Tang Geoh confidently revealed his face in front of us, as if he were some rebellious prince who had succeeded in his plot.

On the other hand, the masked figures, who looked like extras from an action movie stripped of their dialogue, silently began to encircle us.

I wished their skills were at least at the level of those extras. Looking at Tang Geoh’s confident expression and the intimidation of the masked figures, they didn’t seem like mere extras.

‘Were they aiming for a war of attrition?’

Somehow, considering the scale of the incident, I heard it was oddly less damaging than expected.

The warriors of the Sichuan Tang Family are essentially cash-type martial artists. Just like office workers whose bank balance represents their HP, their confidence fluctuates based on the poisons and meditation techniques they possess.

Regardless of the quality of the bandits they pushed to the edge, the guard unit warriors must have used a significant amount of poison and meditation techniques.

‘The number of stored meditation techniques is probably not enough…’

I looked at the guard unit members, and unsurprisingly, a few of them were alternating glances between the masked figures, unable to hide their bewilderment.

They should have treated those disposable items as precious and used them wisely. Just because it wasn’t their money, they wasted it recklessly.

I should give the Tang Family warriors a chance to experience a small to medium-sized martial faction someday.

Then, I’d hear comments like these every time a battle broke out:

“Hey, you used high-grade meditation techniques in the last fight. Wasn’t a low-grade enough for bandits?”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s fine. If you use high-grade meditation techniques, we can use recycled ones. Keep cheering on! Let’s see if you can pull out the backbone of our faction!”

This kind of warm-hearted banter should exist.

As I thought that I should bring some tension to the lax Tang Family, Tang Geoh slowly walked toward us.

“Hwa-rin, how have you been?”

Tang Geoh spoke to Hwa-rin with a smile that looked like a snake father.

“Get back! The criminal has shamelessly shown up.”

“I came to greet long-lost faces. Why are you acting so cold?”

Does that guy have no sense? No one here is happy to see you. His shamelessness is at the level of showing up at a friend’s gathering after three years and handing out wedding invitations while saying, “It’s great to see you again.”

“These days, are there people who welcome you while wearing masks? I can guess who some are just by looking at their eyes. What are you all wrapped up for?”

Each time the gaze of the guard unit landed on several masked figures with purple hair peeking out, their shoulders flinched.

“Haha. They are naturally shy friends, so please understand. But they came to help me with my work. I hope you don’t glare at them with your scary eyes.”

“You’re so desperate to hide your crime that you had to mobilize all the problematic family members, huh?”

Did he bring along the poison club kids? It doesn’t seem like they’re just purple-haired.

“What crime? What is my crime?”

Child abuse, fraud, contracted murder attempts, violation of poison control laws, illegal human experimentation, and there’s a lot to enumerate.

“Your shamelessness has reached a new level.”

The head of the guard unit seemed to be incredulous, glaring at Tang Geoh, who merely scoffed back at him.

“Did my experiments cause Hwa-rin’s death? No. If anything, she’s a step away from completing her transformation. Hwa-rin only has the final stage left. Once she passes that stage, she’ll be able to proudly show completed poison to the family members. So step aside.”

What a ridiculous child. Is Hwa-rin’s graduation project something to be stored?

“I’ve long suspected you’re as cunning as a serpent’s heart, but you’ve now stopped hiding that wickedness!”

“It’s pointless to talk. Hwa-rin, you must have had a tough time under a guy who doesn’t speak. If you follow me, I’ll turn you into a complete poison master.”

Tang Geoh seemed to have no interest in hearing the head of the guard’s words any longer; he laughed at him and spoke to Hwa-rin with a friendly expression.

“What are you saying, you fraud?”

Well said, Hwa-rin. She shot Tang Geoh a bewildered look, and for a moment, Tang Geoh appeared shocked.

“Haha. Hwa-rin, it seems that you have become a bit rough-mouthed since we last met.”

From what I know, you were always rough.

“Stop it. Enough with the disgusting masquerade. I feel like throwing up.”

“How disappointing to misinterpret my genuine feelings for you. Surely he must have sweet-talked you into believing something else. But Hwa-rin, no matter what you heard, you’re already half-poisoned. With that body, if you go to the Tang Family, those desperate members will do anything to experiment on you.”

