Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1448

Everyone in the hall was silent and shocked, like statues carved from stone. They slowly turned to look at each other. In each other’s wide eyes, they saw their own disbelief reflected back. A tremor ran through the room.

To teach women martial arts.

In some families, this might not be a big thing. But in the Tang family? It was unthinkable.

It was like saying the famous Shaolin temple, known only for its male monks, would now welcome women. Or that Emei, a group of only women warriors, would start training men. It would cause chaos.

Tang Gun-ak’s words were just as shocking. He was talking about breaking the ancient rules of the Tang family. Rules that had been kept for hundreds of years, rules that their ancestors had fought to protect to build the family’s power.

“H-Head of the family!”

While everyone else was frozen, Tang Sang-su spoke urgently, his voice louder than usual.

“Are you saying you will teach the women in the family the inner energy cultivation methods and combat techniques?”

“Ah…”

Sighs leaked out from here and there at Tang Sang-su’s words.

When you think about it, the Tang family’s martial arts are not necessarily limited to poison or hidden weapons. The Tang family certainly possesses basic inner energy cultivation methods and combat techniques.

Of course, the Tang family of the past placed strict restrictions on teaching combat techniques, except for a select few. But in the current situation, wouldn’t it be possible to ease those restrictions a little?

A great sense of relief washed over someone’s mind, while someone else struggled to hide their disappointment.

But then, Tang Gun-ak said firmly.

“No. I will teach them everything the Tang family has to offer.”

His gaze reached the women of the Tang family.

“If the individuals themselves desire it, that is.”

Silence fell again, heavier this time. People were trying to understand what he really meant.

“H-Head of the family…”

“Impossible!”

Someone shouted vehemently.

It was Tang Pyo, one of the surviving elders, who had been keeping his mouth shut until now because of his guilt.

“It cannot be, Head of the family! Not passing down poison and hidden weapons to women is a long-standing tradition of the Tang family!”

Tang Pyo looked around with a distorted face. His eyes were filled with anger, as if he would not forgive anyone who agreed with that absurd opinion.

Normally, no matter how much of an elder he was, Tang Pyo would never have dared to openly contradict Tang Gun-ak.

But those who received Tang Pyo’s gaze now could not bring themselves to meet his eyes and lowered their heads.

The ideas of ‘ancestors’ and ‘family law’ that Tang Pyo spoke of were very powerful and important to everyone.

Even the women of the Tang family, who had momentarily sparked the two letters of hope in their eyes, had no choice but to turn their heads away.

A young woman in the front row, Tang Wei, felt her heart beat faster. Could this really be happening?

But only one person, Tang Gun-ak, met Tang Pyo’s eyes head-on.

“Why can’t it be changed?”

“Head of the family!”

“Answer me, Elder. Why is it impossible?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

Tang Pyo said as if screaming.

“The Tang family’s poison is useless once it’s been neutralized (made harmless)! Numerous Tang family members have sacrificed their precious lives to protect the secret of that poison!”

“…”

“The same goes for the Tang family’s hidden weapon techniques! Unlike swords, hidden weapons cannot change direction once they leave the hand! If the method is known, its power will inevitably be halved. Moreover, the Tang family’s hidden weapons are always used with poison! How can you pass on such martial arts to women?”

His voice was agitated and trembling. As if unable to calm his excitement, Tang Pyo shouted one after another.

“If all of this is an attempt by the Head of the family to overstep his authority, taking advantage of the absence of the Tang family’s elders, including the Tang family’s elder! I will risk my life to stop this!”

In a way, it was a statement that directly challenged the authority of the head of the family. But Tang Gun-ak, far from being angry, calmly asked back.

“Answering my question comes first, Elder Tang Pyo.”

“…What do you mean?”

“That’s just discussing the weaknesses of the Tang family’s martial arts, not a reason why they can’t learn it.”

In that moment, Tang Pyo stared at Tang Gun-ak with a blank face, as if he had been hit in the back of the head. He was wondering if Tang Gun-ak had gone mad from the shock of Dokgo burning and the workshop collapsing.

