There is nothing different about becoming the Junior Sect Leader.

The path I must take is already set, and the tasks I have to accomplish are fixed.

Become stronger and kill Hwamu Gi.

But in reality, there were changes.

The first change that came was standing in a line in the courtyard of my residence.

I could tell who they were by the emblem engraved on their chests.

The demon mask painted on their shields.

“We are from the Cheonma Hall Escort Guard.”

When I became the Junior Sect Leader, an escort warrior from Cheonma Hall was dispatched.

“I am Jeokyeon (Red Swallow), responsible for your safety from now on, Junior Sect Leader.”

He wore an eyepatch over one eye. It was rare for an escort warrior to be one-eyed, so he looked quite special.

The escort warriors standing behind him each introduced themselves.

The number was twelve in total.

They explained they would guard me in shifts—six during the day and six at night.

I knew Jeokyeon and the other escort warriors well.

Jeokyeon. He lived a fate like a flame that shone brightly and then vanished.

They were the escort warriors of my older brother, the former Junior Sect Leader, and all died alongside him on the day Hwamu Gi attacked. None of them fled; they pledged loyalty with their lives.

“Thank you.”

I silently expressed my gratitude to them.

“From now on, we will protect you, Junior Sect Leader.”

That loyalty was now directed toward me. Other fates I must change.

However, the problem was that I didn’t need them.

They would never want to leave my side even for a moment, but I had many things requiring swift action. Moreover, many of my moves would be incomprehensible to them.

I had to find a way to keep them at a distance.

From the very first day as Junior Sect Leader, I was given such a task.

There was no need to say to them, “You are no longer needed; please step back.” Even if I said it, they wouldn’t leave, and this was not a problem to be solved that way.

I had to meet with Hwi, the head of the escort guard and my father’s personal bodyguard, to resolve this. Of course, it would not be easy.

Escort warriors are the most conservative among the officials of the Cheonma Hall. If they were not conservative, protecting their charge would be impossible.

The better the warrior, the more they overestimate their own skills, and protecting warriors with willful personalities is truly difficult. Even I am like that. I was already thinking of sending them back somehow.

“Take a short rest.”

When I was about to meet Hwi to negotiate, Jeokyeon seemed to read my mind.

“The Escort Captain said this: The Junior Sect Leader might try to send you back. But you have nowhere else to return to. If you are sent away, we must leave the escort guard.”

Hwi anticipated my plan to send them back and spoke first. He knew my personality well and firmly expressed that the escort could never be dismissed. Whether it meant success or failure, I must keep them.

“Then, does that mean you are now completely my men?”

“Officially, we belong to the Cheonma Hall Escort Guard, but in practice, yes.”

I said to Jeokyeon,

“Take off your eyepatch.”

Jeokyeon flinched at my order but hesitated only briefly before removing it. He wasn’t wearing it because of an injury. The eye beneath was blood-red like fresh blood.

I approached him, looking into his eye, and said,

“You have mastered the Demon Eye Technique.”

The Demon Eye Technique is an eye skill passed down among escort warriors to detect those in hiding. But the learning process is excruciating, and normally one cannot use that eye. To face a crisis that might come only once in a lifetime, one must give up the use of that eye forever.

“Does it hurt?”

“It is bearable.”

“Stay still.”

I placed my palm over his eye. A faint flow of my internal energy streamed into it, soothing the eye.

When I removed my hand, Jeokyeon bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

A look of confusion crossed Jeokyeon’s face directed at me. He probably never imagined I would ease his pain like that.

“This is only a temporary remedy.”

Both Ian and now Jeokyeon were like this.

Protecting someone demands enormous sacrifice. This was not only a problem for Cheonma Hall, but the burden imposed on escort warriors was too harsh.

“I understand that if one achieves mastery of the Demon Eye Technique, they can use that eye even in normal times.”

“That is correct. However, achieving mastery is extremely difficult.”

“I will help you.”

Jeokyeon’s blood-red eye looked at me as if he were seeing a ghost.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-nine.”

