A woman dressed in pure white stood under the moonlight. With her noble beauty, she seemed as if she had just descended from the heavens.

Cheon Sohui wiped her tears again with her sleeve. She thought she might have been seeing things because of the sudden tears. But the beautiful woman smiled brightly before her and introduced herself.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Ian. I used to be the young master’s personal guard.”

Ian greeted confidently. She had always been cheerful, but recently even more so. Her actions exuded confidence.

“I’m Cheon Sohui of the Black Fist from the Eastern Fist Gate.”

“Ah! It’s an honor to meet you.”

“You know me?”

“Of course. You’re the top Iron Fist of the Eastern Fist Gate, right?”

Cheon Sohui felt good—not just because of the praise, but because Ian’s compliment didn’t carry the usual condescending tone like “A woman learning fist techniques? That’s unusual.”

“The things I said when I came in earlier were jokes meant to tease the young master. Please forgive me if I offended you.”

“It’s okay.”

“Then I’ll leave you to talk. I’ll come back later.”

As Ian was about to turn away, Sword Dance Extreme stopped her.

“Since you’re here, why not stay and talk a while?”

Ian cautiously asked Cheon Sohui,

“Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

Cheon Sohui became curious about this beautiful woman.

The two women felt very different. Ian’s beauty carried a noble grace, while Cheon Sohui exuded a toughness that seemed able to survive anywhere.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not crying because of Lee Gongja.”

“Really?”

“Yes?”

Ian’s eyes sparkled as she asked again.

“Are you really not crying because of the young master? I cry often because of him.”

Ian looked at Sword Dance Extreme and said,

“You make me cry every time.”

By a woman’s instinct, Cheon Sohui sensed that Ian liked Sword Dance Extreme as a man.

“You said you were his guard?”

“Yes, though I was kicked out.”

“Why were you kicked out?”

“They say it was for my own happiness, but that’s just an excuse.”

“An excuse, yes. Be careful. Flirts are good at talking.”

“The best talker in the martial world.”

Sword Dance Extreme smiled and said to them,

“How long have we known each other that you’re already getting along so well?”

The two women felt affection for each other.

Ian had always liked tough women like Cheon Sohui because she wanted to be like them.

Cheon Sohui didn’t have a bad impression of Ian either. Usually, a woman as beautiful as Ian might have some unpleasant side making her hard to approach, but Ian had none of that.

Ian asked Sword Dance Extreme,

“How’s your training going?”

“The news must have spread throughout the training hall. No one in the sect doesn’t know.”

“Even the kitchen cooks were talking about you passing the Red Fist test while cooking. I heard there’s even a bet on whether you’ll become a disciple.”

Sword Dance Extreme’s learning fist techniques in the Eastern Fist Gate was truly the talk of the sect.

Ian asked him softly,

“How do you feel?”

“Fine.”

Cheon Sohui watched Ian smile at Sword Dance Extreme’s answer. She felt a deep trust between them and for a moment felt envious. She had no one like that, nor anyone even remotely close.

“But why come at this late hour?”

“I was training and suddenly wanted to see the young master.”

Sword Dance Extreme stared at her and suddenly asked,

“Did you come?”

At the strange question, Ian nodded seriously.

“I think I did.”

Sword Dance Extreme jumped up from the rock and walked to the yard.

“Let’s have a spar.”

Ian bowed slightly to Cheon Sohui and walked to the yard. Suddenly sparring here was rude, but it was very important to her.

Sensing the atmosphere, Cheon Sohui quickly stood up.

“I’ll leave now.”

Sword Dance Extreme stopped her.

“You can watch. No, you must watch. This sparring will help Cheon Sohui a lot.”

It was Sword Dance Extreme’s teaching to the next Kwonma.

“Is that okay?”

“You shed precious tears, so you should earn their worth.”

Hearing “precious tears,” Cheon Sohui’s eyes grew warm again.

‘Why is this happening?’

