Baek Ya and Jong Ja-gi
Poison Phoenix Dang Ye-ji stared at the young man before her.
His face was half-hidden by his bamboo hat, but she could swear he was smirking.
'Fight me? Against someone from the Tang Clan?'
Sparring matches usually ended at the first sight of blood.
But not for the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
They stopped only after killing their opponent or inflicting a mortal wound.
It was unavoidable, given their reliance on poison and hidden weapons as signature techniques. Their infamous reputation only grew, to the point where no one dared challenge them anymore.
'You said I've got a lot pent up. You saw right through me.'
The daughter of the Tang Clan head, renowned for her stunning beauty and martial prowess as the Poison Phoenix—who would pick a fight with her?
She was already brimming with frustration, and now someone had appeared to help vent it.
'But...'
The fire in her eyes slowly cooled.
'No real energy from him. Just empty bravado.'
She shook her head in the end.
"Our clan knows only life-and-death duels. There are no mere spars. Withdraw."
"Exactly. To fight for real, you've gotta stake your life. You get it."
"...!"
Everyone in the hall gasped in shock.
Dang Ye-ji was especially stunned, but for a different reason than the others.
'He's not bluffing.'
His stance, voice, demeanor—everything screamed sincerity.
'Not some shallow flirt drawn by my looks.'
He saw her as a true martial artist, ready to pour everything into a clash to test their mettle.
'Does he have that much confidence?'
Or perhaps he was a warrior who truly feared no death.
Dang Ye-ji's cooled gaze reignited with fervor.
She wasn't one to fear death either.
"Life-and-death duel. I accept... "
"Hold on!"
Yu Jeong-pung suddenly cut in.
He was usually the quiet type who offered polite bows and left, which made him stand out favorably compared to others.
Who knew he'd show such urgency?
He was so shocked he even stuttered.
"B-Brother! Wh-What are you doing?!"
"Fighting."
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Why? If you don't wanna fight Miss Tang, does that mean I can't either?"
"Of course!"
Yu Jeong-pung's ears, flushed with excitement, caught Dang Ye-ji's voice—like jade beads rolling over ice.
"Young Hero Yu. I don't understand. Why block our duel?"
It sounded lovely, but the words stung.
After all those years of secret longing, to be so overlooked—it hurt.
But Yu Jeong-pung soon regretted it.
'Jeong-pung, Jeong-pung. Who are you blaming right now?'
You couldn't show your heart.
At least not without speaking it aloud for the other to know. Yet he'd lived like a mute all this time—what pathetic thoughts were these?
'Wearing the Beggars' Sect's robes of a division leader. Bearing the overly grand title of Righteous Dragon. And still pulling this shameful stunt!'
His face burned with shame.
At the same time, the emotions he'd kept locked in his chest boiled over. They climbed his throat and burst from his lips.
"I don't want to see Miss Tang get hurt!"
The short declaration froze the entire hall.
Time seemed to stop—no one moved or spoke.
Except Jeong Gwang.
-Finally said it. Good job.
-...D-Did I really do well?
-You said it outright, didn't you? Be that honest from now on. Contract's over.
Yu Jeong-pung, flustered even after his own words, felt a bit comforted by Jeong Gwang's response.
'Yeah. I did it. At least I got my feelings across—no regrets!'
He turned to see Dang Ye-ji staring piercingly at him. Her red lips parted, releasing a beautiful voice.
But the content...
"You saying I'll lose?"
"...N-No, that's not..."
"How can you be so sure? Do I look that weak?"
"...I-I..."
Dang Ye-ji's naturally cold face hardened like stone. The expression of a warrior insulted.
A voice colder than a north wind blizzard leaked from her lips.
"Someday, I'll have to cross swords with you too, Young Hero Yu. I'm curious if you'll say the same then."
"Urk!"
Yu Jeong-pung's love froze and died before it could even bloom.
Jeong Gwang stepped past the man clutching his chest and stood before Dang Ye-ji.
She rose, clasping her hands in salute and introducing herself.
"Dang Ye-ji of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"Jeong Gwang of Kunlun Sect."
Her eyes widened.
