At Seolhwa’s sudden action, the clan heads and the elders were taken aback.

But the one who was most visibly shaken was, without a doubt, Tang Gajin.

From the moment Seolhwa picked up the Zisha teapot and rose to her feet to approach the clan heads, Tang Gajin had already begun to show signs of agitation.

When Seolhwa asked to offer tea to the clan heads, his complexion turned ghostly pale.

“Kehahaha! Yes, yes, how bold and delightful! Go ahead and show us!”

The awkward tension melted in an instant at the hearty voice of Peng Yeopmyeong, who had always doted on Seolhwa.

Namgoong Mucheon also nodded with a fond smile.

After bowing once more to the clan heads, Seolhwa approached Tang Munryong, the Tang Clan Head seated on the far left.

Tang Munryong smiled as he raised his teacup.

Seolhwa quietly poured tea into his cup.

“Thank you, child.”

Next was Peng Yeopmyeong.

“Kehaha! What great fortune to be served tea by our Seolhwa!”

As she poured the tea into his cup, Peng Yeopmyeong beamed.

“A cup poured by our Seolhwa—of course it’ll taste exceptional! Of course!”

Just as he lifted the teacup to his lips, still emphasizing our Seolhwa to the very end—

Crack!

The teacup in Peng Yeopmyeong’s hand shattered into pieces.

Tea spilled down his hand, soaking it thoroughly.

His cheerful expression instantly turned to stone.

“What is the meaning of this, Clan Head Tang?”

Every gaze turned to Tang Clan Head Tang Munryong.

With an unreadable calm expression, he spoke.

“There was poison in the tea.”

A chilling silence fell over the banquet hall.

Peng Yeopmyeong’s face turned grim in an instant, and the other clan heads grew visibly serious.

At Namgoong Mucheon’s signal, the music stopped.

Poison—had been in the tea offered by the Namgoong Clan’s eldest granddaughter.

At the very moment the truth hit everyone and their eyes shot toward Seolhwa—

Cough...

A spray of crimson blood burst from Seolhwa’s mouth.

Clatter!

Peng Clan Head jumped to his feet and grabbed her arm.

In the same instant—before the chair even had time to topple—he checked her pulse and examined her pressure points.

Thud—

Namgoong Cheongun’s face turned ashen as Seolhwa’s body swayed and collapsed toward the ground.

But Namgoong Mucheon had already reached her side and caught her in his arms.

“Her qi and blood are in violent disorder. She needs immediate treatment.”

“Something is strange.”

Namgoong Mucheon looked toward Tang Clan Head Tang Munryong.

Tang Munryong lifted his own teacup and said,

“The poison was a type of aphrodisiac. It’s not the kind that disrupts qi and blood like this.”

“She had Panya Grass earlier today!”

At the piercing cry, Namgoong Mucheon turned around.

Choryeon, who had attended the banquet as the Namgoong Clan’s head of the Medical Hall, cried out in a desperate voice.

“She said she wasn’t feeling well before the banquet, so I gave her Panya Grass! Panya Grass and aphrodisiacs are natural antagonists!”

Tang Munryong’s composed expression finally cracked at Choryeon’s words.

He rushed to Seolhwa and took her pulse.

“She must be moved to the Medical Hall immediately.”

Namgoong Mucheon gave a solemn nod.

“Clan Head Zhuge, the banquet ends here.”

“I will escort you to the Medical Hall.”

Tap—tap-tap!

In the blink of an eye, the three clan heads vanished from sight.

Watching them with concern, the Peng and Murong Clan heads soon began clearing the banquet hall and dismissed the guests.

Amid the confusion, the banquet came to a close.

****

A dark night.

Seolhwa’s eyes fluttered open.

Her throat was parched and stung. She turned her head, craving water, but the room around her was dim.

Under the moonlight, a round, long shadow crept toward her.

It climbed over her and looked down.

[Why didn’t you use martial arts? You should’ve mastered the Wall Poison Steel Qi.]

Seolhwa let a faint smirk play on her lips.

[Don’t smile. Did you think that bastard told you about the poison in the tea for this? I thought something was off when he asked to switch the poison to an aphrodisiac.]

Originally, Tang Gajin had planned to lace her tea with a simple stomach irritant—enough to humiliate but not kill her.

But it was the Imugi who had switched the poison.

And it had been at Seolhwa’s request.

[If I’d known you’d put your body through this, I would’ve removed the poison instead of switching it.]

― I figured you’d say that. That’s why I didn’t tell you.

[Don’t use your internal energy. You’re not fully recovered.]

“...”

[You must be curious how things are unfolding.]

Seolhwa gave a small nod.

[Frankly, I don’t want to tell you anything and let that bastard stew.]

