her father, whose breathing had grown heavy.

“I will take my leave now.”

“You are not an object.”

“……?”

“I have never once thought of you as an object. You are my daughter, whom no one can deny.”

Tang Sang-ah’s eyes shook.

Tang Kwan continued speaking with a heavy voice.

“The Demon-Sweeping Army has many numbers. The commander Murong Yu is also a rare genius. That is why I didn’t say anything. Because I thought it wouldn’t be bad for you to join an organization for experience.”

“…….”

“But this time is different. It is a dangerous mission where your life could fly away with a single mistake! Furthermore, to enter under the command of that damn greenhorn, I absolutely cannot allow it!”

“I want to ask you again this time.”

“……?”

“Are you sincerely worried about my life? Or are you worried about the situation where I am taken hostage by Commander Yeon?”

In an instant, Tang Kwan’s eyes shook.

Tang Sang-ah sighed.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know just because I walk around smiling all the time? That Clan Head Murong and you, Father, are having a power struggle with the opposing faction centered around the Yeon Clan.”

“……!”

“I don’t know what your true feelings are, Father. But I am me. I don’t want to become someone’s hostage, nor do I want to be hindered in doing what I want to do.”

“That is…”

A somewhat suppressed voice flowed out of Tang Kwan’s mouth.

“It is not a problem that gets solved just because you want it to be so.”

“I know. That is why I plan to smash anyone who touches me, regardless of the reason.”

“……!!”

Tang Sang-ah stood up from her seat.

“I will be back.”

With those words as the end, Tang Sang-ah left the residence.

A sigh burst out of Tang Kwan’s mouth as he glared at the seat his daughter had sat on for a long time.

‘What is this.’

He never expected he would be this flustered in front of his daughter’s rebellion.

He thought he could bend her will with a single yell. Actually, at the beginning of the conversation, even if he was flustered, he didn’t hesitate.

However, at his daughter’s bolt-out-of-the-blue words, even Tang Kwan couldn’t help but be shocked.

Abandon her surname? Ask to be killed instead?

Who would have imagined that his docile and mild daughter would come out so viciously?

In an instant, Tang Kwan recalled a conversation with his father.

‘I could not fathom the hearts of my family. Probably most of the past Clan Heads were like that. But, I realized too late that it should not be so.’

‘What is it that you want to say.’

‘I want you to be different from the Clan Heads who were devoured by the clan traditions and ended up becoming puppets of the family law.’

‘Do not worry. I am different from you, Father.’

‘You are wrong. Among my children, there is no one who resembles me as much as you do. That is why I am worried.’

Bang!

Green smoke rose from Tang Kwan’s fist that struck the table.

* * *

“Have a cup.”

Yeon Ho-jeong took a sip of the tea.

“How is it? Is it okay?”

“It is good.”

“There is no sincerity in your voice.”

“I originally don’t know much about the taste of tea. As long as it isn’t bad, it’s all good.”

“Hahaha.”

“So, why did you call someone who needs to depart for the expedition now?”

Murong Jun smiled.

“Would it be anything special? It is not that I don’t know how difficult this mission is, so I have to treat the departing Leader of the Practical Operations Group to a cup of tea.”

“The taste of the tea suddenly became bitter.”

“Why? Can’t I worry about you?”

“Were you someone who would even worry about me?”

“I should worry. At least for this time.”

Murong Jun took out a neatly folded letter from his embrace and handed it over.

Doubt appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong’s face.

“What is this?”

“I already gave one to the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang, but I am giving one to you separately. It is data organizing sects and organizations that are good to make use of. There aren’t that many, so choose appropriately depending on the situation.”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“Sects good to make use of? They must be half-baked bastards.”

Murong Jun smiled in satisfaction.

“As expected, I can converse with you. I had to explain it one by one to the Successor of the Beggars’ Gang.”

“The Successor of the Beggars’ Gang is also a smart person. It’s just that he doubts you so much.”

“Knowing how to distinguish when to doubt and when to trust. That is also an ability.”

