I didn’t understand the principle behind it, but there she was—Hwa-eun, carved into the stone door in astonishing detail, like a lifelike photograph.

It came into view so vividly.

I reached my hand out without thinking, but fearing the door might open, I didn’t dare touch it and instead sat down in front of it.

“What the hell is this?”

Unable to proceed any further, I sat in front of the door, falling into deep thought.

They said I had to open the Five Poison Gate, but not only had a sixth door appeared, it had Hwa-eun carved into it—there was no way I wouldn’t fall into confusion.

Sure, I’d promised multiple times not to hesitate and just choose Cheongyu Sojeo next time, but come on—how could I not hesitate in a situation like this?

‘Obviously. There's no way not to hesitate with this.’

It wasn’t a simple matter of choosing between Cheongyu Sojeo and Hwa-eun. The martial system itself seemed different from what I understood, so I had to think it through.

Besides, I was very curious what would happen if I opened this door.

Beyond that door—it felt like a forbidden realm.

There was a strong instinctual feeling—dangerous, like something I shouldn’t touch. Why was I feeling this way? As I paused to think, some alarming thoughts surfaced.

When I opened the doors with Cho, Hyang, and Bini carved on them, I gained the ability to communicate with centipedes and earned their favor.

But what if I opened the door with Hwa-eun—who, unlike the others, was based on a human venomous being?

That kind of question... it really did feel like forbidden territory.

“Would I be able to send telepathy to humans or draw out unconditional affection? Or maybe something like that woman from the Blood Cult... some kind of group hypnosis technique like Soul Capture? ...This is seriously dangerous.”

The potential abilities that popped into my head were clearly dangerous.

I had no choice but to stop this line of dangerous imagination here.

If it really was some kind of hypnotic power, or something that drew unconditional affection from people... that would feel like stepping out of humanity altogether.

So even though I nearly gave into temptation, I stopped imagining those things for now and decided to just focus on the martial art aspect.

“Yeah, this seems risky. Let’s just think about the martial aspect first.”

Images flashed through my mind—me making a mistake and not getting scolded by Hwa-eun, or Hwa-eun praising me for messing up and kissing me... yeah, dangerous stuff. But I calmed myself and tried to refocus on martial arts.

The Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art—O-dok-gwi-won-shin-gong—was a poison martial art that used the poisons of five different venomous creatures to enhance one’s martial power.

Its hidden ability was that if you registered the poison of a spirit creature, you could not only use that creature’s poison, but also communicate with the registered venomous creature.

There was another secret hidden within the hidden ability. Once you registered all five venomous creatures, a state called “Five Gates” would open, and for each gate you unlocked, you gained an additional ability.

These gates weren’t just symbolic—they were literal doors.

In the inner realm, you could see five gates.

When you opened the gate associated with a registered creature, you could communicate with and command the creature based on that venomous type.

Just like how I opened O-gong’s gate and was able to communicate with centipedes.

That was everything I knew so far—information I had compiled based on what Grandfather Tang Mu-seong, Sister Seol, and Cheongyu Sojeo had explained about the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art.

But now, not only had another door appeared, it didn’t feature a venomous or spirit creature—it featured Hwa-eun.

Why had things turned out like this?

I sat down and gave it some thought. And then I started to get a sense of why this might have happened.

“This is probably because of Beast Heart Art, right?”

Most likely, it was because of the Beast Heart Art—the core technique from which the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art was derived.

If I pieced together what I’d heard from Grandfather, Cheongyu Sojeo, and Sister Seol, the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art was originally created by combining the martial arts of the Tang Clan with the heart method of the Beast Palace: the Beast Heart Art.

Even though they mixed in part of the Beast Heart Art, the version taught in the Tang Clan was said to be inferior to the original from the Beast Palace. Which was why I’d ended up learning the full Beast Heart Art myself.

So my version of the Five Poisons Returning to the Origin Divine Art had much better specs, you could say.

If this were a car, I bought a mass-produced car and then swapped in an engine that was several times more powerful.

That was probably why, when I kissed Hwa-eun, she’d accidentally gotten registered instead of a venomous creature. That was likely also why Hwa-eun had appeared again this time.

Hwa-eun had already been registered under the Beast Heart Art, so when a vacant gate slot appeared, it was natural for her to show up.

“Wow, still, seeing Hwa-eun carved on a door is seriously rattling.”

Even though I now understood the logic, the shock of seeing her engraved on that stone door hadn’t gone away.

