In his office, Alchemist Mang-Dok drummed his fingers on the polished desk. Unease prickled at the back of his neck. Rumors of a boy neutralizing his poison? Preposterous. And yet...

"Kang Yeobyeong!" he barked. His apprentice appeared, eyes glittering with ambition. "Check out that store. Anything fishy, you report back. Got it?"

As Yeobyeong scurried off, Mang-Dok descended into his true domain. The secret passages beneath the First District yawned open, swallowing him in darkness. The air grew thick, heavy with the stench of venom and decay. Thousands of serpents, his precious children, hissed a venomous welcome.

Deeper he went, where even the bravest of his lackeys dared not tread. The darkness seemed alive, pulsing with malevolent energy. Then, twin orbs of sickly yellow light flared to life, each as big as a human.

Mang-Dok's lips curled into a twisted smile. "Hello, my beauty," he crooned.

The massive serpent, product of years of twisted alchemy, uncoiled its bulk. Its gaze bore into Mang-Dok, as if peering into the blackest depths of his soul.

"Soon," Mang-Dok whispered, stroking scales as big as dinner plates. "Soon, all of Yeongyak Do will tremble before us."

Mang-Dok's fingers caressed it, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "With you by my side, my precious," he purred to the colossal serpent, "Yeongyak Do will bow before me."

Meanwhile, across the district, a very different energy crackled through the air. The streets around The Veiled Cauldron teemed with life, a sea of eager faces and hushed whispers.

"Did you hear?" An old woman tugged her neighbor's sleeve. "They say there's a pill that'll make your bones strong as steel!"

A young cultivator scoffed. "Please. I heard it's a cream that'll make you look twenty years younger!"

Skepticism mingled with wild hope as the crowd swelled, all eyes fixed on the tiny stage in front of the shop. Hearts quickened as Yi Gwan and Baek Woojin appeared, flanked by three stunning women carrying ornate boxes.

Yi Gwan's grin was infectious as he addressed the throng. "Friends! Neighbors! The whispers you've heard? They're just the beginning."

The crowd leaned in, hanging on his every word. Was this the dawn of a new era for Yeongyak Do? Or just another snake oil peddler's scheme?

Baek Woojin stepped forward, a wooden box cradled in his hands. The crowd hushed, leaning in.

"Behold," he announced, voice rich with promise, "the Heartsease Aromatics!"

He lifted a bundle of delicate incense sticks. "Calm your mind, sharpen your focus. Thirty percent better retention? You bet. Scholars, cultivators – this is your new secret weapon."

Skeptical murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Snake oil!" someone shouted.

Yi Gwan's eyes twinkled. Without a word, he lit a stick. The scent unfurled, a invisible wave of serenity washing over the throng. Furrowed brows smoothed, tense shoulders relaxed. The air hummed with newfound tranquility.

"Well, I'll be..." an old man whispered, his cynicism melting away.

Baek Woojin reached for the second box, savoring the anticipation. The lid creaked open, revealing a gleaming jar. Sunlight caught the cream inside, making it shimmer like liquid starlight.

Yi Gwan's grin widened. "Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the Pearl Cream!"

The crowd collectively held its breath, wondering what miracles this innocuous jar might hold. In the back, the hooded figure inched closer, torn between curiosity and suspicion.

Yi Gwan's eyes danced with mischief as he held up the shimmering jar. "Ladies, prepare to be amazed! This little miracle worker will revolutionize your skincare routine. Don't believe me? Just feast your eyes on our stunning Yi Ji-won!"

All eyes swiveled to Yi Ji-won, who blushed furiously under the scrutiny. The crowd gasped. Her skin glowed like polished jade, not a blemish in sight.

"Two days!" Yi Gwan crowed. "That's all it took for this transformation!"

The women in the audience buzzed with excitement. Envy and desire warred on their faces.

"But wait!" Yi Gwan's voice dropped dramatically. "Supplies are limited. Once they're gone, who knows when we'll have more?"

A collective intake of breath. You could practically see the gears turning in every woman's head, calculating how many jars they could snag.

"I'll take ten!" someone shouted.

"Fifteen for me!"

As the frenzy built, Yi Ji-won caught a glimpse of a hooded figure slipping away from the crowd. Her brow furrowed. Something about that retreat seemed... off.

