Atop Red Wine Mountain, where the winds howled and the sun cast long shadows over the rocky terrain, two figures stood face to face.
One, a white-haired man in flowing robes, exuded an aura of dominance. His sharp brown eyes locked onto his opponent with suspicion. The other, a black-haired swordsman, stood with his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his crimson blade, his dark gaze burning with quiet rage.
The white-haired man, Yun Lin, the Red Wine Sage, narrowed his eyes. "Who are you? How did you reach the peak of my mountain?"
The black-haired swordsman smirked, a trace of mockery in his expression. "You don't remember me, do you?" His voice was calm, but the hatred beneath it was unmistakable. "I was ten years old when we first met. That day, you butchered my family and massacred my clan. My father—Feng Lin, the Evil Swordsman—you killed him right before my eyes."
Yun Lin's expression twisted. "S-son of the Evil Swordsman...?"
Feng Yun's smirk deepened. "Ah, so you do remember." He took a slow step forward, his blade whispering as it slid an inch from its sheath. "And now, you die."
With blinding speed, Feng Yun lunged, his crimson blade slashing toward Yun Lin's throat.
CLANG!
Yun Lin blocked just in time, the force of their clash shaking the mountain's peak. Sparks flew as their swords met, the impact sending shockwaves through the rocky terrain.
BANG!
The force of the exchange sent both men skidding backward. Yun Lin steadied himself, eyes narrowing. "Impossible... How did you push me back?"
Feng Yun rolled his shoulders, his breath steady. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Yun Lin's grip tightened on his sword. Without warning, he vanished.
SWOOSH!
Feng Yun twisted at the last second as Yun Lin reappeared behind him, his blade slicing toward his back.
SLASH!
A lock of Feng Yun's hair floated to the ground.
He barely dodged.
He's fast, Feng Yun thought. But predictable.
Before Yun Lin could recover, Feng Yun disappeared, reappearing behind him. His voice was a whisper in Yun Lin's ear.
"You fell for it."
BANG!
A surge of sword Qi erupted from Feng Yun's fingertip, piercing straight through Yun Lin's chest.
The Red Wine Sage staggered backward, his hands clutching his stomach as blood trickled from the wound. His breathing was labored, his face pale. "H-how... are you... using sword Qi...? Only Deity Transformation experts can wield that!"
Feng Yun approached, his expression unreadable. "You really want to know?"
Yun Lin gasped for air, his mind racing. Then, realization dawned on him.
"The Bloody Pill..." he whispered. His voice cracked into laughter, bitter and sharp. "You actually took it..."
Feng Yun's smirk faded.
"That's right. I swallowed the Bloody Pill."
Yun Lin stumbled, his strength leaving him. "A desperate gamble... That pill grants monstrous power, but..." He coughed up blood. "You won't live past today, Feng Yun."
Feng Yun remained silent. He already knew.
"That may be so..." He raised his blade. "But I'll send you to hell first."
With a final ruthless slash, his sword pierced Yun Lin's heart.
Yun Lin's eyes dimmed, his body trembling before collapsing lifelessly onto the ground. The Red Wine Sage—the man who had slaughtered his family—was dead.
Feng Yun stood over the corpse, breathing heavily.
He had won.
But as he reached for his sword, a sharp pain lanced through his chest. His vision swam. His fingers brushed his face—his tears were red.
Blood.
He chuckled bitterly. "So... this is the cost."
His knees buckled. The strength that had fueled him moments ago vanished, leaving him weak and dying.
As the world darkened around him, a cruel thought crossed his mind.
"I got my revenge..."
"But in the end, I still lose."
With that final thought, Feng Yun collapsed, fading into the abyss.
Feng Yun lay on the cold, unforgiving ground. Darkness stretched infinitely in every direction, an abyss devoid of light, sound, or even the faintest presence of life. His breath was steady, but his mind spun with questions.
His last memory was clear—he had swallowed the Bloody Pill, knowing it would kill him, yet he had still done it. He had accepted his death, so why was he here?
Yet, even knowing he would die, standing in this abyss still felt surreal. Was this truly the afterlife, or something far worse?
A sharp pain pierced his skull, forcing him to grit his teeth. "Ah… damn it, this hurts." He rubbed his temples, trying to steady himself as a single thought clawed at his mind:
Where am I? And how the hell am I still alive?
He staggered to his feet, his instincts screaming at him to remain alert. His Qi sense—his very perception of energy—was completely blocked. No connection to his power. No sense of direction. Nothing. He started walking, his footsteps echoing in the abyss.
After what felt like hours, he stopped and sat down on the unseen surface beneath him. "Damn it. Five hours, and not a single clue about where I am."
Then, a voice echoed inside his head, deep and amused. "Are you done with your little stroll?"
Feng Yun's eyes widened. His body tensed as he sprang to his feet. "Who the hell are you? What do you want from me?"
The voice chuckled. "You did nothing to me. I simply found you here."
Feng Yun's eyes narrowed. "If you didn't trap me here, then let me leave."
A pause. Then, the voice responded, "You're free to go. But let me warn you—the moment I open the gate of the abyss, your soul will be erased."
A cold shiver ran down Feng Yun's spine. "What? My soul will perish?"
"Yes. Because you are dead. And I am merely keeping your soul intact—for now."
Feng Yun's breath slowed. 'Dead? Of course… I knew this would happen. But why does it still feel so unsettling?'
The voice remained silent, letting the truth sink in. He had died.
After a long moment, Feng Yun exhaled sharply. "What do you want?"
The voice laughed—a deep, echoing sound filled with amusement. "Smart. You figured it out quickly. Here's the deal: you do one job for me, and I will grant you a new body. You will live again, just as you wish."
Feng Yun crossed his arms. "And before I agree, I want to see you. I don't make deals with shadows."
The voice scoffed. "Fine. We'll sign a contract."
A glowing parchment appeared before him, floating midair.
"If either of us tries to deceive the other, our souls will be erased. If I fail to uphold my end, I die. If you fail to complete the job, you die. Simple enough?"
Feng Yun smirked. "Not bad. I accept."
A blinding light engulfed him, and everything changed.