“Are you serious?”

In that one question from Father was the meaning: “Are you really going to make such an uncertain choice with true sincerity?” There was the chance that this fate might never come, or even if it did, something completely useless might come out.

“If I’m not destined with it... I’ll use it to smash some bastard’s head. Or I could just melt it down and make a sword. That would be enough.”

“Well, the choice is yours anyway.”

“I’ve shown you too much perfection so far. I choose this to let you know that sometimes I make mistakes too.”

I slowly reached out my hand toward the Bigwe.

The moment I cautiously touched it—

“Ah!”

I sighed deeply, and Father asked,

“Why is that?”

“When I picked this up, I expected some thrilling sensation, or a mysterious ringing sound only I would ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) hear...”

I sighed again and added,

“There’s no feeling at all.”

Father shook his head.

“It was your choice. Over there among the ten-thousand-year snow ginseng, there should have been a bottle with a few drops of Gongcheongseokyu (Blue Crystal Oil).”

“No way? Please tell me you’re joking!”

I ran to where the elixirs were. Indeed, there was a bottle containing Gongcheongseokyu between the elixirs and herbs. It was almost like it was saying: You didn’t see me? This milky brilliance?

“You should have told me earlier!”

“Why would I tell you when it’s barely hidden?”

I asked Father with a mock-pained expression.

“Surely, there’s not something else, right?”

Father was thoroughly enjoying teasing me.

“This is the main sect’s treasure, do you think it only has that? There’s also the Binggeuksul fruit (Extreme Ice Snow Fruit).”

I quietly said next to Father,

“Pass it down to me.”

“No!”

Right, if he passed this down, he wouldn’t be my Father.

“Don’t use these! Keep them just as they are! Save them until I become the Sect Leader! Father!”

I thought how amazing Father was to keep these. Would Father really be without greed? Surely he’s saving them to use at a critical moment. Father was indeed drawing a big picture.

Looking down at the Bigwe, I said,

“You bastard, you’re more precious than Gongcheongseokyu!”

I joked with Father, but my instinct was still drawn to this Bigwe. There was no sinking feeling that I had made a wrong choice.

Even if I had to choose again, I think I would still pick the Bigwe—not just stubbornly denying a mistake, but because this dull lump of metal still pulled at me strongly.

Father was no different. Though he wore a smug “Well done” expression, he was also expectant. Hoping I might solve the secret he couldn’t.

“When the time comes, it will open. Yeonja, you chose well! When you compare yourself to that Gongcheongseokyu, you got your pride hurt! Something like that.”

“Well, you have to live with at least that hope.”

Shouting “Yeonja!” again, I tucked the Bigwe into my arms.

Ah, why is it so heavy!

I left Cheonma Boggo with Father.

Walking back the way we came, we talked. Actually, today I received a greater gift than the Bigwe. The fact Father gave me a congratulatory gift—that was the greatest present.

“What will you do now?”

“Train. When tired from training, play with the demon warriors. Even if you say, ‘Again?’ I’ll still play. Even if you say, ‘Aren’t you bored?’ I’ll still play.”

I glanced at Father and quietly asked,

“When you play, can I call you too?”

Father snorted but didn’t say not to call him.

“Father, I wasn’t joking when I said I wanted to go out with you. Soon, we’ll go out together. If Sama General forbids it, we’ll sneak away at night. We’ll run fast with Cheonma Flight Technique and Swift Step.”

Father never said yes to that.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave. Thank you very much for the gift.”

I bowed politely and turned, but Father said,

“Let’s play a game of Go soon.”

I smiled brightly and said,

“You’d better be on guard. My soldiers have started learning Go.”

After leaving Cheonma Hall, behind me formed a line of Jeokyeon and the day-watch guards. A silent greeting and sign of gladness.

“You all trained hard.”

Just from their aura and gait, I could see the results. They had trained blood and sweat well.

Yes, everyone, let’s get stronger. Now is the time for all of us to grow strong.

Straight away, I went to find Hyeolcheon Doma.

“Sir!”

I ran eagerly as usual but stopped short.

A strange sight unfolded.

There was a flower garden in the yard, and Hyeolcheon Doma carefully pruned a large Myeolcheon sword’s branches.

