Wow… it looks even scarier than the descriptions in the book… honestly, the title "Cave of Death" suits it perfectly. By the time I found the exit and got out, I must've died and come back a hundred times.
I stared at the stone plaque with "Cave of Death" carved into it. I had no idea how long I wandered inside that damned cave before finally finding a way out. But the more I looked around, the more terrified I became. For a moment, I thought I'd stepped into some sort of graveyard.
The air looked dark, yet there was no moon in the sky. The place felt clean, but the scent carried a bitter, rusty-metal smell.
My heart fluttered in my chest like a trapped sparrow, and the fear of accidentally running into someone made me dizzy.
With no destination, I walked straight ahead, glancing at the withered trees and dried, lifeless flowers around me.
"I don't even know where I am, so how the hell am I supposed to change the fate of that demon? And that stupid talking book didn't even show me the way! At least it could've let me wake up on a bed, not dump me in the middle of nowhere."
Just then, I stumbled over something solid, nearly diving face-first into a steaming pool of water. I turned my head to see what I'd hit—and to my surprise, a girl was kneeling on the ground, bowing deeply.
Her voice made me jump out of fear.
"Great Lord, please forgive me. I didn't know you were here. I lost focus for a moment and failed to sense your presence."
Then she began begging for mercy, crying.
I snapped out of my shock and rushed toward her, grabbing her hands. She froze instantly. The color drained from her face, her tears stopped, and with a deadly serious expression, she said:
"I accept my punishment."
What? I didn't even mention punishment… wow, these people really run on auto-fear mode.
"Hey, I'm not going to punish you. You did nothing wrong. And if you really want punishment so badly, then… just guide me to the palace."
"Yes, my Lord. This way, please."
Ohh. For the first time in my twenty years of existence, someone obeyed my words.
Thrilled that I didn't have to wander for hours looking for Lu Wang's residence, I followed the girl.
We stopped at the entrance of a courtyard. A massive stone tower stood before me.
"Wow, so this is the magnificent palace mentioned in the novel. The Great Lord's residence, the place for gatherings and ceremonies."
I stepped onto the stone-paved courtyard. Statues of creatures—dinosaurs, dragons, eagles, wolves—stood proudly around us. The exterior of the tower radiated intimidation, built entirely from black stone veined with glowing red streaks.
As I approached the main gate, the black-clad guards wielding long spears bowed deeply before me.
At first, I felt embarrassed. I wanted to say, "Please! Stand up, stand up, don't embarrass me like this!"
But I held my big mouth shut—no way I was ruining Lu Wang's character on day one.
With seriousness and authority, I ordered, "Rise."
They obeyed immediately.
A wicked grin crept across my lips.
"Sit."
They sat.
My inner gremlin awakened—so naturally, I continued:
"Stand. Sit. Stand. Sit."
I had to admit, bossing them around felt amazing.
But then a voice behind me made me stop.
"Great Lord."
I turned around and came face-to-face with a tall, handsome man.
He stood right before me and, unlike the others, only bowed his head slightly.
"I'm glad you returned from meditation so soon."
Meditation?
So Lu Wang had been in that creepy cave because of meditation?
Well, in the story, he did meditate whenever he was seriously injured or wanted to increase his inner energy.
Anyway—who was this attractive demon?
And why was he acting so casually with me?
"Great Lord, is something wrong?"
Hearing his voice snapped me out of the hour-long staring contest I'd apparently started.
Trying to hide the tremble in my voice, I said, "No, I'm just… tired."
"Of course. Allow me to escort you to your room."
Nice. Someone to guide me.
But then reality hit—I had to walk ahead while he followed behind me.
I moved stiffly, anxiety eating me alive that I might walk into the wrong room.
We entered a large hallway with no lamps or candles; only the glowing stones lit the path.
By the time we reached a three-way intersection—stairs going up, and two corridors branching opposite ways—my soul almost left my body.
"Oh great… I'm doomed."
The only escape: acting.
I pretended to stumble.
He instantly grabbed me, stopping me from falling.
"Are you alright?"
I looked into his eyes for a moment, then commanded, "Take me to my room."
He glanced around, then answered, "Of course."
He guided me up the marble stairs.
The walls were decorated with terrifying carvings of people being slain by blades.
I was shaking uncontrollably.
We reached a stone door.
He placed his hand on it—and it slid open silently on its own.
Inside… the room was breathtaking.
Contrary to Lu Wang's dark personality, the room was spacious and built from glowing stones in shades of blue and violet. Everything was tidy. A massive bed draped in black silk stood in the center, and a throne-like seat of luminous pearls sat to one side.
I stopped gawking and instructed him, "You may leave."
He didn't respond.
I turned toward him—only to see him staring around the room, looking even more shocked than I had.
"Hey you, didn't you hear me?"
He snapped out of it and clicked his tongue.
"Learn how to give commands properly first. Then command me."
My eyes bulged.
Excuse me? This brat—speaking to the Great Lord like THAT?
"Hey, I'm the Great Lord and—"
He cut me off:
"Yeah, yeah… and also Mo Zhan, the lazy bookworm."
He raised an eyebrow.
I froze.
Blood drained from my brain. My body trembled.
No way. He knows?!
My legs gave out. I collapsed onto the floor and begged, "Sir, listen, I didn't take your Lord's place willingly, I—please—"
His laughter echoed through the room.
"Ha ha ha ha! Mo Zhan, Mo Zhan! I never thought you'd beg for your life like this!"
