A week had passed, quiet for Kazel but a storm for the world. Two sects, once pillars of power, had vanished in a single day. Not weakened. Not defeated. Erased.
Scale Dalgona, once a battleground for glory, was now a graveyard of history. The Rising Stone Sect and the Jade Lotus Sect—gone. Their names now spoken only in whispers. From the bustling markets to the grand halls of noble families, everyone was talking.
"I heard he fought a patriarch head-on and won!"
"Nonsense! No one at his level could do that!"
"Then explain why Weh is dead!"
"He didn't just die. He begged first."
"You mean the father did it?"
"No. It was the son. Kazel."
Noel, the father—the man who turned the battle into war.
Lana, the mother—the hidden blade that struck in the chaos.
And Kazel, the one name that had not left anyone's lips in seven days.
Some spoke his name in awe. Others in fear. Some in admiration. Others in resentment. But no one could deny it—Kazel had changed everything.
And in the middle of it all, Pao Pao was gone. His stall, once a familiar sight, had vanished overnight. No trace, no farewell, just empty space. Those who knew him understood. When Pao Pao disappeared, it meant the winds were changing. Something big was coming. Or he was bored. Either way, he gone.
"Excuse me," a familiar voice rang through the courtyard.
Lana opened the door, her sharp gaze meeting the visitor. "Yes?"
Arhatam stood there, offering a polite bow.
"Ah, it's you... Arhatam, was it?"
(Seven days, and she still isn't sure of my name?) Arhatam thought with a strained smile.
Lana stepped aside, letting him in. Together, they entered Kazel's room, where the boy lay in deep sleep. His breathing was steady, his expression peaceful—almost too peaceful. No one would have believed that this same boy had massacred two entire sects just a week ago.
Arhatam studied him for a moment before nodding. "He's stable. He should be able to wake up at any moment."
Lana sighed, arms crossed. "You said that yesterday." Then her eyes narrowed. "You're not... feeding him anything weird, are you?"
"N-No! Of course not!" Arhatam stammered.
(But then again, I can't blame her for being suspicious. After what she's been through, trust isn't something she gives freely. And with Old Fu's scandal being uncovered, the entire market's in chaos… I can't even get a moment of peace. And this guy still owes me money!)
Arhatam cleared his throat. "Where's your husband, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Busy," Lana replied coldly.
"Right… okay," he nodded stiffly, deciding not to pry further.
Lana exhaled, her gaze softening as she looked at Kazel. "Arhatam… you're not just saying he could wake up soon to keep me entertained, are you? I saw what happened. Every muscle in his body cramped. His heart must have seized up too."
"You mean angina?"
Lana frowned. "I don't know that term."
"It's like… a terrible squeeze in the heart. Almost like a heart attack."
"Then that's what it was," she said, before running a hand through her hair and glancing around the room. Gifts crowded every available space—tokens of admiration from nameless supporters and surviving sects alike. Through the window, she could see even more stacked outside, overflowing from the small home.
She scoffed under her breath. The world feared him, admired him, hated him. Yet here they were, showering him with gifts.
Lana sighed, sitting at Kazel's bedside. She reached out, brushing stray strands of hair from his forehead. "Just wake up already," she muttered.
"Oh, it's up," Arhatam muttered, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and surprise.
Lana turned to him, her brows furrowed. "Hmm?"
Arhatam jerked his chin toward the bed. "Look, I told you he's healthy," he said, his tone light but his expression vaguely disturbed. Then he added with a slow blink, "Maybe too healthy."
Lana followed his gaze, and her lips parted in silent disbelief. Beneath the blankets, a distinct peak had formed, tenting the fabric.
For a moment, the room was utterly silent.
"Oi..."
"Oi..."
"OI!!!"
A sharp voice snapped them out of their daze. Both of them flinched and turned toward the bed, where Kazel lay with his head propped up on the pillow, staring at them with a half-lidded, utterly unimpressed expression. His black hair was disheveled from sleep, his blue eyes still heavy with exhaustion, but there was no mistaking the sheer exasperation in his gaze.
"What the hell are you two looking at?"
Lana's momentary embarrassment was completely overridden by relief as her eyes welled up. Without another word, she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"Kazel!!" Her voice cracked as she pressed her face against his chest, clutching him as if he might disappear again.
Kazel blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the tight embrace. He could feel the warmth of his mother's arms, the way she trembled slightly against him. It took him a second to register just how worried she must have been.
Arhatam, still standing at the foot of the bed, scratched the back of his head. "Well, that was dramatic," he muttered, then sighed. "But at least now I can finally collect my damn money."
"I'm fine, Mother," Kazel said, his voice steady despite the slight hoarseness from his long rest. He looked up at Lana's tear-streaked face, her beauty not diminished in the slightest by the exhaustion and worry she had endured.
Stretching his arms, he rolled his shoulders, feeling the stiffness ease from his body. "Alright, time to eat! I'm starving!" he announced, suddenly energized.
With a casual flick, he pulled the blanket away. It flew off the bed, landing in a crumpled heap on the ground.
Silence.
Kazel blinked. Lana froze. Arhatam… well, Arhatam stared.
The room held its breath as the three of them took in the undeniable, indisputable fact that Kazel was completely, utterly naked.
Arhatam was the first to recover. With a slow nod of appraisal, he whistled. "Damn. That's no dagger… that's a sword, oh, your poor future wife."
Kazel's jaw dropped. A vein throbbed at his temple as his glare burned into Arhatam. "Arhatam, you piece of shit!"
"What? That was your mother's idea!" Arhatam yelped, pointing at Lana as he backpedaled toward the door.
"As if!" Kazel snapped, seething, yanked the bed sheet and wrapped it haphazardly around his waist before leaping off the bed. "GET BACK HERE!"
With a panicked laugh, Arhatam bolted out the door, Kazel right on his heels, leaving Lana standing alone in the room, pressing her fingers to her temple.