Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Going to Sichuan was much easier this time than it was the last time. Well... for Baek, Iseol, Jong and Geol. Soso was still bouncing with excited energy in the cart as Cheong Myeong dragged them along. It being her first time travelling back home with the group, she was unaware of the hell the other four had gone through the last time they made their way to Sichuan, the territory of the Tang Family Clan.

The others did eventually develop an uncomfortable acceptance, yet were unwilling to put their guards down. Because the last time they travelled this way? They were beaten over and over, and were fatigued but beaten stronger. A frustrating and confusing cycle that devastated them at first. Contradicting their perception of being physically assaulted. Which was still a hard concept for them to grasp. But it had happened, and the fact that they were already going through the deja vu of returning here, but without the beating, made them uneasy. Guards up, because they did know better with their youngest sect brother. That at any moment, he could test them. 

And when they arrived, making sure to pay someone to return the cart to Mount Hua's region... well, it was somewhat odd to have had such an easy journey. They had barely trained, as if Cheong Myeong was merely trying to rush there. Unusual, as he was always the one who insisted on training first. It was a nice change of pace for their sore muscles. So Geol was confused. Because that keen bastard was never this agreeable. 

"Hey Jong- do you think something is wrong with Cheong? He seems weird," he whispered, hand cupping his mouth to speak in this hushed tone into his senior brother's ear. 

To which Jin fully nodded, agreeing without question, "He seems to have his mind elsewhere, but I trust Cheong won't do anything that will be too drastic. He seems to be in a good mood, despite being definitely less crazed... or maybe even more crazed than normal."

"You call that a good mood?" To which Jong shrugged this time. 

"Well, he's not in a bad mood", to which the logic was simple and made sense. Though this wasn't like their normal brat's good moods. So it was truly nothing more than weird. 

"Oi- hurry up, you slow pokes!! There's going to be a feast with our names on it, so get lazy, then you good-for-nothings!" Cheong Myeong called back, annoyed by their slacking. 

They were all headed to Jo Geol's home, because it gave him the opportunity to check in with his family, and allow the six of them a bit of luxury to enjoy. Such as lavish food. Cheong's gluttony had suffered back home, where he couldn't enjoy a meal so lavish. He was sick of meat like some of the rest of the disciples, and Geol's family had some of that good stuff.

Yet... once they got to the unnecessarily large gates, a familiar dynamic played out where Baek, Iseol, Jong and Cheong gave upturned, judging glances towards Geol... and this time towards Soso too. 

Simply because they were rich bastards, who grew up with that good life. This life where they could eat lavishly without realising that most people didn't get to have such a rich palette. These 4 bums certainly didn't. They probably didn't understand the value of a meal before Mount Hua, and Soso never knew the poverty of Mount Hua either. Lucky bastards who lived the rich-rich life. That was what was on their minds as the gates opened. 

And Geol could feel those familiar judging glances, and the sudden divide in their group between social class. Though he was just grateful that he wasn't on the other divide by his own this time, not the sole one being judged. But it certainly didn't reassure him that Soso seemed not to register it all. Why would she? No one said anything aloud, and her mind was still focused on her sect. Hell, even the simple fact that she would soon reunite with her brothers and father to show off her development and be an example, like Iseol was to her, to the rest of her family, that the women of the Tang Clan were plenty capable of martial arts. 

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"Second Master Geol!! What a pleasant surprise! You will make your parents incredibly happy to see you again- come, come! I know that you and your company won't stay for long, there isn't much reason to, but your parents would love an extended visit," the old man who greeted them at the gates spoke with teary eyes. Ever the overly emotional elder who greeted them last time. Who also didn't hesitate to hug Geol again, repeating the awkward history. 

At least he wasn't bawling his eyes out like Geol came back from an army... Though Mount Hua under Cheong Myeong was a definite contender for the army... but Geol still felt a little awkward at seeing Mister Sam so emotional over his return "thank you Mister Sam, I know it is out of the blue, but we were hoping to stay the night" And he pat his back to try and calm him a little, because he didn't know what else to do at that moment whilst the others looked on. 

