The Poison Flower's Venom
Everyone could see that the items belonged to the Sichuan Tang Family.
The problem was that those items were clearly hidden weapons and poisons.
When all the examiners, including Gudo Mosang, stood with their mouths agape, Dang Jihwa continued speaking.
"In truth, before setting out for Qinghai, all my poisons were taken from me. It seemed like the elders' consideration for the Qinghai Branch…"
As Dang Jihwa's eyes sparkled, Mosang's brow furrowed.
"What does that have to do with you disappearing for several days?"
"Obviously, it was to prepare these."
"You mean to use them on the promising juniors?"
"Of course. This is the Dragon Gate Assembly, after all. We can't just let anyone pass, can we? Besides, if they're taking their first steps into the martial world, it's only natural they taste some bitterness in life. Ah, don't worry. I've prepared plenty of antidotes. It's a shame there wasn't time to test those as well."
Dang Jihwa smiled brightly as she looked around the room. That smile suited her nickname, the Poison Flower.
At that moment, Wang Jimak spoke.
"I will follow the Murim Alliance's rules as you described."
─
Five promising juniors who had reached the final test sat before a large table. Among them was Jang Muhwi.
Jang Muhwi quietly observed the juniors who had passed. In truth, he found it strange that they were still here. As far as he knew, this Dragon Gate Assembly would end with not a single passer.
Yet he had challenged the assembly because of his long experience. His former self would have found it as difficult as a bull threading a needle's eye. But now, he believed he could pass with ease.
The unexpected part was that four other juniors remained as well. Five people had survived an assembly that should have had zero passers?
Jang Muhwi found the other four juniors curious. They had gathered around Mu Ilho of the Mu Sword Family. It made sense—Mu Ilho's performance at this Dragon Gate Assembly had been remarkable. While Jang Muhwi had revealed his skills subtly, Mu Ilho had announced his abilities to everyone with flashy techniques. Thanks to that, the remaining juniors were working hard to build friendly relations with him.
Even now, most of them were offering tea cups instead of wine cups before Mu Ilho, smiling brightly.
Just then, a black shadow rushed toward them. It was Wang Jimak, the Qinghai Branch Chief.
The juniors rose and bowed upon seeing him. Wang Jimak waved his hand.
"Everyone, sit. I have something urgent to tell you."
"Understood, Great Hero."
After everyone nodded and sat, Wang Jimak continued.
"Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. So…"
As Wang Jimak explained, the juniors' expressions twisted painfully. The reason was simple: his declaration that the final gate might not be a mere formality. The fact that Dang Jihwa, the Poison Flower, would oversee it was an added blow.
That was not all. Wang Jimak also mentioned that Dang Jihwa planned to use new poisons in the test. After finishing, he looked at the juniors with a meaningful expression.
"If you want to give up now, say so here."
No one answered. No one would abandon the Dragon Gate Assembly at this stage, no matter how terrifying the Sichuan Tang Family's poisons might be.
After Wang Jimak left, food was served, but the juniors did not pick up their chopsticks. They were worried about the final gate.
Of course, there was always an exception. Only one person was casually stuffing food into his mouth.
"Whew, that was good. Aren't you going to eat? Pass me that leftover braised meat over there."
Jang Muhwi pointed at the plates in front of the other juniors. One of them laughed in disbelief.
"How can you even eat? Does it make sense to use real poison in what should be a formality?"
"Exactly. Surely they wouldn't use actual poison?"
When Jang Muhwi's eyes gleamed, the other clapped his hands.
"Ah, so you think the Poison Flower is just making threats?"
"Isn't that obvious? Everything that happens at the Dragon Gate Assembly falls under the Murim Alliance's responsibility, doesn't it? What if someone dies because of a mistake? What then? Surely they wouldn't actually kill anyone. So relax."
Jang Muhwi casually scooped up the braised meat he had received and shoveled it into his mouth. Just then, Mu Ilho of the Mu Sword Family turned his head. He looked at Jang Muhwi with displeasure.
"The martial world is not such a lenient place. Variables always exist. It's a famous story that the youngest of the Qinghai Four Devils, known even in the unorthodox factions, was struck by Sichuan Tang poison and became half-paralyzed. And that was after taking an antidote. At the time, they had promised not to use poison in their duel. That is what the Sichuan Tang Family is. How can you tell us to relax?"
Mu Ilho chewed his lips anxiously. Jang Muhwi pulled another plate toward himself while studying everyone's expressions. They all looked as if they had bitten into something foul. Every remaining junior agreed with Mu Ilho.
At that sight, Jang Muhwi turned his head without realizing it—to hide his expression. His face was filled with hopeful anticipation, his eyes shining brightly.
Jang Muhwi now understood why there had been no passers in this Dragon Gate Assembly in his previous life. Listening to them, it seemed the Sichuan Tang Family really would use real poison in the final gate. They were more than capable of it.
But to Jang Muhwi, this was exactly what he wanted. It was an opportunity. A chance to achieve Hundred Poison Immunity, if not Complete Poison Immunity. It was practically a heaven-sent chance.
