First Time Hearing That
Jeong Gwang stepped out of Xianxia Pavilion.
Yu Jeong-pung walked beside him, forehead furrowed in thought.
"Where's the Tang young lady?"
"……."
"Yu hyung-nim!"
"Ah, sorry about that. Could you say it once more?"
"Where's the Tang young lady? Didn't we come to take her there?"
"Oh, right. Let's go."
They walked in silence for a while before Yu Jeong-pung suddenly stopped.
Jeong Gwang naturally halted as well.
Their eyes met, and Yu Jeong-pung spoke up.
"Little brother, you're strong. No, maybe even stronger than I thought. And I know you're never one to take the cowardly way out."
"Of course."
The old Yu Jeong-pung would have burst into laughter, but not this time.
"For someone like you to even mention joint attacks, ambushes, or retreat... That's why I can't accept what you said earlier."
Jeong Gwang inwardly clicked his tongue.
'Arms and legs all intact, yet begging for a living— no wonder his head's full of useless thoughts.'
For Yu Jeong-pung, raised in the Beggars' Sect pursuing nothing but righteousness, it was only natural he couldn't understand Jeong Gwang.
And Jeong Gwang, who had spent long years in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, couldn't understand him either.
"People think differently. What's there to agonize over? Just let it be."
"Sigh. Yeah, I was talking nonsense. I wasn't blaming you, so don't misunderstand."
"Misunderstand what? Anyway, how much farther?"
Yu Jeong-pung must have pictured Dang Ye-ji.
His heavy expression split into a wide grin.
"Almost there. Hurry up."
They arrived at the hall where the Sacheon Dangga was staying.
Dang Ye-ji, who had been pacing in front of the door, greeted them politely.
"Yu hyung-nim. Thank you."
"No big deal, don't worry about it."
"Jeong Gwang hyung-nim. Thank you for coming."
"What for? Got a lot of tasty poisons ready?"
Dang Ye-ji's icy face twitched slightly.
It was almost a smile.
"I wouldn't know about the taste, but the effects should be good."
"Oh. Can't wait."
"This way, then."
Dang Ye-ji led the way.
Jeong Gwang prodded Yu Jeong-pung, who was staring at her in a daze.
"What're you doing? Let's go."
"R-right!"
Dang Ye-ji guided them to a pavilion in the garden behind the hall.
But several young men were waiting there.
The expressionless one at the front clasped his hands toward Yu Jeong-pung.
"Long time no see, Brother Yu."
"Haha, been well, Brother Dang?"
"Thanks to you."
The young man's gaze shifted to Jeong Gwang.
Unlike his blank face, his eyes burned with fervor.
"Greetings, Jeong Gwang hyung-nim. I'm Dang O-gun. I've heard a lot from my sister. Thanks for coming all this way."
Dang Ye-ji, watching, widened her eyes slightly.
Her usually curt brother had said an unusually long string of words.
'He has high expectations for Jeong Gwang hyung-nim.'
Not just Dang O-gun—all the gathered Dangga youths felt the same.
But Jeong Gwang had no clue.
Even if he did, he wouldn't care.
True to form, a curt reply came.
"Hey."
"……."
"What?"
"……Aren't you curious what my sister said about you?"
"What'd she say?"
Dang O-gun's eyes burned hotter.
"She said you're someone who understands poison. What do you think of poison?"
"Hmm."
Jeong Gwang tilted his head.
"Hate it sometimes, like it others."
Dang O-gun and the other Dangga youths looked puzzled.
'Hating it makes sense, but liking it too?'
Most martial artists saw poison and hidden weapons as cowardly.
That was why the Sacheon Dangga, famed for them, faced unkind gazes from the jianghu.
If they hadn't consistently done heroic deeds, wielded immense power, and repaid grudges tenfold like vicious dogs, they might have been treated as unorthodox or even wiped out.
But it had good points?
'This guy's definitely different.'
Speaking for the group, Dang O-gun asked.
"What makes it good?"
"Is there anything else that can kill or save a person as effectively as poison?"
"……No."
"It can do anything, depending on the user's intent."
"……True."
"The Dangga's famous for medicine too, right? I hear you do a lot of good."
"Not for me to say."
"Must cost a fortune. Impressive."
"Just what we ought to do."
