(The scene goes back to Goomoonryong in the Arabian city at night. He is still reading the “tome of the Immortal demon lord”. Sophia changed back into her day to day clothes and grew curious about what could be so interesting in the Book)

Sophia( with hesitation): So Boss…was the book the real deal after all?

Goomoonryong( without looking at her): If it wasn’t the case do you think I would spend so much time studying it?

Sophia: No of course boss. But did you find what you looked for in it?

(Goomoonryong turned her way with suspicion and she shriveled in fear. But after a moment he exhaled and relaxed)

Goomoonryong: let’s say that this book completely changes my perception of martial arts and elevate the roof of what it can accomplish way beyond what I thought possible. And yes I did find the solution to an ancient problem my own master left me in it but the process is extremely dangerous and destructive so I try to find a way around it.

Sophia(with hopeful eyes): Does it means that you will get even more powerful boss?

Goomoonryong ( casually): Possibly yes but it will take some time or even fail all together.

Sophia: No way you will fail boss! You are the strongest man in the world!

Goomoonryong (Unfazed): It isn’t about strength in this case… it is more spiritual.

Sophia ( uncertain): I see…Anyway I am sure you will pull it off Boss.

Goomoonryong ( remembering something): By the way how did you find out that Shioon was still alive?

Sophia( less enthusiastic): Oh…well it wasn’t hard, since the entire murim was talking of his intervention against the rebelling groups that tried to destroy the Alliance. Plus as you heard Hyun wun moon is back.

Goomoonryong ( with a somber look): Which is weird by the way. As far as I knew only me, the Alliance Chief and Shioon can pretend to be a part of it. Does it mean that the kid became the disciple of the Chief?

Sophia: No sir. Do you remember the baldy we met alongside Jae gal of Chundomoon, the one you had a clash with?

Goomoonryong ( holding his temples a little): …Yes I remember….His name was Lone wolf right?

Sophia: Yes sir, apparently he was from the Hyun wun moon too.

Goomoonryong ( frowning): Strange my master never told me about him…but then again I do remember he mentioned “ Unwol” when we met. Maybe it is a collateral disciple who wanted to reconnect with the last member of the clan. So Shioon allied with him to bring back the clan? It would explain his quick progress since he can learn the basics from him.

Sophia(dumbfounded): What do you mean sir? The monster that we fought at the Dungeon of doom your old disciple… You never taught him the basics of your school?

Goomoonryong( hiding his embarrassment): Yeah…To be fair I didn’t have the time, I only taught him the big advanced techniques but I had to fight the Alliance sooner than expected and excommunicated him after.

(Sophia was utterly shocked but Goomoonryong ignored her and went for the next question)

Goomoonryong: Challenging a dangerous rebelling faction publicly is dangerous tho. They will most likely go after his loved ones. Did he take any actions to put his mother into safety?

Sophia ( still recovering from the schock): Boss…His mother died already a year ago.

Goomoonryong( unsettled for the first time): What did you say?

Sophia ( more assertive and factual): His mother was violently attacked by the group that worshipped you… the SUC. She was in a coma for some time then died right after our visit to Seoul were you met that lone wolf and the members of the SUC last year , just after you fought him.

(Goomoonryong didn’t say anything and got back to reading his tome but Sophia could see his hand tremble)

_______________________________(Back in the cave )__________________________________

(Shioon was deep into his meditation for more than a day now)

Lone wolf( worried): What is happening? You said that this one would be difficult but I have seen no sign of a violent fight, no change at all for quite some times now.

Demon heart( uneasy): Yes this one is very different and Shioon will struggle a lot with it for very personal reason.

Lone Wolf: What reasons?

Demon heart: Well that boy suffered traumatic losses after an other and not so long ago he lost his mother, right?

Lone wolf:…yes.

Demon heart: That’s exactly what the Demon of sadness feeds of. It isn’t like the demon of Fear or Desire who are violently struggling to take power. It smother’s you until you can no longer act.

Lone wolf:…then…

Demon heart: Worst case scenario, he stay immobile for too long and his body fails. Leading to his death.

_______________________________( back in the incarnate illusion)______________________

Mrs Lee: Hello Shioon it’s been a while.

( Shioon totally out of speech and frozen could barely realize who he was talking to)

Mrs Lee(with a warm smile): I see that you have grown into a fine young man but to me you will always be my shy little boy.

( catching his breath Shioon started to cry advancing toward her like in a dream)

Shioon( crying profusely now): Is that really you mom?

( As an answer she hugged him and he emotionally collapsed into her arms . becoming a big mess of tear and snot and letting go of anything else for a moment)

Shioon(in between tears): I…I thought you were …dead.

Mrs Lee: I am. Remember that day.

__________________________________________________________________________________

( the scene change and we see a bubble of memory were Mr Lee was on her hospital bed with Ghost doctor beside her and Shioon still in wheelchair entered followed by Jinie and Sera.)

Shioon(starting to cry): Mom you are finally awake!

Mrs lee ( still bandaged but sitting up and smiling): Shioon…

(They hugged while crying until ghos doctor told him to let her breath).

Ghost doctor: I filled her up on what happened to you…in general but I think it would be better to let you discuss it.

(Both him and the girls left them to talk)

Shioon ( hesitating and a little shameful): Mom…I…am sorry for everything.

Mrs Lee ( with saddened eyes): Why? Most of what happened, happened due to my own failure as a mother.

Shioon ( surprised and protesting):No mom! Why are you saying that?

Mrs Lee: Shioon…For how much time were you bullied and harassed?

(A little silence took place until Shioon finally answered)

Shioon: Some months. Shortly after the start of my freshman year in highschool, Changho and his gang picked up on my vulnerability, isolated me and harassed me until, well…until I met Goomoonryong.

Mrs Lee: The fake teacher that was a martial art terrorist, right?

Shioon:…Basically.

Mrs Lee: Shioon…you became his disciple because you had no way of defending yourself and because I wasn’t there for you, isn’t it?

Shioon:I…Well. Yes I didn’t want to be helpless anymore. Also Changho started to threaten Saehee.

Mrs Lee: And no one helped you? Not a single person in your school?

Shioon:…Saehee tried but the teachers were either afraid or didn’t know. Everyone was afraid to be fair.

Mrs Lee(getting emotional): Why didn’t you ask me to help you? You were suffering so much! Why didn’t You ask your mother to save you? Was it why you wanted to change school and said that I understood nothing?

Shioon(struggling to put it in words):I…I…Yes it was why but I could never have said it out loud. I myself feared what changho might do if he was outed publicly. He tried to kill Saehee when she took my defense you know?

Mrs Lee ( watching in the void): I see…So you really were trapped and I failed to see it.

Shioon: You couldn’t know mom. Nobody could.

Mrs Lee: Maybe if I wasn’t such a workaholic I could’ve seen it.

Shioon ( trying to force a smile): Then We would’ve had no money to live wouldn’t we?

Mrs Lee ( Chuckling in her tears): yes I guess so.

Shioon: Besides, I must confess to you that it is my fault if you were attacked mom. So please stop saying it is your fault.

Mrs Lee ( frowning a little) : What do you mean?

Shioon ( uneasy and ashamed): It is a little complicated but I had a genetical defect that prevented me to become physically stronger so I had to take a rare medicine to overcome it. And some crocked physician wanted to …harvest that medicine from my body so unbeknownst to me he organized your aggression in order for me too seek his help.

He also abducted me later but Sera that you have seen earlier and a friend saved me.

Mrs Lee ( with even more tears): My poor boy what have they done to you? You have suffered so much…

(She touched his face , while Shioon leaned into it)

Shioon: Don’t worry mom from now on I will make sure nobody ever touches you I swear!

Mrs Lee: Stop worrying about me. It was always us two against the world so from now on I’d rather have you tell me about all of your adventures and problems. Look I need to know exactly what happened to you. I suppose that the “ Car accident” you had wasn’t really one either right?

Shioon: True…well I will explain everything from the start.

(Shioon then narrated her everything that happened from the moment he met goomoonryong to the moment he fought him without sparring much details. Mrs Lee’s expression changed from interest to schock to horror at times but she didn’t interrupt.)

Shioon:…and I learned today that you just woke up.

Mrs Lee: that’s…a lot to take in. And It is much bigger than anything I could imagine.

Shioon: I know.

Mrs lee: So You are kind of a mafia boss now?

Shioon: No! No! I am a temporary clan head. But honestly I can’t exactly turn my back on them now. Not after two of the elders gave their lives for me.

Mrs Lee: Elder Kwon and Elder Jeon,huh? I am grateful for them, I really whish I could have met them.

Shioon: Yes they were great… and beside my promise to sosul it is why I cannot simply leave them.

Mrs Lee( with a sly smile):…Let’s talk about something else. Which of those two girls do you like the most? Jinie or Sera?

Shioon(embarrassed) : Mom!

Mrs Lee( on the tone of conversation): …I mean I always thought you would end up with Saehee since she and you were always together when you were younger but those two did a lot for you so …

Shioon: Can we talk about something else?!

Mrs Lee: But it is important! We never talked about it! I want grandchildrens eventually !

Shioon( trying desperately to change subject): Look how about I order you something to eat you must be starving!

( he moved away with his wheelchair)

Mrs Lee: Shioon .

Shioon ( about to open the door): Yes?

Mrs Lee( with a bright smile): Don’t worry we will figure it out together from now on. Remember no matter what happens that I love you.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

( Back to the incarnate illusion. Shioon’s mother while in his arms morphed into shioon himself)

Shioon of Sadness ( with a monotone dead voice): And then she died the night after from unseen complications and a brain hemorrhage.

(Startled Shioon pushed him back and took his distances like snaped from a dream)

Shioon: Who are you!

Shioon of sadness: You already know. I am your guilt your sadness, your sorrow.

Shioon ( trying to motivate himself): So I have to defeat you!

Shioon of sadness: You can try. But honestly do you even have the right to?

Shioon ( uneasy): What do you mean?

( He divided himself in three and took the form of his mother, elder kwon and elder jeon)

Shioon of sadness ( speaking in turn from each of their mouth while expressionless): Do you have the right to absolve yourself from what you did to them?

Shioon( in a pleading anguished tone): Stop it.

Shioon of sadness: Let’s recollect what you did to them shall we?

You planned the whole operation on your school to bait the SUC out of hiding using yourself, provoking the Death of Elder Jeon when you were specifically asked to lay low until you qi center was healed.

Shioon: Stop it!

Shioon of Sadness(merciless): You insisted to try and save Goomoonryong instead of just letting him blow himself up with the SUC, prompting elder Kwon to come and save you. Leading to his death.

Shioon: The entirety of Seoul was about to be blown up not only him!

Shioon of Sadness: But the Special service agent rae won and the Sunwoo clan already took care of that by the time you reached him right? You just had to trust them.

Shioon: I couldn’t leave it to chance.

Shioon of Sadness: Be honest, at that moment what mattered to you more was the life of your old teacher right?

Shioon:…

Shioon of Sadness: That’s what I thought. Let’s get to the main point, your sole existence led to the death of your mother and the endangerment of your loved ones.

Shioon ( unsure): That’s not true…

Shioon of Sadness: Isn’t it? Once again let’s recollect. Your weakness led to your bullying and Saehee tried to help you, which led to her being taergeted by Changho which was a traumatic event for her. And even today she is studying abroad under protection to preserve her from YOUR enemies.

Shioon( unable to deny): Yeah…

Shioon of Sadness: Sera nearly died because she tried to save you from your own stupidity after you blamed her for your mother’s coma when in reality it was your own fault, correct?

Shioon( shrinking a little): That’s …true.

Shioon of sadness: The Sunwoo clan in general was in danger because the SUC was targeting you.

And of course they seriously wounded our mother which later led to her death, but they targeted her because of us.

Shioon ( collapsing a little more at each words): That is …yes that’s undeniable .

Shioon of sadness: Then wouldn’t you agree that it would’ve been better for everyone if we were never born?

Shioon(looking at the ground) :…no I refuse to believe that.

Shioon of Sadness: But deep down you always knew. How many time did you try to end yourself? How many fight have you fought with the secret hope that your death would finally end the guilt?

Shioon ( lost): I…I do not know.

( Shioon of sadness retook his form and approached Shioon while extending his end in an inviting gesture)

Shioon of Sadness: Take my end and I will make sure that everything will cease.

Shioon: I still have so much to do.

Shioon of sadness: Others will do it, we will only make more damage voluntarily or unvoluntarily.

( Shioon contemplated his options for a time finally started to raise his hand. But before he could grab the Demon of Sadness extended hand a luminous one prevented him.

Before him his mother Ha-neul Lee was standing and pushing back the Demon of sadness.)

Shioon of Sadness: You? How is it that…

Ha-neul Lee: Begone!

(He evaporated into the distance. Turning back toward her son ,she found him on the ground crushed with guilt and in indescribable anguish)

Shioon( still crying): Why..Why won’t you let me die.

Ha-neul Lee ( grabbed his cheeks and forced him to look at her): Enough of this son! I didn’t give birth to someone that let the past destroy him.

Shioon: But..but I…If only I wasn’t…you would still be…

Ha-neul Lee: Alive? And do you think I would’ve wanted a life without you?

