Chapter 356

Chapter 356
## Chapter 356. Encounter with the Enemy (3)

—

The Murim Alliance.

When considering the Righteous factions, often referred to as the White Way, who was their absolute greatest foe?

Could it be the Heavenly Demon Cult, resurfacing after a half-millennium absence?

Could it be the Blood Cult, responsible for the horrific slaughter across Sichuan?

Or perhaps it was the factions of the Black Way, branded as public enemies of the realm for the past three centuries?

Hardly.

Instead of dismantling the Murim Alliance, those terrifying threats actually served as the perfect catalyst for the Alliance to strengthen its authority and broaden its reach.

Fundamentally, the sole purpose of the Murim Alliance’s existence was to provide “protection.”

If there was no threat to protect people from, there was no justification for the organization to remain.

Because of this, the Murim Alliance perpetually required an adversary.

It had been established five centuries ago specifically to counter the public enemies of the Jianghu.

Yet two centuries ago, during a period devoid of any significant threat, it nearly dissolved entirely.

The absence of an enemy meant, in essence, that the Murim Alliance lost its reason to exist.

Taking that into consideration, the force that ultimately brought down the Murim Alliance might not have been any of the factions mentioned earlier.

So, in the end, what entity actually caused the ruin of the Murim Alliance?

Who, truly, was responsible?

I shifted my gaze to the man standing right before me.

“What brings an individual so heavily burdened with monumental responsibilities all the way to this place?”

His strikingly handsome features remained completely devoid of any emotion.

“Have you forgotten how to address others with proper courtesy?”

His hollow voice carried an unusual weight of conviction.

It was the tone of someone who believed every word he uttered was an absolute, undeniable truth.

“Come now, it’s not as if we share a particularly warm bond. Isn’t such protocol just empty pretense?”

Though I was intentionally trying to provoke him, he didn’t show even a flicker of irritation.

It was the exact manner in which a human completely ignores the minor movements of an ant.

“Jin-so-un. Are you unaware that maintaining standard decorum with one another is the most direct path to establishing mutual confidence?”

“Practicing etiquette merely for the sake of practicality. That sounds precisely like your philosophy.”

Like a flawless monument carved from solid stone, he stood unyielding and unmoved, identical to how he had been in days gone by.

The unshakeable composure of that man.

During my previous existence, I had viewed that composure as a grand, comforting peak.

However…

“Yong-so-a.”

The person I was today understood the truth.

The deep insincerity hidden beneath that calm facade.

Yong-so-a regarded me with a thoroughly cold, lifeless stare.

Then, he spoke in a tone that matched the exact cadence he used when he had once come to end my life.

“Address me as *Seonbae*. You are currently a student of the academy.”

“That is highly unlikely to happen.”

This was a solemn oath.

My personal, quiet declaration that I would never walk the path he trod, no matter how flawlessly correct it seemed to everyone else.

“Putting that aside, why are you present here? Someone of your position should be fully occupied with the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”

The reply did not come from Yong-so-a, but from a figure standing just behind him.

“Our deployment was triggered by an urgent appeal from the local Kunming branch.”

A diminutive girl spoke, possessing a detached countenance identical to Yong-so-a’s, though her phrasing was peculiarly distinct.

It was Dang-seo-hui.

“What exactly occurred within the depths of the Silent Forest? And what reason did you have for taking refuge here at the Mandok-mun?”

For a fleeting second, it appeared as though Dang-seo-hui cast a sharp look toward Dan-se-ung.

Yet that expression vanished as swiftly as it appeared, and she turned her characteristically vacant gaze upward to meet mine.

*Your stature truly hasn’t altered by even a single inch, has it?*

I instinctively reached out to pat her head out of habit, but I caught myself, pulling my hand back before offering a reply.

“We crossed paths with an adversary.”

“An adversary? Surely you don’t mean……”

Dang-seo-hui shifted her attention toward our instructor, Gang-sun-tak.

“The report we received stated that your group had simply lost its bearings.”

“An adversary? What utter drivel about an adversary! They willfully ignored the explicit commands of their instructor and wandered off on their own volition, which is exactly why they became lost!”

“…….”

The surrounding academy students watched on, their expressions hardening into icy glares.

How many grueling conflicts had they fought through and survived within the harrowing depths of the Silent Forest?

And how many of their fellow academy companions had perished along the way because of those struggles?

