In the face of the Demon Queen's brutal strikes, Seely fell unconscious. But her consciousness was pulled into the deepest part of her mind, where she met a mysterious spirit bathed in green light.
"My daughter," the spirit spoke gravely. "Within every plant lies both healing and deadly poison. Follow the path of poison, and you shall defeat any demon."
At first, Seely was afraid. She wished to be a healer, not a destroyer. But looking at Li Hua dying in pain and the decaying forest, she had no choice. She accepted the dark power. Her blood turned blue as she began her transformation into the "Goddess of Poison." She fell into a deep sleep for seven days to complete this change.
While Seely was unconscious, the Queen turned her attention to Li Hua, wanting to break him. She summoned a giant mortar and pestle.
"I will give you a punishment you'll never forget! Grind these mung beans for a thousand demons' dinner. Stop, and I'll strike you with lightning!"
Hours later, the Queen returned, expecting to see a broken man. Instead, she found Li Hua singing while pounding away.
"One... two... biceps coming! Three... four... triceps building!"
"What are you doing?" the Queen screamed.
Li Hua grinned. "Thank you, Queen! I was looking for a gym to get in shape. This is a great workout!"
Fuming, the Queen vanished the pestle and threw a fistful of mung bean flour into his face.
Suddenly, Li Hua's expression turned deadly serious. He looked straight into the Queen's eyes and declared:
"Now listen to me! If anything happens to her, I will level this entire palace to the ground. That is my absolute promise. So, treat her wounds immediately. Give her healing... and if you do, I will become your General!"
The Queen hesitated, sensing the raw power in his threat. She ordered her servants to move Seely to a comfortable chamber and treat her. Li Hua had sacrificed his freedom, agreeing to become the Dark General just to ensure Seely's safety.
Li Hua had agreed to the Queen's terms with a hidden plan: gain power as the General, heal Seely, and destroy the palace from within. The Demon Queen allowed him to roam the palace freely until Seely woke up.
However, the Queen was craftier than he imagined. She had secretly administered the "Poison of Black Death" to Seely, ensuring she would never wake up.
A week passed. Since Seely remained unconscious, Li Hua had to fulfill his promise. The Queen demanded he accept the Generalship, and with Seely's life at stake, he could not refuse.
Li Hua entered the Royal Court clad in terrifying dark iron armor. The Demon Queen sat triumphantly on her throne.
"Now, drink this 'Demon Blood'," she said, handing him a cup filled with a black liquid. "Once you drink this, your humanity will vanish, and you will become a true Demon General!"
As Li Hua's trembling hand reached for the cup, the great doors of the hall burst open. A deadly green mist flooded the room, disintegrating any demon soldier it touched. Out of the mist stepped Seely. Her eyes glowed deep blue, and a shadow of lethal poison surrounded her. She had defeated the Queen's poison and risen as the Goddess of Poison.
Seely looked at Li Hua and smiled.
"How are you doing, My Demon General? It seems you've been quite busy while I was away," she said in a mocking yet majestic tone.
The Queen stood up in shock. "How... how are you awake?"
Seely revealed the mark on her hand, which was now glowing with a mix of black and golden light.