He held his stomach from laughing so hard.
Wait… no…
No way…
He finally spoke between fading chuckles:
"Hey, you really didn't recognize me? It's me—Han. HAN! Did you forget your friend just because you became a Lord?"
I practically screamed, "Han!? It's really you? What the hell are you doing here!?"
That was enough to make him explode.
"All because of that damned book of yours! That cursed talking book dragged me into this hellhole!"
We stared at each other.
Lips trembling.
Then ran into each other's arms and burst into tears.
Well… what else do you expect from two seventeen-year-old boys?
Me: "Han! You don't know how lonely I was! I was about to die from fear!"
Han: "Same here… I'm glad you're here."
Once our crying session ended, we sat like two well-behaved kids on the bed.
I asked, "How did you end up here?"
With a shaky voice, he replied, "I called to ask you out. You idiot refused… so I went to your house to drag you out. When I walked into your room, I saw you asleep with a book on your face… I got mad, reached to take it, and the moment I touched it—everything spun and I passed out."
The more he spoke, the angrier he sounded.
Han:
"When I woke up… I was in some strange place. I wandered for an hour, confused, until suddenly a floating book appeared. I thought I was dreaming… but that talking book convinced me I wasn't. Then it said I entered this world by accident…"
He looked at me.
"And you? How did you get here?"
I scratched my head.
"Well… I simply fell asleep after hanging up on you. The book fell on my face, I was too tired to move it… then I woke up in a pool. And that's where I saw the talking book."
Han: "So what did it tell you?"
Tapping my foot on the stone floor, I answered, "It said I'm here for a mission."
Han: "And? What mission?"
I squeezed my eyes shut.
"To change the fate of the Demon Lord, Lu Wang."
Han: "Change his fate? Why?"
Me: "How should I know? It just said to stop his cruel decisions."
Han stared for a moment—then burst out laughing.
I looked at him, confused.
When he finished laughing, he slapped my shoulder.
"It's not that big of a deal! You are Lu Wang now. Just don't make the decisions he made."
I slapped the back of his head.
"You idiot! My mission is to do the opposite of his choices, but I also need to let the story progress normally! And things won't stay this simple!"
He scratched his head grumbling.
Me: "Anyway, what about you? Do you have a mission?"
He looked at me with eyes full of irritation—enough to raise every hair on my body.
Han: "Yes. I do."
Me: "And what is it?"
He practically choked on the words, clearly hating them.
"To protect you…"
I stared at him in disbelief.
Me: "…Me? Why?"
Han: "How should I know!? It told me I must protect you—even if I have to sacrifice myself."
I burst into laughter—
But the next thing he said froze the smile on my face.
Han: "It also said… if necessary… I must kill you."
My eyes trembled. I swallowed hard.
"M-me? Kill me? Why!?"
Han, just as frustrated:
"How should I know!? Everything it said was vague, like it wants us to figure it out ourselves."
But I was gone—staring blankly into the void.
Does this mean… I might die instead of Lu Wang?
A hand landed on my shoulder.
Han's crimson eyes locked onto mine.
"Don't curl up in fear now. I'm obviously not going to kill you. And it's never going to happen."
He held up his pinky.
"Promise."
I smiled and hooked my pinky with his.
"Promise."
We laughed at our childishness.
But then a question popped into my head. I stopped laughing.
"By the way… do you even know whose body you woke up in?"
He nodded quickly.
Me: "Well? Who?"
Han: "You won't believe me."
Me: "I'm dying of curiosity—just tell me!"
Han: "I woke up in… Zhao's body."
I shrugged casually.
It took a moment for the meaning to sink in. Then I screamed:
"WHAT!? Zhao? The same… the same right-hand man of Lu Wang!?"
Together, we shouted:
"Also known as the Demon Lord's Shadow!"
I lay down on the bed and groaned:
"Why you, inside Zhao's body?"
Han: "What, you don't like having me beside you?"
I sat up and glared at him.
"No! It's not that! I NEED Zhao's strength and knowledge in this stupid world. Not YOU, you clueless potato."
He snapped back:
"Hey! Don't call me clueless! For your information, I DO have Zhao's memories."
I gasped.
"Seriously?"
Han: "What? You don't?"
Me, shouting: "NO!"
Han: "Explains why you acted like an idiot all day."
Me: "As if YOU were majestic or something!"
I stared bitterly at the stone walls.
If I hadn't come from outside, I'd think the room had no door.
Then something struck me.
"Wait… that's why you knew the way to Lu Wang's room!?"
He threw me a mocking glance.
"What's wrong, my friend? Jealous?"
"HEY! You're my subordinate now! If I want you to die here, you die! So shut your mouth!"
He clicked his tongue.
"Don't be ridiculous. You're like a newborn who knows nothing about this world—you NEED someone to guide you."
Nope. That was it.
I had endured enough.
I grabbed his long black hair and yanked.
He screeched.
He grabbed mine.
We were seconds away from ripping each other bald when something fell from my clothes to the floor, glowing brightly in gold.
We froze.
Both of us stared at the floating golden text until it vanished.
The message read:
Mission One: Stop the war between the Demons and the Immortals.
Han spoke in a terrified voice:
"So this means… we actually have to interfere?
How? We don't even know what a sword looks like!"
I slowly turned to him, grabbed his arm, and said:
"Let's just first figure out how to stay alive between two wounded tigers.