Shioon: No…I mean…

Ha-neul Lee: Because I had to make that choice Shioon. When I ended up pregnant and alone, I had to make that choice to have you or not. I felt only love toward you I had you and at no point in my life have I ever regretted it!

(She now took both of his hands and pulled him closer)

Shioon: But so many died because of me.

Ha-neul Lee: They choose to do so because they loved you and if you loved them back you will go on even with that guilt on your conscience.

Shioon: I don’t know if I can…

(She pulled him into a last hug)

Ha-neul: You are my son of course you can.

(Kissing him on the forehead she evaporated into a million of light particules while her words echoed in the distance)

Ha-neul’s echo: I…will…always…love…you.

(leaving a shioon standing in the dark with his eyes closed)

______________________________(in the real world)___________________________________

(Lone wolf and Demon heart were still standing with a now extremely emaciated shioon).

Demon heart: It’s been a week already…

Lone wolf ( spotting something ): Look!

( Shioon cried black tears that evaporated in an equally black smoke)

[end of the chapter]

​(Shioon was scandalized as his other self was surrounded by Jinie, Saehee, Sera and Haru)

Shioon of Desire( falsely demure): Me? But I am only doing what you desire to do.

Shioon( in severe denial): Liar! Never have I ever wanted ….THIS!

Shioon of desire( with a sly grin): Really? You never desired to do this ( he grabbed one breast of Jinie from behind with his right hand ) or this( his left hand caressing Sera’s ass) while doing this ( he french kissed Saehee on the front as Haru was hugging him from behind and kissing his neck).

Shioon ( exploding in second handed embarrassment): Enough!!!

(He jumped and tried to destroy the Shioon of desire with a “ True essence kick” but instead of dodging he simply released the ladies and jumped then deviated the attack with a “ Cyclone kick”, throwing Shioon out of equilibrium and sending him crash some five meters away)

Shioon of desire ( still humorous): Getting angry aren’t we?

(he left the girls behind and approached Shioon while he was slowly recovering and getting on his feets)

Shioon ( narrowing his eyes in shock):[How did he do this? Maybe I wasn’t cautious enough.]

(Shioon rushed him an threw a combination of punches and kicks but the Shioon of Desire effortlessly read him , Dodged the first punch , blocked the low kick , parried the second punch then when Shioon cocked the next kick Shioon of desire caught him in the face with a kick of his own sending him backward. Shioon however recovered using a sumersault without missing a beat then tried to catch him lacking by throwing a “ Soul crushing strike”…that the Shioon of Desire managed to easily catch with the “ void palm” absorbing the qi and releasing it from his shoulder.

Taking the advantage once again he pulled shioon by the hand he caught using the foot technique “ retreat” to throw him out of balance.)

Shioon of desire ( while pulling shioon around ): Didn’t you realize?

(he then used the foot technique kyuk “attack” to swipe shioon’s standing foot tripping him in the air and grabbed his face before violently smashing it into the ground)

Shioon( From the impact) guhh!!

____________________________________(in real life)___________________________________

( Shioon’s face was suddenly covered in blood alarming Lone wolf)

Ryuji: It doesn’t look good.

Demon heart: Yeah, the demon of desire is the second most violent and powerful among the five mu. It is for a very specific reason….

__________________________________(in the incarnate illusion)_________________________

Shioon of Desire ( standing on top of Shioon his foot on top of his chest):You do not only desire those fine women behind me but…

( He clapped his hands and Goomonryong appeared with Hyuk so chun assuming a fighting position. Shioon of desire disappeared then reappeared with Hyuk so chun’s severed head in his right arm and Goomooryong’s heart in the left)…Also this.

Shioon( getting up horrified): No! I never wished for this.

Shioon of Desire ( just letting the heart and head fall of his bloodied hands while wearing a bored face): Please…Of course you do. You want to surpass the Master that abandoned you. You want to surpass the rival that beat you to a pulp the first time you fought as a martial artist. I am the one who managed that, the one who stand on top of your master and your rival.

Shioon ( still disturbed but thinking):[So this is why he is much stronger than me. He represent the what I reach to achieve powerwise.] You are nothing but a figment of my imagination , a feeling made manifest in my mind nothing more.

Shioon of desire ( undeterred): Well that’s a start isn’t it? Just give me your body and I will be a complete reality.

Shioon( unamused ): You can’t seriously think that I will do that, right?

Shioon of desire ( raising his shoulders ): Why not? I am the only one who actually has the guts to go for what we want.

Shioon: I don’t want a fucking harem.

Shioon of desire: Sure…but even admitting that this is true , did you ever consider what they want? When I said we I am not only talking about you and me but the girls too.

Shioon( looking away in the void): What kind of nonsense are you talking about again?

Shioon of desire ( getting angry for the first time and grabbing shioon by the hair forcing him to look him in the eye): That! IS what I absolutely despise about you! Look at me you damn hypocrite! Look at what you want and what they want instead of looking where it is convenient!

Shioon ( pulling himself away): Hey let go of me!

Shioon of desire ( still quite upset ):Stop doing as if you didn’t realized it. All four of them loves you. Saehee did for a very long time, Jinie and Sera after all the adventures you had together then there is Haru or should I say Cynthia with which you have this weird mutual trauma bond. You ignored them or did as if you were oblivious to their feelings.

Shioon ( looking away ): I had more urging matters to attend…

Shioon of desire( skeptical): Really? Nothing to do with you cowardice regarding those types of feelings? Then fears not because I can be the man raising to the occasion. I can be the one that will make them happy while accomplishing our goals. Just stay on the chair here and watch me.

(he moved toward shioon while extending his hand. Shioon contemplated it for a second and then walked past him toward the girls leaving him dumbfounded. Looking at each of them straight in the eyes )

Shioon: I admit that, I ignored you. Each one of you and I hid those feelings that I had because I knew that choosing one of you would hurt the others. No Beyond that I was also afraid that my own lust would push me to hurt you more directly. For that I am sorry, those feelings exists on my part too and I won’t run away from them any longer.

( smiling at him they disappeared , leaving an appeased Shioon but also a livid Shioon of desire)

Shioon of Desire: What a disgusting display. I can feel it in my core that you treated it as a choice.

Shioon: It was a choice…a future choice.

Shioon of Desire: It doesn’t have to be. And it won’t be since I will take you over now.

Shioon( turning toward him): What …

(Shioon of desire rushed him and while Shioon managed to dodge the first strike but it was only a feint that turned into spinning elbow. Shioon blocked it with the” void palm “ anticipating a qi attack but to his surprise it wasn’t qi charged. Instead Shioon of desire took advantage of his raised hands to hit his torso with a violent back kick.)

Shioon( coughing blood and grabbing his chest): Guh!!

Shioon of desire: Ah it’s always the ones that you don’t see coming who hurts the most. A direct kick to “shanzhong” pressure point will do lasting damages and will cut off your wind for quite some time.

Shioon( after spitting an other mouthful of blood): I know that! But dammit I didn’t see it or feel it coming at all.

Shioon of Desire: Master always say that non qi charged attacks are much faster since they need no set up, much more difficult to read since there is not massive qi movement to give them away and just as deadly when aimed with precision. Of course your feeble skills couldn’t follow, and if you keep focusing so much on the qi skills you will inevitably end up as a punching bag.

Shioon :  How are you able to be so much more skilled than me? We are same person!

Shioon of desire: No. I am the version of you who reached the highest level…so I fight like the most powerful person we met.

Shioon: Goomoonryong!

Shioon of Desire ( appreciative): Exactly! I am him but better since I incorporated everything we learned from master Ryuji and the Sunwoo clan in my fighting style.

Shioon:[Damn…If that’s true then I have really no chance of beating him in a fight.] Wait…I am on my way to reach our full potential so why do you force this take over?

Shioon of Desire ( shrugging): Nonsense, you will always limit yourself to what you consider reasonable martially or sentimentally.

Shioon( arguing): We need to restrain ourselves to a point! Remember when we nearly died trying to combine martial arts against Han Daesan ajussi! If Gyubum didn’t stop us we would’ve died! You boast of reaching greatness but your recklessness will simply send us in a early grave!

(Shioon of desire for the first time hesitated. But it only lasted for a fleeting moment before he resumed his advance)

Shioon of Desire ( with an arrogant smile): Well played I see that our Fearful self did inspire you in some way but do not worry I am cautious enough to not fail.

Shioon: Liar. I can feel that you are just yearning to possess my body.

Shioon of Desire ( losing patience): Don’t be so stubborn!

( he lunged and grabbed shioon’s face trying to fuse himself with him)

Shioon: What… are you….doing…

Shioon of desire: The negotiations have ended! I am taking over!

Shioon ( resisting): No way!

____________________________( in real life)___________________________________________

(A wounded Shioon is exuding incredible qi while his meridians were bulging and pulsating)

Ryuji( tense): What is this qi? Is powerful but quite vicious!

Demon heart ( incredibly worried): This isn’t good.. The Demon of desire is taking over. Be ready to end him the moment he open his eyes!

Ryuji (in denial): That’s not possible… Shioon you can’t give up!

( Shioon was Slowly opening one eye)

Shioon of Desire ( taking over ):[Finally…the real world!]

_______________________________( back to the illusion incarnate )______________________

(Shioon was still resisting but his mind and feeling slowly fused with the Demon of Desire. He felt the tremendous will his own repressed desire entailed, He felt the formidable greed and got drunk on it. The exhalating self-confidence that came with self indulgence)

Shioon and Shioon of Desire ( In fuse state a crazed smile started to emerge): Ha! Urgh…Ha!Ha!

(But as the High was coming to its apotheosis Shioon also felt flashes of the cruelty behind those grand ambitions and the selfishness that had no mercy to even those that he loved. Horrified Shioon gathered his will and fought back with renewed conviction)

Shioon and Shioon of Desire ( his smile deformed into disgust): No ….Never . Why…resist…I…am…Better…

(Shioon’s will overwhelmed his counterpart’s ambition slowly dissolved him)

Shioon ( Completely driving him back):You…ARE…NOTHING!!!!!

(Shioon exploding properly ejected the Shioon of desire who got extremely weakened. In an almost vaporous state he still pleaded)

Shioon of desire(is voice distant as an echo):No…I was almost there…I was almost…

Shioon ( drained and exhausted): And Now you are no more.

Shioon of desire ( answering one last time with a defiant smile): Oh you will…never truly …be rid of me…Not so long as you breathe…for if you breathe …you still yearn for more…

(He disappeared at those words leaving a seriously fatigued Shioon to ruminate)

Shioon: Alright, this one …this one was dangerous. But I can’t stop.

( Getting in position again he now guided his qi to the Zhangmen the center of despair. This time it isn’t an other Shioon that appeared this time but Kaiser himself surrounded , by Mikhail, Daniel, Goomoonryong , an Army of martial artist  and gunmen.)

________________________________(In real life)_______________________________________

( Shioon was back into deep meditation and exhaled the black smoke)

Ryuji ( relieved): Well he did manage to overcame this demon huh?!

Demon heart: Yes, the Demon of desire is exceptionally dangerous, a lot of our disciple were taken over by it during their attempt to cleanse up. And they did that over months not all at once. Shioons will really is exceptional in that regard. Which mean the next one…

( he grinned)

_________________________________(back to the incarnate illusion)____________________

Shioon ( looking upon them in awe and horror): Am I supposed to fight all of you?

Kaiser( opening his arms): No of course not. You do not need to fight. To what avail really?

Shioon ( retaking his composure): To bring an end to your atrocities, to safeguard those that you threaten ( his voice weak at first getting fiercer at each words), to avenge those you harmed!

Kaiser ( with a sorry smile): Look around you my child, do you really think that you have what it takes to even reach me? Only in this dream world do you stand a chance.

Shioon( squaring up): I am not opposing you because I stand a chance. I am opposing you because I can’t stand your very existence!

(Without discussing further Shioon threw himself at kaiser and the entire army then unleashed a combination of  “Soul crushing strike” and “ Double dragon chain dance”, but instead of hitting them , they all disappeared before the first impact, leaving him surprised and alone in the void.)

Shioon (looking around): That’s it?

________________________________(In real life)_______________________________________

( a small amount of smoke went out of his body)

Ryuji ( surprised): It happened so fast. And there isn’t a lot of smoke.

Demon heart (with a smile): As I thought. When I heard Shioon’s story, I already knew that this boy had already beaten the Demon of Despair which can’t stand combativity. Which is why there was so little Smoke. This boy can be reckless and diligent to the point of insanity but never again will he give in to despair.

Ryuji ( smiling): Well this is going well then.

Demon heart ( loosing his smile):[ Yeah but the next one for the same reason will be exceptionally difficult for him to face]

_________________________________(back to the incarnate illusion)____________________

(Shioon taking position once again guiding his qi to the Zhongfu point to his chest, bringing forward the Demon of sadness.)

Shioon( standing to meet the demon): Whatever is coming I am ready.

( in the distance a someone appeared and slowly walked toward him. Then stopped right in front of him. His mother stood in front of him)

[end of the chapter]

(Shioon was calmly observing his double looking around with crazed paranoia. He looked like the bullied Shioon with wounds all over him and damaged High school uniform but with the body of the actual Shioon)

Fearful Shioon(crouched with his head in his hands): Why did you bring me out ?! I don’t want to be seen or talk , leave me alone!

Shioon( Calmly): You know why. I need to confront you.

