“It’s Tang Hwa-eun of the Sichuan Tang Clan. I’m here to meet the head of the Namgung family. Would you kindly pass the message inside?”
At the entrance of the Namgung estate, located on a peak of the imposing Huangshan mountain—picturesque to admire, but a nightmare to climb—Tang Hwa-eun delivered her purpose for visiting.
The guards’ reactions were predictable; their startled expressions betrayed their confusion and nervousness.
After all, just her presence was enough to unnerve most men.
“P-Poison Blossom?! It’s an honor to meet you. But, did you say the family head?”
“Yes, of course. He is here, isn’t he?”
“O-Of course! Please wait here for a moment. I’ll send word immediately.”
Initially, the intent was to visit Namgung Seol, the eldest daughter of the family. However, considering their business, there was no need to involve her.
The matter at hand was the trade of a precious family treasure, and there was no reason to complicate things by requesting a meeting with someone who might currently be confined. With Namgung Seol’s reputation within the household likely in question, there was no need to risk a potential dismissal by insisting on seeing her.
As Tang Hwa-eun spoke, one of the guards dashed inside, and soon returned with a woman following closely behind.
‘Is that her? Is this the one they call the Flower King Peony?’
Contrary to expectations, it seemed she wasn’t confined after all.
However, the initial impression of the so-called greatest beauty of the central plains left me tilting my head in doubt.
Though undeniably pretty, when compared to Tang Hwa-eun, she seemed... lacking. Tang Hwa-eun exuded an aura that overwhelmed everyone around her, whereas the woman who had come to greet us lacked such a presence.
It made me wonder—was this era’s standard of beauty somehow different?
As I mused, the woman approached Tang Hwa-eun and greeted her.
“It’s been a while, Hwa-eun Unnie.”
“It has, Eun. How have you been? Has it been two years since we last met at the Seven Families Gathering?”
Listening to their exchange, it became apparent that this wasn’t Namgung Seol, but rather Namgung Eun, the other daughter of the family.
“Yes, Unnie. I heard you’ve come to meet Father. Could you tell me why you’re here first?”
Namgung Eun’s gaze shifted to Tang Hwa-eun, who responded calmly after a brief pause.
“Well, our family has acquired a rare elixir imbued with cold energy. I heard that the Namgung family has been seeking such a remedy for some time, so I thought it might be needed...”
Before Tang Hwa-eun could finish, Namgung Eun exclaimed in surprise.
“Is that true? An elixir imbued with cold energy? Truly?”
“Yes, of course...”
Namgung Eun grabbed Tang Hwa-eun’s hands, her expression full of gratitude and relief.
“Thank you, Unnie! Thanks to you, a heavy burden has been lifted! My uncle even traveled to the Northern Ice Palace in search of such an elixir but returned empty-handed. I was so worried, but now... With all the troubles in the family lately, this is such joyous news!”
As it turned out, Tang Hwa-eun’s confidence in their need for the elixir was well-founded.
Clearly, the situation was dire. Namgung Eun, her relief evident, began pulling Tang Hwa-eun toward the estate.
“Come inside, Unnie. Father will be delighted!”
“Eun, wait a moment...”
Tang Hwa-eun, who had always been uncomfortable with physical contact, hesitated. Observing this, I couldn’t help but smirk, having discovered yet another of her weaknesses.
As we followed Namgung Eun further into the estate, Tang Hwa-eun cautiously voiced a concern to her.
“Eun, I’m hesitant to ask, but I can’t help worrying... I heard some unsettling things about Namgung Seol. Is she well?”
Namgung Eun, who had been all smiles moments earlier, suddenly froze in her tracks. Slowly turning, her face grew somber as she spoke.
“You’ve heard, then... Haah... Well, I suppose it’s no surprise, considering the rumors are already everywhere.”
With a heavy sigh, Namgung Eun stepped closer and whispered quietly to Tang Hwa-eun.
“I’ll explain later when we can speak privately.”
Acknowledging her words with a subtle nod, Tang Hwa-eun said nothing more as we continued toward the main hall.
Upon entering the head family’s hall, we were greeted by an elderly man with a stern yet dignified demeanor.
“Well, well, who do we have here? If it isn’t the young lady of the Tang Clan! How is the Tang Clan’s head?”
