Episode 228: Riding the Tiger

Jang Il-nam, once shackled by the nickname “Hyeol-woo-gaek,” had reclaimed his true name, and the celebration at the Tang family estate, which began on New Year’s Eve, stretched on for several days.

Of course, the festivities weren’t solely in his honor. Large families often held grand celebrations to welcome the New Year.

However, the party was a bit more extravagant and prolonged to accommodate guests from afar and to enhance the Tang family’s reputation.

On the third day of the New Year, as the festivities were winding down, Jang Il-nam was gripped by a subtle unease.

While those present wouldn’t dare, what if the orthodox martial artists who hadn’t come to the capital rejected him with disdain?

Jang Il-nam confided his worries to Tang Mu-jin, who responded with clarity.

“There’s no need to worry too much. Elder Yeong-heo-ja and Master Hyang-baek-sa-tae are here, aren’t they?”

The gathering was a mix of all sorts.

There were some quite renowned figures and others who were mere idlers.

There were orthodox martial artists from large families and wandering martial artists from the unorthodox sects.

Yet, Tang Mu-jin believed that the presence of two individuals lent undeniable weight to the event.

Yeong-heo-ja, the head of the Cheongseong sect, and Hyang-baek-sa-tae, the head of the Amipa sect.

Their lack of opposition at this gathering could be interpreted as an acknowledgment of “Jang Il-nam” by the Cheongseong and Amipa sects.

To view Jang Il-nam with suspicion could be seen as a challenge to the authority of these sects.

While the unorthodox martial artists might not care, the orthodox ones wouldn’t dare to question Jang Il-nam’s standing.

With two uninvited sect leaders present, fortune seemed to favor Jang Il-nam.

Only then could Jang Il-nam completely shake off his anxiety.

Hyang-baek-sa-tae left the Tang estate without staying a single day, but Yeong-heo-ja lingered leisurely until the end of the festivities.

Though there were secondary reasons, his main purpose for visiting the Tang estate was to communicate with the orthodox martial artists who had gathered from various places.

Yeong-heo-ja had previously sent messages via carrier pigeons without success.

However, messages delivered in person carry a different weight, especially when one can apply direct pressure.

“Your name is… Bok Woo-ja, right? From the Jongnam sect? Good. I’ll remember. I hope for a favorable outcome.”

“Yes…”

“Don’t forget. It’s Wudang Mountain. Wudang Mountain! Gather there this autumn, during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I trust you, Bok Woo-ja!”

“Yes, understood…”

Yeong-heo-ja, like a thug memorizing faces while extorting money in an alley, meticulously pressured each person he chose to deliver his message. This increased the likelihood of people gathering.

Of course, not every sect would send someone.

But Yeong-heo-ja had no intention of dawdling. Such a clear opportunity wouldn’t come easily again, so he set a definite time and place.

Choosing Wudang Mountain as the meeting place was a calculated decision.

Though sparsely populated, its central location in the martial world meant few would complain about the choice.

Moreover, it was well-known that the head of the Wudang sect, Yeong-bo-jin-in, had difficulty walking. Even the most shameless wouldn’t suggest moving the location closer to themselves.

Additionally, the Wudang sect’s influence was relatively weaker compared to other sects, so others would likely view this as a considerate gesture towards a lesser sect.

A few meetings at Wudang wouldn’t suddenly elevate the Wudang sect’s influence to match the established sects.

‘Stubborn types like Namgung Jin-cheon might not show up, but most others probably will.’

The Namgung family was known for their stoic nature, and Namgung Jin-cheon was particularly so.

Furthermore, the Namgung family was situated at the eastern edge of the martial world, making them indifferent to the threat of the demonic cult approaching from the west.

‘You have to know when to let go. Trying to drag everyone along only leads to failure.’

As this thought crossed his mind, a realization struck Yeong-heo-ja.

Among Tang Mu-jin’s friends was a rather polished-looking fellow.

‘Wasn’t his name Namgung Myung? I vaguely recall hearing that Namgung Jin-cheon’s son’s name was similar.’

Of course, Yeong-heo-ja didn’t think Namgung Myung was the eldest son of Namgung Jin-cheon.