Suddenly, like a blocked tear duct was opened, tears kept welling. She was embarrassed by this first-time experience, but fortunately, Sword Dance Extreme and Ian faced each other and prepared to spar.

“I will face you with fist techniques.”

“Yes!”

“No, Ian! Aren’t you worried I’m fighting without a sword?”

“Worry? If it’s the young master, even if he fights with no hands or feet, I can’t beat him.”

“That’s right. As long as I have this mouth.”

Watching, Cheon Sohui nodded slightly in agreement.

Sword Dance Extreme, who was turned away, said to her,

“Don’t nod.”

So Cheon Sohui nodded even more vigorously. A person who has eyes on the back of their head—this wasn’t about having a sword or not.

The spar began. At first, Ian couldn’t focus. Though she trusted him, she worried he might get hurt fighting barehanded.

But after a few exchanges, she concluded that her worries were groundless. Sword Dance Extreme was just too fast. Even if he wielded ten swords, not one blade could touch him.

‘Who’s really worrying about whom!’

Sword Dance Extreme fiercely pressed her.

A fist that could shatter a jaw flew toward her face.

She barely dodged, then another fist aimed for her ribs. She twisted her body again to avoid it narrowly. It was an attack that would have broken her ribs if it landed.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of the sword’s wind was as brisk as the sound of Sword Dance Extreme’s fists flying.

She tried desperately to block and evade and break free, but Sword Dance Extreme stuck to her like a shadow. Once he got close, it was hard to shake him off.

‘Ah, so this is how one dies!’

Ian was experiencing a new kind of fight—against a fist master.

Since she couldn’t maintain distance, the power of her swordsmanship was only half effective. Meanwhile, Sword Dance Extreme’s fists mercilessly targeted her vital points.

She barely dodged with all her strength.

Realizing she would be defeated if she just dodged, Ian tried to counterattack.

At the critical moment, she found Sword Dance Extreme’s opening and used it to create distance.

‘Now!’

A single chance!

Her sword embroidered the air. Using the Flying Sword Technique’s second form, her sword executed twelve changes.

A gasp Cheon Sohui had held back burst from her lips.

“Ah!”

Sword Dance Extreme dodged the seemingly unavoidable attack using Black Fist footwork.

That footwork?

She truly realized how great the fist techniques she had learned were. Watching made her heart pound. She wanted to jump in and fight alongside. She wanted to unfold her own techniques like Sword Dance Extreme.

But the sparring influenced her in more ways.

A supreme master’s skill, Sword Dance Extreme coming to learn martial arts from Kwonma despite being the Sect Leader’s son.

Ian, beautiful enough to be called the world’s top beauty, coming at night to learn swordsmanship.

Shame and respect mingled as their images imprinted on her mind like a scene from a painting.

“Well done!”

Sword Dance Extreme smiled brightly at Ian. He had pressed her to the extreme but left a way out, and she found it without fail. The fruit of harsh training.

“It still feels ticklish.”

Sword Dance Extreme knew. She had almost reached the ninth form and was searching for the entrance.

“Come find me every night from tomorrow.”

“Thank you, young master.”

Just as his father had forced him to master the Fengshen Guard’s ultimate form, Sword Dance Extreme planned to throw her Flying Sword Technique into the ninth form. Once the Flying Sword Technique reached ninth form, it would be trusted anywhere.

When Sword Dance Extreme and Ian finished talking, Cheon Sohui spoke with a trembling voice.

“To be honest, the sword Lee Gongja threw at me was so unreal it wasn’t scary. But the sword this martial artist wielded in the dead of night was terrifying.”

Could she beat the sword that trained so late at night?

Among women her age, she secretly thought she was the strongest in the martial world. But after watching the spar, she realized it was only arrogance. Clenching her fists tightly, she refused to lose.

It was the moment the fire lit in her heart.

Feeling the hot passion, Cheon Sohui suddenly said,

“Teach me too, senior brother.”

Senior brother.

She knew.

If that word reached Kwonma, how big the trouble would be. Even if she was expelled, there would be no excuse. It was a word risking her life. Senior brother.

