The Duke Dok remained silent for a moment.

Blinking, he finally asked,

“Are you asking me to come play with you now? And with Mabul too?”

“That’s right.”

Duke Dok placed his palm on Geom Mugeuk’s forehead to check for fever.

“This is a side effect of the Cheongi Dan.”

He even took his pulse, holding his wrist.

“Is spending just one day playing this exhausting for you?”

As Duke Dok tried to dash out the back door, Geom Mugeuk blocked him.

“No need to feel pressured. I’ll be there with you.”

“Better go back to the training grounds and bark there again. Why all this fuss?”

“I just want to rest for a day. And I want to spend time with you, Duke Dok. Let’s have a day of fun together.”

As Duke Dok sighed, a servant came in to announce Mabul’s arrival.

Duke Dok grimaced at Geom Mugeuk, then stepped outside.

“A distinguished guest has arrived.”

“Have you been well?”

The two greeted each other politely. Unlike his earlier attempt to flee, Duke Dok showed no loss of dignity as a Majon.

“This is your first time at Cheondokrim, isn’t it?”

“Yes. On the way here, I noticed many beautiful sights.”

“There are even better places.”

In fact, Duke Dok himself had never visited Mabul’s Golden Immortal Temple, as he preferred to stay secluded in Cheondokrim, rarely venturing to other Majon residences.

After greetings, Mabul looked at Geom Mugeuk.

“So, you were here all along.”

As if surprised to find him here, his performance was quite convincing. Though Mugeuk clearly knew Mabul had come for him, he played along.

“Indeed! Seems Mabul and I are fated to meet, even in places like this.”

“Looks like it.”

“Spending recent times with you, Mabul, hasn’t been in vain, I suppose.”

Even with Duke Dok nearby, Geom Mugeuk showed no restraint in expressing his emotions.

“Won’t Duke Dok be displeased then?”

Duke Dok interjected,

“Why would I be?”

“Everyone in our sect knows of your special friendship.”

Referring to their barking together in the training grounds.

Duke Dok shook his head at Geom Mugeuk.

“Ever since I met you, I’ve been through all sorts of troubles.”

A direct message from Duke Dok reached Geom Mugeuk.

—This is the biggest trouble so far!

Feigning ignorance, Geom Mugeuk turned his head.

With greetings complete, Duke Dok led Mabul to the guest hall of Cheondok Gate.

“Please come up here.”

It was a pavilion-like space, harmonizing beautifully with the natural surroundings. It was rarely used, kept clean by the servant.

One looked unusually young, another abnormally small. With Geom Mugeuk present, the place felt truly special.

“Did you handle the excommunication well?”

“Thanks to your concern, yes.”

Silence followed the pause in conversation.

Though Mabul met many people, here he was awkward. He had little interaction with Duke Dok, and the youthful appearance was truly unfamiliar. Of course, Duke Dok might feel the same looking at him.

Duke Dok’s message reached Geom Mugeuk.

—I’m already suffocating, and you want to play? Better to do life-or-death martial arts instead.

Luckily, the servant brought tea, refreshing the atmosphere.

“The tea tastes good!”

Geom Mugeuk drank comfortably, but Mabul only fiddled with his cup, not touching it. If one of his subordinates drank tea here like Geom Mugeuk, Mabul would have scolded them fiercely. Drink tea made by Duke Dok? Idiot! Better to die by my hand! Duke Dok was feared by all.

“To be honest, I came today because of Geom Mugeuk.”

Mabul glanced at Geom Mugeuk, then continued.

“I heard you were here, and I came to see you. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my interactions with you lately.”

Geom Mugeuk felt that Mabul was no longer the same as before. He showed a new side, as if staking everything on his relationship with him. Such frankness was unlike Mabul.

“I’m curious—what does Duke Dok usually talk about with Geom Mugeuk?”

Duke Dok replied,

“Today, I called him over to make him clean up.”

Mabul flinched at that. He thought Duke Dok was displeased by his question.

“Perhaps I spoke out of turn.”

Geom Mugeuk interrupted,

“I really cleaned.”

He complained to the surprised Mabul.

