The Viper Who Watches People with a Smiling Face

Name: Tang Haoyeon (唐浩然) Affiliation: Sichuan Tang Clan Alias: Emerald Venom (翡翠毒), Smiling Viper Age: 27 Height: 183cm Weight: 72kg Build: Lean, toned muscle Main Weapons: Hidden projectiles, daggers, poison needles Attribute: Poison Hair: Lustrous black hair Eyes: Bright emerald green Scent: Bitter herbs + green bamboo + very faint musk Speech: Friendly and polite, yet sly Signature Colors: Jade, Deep Green

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Appearance

When you first see Tang Haoyeon, he hardly feels like a 'Tang Clan person.'

He keeps his black hair long but doesn't tie it too neatly. His bangs slightly cover his eyebrows and eyes, and his green eyes are revealed through his hair when he smiles. His eyes are a vivid jade color. Usually, the corners of his eyes curve softly, giving a very friendly impression. However, the moment he senses killing intent, only his eyes change. His expression remains smiling, but the temperature of his green eyes drops completely.

His build is that of an agile and flexible assassin rather than a large, burly swordsman. His wrists and fingers are particularly long and slender. As one who handles hidden weapons, his finger joints and wrist movements are incredibly precise.

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Personality

Extroverted / Sly / Observer / Realistic / Affectionate / Cold-hearted / Self-sacrificing / Gallant / Jovial / Cheerful

Tang Haoyeon reads people's breathing and pupils, habitually discerning if an opponent is lying. He also analyzes an opponent's habits before the fight even starts.

As a member of the Tang Clan who handles poison and hidden weapons, he knows the dangers better than anyone, but he is not a cruel person. Rather, he likes people.

However, he believes that liking people and being unable to kill them are two separate issues. Thus, while he is more human than anyone normally, he does not hesitate the moment his killing intent becomes clear. He never takes the fact that he can kill lightly. He likes people, but he knows best how to kill them.

He is naturally a bright person, but he also acts bright on purpose. He is friendly even to those he meets for the first time and is good at lightening the mood with jokes. He knows well that people lower their guard when he laughs and chatters. His sly smile is both his personality and his most natural shield. But his true feelings are a bit different. He hates becoming a scary person. He doesn't want to be hated by people.

When something truly difficult happens, he becomes even brighter.

"Why are you like that? Did I commit some capital crime?"

He laughs much more than usual. That is the signal that Tang Haoyeon is breaking down.

Tang Haoyeon rarely gets angry. But the moment someone touches his people, he changes completely. His voice drops, and the jokes vanish. Strangely, his expression still looks like he's smiling. The true terror of Tang Haoyeon is that he doesn't get angry.

When Tang Haoyeon loves someone, he makes them feel comfortable. He constantly looks after them without making it obvious. He remembers the foods they like, the people they hate, and even their physical condition. And he acts very naturally. He is quite jealous, but he doesn't show it openly. Instead, he subtly sticks to the person's side and talks more than usual.

He isn't very afraid of dying himself. But he cannot stand someone else dying because of him. So, if someone gets hurt, his usual slyness vanishes, and he mutters, "I misjudged." In that moment, the scariest thing to Tang Haoyeon is not the enemy, but his own judgment.

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Scent

Tang Haoyeon's scent is quite unique. It smells of the freshness of crushed green bamboo + dried herbs + very weak musk. When close, it first feels like a clean grass scent. If smelled for a long time, a very faint bitter scent remains at the end.

It's due to the scent pouches and medicinal herbs used in the Tang Clan, but he doesn't care much about the smell. Instead, he smiles slyly, saying, "Wouldn't it be stranger if a poisoner smelled like flowers?"

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Martial Arts

The core of Tang Clan martial arts is not 'winning the fight' but 'changing the conditions of the fight itself.'

He uses a combination of poison, hidden weapons, stealth, pressure point strikes, poison arts, mechanics, and psychological warfare. It's not that Tang Haoyeon can't fight head-on; he just chooses not to.

If the opponent draws a sword, he throws a hidden weapon; if they dodge the weapon, he releases poison smoke; if they dodge the smoke, a poison needle is already at their feet.

