The Yin Spirit Ice Fox
“B-Brother!?”
Tang Yuhyeon flinched in alarm. The sudden flare of light left him wondering whether he had somehow angered the spiritual beast.
“It’s fine. That’s just how the Yin Spirit Ice Fox reacts when it takes a liking to someone.”
At Tang Cheonwi’s words, Hwancheonjihwan’s grumpy voice rang out.
Yin Spirit Ice Foxes originally came in pairs. The one that followed Tang Cheonwi was the male. Bestowing its Yin Spirit Qi upon Tang Yuhyeon was an act meant to summon the female—a declaration of safety and the naming of a candidate master.
A pure force of nature that holds the extreme extremes of yin energy and cold.
A power that carries the spiritual essence of countless souls.
That, too, was something Hwancheonjihwan had told him in his previous life.
That’s why I showed Yuhyeon the Yin Spirit Ice Fox.
That’s the idea. That’s why I came back.
Just talking to myself.
Poison was far more embracing than people realized. It could hold both the power of yang-hard and yin-cold. In his previous life, Yuhyeon’s poison qi had carried the force of yang-hard. What would happen if the power of the Yin Spirit Ice Fox were added to it?
The Black Dragon Gold Pill and the Yin Spirit Ice Fox. Yang and yin would strike a perfect balance. Then the boy would be able to ascend as a Ten Thousand Poison Ghost—without ever having to bear the same heavenly tribulation that Cheonwi had endured. He would stand at the absolute pinnacle of poison masters.
Cheonwi had planned for this from the moment he began coaxing the Yin Spirit Ice Fox. For now, of course, Yuhyeon was only a candidate master for the female. He would still have to prove himself worthy before the female Yin Spirit Ice Fox could be his.
Tang Yuhyeon was only thirteen—not even of age yet. And still he had taken the Black Dragon Gold Pill and received a fragment of Yin Spirit Qi. Either one alone would have been a tremendous opportunity; he had been granted two strokes of heaven-defying luck that most people would never see in a lifetime.
“Kyiiing!”
The Yin Spirit Ice Fox wriggled free of Tang Cheonwi’s arms and leapt into Tang Yuhyeon’s embrace.
“Wow… to think something this tiny is the king of Mount Heaven.”
The reason the Yin Spirit Ice Fox had instantly chosen Tang Yuhyeon as the female’s candidate master was entirely because of Tang Cheonwi. Linked to its master by spirit, the beast had instantly understood the bond between him and Yuhyeon, and the depth of the affection he held for the boy. The person his master cherished and trusted most—that was why it could so easily settle on a candidate for the female.
“Seoreum seems to like you, so keep him with you for a while.”
“Is that really all right?”
“Kyung!”
The Yin Spirit Ice Fox gave a soft, pleased cry. Guarding the candidate master until the female appeared was the male’s duty. At its master’s permission, its tail began to sway.
“If you’re happy, then this brother is fine with anything.”
“Heheh. Thank you, Brother.”
The Yin Spirit Ice Fox burrowed snugly into Tang Yuhyeon’s arms.
“Take good care of my little brother, Seoreum. I’ll make you a proper nest soon enough.”
“Kyung!”
The fox poked its head out and gave a short answering cry. Cheonwi chuckled at the reaction, then spoke to Yuhyeon again.
“The Sichuan Gathering is coming up soon, isn’t it?”
“Yes… You have to go in my place… I’m sorry.”
“What is there to be sorry about? I’ll be going with you anyway.”
“Really?”
“Father will tell us to head to the Cheongang Clan together.”
“I’m so glad!”
Yuhyeon’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. The whole world seemed to brighten with it. Cheonwi wanted nothing more than to protect that pure, untainted smile.
To do that, I have to move even faster.
If it meant keeping that bright smile safe, he would become a murderous demon without a second thought.
The next day, a single piece of news spread through the Tang Clan.
“Have you heard about Yuhongak?”
“You mean that traitors turned up there?”
