What is internal injury? It is nothing but a mysterious opportunity disguised under a mask of infinite complexity.

–George Gordon Byron, Don Juan

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For those who study Kung-Fu Forensics, knowledge of anatomy is essential.

Especially as a consulting Kung-Fu detective who investigates Kung-Fu crimes, I prided myself on having accumulated considerable research in this field.

Yes. Undoubtedly, human lips possess elasticity.

Soft flesh that stretches and contracts as needed or unconsciously, a surface of comfort and deceit.

But the lips of the monster before my eyes stretched horizontally beyond the bounds of all my accumulated knowledge, almost reaching his ears.

“…Eek, ehee-hee-hee-hee-pukik!!”

The expression and voice that emerged from ‘its’ mouth were far from the polite kind of smile commonly called a smile.

Above all, it was very far from the individual I knew as Jane Watson.

“I asked who you are.”

Because the opponent did not seal the mute acupoint, I could speak, but my question lacked its usual force.

Because immediately after asking a question without spirit, an indescribable sense of alienation overwhelmed me.

This was not simply because the opponent looked indistinguishable from Watson.

The grotesquely elongated lips and the sharp teeth revealed between them insisted to me that the word ‘what’ was more appropriate than ‘who’.

Even my exceptional subconscious mind, so often attuned to details too subtle for the waking self to grasp, whispered without pause that the being before me was not of the humankind I knew.

It had a human appearance but was far removed from that definition.

Something not human.

It was not a strange person, but a monster.

From the strange light dancing in its pupils, and the unique wavelength and scent of its Qi Frequency, I could faintly glimpse its alien Essence.

If the evil fairies from Celtic folklore that bewitch people truly existed, wouldn’t they look this unpleasant?

I even had such absurd thoughts.

“Y-you just asked who I am…”

The unidentified creature leaned its face less than two inches from my head and whispered to me in Watson’s voice.

“Y-you are definitely a disciple of the Heavenly Demon…… Little Heavenly…… Demon!”

“…!”

This person. No, this beast knew the relationship between my master and me.

There are no clues as yet to deduce its identity.

Amid increasing confusion, I tried my best to remain calm.

No, it’s more accurate to say I struggled.

For now, the important thing is not its identity.

There is no information about this mysterious monster, not even whether it is human.

Now that my body functions are paralyzed by a strange pressure point sealing, something else is important.

“I thought you’d be smarter than this…! Hic!”

Though stammering, the creature showed no sign of nervousness.

“If you’re curious, I’ll tell you… I, I am something, um, yes. Louise is a big pu, puz…! Puzzle!”

“Louise…?”

A relatively smoother self-introduction than previous sentences.

It introduced itself as a big puzzle, but I had no idea what that meant.

The phrase “big puzzle” sounded vaguely familiar.

“Kik…!”

While thinking that, its eyes gradually took on a bright yellow color.

Now, with the torn lips and strange pupils, its face could no longer be called similar to Watson’s.

It circled my paralyzed body, observing my face from various angles like a cat playing with a bug or small animal.

Does it think of me as nothing more than a living toy?

‘Has Watson…already been taken?’

As some confusion cleared, the first thought was the face of my friend.

Unable to turn my head, I was frustrated beyond measure that I couldn’t check if Watson, swapped with the creature, was safe.

Currently, I could not move anything properly except my mouth and tongue.

Except for when training with my master, this was the first time I’d suffered such a cruel pressure point sealing.

‘What kind of eyes does it have-’

I tried to use the advanced eye technique Indra Net to check the reflection in the beast’s pupils, but it was impossible.

Because the creature disguised as Watson had deep black pupils fragmented into many pieces.

The vision technique that examines reflected visual information in pupils could not confirm if Watson was reflected in its eyes.

‘I hesitate to call such a sham creature a person.’

Focusing my internal energy on my ear to check Watson’s heartbeat also failed.

I don’t know what refined technique it used, but the creature’s Essence absorbed into my body through the pressure point sealing made it difficult to use my internal skill.

Even utilizing hearing and touch was difficult because the monster’s heartbeat matched Watson’s perfectly, and the heartbeat was unnecessarily loud, making subtle sounds or vibrations hard to detect.

‘Though it feels unnatural to call it human, it possesses intelligence and internal skill and applies systematic Kung-Fu Principles. What exactly is it…’

I deliberately steered my reasoning mind toward a more productive direction.

Calming my inner anxiety by believing Watson was alive, I quietly began preparing a counterattack.

From what I had confirmed so far, though I didn’t want to admit it, that strange creature, whether a spiritual beast or something else, was stronger than me.

No matter how injured I was or how relaxed I had become due to needing rest in a high-focus situation, it was clear I was caught off guard.

But if it thinks a few pressure points can hold me for long, it’s mistaken.

I am a disciple of the Heavenly Demon.

Just because I’m unable to move my body doesn’t mean I can’t execute a single technique.

-Patsh!

