The journey from the tranquil peaks of Mount Tranquil felt long, but it was filled with conversation. The silence of the spiritual path was replaced by the low hum of hope for a future free from war. They talked about what they would do when the war was over, what kind of world they would build.
"I will build a city," Ok Seryeon said, a rare smile on her face. "A city of reason. The laws will be based on logic, and every decision will be made with perfect strategy. There will be no violence, only debate."
Yu Gwanjeong, ever the hot-headed warrior, scoffed. "And what about those who don't listen to your words? I will build a fortress, a sanctuary for warriors who have nowhere else to go. A place for the angry and the forgotten to channel their rage into a righteous cause. We will protect the weak with our steel and our fury."
Seo Junrok, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade, spoke with quiet authority. "I will not build a city or a fortress. I will build a school. A place where the young can learn not just how to wield a sword, but how to master themselves. A place of perfect discipline and control, where the sword is a tool for inner peace, not just for war."
"And you, Tian?" Yeon Soheon asked, her voice soft and tender. "What is your dream? What will you do after all this is over?"
Tian looked at his companions, his heart swelling with pride. He thought of his master, his father, and the path that led him here. "I have no grand city to build, no fortress to command, no school to establish. My dream is to see my father once more. I want to tell him that his son did not fail him, and that the legacy of the Azure Dragon is one of honor and compassion."
The Unseen City
The Serpent's Maw, a valley shrouded in a thick, green fog, marked the territory of the Thousand Venoms Hall. The air was heavy, sweet, and strangely intoxicating, alive with the buzzing of unseen insects and the scent of exotic, venomous plants. At the heart of the valley was a city, its walls painted in dark, unsettling shades of green and black. Two guards, their faces covered with intricate tattoos, stood at the gate.
"State your business, outsiders," one of them demanded, his voice flat.
Tian stepped forward and presented a token from the Crimson Flame Sect. The guard's eyes widened. He immediately bowed and waved them through. "Forgive me. The Matriarch's new allies are our friends."
Inside, the city was a jarring mix of beauty and menace. Vibrant, poisonous flowers bloomed in every courtyard, and strange, unsettling sculptures of serpents coiled around the buildings. The people on the street were pale and moved with a wary, serpentine grace. Their eyes were dark and suspicious, and they watched Tian's group with quiet apprehension, giving them a wide berth. They decided to find an inn to settle down.
The inn was a chaotic mix of music, dancing girls, and rowdy young men. In the center of the hall, a young man with a handsome, smiling face and a confident swagger was surrounded by a group of laughing disciples. This was Li Guang, the heir to the Thousand Venoms Hall.
His eyes fell on Ok Seryeon, and his smile froze. He approached her, his gaze filled with awe. "I have never seen a woman of such grace and beauty. You must be an empress from a far-off land."
Ok Seryeon's expression remained impassive. "I am a strategist, not an empress. And you are mistaken."
Li Guang's smile faltered, but he did not get angry. He laughed, a genuine, friendly sound. "My name is Li Guang, the heir of this humble Hall. May I know yours?" He gestured to their weapons. "You carry yourselves with an unfamiliar aura. My father has many enemies from the Central Plains; I pray you are not among them."
Before Tian could respond, a cold voice cut through the air. "Little brother, must you always solve your problems with flattery or a fight?"
A woman with a cold, severe beauty stepped between them. She was Li Guang's older sister, Li Lihua. She gave Li Guang a sharp look that made him cower, then turned to Tian and his companions with a respectful bow. Her eyes lingered on Tian for a moment, a flash of curiosity and awe hidden in their depths. "My brother is a fool, but his heart is in the right place. He is the master of hidden weapons, but he must learn the master of his words." She gestured toward the back of the hall. "I will escort you to our Patriarch. He has been expecting... guests of your caliber."
A Debt to Settle
Li Lihua led them to the main hall, a vast chamber decorated with countless bottles of rare poisons. At the center of the hall, a man sat on a throne carved from obsidian. He was not old; his face was unlined, but his eyes were ancient and fierce. This was Patriarch Li Xuan, a man who wielded power not through age, but through pure, deadly skill.
But it was the old man sitting next to him that drew Tian's attention. He was laid back on a large, magnificent white serpent, his eyes closed. This was the legendary Li Hae-cheon, known as The Deadly Snake.
The white serpent, a beast of immense power, opened its eyes. It looked at Tian, and its great head lowered to the ground in a gesture of absolute submission. Li Xuan shot up from his throne, and Li Hae-cheon's eyes snapped open. The old man looked at Tian, his gaze piercing through his very essence.
"Who are you, young man?" Li Hae-cheon asked, his voice a dry, rasping whisper. "And why does my mount, a beast who fears no one, bow to you?"
Tian bowed respectfully. "I have come seeking an alliance. The Crimson Flame Sect, my mother's clan, has told me much about the world of poisons. But as for your question, esteemed master... it is not about who I am, but what I carry. I carry the blood of the phoenix within me, a sacred flame. Even a heavenly beast such as yours recognizes the purity of its fire."
Li Hae-cheon's eyes widened in surprise, and he nodded slowly. "Phoenix blood… I have heard tales of such a thing. A truly fascinating power. It is an art of fire and life, and my venomous serpent, a creature of darkness and death, instinctively bows to its opposite."
Patriarch Li Xuan's fierce eyes met Tian's. "An alliance is not given for a mere bloodline. If you want our help, you must help us first. We have a debt to settle, and a problem to erase." He gestured toward a large map on the wall. "The Nine Shadows Pavilion has been a plague upon us. They are a shadowy organization, an assassination group hired by the Murim Alliance. They hide in the deepest crevices of the mountains, preying on the weak."
He clenched his fist, his voice dropping to a low growl. "They killed merchants who refused to pay their 'protection money.' They assassinated the leaders of villages who tried to organize against them. They sow chaos and fear among the common people to benefit their Murim masters. For the past two years, they have been killing anyone who has any ties to our Hall. They want to cut off our influence and starve us into submission."
Li Lihua stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Tian. "They do not fight with honor. They strike from the shadows and use poison to cripple their targets. They are cowards." She spoke with a fiery passion that seemed to soften her cold exterior.
Li Hae-cheon smiled. "We want them eradicated. Help us with this small matter, and the Thousand Venoms Hall will pledge its power to your cause. You have shown your power with a single presence, but a true alliance is built on shared purpose."