“Ah! I thought this was Namdo clan but it’s Bukcheon Sword family. Long time no see, Sword Master. Why have you gotten so rough?”

“Stop the nonsense and water that over there.”

“Yes.”

It seemed lately he had been getting along well with Ilhwa Sword Master and learning to cultivate flowers from her.

At first glance, it didn’t suit him at all, but I knew that tending a garden fit Hyeolcheon Doma who loved books. Behind that masculine exterior was Doma’s gentleness.

“If you water one place too much, it dies. Water evenly.”

I watered another spot as Hyeolcheon Doma instructed.

“You seem to get along well with Sword Master lately.”

“He’s late to martial arts training and is busy. Doesn’t want to meet without makeup.”

It seemed after our last duel, he devoted himself to training. For Sword Master, who likes to look good, to appear without makeup means genuine intent.

“Because of me?”

“No.”

“Not really. Just an old man’s pride.”

There are things you understand only when old. Things you thought trivial when young look different now, right? Even you, Sir? Gifting a sword to a disciple and growing flowers in the yard? Would that have been possible before?

Hyeolcheon Doma added one more thing.

“Don’t just care for the mask wearer, care for the drunkard too.”

“The Drunkard?”

“He was drinking on the roof waiting for you the day I returned.”

“Oh, my poor brother. Got drunk and made a scene again.”

Hyeolcheon Doma said no more about the Drunkard. Just caring about him was already enough change.

“All done. That’s enough for today.”

Hyeolcheon Doma stopped pruning and went inside.

When I tried to follow, he chased me away.

“Seeing your face is enough. You don’t have to bother with me.”

“This place is the most comfortable and nice for me.”

“I’m uncomfortable. Alone is comfortable.”

I quickly entered and threw myself onto the bed, but Hyeolcheon Doma stopped me in midair with his Huh Gongseop-mul.

“I am the Little Pill Master! The Little Pill Master!”

My body slowly floated toward the window.

“Don’t become Sect Leader yet! Wash up, change clothes, and lie down.”

While Hyeolcheon Doma changed clothes, I sat by the window. On the table lay a book on gardening.

Though unrelated to the Dao of the Sword, I believe his Myeolcheon Sword will become even stronger and scarier. Sometimes, enlightenment comes more from pruning branches than from cutting an enemy’s neck.

Besides, when Ilhwa Sword Master pushes her training, Hyeolcheon Doma, who was already training hard, will not stay behind. Not intentionally, but all of us are growing stronger together.

“Sir, do you know what this is?”

I took the Bigwe from my bosom and showed it. Expecting curiosity, he casually said while changing clothes,

“That’s a Bigwe.”

“How do you know?”

“How could I not? When young, the Sect Leader caused such a fuss trying to unlock its secret.”

It confirmed that young Hyeolcheon Doma was close to Father once. Compared to then, their relationship seems a bit distant now.

Still, Father should have stopped me before choosing after all that fuss. Just like Father.

“Why is it in your hands?”

“I received it as a gift for becoming Little Pill Master. No, I chose it.”

“Why choose that one?”

“It’s said to open only for the destined one. How could I resist hearing that? You would have chosen it too.”

“I wouldn’t have. An unlucky person like me wouldn’t be destined to treasure.”

That was what Hyeolcheon Doma said when we first met.

A life spent with misfortune.

I stared at him and asked,

“That’s not true anymore, right?”

Hyeolcheon Doma smiled faintly and nodded.

“Maybe I’ll choose now.”

Of course. He should. For Father’s sake and for me running to see Sir immediately after.

My gaze returned to the Bigwe.

“One day it will suddenly click open. Until then, I’ll keep hoping every day, hoping it opens—even if I hate hearing it.”

After packing the Bigwe, I stood.

“Then I’ll go. Don’t forget: I still came to see you first.”

“You’re just saying that.”

Still, I knew Hyeolcheon Doma would be secretly pleased.

After leaving Hyeolcheon Doma’s place, I returned home. I had planned to see Kwonma too but postponed until tomorrow.

The guards didn’t tell me to rest. How much would they want to guard me on my first day back?