Yet here was Gang-sun-tak.

“Jin-so-un, you must have manipulated them into this……!”

Solely to deflect the blame from his own incompetence, he treated the agonizing traumas of the academy students as if they were entirely inconsequential.

“Manipulated, you say? Manipulated……”

“Jin-so-un……”

In the harsh voice of Gang-sun-tak, who ground out my name through clenched teeth, unadulterated malice poured forth.

“You are the source of all this trouble! Because of your actions, because of you……! This situation has spiraled entirely out of bounds!!!”

Why did the Murim Alliance ultimately fall to ruin?

“If you had merely remained quiet, I would have secured reinforcement from the local branch and brought everyone out to safety! Has the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering not arrived precisely as planned anyway!”

Why did that massive institution, boasting five centuries of glorious lineage, fracture and dissolve so effortlessly?

“You, who are clearly colluding with the Black Way, deceived the minds of the academy students and dragged them into mortal peril! In the name of the Murim Alliance, I shall ensure you face retribution.”

The explanation lay directly before me.

*‘Because it rotted away entirely from within.’*

The reason the grand trunk, which had withstood countless external tempests, ultimately fractured was that its core had decayed and turned foul.

“How do you propose to answer for the lives of the academy students who perished due to your recklessness! Your fellow martial brothers, your juniors, and your entire sect must answer for this catastrophe!”

A sanctuary where parasitic creatures like worms, entirely blind to their own putrefaction, made their home.

The most dangerous foe of the Murim Alliance had always resided within its own borders.

*Chaeng!*

I unsheathed the Jeok-gwang Sword.

There was no tactical calculation, no grand strategy, and no deep contemplation in my action.

The moment I lost my composure was when the sight of Gang-sun-tak merged perfectly with the memory of the high-ranking official who had led the White Way forces during my past life.

To slaughter this degenerate whom I had desperately wished to slay back then, but could not.

To cut him down right here and now.

“You absolute lunatic!”

The elegant blade of the Qingcheng Sect slashed through the air, but it lacked the terrifying precision it possessed in my previous lifetime.

In truth, it was almost pitiful.

Neither in my past existence nor in this current one was the blade forced upon me so utterly lacking in sharpness.

*Cha-chaeng!*

I pressed forward with raw force against strikes that I could have effortlessly deflected using the lotus technique.

Because, given the choice, I intended to end his life in the most excruciating manner conceivable.

*Cha-cha-cha-cha-chaeng!*

The accompanying instructors drew their weapons in rapid succession to intercept me.

Just as I had operated within the Silent Forest, I threw myself directly toward Gang-sun-tak, employing only the absolute minimum required to defend myself.

I deflected, parried, and nullified the howling gales of sword-qi as I forced my way forward.

With every step I took, Gang-sun-tak retreated further, stumbling backward again and again.

“Ha-halt! Halt this instant!!!”

Was it due to the shallow cuts tearing across his arms and shoulders?

Gang-sun-tak’s complexion turned completely ghostly.

Back in the Silent Forest, the members of the Sahwal Unit had refused to give an inch, even when enduring agony far more severe than this.

Within that dreadful forest, we had desperately searched for these exact people, viewing them as our singular salvation.

Perhaps it was a stroke of fortune that the instructors had abandoned us and fled first.

Had these cowards been present alongside us, an even greater number of Sahwal Unit members would have lost their lives.

*Cha-cha-cha-cha-chaeng!*

I unleashed waves of sword-qi to clash directly against his own.

The opposing energies collided violently, triggering a thunderous shockwave.

*Peo-peo-peo-peo-peong!*

Gang-sun-tak, who had done nothing but flee backward.

Ultimately, he coughed up a thick spray of crimson.

*Kwek.*

Without even the chance to clean away the blood staining his robes a deep red, he continued to swing his blade erratically.

Right at that split second.

“Cease.”

An intense, undeniable pressure forced its way into an opening that theoretically did not exist.

“Striking an instructor constitutes a major offense against the code. Cease at once.”

The detached voice echoed through the space, sounding like a stern lecture.

“Is that a fact? Then feel free to enact your discipline.”

*Chaeng.*

I completely disregarded the Fan-Wind Sword and continued my advance.

Utilizing the momentary distraction provided by Yong-so-a’s intervention, Gang-sun-tak shrieked at the top of his lungs.

“What—what are you all waiting for! Guardians of the Alliance, apprehend this criminal immediately!”

