**Chapter 13: The Precious Jewel of the Tang Clan**
They are considered so obsessed with their own bloodline that they are often labeled as reclusive.
Even though they are classified as a righteous sect, they stop at nothing to achieve their goals, and their temperament is notoriously ruthless when it comes to exacting revenge.
They are a family often looked down upon by other sects, primarily because they specialize in poisons and hidden weapons—arts that are generally disdained in the world of Murim.
They are the Sichuan Tang Clan.
*Thump. Thump. Thump.*
I am currently walking through the inner courtyard, having passed through the main gate of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
True to their status as the masters of Sichuan, the estate was vast, and the surrounding walls were high and sturdy, as if to declare that no intruder would ever be permitted entry.
Most impressive of all was the lighting that illuminated every corner, ensuring a perimeter so tight that not even a drop of water could leak through.
"Your security is quite impressive."
I scanned my surroundings, checking for any gaps.
One never knew when a situation might arise that would require a swift escape.
"We have had some unsavory elements targeting our main house recently."
"Ha! To target the legendary Sichuan Tang Clan? They must be out of their minds."
"That is exactly what we thought."
As I subtly flattered their family, both Dang Gi-hyeok and his subordinates wore satisfied smiles.
Since I was, to them, an official from the Murim Alliance, every word out of my mouth carried weight.
We passed through the inner courtyard and several pavilions before finally arriving at the rear garden.
"Mr. Jang."
The rear garden was thick with bamboo.
Dang Gi-hyeok turned to look at me, the bamboo forest dancing in the autumn breeze behind him.
"What is it?"
"I should warn you in advance: our young lady is a bit... eccentric."
"……?"
There is only one woman in the Tang Clan referred to as "Young Lady."
She is Dang Hwa-rin, the third daughter of the current clan leader, the Poison King Dang Jeok-pung.
She is famous for being obsessed with martial arts despite being a woman, and for frequently causing trouble due to her constant travels across the Murim.
I, too, had heard tales of her exploits during my travels.
Her nickname, "The Little Chaos of the Tang Clan," was well-earned.
"I have heard the rumors."
"Haha. Is that so?"
Dang Gi-hyeok and his men shared an awkward laugh.
"She enjoys socializing with Murim figures, and whenever a notable martial artist visits Chengdu, she often challenges them to a duel."
"As expected of a daughter of the Tang Clan, she is quite extraordinary."
"It is to the point where even the clan leader laments that she should have been born a man."
"My, my. But why would she be looking for a low-ranking warrior like me?"
Dang Gi-hyeok stepped forward and lowered his voice.
"That... is my mistake. I apologize."
"A mistake?"
"I was on my way back from reporting your visit when I happened to run into the young lady. She asked what was going on, and without thinking, I mentioned your business..."
"And?"
Dang Gi-hyeok avoided my gaze and looked up at the full moon.
"The young lady enjoys martial arts, but she also loves adventure."
"……?"
"That is correct. It seems she has taken an interest in your mission to track down the Thousand-Faced Fox. When she heard about it, her eyes began to sparkle... *sigh*... this might become a bit troublesome. I am sorry."
"……."
*Why don't you just go ahead and announce it to the whole town while you're at it?*
As I frowned without saying a word, Dang Gi-hyeok’s gaze drifted even higher toward the sky.
"This is not a matter for a precious jewel like her to get involved in. I will try to talk her out of it."
"Her stubbornness is as tough as an ox tendon. Even the clan leader has to back down when she sets her mind on something."
"Tsk! Then why did you say anything unnecessary in the first place!"
"...I apologize."
Dang Gi-hyeok turned his head away sheepishly.
In truth, it didn't matter much to me whether Dang Hwa-rin knew or not. How much trouble could she really cause?
However, since owing a favor to Dang Gi-hyeok might prove useful later, I feigned annoyance and stared into the bamboo forest.
"Is she inside there?"
"Yes. If you walk a little further, you will find a pavilion. The young lady is there alone."
"You may go now."
With that, I walked forward without looking back.
From behind, Dang Gi-hyeok called out urgently.
"She might ask for a duel, so don't be surprised!"
"……."
I stopped walking and slowly turned my head.
"Let's go!"
Perhaps unable to meet my gaze, Dang Gi-hyeok hurried away with his two subordinates.
"Tsk, tsk. Men."
Even if the clan leader's daughter is intimidating, it is pathetic for men who call themselves martial artists to be so timid.
I clicked my tongue and walked through the dense bamboo.
* * *
The bamboo was so old that it stood as tall as a pavilion.
The lush leaves rustled against each other in the wind, and the bright moonlight occasionally revealed itself between them.
Under normal circumstances, the atmosphere might have felt eerie, but my heightened senses confirmed that there was absolutely no one else in the vicinity.
"I suppose this is the place."
After walking a little further, I reached a circular clearing among the forest.
