I can’t even describe this sound of the wind.

If I had to express it, it was like the breeze blowing between the mysterious valleys at the edge of the world. It was that refreshing, lively, and otherworldly a sound.

The moment I heard the sound made by the rapid step at Completion, I instinctively knew: I would become addicted to this sound. It was as captivating as the maddening speed itself.

At first, I was faster.

The rapid step at Completion was indescribably fast.

Naturally, it was much faster than the stage of Formation. When I first suggested the race, I had prepared to crash into trees, tumble on the ground, and cause a commotion for Father to see.

Father would laugh at me. I was ready for a big fuss like that.

But I ran better than I thought. My vision and body kept up with that fast speed. Probably because I was already fully accustomed to the rapid step at Formation while traveling between the main sect and the Martial Alliance.

Thanks to that, even though I had just reached Completion, I could run at nearly the same speed as Father.

But it required extreme concentration and mental energy. I got so dizzy and tired that I had to slow down. As I slowed, Father surged ahead to my side.

“Not bad!”

“Whose son are you!”

Father’s face was full of surprise and admiration. Of course, that didn’t mean he showed any concession. Whether son or anyone else, once the fire ignites, Father never wants to lose.

“Son, I have something to say.”

“What is it?”

His tone was serious, so I tensed up inside.

Then it happened.

Bang!

I got distracted by Father and crashed into a tree, falling to the ground.

“That was a warning to be careful!”

I could hear Father’s triumphant laughter fading away.

I jumped up and ran after him. Fortunately, my bodyguard artifact protected me, so I got up uninjured.

“That’s cheating! Father, cheating!”

I called it cheating because I got distracted and crashed. Father didn’t even look back and ran faster.

I ran after Father again.

Running, I realized what would decide this match wasn’t the martial art itself. The rapid step of the Wind God’s Step and the Celestial Demon Flight Technique were almost equal in lightness technique.

The problem was eyesight. My eyes couldn’t support the top speed lightness techniques can reach.

So once I got used to it, I would definitely win. Thanks to the Divine Eye Technique, my eyesight surpassed limits.

I ran while watching Father’s back in the distance. Just as I saw his back when we first went hunting, now I ran while watching it.

He looked lonely then, and still did now, but one thing had changed — I, who was watching, had changed.

I felt better now than at any other time I had run in my life. I don’t know Father’s thoughts, but at least I felt my feelings for him growing stronger.

While thinking of Father, I stumbled again. Even losing concentration briefly made me crash and fall.

I got up again and chased him, but I couldn’t catch up.

When we arrived at the main sect, Father had already gone ahead to the Celestial Demon Arena.

If it were me, I’d have waited to give him a hard time, but Father knew how to hold back teasing. He would tease me next time we met.

I bowed my head toward the direction of the Celestial Demon Arena and gave thanks once more.

Reaching Completion of the Wind God’s Step was entirely thanks to Father. Not only had my rapid step gotten faster, but my Shadow Step had become more stealthy, my Flash Step could evade greater danger, and my King Step had truly become the walk of the Flame King.

That evening, the trio of drinking friends gathered at the Pungnyu Tavern.

“It’s been a while, so today the drinks are on me.”

The owner, Jo Chun-bae, specially offered to treat everyone today. It was to celebrate Seo Daeryong’s safe return. Seo Daeryong declined politely.

“Since I won the martial arts tournament and got the prize money, I’ll buy a generous drink today. So please bring all the tasty dishes.”

“Congratulations on winning, Investigator.”

“Thank you.”

“How have you been, Second Prince?”

“Fine.”

When Jo Chun-bae went downstairs, Seo Daeryong finally started boasting.

“Ah, where do I start telling the story of this lonely investigator’s great adventure? When I first saw the Martial Alliance building, I felt destiny….”

Ian and Jang Ho exchanged smiles watching Seo Daeryong begin his grand epic.

