“How did you come here?”

To my question, my father gave his usual answer.

“Just passing by, so I stopped in.”

That couldn’t be true. He knew the exact movements of the Ma Jons and must have come after hearing that I was meeting with the four Ma Jons.

What kind of mindset brought him out? What had he seen and heard before arriving?

Though I had grown close to him, I wasn’t yet at the point to ask such sensitive questions so freely.

“This was the first time I sat with the four Ma Jons.”

“How was it?”

“If you hadn’t come, I would have gone to see you immediately after leaving the tavern. I would have asked how to handle and deal with the Ma Jons going forward. Ah, I shouldn’t get used to turning to you for answers every time I feel frustrated.”

Half genuine, half flattering, I complained. Normally, he would just snort and drink it off, but today, for some reason, he said something that resonated deeply.

“You can worry about that in ten years’ time.”

“So you’ll tolerate it for the next ten years?”

My father snorted at that moment.

“Did you think it wouldn’t be this hard?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“When you boasted about getting discipline in order, I thought I knew it all.”

“If I had known, I wouldn’t have said that. How you appear to others, how you treat me, and how you entangle with others — it’s all different.”

I exaggerated my complaints. The more I showed weakness, the more pleased he was.

“That’s right. I’m weak as hell.”

“But you’ve improved a lot compared to before.”

Back when we hunted after my regression, it was a different matter.

As we talked, a simple spread of food was set before us.

My father brought the strongest liquor from the pleasure tavern and some stir-fried vegetables. Jo Chun-bae must have put all his skill into frying those vegetables.

“Let’s have a drink.”

We drank together.

“Ugh, that’s strong.”

“Drinking boldly with Chwima, yet you fear such strong liquor?”

“He seems like a good person.”

“With such judgment of character, it’s surprising you’re still alive.”

I wondered how my father perceived Chwima.

“What kind of person is Chwima?”

“A man who plays others while laughing and enjoying himself. So it’s best not to open his liquor bottle recklessly.”

“The ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) elders’ warnings are true. Blood Heaven Butcher also warned me to be wary of Chwima’s slyness.”

“He doesn’t realize how sly he is.”

I laughed at my father’s words. I thought later I’d tease Blood Heaven Butcher with this.

Pouring him a drink, I asked,

“Have you ever drunk alone with Chwima?”

“Yes.”

“How does Chwima act toward you?”

“He doesn’t talk much to me.”

“That talkative Chwima?”

That was unexpected. I would have thought he’d be even more talkative and jokey in front of my father.

“Maybe because he thinks he can’t fool you.”

“Who knows? How can you know a person’s heart?”

“Then it makes me even more curious.”

“Those with poison are usually flashy.”

He meant I shouldn’t be easily charmed by Chwima.

“Don’t try to probe people’s hearts. Judge only by what’s revealed. That causes fewer mistakes.”

“Yes, I’ll remember that.”

We emptied our glasses. Refilling mine, I asked my father,

“What do you talk about when drinking with my brother?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just curious. Doesn’t he teach you all my weaknesses?”

“Everyone knows your weaknesses. Why bother telling him?”

“What are my weaknesses?”

“That cheap sentiment perfect for dying.”

I smiled.

“I live thinking of it as my strength. Let’s enjoy and have fun on this long, harsh road. No threats, no chains, no killing. Just have fun.”

“Do you think fun suits our work? Looking for fun is how you die.”

Father, I think I can try a bit. Not a moment passes without the fire poison in my mind. I can’t sleep. I imagine dying again from it and rush to the training grounds.

“You should live more happily and cheerfully now.”

“If the authority and fear of the Heavenly Demon vanish, those guys will attack us with petty schemes.”

I suddenly thought my father, too, might lie awake at night. Maybe he shouldn’t wear those floral pajamas.

“I will strive to become stronger.”

“You should have been stronger already. That’s what makes today’s meeting with the Ma Jons meaningful.”

“In that sense, please teach me.”