What family head would send their eldest son to a distant land? Besides, the Namgung Myung he saw had a peculiar prosthetic arm.

‘Still, being related to the Namgung family, he could be of some help.’

It was beneath a senior to seek out a junior, but Yeong-heo-ja boldly approached Namgung Myung. After all, it’s the thirsty who dig the well.

Yeong-heo-ja broached the subject gently.

“Excuse me, Namgung So-hyeop. Are you by any chance related to the Sword Demon… I mean, Namgung Jin-cheon?”

Yeong-heo-ja thought he’d be content if Namgung Myung turned out to be Namgung Jin-cheon’s nephew.

But Namgung Myung’s response was unexpected.

“Are you referring to my father?”

”…Could it be? Are you the eldest son of the Namgung family?”

“Yes.”

It was a possibility he had considered, but it was true.

He didn’t know why Namgung Myung was exiled to distant Sichuan, but it was a fortunate turn of events.

Yeong-heo-ja candidly shared everything with Namgung Myung.

He asked him to persuade Namgung Jin-cheon to come to Wudang Mountain by the Mid-Autumn Festival.

However, Namgung Myung shook his head. Visiting his father was awkward, and the journey from Sichuan to Anhui was a bothersome task.

“I can’t.”

“Is there a reason?”

“He wouldn’t listen to me at all.”

“That can’t be. Even the sternest father listens to his child’s words. Especially if it’s a son as impressive as you, the eldest of the family.”

Namgung Myung simply pointed to his left arm.

“My father cut off my left arm.”

Yeong-heo-ja was at a loss for words.

’…What on earth did he do?’

Only then did Yeong-heo-ja realize that Namgung Myung might have been exiled to Sichuan because he was cast out by his family.

A situation that could backfire. Yeong-heo-ja abandoned his plan to use Namgung Myung to persuade Namgung Jin-cheon. It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

As Yeong-heo-ja was packing up, having nearly achieved all his goals, Sam-an-bul approached Tang Mu-jin and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Tang Mu-jin.”

“Yes?”

“Go to Yeong-heo-ja and tell him you’ll accompany him to Wudang Mountain.”

“Me? How could I join a gathering of sect leaders?”

The Tang family wasn’t on par with the great sects.

Moreover, Tang Mu-jin wasn’t even the official head of the family.

But Sam-an-bul scoffed.

“You are one of the few who have seen the new leader of the demonic cult. In fact, you’re the only one outside the cult who has seen him, so your account can’t be ignored when discussing the cult’s movements.”

“Hmm.”

“Yeong-heo-ja is likely hoping for your cooperation. He’s just hesitating to bring it up. If you offer first, he’ll be overjoyed.”

“Then will you accompany me, elder?”

“Me? Why would I?”

“You’re the only one who has fought the cult leader.”

Sam-an-bul shook his head.

“No. If I go, I’ll have to duel with the divine monk. At another time, maybe, but not now.”

On the day Tang Mu-jin and Dan Seol-young were wed, even Man-ryeok-seung-do, who was a few levels below Sam-an-bul, couldn’t hide his discomfort towards him.

They couldn’t start a fight at a joyous occasion, and it was obvious they’d lose if they did.

But the divine monk was different. He was on par with Sam-an-bul in skill, and the pride of the Shaolin Temple wouldn’t allow him to ignore Sam-an-bul.

Other sect leaders and family heads would surely cast questioning glances at the divine monk, wondering if he intended to ignore the Shaolin Temple’s traitor right before him.

In such a situation, the divine monk would have to confront Sam-an-bul to save face, whether he wanted to or not.

For the divine monk to back down would be akin to tarnishing the entire Shaolin Temple’s reputation.

In any case, Sam-an-bul couldn’t attend the meeting, and if Tang Mu-jin did, Yeong-heo-ja would be delighted.

However, Tang Mu-jin wasn’t particularly drawn to Sam-an-bul’s suggestion. There wasn’t much to gain from attending the meeting. Traveling to and from Wudang Mountain would take months.

But Sam-an-bul seemed to read Tang Mu-jin’s thoughts and added more.

