Both Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin exit the The Crimson Lantern restaurant with satisfaction.
"Young master, what should we do next?"
Jiu Jin asks. Yilu Lok thinks for some time and says.
"We are going to leave tomorrow so we have lots of time in our hands. So I think we should wander around till noon and then return to the Inn."
Jiu Jin nods.
"Alright, since this is your first time here young master let me show you around."
Yilu Lok follows Jiu Jin and wanders around the Tang clan. For the whole time Jiu Jin shows Yilu Lok all kinds of places. At about four o'clock Jiu Jin took Yilu Lok in front of an old building. In front of the gate of the building is a plaque that says "The Hall of a Thousand Blades".
"Young master this is The Hall of a Thousand Blades. Given the Tang Clan's fame and reputation in the Murim world they have many places that are very good to visit but this 'The Hall of a Thousand Blades' is the most famous of them all."
"Why is that?"
Yilu Lok asks. Jiu Jin looks at The Hall of a Thousand Blades and says.
" Young master, this grand, fortified hall is a public museum and armory that houses the Tang Clan's most legendary weapons. It is one of the few places where outsiders can see the clan's exquisite craftsmanship up close without a personal invitation."
Yilu Lok looks at The Hall of a Thousand Blades with surprise, showing the most legendary weapons are not something normal. A clan's Martial arts and Weapons are their biggest secrets and treasures and if any outsider gets hold of them be weapons or martial arts that person will hunt down till he is dead.
"Are there any more reasons for its fame? "
Jiu Jin says with a smile on his face.
"Of course, young master the hall is not just a collection of weapons; it is a testament to the clan's artistry and lethal precision. Displayed within its vast chambers are countless blades, from delicate daggers that can slice a falling leaf in half to massive, two-handed swords that have claimed the lives of rival clan leaders. Each blade is a work of art, polished to a mirror sheen and displayed with a plaque detailing its history and the famous martial artist who wielded it."
Yilu Lok listens carefully.
"Let's go young master and take a look inside the The Hall of a Thousand Blades."
Yilu Lok nods and enters The Hall of a Thousand Blades.
The first place Yilu Lok visits is called 'The Hall of Masterpieces'. The central hall contains the most famous weapons inside the The Hall of a Thousand Blades. Yilu Lok looks around and finds all sorts of weapons in the hall. But there is one blade that catches his attention the most it is displayed in a sealed glass case at the very heart of the Hall of a Thousand Blades
Jiu Jin looks at what Yilu Lok is staring at and says.
"Young master this is "Serpent's Fang" it is a legendary blade rumored to be coated in a permanent, subtle poison."
"Oh.. can you tell me more about it."
"Of course, young master."
Jiu Jin begins to explain about "Serpent's Fang".
"Young master, the blade itself is a masterpiece of dark craftsmanship. Forged from an obsidian-like metal, it has a subtle, serpentine curve, slender and deadly. And young master look at the hilt."
Yilu Lok places his eyes over the hilt.
"This hilt is wrapped in the pale, dried skin of a rare cave serpent; it provides both a firm grip and a chilling feel. And the cave serpent is a rare beast; its skin has the ability to amplify the poison and with its unique properties it can amplify the poison qi of the Tang family."
"This blade is really something although not as good as my soulblade, it's not very far off. Can you also tell me more about this blade?"
Jiu Jin's eyes lit up and he says.
"Of course, young master. Its infamy comes from its unique property."
"Oh please continue."
"The blade is said to have been forged in a special mixture of poisons, making it permanently infused with a subtle neurotoxin. The poison is not powerful enough to kill instantly, but it is potent enough to induce a crippling numbness in anyone unfortunate enough to be wounded by it. The victim's limbs would grow heavy, their muscles would seize, and their senses would dull, leaving them a helpless target for the wielder."
"Really this weapon is a deadly force in a battle if anyone with low poison tolerance is hit by it it is game over for him. Not to mention even if someone has strong qi this blade may be able to stun them for a few seconds. And in a battle a few seconds are enough to decide life and death."
"Young master you are absolutely right this is what makes Serpent's Fang absolute beast in battle."
"But why is this blade in the museum?"
Yilu Lok asks in confusion there is no way the Tang family will leave something like Serpent's Fang in a museum for display.
"You asked a good question, young master. The thing is the Serpent's Fang was wielded by the infamous Ancestor Tang Muho of the Tang clan, a brilliant but ruthless tactician who used its paralyzing poison to defeat a dozen opponents in a battle against unorthodox murim before the advent of Heavenly Demon divine cult, earning the blade its chilling reputation. But because this blade drank the blood of so many people it became bloodthirsty."
"What? No way."
"Yes young master, the reason why it's here despite being so extraordinary is because anyone who touches it they will be consumed by the bloodthirsty nature of this blade."
"What about the poison saint?"
"The poison saint is very strong, after all he is one of the six saints but even he can only wield Serpent's Fang for a fixed time. So unless there is war like ten year great war or battle against unorthodox murim. This blade is kept in The Hall of a Thousand Blades."
"Hmm I get it but what is a saint?"
Jiu Jin understands Yilu Lok's questions and says.
"I forgot the young master didn't have great knowledge of Murim. The young master, the one who stands at the top of central plains, are the three Heavens and after them there are six saints. After six saints there are ten kings."
"So the Poison Saint is one of the six saints."
"Yes young master and he is also a pillar of the Tang clan alongside the current paternich the Poison King."
"Ok I understand."
Yilu Lok says and does not ask anything.
"Young master, let's go to the next place."
Both Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin move toward a forge.
"Young master this is The Whispering Forge."
Yilu Lok looks towards the forge though the actual forge is off-limits, visitors can peer through a window to watch Tang Clan blacksmiths at work, their hammers ringing in a rhythmic, mesmerizing cadence.
Both Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin looks at the blacksmiths working and after some time they walks towards their next destination.
Then they arrives in front of a garden. It's a
beautiful, but dangerous, public garden where hundreds of practice daggers are artfully concealed among the foliage. It's a popular challenge for young martial artists to try and spot them all.
"Young master, this is The Garden of Hidden Daggers."
Yilu Lok nods and looks around the garden for some time and heads towards their final destination.
They see a small teahouse where visitors can sample unique, non-lethal Tang Clan blends, each with a distinct flavor that mimics the effects of famous poisons.
"Young master, this is The Poisoner's Tear Room. Let's go and enjoy some tea."
Both Yilu Lok and Jiu Jin enter the tea house and try the famous tea of The Poisoner's Tear Room. They drink the tea and it leaves a tingling numbness or we can say a tingling sweetness on their tongue.
After drinking the tea both of them begin to leave the The Hall of a Thousand Blades. Two hours have passed since they entered The Hall of a Thousand Blades. They look at the sunless sky since the sun has already set.
"Young master, it's getting late, let's go back to the inn the other escorts will be waiting for us there"
Yilu Lok nods and both of them are about to leave but they hear a commotion.Yilu Lok looks towards the commotion and finds that one of the guards of The Hall of a Thousand Blades is yelling at a beggar and telling him to leave.
Yilu Lok ignores the commotion since it has nothing to do with him and he is too lazy to care about whatever the guard of the Tang family do.
But just as he is about to leave the gate of The Hall of a Thousand Blades Yilu Lok suddenly stops. Jiu Jin also stops and asks in confusion.
"Young master, what happened?"