The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family

Chapter 95. Muso's Token of Gratitude

The elegant flow of swords continued. Myungdan thrust his sword several times over it, disrupting Yeon-ah's moves.

Kang. Kaang. Kang.

The clear sound of blades caught the audience's attention.

Following that sound, it seemed as if a few petals fell onto the river.

Sohwa couldn't recall Myungdan from her past life.

But watching the sword that dropped sunlight like falling flowers and the moves that naturally evaded attacks, a memory related to Mount Hua surfaced.

The memory of the five disciples of Mount Hua who disappeared and then returned.

In fact, that disappearance was not due to an accident but a departure caused by internal division.

Whether a sect or a family clan, internal conflicts were never meant to be shown outside. Thus, Mount Hua concealed the disappearance of its disciples for several months.

As far as she remembered, Mount Hua requested each branch of the Murim Alliance to send scouts to search for them. A few days after the search began, Mount Hua's robe was found in the Yangtze River.

Everyone worried that they might have been killed by numerically superior enemies, but the disciples returned to Mount Hua on their own feet just days later.

Since it was an internal matter, what happened afterward was unknown.

They probably received a severe punishment. No matter how young, such reckless behavior warranted it.

It was not an important event, but because it was absurd, she remembered it.

So-hwa's eyes darkened as she watched Myungdan and Yeon-ah's match.

‘That happened when I was 22, so there are about two years left.’

Suddenly, a troubling thought occurred.

It was because of the characteristics of the Blood Sect group that Haerak had mentioned: a Blood Sect group with exceptional talent in making human-skin masks. The group that was said to be chasing her.

Was it a coincidence?

Those guys were wearing clothes from a Shaanxi textile shop.

'The ones who returned might not have been Mount Hua disciples...'

If they could cloud one's mind with Five Minerals Powder and deceive their appearance with human-skin masks, how could one distinguish them?

Unlike her sinking thoughts, the atmosphere of the duel grew increasingly fervent.

"Woah!"

"Don't retreat!"

Kwang!

Yeon-ah's strange move drew a large circle, sealing off all of Myungdan's movements. Myungdan stepped back with a resentful expression.

But Yeon-ah's form jumped high up and landed behind Myungdan's back. As Myungdan quickly twisted his body, Yeon-ah swung her sword once, seemingly giving him time to prepare. The clear condescension in that gesture flushed Myungdan's face red.

"Was the Wudang Sect's swordsmanship always this flashy?"

"But Taoist Yeon-ah seems to be fighting just to show off."

"Exactly what I was thinking. It's like how people pull out all their secret techniques to stand out during ranking duels. Hmm, does that young Taoist have ambitions?"

"Haha, you mean she harbors a desire to take over Wudang? Nah, look at the Wudang Sect Leader and the Tai Chi Sword Saint; honey's practically dripping from their eyes. Why would she do that?"

"Then is it just her nature to like showing off? She doesn't look the type."

The attention that had been on Wudang and Mount Hua now shifted to the rising talent. Sounds of people analyzing Yeon-ah tickled So-hwa's ears.

Yeon-ah began to become visible in So-hwa's eyes.

A martial artist who hadn't existed in the Martial Arts Tournament of her past life.

So many things had already changed, so it made sense that the future would be different.

So-hwa held a small hope.

She wished Yeon-a would inflict a significant wound on Myungdan's body.

She wanted to confirm if Poison gu had truly entered him.

So-hwa quietly took a small hidden dagger from inside her sleeve and placed it on her fingertip.

At that moment, Yeon-ah glanced this way, and their eyes met.

But for some reason, Yeon-ah's large eyes grew even wider with surprise.

Seizing that moment, Myungdan thrust his sword at Yeon-ah.

Paah!

Feeling the approaching blade, Yeon-ah hurriedly twisted her body, causing her move to falter.

"Ah!"

A gasp erupted from nearby.

Yeon-ah's blade had sliced through Myungdan's upper arm.

Blood droplets fell onto the ground, but fortunately, it was his left arm, so Myungdan did not stop the match.

Yeon-ah looked flustered at having caused the wound. Then she began to push herself harder. It seemed she had decided to end the match quickly.

Clang. Kaang.

Yeon-ah swung her sword widely across, striking Myungdan's blade. Her force was so fierce that Myungdan's sword was temporarily pushed outward.

Seizing the moment, Yeon-ah slashed her sword again from below to above. The recoil caused Myungdan's sword, which had wavered, to fly out of his hand far away.

Taang.

The sound of the sword hitting the martial stage echoed loudly.

Having disarmed Myungdan, Yeon-ah regained her posture.

Dong. Dong.

The beating of the drums broke the silence, signaling the end of the match.

"Victory goes to Taoist Yeon-ah, the third disciple of the Wudang Sect!"

Admiration poured from all directions.

"Wow, truly amazing. Now I see why everyone says the champion will be the Sword Saint's disciple."

After the match, the disciples greeted each other and descended from the stage.

The Tai Chi Sword Saint seemed disappointed and patted Yeon-ah's shoulder while saying something, and Muso gestured somewhere and grabbed Myungdan's arm. It appeared they had called the Mount Hua Medical Hall's physicians; those who arrived quickly removed Myungdan's robe and began treating the wound immediately.