I glanced to the left and saw the entrance to the gate with Cheongyu Sojeo carved into it.

The door with Hwa-eun carved into it felt absolutely forbidden, like I must never touch it—but that didn’t mean I could just pick the one with Cheongyu Sojeo carved into it without hesitation either.

‘Ugh, this is driving me crazy.’

I had a feeling this would lead to a dangerous future, but maybe that’s what made it all the more alluring.

To think Hwa-eun was this dangerous of a woman...

It was enough to make me lose my mind.

‘Gyaaaaaaaaah!’

***

So-ryong stood on the deck with his eyes closed, holding Dong-i in his hands.

Behind him, the entire crew stood on the deck, their faces tense as they watched him.

It was because the qi infusion that had started early in the morning was still continuing into noon.

The final qi infusion, which was supposed to take about one shikjeong, still wasn’t over.

They’d said it would be done in one shikjeong, but it had already been three sijin.

“Yaaawn.”

“Haaaahhh... S-sorry.”

“Apologies.”

In the tense silence, the yawns of Geom-ryong and Kwon-ryong echoed through the air.

Under Hwa-eun and Sister Seol’s sharp gazes, the two immediately apologized.

They had yawned while everyone else was nervously watching So-ryong.

“If you’re going to yawn, just go inside!”

“N-no, that’s not it!”

When Sister Seol shouted in anger, Geom-ryong hastily responded.

Then, Jaheo spoke up with concern in his voice.

“It’s taking too long. Is everything okay? Should we perhaps call someone from Shaolin who’s more versed in internal energy?”

“No, I don’t think that’ll be necessary. It seems like he’s entered the inner realm. It’s often like this when someone enters the inner realm.

But still, he’s the youngest among us... weird that it’s taking him the longest.”

Just as Sister Seol finished speaking, all eyes turned back to So-ryong.

So-ryong’s hand, which had been channeling energy into Dong-i, seemed to float slightly above Dong-i.

“It’s moving!”

Geom-ryong, who had just been scolded for yawning, shouted joyfully, and everyone nodded.

As Geom-ryong said, the hand held above Dong-i’s head had definitely lifted slightly.

–Pweep!

At that moment, Dong-i opened his eyes between So-ryong’s hands, sparkling.

At Dong-i’s cry, Hwa-eun quickly reached out her hand and asked,

“Dong-a, were you in the inner realm with Grandpa?”

–Pwiip.

She was asking if Dong-i had entered the inner realm with So-ryong, but Dong-i shook his head firmly in denial.

“No? So-ryong!”

At that moment, So-ryong’s body slowly tilted backward.

If he had been in the inner realm, it would’ve been best not to touch him, but his body was falling backward like someone fainting.

And from the moment Dong-i opened his eyes, sweat had been pouring down So-ryong’s body.

Dong-i’s denial, So-ryong’s current physical state being completely different from his past inner realm entries, and now the collapsing body—there was no way to leave it alone.

Hwa-eun moved immediately.

“Unni!”

“Got it.”

Hwa-eun handed Dong-i to Sister Seol and grabbed So-ryong’s falling arm.

She supported him right away.

As she embraced him, her hair stuck to So-ryong’s sweat-drenched body.

Infusing qi must have been seriously taxing.

“We need to get him to the cabin first.”

Just as Hwa-eun was about to rush to the cabin with So-ryong in her arms—

Cho approached, supporting So-ryong’s body, and let out a soft cry.

–Trrrr.

Since So-ryong was unconscious, he couldn’t use the group mental link, but Cho was saying he would carry him.

It was definitely less shaky for Cho to float and carry him than for Hwa-eun to do it herself.

Looking at Cho who was supporting So-ryong’s back, Hwa-eun made a request.

“Cho-ya, take him to the cabin for now. We need to lay him down.”

–Tssrrrr!

Still supporting So-ryong’s body, Cho moved straight toward the cabin.

Up the stairs to the first door.

–Clack.

When the door opened, Hyang, who was still sulking, was clinging to the ceiling.

As Hyang glanced over and saw them, her antennae trembled in surprise—Hwa-eun caught that with her eyes.

–Churrr!

–Tssrrrr!

Cho shouted something as he moved toward the bedding, and Hyang, startled, jumped down from the ceiling and began arranging the blankets.

Cho must have asked her for help, and once the bedding was ready, Cho swiftly laid So-ryong on it.

Hwa-eun took off his shoes, and as she turned her head, she caught sight of Unmirang.