Maybe she would regret saying it all night after returning home.

That’s why Sword Dance Extreme said warmly to her,

“All right, you too. Senior sister.”

Later regrets were regrets, but at that moment, Cheon Sohui’s face was full of joy.

Though she felt reluctant as if her training was being disturbed, Ian welcomed her happily.

A person must change for their martial arts to change.

Sword Dance Extreme was sure Ian’s broad heart would lead her to become a supreme master.

And Ian created a second group after the drinking gathering.

“Welcome to the late-night training group.”

Training in the Black Fist continued.

Meanwhile, I was locked in a battle of wills with Kwonma—who would raise the white flag first.

I was confident in this fight.

After all, my life was one of constant preparation.

Learning Kwonma’s fist techniques wasn’t the only way to advance. It was just one part of the preparation process.

I could learn Kwonma’s techniques now, tomorrow, or a year later. Why? Because I had much to do, much to learn, and many to care for. I was preparing many other things endlessly. Did he think he could beat someone like me?

Kwonma and I met eyes from time to time. Each time, we exchanged silent messages: “Give up. You give up. I can go all the way. So can I. I’m young. You won’t last.”

He might think I’d give up from boredom, but that was his mistake. I was no ordinary youth.

At night, I taught Ian and Cheon Sohui.

On the first day of learning martial arts, Cheon Sohui asked,

“Senior brother, is it okay for me to be beside you while this martial artist learns such important techniques?”

Though she had desperately «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» asked to join, she seemed apologetic now that she was actually participating.

I told her,

“You are more important than that martial art. The current Kwonma is my father’s and my brother’s Kwonma. My Kwonma is you.”

The future Cheonma and Kwonma.

Passion flashed across her face. Then she asked the worst-case scenario.

“What if I can’t become Kwonma and you can’t become Cheonma?”

“Then the three of us will open a soup restaurant in front of the Martial Alliance.”

Thinking of carrying soup made from the kitchen’s miracle broth to the realm of great martial spirits, Cheon Sohui laughed heartily—the first time I had seen her laugh so brightly.

“Why in front of the Martial Alliance?”

Ian answered instead.

“Maybe because there’s a woman you want to see.”

“Ah-ha!”

Though I said no, the two nodded and started talking about the traits of a flirt.

On the fifth day after starting late-night training, Ian finally found the door to the ninth form.

Her sword grew faster and stronger with brilliant changes.

No thanks or congratulations were needed. Ian ran to me and hugged me tightly. I embraced her back. Good job, Ian. Only one hurdle left to greatness.

Suddenly, startled by sniffles, Ian and I looked at Cheon Sohui.

She was crying.

“I guess my tear duct opened that day. I’ve never cried in my life, but now tears just keep coming.”

As she cried, Ian cried along.

“Why are you crying?”

“Because Cheon Martial Artist is crying.”

The two women cried, their bodies turned away from each other.

“How come such tough women who could beat all men in the world are like this?”

Cheon Sohui wiped her tears and said,

“Senior brother, please keep teaching me.”

She was too sad for the late-night training to end like this.

Ian stepped forward for her.

“Young master, please keep this late-night training group going.”

Right then, a cold voice came from behind.

“Who decided you’re senior brother?”

Cheon Sohui was startled, turning pale.

Kwonma entered the place with a terrifying expression like a demon.

I greeted him calmly.

“Welcome.”

In fact, I already knew Kwonma had come. He had come twice before. He had secretly watched while hiding his body and then left. What was he thinking watching?

Kwonma stood in the yard, glaring at me, Ian, and Cheon Sohui.

Cheon Sohui was especially shocked. Since Kwonma had heard her say “senior brother,” she had no excuse. Fearful she might be expelled from the Eastern Fist Gate, she bowed her head and trembled all over. She must have been praying not to be expelled.

Kwonma, with that demon-like face, said something unimaginable.

“Include me in this late-night training group, too.”