Her brow twitched faintly.

[You’d better pay me back.]

Seolhwa raised five fingers with a straight face. The Imugi huffed and blew a puff of air through its nose.

It continued.

[Everyone’s in a frenzy trying to identify the poisoner. Even without your grandfather stepping forward, the other clan heads are already investigating their people.]

The Imugi’s tail thumped lightly against her stomach.

[But it’s all just saving face. They all know it was the Tang bastard. I heard them say it.]

Word of what had transpired between Tang Gajin and Seolhwa before the banquet had spread like wildfire.

Everyone knew Tang Gajin hated her. The incident at the inn, the duel at the martial arena—none of it was a secret.

And now this—poison.

Among the Five Great Clans, the one most familiar with poison was the Sichuan Tang Clan.

[Whatever the case, it seems you’ll get the outcome you wanted. So now focus on recovering.]

― Thank you.

[Didn’t I tell you not to use internal energy?]

The Imugi turned its head toward the door.

[Someone’s coming. I’m off.]

It vanished into the darkness.

Not long after its presence disappeared, the door opened and three people entered.

“Oh my, Young Lady!”

Choryeon rushed over and checked on the newly awakened Seolhwa.

Behind her stood Namgoong Mucheon and Namgoong Cheongun.

“Are you all right?”

Namgoong Cheongun asked, his face full of worry.

Seolhwa nodded.

“Her throat is badly irritated, so she «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» probably won’t be able to speak easily. I’ll bring water right away.”

At Seolhwa’s nod, Choryeon quickly left the room.

Cheongun gently stroked Seolhwa’s cheek.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t prevent this as your father. Are you in much pain?”

Seolhwa shook her head.

“I’ll find out exactly who did this and make them kneel before you and beg for forgiveness.”

His voice was firm.

Cheongun likely already knew Tang Gajin was behind this.

And he also knew that punishing the Tang Clan’s eldest grandson would be politically difficult. Still, he was making a promise—to make that man kneel before his daughter.

“Please give us a moment.”

“I’ll see you later, Seolhwa.”

Cheongun left, and now only Namgoong Mucheon and Seolhwa remained.

He cast a sound-blocking barrier over the room.

His expression had gone hard.

Namgoong Mucheon got straight to the point.

“Did you do this because the Tang Clan refused to cooperate?”

“...”

“Choryeon said it was you who asked for the Panya Grass.”

Their eyes met.

A short silence passed before Seolhwa nodded.

Namgoong Mucheon’s brows creased slightly.

“You went so far as to harm yourself just to pin a weakness on the Tang Clan? Even if their demands were excessive, they weren’t obstructing the formation of the Martial Alliance.”

There was anger in his voice.

He was furious that Seolhwa had done this to herself.

“Strategies like this—wounding yourself to win—should only be used as a last resort. There were other ways.”

His anger was tinged with sorrow.

Namgoong Mucheon was in pain.

“...It wasn’t the plan from the beginning.”

Moved by his sincerity, Seolhwa could no longer stay silent.

She opened her mouth, her voice cracked and rough.

“He started it... it was Young Master Tang who picked a fight. He’s the one who... ultimately decided to poison the tea. And at that moment... when we had to win their cooperation... I simply used that hostility.”

Baseless hostility.

Namgoong Mucheon knew where it came from and said nothing.

He was angry that she had knowingly poisoned herself, but what truly enraged him was the way others looked at her.

Four years ago—even in her own home—she had been forced to endure prejudice and sharp gazes.

Even though it hadn’t been her fault.

Even though she’d struggled to survive and return.

And yet the way others viewed her remained twisted.

“But...”

Seolhwa lowered her gaze.

“I did act rashly and thoughtlessly. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

It was true that she’d been impatient to ensure the formation of the Martial Alliance.

As Namgoong Mucheon said, there had been other options. But that old habit—to seize an opponent’s weakness—had flared up again.

She’d grown too comfortable, perhaps, returning to a home with adults who could protect her.

She had no excuse, even if she were scolded.

A quiet sigh escaped Namgoong Mucheon.

Then she felt a rough, yet gentle hand take hers.

“Seolhwa.”

She looked up at him.

“Establishing the Martial Alliance is important. But to me, you are more important than anything else—your health, your safety.”

His eyes were boundless with warmth and affection.

“Never harm yourself like this again. Understood?”

Though he was scolding her, his words came from nothing but love.

Seolhwa nodded.

“Good.”

Namgoong Mucheon’s weathered hand gently patted her head.

“You’ve worked so hard to create this opportunity. I’ll do everything I can to make sure it’s not wasted.”

A soft smile curved his lips.

“Now, get some rest.”