Unfortunately, I couldn’t see the face of the evil spirit.

By chance, the first evil spirit to appear was the one facing the wooden dummy’s front.

So all I saw was the spirit’s back.

The four sides of the dummy were cut, and the evil spirit soon vanished.

There was a difference between being cut by the spirit’s appearance and just by sword energy. When the spirit manifested, the speed and power increased. Considering the demonic aura and the visual and psychological effects the spirit emitted, the true Annihilation Form was only complete when the spirit appeared.

I unleashed the Annihilation Form again.

The spirit appeared once more. But again, only its back was visible.

Joy and frustration welled up simultaneously.

‘I wanted to see what you look like! I worked so hard to see your face, not just your back!’

Then a thought crossed my mind.

‘Ah! I can bring a bronze mirror!’

I was about to get the mirror but changed my mind.

I felt it wasn’t right to force seeing it this way. I decided to accept the order in which the martial skill manifested. If you don’t want to show yourself, so be it.

‘I’ll see the other spirits’ faces first.’

“Something good happened?”

Ilhwa Sword Sovereign noticed my unusually bright expression today.

“I made progress in my blocked swordsmanship.”

“Ah, that’s a relief.”

She was happy. Having sparred and talked martial arts with me, she felt great achievement. Advancing from Majon-level skill is incredibly difficult.

But she never dreamed of such swift progress in such a short time.

“You’re truly unpredictable.”

When I first visited, she thought I’d come for a day or two and quit, assuming I came just for networking as Small Sect Leader.

But no.

What I said that first day was true.

“You’re the only one I can talk swordsmanship with, Senior.”

I sincerely wanted to share martial knowledge and learn as well.

Though she’d trained swords all her life, this was the first time she had earnestly pondered, debated, and sparred about swordsmanship.

This time she realized how much she had yearned for such moments.

A sparring friend.

I had truly become that friend to her. That phrase would now hold deeper meaning than any other relationship.

So her words were sincere.

“Small Sect Leader, you’re the only one I can share stories with.”

She smiled and drew her sword.

“Shall we share, then?”

As we flew into the air, all the sword disciples came out to watch. Of course, we fought so high that their forms were hard to see.

Only countless flashes of sword light flickered.

Yet the sword disciples seemed entranced by something.

After sparring, I always told the swords watching,

“I learn a lot from the Sword Sovereign. I envy you all.”

Ilhwa Sword Sovereign was happy to hear this. Whether flattery or sincere, praise from me was a great joy.

Someone who freely shares martial insight and praises subordinates like that—how could she resist?

My training continued.

External duties for the Small Sect Leader were continually postponed—a courtesy from my father, knowing my obsession with training.

Majon didn’t seek me out. Even Chwima, who might have invited me to drink, hadn’t come.

At school, the only talk was about the Small Sect Leader obsessed with martial arts.

I only sparred with Sword Sovereign, and after sparring, I returned to frantically practice the Annihilation Form.

So many wooden dummies were cut down that a metal dummy arrived at my training ground. Made from a mix of eternal cold iron and steel, it was a special dummy that sword energy couldn’t cut.

The crisp metallic sound repeated.

I wondered if the spirit could at least turn around once after seeing its back so many times.

Repeat and repeat.

Then today, the gift from that tedious repetition arrived.

The sound of the Annihilation Form changed again.

At that moment I saw it.

Another evil spirit appeared behind the steel dummy.

It was the second spirit to appear.

This time, I could see its face. I was startled.

It didn’t look frightening. Surprisingly, my first impression was:

‘It’s handsome!’

The spirit looked like a face that could have been drawn by the Poison King’s face shown to the Flame Master.

‘Is this really allowed?’

I was truly surprised.

Could this spirit be reflecting the heart of the martial artist?

I didn’t think the evil spirit’s face needed to inspire terror—my focus was only to see its face.

Is that why this spirit was not scary?

Now I was curious about the backs of the spirits I had only seen so far. Were they all the same? Or different?

To check if their faces differed, I needed to manifest the left and right spirits as well.

My curiosity drove my desire.

“I think training should end today.”

Ilhwa Sword Sovereign nodded as if she expected this.

“Planning to go into seclusion training?”

“How did you know?”

“Just a feeling. I sensed your energy rising lately. The moment to pour everything out has come.”

“Truly amazing.”

Her gaze toward me was different from when she first came asking to spar.

“Small Sect Leader, thank you so much.”

“Thank you as well.”

We had grown much closer than before. Now I thought I stood just two steps from her. That distance came from her nature—some people never allow one step closer no matter how close you get.

“If I get stuck in martial arts again, I’ll come find you.”

“I’ll prepare to be hit then.”

I read determination in her eyes. If she grew once more here, the main school would welcome a new Ilhwa Sword Sovereign.

Ilhwa Sword Sovereign glanced around the training ground. This would be the last time for a while.

“When I come again, this might be a narrow yard like before.”

“It’ll be a more thrilling sparring with a free spirit then.”

She smiled looking at the training ground.

“Since it’s the last day, will you spare me some time?”

I actually had something prepared for her today.

“Seo Daeryong, the Master of Huang Cheon Hall, is like my right arm. So I want to have a modest celebration today.”

“I’ll make time if it’s about that.”

“I invited Blood Heaven Demon too. Since he’s Seo Daeryong’s master, I thought I should.”

Ilhwa Sword Sovereign understood. I was naturally trying to bring her along to arrange a place with Blood Heaven Demon.

