The Eldest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan Protects Her Family

Chapter 7: The Formation

 
At her words, Tang Min looked down at the girl, who was now gazing intently at him, her expression unreadable.
Sohwa smiled faintly and lowered her voice. “If we’re lucky, we might obtain some elixirs from the Divine Physician’s troupe. It’s best not to have too many witnesses.”

“…Why?”
“The Clan Head is quite strict about such things. He’ll likely store them in the vault and distribute them as rewards later. That won't do.” Sohwa shook her head. “Such treasures should be consumed by the strongest in the Tang Clan. So, fewer eyes are better.”
“The strongest in the Tang Clan…” He had heard those words countless times over the decades, but hearing them spoken so casually by his descendant pleased him. Tang Min had already consumed elixirs crafted by the Tang Clan, plenty for a master of his level, but for a martial artist, the desire for such treasures was insatiable.

Sohwa’s gaze shifted unexpectedly towards Tang Hak.
“And if we’re fortunate enough to obtain an extra one, we can give it to Hak-ah.”
“…Why that child?” Tang Min’s face crumpled. Being placed in the same category as Tang Hak rankled him.

“He’s the Tang Clan’s best late-stage disciple. We need to nourish him well so he can grow strong.”
“…” Tang Min’s good mood soured at the unavoidable truth in her words.
Despite acting like a soft-hearted fool, Tang Hak was a prodigy, the likes of which hadn’t been seen in seventy years. Though not quite on par with Tang Min himself, the prodigy of seventy years prior, he was still remarkably talented, especially considering the current state of the martial world.

Tang Hak possessed an eidetic memory, capable of memorizing complex martial arts manuals at a glance, and could master new techniques within a single day. Considering his relative inexperience, his talent was undeniable. This was why the elders, though often exasperated by Tang Jiha's boasting about his foolish son and venomous daughter, couldn't complain too much.
They, too, were Tangs, and the thought of the next generation leading the clan filled them with a sense of pride and anticipation.
A faint smile touched Tang Min’s lips. ‘Even those arrogant Namgungs and loud-mouthed Pengs won't dare utter a word when these children take the reins of the Tang Clan.’

Sohwa smiled as well, then turned her gaze towards the gorge, a calculating glint in her eyes. What was she plotting now? Nothing good, he was sure. But her inscrutability was an asset. It was a blessing that she was born into the Tang Clan.
Tang Sohwa’s talent lay not in her martial arts prowess, but in her unique constitution. She possessed a natural resistance to poisons and an incredibly sharp intuition. As a child, when given the standard dose of poison administered to young Tang Clan members to build immunity, she hadn’t even flinched, let alone shown any adverse effects. Recognizing her unusual constitution, the Head Physician, with the Clan Head’s permission, had adjusted the formula. Astonishingly, the five-year-old Sohwa had immediately noticed the change.
Intrigued, Tang Jiha had summoned the Poison Master to test her further. While most clans wouldn’t dream of feeding poison to their children, the Tang Clan, specializing in poison arts, regularly administered small doses to build immunity from a young age. Considering the cost of the ingredients, it was less an act of cruelty and more an investment in their safety.

Remarkably, the young Sohwa, without any discomfort, had correctly identified the days the formula had been altered and even the days the same altered formula had been used. Considering the minuscule dosage, her talent was truly extraordinary.
Whether main or branch family, a Clan Head couldn't help but favor talent. And when that talent resided in his own daughter, Tang Jiha's pride knew no bounds. When Tang Sohwa turned seven, he had gifted her a venomous insect, a creature so valuable that it was meticulously cultivated within the Poison Pavilion. Presenting such a dangerous creature to a child, as casually as one might give a small pet, had caused quite a stir among the elders. Yet, the seven-year-old Sohwa, after carefully observing the insect and feeding it her own blood and poison, had successfully tamed it.
Unbeknownst to Sohwa, the elders, deeply disturbed by this incident, had argued vehemently against allowing her to leave the inner courtyard. It was a silent decree: she was not to interact with outsiders, not to be exposed to other clans, not even to potential suitors. They intended to turn her into a living, breathing secret manual, a valuable asset to be protected at all costs. Naturally, this also stemmed from a fear of her knowledge falling into the wrong hands.
The clever child, however, understood her value. She diligently studied medicine and poison arts, never questioning their methods, and even indulged her father's ambitions by honing her martial arts skills.

Tang Min looked down at the small figure and reaffirmed his earlier thought. This child could never be given away to another clan.
Though Sohwa would eventually become a member of the Namgung Clan, that future was unknown to Tang Min. Or rather, it was a past that wouldn't repeat itself in this life.
The Black Tiger Unit warriors guided the boat to shore, and everyone boarded the small vessel.

Splash.
The boat glided across the lake, propelled by long poles pushing against the lakebed.
As they passed through the shadows cast by the gorge, a cool breeze caressed Sohwa’s hair. It was a gentle, refreshing sensation, like a soft caress. Closing her eyes, Sohwa focused on the subtle scents carried by the wind.

Her eyes, now open and clear, reflected the surrounding mountains. A faint but distinct aroma of crushed herbs and dried branches mingled in the air. Somewhere nearby, medicinal herbs were being dried.
Following the direction of the wind, her gaze settled on an unusually tall tree, a scholar tree. The ancient tree swayed gently in the breeze. While the surrounding trees bore blossoms or unripe green fruit, the scholar tree was covered only in leaves, as if someone had meticulously stripped it bare.
The blossoms of the scholar tree, known as goe-hwa (Sophora japonica), were used as a medicinal herb to stop bleeding. Some physicians also prescribed it regularly to prevent strokes. It had been fifty years since the Divine Physician's troupe disappeared. Its members would be elderly now. Goe-hwa, effective in preventing strokes and stopping bleeding, would be invaluable to the aging physicians of the troupe, both for treating patients with injuries and for maintaining their own health.

