The problem arose the very next day.

Early dawn.

As promised, Seolhwa was teaching Woong how to handle hidden blades.

That’s when a familiar voice reached the two of them.

“Well now— The Namgoong Clan’s children sure are diligent.”

Seolhwa turned her head toward the source of the voice.

Two men dressed in green robes were approaching with Dang Gajin.

Namgoong Woong clasped his fist toward them.

“I greet the Head of the Tang Clan.”

Seolhwa followed suit, clasping her fist as she looked at the man leading them.

‘So this is Tang Munryong, the Head of the Tang Clan.’

Dressed in splendid green robes, his eyes were so narrow it was hard to tell if they were open or closed.

An upright posture, thin lips curved ever so slightly.

But above all—

[The venom in him is considerable.]

The people of the Tang Clan develop immunity to poisons from a young age.

They consume countless toxins, convert them into inner strength, and accumulate them as internal energy—this is Tang Clan’s Poison Arts.

Thanks to that, Tang Clan cultivators’ internal energy carries a venomous aura. Some even say venom flows through their blood.

From Tang Munryong, the venomous energy radiated several times stronger than Tang Gajin’s.

“It’s been a while, Woong. And this young lady here...”

“It’s an honor to meet you. I am Namgoong Seolhwa.”

“Oh, so you’re the daughter of the Namgoong Clan’s Young Lord. I heard you’ve endured much over the years. It’s good to finally meet you.”

“It’s an honor to meet the Head of the Tang Clan as well.”

“Oh-ho.”

Seolhwa’s greeting was flawless.

Despite having left her family for eight years, she carried the demeanor of a proper young lady from a prestigious clan, surprising Tang Munryong.

“Isn’t that a Suri Blade — a hidden blade used from the sleeve?”

Tang Munryong pointed at the blade in Seolhwa’s hand.

Woong answered first.

“I was learning hidden blade techniques from my sister.”

“You were learning?”

Not teaching, but learning?

Hidden blade techniques, at that?

Hidden blade arts fall broadly under the category of concealed weapons.

And concealed weapons are one of the martial arts the Sichuan Tang Clan takes immense pride in.

Of course his interest would be piqued.

“Would you show me as well?”

At the question directed at Seolhwa, Woong looked at her with startled eyes.

Everyone knows the Tang Clan are masters of concealed weapons.

To demonstrate hidden blade techniques before a Tang Clan member—especially the Head himself—was no easy thing.

— Sister, you can refuse.

Woong’s urgent voice reached her through sound transmission, but Seolhwa merely responded with a faint smile.

Seolhwa clasped her fist lightly.

“My skills are lacking, but if the Head wishes it, I must comply. I would appreciate your advice.”

“Very well.”

“And...”

Seolhwa glanced toward Tang Gajin.

His brow twitched in subtle irritation, having remained quiet before his father.

“If you don’t mind, may I ask you to be my opponent, Young Master Tang?”

“Me?”

Tang Gajin smirked.

“You want me to spar with you?”

“Yes.”

The expression on his face clearly read: ‘You dare challenge me?’

But even Tang Gajin couldn’t refuse in front of his father.

“Alright. Gajin, you will spar with the Namgoong young lady. But she will be using hidden blades, so you will use a sword.”

The Tang Clan primarily employs concealed weapons, so they aren’t as accustomed to swordsmanship. As martial artists they still learn it, but it isn’t their main weapon.

But then again, Seolhwa wasn’t using her main weapon either. This was Tang Munryong’s subtle consideration for her.

“...Understood.”

Soon, the sparring preparations were complete.

“When you’ve used up all your hidden blades, it ends. Bring as many as you like.”

At Tang Munryong’s words, Seolhwa selected four hidden blades.

Woong tried to hand her a few more, but she declined, saying it was enough.

Two tucked at her waist, two held between her fingers.

Tang Gajin chuckled as he observed.

“You think four will be enough?”

“They’re plenty.”

“Well, even if you brought ten, you couldn’t hit me anyway, so extra weight would only slow you down.”

In response to his mockery, Seolhwa smiled calmly.

“Don’t be too shocked when you lose. It’s inevitable.”

“...You’ve got it coming. Let me teach you firsthand how arrogance can become conceit.”

Tang Gajin drew his sword and assumed his stance.

Seolhwa, relaxed, also took her position.

Namgoong Woong watched nervously, while Tang Munryong and his companions observed with interest.

Just as the spar was about to begin—

“Oh-ho, it seems Young Lady Namgoong and Young Master Tang are sparring.”

The Head of the Zhuge Clan and «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» the General Manager entered the training ground.

They had been inspecting the guest quarters and happened upon the scene.

The unexpected situation brought curiosity to their faces.

The crowd grew larger.

Tang Gajin chuckled inwardly.

‘Even the Zhuge Clan’s Head? The stage is set nicely.’

Growing up in a pleasure house must’ve dulled her sense of reality.

Just because she learned some martial arts from a prestigious clan, she thinks she’s strong.

‘I’ll humiliate her properly in front of everyone.’

Tang Gajin’s internal energy surged.