After our last sparring, I had achieved a new level of martial arts. Sparring with my father now would greatly stimulate and influence my martial cultivation.

He stood up and took a place beside the table.

“Here?”

“Won’t you ever fight inside a tavern?”

“No, but fighting in this small space will break everything.”

Then my father said something unexpected.

“Who fights by smashing everything like amateurs? Whoever breaks something loses.”

He meant we should fight without damaging anything.

I looked around the space we were in. It was narrower and lower-ceilinged than the first floor, filled with tables and chairs.

Fight with my father here? Without breaking anything? This would be the hardest sparring I’d ever had.

I looked down to the first floor. Since my father arrived, everyone else had been sent out and the tavern was closed except for Jo Chun-bae.

“Owner, stay in the kitchen for a moment.”

“Yes!”

“Don’t be surprised no matter what happens!”

Jo Chun-bae dashed into the kitchen.

I stood facing my father, a few steps apart.

“Did you say it’s hard?”

“Yes.”

“You’re weak.”

When my father released his prayer, I gasped for breath. Even Heavenly Demon Tiger Protection Gong struggled with the weight of his prayer — heavy as a mountain, suffocating as a swamp, sharp as a blade.

My father slowly drew out the Heavenly Demon Sword.

“The Heavenly Demon must be someone who can kill when they want. The only reason the opponent is alive in front of me is that I spared them.”

Clang!

The Heavenly Demon Sword and my Black Demon Sword clashed in midair. Their speed was the same, but the power wielded was restrained.

Clang!

They clashed again. I understood: my father was speaking through the power in his sword.

This power was the standard.

Like tuning a musical instrument, he was telling me to fight using only this exact power.

This fight isn’t one lost by being weaker than the opponent. Losing comes from failing to control the power.

Clang!

There were exactly three clashes of tuning.

Clang clang clang clang clang clang clang!

The swords clashed brilliantly.

We wielded the swords only with the promised power. Each form originally had its own power level, so ignoring those and fighting only at this set power required extraordinary focus and spiritual energy.

At this moment, I did not restrain my skill.

Since my regression, all fights had limits.

Only show this much skill.

But now I fought without that awareness. I was confident it was okay to reveal my ability.

Although my father warned me not to trust people, I trusted him.

I fought freely, fought fully. It was a fight possible only with my father.

The more we fought, the faster my body adapted.

Then my father raised the fight’s level.

Now it wasn’t just about not breaking things — we changed to fighting without touching anything at all.

Dodging his attacks between tables and chairs, we couldn’t touch anything. I had to exercise my utmost concentration.

The clash was beautiful. The sword lines drawn between tables and chairs were like a memory painted by a lifelong artist. The sound of swords clashing among liquor bottles was like a sorrowful lament of an old musician. Sometimes paper tore, sometimes a string broke.

The fight grew fiercer and the restrictions heavier.

At the final stage, we even protected the lantern on the wall from going out. We blocked the wind caused by the swords.

Then suddenly—

Shiiiiiik!

My father’s sword energy flew at me.

It was sword energy emitted with controlled power. If his internal energy had been fully poured in, the tavern would have been destroyed in that move.

Sword energy shot from my Black Demon Sword. My sword energy, also controlled with internal energy, neutralized his in midair.

Fwoooosh!

I leapt to block the lantern’s flame from being extinguished. It shook precariously but didn’t go out.

Sword energies came in rapid succession.

If I missed even one, the energy would fly back and break the wall. Would the attacker lose then? No. In this fight, the one who misses sword energy loses.

I fought my father almost in a trance.

Many sounds surrounded us.

Footsteps, wind, sword slicing wind, swords clashing, sword energy releasing and dissipating, rustling clothes, flickering lanterns. Each sound was the essence of martial arts.

I will surely be able to recall this sparring. No need to memorize intentionally. All the forms were perfect and the situation desperate. This continuous sequence will be my lifelong source of learning.

