The Poison King's Harsh Lesson
Although Dang Baek’s sudden proposal had altered their schedule, An Rok-san didn’t seem particularly bothered. After moving to a new location, Cindy and Dang Ga-ryeo stood on the dueling platform, glaring at each other. Watching the two women, Seo Bong-hwa turned to Dang Baek with a worried expression and asked her question with care.
“Supreme Patriarch… I mean, Father. Why did you make Min and Jung-gi duel as well? I understand Min, but… Jung-gi…”
Seo Bong-hwa spoke softly enough that the distant Dang Jung-gi couldn’t hear, her face clouded with concern. Dang Baek looked at her with a brief flash of pity before hardening his resolve and speaking firmly.
“That boy Jung-gi has been crushed beneath his older brother and sister for too long. On top of that, his inferiority complex and the way you’ve all spoiled him have twisted him completely. Otherwise, why would he be called the shame of the Dang Clan? This is the perfect opportunity to teach him how terrifying the world can be through Elder An Rok-san’s group. Besides, that bastard Jung-gi… he looks down on women. On those young ladies. It’s not certain, but I doubt even Min or Ga-ryeo could win easily. Still… it will be a good experience. A chance to face the strong ones from Earth—no, from the entire universe.”
“But…”
“Enough. Daughter-in-law, I know what you’re worried about. But if he keeps growing up like this, Jung-gi will eventually bring disaster upon himself. So… even if it means using a bitter remedy, I want to fix that rotten attitude of his this time.”
After listening to Dang Baek, Seo Bong-hwa couldn’t help but remain anxious, yet she had no choice but to accept his reasoning. In truth, Dang Jung-gi was consumed by inferiority, and his lustful behavior had already stained the clan’s honor more than once or twice. Even now, the way he kept stealing glances at Su-a, Cindy, and Hwa-ryun proved Dang Baek’s point. Since she herself had spoiled him too much, she could not argue against the opinion of her father-in-law, the Supreme Patriarch, and the grandfather who worried for his grandson.
While Seo Bong-hwa wrestled with her concerns, Dang Seo-gun stood between Cindy and Dang Ga-ryeo on the platform and explained the rules.
“Killing is forbidden. If either of you sustains an injury that, in my judgment, makes continuing the match impossible, I will stop it by force. Any objections from either side?”
“None, Father.”
“None, Lord Dang.”
“Good. Then… begin the match!”
The moment Dang Seo-gun’s declaration left his lips, Cindy and Dang Ga-ryeo sprang into motion. Dang Ga-ryeo rapidly fired concealed weapons hidden in her sleeves at Cindy, but Cindy created distance while using her gun to knock the projectiles down. Those she couldn’t shoot down she deflected with her gauntlets, then immediately closed the gap with swift footwork.
Yet the instant Cindy began her approach, Dang Ga-ryeo instead dove into her opponent’s embrace and began swinging the concealed weapons in both hands. What Dang Ga-ryeo didn’t know was that while she only had a passing familiarity with Cindy, Cindy knew her fighting style extremely well.
“Haa!”
“W-what?!”
When Dang Ga-ryeo closed in immediately, Cindy used a feint to guide her opponent’s weapons in the direction she wanted, then instantly withdrew the fake move. She didn’t miss the brief opening created when Dang Ga-ryeo’s posture crumbled and drove a fist infused with inner qi straight forward.
Even as her stance collapsed, Dang Ga-ryeo countered with a palm strike.
“Ugh!”
The palm carried far more power than Cindy had expected. Even though she blocked with her gauntlet, a dull pain spread through her arm. Dang Ga-ryeo refused to let the opening slip and clung to Cindy tenaciously.
Pushed back for a moment by the relentless assault, Cindy realized she couldn’t dodge the palm strikes. Gritting her teeth, she began using moves Dang Ga-ryeo would never have anticipated.
“Haaap!”
“W-what the—?!”
Crack!Thud!
Cindy abandoned defense entirely, taking the palm strikes directly on her body while simultaneously driving her own fists into Dang Ga-ryeo. The unexpected heavy impact sent both women staggering backward.
Swoooosh!
“Cough! Hngh… How can you be perfectly fine after taking the Crimson Lotus Divine Palm…?”
The Crimson Lotus Divine Palm was one of the Dang Clan’s palm techniques and possessed considerable power. Seeing Cindy remain standing after taking it forced Dang Ga-ryeo to feel genuine shock. Of course, Cindy wasn’t completely unscathed either.
Ouch… that hurts! Did I go too easy on her…? Ga-ryeo… she’s gotten stronger than she was in Changcheon Murim.
In terms of pure inner qi volume alone, Cindy could have overwhelmed Dang Ga-ryeo. After learning the Hwanhi Soyogo, receiving An Rok-san’s support, engaging in countless dual cultivation sessions with him, and being ordered to do the same with many others, Cindy’s body and inner qi had already reached a level that late-stage Murim warriors simply could not catch up to.
