“I told them that if Ian wanted, I would become their father.”

At Kwonma’s bombshell announcement, all eyes turned to Geom Mugeuk. Everyone was curious how he would react.

Unexpectedly, he just blinked and showed no sign of surprise.

“You’re not surprised?”

At the question from Hyeol Cheon Doma, Geom Mugeuk himself seemed surprised by his own reaction.

“Yeah. Why am I not surprised?”

Why? It was just to tease Kwonma.

Geom Mugeuk glanced back and forth between Kwonma and Ian.

“To think there could be such polar opposites as a father and daughter in this world? Maybe that’s why I’m not surprised?”

Had anyone else said that, the Myeolcheon Daedo might have needed a shield again, but Kwonma readily accepted the tease. Even he admitted their appearances were worlds apart.

“Does anyone believe this?”

“Do you, Master?”

Hyeol Cheon Doma interjected with a teasing tone that sounded serious.

“They’ll probably think you were kidnapped.”

Kwonma nodded as if acknowledging that too.

Just then, Ian suddenly spoke up.

“Father!”

Surprised gazes turned toward Ian. Among the three, Kwonma was the most startled. Ian looked at Kwonma and said,

“If you’re okay with a daughter like me, please take me as your daughter.”

Kwonma’s eyes widened. Since meeting Ian, this was the first time he looked so surprised.

“Even a father like me would be okay?”

His voice trembled in an uncharacteristic way. Kwonma’s voice, which wouldn’t flinch even if ten thousand enemies lined up, was shaking.

“You are far too good for me.”

Tears welled in Ian’s eyes. To have such a great man become her father was overwhelmingly moving. She was truly grateful to the point of tears.

Ian looked at Geom Mugeuk with her eyes, silently asking:

Is this really okay?

It was an impulsive decision. Perhaps the most important decision in her life, made in an instant.

Is this really okay?

The answer came from Geom Mugeuk’s bright smile.

“Congratulations, Ian.”

Ian took a deep breath and then asked Kwonma again.

“May I ask just one thing?”

“Ask anything.”

“Why did you say you would take me as your daughter?”

Kwonma’s answer was simple.

“Because I want a daughter like you.”

No other words could have pleased Ian’s heart more.

Ian rose from her seat and bowed deeply to Kwonma.

“Please take care of me from now on… Father.”

Saying the word ‘father,’ she choked up.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever said the word ‘father’ in my life.”

She had never once called anyone ‘dad’ or ‘mom.’

She had resented the parents who abandoned her, tried to understand their reasons, longed for them, hated them, and even tried to forget.
I must never become such a parent, no—I shouldn’t become a parent at all. I’ll live alone and quietly die someday.

Emotions flooded her, and tears streamed down.

Geom Mugeuk, Hyeol Cheon Doma, and Kwonma silently watched her shoulders shake. They let her cry as much as she needed. The strongest people in the world stood guard over her, standing there for quite a while.

When her sobbing subsided, Kwonma helped her to her feet.

Seeing her soaked in tears, Hyeol Cheon Doma joked,

“Now that you’re ugly from crying, you finally look like a father and daughter.”

Geom Mugeuk laughed loudly. Normally, Hyeol Cheon Doma didn’t meddle in others’ business much, but when it came to Kwonma, he joked freely and teased a lot. That meant they got along well and he liked him. Despite whining about being ostracized at the Majon gatherings.

A strong aura radiated from Kwonma as he looked at Ian.

“When we return to the sect, I will officially announce that you are my daughter. As long as I live, no one in the martial world will dare to treat you badly.”

Tears welled again in Ian’s eyes at Kwonma’s declaration.

“This is the last time I’ll cry. I won’t cry anymore.”

She forced a smile, but the tears didn’t stop.

The very existence of parents had always been her deepest wound. She had never told anyone but Geom Mugeuk. Now she would proudly boast about her father.
“What does your father do?” “My father is Kwonma!”

Hyeol Cheon Doma looked amazed and said,

“When you first mentioned it, I thought it was a joke.”

Geom Mugeuk responded,

“You don’t joke about something like this.”

“Is the terrifying man your father-in-law?”

“Exactly. I wonder what kind of son-in-law could handle that.”

Hyeol Cheon Doma glanced at Geom Mugeuk with a ‘I’m talking about you!’ expression.

Whether he realized it or not, Geom Mugeuk teased Ian.