He was young. The other escort warriors who came were around the same age or younger.

“I am young, but I have been with the escort guard for twelve years.”

That meant he passed the escort guard exam at seventeen. Since it was nearly impossible to enter the Cheonma Hall Escort Guard by ordinary means, Jeokyeon’s talent was exceptional.

“The younger juniors who came with me are young as well, but they are confident in their skills.”

Of course, they had to be. They were sent to guard the Junior Sect ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) Leader. Hwi must have sent me the young experts who would be the next generation’s backbone—young warriors with skill and loyalty.

Uncle Hwi, you really picked well.

They were those who had already proven who they were with their deaths.

“How much do you know about me?”

“We have grasped almost everything that happened recently.”

“Then you must know something about my personality too.”

“We can only guess a little.”

“Tell me.”

Jeokyeon hesitated a moment and cautiously said,

“I think you are not an easy person to serve.”

I nodded and said,

“If you let go of just one thing, you can get along better with me than anyone else.”

“What is that?”

“Impatience. You just need to let go of the impatience of wanting to become my guard immediately.”

Jeokyeon and the other escort warriors looked puzzled. They had already been appointed as guards, so what was I talking about? They were confused.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Instead of answering, I asked,

“What is your ultimate dream?”

“To become the best escort warriors.”

“Then is your dream to guard the Junior Sect Leader? Or to guard the Sect Leader?”

There was a brief pause before Jeokyeon answered,

“Of course, the ultimate dream is to guard the Sect Leader.”

The others probably shared the same goal.

“That means you need to let go of impatience.”

They still looked unable to understand my intention.

“Bring me thirteen wooden swords.”

Realizing I wanted to test their skills, Jeokyeon immediately ordered his subordinates to bring wooden swords.

A moment later, we each held a wooden sword. I dusted the tip of mine with white powder.

“Now, consider the person at the far end to be me, and guard him from now on.”

They immediately formed formation around the person I pointed at.

They were tense.

“There is no need to worry about me getting hurt. So do your best to stop me. Go.”

I charged at them.

They tried to block me, but how could they stop someone determined to break through?

Using the Wind Spirit Guard technique to its fullest, I penetrated their lines. They were pushed back and pulled in, their swings missing. They surrendered ground that should never have been given, tripped over their legs, and briefly lost sight of me.

When thoughts like What on earth is happening? flashed through their minds, I suddenly leapt back to my original position.

The twelve guards stared at me blankly.

What on earth was that?

None of them dropped their swords. None were hit.

Then someone among them gasped in surprise.

“Ah!”

Only then did they all realize. They were more shocked than if their arms or stomachs had been pierced. White powder was on all their hearts.

Their leader Jeokyeon was no exception, and so was the person they had been protecting. The shocking part was that no one knew when or how it got there. In the blink of an eye, they were all “dead.”

“Can you guard me with this level of skill?”

Jeokyeon and the others’ faces flushed red. Regardless of skill difference, as escort warriors, being so helplessly defeated was humiliating.

“I am not trying to humiliate you. I am showing reality. To guard me, you must become much stronger. Because the people I will face from now on will be such masters.”

I approached them, meeting each of their eyes, and said,

“You couldn’t stop me today, but next time you must. Alone you cannot, but gathered as twelve, you must. Don’t waste time guarding me when I eat or sleep. Instead of standing meaningless watch, train your martial skills.”

There was nothing more meaningless than following me around right now as my guards.

“Then do you mean we should just keep training?”

Jeokyeon asked, and I shook my head.

“I understand your position, but that can’t be. You must accompany me to official events inside and outside. But when I’m living daily life and spending time with Majon, there is no need to waste time guarding me then.”

Actually, this was a heaven-sent opportunity for them. They reduced their sleep to train during their difficult escort duty.

“The rules of the escort guard are like this. It goes against the principles. From now on, forget such thoughts. We will create new rules and principles. If I tell you to rest, you must obey without question. If I don’t call you, that time is for training. Train with the desire to become the best escort warriors in the martial world.”

