The Tang Clan had been kidnapping orphans and conducting human experiments.
It was news that spread throughout the Central Plains one day.
One of the Four Great Families, responsible for seventy percent of the Central Plains' iron distribution.
Before the Blood Demon Great War, they were classified as an Evil Sect, but they rose to become a Righteous Sect by fending off the Blood Calamity.
One of the pillars of the Righteous Sect that many had trusted and followed until now.
The guardian of Sichuan.
The Sichuan Tang Clan.
Many were shocked by the fact that they had committed unimaginable atrocities.
It was said that the hidden underground of the Tang Clan was piled with numerous corpses of children and demonic beasts.
When the Murim Alliance checked the records, they said the experiments had been going on for at least a century.
A century.
A hundred years.
Just how many children must have died in a hundred years?
People were enraged, and enraged again.
The Poison King offered no particular excuses and closed the clan gates, but.
The people's anger did not subside.
Make the Tang Clan an enemy of the Murim!
A punishment from the Four Great Families wasn't enough; drive them out as an Evil Sect and execute them!
The people desperately appealed to the Alliance, but the Murim Alliance ultimately did not do so.
They determined that the elders had been conducting operations without the knowledge of the current Clan Leader, the Poison King, and afterwards, the Poison King summarily executed the elders, delivering his own judgment.
Judging by their past achievements in protecting the Central Plains as one of the Four Great Families, they would not be executed.
However, the trades that had been monopolistically conducted through the Alliance would be restricted.
In the future election for the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance, the Tang Clan's right to participate and voting rights would be stripped for three generations.
The Murim Alliance imposed such a punishment on the Tang Clan, but.
In practical terms, it wasn't even an excessive punishment.
Rather, it was lenient for their crimes.
In the first place, having committed such an act, the merchant guilds trading with the Tang Clan would withdraw on their own.
Since the Tang Clan had never involved themselves in matters related to the Murim Alliance Leader for generations, many said it was merely a slap on the wrist.
The world acknowledged that the Tang Clan had sinned, but viewed that the Murim Alliance was showing some consideration, comforting their past efforts.
The Tang Clan, which had killed countless lives for human experiments.
The Murim Alliance, trying to gloss over it.
There were still many rumors about this.
However, due to several incidents that erupted immediately afterwards, the number of people doubting the Murim Alliance had decreased.
However.
The Tang Clan was not so fortunate.
"Damn them. I feel guilty for trusting those bastards and thinking Sichuan was safe."
"Four Great Families? Righteous Sect? How could they commit such wicked deeds while wearing those titles on their backs?"
"The Clan Leader, the Poison King, didn't know about this? Does that really make any sense?"
The Tang Clan's standing hit rock bottom day by day.
They said the Poison King and the bloodline were not involved in the incident, but even fewer people believed that.
How could a Clan Leader not know about what was happening in his own clan?
They didn't believe it. Even if it were the truth, they wouldn't believe it.
In their minds, the Tang Clan was already that kind of place.
"As expected. Maybe it's because they use poison, but their background is dirty."
"They were originally from the Evil Sect. The Alliance just quietly let it slide."
"Now people talk a lot about them being a family of artisans, but weren't they originally a group formed by gathering assassins? It means they were a place that couldn't be trusted."
Countless voices could be heard.
Words insulting their clan.
Words insulting the Poison King.
And even words insulting herself.
The fallen prestigious family.
The Sichuan Tang Clan.
Every time she heard those words, the Tang Clan's bloodline, the Poison Phoenix, Tang Xiaoye, wanted to ask.
Why he didn't say anything.
She wanted to ask her father, the Poison King, countless times.
But, she couldn't.
The Poison King, making his choice, told his sons and daughters.
'Even if we are without sin, being born of the bloodline means we must bear the will of the clan together.'
Not knowing what was happening inside was the Clan Leader's sin.
There is nothing that can be excused.
Also, unfortunately, the father's sin becomes your sin.
That is what responsibility is.
Therefore, I have decided to bear it.
She felt unjust and sorrowful at the Poison King's words, but Tang Xiaoye ultimately couldn't say anything.
What was unjust?
Did the Poison King not say it? The clan's sin is the Clan Leader's sin, and this inevitably becomes the bloodline's sin.
Tang Xiaoye was the same, having only stayed in the clan's embrace knowing nothing.
Just being a descendant and a rising star who knew nothing—the world was not one where such an excuse would work.
Countless people turned their backs.
Countless people hurl insults at them.
