Shang: Finally.
Shang steps onto the shore of a certain island from a “borrowed” fishing boat.
Shang: Welcome to the island where people can come from death after getting a jab from a needle. Interesting right, Baek Hyang?
Shang turns to the black-haired woman who is sitting on the boat and looking at Shang silently.
Being highly skilled in mystic arts and having two highly skilled followers, she thought she can raise a kingdom with fear and become queen. She did not expect to have her physical body destroyed right after she returned from her journey.
Baek Hyang:...
Baek Hyang's thoughts: Worst of all, I have become someone’s underling and was given a new name…. But what is he? Why do I feel fear from him when I tried to kill him?
Shang: Still the silent treatment, huh...
Shang’s thoughts: Did I push her too much? Maybe I hold back a little for now…
As a demon, Shang has the ability to remove a familiar’s previous memories but he did not do so with Baek-Hyang as she is his first familiar. Teasing and annoying her is part of Shang’s plan to see how far a familiar who still has its memories, can go.
The abandoned village….
Shang enters a shack which is out of place from the rest of the ruin buildings and Baek Hyang requested to stay outside as she cannot stand the smell.
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Shang: Oh mine, this is a treasure trove.
Inside the shack, there were shelves full of books and bottled plants. There is even a mini-garden filled with different plants and flowers.
A voice calls out to Shang when he reaches out for a book to read.
????: I do not mind you reading them but please put them back in their original places once you are done.
Shang: Who’s speaking…
Shang looks around and nothing of human comes into his vision until he sees a certain plant-like creature showing its roots from its pot.
????: Me of course. The owner of this place.
Shang: And you are?
Shang looks at the plant that has a human face.
????: Yoo Ui-tae.
(Author’s note: Yoo and Yu are two different Korean characters that pronounce the same but written differently. To match the Chinese characters given in the manga and mentioned in folklore, I chose Yoo Ui-tae over Yu Ui-tae.)
Shang’s thoughts: Ah, he is alive. I knew he will not die that easily.
Yoo Ui-tae who is one of the antagonists of Shin Angyo Onshi World has the ability to revive people with a needle jab, He was later decapitated by Chun Hyang when he caught Munsu easily by the neck with one hand and was about to jab him with the Mandrake Needle.
In real life, Yoo Ui-tae is more mentioned in folklore than historical books. He is known as the teacher of the famous Korean doctor Heo Jun (Hur Jun) and his practice of medicine is too modern that Korean historians refused to accept the existence of this person.
Shang’s thoughts: None can blame Yoo Ui-tae for that. There are no records of his involvement in ancient Korean history and he seems to be that type who stays away from politics. If he did, the people of Korea will recognize him as a time traveler like Western Han Dynasty’s Wang Mang (Wang Jujun).
Yoo Ui-tae: You do not look surprised.
Yoo Ui-tae speaks, turning Shang’s attention from his thoughts.
Shang: Eh? Surprised at what? Your new form or your sorry state?
Yoo Ui-tae: You know who I am?
Shang: Do I need to say it out?
No further questions need to be answered. Both of them know they are one of the same kind.
Yoo Ui-tae: I need your help.
Shang: And I need your skills
Yoo Ui-tae: Deal accepted...As long as you do not stand in my way.
Shang: You have my word.