“The Fiend never said the usual words.”

“That was a good attempt.”

“Could it be that the attempt finally worked? Or does it mean he won’t mention it anymore?”

The Fiend silently turned his gaze toward the fighting arena. Two men were fighting fiercely, blood spilled. The crowd was cheering for them.

“This place will look the same even after decades.”

“My son might come here someday with the Fiend, who’ll be a grandfather then.”

Then the Fiend looked at me with a surprised face.

“Why do you look so startled?”

“Thinking about marriage?”

“If there’s a good person.”

Of course, I had no intention of marrying, but I gave a typical answer.

The Fiend said firmly,

“I recommend not doing it unless it’s someone you truly love.”

He had once told me in his youth that he had resolved to have no family or friends his entire life, so naturally, I thought this advice came from that. But there was another reason behind his words.

“Even someone as exceptional as you finds succession disputes without bloodshed this difficult, right? Do you really think your children will manage like you? It’s something ordinary people can’t handle.”

His words both raised me in esteem and expressed concern for the future generation. Above all, it assumed a scenario where I became the Heavenly Fiend.

“I will consider carefully.”

“By the way, you mentioned cutting off the lineage of the Heavenly Fiend bloodline.”

“That doesn’t matter. It’s something after I’m gone.”

Hearing this, the Fiend’s expression changed to one that said, ‘You might genuinely be that kind of carefree person.’

“Now, leave.”

“Yes.”

At the exit, the Fiend took one last look around the fighting arena. Would he ever come back here alive? The future was unknown, but probably he was looking at this place with the mindset that he’d never come again. When he looked around, his eyes were filled with complicated emotions, but once he turned, he strode out briskly.

We left the arena and walked without setting a destination. The Fiend no longer asked where we were going. I also walked along the road without thought, as if aimlessness was the plan.

“Have you ever lost your way?”

“No.”

“Me neither.”

Maybe that was why this carefree trip felt even more precious and meaningful.

Neither of us had ever lived so aimlessly. The joy of losing one’s way in life was unimaginable.

“By the way, I lost the bet. I admit it.”

“No, I lost this time.”

It was unexpected. Though he said it was fine, I thought he wouldn’t feel good seeing a rigged match.

“I had fun after a long time. Thanks to you, I remembered old times.”

Was this what he wanted to say? That thanks to me, he had shown who he really was.

“So, our pride duel is one-on-one.”

“We have to settle it.”

“Of course.”

Then the Fiend said,

“Before that, there is a place I want to go.”

For the first time, he said he wanted to go somewhere.

“If it’s with you, Fiend, I’d even go to hell!”

“Our destination isn’t such a hot place. Rather, you should bring thick cotton clothes.”

Leaving behind the fighting arena full of the Fiend’s long memories, we started walking toward the stretching sunset.

After a long journey, the Fiend and I stood together on the peak of a snow-covered mountain.

Whoooooosh.

The wind that carried snow whipped around us and lifted into the air.

“Why did you want to come here?”

The place the Fiend wanted to visit was this snowy mountain.

“This is where the previous Fiend appointed me as successor.”

“Oh, really?”

It was something even I did not know.

“Actually, my master and I didn’t get along well. When choosing the last successor, my master wanted someone else. Though his martial ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) skills were weaker than mine, that person was much more obedient to him. Do you know why my master picked me?”

“Because of your father?”

“That’s right. Because of the sect leader.”

When the young Fiend was inducted into the East Fist Sect, his father was not yet the sect leader. But when the Fiend officially succeeded as the Ma Jon, his father had already ascended to the Heavenly Fiend position.

The previous Fiend must have had to keep an eye on his father, who had become the Heavenly Fiend.

“You became Fiend because of your father.”

“Isn’t that something great for you, Fiend?”

“Great?”

“Your father’s eye for people must be sharper than the previous Fiend’s. Your father chose a young fighter punching in the arena without any internal energy. That fighter alone passed from white fist to black fist and eventually became the Fiend. Trust your father’s eye for people.”