Fearful Shioon ( suddenly screaming): You are seeking my destruction!

Shioon ( colder): If it is necessary….

Fearful Shioon( with a tortured voice bordering on histeria):I knew it! You still think that I am some kind of defect in your personality but I ma the one that actually kept you alive!

Shioon ( a little disturbed): Kept me alive? If I had listened to you I would still be Changho’s little bitch.

Fearful Shioon: And would that be so bad?It would only be until we graduated then we could’ve lived a quiet peaceful life.

Shioon ( with rising anger): Don’t you have any shame? What kind of life would this be? The life of a slave. No worse than that the life of a miserable creature that would sell out his own childhood friend to be abused? Do you think I forgot that I almost betrayed Saehee because of you at the time?

Fearful Shioon( with a deadpan stare): Better she than us.

(Shioon suddenly exploded in rage and threw a soul crushing strike directly at his face, but the fearful Shioon used a foot technique to evade him )

Shioon:[he can use my techniques and has the same speed…]

Fearful Shioon( panicking): You really want to destroy me ,huh?! I won’t let you!

Shioon: Get back here!

(He tried catching up to Fearful Shioon with “ foot technique : Jin” but he was able to dodge him and anticipate his approaches)

Fearful Shioon: Leave me alone! Leave me alone!

Shioon(frustrated) :[ Why can’t I catchup to him? He anticipates everything I do.]

(After a little time Shioon out of breath stopped chasing him and he started talking again)

Fearful Shioon: You feel strong right? You feel invincible but it is a miracle we are still alive with you at our helm!

Shioon: What do you mean?

Fearful Shioon: Are you serious? Don’t you remember how many time you fought to the death?! How many time we could have died?! How many time did you put us in mortal danger?!

Shioon (unimpressed) : I did what needed to be done in order to protect my friends and to stop those who would harm us.

Fearful Shioon: And how did it work? Don’t you remember that you died not so long ago? Don’t you?

Shioon(avoiding his eyes) :…I didn’t die.

Fearful Shioon: Oh! But I beg to differ! Don’t you remember him?

(Beside Fearful Shioon Appeared a fully transformed Mikhail who suddenly charged at Shioon)

Shioon( surprised): What?

( He dodged Mikhail punch and tried to retaliate but his own blows didn’t move him and he slammed him on the floor with a throw instead, making him cough blood.)

______________________________(In real life)_________________________________________

(Shioon had blood dripping from his mouth. Alerting Lone wolf and Demon heart)

Ryuji: Dammit it doen’t seem to go well.

Demon heart: The demon of fear is fighting with everything he has.

Ryuji: Shall we bring him back?

Demon heart: We can’t, especially now. Only he can bring himself back and if we try to force it, we might bring back the demon instead.

Ryuji: So what can we do?

Demon heart: Nothing, we can just wait and hope for the best.

____________________________(in the incarnate illusion)_______________________________

( Shioon rolled over to avoid being trampled. Mikhail pursued relentlessly but Shioon managed to dodge everything using qi reading, none of his counterattacked could move him tho. )

Fearful Shioon: He killed us! We were only brought back by eternal qi and you are currently trying to get read of it! And I know that you plan to fight him again later, Are you suicidal?

Shioon ( Still dodging Mikhail): I have no choice regarding eternal qi as you know very well! And I do not plan to fight him but if we are to oppose Kaiser we will have to face him again.

Fearful Shioon: Why?! Why oppose him? He wants us to work for him we would be safe as his underling!

Shioon( still dodging but revolted): You’re insane! After all that he did to everyone? After what he did to Cynthia and what he is currently trying to do with Sosul?!

Fearful Shioon: But at least we would be safe!

Shioon ( insisting): You don’t even know that! He has no qualm about killing his own subordinates when they run out of use!

Fearful Shioon( delirious from paranoia): She is lying to have us help her with her vengeance!

Shioon:[I can’t get through to him he isn’t rational at all. And while I can dodge Mikhail I can’t damage him. The other me is anticipating my own attacks but doesn’t seem to concentrate while we talk, maybe I can use this] You are delusional. You think that running away to join kaiser will make us safer? It will simply isolate us and make us easy targets to him.

( while talking he was retreating from Mikhail while subtly getting nearer of the other shioon.)

Fearful Shioon( even more paranoid) : No! No! No! Then I will simply run and hide away far from all of this. Maybe in Brazil or the US.

Shioon( Still slowly getting closer while dodging): If you think it is out of his reach you are dreaming. The only think that shield us right now is coolguy and our contacts.

Fearful shioon ( closing his eyes in denial):Shut up!everything is your fault! If you just stopped making waves and putting your nose in everything: we wouldn’t be targeted like that !

Shioon( his back right in front of him now):It is our initial cowardice who put us into this situation to begin with.

Fearful Shioon( still eyes closed and screaming): SHUT UP!

( Shioon dodged a Furious punch from Mikhail aimed at his head but then ended his course in the unprotected face of the Fearful Shioon, sending him to the ground. Mikhail disappeared right after and Shioon took the opportunity to pin fearful Shioon and threatening him with his fist)

Fearful shioon: You brute! You are trying to get rid of me because I am a deadweight! You are no better than changho and the others!

(Shioon gave it a pause and thought. Then he rose to his feet a,d offered a hand to his fearful self. Unsure fearful Shioon finally accepted)

Shioon: I do not try to get read of you but I cannot allow you so much power as to control me in my moments of vulnerability. I am sometimes overcompensating with my recklessness due to having been a coward for so long and it did put us in danger. I also admit that had I been courageous before meeting goomoonryong it would’ve only brought me pain since I was physically incapable of getting better. Rejecting you totally is wrong I recognize that and accept that you will always be a part of me.

(Fearful Shioon looked shocked for a moment but soon a smile of relief brightened his face resulting in his disappearance in cloud of luminous smoke)

______________________________(in real life)_________________________________________

(black smoke escaped from shioon’s mouth )

Ryuji: What’s happening?

Demon heart ( smiling): It’s a good sign, the is bad qi that accumulated in his mu point, it means that he defeated the Demon of fear, which mean process works. It must happen four times more.

_____________________________(in the illusion incarnate)______________________________

( Shioon retook his meditating position )

Shioon: Ok now I need to guide my qi toward the Juque point in the heart, then the Demon of Desire will appear.

(As he executed himself an other Shioon came out of him. This one was slightly older , sure of himself and arrogant with a charming smile and a dominant posture , he was wearing the same clothes as goomoonryong)

Shioon of Desire: Looking to purge me? It would be a shame since I am what you actually want deep down.

( Shioon cautiously got up )

Shioon( in a neutral tone ) : And what do I actually want?

Shioon of Desire ( with a bright smile): You know it yourself very well.

( before the interrogating look on SHioon’s face he continued), to be the strongest of course! To show Goomoonryong that you are better than he will ever be and that everything he did you will do better.

Shioon: Oh really?

Shioon of Desire: Of course. Look how strong and charismatic we became , and I am not just talking about martial art…

( suddenly Jinie in her old maid outfit appeared at his right, Sera in Hanbok appeared at his left and Haru in her white robe appeared behind him and Saehee in her school uniform in front of him)

Shioon ( flustered and incredulous): WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?!

[End of the chapter]

( In the tent, after 7 hours of operation Shioon was approaching his limits as it was the first time he had to manage eternal qi for so long. He was constantly on the verge of blacking out..)

Demon heart: Hey keep the flow of qi steady!

Shioon(coming back to his senses): Yes!

(Heo won jae was too focused to notice the exchange as he seemed to have great difficulties)

Heo won jae:[Alright the meridian is at the good size and connected and I do not feel residual qi leaking so it is hermetic, now we need to strengthen it but we have no time for that even with all the herbs and drugs I am using. So we have no choice I will have to physically strengthen it through Alchemy] Bring the half-pot and the gauntlet to me.

(he put the half-pot on the area between the two needles)

Heo won jae: Everyone, we are reaching the final stage of the operation. I will now use alchemy at to strengthen the formed meridian but to do so I will need to inject a high amount of qi in the area which will combined with the drugs reestablish the meridian circuit entirely. It will disturb the qi flow in his body so be prepared to maintain it at all cost.

Demon heart: I am …

Shioon ( exhausted but firm): Yeah me too.

( as he said that his environment turned black and the immortal demon lord appeared beside of him)

Immortal demon lord: Didn’t I tell you before that I would take your body if you kept using my qi?

Shioon: I need it to save my friend.

Immortal demon lord: Very noble of you yet it changes nothing. With all you used and your depleted spirit I shall take your body now.

( he raised his hand to grab shioon)

Shioon: If you do that my master will destroy my body and then both of us dies. We are in the open so your qi will simply dissipate in the air. Your choice.

( after a moment of hesitation the immortal demon lord disappeared , the entire scene returned as if only a second passed)

Heo won jae : Oi shioon? Are you alright?

Shioon: Yes we can continue!

( heo won jae proceeded with his instruments , Disturbing the concentration of Demon heart but he held on and maintained the regularity of the immortal qi. The half pot started to glow as Heo won jar was injecting his own qi inside of it through his gauntlet)

Heo won jae: Almost…almost…

( then suddenly the entire tent was illuminated in a flash of light while ji gun’s body trembled briefly but violently)

Heo won jae( exhausted and out of breath): Okay… now stand ready Master Ma young sik. You will interrupt your injection of eternal qi the moment I pull out the needles, then your role and Shioon’s in all will be done.

(Demon heart nodded)

So at three. One. Two. Three!

( He pulled out the needles as Demon heart stepped away from the operating table. Shioon collapsed immediately after the end of the ordeal)

Ryuji: Shioon! Are you alright?

Shioon ( with a weakened voice): Yes do not worry I am still me. More importantly…Ji gun how is he?

Heo won jae ( as he was making ji gun swallow pills): Can’t say yet. We must wait to see if his qi pulse returns.

Shioon ( worried): what do you mean? He lost it ?

Heo won jae: Yes but it was expected…initially at least, it must come back on it’s own within the next three minute.

Shioon: And if it does not?

Heo won jae: Then I am sorry but there is nothing more we can do.

Shioon ( panicking): What about the eternal qi?

Heo won jae: We can’t use it on him it would just rupture his meridian again since it is so powerful. The Meridian is formed but need strengthening so the qi stream for now must be as moderate as possible.

Shioon( in schock): So he might be already dead?

Heo won jae: His body is intact so it’s in his hands now.

Shioon ( screaming): Ji gun! Ji gun! Wake up! Are you going to abandon so easily after having fought this wound for years?! Don’t you fucking die on me!

______________________________( in ji gun’s psyche)__________________________________

(Ji gun stand in the dark)

Ji gun: Where am I?

(Is voice echoed infinitely in the void)

Ji gun: Am I already dead? I remember nothing.

(as his sentence ended , flashes of his memories appeared in bubbles far from him, memories of his past as a disciple of the shin lim school , memories of him training with his older disciple brother, holding a sword for the first time. Ji gun followed them as a light far away was illuminating his surroundings.)

Shioon’s voice: WAKE UP JI GUN!

Ji gun(disoriented): Shioon? Where are you?

Eunji kim: Ji gun you can’t give up!

Shioon’s voice: Is this how the story of the smiling blade ends? Wake up!

Ji gun: No I am not going anywhere! Where are you?

(following Shioon’s and Eunji’s voices he got farther from the light heading toward the darkness)

______________________________(back in reality)____________________________________

Ji gun( suddenly waking , grasping for air and screaming): AAAAAHHH!

Heo won jae( trying to restain him and calm him down): It’s okay! It’s okay! You’re back!

( around him Eunji and Shioon were holding his hands and crying)

Heo won jae: That’s right breathe slowly. You must not gitate Yousef or all our work would have been in vain.

Ji gun: What happened? I no longer feel like before.

Heo won jae: The operation went well, and your qi flow as tenous as it is resumed. You will enter the recuperation phase in which your new meridian will gradually strengthen until it is as sturdy as the rest.

Ji gun : How long?

Heo won jae: Probably three weeks. In that amount of time you are to restrain yourself from any use of martial arts and unlike this one ( looking at shioon) you are to heed my warning no matter what.

Ji gun: Three weeks. [So much time? I guess that even if my body is healed my meridians will remain fragile for the rest of my life, I will never get past the stage of master. Oh well that’s already better than dying.]

Heo won jae : At least. Maybe your body will be ready before but I have to be careful since your meridians are of an abnormally large size.

Ji gun (surprised): What do you mean?

(Shioon seemed interested too)

Heo won jae: From what I heard you wounded yourself while attempting to stretch your meridians right? Well you actually succeeded but in the final stage of the process you lost concentration and wounded yourself from qi deviation. But now that your meridian is healed you effectively achieved the stage of expanded meridians. Once your qi reserves are fully replenished you will have the body of a real master.

(Ji gun was at a loss of words but started crying and slowly bowed his head in gratitude)

Ji gun( styl crying): Thank you… to everyone thank you!

(Ji gun was installed inside the wood cabin in rested there as the others went to sleep. In the night Demon heart and Ryuji talked outside beside a campfire.)

Demon heart: I honored my part of the bargain. What about you now?

Ryuji: We will start the attempts int two days once Shioon is well rested. Did you find a proper cave?

Demon heart: My men have found one not too far away. I sincerely hope that this works.