“Shut up. He said he would protect me.”

“Do you think the head of the guard is someone significant? The Tang Family’s strange people will cause a ruckus just to slice you open.”

“Kid, don’t be deceived by the snake’s tongue. I’ll protect you in my name.”

The head of the guard blocked Tang Geoh from seeing Hwa-rin and spoke resolutely.

“Hwa-rin, didn’t I promise you? If you become a poison master, the family will surely treat you well. No, with your Secret Garden now completed, you are the Sichuan Tang Family, and soon you are going to be the Sichuan Tang Family.”

“Don’t listen to him.”

“I have no intention of listening. Tang Geoh, how can I believe the words of a fraud?”

That’s right. You shouldn’t believe the words of a fraud who only tells lies when he opens his mouth.

No, wait. Let me correct that. If we don’t set the subject, it can be misunderstood as slandering other kind and simple people, so let’s say you shouldn’t believe the words of a person who only speaks harmful lies.

“Tch…! Head of the guard! Hand over Hwa-rin to me quietly, and I’ll leave this place with the completed child.”

Tang Geoh seemed to think he couldn’t easily trick Hwa-rin anymore and attempted to negotiate with the head of the guard.

“You’re asking me to believe that after bringing foreigners in?”

“I just asked for help because the situation became awkward; I’m still a member of the Sichuan Tang Family. Everything is for the sake of the Sichuan Tang Family, so please yield.”

He’s spewing the filthiest excuses. Why do those who commit ugly wrongs always justify it as being for the greater cause?

“For the sake of the Sichuan Tang Family? If the world finds out about the twisted desires you’ve instilled in such a crime, every martial artist will point their fingers at you!”

Tang Geoh grimaced, as if he’d heard the most unpleasant scolding, and opened his mouth.

“Those fools are going to point their fingers? The Tang Family must walk the righteous path. Isn’t it tiresome to keep saying the same thing? Why should the defeat of Sichuan Province care about how they live their lives?”

“What?”

“Why should we care about those nauseating righteous sect members? When times are tough, they grudgingly accept the Tang Family’s poisons and meditation techniques, but when peace returns, they insult us as dangerous! Don’t you find that exhausting, Head of the Guard?”

“It’s something every righteous person must endure.”

“Why should we have to endure that? If we can just produce poison masters, we won’t need to suffer that humiliation. Our Sichuan Tang Family will reign as the best in the world without caring about anyone else.”

“The best in the world, huh? You’re dreaming.”

“As if I ever sought your understanding, Head of the Guard. Make a decision. Hand over Hwa-rin today, and there will be no corpses to see anymore.”

If you don’t want to die, hand over Hwa-rin.

The head of the guard surveyed the situation with a shocked expression while looking at his minions and Hwa-rin, his gaze finally fixing on me.

He seemed to try to hide his expression, but the conflict in his eyes was glaringly evident.

‘Is he really struggling because of me right now?’

Despite not believing until the end that I’m a bastard child, did he somehow come to be somewhat convinced now?

I can’t ascertain their combat capabilities. What I do know is that the current number of poisons and meditation techniques is insufficient compared to the many students who have risen. We might have to prepare for total annihilation.

Should I risk my life to protect Hwa-rin or abandon her and let the family’s illegitimate child take her place? Weighing between those two, he must be struggling. Yet the head of the guard doesn’t know one important thing.

‘Hwa-rin’s poison experiment is going to fail.’

Even enhanced by the ability of the Reverse Heaven’s Decree, her body is not perfect. The stains left on her skin are proof of that. If Hwa-rin is sent away like this, she will meet the same end as in the original story, the only difference being the degree of severity.

Moreover, I am not the illegitimate child of the Tang Family. From the start, the head of the guard is misjudging the balance of the scales.

“Head of the Guard! For the family, bow your head for today. Then, everyone will bow their heads, and our Sichuan Tang Family will truly reign the world.”

Tang Geoh pressed for the head of the guard’s response. If Hwa-rin is handed over to Tang Geoh like this, I’ll be thrown alone into the tiger’s den, losing Hwa-rin, who could become the true heroine.

It would become the worst conclusion for me.

Now what should I do?

“Just because everyone bows doesn’t mean the Sichuan Tang Family will reign the world.”

Of course, I must sever one of the options myself.