“I hope you’ve been well, Head of the Namgung family. Yes, my father is doing well, thanks to your concern.”
“Ah, well... Peaceful times, are they? Peaceful...”
The Namgung family head repeated the word “peaceful” with a bitter smile, clearly preoccupied.
Realizing he had lost himself in thought, he quickly gathered himself and continued.
“Ah, forgive me. So, what brings you all the way from Sichuan to Huangshan? Is this a family matter or a personal visit?”
“Father, the Tang Clan has brought an elixir imbued with cold energy!”
“What? Truly?!”
Namgung Eun’s outburst startled the family head, who turned to Tang Hwa-eun, his voice laced with urgency.
“An elixir imbued with cold energy? Is it true? What kind of elixir is it? There must be various types—can you describe it?”
“We’ve brought it with us. Would you like to see it?”
“You’ve brought it?!”
At Tang Hwa-eun’s affirmation, the family head’s eyes widened. Tang Hwa-eun glanced in my direction, signaling it was time.
With trembling hands, I reached into my pocket and retrieved a small pouch. Opening it carefully, I tipped its contents onto the table.
Clink.
The item rolled across the table—a crystal imbued with a faint, icy glow.
The moment the crystal was revealed, cold air emanated from it, and both the family head and Namgung Eun stared in awe.
“May I examine it more closely?”
“Of course, please do.”
Placing the crystal atop the pouch, I slid it across the table. The family head eagerly picked it up, placing his hand on it to sense its energy. After a moment, his face lit up with joy.
“The purity of this cold energy is remarkable. This will surely last us ten years!”
“Ten years, Father?”
“Yes, far superior to the elixir we obtained from the Zhuge family in the past. This is far more refined!”
‘Far more refined than that?’ I thought to myself in surprise.
Holding the elixir in his hands, the Namgung family head inspected it with a mix of awe and curiosity, tilting the crystal this way and that as though appraising a precious gemstone.
His expression shifted as he seemed to notice something inside the bluish crystal. Furrowing his brow, he asked, “There’s something inside this blue crystal... something shriveled, like it’s dried up. What exactly is it?”
The question was inevitable after noticing the peculiar object inside the crystal.
At Tang Hwa-eun’s glance signaling me to explain, I first bowed politely to the Namgung family head.
“I am Wei Su-long, Tang Hwa-eun’s betrothed,” I said.
“Oh, so you’re her fiancé. My apologies for not asking earlier—I was too preoccupied with the elixir. But tell me, what is that inside the crystal?”
I replied with a calm and steady tone, “I’m afraid I cannot disclose that, sir.”
“Ah, I see. So revealing it might give away its origin, perhaps even its location. Fair enough, I won’t press the matter.”
He seemed to accept my vague explanation, though that wasn’t the actual reason for my reluctance.
How could I possibly admit that the thing inside the crystal was nothing more than a shriveled, dried-up lizard tail?
It was, in fact, Seol’s severed tail. The tail of a lizard, partially rotted and dried out, couldn’t be presented as an “elixir” without raising eyebrows.
‘Who would’ve thought this could be considered an elixir?’
In truth, its discovery had been purely coincidental.
After cutting off Seol’s tail, I had kept it as a keepsake, much like the shells of the O-gongs or their mother’s legs. Over time, the tail dried out and began to crystallize into what looked like ice.
One night, I noticed my chest feeling unusually cold while I slept. When I checked, the tail had transformed into its current state. Upon returning to the clan, I showed it to Grandfather Mandok Shingun, who confirmed it could serve as a potent elixir for those who practiced ice-based martial arts or required cold energy.
At first, I couldn’t comprehend how a rotting lizard tail could become an elixir. Then I remembered the characteristics of our blue-scaled lizards—they were fat-tailed geckos.
These lizards, adapted to harsh environments, stored nutrients in their thick tails. In this case, Seol’s tail had absorbed yin energy from the Seolsam plant and stored it, preserving its potency even after being severed.
Though the tail was rotten and in poor condition, the Namgung family’s reaction made it clear that it was more than just a cute keepsake—it was a treasure.
“Well, then,” the family head said, his keen eyes narrowing, “since you’ve brought this here, I assume you’re looking for something in exchange. What is it you need?”
As expected of a sharp negotiator, he immediately cut to the point.
