A pitch-black background came into view.
Even trying to see something, nothing was visible. Only the charred darkness filled the space.
What is this?
What is this bizarre background that appeared so suddenly?
Just as I was questioning this abrupt situation—
‘Ah….’
Belatedly, I realized the phenomenon.
Or rather, it seemed I had my eyes closed.
‘…Since when were they closed?’
I was clearly touching the magic stone just a moment ago.
When did it come to this?
A strange feeling washed over me.
“…Umm?”
I immediately tried to lift my eyelids, but strangely, they wouldn't budge.
Since they weren't completely unmovable, I forced them open with all my might.
“Ugh.”
Only then did a familiar ceiling come into view.
It was the ceiling of the warehouse I had entered earlier.
Which meant… I was lying down.
‘What happened?’
I couldn't remember how this situation came to be.
The last scene I remembered was using the Demonic Heaven Absorption Art on the magic stone.
“At that time, definitely….”
As if the Demonic Heaven Absorption Art had properly activated, energy poured out from the magic stone.
After that, I couldn't remember anything.
“...”
What really happened?
First, I tried to sit up to check my condition.
At that moment.
Uuuung-!
“…!”
As I pushed against the floor to get up, a vibration ran through my body.
The starting point was my heart. The sudden sensation engulfed my entire body in an instant.
“…Keuh….”
I swallowed a groan at the overwhelming pain. What the hell is this now?
Qi was circulating throughout my body along the meridians.
Sensing something was off, I tried to control it, but...
‘Crazy….’
It wouldn't even be controlled. The qi roamed in all directions as if running amok.
Rough and intense.
It was a relief my body was in a strengthened state; if it were in the past, let alone enduring it, my body would have immediately exploded.
All I could do right now was endure.
“Keuh… ugh….”
As I groaned, enduring the pain for a long time, the agony gradually began to subside.
The qi hadn't completely calmed down, but the speed at which it rampaged decreased, and the vibration felt in my heart lessened.
Thanks to that, I could move my body a little.
“…Fuck.”
Spitting out a curse, I carefully examined my body this way and that.
There didn't seem to be any visible changes…
Crackle-!
“Hmm?”
Stopping mid-movement, I felt a sensation under the sole of my foot.
I lowered my gaze to check.
“What is this now?”
The floor was littered with a bunch of things. Something so transparent that it could easily be overlooked if not inspected closely.
I reached out and picked one up.
The first thing I felt was a slippery sensation.
It was a semi-transparent object of unknown identity, yet it felt somewhat familiar.
“This….”
I wondered where I had seen it, and then—
‘Aren't these scales?’
The feel of scales carried by snakes or similar demonic beasts. It closely resembled that.
However, not only had I never seen such transparent scales, but it was also strange that they were scattered all over this floor.
On top of that.
‘Where did the magic stone go?’
Setting these unknown scales aside, the white magic stone that had been absorbing energy was nowhere to be seen.
It wasn't just the white magic stone.
‘Where did the red magic stone go?’
Not only the white one, but the red magic stones scattered all around were also invisible.
The white magic stone could have disappeared since I tried to consume it, but where did the red magic stones go?
Did someone perhaps come in while I was unconscious?
‘There are no signs of that.’
It was an incomprehensible situation.
Grasping at these facts one by one, I turned my head.
Then.
Crumble.
“...!”
A sudden reaction was felt from the scale I was holding.
Though semi-transparent, the well-formed scale crumbled in an instant.
And not just the one I was holding; even the ones scattered on the floor completely vanished.
“What in the….”
To disappear before I could even properly identify them.
It was an utterly absurd situation.
Just what on earth happened while I was unconscious?
And why did I lose consciousness in the first place?
Only questions remained.
However, the important thing here was—
‘Did I properly consume the energy?’
The energy that should have entered from the white magic stone. Did I actually ingest it?
That was the issue.
Seeing the qi circulating my body during the earlier pain, it seemed I had consumed it, but...
‘Then, what about my internal injuries?’
Just what was the state of my body?
I was at a level where I needed roughly three months of rest. I expected that consuming the magic stone would reduce that by at least a month or two.
Thus, before circulating my inner qi to check this—
‘Hmm.’
I hesitated for a moment, fearing that using the qi might cause it to run amok like before.
That concerned me quite a bit, but….
‘I still can't just not check.’
With no immediate alternative, I gently drew up my qi.
Uuuung.
The qi that slowly emerged settled into my meridians and gradually began to circulate through my body. Fortunately, there was no pain.
Moreover.
“Huh?”
My eyes widened as I assessed my body's condition.
I wondered how much my internal injuries had decreased, but…. this was.
“It's completely healed…?”
It wasn't just a reduction; my body had perfectly recovered.
No, rather than just recovered, it seemed to have improved even further.
“Huh?”
What was the meaning of this?
“Did I undergo Hwan-gol-tal-tae or something?”
