Deep inside Jin Paecheon’s heart, there was a stirring — an emotion he had never felt before. He had lived as the Murim Alliance Leader, met countless people, and experienced all sorts of things.

Now, his emotions were like fossils — dry and only functioning out of habit. Smiling out of habit, getting angry out of habit, grieving out of habit.

But this emotional stirring was real.

He had lived trying to avoid that deeply wounded place. He wanted to cut out the pain, but the more he tried, the bigger the wound grew. So he covered it up. He knew it was festering inside but pretended not to notice. He thought everyone carried wounds like that. After all, he had many duties. He was the Murim Alliance Leader.

And now, Jin Paecheon felt that the pus of the wound was being cleansed and the healing had begun.

He had repeated the same words dozens, even hundreds of times.

“I would not have done such a thing.”

But the wound in his heart remained unhealed. Yet when someone else said those words, his emotions surged. He felt like he could finally escape from that wound.

To feel this way from just a few words.

Normally, his pride would have been hurt. He would have denied it.

But looking into Geom Mugeuk’s clear and deep eyes, the pride that had stirred to awaken quietly fell back asleep.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled warmly. The Alliance Leader was the kind of person who could say those words. Whether he could acknowledge his wound and say those words was very important. The final healing of a wound is always the responsibility of the one wounded. The Alliance Leader had now wrapped even the last bandage well.

“Unlike the Alliance Leader, Baek Cheonggyeong refused to admit it to the very end.”

Geom Mugeuk naturally returned to the subject.

“I had thought all along that the one who annihilated them was the younger brother of the Mokcheon family head. When the annihilation happened, he was not there and was later found dead by his own hand.”

“In fact, that corpse was not him.”

Since it concerned the Mokcheon family, how carefully Jin Paecheon must have investigated the matter. Yet he had been deceived.

“Then who annihilated them?”

“Someone took advantage of Baek Cheonggyeong’s desire for revenge. Helped fake his death and aided him to infiltrate the Murim Alliance with a new identity. I suspect that person is the one who annihilated the Mokcheon family.”

Jin Paecheon’s thoughts deepened. Manipulating a corpse, infiltrating the Alliance. This was not just personal hostility or malice. It was war.

The opponent was not just a schemer. They proved their power by annihilating the Mokcheon family.

“You must keep in mind that there is someone targeting the Murim Alliance.”

Geom Mugeuk added a warning, trying to avoid wasting spiritual energy worrying about whether it was a Demon Sect figure.

“This time they even tried to kill me and provoke a war with the main sect. So that person is also an enemy of the main sect.”

Geom Mugeuk did not say that the murder of the Alliance Leader’s son and daughter-in-law might also be that person’s conspiracy — that was not yet certain.

“I will thoroughly investigate to find the mastermind.”

“I will find that person too. If you need my help, call on me anytime. At least in capturing this mastermind, I want to assist.”

Geom Mugeuk limited his offer to himself rather than involving the Cheonma Sin Gyo. There was no need to ally with the Demon Sect; instead, he suggested cooperating with himself to ease the Alliance Leader’s burden.

Jin Paecheon accepted readily.

“Agreed.”

“I will meet again soon. I will visit with Jin Gongja and Jin Sojeo, then leave promptly.”

“Wait.”

As Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, Jin Paecheon called him back and slowly approached.

When a master like Jin Paecheon approached, Geom Mugeuk’s Cheonma Hoshin Gong instinctively activated—but at least this moment, it was in vain.

Jin Paecheon embraced Geom Mugeuk tightly.

“Not as the Murim Alliance Leader, but as Ha Ryeong’s grandfather, I truly thank you.”

Geom Mugeuk hugged him back.

“Take care until we meet again.”

Of course, Geom Mugeuk did not forget to joke.

“If there is a Demon Sect Little Pill Master hugged by the Murim Alliance Leader, tell him to step forward!”

Jin Paecheon laughed heartily then spoke sincerely.

“This hug will have to suffice. I wanted to repay you grandly. The main sect’s treasure vault has all sorts of elixirs and divine weapons.”

“Then give them to me. Please, give them to me!”

Geom Mugeuk asked without hesitation, and Jin Paecheon laughed.

“Sorry, I must refuse. I’m afraid you’d use that power to hit us.”

“Aren’t you more afraid of leaving a debt of gratitude?”

“!”

Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“That’s why I decline material rewards.”