“Ian, what are you gonna do? You’re already married.”

Suddenly, Kwonma said,

“Why not marry me?”

Ian waved her hand dismissively.

“Please don’t say that. Master, don’t mind him.”

Kwonma stared at Geom Mugeuk, waiting for his answer.

“I like my food salty.”

“From now on, you’ll eat it bland!”

Is that how this is going to be?

Geom Mugeuk smiled meaningfully at him.

“Can you handle being a relative of Cheonma?”

At those words, Kwonma flinched. He had only thought of Ian, but not that far. The only person who could absolutely control him—his in-law? Related to the sect leader as in-laws?

“Hey! I’m here! The bride who has no intention of marrying is right here!”

In the chaos, Hyeol Cheon Doma smoothed his chin, imagining that day.

“If they actually marry, it’s going to be a mess.”

That night, Kwonma was training alone in the backyard of the An residence. Probably trying to soothe complicated feelings through martial arts training.

His bare torso muscles were perfect as if painted by a master artist.

“When will I be like Master’s body?”

I also took off my shirt and stood beside him, launching a strike of the Thunderclap Sura Fist. We trained shirtless so we could carefully observe every muscle movement.

Training with him after a long time felt refreshing.

Kwonma repeatedly made me practice the Jeo Fist Diamond Sura technique. It was a move that temporarily hardened the body like steel for protection, capable of saving one’s life in a crisis. Combining Diamond Sura with Cheonma Hosin Gong might create a temporary invincibility effect—I hoped so.

“Why are you focusing so much on Diamond Sura?”

“Looking at the situation, I think I need to protect your body first.”

Since a hidden enemy targeting the Murim Alliance leader had appeared, Kwonma judged that even as a sect’s Little Pill Master, he couldn’t relax.

Kwonma repeatedly explained the key points of Diamond Sura. Some I had heard before, some were new.

If I didn’t understand, I asked immediately, and Kwonma explained carefully.

“Now, endure this!”

“Surely you’re not going to hit me with that fist?”

“Why not?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Kwonma’s fist flew at me.

Huuuuaaaang!

Kwaang!

Without even trying to block, I was pushed backward. At the same time, Cheonma Hosin Gong and Diamond Sura activated together, absorbing the impact.

When I walked away unharmed, Kwonma was very pleased.

“Well done. Diamond Sura will save your life someday. Never neglect it.”

“I will remember.”

After that round of training, we sat side by side, catching our breath.

“May I ask why?”

Even though I asked abruptly, Kwonma knew what I meant.

“Didn’t I tell you? I want a daughter like Ian.”

“The real reason.”

After a pause, Kwonma said,

“I don’t know my parents’ faces. That’s why I understand better than anyone what that child feels.”

His personal story, heard for the first time.

“As a child, I gritted my teeth and denied them. I even avoided thoughts of revenge. Having revenge means acknowledging them. I tried to erase them from my life completely.”

“And now? Don’t you want to find your parents? You’ve done well without them. Don’t you want to talk about it?”

Kwonma shook his head, showing a sense of emptiness.

“I wish I still had petty revenge in my heart.”

It sounded like he had become so barren that not even that feeling remained.

“To think someone like me is trying to take someone as family.”

I was grateful for this glimpse of his humanity. It meant he trusted me.

“No, you did well.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I want Ian to be happy. Becoming Master’s daughter will be her greatest happiness. It’s the right choice for both Ian and Master.”

A smile spread across Kwonma’s intimidating face. I liked this moment. A smile born from fear—Kwonma was quite impressive then.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Who would have thought we’d have such a conversation? Kwonma was usually a man of few words, but in moments like this, he spoke better than anyone.

“It may be difficult from now on.”

“Why?”

“You’ve never been a father. What will you do if your daughter rebels?”

Kwonma raised his fist.

“Won’t that work?”

“If it did, raising children wouldn’t be harder than becoming a sword god.”

Kwonma playfully lowered his fist. Such a precious fist shouldn’t go down so weakly.

“But it might work in other ways.”

“Where?”

“When you have the most beautiful daughter in the world. You’ll need to use your fist a lot.”

Knowing what he meant, Kwonma clenched his big fist again.

“This will be fun.”

“Master will have fun. I’ll pray for the opponents’ souls in advance.”

Life is unpredictable. Who would have imagined Ian becoming Kwonma’s daughter?

