Episode 196: The Spider’s Web

In the world of martial artists, there’s only one response when you start talking about bets and stakes. Sima Zheng glared at Tang Mujin and spoke.

“What are you asking? If you’re wagering the future of the Sima family, then the only thing I can put on the table is your life.”

Despite his fierce words, Sima Zheng’s mind was racing, trying to assess the situation. Unlike the typical warriors from other families, Sima Zheng wasn’t foolish enough to think that swinging a sword could solve every problem.

‘If we fight and lose here, the Sima family is finished. But fighting now doesn’t mean we’ll lose.’

‘The problem is, even if we win, we can’t kill Yirong. If he dies, the next generation of the Sima family will be left with nothing but husks.’

‘We can’t let anyone escape either. If word about the Meridian Blockage spreads, especially to the Shaolin or the Beggars’ Sect, we’ll be branded as public enemies.’

Sima Zheng clenched his teeth so hard it felt like they might shatter.

If the meridians of the later-stage disciples were filled with yin energy, other Sima family warriors could use ‘extreme methods’ to save them. But their bodies were filled with boiling yang energy, making such methods useless.

Suddenly, Sima Zheng recalled tales from the distant north.

Stories of crossing the Yellow River, traversing the plateaus and deserts where the Yalu and Xiao clans reside, to reach the foreign martial world. It was said that the outsiders there practiced a yin-based martial art.

But there was no certainty that such people existed, and even less chance of meeting them and gaining their cooperation.

Sima Zheng looked at Tang Mujin.

‘A cunning fox.’

No, calling him a spider would be more fitting. With a face that looked so innocent and trustworthy, he had wrapped the entire Sima family in his web without raising any suspicion.

The web was so subtle that no one in the Sima family realized they were ensnared until Tang Mujin revealed his true colors.

‘When did he start plotting this?’

He had waited until all the procedures were complete before letting his friends leave. He had ensured that the later-stage disciples were filled with yang energy. He had secretly poisoned Sima Yugong. And there were other suspicious points, too. When considered individually, none seemed too odd, but together, they painted a different picture.

One thing was clear: he had been preparing for this for at least several months.

Sima Zheng massaged his throbbing temples.

‘Now’s not the time to dwell on the past. What’s important is finding a way out.’

Tang Mujin, watching Sima Zheng, crossed his arms with a relaxed demeanor.

“Don’t try to intimidate me with harsh words. It might lead to irreversible consequences.”

“Oh? If you don’t want to wager your life, how about your family’s lives?”

“My family?”

Tang Mujin’s eyes sparkled with interest. It was curious why he seemed intrigued rather than alarmed, but any reaction was better than none.

“Yes. Your wife and children in Chengdu, Sichuan. I sent someone when you started your procedures, so they could be captured at any moment. They might already be in our hands.”

Sima Zheng hadn’t brought Tang Mujin in without precautions. His rule was to always have a contingency plan when involving outsiders in important matters. And in situations like this, the most reliable method was taking hostages.

If Tang Mujin chose to stay with the Sima family, he’d likely lose interest in his family in Chengdu, making it a non-issue. But if he decided to leave, his family in Sichuan could be used to control him.

In a game of Go, this would be the perfect move, one that couldn’t be countered. But sometimes, even the perfect move doesn’t yield the perfect result.

For instance, when someone capable of flipping the board is staring at it.

Tang Mujin grinned, showing his teeth.

“Well, that’s unfortunate. It seems a life will be lost.”

Sima Zheng’s eyebrow twitched at Tang Mujin’s nonchalant response.

“Have you already severed ties with your family?”

“Not at all. I’m talking about the life of the person you sent to Sichuan. They’re probably wandering the afterlife by now.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think a mere branch of the Qingcheng Sect can protect your family?”

“Who said I was relying on the Qingcheng Sect? I assure you, even if the entire Sima family came, they wouldn’t be able to capture my family.”

Sima Zheng scrutinized Tang Mujin’s expression. His words sounded like bravado, yet there was no hint of deceit or uncertainty in his eyes. He spoke as if stating an obvious fact.