However, since this was the first time she had seen Dang Ga-ryeo in a long while and because An Rok-san had ordered her to build friendly relations with the Dang Clan, Cindy had been holding back appropriately. The problem was that Dang Ga-ryeo’s martial skill far exceeded the level Cindy remembered, even if her inner qi was still inferior.
“Hwa-ryun. Don’t you think Lady Dang is stronger than we expected? Or am I imagining it?”
“At the very least, she is stronger than the Dang Ga-ryeo we knew, excluding the cycle in Changcheon Murim where the Heaven-Reversing Blood Calamity occurred. Endless Universe is currently running on a prototype, so we lack objective data, but… it’s probably accurate. Above all, the difficulty we’re playing on is the extremely challenging hard mode.”
“So that’s why it feels this difficult? Because it’s hard mode?”
“If we consider what Senior Yoo-ran said, it makes sense. She told us they raised the realism of every element—adult play, combat, cooking, crafting, piloting. Especially making combat realistic also means the NPCs have become correspondingly stronger.”
“She really is stronger than the Dang Ga-ryeo we knew. Hearing you say that confirms it. But… she still can’t beat Cindy.”
Dang Ga-ryeo, who had been keeping pace with Cindy using only concealed weapons, gradually began to be pushed into a defensive position. Her stamina and inner qi were far lower than Cindy’s, and although her martial skill had surpassed expectations, that was the extent of it.
After being overwhelmed in close combat, Dang Ga-ryeo once again created distance. She drew the pistol at her waist, aimed at Cindy, and fired while launching more hidden weapons, but Cindy—now familiar with her movements—easily dodged the bullets and projectiles and began closing in again.
Realizing she couldn’t shake off Cindy’s approach, Dang Ga-ryeo threw another wave of concealed weapons, then drew her final hidden weapon and resumed the fight against the advancing Cindy.
Ziiiing!
“This is…? An energy sword?”
“Haaat!!”
Dang Ga-ryeo drew a blade formed of pure energy—just like the one Su-a used—except it was a dagger, and charged at Cindy. But Cindy calmly observed her movements, waited for the moment Dang Ga-ryeo overextended, then seized the opportunity. She struck the wrist of the hand holding the weapon, sending the energy dagger flying.
Clang!Clatter!
“Ack!”
While Dang Ga-ryeo staggered from the blows to both wrists, Cindy swiftly aimed her energy gun at her opponent’s body and froze. Dang Ga-ryeo wore a frustrated expression but stopped moving and stared at Cindy. Soon she let out a sigh, raised both hands, and declared her defeat.
“I lost. Continuing any further would be meaningless.”
“Winner, Cindy Macglen!”
After the seemingly intense duel ended, Cindy smiled and offered Dang Ga-ryeo a handshake. Dang Ga-ryeo returned the smile and accepted it.
“You were truly incredible. Your martial prowess perfectly matched your title of Poison Phoenix.”
“Not at all. Lady Cindy’s skill is so outstanding it’s strange you don’t have a title of your own. I received excellent instruction today.”
“Hehe~ Thank you. And you can drop the ‘lady.’ Just call me Cindy.”
“Huh? But…”
“In my homeland in the Western Regions, that’s simply how we address each other. Don’t worry about age. If you allow it, I’ll call you Ga-ryeo.”
Beautiful women tend to like other beautiful women. Even though she had lost the duel, Dang Ga-ryeo felt considerable goodwill toward Cindy. To a woman with a heroic temperament like Dang Ga-ryeo, a stronger and more beautiful Cindy was more than enough to become an object of admiration.
While the two women conversed, Dang Seo-gun and Dang Baek—who had been watching the match—were visibly astonished.
“How can such a young woman possess such profound inner qi?!”
“She blocked the Crimson Lotus Divine Palm with inner qi alone. She instantly formed a bulletproof qi shield at the exact point of impact. Her martial skill is also outstanding… I’m truly impressed by Elder An Rok-san’s ability. To have a disciple with such skill at such a young age.”
“Honestly, even I would find it difficult to win against her if we compared inner qi alone. If I took Ga-ryeo’s Crimson Lotus Divine Palm on my body like that, the damage would be considerable.”
The match between Cindy and Dang Ga-ryeo had exceeded all expectations, and both Dang Baek and Dang Seo-gun now looked at Cindy with completely different eyes.
After exchanging a few more words, Cindy stepped down from the platform with Dang Ga-ryeo. As Jung Su-a took her place for the next match, the following duel began.
“The rules remain the same as before. Are both of you ready?”
“Of course.”
“Please teach me well, Lady Jung Su-a.”
“I’m the one who should be saying that. Young Master Dang Min.”
“Then… begin the match. Start!”
After the duel between Cindy and Dang Ga-ryeo concluded, the match between Dang Min and Su-a began. The instant it started, Dang Min hurled a single concealed weapon at Su-a, which she lightly blocked. Immediately afterward, eleven more projectiles flew toward her. Though surprised, Su-a swiftly swung her energy sword, slicing every one of them apart, then launched her own attack. The real duel had begun.