In Chapter 334 of “Tang Clan Chronicles,” Tang Mujin knew exactly how to handle the situation.
Whether right or wrong, the key was to act as if he knew the answer. Hesitating and getting the right answer was no different from being wrong.
With a confident expression, Tang Mujin spoke up.
“I’m not so irresponsible a father that I can’t tell my own children apart. The one on the left is Iryeong, and the one on the right is Haewon, isn’t it?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Mujin scanned the room, gauging the atmosphere and the expressions of those around him.
Tang Jesun, Dan Seolyeong, Mok Wana, Jang Ilnam, and even Chu Sam. Their reactions were lukewarm at best.
‘Was I wrong?’
If Tang Mujin were still the young and naive physician he once was, he might have accepted defeat. But now, he was a seasoned warrior, one who had survived many dangerous situations with quick thinking.
Having spent a long time with Hyun Gong, Tang Mujin could predict his actions with about eighty percent accuracy.
He asked the Hyun Gong in his mind, ‘Hyun Gong, what would you do?’
The mental image of Hyun Gong replied.
‘How can I find a chance here? I’ve already given the wrong answer!’
The mental Hyun Gong showed Tang Mujin a brilliant solution, a kind of revelation.
Without hesitation, Tang Mujin followed the advice of the Hyun Gong in his mind and improvised.
“Of course, I meant from the perspective of Elder Jang and everyone else. To you, the left is Iryeong and the right is Haewon. Don’t be confused.”
Tang Mujin smoothly twisted his previous answer, turning defense into offense, like a perfect sword technique.
However, contrary to his expectations, the reactions remained lukewarm.
‘What’s going on?’
As Tang Mujin struggled to understand, Tang Jesun spoke up.
“Mujin, your first answer was correct. Changing it to a wrong one… it seems you really can’t tell your children apart. It’s a shame.”
A heavy silence followed, broken only by the babbling of the two babies.
He caught a glimpse of Chu Sam’s faint smile.
The lukewarm reaction to his initial answer had been part of Chu Sam’s scheme.
‘Damn it.’
Tang Mujin sighed silently. In his absence, Chu Sam had ingratiated himself with the new powers of the Tang family.
The mental Hyun Gong whispered again.
But Tang Mujin couldn’t bring himself to say such nonsense. If he did, he wouldn’t be treated as a father, or even as a person.
Choosing to maintain his dignity, Tang Mujin kept silent and observed the reactions around him.
Surprisingly, Dan Seolyeong and Mok Wana seemed to think, ‘Of course,’ while Jang Ilnam looked deeply shocked. He had assumed Tang Mujin would naturally know his own children.
“How can you not tell them apart? They’re so different…”
Tang Mujin turned his head away from Jang Ilnam and the two children, and Tang Jesun spoke again.
“Mujin.”
“Yes, Father.”
“A man should strive for great things, but he must not neglect his family.”
“I agree.”
“Spend some time with the children. Iryeong and Haewon are too young to notice your absence, but it’s a problem if Yeong has forgotten you.”
“Yeong has forgotten me?”
“Yes. When I told Yeong that you were her father, she didn’t believe it. She thought it was normal to have two mothers and no father.”
”···.”
Mok Wana’s care for Tang Yeong had backfired in a way, but Tang Mujin had no one to blame but himself.
Tang Jesun, as a father, gave his son some advice.
“I know how busy you are, so I won’t ask for much. But spend some time with Yeong so she can remember you.”
“Understood.”
Tang Mujin picked up Tang Yeong and left the room.
Tang Yeong seemed a bit tense, unfamiliar with Tang Mujin.
Hearing Tang Mujin’s story, his three friends burst into laughter.
Namgung Myung teased him.
“Can’t tell your own kids apart? I’ve never had that problem.”
Of course, he didn’t have any children to confuse in the first place.
This time, Hong Geolgae spoke.
“You have to take Yeong with you for a while?”
“Yes. But I would have done it even without my father’s advice. You might not understand a parent’s love for their child, but I’ve never forgotten Yeong for a moment.”
Tang Mujin spoke with conviction, but his friends didn’t seem convinced.
“Sure, sure. What about the second and third?”
“Elder Jang will look after them. He loves children. Of course, I’ll spend time with them too.”
“Good luck with that.”
His friends chuckled and wandered off, leaving Tang Mujin with a bitter taste in his mouth. He recalled hearing that marriage could distance you from your friends.