*Seu-reung, seu-reung, seu-reung.*

Nearly a hundred warriors of the Murim Alliance drew their blades in unison.

The tension was stretched to its absolute limit.

Right then.

*Kkung—*

A massive tremor reverberated through the entirety of the Mandok-mun compound.

A powerful shockwave radiated outward from the grand reception hall.

Despite originating from a considerable distance, its force was unmistakably felt by everyone present.

“Do you take the Mandok-mun for some trivial playground? Or do you take Dan-se-ung for someone you can easily disregard?”

In perfect unison, the warriors of the Mandok-mun, who had been observing the events from the perimeter, assumed their battle stances simultaneously.

That was the reality. This territory belonged neither to the Central Plains nor to the domain of the Murim Alliance.

They were standing directly inside the stronghold of their enemy.

In the sudden, tense silence that followed, Gang-sun-tak, who had been receiving a one-sided beating, seemed to entirely lose sight of that reality as he continued to howl like a madman.

“That criminal! Secure that bastard!”

“…… silence.”

Yet not a single warrior among the Murim Alliance dared to take a reckless step forward in defiance of Dan-se-ung’s open declaration of war.

“Is it your purpose to carry this conflict further?”

Dan-se-ung shifted his intense gaze directly onto Yong-so-a.

The reality that he chose to address him, completely ignoring the presence of Gang-sun-tak and the other branch leaders, was an unspoken acknowledgment that Yong-so-a held the true authority over the assembled group.

Even so, Yong-so-a did not readily lower his weapon, even when facing the full brunt of Dan-se-ung’s formidable presence.

He simply maintained his characteristic, expressionless stare, showing no hint of intimidation toward Dan-se-ung or the might of the Mandok-mun.

“I believe it would be wisest to conclude this matter here. It appears there are numerous variables that transpired without our awareness.”

Hwa-jeong-san of the Huashan Sect.

He offered these words as he pushed his way to the front.

“Yong-so-a, our objective in coming here was to rescue our disciples, not to ignite a full-scale war.”

The very individual who had originally arrived to instigate a conflict with the Tae-eul Sect was now acting as a peacemaker between myself and the instructor.

“Our overconfident junior should likewise call a halt to this. If you harbor deep resentments, you are free to present your case before the Murim Alliance upon our return.”

Following this, he scanned the surrounding academy students, his expression turning somewhat troubled.

“You students as well! Lower your weapons this instant!”

Despite Hwa-jeong-san’s explicit command, none of them made a move to comply.

When even the direct disciples of the Huashan Sect and its various subordinate branches refused to obey, a flicker of irritation crossed Hwa-jeong-san’s eyes, yet unlike his past behavior, he managed to restrain his temper.

“If the warriors of the Murim Alliance and the academy students engage in open combat within the walls of the Mandok-mun, have you considered the catastrophic fallout?”

“…….”

I smoothly returned the Jeok-gwang Sword to its sheath.

Hwa-jeong-san immediately clapped his hands together with deliberate loudness to break the heavy tension.

“Excellent, let us begin our journey back. We shall settle these grievances once we are safely within our own territory.”

“That shall not be happening.”

“What?”

I leaned down to assist Jong-chu-ak, who was collapsed on the ground nearby, helping him to his feet.

“A significant number of our companions have yet to sufficiently recover from their wounds. We intend to remain here and rest before considering a departure.”

“Ha, you mean to stay here among the Black Way…… inside the Mandok-mun?”

“Sect Leader Dan took the time to comprehend the reality of our situation and generously provided his assistance.”

I fixed my gaze on Hwa-jeong-san and offered a bright, sharp grin.

“He did so after listening to the truth of the events—the very truth that our own instructors willfully refused to acknowledge.”

“…….”

I handed the care of Jong-chu-ak over to Nam-hwa-seong and walked directly up to Gang-sun-tak.

I stood before this man, who harbored not a single ounce of accountability or remorse for his actions.

“You claim we simply lost our bearings? If that were true, why did you fail to assemble the academy students at the designated rendezvous point?”

“…….”

“You claim there was no enemy? Then what manner of entity did we fight against so desperately just to survive?”

Even as I methodically laid bare his failures, his face showed absolutely no sign of guilt or self-reflection.

It was not because he was attempting to suppress his embarrassment.

Those who possess a sense of honor do not allow themselves to become utterly corrupt.