As Geom Mugeuk bowed politely and turned to leave, Jin Paecheon thought he was truly a pity.

If he weren’t the Demon Sect Little Pill Master—

He recalled when Jin Ha Ryeong had once brought Geom Mugeuk to marry with her attendant.

A truth Jin Paecheon never told anyone.

Jin Ha Ryeong screamed and abruptly sat up.

When she turned her head, she found herself in the medical room.

“Are you okay?”

It was Jin Ha Gun, who had rushed in in surprise.

“I dreamed I was dying.”

She dreamed the Majon had arrived only after she had died.

She expected at least a single tear at the loud weeping, but Ian had been busy talking with the Majon and hadn’t even noticed her death. That was a worse nightmare.

She had only seen him properly three times, but how could she be ungrateful?

First as a friend, second in the martial arts contest, and finally in the rescue. Such fate was rare.

“That won’t happen again.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I will make sure of it.”

“That’s my job.”

They smiled, but Jin Ha Ryeong’s eyes shone with determination. Jin Ha Gun felt his sister had grown from this experience.

“How long did I sleep?”

“About half a ‘si-jin’.”

Jin Ha Ryeong got up. She worried that Geom Mugeuk might leave before she woke. Even if he left, she wanted to greet him properly.

“Where is Geom Mugeuk?”

“He’s waiting outside. He said he’d greet you when you woke.”

Hearing Geom Mugeuk had waited moved Jin Ha Ryeong.

As she moved to leave, Jin Ha Gun said,

“You know?”

“Know what?”

“Don’t. Don’t give your heart away in the first place.”

“Why? Worried? That I might lose my only sister’s heart to the Demon Sect Little Pill Master?”

Surprisingly, Jin Ha Gun nodded.

“Yeah, I worry about that.”

“Shouldn’t I say, ‘I trust my sister, so don’t worry’?”

“No, I worry.”

If it had been anyone but Geom Mugeuk, she would have been upset, but she felt glad. At least it was a matter of whether or not she would pair with Geom Mugeuk.

“Brother, I’m not as naive as you think.”

“That’s fine.”

As she headed out, Jin Ha Ryeong worried about her brother.

“Are you really okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t get dragged into that person’s affairs.”

Then Jin Ha Gun revealed an unexpected thought.

“It’s worse to try not to get involved by force. Even if you get involved, be selfish about it.”

“Selfish?”

“Take all the good influence he gives, but don’t let your will be shaken.”

Jin Ha Ryeong wondered if that would really work. If relationships were as simple as cutting ties cleanly, what worries would there be?

In that case, she was no different. She said not to worry because she wasn’t naive, but could she really endure Geom Mugeuk like that?

“Maybe our blood is the same. Brother, you’re far from naive too.”

The two left together.

Geom Mugeuk stood in the courtyard of the medical room, looking up at the sky.

Jin Ha Ryeong stood beside him.

“What are you looking at?”

“See that sky blue? It’s the color of my sword energy.”

“Better than a dull color. Dying matched to such a beautiful color.”

At her words, Geom Mugeuk smiled and turned his head.

“How’s your body?”

“Thanks to you, it’s fine.”

“I waited to see your face before leaving. See you next time.”

Jin Ha Ryeong was reluctant to part with Geom Mugeuk. She wanted to stay a little longer.

Just a little more, even a few days.

But even saying such a thing was impossible between them—it was their fate and relationship.

“Before you go, tell me this: how can I become strong like you?”

“Train to death.”

“You always seem to be playing though?”

“Training is always done where no one sees.”

At that moment, Jin Ha Gun slowly approached.

“I heard from Grandfather about the mastermind behind this.”

He could hardly believe that someone had controlled his master.

Geom Mugeuk credited him.

“You’re the reason this was uncovered. If you hadn’t noticed something strange with your master, we might have been doomed.”

Jin Ha Gun shuddered at the thought. If they hadn’t found out, Baek Cheonggyeong would have led them to ruin at the critical moment.

He returned the credit to Geom Mugeuk.

“It’s thanks to you. Because of your advice to look properly, not superficially, I was able to find out.”

From now on, Jin Ha Gun would try to look clearly at whoever he faced. He would reform not only the Annihilation Division but the Murim Alliance itself.

Geom Mugeuk gave his final farewell.

“Be careful in everything.”

“You too.”