Tang Sohwa addressed the warrior steering the boat. “Head towards the scholar tree.”
“The scholar tree?” Unsure which tree she meant, the warrior looked around, searching. Sohwa pointed towards the towering tree. “That old one.”
“Ah.” Understanding dawned on the warrior, and he steered the boat towards the indicated tree. As they approached the shore, the scent of medicinal herbs intensified.

* * *
 

Stepping onto the path, a strange sensation washed over Sohwa. The air, filled with the fragrance of vegetation, was unusually invigorating. Each breath felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest.
It wasn't entirely pleasant. The air, heavy with the cloying sweetness of the fragrance, clung to her skin. Tang Sohwa couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Though the forest was dense, the scent of vegetation was overwhelming, unnatural, as if incense had been burned to mask something.
Tang Min clicked his tongue. “Now, this is strange. It seems like a real tree… but also not.” He reached out and brushed his hand against a leaf.

“Huh? Elder Tang Min, you mean it might not be a tree?” Tang Hak asked, his eyes wide with surprise. Tang Min smiled slyly.
“If we reduce it to nothingness, we’ll see if it’s real or an illusion.”
“Huh?”

Before Tang Hak could question him further, a flame erupted from Tang Min’s hand, engulfing the leaf. Strangely, the leaf vanished without a trace, as if a bubble had popped.
“Tsk, not even a whiff of smoke. An illusion, indeed.” Tang Min clicked his tongue and placed his hand on a thick tree trunk. Sammaejinhwa (Samadhi True Fire), an internal energy technique that generated flames, spread from his hand, consuming the tree in an instant. Like the leaf, the tree vanished without leaving any ash or even the smell of burning wood.
Tang Sohwa eyed him skeptically. She had heard that Sammaejinhwa was potent enough to incinerate poisons and even burn through flesh… Perhaps his skills had dulled from years of indulging in alcohol? The Tang Clan's strongest warrior was proving to be rather… underwhelming.

Sensing her skepticism, Tang Min called out to her, “Sohwa.”
“Yes.”
He approached her, his gaze sweeping across their surroundings, a spark of interest in his eyes. “Trapped in a formation, are we? Seems we’ve come to the right place.”

Tang Sohwa calmly surveyed their surroundings. The world within the formation was eerily peaceful. It seemed designed to disorient and confuse, leading intruders in circles, rather than inflict harm.
She pondered this. The Divine Physician was said to be a benevolent healer, treating everyone regardless of status. Yet, the formation surrounding their residence suggested a deep-seated distrust of outsiders. Even if they didn’t actively harm intruders, they were clearly concealing themselves. Perhaps not all those who sought out the Divine Physician’s troupe were seeking medical treatment.
Sohwa looked up at the clear blue sky. How had Namgung Hyeon encountered Yeon-a? He couldn't have forced his way into the Divine Physician’s troupe. And Yeon-a would never have devoted herself to someone who had harmed them.

A light, airy laugh interrupted her thoughts.
“Tsk, children should act like children.”
“Huh?”

“You think too much.”
Before she could question his cryptic remark, Tang Min walked towards the spot where the tree had vanished. Realizing his intention, Sohwa’s eyes widened.
“No, you mustn’t!” She had hoped to find a way to alert the troupe and gain their cooperation peacefully. But the impatient Tang Min was about to burn his way through the formation.

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t worry, it’s not dangerous.”
“That’s not the point!” Destroying the formation would defeat the purpose of her visit. She needed to earn the trust of the Divine Physician's troupe and Yeon-a. But before she could finish her sentence, Tang Min began channeling his internal energy. Just as he was about to unleash Sammaejinhwa upon the forest…
Clang.

A sharp, metallic sound pierced the air.
“Elder Tang Min, someone’s there!” Tang Hak, also sensing a presence, drew a throwing knife, his gaze fixed on the edge of the forest. Sohwa followed his gaze.
A sweet fragrance, a blend of ripe peaches and crisp pears, wafted from the direction where, moments ago, there had been no discernible presence.

Without waiting for orders, the Black Tiger Unit warriors, all except the three guarding the siblings, charged into the forest.
Chang. Clang.
The clash of steel echoed through the trees.

“Small but feisty.” Tang Min chuckled, amused. Though she couldn't see anything, he was clearly observing something, a faint smile playing on his lips. He abruptly pulled Sohwa behind him and took a step forward.
“Stay back.”
He deflected an incoming blade with the throwing knife in his hand.

Clang.
Obscured by Tang Min’s large frame, Sohwa couldn't see what was happening. She only saw glimpses of a sword flashing in and out of view, moving at an incredible speed. If she hadn’t trained her perception skills, she wouldn’t have even noticed it.
Could it be…?

A suspicion flickered in her mind. Tang Min’s amused voice reached her ears.
“Jinhoo-yah, I’m fine. Don’t come any closer.”
At his casual tone, the deputy leader, who had emerged from the forest, stopped in his tracks and immediately turned towards Sohwa and Tang Hak. “It’s dangerous here. Let’s move back.”

The siblings followed him, retreating from the path. Now, she could finally see what was happening.
A young girl, clad in simple clothes, wielding a sword almost as tall as herself, was attacking Tang Min relentlessly.