As dawn broke after a restless night, the somber atmosphere persisted, and the schedule pressed on.
The havoc caused by Cheonma had pushed the branch's alert level to its peak. The problem, however, was that while vigilance had increased, there were no effective countermeasures in place.
Thus, only one course of action remained:
"Here to meet the Branch Leaderâ¦"
"Paying respects to the Tang Clan's Patriarchâ¦."
Seeking assistance. I had sent a message to the Poison King, explaining the situation and requesting help. Though his acceptance wasnât exactly enthusiasticâhe set a variety of conditions before agreeingâhe ultimately complied.
Still, the man was remarkable. If Iâd let my guard down, he would have drained me dry.
"At least he came when I called. He knows why this is beneficial to him, too."
This was not a bad deal for the Poison King either. The Tang Clan, bearing the burden of their ancestors' sins and bound by their self-imposed isolation, now stood forward at the Martial Alliance's request.
Even the act of their participation provided substantial benefits.
"Iâve already ensured the Open Clan will spread this around. It wonât take long to circulate."
This was also part of why Cheol Ji-seon had been running tirelessly, day and night.
"By the end of the year, theyâll reestablish their place. While rejoining the Four Great Clans may be a stretch, reclaiming their status as a prestigious household is almost certain."
The knowledge possessed by the Tang Clan was unparalleled, ensuring their eventual resurgence.
"Iron and poison are the Tang Clanâs exclusive domains."
While other clans might dabble in working with iron, including poison in their arsenal set the Tang Clan apart. The Tang Clan had reached their position not through sheer force but through influence, much like the Moyong family.
ââ¦Ahem.â
The Poison King appeared a bit unsettled, his gaze fixed on me. It seemed he was confused about why someone other than Mok Ri-seon was now the branch leader.
âOh, that guyâs dead.â
I stated it bluntly.
ââ¦What?â
âWhen I investigated, I discovered that he had been secretly colluding with the Celestial Stream Sect. So, I killed him yesterday and replaced him.â
ââ¦â
I gave him the abridged version, but his expression only grew more twisted. He looked at me as though I were completely insane.