But before she could dwell on it, she was swept up in the tide of eager customers, all clamoring for their chance at bottled perfection.

Baek Woojin's eyes glinted as he revealed the final treasure. A hush fell over the crowd, all eyes locked on the tiny red pill nestled in its ornate box.

Yi Gwan's voice rang out, clear as a temple bell. "Behold, the Moonsilver Pill! Stronger bones, lightning reflexes – this little miracle will revolutionize your cultivation!"

But it was Joo-won who truly set the crowd ablaze. He stepped forward, and the air itself seemed to crackle with anticipation. Without a word, he launched into the first movement of the Hollylock Blade Technique.

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Joo-won's body flowed like water, each motion precise yet effortless. The audience gasped, their jaws slack with awe. Though he knew it was just part of the show, Joo-won couldn't help but feel a thrill of pride.

"Incredible! For someone so young" A burly cultivator's eyes shone. "I'll take a whole case!"

"Forget that," his friend countered, "I need enough for my entire sect!"

The crowd surged forward, a tidal wave of eager customers. Hyeol-Ran stepped in, her calm voice a counterpoint to the frenzy.

"Easy now," she cautioned, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Our supply is limited. First come, first served."

As the masses clamored for their share of liquid perfection and bone-strengthening miracles, no one noticed the hooded figure slipping away, a vial of each product tucked securely in their cloak.

Baek Woojin cleared his throat. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for – the price!"

The crowd held its collective breath.

"A mere hundred earth coins per item!"

Gasps erupted. Jaws dropped. A hundred coins for miracles in a jar?

"Impossible!" someone shouted.

"It's true," Yi Gwan grinned. "Quality doesn't always mean expensive."

The crowd exploded into frenzied whispers. Clan elders huddled, plotting strategies to secure bulk orders. Young disciples counted their meager savings, eyes shining with hope.

"We'll take fifty of each!" A portly merchant bellowed.

"Make it a hundred!" His rival countered.

As the doors swung open, chaos erupted. Do Joon-soo and Hyeol-Ran braced themselves behind the counter, a sea of grasping hands and shouted orders crashing over them.

"Easy, folks!" Do Joon-soo boomed, his muscles straining as he hefted crates. "There's plenty for everyone!"

Hyeol-Ran's fingers flew, tallying orders with lightning speed. Her calm voice cut through the din. "Form a line, please."

Hours ticked by, the queue never shrinking. Cultivators rubbed shoulders with merchants, all united in their quest for bottled perfection.

"Please," a wizened elder pleaded, "I'll pay double for the Moonsilver Pills!"

Hyeol-Ran's smile was kind but firm. "Same price for everyone, honored elder. That's our way."

The Veiled Cauldron buzzed like an overturned beehive. Salesgirls darted between customers, arms laden with jars and pills. Guards struggled to maintain order as the line snaked around the block.

Suddenly, the crowd parted like a silk curtain torn in two. A young man strode through, his robes reeking of expensive perfume and arrogance.

"Well, well," he drawled, eyeing the chaos with disdain. "What's all this fuss about? Surely these peasants aren't falling for your snake oil?"

Hyeol-Ran's eyes flashed dangerously. "Kang Yeobyeong. To what do we owe the displeasure?"

The Poison Faction alchemist's lips curled into a sneer. "I've come to make you an offer you can't refuse. Join me, and you'll be swimming in gold. Refuse..." His hand drifted to a vial at his belt. "Well, let's just say things might get messy."

Do Joon-soo stepped forward, muscles rippling beneath his tunic. "Big words from a little man. Why don't you get back in line like everyone else?"

Kang Yeobyeong's face flushed an ugly red. "You dare-"

"Oh, we dare," Hyeol-Ran cut in, her voice dripping honey-coated venom. "Now, are you buying something, or just wasting our time?"

Kang Yeobyeong's eyes glittered with malice. "Ah, the loyal puppy of traitor Yi. How... quaint."

Do Joon-soo's muscles coiled, ready to spring. "One more word about my master, and you'll be tasting dirt."

"Aww, did I hurt the little dog's feelings?" Kang Yeobyeong smirked, sauntering to the center of the shop. He sprawled across a chair, blocking customer flow.