“You truly fail to comprehend why the finest disciples of the White Way sects were forced to beg for assistance from a faction of the Black Way, don’t you?”

From the very beginning, he was entirely devoid of such morals.

That was precisely why I deemed them to be rotten to the core.

“Is all of this merely to safeguard your personal prosperity and prestige?”

Should the underlying truth of these events come to light, if the reality of what occurred is fully exposed, Gang-sun-tak will be utterly ruined.

And it wouldn’t stop with him. Every single instructor involved will be stripped of the glorious prospects they took absolutely for granted.

“…… shreds of silence.”

In all likelihood, they secretly wished for it.

They wished that every single one of us had perished within the depths of the Silent Forest.

That not a single witness had made it out alive.

Because if we had all died, their golden path forward might have suffered a minor setback, but it never would have been completely shattered.

“You will be forced to answer for your actions. The offense of abandoning the established timeline as a designated instructor to exploit academy students for your private gain, and the offense of abandoning your charge during a mortal crisis solely to preserve your own skin.”

They undoubtedly believed it would have been preferable had we all died.

Every single moment during their journey toward the Mandok-mun.

“I shall ensure you face consequences for every action, including the crime of fabricating lies to obscure your own transgressions. I will never grant you absolution. I shall hold you accountable even for the lives of the students who were lost because of your cowardice.”

“…….”

They likely desired our demise far more than the actual monsters that had hunted us.

“Your fellow martial brothers, your juniors, and your entire sect will likewise share in this burden.”

Thus, I renew my solemn vow.

“I will ensure this comes to pass.”

That I will exact my absolute vengeance.

“Jin-so-un…… how dare a lowborn wretch like you speak such words!”

I spun around and walked away without giving him another moment of my time.

Behind me, Gang-sun-tak’s venomous rants continued to echo, but I completely tuned them out.

Only after my departure did the academy students finally begin to slide their weapons back into their sheaths one by one.

“You……”

Sect Leader Dan-se-ung checked his words with an uncharacteristic degree of wariness.

What could possibly be causing him to hesitate so suddenly?

As I regarded him with a look of mild bewilderment, he finally forced the words out.

“Are you…… genuinely out of your mind?”

What was his point?

Was he asking a legitimate question regarding my sanity, or was he merely seeking to hurl a casual insult?

“Or have you perhaps been covertly practicing some manner of forbidden sorcery or unholy martial arts?”

“…….”

I felt a sudden urge to sigh.

To receive such a query from an actual madman who routinely dosed himself with lethal toxins just to observe their destructive capabilities.

Me, an individual whose mind and physical vessel were in a state of perfect harmony, far more stable than the average person, courtesy of the Tae-eul True Classic.

“What exactly are you trying to imply?”

“I say this because the situation is completely surreal. No matter how ruthless a member of the Black Way might be, none would dare speak with such unbridled disrespect to a figure holding a leadership rank within the prestigious Qingcheng Sect. Unless, of course, you lack a brain…… hmph.”

dishonesty.

“…….”

My delivery may have been aggressive, but even so, I had absolutely no intention of walking back a single word.

To recant would be to invalidate all the blood, sweat, the sheer willpower, and the profound hopelessness that the Sahwal Unit had endured.

“……You are fully aware that you’ve landed yourself in an incredibly precarious position, correct?”

“…… silence.”

To hear such coarse phrasing slip so naturally from the lips of an esteemed Sect Leader.

The Black Way truly lived up to its reputation.

“I am well aware that the situation is incredibly precarious.”

“Haha, well, well, you certainly possess a remarkably sharp tongue.”

Dan-se-ung chuckled softly as he brought a hand down to pat my shoulder.

“To begin with, if accomplishments and transgressions were weighed strictly on the scales of absolute morality, neither the contemporary Righteous Way Society nor the White Way Society would stand today. They would have forfeited their moral authority to others and seen their dominion stripped away generations ago.”

I was well aware of that truth.

It was precisely through those unjust mechanisms that their grip on power became entirely absolute.

“Furthermore, by publicly humiliating a high-ranking member of the Qingcheng Sect, you have provided them with a perfect pretext to target you openly. I can already discern a gathering storm cloud hanging over what should have been a highly distinguished path forward.”

The very man who had initially greeted me with intense animosity was now, strangely enough, offering me sincere counsel.

In a strange way, he almost seemed pleased.

