So he confirmed that they needed to go to the Ak clan immediately.
After finally delivering all the cargo, the Tang clan warmly welcomed everyone. Tang Hogwan handed over the escort payment and even added extra compensation for everything they had suffered during the mission. He also said that he would be counting on Jo Seolyeon from then on, and commented that perhaps he should start calling her leader now.
For Seolyeon, that moment carried enormous meaning. She had lost her clan, her property and everything she owned. But now she was receiving her very first official payment as the leader of the Renan escort agency. It felt as though she was finally rebuilding her life. Then Hyeong Pio told her not to worry so much, because things would get better from then on. Seolyeon agreed, and sincerely thanked everyone who had stayed by her side.
Meanwhile, Wuan Hai, who had accompanied the group all the way to the Tang clan, ordered her men to forget about the thunderbombs. She knew that now that the weapons were being produced again, it would be impossible to hide that fact from the main clan. According to her, there had never been anything the Wumen clan desired and failed to obtain. No matter what it was, they always got their hands on it. But at that moment, what she desired most was not the bombs, but Dan Hyunwoo himself.
After arriving at the Tang clan, it was not only the Wumen clan that showed interest in Dan Hyunwoo. Everyone whose lives he had saved multiple times began to see the young martial artist differently. But Dan Hyunwoo himself had only a single objective in mind.
Tang Hogwan personally offered the group a place to rest within the Tang clan for a while. But Dan Hyunwoo quickly accepted and then leapt away with a gigantic jump. From the top of one of the tallest buildings, he began searching for an energy flow similar to Ak Sei's. After some time he sensed a distant presence. Maybe it was only a tiny thread of hope, but it was all he had, so he decided to follow it.
Later, Seolyeon asked where they were going, but Hyeong Pio replied that he would explain better once they returned, because he himself was still uncertain about many things. Then Dan Hyunwoo simply patted her on the head. However, it was not an ordinary gesture. Along with that gentle touch, he also transferred a bit of his energy into her, as if trying to calm her, while silently promising that he would return.
When they departed, Hyeong Pio noticed that someone was following the group. Looking more carefully, he realized it was Wuan Hai, most likely chasing after Dan Hyunwoo once again. So he discreetly slowed down while observing the pursuit. At that moment Dan Hyunwoo shared part of his energy with him, making his body feel far lighter and drastically increasing his speed. Upon noticing that, Wuan Hai was stunned, and wondered where such absurd speed had suddenly come from, since that warrior had not seemed particularly fast before.
During the night, on the outskirts of Chengdu, they finally arrived at the headquarters of the Ak clan. Hyeong Pio said they could enter if everything was ready, but he was immediately bothered by the fact that there were no guards protecting the place. Then he knocked on the gate.
The man who appeared looked extremely similar to Ak Sei, Dan Hyunwoo's friend. The guard immediately stated that he did not know who they were, but that the clan was not receiving guests at the moment. Then Hyeong Pio asked if anyone there knew Ak Sei.
The man's expression completely changed the moment he heard that name, and he demanded to know exactly who was looking for Ak Sei. Instantly Hyeong Pio felt an enormous killing intent pouring out of the man, so heavy that he could barely breathe. Then Dan Hyunwoo stepped forward and released his own energy, completely crushing the man's pressure.
That made the man furious, causing him to draw his sword and nearly attack at once. However, Hyeong Pio tried to calm the situation, explaining that this had to be some kind of misunderstanding, and that Dan Hyunwoo was Ak Sei's friend. Unable to believe it, the man asked how that was even possible. Then Dan Hyunwoo introduced himself. Sensing the tension, Hyeong Pio also apologized for his behaviour, explaining that he had spent a very long time isolated in the mountains and did not understand much about etiquette.
The man then introduced himself as Ak Wong, and revealed that Ak Sei was his nephew, who had disappeared ten years ago. Right after that he asked whether Dan Hyunwoo had ever met Ak Sei, and demanded to know where he was.
Hearing that, Dan Hyunwoo began connecting the pieces together. According to the rumours, Cheon Gija had died ten years ago, and Ak Sei had disappeared during that same period. To him, that hell where they had been trapped felt like it had lasted a hundred years. But in the real world, only ten years had passed.
Then Ak Wong demanded an answer once more. And at that moment Dan Hyunwoo revealed the truth. He said that Ak Sei was dead.
The news made Ak Wong completely lose control. Furious, he drew his sword and struck directly at Dan Hyunwoo. Even so, Dan Hyunwoo did not even attempt to dodge. Seeing that, Wuan Hai became furious and rushed forward to help him, but he immediately stopped her, saying that he did not need her interference.
Then everyone realized that Ak Wong's sword had not even managed to touch Dan Hyunwoo's body. A powerful layer of energy surrounded his entire body, completely blocking the attack. Ak Wong himself realized that, and began to hesitate. Even though Dan Hyunwoo was clearly so powerful, he was not retaliating. Maybe he truly had been Ak Sei's friend.
At that moment an older man appeared, asking what was going on, and once again complaining about Ak Wong's explosive temper. Then he asked why he was attacking the guests. That man was Ak Biwan, the leader of the Ak clan, and also Ak Sei's father.
Ak Wong immediately apologized, while Dan Hyunwoo silently stared at the man who was his friend's father. Then he repeated the news once again. Ak Sei was dead. Even though he was shaken, Ak Biwan replied that deep down he had already expected that. Then he apologized for making the guests wait so long, and invited them into the clan.