Rishikesh.
This was a small Indian city located at the entrance to the majestic Himalayas.
It was only about 250 kilometers from New Delhi.
Mountains surrounded it on three sides, while the Ganges, India's sacred mother river, wound its way through the mountains.
Compared with other Indian cities, this small city had fresher air, fewer residents, and a tranquil yet mysterious atmosphere.
It was one of India's foremost yoga retreat destinations and one of its most famous pilgrimage centers.
Legend had it that the guardian god Vishnu once defeated the demon Madhu here.
Vedanta Forest Academy had been built within this small city.
Behind the academy lay a quiet winding path.
Following the curving trail deeper in, there was a small wooden cabin standing amid the forest.
At that moment, in the center of the room, a man in a baseball cap sat in a strange posture.
His back, neck, and head remained upright, while his legs were pressed together and stretched forward.
His left calf was bent, its heel firmly pressing against his perineum.
His right leg was bent as well, with his right foot placed atop his left ankle.
His right heel was close to his pubic bone, while the sole of his right foot rested between the thigh and calf of his left leg.
His eyes were closed, and even the corners of his mouth, which always carried a faint smile, had lost their curve.
He was free of sorrow and joy alike, looking like a tranquil lake.
If Nagai Kei had been here, he would surely have cried out his name.
Sato!
Yet aside from that signature baseball cap, everything else about him seemed utterly wrong.
Why was the man who had caused tens of millions of deaths like a demon here in the back hills