So-hwa walked toward the match stage. Her fingers were already wet with blood. Covering her hands with long sleeves, she approached Myungdan closely. Though it was something she shouldn't do, she planned to get as close as possible to check if Poison gu was involved.

Suddenly, something blocked her path.

So-hwa lifted her head and flinched. Muso was standing right in front of her, though she hadn't noticed when he arrived.

"You have a keen sense, don't you? Thinking of coming here yourself. You know how to attract attention."

At those cryptic words, So-hwa furrowed her brows and looked away. By then, the physicians were applying a golden ointment on Myungdan's arm and carefully wrapping the wound with a clean cloth.

So-hwa swallowed a sigh in disappointment.

However, Myungdan began scratching his arm. Then, secretly, he scratched around his chest and abdomen.

As if his entire body was itching.

Just as So-hwa's vision darkened, Muso's voice pierced her eardrums.

"Do you remember when I gave you my token?"

So-hwa nodded. Using her uninjured hand, she took out the token and handed it to Muso.

"Yes, here it is."

When she returned the token, Muso smiled.

"I promised that when you come to the Martial Arts Tournament later, I would exchange it for my token of gratitude."

"No, that's not necessary."

"Alright, here is the token of gratitude... what?"

Muso, laughing heartily as he pulled out the token of gratitude, suddenly paused.

So-hwa wanted to keep checking on Myungdan, but since he seemed to be following the physician out of the match stage, she set aside her regret and focused on Muso.

Meeting Muso's gaze, Tang So-hwa shook her head.

"I have done nothing deserving of Taoist Master Muso's gratitude. It was naturally something anyone would do, so there is no need for you to thank me."

She heard gasps from around them.

It seemed to be a very surprised reaction.

So-hwa did not understand the martial artists' response, but she did not want to bother understanding either, and she finished her words with a polite fist salute.

Muso parted his lips and asked.

"... Do you happen not to know what a token of gratitude is?"

"Isn't it a token guaranteeing gratitude to be given in the future?"

"Yes. It's a symbol bearing my name that regards you as a benefactor, so wherever you go, you may freely use my name."

For a martial artist newly entering the Murim, it was an unmatched favor.

But for So-hwa, who had no plans to enter the Murim or attract attention, it was a favor she didn't need to accept.

"It is enough that Taoist Master Muso acknowledges my efforts."

As she said this, she recalled something. She turned her head to look back.

The place where the Tang Clan martial artists were standing.

Tang Hak was also watching her.

So-hwa took in Tang Hak with her eyes and then turned her head back to Muso.

"... But if I may rely on the name of Taoist Master Muso, would it be possible to entrust my younger sibling instead of myself?"

The disappearance of her younger sibling in the Yangtze River had always unsettled her.

The past memory of the Mount Hua disciples' robes being found in the Yangtze also now weighed on her mind.

If Tang Hak became famous in Hubei and Shaanxi using Muso's name, it seemed unlikely the trail of pursuit would be lost so easily.

"If you ask, of course, I can always protect the Young Lord of the Tang Clan. However."

Muso let out a bitter laugh.

"Your brother doesn't seem to want that."

He gestured behind So-hwa. She followed his gaze and frowned.

Tang Hak was turning away, leaving the place.

Startled by Tang Hak's incomprehensible reaction, a heavy voice dropped on the crown of So-hwa's head.

"A connection can certainly be forged artificially through others. However, even then, the owner of the connection does not change."

"......"

"My connection with the Young Lord is not natural. The Young Lord would ultimately be leaning on you to receive my protection."

Muso spoke with a look of regret.

"Unwanted kindness can sometimes become a wound."

So-hwa still watched the spot where Tang Hak had disappeared. The crowd blocked her view, and her sibling was no longer visible.

Looking at So-hwa, Muso let out a small smile.

"I will grant your request anytime, but first, go and get the Young Lord's permission."

"I apologize."

"No, there's nothing to apologize for."

Far from being displeased, Muso looked content.

"Even fellow disciples are like siblings, so this sight isn't unfamiliar to me. Honestly, when disciples show strong camaraderie, it makes a master happy. It's not a bad thing, so there's no need to feel sorry or embarrassed."

"Thank you."

"Alright, off you go."

"Yes."

So-hwa bowed to Muso and headed straight toward where Tang Hak had disappeared. As if by agreement, people parted to let her through.

Though Muso and So-hwa spoke quietly, the surrounding silence carried their voices quite far.

The Tai Chi Sword Saint quietly watched Muso and then spoke.

"Taoist Master Muso's token of gratitude could even raise one's own prestige, yet she refuses it."

Yeon-ah, eavesdropping on the conversation following the Sword Saint, smiled.

"That's just the kind of person Young Lady is."

Yeon-ah, still misunderstanding So-hwa, muttered with a proud expression.

"At first, I wondered if you'd been brainwashed by the Tang Clan, but it seems I wasn't wrong after all."

"There isn't a single falsehood in anything I told you."

"Really?"

"... At least, everything that happened at the Tang Clan is true."

The Sword Saint smirked, looking down at Yeon-ah.

"Are you envious of the strong bond between siblings? Seems you wanted to be part of it."

Yeon-ah shook her head.

"No. I am not their sibling."

The Wudang rising talent's enigmatic gaze pierced through the murmuring crowd.