Jin Ha Gun expressed his gratitude once more.

“Thank you for saving my sister.”

“Don’t forget, and repay me later.”

Jin Ha Gun smiled lightly, thinking it was a fitting Geom Mugeuk-style reply.

“Then let’s meet again.”

Geom Mugeuk said farewell to Jin Ha Ryeong too.

Smiling, she said,

“We’re still friends, right?”

At her words, Geom Mugeuk nodded.

“There’s a bar near the main sect’s headquarters with good drinks and a good owner. I’ll invite you next time.”

Would that day really come?

As Jin Ha Ryeong nodded, Geom Mugeuk pushed off the ground and flew up, quickly disappearing from sight.

“Brother, I think we need to work harder. The Demon Sect can’t be cooler than us, right?”

Jin Ha Gun walked ahead without reply.

She knew her brother’s personality better than anyone. He wouldn’t lose. That was her brother.

Following behind, Jin Ha Ryeong glanced back toward where Geom Mugeuk disappeared, then stepped forward with resolve.

Who else would have gained insight but her brother?

This was her first step to becoming not “Hubei’s Number One Beauty,” but “Hubei’s Number One Swordswoman.”

In the safe house kitchen, Ian was busy cooking.

Suddenly, for some unknown reason, she wanted to cook for the two Majon personally.

She knew two or three dishes, and she made the one she was most confident in.

“Please enjoy.”

“Eat with us.”

“I’m fine.”

Because Gwun Ma gestured invitingly, Ian also joined the meal.

Eating with Hyeol Cheondoma and Gwun Ma?

Anyone would say this was a punishment. Ian was tense, but while eating, Hyeol Cheondoma said,

“Too bland.”

He didn’t just pretend the food was tasty out of politeness.

“Ah! Sorry. I made it lightly seasoned. I’ll go make it again.”

At that moment, Gwun Ma stopped Ian from taking a bowl away.

“You need to eat bland to be healthy.”

“Who said that?”

“The Demon's Doctor said so.”

Ian was quietly touched that Gwun Ma said that.

She thought how different the Majon were up close from how they looked on the outside. Well, she herself was very different in personality from how she looked.

Hyeol Cheondoma asked curiously,

“Why did you suddenly cook?”

Of course, there was a reason.

She was moved and filled with respect after seeing the strength of the two Majon in battle. The strength and intensity they showed deeply inspired her, now fully stepping into her role as a Master of the Guiying Sect. So she wanted to prepare a sincere meal.

“Not an opportunity that comes often.”

Seodaeryong added what he always said at drinking parties.

“When I have children someday, I’ll tell them: their mother personally cooked for Hyeol Cheondoma and Gwun Ma in her youth.”

“Make sure to say it was bland.”

Ian laughed awkwardly at Hyeol Cheondoma’s words.

Then Gwun Ma suddenly said,

“If Mugeuk and you had a child, it would be amazing.”

Ian was startled by that. At first, she thought she misheard. Flustered, she quickly said,

“How could I marry the Little Pill Master? Though I became a Master, I was just a common martial artist.”

“What does that matter? Neither the Sect Leader nor Mugeuk care about that.”

Hyeol Cheondoma nodded in agreement with Gwun Ma.

Ian was truly grateful for those words. But a thought always lingered in her mind when marriage was mentioned—the first thing that came to mind.

Normally she wouldn’t say this, but in front of these two fearsome people, she somehow wanted to. No, the words came naturally.

“I don’t even know who my parents are.”

Hyeol Cheondoma gave a comforting word.

“Family can be enemies. It’s okay not to know.”

Ian was grateful for Hyeol Cheondoma’s words.

Then Gwun Ma said something unexpected.

“If that really weighs on your heart, I’ll be your father.”

Even Hyeol Cheondoma was surprised. So how surprised must Ian have been?

She was so shocked and flustered that she dropped her chopsticks.

She had never had a private conversation with Gwun Ma before. Why? Did he think well of her from the late-night training sessions? Or was there °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° another reason? A joke? Had she really misheard?

All sorts of thoughts raced through her mind, and she didn’t know what to say.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk entered.

“I’m back.”

He immediately sensed the frozen atmosphere.

“What happened at the dinner table in the safe house? Nothing happened at the Murim Alliance Hall, but what was going on here?”

Breaking the flowing silence was Hyeol Cheondoma.

“The food was bland.”