"...So you're the one."
"You know me?"
"I heard from my brother Jin."
"Who's that?"
"...Fist Phoenix Eon Ui-jin."
"Ah. The one with the pretty calluses on her fists."
Dang Ye-ji shook her head slowly.
"...Just like the rumors."
"Did she say bad things? I praised her a lot."
"..."
Doubts crept in.
'...Is he a bit off in the head?'
Maybe that's why Yu Jeong-pung had tried to stop him.
'But if so, he wouldn't have provoked me like that.'
Her thoughts cleared.
Time for a test.
"Poison affects the body in many ways. Inhaled through breath, it ravages the lungs. Mere skin contact brings harm. It invades wounds to clot blood, or mixes into food and drink to destroy organs."
"Efficient and stylish."
"...The hardest to detect and most dangerous is the ingested kind."
Breath poisons could be mitigated by holding it. For skin or wounds, cutting or sucking it out helped somewhat.
But swallowed? No recourse. Even vomiting couldn't stop the spread inside.
She called for an empty teacup from the attendant.
Once set, she poured tea and dropped a small pill from her waist pouch.
Then slid it toward Jeong Gwang.
"Drink that unharmed, and I'll accept the duel."
"...!"
The onlookers gasped.
"Not lethal. I guarantee it on the Tang name. Just testing if you're worth fighting... Ah!"
Jeong Gwang downed the tea in one gulp.
Not a drop left.
"Ahh. Nice and warm."
"..."
"Got something stronger?"
"...You ignore poison."
"Nah. Why waste good stuff?"
"...Then you're insulting my clan?"
"No way. Greatest poison arts in the righteous sects."
Dang Ye-ji glared, poured more tea, and added various items from her pouch.
Then pushed it back.
"Here."
"Thanks for the meal."
Jeong Gwang tossed it back without hesitation.
"Urgh..."
He let out a strange groan, body trembling. Regret flickered in Dang Ye-ji's eyes.
"If it gets worse, say you lose quick. I'll give the antidote."
"..."
"Hurry!"
In the tense moment, Jeong Gwang suddenly pursed his lips.
"Wheeee."
"..."
"Oops. Reflex."
Startled by the whistle right in her face, Dang Ye-ji went blank.
'...No poison qi? Did he absorb it all in his gut?'
Impossible.
"Got more?"
"..."
"Don't hold back."
"...No numbness or shortness of breath?"
"Not that age yet."
"...Nausea?"
"Oh yeah, haven't eaten. Hungry."
Dang Ye-ji stared blankly at Jeong Gwang.
Poisons divided into mineral, plant, animal—each with countless variants.
No expert knew or could antidote them all, not even Tang Clan members.
They knew the terror best because they handled them.
'What kind of monster is this!'
No bluff.
Jeong Gwang waited expectantly.
Dang Ye-ji's eyes heated up.
'So that's it?'
Her chest warmed too.
'With him...'
She pulled a small box from her bosom, murmuring.
"You seem to know your poisons. Or just used to them?"
"Mm. A bit of both."
"Poison isn't good just because it's strong."
"Right. The user needs control."
"Yes. Safe for self-use. Deployable and antidotable after. Our clan discards countless poisons failing that."
Bitterness tinged her voice.
"One more: cost. Too expensive relative to effect? Discarded."
"Tang Clan's loaded."
"My budget's limited."
"The head's daughter?"
"Our clan values seniority and experience. Low allocation like mine? No investment."
Dang Ye-ji had ambitions.
She believed she alone could inherit the long-vacant title of Poison Queen.
But for now, a distant dream.
"This is my best for now."
Opening the box revealed a tiny vial, finger-width.
Her movements grew cautious. Uncorking carefully, she poured its contents into the teacup.
A brilliantly yellow, glistening poison liquid. The ultimate toxin crafted by the Tang head's daughter, famed as Poison Phoenix, pouring her all into it!
"I named it Jinhapda-hyang. Different trajectory from conventional poisons."
"Far from done?"
"...No. That's it."
"Ah. Held back a burp."
Jeong Gwang lifted the cup.
"Thanks for the meal."