As the talk flowed, Dang O-gun and the youths puffed out their chests.
"But the ignorant ones always yap the most."
"Exactly!"
"Like, 'Why belittle something so great?'"
"You said it!"
"They only wise up after tasting it themselves. But they're not even worth wasting it on."
"Hahaha!"
The Dangga youths' gazes toward Jeong Gwang changed.
From curiosity and wariness to full fondness.
Even Dang O-gun's perpetually blank face cracked a smile.
"My sister called you a true expert, and she's right. We're not that far apart in age—mind if I drop the formalities?"
"Go ahead."
"Hahaha! Come here, little brother."
Resistance to poison ran strongest among young orthodox warriors.
Where else would they meet someone with such a proper view?
Jeong Gwang was swarmed by the excited Dangga youths.
"Now that you've met my little brother, a gift's in order. This one's taken quite some work."
"Hold on, big brother."
"What's up?"
"Are you cutting in line?"
"……Not exactly……."
"Not exactly……?"
As Dang Ye-ji raised a brow, Dang O-gun backed down.
"……Sorry. I'll wait."
Dang Ye-ji pulled out her creations and offered them to Jeong Gwang.
"Nothing special, but please take good care of them."
"Sure."
After eating, pricking, drinking, and inhaling them all, Jeong Gwang blinked.
"Whoa. This is wild."
"That lacking?"
To her anxious question, stripping away her cool facade, Jeong Gwang replied.
"You said Jinhapda hyang was the best. These are pretty good too."
"……For real?"
"Yep. This one chokes the breath right out, that one feels like it'll burn your guts immediately, this guy……."
As Jeong Gwang detailed each poison's symptoms, Dang Ye-ji nodded frantically.
"Hmm. Each has its own flair, which is nice, but a bit disappointing."
"Tell me. Please."
"These three could mix for more complex damage, that one split in two would be deadlier. Because……."
Dang Ye-ji scribbled his words in a small booklet.
She asked questions now and then, her face brightening as their talk stretched on.
"Huh? Tang young lady. That idea you just said—it's good."
And every praise from Jeong Gwang bloomed a smile brighter than flowers.
"Gah!"
Yu Jeong-pung clutched his chest like he'd been poisoned, but no one paid him mind.
Everyone was itching to feed Jeong Gwang their poisons.
Next up after Dang Ye-ji: Dang O-gun.
"This is my masterpiece. Named it Sambo sae hon—Three Steps Soul Shatter."
"Shatters the soul in three steps? Bit grandiose."
"Ahem. Got too excited when it was done and overnamed it. Bear with me."
"Let's try it."
Jeong Gwang popped the Sambo sae hon in his mouth and took a step.
One step.
Two steps.
Three steps.
Four…….
"Huh?"
"Little brother! How is it? Feel it coming?"
Jeong Gwang clapped.
"Whoa, it's hitting. Feels killer."
"Uhahaha! Thank goodness! Really!"
Jeong Gwang sat cross-legged and circulated his qi.
The Dangga youths surrounded him, eyes sharp as they stood guard.
Yu Jeong-pung, watching, shook his head.
'Feed him poison then stand protector? What kind of nonsense is this?'
Here it was.
Moments later, Jeong Gwang opened his eyes and praised Dang O-gun.
"Whew. Clears the mind right up. Great job, Dang hyung-nim."
"More specifics?"
"Empty vial first? Gotta expel this."
"Oh, right. Here."
Eat the poison.
Endure it.
Expel it.
Appraise it.
The cycle repeated.
"Whoa, so many."
"It's fine, fine. Eat up, no holding back."
The youths offered their poisons freely.
Though Dangga secret poisons weren't to be shared, these were personal research—no hesitation.
"Dang O-sang hyung-nim, right? This one's solid."
"R-really?"
"Yeah. Coagulates blood fast, scatters inner power fiercely—hot stuff."
The gloomy-faced youth scratched his head bashfully.
"Dang O-geon hyung-nim, you're off track."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Not qi-scattering poison—more paralysis. Be honest. Started as paralysis, right?"
"……Y-yeah. But symptoms and use fit qi-scattering……."
"Eh. Pivoting on a side effect isn't bad, but see it through first. Switch later—no rush."
The mild-faced youth straightened and bowed.
