We’re doomed.
They had struck our paralyzing acupoints and mute acupoints, then forced something down our throats. It was no ordinary thing. What on earth did they make us eat?
“From now on, even if I so much as move a finger, you three will die.”
‘No way…!’
Sambong’s face turned pale.
‘Could it be… the Gu Poison?’
Gu Poison.
A pair of male and female insects. When one is harmed, the other feels the pain. If fed to a human, the male insect burrows into the heart or the head.
When the female is tortured, the male writhes in agony, and the human who carries it suffers unbearable torment, to the point of death. If the female insect is killed, the male explodes along with the victim’s heart or head, killing them instantly.
It was the most vicious of poisons, a way to kill someone without even laying a hand on them. To consume Gu Poison was the same as handing one’s life into the hands of the one who possessed the female insect.
‘T-this is insane….’
Sambong’s body trembled uncontrollably. If this truly was Gu Poison, then from now on, they were nothing but playthings in the hands of this intruder. They could not leave without permission, could not act rashly, could not even eat, sleep, or relieve themselves without fear…!
‘Wait. Hold on.’
Wasn’t Gu Poison supposed to be extremely rare? It was notoriously difficult to raise, its numbers scarce, and its price astronomical.
‘Could it really be Gu Poison…?’
But that doubt didn’t last long.
“If you don’t believe me, I can show you. I’ll kill one of you right now to prove it.”
‘M-madman…! No! Absolutely not!’
If it truly was Gu Poison, then one of them would die instantly. And there was no guarantee it wouldn’t be him.
“It’ll be painful.”
‘It’s Gu Poison! It has to be Gu Poison!’
Even if it wasn’t, it was Gu Poison! The three men’s energy flared wildly, trembling with desperate refusal. Seolhwa looked at their frantic reactions and gently patted their shoulders.
“Alright. I’ll stop here for today. Like I said, I don’t have much time either.”
The three exhaled hot, ragged breaths. They hadn’t even moved, yet it felt like they had run a marathon.
“You’ll see me again soon. Until then, behave yourselves. Don’t worry, the sealed acupoints will release on their own with time.”
With those words, the presence vanished. The three men’s eyes darted around anxiously.
‘D-did they leave?’
‘Are they really gone?’
‘They’re gone…! Finally!’
Relief washed over them as they realized the intruder had left. Their tense bodies sagged, exhaustion flooding in.
“Try to run… and you know what will happen.”
A chilling voice echoed in their ears, followed by the sound of something snapping. Their hair stood on end, goosebumps crawling over their skin. Sambong lost control and wet himself.
With arms crossed, leaning against the wall outside the inn, Namgung Hyuk, the Black Dragon Unit Leader, thought to himself.
‘The clan will be in turmoil soon.’
They had found the First Young Master’s daughter, whom they thought lost forever. Now the First Young Master would return to the clan, and the battle for the position of Young Pavilion Master would truly begin.
Though the Clan Leader had never openly declared it, everyone knew he wished to pass the position of Clan Head to his eldest son, the First Young Master. If that were not the case, he would not have left the seat of Young Pavilion Master vacant for eight long years.
‘He must have been waiting for the First Young Master’s return.’
But the absence had been too long. The elders and several hall masters now doubted the First Young Master’s loyalty to the clan. They were not certain he would devote himself entirely to the family.
And no clan member wanted a leader who did not place the clan above all else. They wanted someone who, no matter the situation, would put their safety first—even if it meant sacrificing his own kin.
‘With the clan’s will like this, the Clan Leader cannot easily appoint the First Young Master as Young Pavilion Master.’
Moreover, the Clan Leader would want the First Young Master to earn recognition on his own. In truth, he would want that of anyone, not just the First Young Master.
‘A storm of blood is coming.’
Namgung Hyuk let out a long sigh. At that moment— “…!” From afar, a faint energy was rapidly approaching.
‘Danger…!’
Namgung Hyuk instinctively prepared to intercept it.
But— “…!”
The energy suddenly veered off course and shot straight into the inn. Into the very room Namgung Cheongun had rented.
‘Damn it!’
Namgung Hyuk cursed and rushed inside. Moving so swiftly that the inn’s guests on the first floor noticed nothing, he reached the second floor and flung open the door.
