The moon hung low in the sky, a silent sentinel over the shadowy streets of District One. Do Joon-soo's nostrils flared as he caught the faintest whiff of serpent musk. He raised a hand, signaling his companions to halt. His companions are all wandering cultivators, all fed-up to the tyranny of Mang-dok.

"Three paces to the left," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "The viper's nest."

Sister Mei-Ling nodded, her eyes gleaming with resolve in the darkness. With practiced ease, she guided a family around the danger, their footsteps muffled by her sound-dampening technique.

House by house, the cultivators worked their way through the district. Old man Chen hobbled along, leaning on his cane – which Do Joon-soo knew concealed a wickedly sharp sword. Young Bao Li brought up the rear, his usually cheerful face set in grim determination.

"Mang-Dok's poison has spread far enough," Bao Li muttered, helping a trembling child over a low wall.

Do Joon-soo caught the bitterness in the youth's voice. "Save your anger for the fight ahead," he cautioned. "Clear minds and steady hearts will win the day."

As they rounded a corner, the metallic clank of armor reached their ears. Guards. Do Joon-soo's muscles tensed, ready for action.

Joon-soo's team moved like whispers through the night. Their target: the unsuspecting guards of District One.

"Remember," Joon-soo breathed, "we're here to protect, not harm."

Bao Li nodded, a mischievous glint in his eye. He sauntered up to a burly guard, his posture relaxed. "Beautiful night, isn't it, brother?"

The guard turned, confusion etched on his face – and that split second was all Bao Li needed. His fingers struck with the speed of a viper, sealing the guard's meridians before he could even gasp.

Not every encounter went as smoothly. Sister Mei-Ling found herself locked in a furious dance with a wiry guard captain, their movements a blur of strikes and parries. But even his years of training were no match for Mei-Ling's "Willow Leaf Palm" technique. With a final, graceful sweep, the captain crumpled to the ground.

"Your skill grows daily, sister," Old Man Chen chuckled, materializing from the shadows to help her bind the unconscious guard.

As the night wore on, their confidence grew. Guard after guard fell to their coordinated strikes, each victory a small blow against Mang-Dok's tyranny.

"To the Veiled Cauldron," Do Joon-soo ordered, his voice tinged with both pride and caution. "And tread lightly. Dawn approaches, and with it, our true test."

The Veiled Cauldron hummed with nervous energy as the first rays of dawn painted the sky. Joo-won carefully ladled the shimmering Seven-Hued Harmony into small vials, his hands steady despite the weight of their task.

"Drink up, everyone," he said, passing the antidotes around. "And pray we won't need them."

Bao Li grimaced as he downed the concoction. "Ugh! Tastes like fermented toad sweat."

"How do you know what that tastes like?" Sister Mei-Ling teased, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

In a corner, Do Joon-soo sat cross-legged, his eyes closed in deep meditation. The others followed suit, drawing in slow, measured breaths as they replenished their depleted Qi. The air grew thick with spiritual energy.

Across the district, in his lair of twisted vines and venomous creatures, Alchemist Mang-Dok paced like a caged tiger. His reptilian eyes darted to the entrance every few seconds, expecting – hoping – to see Do Joon-soo's group bursting in to fall into his trap.

"Where are they?" he hissed, his forked tongue flicking out in agitation. "Have they abandoned their precious Alchemist Joo? Perhaps it's time we reminded them of the consequences of defiance."

The sun climbed higher, its harsh rays beating down on the eerily quiet streets of District One. Alchemist Mang-Dok's lair, usually a hive of activity, felt suffocating with tension.

"Kang Yeobyeong!" Mang-Dok's voice cracked like a whip, making his disciple flinch.

"Yes, Teacher?" Kang Yeobyeong responded, trying to mask the tremor in his voice. The sting of defeat by Hyeol-Ran still burned in his chest.

Mang-Dok's reptilian eyes narrowed. "Something's amiss. Take some guards and sweep the city. I want to know why it's so... quiet."

Kang Yeobyeong bowed low, eager to prove himself. "It will be done, Teacher. I won't fail you again."

As Kang Yeobyeong and a small contingent of guards marched through the streets, an unsettling feeling crept up his spine. The few civilians they encountered scurried away like startled rabbits, their eyes wide with fear – or was it anticipation?

"It's too quiet," one of the guards muttered, fingering the hilt of his sword nervously.

Kang Yeobyeong silenced him with a glare, but he couldn't shake the sensation of being watched. Shadows seemed to move at the corners of his vision, only to vanish when he turned to look.

The silence in District One hung like a heavy curtain, broken only by the echoing footsteps of Kang Yeobyeong and his patrol. Sweat beaded on his brow, not from the heat, but from the prickling sensation of unseen eyes boring into him from every shadow.

Something's very wrong here, Kang Yeobyeong thought, his heart racing. With the grace of a seasoned martial artist, he melted into the shadows, following the mysterious trio.

Tension arise as they reached a deserted alleyway. Kang Yeobyeong's eyes widened as he watched the three figures surround his subordinate, their stances shifting into unmistakable fighting forms.

