We were truly shocked.

It was surprising enough that the words “late-night training group” came from Kwonma’s mouth, but asking to be included in that group was almost shocking.

Cheon Sohui, who had been bowing her head, looked up, wondering if she had misheard. Then, locking eyes with Kwonma, she quickly bowed again.

Kwonma looked at me, waiting for an answer.

“I’m not the leader of this group.”

My gaze shifted to Ian.

Her eyes said it plainly: “Young master! You’re passing this off to me?” Yet, despite her anxious expression, Ian greeted Kwonma calmly.

“Let me properly introduce myself. I’m Ian.”

Kwonma just nodded once. Ian’s beauty didn’t soften his fierce expression.

“I did create this group, but I’m not the type to act unilaterally.”

Ian looked at Cheon Sohui. Cheon Sohui’s expression said: “So you’re passing this on to me?”

Ian pretended not to notice and asked her,

“What do you think, Cheon Sohui?”

Without hesitation, Cheon Sohui shouted,

“I’m absolutely in favor!”

Kwonma nodded and asked Ian,

“And you?”

Looking at that face, the only person who could say no was probably my father.

“I’m in favor, too.”

With Ian also in agreement, Kwonma finally turned his gaze to me.

“And you?”

“Of course, I’m opposed.”

For a moment, Kwonma’s face twitched, but I didn’t even blink.

“Why?”

“It’s uncomfortable. I’m fine, but how uncomfortable would those two be? Especially Cheon Sohui—she sees Kwonma during the day and at night. It must be unbearable.”

Cheon Sohui spoke faster than my swift spear technique, Chancheon Form.

“I’m fine. I’m actually glad to see him again.”

Then Kwonma said to me,

“She’s glad?”

“Of course not. Let me give you a simple example. Starting tomorrow, Kwonma, you’ll be training martial arts with my father.”

Kwonma’s expression stiffened instantly. A discomfort he tried to hide but couldn’t—it was clearly my father.

“You saw him train all day, and now you have to see him again at night. How does that make you feel?”

An unarguable example. Father, I’m sorry.

“So what should I do?”

Normally, such words would never come from Kwonma’s mouth. Now that he’s said it, of course the door should be opened—though the entrance fee will be steep.

“Teach me the first fist of the Dokmoon Fist.”

Kwonma’s Dokmoon Fist was the Thunderclap Asura Fist (벽력수라권).

It was a rough and powerful destructive fist technique. When mastered, the fist was said to sound like thunder—a unique Dokmoon martial art of Kwonma.

The Thunderclap Asura Fist consists of six forms, and I asked him to teach me the first one.

“Those kids are uncomfortable, so why do you want to learn the martial art?”

“I think they can understand. I’m giving just that much.”

Ian and Cheon Sohui watching would surely think Kwonma would never accept. Not just them—anyone would think so. But I took the risk. Step by step, it was important to move toward my goal.

Of course, I had reasons for this bold move. He had sneaked here twice before, and now he openly said he wanted to join the group.

Whatever his reason, he clearly had a desire to enter this group.

“Do you think I’m an idiot?”

“No way. But I think you’ll pretend to be just that much of an idiot.”

I exchanged looks with Kwonma. Crazy bastard! Yes, I hear that a lot.

After glaring at me for a moment, Kwonma turned and walked away.

In truth, he could have pushed harder. If he had forced his way in, we would have had no choice but to accept. Cheon Sohui calling me “senior brother” was a weakness that could have been exploited to force things his way.

But when I opposed, Kwonma simply backed off. He was a man without pettiness. A man worthy of the name Kwonma.

Cheon Sohui, her tension released, slumped back into her seat.

“Ah! I thought my heart was going to explode earlier.”

Ian shook her head.

“I knew he looked scary, but seeing him up close was something else.”

As their minds settled, Ian asked me,

“But why does Kwonma want to join the group?”

To someone who could not understand at all, I said a thought that suddenly occurred to me.

“Lonely?”

It wasn’t a joke, but Ian took it as one.

“Don’t joke around.”

“How would I know what’s on his mind?”

One thing was certain.

“His ultimate goal is to fight me.”

“With you?”

“Yes. He wants to train alongside me and find an excuse to fight.”

Ian was startled. She certainly hadn’t imagined Kwonma thinking that way.

“Why not fight during the day?”

“His subordinates would be watching then.”

“We could call him aside and fight, right?”

“I said I won’t fight at all.”

“So he’s joining this group to find an opportunity to fight you?”

“At this point, I have to think that way.”

Ian suddenly raised her hand.

“I disband this dangerous group immediately.”

Of course, she didn’t mean it seriously. Kwonma had asked to join and was rejected, and if the group were disbanded now, who knew what would happen.

Meanwhile, Cheon Sohui sitting beside us was half in a daze. What must she be feeling now that Kwonma knew she called me “senior brother”? She was probably thinking that, marked by Kwonma, the next Kwonma spot was lost forever.

“Should I quit this group now?”

“Do you think they’ll let you quit? Probably not.”

“Then what? Just say ‘Forget it’ since it’s come to this?”

“You have to do something.”

“What?”

Cheon Sohui looked at me with wide eyes.

“Better to train even harder and make up for your mistakes with skill.”

She sighed as if the words were easier said than done.

After a moment, she asked,

“You won’t come anymore, right?”

“Probably not.”

Though I said this to comfort her, I doubted Kwonma would give up easily.

“I’ll train twice as hard.”

Just as Cheon Sohui seemed to steel herself, she clutched her head.

“I’m doomed!”

The next day, Black Fist training proceeded as usual.