In fact, the emotions emanating from Tang Mujin were confidence, pure interest, and anticipation.

‘Why?’

Tang Mujin didn’t wait for Sima Zheng to continue.

“If there’s nothing else to wager, perhaps I should put your lives on the line. Will you accept the bet?”

But Sima Zheng saw no reason to entertain Tang Mujin’s gamble. It was bound to be a devious trap.

The best way for the Sima family to overcome this crisis was clear: silence Tang Mujin’s friends and then kidnap him, persuading him to treat the Meridian Blockage. Of course, persuasion didn’t necessarily mean gentle methods.

However, the best solution seemed unlikely to succeed.

Naturally, Sima Zheng had to consider the next best option: kill Tang Mujin and his friends here and now, then scour the world for a cure for the Meridian Blockage.

Of course, the odds of finding a solution were slim, and the later-stage disciples might all perish.

If that happened, the Sima family would lose an entire generation, dealing a critical blow.

But the fact that such a critical blow was the second-best option was the problem. If they couldn’t even choose the second-best, the Sima family would face annihilation—not just a gradual decline, but being branded as public enemies and wiped out.

Even if it meant sacrificing a generation, ensuring the Sima family’s survival was the wiser choice.

A grim resolve settled in Sima Zheng’s eyes.

‘Let’s be realistic. Decline is better than annihilation. The Sima bloodline must not end.’

Sima Zheng quickly organized his thoughts and shouted.

“Don’t be fooled by his wordplay. Kill them!”

But the expected sound of footsteps didn’t come.

Sima Zheng looked around. The Sima family warriors were watching him.

“What are you doing? Move!”

“Master. No, brother.”

The one who spoke was Sima Zheng’s youngest brother, Sima Song.

“Why?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to at least hear what the bet is about?”

“You can guess his intentions. Are you planning to walk into his trap?”

“Brother, you’re planning to abandon all the children.”

The term “children” was a bit of a stretch, as the later-stage disciples were older. None of those who underwent the Meridian Blockage procedure were underage.

But no matter how old they are, to a parent, their children are always their children.

Sima Zheng looked at Sima Song.

Unlike the fools from other families who thought swinging a sword was enough, there were no such idiots among the Sima family warriors. Sima Song was no exception.

In other words, Sima Song had quickly assessed the situation and understood Sima Zheng’s intentions. The other Sima family warriors were in the same position.

When Sima Zheng hesitated to respond, Sima Song shook his head.

Sima Song’s sword remained sheathed.

“We can’t do that. I can’t abandon the children.”

“It must be painful. I know. I know the children are the future of the Sima family. But children can be born again. It’s better to skip a generation than to let the Sima family disappear—”

“Brother!”

Sima Song’s voice cut through Sima Zheng’s words. For the first time in his life, Sima Song shouted at Sima Zheng.

Then, almost pleadingly, Sima Song continued.

“Brother. It’s not about that. You may not understand because you don’t have children, but a parent can’t abandon their child, even with a knife at their throat.”

The people around seemed to side with Sima Song rather than Sima Zheng.

Without hesitation, Sima Song called out to Tang Mujin.

“Yirong! What kind of bet are you proposing?”

“That’s something we’ll have to think about. First, send those friends of mine over here.”

Tang Mujin pointed to his three friends.

Sima Zheng felt something was seriously amiss.

“Don’t let them go!”

“No, let them come.”

Sima Zheng and Tang Mujin’s words were in direct opposition.

Naturally, it would make sense to follow the head of the family, Sima Zheng, but the Sima family warriors stood in confusion, blocking Sima Zheng. The other warriors were in the same predicament as Sima Song.

’…Ah.’

Facing the desperate expressions of the Sima family warriors, Sima Zheng realized two things.

First, the tide had already turned.

Second, the option of sacrificing the later-stage disciples to preserve the family had never truly existed.

Standing among his friends, Tang Mujin spoke with a relaxed demeanor.

“What kind of bet would be good… Ah, yes. I’ll give you two options. One is a test of skill, and the other is a gamble on luck.”

“Please, tell us more.”