Flipping the hand seals and moving my will, my vision flickered like a match igniting, and the Paradox began.

Soon, hidden innate energy filled the space between the Niwan Palace and the Man’s Prognosis (carotid artery) acupoints on both sides of my throat, preparing to release a technique.

Though my Elixir Field might crack slightly, if I strike unexpectedly while it’s careless, what follows will be easy.

The Demonic art that unfolds the mnemonics of Lion’s Roar in reverse.

If the pressure point seals break due to the powerful recoil and shock at the moment of release, I can check Watson’s condition and escape immediately.

Even if the seals don’t fully break, I can use Poltergeist to force my body to move.

I learned such grappling techniques long ago when my master used to beat me.

-Patshoot!

“Anyway… Why do men keep trying useless things…?”

But my plan was thwarted the moment I tried to execute it.

As soon as it sealed three more pressure points including the mute point with movements too fast for my eyes, the innate energy I had raised began returning.

“Wh-what are you trying to do by releasing Lion’s Roar! Did you think Louise would be that surprised?”

It spoke more smoothly than before, without the strange laughter, making it easier to understand.

But despite the calmer tone, its hands were even more ruthless than before, as evidenced by my tongue and mouth being sealed.

I concealed the Qi Frequency of my energy to a minimum, but it noticed my attempt to use Demonic arts to burst its eardrums and prepared for it.

It was no ordinary eye technique or speed.

It was a transcendent martial artist, a master in a realm I still found hard to approach.

I couldn’t understand why such a dangerous person wandered the Palace without restraint.

Does it mean it’s confident enough to harm me, who is treated like a guest summoned by Her Majesty, and escape safely?

If such a high-level master belonged to an Orthodox clan, I would surely know of them. Who could it be?

Louise? I’ve never heard that name before.

“I-I’m stammering because it’s our first meeting. Louise doesn’t intend to harm you… Please don’t get scared and act out.”

But the creature looking at my embarrassment suddenly made a sulky face.

“…?”

An unexpected statement.

Saying it doesn’t intend harm and asking not to act out is a phrase often heard from hostage-takers.

But this creature’s timid and weak tone didn’t sound like a threat to kill if provoked…

“Amazing, as expected of a disciple of the Heavenly Demon. Louise even injected you with Essence, and you’re thinking of breaking it. I’ll give you a little credit.”

The monster calling itself Louise seemed to realize what annoyed me, as it walked behind me, dragged the stiff body of Watson like a wooden block, and sat it in front of me.

‘So her pressure points were sealed too… No wonder.’

Fortunately, Watson was alive. Though sealed and blinking her eyes in frustration, she looked at me.

As soon as I confirmed that, an involuntary sigh of relief escaped my lips.

“Sorry for scaring you… Louise was upset about wasting precious medicine on two people and just interfered… Kya. Louise is so kind…truly a fair lady.”

Louise cupped her cheeks with both hands, closed her eyes gently, and immersed herself in her own world.

Meanwhile, Watson reacted sensitively to the word “waste”.

In her eyes was the shock of her knowledge being denied, mixed with hope of learning new teachings from the mysterious master.

“Anyway, Louise doesn’t particularly want anything from the Little Heavenly Demon. This is just a hobby… Yes, that’s right. I came to see the admirable one who humiliated the Zion Clan…”

No intention to harm.

This is part of a hobby.

Hearing that, several clues came to mind.

Facts I had missed due to being sealed from behind by the mysterious monster.

‘Ah…’

The first thing that crossed my mind was the pill I swallowed earlier.

The pill was given to me by Louise’s hand disguised as Watson’s.

Even if my pressure points were sealed, I could feel the energy from the dissolving pill surface filling my stomach.

I can say for sure it wasn’t poison.

This is definitely the second pill of Factor VIII.

If it intended to kill me, it wouldn’t have fed me such precious medicine.

“W-well, Louise is an Anglican priest, you know? I was feeling good that those annoying flower sellers ran away? Sister Sword Queen looks happy too? So I quietly came out, no wait.”

Louise rambled on with a chaotic story.

“The red-haired lousy doctor sister and Little Heavenly Demon don’t even know the real way to take the pill, so I disguised as the sister and interfered? Or something like that…?”

I had never heard that there was a proper way to take Factor VIII.

“Oh my goodness. Isn’t Louise too kind…? The Abbess With The Lamp told me never to talk about this, but maybe Louise will be generous just for today ♪”

“Mph! Mmmph!”

Watson reacted to the unexpected name.

“Be quiet, sister. Can’t you see Louise is talking?”

The Abbess With The Lamp is the nickname of Florence Nightingale, the head of the E-Mei Clan.

Then this person, who seems close to the head of the E-Mei Clan, is probably—

“Ehe. Since Little Heavenly Demon did something nice, Louise will try especially hard~”

Now that I realized who it was, there was no reason to be anxious.

This meeting, perhaps.

“When I finish this, let’s use the Medicamentum Communionem power to open up your minor meridians?”

Might be quite a good opportunity?