"Of course-yes-yes we will arrange it immediately-" then he turned back and called out "Arrange rooms for the young master and his company!! And someone inform the Masters that their second son has arrived!!" Before snapping back to Geol, "Goodness, young Master, your timing is unfortunate. Your brother left for a business trip just this morning, you must have missed each other on the way here"

"Oh, well, it isn't the worst thing to miss him for now. When will he be back? I think we will be in Suichan for a while before we return to Mount Hua, we have a lot of orders to wait for"

"In 2 months, I do not know all of the details, but it might be quite the lucrative trip-"

"OI! I'm happy you both are reuniting, but it's rude to leave us unattended and ignored outside of the gates!!!" Cheong Myeong called out, making Baek face palm. The trip was going so well, he was being so agreeable (yet also disturbingly inactive), but he just had to open his mouth. Curse Geol for holding them up, making Cheong impatient... Baek just pleaded silently with the heavens that his annoyance would fade before it became their shared problem.

Thankfully, it wasn't too long after that when they were finally ushered in, when Geol's parents greeted him and his friends, but looked towards the divine dragon with weariness fitting towards Cheong Myeong. 

Guiding everyone inside to talk, to learn of their plans and to merely catch up. Why? Because they were doting parents.

And Baek had to stop himself from showing his resentment for that. Because jealousy would be unwarranted and unsightly right now. Iseol actually had to smack his head to help straighten him up, so that was already embarrassing enough. At least no one noticed, she was the healthiest among them, her presence so negligible her acts were naturally unobserved. Though it was also just unfair to be jealous about a living situation. Especially his young sect brother's happy family, who treated them so hospitably. Though Cheong Myeong's scoffs helped ease his ego. Made him feel slightly normal for his crude emotions. And also made him question his morals. Glad he was so used to burying those questions, as he didn't want to process how much Cheong had affected his righteous mind.

It did also did not help that he couldn't help but notice how at home Tang Soso seemed to be, more so than even Geol was at the moment. She really was a born and bred noblewoman. Seeming right at home with the luxuries around her, eating the array of snacks given to them all with an elegance that somewhat impressed and ticked him off at the same time. 

Cheong seemed to merely give her a passing glance and let her be. Iseol- Baek had to look around for her once more, because her low presence made him forget she was right beside him- was as quiet and dull as always, and Jong was surprisingly also being quite respectful. Understandable as the oldest of their current Cheong generation of the sect, but also not something he expected anymore between the 6 of them, after all, with Cheong Myeong, all of them had become... embarrassingly rowdy.

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"So! You 6 are heading to the Tang Estate? I'm proud that Mount Hua was able to develop such a connection, that it was you all alongside my son who established the friendship... but are you sure it will be safe? There could be resentful elders or even youngsters among the Tangs still left since the last time each of you ventured here and... made a commotion" Geol's father shared his concerns with a surprising gentle firmness. The master of this house was fair to be concerned. He was around when Cheong was stabbed, his son was injured despite his victory against a Tang, and for the initial targeting of his home by the Tangs. And not really around for the resolutions the group had.

"Father, we will be okay. No one will be poisoned or hurt, and if anyone tries, we can hold our own. Mount Hua is strong, stronger than their poisons"

"HAHA!! Well said, you snott-nosed kid! I will happily drink to that- look at you making me a proud old man!" Cheong called out with childish glee, taking that moment to down the bottle of sake he had his grubby hands on... causing every one of the Mount Hua disciples to side eye him, looking at him with confused regret. Because he was the youngest in that room. And Jin merely shook his head towards Geol's father's confusion, a suggestion to just... not think about it. It wouldn't make sense, no matter what he would think of it anyway. Cheong Myeong was an enigma better left unsolved.

"Well... I would like everyone's word that my son won't get into any conflict that isn't necessary for his honour as a man. And as a Mount Hua disciple... I realised I cannot change his path, nor ensure his safety, but his honour I will ensure." This mere statement stunned the said son. Because how could he even break the news to his father that with their bastard of a wild card... his honour is already long go-

"Of course. I stake my own honour to ensure my sect brother's own will never be tarnished, keeping his, yours and Mount Hua's name clean" Baek, for his credit stood, bowed and lied through his teeth. Because he had as much of a tarnished honour as the rest of them. Geol couldn't even look any of them in the eyes when they deceived his father just to spare his feelings. He felt so ashamed that he suddenly wished his afterlife to take him now and spare him this guilt. To which Soso patted his back to offer some measure of comfort. 

