A deep pit.
Looking down into it, Nahi had to hold her breath. It wasn’t just that the lake had completely drained—what was troubling was the person standing there.
‘Is that…?’
Nahi’s brows furrowed deeply.
Though the feeling of his body and his appearance had changed, it didn’t take Nahi long to recognize him.
It was Gu Yangcheon.
‘How…?’
She couldn’t understand it.
It was already strange enough that he was alive after being in that lake.
‘…Why does he look so…?’
Gu Yangcheon’s appearance had changed drastically from just moments before.
Not only had his clothes altered, but even from a distance, he appeared taller and his build much more solid.
If his previous form had seemed lean and slightly frail, now he looked like a robust young man.
‘And… he’s not alone.’
Something was beside him.
What was that? Nahi squinted, focusing her gaze.
She could now see more clearly the creature standing next to Gu Yangcheon.
‘A… monster?’
It certainly wasn’t human. No matter how she looked at it, it was definitely a monster.
It had blue scales—was it a Blue-Rank beast? But its color seemed somewhat lighter.
It was more sky-blue than deep blue.
As Nahi cautiously observed the monster’s appearance—
Swoosh.
The monster’s eyes turned toward her.
"…!"
Despite the distance, the monster seemed to sense her presence, staring straight at her.
Grrr—
Its expression twisted menacingly, issuing a threat.
The growl sent a shiver down Nahi’s spine against her will.
‘…What is this?’
It was only a Blue-Rank monster’s threat, after all. As an assassin of the highest rank, she shouldn’t have been frightened by something like this.
Yet an unfamiliar sense of dread filled her, making her swallow hard.
What was going on with Gu Yangcheon’s changed appearance, and what was that monster beside him?
As Nahi continued to observe, caught between confusion and dread—
"…Gasp…!"
She quickly covered her mouth, barely holding back her reaction.
A sudden change appeared, and it was anything but ordinary.
Crack—
Gu Yangcheon’s body began to shift.
His figure twisted slightly, and then—
‘He’s shrinking?’
He grew shorter, his frame returning to a more compact size.
Perhaps calling it “smaller” would be misleading—it was simply reverting to how he’d looked before diving into the lake.
Whether his larger form had been the real one or this smaller size was genuine, she couldn’t tell.
Either way, it was an unnatural phenomenon, and upon confirming it, Nahi began to turn away.
Something was off. That man was undoubtedly strange.
She needed to escape. Nahi’s instincts screamed at her to run.
But—
‘…Where?’
Where could she go?
To the Poison King? Or maybe to Tang Deok?
Either way, it would be a problem. For now, Nahi decided her priority was to get away from this place.
Just then—
"Going somewhere?"
"—!!!"
Someone appeared in front of her, speaking in a friendly tone just as she was about to flee.
Perhaps thanks to her years of living as an assassin, Nahi barely managed to stifle a scream.
Blocking her path stood Gu Yangcheon, the same person who had been in the pit moments ago.
"I asked where you were going."
Gu Yangcheon looked at her with a broad smile, as if he were in a particularly good mood.
But to Nahi, that smile was terrifying.
And it wasn’t just because of his appearance.
‘There’s… there’s something…’
The aura around Gu Yangcheon was entirely different from before.
It felt impossible to gauge.
There was something about him that made her want to kneel down involuntarily.
"I can’t quite remember, but I think I warned you."
Step.
Gu Yangcheon took a step closer.
Nahi tried to step back, but she couldn’t.
Her legs were stiff, refusing to move.
"I’m pretty sure I told you that running wouldn’t be a good idea. Did I not?"
"…"
"I’m really asking because I can’t remember."
He had said it.
Though he’d said she could flee if she wanted to, his gaze and aura at that moment had conveyed a different answer.
As if to say, he’d tear her legs off if she dared.
Gu Yangcheon’s gaze was whispering that same message now.