To be honest, Tang Xiaoye wasn't particularly scared of that.
If it was truly her sin, she had to accept those who cursed her.
It didn't hurt.
She was just afraid of something else.
Just in case.
Even if it was one in a million.
'That he might be harmed as well.'
That the precious people beside her might suffer harm from this.
Tang Xiaoye was deathly afraid of that.
Even if her life crumbled.
She feared they might also be hurt by that collapse.
The world is dark.
The lights filling his side were so brilliant, yet her place had become endlessly dark; if she lost the value of the prestigious family's name she had barely managed to hold onto, and instead brought harm...
What could she give him?
Nothing.
There are many who give love, and with this one clumsy heart, she couldn't be by his side.
She knew that to her very bones.
Perhaps he would understand.
Because he was that kind of person.
But she wasn't strong enough to endure on that understanding alone.
The fortunate thing was, there was at least a chance.
-I will make you a monster.
The man who visited in the middle of the night.
The current Central Plains' number one assassin, who became her master. An Wang.
He said he had received a request from her father and would take her as his disciple.
He also told her to refuse if she didn't want to.
He warned her that his teaching method would be a very rough and cruel one, things that couldn't even be compared to the pain Tang Xiaoye had felt in her entire life.
She didn't understand the reason.
Why would An Wang come to her and say such things?
She couldn't understand, but.
-Please take care of me.
There was only one choice to begin with.
Tang Xiaoye entered as An Wang's disciple.
That was the only method she could choose.
Time passed like that.
As An Wang had warned, it was an incredibly painful time.
How many times did she die?
She literally experienced the meaning of death countless times.
'Become numb to death.'
She became numb.
It took a year until she became numb to dying herself and was no longer afraid of pain.
'Become numb to killing.'
She became numb.
It took another year until killing her opponent felt like nothing.
'Not bad.'
Eventually, when she had killed many and her eyes no longer wavered.
It was the first compliment An Wang had given Tang Xiaoye.
The moment she heard that compliment, she realized many things had changed.
Her realm, of course. And she herself had changed in some way.
How much time had passed?
By his words, it had only been two years. But to Tang Xiaoye, it felt like absolutely more.
The world An Wang created was twisted in many ways. Perhaps even time was like that.
The corpses of children piled at her feet.
Even if this was an illusion created by An Wang, she felt nothing looking at it.
I'm broken.
Tang Xiaoye judged herself.
Then, does she regret it?
She doesn't.
"...Ah..."
Other people's blood and her tears mixed and flowed.
Her heart pounded.
Now it felt like she could also be by his side.
The realm she had dreamed of, and her broken self, were nowhere to be seen.
To Tang Xiaoye, that was everything.
Swoosh-! She steps out from the confined world.
The darkness vanished, and the blood stained on her body disappeared.
A peaceful night and the moon arrived.
An Wang looked at Tang Xiaoye and said.
"Descend the mountain."
"Yes."
Now she could finally see him.
******************
The noisy chatter covered her ears.
Below the packed spectator stands, Tang Xiaoye stood on the sparring stage.
The Divine Dragon Martial Tournament hosted by the Alliance.
Tang Xiaoye had stepped up onto that festival.
Fresh air brushed the tip of her nose.
The weather was exceptionally good.
At the same time, voices could be heard from all directions.
"So it's the Poison Phoenix. I heard she participated in the martial tournament. It was true."
"Poison Phoenix... you mean that Tang Clan's descendant?"
"Look at that hair."
Tang Xiaoye's deep green hair.
And the light green eyes beneath it.
The facts proving she was of the Tang Clan's bloodline hung on her flesh.
"Tsk."
Someone clicked their tongue seeing that.
"She's brazen. How dare she come here...!"
"Truly disgusting."
"Stepping up to the Alliance's festival in this situation? She's out of her mind."
Recalling the deeds the Tang Clan had committed, everyone frowned.
The heated voices spread around as if resonating.
Everyone made a sound.
Tang Xiaoye had a nonchalant face even while hearing those words.
Was she truly unaffected?
Her form looked like a sinner keeping silent.
Or perhaps she was quietly enjoying the breeze.
Her opponent, looking at such a Tang Xiaoye, opened his mouth.
"How about you step down right now?"
Hearing the words, Tang Xiaoye looked at her opponent.
Yu Tanjian.
Tang Xiaoye's sparring opponent was looking at her with a sneer.
"I was worried it might be too cruel a situation for a young girl to accept."
Insults poured in from all directions.
It was rough and cruel for a woman who hadn't even reached her thirties to endure.