Ryuji: I hope so too. What are his chances?

Demon heart: I don’t know. Usually the process take years but the method of black heaven school( hyunchunqigong) may be the original method that my master used so it can be achieved very quickly. Still, it is unprecedented so there is no way to know beforehand.

Ryuji: You knew my master Unwol in his youth right? How was he?

Demon heart:…Devoted? I think it is the best term for him. He would’ve done about anything for those he loved. Loyal too, he didn’t forget the debt he had to us so he stood against our execution.

Ryuji( smiling the whole time): Did you see him often?

Demon heart: he came to us as a child as you know but aside from that we only met sparingly as we were at war.

Ryuji: Did you have a lot of contact in the alliance? The chief wants to reinstate us as part of it but I do not trust him.

Demon heart: As you should, the alliance was always a structure easily corrupted as it was first build on the interest of the main clans and the government and not on honor and loyalty as it pretended. I think we joining them in name may not be too bad of the thing at first but never forget that they seek your control not your well being. Personally I have one clan in particular to destroy beside kaiser.

Ryuji ( frowning): Which one?

Demon heart: The clan Hogi. Their ancestors betrayed the empress Myungsung that my master served and they participated in his entombment according to Shioon.

They will get what they deserve.

Ryuji: I see but doing that will make you an enemy of the alliance.

Demon heart: We already are. I do not think the Alliance will last long anyway considering the announcement yesterday.

Ryuji:…you may be right.

______________________________________( the next day)_______________________________

(Shioon, Eunji, Aera and Ji gun were gathered inside of Haru’s room eating breakfast)

Ji gun(almost choking on his toast): The Alliance Chief announced what ?

Eunji kim: You heard me, a new shinmujengpe .

Ji gun(still incredulous): Next year?

Eunji kim: Yes. I was as surprised as you. It totally was out of the blue.

Shioon: Well…Not quite.

(Everyone turned their eyes towards him )

Shioon: It was I and my master who …heavily suggested the Alliance chief to announce the tenure of a shinmujengpe.

Eunji kim ( completely schocked): You?! But how?...When?...Who

Ji gun ( interrupting): I think what she tries to ask is, Since when do you have that kind of bargaining power with the old snake.

Eunji kim: THIS!

Shioon: It was a condition for the adhesion of hyun wun moon to the alliance and our help in their time of need.

(Ji gun and Eunji were even more schocked. Ji gun quickly looked toward Haru who was listening to the conversation without interrupting)

Shioon ( following his gaze): Do not worry she already knew beforehand.

Ji gun: I see.. but is it really safe to speak with her listening?

Shioon: We are on the same boat now. Kaiser will want her dead as much as me since she was captured.

Ji gun: That doesn’t make it safe. She may bargain her freedom with our lives and secrets.

Shioon: She may but it was a possibility for the immortal sect and Heo won jae too. Yet I was right in trusting them until now, wasn’t I?

Ji gun ( frowning): It isn’t the same thing. The immortal sect is an isolated faction who is enemy with pretty much everyone and Heo won jae sensei was already targeted directly by black forrest defense.

Shioon: So it will have to come to this, isn’t it? You will only trust her when Black forrest defense will publicly try to kill her.

Ji gun(thinking it over): Honestly? Yes. And you can’t fault me for that she is a master spy and information merchant , she literally is a professional liar. But hey you know what? I owe too much to your good intuition until now Shioon so I will just follow it once again. Just…be careful with her OK?

Shioon: Thank you I will.

(Haru looked at them discussing her)

Ji gun: By the way what are we doing with her?

Shioon: The ghost doctor will come tomorrow to pull out the needles and from now on she will stay with me so that I can intervene if she is up to something suspicious.

Haru (talking for the first time): Oh so we will always be together like couple, huh?

Shioon ( exasperated): Not like a couple like a prisoner.

Ji gun( mischievous ): Shioon I must be honest , it does sound like a couple.

Shioon: What?! Not you too!

Aera( upset): Why does she get that treatment? You barely spend any time with me.

Haru: Jealous are we?

Aera: Of course you homewrecker!

Eunji( a little red): I do not think it is a good idea to let you alone with her so I shall stay with you too.

Aera:Me Too!

Ji gun(dumbfounded) :[Damn that guy really is a chick magnet…poor Jinie….and Sera….and Saehee.]

Shioon(appeasing): Now that I think about it we can just all stay together. I have to stay in hiding and lay low for now anyway. Plus I have special training to start.

Ji gun( still teasing him): And now this looks like a harem.

Haru( unamused): Are you part of that harem Smiling blade?

Eunji( cold): He may soon be the eunuch if he keeps making this kind of joke.

Aera : Shall we use his sword ?

Ji gun ( alerted): Hey! Hey! Don’t even joke about this I can’t even defend my self.

(Shioon laughed quietly at the antics)

Ji gun: Anyway that means Your clan is now officially rejoining the alliance?

Shioon ( serious again): Yes.

Ji gun: That’s a serious upset too. I don’t know how the rest of the alliance will see it.

Shioon: A lot of them lost their standing since they refused to send help during this crisis and since we prevented the Alliance to crumble a lot of clans will see it favorably.

Ji gun: Still…it is technically the clan who…

Shioon ( somber): Birthed Goomoonryong I know.[Goomoonryong , I wonder how he reacted to the news]

_______________________________(Far from there in the Arabic region)__________________

(In a luxurious looking building  located in a city surrounded by desert , goomoonryong was reading the immortal demon lord book while the rest of his team was relaxing  near a pool on the roof top.)

Sophia( in bikini): The Prince spared no expense for us.

Goomoonryong ( still reading): He better…Those rebels were damn tough and I doubt his pathetic army could’ve handled them without our intervention.

Sophia: I guess so. But that’s good for us Boss, one more source of direct cash that doesn’t have to transit through black forrest defense group.

Goomoonryong: The world grows more unstable each day so our clients will multiply without a doubt. But do not forget that money alone means nothing, it must be converted into infrastructure , ressources , manpower. And that can only be done gradually if you don’t want to be infiltrated.

Sophia ( excited): So you really are planning to make a move on ka…

(Goomoonryong’s killer gaze prevented her to finish her sentence)

Goomoonryong: I am preparing for future clients, nothing more nothing less, understood?

Sophia ( stiff): Yes sir!

(Goomoonryong resumed his reading)

Sophia( trying to change subject): So…about the announcement for the next shinmujengpe.

Goomoonryong: hmm?

Sophia: What do you think of it boss.

Goomoonryong: It is a desperate maneuver to replenish their ranks.

Sophia: Oh…so you will not attend it?

Goomoonryong( with a ferocious smile): I didn’t say that either. The cream of the crop of the murim will be there, the young ones too. It will be the ideal event to recruit those willing and eliminate the rest. The old commandment in particular has to go.

Sophia: Your old disciple Shioon will probably be there.

Goomoonryong: Yes since you confirmed his livelihood.

Sophia:…what are the orders regarding him.

Goomoonryong: I will deal with him myself. If the fight at the prison and your recollections of his last prowess is any indication , he grew far too strong for any of you guys.

Sophia:…[You sound so proud boss. There is no way that you will kill him, in fact seeing his sudden surge of power , it is very probable that he will end up killing you.]

_____________________________(two day later in a cave)_______________________________

(Shioon was meditating in the middle of vast vaulted chamber inside the cave, Ryuji , ghost doctor and Demon heart were observing him while ji gun, Haru, heo won jae, eunji and Aera were standing a little farther away.)

Ji gun: So that’s the training he was talking about?

Haru:[Shioon could it be that you are seeking to control “That” form?]

Ghost doctor: I can’t believe how reckless this attempt looks like.

Demon heart: Grandmaster we really had no more time anyway. But I do recognize that it is extremely dangerous. If he fails we may see him become a demon then we will have choice than killing him.

( Ghost doctor looked at Ryuji who nodded)

Ghost doctor: God damnit. That boy better not fail!

______________________________(Inside shioon’s incarnate illusion technique)__________

Shioon :[Okay so now I need to guide my qi toward the Jingmen point between the kidneys.]

( As he proceeded, an other him walked out of his astral body , it was the him from before he met goomoonryong. He was in his school uniform , badly bruised and trembling, with crazed terrified eyes looking directly at Shioon)

[end of the chapter]

(In the Wood Cabin Shioon was still talking to Haru)

Haru( surprised): He beat you?

Shioon( uneasy): Left me for dead. You didn’t know?

Haru: I knew you clashed and you were reported as dead but since you later proved to be very much alive I assumed the reports were false.

Shioon: They were not, he did manage to wound me mortally wen I was in the state of “Black origin threshold”…If I remember well he entered a similar state. Although I may be mistaken since I only remember vaguely.

Haru: Ah…He probably entered “berserker state” not “ Black Origin threshold”. I understand better.

Shioon ( puzzled): Berserker state?

Haru: Yes… As I said earlier Mikhail and Daniel are special cases. Kaiser found them as natural qi users.

Shioon: Yes you did say that earlier but…how is that even possible?

Haru: Their Bloodline. You see in Europe, Africa and the middle east some Martial clans had a very specific way of raising stronger and stronger martial artists and it is through eugenics and the breeding of different Bloodlines. In antiquity they were seen as demi gods and in the middle ages as monsters. I am pretty sure that mythical creatures such as Werewolves , vampires, trolls, Zombies…and yes Berserkers comes from it. Daniel and Mikhail are the last known specimens of those “ monsters” which is why kaiser believes that properly raised they can even surpass goomoonryong.

Shioon( understanding): So they are another problem. Come to think of it, They were probably send because one of the opponents in the Hyun wun moon temple would be Grandmaster Shin the Alliance chief…Yes everything make sense.

Haru:…You need to be careful Shioon because Kaiser also wants to recruit you as a potential candidate to kill Goonoonryong.

Shioon ( utterly surprised ): Me?

Haru: yes it was why he wanted me to recruit you. He even gave you a code name: “ Dragon Slayer”

Shioon( chuckling in irony): What a joke …as if I would ever fight for him.

Haru( looking at him ): Again you need to be careful…Kaiser has his own way to convince people.

Shioon( in disgust): Yes I know, he threatens your relatives. So what? Who will he threaten? My mom? She is already…She is no longer here.

Haru:…What about that Childhood friend of yours Saehee.

Shioon: She is already hidden away under a false name. I made sure that no one could trace her back and she is constantly in contact with members of the Shinyup clan. I can’t do more.

Haru: I see that you already thought about it.

Shioon: Well it is one of my worst fear.Hostages situation are never easy to handle.

Haru: Yeah. I guess.

Shioon: To change subject…How strong exactly is that Mikhail? You said he was kaiser’s weapon against Goomoonryong but is there credibility to this…

Haru: He and Daniel are dangerous and in your current state if I were to judge you from our fight, they would kill you. Goomoonryong however is a completely different beast, and while both of them together would certainly pose difficulties, he would probably beat them.

( Suddenly Heo won jae opened the door )

Heo won jae: Shioon sorry to interrupt but Ji gun arrived. And he is in a worse state than predicted, we can’t wait anymore.

Shioon( surprised at first but regaining his composure almost immediately):Alright. Ok lead the way. (to Haru) We will talk later.

(They ran to the sterilized tent and Shioon greeted Ryuji his master and Demon heart while they washed and equipped before entering. It seemed that Ji gun was already in a coma , lying unconscious on the operating table.)

Heo won jae: Master Demon heart and Shioon. Your task is first and foremost to keep him alive at any cost for at least the next six hours without creating a qi flux through the “Ren mai”(concepting vessel) meridian.

Shioon( nervous): How will we do that? Is is even possible? The Ren mai is one the four great meridian connected to the dantian.

Demon heart ( unimpressed): It is possible through a careful usage of the “air bridging” technique of the immortal school that I will use. But maintaining it for six hours? There lies the true challenge. Brace yourself boy it won’t be easy.

Heo won jae: Good, I already placed two needles in between those points for your technique as you asked.

Demon heart: Now here is how we will proceed Shioon so listen well. You will pour Eternal qi in me for the next six hours in a slow yet steady stream who shall never be interrupted. I will manage that eternal qi by pouring in Ji gun in the right way as the Sun and moon young master asked.

Shioon(nervous): Ok …Fiouu…Ok.

(Ryuji patting his shoulder)

Ryuji( reassuring): Relax, you can do it. If you put your mind into something nothing is impossible, Ok?

Shioon ( steadying up): Yes master.

( They all took place. Ji gun in the center of the tent on the table, Demon heart was beside him his hand on Ji gun’s torso while the other was managing the air bridging technique above the two needles, between those two needles Heo won jae was using diverse tools and medical substances managed by his two assistants to heal the internal wound. Behind Demon heart, Shioon was injecting eternal qi into Demon hearts through his hands on Demon heart’s back)

Heo won jae ( while working):[ As I feared , his meridian is completely severed and since it has not been treated for so long, what is left is highly deteriorated . It isn’t salvageable in this state so first I must dissolve the remnants then use the rest as an ingredient to recreate an entirely new meridian through alchemy. It will take all night, no time to waste ]

…Some hours later.

( heo won jae was still highly concentrated on the task while shioon was starting to lose focus)

Demon heart: Shioon! Your qi flow has been weakening, get a hold of yourself!