Noticing Nahi’s expression, he asked,
"Then why did you run?"
"…W-who… who are you… what… what are you?"
Under the weight of fear, her words came out stuttered and broken.
Nahi had lived her entire life as an assassin, yet this was the first time she had ever been this shaken.
Hearing her question, Gu Yangcheon’s lips curled into a smile.
"My identity."
As he spoke, he reached out—
"Ghk."
Nahi’s vision blurred.
"Well."
Gu Yangcheon grabbed her by the neck, lifting her into the air.
"Even I don’t know anymore. Guess I’ll take my time figuring it out."
"Grkh…"
Was he planning to kill her?
It seemed likely.
After all, he didn’t look like the type who’d let someone live after discovering his secrets.
‘Am I… am I going to die like this?’
Death approached.
Nahi’s entire body trembled, overcome by fear.
It wasn’t the fear of death itself.
It wasn’t even the terror that gripped her.
What truly terrified her was the thought of dying here, helplessly, without accomplishing anything.
Dying without achieving what she was supposed to… just like this?
"P-please… please… s-spare me…"
She forced the words out, fighting the pressure around her neck and the fear that weighed on her entire being.
Gu Yangcheon tilted his head slightly at her plea.
"Interesting. Didn’t think you’d be the type to beg for your life."
"I… I can’t… die… like… this…"
"Shut up."
"…!"
A frigid aura washed over her.
Was it killing intent? No, it felt slightly different.
"Your whining is annoying. Just keep your mouth shut; I don’t intend to kill you."
Despite his words, his actions were unchanged.
The hand gripping her neck maintained its pressure.
And his gaze upon her remained just as cold.
It was as if he were looking at a mere insect.
His dark eyes held a look that didn’t even acknowledge her as a living being.
"Why would I kill you?"
Though his words seemed lighthearted, a chilling tone filled her ears.
"Besides, I needed a test subject to see if this worked. You’re perfect for it."
Test subject.
The very word made Nahi feel nauseated, as though her insides had been hollowed out.
A shiver ran down her spine.
What was he planning to do to her?
Her question quickly vanished from her mind.
Sssss…
"Gah… hck…"
A strange energy began invading Nahi’s body from Gu Yangcheon’s fingers on her neck.
It was hot.
An unbearable, searing heat.
The energy burrowed into her veins like thorned vines.
Everywhere it passed, it felt like her insides were being torn apart.
"Ah… ahhhh… AHHHH!!"
Though she was accustomed to torture and pain as an assassin, Nahi couldn’t contain her scream.
The pain was too intense.
The energy penetrated deep, reaching her core.
Thump—
The energy coiled itself there, and suddenly—
Thud—
A binding sensation gripped her heart tightly.
An overwhelming surge of pain shot through Nahi’s mind.
Bang—
"Ghk."
With a final cry, Nahi’s eyes rolled back, and she lost consciousness.
Thud…
Her limp body sagged, lifeless.
"Hmm."
Watching her, Gu Yangcheon checked her condition.
"Not dead."
He nodded, observing the dark energy that had seeped into her body.
Fortunately, it seemed to be circulating well.
Having confirmed this—
Whoosh.
Thud—
He carelessly tossed Nahi’s unconscious body to the side.
She rolled across the ground, utterly powerless.
Thwip, thwip.
Afterward, he casually dusted off his hands, feeling a lingering sense of distaste.
Somehow, it felt like he’d touched something he shouldn’t have.
Now, Gu Yangcheon’s focus was not on the woman lying far off whose name he could barely remember.
Rather, he thought of the significant people still in his life.
And the recipe for the Dokcheon Pill that lingered in his mind.
And how he intended to use it.
As for Nahi, whom he had just transformed into a demon?
He had no interest in her.
Not even the slightest.
******************
Somewhere in the forests of Sichuan.