Exchanging a glance with Tang Hwa-eun, I asked cautiously, “I’ve heard the Namgung family possesses an Ice Jade Orb. Would it be possible to trade this elixir for that?”
At this, the family head’s face lit up with excitement.
“Of course! Eun, go fetch the Ice Jade Orb from your sister’s quarters.”
“Yes, Father,” Namgung Eun replied, dashing off without hesitation.
A few moments later, Namgung Eun returned, slightly flushed, carrying a translucent orb about the size of a billiard ball.
“This is it...”
The orb was a brilliant, icy blue, radiating a cold energy similar to the lizard tail crystal.
Namgung Eun handed it over with a smile, and as I touched it, a cool sensation spread through my fingertips—a feeling remarkably similar to when I had first held Seol’s tail.
Handing it to Tang Hwa-eun, she held it briefly, her expression confirming its authenticity. Having previously handled the Seolsam seed’s energy, she could recognize the orb’s similarity.
Tang Hwa-eun nodded in approval, and I quickly bowed to the family head.
“Thank you, sir.”
“No, we should be the ones thanking you. I’ll need to consult with the elders on how best to use this elixir.”
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The transaction had been surprisingly smooth and efficient.
Back in my past life, secondhand trades always seemed to attract scammers and trouble, but this exchange was so straightforward it almost felt too good to be true.
‘A deal that satisfied both sides,’ I thought.
After the trade was complete, the family head’s tone softened considerably.
“Well, now that you’re here, why not stay for a few days? You’re our honored guests, and we’ll treat you with the utmost hospitality. Oh, and Hwa-eun, you’re acquainted with our Seol, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am,” Tang Hwa-eun replied.
“My daughter’s been through some difficult times recently. If you could spend some time with her and offer her some comfort, I’d appreciate it. Keeping her cooped up in the house isn’t doing her any good.”
Tang Hwa-eun glanced at me for confirmation, silently asking if I was okay with the delay. Since a day or two wouldn’t significantly affect our journey, and given her concern for Namgung Seol, I nodded in agreement.
With a slightly relieved expression, Tang Hwa-eun turned back to the family head.
“Understood, sir. I’ll do my best.”
Shortly after, we left the main hall and followed Namgung Eun toward the inner courtyard used exclusively by the Namgung family’s direct descendants. It was there that Namgung Seol was being held.
On the way to the inner courtyard, Namgung Eun sighed in relief, her expression a mix of gratitude and exhaustion.
“Thanks to you, Unnie, Father’s mood has improved. It’s been like walking on eggshells around him these past few days.”
“Oh, really? Tell me, what exactly happened?” Tang Hwa-eun asked, prompting Namgung Eun to explain the situation she had mentioned earlier.
“I don’t know how much you’ve heard, but there’s been a strange rumor about my sister. People are saying she’s been wandering around Huangshan at night, stealing men’s yang energy...”
“Yes, I heard about that. But it’s absurd, isn’t it?”
Though it was a bizarre topic, their faces reddened as they discussed it, clearly uncomfortable.
“At first, Father and the elders didn’t believe it either. But some of the men claiming to have been affected described intimate details about her body—things they couldn’t have known otherwise. When Father questioned her, she thought he was scolding her for secretly training alone and admitted to it, which only made things worse. That’s why she ended up confined.”
“What happened next?”
“I managed to sneak in and talk to her, and we cleared up the misunderstanding. But it still doesn’t explain how those men knew those details. In the end, she had to prove her innocence by undergoing a Su-gung-sa test.”
“My goodness...”
At the mention of Su-gung-sa, I tilted my head in confusion. Tang Hwa-eun, noticing this, quietly explained to me through sound transmission.
[Su-gung-sa is a test to prove a woman’s purity. They raise lizards in jars and feed them cinnabar until their bodies turn red. Then they grind the lizards into powder, which is applied to a woman’s body. If the woman is truly pure, the mark won’t wash away, even with water.]
‘They do what to the lizards?!’
I didn’t know what cinnabar was, but the idea of feeding it to lizards, only to grind them into powder, sounded utterly barbaric.
As my eyes widened in disbelief at the cruelty of it all, I noticed a woman rising from her seat in a gazebo at the center of the inner courtyard.
She had a striking presence, with a red peony tattooed on her left hand, stretching from the back of her hand to her wrist.