“Well said.”

“Looking at it from that aspect, you are a truly amazing friend. You are smart, have good discernment, and your intuition is outstanding.”

Yeon Ho-jeong accepted the letter and stowed it in his embrace.

“Anyway, I will accept it well.”

Murong Jun spoke with a heavier voice, still with a smiling face.

“Be careful.”

“Of course.”

“This mission, honestly, if you think of it as simple, it could become endlessly simple. But just because the Combat King exists over there, it has gained the value to be classified as a special grade.”

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head.

In reality, the Yang Cheon he remembered was no ordinary great figure. Although he had developed much more after suppressing him and establishing the Dark Emperor Castle, he was also lucky when he achieved victory against Yang Cheon.

However, Yang Cheon’s terrifying aspect wasn’t just his martial arts.

“Furthermore, from what I’ve separately been reported, Yang Cheon is…”

“Is he a person who fights without boundaries?”

“How did you know?”

Yeon Ho-jeong feigned ignorance.

“I had been doubting it all along. That person named Yang Cheon, he is someone who isn’t known much in the Central Plains. Despite that, he was classified into the Black Path, and even gained the title of Combat King, right?”

“That’s right.”

“It is much harder to tame a rat than to beat a fierce tiger to death. But Yang Cheon accomplished that.”

Murong Jun chuckled.

It was a phrase similar to what he had said to Tang Kwan. He definitely felt that this guy was of the same kind as himself.

“That’s right. That is why it’s more terrifying.”

“If Yang Cheon pioneered that path alone without receiving anyone’s help, that is even stranger. Because it means he had hidden his outstanding abilities until now.”

“So you were doubting it.”

“That is so.”

Murong Jun shook his head.

“I also think there is definitely a possibility that Yang Cheon received someone’s help. But certainty is a taboo. If you needlessly dig into that part and overdo it, you won’t be able to escape death.”

“I know.”

“Well, you will probably figure it out and do well.”

The two people moistened their throats with tea at the same time.

Murong Jun opened his mouth again.

“Actually, although I’m the commander in name, the Practical Operations Group is the core of this mission. Even if we want to exchange details one by one, the distance is far, so your judgment as the Leader of the Practical Operations Group will determine the success or failure of the mission.”

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

“It would have been nice if you joined us too.”

Murong Jun waved his hand.

“Don’t say such things. I would rather go beat up the enemy’s leader, but I have absolutely no thought of wanting to intervene in such a complicated fight.”

“Why? Someone who doesn’t even decline a fight much more complicated than this to become the highest authority.”

It was a remark that could freeze the warm atmosphere in a single breath.

Murong Jun countered audaciously.

“That’s what I’m saying. In the midst of fighting that headache-inducing fight, I don’t want to pour my attention into a mission like this.”

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

“Let’s have a temporary truce.”

“Didn’t we already do that?”

“You know, right? That I’m not talking about that.”

Murong Jun’s smile deepened.

“Why? Do you think I would pull some bizarre trick taking advantage of your absence?”

“If it were the past, I wouldn’t have worried, but looking at you recently, it seems you are more than capable of doing so.”

He is a truly terrifying guy.

Unlike his inner thoughts, Murong Jun shrugged his shoulders and feigned ignorance.

“A fight also gets established only when there is an opponent. Don’t worry too much about that part, and just focus on the mission.”

“I will say it clearly.”

Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes instantly turned cold.

“Do not make any attacks until I return.”

Frost also fell on Murong Jun’s face.

“That is up to my heart.”

The two people glared at each other for a long time.

But that was only for a moment.

Soon, Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and stood up from his seat.

“I enjoyed the tea.”

“I’m glad it suited your taste.”

Murong Jun also relaxed his expression.

“Contact me immediately when you enter the territory seized by Yang Cheon. As you know, even at this moment, Yang Cheon is increasing his forces.”

“I understand.”

Yeon Ho-jeong took a martial salute.

“Then.”

Murong Jun also took a martial salute in return.

“I pray for your martial luck.”