Chapter 1104: If It's This Kind of Reciprocation, It Might Be Worth Accepting (Part 4)

Thud.

Tang Pae collapsed on the spot, groaning.

"Ugh..."

He was exhausted to the point where even breathing was a struggle. Dirt and dust rushed in through his nose, but he had no strength left to turn his head to the side.

"Tsk."

Soon, Chung Myung's disapproving tongue-clicking sound echoed in his ears.

"Being frail won't get you far..."

The voice felt like it was stabbing the ears and the body.

"What? Poison and secret weapons have to be handled delicately?"

"..."

"You're blabbering nonsense. Do you think poison can fly on its own, and secret weapons can dance by themselves when you're still? In the end, whether it's poison or secret weapons, it's something people use. What's the point of using secret weapons for those weaklings who can't even lift their hands due to lack of stamina?"

"Ugh..."

"It's not because you're using delicate martial arts that you don't need physical strength. The more delicate the martial arts the use, the more physical strength you need. The Tang Clan's martial arts are so delicate that even a slight tremor can completely ruin it. I know that even as an outsider watching, but why don't you guys who practice it know?"

Chung Myung looked around at the disciples lying down and turned his body.

"We'll start again when the sun rises. Those who come out late will know what awaits them."

Tang Pae, who finally saw Chung Myung's figure walking away, buried his face in the ground again. A worried voice came from beside him.

"...Hyung-nim."

"..."

"Hyung-nim... Are you okay?"

"...Do you think I'm okay?"

"..."

"Ugh..."

Struggling, Tang Pae moved his legs and returned to the quarters. As much as he wanted to wash and sleep, he also wanted to just fall asleep then and there, covered in dirt. What barely stopped that impulse was the responsibility of being the head disciple of the Tang Family.

No matter how difficult it was, it wasn't fitting for a human who was like the head disciple of the Sichuan Tang Family to lie down and sleep on the training ground.

"I'm going to die, I'm going to die."

"Me too."

"Ah!"

Tang Pae shouted in surprise. Soon, the figure of Tang Zhan lying on the bed became visible. Tang Pae clenched his trembling chest and expressed dissatisfaction.

"What are you doing? Without a word to someone else's quarters!"

"Mmm."

Tang Zhan struggled to get up. The arm supporting the bed was trembling, indicating his extreme exhaustion.

"It's no different."

Tang Zhan, who had eased up, furrowed his brow.

"The dissatisfaction of the younger siblings and uncles is not limited to this."

"..."

"In front of the head disciple, it seems difficult for everyone to speak directly, but behind, complaints are pouring out whenever there's time."

"Well..."

Tang Pae let out a deep sigh.

"What complaints?"

"Well... We also understand that this training is necessary, but... the appearance is just too bad, isn't it?"

In response to Tang Zhan's words, Tang Pae silently furrowed his brow. In fact, he understood what Tang Zhan was talking about. There was a certain form that should be maintained even in necessary training. It was true that it didn't look good for them, disciples of the Sichuan Tang Family, to roll on the ground according to the instructions of a third-grade disciple of Mount Hua Sect.

"It seems that their pride is greatly hurt every time they hear passersby whispering. Especially our uncles."

"Hmm."

"So, what I'm saying is..."

Tang Zhan discreetly examined Tang Pae's reaction. The way he looked cautiously suggested that Tang Zhan hadn't come here entirely of his own will. Most likely, he had been pushed forward by his uncles.

"Could you talk to Gaju-nim?"

"To Gaju-nim?"

"Yes."

Tang Zhan nodded his head slightly.

"Most of the training conducted by Chung Myung can also be done by Gaju-nim. Of course, we understand that Gaju-nim is busy with official duties, but even so..."

"It's impossible."

Before Tang Zhan's words could finish, Tang Pae cut him off abruptly. There was no room for thought.

"There's no point in mentioning it. Don't bring up such things in front of me again."

"Hyung-nim."

"I said don't say it."

"But..."

Tang Pae firmly shook his head.

In reality, it wasn't the duty of the head disciple to forbid mentioning specific matters. Listening to things that couldn't be said to the solemn family lord and relaying those details to the family lord was also part of the duties of a head disciple.

However, in this matter, there was no intention to compromise.

"Are you doubting Father's abilities now?"

"W-would I ever do that? I'm just..."

"Then, do you think Father is unaware of the dissatisfaction among the disciples?"

"Well..."

Tang Pae's eyes darkened.

"In every matter, there is an appropriate person. If Father has deemed Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword suitable for this task, the disciples should simply follow his decision."

Tang Zhan nodded silently, refraining from voicing any objections. To challenge the authority of the family lord would be unthinkable in the Sichuan Tang Family. Since encountering Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, Chung Myung, the situation had become more difficult. Especially after disbanding the elder's council and taking complete control of the family, no one dared deny his authority.

Despite nodding, Tang Zhan's expression still revealed his lack of understanding.

Observing this, Tang Pae sternly set his jaw.

"Zhan-ah, you don't understand, do you?"

"That's not the case, but... Hyung-nim."

"Is that petty pride really that important?"

"...Hyung-nim?"

Tang Pae stared at Tang Zhan with a cold gaze.

"Being criticized in front of people, rolling on the dirt ground—does that damage the family's dignity? Running around following the instructions of a third-grade disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, does that make your face red?"

"I...uh..."

"You have a stomach full of oil."    [idiom: "배때기에 기름이 꼈구나"]

Tang Zhan remained silent. The cold look from Tang Pae made it impossible for him to say anything.

