When I entered Geukak Soma’s room, I saw a long line drawn across the wall.

Geukak Soma was standing with his back to that line, staring at the opposite wall.

“I definitely prefer the color of this wall more.”

At my joke, Geukak Soma looked at me. His eyes met mine inside those sockets. Who would have thought I’d see an expression of gladness in those eye sockets?

Although Soma and I communicated solely through the gaze within our eye sockets, we shared a deeper connection than with anyone else.

“Your mask has changed.”

“As expected, Lee Gongja recognized it at once.”

The reason for the change was unexpected.

“Cheongmyeon made several masks. He gave them to me saying he wanted to live a new life now. He said he wanted to go to a ‘beautiful heart.’”

Finally, Cheongmyeon accepted the position of Guiyeongdae Iljojang.

“So, you cut off Cheongmyeon’s arm?”

He had once said that if he was to send Cheongmyeon away, he would cut off his arm rather than just let him go.

“I didn’t cut it off.”

“Why not?”

“Didn’t I tell you to inform Lee Gongja before cutting it? But since Lee Gongja was out of the sect, I couldn’t.”

How could it be otherwise? He had allowed Cheongmyeon to live the life he wanted.

Well done, Soma. If it had gone differently, Cheongmyeon would never have reached the Ma Jon level and would have lived a miserable life until old age.

“Impressive.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes. Truly impressive.”

“Now that I’ve heard such praise, I suppose I can’t cut off his arm after all.”

The two eyes in those sockets were smiling. At least in our relationship, he was not Geukak, but Soma.

“I heard the news that you became Kwonma’s disciple.”

“I went out to slack off, but came back as Kwonma’s disciple.”

At the mention of becoming Kwonma’s disciple, Geukak Soma suddenly jumped up from his seat.

“You must fight better now!”

Geukak Soma didn’t care whether Kwonma was my master or not. He was just excited that I had grown stronger.

“Yes, I have become a little stronger!”

I too could speak most comfortably about this to Geukak Soma. Just like when my father and Kwonma used to hang out when they were young, my relationship with Geukak Soma was like that.

“Soma, I have a favor to ask.”

I trembled inwardly. How would Geukak Soma take my request?

“I want to kill Yaryul Han of the Sado Alliance. To do that, I need my father’s permission. Please persuade him.”

Without hesitation, Geukak Soma answered.

“Very well.”

He didn’t ask anything. Why I must kill him, how I would do it — none of it. The attitude that he would grant any request of mine moved me deeply.

The only person in this world who grants my request just because it’s mine.

I was happy. It had been a very long time since I felt such pure joy. I felt the urge to leap up in excitement.

“Thank you so much.”

I had understood the refusals from other Ma Jons, but somewhere deep inside, I felt a bit hurt. Seeing how good I felt now made that clear.

I almost said, “I didn’t expect you to accept it so easily.”

But I stopped myself. Somehow, no words seemed enough to express my gratitude to him.

Instead, I conveyed my thanks differently.

“If permission is granted for this matter, please help me then.”

Soma, let’s go. Let’s fight brilliantly again. That’s all I can do for you. And… thank you truly.

Seeing my passionate gaze, Geukak Soma smiled warmly.

“Good.”

And the more dangerous our battle, the more it would stir his blood.

“Who agreed just now?”

“You are the only one who has clearly said you will persuade Father.”

“Am I number one?”

“Yes. You are the first.”

Blood Heaven Butcher and Kwonma hadn’t directly said they’d persuade Father yet. Of course, Blood Heaven Butcher would step up. Kwonma too. There are three Ma Jons who will definitely help now.

“I feel good for no reason.”

“Thank you for being the first.”

I looked at the long line drawn on the opposite wall. Soma’s gaze followed mine.

I hope that wall stays there for a long time.

I didn’t say that either. Without words, I knew he felt the same.

When I become Cheonma later, I plan to take that wall and hang it in Cheonma Hall.

When I went to see Kwonma, he was standing below a cliff.

I stood beside him.

Had the cliff started to look different in his eyes after his journey?

“Geukak Soma said he will stand up for me.”

Then Kwonma looked at me with a surprised expression.

“Soma, that guy?”

It seemed surprising to him that Geukak Soma was the one.

“Are you two close?”

“We are.”

“He’s not an easy person to get close to.”

“If you put it that way, Master, are you an easy person?”