“Head of the family. They are women.”

“I know.”

“Please listen to me until the end, Head of the family. I’m not ignoring the women of the family. I’m just saying that they are the ones who will leave the family someday!”

“…”

“Who can guarantee that those who become affiliated with other families will keep their secrets for the rest of their lives? Women? Did you say women? Where does the Tang family’s law only apply to women? The same goes for men! The Head of the family also knows that anyone who has learned the Tang family’s martial arts cannot abandon the Tang surname as long as they live!”

Cannot abandon the Tang surname.

It may sound obvious, but in the Tang family, the meaning is different. When someone who has learned the family’s secrets opposes the Tang family or refuses to be affiliated with the Tang family, the Tang family mobilizes all its power to kill them. That is how the Tang family has protected their secrets for hundreds of years.

Tang Gun-ak took a deep breath and continued.

“Of course, I also know that protecting secrets is of utmost importance. But if that method has become outdated and meaningless, then finding a new method is also the duty of the descendants.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“I will give them the opportunity to learn martial arts. Whether it’s poison or anything else!”

“Head of the family…”

“However!”

Tang Gun-ak looked at Tang Pyo with resolute eyes and hammered it in.

“The Tang family’s laws will be applied equally to the women who have learned the Tang family’s martial arts. They cannot marry out and must become ghosts of the Tang family.”

“That, that’s nonsense… Are you saying you’ll keep them in the Tang family for the rest of their lives?”

“Why not?”

Tang Gun-ak shrugged.

“There are already quite a few female martial arts sects in the Jianghu who spend their entire lives learning martial arts. There’s no reason why the women of the Tang family can’t choose the path they’ve chosen. I’m not forcing that life on them. I’m just opening the way for those who want to walk that path.”

Tang Pyo’s face turned red.

He wracked his brain, but couldn’t think of a rebuttal. The reason why the Tang family’s martial arts were not passed down to women was to prevent the leakage of secrets, so if they lived in the Tang family for the rest of their lives with the Tang family’s men, the risk of leakage would disappear.

“But that’s not the method set by the ancestors!”

Tang Gun-ak’s face hardened at Tang Pyo’s cry.

“Tang family members! Anyone who uses the Tang surname is sacrificing themselves to protect the Tang family! How can you, Head of the family, change the rules our ancestors thought about for so long?”

“…”

“Are you saying that you’re better than all the past leaders? Better than our ancestors? That’s… that’s just arrogant! Tyranny!”

Tang Pyo felt fear grip his heart. If the traditions changed, what would become of the Tang family he knew?

At that moment, Tang Gun-ak glared at Tang Pyo with an extremely cold gaze.

“Didn’t you hear what I said?”

“Head of the family!”

“I have already said it. What value is there in the fame and prosperity gained by sacrificing their lives?”

“Are you saying that the Head of the family is…”

“The ancestors were also just human beings, not flawless!”

“W-What… what are you saying?” Clan Leader Dang stammered, so shocked he could hardly speak.

Tang Gunak looked at him, his eyes firm. “Even if I have to say no to some people to change our family, I will. Even if I have to become the strongest Clan Leader ever, then that’s what I’ll do!”

“Clan Leader!”

“Listen to me!”

Tang Gunak roared. He was usually calm, so his anger made every word feel very important.

“I can’t give up our family’s glory. That’s why I became the Dang Clan Leader.”

“…”

“But the Dang Clan Leader must be like a parent to all our family. I will not just accept my family’s sacrifices as normal.”

Tang Gunak looked at each and every one of them, as if he wanted to remember them all.

“I’m talking about more than just the women. I mean those who make poisons, those who craft hidden weapons, those who are treated as lesser because they belong to the Dang Clan but don’t have the Dang name, and even the outsiders who have to live as if they don’t exist, even though they’re a vital part of our clan!”

“…”

“As things are, it’s impossible to include everyone and bring back the Dang Clan’s glory. No one but me can do it. So, there’s only one choice left!”