─
The next morning, the juniors changed into white robes to pay their respects at the final gate. This gate was both a test and a chance to show courtesy to their seniors in the martial world.
As expected, the first three seats ended as mere formalities. Gudo Mosang demonstrated saber techniques, and Yang Cheong-il of the Ten Thousand Li Pavilion displayed his lightness skill, the Ten Thousand Li Step, to pass them. The next seat was the same. Yi Jiseong of the Thousand Strength Fist encouraged the juniors by showing his ultimate technique, the Ten Thousand Breaks.
Unfortunately, the problem was the final seat. The woman who greeted them there had only her eyes visible beneath a green veil. The juniors knew she was the Poison Flower. Yet they could not open their mouths under the pressure of her presence. They were that cautious.
The story of an unorthodox expert whose tongue was cut out by the Poison Flower for speaking carelessly was still talked about in the martial world.
Dang Jihwa stood with her arms crossed, watching the juniors. Another reason they could not move was her gaze. Her eyes resembled those of a viper eyeing its prey.
The distance between Dang Jihwa and the juniors was about twenty steps. An awkward tension flowed between them.
The first to speak was Dang Jihwa.
"Such adorable juniors. I won't eat you, so come sit here."
She pointed at the table. On it sat five steaming teacups in a row, enough for five people to sit. But the juniors did not budge. Anyone could see there was a trap waiting.
Jang Muhwi also remained still. A test required accurately grasping the examiner's intent. He listened closely to Dang Jihwa's words.
Then she continued.
"My test is simple. Drink the tea I personally poured. Any junior who drinks it earns my recognition of their skill."
After speaking, Dang Jihwa picked up one teacup and drank it down.
"Now four cups remain."
She tossed the teacup behind her. Crash. The cup shattered, scattering fragments.
The juniors quickly glanced at each other. They finally understood what she meant. This was no formality. One fewer cup meant one person had already been eliminated.
Just then, one junior who had been watching the others shot forward like an arrow.
Whoosh!
The junior flew toward the table with the teacups, moving as nimbly as a flying squirrel through trees. At that moment, Dang Jihwa's sleeve fluttered. A silver flash burst from within her sleeve.
Swish!
A light wind sound rang out, followed by a scream.
"Aagh!"
In an instant, the junior who had been flying toward the table rolled across the floor. He had been hit by the hidden weapon Dang Jihwa threw.
Everyone swallowed hard. Dang Jihwa fluttered her sleeve again. In that moment, individual leaves flew toward the juniors. One junior who thought this was part of the test drew his sword. But the leaves Dang Jihwa launched were faster.
Just then, right before the junior's eyes, the leaves changed direction.
Thud!
The leaves embedded themselves in the wall behind the juniors. They turned to look. Hidden needles were stuck to the leaves. She had launched the leaves first, then followed with hidden weapons.
Everyone's eyes widened at the technique they could see but could not believe.
Someone muttered in a low voice.
"It's the Tang Family's Mother-Child Needles."
"At least someone has eyes."
After speaking, Dang Jihwa surveyed the juniors with the gaze of a beast eyeing its prey. She had no intention of yielding even an inch. She believed that only those with the courage to face the Tang Family's hidden weapons deserved to pass.
Was there anyone like that here?
As expected, every junior had turned pale. But only for a moment—Dang Jihwa tilted her head. It was because one junior was looking around restlessly. It was Jang Muhwi of the Jang Family.
Unexpectedly, Mu Ilho moved first. He shouted to the other juniors.
"If we act together, we can reach the teacups. Let's go together."
At the same time, three other juniors stepped forward. But there was still one who did not move at all—Jang Muhwi. Instead, he was stepping backward.
Mu Ilho frowned at him.
"If you're scared, just stay there…"
He quickly drew his sword. Shring. As silver sword energy filled the space, Dang Jihwa smiled.
"That's how it should be to be fun. Hmm, shall we change the rules? If even one person drinks the tea, I'll consider everyone passed."
"Pardon me, Poison Flower senior."
After speaking, Mu Ilho charged like lightning. At the same time, the other juniors spread out. But they had to stop immediately because of the flashing hidden weapons before their eyes. The weapons Dang Jihwa threw crossed the space without pause. In the blink of an eye, the space between her and the juniors was filled with silver flashes.
Was this what the legendary Thousand Blossoms Rain looked like?
Jang Muhwi quietly admired Dang Jihwa's extraordinary hidden weapon technique. He knew she had not yet revealed her true skill. This was merely a test of understanding hidden weapons—her real test had clearly not even begun. Only by passing this would the true test begin, the one that could grant him a Giyan.
Jang Muhwi's expression changed as he brushed off his clothes.
"Well then, shall we start in earnest?"
After speaking, he quickly pulled the silver needles Dang Jihwa had embedded from the wall behind him. He stuck them into his scabbard. After briefly examining the scabbard, he did not draw his sword and instead leaped straight into the silver flashes.