I looked up at the cliff and continued.

“He plans to bring this cliff down with a single strike.”

Kwonma’s gaze followed mine toward the cliff. But the wall we saw now was not that cliff. It was a higher, stronger wall.

“The sect leader won’t allow this. It’s important for you to save those young ones, but it’s not important at all to the sect leader. To be honest, it’s the same for me. Other Ma Jons feel the same.”

I understood my father and the Ma Jons. That’s just who they are. Just by looking at them now, they seem like different people.

Yet I try so hard for change because I believe if we change, our martial arts will change, and our fate will change. If we just let it pass as before—

Because they’re not important to me. Because it’s nothing to do with me. If I live a life ignoring things like my past self before regression... I feel like I’d be swept away again by the calamity that appeared like fate, Hwamugi.

Master, just as you can’t bring down this cliff without changing, so it is.

“As we talked on the snowy mountain, the sect leader dreams of uniting the martial world. If you kill Yaryul Han, it will become a variable in the big picture the sect leader is drawing. The sect leader won’t easily approve.”

“Then all the more, I must become that variable. I intend to stop the sect leader’s unification of the martial world at all costs.”

I was resolute, and Kwonma silently observed that stubbornness.

“Will you persuade Father, Master?”

Kwonma hesitated at last. Who wouldn’t want to avoid conflict with Father? No, as Kwonma, his feelings would be the strongest.

Finally, Kwonma nodded.

“I will.”

“Thank you, Master.”

That’s why. I made you my master. Because you are a man who doesn’t back down even when it’s hard.

I didn’t get an answer from Blood Heaven Butcher, but I wouldn’t go to confirm it again. I was sure he would help me.

And my certainty was correct. The first one to visit Father was Blood Heaven Butcher.

Blood Heaven Butcher, who had walked the Path of Blood, stopped beneath the Grand Temple.

“Long time no see.”

At Blood Heaven Butcher’s polite greeting, Cheonma Geom Woojin said to him,

“Are you the one opening the first salvo?”

Geom Woojin had already guessed why Blood Heaven Butcher came.

“What else can I do? A young person wants to do something big, so even an old mouth has to help.”

“When a reckless young one tries to cause trouble, shouldn’t we older ones stop him?”

“Exactly. When I think back to when we were young, we were truly foolish then. But on the other hand, wasn’t that the most passionate time?”

“Is there no passion now?”

“If this charred trace is passion, then yes, I have some.”

Though they spoke calmly, Cheonma Hall was filled with tension.

Geom Woojin stood up from the Grand Temple and slowly descended the stairs.

“Shall we take a walk?”

“Good.”

Geom Woojin walked the Path of Blood with Blood Heaven Butcher and left the Cheonma Hall. The two walked together through the front yard of the Cheonma Hall.

“There, right in the middle of the grand martial arts contest, he requested permission to kill Yaryul Han. It wasn’t a request, it was a declaration.”

Blood Heaven Butcher asked with a slightly more relaxed tone.

“The kid’s a nuisance?”

A smile that Geom Woojin never showed appeared at the corner of his mouth.

“You should try it yourself. It’s a pity.”

“I’m the only one happier than the sect leader. Don’t joke about that.”

There were times when the two talked even more comfortably than this. Blood Heaven Butcher suddenly felt regretful, thinking how quickly time had passed. If he had known, he would have spent more time with the sect leader. What had he been doing all this time?

“I never expected you to fall so deeply for that kid. What on earth did he have that made you give in?”

“I’ve thought about that many times, but I have only this to say: your son has a strange charm.”

“Strange charm.”

Blood Heaven Butcher spoke this time.

“Didn’t you feel it? I think the sect leader felt it too.”

“I called it a cheap sentimentality that’s perfect to die for.”

Geom Woojin didn’t mention that his “cheap sentimentality” had become innocent sentimentality.

“I was completely immersed in that cheap sentimentality.”

A faint smile also appeared on Blood Heaven Butcher’s lips. Though he came on sensitive and important business, this conversation after a long time felt good.

“Sect leader, just lose once.”

At that indirect suggestion, Geom Woojin firmly shook his head.

“If the secret assassin becomes the Sado Alliance leader someday, Yaryul Han will be a thorn in the Sado Alliance’s side for a long time. We might take care of Yaryul Han before the current leader dies. There’s no reason for us to kill him now.”

