"That kid is lucky."
"Really? Do you think it's just luck?"
"Then, do you think that kid has such sharp senses that he could detect the Mountain Hollow Poison? He hasn’t even learned any martial arts."
The sky was overcast.
Like water droplets spreading on paper, the moon was gradually obscured by clouds, fading into the darkness.
It was a pitch-black night where you couldn’t see even an inch ahead.
On the highest rooftop of the Yunlong Escort Agency’s branch, three people stood.
Zhuge Lin, the White Scale Sage, with his silver-white hair fluttering in the wind.
His subordinate, Yu Huo, the White Scale Horn Commander.
And the massive figure of Yun Zhishang, the head of the Yunlong Escort Agency, with a sword at his waist.
"The Sage’s eyes are indeed different. I couldn’t find anything special about that young man either… His martial talent was also average."
"Then why are you so interested in him?"
"……"
Yun Zhishang didn’t answer and kept his mouth shut.
Zhuge Lin, however, pressed gently but firmly.
"Agency Head, let me make this clear now. That child will become my disciple. Who else could have cured the Mountain Hollow Poison?"
At those words, Yun Zhishang let out a deep sigh.
"Hoo… How could I go against the Sage’s wishes? Do you really like that child so much?"
"Just as much as you do, Agency Head."
"Tsk. There’s no helping it. It’s not like he’s destined to be a disciple…"
"Oh? Even though he has no martial talent, you still want to take him as a disciple?"
"He’s thoughtful and determined, despite his young age. And his medical skills… Isn’t he a talent worth coveting? You know as well as I do that running an escort agency isn’t just about martial prowess."
"That’s true. That’s why I’m also interested in him. By the way… it seems they’re coming soon."
At Zhuge Lin’s words, Yun Zhishang’s expression turned fierce.
Both of them saw a group of figures gathering in the darkness from afar.
"How dare they attack my agency…"
A dragon-like aura emanated from his body.
"I can’t let our guests be disturbed. Please wait here, both of you."
"Go in peace."
Yun Zhishang leaped down from the rooftop.
At the same time, the black-clad figures in the distance scaled the walls of the Yunlong Escort Agency’s branch.
All of them wore masks, and their blades were dyed black to avoid reflecting the moonlight.
It was clearly a night raid.
The branch was quiet.
The servants seemed to be asleep, as no one was in sight.
"Master, I sense demonic energy…"
"Those who practice demonic arts… With this many, could they be from the Demonic Sect?"
"Perhaps. I hope we haven’t gotten involved in something troublesome."
"But I have you, don’t I?"
"Hahaha, Master. You could slaughter all of them with a single swing of your sword, yet you say such things. I don’t know where to put myself."
Zhuge Lin only smiled slyly in response, like a dragon hiding its claws.
Yu Huo scratched his head.
"Master, you haven’t forgotten that you don’t have much time left, have you?"
"I know. But even if it’s short, isn’t it human to want to burn brightly like a flame?"
"I just wish to stay by your side for a long time…"
"Such is fate. By the way, it’s begun."
Where Zhuge Lin’s gaze fell, a bloody battle had already started.
Jin Cheon-hee was crouched beside the bed of Yeo Ha-ryun, the future Demon Lord.
Outside, shouts echoed.
The sounds of screams and clashing swords could be heard.
‘It’s started,’ Jin Cheon-hee thought, glancing at Yeo Ha-ryun’s closed eyelids. ‘That guy still hasn’t woken up.’
Considering the life that awaited him, maybe it was better if he never woke up.
‘Isn’t it strange? So many people came to kill you.’
Ah, a child.
Just a small child with a secret about his birth.
So many people had prepared to kill this child.
Yeo Ha-ryun’s hands were still clean.
They hadn’t been stained by anyone’s blood.
The world had moved to kill this child.
‘The Yunlong Escort Agency is strong.
Even if I hadn’t said anything, they would have won somehow.’
Even if the high-level warriors were poisoned by the Mountain Hollow Poison, there were still low-level warriors.
The strength of the Yunlong Escort Agency was not to be underestimated.
But much blood would have been shed, and that would have been a fatal blow to the agency.
If that happened, countless escort agencies would fight to fill the void left by the Yunlong Escort Agency, which had dominated the Yangtze River.
That would be the beginning of future calamities.
"You’re sleeping well even in this chaos. Well, I’m not trembling either…"
Jin Cheon-hee stared at his own hand.
Outside, people were dying.
A normal person would be trembling in fear.
At any moment, someone with a sword could appear and kill him.
Yet, for some reason, he wasn’t afraid.
‘Come to think of it, was it like this when I had to distinguish the living among corpses?’
Something had changed, Jin Cheon-hee concluded.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be like this.
Maybe it was because he had already died once.
‘Well, it’s not every day you get shot to death by rebels.’
At that moment, a groan escaped Yeo Ha-ryun’s lips.
Was he having a nightmare?
The beast-like groan, so unlike that of a child, startled Jin Cheon-hee.
‘Should I wake him? No, he didn’t wake up earlier.’
From what he had observed, it wasn’t a nightmare.
Maybe it was the smell of blood outside.