And drank it straight down.
* * *
Beyond expectations.
Jeong Gwang's lips curved into a smile involuntarily.
But his face was turning blue.
'Damn fine compound poison.'
Common poisons specialized: like Divine Immortal Dissolver scattering inner power, or Crane's Crown Red for instant death.
Jinhapda-hyang was different.
All flora and fauna held poison, varying in potency. Usage determined poison or medicine.
'Dust gathers to make diverse echoes. Name fits.'
No single component world-shaking. Weak and strong blended, complementing and amplifying for massive impact.
"Cough!"
Circulating Supreme Pure Unsurpassed Divine Art, black blood still dripped from his mouth.
'Bittersweet ginseng, stone garlic, taro seven, seven-pace viper, black-tongue toad, yellow iron ore... Plenty I don't know.'
The jumble made dissecting components fun.
Onlookers fidgeted anxiously.
"Young hero! Can't take it? Say so!"
"Stop! Miss Tang! Is winning the issue now? Brother! I'll channel inner power—relax!"
Even Dang Ye-ji who'd given it and Yu Jeong-pung snapping to save him fussed.
Jeong Gwang smirked.
"Shh. Too noisy—can't focus. Quiet down."
"That's not important ri... What?"
"Don't panic! My inner power... Huh?"
Dang Ye-ji, Yu Jeong-pung, and everyone wore punched expressions.
'...Speaking while qi circulation and breath regulation?'
'...And no qi deviation?'
Jeong Gwang could.
And more.
Supreme Pure Unsurpassed Divine Art shielded internals while he invoked Wine is Emptiness Art.
From childhood ambushes, poison was his greatest threat.
Wine is Emptiness Art was invented to expel poisons, not alcohol.
"Miss Tang. Mind a question?"
Dang Ye-ji blankly replied to Jeong Gwang.
"Yes."
"This one's designed to leave foes neither dead nor alive, right?"
"...Yes."
She bit her lip after admitting it.
Righteous eyes would deem it vile.
But she had her reasons.
"The purpose for making it..."
"Man. Efficient."
"...Yes?"
"Kill 'em, it's over—builds grudges. This? Torments their whole clan caring and compensating. Back breaks. Oh, room for negotiation—less blood too."
"...Y-Yes! It even prevents bigger fights..."
"Cuts costs too. Not pricey ingredients—tons of cheap ones in complex mixes. Money? Nah, grind people instead. Right?"
"...H-How did you...!"
Dang Ye-ji's pupils shook violently.
When had she met someone who understood her so?
Jeong Gwang nodded at the empty vial.
"That vial. Can I have it?"
Entranced, she nodded.
"Sweet."
Jeong Gwang held the vial to his finger.
Soon, pale yellow drops fell from his fingertip. Once full, he corked it with a satisfied smile.
"...You expelled Jinhapda-hyang?"
"Slightly different."
Tilting his head, Jeong Gwang explained.
"Mixed in the earlier ones too."
"...How is that possible... No, then the effects?"
"Dunno. Gotta test. Yours was so well-crafted, probably weakened a bit."
Rare praise from Jeong Gwang.
Dang Ye-ji didn't know him well, but compared to his line to Eon Ui-jin—"Your fists have such pretty calluses"—she knew it was high praise.
"Kinda regret it now. Should've extracted this one separate."
"..."
Dang Ye-ji's face slowly changed.
Starting from her eyes, the shift flowed down to curve her lips.
A smile so radiant it dazzled.
"...Got time by any chance?"
"Huh? Why?"
Jeong Gwang looked puzzled, but Yu Jeong-pung's face darkened to death.
Anyone could see: she felt a connection, suggesting a meal.
But Dang Ye-ji was no ordinary woman.
"Got other poisons. Taste-test and critique? Oh, might need to inhale some, get pricked too..."
This was pouring poison till death!
All gasped, but Jeong Gwang was no ordinary man.
"Ooh. Count me in. Hit me hard."
Then other voices rang out.
"Sis! Sorry I'm late."
"Miss Tang. Long time no see."
Eyes turned to the stairs, where several men and women ascended.