“There was a time I was confident. Who else but me could become Fiend? But now I’m not so sure. Was the sect leader’s judgment really right?”

“If it was wrong, other Ma Jons wouldn’t name you as the most difficult Ma Jon to face. Anyone can see that you fit that position perfectly.”

The Fiend silently gazed at the snowy scenery. It was a magnificent view only to be enjoyed at this peak, standing tall in the all-white world.

I respected the Fiend for reflecting on himself. Without such a mind, he would be a stubborn old man, fossilized. Because he looks into himself, I believe he can bring down cliffs.

I expressed my honest feelings.

“At first, I was curious what kind of person you were. Then, I admired your goal to bring down the cliff and wanted to bring it down myself. Now, I like your true self even more.”

“My true self?”

“I think your true self is how you fought against the Black Fists in your youth. When you return, gather all the Iron Fists and tell them that! ‘Hey! Your Fiend is this kind of person!’”

“Did you only tell flattering words to other Ma Jons?”

“I said honest words, not flattering ones. Because of being a Ma Jon, I said things others wouldn’t. Though, admittedly, I did flatter a bit. I wanted to be seen well, to get close. But I didn’t make things up. I said what I would want someone to say about my life someday.”

Then I looked at the Fiend and added,

“They don’t often say such things, do they?”

Even though they teach hundreds and thousands of followers.

“You don’t often hear such words, do you?”

Will anyone ever say such things to me? I have done so much.

The Fiend looked at me silently. After staring for a while, he looked at the mountain across again.

“When you become the Heavenly Fiend, what will you do? Is it a dream to unify the martial world?”

“Quite the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“I will stop anyone from unifying the martial world. Even if it is your father.”

The Fiend’s eyes shone.

“So you knew.”

That meant the Fiend knew, too.

“That your father dreams of unifying the martial world, I know.”

“Yes, a smart person like you wouldn’t miss it.”

“What do you think, Fiend?”

“I will follow whatever your father wants. If he orders war and kill everyone, I will not hesitate to kill them all. Whoever they are.”

Now I understood for sure. My father’s right hand was the Fiend. Then the left hand must be Blood Heaven Butcher? The elixir the Blood Heaven Butcher gave me was said to be from my father.

“I will stop that. Both your father and you.”

After that, we stood there silently for a long time.

Whooooooooosh.

The blowing snowstorm passed coolly over us, and the Fiend’s resolution rode the wind.

“Mugeuk, I will take you as my first disciple.”

I was surprised. Although becoming his disciple was my goal, I didn’t expect him to take me as disciple here. Moreover, this confirmed our opposing views on martial world unification.

His large, thick body turned toward me. That terrifying face, now familiar, had a different gaze than usual. The Fiend spoke with deep seriousness.

“I will be your master, so be my disciple.”

Hearing those words, I choked up. Joy surged. I had succeeded in moving this man’s heart. Not because I gained the Fiend as Ma Jon or his martial arts, but simply because this man became my master.

“Waaaah!”

So happy, I jumped on the spot. Like a puppy excited by snow, I freely expressed my joy.

Seeing my sincere happiness, the Fiend’s expression softened. Did that scary face hide such softness?

So overwhelmed, I released the First Fist technique. Since it could cause an avalanche, I released it into empty air. I quickly poured out the Second Fist as well.

“Thank you. Thank you very much.”

There, I performed the nine bows ceremony (Gubae-jirei).

“Disciple Geom Mugeuk formally greets Master. Please guide this foolish disciple with great teachings.”

The Fiend’s large hand gently tapped my shoulder. Rough and thick, it was the first time I had felt the Fiend’s gentle touch.

“Rise.”

I got up.

“Master.”

The Fiend was the person I wanted as master. He had enough qualification.

“Disciple.”

The Fiend didn’t seem displeased to accept his first disciple.

“From now, I will teach you the entire Byukryeok Surakwong.”