“It might seem burdensome, but this is a great opportunity for you.”

“Building a rapport with Yeong-heo-ja would be nice, but traveling such a long distance just for that seems a bit…”

“No, that’s not what I mean. Look at it from a broader perspective.”

Sam-an-bul lifted Tang Mu-jin like a toy and turned him around. Before him lay the expansive view of the Tang family estate.

“Most people in the Central Plains probably haven’t heard of the Tang Family Manor yet. Only those who are well-informed or have paid close attention to the recent letters might know about it. This is why mingling with influential people could be beneficial for you. It would help spread the name of the Tang Family Manor and give you a voice among them. It could also be a significant advantage when the time comes to expand your influence.”

“Expanding the Tang Family Manor? Isn’t that a bit hasty? Even the name ‘Tang Family Manor’ feels overwhelming to me right now.”

“I understand it’s a burden, but it’s not a hasty move.”

San Anbul paused, then added more to his explanation.

“Everything has its time. Growing a family’s influence is no different. If you miss such a great opportunity and timing, no matter how hard you try later, you might not be able to elevate your family.”

“I’m okay with things being a bit delayed. I don’t think we must grow the family.”

San Anbul frowned, clearly displeased.

“While others are busy seizing opportunities to move forward, are you just going to stand by with your arms crossed? If you don’t advance, you’ll eventually fall behind. You have two choices: move forward or step back.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Mujin wasn’t eager to rush forward, but he didn’t want to retreat either. People rarely let go of what they have in their grasp, and Tang Mujin was no exception.

He had unintentionally raised the family’s status, and now he found the situation a bit burdensome.

However, he had no intention of returning to the Tang Family’s original state. He didn’t want the name ‘Tang Family Manor’ to remain just a fleeting dream.

San Anbul patted Tang Mujin’s back with his large hand.

“Think about it seriously. The decision is yours, but from what I see, there’s nothing to lose.”

“I think so too.”

“In the Central Plains, the most important things are power, money, and connections. Just by stepping into that circle, you can gain connections others can’t even imagine. Why not step up as the representative of the Tang Family Manor and leave a lasting impression on them?”

Tang Mujin pondered for a moment. It was clear this was an opportunity that might not come again.

The question was whether to lead the Tang Family Manor forward or to strengthen its foundation and wait for the next chance.

If you have the chance to ride a tiger even once in your life, should you take it?

After much deliberation, Tang Mujin made up his mind and sought out Young Heoja.

“I heard you’re planning to go to Mount Wudang soon. May I join you?”

As San Anbul predicted, Young Heoja was overjoyed.

“If Young Master Tang accompanies us, that would be wonderful! To reach Mount Wudang by the Mid-Autumn Festival, we should set out around summer. Does that timing work for you?”

“That late?”

“Once the people who gathered at the Tang Family Manor return to their regions and spread the word, and after the family heads and sect leaders make their decisions, it takes that much time to reach Mount Wudang. They’re not exactly quick on their feet.”

“Oh, I see.”

Despite his stern appearance, Young Heoja smiled gently.

“Besides, giving people ample time helps ease their burdens. While gathering quickly is important, the number of people who gather is equally crucial.”

Young Heoja’s words were spot on. Just knowing they wouldn’t depart immediately but around summer made Tang Mujin feel considerably more at ease.

Young Heoja spoke cautiously.

“If you find you can’t go, please let me know in advance. We’ll need to bring someone else from the Tang Family Manor as a witness.”

Tang Mujin sensed the respect in Young Heoja’s words.

For some reason, that made him happy.

It was something he couldn’t have imagined a few years ago.

Back then, Tang Mujin had to bow and scrape even before Young Heoja or Hwang Ryeongja, let alone the chief instructor Jin Song of the branch.

His resolve strengthened.

Life is lived only once.

If the chance to ride a tiger comes just once in a lifetime, perhaps it’s worth closing your eyes and taking the leap.

Tang Mujin decided to see how far he could lead the Tang Family Manor with his own abilities.

“I’ll set everything aside and follow you, so don’t worry.”

Since Tang Mujin’s demeanor was as usual, Young Heoja couldn’t guess what was going on in his mind.