Cultivators! he realized with a jolt. But how? We've kept them all under control...

As he crouched behind a stack of crates, ready to intervene, a chilling thought struck him. This was no random occurrence. The empty streets, the watchful eyes, the coordinated attack – it all pointed to one terrifying conclusion.

It's a trap, Kang Yeobyeong thought, cold dread spreading through his chest. And we've walked right into it.

Kang Yeobyeong burst from the shadows, his eyes flashing like polished steel. "What do you think you're doing?" he snarled.

The three would-be ambushers froze, their faces a comical mix of shock and fear. For a heartbeat, no one moved.

Then chaos erupted.

The cultivators sprang into action, their hands weaving intricate patterns as they prepared to unleash their techniques. But Kang Yeobyeong was faster – much faster.

With a grace that belied his fierce demeanor, he traced a complex sigil in the air. "Azure Serpent's Roar!" he bellowed.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

A wave of purple energy exploded from his palm, catching the attackers mid-stride. Their eyes widened in horror as the blast lifted them off their feet, sending them tumbling through the air like leaves in a storm.

WHAM! CRASH! THUD!

The cultivators hit the ground hard, their groans of pain echoing off the nearby buildings. Kang Yeobyeong allowed himself a small smirk of satisfaction before turning to his wide-eyed subordinate.

"You!" he barked, making the guard jump. "Stop gawking and run back to Teacher Mang-Dok. Tell him exactly what you saw here."

The guard nodded frantically, his legs already carrying him away before his brain could fully process the order. As his footsteps faded into the distance, Kang Yeobyeong's expression hardened.

The three cultivators sprang to their feet, their eyes burning with renewed determination. Kang Yeobyeong's guards wasted no time, their hands blurring as they drew hidden weapons from the folds of their robes.

"Dance of the Twin Scorpion!" cried one guard, his curved daggers gleaming in the sunlight as he engaged two of the attackers. Steel sang against steel, the guard's blades weaving a deadly pattern that kept his opponents on their toes.

To his left, another guard twirled a spear with practiced ease. "Unyielding Bamboo Stance!" he shouted, the weapon becoming a whirlwind of motion. His eyes darted back and forth, searching for that one crucial opening.

The third guard's blade dripped with a sickly green substance, its acrid smell filling the air. "Taste my Emerald Fang Venom," he hissed, forcing his opponent into a desperate dance of evasion.

Kang Yeobyeong watched the melee unfold, his face a mask of conflicting emotions. Pride in his men's skill warred with anger at the audacity of these infiltrators. His fingers twitched, itching to join the fray, but he held back. Not yet, he thought. Let's see what these rebels are truly capable of.

The battle raged on, steel clashing against steel, when suddenly—

"Looking for someone?"

A voice like silk-wrapped steel cut through the chaos. All eyes turned skyward.

There, silhouetted against the sun, stood Hyeol-Ran atop a nearby roof. The unconscious form of Kang Yeobyeong's messenger slumped at her feet. But it was Hyeol-Ran herself who commanded attention. An aura of raw power radiated from her, so intense it seemed to distort the very air around her.

Kang Yeobyeong's eyes widened in disbelief. Impossible! She's reached...

With a grace that defied gravity, Hyeol-Ran leapt from the rooftop. She landed in the center of the melee, the ground cracking beneath her feet. The shockwave sent combatants stumbling back.

"Poison Fang Strike!" Kang Yeobyeong roared, charging at Hyeol-Ran with his blade gleaming a sickly green.

But Hyeol-Ran moved like water, flowing around his attack as if it were child's play. Her own weapon – a elegant short sword – flashed out, deflecting Kang Yeobyeong's poisoned blade with ease.

"You disappoint me, Kang Yeobyeong," Hyeol-Ran said, her voice cool and composed despite the fury of battle around them. "Still relying on parlor tricks while I've ascended to the realm of true power."

Frustration twisted Kang Yeobyeong's features as he unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one batted aside effortlessly. "Lies!" he spat. "No one advances that quickly!"

Hyeol-Ran's eyes glittered dangerously. "And yet, here I stand – a General, while you remain mired in the Expert class. Perhaps it's time you questioned the path your precious teacher has set you upon."

Kang Yeobyeong's face twisted with rage as he launched attack after attack, each one more desperate than the last. But Hyeol-Ran moved like mist, always just beyond his reach.

"Stand still and fight!" he snarled, his blade whistling through empty air.

Hyeol-Ran's lips curled into a smirk. "Why? Your sloppy technique is doing all the work for me."

With a fluid motion that seemed to defy physics, Hyeol-Ran's sword flashed out. There was a metallic clang, and Kang Yeobyeong's weapon went spinning away, embedding itself in a nearby wall.

THUD!

Kang Yeobyeong hit the ground hard, the wind knocked from his lungs.

Hyeol-Ran towered over him, her blade at his throat. "It's over. Yield."