“But the secret assassin will owe a great debt to Lee Gongja because of this. He’ll lose something but also gain something.”

“Those on the fringe only hold grudges for a long time; they don’t remember favors.”

“But Lee Gongja will remember. That his father made a great concession for him.”

Geom Woojin stared silently at the hall of Cheonma Hall with his hands behind his back. Blood Heaven Butcher no longer pushed. He had said all he needed.

Then, a person appeared there.

It was Kwonma, who was approaching Cheonma Hall.

“Planning to open the Charyun Battle, huh?”

At Geom Woojin’s joke, Blood Heaven Butcher laughed and replied,

“I’m curious why that big fist gave in.”

Meanwhile, Kwonma approached them.

“How have you been?”

After greeting Geom Woojin politely, Kwonma also greeted Blood Heaven Butcher.

“You came first.”

“I thought Kwonma would come too. Congratulations on taking Lee Gongja as your disciple.”

Then Geom Woojin interjected.

“Is that something to congratulate? It’s more like consolation.”

Kwonma’s gaze caught Geom Woojin’s eyes floating in the air. It was a deep trust only those two could feel. That’s why Kwonma found this meeting difficult. Fortunately, Blood Heaven Butcher was there, so the atmosphere wasn’t too serious.

“I roughly know why you [N O V E L I G H T] came, so let’s launch our joint attack.”

“I’m not sure if a joint attack is a wise choice. The opponent only gets stronger the stronger we get.”

Geom Woojin asked Kwonma with a look that said, “You know that!”

“Why did you fall for him?”

“I must have lost my mind since I started slacking off all my life.”

Geom Woojin wasn’t satisfied with that answer.

“Tell me the real reason.”

Kwonma paused briefly, then revealed his honest feelings. It was an unexpected answer.

“I think I’ve been lonely all this time.”

“!”

Both Geom Woojin and Blood Heaven Butcher were surprised. They really never expected to hear loneliness from Kwonma.

“On the way here, we had a race of lightness skills at the end. He was so fast I couldn’t catch up. While I was trudging alone, do you know what I thought? I felt bored. For the first time in my life, I felt boredom.”

Kwonma looked at Geom Woojin and added,

“That’s probably why I fell for him.”

Their gazes met in the air. Kwonma cautiously said what he had been thinking all along.

“He’s my first disciple, so I came to be of help as a master even if I had to be rude. Sorry, sect leader.”

Kwonma bowed politely in apology. His loyalty to Cheonma was incomparable to any other Ma Jon, so Geom Woojin made no reproach.

Then Geom Woojin’s gaze shifted over Kwonma’s shoulder.

“Even if I understand you two, I cannot understand that person.”

Someone approached them. Wearing a white mask, it was Geukak Soma.

Geukak Soma politely greeted Cheonma, then exchanged greetings with Blood Heaven Butcher and Kwonma.

Then unexpectedly said,

“I was first, but you two cut in line.”

Not only was it strange that he came out, but also that he joked like that.

Representing the feelings of the three who were already there, Blood Heaven Butcher said,

“When you get involved with Lee Gongja, you go crazy like this.”

Geom Woojin asked Geukak Soma,

“What exactly is your reason?”

At that question, Geukak Soma recalled the moment he supported his falling mask. That was all.

If it had been anyone else, he wouldn’t have answered, but since it was Geom Woojin, he replied,

“Lee Gongja is a person who knows manners.”

At that, not only Geom Woojin but also Blood Heaven Butcher and Kwonma were surprised. Geukak Soma speaking of manners? Since when did Geukak Soma care about manners?

The three could sense that the manners Geukak Soma spoke of were not ordinary etiquette, but something more fundamental: respect for a person.

“I want to respond to the manners Lee Gongja has shown me.”

Geukak Soma turned around, took off his mask, then put on a new one he had brought and slowly turned back.

It wasn’t the white mask he had been wearing until now. It was a terrifying mask of an evil spirit smiling. Its eyes, painted red, were slit like a ghost’s, and the blood-red mouth was stretched to the ears in a grin. This mask was the Immortal Fireghost Mask (불사귀면) that Geukak Soma wore when going to war.

“Please grant Lee Gongja’s request.”

Geukak Soma came to this place with the mind of going to battle. He braced himself for Cheonma’s wrath and was ready to be cast out. He came today with the will to die.

The eyes behind that mask shone more intensely than ever.

“This is my first and last request.”