While organizing documents in his study, Yunje's body stiffens below the neck as if even breathing is a struggle.

The hand holding the papers drops limply.

"Wait... just a... huff... ha..."

He grips the pit of his stomach with one hand and the edge of the desk with the other, but his fingertips tremble so violently he can't get a proper hold.

Every time he inhales, it feels as if his solar plexus is twisting inside, and only short gasps leak through his lips.

"Ha... ah, ugh...!"

Spasms so severe they reach his shoulders recur repeatedly, causing Yunje's body to keep doubling over.

As his vision blurs, his toes stumble across the floor in an attempt to stop himself from collapsing, but his body temperature has plummeted, and his face is instantly deathly pale.

He wipes his sweat-beaded temples with the back of a trembling hand, unable to even form a coherent sentence.

"I'm... I'm fine, it's... ugh... mgh...!"

His last word is swallowed, crushed by a spasm.

The pain rising from below his solar plexus feels like being churned by a knife, surging in waves. With every surge, his consciousness flickers, his eyes clouding over before snapping back into focus.

And eventually...