The Fiend did not delay teaching his martial arts. He did not ask anything in return as a condition. This was the kind of man he was.

On the snowy peak, the Fiend began teaching the Byukryeok Surakwong from the third to the sixth volume.

Third volume: Cheonroe Sura (Heavenly Thunder Asura).

It was the heaviest punch among the Fiend’s fists. Unlike the Black Cloud Asura that strikes distant enemies, or the Byukryeok Sura that attacks quickly, this was a direct punch technique, with immense power packed into each blow.

Fifth volume: Cheolgak Sura (Iron Foot Asura).

The Byukryeok Surakwong did not consist only of fist techniques. There was a powerful kicking move to crush opponents. The move was flashy and impressive, and whenever Cheolgak Sura was performed, it surely drew admiration.

Fifth volume: Geumgang Sura (Diamond Asura).

A technique that temporarily turned the body into steel for protection. It consumed tremendous internal energy but was a technique that could save life in moments of crisis.

I hoped that combining the fifth volume and the Heavenly Fiend Protection Technique might produce a temporary invincible effect.

And the last, sixth volume: Yeomroe Sura (Yama Thunder Asura).

The final volume of the Byukryeok Surakwong. Named after the lightning struck by King Yama, it was the last technique that poured all the internal energy into a single strike. It was also a technique capable of bringing down cliffs. If this failed, I would be doomed.

A worthy enemy would require using the last sixth volume technique, and if it failed, I would have to face him without any internal energy.

I learned the Byukryeok Surakwong over seven days on the snowy peak. I carefully studied from the first to the last volume again.

In the process, I also received many insights about the fist techniques that the Fiend had felt all his life. Once he decided to take me as disciple, the Fiend gave generously. I must have been captivated by this refreshing attitude, too.

Now what was left was for me to train hard and achieve greatness.

Even if I dropped my sword in battle, that would not be an opportunity for the enemy. Instead, that moment would be my chance to strike the careless opponent.

“When we return to the sect, I plan to make two announcements. First, that I have accepted you as disciple. Second, that the East Fist Sect officially supports the Great Duke.”

As expected, this announcement would cause a stir within the sect again. How would other Ma Jons and my elder brother react? And what about my father?

“They’ll all see me and you as greedy opportunists trying to get ahead.”

“So what if they do? If the master decides to live that way, let them be jealous and do the same. Those cowards! That’s how I’d respond.”

The Fiend laughed. I felt his laughter had become more comfortable toward me.

“Let’s descend now, disciple.”

“Yes, master.”

We walked down the snowy mountain together. Leaving footprints on the untouched snow. Though both of us had reached the ‘treading snow without trace’ level, we deliberately pressed our footprints as we descended.

I wanted to stamp footprints on a stone floor and put up a sign beside it:

“The path where Fiend and Geom Mugeuk forged the master-disciple bond.”

After descending, we naturally headed toward the main sect.

Before departure, we stopped by the West Lake Guesthouse near the snowy mountain to check if any message had arrived for me.

“Ah! Master, there is a place I need to visit before leaving.”

“Where?”

“I received word from my people asking to meet me.”

Gowol and Pungcheon Sect Leader, who were building an intelligence network in the Central Plains, sent me a message to meet.

“So? Are you abandoning me?”

“Abandoning?”

“You mean telling me to go back alone? Now that you’ve learned all martial arts, the juice’s gone, go away. Isn’t that it? Ah! That’s why people say you shouldn’t give everything all at once.”

I laughed loudly, not expecting such words from the Fiend.

“If you go together, who knows when we’ll return.”

Gowol wouldn’t contact me for trivial reasons.

“How about your Iron Fist classes? Are they okay?”

I had been away quite a lot lately, so I thought the Fiend might be worried and was considerate.

“What’s there to worry about? I have a disciple now.”

“You learned how to say things to please people quickly.”

The Fiend strode ahead, saying,

“Then, whose disciple are you?”