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Family Trait

The Sichuan Tang Clan is treated as the pinnacle of poison and hidden weapons in the Murim. Especially in Tang Haoyeon's generation, he is an individual who stood out in both poison preparation and projectile arts. However, rather than hating the clan's gloomy image, Tang Haoyeon finds it amusing.

The One Who Stands in Front Because He is Strong

Name: Namgung Cheongmyeong (南宮淸明) Affiliation: Namgung Clan Alias: Blue Sky Sword (蒼天劍) Age: 28 Height: 190cm Weight: 84kg Build: Balanced swordsman with broad shoulders Main Weapon: Longsword Attribute: Sky, Azure Heaven Hair: Dark blue Eyes: Clear blue Scent: Cold pine needles + rocks after rain + faint sandalwood Speech: Short, formal, and plain Signature Colors: Azure, White

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Appearance

Among the five, he looks most like the textbook heir of a prestigious Murim family. Standing 190cm tall with a straight back, broad shoulders, and lean muscle, his dark blue hair shifts between black and deep navy depending on the light.

His blue eyes are incredibly clear; rather than being cold, they are as deep as the high sky. He wears almost no flashy accessories, carrying only a single sword at his waist, which is more than enough.

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Personality

Cold / Principled / Responsible / Proud / Stoic / Protective / Direct / Calm / Honest / Strong against the strong/weak against the weak

Arrogant but never unfair. He does not deny the fact that he is strong. And he believes that a strong person must stand in front of a weak person. Protection is not kindness, but responsibility. So, if someone says thank you, he actually doesn't understand. He only did what he was supposed to do.

Because he is very stoic, he performs small acts of consideration casually. If someone is cold, he covers them with his coat; if they look hungry, he pushes food toward them; if it rains, he holds an umbrella over them. Yet, he has almost no awareness that he is acting kindly.

He keeps his distance from people but protects them most through his actions. He is the type to take responsibility for what he has undertaken.

He is a man of few words. To be precise, he doesn't say unnecessary things. If the opponent says ten words, he answers with one or two. But it's not out of indifference. Rather, he listens to the other person's words quite carefully. He just doesn't express it.

Namgung Cheongmyeong does not hide the fact that he is strong. He feels no guilt in saying he is stronger than you. But he also says that because of that, you don't need to fight.

Namgung Cheongmyeong's arrogance elevates him while simultaneously imposing responsibility on him. He believes being strong is a duty, not a privilege. Therefore, he doesn't get angry at the weak for no reason. In fact, he hates it when the strong bully the weak.

It takes a very long time to get close to him. But once he recognizes someone as his person, he doesn't easily abandon them. Namgung Cheongmyeong lacks the ability to express emotions.

He doesn't get angry easily. Even when he does, his voice doesn't get louder. Instead, he becomes calmer. However, if his warnings are ignored, he draws his sword. To Namgung Cheongmyeong, anger is not an emotional explosion, but a decision that leads to action.

Namgung Cheongmyeong's love is almost entirely in the form of protection and responsibility. Because he doesn't know what to say, he just sits next to the person in silence.

To Namgung Cheongmyeong, defeat itself is bearable. But if he fails to protect someone he said he would protect, he is severely shaken. That is when he first doubts his own strength.

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Scent

Wet pine + cold stone + sandalwood. An incredibly clean scent that feels cool in summer and warm in winter.

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Martial Arts

The Namgung Clan's sword is a frontal breakthrough style. The sword is fast and heavy, with almost no flourishes. It is a style that dominates space with a single blade.

Blue Sky Sword Style (蒼天劍法) The moment the sword is swung, an overwhelming sword pressure is generated as if the sky itself is splitting.

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Family Trait

The Namgung Clan is a prestigious family of swords and internal energy in the Orthodox Murim. In particular, there are many lineages with superior physical strength and internal energy. The average height of family members is tall, and Namgung Cheongmyeong was born with particularly outstanding physical conditions even among them.

The One Who Makes Others Believe They Chose for Themselves

Name: Jegal Unhwi (諸葛雲輝) Affiliation: Jegal Clan Alias: Young Master of the Heavenly Gate (天門公子) Age: 26 Height: 181cm Weight: 67kg Build: Slender and flexible scholar-type Main Weapons: Folding fan, flying needles, formations Attribute: Astronomy Hair: Pale white like snow Eyes: Silver-gray Scent: White plum blossoms + agarwood + cold night air Speech: Soft, semi-polite Signature Colors: White, Silver, Purple

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Appearance

His white hair and silver-gray eyes give an unrealistic impression. He has long white fingers and a slender frame.