“Wait a moment, please? I’ll change clothes.”

“Sure, take your time.”

Today it took her longer than usual to wash, put on makeup, and choose clothes.

Seo Daeryong and Ilhwa Sword Sovereign arrived at a hill with green fields beneath Great Heaven Mountain. Wine and food were prepared there. It was a banquet I had asked the servants to prepare in advance.

Ilhwa Sword Sovereign looked around.

“Was there such a place near the main school?”

“There are many wonderful spots if you look carefully. You should travel and rest more.”

“What fun is there alone?”

Then Blood Heaven Demon and Seo Daeryong arrived. Wearing their great swords on their backs, they clearly looked like master and disciple.

Blood Heaven Demon wore a neat robe unlike usual. His hair was also tidier.

I barely suppressed the urge to speak out.

“You came?”

“What’s with this fuss about a celebration?”

Blood Heaven Demon grumbled.

“The disciple rose to a high position, why so grumpy?”

Ilhwa Sword Sovereign said nothing as Blood Heaven Demon stayed silent.

Seo Daeryong respectfully greeted Ilhwa Sword Sovereign.

“Thank you for coming on this precious occasion.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Seo Daeryong poured drinks for everyone.

After several drinks, I took a walk with Seo Daeryong. I deliberately left them alone. This gathering was more for Blood Heaven Demon than Seo Daeryong. I had hinted that to Seo Daeryong beforehand.

“How’s being Master?”

“Still overwhelmed, adapting.”

Seo Daeryong stopped and looked at me.

“I’ve been having nightmares lately. Dreaming of searching for the Small Sect Leader in urgent situations. It’s my ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) duty to handle these, but in dreams, I only look for you. When I barely find you, you coldly say, ‘Why did you take this position if you’re not capable?’”

“Is that only in dreams?”

“Sigh, I’m serious.”

I laughed.

“In reality, that kind of thing hardly ever happens. Don’t waste spirit energy on impossible things.”

“What if it does happen?”

“We’ll solve it like this.”

I lightly tapped the handle of the great sword Seo Daeryong carried.

He looked at the handle, worn by his master’s hands, and nodded.

“That’s why every day must be hellish training.”

The two of them turned to leave.

“Stay a bit longer.”

Far off, Blood Heaven Demon and Ilhwa Sword Sovereign drank and talked happily.

“A good time!” I said.

Seo Daeryong smiled.

“I stopped by earlier wanting to come with you both. You seemed to be dressing up in several outfits. That was the first time I saw my master like that.”

Seeing Blood Heaven Demon smile, I felt good.

Yes, forget the past. Lock the door to the past and stop peeking at the future. Just live happily.

“Spring winds should blow for you, too.”

“I was wrong. Leave me behind and go first. I’m too busy now. My life is only work and training!”

Seo Daeryong looked with envy at the youthful freshness, as if age had been forgotten.

“Can I really go first?”

“You must! I’m your right arm!”

Time passed quickly.

I wondered when they would come out, and before I knew it, I was leaving the training hall after a hundred days of seclusion training.

Still unshaven, I headed straight to Cheonma Hall.

My father was guarding Cheonma Hall as usual.

“What’s that look on you?”

“I ran straight here wanting to see you, father. This is the look of hard work.”

I joked cheerfully.

“I got scolded for wanting tasty food. Please develop food for seclusion training, not just Wall Valley Pills or jerky!”

My father welcomed me with his usual smile.

“A lazy man training for a hundred days, impressive.”

“The fellows were so shy, really hard to watch.”

I tried to let go of wanting my father’s approval. That burden was holding me back.

Still, my heart trembled at this moment. I must not have fully let go. I wanted to be recognized by him through martial arts.

“I’ll introduce my friends.”

Calming myself, I unleashed the First Technique.

A crisp wind sound.

Four sword energies cut the air.

The four evil spirits appeared.

They were the spirits I had so longed to see.

They looked different from my father’s spirits. Surprisingly, each spirit differed in appearance and feel.

Some were frightening, some handsome. Some mysterious, some clever.

My father was surprised by these differences, surely expecting them to be identical. I too was surprised.

The spirits didn’t vanish immediately like my father’s.

As if trying to connect, they glanced at me for a moment.

Then, like when they appeared, they vanished instantly.

My father rose from his seat. He didn’t hide his surprise.

“Is this what you wanted to see?”

My interpretation of Nine Flames Demon Skill created spirits different from his.

He looked at me silently and nodded slowly.

“Yes, this was it.”

I recalled my conversation with him the day he taught me Nine Flames Demon Skill.

—The Nine Flames Demon Skill keeps changing.

—It had to. Every era brings fools and geniuses.

I would become that genius and unfold a more advanced Nine Flames Demon Skill.

I sensed my father’s energy had changed. At least in martial arts, he wouldn’t just admire. He would strive to show his own changes—to compete and win against me, while helping when sincere. He is my father.

“Thank you for postponing the external duties the Small Sect Leader must handle.”

“Starting off right is always important.”

It was my father’s consideration to help me properly master the First Technique. Having set the first step well, now I would calmly build the rest learning Si Cheon Secret Technique.

“I’ll immediately go out and handle everything.”

“Before you go…”

My father came down from his seat and said,

“Let’s eat together. You’ve worked hard.”

He even used the occult arts he disliked. His single phrase wiped away all the hardships of the hundred days.