But Tang Yeong, holding his finger, simply stared at him, oblivious to his thoughts.
Tang Mujin asked her, “Yeong, is there anything you want to do?”
There was no response.
With a wry smile, Tang Mujin carried Tang Yeong around the Tang estate, pondering ways to improve their relationship. The atmosphere between them was a bit awkward, not quite like father and daughter.
‘Is there a way?’
As he racked his brain for a breakthrough, a brilliant idea struck him.
Before he left for the northern campaign, he had seen Tang Yeong playing happily.
Playing with a child is the best way for a parent to make their presence felt.
Tang Mujin headed to Dan Seolyeong’s workshop and found a piece of wood. There was a light, soft fig wood block.
Using a knife, he carved it into a small, smooth disc.
All children are drawn to things that fly. Tang Yeong was no exception.
Though she didn’t remember Tang Mujin well, she seemed to recall playing with a flying disc, her eyes lighting up as she took it.
Standing a little distance away, Tang Mujin called out, “Yeong, throw it to Daddy!”
Tang Yeong swung her small arm, sending the disc into a gentle arc that flew a fair distance.
Tang Mujin leapt to catch it, and Tang Yeong’s face brightened noticeably.
“How do you like it?”
Tang Yeong nodded eagerly. Instead of handing the disc back directly, Tang Mujin skillfully tossed it.
The disc soared higher than when Tang Yeong had thrown it, tracing a curious path before landing softly between her small hands. Her eyes sparkled.
“Wow!”
“Want to try throwing it again?”
Tang Yeong threw the disc back to Tang Mujin, who caught it and said, “Starting to remember Daddy?”
“Uh-huh…”
It seemed more like she remembered the disc than Tang Mujin, but he didn’t mind. He didn’t expect her to remember him after just a few throws.
They had been apart for a long time, so they would take it slow, step by step.
Tang Yeong’s laughter grew louder.
The martial artists from the demonic cult, as well as the blacksmiths and physicians, watched Tang Mujin and Tang Yeong play.
In the Tang estate, filled with stern men, a child’s laughter stood out vividly.
During their play, Tang Mujin noticed something intriguing.
While he could skillfully throw the disc to land perfectly in Tang Yeong’s hands, her throws were understandably clumsy. She lacked strength, precision, and the ability to harness inner energy.
Yet, as time passed, the trajectory of her throws became noticeably more precise.
Initially, Tang Mujin had to use his agility to catch the disc, but soon he could catch it with a simple walk, and eventually, he could stand still and catch it.
The trajectory continued to improve.
‘This is… no ordinary talent.’
The physicians and blacksmiths didn’t notice, but the martial artists from the demonic cult did. They, like Tang Mujin, recognized Tang Yeong’s clear talent.
When Tang Yeong’s disc finally landed smoothly in Tang Mujin’s hand, he swallowed hard.
’…This isn’t a coincidence. There’s potential here.’
Tang Mujin gently suggested to Tang Yeong, “Yeong, do you like the disc?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Then, would you like to throw an even cooler disc?”
“What kind of disc?”
“A sturdier, thinner, and better-flying disc.”
Dang Mujin pulled a small metal object from his pocket, the size of his palm. It was a biryun.
With the air of a father showing off to his child, Dang Mujin put on a proud expression.
“Now, watch closely as I demonstrate. Unlike a wooden disc, this one moves exactly how I want it to.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Dang Mujin scanned the area, found a suitable target, and threw the biryun.
Most people in the Dang family weren’t familiar with the biryun, so all eyes were on Dang Mujin’s demonstration. Even knowing what it could do, its movements were fascinating.
The biryun skimmed low over the rooftops, then suddenly changed direction and soared upward. A bird flying by was caught off guard, its wing clipped by the biryun, and it plummeted to the ground.
The biryun, having reached its peak, changed direction again and returned to Dang Mujin’s hand.
To prove the spectacle wasn’t a trick, the biryun was stained with the bird’s blood.
The onlookers were left in awe, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
“Did you see that?”
“It didn’t just curve slowly; it turned sharply. How is that even possible?”
Even those unfamiliar with martial arts could appreciate the biryun’s power. A sharp metal object flying unpredictably like that would be hard for anyone to defend against.
To Dangyoung, however, the biryun was not a weapon but the coolest toy in the world. He raised his short arms eagerly.
“Me too, me too!”