Hyeol-Ran's good eye blazed. She approached, voice low and dangerous. "Outside. Now. Before I forget my manners."

The Poison Faction brat rose, following with a theatrical sigh. "Oh my, did I ruin your adorable lemonade stand?"

Once outside, Hyeol-Ran whirled on him. "Listen here, you overgrown toddler. Your fancy robes don't impress me."

"Touchy, touchy," Kang Yeobyeong tsked. "Is this how you treat potential business partners?"

"Partners?" Hyeol-Ran scoffed. "I'd sooner partner with a rabid dog."

Kang Yeobyeong's eyes narrowed to venomous slits. Without warning, his hand lashed out, a torrent of Qi surging towards Hyeol-Ran like an angry flood.

"Pathetic," Hyeol-Ran scoffed, batting the attack aside as if swatting a fly. The crowd gasped. This one-eyed woman was no mere shopkeeper!

"Surprised?" Hyeol-Ran's grin was feral. "Eighth-stage of the Expert Class cultivation isn't something you pick up peddling snake oil, 'young master.'"

Kang Yeobyeong's face twisted with rage. He launched a flurry of strikes, each crackling with poisonous energy. But Hyeol-Ran danced through them, her movements fluid as water, deadly as a viper.

"My turn," she growled.

Her cry split the air as she struck. The very earth seemed to tremble. Kang Yeobyeong's eyes widened in disbelief as he was sent flying, crashing into a nearby fruit stand.

The crowd erupted in cheers. "Show that Poison punk!" someone shouted.

Hyeol-Ran stood tall, her single eye blazing with triumph. "Had enough, pretty boy? Or shall I give you another lesson in humility?"

Kang Yeobyeong struggled to his feet, fruit pulp dripping from his once-pristine robes. His face was a mask of fury and – unmistakably – fear. But he lunged forward.

Kang Yeobyeong's lungs burned as he gasped for air, sweat trickling down his face like tiny rivers. He'd lost count of how many times he'd tried to land a hit on Hyeol-Ran, but she always seemed to be one step ahead. It was infuriating.

"What's wrong, Yeobyeong? Getting tired already?" Hyeol-Ran taunted, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. She gracefully sidestepped another of his attacks, making it look as easy as a dance move.

The crowd around them buzzed with excitement, their eyes glued to the match. Some even stood on tiptoes, desperate not to miss a single moment of this epic showdown.

Hyeol-Ran's eyes suddenly gleamed with determination. She raised her hand, and for a split second, time seemed to stand still. Then—BAM! A blinding flash erupted, followed by an explosion that shook the very ground beneath their feet.

Poor Yeobyeong never stood a chance. One moment he was charging forward, the next he was sailing through the air like a rag doll, crashing into the wall with a sickening thud.

The crowd went wild, their cheers nearly drowning out Hyeol-Ran's voice as she stood tall, her jade-green robes billowing dramatically around her. "Is that all you've got?" she called out, her words dripping with disdain. "I thought you came here to challenge me, not take a nap!"

Yeobyeong struggled to his feet, his face a mask of fury and humiliation. He opened his mouth, probably to spit out some half-baked insult, when two figures materialized between them.

"That's enough," Yi Gwan's deep voice cut through the chaos like a knife. Beside him, Baek Woojin nodded in agreement, his usually cheerful face uncharacteristically serious.

"But—" Yeobyeong started to protest, only to be silenced by Yi Gwan's stern glare.

"You lost, kid. Deal with it," Baek Woojin added, not unkindly. "Now scram before you embarrass yourself further."

With a final, venomous look at Hyeol-Ran, Yeobyeong turned on his heel and stormed out, his lackeys scrambling to keep up with his furious pace.

As the sounds of the cheering crowd washed over her, Hyeol-Ran couldn't help but smile. She caught Yi Gwan's approving nod and Baek Woojin's enthusiastic thumbs-up, feeling a warm glow of pride in her chest.

Baek Woojin grinned, ruffling her hair affectionately. "You showed that bully what real power looks like."

Hyeol-Ran ducked away from his hand, laughing. "Thanks," she said, her eyes sparkling with joy and a hint of mischief. "But next time, I might just take on both of you old-timers."