Baek, for his credit, kept his head down too, not facing the relieved father in the eyes either, because he knew what he just said was messed up too. He may not be able to even sleep tonight. Damn.

"Can we have seconds, please? I haven't had crab since I was home!" Soso said cheerfully, she seemed to be the only one truly enjoying herself on this trip. And you know what? Baek merely thought, good for her. His resentment calming after his morally questionable stunt. 

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"Father... you know I don't need you to babysit me when I dose my own food with poison for cultivation"

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"I'm merely impressed at how much you are managing to consume already. It is a shame... that you are stubbornly refusing to learn the techniques to utilise that poison... but it is still honourable in itself, you are still paying homage to it all by at least concentrating your blood and gaining an immunity despite your resistance to focus on anything but healing arts and hidden weapons." 

Tang Gunak straightened himself from leaning over his youngest son's shoulder. He was a rowdy child, one whose behaviour could rival that divine dragon... it was why he was so willing to allow Cheong Myeong of Mount Hua rob him blind. He saw the personality of his son in him... The excessive drinking, the greed, the genius found rarely in each generation, the secrecy, feeling like he was older than his actual age... the random ideas that rivalled the long-held traditions of their sect, the many attempts, begging and arguments to try and convince him to change it all, back when the elders prevented him from doing so... Straining their relationship... It made Cheong Myeong more tolerable; he had practised with his own child for so long. On how to handle a child like that.

And it made him so much more grateful that Cheong Myeong had changed their sect for the better, as he could slowly start listening to his son, changing small things... and making his Bo happier than he had ever seen him. 

Though he would do everything in his power to keep these two disorders away from each other. If their chaos clash...? It would mean a horrid fate for both Mount Hua and the Tang family.

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"Ha! Stubborn? Me? Father, you know nought of stubbornness," Tang Bo chuckled, chomping on the potatoes of his meal, and the potato berries that accompanied them. Smiling as if nostalgic. 

"I believe I do. But ignore me, I have duties I must attend to. You should train with your elder brother after your meal. I'm sure you will beat him with ease, as is normal, but do make sure to teach him along the way. Your genius should be used for more than yourself" 

And with that, Gunak left the room. And Tang Bo could finally sigh. It was odd having a sect leader as a father, it was odd that his ideas were being indulged, and it was depressing being a teenager once more. 

He looked at his plate of poisoned goodies and grew dreary. Because poison was the very thing that killed him.

Yes, he collapsed in Cheong Myeong's arm, yes, he was dying, but the simple pain relief, the only healing Cheong could even do...? That saved his body from dying from shock. Allowing him to focus his energy on surviving... even when shaky hands and tears no longer were felt on his whitening skin. Enough time to focus his qi on stopping the bleeding. Enough time for the Tang family to find him, despite having fled when that demon threatened the entire livelihood of all... and brought him back from the brink of death...

And yet, when he heard of Cheong's victory and death from his medical cot? When he was recovering from the worst moments of his life, knowing he couldn't help his one true friend as he faced a man he was even scared to face... just to learn Cheong did it, but his life... and basically all of Mount Hua's was forfeit? He freaked.

He tried to jump out of bed- to make a run for it- to... to... he didn't know. Disprove it- or somehow bring him back from death, just like he was...

And like an idiot? Through his grief, he didn't even see him- or who it even was... but he fell onto a fellow elder. Who had an open wound... which grazed his own. And the sheer poison of his blood... and the fact that his own poison arts were so undertrained? His sickly body couldn't handle it, and the irony of the Master of Shadows dying to Poison despite his family lineage... was one of the secrets the Sect still held.

He wouldn't repeat that same mistake... and he also long realised that living was so depressing when he still had no best friend left beside him.

He sighed once more, ate his fill of his poisoned meal... and began to meditate, to cultivate and concentrate the poison and force a quick immunity... because living life by the motions was helping a lot. And at least he could fulfil his own last wish and fix his own family, take care of them all when he put the unfair burden on his deceased best friend unnecessarily, as Cheong... didn't live to even take care of himself.

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