Kwonma kept an eye on things but acted as if nothing happened. Cheon Sohui, more worried about this, trained with heartbreaking diligence.

Meanwhile, my popularity among the Black Fists grew daily.

That was natural, since I considered them my direct subordinates—people who would one day fight for me and with me.

So whenever they asked, I answered sincerely, and we talked about topics beyond martial arts.

They were often surprised by my deep knowledge of the martial world and the Central Plains. They got drawn into my stories one by one, losing track of time.

Kwonma quietly watched from afar. I wondered what he thought.

That night.

The three of us gathered first for the late-night training group: me, Ian, and Cheon Sohui.

Cheon Sohui sighed.

“Kwonma didn’t even look at me once today.”

“When did he ever look at you?”

“...”

“Since you’re marked, why not just treat Kwonma comfortably?”

“Is that sincere advice? Or a trap to ruin me?”

“Of course, it’s advice for our senior sister.”

Cheon Sohui was startled.

“You still think of me as your senior sister?”

“Yeah.”

Realizing I was serious, she shook her head.

“No way. What are you planning?”

“Put yourself in my place. You’re Kwonma. You have a smart subordinate you want to pass your position to. But this subordinate got caught scheming with Lee Gongja. Now he’s always watching his own back. How would you feel?”

“I’d hate it.”

“So be confident.”

“Then I’d probably hate it more.”

I laughed at her words. Ian laughed too, and Cheon Sohui joined in.

Cheon Sohui composed herself.

“All right! I’ll work hard like senior brother says! What’s done is done. I’ll proudly tell why I made Lee Gongja my senior brother. If I speak sincerely, it will get through. Kwonma might look scary, but I’m sure his heart is different. Thank you, senior brother! I’ll do my best. From now on, let’s secretly call each other senior brother and senior sister from under Kwonma’s nose. But why that face? Why so scary? No, right? Say it’s not true.”

Her face turned grim as she turned toward the cold aura behind her.

Kwonma was already standing behind her.

Cheon Sohui’s face turned pale, weighed down by all the world’s troubles.

At a loss for words, Kwonma suddenly asked,

“What made you make Lee Gongja your senior brother?”

Kwonma had heard everything she said earlier.

Cheon Sohui honestly answered in a trembling voice.

“I happened to see Lee Gongja sparring with that martial artist using the fist technique we learned. At that moment, I wanted to be that strong too.”

Now she admitted that while Kwonma was teaching fist techniques, she recklessly made Lee Gongja her senior brother and sought to learn martial arts. It was not strange if she were beaten to death for that.

But she spoke honestly. Her mind told her not to, but her mouth spoke for her heart.

“What do you want to do after becoming stronger?”

“Honestly, I want to succeed Kwonma as the next Kwonma. Now... I think everything is wrong.”

It was a life-risking answer, but not what Kwonma wanted to hear.

“Sure, that’s your dream job. But I asked what you want to do after becoming stronger.”

“!”

Cheon Sohui was stunned.

She probably never deeply considered the difference between what she wants to be and what she wants to do. Having lived solely aiming to become Kwonma, she was confused.

Listening to their conversation, I admired Kwonma.

Yes, he was the kind of man who asked such questions. Not a brute who only knew fists, but a smart man. You could tell from this question alone.

I stepped in to help her.

“Why have you come today?”

Then the surprising words came from Kwonma’s mouth.

“I will teach you the first form of the Thunderclap Asura Fist.”

I was stunned. I had expected Kwonma not to give up easily, but I didn’t expect him to teach the first form just to enter the group.

For what reason? Did he really want to fight me?

Ian and Cheon Sohui were also stunned. No one would believe it. That Kwonma was willing to teach his Thunderclap Asura Fist first form just to join this small late-night training group.

Our eyes met again in the air. We exchanged looks once more.

“Impressive. Do you think you’re the only one? Don’t you regret it? Are you the one who won’t regret pulling me in this far? I don’t regret it.”

“There is one condition.”

“Please tell me.”

“You must keep it a secret that I taught you the martial art.”

“Of course.”

Kwonma’s gaze shifted to the two women. What else could anyone say at a safe place like this?

“Yes! Don’t worry!”

“We were not here!”

Of course, that was probably what they wanted to say.

And they wanted to remain absent forever!

The martial art transfer happened immediately.

Kwonma taught me the secret code of the first form by telepathic transmission.

The first form, Black Cloud Asura (黑雲修羅).

Although it was the first among six forms, it was the most powerful single form of any fist technique. Why this was Kwonma’s martial art would be understood by experiencing it.

Kwonma even helped me correct my posture and properly transmitted Black Cloud Asura.

At least in martial arts, he was sincere. I bet among the Ma Jons, Kwonma was the best teacher. Despite his terrifying face, his voice was surprisingly gentle.

Ian and Cheon Sohui turned away without watching us. Since the transmission was telepathic, it didn’t matter if they ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) watched or not. They had enough manners not to observe the martial art transfer.

Thus, I received the first form of Thunderclap Asura Fist.

Paaang!

One day, thunder will roar from the fist I unleash.

Kwonma nodded approvingly as he watched me perform the form.

“You’ll have to keep training to unleash its full power.”

“Thank you.”

For every arrival, there must be a departure. I formally welcomed Kwonma.

“Welcome to the late-night training group.”

Me, Kwonma, Ian, and Cheon Sohui—four people, unexpectedly bound as one group.

And today, it seemed Kwonma was determined to surprise us.

“Now, let’s train.”

He took off his upper garment. Since coming to Eastern Fist Gate, I had never seen his bare upper body. But it looked like he really meant to train hard.

Under the bluish moonlight, Kwonma’s upper body was revealed.