“Did you think I just chatted to get close to the Majon? I put in a lot of effort.”

If he actually cleaned, it showed Geom Mugeuk’s claim wasn’t just empty talk.

“But still, there’s work that must be carefully chosen.”

He didn’t add that Geom Mugeuk might become the Cheonma, as it was his goal to prevent that.

The awkward silence returned. In other words, Duke Dok had ordered him to do the cleaning.

Still, Duke Dok showed no displeasure to Mabul, as Geom Mugeuk could handle it.

—Did you hear? That annoying remark. How do you play with someone who’s uncomfortable?

—No ill intent. You know that, right?

—I can’t even play alone, so how can I play with you?

But would it be any different? Neither Geom Mugeuk nor Mabul had ever really played. That was why Geom Mugeuk wanted to spend good time with them. Such opportunities were rare.

—First, show us around Cheondokrim?

Before Geom Mugeuk’s message ended, Duke Dok said to Mabul,

“Since you’re here for once, I’ll show you around Cheondokrim.”

Mabul was about to say he’d come back later, but Geom Mugeuk stood up eagerly first.

“Let’s go. It’ll be fun.”

So Duke Dok led them to Cheondokrim.

Cheondokrim was vast and dense; after walking a while, they reached a magnificent bamboo grove with a walking path.

“Oh, such a place exists.”

Even Geom Mugeuk had never come this way. Beyond the grove stood an ancient tree, probably a thousand years old, with a field of unknown blooming flowers behind it.

The three were intoxicated by the beauty, walking slowly.

Mabul, initially reluctant, gradually immersed himself in Cheondokrim’s scenery, repeatedly exclaiming how wonderful it was.

“Be careful.”

A brilliant snake flicked its tongue from a tree.

“It’s a Baekjeomsa (Hundred-Spot Snake). Without an antidote, even experts can’t survive a day from its potent venom.”

Geom Mugeuk thought Duke Dok named this snake too.

Along the way, Geom Mugeuk asked about the poisonous plants, insects, and snakes, and Duke Dok eagerly explained.

Mabul thought Geom Mugeuk’s behavior was meant to please Duke Dok.

‘He deserves credit for his diligence.’

But Geom Mugeuk asked about everything. Duke Dok shared all he knew, and Geom Mugeuk listened very seriously.

Then Mabul commented,

“The Crown Prince is very curious.”

“How many chances do you get to hear directly from Duke Dok about poisons in one’s lifetime?”

Geom Mugeuk really memorized as much as possible of Duke Dok’s explanations.

He didn’t mind because he was Invincible Against All Poisons, but someone else might get poisoned.

Mabul also listened closely. Usually the teacher, he enjoyed learning again after a long time.

After some time, they arrived at a valley with a cascading waterfall.

Shhhhhaaaaahhhh.

They decided to rest there briefly.

“It’s hot, so I’ll swim.”

Geom Mugeuk shrugged off his top and plunged into the water.

“It’s not boring when the Crown Prince is around.”

Mabul said, and Duke Dok nodded. If Geom Mugeuk being absent would be boring, it was a torment for Duke Dok now.

Just as Duke Dok wondered if he should jump in, Mabul brought up the succession.

“I admit the momentum is shifting toward the Crown Prince. So the Crown Prince definitely needs Duke Dok’s support.”

Mabul wanted to gain Duke Dok’s official backing for the Duke.

“Who will make a better sect leader, the Duke or the Crown Prince? No one knows.”

Seeing Duke Dok nod, Mabul continued.

“Sometimes I fear the Crown Prince’s strange passion might draw the entire martial world.”

Then Duke Dok suddenly said,

“Should that be a problem?”

“There’s no problem… but I think you should worry if you don’t feel that passion.”

Though awkward, Duke Dok spoke firmly.

Mabul felt the sting of truth. He always wished the Duke had even a fraction of Geom Mugeuk’s passion.

Duke Dok looked at Geom Mugeuk. The prince was swimming under the waterfall, yelling—whether from joy or pain, no one could tell.

“I think the Crown Prince is better suited to be the Cheonma.”

