The Eldest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan Protects Her Family

Chapter 24: The Trap

 
“That’s…”
As Namgung Jin hesitated, Jegal In-hwi remained silent, as if giving him time to formulate his answer. However, the words wouldn’t come. He couldn't admit that he had waited, observing the fight, to ascertain whether the Blood Cult truly intended to kill the Tang Clan members. Such an admission would only confirm his inaction, his failure to intervene despite witnessing the attack.

As the silence stretched, the Four Seasons Lord spoke again. “The Emei Sect received a message via carrier pigeon from Black Heaven Dark Ghost, requesting assistance against unknown assailants.” He calmly relayed the information he had received. “It seems the Emei Sect’s third-generation disciples were practicing a formation nearby. Fearing for their safety, the elders rushed to the scene, only to find over a hundred Blood Cult members engaged in a fierce battle. To be honest, the Emei Sect’s complaint is even stronger than the Tang Clan’s.”
“The Emei Sect knows about the Blood Cult’s involvement?” Namgung Jin asked, surprised. Jegal In-hwi nodded.
“It seems the Tang Clan informed them of the situation. So, aside from the Namgung Clan, they were the first to know.”

The Tang Clan had voluntarily shared information with the Emei Sect? The unexpected news deepened the furrow in Namgung Jin’s brow. But that wasn't the end of it.
“And we’ve received a complaint from the Hubei branch as well. They’ve requested confirmation of whether the Namgung Clan passed through Hubei while pursuing the Blood Cult.”
“So, the Hubei branch also knows about the Blood Cult?”

“Yes. And we’ve received a similar complaint from the Shaanxi branch as well. They’re requesting that we disclose the Blood Cult’s movements, as they might have bypassed Hubei and gone through Shaanxi instead.”
Namgung Jin's jaw tightened.
He finally asked the question he had been dreading.

“Does… does the entire Martial Alliance know about the Blood Cult’s resurgence?”
It was the worst-case scenario. The Blood Cult’s presence had been revealed before he could uncover their network, their organization. And now, the Namgung Clan was suspected of colluding with them. With the entire Martial Alliance watching their every move, the Blood Cult would disappear, melting back into the shadows.
He ran a hand over his face, his heart heavy with dread.

But the bad news didn't end there.
Jegal In-hwi delivered another blow.
“It would be fortunate if only the Martial Alliance knew.” The smile vanished from his face, his voice hardening. “Eunuch O Gil-hong of the Eastern Depot has paid a visit to the Alliance Leader.”

Eunuch O Gil-hong, also known as the "Five Greats," was the head of the Eastern Depot. Though the Eastern Depot, the Imperial intelligence agency, gathered information from across the central plains, they rarely interfered in the affairs of the martial world. And yet, Eunuch O, the symbol of the Eastern Depot, had personally visited the Martial Alliance.
Namgung Jin couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety. If something had gone terribly wrong, it could spark a conflict between the Imperial Court and the martial world, an unprecedented event in their long history.
“It seems Eunuch O is indebted to the Divine Physician. He arrived at headquarters after hearing that Physician Jincheol was being interrogated. He vouched for the old physician, claiming he had no connection to the Blood Cult, and insisted on taking him into his personal custody.” Jegal In-hwi pressed his fingers against his forehead, as if trying to ward off a headache. “Even though Eunuch O’s request was… unusual, the old physician had been in contact with the Blood Cult, which put the Alliance Leader in a difficult position. Fortunately, the Tang Clan offered a compromise, suggesting that they take Physician Jincheol to their medical pavilion. The old physician agreed, and Eunuch O relented. Since it’s impossible for anyone to leave the Tang Clan estate without the Clan Head's permission, the Alliance Leader agreed.”
Namgung Jin’s heart sank. The Martial Alliance had known about this for a while now, perhaps even since the day they left Mount Emei. And yet, the Anhui branch had been kept in the dark, completely unaware until the Four Seasons Lord’s arrival.

He felt a surge of anger, the unpleasant realization that the Martial Alliance had been watching them, their every move scrutinized, their actions questioned.
He suddenly understood how the Tang Clan heiress must have felt, the intensity of her anger on Mount Emei. The image of the young woman, her eyes blazing with cold fury, became clearer, more vivid.
And that realization, that shift in perspective, worked in his favor.

The Four Seasons Lord, observing the subtle changes in Namgung Jin's internal energy, smiled. “You don't seem like the type to protect the Blood Cult, nor do you seem motivated by personal gain. So, why conceal their presence?” He asked directly, having reached a conclusion about Namgung Jin’s character.
He wasn't involved with the Blood Cult. Which made his actions even more puzzling.
“Was there a reason you couldn’t report the Blood Cult’s resurgence to the Martial Alliance?”

Namgung Jin hesitated. The Namgung Clan was in a precarious position. His misjudgment, his decision to conceal the Blood Cult’s presence, had put other branches at risk. He couldn't imagine the scale of the reparations they would demand. And as the Anhui branch was solely managed by the Namgung Clan, they would bear the full brunt of the financial burden.
The thought of the damage he had inflicted upon his clan filled him with fear. And with fear came a cowardly thought.
He thought of the body of Namgung Cheong-hae, his cousin, a promising young warrior who had died at the hands of the Blood Cult on their way back from Anhui. Perhaps he could shift the blame to the Tang Clan, presenting Cheong-hae’s body, riddled with the strange poison, as evidence of their involvement.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. This was too big to simply deflect blame.
He looked at the man seated before him, a young, favored Lord of the Four Seasons Hall, sent by the Alliance Leader himself. He wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to meet with such a high-ranking official outside of formal gatherings. This demonstrated the gravity of the situation.
And the Tang Clan, despite facing potential accusations, had reported the Blood Cult’s presence themselves. They seemed genuinely unconnected to the Blood Cult. Even if there were spies within the Tang Clan, whoever was pulling the strings wasn’t involved.

