Return to Reality
"Aaahhh!"
Jin-ho screamed as his body convulsed. The shock of being forcibly pulled from the Blood Heaven Emperor's mental realm back to reality swept through his entire being.
But the situation in reality was equally desperate.
"Jin-ho! Wake up!"
Han Mu-jin felt Jin-ho's pulse in desperation. The heartbeat was erratic—sometimes stopping entirely, then suddenly exploding with rapid beats. It was as if two different hearts were competing within one body.
"The pulse... the pulse is strange!"
The Heavenly Sword Sect's physician panicked as he checked Jin-ho's wrist again. Despite thirty years of medical experience, he had never seen symptoms like these.
"This isn't simple qi deviation. It's as if... as if two different beings are fighting inside his body."
The physician's words made Han Mu-jin's face grow even paler. What he had feared most was beginning to happen.
"Master, will Jin-ho really be okay?"
Hyeon-su approached with concern. His shoulder still bore unhealed wounds from the Blood Flame Cult's Demon Sword Unit member.
"What Flame King said earlier... about the Death Blood Constitution..."
"Hyeon-su, I'll explain that later."
Han Mu-jin replied in a heavy voice. But deep worry was evident in his eyes.
'Death Blood Constitution... is Jin-ho really...'
Han Mu-jin recalled words from Jin-ho's grandfather.
"Mu-jin, if anything strange happens to Jin-ho... don't panic. And remember this. The Kang family has secrets passed down through generations."
Then, strange phenomena began manifesting in Jin-ho's body.
Thrum... thrum...
Heat began radiating from Jin-ho's skin. But this wasn't ordinary fever. Crimson energy enveloped his entire body.
"What is this!"
The physician stepped back. When his hand trying to touch Jin-ho contacted the crimson aura, a sharp electric shock ran through it.
"Everyone stand back!"
Han Mu-jin urgently shouted.
『Second Awakening Aftereffects in Progress』『Blood Heaven Emperor Consciousness Awakening Rate: 15%』『Warning: Reality-Mental Realm Boundary Unstable』
System messages echoed in Jin-ho's mind, but he remained unconscious. Only Han Mu-jin realized how serious Jin-ho's condition had become.
"Hot... too hot..."
Jin-ho muttered unconsciously. His voice was lower and more intimidating than usual. It sounded like someone else's voice entirely.
Hyeon-su unconsciously tried to approach Jin-ho.
"Jin-ho, are you okay?"
"Dangerous! Don't go near him!"
Han Mu-jin blocked Hyeon-su. At that moment, crimson energy explosively erupted from Jin-ho's body.
BOOM!
The medicinal herbs around them instantly withered upon contact with the blood energy. It was as if their very life force was being drained away.
"This... this is demonic energy!"
The physician cried out in horror.
"Master, what is this exactly?"
Hyeon-su asked in a trembling voice. It was unbelievable that such evil energy could emanate from the usually gentle Jin-ho.
Han Mu-jin wore a complex expression. He wondered whether to reveal the truth or continue hiding it.
"Hyeon-su... Jin-ho is..."
Then, a completely different voice flowed from Jin-ho's lips.
"Hahaha... it's been so long since I've tasted the air of reality."
Everyone was startled. It was Jin-ho's voice, but the tone and inflection were completely different. It sounded like an ancient being who had lived for thousands of years.
"Jin-ho?"
Hyeon-su called out cautiously, but Jin-ho didn't respond. More precisely, it seemed something other than Jin-ho was controlling his body.
"Interesting... even this weak body can accomplish this much."
The words coming from Jin-ho's mouth grew increasingly eerie.
Han Mu-jin could hesitate no longer. The situation was becoming critical.
"All disciples must leave this place immediately!"
"Master?"
"Right now! And inform the other elders. Tell them it's an emergency!"
The disciples hurriedly left the medicine hall. But Hyeon-su alone refused to leave.
"Master, I can't abandon Jin-ho."
"Hyeon-su..."
"Jin-ho is the friend who saved me. Now it's my turn to help him."
Han Mu-jin was moved by Hyeon-su's loyalty, but worried at the same time.
"Then... we need to move Jin-ho to a safe place first."
Han Mu-jin retrieved a special blanket. It was a precious item capable of blocking blood energy.
"Let's wrap Jin-ho with this. It should prevent the blood energy from leaking out."
But the moment they tried to cover Jin-ho with the blanket, something unexpected happened.
Crackle crackle!
Sparks flew as the blanket clashed with the blood energy. Jin-ho's blood energy was far stronger than the blanket's sealing power.
"No good... with this level of blood energy..."
Han Mu-jin's face filled with despair.
"Master, isn't there another way?"
"There is, but... it's dangerous."
Han Mu-jin pulled a small jade pendant from his robes. Complex patterns were carved into the jade.
"This was entrusted to me by Jin-ho's grandfather. For emergency situations..."
"By grandfather?"
Hyeon-su asked curiously.
"It's related to the Kang family's secrets. But if we use this..."
Han Mu-jin hesitated.
"It could place a great burden on Jin-ho. If we're not careful..."
Then Jin-ho's blood energy intensified further. Cracks began forming in the medicine hall's walls.
"We can't hesitate any longer!"
Han Mu-jin steeled his resolve and pressed the jade pendant against Jin-ho's chest.
Whoosh!
Blue light emanated from the jade pendant, clashing with Jin-ho's blood energy. The crimson aura and blue light competed fiercely.
"It's working!"
Jin-ho's blood energy began weakening. But simultaneously, Jin-ho's face grew even paler.
"Now's our chance! Quickly, let's move Jin-ho!"
Han Mu-jin and Hyeon-su worked together to lift Jin-ho. The jade pendant's effect had suppressed the blood energy, but Jin-ho's condition had worsened further.
"Where are we going?"
"To the secret cave in the back mountains. We should be able to treat him safely there."
It was an emergency transport conducted in the dead of night. In the moonless darkness, a perilous journey began with the fate of the Heavenly Sword Sect hanging in the balance.
"Master... will Jin-ho really get better?"
Hyeon-su asked in an anxious voice.
"I don't know. But we can't give up."
Han Mu-jin's voice carried determination.
"Jin-ho is a disciple we must save at all costs."
But deep in his heart, other worries were growing.
'Will this child... really walk the same path as Kang Cheon-hyeol?'
On the way to the secret cave, an eerie voice once again flowed from Jin-ho's lips.
"Soon... soon I will awaken..."
Hearing that voice, both Han Mu-jin and Hyeon-su felt chills run down their spines.
『Blood Heaven Emperor Awakening Rate: 15% → 18%』『Jade Pendant Sealing Art Detected』『Countermeasure Protocol Activating...』『Until Next Awakening: 82%』
An invisible war raged within Jin-ho's body. And no one could predict its outcome.
The shadows of three figures running through the darkness headed deeper into the unknown world.