His tale was so entertaining that it was never boring.

“Truly amazing. Even though it was a fighting tournament, it was real combat, and you didn’t have much actual experience, yet you won.”

Jang Ho had plenty of experience, but Ian only trained daily. So Ian was amazed and envious of Seo Daeryong’s accomplishment.

“Of course, there were also fateful and tragic encounters during the process.”

Seo Daeryong spoke of the woman who supported him, even the sad ending.

“She was sent by Heavenly Fate Sect.”

Ian jumped up cursing, and Jang Ho comforted him saying it was all experience. They were so passionate that Seo Daeryong felt his old wounds healing.

“That’s why I looked forward to this drinking gathering the most.”

“We were the ones waiting more.”

“Well then, let’s toast to that.”

Seo Daeryong was so grateful to these two. A woman worthy of the world’s best beauty and the leader of the elite demon troops of the Celestial Demon Sect waited for him and listened to him. What was he?

“I have something to say to you two. I’ve decided to walk the true path of a martial artist.”

The ones who influenced him directly were Sword Master Geuk and Blood Heaven Butcher, but their influence was huge. He always wanted to be someone worthy of them.

Ian and Jang Ho sincerely congratulated him. While Hwangcheon Pavilion’s investigator was a martial artist, the “martial artist” Seo Daeryong spoke of had a different meaning, which Ian and Jang Ho understood.

“That’s something to be congratulated on, right? Honestly, I’m afraid I’ll die early. Aren’t you scared?”

Ian smiled and said,

“I think life and death are already decided. Knowing when and how you’ll die makes your mind peaceful.”

“This martial artist is a fatalist.”

“Seems so.”

Jang Ho had a different view.

“I always live fearing death.”

“Really? I’d think Lord Jang wouldn’t fear death.”

“No. I wake up many times at night. I often dream about dying.”

Neither Ian nor Seo Daeryong knew this.

The talk about life and death continued, and Seo Daeryong became excited.

“I almost died this time.”

Seo Daeryong suddenly stood and opened his shirt.

“I have four wounds left from the righteous faction bastards. This shoulder wound is from the arm wrestling match. Two holes here, from the finals, and this wound here is…”

I was listening to the three at the ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) first floor counter.

When Seo Daeryong opened his shirt, Jo Chun-bae and I laughed together.

If Great Drunken Demon saw this, he’d run to join this drinking group immediately.

Jo Chun-bae said with a friendly face,

“They’re really good people. If one is missing, the other two come and miss that one.”

There were times when Ian or Seo Daeryong were absent.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Weren’t you here to join us?”

“I thought you should have the three of you together today since it’s so fun.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Jo Chun-bae went to the kitchen and brought a bottle of liquor.

“This is a precious drink I saved. Take it with you and have a drink before you sleep. It’s a gift celebrating your safe return. Welcome back.”

Jo Chun-bae was truly happy like family about my return.

“I met a precious person from the martial world this time. If we drink again, I’ll introduce him to you.”

“That would be great.”

He would never have dreamed that person was the Martial Alliance Leader. But who knows? Maybe one day the Martial Alliance Leader will have a drink at Pungnyu Tavern.

“Thanks for the drink.”

I said goodbye and left the tavern.

I looked at the moonlight as I returned home. There were still people I wanted to see — Go Wol and the Wind Heaven Sect Leader. I wanted to rush over with the rapid step, but they were too far away from the main sect.

Having been away for a long time, I had many things to do. So I would have to postpone seeing them. They didn’t worry. We were together.

Heading toward my place, I turned toward the Great Drunken Forest. Thinking of someone awake to drink with, Great Drunken Demon came to mind first.

Sure enough, Great Drunken Demon was drinking alone in the Drunken Dream Tower.

A female servant put me on a ferry and headed to an island in the middle of the lake.

“Does Great Drunken Demon still drink a lot these days?”

“Less than before. Today he’s only had one bottle.”