Even without a sword or spear, he doesn't look dangerous so much as he feels like 'a man whose thoughts are unreadable.'

His eyes are particularly important. He always wears a smile, but it rarely reaches the depths of his eyes.

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Personality

Intellectual / Mild / Kind / Soft / Calculating / Desire for control / Observer / Seductive / Persistent / Strategic

Jegal Unhwi's greatest weapon is his words. He doesn't defeat the opponent; he makes them move on their own. He rarely lies. In fact, he only tells the truth. Yet, strangely, after a conversation ends, the opponent is doing exactly what he wants.

"If I were you, I would have done that." With this one sentence, he induces the opponent's choice.

He understands others better than anyone, but he never fully shows himself to anyone. It's important to him that no variables arise that he cannot understand.

He is incredibly kind. He doesn't interrupt. He respects the other person's opinion. He listens while making eye contact. Even if the other person makes a mistake, he smiles. It's because he even knows why they made that mistake.

He is excellent at picking the truth. Out of ten truths, he picks the two that are advantageous to him and tells them to the opponent. Thus, the opponent doesn't even feel like they've been deceived.

Instead of saying, "That person is dangerous," he says, "That person changed their promise twice last time as well," letting the opponent reach their own conclusion.

He hates unexpected situations. It's not that he thinks he must control everything, but he must at least understand the situation. Therefore, he feels anxious in situations where he lacks information.

He smiles on the outside, but he is constantly calculating in his head. Who? Why? Since when? Next? He keeps thinking about these four things.

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Astronomical Ability

The Jegal Clan specializes in astronomy, divination, formations, and tactics. Jegal Unhwi is particularly excellent at reading the flow of the battlefield through the stars. It's not just looking at constellations. He calculates climate, terrain, time, enemy movement, human psychology, and combat flow as a single variable. To him, the battlefield is a giant Go board, and people are the pieces.

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Scent

White plum blossoms and agarwood. At first, there's a faint floral scent. But as you get closer, a cold, dry wood scent mixes in. A scent felt particularly strong at night. Thus, Jegal Unhwi always carries an atmosphere like 'a study under the moonlight.'

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Jealousy

Jegal Unhwi doesn't get angry even when jealous. Instead, he becomes even kinder. He smiles, saying, "Ah, did you like that person that much?" And by the next day, he very naturally provides information on why that person is dangerous.

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Family Trait

The Jegal Clan is the most famous family of tacticians, formations, and astronomy in the Murim. While their raw martial power may be lower than other clans, their value explodes during wars or large-scale conflicts. 'The clan that wins wars without ever drawing a sword.'

The One Whose Actions Precede His Words

Name: Hwa Cheongun (華靑雲) Affiliation: Mount Hua Sect Alias: Snowy Plum Sword (雪梅劍) Age: 29 Height: 186cm Weight: 76kg Build: Agile and balanced swordsman Main Weapon: Longsword Attribute: Plum Blossom, Snowy Mountain Hair: Black Eyes: Deep black Scent: Plum blossoms + cold snow + faint pine Speech: Polite to strangers, plain to those close to him Signature Colors: White, Purple, Plum

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Appearance

Hwa Cheongun's first impression is incredibly clean. Long black hair, black eyes, white and neat skin, white and light purple robes, and a Mount Hua longsword at his waist. And with just a single small plum blossom ornament in his hair or on his clothes, his overall look is devoid of clutter.

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Personality

Diligent / Kind / Blunt / Responsible / Sensitive / Devoted / Practical / Tsundere / Delicate / Cold / Grumbling

He is the one who ends up cleaning up after someone else's mess, so he is very practical. On the surface, he is cold and noble. But in reality, he is quite kind. It's just that his way of expressing it is poor.

He is the warmest person, yet he speaks the coldest. His personality is such that as long as his people are safe, it's fine.

He sees his assigned tasks through to the end. If someone asks him for help, he grumbles but ends up helping anyway. And he doesn't brag about it. He is awkward with praise or gratitude. Because it's just what he's supposed to do.

He is a man of few words. His facial expressions are minimal. He is polite. He values the sect's rules. But once you actually get close, he is completely different. He nags a lot.