Duke Dok’s words unsettled Mabul. Duke Dok had chosen Geom Mugeuk.

“Being strong in martial arts or more eloquent doesn’t make someone a better Cheonma.”

“That’s not why. I see something in the Crown Prince.”

“What do you see?”

Duke Dok, fussing, looked at Geom Mugeuk sitting under the waterfall.

“I see our fate.”

Duke Dok admitted he preferred his own world and wasn’t good at understanding others’ feelings.

But he felt a great destiny approaching them both.

Perhaps because he spent much time alone, Mabul sensed something invisible to the entangled relationships of many.

“You’ve been taken in by the Crown Prince’s intentions, deceived by his schemes.”

“If that’s true, then the request made to me today was to persuade Mabul, right?”

“Then what did he ask?”

“To have fun together—just the three of us.”

Mabul suddenly realized, “Ah, beating the Crown Prince won’t be easy.” How do you beat a madman like this? His confidence at the start shrank.

“If the Crown Prince becomes Cheonma, there might be bloodshed.”

“He’ll be playing in that bloodstorm.”

Mabul said no more, sensing Duke Dok’s firm resolve.

‘It won’t be easy.’

If Duke Dok’s heart didn’t change, only Mabul and Kwonma would support the Duke—and Kwonma’s support was only half.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk, who had been pretending to train under the waterfall, swam over.

“Did you see my waterfall training? Like a martial artist dreaming of revenge through extreme training…”

Before he finished, Duke Dok stood and said,

“There’s more to see. Let’s go.”

Mabul stood quickly, following him.

Geom Mugeuk shouted as he emerged from the water,

“Why? Did I do something wrong? Come on! Let me dry off first!”

Told to rest a bit, they seemed to have just finished an important conversation. After all, these two had never really played before—if they didn’t fight, it was a win.

Whoooooosh!

As Geom Mugeuk walked, he emitted intense yang energy. Steam rose, and his clothes dried instantly.

I was grateful to Duke Dok.

He was doing his best to fulfill my request. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made such an offer.

“Let’s make a wager.”

Mabul showed interest at the mention of a wager. Curious about the terms, he also loved competing.

“What wager?”

“There is a poisonous herb here called Chilsaengcho (Seven Lives Grass), which has seven branches and purple berries. Let’s bet on who finds it first.”

“That seems unfair to us. Duke Dok knows this place well.”

“I don’t know where the Chilsaengcho grows. I know it exists, but it just hasn’t been my fate to find it.”

Not expecting him to lie about that, Mabul asked again.

“There must be a prize for the wager.”

As they hesitated, I said,

“When we have time, the loser will buy the winner a big feast at the Pungnyuju tavern.”

Duke Dok and Mabul nodded. A competitive fire flared in Mabul’s eyes. The wager meant more than just a drinking bet to him.

“Good. Let’s do it.”

We searched for the Chilsaengcho.

It was hard to find despite our efforts. I even used my Xinansul skill to search but to no avail.

“Found it!”

The first to find the Chilsaengcho was Mabul, who darted through the forest with agility.

Duke Dok and I hurried over with our lightness skills.

“Is this it?”

“Oh! Yes! This is the Chilsaengcho.”

Duke Dok was genuinely thrilled.

“To discover such a precious herb—you truly have a talent for herb gathering. Next time, we’ll explore that forest too.”

Then Duke Dok carefully dug up the Chilsaengcho. His care was so sincere that I asked,

“Did you wager just to find the Chilsaengcho?”

The moment Duke Dok bent over to pick it up, he flinched.

Cradling the Chilsaengcho carefully, he said to Mabul,

“Next time you come, let’s go out and have fun again. Mabul, you’re welcome anytime!”

Like bidding farewell, Duke Dok took off.

Watching Duke Dok disappear into the distance, Mabul looked at me with an expression that said, “What on earth is going on?”

“We’ve been played! We were used as gatherers!”

Mabul might have meant it seriously, but took my words as a joke.

“Seems this place made you very uncomfortable.”

From afar, Duke Dok glanced back at me.

His eyes said, I had a good time.

And…

My efforts end here. Now it’s your turn.