I had experienced it once before when I became a dragon, so it wasn't that surprising.
But did I really undergo Hwan-gol-tal-tae just by consuming the white magic stone?
It wasn't a very convincing thought.
I lifted my arm and smelled my clothes.
‘No foul odor.’
The expulsion of impurities, one of the processes that occurs during Hwan-gol-tal-tae.
As all the turbid qi inside the body is expelled, a foul odor usually seeps into the clothes, but there was no such odor from my body.
‘I usually don't accumulate turbid qi, so maybe there was none to expel.’
When I became a dragon, any turbid qi that built up in my body would naturally purify itself.
Paejon had jokingly called it a flawless physique.
So maybe it makes sense that there was no foul odor even if I underwent Hwan-gol-tal-tae.
Or, should I conclude that it wasn't Hwan-gol-tal-tae?
Whatever the case, it was certain that some change had occurred.
‘Increasing my inner qi now shouldn't have any particular benefits, right?’
Since I had consumed quite a lot after my regression, my inner qi volume had surpassed my past life.
I knew from experience that once it reached a certain level, it only increased firepower and no longer helped with one's realm or physique.
It was definitely supposed to be that way.
“…What on earth is this?”
What kind of fortuitous encounter was this?
I couldn't just be blindly happy about it since I didn't know the reason.
I clenched and unclenched my fists a few times, then turned my head.
My condition aside, I needed to know how much time had passed.
Screech.
I opened the warehouse door and stepped outside.
It was not yet night.
The sunset was faintly setting, but seeing this—
‘If a day hasn't passed, it means not that much time has gone by.’
Less than a day, or perhaps a few days, had passed.
The physical sensation from my body indicated the same. Besides, if that much time had passed, I wouldn't have woken up in the warehouse.
At most, about one shichen must have passed.
Let's assume the time is roughly that.
‘Then why did I suddenly faint….’
Halt.
I took a single step, gathering information as I walked.
After walking just one step, I had to freeze my body.
Swipe.
I raised my hands and covered my head.
I had no choice.
-Creak. Creeeak-!
-So what I'm saying is…
-Mom! Mom, you see…!!
-No, seriously, this time Young Master Yeon…
“...”
Sounds were coming from all directions.
Not only the sounds, but the sensations felt on my skin were drastically heightened as well.
Huuung-!
The feeling of the wind was more vivid. I could feel every single texture brushing against my skin.
Feeling the change, I immediately came to a firm conclusion.
‘My qi perception has grown.’
Much more than my original senses.
It seemed to have increased by at least twofold.
I immediately circulated my qi and lowered my qi perception.
With information suddenly pouring in, my body couldn't adapt and rebelled.
I felt like I would throw up my insides at this rate, so I had to block my qi perception for now.
Only when the incoming sounds decreased and the sensations subsided did I feel better.
“Ha….”
What the hell is going on?
Did I really end up like this just from consuming a white-grade magic stone?
‘My realm doesn't seem to have increased. But my qi perception grew this much?’
The range, as well as the clarity, was on a different level.
‘It's not bad, but….’
When it comes to qi perception, the broader and deeper, the better.
As a martial artist's realm increases, their qi perception grows along with it. And if it develops, there are many places to use it, so it was definitely an advantage.
I just didn't understand why it happened.
For the realm to increase and then qi perception to develop was the proper order.
It was simply baffling that only my qi perception had developed this much.
‘Could it be that my realm increased and I just don't know it?’
That was impossible.
I had checked when I used my inner qi to assess my body earlier.
There was clearly no change in terms of my realm.
But.
‘Since I might be wrong, should I check one more time?’
Since I hadn't examined it properly, I moved my hand slightly, wondering if I had misjudged.
Igniting a flame was faster than circulating qi through my body.
Thus, the moment I tried to ignite a flame right away—
“...”
I couldn't actually burst a flame over my prepared palm.
Because the flame didn't come out? No.
It was quite the opposite.
‘If I…. ignite this, I'm fucked.’
I knew intuitively.
That if I ignited a flame right now, I would be screwed.
It wasn't that a problem would occur in my body.
However.
‘It seems like I won't be able to control it.’
I could feel that the erupting firepower would be uncontrollable.
Because I sensed that, I couldn't bring myself to spew out the flame.
‘What is this bullshit situation?’
My realm hadn't increased.
And yet, I could tell my firepower had surged.
What kind of absurd nonsense was this?
I didn't know either.
But my body did.
Just how much had my firepower increased?
I wanted to ignite a flame right away, but there was nothing more dangerous than being unable to control it.
‘The entire surroundings might burn to ashes.’
Normally, it was basic practice to control everything so there was no flame damage.
Not being able to control it meant it was akin to indiscriminately spraying real flames.
To verify this, it seemed I would have to go to a place with few people.
“Hmm….”
What really happened?