"If you do it now, I'll show consideration. Step down comfortably."
Rather than stepping down after being defeated on the sparring stage.
Stepping down out of burden would be a little better.
As Yu Tanjian said so with that meaning.
"Pfft."
Tang Xiaoye, who had been quietly listening, burst into laughter.
Seeing that, Yu Tanjian's brow furrowed.
"You're laughing?"
"Thank you for worrying. I'll graciously accept the sentiment."
"Ha!"
Yu Tanjian let out a hollow laugh at Tang Xiaoye's attitude.
"As expected of a sinner's family, how shameless."
He changed his attitude.
"You already look like you have a lot of enemies, so I tried to show some consideration before you suffer an even more embarrassing thing."
"Yes, so I'm telling you there's no need to do so."
"I made a mistake last time, but surely. Do you truly think you can win?"
The fact that he had stepped up here and was facing Tang Xiaoye.
That alone was displeasing to Yu Tanjian.
At best, a rising star.
And what meaning would there be in defeating a woman?
'Fortunately, public sentiment is at the level of traitors.'
The Tang Clan's origins.
Setting aside her being a young rising star, just defeating such a woman would raise his standing.
'It seems she has some minor tricks. But that's it.'
He momentarily forgot that the Tang Clan's martial arts were specialized in assassination.
So he failed to be on guard and fell for Tang Xiaoye's petty tricks.
Yu Tanjian thought so.
Shing.
He drew his sword and said.
"Wench, you made a huge mistake."
When Yu Tanjian raised his sword, the surrounding air began to change.
The blowing wind grew still.
"If you had such skills, you shouldn't have shown them in front of me. Then you might have had a chance."
He had already figured her out.
There would be no more odds of winning for Tang Xiaoye.
"There won't be a second time. So even now, step down..."
"You still talk too much. It's a bit noisy."
Tang Xiaoye cut off Yu Tanjian's words.
"You bitch!!"
Finally, unable to hold back, Yu Tanjian unleashed his fighting spirit.
Whooooosh---!!!
The pressure emanating from Yu Tanjian enveloped the entire sparring stage.
Seeing this, exclamations of admiration erupted from the spectator stands.
"...My hands are trembling just looking at it. Is this the real Hwagyeong?"
"Pungnim Uitan Gwon was also impressive, but Yu Tanjian is definitely on a different level."
Pungnim Uitan Gwon, who had broken through the wall not long ago.
As a martial artist of the Hwagyeong, he too could influence nature, but Yu Tanjian was on a different level.
The space was crushed.
Cracks reached out, and afterimages appeared in the air.
Just his energy alone affected the surroundings.
That is the Hwagyeong.
"Are you relying on that pretty face? Or perhaps your esteemed hidden techniques and poison arts? Look at your opponent properly, I am Yu Tanjian."
He pointed the tip of his sword at Tang Xiaoye.
"In such an open and empty space, what do you think you can do? You have no chance of winning."
"..."
At Yu Tanjian's words, Tang Xiaoye looked around for a moment.
He was right. There was nothing.
The completely open scenery was easy on the eyes, making it refreshing.
The day was clear so she couldn't even hide her body, the worst condition for an assassin.
Looking around like that, Tang Xiaoye's gaze headed somewhere.
Two eyes quietly watching this place.
It was where Ouyang Tian was, observing her with an expressionless face.
He had his arms tightly crossed and was watching here.
Such his arms could be seen trembling slightly.
It seemed like he was forcefully holding something back.
Seeing that figure, Tang Xiaoye smiled.
While looking blunt and sharp, his eyes were always directed at his surroundings.
Such a warm person.
At first, she had fallen for just his face.
Now, she felt it would be okay even if his face became greasy like Young Master Zhanlong or Young Master Sheng.
She would have loved him because he was him.
That was her belief.
Therefore.
'I will show you.'
That you no longer have to worry about her.
Tang Xiaoye wanted to prove that.
She withdrew her gaze from Ouyang Tian and sent it to Yu Tanjian.
"That's right."
"What?"
"There's nothing. But that's not really a problem."
Spitting out the words, Tang Xiaoye took something out from her bosom.
It was a dagger.
Not just one, but dozens.
Tang Xiaoye, taking out two short swords and daggers.
Rumble-! Clang-!
"Huh?"
She threw all the things she was holding onto the ground.
"...What, what are you doing?"
Yu Tanjian asked in disbelief, but Tang Xiaoye checked if there was anything left on her body and finally smiled.
