The entity had been trapped within a physical body for a long time. The owner of this body possessed a stronger will and determination than it had anticipated. When it attempted to swiftly take control of the body, the host blocked his own life force and severed his consciousness.
"Resisting is futile," the entity thought. It was only a matter of time before it could steal the consciousness. No matter how strong the will, eventually it would succumb. Once the weakened body and consciousness were claimed, the entity could fully possess this vessel.
Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly. However, an unexpected variable emerged. Just as it was about to break through the blocked consciousness, an interference appeared.
"Who are you?" the entity wondered. Ordinary humans couldn't perceive its existence. Yet this being knew how to control it with strange techniques. "Are you trying to expel me?"
Thus began a fierce struggle for dominance - would the entity be cast out or successfully take possession? In the midst of this contest, the entity was tricked by the wielder of these mysterious arts into entering a wooden doll.
Filled with resentment, the entity's anger grew. It yearned to reclaim that body and wring the neck of the one who had tried to banish it. But its plans were thwarted once again.
Instead, the entity set its sights on the one who had interfered - a young, vigorous body. While not overflowing with vital energy like its original target, this new vessel leaned more towards yin energy, which would allow the entity to exert greater influence. This body was worth possessing. Being younger, its sense of self and willpower should be weaker.
"I'll claim you swiftly," the entity thought. All it needed to do was erase the consciousness. By stimulating and trapping the consciousness, the sense of self would eventually weaken.
But what the entity discovered shocked it. What kind of being was this body's owner? Primal desires that could pierce through one's very core. The lust for killing. Death. Darkness. Rage. Murderous intent. All of these were intermingled, brimming with negative energy.
For the entity, these death-filled, murderous desires were an irresistible instinct. "This is perfect," it exulted. However, disappointment soon followed. If left alone, these desires would have blossomed brilliantly. But something was suppressing them, preventing them from fully flowering.
"I'll remove whatever is restraining your desires," the entity decided. It was better to fully unleash desires that had not yet bloomed. A perfect mind was needed for the ideal body, after all.
But then something unbelievable occurred. "What are you?" The host had become aware of the entity's presence. Its attempt to trap the consciousness in an illusory reality had failed.
"This is impossible," the entity thought, bewildered. How could a living being directly perceive or contact it? That should have been impossible.
"I asked what you are," the host repeated.
Left with no choice, the entity decided to forcibly proceed with the possession, even if the method was somewhat crude. The physical possession was already underway - if it could devour the will and consciousness as well, the body would have no choice but to submit.
But to the entity's shock, the possession began to reverse. The energy it had used to invade the body was instead being absorbed by the host at an unimaginable speed.
"Stop," the entity commanded.
"What are you babbling about?" the host replied coldly.
"Stop this!"
"You're being noisy."
"No, don't—"
"I told you to be quiet, didn't I?"
"I'll give up. I'll leave, so please stop!"
The entity desperately tried to escape, fearing it might be completely devoured. But now the host was the one holding it captive.
Outside the inner struggle, the shaman Myosin let out a weary sigh. He picked up the sword that had fallen to the floor, surprised by its unexpected weight. Gripping the blade with both hands, he gazed tensely at the clan leader.
"Can I really do this?" he wondered. Though he had performed exorcisms on supernatural entities before, he had never killed a living person. Now that the moment had come, he felt nervous. But it had to be done.
"I must kill him," Myosin told himself. Only then could he complete the matriarch's request and pin everything on this young man. He planned to claim that the youth had gone berserk after being possessed by the entity from the clan leader, leading him to murder. With the matriarch's help, they could then dispose of the troublesome young master.
Myosin knew he had to act quickly. If the bodyguard outside entered, everything would fall apart. He began to move towards the clan leader.
Suddenly, Myosin froze mid-step. A bone-chilling sensation washed over him. Slowly, he turned his head, unable to hide his shock at what he saw.
An enormous, hazy figure at least two heads taller than an average adult was glaring at him with terrifying eyes. Myosin couldn't believe what he was seeing.
