Chapter 1423: Is This the Sichuan Tang Family? (Part 3)

[Going to replace "Tang We" with "Tang Wei", should've done it long ago]

Tang Wei, as well as other members of Tang Family, immediately couldn't help but understand. Why this unquenchable fire emerged, and who could have done such a thing.

Suspicion filled everyone's eyes, turning into resentment soon after.

"Why..."

Tang Wei's trembling voice broke through the sound of the fire burning the wood.

"Why did you do such a thing? Senior Shinsoo... Why?"

If someone else in Tang Family had done this, no one would have questioned the reason. They would have started by pinning him down and beating him.

But this case was different. The one in front of them was none other than Tang Jopyeong. Even though he often lost consciousness due to his age, he was still the leader of the workshop, the core of Tang Family.

No one within Tang Family could raise their voice in front of him. Not even Tang Wei, the former Grand Elder and current Chief Elder, dared to do so.

"Why? Why!"

As Tang Wei desperately asked, Tang Jopyeong turned to him slowly. The intense gaze filled with anger from Tang Wei and the cold gaze from Tang Jopyeong met in the air.

Tang Jopyeong spoke.

"...I burned it."

Suddenly, Tang Wei bit his lips until they bled.

"Who doesn't know that now! Does Senior not know what he burned? Why did you set fire to the workshop and the poison room? In every significant place in Tang Family! Even using White Furnace Blood!"

"..."

"Why! Why did you do this! Even if Senior Shinsoo is not in the right state of mind, why!"

It seemed as if blood was dripping from Tang Wei's voice. Resentment and pain were clearly present. TheTang Family, everything he had, was burning. It felt like red tears of blood could flow from his eyes at any moment.

But Tang Jopyeong's gaze remained cold. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking.

"Senior Shinsoo, what..."

Before Tang Wei, other elders tried to speak, but Tang Jopyeong's calm voice interrupted.

"There is nothing here."

"...Huh?"

"There is nothing anymore. Things that should have been preserved, protected."

"So, go away. The only thing left is the burning burning that will turn to ashes soon."

The elders turned their heads to gaze helplessly at the burning fire.

Tang Jopyeong's words were not wrong.

What they had tried to protect here was the facility that Tang Family boasted, capable of producing poisons and antidotes known throughout the martial world.

But now that place had turned into a pile of ashes, there was no longer any reason to cling to this place.

The reason to risk their lives fighting against the Evil Tyrant Alliance had disappeared.

"What, what are you all doing?"

Tang Wei shouted hysterically.

"Put it out! I told you to put out that fire immediately!"

"Chief, Chief Elder."

"Why are you just standing there! If you can't extinguish the fire, then at least take out the things inside! Right now! Move!"

Despite Tang Wei's fervent demands, no one moved.

Even if it was a fire fueled by White Furnace Blood, it was not impossible to put it out. If it were possible, White Furnace Blood itself would have gained world-renowned fame as the best weapon.

But even if extinguishing the fire were possible, it was extremely difficult. To suppress a fire like this, it would take everyone here a long time, even if they all rushed in together.

By that time, there would be nothing left. Even if they managed to bring out the kilns and poisons untouched by the fire, it would be impossible to rebuild Tang Family with just that.

Tang Wei knew this fact well. But he couldn't give up.

When the elders didn't move, Tang Wei, who had bitten his lips until they bled, shouted.

"Step aside! I will personally..."

But at that moment, Tang Jopyeong spoke.

"Is that something you should do?"

In that moment, Tang Wei, who had been determinedly glaring at Tang Jopyeong, shivered and looked at him menacingly.

"...Are you in your right mind?"

Perhaps he thought Tang Jopyeong had lost his mind to commit such an act. But no matter how you looked at it, Tang Jopyeong's consciousness was clear.

"So, are you relieved now?"

A scathing cry, as if tearing the soul from Tang Wei's mouth, burst out.

"After destroying everything that our ancestors have protected for hundreds of years, are you satisfied now? Are you happy to see the name of the Sichuan Tang Family disappear from the world? Are you pleased that the remaining children of the Tang Family, who have lost their honor and skills, will barely survive?"

"Tang..."

"Inside there!"

Tang We's hand pointed fiercely towards the workshops. His thin fingertips were trembling.

"Everything that Senior Shinsoo dedicated a lifetime to is now completely gone! Are you happy after turning everything into ashes? Senior Shinsoo and I have lived enough, so if we die, it's fine! But because of the arrogance of Senior Shinsoo, the remaining children of Tang Family will live persecuted for their entire lives!"

Surviving in the martial world meant carrying numerous grudges. Those who had held their breaths because of the Tang Family's strength would undoubtedly reveal themselves when the Tang Family lost its power.

Now, Tang Jopyeong had pushed the descendants of the family into the shackles of that resentment.

"How can you be so indifferent! How can you be so heartless! Is this really for the sake of the Tang Family? If you are truly the great elder of the Tang Family, you should have done whatever it took to protect the Tang Family! Why don't you understand that!"

Everyone's faces darkened at Tang Wei's emotionally charged and disorganized words. But considering the meaning behind them, everyone couldn't help but sympathize.