“That’s a relief.”

“It’s thanks to the Second Prince.”

“That’s not because of me. It’s because the female martial artist cares for him and worries.”

Knowing the servant liked Great Drunken Demon, I spoke kindly. I thought it would be nice if such a woman looked after him. To be really effective, she’d have to be his wife, not subordinate.

I wanted to arrange it myself, but I didn’t dare interfere. If I got involved carelessly, I might ruin a relationship that could work out.

Great Drunken Demon waved at me from the railing of the Drunken Dream Tower.

I called out loudly.

“Brother.”

Since it was just the two of us, I comfortably called him brother. The way a simple form of address can make someone feel good, Great Drunken Demon showed on his face.

“You’re here, little brother?”

“I came because our hopeless fourth brother seemed to be drinking alone.”

“Among the eight Ma Jons, fourth isn’t so bad. Middle isn’t easy either.”

We reached the island and climbed the Drunken Dream Tower.

“What brings you here all of a sudden?”

“I wanted to drink.”

“Good timing.”

Great Drunken Demon and I drank together. We said nothing and quietly drank.

Great Drunken Demon knew alcohol well and could read the drinker’s mood — whether they wanted to chat or drink silently with the moon on the lake as their companion.

“I went hunting with Father.”

“This time it seemed quite long. Amazing. How did you two stay so long alone? I’d go crazy.”

“Maybe it’s unexpectedly fun enough to drive you crazy.”

Great Drunken Demon shook his head, saying that was impossible.

I wished he could see Father cooking. It was just a pity I couldn’t say it aloud.

“I learned from talking to Father that he seems to respect Poison King and Kwon Ma.”

“If the Sect Leader respects someone, it’d be Kwon Ma.”

Great Drunken Demon said confidently.

“Not Poison King?”

“The Sect Leader doesn’t like poison. He never said it outright, but everyone knows. The Poison King knows too but pretends not to.”

“Then why does he respect Kwon Ma?”

I had said I was investigating the Ma Jons, but after regression and meeting them, I realized that to truly know people, you have to meet, talk, and experience them firsthand. Still, people remain hard to fully know. What I knew was their deeds, not them. Kwon Ma was the same.

“I once drank with Kwon Ma alone.”

“How was it?”

Great Drunken Demon looked at his cup, recalling the moment, and took a sip.

“If you don’t have strong determination, it won’t be easy to beat him. That’s what I thought.”

It was the first time I’d heard Great Drunken Demon praise another Ma Jon.

“But why Kwon Ma?”

“I was thinking of making one more fifth for my brother.”

He meant to draw Kwon Ma to our side, so Great Drunken Demon asked worriedly,

“If you mess with Kwon Ma now, the Grand Prince won’t stand still, right?”

“That’s why. He shouldn’t stay still.”

“What do you mean?”

“We have to settle the score with my brother soon.”

Since the real successor fight was about to start, Great Drunken Demon’s eyes also became fierce.

“You confident?”

“I’m trusting my brother.”

Hearing that he trusted his brother to face him, Great Drunken Demon laughed and shook his empty bottle.

“Hearing that makes me want to drink one more.”

I poured the last of my drink into his cup.

“Hold on. From now on, you have to stay awake more.”

The next afternoon, I headed to Donggwon Gate, where Invincible Kwon Ma was.

“I’ve come to see Lord Kwon Ma.”

The Iron Fists guarding the entrance looked at me in surprise. There were open rumors that their leader Kwon Ma had sided with the Grand Prince.

“Follow me.”

One Iron Fist led me inside.

The gazes of the Iron Fists coming and going through Donggwon Gate focused on me. White uniforms, blue uniforms, red uniforms, black uniforms. Their colors differed by rank. Their gender, age, and physical abilities varied too. But one thing was common.

They had no metal on their bodies.

Among the Iron Fists who risked their lives with bare fists, I slowly moved forward.