For a moment, it seemed Kang Yeobyeong might actually surrender. His shoulders slumped, his head bowed. But then—

"Never!" he roared. His body convulsed, Qi surging through his meridians. A sickly green mist exploded outward, engulfing the entire street.

Kang Yeobyeong's laughter rang out as his opponents began to choke and stumble. But his triumph was short-lived. To his shock, the cultivators pulled out vials of shimmering liquid, downing them in one gulp. The poison's effects melted away like morning dew.

Even more astonishing – Hyeol-Ran stood unmoved, not a single cough escaping her lips.

"H-how?" Kang Yeobyeong stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Hyeol-Ran's gaze was cold. "We've been three steps ahead of you this entire time. Your master's reign of terror ends today."

"I'll die before I surrender!" he roared, channeling every last drop of his Qi into a final, devastating technique. "Crimson Viper's Fang!"

His body blurred as he lunged at Hyeol-Ran, his hands glowing with deadly energy. For a heartbeat, it seemed he might actually land a blow.

But Hyeol-Ran stood unmoved, her expression a mask of cold determination. As Kang Yeobyeong closed in, she whispered, "Moonlight Reflection Stance."

What happened next was almost too fast to follow. Hyeol-Ran's sword flashed once, twice, three times – a dance of steel so quick it left afterimages in the air. There was a moment of perfect stillness.

Then Kang Yeobyeong stumbled, his eyes wide with disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a trickle of blood escaped his lips. His knees buckled, and he crumpled to the ground.

Hyeol-Ran flicked the blood from her blade, her eyes filled with a mixture of regret and resolve. "You chose your path," she said softly. "Now we must walk ours."

As Kang Yeobyeong's life ebbed away, the weight of what had just occurred settled over the street. This wasn't just a duel – it was the first strike in a war that would reshape District One forever.

Hyeol-Ran turned to her companions, her voice ringing with authority. "Prepare yourselves. Mang-Dok will retaliate soon, and we must be ready."

…

The night air crackled with tension as cultivators and alchemists stood arrayed before Mang-Dok's lair. Their qi swirled, an invisible storm of power and resolve. At the forefront, Do Joon-soo, Alchemist Joo, and Hyeol-Ran stood like immovable mountains, their faces etched with grim determination.

In the shadows, Joo-won's energy coiled tight as a drawn bow, ready to unleash at a moment's notice.

Do Joon-soo's voice cut through the eerie silence, sharp as a blade. "It's over, Mang-Dok! Your lackeys have fallen. Face justice or face us!"

A mocking laugh echoed from within the building, followed by Mang-Dok's sneering reply. "Alone? Oh, you naive fools. Allow me to introduce you to my true allies!"

The air grew thick with Mang-Dok's qi, a miasma of malevolent power that made even the bravest cultivators take a step back. His aura pulsed with the strength of a 4th stage General, eclipsing Alchemist Joo's own formidable presence.

"By the heavens," Hyeol-Ran whispered, her knuckles white on her weapon's hilt. "He's stronger than we anticipated."

But there was no time to dwell on this revelation. The earth beneath their feet began to tremble, a deep rumbling that shook the very foundations of the district. Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, and with a deafening roar, the Thousand-Fangs Viper Dragon burst forth in all its terrifying glory.

Its colossal body twisted skyward, scales gleaming like polished obsidian in the moonlight. The beast's emergence sent its smaller brethren airborne, creating a writhing, hissing cloud that blotted out the moon.

Joo-won's eyes widened in horror as he watched serpents the size of buildings slither through the air, their fangs dripping with venom that sizzled where it fell. The night sky became a living, undulating mass of scales and forked tongues.

"It's raining snakes," Do Joon-soo muttered in disbelief.

As the serpentine deluge descended upon them, Joo-won knew their mettle would be tested like never before. The Seven-Hued Harmony was their only hope against this venomous onslaught, but faced with such overwhelming odds, even hope seemed a fragile thing.

The Thousand-Fangs Viper Dragon loomed before them, its colossal form blotting out the stars. Its scales shimmered with an otherworldly gleam, each one larger than a man's shield. The beast's very breath seemed to wither the world around it, grass turning to ash and trees crumbling at its feet.

Joo-won felt his heart hammering in his chest. This was no mere beast – it was a force of nature given form, a legend made flesh.

Atop the monstrous serpent, Mang-Dok cut an imposing figure. His robes billowed in the poisonous wind, eyes glinting with malice as he surveyed the gathered forces below.

"So, you've come to challenge me?" Mang-Dok's voice boomed across the battlefield, dripping with disdain. "Foolish insects. You'll make fine fodder for my pets!"

Do Joon-soo stepped forward, his qi flaring defiantly. "Your reign of terror ends tonight, Mang-Dok!"

A cruel laugh was the alchemist's only response. With a gesture, he commanded his serpentine army forward.

Joo-won exchanged glances with his companions. This was it – the moment that would decide the fate of their district, perhaps the world. As one, they readied their weapons and elixirs.

"For the innocent!" Hyeol-Ran cried, her voice rallying their forcess