It was certain that some kind of fortuitous encounter had come my way, but…. not being able to grasp it only made me feel stifled.
‘…If I don't know, I should at least check first.’
Right, finding out what changed would be the best course of action.
Let's go to an unpopulated area as I thought earlier and check various things.
Thinking that, I was about to leap when—
Vroom.
Something caught by my qi perception grabbed my ankle.
Someone was approaching this way.
At first, I wondered if it was Nahi.
‘No.’
Nahi wouldn't move so openly. Also, if she were coming, my demonic energy would have reacted before her presence.
Then who was it? My curiosity didn't last long.
Tuk.
Someone landed lightly at my location.
“You were here. I've been looking for you for a while.”
“…What is the matter?”
A middle-aged man appeared, fluttering his white hair.
The identity of this person was none other than Woo-hyeok's teacher and the man known as Wudang's Mad Immortal, Namgung Hyeong.
It was the appearance of an unexpected figure.
“You were looking for me?”
Namgung Hyeong was looking for me. That was strange on its own, but the Mad Immortal's expression was especially weird.
Doubt and pity were visible in the face looking at me.
Emotions that were hard to coexist were mixed together.
Just what kind of expression was that?
“Mad Immortal. What brings you here so suddenly?”
“No, well… uh….”
“…?”
“First, there's something I want to ask. Young Master Gu.”
“Yes.”
“Just how old were you when you did it?”
“…Excuse me?”
What kind of question was that?
How old was I when I did what?
I couldn't grasp the intention of the question at all.
“…Mad Immortal. Your explanation seems quite lacking?”
“Hmm, that is… uh… no. It's a bit hard to say…. You should probably just see it for yourself first.”
“What is….”
“Ah, in case you try to run away, Miss Moyong told me to pass this on.”
“What did she say…?”
“She said to tell you she'll really kill you if you don't come quickly.”
“...”
I didn't know what was going on.
I didn't know what the Mad Immortal was talking about, nor did I understand the situation.
“…Let's just go.”
Going was the right thing to do for now.
Thinking so, I moved my steps.
******************
The place I arrived at following the Mad Immortal was none other than the Divine Physician's quarters.
Quarters was just a word; in reality, it was a place the Divine Physician used as a clinic, and it was also where Namgung Bi-a and Wi Seol-a were staying.
Since I frequented it often, I knew the layout like the back of my hand, but….
‘What is it?’
Unlike usual, there were noticeably more presences felt in the quarters.
Normally, there would be at most five people.
Right now, it felt like there were over ten.
What were they doing to have this many people?
“Just what is going on?”
I immediately asked the Mad Immortal, but
“…Hmm. Isn't it because a spectacle has appeared?”
The Mad Immortal only brushed it off as if it was hard to say.
Meanwhile, the way he kept glancing at me particularly bothered me.
‘What is it, seriously.’
What was happening inside that made him act like this?
And why did he bring me here?
It was a completely incomprehensible situation.
Especially since Moyong Hui-a, who had been avoiding me lately, told him to relay that she'd kill me if I didn't come; whatever it was, it didn't seem like a good situation for me.
‘Should I just bail?’
Beyond curiosity, wouldn't it be right to just run away?
My instincts told me so, but it was already too late.
As soon as we arrived, the Mad Immortal opened the door to the quarters, and the moment it opened, the situation inside came into full view.
A crowd of familiar faces.
The owner of the quarters, the Divine Physician, of course, along with the recently absent Baekryeon Sword, Wi Seol-a and Namgung Bi-a who would be receiving treatment, and Dang So-yeol, as well as Moyong Hui-a, who had apparently called me here.
‘…They're angry?’
Moyong Hui-a's expression looked furious to anyone.
Even Wi Seol-a and Dang So-yeol looked in a bad mood, which was rare.
What could have put them in such a foul mood?
Could it be me?
As a cold sweat slightly broke out from anxiety—
“…Huh?”
I saw an unbelievable sight.
Namgung Bi-a, sitting calmly amidst the angry women.
Someone was sitting on the lap of Namgung Bi-a, who wore her characteristic expressionless face.
Judging by how lightly they were sitting, it looked like a child.
I wondered why a child was sitting on her lap all of a sudden, but the problem was—
“…Who is that kid.”
The child sitting on Namgung Bi-a's lap looked remarkably like someone.
Ill-tempered eyes and an impression that looked like it had received a garbage education.
Cheeks full of worldly complaints and upturned eyes….
‘…It's me?’
It looked exactly like me, no one else.
No, it wasn't just at the level of resembling me.
It was at a level where one could say my childhood self had been copied and placed there.
Was it an illusion?
Just as I was about to rub my eyes in disbelief—
“Ah….”
The little me in Namgung Bi-a's arms met my eyes.
At that moment.
“…Da…ddy….”
“What?”
The child said that towards me.
And the murderous gazes in the room all poured down on me.