That particular gleam in his eyes, reminiscent of an individual who had successfully identified a kindred spirit.

“From the very beginning, the warmth of the sun has never graced my path forward. It is merely a matter of whether I must endure a torrential downpour or a barrage of solid ice.”

“Solid ice tends to leave rather severe bruises.”

“Fortunately, my skull happens to be exceptionally durable.”

“Heh-heh-heh.”

Dan-se-ung let out a deep, amused chuckle.

Was this elder perhaps under the influence of alcohol?

Before I could stop it, a faint grin mirrored his own on the edge of my lips.

“My gratitude.”

“Hmm?”

I offered a respectful, slight bow of my head toward Dan-se-ung.

“For intervening precisely when it mattered most.”

“…….”

Dan-se-ung snorted quietly, as if finding the entire exchange highly entertaining.

“I merely aligned myself with you to further reinforce the false impression among the others that you are a thoroughly integrated member of the Black Way, you realize?”

“Even if that remains the case, my standing, which burns brightly as an exemplary champion of justice, will suffer no damage.”

“Heh-heh…… you are unequivocally insane. To think that the notorious Black Flame Dragon considers himself a champion of justice.”

It appeared the inner circle of the Mandok-mun had not yet truly grasped the full weight of my stellar reputation, likely because the tidings from the Demonic Spirit Plateau had not fully penetrated their territory.

Still chuckling and shaking his head, his demeanor suddenly shifted, adopting an entirely solemn tone.

“I received word that that dim-witted fellow, Cha-seok-du, extended an open invitation for you to join the ranks of the Sa-heuk-ryeon whenever you see fit?”

“That is nothing more than an unverified rumor.”

“Heh. That muscle-brain might not possess much in the way of intellect, but he is certainly not an individual who invents fabrications.”

So the reason why the ridiculous moniker of the Black Flame Dragon refused to fade was entirely due to the actions of Cha-seok-du?

Confound it all.

It was well past the time for that title to be replaced.

“However, consider this.”

In a flash, Dan-se-ung’s expression froze into an icy stare.

The lighthearted, joking companion who had been conversing with me just a second prior vanished completely without a trace.

“From my perspective, you are an individual who must absolutely never set foot inside the Sa-heuk-ryeon.”

“…….”

I had absolutely zero intention of joining them to begin with, yet hearing him explicitly forbid me from doing so left me feeling strangely insulted.

“And what is the reasoning behind that conclusion?”

He locked his gaze onto mine for a long, silent moment before finally averting his eyes.

“Because your nature is far too pristine, yet simultaneously far too lethal.”

I struggled to comprehend his meaning.

Was there ever a scenario where those two concepts—pristine and lethal—could be applied to the same entity?

Could they even exist in tandem?

Purification.

“Within the secret archives of the Mandok-mun, we possess a unique concoction known as *Dok-jeong-su*. It is entirely devoid of color, yet its aroma is highly distinct, rendering it a toxin that cannot be deployed via stealth.”

“Then it sounds like a thoroughly impractical weapon.”

“Even so, its potency is undeniable. Should it strike the eyes, it induces total blindness; if inhaled or swallowed, it completely destroys the respiratory tract. However, you see……”

Dan-se-ung paused, tilting his pitcher to refill his cup to the brim.

“There exists a very specific reason this particular solution was designated as *Dok-jeong-su*.”

“I will admit, the title struck me as rather unconventional.”

“If one utilizes this solution to cleanse a poisoned reservoir or an area overrun with rot and disease, it completely purifies the environment. Consequently, a water source that would kill a man becomes safe for consumption, and a plagued domain transforms into a space where life can flourish once more.”

“Then it does not function as a toxin at all.”

“A toxin remains a toxin. For if a man consumes it directly, his life is forfeit. Were one to unleash it within a domain like the Sa-heuk-ryeon, it would result in mass casualties. However……”

He drained the contents of his cup in a single, fluid motion.

“I find myself wondering what the outcome would be if such a purifying force were introduced to cleanse the interior of the Murim Alliance.”

He carried on with his cryptic statements, leaving it entirely uncertain whether his words were directed at the properties of the *Dok-jeong-su* or at my own existence.

“Would that not prove to be immensely perilous? A completely immaculate Murim Alliance. I can already envision the collective panic of the entire Black Way network.”

He laughed softly once more, as if the mental image alone brought him great joy.