After some thought, Jin Cheon-hee rummaged through a shelf and lit another incense stick.
He didn’t know what kind of incense it was, but he hoped it was strong enough to mask the smell of blood.
After lighting three incense sticks, Yeo Ha-ryun’s expression gradually calmed.
Watching the groans slowly subside, Jin Cheon-hee let out a small sigh.
‘Be good to me, kid.’
After all, he’s the protagonist.
It’s better to stay on his good side from now on.
‘He’s still young, so there’s room to tame him.’
Outside, the battle was still ongoing.
Jin Cheon-hee spent the night watching over Yeo Ha-ryun.
The battle at the Yunlong Escort Agency’s branch didn’t last long.
The masked intruders, realizing the Mountain Hollow Poison wasn’t working, retreated with heavy losses.
Finally, the sun rose.
Jin Cheon-hee had stayed awake all night.
Even though he had fallen into the heart of the martial world, his mind was still that of an ordinary Korean.
He wasn’t so thick-skinned that he could sleep peacefully while people were dying outside.
He wasn’t afraid, but he wasn’t indifferent either.
Outside, the sounds of carrying corpses and tending to the wounded could be heard.
Guards also came to stand watch.
‘It’s over.’
The battle was over.
The Yunlong Escort Agency’s branch was safe.
And an event that should have claimed many lives had been altered.
‘Now… what should I do? Stay neutral? Or help? I have to choose one.’
With slightly dazed eyes, Jin Cheon-hee stared at the door.
‘If I stay neutral, my abilities won’t be revealed.
That’s safer.
The other doctors already seem curious about the first aid I used on this kid.’
Jin Cheon-hee glanced to the side.
The future Demon Lord, Yeo Ha-ryun, was still asleep.
‘If I step in, people who might have died could live.
The White Scale Sage isn’t omnipotent, and there’s a limit to how many people he can save.
But that’s not more important than my safety.’
The answer was clear.
‘My medical skills are definitely strange and out of place.
I might even be mistaken for a spy.
Right.
I’ll just stay here and leave when it’s time.
Then I’ll work at the Yunlong Escort Agency and live as a doctor in this world.
That’s it.
If I save many people later…’
As he continued his thoughts, Jin Cheon-hee suddenly remembered a face while looking at the sleeping Yeo Ha-ryun.
The face of a child, panicked at the barrel of a rebel’s gun.
The child he had shielded and saved from the bullet.
Had that child survived?
-Why should people be saved? Why did I have to save them like that?
-Why didn’t I just leave them on the mountain?
-I don’t know.
I really don’t know, Director.
"Damn it. I’m really…"
Only then did Jin Cheon-hee get up from his seat.
That’s right.
Back then, he couldn’t turn away.
And now, he couldn’t rationalize and turn away either.
He walked over to Yeo Ha-ryun.
Before leaving the room, he wanted to check the patient’s condition one more time.
‘What’s wrong with him now?’
This time, it seemed like he was having an even worse nightmare, as cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
He was breathing heavily, and then his breath stopped.
‘Apnea…?’
One second, two seconds… thirty seconds… one minute.
He didn’t breathe for a full minute.
At this point, Jin Cheon-hee reached out to shake his shoulder.
At that moment.
Thud-!
The boy’s pale hand gripped Jin Cheon-hee’s wrist.
Slowly, his eyelids opened.
They were red.
In a voice as rough as a rusty sword scraping the ground, he spoke.
"…Who sent you?"
A murderous aura spread out from Yeo Ha-ryun.
Crackle-
‘Damn it.
This kid’s killing intent is already…’
Jin Cheon-hee smiled, trying to calm the future Demon Lord.
"I…"
"Enough."
"Huh?"
"I’ll kill you and ask your corpse."
At that moment, Yeo Ha-ryun’s other hand gripped Jin Cheon-hee’s throat.
Crunch-
Helplessly, Jin Cheon-hee’s throat was squeezed.
Under the intense pressure, Jin Cheon-hee gasped for air.
‘Damn… I never imagined he’d be this crazy.’
Jin Cheon-hee knew.
One of the reasons Yeo Ha-ryun would become the Demon Lord in the future.
The blood of the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
In modern terms, it was like the temperament of a serial killer.
No, it was even worse.
The Heavenly Slaughter Star was described as a genius at killing people, growing stronger with each life taken.
Not only that, but he also had an innate talent for martial arts, making him stronger than anyone else.
He was literally a heaven-sent killer.
Of course, such great talent came with a downside.
In the future, he would be consumed by the madness of the Heavenly Slaughter Star and go insane.
But Yeo Ha-ryun, being the protagonist, would control his madness and overcome it completely, becoming the strongest in the world.
‘A power that rivals modern science… No, this isn’t the time for such thoughts.
My head is starting to hurt as my throat is being crushed.
So…’
Perhaps it was the crisis.
The blood that had been dormant seemed to awaken.
But he couldn’t just let this happen.
He wanted to call for help, but his throat was being crushed, so no sound came out.
Jin Cheon-hee twisted his body.
And with that movement, the incense stick he had lit earlier fell to the floor.
‘Perfect!’