When the fight ended, we sheathed our swords simultaneously. The Heavenly Demon Sword and Black Demon Sword slid into their scabbards with a satisfying click.

Looking around, not a single chair had fallen. There wasn’t a scratch on the walls.

“It’s a draw!”

“No, you lost.”

My father picked up the chopstick holder on the table in front of me. The tips of the chopsticks stuck inside were cut off.

“Oh, that’s where my sword energy grazed it. When did you notice this?”

I examined the chopstick holder and sighed.

“You win!”

Though I lost, it wasn’t a defeat. My father was truly surprised and impressed with my skill.

“When I heard you killed Baekmanggi and Geukak Soma, I guessed you had made a great achievement.”

He probably hadn’t expected it to be this significant.

My father was surely greatly inspired by me.

“What should I do now?”

I asked the only person who could guide my martial path.

“From now on, focus solely on training Feng Shen Sa Bo.”

That was my father’s conclusion, with reasons.

“I stopped training Feng Shen Sa Bo.”

“Why?”

Surprised, I asked honestly.

“I hit a wall.”

“If you hit a limit, I’ll never surpass it.”

My father looked at me for a moment and shook his head.

“I might not surpass it, but you can reach great success.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s because of Gu Hwa Ma Gong. If you mastered Gu Hwa Ma Gong first, you can’t achieve great success in Feng Shen Sa Bo.”

“Ah!”

I understood. Martial arts have affinities. Some simply don’t fit, and what you learn first affects what you can achieve.

“If you don’t achieve great success before mastering Gu Hwa Ma Gong, you’ll never achieve it afterward.”

“I will achieve it before that.”

If Feng Shen Sa Bo achieves great success, it will combine with the Twelve Stars Heavenly Sword Technique for further achievements. Later, when combined with Gu Hwa Ma Gong, it will have an even greater effect.

After gazing at me, my father asked,

“Are you still struggling?”

“Thanks to your teaching, I’ve gained confidence.”

“Still want to be a joyful Heavenly Demon?”

“I want to live smiling.”

My father looked at me silently for a moment, then turned away. As he descended to the first floor, he casually said,

“When you have time, come play Go.”

Jo Chun-bae, hiding under the counter, bowed deeply then looked up at me.

“Don’t worry, nothing’s broken.”

Isn’t the martial way I pursue the one that all tavern owners in the world would love best?

Jo Chun-bae sighed with relief.

“What a long day this has been.”

Jo Chun-bae’s day was over, but mine was not.

I went to find Blood Heaven Butcher. He was sitting by the window reading a book. I expected him to be raging and swinging his sword, but he was calmer than I thought.

“You’re not training today?”

“Why did you come?”

“I came to see you.”

Before bringing up what happened earlier at the tavern, I handed him something first. I hadn’t come to talk about that.

“What is this?”

“Tonic.”

“A tonic?”

Blood Heaven Butcher was surprised.

“You’re thinner than when we first met. This will stimulate your appetite and strengthen your body. I got it from Ma Gui’s soldier, so you can trust its effect.”

He was taken aback, even more than when I gave him the poisonous wine as a birthday gift.

“Give it to the sect leader.”

“If you suspect I poisoned it, you’ll tell me to drink it all in front of you.”

My half-joking, half-serious remark made Blood Heaven Butcher laugh.

Lowering my voice, I said,

“This is actually for my father, but I got it from Ma Gui’s soldier. You know how much my father takes care of his health. So don’t worry and take it.”

As I walked away, Blood Heaven Butcher asked,

“Why do you treat me so well?”

I looked back and said,

“You treat me well, so I treat you well. I think you’ll be more helpful than the other three Ma Jons, so I treat you well. I’m just as selfish and calculating. Now get some rest. Make sure to take the medicine. I’ll check through Investigator Seo!”

I bowed to him, his gaze deepening as he looked at me.

You have to act when you can. If you don’t do it when you think of it, there might not be a next time.

Finally, my long day was over. The intoxication came on late.