**”The strongest poison is not hidden in a cup…
It is hidden in the human heart.”**
– Proverb of the Black Marsh
The old guard did not stop running.
Branches tore at his armor.
Thorns ripped through his skin.
Behind him echoed the clash of steel…
Then silence.
He already knew what that silence meant.
The Chieftain had fallen.
The Chieftain’s wife had fallen.
The Longfang Tribe…
No longer existed.
Only one child remained.
The infant Zhao Long slept quietly inside the fur wrapped around the old warrior’s chest.
The old guard looked down and forced a smile.
“Young Master…”
“You must live.”
“For all of us.”
Suddenly-
Hiss.
The horse collapsed.
Its body turned black within seconds.
Poison.
The old guard’s face changed.
“We’ve entered the Black Marsh…”
No army dared march here.
The forests breathed poison.
The rivers carried venom.
Even the mist could kill.
He had no choice but to continue on foot.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Hours passed.
Then…
He heard footsteps.
Not the heavy footsteps of soldiers.
Bare feet.
Dozens of them.
Figures emerged silently from the green mist.
Their skin bore black tattoos.
Their weapons were carved from bone.
Snakes rested calmly upon their shoulders.
The old guard immediately drew his sword.
“I seek no enemies.”
No one answered.
An elderly woman walked forward.
Her white hair reached her waist.
Around her neck coiled a bright green serpent.
She looked first at the guard…
Then at the child.
Without speaking…
The serpent slithered toward Zhao Long.
The old guard panicked.
“No!”
Before he could move…
The snake gently touched the baby’s forehead.
Instead of biting…
It lowered its head.
The tribe gasped.
The old woman’s calm expression finally changed.
“The Poison Spirit…”
“It bowed.”
One warrior whispered,
“Impossible…”
The old woman slowly knelt before the infant.
“So…”
“The mountain has sent us a child.”
The exhausted guard finally collapsed.
He smiled weakly.
“My duty…”
“…is complete.”
The old woman nodded.
“We shall raise him.”
“As one of our own.”
The old guard looked once more at Zhao Long.
Then closed his eyes forever.