"I'm ready too."
"..."
"I promise. When facing you. I won't use hidden weapons. Let alone poison."
"Haha..."
At Tang Xiaoye's words, Yu Tanjian burst into laughter.
Bursting into laughter, his face increasingly twisted viciously.
"Are you mocking me right now?"
"Yes."
"...You fucking bitch...!"
Grrrrr-! A distinct sword aura seeped into Yu Tanjian's sword.
"Alright, fine. To insult me this much... I too will make a promise."
Within the crushing pressure, Yu Tanjian spoke with killing intent.
"I will definitely put a scar on that pretty face of yours."
At the words spoken while holding back his anger, Tang Xiaoye laughed again this time.
"I'll look forward to it."
Grind.
Soothing his rough breath, Yu Tanjian took his stance.
The referee confirmed the two with somewhat worried eyes.
They both took their stances.
After seeing that, the referee quietly whispered.
"Begin."
Announcing the start of the match.
Even having heard that, Yu Tanjian didn't move.
He didn't rush in.
He wasn't off guard.
He didn't know what she might pull.
He was certain from their last encounter.
Setting aside Yu Tanjian the human, Yu Tanjian the martial artist could tell.
Tang Xiaoye was a formidable expert.
No matter how unfavorable the situation was for an assassin, he absolutely must not let his guard down.
Just as he was pointing his maximally guarded sword at Tang Xiaoye.
"Did you know?"
Tang Xiaoye opened her mouth with a calm voice.
"I dislike clear skies."
"...What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
Dislike the sky? It was too out of the blue.
"Like you said, there's nowhere to hide. I realized that I am not a person who can become the light. From then on, I came to dislike clear skies."
"Ha?"
Was it small talk to relax his guard?
However, the more he listened, the more Yu Tanjian's vigilance only rose.
"Right, I couldn't become the light. My master said so too."
Tang Xiaoye recalled An Wang's words.
To her question about how to shine brighter, An Wang said.
He didn't know of any way to become the light.
Once becoming an assassin, she couldn't become the light and had to forget the way to become one.
Shining brighter wasn't their role.
Then, what should she do? Tang Xiaoye asked in frustration.
An Wang answered like this.
"If you cannot become the light. Then become a greater darkness."
A darkness that can devour the light. He said it was enough to become that.
An Wang certainly said so, but Tang Xiaoye didn't really like those words either.
"It's really not good. I'm by the light because it's warm. You shouldn't devour that."
"What on earth are you..."
"So, I decided to become the shade."
She couldn't become the light, and didn't want to devour it.
Then, she had to become the shade so the light could rest.
Was that not also darkness?
Darkness spread for the sake of the light.
Yes, the shade was enough.
When playing hard, and getting tired wanting to rest a little.
Like a tree in the forest that blocks the sunlight and allows one to lean on its trunk and rest.
Tang Xiaoye decided to become that kind of darkness.
She would become his shade.
A shade that would endure and stay by his side so he could rest whenever he wanted.
She decided she would become that.
This is the proof of that.
Tang Xiaoye reached out her hand.
"...!"
Flinch!
At her action, Yu Tanjian flinched and spewed out sword aura.
It was to react immediately should anything happen, but Yu Tanjian wouldn't have known.
That this was something that couldn't be dealt with by reaction alone.
Tang Xiaoye murmured looking at him.
"Manma Byeokyuk Tanjeong."
Along with the words.
Kwoaaaah---!!!
Tang Xiaoye's shadow deployed its domain and swallowed the sparring stage.
In an instant, a black film was overlaid over the sparring stage.
"What is this...!"
Vision was obscured.
Swallowed into the darkness, Yu Tanjian looked around in panic.
He couldn't see anything.
Instinctively, he unleashed his qi sense.
It was to confirm where Tang Xiaoye was, but.
Thwack-!
"Keugh!?"
Something pierced through his body from behind Yu Tanjian.
It wasn't a sword.
It was a hand.
"Cough...!"
Yu Tanjian spilled blood and looked down.
The terribly dark vision. He shouldn't be able to see anything, yet strangely, the pure white hand that pierced through his body was seen all too clearly.
Slurp-!
The hand that pierced him pulled out again.
His heart was pierced.
Thud-! Yu Tanjian collapsed immediately.
Was it death? Yu Tanjian felt death.
As he slowly collapsed like that, a soft voice reached Yu Tanjian's ear.
"One."
Tang Xiaoye said so while looking at Yu Tanjian.
Finally, one.
His hell still had five more times left.