Clearly intrigued, Dang Mujin handed the biryun to Dangyoung.
“Alright. Be careful, it’s sharp. Hold it by this inner part…”
But just as he was about to hand it over, Dang Mujin sensed a menacing presence.
Who would dare show such hostility in the safety of the Dang family estate? Startled, he looked around.
To his surprise, his gaze landed on Jang Il-nam.
His eyes burned with intensity, as if facing a life-or-death opponent.
Dang Mujin recalled a story he had heard when they first met—something about not being able to sleep after taking a life.
But Jang Il-nam seemed ready to lose sleep for a few days.
It seemed more fitting to call him by his nickname, “Blood Rain Guest,” than by his real name.
A voice filled with anger reached Dang Mujin’s ears.
Realizing how his actions might be perceived, Dang Mujin quickly tried to explain.
It’s nothing serious, just letting him hold it out of curiosity. Besides, Young’s skill with the disc is quite impressive…
A parent should be cautious even with a glass of water in front of a child! How could you hand such a dangerous object to a child?
Feeling sheepish, Dang Mujin retrieved the biryun. As it slipped from his grasp, Dangyoung’s face fell in disappointment.
Dang Mujin ruffled Dangyoung’s hair with his right hand and tried to reason with Jang Il-nam.
But all I’m good at is being a doctor, poison techniques, metallurgy, and throwing weapons. Young can’t understand medicine, poison is more dangerous than throwing weapons, and metallurgy is too advanced for a four-year-old. I thought the biryun would at least be fun…
You’d be better off boiling water with licorice and playing doctor!
Jang Il-nam’s voice rose, and Dang Mujin realized for the first time that one could shout through telepathy.
Jang Il-nam approached with open arms and a gentle expression, and Dangyoung ran to him without hesitation.
Dang Mujin felt a strange sense of defeat.
Yet, he couldn’t fully agree with Jang Il-nam. He knew how tedious it was to sit by a pot, adjusting the fire.
‘Sitting by a pot playing doctor would bore him in less than half an hour. I can’t bond with Young that way…’
Dang Mujin left the estate, pondering how to entertain Dangyoung, and circled the grounds several times.
After a few laps, a familiar voice called out to him.
“Hey, Master Dang!”
The voice was oddly familiar. Dang Mujin looked up to see who it was.
There stood two people.
First, he saw Hwang Ryeong-ja, who had supposedly returned to the Cheongseong sect, and then Myeong Ryeon-satae, who had once imprisoned him in the underground of the Amipa sect.
Though it was done with good intentions, their relationship was a bit awkward.
Fortunately, Hwang Ryeong-ja outranked Myeong Ryeon-satae both in martial arts and age, so Dang Mujin greeted Hwang Ryeong-ja with a respectful bow.
“Sir, it’s been a while. I heard you returned to the Cheongseong sect. It’s good to see you, Myeong Ryeon-satae.”
Myeong Ryeon-satae smiled demurely and bowed, while Hwang Ryeong-ja laughed heartily.
“I did return. But when I heard you were back, I rushed over. I ran into Myeong Ryeon-satae on the way.”
Though he said he rushed, it didn’t seem like he had hurried.
“I see. I was just thinking of visiting the Cheongseong sect to pay my respects.”
“No need. We have business with you, so it’s only right I come to you.”
“Business? What brings you here?”
Hwang Ryeong-ja’s smile turned somber.
“The demonic cult has been running rampant in the orthodox martial world. We can’t just sit by.”
“Ah…”
Dang Mujin had an inkling of what was coming.
Hwang Ryeong-ja continued.
“The Cheongseong sect plans to gather the forces of the orthodox martial world to take down their leader. I know you’re still recovering, but I thought it best to give you a heads-up.”
“You won’t be leaving immediately, will you?”
“We’ll prepare thoroughly before setting out. It will take months to gather everyone and hold another meeting. It might even take until next year. Can we count on your support? No need to decide right now.”
It was expected, but not entirely welcome.
Dang Mujin replied with a complicated smile.
“I’ll think about it.”
Having delivered their message, Hwang Ryeong-ja and Myeong Ryeon-satae turned to leave.
Dang Mujin also turned back to the estate, where Mok Wana was peeking at him through the gate.
He approached Mok Wana, standing by her side.
He didn’t explain what had just happened, and she didn’t ask. Together, they disappeared into the Dang family estate.