Tang Gunak, who had been biting his lip, declared,

“The Dang Clan must change.”

Clan Leader Dang asked, sounding almost like he was in a trance,

“Does the Clan Leader really have the power to do this?”

“…”

“Tell me. Can the Clan Leader truly embrace all of that and make the Dang Clan better? Can you do what no Clan Leader has ever done before?”

Tang Gunak, who had been facing Clan Leader Dang, finally shook his head.

“No. I don’t have that power.”

“You see…!”

“But the Dang Clan does. That’s why I’ve brought everyone here. If I can’t do it alone, we can do it together.”

“…”

“This goes for everyone.”

Tang Gunak shouted with determination,

“It’s pointless to just complain about each other. Fighting for small advantages within the old rules is just hurting ourselves. What you really need to fight is not each other, but the strict traditions of the Dang Clan!”

The Dang Clan members stared at Tang Gunak, looking dazed. Countless thoughts flickered across their faces. They understood something important. Maybe, at that moment, they were experiencing something even bigger than the family burning.

“Think. Think and suggest ideas. How can you do what you want to do? What needs to change? And what do I need to change for you?”

“…”

“If this is just my idea, it’s using too much power. But if it’s what everyone thinks!”

Now, everyone was staring at Tang Gunak as if they were bewitched.

“That is what the Dang Clan wants.”

The family members bit their lips. A strange feeling was growing in their hearts.

Clan Leader Dang could tell from their faces that it was impossible to stop this change. He groaned and said his last words in a low voice.

“You must remember, Clan Leader.”

Tang Gunak turned his cold eyes towards Clan Leader Dang.

“The world is harsh. Our ancestors had reasons for making the Dang Clan rules. If what the Clan Leader is trying to do now fails, you will be remembered as the one who destroyed the Dang Clan’s history.”

It was a curse disguised as concern. But Tang Gunak, hearing this curse, smiled slightly.

“Elder, you don’t understand what a Clan Leader is.”

“…Yes?”

The green robe that Tang Gunak wore fluttered in the wind.

“Someone who isn’t this determined can’t be the Clan Leader of the Dang Clan.”

Clan Leader Dang seemed to want to say something, but he just lowered his head. Tang Gunak, who had been staring at him, looked around at everyone and said,

“Speak.”

“…”

“If you don’t speak, nothing will change! Speak out loud!”

Tang Gunak’s eyes turned to Dang-pae.

“Young Clan Leader!”

“Yes.”

“Speak!”

Dang-pae looked at Tang Gunak with serious eyes and carefully opened his mouth.

“Clan Leader, can we really be wiser than our ancestors by sharing our thoughts?”

“Yes.”

“Why is that?”

“You already know the answer. Doesn’t your question already explain it?”

“…Yes?”

Tang Gunak smiled slightly.

“What we are today is because of our ancestors’ teachings and their hard work.”

“…”

“There’s no way our decisions will be wrong. Our ancestors must have taught us how to get through this crisis. Their wisdom is in our thoughts and worries. In the end, what we want is what they wanted.”

Cheong-myeong, who had been listening, clenched his fist. He almost spoke without thinking.

“To carry on means…”

“Carrying on means exactly that! Don’t doubt yourselves!”

Tang Gunak finished the sentence.

Cheong-myeong closed his eyes.

“Hyung-nim. I’m still a member of the Dang Clan.”

The words he had said with a smile echoed in Cheong-myeong’s mind.

Encouraged by Tang Gunak’s words, people began to speak one by one.

Cheong-myeong looked back at Dang So-so, whose eyes were tearful, and shrugged as he watched the people become noisy.

“Well, should we make some rice?”

“Sasuk?”

“This is going to take a long time.”

Cheong-myeong glanced at Tang Gunak, who was surrounded by everyone, and smiled.

“Moving forward is like that.”

As Cheong-myeong said, the meeting that had started didn’t end for a long time.

It was around the time when the morning sun was setting behind the western mountains that Tang Gunak got up after the long conversation and faced Hyun Jong.