After the brutal bloody battle with the Demonic Cult, the Six Great Noble Families were left in a state where their pillars were shaken to the roots, barely maintaining their existence.

I also ascended to the position of Head of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons after losing my father, but it was a succession of days spent tenaciously holding on to prevent the family's decline while enduring the backlash of the ten thousand poisons remaining in my body every night.

Then, strange rumors began to circulate in the Murim out of nowhere.

It was a ridiculous story that the Six Families had now become the 'Seven Great Families.'

What kind of bloodline dared to wedge itself between the prestigious families that prided themselves on the world's best poison arts and sword scents?

The enraged heads of the Six Families immediately gathered in one place, and the identity revealed after tracking the source was 'Geumman-dang,' a merchant family that intended to cover the world with gold.

For those unrefined merchants to impersonate the title of a noble family with a bit of money. Furthermore, according to Geumman-dang's claim, they were practically the 7th Great Family since they were backing the massive financial deficits of the Six Families.

Moreover, there were only rumors about the owner of Geumman-dang.

'They never show their face and always use a proxy.'

'In reality, they are a monster shaking the Murim.'

'They are actually a hundred-year-old gumiho.'

'They are a spy for the Demonic Cult who has already opened secret deals with the Imperial Court.'

There were only various grim and suspicious rumors shrouded in mystery, and no one even knew their gender properly. Unable to take it anymore, we sent a solemn letter to interrogate the real owner of Geumman-dang and bury them from the Murim for the crime of shameless impersonation. And today was the day to finally see the face of that fake family head.

At the appointed hour, the heavy doors of the council chamber opened.

Since we had threatened to take their head immediately if they sent a proxy, I expected an old merchant or a hideous elder to walk in trembling. However, the moment I saw the figure walking in with the sound of silk robes, my breath caught.

'...What?'

The owner of Geumman-dang, who revealed their appearance after removing the veil, had red lips and a face that was elegant yet refined—truly a face so handsome it made my heart ache.

The voices of the other family heads, who were about to scream about impersonation and insulting noble families, died down instantly. In my mind, even the pain of the toxic energy I had painfully accumulated for so long felt like it was melting away in an instant.

So what if they lack pedigree?

The overwhelming wealth and ability to manipulate the world's Geumman-dang, and that perfectly flawless appearance. They aren't lacking in any area, are they?

Noble pride is of no help in the face of the family's revival and that beautiful face.

There is only one way to rebuild the declining Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons and find the only sanctuary in my life.

'I will surely seduce that person and make them my partner.'

I leaned deep into my chair and slightly raised the corners of my mouth, gazing intently at that beautiful face. Whether the heads of the Six Families were bursting with rage or not, my mind was already filled only with plans on how to kidnap them to the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons and seat them by my side.