At my unexpected words, Jeokyeon and the warriors’ eyes flickered.

“I need escort warriors like that.”

I slowly approached and brushed the white powder off Jeokyeon’s chest. Beneath it was the escort guard’s emblem.

“I need this shield painted on your chests. An eternal iron shield that no one can break through.”

I felt Jeokyeon’s throat tighten. They were still young. They were shaken by my words. Becoming the best escort warriors was their dream. The opportunity had come.

“If you keep your promise with me, I promise one thing. I will take you with me to the end. When I become Cheonma, my guards will be you.”

Jeokyeon and the escort warriors were stunned. Normally, when someone becomes Cheonma, the guards are replaced by new ones to protect Cheonma. But now I declared I would bring all of them.

“If there is a problem with this method and you get expelled from the escort guard, I will take responsibility and accept you. But that will never happen.”

Jeokyeon was unsure if this could really work.

“I will give you a lot of time, but I will check your skills frequently. Anyone lazy will be dismissed immediately. This might be harder than guarding me.”

Now is the time everyone must become stronger. Especially my escort warriors — they must become strong no matter what.

Jeokyeon looked around at his subordinates, not making decisions alone but asking their opinions. I sensed swift communication. I liked their way of handling things.

“I learned the Demon Eye Technique to see ghosts... but now I feel like I’m possessed by one.”

Was it okay to decide such a major matter emotionally? Jeokyeon added with that expression.

“We have decided to follow the Junior Sect Leader’s words.”

The escort warriors behind shouted in unison,

“We will become stronger. We stake our futures on the Junior Sect Leader.”

I felt their resolve.

“Become strong. So that one day you will be the best Cheonma Escort Guard in the martial world.”

It can be done. I will help you.

And for survival’s sake, we must succeed.

“Where is the residence?”

“It has been prepared nearby.”

“I will rebuild it with the best facilities. Including a training ground.”

Everyone showed a moved expression.

“Well, since today is the first day, shall we all go together?”

Leading the guards, I headed toward Cheonma Hall.

The guards following behind, unlike when dealing with me, looked cold but confident as they faced the Majon.

They were empowered to kill anyone to protect me. They even had the authority to skip greeting Majon during escort duty. They were not the kind to be beaten and show weakness, unlike me.

As we walked, the Majon parted like the sea.

They did not dare block our path, and their looks toward me completely changed.

Until now, they had shown their emotions—whether supportive or hostile—I could read them somewhat.

But to the new Junior Sect Leader, they dared not show any emotion. They greeted me with absolute respect and bowed politely. Whether they liked me or not didn’t matter. They only thought that being marked by the next Cheonma meant death.

The guards waited at the entrance while I entered Cheonma Hall alone.

My father was seated as usual in the Grandmaster’s seat.

I walked the blood path and stopped at the bottom of the stairs.

“May your vital energy flourish like a ray of sunlight, and may your body be flawless and pristine.”

“Why are you doing things you don’t usually do?”

“A Junior Sect Leader should give at least this kind of greeting.”

My father’s lips curled upward.

“Do it as usual.”

I smiled pleasantly and asked my father,

“Did you get to talk badly about my brother enough?”

“No. Unlike your brother, I don’t talk behind people’s backs.”

Father, yesterday when you took care of my brother, you looked really admirable.

“I kept my promise to hold hands and come, so please help me from now on.”

Father didn’t answer, but I believed he would help somehow, at least with my brother’s matters.

“You have sung the song of the successor, but there is much to do from now on.”

I knew it too. There were many things to deal with internally, many events to attend, and especially many external events to represent my father.

“With this face inherited from you, I will boast to the world.”

Actually, what I trusted was the Sicheon Secret Technique. I had no choice but to master it somehow to secure more time.

My father, who had been silently looking down at me, suddenly asked,

“Are you ready?”

I felt it.

The long-awaited moment had finally come.

“I am ready.”

At my calm answer, my father rose from the Grandmaster’s seat.

“Follow me.”

For what was more important than being the successor, I followed him. Though I walked slowly, my heart began to race like a sprint.