“Maybe Master will really bring down the cliff.”

At Geom Mugeuk’s words, Kwonma asked with a puzzled look,

“Isn’t it the other way around?”

How could someone so soft-hearted and sentimental bring down a cliff? He must have thought that.

“People must change for martial arts to change.”

I repeated my words to Kwonma.

“If I change, I can break it?”

“To take someone as an adopted daughter—is that even imaginable?”

Kwonma slowly shook his head.

“Master has changed. I believe that change will break Master’s limits.”

Kwonma looked at his fist and suddenly said,

“Maybe when thunder ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) doesn’t roar from the fist, the cliff can be broken.”

A Thunderclap Sura Fist without thunder is unimaginable.

But there was a scarier thought than ear-splitting thunder:

A fist flying silently and overturning heaven and earth!

Thinking of that, neither Kwonma nor I could stay still. We jumped up and threw punches. Our training didn’t stop until dawn.

The next day, I parted ways with everyone.

“I’ll go to the Gangseo branch.”

Originally, the purpose of this trip was to visit the Honam and Gangseo branches before returning.

Until new clues about Hwamu-gi appear, I must live my life. Quietly, without being swayed.

“You’re going alone?”

“Yes. You two return to the sect. Oh, tell the guards waiting along the way to return as well.”

“Leaving the guards behind to go alone?”

“This time it’s a secret inspection.”

At the Honam branch, I went boldly with guards; this time I plan a discreet visit. I hope the Gangseo branch leader isn’t as corrupt as the Honam branch leader.

“Go ahead first. And stop thinking about bossing around this old man.”

Hyeol Cheon Doma said his piece and walked out the door. Watching his back, I shouted,

“Considering what you achieved by bossing me around, that won’t be easy.”

Don’t worry. If the Majon need anything, this time I’ll call on other Majon.

Next, I parted with Kwonma.

“Thanks for yesterday’s teaching.”

“Be careful.”

Kwonma also walked toward the door. Even though he had more to protect now, his broad back looked even more confident.

After Hyeol Cheon Doma and Kwonma left, Ian finally spoke her mind.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For deciding such an important matter without consulting you first.”

“You didn’t decide it beforehand either.”

“I think I should have at least asked in a private message at the moment of decision.”

She must have stayed awake all night worrying about it. Yes, it’s because she’s so kind that she needed to become Kwonma’s daughter.

“It’s an important matter, so you have to decide like that. Follow your instincts.”

“And if it’s the wrong choice?”

“You have to accept it. You’ll suffer under a terrifying father.”

Ian made a face imagining that moment, holding her head.

“He’s not just a terrifying father! He’s the most terrifying father in the world.”

“You can be relieved; you’re his second. Someone has the misfortune of having the first father.”

I joked, and Ian laughed.

“Trust your instincts. Your martial arts, your heart. The stronger you get, the better your instincts work.”

“I will remember, Master.”

“See you later at the main sect.”

“Be careful.”

Just as Ian was about to leave, she turned at the door.

“To become Kwonma’s daughter… thanks to you, Master, I’ve come this far. Really, thank you.”

“Ian, our journey might just be beginning.”

Ian looked startled, unable to even imagine what lies beyond.

“How far are you planning to go?”

“I don’t know myself.”

“That doesn’t sound like a joke anymore.”

“Because it’s not a joke.”

Killing Hwamu-gi isn’t the only goal of my life. Living happily is the goal. Killing Hwamu-gi is just the means. My life will continue after that. Mine, and those of my people.

“Master, you told me to rest if it gets hard.”

“I did.”

“You look very tired now.”

It wasn’t just from training until dawn. Lately, my nerves were on edge thinking about Hwamu-gi. No matter how much I hid it, Ian sensed and read my emotions.

I smiled and nodded at her.

“Okay, I’ll take a break.”

Then she left too.

I stood in the yard for a moment, looking up at the sky. I try to watch it whenever I can. Every time I look, the sky seems to say: Yeah, no matter how busy you are, remember to look up once in a while.

I know better than anyone how hard it is to even lift your head once when life starts pushing you down. Like my life before regression.

Back then, I didn’t look at the sky but only at the ground. Only at the materials to fill my pockets. Only at how to kill my enemies. The sky must have been just as blue then...

I set off for Gangseo hoping for a more peaceful and calm journey.

So, villains, you better rest too! Please!