“The first challenge is to endure a poison. If you can take seven steps, you win. The second is a game of dice. Choose wisely.”

It was obvious what the people of the Sama family would choose. No parent would gamble their child’s life on a roll of the dice.

Sama Song asked, “So, I just need to take seven steps after accepting the poison?”

“That’s correct. If you win, I’ll cure two of your family members suffering from the blocked meridians.”

“And I get to choose which two, right?”

“Of course.”

As Tang Mujin spoke, the eyes of those around Sama Song gleamed with hope. Only one of Sama Song’s two sons was afflicted, meaning if he won, he might save his child and another family member.

Sama Song nodded. “Alright. I accept the challenge.”

The poison wouldn’t be easy to handle, but Sama Song believed he had a good chance. Poison techniques aren’t particularly effective against skilled martial artists. While they can devastate the untrained, a seasoned warrior can often expel even the deadliest toxins.

Even if the poison was a mix, it would just take time to suppress and expel it. Sama Song had faced the poisons of the infamous Yi Chong before. He doubted Tang Mujin, despite his youth, had surpassed that level.

Sama Song approached Tang Mujin, and everyone held their breath as the young man prepared the poison.

Tang Mujin hesitated briefly, then placed his index finger on Sama Song’s forehead. After a few breaths, it was done.

This method was unlike the usual poisonings the martial world knew—no white powder dissolved in water, no venom smeared on wounds.

Sama Song clenched his teeth, bracing for pain, but felt nothing.

‘What is this?’

Poisons usually came with excruciating pain, yet Tang Mujin’s poison was painless.

Sama Song considered expelling it but quickly changed his mind. The poison wasn’t a single entity; it was a tangled web of different toxins, refusing to unravel.

‘Instead of expelling it, I’ll suppress it, take seven steps, and then slowly release it.’

It seemed simple enough. Sama Song tried to suppress the poison with his inner energy, but something unexpected happened. His energy dissipated like mist around the poison.

‘The poison disperses my energy on its own!’

Sama Song was bewildered by this unprecedented situation, but he knew what he had to do.

‘Seven steps.’

He took a step. The poison remained dormant.

But with the second step, it began to stir.

By the third step, the poison spread alarmingly fast.

Four steps in, it started to bind his limbs’ meridians.

Since mastering martial arts, Sama Song had never felt so heavy, as if he were a novice again.

‘I’m more than halfway. I need to move quickly.’

He tried to rush the remaining steps, but his body resisted, as if ensnared in a heavy net. Yet, he managed to take the fifth step. The poison surged through his entire body.

At that moment, Sama Song realized he was at the brink of life and death.

He could stop and try to expel the poison, possibly surviving. But he wouldn’t complete the seven steps.

Would he gamble on a slim chance to save himself, or take the higher chance to save his child?

Without hesitation, Sama Song chose his child’s life.

He forced himself to take the sixth step, feeling as if his bones were left behind while his flesh moved forward.

A searing pain tore through him, blinding his vision and mind, but his legs obeyed, taking the final step.

His foot touched the ground, a small step but a step nonetheless.

Sama Song paused briefly, then collapsed, looking at Tang Mujin with satisfaction even as blood filled his eyes.

Tang Mujin approached and checked his pulse. “He’s gone.”

But one of the Sama family members shouted, “But he took seven steps.”

“I saw it too. His son should be saved… but who else should we save? Could you decide for us?”

Tang Mujin turned to Sama Jeung.

In such situations, hesitation breeds chaos. Sama Jeung quickly named the first person that came to mind.

“Save Sama Hye.”

Sama Hye was the daughter of Sama Taegon, Sama Jeung’s younger brother. She was also the most talented among those afflicted.

But as he chose Sama Hye and looked at Sama Taegon, Sama Jeung realized his mistake. Sama Taegon’s eyes were different.

Though Tang Mujin promised to save Sama Hye, her life was still in his hands.

Now, Sama Taegon might not be fully aligned with the Sama family. He could turn against Sama Jeung to protect Tang Mujin, becoming a potential enemy.

Sama Jeung’s vision darkened.

The cunning spider was still weaving its web.