It was a massive monk, wearing blood-soaked robes and a necklace of skull beads. The monk's face was deathly pale, devoid of any life.
"A supernatural entity?" Myosin realized. While shamans like himself called them 'entities' or 'vengeful spirits', ordinary people referred to such beings as ghosts.
Cold sweat trickled down Myosin's forehead. Had his spiritual sight suddenly improved? He had never before seen an entity with such a clear form with his naked eyes.
"Damn it!" Myosin cursed inwardly. There was no way his spiritual perception could have increased so dramatically out of nowhere. This entity must be of an incredibly high level, with exceptionally strong resentment, allowing it to manifest so vividly.
Myosin tossed aside the sword and began forming hand seals, chanting an exorcism spell. But before he could finish, the entity in the form of the ghostly monk moved towards him like mist.
"It's useless!" Myosin thought confidently. He had the Seven Stars Talisman protecting his body. While exorcising this being might be difficult, it shouldn't be able to directly affect him—
Suddenly, a fist connected with Myo-shin's face, cutting off his chant. More than the pain, Myo-shin was stunned to realize it was Mok Gyeong-un who had struck him.
"H-How?" Myosin sputtered in disbelief. The young master should have been incapacitated, possessed by the entity from the clan leader's body. How was he moving? He should have been restrained by the suppression talisman.
Myosin's eyes widened as he noticed something - a faint black thread-like substance flowing from Mok Gyeong-un's chest, connecting him to the ghostly monk.
With dawning horror, Myosin realized the implications. The connection between their spirits could only mean one thing - the entity had become a shikigami, a familiar spirit under Mok Gyeong-un's control.
But this should have been impossible. The entity was clearly a vengeful spirit, a soul twisted by unresolved resentment. Such beings didn't obey humans. They were malevolent forces, harmful by nature. While some exceptional shamans could control familiars, those were typically ancient beings or benign nature spirits.
"This can't be," Myosin thought frantically. How could such a malicious entity filled with murderous intent become a familiar? Moreover, this youth had no training in shamanic or Taoist arts. It defied all logic.
Normally, a person possessed by an entity of this caliber would either lose control of their body or die. How was this happening?
"So I just need to remove this, right?" Mok Gyeong-un's voice broke through Myosin's shocked daze.
Before the shaman could react, the young master reached out and plucked something from Myosin's chest. To the shaman's horror, it was the Seven Stars Talisman - his only protection against supernatural forces.
The ghostly monk's apparition approached with a chilling smile. Panicking, Myosin tried to form hand seals to cast a protective spell in place of the talisman. But before he could, Mok Gyeong-un's foot slammed into his stomach.
Doubling over in agony, Myosin desperately tried to form seals again. But his body suddenly contorted unnaturally, his face darkening as veins bulged grotesquely.
Myosin knew what was happening - the entity had entered his body and was trying to kill him from within. If he couldn't cast a spell quickly, he would die from the possession.
With his last ounce of strength, Myosin attempted to form a hand seal. But Mok Gyeong-un stomped on his hand, preventing any movement.
Gasping for breath, Myosin pleaded, "Young master, please spare me! I'll do anything if you just let me live—"
"I don't need anything from you," Mok Gyeong-un cut him off coldly.
"If it's because I tried to deceive you—"
"No," Mok Gyeong-un shook his head. "You did what you thought you had to in order to survive. I understand that. But you heard where the seal and secret manual are hidden, didn't you?"
Myosin fell silent, the implications sinking in. Regardless of the shaman's deceptions, Mok Gyeong-un had already intended to kill him from the start.
Looking down at the stunned shaman, Mok Gyeong-un smiled faintly. "So just die now."
Though his lips curved upward, his eyes remained as lifeless as a corpse's - a sight even more terrifying than the supernatural entity.
Blood trickled from Myosin's mouth as veins bulged across his entire face. His body convulsed violently for a few moments before gradually growing still.