“So you already knew.”
“Hah. Trying to kill the Young Master while he was away on his outing—they’ve got some nerve.”
A martial artist on perimeter duty glanced around before lowering his voice.
“That’s not even the real issue. Word is Yuhongak has been turned into a complete mess.”
“Even with Poison Flower Rain there?”
“The Young Master ordered Poison Flower Rain herself to catch the traitors and kill them.”
“Gasp! I knew the Young Master had a fiery temper, but I never thought he’d go that far in front of her.”
“Exactly. The prestige of Yuhongak under Poison Flower Rain used to pierce the heavens—and now its pride has been ground into the dirt.”
“So what happened after that?”
“Four Swords and Ink Fang dragged in every last family member of the traitors—women, children, the lot.”
The colleague listening nearly jumped out of his skin.
“I know Four Swords is the title for Yuhongak’s First Squad Leader, but… I-Ink Fang? You don’t mean—?”
“That’s right. The youngest of the Black Scale Guard.”
“Gasp! So the Young Master could act so boldly because the Clan Lord’s personal guard moved.”
Ink Fang was Tang Ildo’s epithet—the ink-black fang, a presence that bared its edge only in darkness. The Black Scale Guard was the Tang Clan’s absolute strongest force, a unit every martial artist idolized. The fact that such a heavy-bottomed organization had stirred was enough to shock anyone.
“Without that, how could the Young Master have acted so high-handedly?”
“Did something happen inside?”
“They say the Young Master ordered every last child slaughtered. And that he killed one of them with his own hands.”
“The Lord of Yuhongak must have been seething.”
“With the Black Scale Guard present, even Poison Flower Rain had no choice but to stay quiet.”
“Best not to go anywhere near Yuhongak for a while.”
“You’re telling me. Stick your nose in and the sparks might fly your way.”
It wasn’t only the perimeter guards murmuring. Maids and servants alike were talking of nothing but Yuhongak.
Yuhongak itself could hardly have remained unaware. On the top-floor balcony of the pavilion, Poison Flower Rain—Tang Cheong—gripped the railing and ground her teeth.
“How dare he humiliate me.”
The room behind her was a wreck. Vases, teacups, tables—everything had been smashed and shattered.
“First Squad Leader.”
“Your command.”
“And Ink Fang?”
“I believe he has returned to the Black Scale Guard.”
“I will have the Young Master killed.”
“Now that his outing is over, killing him will be difficult…”
Tang Cheong’s eyes turned razor-sharp.
“Is there anyone in this world that our Yuhongak cannot assassinate?”
Tang Sangrip hastily lowered himself and answered.
“No one. Even the Clan Lord himself can be killed by the assassins of Yuhongak.”
“Exactly. Even my elder brother the Clan Lord can be killed by the Yuhongak under my command. And if we simply send the Young Master out on another outing, the chance will come, won’t it?”
“You mean the Sichuan Gathering?”
Tang Cheong nodded. A sly, venomous smile curved her lips as an added flourish.
“It would be a breach of etiquette for the Young Master not to attend the gathering of the Sichuan region’s great clans and sects.”
“We will strike then.”
“Prepare one more thing.”
“What kind of preparation?”
“Ask them for that poison.”
“They will demand a considerable price.”
“Tell them it is to kill the Young Master of the Tang Clan, and they will ask for something reasonable. They have always been wary of the true-blood line’s talent, after all.”
“I will convey the message.”
Just as Tang Sangrip rose to leave, Tang Cheong asked after someone else.
“Still no word from him?”
“The Grand Lord said he would return soon with good news.”
Color returned to Tang Cheong’s face. Her husband—the Grand Lord of Yuhongak—had left the clan on a single mission.
“Has he finally deciphered the mechanism of the Ten Thousand Poison Tomb?”
The mission was to find the treasure of the Tang Clan’s founder, the Poison Sage—also known as the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Poisons.
“What other good news could there be?”