“And do you know what its most remarkable property is?”

“What might that be?”

“Once its work is completed, it dissipates entirely into the air without leaving a single trace behind.”

Dissipates, does it.

“Reflect upon this deeply.”

Instead of meeting my gaze, his fingers idly turned the rim of his drained cup.

“Whether or not it is truly worth sacrificing yourself to serve the purposes of the Murim Alliance.”

He maintained his enigmatic phrasing right up until the conclusion of our conversation.

Because I felt I grasped the underlying warning he was trying to convey, I chose not to press him for further clarification.

The contingent from the Murim Alliance departed.

Fundamentally, they were forces assigned to the regional branch, and the accompanying instructors were unable to prolong their stay owing to Dan-se-ung’s explicit hostility toward them.

In their stead, the members of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering remained behind.

The disciples of the Mandok-mun, who had formed a modest rapport and conversed with the academy students, harbored no goodwill toward the standard Murim Alliance personnel, yet they openly displayed great fascination regarding the elites of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

It appeared that from their perspective, the allure of observing those heralded as the legendary prodigies of the White Way factions was a temptation too great to ignore.

Among the visitors, the fascination centered around Dang-seo-hui was particularly pronounced.

There was the natural commonality of both parties specializing in the application of lethal poisons, paired with her status as the preeminent rising genius of the renowned Dang Family, which clearly played a massive role in drawing their interest.

A handful of the Mandok-mun disciples organized a modest, low-key gathering over drinks to satisfy that curiosity.

Dan-se-ung and the ranking elders deliberately chose to ignore this minor infraction by the younger generation.

I had also received an invitation prior to my scheduled discussion with Dan-se-ung, but I was simply not in the appropriate headspace to partake in a lively celebration and make merry.

As I made my way back toward my assigned quarters after departing from Dan-se-ung’s private chambers.

Judging by the muffled echoes of laughter and music filtering through from the distance, it was clear the drinking gathering was well underway.

Yet as I continued down the path, the festive noises gradually faded away, replaced by a profound, tranquil stillness that enveloped the entire area.

I paused, lifting my eyes to survey the night sky from a shadowed corridor where the flickering light of the courtyard torches could not reach.

The arrangements of the stars visible here in Yunnan did not differ significantly from those seen elsewhere.

Yet perhaps due to the elevated altitude of the region or the absolute clarity of the night air, the stars shone with such intense brilliance it felt as though they might cascade from the heavens at any moment.

As I stood there for several long moments, sorting through the tangled web of my thoughts while staring up at those luminous beacons.

Detecting a faint shift in the air, I turned my gaze.

“…….”

Standing at the edge of the dancing silhouette cast by a nearby torch, I caught sight of a thoroughly unwelcome individual.

“What business brings you all the way out to this secluded spot?”

“……What matters did you discuss during your private meeting with Sect Leader Dan-se-ung?”

“Do I harbor some unspoken duty to disclose my conversations to you?”

The moment the words left my mouth, I attempted to step around him and continue on my way.

“There is an inquiry I require an answer to.”

An inquiry, is it……?

Such a concept felt entirely alien coming from someone like Yong-so-a.

While I maintained my stride, fully intending to dismiss his presence entirely.

“Specifically, what is the reason you are still drawing breath?”

“…….”

Statements that were impossible to simply disregard echoed in the quiet air.

Was it his true desire that I should have met my end within the Silent Forest?

“Did you, just like that pathetic wretch Gang-sun-tak, wish for my demise?”

“I possess absolutely no concern regarding his personal motives. My curiosity is directed solely toward……”

Yong-so-a abruptly cut his own sentence short.

His facial features twisted into something entirely unfamiliar.

It was an expression I had never witnessed him make, neither throughout my previous life nor during this current incarnation.

After tensing his jaw for a brief instant, he slowly shifted his eyes upward to lock onto mine.

“It is the question of how you have managed to remain among the living until this very moment.”

What now marked his countenance, where a cold, unfeeling mask should have naturally rested, was a stark, unadulterated inquisitiveness.

A deep, unsettling confusion as to why an outcome he considered an absolute certainty had somehow been completely derailed.

*‘……What is this.’*

A profound, freezing dread slowly snaked its way up the length of my spine.

*‘Is he implying that he intends to personally execute me right here?’*

He was speaking with the absolute conviction that my death was the only logical conclusion.