When he returned to the mountain with honors, determined to glorify his lineage...
He found himself on his way up the mountain.
He witnessed his master draining the blood and vitality of others.
He saw with his own eyes, his master, the 'Heterodox Cultivator,' practicing some unknown dark art, revealing fangs, outside a burning village, gray hair draping over his shoulders, a bloodied side profile.
With just a turn of the head.
He saw his white-clad, bare-footed, clear-air-stepping, white-haired, already fully-fledged 'disciple,' who slightly opened his mouth with complex eyes, yet ultimately said nothing more, leaving only one phrase:
"For the master... wishes to continue living."
"You... don't understand."