A thick, violet aura rippled around him like heat waves.

‘Peak Realm?’

Achieving Peak Realm at twenty—not a lazy practitioner, clearly.

His Thousand Venom Constitution suits Tang Clan techniques, so he likely has talent.

His personality may be rotten as the rumors say, but as the heir to one of the Five Great Clans, his skills aren’t to be dismissed.

‘Let’s take this seriously.’

Seolhwa raised the hand holding the hidden blades.

“Come.”

Tang Gajin exuded confidence.

Yielding the first move meant he believed in his superiority. With so many watching, he wanted to win overwhelmingly.

But Seolhwa wasn’t one to waste an opponent’s opening.

Whoosh—

Seolhwa’s figure vanished from Tang Gajin’s sight.

For a brief moment, Tang Gajin was visibly flustered.

In that instant—

Swish—!

‘Right side!’

A sharp sound like the air splitting—A hidden blade charged from beyond his right periphery.

Clang—!

Locating it by sound alone, Tang Gajin raised his sword and deflected the blade, spinning toward the direction it came from.

Whoosh—

But the moment he thought he’d tracked her movement, Seolhwa vanished again from his sight.

“?!”

Swish—!

‘Behind me?!’

When did she—?

Tang Gajin twisted his body, barely dodging the flying blade.

‘Damn it! She’s so fast!’

The speed was staggering.

The hidden blades themselves weren’t strong; they could be blocked or dodged. But the problem was, he couldn’t keep up with the person launching them.

‘At this rate...’

I can’t even counterattack!

Am I just going to get played like a fool in front of everyone?

‘Me, Tang Gajin, humiliated by some girl raised in a brothel?’

In front of all these people?

No way. Absolutely not!

Whoosh—

Tang Gajin’s internal energy deepened, his violet aura darkening further.

His eyes gleamed like a beast ready to pounce.

“!”

Seolhwa frowned at Tang Gajin’s sudden shift in momentum.

Just as she circled behind him, preparing to launch another hidden blade—

Clang—!

Blade and sword clashed mid-air.

Tang Gajin had matched her speed, intercepting her.

‘Hm. Not bad...’

But still—

Clangclank—!

Instead of retreating, Seolhwa used his sword to spring herself forward.

Tang Gajin smirked.

‘Charging in with a hidden blade? Reckless.’

Planning to get your palms torn up? Fool.

‘No experience, clearly...’

But his thoughts never finished.

Whoosh—

Clangclangclangclang!

“!!”

Her attacks rained down in rapid succession, giving him no time to blink.

She promised to demonstrate hidden blade techniques—not only hidden blade techniques.

Seolhwa gripped the blade in reverse, unleashing a flurry of close-range strikes.

Clangclangclangclang! Clangclang!

‘I need distance...!’

Whoosh—

Panicking, Tang Gajin swung his sword in a wide arc.

At that moment, his vulnerabilities were glaringly exposed to Seolhwa.

Yet instead of exploiting them, she bent her body low, skimming the ground to evade his strike.

“Puhaha! A ground roll technique?”

Tang Gajin laughed, seeing her roll across the floor.

With their distance widened, he assumed his counterattack had worked.

Tap-tap— Swoosh!

Seolhwa, now further back, hurled another hidden blade his way.

Clang—!

Tang Gajin instantly deflected it.

‘Only one left!’

Three hidden blades blocked—just one remained.

Block that, and victory was his.

Tap-tap-tap—!

Seolhwa dashed around the sparring ground in wide strides.

Tang Gajin circled in smaller steps to track her.

The spectators watched in awe.

Seolhwa was displaying Infinite Steps — one of the Namgoong Clan’s supreme techniques.

One step appeared small, but she advanced six strides. Slow to the eye, yet fast enough to throw Tang Gajin off.

The footwork alone felt like soaring through the skies.

As admiration filled the onlookers—

Swoosh— Tap-tap—!

Seolhwa hurled the final hidden blade, then charged at Tang Gajin.

‘Obvious trick!’

One hidden blade left.

The slicing sound confirmed the blade was real.

Her charge was a feint—she held no more weapons. What remained was—

‘Palm strike.’

Clang—!

Tang Gajin deflected the blade and positioned his left hand near his chest to block any strikes.

That moment, Seolhwa closed the distance, swinging her arm toward Tang Gajin’s wrist—the hand holding the sword.

Swish—!

‘Huh?’

The slicing wind sound made Tang Gajin reflexively glance at her hand.

A hidden blade was firmly in her grasp.

‘W-when...?’

Was it when she rolled on the ground earlier...?

Thwack—!

“Gah—!”

Seolhwa’s final hidden blade struck Tang Gajin’s wrist.

The exact same spot she’d struck yesterday with a wine cup at the inn.

Overwhelming pain contorted Tang Gajin’s face as he screamed, dropping his sword.

Tap-tap— Clink!

Before the sword hit the ground, Seolhwa kicked it upward and snatched it mid-air.

Tang Gajin, clutching his wrist in agony, looked up—

The tip of his own sword now aimed directly at his throat.