In the center of the clearing stood a pavilion, where a young woman stood with her hands behind her back, admiring the moon.
*Thump. Thump. Thump.*
I made my presence known as I approached the pavilion.
"Please, come up."
The woman, presumably Dang Hwa-rin, spoke without even looking at me.
I had expected her to be boyish given her reputation as a troublemaker, but her voice was clear and her posture elegant.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Jang U-gil of the Murim Alliance."
Whether in my past life or this one, she was a woman much younger than I.
Still, as the daughter of the Tang Clan leader, I offered my greetings with proper courtesy.
"So, you stopped by the Azure Cloud Pavilion?"
Even then, Dang Hwa-rin’s gaze remained fixed on the golden moon.
"Yes. Collecting old paintings and calligraphy is a hobby of mine."
"Is that so? That is an unusual hobby for a member of the Murim Alliance."
Dang Hwa-rin turned her body to look at me.
True to the Tang Clan, she wore green martial attire with her hair tied back tightly. Her pale face was flushed, perhaps from the late autumn chill, and her large, round eyes held a calm, intelligent glint rather than madness.
She looked to be around twenty.
They say the "Four Dragons and Five Phoenixes" are famous in the Murim; she was beautiful enough to be counted among the Five Phoenixes without question.
"I do not possess any deep knowledge, I'm afraid."
The corners of Dang Hwa-rin’s lips curled up softly.
"The Azure Cloud Pavilion deals in many works, but the old owner is greedy and often swindles travelers. I wonder if you haven't been scammed."
"Is that so? Still, I believe I have acquired a rather fine piece this time."
"Oh? Really? May I see it?"
"Of course. It is an authentic Sambong Island."
I unfurled the Sambong Island painting I had acquired from the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
The owner of the Azure Cloud Pavilion had failed to see its true value.
I wondered if Dang Hwa-rin would be any different.
"Hmm... authentic, you say?"
Dang Hwa-rin’s brow furrowed slightly.
"How much did you pay for it?"
"He asked for five gold pieces, but I haggled him down to one. Isn't that a pretty good deal? Hahaha!"
"What? One gold piece? Hohohoho!"
Dang Hwa-rin laughed so hard she threw her head back, as if the very idea were absurd.
Seeing her mischievous laughter, I could finally see why she earned the nickname "Little Chaos."
"I should call the pavilion owner in. If he keeps swindling people like this, what will outsiders think of our Sichuan?"
"Hm? S-swindling, you say?"
As expected, Dang Hwa-rin also failed to see the true value of the Sambong Island.
It seemed, as I had thought, that it was visible only to me.
"That is a forgery. Sambong Island paintings are a dime a dozen in Sichuan. If I had known, I would have stopped you. I apologize on his behalf."
"Oh my. To think this is a forgery..."
I deliberately made my fingertips tremble and put on a look of shock.
At my naive display, the corners of Dang Hwa-rin’s mouth rose even higher.
"Sit down. I have prepared a simple drink."
As she said, a small table was set with a white bottle of liquor and a few side dishes.
Instead of sitting immediately, I stared at the Sambong Island with a dazed expression.
"But I paid... a gold piece for it..."
*Pour, pour, pour.*
Perhaps she found my reaction amusing.
Dang Hwa-rin laughed even louder as she filled two cups with liquor.
"I will gift you a genuine piece later, so don't let it weigh on your mind. Just sit down. I have many questions for you."
"Oh! Thank you!"
"It is nothing."
Dang Hwa-rin raised her cup like a man and held it out.
I picked up the cup in front of me and clinked it against hers.
The sound of the *clink* echoed through the bamboo forest.
"But may I ask why you sought me out, Miss Dang...?"
"You are from the Murim Alliance, so naturally, I had to treat you as a guest."
Dang Hwa-rin’s eyes curved like half-moons.
"Oh, I am hardly worth such treatment..."
With a smiling face, Dang Hwa-rin downed the liquor in one go.
She was a beauty who didn't lose out to the Owner of the Dream Pavilion, yet her demeanor was no different from a man's.
The fact that she had prepared a drinking session with a strange man without a single guard or attendant in sight, and the way she drank so heartily while staring straight at me, proved as much.
Her personality played a part, but being within the safety of the Tang Clan surely contributed to her boldness.
"Why aren't you drinking? I didn't poison it. Drink up."
"Haha! I was just momentarily lost in thought because you drink so refreshingly, Miss Dang."
"Hohoho! Most men are flustered when I look at them like this, but you show no such signs. You don't seem like an ordinary person yourself."
"Oh, as I said, I am just a low-ranking..."
I raised my cup.
Only then did the ring on my pinky finger catch my eye.
The red ring made of blood jade that I had received from Nan-sim.
"Oh my! That ring is beautiful! Why is it glowing?"
"That is... a good question."
I lifted my gaze to look at Dang Hwa-rin.
Dang Hwa-rin was looking down at the ring with an innocent face, smiling brightly.
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