Chapter 398
Dang Yong-min couldn't understand the current situation.
Where was this place?
The great Sichuan Tang Family. The Sichuan Tang Family!
Even those fearsome Demonic Cult bastards who feared nothing in the world couldn't directly invade the Sichuan Tang Family when passing through Sichuan. Though they eventually had to abandon their family estate and retreat to avoid those merciless demons, this Sichuan Tang Family was the place that had momentarily blocked the Demonic Cult's invasion that had been advancing like splitting bamboo.
For those living in the martial world, conflict was like an inescapable fate.
The Sichuan Tang Family was a place that had to endure countless battles, sometimes gaining fame and sometimes accepting tearful losses. But even in the history of all those disputes, had there ever been someone who single-handedly destroyed the main gate of the Sichuan Tang Family and caused a ruckus?
'There's no way that could happen.'
Perhaps it was possible. But it might as well have been impossible. Such people would all have become lonely ghosts without anyone knowing.
But that person who he thought couldn't possibly exist had now appeared before his eyes.
'What the hell is that bastard?'
He wasn't even angry.
When a person is too dumbfounded, they don't even get angry—Dang Yong-min realized this for the first time today.
Moreover…
'What's with that posture?'
That audacious little punk had clearly seen them charging over with his own two eyes. Yet his posture hadn't changed in the slightest.
No, it wasn't just that it hadn't changed.
What was that slightly arrogant posture with his back leaning backward? It was as if he was provoking them.
'Is he insane?'
Logically, that was the only way to think about it. But a madman couldn't possibly possess such skill.
The situation at the main gate was disastrous.
The gate made of high-quality Iron Wood was smashed to pieces, and the family's children who had obviously rushed out to deal with the intruder were all hanging here and there on the eaves like cats sprawled out in midsummer.
And now in front of that audacious bastard was…
"Ho, Ho-myeong?"
His grandson Dang Ho-myeong was standing there looking this way in an awkward posture.
"Wha, what the hell is this!"
How could such a thing happen?
If they let that bastard go like this, it would become an unprecedented disgrace in the long history of the Sichuan Tang Family.
"You bastaaaaard!"
Dang Yong-min shot up from where he stood. He would immediately strike down that impudent punk…
But there was something strange.
The moment he kicked off the ground and shot upward, something odd entered his vision.
Dang Cheon-gun.
He was looking at him with a subtle smile on his lips.
What should that smile be called…
It was a smile that made one's mood turn sour just by looking at it. The problem was that the target of the smile Dang Cheon-gun was wearing was none other than Dang Yong-min.
'Am I making some kind of mistake?'
He couldn't help but think that. Dang Cheon-gun wasn't someone who was particularly expressive with his emotions to begin with.
But whatever was wrong, it was already too late to turn back.
Since he had already leaped in, he would first deal with this arrogant young punk…
'Wait. Young punk?'
How could a young punk destroy the Tang Family's main gate and blow away the Tang Family's people like fallen leaves caught in a typhoon?
'No, surely not?'
At that moment, a name floated up in Dang Yong-min's mind.
That cursed name that had dropped the great name of the Sichuan Tang Family to the bottom of hell in an instant.
'Wei, Wei, Wei Yan-ho!'
Dang Yong-min's neck turned violently.
Then Wei Yan-ho's figure, wearing the exact same smile as Dang Cheon-gun, entered his vision.
Th, that?
It was already too late to turn back.
Dang Yong-min struck Wei Yan-ho with a desperate blow, feeling like Zhang Fei standing on Changban Bridge.
But unfortunately, he wasn't Zhang Fei, and Wei Yan-ho wasn't Cao Cao's army.
Wei Yan-ho grinned and shot out his fist like lightning.
Kuuuuung!
A bizarre sound echoed as a fist struck a person's face.
It sounded like a massive water container bursting, or like a ten-thousand-pound boulder falling from the sky.
In any case, one thing was certain: it was definitely not a sound that should come from a fist meeting a face. It was a moment when an anomaly occurred in the laws of the world.
Everyone stared at the scene with blank eyes.
As if time had stopped.
'Is, is that really okay?'
Wei Jeong-han's eyes widened.
In his eyes, it looked like Wei Yan-ho's fist was half-buried in Dang Yong-min's face, and he wondered if a person could endure that.
And…
Probably everyone here had the same question.
"Guh, guh… guuuuh."
An indescribable groan flowed out.
Thud!
Then Dang Yong-min's body collapsed to the ground like a crumbling sandcastle.
"Why are you attacking all of a sudden and making a fuss? I originally have a habit of unconsciously counterattacking when someone suddenly attacks me."
'That detestable bastard.'
Wei Jeong-han chuckled.
Look at him talking after clearly seeing it coming and hitting him anyway.
But right now, it was fine for him to act like that.
"Wha, what the hell is this supposed to be?"
The Tang Family's Third Elder Dang Pyeong shouted in shock. But Wei Yan-ho was calm.
"Want to try me?"
"No, no, that's not it!"
Dang Pyeong instinctively jumped back in fright. He too was human and didn't want to end up like Dang Yong-min.
"Why, why are you causing a ruckus in the Tang Family's territory?"
Dang Pyeong deliberately used respectful language to declare that this matter was official. This was to make it clear that this was a matter between the Tang Family and Wei Yan-ho, not between him and Wei Yan-ho.
"Should this incident be considered as picking a fight with the Sichuan Tang Family?"