Shioon ( struggling to stay conscious): Y…yes![Damn it I have more and more difficulties, as if the Immortal Demon lord was trying to take me over. No I must resist! Ji gun’s life is hanging there!]

Ryuji:[I can feel that you have more difficulties holding him back but rest assured that if it were to happen I will keep my word and destroy your body to save your soul.]

Heo won jae(struggling):[The damaged vessel’s remain are dissolved but the alchemy didn’t even begin to take off. Why? Wait… Maybe it’s not matching the other meridian’s size. He did say that he was in the middle of stretching out his meridians so if he did manage to do so , they are at a different size from what is expected. Then I must first discover at which stage he was before starting the alchemical process.] Sorry everyone but it will probably take longer than six hours.

_________________________________(outside of the tent)______________________________

( Aera and Eunji kim were waiting outside with the rest of the immortal clan who came as guards.)

Aera: So the operation began.

Eunji kim( Highly worried): Yes. It is the first time that I saw ji gun in such a state, usually he is so jovial and carefree …

Aera: I only knew first met him some days ago but yes he did always seem like the happy go lucky type.

Eunji kim: Who are you by the way?

Aera: I am Aera, a friend of Ji gun , Shioon and Coolguy. And you?

Eunji kim: Eunji. I am also their friend…less so with Coolguy I guess.

Aera: Why is that?

Eunji: Him and our organization have a complicated history but…well we are allied more than friends.

Aera( puzzled but deciding to not push the issue): Are you part of the Shinyup clan he always talk about.

Eunji(proudly): Yes! I am one of the founding members and I hope one day this organization will be as big as the martial art alliance.

Aera( curious): Really? How did it start exactly? Ji gun always hold up on the details.

Eunji kim: Well first you need to understand how the murim system work. Basically old farts back eachothers up against the younger ones and establish stupid rules that put them on top of about everything in the name of “respect and traditions”. Oh and the moment someone decide to maybe…change some things to make it less rigid, they band together to crush the dissent. You understand?

Aera:…Well that’s not too dissimilar from what I know from the real world either.

Eunji kim: Oh so they force you into death matches over perceived wrongs too?

Aera: No not exactly, what we have is something name trial and suing abusively to silence people. It is not a battle to the death but a rhetoric contest to decide who is right or wrong. The ones who is found guilty must got to jai lor pay a fine.

Eunji kim: Seems pretty fair.

Aera: Yes but yet again “ Who decide who is guilty”? I know that most of the time the one with the right connection , ideology or sum of money can easily buy the one who decide.

Eunji kim: Oh…So it is basically the same, connections and influence can buy you anything. Pretty unjust.

Aera: I learned in those last day that the world is unjust and justice can only exist if we force it to exist. Which is why subscribing to established rules isn’t always the right answer.

Eunji kim: Well said!

Aera: Then again how we go about it is still the most difficult part.

Eunji kim: Our answer was to create a group that would connect the young generation to act ourselves instead of relying on the old corrupt system.

Aera: And is it working.

Eunji kim: Well we had big victories in the last years. Along the sunwoo clan we were the ones who managed to prevent a terrorist group to blow up seoul while the old heads of the murim were cowering in fear.

Aera: Yeah the big black out from last year, I heard about it. So it was you.

Eunji kim( looking down in sadness): Yeah…Well like I said with the Sunwoo clan’s help while Shioon was the leader but we had a lot of losses and it is why we feel like we are owed more power and status within the murim since we are the ones that acted.

Aera: And is it happening?

Eunji ( frustrated): No not exactly. Our organization is recognized as useful but still Isolated outside of our strongest members like Shioon or well Ji gun. It is why powerful High profile young Masters like Shioon and Ji gun are so important. They are the ones who give us leverage.

(behind them a radio was crackling as immortal sect members were listening to the murim frequence)

Aera( distracted and curious): Hmm? Why are you listening to this?

Eunji kim ( answering before them): All murims listens to this frequence at this hour since it is the main way the alliance is communicating their official news. In fact each big clan or school has a specific canal.

Immortal clan goon: That’s true. And we heard that the Alliance was going to make a big announcement.

Eunji kim: Now that I think about it Shioon did mention that they were going to announce something too.

(Radio crackling again…)

Immortal clan goon: Shhh… it is starting!

Alliance Chief: My esteemed fellow murims I salute you. These last few days have been troubling but thanks to the members of the alliance, the help of the Sunwoo clan and the newly restored Hyun wun moon ( black heaven sect)’s reinforcements we managed to crush those responsible.

Of course those events led me to think about the future. The current murim is strong but we constantly need new talents and for the best talent to manifest we need to give them a chance and the proper fair ground to do so. Which is why I decided to announce the organization of the next Shinmujengpe for the next year at the Song hak jang ( verdiant crane school). Everyone as long as he is a martial artist is free to join and only the best shall prevail and reach the fame and power that comes with might.

( We have a mash up of every person in the murim reaction , Hyuk so chun is surprised, Jinie and ji gun are training and look to the side, The young masters of the shinyup clan assembled to her it at their HQ, The different munju seems all schocked,…And far away goomoonnryong is slowly grinning) 

___________________________(Far from here in a german castle)_______________________

(finger crossed in Front of him while his elbows resting on his desk. Kaiser was just finished listening to the announcement and was in deep thoughts)

Kaiser: Fascinating…I didn’t think he would go through with it.

Daniel (on the phone): Our affiliated clans are in turmoil right now. It came of as a surprise to everyone really. But…why would it be that big of a shock? Didn’t Kangsung the last Alliance chief already announce something similar last year?

Kaiser:…Kangsung for all his qualities is an idealistic idiot and a political illiterate. It is why the current Chief could easily use this “misstep” to overthrow him and retake his position, but that’s precisely why it is such a surprise. He built his return on gatekeeping the power from the younger generation and preserving the current old “traditional power”, but here he is providing a serious opportunity for the young generation to take positions of power within the alliance while endangering the power that key clans and schools have amassed. This move is basically alienating him his base of support.

Daniel:…Maybe he simply caught up on the fact that we already managed to turn most of the traditional members of the alliance and decided to have a turn-over as an answer?

Kaiser:…Maybe. [But regardless this is a monumental gamble since the young generation could still being defiant of him which would completely isolate the Alliance . That doesn’t look like the handy work of this man unless someone else forced him. But who? Kangsung? No too meek and respectful of the seniority. Hmm…wait a second.] During the announcement he said that Hyun wun moon joined them. What do we have on this?

Daniel: Oh yes! Our spies have seen Lee Shioon fighting for the alliance. He was also confiscating “ Crystals”, he probably joined the Alliance in retaliation to our little raid at their Schools sacred ground.

Kaiser:[And Haru still hasn’t reached to me about her mission. The hacker team said that the cameras surrounding sun and moon building were taken over by someone else earlier today and were subsequently disabled.] Too many coincidences.

Daniel: Elder?

Kaiser: Find what happened to Haru and trace down the whereabouts of Lee Shioon. From now on it becomes your top priority.

Daniel: Yes Master. What about the take over of the martial art alliance? What do I say to our partners.

Kaiser: Hold. The window of opportunity has passed. With this announcement the Alliance may see a lot of minor clans flocking to help them, the Hyun wun sect’s involvement with it and the fact I still do not have total control over the “ Little Princess” makes it too uncertain. On top of that we couldn’t get the Sun and moon leader to perfect the usage of the “ heavenly trace Crystal”. Too things went wrong. We may still succeed if we go through now but it would be a long grinding war that would result on a devastated and fragmented murim in no state to be used.

Do not forget, I want a quick smooth coup not a civil war.

Daniel: Understood Master. What are we to do with Thousand face if she happens to have been captured?

Kaiser:…Then she would have become a liability. Her blood will be yours to taste.

Daniel( a red reflection in his eyes): Thank you master.

[End of the chapter]

Since Ha-il mentioned about Sunwoo Clan swords arts, I thought the author should introduce a member of Sunwoo Clan that is a Master in sword styles. Btw this is AI generated tho.

(They arrived at a wood cabin. Heo won Jae , his two assistants and Eunji kim left the ambulance and the assistants helped Shioon get Haru out since she was still paralyzed by the heavenly binding needles. Eunji kim was using a cane to support her plastered broken foot.)

Heo won jae: So this is where it’s going to happen? I would’ve liked to examine Ji gun before hand to assess the severity of the problem.

Shioon: You will have time to do that once he arrives but all the masters that examined him say that it is already a miracle that he is still alive.

Heo won jae: Alright. (addressing his assistants) we will deploy the sterile tent in that zone ( he pointed out a grass area), make sure to smooth out the terrain before hand. No rocks or bumps, understood?

Assistants: Yes sir!

Eunji kim: Sterile tent?

Heo won jae: Yes , this kind of operation necessitate the utmost care and to reduce the source of contamination to an absolute minimum. We will wash the patient and personnel before they enter the tent.

Eunji kim: Why not just use the cabin.

Heo won jae ( almost offended at the idea): I just said that it necessitate the absolute minimum of contamination , this cabin is obviously too dirty! Cleaning it to the standard needed would take days!

Eunji kim: Ok! Ok! Just asking.

(After that Heo won jae looked at thousand face haru)

Heo won jae: What are we doing with her?

Shioon: The needles cannot be removed by anyone except Master ghost doctor so we will install her inside the cabin in a chamber and make sure she is treated well.

Heo won jae: I thought you wanted to give her to the immortal sect for interrogation?

Shioon: Things have changed. I no longer want her to be interrogated, she promised to be cooperative so there is no further need to mistreating her.

Heo won jae ( puzzled): I mean… Are you sure what she says is trust worthy?[What happened during that hour behind the ambulance?]

Shioon: It will be easy to verify anyway.

Heo won jae: Can I talk to you in private?

Shioon: Of course.

( Haru watched them walk away without any expression)

Eunji kim: So you got captured after all. The mighty captain of the SUC Thousand face Haru got captured.

Haru ( turning her attention toward her): Eunji Kim, if I remember well you were a part of that little operation to apprehend the good doctor. What are you gloating for?

Eunji kim : You know quite well that I was trapped. Thankfully Shioon understood and got me out of this situation.

Haru ( with a smile): Yes Shioon is a very comprehensive man.

Eunji kim: Too comprehensive maybe, I saw how ruthless he could be but at heart he is good person… Which you are not.

Haru( losing her smile): I am quite aware of that , what’s your point?

Eunji kim: Aren’t you using his good heart to try and get away Scott free? We of the Shinyup ( new justice) group aren’t forgotten the nightmare that it was to deal with an enemy that could take the face of our most beloved comrades.

Haru:..Once again what’s your point?

(Eunji Kim looked around but everyone was either busy preparing the tent or discussing on the side. She pulled and handkerchief and used it to gag haru and prevent her from screaming)

Eunji kim:…I heard that those needles could only be pulled out safely by ghost doctor one of the ten grandmaster…But what happens if it is unsafely pulled out? Which person’s safety is at risk? Yours probably.

(She slowly grabbed one needle on haru’s abdomen and was about to pull)

Haru ( with eyes revulsed from pain with a muffled scream):!!!!!!!

Eunji kim: Consider it payback for my comrades that you helped kill.

_____________(some moments before , the discussion between shioon and Heo won jae)______________________________________________________________________________

Shioon: So what is that about?

Heo won jae: …What did she promise you exactly?

Shioon: Everything. She was Black forrest defense’s top spy and has tons of information about them that we couldn’t even dream of finding by ourselves.

Heo won jae(skeptical): And you consider those informations to be relevant and true becauuuuse ?

Shioon: She failed two mission back to back and got captured, her employer will want her dead so her best chance is to cooperate with us right now.

Heo won jae ( understanding but still cautious): …Are you sure that there is nothing else that she did or say to make you more …agreeable?

Shioon ( puzzled ): What are you insinuating?

Heo won jae ( trying to not offend him): I mean…Look I get it, she is a beautiful woman and you were alone with her for hours so…

Shioon ( ice cold): Nothing of this sort happened, or even began to happen , please stop even imagining it happened.

Heo won jae( apologetic): Ok!Ok!Ok! But man try to understand me!You were the one who was the most cautious and harsh around her but suddenly you are being really kind and open with her!

Shioon: I know it’s just that…

(Suddenly Shioon stopped and noticed a wave of pain coming from Haru)

Shioon( acting almost on instinct): What are you doing?!!!!!!!

(in a flash he grabbed Eunji kim’s hand and prevented her from pulling the needle. Eunji was surprised and looked like a kid that was caught in doing some minor foolery.)

Shioon ( in a cold commanding voice): Let it go now.

Eunji ( scared but rebellious): Why? Why are you protecting her like this?

Shioon ( calmly but firmly): I will answer you and we can talk about this but understand that if you do not release that needle in the next five second , you will lose that hand, do you understand?

(She obeyed with a mixture of anger and fear with even a shade of jealousy, Shioon in turn released her hand and she took a step back. Now that the situation wasn’t life threatening anymore Shioon tried to diffuse it by explaining himself.)

Shioon ( with a tired voice) : As I said to the leader of sun and moon school I am protecting her because she is an unprecedented source of information in our fight against black forest defense group. And I cannot overstate how much we need that information, until now we have been essentially chasing ghosts and shooting in the dark with no guarantee of success. With her we have a true chance …

Eunji ( unconvinced): She isn’t trustworthy! What if she is just feeding you false informations or worse, what if she is leading you into a trap?

