Then, the man smiled faintly.

"I want to know what it is."

"You must be mistaken."

Kyrian did not move.

"I saw it."

Silence. The man uncrossed his arms.

"Saw what?"

"The needle. It crossed the street."

"It entered that man’s neck. Then he got better."

The smile disappeared from the man’s face. For the first time... he truly looked at Kyrian. Attentively.

His eyes narrowed.

’Interesting.’

Kyrian remained motionless. The man held his gaze. And then...

His eyes seemed to shine for a brief instant. A nearly imperceptible light, like the reflection of the sun on a distant surface.

But Kyrian saw it. The very moment the man’s eyes gleamed, a strange sensation traveled through his body. It was as if something was trying to pass through his eyes. Trying to see through them.

Examining. Analyzing. Investigating.

Instinctively... his own eyes reacted. It wasn’t a conscious thought. It wasn’t a deliberate decision. It was like a reflex. Like blinking before a sudden light. Like pulling one’s hand away from fire.

Then, a sharp pain exploded inside the man’s head.

’Mm. Damn.’

He closed his eyes for a second. Concealing it.

But internally... his shock was immense.

’Sixteen years old.’

He had seen Kyrian’s entire body before being counterattacked.

The bones are dense, strong, and different.

The muscles were well-defined, yet with a structure that didn’t match his apparent age.

The approximate age is young, very young.

Even the strange dormant bone hidden within the boy’s body, he recognized it as a Heavenly Bone, making him even more interested and shocked.

But then... his eyes met Kyrian’s. And everything changed. It was like trying to peer into an abyss. Something deep. Unfathomable.

When he attempted to force his gaze even further... a piercing pain shot through his own pupils. As if he were being warned.

As if something were saying. Do not go deeper. Stop. Retreat.

’These eyes...’

’What kind of eyes are these?’ the man wondered inwardly. It was the first time something like this had happened since he had awakened his special eyes.

Meanwhile...

Kyrian was also surprised.

It was the first time. The very first time he had encountered someone similar.

’He tried to observe me. Using his eyes. Instead of spiritual sense.’

Kyrian narrowed his eyes.

’He also possesses special eyes.’

’A special ocular physique?’

The man opened his eyes again.

Now, his expression was completely different. The disinterest had vanished. In its place...

There was curiosity. Not the casual curiosity of someone seeing something new. But the intense curiosity of someone who had found something unexpected.

’You are interesting.’

Kyrian replied immediately.

’You as well.’

Silence.

The wind blew through the alley, carrying the smell of herbs and sewage. Clothes dried and swayed on the lines overhead. A woman coughed inside a nearby house.

Then...

The man let out a small sigh.

"It seems continuing to pretend won’t be of any use."

He extended his hand.

"May I?"

Kyrian observed him for a few seconds. Evaluating.

’There is no hostility in his eyes.’

’Only... interest.’

Then, he handed over the needle.

The man held it between his fingers. Turning it lightly. His movements were extremely careful, as though he were handling something fragile.

"You really managed to see it. Impressive."

"Not even cultivators of the Spiritual Fusion Realm would be capable of seeing the needle."

He raised his eyes.

"But you saw it."

Kyrian got straight to the point.

"What was that? Was the man sick?"

The man looked at the needle, rotating it once more.

"No."

"Then was it poison?"

"That wasn’t it either."

Kyrian frowned.

"Then what was it?"

The man remained silent.

For a few seconds.

Then, he tucked the needle into his sleeve.

"What if I told you it was something alive?"

Kyrian’s eyes narrowed.

"The insect."

"You saw the insect too?"

Kyrian nodded.

The man remained silent for several seconds. Observing the young man before him. Calculating something.

Sixteen years old. Young. Special eyes like his own. Capable of seeing his needle. Capable of noticing the insect. Capable of resisting the inspection of his own eyes.

’Interesting.’

’Very interesting.’

"What is your name?"

"Kyrian."

"Kyrian..."

He repeated the name slowly, as though committing it to memory. As though savoring each syllable.

It was definitely a strange name. It didn’t seem to come from any known region. It didn’t appear to belong to any culture he recognized.

But the man apparently didn’t care.

Then, he turned around. Beginning to walk deeper into the alley. His steps were slow. Tranquil.

But there was something strange. It was as if his presence gradually diminished. As though the world itself stopped noticing him. The light falling upon him seemed less intense.

The shadows around him appeared darker. As if he were hiding in plain sight.

He took a few steps. Then, he spoke.

"Come with me."

Kyrian remained still for a moment, wondering whether he should truly go.

"Where?"

The man did not turn around.

"You wanted answers, didn’t you?"

"I also have a few questions for you."

He took several more steps.

"If you’re still curious... you may follow me."

Kyrian watched the man’s back. His eyes narrowed slightly.

Instinct. Experience.

Both told Kyrian that this man was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Perhaps more dangerous than anyone he had encountered up to this point.

But... his curiosity was greater.

Unknown insects. Invisible needles. Spiritual eyes.

Who was this man? What did he know? How had he cured the man whom no one else could cure?

Without hesitating any longer, Kyrian began to walk.

Following the stranger through the city’s alleyways.

As he did...

Many questions remained in his mind.

Who exactly is this man? Where did he come from? Is he an assassin? A physician? Why did he help that man, and how?

Ahead, without looking back, the man harbored similar thoughts.

’What kind of eyes make mine ache merely from trying to see through them?’

’Why, even though I can sense his cultivation at the Core Formation Realm, does he possess no core within his body?’

’What kind of Heavenly Bone is that?’

’Could this be a sign from the heavens?’

And, for the first time in many years... a small smile appeared on his face. Not a smile of joy. Nor one of satisfaction. But a smile of genuine interest.

’Perhaps,’ he thought.

’That unexpected encounter in front of the Alchemists Association...’

Perhaps that unexpected encounter was far more interesting than either of them could imagine.