But Wei Yan-ho was calm.
"No. That's not particularly what I was thinking."
"What do you mean! You suddenly barge into the Tang Family and cause this chaos, yet you say you weren't thinking of picking a fight!"
"Hmm, it's a bit of a long story. To put it briefly, there was no gatekeeper, so when I knocked on the gate, it broke."
"…And then?"
"So these guys came running, and when I said I was invited and asked them to call someone higher up, they suddenly attacked me."
"And then?"
Wei Yan-ho stuck his belly out forward.
"When a man attacks, how can you not fight back?"
"Exactly! No, wait, this isn't right!"
Dang Pyeong momentarily lost his words.
Right. When a man attacks, you have to fight back.
Wasn't that what the Tang Family emphasized to its descendants… He wanted to shout 'Right? Then you're innocent!' but right now he wasn't in a position to do that.
Because with Dang Cheon-gun standing back with his hands behind his back and Dang Yong-min unconscious, he was the one representing the Tang Family.
'How should I handle this situation?'
It made no sense to let this slide. The moment they did, the Tang Family's reputation would plummet from the floor to underground. It was a reputation that had already fallen to the floor with mud on its face, but they still had to prevent it from digging into the ground.
But how?
Fight Wei Yan-ho? That Wei Yan-ho?
'This is no joke.'
Hadn't he seen it with his own eyes, Wei Yan-ho sending Dang Yong-min to dreamland with one blow?
'So it was true that the Family Head was defeated.'
Any suspicion that there might be some other plan lurking was cleanly blown away by that single strike. That bastard was 'real.'
Dang Pyeong decided to start with fact-checking.
"You said you were invited?"
"Yes."
"…Who invited you?"
"Well…"
The answer didn't come from Wei Yan-ho, but from behind him.
"I called him."
Dang Pyeong turned his head with a shocked expression. There was no need to confirm whose mouth those words had come from. If Dang Pyeong couldn't distinguish the Family Head's voice, he would have to put down all his current responsibilities and retire from the front lines immediately.
"Fa, Family Head!"
Dang Cheon-gun looked at Dang Pyeong with a calm face.
"Is there some problem?"
"Didn't you say you requested help from the Righteous Martial Alliance?"
"I did."
"Then what is this!"
"Aren't they also leaders of the Righteous Martial Alliance?"
Wei Yan-ho slightly corrected Dang Cheon-gun's words.
"I'm not, though."
"That fellow says he's not. Excluding that fellow, they can be called leaders of the Righteous Martial Alliance. So there's nothing wrong with it, is there?"
"Wha, what on earth are you thinking! What!"
Looking at the shocked Dang Pyeong, Dang Cheon-gun smiled meaningfully.
"Tsk tsk tsk, you still can't see straight when you're flustered. This is why I can't retire and entrust the family to you lot. You can't distinguish between what to say and what not to say with the parties involved right in front of you."
Dang Pyeong shut his mouth like a clam.
Dang Cheon-gun was right.
Even if Dang Cheon-gun's choice to bring Wei Yan-ho and the others was clearly a mistake, saying that in front of Wei Yan-ho and the others was stupid.
And showing such behavior in front of Dang Cheon-gun was also not good.
As Dang Pyeong, realizing his mistake, hesitantly stepped back, Dang Cheon-gun naturally stepped forward.
Then he slightly bowed his head toward Wei Yan-ho. He bowed his head, but it didn't feel servile at all—it was a dignified posture.
"First, I should apologize. I express my sincere apologies for inviting guests and not properly receiving them, leading to this incident. It's all due to my incompetence."
Just as Wei Yan-ho was about to say something in response, Wei Jeong-han and Jang-il simultaneously poked Wei Yan-ho's back.
"Ah, I get it!"
Wei Yan-ho stuck out his lips and said:
"Well, what fault could the Family Head have? I didn't know before either, but after dealing with stupid kids, I've learned that managing kids is ten times harder than taking care of yourself. You must have it tough."
"I'm grateful you understand."
Dang Cheon-gun grinned.
The two were openly saying that the Tang Family members except for Dang Cheon-gun were useless rice-wasters, but no one listening dared to step forward recklessly.
People have something called dignity.
Wei Yan-ho had already proven his dignity. And no matter how deplorable they might think it was, the only one here with enough dignity to face Wei Yan-ho was Dang Cheon-gun alone.
The faces of the elders who had been fervently pressuring Dang Cheon-gun contorted horribly.
Why did that bastard have to come and make the situation like this?
"There's much to discuss, but now doesn't seem like the right time. Since you've come a long way, you should wash up and eat first."
"Can't we eat first? Washing can be done later. Much later…"
Thunk!
Wei Jeong-han's fist landed on Wei Yan-ho's head.
Wei Yan-ho clutched his head and crouched down on the spot. Wei Jeong-han kicked the crouched Wei Yan-ho aside and clasped his hands as he bowed his head.
"We're grateful for the Tang Family Head's hospitality."
"Please come in."
Wei Jeong-han and Dang Cheon-gun exchanged a brief glance and began walking toward the inner area.
"Whew."
Jang-il let out a low whistle and glanced around.
Hostile, bewildered, and incredulous gazes were pouring down on them.
'Tsk tsk, it's just the beginning, but they're already surprised. That won't do.'
It was the moment when the typhoon named Wei Yan-ho made landfall at the Tang Family.