Shioon (Conceiding): I know, and that’s a risk that I am willing to take.

Eunji ( insisting): It isn’t only your life that you are putting at stake but ours too! You are recklessly…

Shioon( in a still calm but definitive voice): Enough.

( Eunji interrupted herself , sensing that she went a too far)

Shioon: I understand your concerns but please do not ever assume that I do not take the security of my friends seriously.

Eunji ( a little ashamed of herself): That’s not what I meant…

Shioon: Understood then this debate is over.

( Heo won jae joined them during the discussion but stood silent as he wanted to hear Shioon’s answers too)

Heo won jae: I see…[It is true that we cruelly lack information on the enemy and SHioon’s gambles have all paid off until now. Still I can’t shake the feeling that this woman has some kind of hold on him…Or is it me projecting my own story with Shio?] Shall I transport her inside ?

Shioon( relieved that the conversation was over ): yes I am going with you since I have to talk to her too.

( Eunji Still seemed confused and unsure of what to think. Noticing it Shioon put a hand on her shoulder)

Shioon: I understand your qualms and your desire for revenge, trust me I understand it better than any one. But we can’t allow ourselves to miss the bigger picture here. You were right to question me and I do not want you to stop but please trust a little more in my judgement.

(Eunji said nothing but looked like she felt some relief that Shioon understood her and didn’t hold a grudge. Once they entered the wood cabin Heo won jae left them to prepare for Ji gun’s operation)

Shioon ( taking away the handkerchief that was gagging Haru): Sorry I didn’t notice.

( Haru coughed a little then answered)

Haru: She is right, you know?

Shioon:hmm ?

Haru: I may very well deceive you and use you.

Shioon: You’re not. Stop pretending.

Haru:…You don’t know that.

Shioon: I know you enough by now. I felt your pain Cynthia and I don’t know why but I can still feel it. It’s how I knew you were in danger, It’s how I know that you regret your past , It’s how I share your hatred for kaiser. So please stop pretending.

Haru( looking away): But what I did in the past…

Shioon(interrupting): Wasn’t your fault, It was kaiser. Put that firmly in your head, you were his puppet and your own free will was altered.

Haru ( sincerely ashamed): Shioon…Your friends that got bombed by the SUC. I was the one that found them.

Shioon:…

Haru( looking into his eyes in sadness):I also heard of your mother’s death and that the SUC was behind her initial state. Shioon I am so…

(He interrupted her by Shioon gently putting his hand on her forehead visibly quite shook himself but trying to keep his composure)

Shioon(letting a single tear roll down his sorrowful face): You need to stop associating yourself with those tragedies. That was not you , end of it.

And I know that you have your own grief to digest. So please stop burdening yourself with that guilt because it is exactly the kind of tactic that Kaiser use to keep you chained, to hold you down to the level he wants you.

Haru(Touched but still hesitant): I will try but…

Shioon(interrupting her): And also I wanted to say. I am not keeping you prisoner…Once the ghost doctor come and release you from the needles, you can go. You can just escape start a new life far from this war. I will explain that I miscalculated.

Haru ( her face hardening suddenly):I can’t do that. My parents ghosts have been waiting all this time to be avenged. I won’t find peace until kaiser is taken down!

Shioon(smiling):…So it is settled then. How do we make that bastard pay?

Haru ( smiling in turn): Well, what do you want to know.

Shioon: Do you know his real identity.

Haru( her smile vanishing): Unfortunately, no. He uses multiple fake identities for official procedures. I don’t know his name, his age or his country of origin. I don’t think anybodies does honestly.

Shioon: Honestly…I do have some of these informations…

Haru( genuinely surprised): Really? How…

Shioon: I’ll explain later but let’s stay on the subject at hand. Where does he live.

Haru: He tend to change location regularly but he has a pronounced taste for german castles. I never met him outside of Germany.

Shioon:[It tracks with what I know of him] How many actual martial artist fighters does he have and what is their level?

Haru:…It’s complicated so follow me well. First Kaiser as the leader of black forrest defense has directly under his order around the same number of martial artist that the Alliance has so around fifty experts and ten masters.

Shioon ( almost disappointed): Really ? I expected way more.

Haru: It used to be much more and of higher quality but the higher rankers of the organization tried to ambush and kill Goomoonryong and they all got killed.

Shioon: Oh I see…

Haru: But wait as I said it just concerns black forrest defense. Kaiser control other specific organizations, For exemple the Dormant dragons.

Shioon: The dormant dragons?

Haru: Yes…a program which admitted use is to revive old forgotten martial arts from around the world like Europe , asia , Africa…., using goomoonryong as a source of data.

Shioon( utterly confused): Wait what? There are European martial arts… Wait before that what does it have to do with goomoonryong?

Haru: There were martial arts and martial society all over the world once. In Europe for exemple the entire nobility was martial artists who ruled over the common people instead of hiding like in Korea.

Shioon: Incredible. What happened?

Haru: The revolutions. In France with the help of gunpowder and renegade martial artists who embraced their ideals, the Martial society ruling over them was massacred starting 1789. This French army of common people armed with guns and Martial artist then conquered and purged all of Europe of their martial nobility under the leadership of napoleon until is final defeat more than twenty years later.

After that there were few martial line left but they still existed and generally served in the military. And the European colonial powers used this kind of army to purge Africa , south asia and south America of their martial societies too.

Then the world wars ( world war one in particular) achieved to make the last masters of those arts disappear.

Shioon:[World war one? But Kaiser lived that war and he did mention that his family was of german nobility. We have something there] Do we know if there are still some martial clans in Germany?

Haru: No they all got extinct. There are maybe one or two schools in France, Ireland and Great Britain but all the rest got exterminated as far as I know. Outside of Europe tho , quite a lot survived in south America and South Asia. Indonesia in particular has a comparable number of martial artist clan and master as your murim ( one per Island I think), I even heard that the current secret royal heir of indonesia is at the same level as the ten grandmasters.

 Shioon(suddenly realizing how little information he actually had about the world before) : Really? So why doesn’t kaiser try to take them over.

Haru: He did try but they are much , much more difficult to infiltrate than the murim since they are fanatically devoted to a unique leader and are not dependents to the current government of Indonesia. If anything it is the other way around. The current prince didn’t appreciate his efforts to try and sway the clans to his side and ordered that anyone linked to kaiser wasn’t welcome in his country and would be executed on the spot.

Shioon: Impressive.

Haru: Yeah they are next on Kaiser’s priority once the murim is taken over.

Shioon: Ok , ok all of that is very impressive but what does it have to do with the Dormant dragons and goomoonryong?

Haru: Essentially Goomoonryong proved again and again that he was the strongest martial artist on earth and Kaiser wants to use him as a foil to recreate original martial arts through trial and errors.

Shioon: Trial and errors?

Haru: Yes…it means that they are making them learn experimental techniques and methods and put them to the test . Those who survive and thrive confirms the method or techniques as usable, the others either dies from the attempt or are grieviously wounded and discarded.

Shioon ( disgusted but not surprised):…Yes that’s what Kaiser would do.

Haru: Originally there were thousands of subjects but now there are only around nine left. And from what I heard you fought them recently.

Shioon What? When?

Haru: Didn’t you get attacked while training in the Hyun wun moon temple?

Shioon ( remembering): Those were the guys who attacked us?!

Haru : Yes and you need to be careful with them because those guys are all at least advanced master level, some are real master level. But Daniel and Mikhail are the best by far, those two are reputed to be special since Kaiser found them naturally able to use qi. It seems they are currently preparing to face Goomoonryong in the future.

Shioon:…Wait among those is there a tall guy with long white hairs ?

Haru: yes it’s Mikhail, why?

Shioon(with a grave face): He is the one that defeated me last time…

___________________________( back outside)_________________________________________

( The immortal sect was arriving with lone wolf and a very weakened Ji gun)

Heo won jae(surprised): Oh. You must be the immortal sect and you are…

Ryuji: I am shioon’s current master.

Heo won jae: Oh right he talked about you. And I assume you are Master Demon heart.

Demon heart(with a cold gaze): Quite pleased to meet you young master of the Sun and moon school.

(Heo won jae could feel the tension between these two powerful masters)

Heo won jae( uneasy): I…I didn’t wait you until tomorrow.

Ryuji: As you can see we couldn’t wait anymore.

( He showed ji gun , who lost a lot of weight and looked as pale as a corpse. Worried Heo won jae examined him)

Heo won jae ( taking his professional tone): I see. We need to do it now.( to his assistants) Tell Shioon to come here , we are starting the operation.

[end of the chapter]

Especially the first episode, the K-drama "Teach you a lesson" made me dream about a live action of The Breaker first season... check it

Hello, I made some images of the last chapter ( and one of the general arc ) so that you can see what I had in mind. If You like it.

(the scene that he witnessed horrified Shioon to the highest point, He took both of the sobbing girls into his arms while the scene was continuing: Kaiser approached Haru still in the water and standing still.)

Kaiser: Why are you crying?

Memory Haru( still like in a trance): Because I killed my mommy and my dadd…

Kaiser (interrupting her with his qi charged voice): No.

(Memory Haru violently straightened up as if she was suddenly binded)

Memory Haru ( with a fearful voice coming from far away): What?

Kaiser ( Still using his qi charged voice): You never had any parents.

Memory Haru ( still fearful but trying to protest):…of…of…course I had…

Kaiser( a little louder): You never had any parents.

(the scene got darker and darker as if Kaiser’s voice was fading away the memory)

Memory haru( now as if she couldn’t remember but was trying hard): I…No I…

Kaiser( even louder): You never had any parents.

Memory haru ( as if realizing but pleading):…No I had… Please…don’t…

Kaiser ( Screaming it now): YOU NEVER HAD ANY PARENTS !

Memory haru ( with a defeated mechanical voice):…I never had any parents.

Kaiser ( With a sweetened but still qi charged voice now): The only one you have is…

???: ME !

(Suddenly as the scene disappeared , memory Kaiser’s shadow expanded until it became gigantic and broke the memory. In his hand Shioon could see an unconscious Adult Haru)

Shioon( thinking quickly): Girls! Is it one of you?

(Child haru was still screaming and crying but teenage haru nodded.)

Teen Haru(mortified): He is going to eat her…

(the shadow was raising her to his head and opened his mouth.)

Shioon: Enough! [ (Dark heaven style)Chaotic heaven destruction strike + (sunwoo style)descending lightning strike]

(Shioon raised through the air and destroyed the Monster’s arm , with a summersault he landed on his head)

Shioon:[(Dark heaven style)True essence kick]

(shioon destroyed him from the top down, Landing on the ground fast enough to catch the unconscious adult Haru in his arms.)

Shioon ( to himself and the Harus): She seems fine but completely unconscious…

Adult Haru( Suddenly opening her eyes): I am not uncouscious.

Shioon( startled and almost letting her fall): Whoooa!

Adult Haru: Focus he is reforming!

( Looking back Shioon saw that the shadow was effectively regenerating somehow.)

Shioon ( to adult Haru): Can you move?

Adult Haru: No…I don’t know how but he sapped all of my energy.

Shioon: You are in a mental space. Nothing is real here, only will is real!

Adult Haru ( desperate): Then his will is stronger than mine because I can’t move!

Shioon ( giving her to her other selves): Take her to your body! I will try to defeat that…thing.

Teen Haru: Beware Shioon , that shadow always manages to defeat us when we try to fight back.

Child Haru( with teary eyes): Will you be okay?

Shioon: I won’t disappear here, now go!

( they ran and took Adult haru with her)

Kaiser’s Shadow: Me.

Shadow: I see. It has no intelligence, it’s simply the echo of that moment imbued with Kaiser’s qi.

Kaiser’s Shadow( extending an arm toward him): ME!

Shioon:[(Dark heaven style) Soul crushing strike+(Sunwoo style) Double dragon chain dance]

(Shioon destroyed him again using the martial art combo. However he reformed even faster this time)

Shioon(unsettled):[ He isn’t a person , he isn’t real. He is the echo of a will so physical attacks means nothing. So how can I fight him?]

Kaiser’s Shadow: Me!

( He divided himself into multiple smaller shadow circling Shioon.)

Shioon: Trying to overwhelm me, right? But I am not alone either.

( Concentrating , Shioon searched his memories and Invoked his past opponents: Hyuk so Chun , Ji gun , Coolguy, Vairak and even goomoonryong)

Kaiser’s Shadows( collectively unfazed ): Me.

Shioon: Let’s try again. Maybe it will work better with memories.

(The memory fighters attacked the shadows but they were instantly changed into Shadow themselves)

Shioon ( surprised): What ?!

(the collective Shadows where now completely surrounding him and he realize that the more they were , the more it drained him of his mental strength)

Shioon: Dammit!

( He tried to use martial art but couldn’t remember, He tried to fight back but couldn’t remember how. Now even his appearance changed from his adult self to the one he was before meeting Goomoonryong.)

Kaiser’s shadows ( advancing toward him and grabbing him , Merging into a dark goo that is drowning him): Me.

(Shioon couldn’t speak, couldn’t breath, his memories were fading, the light is dying).

Kaiser’s Voice: You will listen only to me.

Shioon:…I refuse.