He couldn’t drag them into this mess, not when his own misjudgment had brought shame upon his clan. That would be the true disgrace.
He shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. “No, Lord. I simply wanted to confirm the situation before reporting it to the Alliance. It was an arrogant and foolish decision on my part. There’s no other reason. I deeply regret the consequences of my actions.”
“Is that so?” Jegal In-hwi’s tone was light, almost dismissive. He didn’t believe him.

“There were fifteen bodies in the autopsy chamber. Yet, you claimed to have captured only nine Blood Cult members and five warriors.” He lowered his gaze, picking up his teacup. “Who was the body in the far corner?”
Though surprised that Jegal In-hwi knew about Cheong-hae’s body, Namgung Jin maintained his composure. He wasn’t foolish enough to believe that blindness meant an inability to perceive. He had simply been startled by the directness of the question.
He saw no point in concealing it any longer. “That was my cousin, Namgung Cheong-hae. You might have met him at headquarters. He was a member of the Black Tortoise Unit of the Four Guardians Unit. Do you recognize the name?”

The Four Guardians Unit was the Martial Alliance's enforcement unit. Though the Four Seasons Hall wielded authority through regulations and judgments, enforcing those judgments required force. The Four Guardians Unit was often called upon to carry out their decisions.
A strange expression flickered across Jegal In-hwi’s face. He knew him.
His pale eyes, framed by long lashes that cast fleeting shadows, seemed to shimmer, as if reflecting a turbulent sea beneath a calm surface.

Namgung Jin, without questioning their connection, continued his explanation. "I haven’t had the time to arrange a proper funeral for him. I’ve been preoccupied with pursuing the Blood Cult. But we were close, so I… I kept his body for a while longer.”
“I see…” Jegal In-hwi trailed off, his mind returning to the autopsy chamber.
Fourteen of the bodies bore stab wounds, gruesome injuries consistent with a violent death. But one body was unmarked, dressed in clean, neatly arranged robes. Though clearly treated with special care, even Namgung Cheong-hae’s body bore the marks of an autopsy.

Instead of questioning Cheong-hae’s cause of death, he carefully pieced together the events.
The Namgung Clan’s encounter with the Tang Clan on Mount Emei.
Their delayed intervention, waiting until the Tang Clan’s main family was on the verge of death.

Their insistence on transporting the Blood Cult members to the distant Anhui branch, a journey they had completed in an unusually short time.
These actions painted a clear picture.
Were they trying to separate the Blood Cult members from the Tang Clan? That implied suspicion. Had they found evidence of Tang Clan involvement on Namgung Cheong-hae’s body?

Lost in thought, he took a sip of his cold tea. A chilling sensation spread through him. ‘Internal injuries, perhaps caused by poison? But the Namgung Clan wouldn't be familiar with the Tang Clan's unique poisons. Did they simply suspect foul play based on the unusual nature of the injuries?’
A sudden realization struck him. ‘The Tang Clan has a cunning strategist amongst them.’
He set down his teacup, a faint smile playing on his lips. Then, he addressed the silent Namgung heir.

“Have you heard? It seems the Blood Cult has acquired Tang Clan poison.”
The aura of confidence emanating from the young swordsman faltered slightly.
Observing his reaction, Jegal In-hwi continued, “It’s a poison that attacks the internal organs. The heart and other organs react differently, the onset times varying, making it impossible to identify the poison based on symptoms alone. Even the Tang Clan rarely uses it. It’s an extremely potent toxin.”

He revealed the reason for his remark.
“The Tang Clan has shared the antidote formula with headquarters, instructing us to prepare for potential Blood Cult attacks.”
“What?!” Despite his resolve to remain calm and composed, Namgung Jin couldn't help but blurt out the question.

No clan would willingly share its secret techniques, especially not its unique martial arts or poison formulas. Some techniques were even restricted within the clan itself, reserved for elders or direct descendants, to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands, to protect them from being countered or exploited.
And poison was the Tang Clan’s most closely guarded secret. An antidote rendered poison useless. To willingly share the formula… it was unthinkable.
For a young clan heir, raised in a world of secrecy and strict adherence to tradition, it was a shocking revelation.

Observing his stunned reaction, Jegal In-hwi was certain now. The Namgung Clan suspected the Tang Clan. And one of their own had likely fallen victim to this Yeolhwachodok. The Tang Clan’s uncharacteristic generosity, their willingness to share their secret formula, was likely a strategic move to deflect suspicion.
Any explanation he offered now, any attempt to justify his actions by claiming suspicion of the Tang Clan, even presenting Cheong-hae’s body as evidence, would likely be dismissed as a desperate attempt to shift blame. They could easily accuse him of fabricating the evidence, of acquiring the leaked poison and staging the scene.
The Namgung Clan had concealed Cheong-hae’s death, even from him, a member of the Four Guardians Unit. And the pristine condition of the body made it difficult to determine the time of death.

The young clan heir’s cautious approach had backfired spectacularly.
Even if some believed his story, withholding information about the Blood Cult's poison techniques from the Martial Alliance wouldn’t be viewed favorably. The Tang Clan, on the other hand, had shared their secrets the moment they encountered the Blood Cult.
The Namgung Clan had endangered the Alliance by withholding information. The Tang Clan had offered a solution.

Jegal In-hwi chuckled inwardly. ‘This is… interesting.’
It was a paranoid thought, perhaps, but it seemed as if someone was using the Martial Alliance to target the Namgung Clan.