"Why on earth are you doing this...?"

"Here."

"...Yes?"

Tang Jopyeong slowly looked around. The sight of Tang Family buildings, where he had lived his entire life, was before him. There was not a single place untouched by his hands, from a small workshop to the ground he stood on.

The Tang Family buildings was everything to him. It was no different for Tang Jopyeong than for the furnaces. But...

"Is this the Sichuan Tang Family?"

Tang Wei bit his lips. What nonsense was this all of a sudden? Did he lose his mind again at this point?

"Answer me."

"Senior!"

"Is this the Sichuan Tang Family?"

At that moment, a rough shout burst from Tang Jopyeong's mouth. The overwhelming momentum was so intense that Tang Wei involuntarily flinched. Tang Jopyeong's eyes were filled with venom.

"You fool! At best, it's a small workshop, at best, a lump of poison! At best, a shoddy weapon made by melting iron lumps!"

"Senior?"

"Is that Tang Family? Is that really the Sichuan Tang Family? Answer me!"

"..."

"If there aren't poisons, it's not the Tang Family! If there aren't hidden weapons, it's not the Tang Family! These wretched beings who don't even know what comes first and what comes last!"

At that moment, Tang Jopyeong violently threw the hammer in his hand.

Clang!

The small hammer that had been thrown into the ground bounced up and fell back down. As the noise subsided, the workshop fell into silence in an instant.

How many things had the small hammer produced? That hammer was not only Tang Jopyeong's pride but also the pride of the Tang Family. However, Tang Jopyeong had now discarded that hammer.

"Do you stake your life to protect such a worthless lump of iron?"

"Elder!"

"As long as there are people!"

Tang Jopyeong's anger erupted like a raging fire. The old man's body seemed like a small stove spewing red flames.

"As long as there are people, we can recreate things like this at any time! Even if we can't enjoy the same prosperity as now again, what difference does it make! If sacrificing all our lives is what it takes for the Tang Family to remain as the Tang Family, it's better for that insignificant Tang Family to disappear!"

"This...!"

Tang Wei convulsed. His momentum was so intense that the startled Tang Byeok unconsciously grabbed Tang Wei's arm. It was because Tang Wei seemed like he might rush towards Tang Jopyeong at any moment.

Staring intently at Tang Wei, Tang Jopyeong slowly looked around and spoke.

"Go."

"..."

"There's nothing left for you to protect now. If there's anything to protect, it's only your lives."

"...Senior Shinsoo."

"So go. It's urgent. Leave before the enemy arrives."

Having finished speaking, Tang Jopyeong turned away. A desperate scream poured out from Tang Wei towards his back.

"Do you think you can face our ancestors after dying like this? What would they say to you! You'll be remembered as a sinner like no other in Tang Family's history, sir! No, everyone who inherits the Tang Family's blood will spit and curse at your grave! Senior! No, Tang Jopyeong!"

Tang Jopyeong simply headed towards the burning workshop.

'Everyone will spit and curse at me...'

A small smile, along with the shadow of the flames, appeared on his lips.

'That would be fortunate.'

At least there would be Tang Family descendants left to curse him, as Tang Wei said. That would be enough. After all, what he had tried to protect from the beginning was the descendants. 

"Sir..."

At that moment, the artisans who had been watching from a distance approached him. Unlike before, their eyes were distant and hesitant. Tang Jopyeong glanced at them indifferently and spoke.

"You should leave too."

"..."

"What about you, sir?"

Tang Jopyeong looked at the burning workshop. The flames he had ignited were turning the workshop into ashes.

"I will stay here."

Upon his words, the artisans seemed to want to say something but ended up shaking their heads.

It was understandable; escaping the path of ruin would indeed be extremely challenging. Tang Jopyeong no longer had the strength to tread that path.

"...Please take care."

At his words, the artisans bowed deeply.

They couldn't agree with everything he had done, but despite that, they sincerely expressed their respect. It was the last respect for the craftsman who had protected the Tang Family.

Acknowledging the respect of the artisans, Tang Jopyeong walked towards the burning workshop without a word. The workshop was burning more intensely.

A place where he had lived for over a hundred years. A place he had breathed and protected.

'Grandfather.'

Blurry tears welled up in his eyes. The satisfaction of keeping the pledge left by his grandfather and the pain of burning everything with his own hands came to him simultaneously.

'Is this what it has come to?'

Perhaps, as Tang Wei said, Tang Jopyeong had severed the Tang Family's soul. Perhaps, from now on, they would suffer eternally as the Tang Family but not as real members of the Tang Family.

Was it still the right thing to do? Was it really the only way? Was it the best?

He couldn't know. Perhaps, even until the moment of his death, he wouldn't be able to know.

But there was one thing he could be sure of.

'Grandfather.'

It came to his mind vividly. Tang Bo's gentle smile as he fondly stroked his young head. His hand was warm and soft.

If Tang Bo were here now, he would surely pat his head again.

- Well done.

A single tear streamed down Tang Jopyeong's wrinkled eyes. The grey-haired old man smiled brightly like that day's child.