( The black goo exploded separating Shioon from the shadow who retook the shape of kaiser, Shioon was still in his pre goomoonryong form)

Shioon ( battered and bruised but still standing): Never again will I submit to anybody’s will. No matter what! No matter who! You may kill me but I won’t bow to you!

(Kaiser’s shadow stood still for a time as if he understood that he won’t take him over. Then suddenly he grabbed him by the throat and started to squeeze)

Kaiser’s shadow: Then die.

( in the real world , Shioon’s nose was starting to bleed)

Shioon( Disappearing little by little):[Dammit , I can’t think…let it end there! I can’t!]

???: That was pathetic boy but I commend you for your unflinching resolve.

( Suddenly and explosion of light burned away the Shadow’s arms, but unlike before they didn’t grow back. Shioon fell on the ground while massaging his neck. A new form appeared , brighter and more powerful …yet familiar)

Shioon:you…you are not one of my memories and yet I think I know you.

???: Of course you know me stupid boy. You have been borrowing my powers for months now. Speaking of which…

(He turned toward the armless Shadow)

…If you want to banish a foul evocation of the eternal qi such as this you can only do so with other eternal qi.

Kaiser’s shadow :Me!

???(Appearing right in front of him and extending a hand ): Of course you. Always you. Get ready because I will soon come to get the real you.

( He grabbed him and then incinerated him in a flash of light. In the real world , Shioon emitted the foreign eternal qi who dissolved into the air.)

Shioon ( still trying to process what happened and returning to his original form): You are the Immortal demon supreme.

IDS:What is left…The will, the memory…the rage.

Shioon: Well before anything…Thank you. I realize that if you weren’t down there at the Dungeon of doom I would be dead and later I needed you to save my master and Aera.

IDS(indifferent): No need to thank me. I was using you as much as you used my power.

Shioon ( raising his head with suspicion): How so?

IDS: You saw my memories. I think you are smart enough to know what I want.

Shioon: You want to take revenge on Kaiser and I want to stop him, I think we can work someth…

IDS( interrupting him): Not only him but also the corrupt murim clans that had a hand in my empress’s death. The Hogi clan Chief among them.

Shioon:…Those events happened more than a century ago, there is no one left alive that had a hand in the death of the Empress Myeongseong.

IDS( still cold): It matters not. If I can’t take their lives burning down their legacy is good enough for me.

Shioon: With all due respect I can’t agree with this. The murim has a lot of problems and a lot of terrible things have been done. But destroying Disciples for the crime of their forefathers ? No.

IDS( menacing): You would oppose me?

Shioon ( determined and standing his ground): I was on the receiving of that logic and I can’t stand behind it.

( A tense silence stood between them for a time …until the IDS laughed it off outloud)

IDS: So you are the product of that Unwol’s teachings, Uh? Fine do as you wish as long as you get to kaiser but if you take too long I will take over your body.

Shioon: My body?

IDS(with a sly smile): Of course. Since you are brave enough to face me then be ready to fight for that body of yours.

( He disappeared while walking away, Shioon finally showed how shaken by this turn of event he was but couldn’t rest yet)

Shioon: The girls!

(He ran toward the location of Haru’s body , Finding the three girls there waiting, Adult Haru was standing up by herself)

Shioon ( relieved): You are fine, you are all fine…

Adult Haru: There were flashes of light then suddenly I could move by myself again.

Teen Haru(still fearful): Where is the Monster?

Shioon: Gone, he won’t invade your dreams again.

Teen Haru ( hopeful but cautious): Really? For Real, for real?

Shioon( with a little smile): Yes you are free. Your memories are yours.

Child Haru ( taking him in her arms):You kept your promise!

Shioon: With some help yes. Go now you should take back your body before the connection is interrupted.

( Teen Haru and Child Haru disappeared , absorbed by real haru’s body while the adult Haru remained staring at him)

Adult Haru: What if all of that was just a dream?

Shioon: It wasn’t and I will remind you when you wake up.

Adult Haru: DO you swear?

Shioon: As I did before, I swear?

Adult Haru ( still hesitating): We were enemies, why help me?

Shioon(reflecting on the answer): I simply can’t stand seeing someone as mentally broken as I was.

( For a sliver of a second he took back his appearance from before he knew martial arts)

Shioon: And you better not get in that dark place again or I will have to come and remind you.

Adult haru ( at a loss of a word first then smiling brightly): Please remind me til the day I die.

( she then left for her real body.)

Haru:Huh…

(Her body was still paralyzed by the needle and Shioon had both of his hands on her head as to maintain her in the right position. For a long and terrible moment she asked herself if all wasn’t just a dream after all, until..)

Shioon: You had two parents that loved you. Their deaths wasn’t your fault but Kaiser’s. And I will keep reminding you as long as necessary , Cynthia.

(Without her expression changing both of her eyes drowned in tears.)

[end of the chapter]

As said in the title. Sorry for the delay.

It was already boring enough, but I decided to pushed it through since some people call it really good. But I dropped it as soon as he lost his Ki lmao – had to checked somewhere in ~ 100 chapters to see if he had recovered his Ki, to which he did not. Then dropped.

A panel from chapter 104 of Absolute Regression, by the artist of The Breaker. It's a really good Manhwa, but it still reminds me of The Breaker in every chapter. The main character's name is different here, but in my eyes, it's always Lee Shi-Woon.

(Before he could open it completely, teen haru fell on him with a rock and tried to knock him out… To no avail. Shioon Blocked her hands and she kicked him repeatedly as hard as she could. Child Haru didn’t scream but she looked confused at her sudden appearance )

Teen Haru: Let go of me! You are not to enter that door under any circumstance! Do you hear me!

Shioon( mildly annoyed): Stop kicking me first then we discuss. I have a lot of question young miss.

(She protested vigorously until he finally let her go. She immediately tried to run but shioon used a foot technique to block her path.)

Teen Haru: What?! How?

Child haru(curious): Shioon can teleport?

Shioon:[That’s just like the normal illusion incarnate, I can use my techniques even better than usual, Probably can use impossible combinations of martial arts too. But for now let’s hear what she want] Why don’t you want me to enter ? And why are you running from us?

Child haru: Don’t you recognize me? We are the same.

Teen Haru ( addressing Child haru and ignoring Shioon): You know that he will come for us! To bury us again!

Child Haru: Shioon will protect us. He promised.

(She looked at him and he nodded)

Teen Haru( panicking): It doesn’t matter what he says, nobody can challenge that thing. Even “Adult us” is always devoured each time she tries to fight back!

Shioon( disturbed):Devoured? That thing devour you?

Child Haru(trembling a little): It eat us and we are trapped in his belly. ..In the darkness.

Shioon: What does it looks like?

Teen Haru ( looking into the void traumatized): A big shadow that takes the form of a man…a man that I know.

Child Haru: It was the man that we saw with my younger self and the man and woman.

Shioon: Kaiser! That Monster takes the form of Kaiser’s shadow?[The medicine she took as a child! It was laced with his qi like Sosul’s medicine as I thought. But that means he can project himself in the mind of his victims through his qi alone? No that’s impossible. It is more probable that his qi is mechanically blocking a part of her memories. But this wasn’t what The Ghost doctor described, he said that this residual qi was a trigger implemented so that he could control people through qi resonance. I don’t know enough about this.]

(He looked at the red door)

Shioon: What is behind that door?

(The teen Haru’s eyes widened in pure terror and she quickly shook her head in denegation, Child Haru herself didn’t seem to know.)

Teen Haru ( crying and looking at the ground): Nobody enters! Nobody shall see! Please!

Shioon( trying to talk to her calmly): Look …Cynthia, right?

(she rose her head toward hims when he spoke her real name. Her appearance slightly changed as her princess robe became a student uniform and she seemed to grow a little)

Teen Haru(more calmly and like remembering something): Yes. That’s my Name isn’t it? My true name.

Shioon:[She reacted positively to the mention of her real name , it even seemed to somewhat restore her. Maybe it is a memory problem…Or a trauma. I myself lost the ability to sleep from sheer trauma. The Real Haru said that she simply couldn’t remember her past so maybe it is a traumatic memory that she subconsciously blocks.] Cynthia if I am not wrong , this …monster is the result of a trauma. Or a bad memory if you want, something that you want to repress. And seeing your reaction this red door might contain that core memory.

Teen Haru : I don’t want to go there, I don’t want anybody to go there either…

Shioon( sat on the ground ): I won’t go if you don’t want me to. And I won’t force you either.

(Child and Teen Haru were surprised)

Teen Haru ( reassured but still cautious): Really? You promise.

Shioon: I swear that I will not enter against your will. If I may, why don’t you want ME to go there? I get it that you are afraid to go but you do not want other peoples to go either. Why is that?

Teen Haru( in anguish): I…I don’t know. I just feel that no one should see what is behind that door.

Shioon: You do not only feel fear, right. What do you really feel beyond fear?

Teen haru ( in a whisper):…Shame.

Shioon: Do you know why?

Teen Haru: No…

Shioon: Don’t you want to know?

Teen Haru: I don’t know…

Shioon: Isn’t it a worse feeling for you to not know why you feel shame?

( Teen Haru seemed to ponder for a moment but not convinced.)

Shioon: Aren’t you curious?

Teen Haru( with hesitation): Maybe…

Child Haru: I am Curious!

( She looked at her and seemed lost)

Teen Haru: But what if there is something horrible behind that door?

Shioon: You will not face it alone, I will be there.

Teen Haru(Expectantly): Really? You swear? Do you promise to stay by my side no matter what lies behind that door?

Shioon( Raising up with not hesitation): I do.

(He gave her his hand then the other to the child Haru and together they walked across the door.

The scene that opened before their eyes was the same renaissance type castle that they walked in initially but instead of standing in the dark, it was surrounded by mountains and forest with a giant lake beside it. Close to the lake , the parents of haru were discussing with Kaiser and the little Haru.)

Haru’s dad: It’s incredible , you really did manage to cure her.

Kaiser: I gave you my word didn’t I ?

Haru’s mother: Honey how do you feel? Are you fine now? Was it really necessary for us to not see her for so long?

Kaiser: Yes the process had precise requirements. But right now not only is she healed, she developed new abilities, like I said.

(Shioon was still holding the hands of the two haru and both started to tremble uncontrollably)

Shioon: What’s wrong?

Teen Haru: I don’t know.

( He tried to reassure them but the scene continued)

Haru’s dad( cautious but curious): What kind of abilities.

Kaiser: Show them.

(The Haru of the memories , started convulsing and slowly her limbs and torso grew as well as her head. After a minute she released a painful scream and in front of her terrified parents she rose up to be as tall as her mother.)

Haru’s Dad ( grabbing kaiser by the coat): What have you done to her?

Kaiser(still very calm): I allowed her to tap into her true potential. To realized.

Haru’s mom(hugging her and trying to see if she was hurt): You screamed from the pain. Are you still suffering?

Memory Haru( leaning into the hug and crying a little ): Yes mom. It hurts every day, every time I must do it.

Kaiser: Everything has a cost. That suffering allowad her to break free of her previous useless body. And now she is essentially a superhuman.

Haru's dad ( not letting go of his grip): You took great care to not mention that cost.

Kaiser: Of course , I knew you wouldn't understand until you saw what the result was. And seeing how you still do not, My guess was proven right.

Haru's Dad: Who do you think you are to play with people like that.

Kaiser: Oh please, you complain now but you were desperate to see her healed. There sie ist Fine now. She will have a scholarship in that school right here... The environment is quite idillic isn't it?

Haru’s mom( turning her head toward her husband and kaiser): We are getting her out of here.

Haru's dad ( nodding): Yes it seems for the best. I thank you for healing her but we aren't about to let you experiment on her any further.

Kaiser : Unfortunately I can’t allow that.

Haru’s Dad ( trying to throw Kaiser but kaiser wasn’t moving an inch): You don’t get to decide. From now on you will stay ways from my daughter!

Kaiser ( raising his qi): She isn’t your daughter anymore, she is my investment. And it is time for me to reap the benefits.

(all the Haru’s seemed to react to Kaiser’s qi or more exactly the memory of his qi. The Memory haru’s eyes became void, both the teen and child haru dropped on their knees closing their eyes and trembling uncontrollably)

Kaiser ( in a qi charged voice): Haru?

(Memory Haru left the embrace of her mother almost mechanically.)

Haru’s Mom: Cynthia?

Kaiser(in a cold calm commanding voice even more charged with qi): Kill.

(Memory Haru grabbed both of her parents by the throat and suddenly without them being even able to understand she plunged them into the water, they struggled with all their strength but Haru was already too strong. And while expressionless like in a trance , memory Haru was crying)

Memory Haru ( still expressionless and crying she mumbled): I am sorry…I am so sorry…mom…daddy…

(The teen and child Haru were screaming, crying and under the horrified gaze of Shioon, Haru’s Parents stopped struggling.)

[End of the chapter]

It’s finally here yall!!

Glad I got a copy after waiting forever for it. Hoping Vol 2 doesn't get crazy delayed as well.

[The Images will be downloaded on my patreon through the rest of the week]

(Shioon, Heo won jae and Ghost doctor absorbed the information but Ghost doctor reacted first.)

Ghost doctor: Who is your boss and why do you think that he can bypass all measures of security raised by the Alliance?

Haru: If you do not already know who he is my informations will be of no use to you. You are totally out of your depth.

