Panic started to settle in moments before she could control herself. Whipping her head backward, her teary eyes settled on the window and on the burning fire too.

The pine incense was best for it's calming effect while the fire blazed with the poisonous herb . The moment it was removed, the body sought out ways of keeping calm by releasing toxins which fought against the poison, but while the body was reconditioning itself, it shouldn't be inhaled any longer and physical and emotional exertion should be avoided altogether.

Jae joon was in a worse situation as he started to hyperventilate and weaken.

"You foolish young man, the incense job ceased the moment it was taken away and now if inhaled is totally dangerous."

Emotions she hadn't noticed seemed to erupt within her, Jae joon was really loyal and his loyalty has been proven. She snatched the pouch tied firmly to his belt hooker and untied it, with one swift but shaky move she placed some contents from her inner jacket into it and replaced it . She was in pain as the poison was starting to manifest in her body due to her exertion ,but seeing a loyal servant in pain was heartbreaking.

The rustic chairs served as clutch which she used to drag herself to the rickety windows, it was unfastened to let in the cold air. With perseverance, she dragged herself to the chimney and doused out the burning fire.

"What are you doing?" she heard him whimper behind her.

"Don't talk and definitely never you move again, you may not die but might lose all your martial arts," as she talked, her face got paler and blood spurted out from her mouth.

She removed her needles and performed an acupuncture on herself, sat crossed legs and went into meditation.

Five minutes later, she stood up, dropped the greenish liquid from her jacket inside her cup of tea and drank. The panic seemed to simmer but her face was paler than a white sheet. Moving to Jae joon who laid down on the floor with another cup of same content she drank, she fed him compassionately like a mother feeding her child.

Jae joon felt better the moment the liquid filled his stomach and his energy seemed to return.

With the same procedure, she fed the rest of the men and ordered them to meditate for one hour while she sat on her previous seat watching them.

Chills filled their body as the cold air enveloped the room, outside the hut was covered with frost which masked human trails and froze up circulation.

"Master," the one addressed as number four called out. "The cold is bone wrecking and our teeth are clattering, can you please relit the fire of the chimney?" he begged carefully so as not to offend her .

"If you want to die from poison, then you're free to do so."

She sipped her tea slowly as any exertion will trigger the poison in her body. The greenish liquid wasn't an antidote but a suppressor but they are not even aware of that fact yet.Their eyes widened at the utterance but dared not react . She closed back the window and left the hut to find dry woods .

At the back of the hut were dead woods which were somewhat wet but could make fire if dry debris are used. As many as her hands could carry, she took them all and returned to the hut filled with men of utmost concentration and dedication. Well, who wouldn't devoted if his life is in danger.

Before Myung OK left, she told them to fill themselves with only positive energy and thoughts as bad energy would weaken their life essence and send them reeling back in pain. Those that fermented a tiny bit of revenge that only lasted a millisecond found themselves in slight pain.

Crackling sound soon filled the ears as the embers ignited the once dark hut . At the center of the room, away from the chimney was the location of the burning fire.

Time is fleeting they say as one hour passed away quickly and the meditation was over. The men threaded carefully this time around as they seemed to have underestimated the power of an ambitious woman. In time, they came to understand what they've dealt with but the repercussion was too heavy to be forgotten.

Reluctantly, and seemingly unable to disperse the emotions he felt, the gruff voice who was not only the oldest but an assumed leader of the men called out.

"Master?"

Myung OK who sat silent on the rustic chair looked him straight in the eye, her eyes seemed to linger on his pupils as though she would see through the depth of his heart. She raised her white hands up to command their attention and let them sit before her.

"I do not wish to be impatient, but if you have anything to say , would you mind doing that after am done?"

Her way of speaking was domineering and they knew they would sooner than later get accustomed to her mode of speech.

Throat clearing was heard from her, she seemed to recline fearlessly on her seat with such smug expression that reminded one of a defeat.

"I am very glad that this event occurred for I wouldn't have the opportunity of addressing you all without one or two persons being away on a mission. I had promised never to encroach on your jurisdiction but that would change now as you will carry out only my missions in the future,"

There was this deafening silence that filled the room and warned one of an impeding danger. The ajusshi who has always been impatient raised a sword to her , his low modulated voice carried some warning and his emotions which threatened to overpower him triggered another episode of pain. It doesn't seem like he has learnt his lessons and it would be reminded for him by the pain.

Myung OK smiled pitifully at him and gazed at the host of men who were probably watching to see a fight.

"The day I die, you all will die," she smiled at their confused expression.

"What I gave you was an emergency antidote not the real antidote, during extremely cold weather you guys will experience pains unless you take another 7 doses of the liquid for seven months, and may I remind you no doctor would be able to produce it aside me.So you see, I must never die."

Jae joon exhaled deeply to release his tensed up muscles, he had been worried his comrades would plan a rebellion, but it seemed there would be no problem till after 7 months. Though he was also a victim, he couldn't help but feel deep admiration for her. Surreptitiously, he gained her attention and mouthed "good job" while Myung OK looked on with challenging eyes. At least, they all will focus on protecting her and not waging war against her .

The one addressed as number five and who also had a tan skin among them spoke up for the first time since his near death experience. He had always wondered why they agreed to serve the lady, there was nothing special about her if not for her ravishing beauty. Secretly, he had disapproved of her leadership, but at the moment he was filled with awe, fear and deep reverence for her. At least they came to shed her blood but they shedded their own blood instead .

"Master, what are your terms and conditions?"

She retrieved a thick cover black book from under the table and placed it before them, it seemed she had hidden it earlier before their arrival.

"I once read from the book of wisdom that doc.u.ments signed in blood outlasts the organization itself, though it has become obsolete but I wish to revoke that tradition!"

She lazily flipped through the blank pages and stopped at the middle. "I don't just want the terms and conditions sealed with your blood, I want it written in your blood."

In unison, they gasped, Jae joon wasn't exempted. Myung OK was trying to shake up the very foundation of the organization and mould it into her personal organization. Writing their loyalty in blood is a blood bond which they would never break or the integrity of the group will be gone forever. She really came prepared, they thought.

What exactly have they awoken?

Swiftly, the gruff ajusshi slashed his palm, dipped in the feather brush and wrote on the book, others followed suit and soon the doc.u.ment was drafted. She exposed the seal they gave her, dipped it inside their blood and sealed the doc.u.ment with her own blood too.

"You are bounded to me for life," was her last sentence as she strode off inside the cold leaving the petrified fiery arrows inside the hut. She patted the black book under her arms and smiled satisfactorily.

The war has ended in her favor but they aren't aware they are not only poisoned in their body but in their mind, so long they believe they are poisoned, they will continue to suffer under it. The real antidote is not the black pearl under her tongue but the believe of being free from the toxin.

She turned at the sound of a creak, Jae joon stepped out from the hut and bowed before her.

"Let me escort you to the palace," he opted respectfully.

"No, I have a job for you"

She looked wistfully at the book before handing it over to him. "Go to mount Jangtang, you will meet the head abbot of the monastery, give him this book and say 'The wind is blowing but the trees are still' , he will understand and do the needful."

His eyes was filled with mist as he couldn't let her return alone. She may be capable of protecting herself but she's a woman and it's almost nightfall, but he was relieved from his worry as a savior in the saddle came to the rescue.

"Master, let me have the honor of escorting you," Myung OK turned around to see number five kneel before her. "Master's life has been merged with ours and has become our life force. You are the woman that mustn't die, so allow me to ensure your safety."

The rest of them filed out and pledged the same, and like pack of wolves made their way down the mountain amidst the blazing inferno; the hut and whatever it had was erased in the fire forever.