"Today, you've enlightened me greatly. Truly grateful."
"No biggie."
Time passed like this.
Before long, dozens of vials lined up before Jeong Gwang.
All the poison he'd eaten and expelled.
As he sorted them, he spoke.
"Dang Ye-ji young lady, Dang O-gun hyung-nim, Dang O-hyeon hyung-nim, Dang O-sang hyung-nim."
The named ones reflexively raised hands.
Jeong Gwang handed them vials.
"Refine these more."
"……Refine? That lacking?"
"No. These have the most potential to improve."
Receiving them back, they beamed.
Dang O-gun, with three vials, grinned ear to ear.
Jeong Gwang eyed him.
"How's a guy like you not in the Nine Dragons?"
"I'm lacking."
"Nah. Ah, you focused on poison research over fame."
"……."
Dang O-gun stared at Jeong Gwang, then shook his head.
"Glad I made friends with you today. If we'd been enemies…… Can't even think about it."
"Enemies are fine if our minds align."
"……What?"
"Your nickname's Dok bi cheon mang—Poison Dagger Heavenly Net, right? Throw poison daggers to weave a net in the sky. Can't unleash true poison intent without an enemy."
"……True."
"Haven't seen your hidden weapons yet."
"Hahaha! No need to lament. I'm always ready. Since it came up—how about now?"
Dang Ye-ji cut in.
"Hold on."
Her face was icy, frosted over.
"Jeong Gwang hyung-nim. Why only two for me?"
"Jinhapda hyang makes three."
"Ah."
"All combined, Jinhapda hyang was tops."
Dang Ye-ji's face lit with joy; Dang O-gun's soured.
Soon, they eyed each other with rivalry aflame.
Whatever. Jeong Gwang dusted off and stood.
"Later than I thought. Gotta go."
"Little brother. Mind if I ask something?"
"Shoot."
Dang O-gun hesitated, then spoke carefully.
"……That ju jeuk ji gong circulation method. Could you share it?"
"Obviously not."
"……Yeah, figured. Sorry. I spoke out of turn."
Dang O-gun flushed.
Asking for secret arts? Deserved rebuke.
But Jeong Gwang's ju jeuk ji gong was that tempting.
For the poison-famed Dangga, a must-know, must-block technique.
"I'm such a fool. Asking something so stupid."
To the self-reproaching Dang O-gun, Jeong Gwang said.
"Anyway, ju jeuk ji gong's basics don't mesh with Dangga inner arts."
"True."
"Don't you have qi-expelling circulations already?"
"Of course. But not as good as yours."
"Then improve them."
"……!"
"No way the Dangga can't. Doubt it."
Thinking it over, yes.
What couldn't they do?
Fire lit in Dang Ye-ji and the youths' eyes.
* * *
'Fun kid.'
An old man smiled at Jeong Gwang.
'Called the Jade Jade Dragon in Qinghai, huh?'
Rumors had reached far to Sichuan, and rightly so.
To view poison so properly—impressive.
'But why's that beggar hanging around Ye-ji?'
Yu Jeong-pung was chattering uselessly at Dang Ye-ji.
Jeong Gwang was leaving the garden alone.
'Deal with the beggar later.'
Jeong Gwang piqued his interest now.
'Shall we play?'
The old man's form vanished from the hall roof, reappearing before the distant Jeong Gwang.
"Kid. Got a moment?"
"No."
"Well. The reason I came…… What?"
Jeong Gwang had already walked past.
The old man stood blankly, then appeared ahead again.
"Ugh, again?"
"I'm Dang Gi-hwang. Changed your mind yet?"
"First time hearing it. Famous?"
"……You don't know the Poison Venerable?"
"Ah. Poison Venerable."
"Sigh. Yes. That's me."
Jeong Gwang scratched his arms vigorously.
"Whoa, the Poison Venerable. I'm embarrassed just hearing it."
"……The jianghu calls me that—what can I do? I know your nickname too. That's over the top."
"Jade Jade Dragon?"
"Yes."
"So?"
Dang Gi-hwang gaped at Jeong Gwang.
Such a matter-of-fact face!
'What kind of guy is this?'
Inwardly so, but Jeong Gwang's looks dazzled.
Worth the title Jade Jade Dragon.