Shioon: She is talking about kaiser the leader of Black forrest defense.

(Chunmyunrang(thousand face) seemed genuinely surprised that he knew already then seemed to reevaluate her situation)

Haru: How do you know him?

Shioon: It doesn’t matter to you does it? I mean if you are dead anyway why would you want to know? Just wait for your death in silence.

(Haru didn’t say a word for a time and gaging how much Shioon actually knows)

Haru: Can you save me from him.

Shioon: Did you know how and with which faction I prevented your abduction of Heo won jae?

Haru:…No.

Shioon: Then I am probably the only one who can.

(Haru was slightly surprised by his assurance)

Haru: Alright. If you can keep me alive I will reveal all that I know about black forrest defense group. The members that are infiltrated in the alliance, in the government, their project , the sleeping agents… Things that even Kaiser wouldn’t even dream that I know.

Ghost doctor: You know that much? Aren’t you selling yourself a little higher to get a better deal?

Haru: I am a spie before anything else, collecting and selling information is as natural as breathing to me.

(Shioon suddenly seemed to think about something)

Shioon: Did you report to kaiser after the incident at the Dungeon of doom?

Haru: Yes but only after I met Sosul the lady of the Sunwoo clan.

Shioon: You met Sosul? We will talk about this later but first: How did kaiser react when you announced the breakout of the immortal sect?

Haru: Kaiser didn’t react he just said “ I see…” then the communication ended and in itself it is extremely weird because usually he always comments on this kind of big event. From what I know he tried to monitor their moves which was extremely difficult due to their insane qi detection skills and recently they completely disappeared and as far as I know he is still trying to find where they got. He think they moved out of Korea but doesn’t know how.

Shioon:[Perfect. That mean our effort to stay hidden paid off, I can thank coolguy for that he is really a pro.] Thank you. As long as you remain truthfull to me I swear that I won’t let anyone kill you.

Haru ( slightly taken aback by the promise): You swear? But if you have any idea of who kaiser really is then you should know there is nothing you can swear to me.

Shioon: Nothing is ever truly guaranteed. But I will do whatever is necessary to keep you safe. IS that better?

Haru(with a playful smile): Better.

Shioon: Then it’s settled. (addressing heo won jae) Are you in good enough shape to perform what we talked about?

Heo won jae: Not today, the drugs effects will linger for some hours but tomorrow will be fine.

Shioon: Then you, me and Haru will go to that place at once.

Ghost doctor: What about the Heavenly binding needles? Only I can remove them safely as you should remember.

Shioon(with a tense smile): I remember very well Doctor. But for now we should leave them as it is. I must first discuss with my partners on how to hide and contain her, then with your agreement we will move to that place and you will be able to free her from the needles.

Ghost doctor: How much time would it take?

Shioon: Probably two or three days.

Haru(protesting): In two or three day I will stink!

Shioon: Not my problem.

Haru ( playfully): Oh? Won’t you admit that you will take the occasion to thoroughly wash my naked body?

Shioon(Flustered): Stop that!

_____________________________________(later)_______________________________________

(They left in an ambulance, but Ghost doctor went his separate way. Heo won jae was on the front next to the driver while Shioon was keeping an eye on thousand face. Still binded by the needles she was looking at Shioon with curiosity.)

Shioon: What?

Haru: Where are we going?

Shioon: You’ll see…

Haru: Why did you need Heo won jae again?

Shioon: Ji gun is Dying.

Haru: Mister pretty sword? What happened?

Shioon: Do you really care?

Haru: He and I got history so yeah I care. Sure I would’ve killed him before when we were enemies but I have nothing personal against him.

Shioon:…It’s a little complicated but basically it is ruptured meridian leading to qi deviation. It was left untreated for more than a year too.

Haru( frowning): We did know that he had some kind of condition because his stamina was abnormally lacking for a master of his level…So that’s what befell on him. How did it happen.

Shioon: It is a little too personal, I will let him tell you if he want.

Haru(not insisting but noticing Shioon’s gaze): Alright. Did you want to ask me something?

Shioon ( hesitating): You mentioned before that you met sosul and I wanted to know…What happened to her exactly. Ever since she came back she…

Haru:…Seems to be like a completely different person?

Shioon: No not exactly but she is extremely unstable and not in a natural way. What did you do to her?

Haru: Let’s be clear, I didn’t do anything to her, she was directly monitored by Kaiser. As to what he did I can’t say for sure but it involved A LOT of experimentation and drug testing. He took the task of “healing” her condition very seriously from the start.

Shioon( with a thinly veiled surge of anger): Experimentation? Drug testing? What was she to you, some guinea pig?

Haru(on the defensive): No! You seem to think that it was done against her will but she is the one who came to us and requested that we heal her by any mean possible.

Shioon( with his most disgusted snare): She was vulnerable due to her condition and you took advantage of that to try and turn her into a weapon. I know about the mind controlling drug that you have been feeding her along with her medicine.

Haru ( genuinely troubled): What are you talking about. Mind controlling drug?

Shioon(surprised): We analysed her medicine and some psychoactive drug was laced with specific qi signature. It is a method of implementing mind control. You didn’t know?

Haru ( deeply troubled): No…I …I didn’t…But it ring a bell, not about sosul but about…

Shioon( concerned): …You? It is true that our conversation last time was cut short but Does it have something to do with the fact that you can’t remember your past.

Haru( closing her eyes and frowning like she was in pain): I…No! I don’t want to talk about that my head hurt!

Shioon(unsure): Wait did you try to remember and it made your head hurt?

Haru ( tears starting to run on her face): Yes! It’s always happening!

Shioon( thinking quick ): Okay let me try something.

(He Tried using qi healing on her head using his eternal qi, But she reacted violently to it screaming as if he pierced her head. Her body trembling despite the heavenly needles)

Haru: It hurts ! What is this ?!

Shioon: It usually works! What is happening?

( he saw that the vein and meridians on her head started buldging as if they were about to burst out and her eyes were flickering , crazed up)

Haru: Aaaaaaah!!!

Shioon ( trying to keep his calm a hand on her head and calling for help): Heo won jae! We need help she …[Wait the problem is not medical but psychic. Her qi circulation in itself is normal. What did Demon heart say again? You pull someone in an “incarnate illusion” technique if you connect her qui circulation to your own? Yes the lady from Yeh won( society of artists) was doing that too, I need to use my mind to free her.]

(Shioon applied both hands on the side of her temples and forcefully synchronized her qi flow to his own while entering “incarnate illusion”.

Everything went black as Shioon’s illusory body materialized.)

Shioon( Talking eye closed): Haru try to imagine yourself leaving your body. Don’t think just do it.

(At his great surprise, not one but three haru left her body and only one stayed with him while the two other flew away in opposite directions.

The Haru that stayed with him was a child. She seemed lost and looked at shioon without recognizing him.

Shioon looking around saw that constructs and buildings wereemerging where the other Haru went.)

Child Haru: Who are you mister?

Shioon (surprised): I am Shioon. Who are you?

Child Haru: I don’t remember. A monster took my memories.

Shioon: A monster? Where is he?

Child Haru ( pointing to the real body of Haru): It lurks into there. It will come out soon to take us again.

Shioon: Us ?

Child Haru: My other selves. They ran away far from him but he always find them and bind them.

Shioon: And why don’t you run?

Child Haru: I though that maybe you could…protect me sir?

(Shioon stood silent but then tried to reassure her)

Shioon ( with a smile ): I will not let you down. Let’s go meet your other selves.

(they walked away from their true bodies and toward the direction the first haru who escaped went. But as they got away , some dark shadowy matter escaped from haru’s true body and went unnoticed on the other direction.

They walked for a time until they could see the construct that emerged to protect this Haru: a Renaissance style European castle.)

Child Haru: Wow! This castle is huge!

Shioon:[Did she conjure that from a memory or simply imagined it] There seems to be nobody…

Child Haru: Let’s see what’s inside.( she opened the front door as shioon followed her.)

What? It doesn’t look like what I imagined.

( the inside of the castle was just a stone hall with multiple doors.)

Shioon: She probably projected a maze to protect herself and trap any intruder. That’s clever, especially if she can change the paths while we search for her.

(Raising his voice) Haru, it’s me Shioon! Do you recognize me?

(A door opened revealing a teenage Haru in princess robe, she didn’t seem to recognize him either but instead of curiosity she showed fear)

Teenage Haru: I don’t know you! Leave me alone!

Shioon: Wait!

(he reached for her but she closed the door. As he reopened it to pursue her he was surprise to find a totally different area : a park where three adult where talking while a young girl was playing .

Shioon approached them cautiously but they where not seeing him and the little girl was Haru but somehow deformed, She was a hunchback with some limbs being somehow crooked .)

Shioon: That’s a memory. Who are these people?

Child Haru: That girl it’s me , I am sure of it…but she is a hunchback. But I don’t know who the those are ( pointing at the adults).

(Shioon approached them, there was two men and one woman. The woman was blond with, blue eyes, glasses and tanned skin while one of the man was red headed with brown eyes and freckles on a very pale skin, both were unfamiliar to Shioon…but the third one was.

His blood ran cold when he recognized Kaiser himself who arbored a business man suit and a trench coat.)

Memory Kaiser: Please I would ask you to reconsider. Your girl has a unique talent that need to be fostered. I searched the likes of her for years now. I came myself for that very reason.

The man: You said that she had a unique bone structure that would permit for plasticity with the right training…but to what design?

Memory Kaiser: For science of course. Imagine that we can identify and replicate the genes allowing this. Imagine the potential for human evolution.

The woman: Enough ! My daughter is no laboratory freak!

Memory Kaiser(reassuring): It isn’t the idea. See it more like a special scholarship with some added sessions. Due to her abnormal bone development it will be necessary no matter what, otherwise she will have even more problems growing up.

(The parents looked at each others with hesitation )

The woman: If we allow for her internship in your school will you really be able to fix her Hunch back and her bone problems?

Memory Kaiser: Absolutely.

(She nodded at the husband and after a sigh he finally say : )

The man: Well then we can try but where would it be?

Memory Kaiser ( with enthusiasm): Wunderbar! The finer details will be transmitted to you soon do not worry. If you have no further questions we may even convene of a date to visit our facilities if it would put you at ease. Oh and before I forget I will have deliver you some medicine for her to take regularly.

(The scene then suddenly froze as a door opened from a tree showing the more and more scared princess looking teenage haru)

Teenage Haru: Who are you? You are scaring me!

Shioon( realizing that this one actually has memories): Wait I am not your enemy!

Teenage Haru: I don’t believe you! You are an accomplice of the shadow I am sure of it!

( She left and Shioon followed after her once again)

Shioon(while running after her):[The shadow? What was she talking about?]

(The door took them to a laboratory where multiple children were held into individual glass boxes , what seemed to be martial artists and scientist were talking and monitoring them.

Shioon noticed memory Haru in one of the boxes, she was still a hunchback but he noticed that her limbs were straight now and realized he could hear what they were telling her .)

Martial artist: You make good progresses and the “Bone song” circulation  technique suits you well as we guessed. By the end of the year you should be able to change your bone structure at will.

Scientist: Amazing! The plasticity of her bones combined with the “divine medicine” and the redirection of bone regeneration through qi circulation allow for such remodeling! And the result are definitive until further alterations!

You are doing very well.

(while they marveled at the result. Shioon noticed that Haru was looking at the ground with very tired eyes. She wasn’t smiling or reacting to the praise at all)

Scientist: Can you describe the sensation when you use the “ bone restructuring” technique?

Memory Haru( with a little tired voice): It hurts and it burns.

Scientist ( completely oblivious to the pain in her voice): As much as the first time ?

Memory Haru: Yes…

( the Scientist looked at the Martial artist who didn’t seem phased)

Martial artist: Normally that technique is practiced by fully grown and trained murim masters so it is to be expected that he desensitization takes time. But once it is done it is done , she will be able to do it at will without hesitation.

Scientist: I see but I am sure it will take less time if we make her practice rigorously.

Cynthia can you do that technique again please?

(Visibly distressed Haru(Cynthia) Started silently crying but mustered the courage to answer)

Memory Haru(Cynthia): Ca…Can I see my mommy and daddy after ?

(The scientist seemed dumbfounded while the martial artist looked annoyed but pulling a medicine out of his pocket the scientist answered with a smile)

Scientist: Sorry Cynthia but we promised your mommy and daddy that the next time you would see them you would be healed. So take this medicine and let’s resume practice okay ?

( The scene froze again and Shioon could barely hide his disgust and anger .)

Shioon( looking around):This place… did he experiment on her all this time and on those other kids too…

Child haru( Cynthia): Shioon this place is scarring me out , I feel really cold here. ( she was tugging at his shirt Urging him to leave).

Shioon ( trying to calm her): Don’t worry it is only a memory, I dread more what await us further down the road.

( looking around he noticed that some of the people in the Boxes were not children but teenager or young adults. Some of them were laying down on the ground without moving and without assistance.

Once he examined the medicine that the Scientist was giving to Haru( Cynthia) he felt something really sinister about the substance)

Shioon( in a mix of amazement and horror): It couldn’t ne laced with the same substance that he put in Sosul’s medicine right?

( A red door appeared on the wall but this time , the Teen Haru didn’t open it so Shioon leading the Child Haru opened it on to the last memory)

[End of the Chapter]