Hwa-eun made a request to her.

“Could you bring some water and a cloth? He’s drenched and needs to be wiped down.”

“Understood, Young Miss.”

If this wasn’t an inner realm episode, wiping away sweat should be fine.

As Hwa-eun rolled up her sleeves to wipe So-ryong’s body, Unmirang returned to the cabin with a cloth and a water jug.

“Young Miss, here. I thought cold water might not be good, so I mixed in some tea water to make it lukewarm.”

“Well done.”

She dipped her hand into the jug and felt the comfortably warm water.

This should be fine—it wouldn’t shock So-ryong. With that thought, Hwa-eun soaked the cloth in the jug.

–Drip drip.

After soaking the towel and wringing it tightly, she looked back at So-ryong.

And suddenly, her hand froze.

Of course—she had to take his clothes off.

She realized just then that she had to undress her own fiancé.

And with that realization, Hwa-eun felt her ears and cheeks burn.

They had probably turned red from embarrassment.

Then, watching quietly from the side, Unmirang asked cautiously.

“Young Miss, shall I do it for you?”

At the word “undress,” Hwa-eun’s ears and cheeks grew even redder.

Snapping back to her senses, she answered quickly.

“Ah—no, I’ll do it. Please wait outside. I’m his betrothed, so it’s not a problem for me, but if someone else were to see his bare body... wouldn’t So-ryong be embarrassed?”

“You think so? Are you sure you don’t need help?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine, you may step out.”

“Understood, Young Miss. I’ll be right outside, so call me if you need anything.”

“O-okay.”

With a slightly worried look, Unmirang stepped out of the cabin, and Hwa-eun let out a deep sigh.

“Phew...”

She had seen So-ryong’s bare body a few times before.

Like when he got seriously injured chasing down a thief who had infiltrated the Tang Clan, or when he was attacked by the Five Venoms Clan’s assassins in Cheonghae.

But undressing him herself... this was the first time.

Hwa-eun brought a chair in front of the bed and sat down.

She placed the damp towel back into the jug on the floor and reached for the knot securing the front of his robe.

–Slide.

–Gulp.

She untied the knot at his chest, and as she pulled the fabric further, the front panels loosened.

Just as she was about to open it—

So-ryong’s body flinched.

Sensing something off, Hwa-eun lifted her gaze—and there it was: So-ryong’s eyes, tightly shut, clearly clenched on purpose.

And his hand was gripping the blanket.

There was no mistaking it—he was awake. So Hwa-eun shouted,

“Th-this is a misunderstanding!”

***

When I woke up, Hwa-eun’s face was flushed all the way to her ears as she was in the middle ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) of undressing me.

I was sure we agreed to wait until we returned to the Tang Clan, but I didn’t think she’d go this far.

At first, I kept my eyes tightly closed and pretended not to notice, but each time her hand brushed against me, it tickled so much I couldn’t hold still.

In the end, I gave myself away.

And Hwa-eun, startled, shouted,

“Th-this is a misunderstanding!”

Since I was caught, I gave an awkward smile and said,

“It’s okay. Hwa-eun, I, uh... I like assertive women too.”

“I-it’s not like that!”

Embarrassed, Hwa-eun started patting her chest frantically.

That’s when I heard the children’s cries from the side.

–Tssrut?

Startled by the sound, both of us turned our heads—Cho and Hyang were staring at Hwa-eun with tilted heads.

“Wh-when did you two get here?”

“F-from the start. Hwa-eun was going to wipe you down since you were sweating so much.”

“I-I see...”

With the kids right here, there was no way Hwa-eun was trying to do something weird, so I guess it really had been a misunderstanding.

Just then, the cabin door burst open and Sister Seol rushed inside.

“Hwa-eun! Ah! So-ryong, you’re awake! Come outside, quick! Something big’s happened!”

“Sister Seol, just a second—oh, clothes...”

She ran up to me and started dragging me off the bed.

I hadn’t even had time to re-tie the front of my robe, but she still yanked me all the way out onto the deck.

Nothing seemed strange at first.

“Ah, that’s cold.”

Suddenly, something cold touched the tip of my nose.

I looked up at the sky. Something white was falling, landing softly between my eyebrows.

Then again, the chill returned.

“Snow?!”

It was autumn—snow in this weather? Shocked, I turned toward Cheongwol’s direction. Over Dong-i’s shimmering blue body, white snowflakes were gently settling.

“Gyaaaaah!”