The surrounding trees were lush, vibrant with a clear, deep blue hue that filled the forest with life.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
In the heart of this forest was an open field. But unlike the beautiful forest, this center looked harsh and chaotic.
Not a single intact rock could be found, and the grass-covered ground, once filled with green, was now a mess, completely torn up.
Whoosh—!
In that clearing, a man continued swinging his sword relentlessly.
Shing—!
The tip of his sword sliced through the air, elegant and fluid.
If one were to describe the man’s swordsmanship, it would be like water flowing into the form of a blade.
The sword’s energy rippled, leaving faint traces that resembled a star-strewn galaxy across the air.
Guided by the flow, the man moved his hand without looking at the tip of his sword.
His disheveled hair flared with each movement, and his worn, almost tattered robe was torn in various places.
As he swung his sword for a while longer—
[----..--!]
A voice reached the man’s ears. Perhaps because of that voice—
Stop.
The man suddenly halted, straightening his stance.
Yawn—
Sweat trickled down his face, but he didn’t seem to mind, letting out a casual yawn.
[--!!]
A loud shout cut through the air, seemingly annoyed by his nonchalance.
But the man remained unfazed.
“Could you please quiet down? You never stop your nagging, even for a single day.”
He absentmindedly scratched his ear as he gave a dismissive reply.
At first glance, he didn’t seem entirely sane.
This man was known as the Wudang Mad Sage, one of the three eccentric masters renowned across Zhongyuan.
[----!]
“Go down where, exactly? I already went down once, didn’t I? Can’t you be a bit more patient? You’re old enough to have some self-restraint, aren’t you?”
[---]
“Hah, you’re so predictable.”
Tsk, tsk.
The Wudang Mad Sage chuckled.
“I’ll say it again—I have no intention of returning to that cursed place. You know that well, don’t you?”
[---]
“I’ll live as a Taoist of Wudang. If you don’t like it, just go away.”
[-----]
“That’s right, there’s no one else like me. That’s why you’re being so insistent. So why don’t you just stay quiet, or I’ll leave you behind.”
Muttering to himself, the Wudang Mad Sage approached a rock and casually sat on it.
There, as if prepared in advance, lay a roughly made rice ball.
He grabbed it and took a bite without hesitation.
Bits of rice fell onto his robe, and the dust on his hands mixed with the food, but the Wudang Mad Sage didn’t seem to care.
After taking a few more bites, he looked around.
“Ah, I forgot to bring water.”
Well, well.
A small oversight. He should have brought water.
This was certainly inconvenient.
With a slight frown, as if in contemplation, the Wudang Mad Sage suddenly turned his gaze toward the densely wooded forest.
“Well, since I’m in this situation, could someone bring me some water?”
Speaking to the seemingly empty forest, the Wudang Mad Sage let his words hang in the air.
Surprisingly, a response came from the forest.
Rustle.
From behind a tree trunk, someone appeared, walking calmly. Seeing this, the Wudang Mad Sage frowned and spat on the ground.
The figure approaching him smiled gently, a smile the Wudang Mad Sage found utterly loathsome.
“Is that how you treat your grandfather, making him run errands?”
“It’s not my place to speak, but a guest showing up empty-handed doesn’t have much to say, does he?”
Ha ha.
At the Wudang Mad Sage’s remark, the newcomer chuckled.
The figure was an elderly man with snow-white hair.
He wore a blue martial robe, and the character for "Namgung" was emblazoned on his back, marking his affiliation.
Namgung.
It was clearly inscribed on the man’s back.
“You’re misunderstanding something, aren’t you?”
“Misunderstanding? Is that something you eat?”
“I’m no guest. I’m merely—”
The elderly man’s identity was clear.
He was one of the three supreme masters under heaven and a revered master of the Namgung family.
Known as the Heavenly Lord—
And also—
“Just a grandfather who came to retrieve his wayward grandson.”
This was none other than Namgung Hyung’s grandfather, the Wudang Mad Sage’s elder.