"Pride is not protected by wearing fine clothes and behaving arrogantly. If we feel shame when our clothes get dirty and our appearance becomes somewhat ridiculous, why don't we feel disgrace when the once-disregarded Mount Hua is overtaking and surpassing us?"

Tang Zhan couldn't offer any response.

"Our family is the foremost ally of Mount Hua."

"Yes, sir. I understand. So..."

"But our family didn't accompany them on this trip to the south. It was Namgung and Nokrim who protected Mount Hua, not us. Do you understand what that means?"

"..."

"Of course, Father could have personally intervened. But... do you really think it was right for Father to assist the Mount Hua Sect in heading south? Really?"

"N-no, that's not what I meant!"

"I see. That should never have happened. Then let me ask you this. Why did our family not participate in this important task, preventing the Demonic Sect and safeguarding the Central Plains?"

"Well..."

Once again, Tang Zhan couldn't provide an answer. He knew the answer but lacked the courage to say it. Despite this, Tang Pae firmly spoke as if applying salt to a wound.

"Because we are weak, you and I."

"...."

"Isn't that so?"

"...You're right."

Tang Zhan bowed deeply.

Of course, the elders of the Tang family could have taken action. However, the talent that the Mount Hua Sect desired was not just someone strong. It was someone who could coordinate with their hands and feet.

If Tang Pae or Tang Zhan were as strong as Baek Cheon, would Chung Myung really have left them behind and gone to Gangnam without them? Probably not.

Tang Pae and Tang Zhan already felt it. They couldn't go to Gangnam together because they couldn't inspire trust.

"After suffering that disgrace... now you're concerned about your pride? Can the direct descendants of the Tang family dare to speak of embarrassment and shame in front of others?"

There was anger in the voice. Tang Zhan couldn't even raise his head, not just because of the voice filled with youthful anger but also because there was no way to refute Tang Pae's words.

"Namgung's Sogaju, Namgung Dowi, even though he lost his father not long ago, went to Gangnam carrying Namgung's name. He already represents Namgung. But..."

A bitter laughter flowed from Tang Pae's mouth.

"My younger brother, who is of the same generation, is talking about being ashamed and embarrassed in front of people. Where does this difference come from?"

"Hyung-nim..."

"Today, Namgung went through the same training as us. But they finished their training much earlier and returned in good shape. You saw it too, right?"

"Yes."

"Even after seeing that, you let those words come out of your mouth."

Tang Pae's cold voice was now piercing Tang Zhan's heart. It was rare for Tang Pae to express such anger.

"Are you embarrassed about your pride?"

"...."

"I am embarrassed too. But the reason I am embarrassed is not because of that little dignity. The whole Tang family! And the warriors of the Tang family are dying in other sects. I clearly saw it with my own eyes."

Tang Pae gritted his teeth.

"Is there anything more shameful for a warrior than being weak?"

"Hyung-nim. But aren't we using the same martial arts as them... We..."

"Shut your mouth."

There was a chill in Tang Pae's voice.

"There is nothing wrong with the words of Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword. We have always avoided it in that way. If we lack skill, we can develop stronger poisons and create more lethal techniques. Yes. That's why we, the Tang family, have never once reached the top in the world."

Tang Zhan was lost for words.

"If you can't learn anything from the person in front of you, it's already over. You don't have to come out for training starting tomorrow. No, not just you, tell everyone to drop out of training. I'll take responsibility."

"Hyung-nim."

Tang Pae firmly opened his mouth.

"But I will continue this training until the end. Rolling on the ground is nothing. I don't care if I smear mud on my face. I will definitely become stronger. Someday, when I become the head of the Tang family, I will never hear the words that I am weaker than Namgung's Sogaju or Baek Cheon of Mount Hua, even if I have to die."

"...."

"Tell them this. However!"

Tang Pae glared at Tang Zhan with intense eyebrows. It seemed as if the appearance of Tang Gunak could be seen on his face.

"If there is anyone who looks down on Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, who voluntarily suffered hardships for things that didn't need to be done, tell them that I, as the head disciple of the Tang Family will personally handle it without having Gaju-nim step forward,. If someone wearing the name 'Tang' behaves like an ungrateful beast, naturally, I will treat them like a beast."

"...."

"Do you understand?"

"...I will keep it in mind."

"Go."

"...."

"I said go!"

With his head deeply bowed, Tang Zhan went outside. Tang Pae, who was watching him, let out a sigh as the door closed.

It might have been a bit too much, but it couldn't be helped. Now Tang Zhan and others had to face reality.

"...It's not easy."    

Once again, a long sigh escaped from his mouth.

"Hmm."

A low sound came out from Chung Myung's mouth, who was lying on the eaves.   [...deja vu?]

"Tsk."

With a face that found everything troublesome, he raised the bottle of alcohol. Unfortunately, even after shaking it for a long time, not a drop of alcohol came out.

"Tch."

When he tried to get up again, wanting to refresh his taste buds, a voice suddenly reached him.

"Here."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung turned his head at the suddenly heard voice. Tang Gunak, who had appeared next to him unnoticed, was holding out a bottle of alcohol and smiling slyly.

"...What's this all about."

"Can I sit?"

"Sure."

Tang Gunak sat down next to Chung Myung.

"Let's drink together. I also want to have a little drink today."

"If I drink with Gaju-nim, it's good for me."

"Is that so?"

Tang Gunak smiled mischievously and took a sip of the bottle. Then he looked up at the night sky and opened his mouth.

"It must be hard for you too."

At the sudden words, Chung Myung looked at Tang Gunak in silence.