“Please take care!”

“Don’t worry, rest well!”

I left them in charge and entered my home. Despite my long absence, it was cleanly cleaned.

“Still, home is the best.”

I lay down and immediately fell asleep.

Since leaving the sect, I hadn’t had a single good sleep. I replaced sleep with breathing energy and devoted all remaining time to martial arts training.

Today, I planned to rest deeply and recover from the journey’s fatigue. Even a master gets tired from a long carriage trip.

When I woke, it was already night.

I had truly slept soundly without a single dream. That refreshing feeling left me feeling renewed.

Lying down, I looked briefly at the night sky outside the window. Now that I think about it, the view from here was quite nice.

After rolling around on the bed for a while, I went outside.

The guards had switched to the night shift.

“Are you awake?”

The one leading the night watch was Samho.

“I’m hungry. I want home-cooked food from your mother.”

A smile naturally formed on Samho’s face.

“I thought you’d be hungry when you woke, so I prepared a light meal.”

Another guard brought the food into the room.

“Let’s all go in and eat.”

“We already ate.”

“How do you eat?”

“We eat before night duty, and take turns eating at dawn.”

“You’ve reversed day and night, but don’t eat roughly. You’ll mess up your stomach.”

“Thanks for caring.”

“Don’t just say thanks. Make sure you do!”

We ate in the room.

Though they said light, it was a proper meal. They prepared food that would be fine even if cold, not knowing when I’d get up.

After eating, I drank a warm cup of tea. Sitting by the window drinking tea calmed my mind.

It was the joy of daily life I hadn’t felt in a long time.

If there’s joy when with people, there’s also happiness in being quietly alone. The more I joke around with people, the more precious my alone time becomes.

Then I recalled my life before regression. Back then, being alone was suffocating. People are so fickle.

After finishing the meal, I took the Bigwe out and placed it on my palm.

Carefully, I examined it.

What could this be? If it’s a box, what’s inside?

I shook the Bigwe. It was just a tightly packed lump of metal, nothing that felt like a box.

Father and the former Cheonmas must have tried everything. Infusing internal energy, soaking in water, applying heat.

So I decided to do nothing.

They said it opens if there’s destiny. It doesn’t open by solving secrets.

“Alright, if you don’t want to open now, open when it suits you.”

As I watched the Bigwe, Samho spoke outside.

“Geugak Soma has come.”

When I went out, there stood Geugak Soma under the moonlight, wearing a white mask.

“Soma-nim!”

“Little Pill Master!”

“I was going to visit tomorrow, but what brings you here?”

I was tense, wondering if something had happened, but the reason was truly unexpected.

“I came because I wanted to see you.”

“!”

“You always come to see me, Little Pill Master. I should come visit too.”

Hearing that, my heart tightened. He had always stood facing a white wall when I visited. Even if it helped with martial training, being alone in an empty room had always weighed on my mind.

But today he came out of that room himself to see me. Today Father descended from the Grand Master’s platform, and Geugak Soma came out of the white room.

The guards surrounding the residence looked full of surprise. They never dreamed that the fearsome Geugak Soma would say such things.

“How about your exile?”

“Thanks to your concern, I returned safely.”

Geugak Soma’s gaze was deeper than before.

“Somehow you feel different, Soma-nim.”

“Thanks to the ten-thousand-year snow ginseng you gave me, I have made progress in martial arts. Thank you very much.”

“How could it be just ginseng? It’s your effort, Soma-nim.”

Finding the phrase “just ginseng” amusing, Soma laughed aloud.

“Seeing your face is enough.”

Geugak Soma said he wasn’t here on business but simply because he wanted to see me and soon took his leave.

Sometimes an action moves more than a thousand words. This was one such time.

Walking beside him as he turned away, I said,

“Done or not done, we can’t part like this after such a long time. We’ll stay up all night playing. I already declared to Father: we’ll play.”

After a pause, Soma said,

“From what I’ve seen so far, I don’t know if fate will allow the martial world to let the Little Pill Master have fun.”

Not fate, but even if I’m in a hurry, I can’t always be playing. Of course, today is an exception.

“Well then, we should hurry before fate interferes.”