“If we can obtain the treasure from that place, this Tang Clan will belong to me and to Gwan.”
Tang Gwan was the son she had raised with doting care. The reason she sought to kill Tang Cheonwi, the true-blood heir, was for that son’s sake. If only the true-blood line died, any Tang with the family name could contend for the seat of Clan Lord.
With the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Poisons’ Dark Blood True Scripture alone, I can claim not only this Tang Clan but the supremacy of the entire martial world.
She was aiming to become the first female emperor of the jianghu.
The following day, Tang Cheonwi went straight to find Tang Saeng.
“Is your lodging all right?”
“Everything here is silk and gold. I’m not sure I deserve this kind of luxury…”
“I’m planning to work you like a madman, so don’t worry about it.”
“I’ll do my absolute best!”
Tang Saeng clenched his fists. Cheonwi handed him his first assignment on the spot.
“Then let me set out what you’ll be doing from now on.”
“Just leave it to me.”
“You’ve seen the area behind Poison Dragon Pavilion?”
“You mean your personal training grounds, Young Master?”
“Right. I’m going to grow the poison herbs and medicinal herbs from Biwon Forest there.”
Tang Saeng understood at once.
“The training grounds are vast, and there’s plenty of space for grass and trees to grow behind them. There shouldn’t be any problem.”
“You can handle it alone?”
“I won’t disappoint you, Young Master.”
“Good. When did I tell you to master the Six Poison Heart Formula?”
“You told me to memorize it whenever I had a spare moment.”
“Except when you’re sleeping—and even while you’re tending the herbs and poisons, don’t forget to circulate your energy.”
“Yes, sir!”
After giving him those instructions, Cheonwi turned to leave. His maid, Choeun, spoke up.
“Where are you going now?”
“There’s somewhere I need to stop by briefly.”
“Shall I accompany you?”
“To keep an eye on me?”
“How could I dare?”
“I’m going to pay my respects to Grandfather.”
Choeun’s eyes widened. The Supreme Clan Head was not someone one could meet on a whim—even the true-blood heir was no exception.
“May I ask why you wish to see the Supreme Clan Head?”
“There are things I need to obtain, and words I need to speak to him in advance.”
Since he offered no further detail, Choeun did not press.
“Even for the Young Master, meeting the Supreme Clan Head will be difficult.”
Choeun was a woman of many secrets. Had he not lived through a previous life, Cheonwi would never have truly known her identity. A maid who possessed martial arts was common enough in the Tang Clan. What made her special was something else entirely: she came from Poison Forest Valley.
“In the old days, maybe. Now it’s possible.”
She stared at him for a long moment, then spoke.
“I see. With the Young Master as he is now, even they would acknowledge him.”
She bowed at the waist.
“Please travel safely. Poison Forest Valley is more terrifying than you might expect—never let your guard down for even a moment.”
“Thanks for the warning.”
Poison Forest Valley? A dangerous place, yes. There was a reason the retired elders gathered there. It was a land where all manner of poison qi drifted freely—a place where a single misstep would leave nothing of a man but unrecoverable bones. To a Ten Thousand Poison Ghost like himself, however, it posed no threat at all.
“I’ll be back.”
He left Poison Dragon Pavilion and made for the cave where the Poison Blood Rite had been held. Right beside the cave, a path into the forest came into view—the road to Poison Forest Valley.
“I’ll break through at speed.”
Paht—!
He kicked off the ground. It was the Profound Poison Step, the footwork practiced by the Tang Clan’s direct line. A movement art in which every step was poison itself—so named because the faintest trace of poison qi remained wherever the foot touched the earth. His form glided forward in a straight, sliding rush. Trees planted in neat rows blurred past him.
About half an hour later, a black mist settled over the surroundings.
It was no ordinary fog, but a poison mist. Countless toxins lay thick within that dense haze.
The moment Hwancheonjihwan finished speaking—
Pusshuk!
Hidden weapons split the poison mist and came flying. They were shaped like a pair of butterflies.