And froze.
“…?”
Inside, Seolhwa stared at him with wide eyes, while Namgung Cheongun was adjusting her clothes. Both looked startled.
“What is the matter?”
Namgung Cheongun asked, a faint displeasure in his tone. He had been fixing the child’s clothes, and the interruption only deepened his irritation.
“…Nothing happened here?”
“Are you suggesting something should have?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
But he was certain—he had felt a small but swift energy enter this room. At that moment— “Father, who is that?” The child’s voice made Namgung Hyuk flinch.
‘Ah… that’s right…’
The young lady didn’t know he was assigned as her escort. To her, this was supposed to be a peaceful outing with her father. Realizing his blunder too late, Namgung Hyuk stiffened.
Namgung Cheongun’s face also hardened as he struggled to find an explanation.
“Th-that man is… hmm…”
Unable to answer, Namgung Cheongun faltered. Namgung Hyuk quietly closed the door and withdrew.
Shaanxi Province, Hwaeum County, Mount Hua. At the summit of Lotus Peak on the western side, a Daoist hurried up the mountain as if pursued. He was No Baek, elder of the Mount Hua Sect and master of the Martial Studies Hall, known as the Dancing Flower Sword.
His lightness skill, called Hidden Fragrance Drift, was famed as Mount Hua’s finest movement technique. Like a fragrance spreading in an instant, he vanished in the blink of an eye. It was a martial art Mount Hua took great pride in.
Reaching the summit in moments, No Baek paused before the great plaque of Mount Hua Sect, catching his breath. Though the plaque stood tall and majestic, to his eyes it looked fragile, as if it might collapse.
‘There is still… hope.’
When he had heard the rumor spreading through the streets that morning, he had been shocked. But if it was true, then this was no time for despair. He entered the gates without hesitation.
“Greetings to the Master of the Martial Studies Hall!”
The third-generation disciples training in the yard bowed deeply. No Baek nodded briefly and hurried on.
“Master! You’ve returned at last!”
A bright voice stopped him.
He turned.
“Ah, Yu Kang.”
The youngest of the first-generation disciples, yet already a prodigy who had entered the ranks of the Plum Blossom Sword Masters at the youngest age in history. He was Yu Kang, the pride of Mount Hua.
“Shouldn’t you be training? Why are you wandering about?”
At No Baek’s words, Yu Kang scratched his head sheepishly.
“Ahaha, I was just taking a short break.”
“You’re neglecting your training again.”
“No, sir! I was training hard, very hard! I only just stopped a quarter-hour ago. Truly!”
“You’ve rested enough. Go back and devote yourself again.”
Yu Kang pouted.
“Go on!”
“Yes… understood…”
He slumped his shoulders and trudged toward the training ground, his steps exaggeratedly heavy. But then he suddenly spun around, beaming.
“Stay strong today as well, Master!”
His cheerful voice rang out, full of vigor. Then he dashed off toward the training ground. Yu Kang was beloved not just for his martial talent, but also for his bright and lively nature.
No Baek, watching his smile that seemed to give strength just by looking, pressed on with renewed urgency.
“It’s true. Everyone in town is saying it.”
No Baek explained again, his face tight with worry.
“They say the Young Pavilion Master of Fire Crow Pavilion stole the Great Rebirth Pill and fled toward the Namgung Clan. The pill was taken from the Black Cloud Gang, that unorthodox faction operating along the Shaanxi–Henan border. The very gang that once attacked us!”
“Hmm…”
“Sect Leader…!”
Despite his urgent words, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, No Un, remained calm and unmoved. No Baek struck his chest in frustration.
“If the child has not yet consumed the Great Rebirth Pill, then we still have a chance! We cannot waste time! We must retrieve it at once!”
“Wait a moment. There is something that troubles me.”
“What could trouble you at such a time!”
People were dying by the day, and yet the Sect Leader hesitated?
“Isn’t it strange, No Baek?”
“What is strange?”
“That rumor.”
No Un’s eyes grew deep and heavy.
“How could it spread so quickly, so clearly, and at such a convenient time?”
“…!”
“And in this small county of Hwaeum, no less.”