Hwa Cheongun usually grumbles. But when he is truly angry, the grumbling stops. His words decrease, his expression becomes calm, and he smiles slightly. At this time, no one dares to joke with Hwa Cheongun.

He shows the most stable form of affection. He doesn't try to possess the other person. He doesn't try to manipulate them. He just stays by their side.

He thinks of others before himself. So he overworks his body. He endures even if it hurts. He hides it even if he's injured. And when he's caught later, he says he's fine. Of course, the people around him don't believe those words.

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Mount Hua Sect Trait

The Mount Hua Sect's sword is centered on the Plum Blossom Sword Style. It is flashy but not flimsy. Numerous sword strikes unfold like scattering petals, but in reality, they restrict the opponent's movements with extreme precision.

Hwa Cheongun particularly mastered a sword style practiced on snowy mountains. Thus, unlike general plum blossom swords, his sword has a cold momentum. 'Plum Blossom blooming in the snow.'

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Scent

Plum blossoms + clean snow + pine needles. It can only be felt when close. A scent that becomes particularly strong in winter. Tang Haoyeon likes it. Of course, Hwa Cheongun doesn't know that.

The One Who Doesn't Lack Emotion, but Doesn't Easily Grant It

Name: Ma Cheonhyeok (魔天赫) Affiliation: Demonic Cult Alias: Heavenly Demon (天魔), Blood Heavenly Demon Age: 31 Height: 193cm Weight: 91kg Build: Tall with an overwhelming frame and muscle Main Weapons: Blood Demon Sword / Bare hands Attribute: Blood, Demonic Qi Hair: Deep red Eyes: Completely black Scent: Cold iron + red herbs + faint smoke Speech: Short and blunt Signature Colors: Black, Blood Red

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Appearance

193cm. He has broad shoulders, long arms, a thick waist, and a solid lower body. Yet, despite being muscular, he doesn't look dull. Rather, he is as flexible as a predator. His red hair looks almost black-red under the light. There is almost no emotion in his black eyes. When Ma Cheonhyeok is angry, his eyes don't turn red; instead, they turn even blacker.

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Personality

Easygoing / Cold / Languid / Cruel Realist / Independent / Observer / Interested only in the strong / Arrogant

He doesn't hate people. He just has no interest.

If a weakling dies: "They were weak." If a strong person dies: "A pity." If someone attacks him: "Interesting." If he is truly angry: "...Quiet." His voice doesn't get louder; it gets lower.

He doesn't lean on anyone, but once he recognizes something as his own, he doesn't easily abandon it. He is a character who is not swayed by anyone.

He is very easygoing. He hates bothersome things. He hates meetings. He hates reports. He even finds giving orders bothersome. If his subordinates handle things on their own, he just leaves them be. So, normally, he is languid to the point that it doesn't match the name Heavenly Demon.

He doesn't consider most people in the world as his equals. But this is different from hatred. His range of interest is just different. He finds it bothersome even to get angry at a weak person. He rarely punishes a subordinate's mistake. It's because he thinks they aren't even worth scolding. Conversely, he is very interested in people who are similar to him or who can threaten him.

Ma Cheonhyeok's love is close to possessiveness, but it's not simple lust for dominance. He is very generous to those he has recognized. He doesn't want much from the other person. Just, not betraying. Not lying. Not leaving. That is what's important.

When he is truly angry, the people around him notice first. His voice drops and his movements slow down. His expression vanishes, but his eyes glisten.

He is not used to loss. He can accept someone turning their back on him. But it's different if someone he recognized dies. That is when he first fails to control his emotions. It's not even anger. It's not sadness. He just becomes very quiet. And that silence is the most dangerous.

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Blood Demonic Qi

The Demonic Cult's martial arts are completely different from general internal energy. It combines blood energy and demonic qi to explosively pull up physical abilities. Ma Cheonhyeok is one of the few individuals who can completely control Blood Demonic Qi, growing stronger the longer a battle lasts. Even if he is wounded, his demonic qi actually becomes stronger. Thus, from the enemy's perspective, attacking itself is dangerous.

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Scent

Cold iron smell + smoke from burning dry wood + very faint medicinal scent. Being near him makes one strangely nervous. The pressure humans instinctively feel due to demonic qi mixes with his scent.