The snow-covered courtyard was pure and peaceful.

Snow clinging to the trees looked like white blossoms, and icicles hanging from the eaves shone clear and transparent.

Ian stepped into this pristine space and began practicing the Bicheon Sword Technique on the untouched white snow.

With Geom Mugeuk and Chimma safely returned,

“Now, the only thing left to worry about is my own life.”

Being kind or pretty only harms one’s survival in the martial world without skill to back it up.

She trained for Geom Mugeuk.

Now, she no longer held such feelings from her days as a bodyguard warrior.

She trained for herself. Yet she thought this effort would ultimately be for Geom Mugeuk’s sake.

As she moved across the snow, swinging her sword, her graceful form performing the Bicheon Sword Technique on the white snow was truly a picturesque scene.

After performing a full sequence of Bicheon Sword Technique moves, she looked down at the footprints left on the ground.

It was the first time she saw footprints so vivid on snow no one had stepped on before while performing moves.

“This is Jeilsik Gyuncheon form, and this is Jeisik Byeoncheon form...”

Suddenly, her gaze fixed on one spot.

“Of course! This part is still spreading out. What on earth is the problem? Please tell me!”

Looking up at the sky, she was startled to see Geom Mugeuk hovering above her head.

“Master, what are you doing there?”

“Doing what? Watching together where the problem lies.”

Geom Mugeuk descended from the air, looking down at her footprints.

She hadn’t been able to receive his guidance lately, so she quickly spoke to seize this chance.

“When I perform Jechilsik Hwangcheon form, my back foot keeps spreading to the right. I’ve practiced a lot to fix it, but it just won’t get better.”

“Why can’t you fix it? You know the problem.”

“That’s because my ability to interpret martial arts is lacking.”

“Are you overestimating Bicheon Sword Technique?”

Ian looked back at Geom Mugeuk.

He nodded seriously as if not joking.

Ian looked back at the footprints again.

‘Master’s words mean I might not be wrong? If that’s so...’

She pondered the footprints.

How long had passed?

“Could it be something like this?”

Looking up, Ian was startled again. The surroundings had grown dim.

Geom Mugeuk was watching her from his original place.

“Master? What’s going on?”

“You were in a state of selflessness.”

She was even more surprised by the term.

“I thought only a short time had passed.”

“That’s what selflessness is.”

“It wasn’t a great worry to fall into selflessness over.”

“Then what kind of worry is great?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“It was a part worth pondering deeply.”

Then Ian asked in surprise,

“Did you stand there all this time?”

“Yes, because your selflessness couldn’t be broken.”

Geom Mugeuk knew how important this moment was to her. Most martial artists never experienced it even once.

“You stood there and got your leg sore because of me.”

“Considering how long you stood guarding my gate, that’s not really standing.”

“That was my job.”

Geom Mugeuk’s words warmed her heart. Had she ever expected any reward for guarding him? Yet these words turned past hardships into worth.

Geom Mugeuk always practiced teaching to express what must be said.

“So? What conclusion did you come to?”

“I think it’s okay for the foot to twist to the right. Even if attacked, it’s a stance with no problem, and it connects well with other moves. I couldn’t find any reason to keep it straight.”

“Then why didn’t you think so until now?”

“Because Bicheon Sword Technique can’t be wrong.”

She thought Bicheon Sword Technique was perfect. It was the martial art learned by the Heavenly Demon Sect’s heirs before mastering the Nine Flames Martial Arts.

Geom Mugeuk didn’t answer with words, but showed directly.

He began performing the Bicheon Sword Technique exactly where she had.

Footprints began appearing similarly.

Ian watched Geom Mugeuk’s moves intently, not missing a single motion.

Same moves, yet different. Different yet same.

As the saying goes, “you see as much as you know.” It felt different from when she had watched demonstrations before. It would look different again when perfected.

Those left footprints—

What she focused on was the footprint she had worried about before.

“Huh? Master, your foot is spreading to the right too.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled.

“That means your answer was correct.”

Ian was happy yet somewhat surprised. Then why did they say the feet must be in a straight line?

Geom Mugeuk explained the doubt.

“Whether the founder intended it or it happened by chance, this part acts as the biggest barrier on the path to perfecting Bicheon Sword Technique. It’s the point where the tightly structured moves begin to gain freedom.”

This meant she was one step closer to mastering the technique.

Though she had worked hard and received many teachings from Geom Mugeuk, she was born with talent for martial arts.

“Thank you very much, Master.”

Without Geom Mugeuk, how could she have found the answer? Without his earlier advice to trust herself rather than swordsmanship, she wouldn’t have experienced selflessness.

“Now, let’s head back to the main sect.”

“Master, I think I’ll stay and continue the mission I was assigned.”

Originally, she had left the sect to make Seo-jin, the younger sibling of the spirit summoner, the leader of the Spirit Guard.

But after coming all the way to the Northern Sea on a woman’s request to save her husband...

“Should I come with you?”

Ian shook her head.

“I want to handle this alone.”

She had drunk a cup of water and made the journey to the Northern Sea—a true martial path.

Whether she succeeded in bringing Seo-jin or not, the feeling was that she would return greatly grown. Even better if she mastered the perfection of Bicheon Sword Technique.

“Be careful when drinking water.”

Ian smiled brightly at Geom Mugeuk’s joke.

At that moment, a Binggung warrior arrived and conveyed the Palace Lord’s words.

“The Palace Lord requests to see both of you.”

Geom Mugeuk could feel Binggung had summoned them because of Ian.

In the palace hall, Binggung was waiting alone.

After exchanging greetings, Binggung asked first what she was curious about.

“Was Chimma satisfied?”

She was curious about Chimma’s reaction to receiving the Binggung Holy Grail.

Geom Mugeuk wanted to vividly convey how delighted Chimma was but considered Chimma’s dignity.

“He was very pleased.”

“That’s a relief. Please, sit.”

Geom Mugeuk and Ian sat, and Binggung served tea.

Ian looked again at the pattern on the teacup.

“You said you felt like you’d seen this pattern somewhere before?”

“Now that I look again, I’m sure I’ve seen it. Definitely sometime before.”

Geom Mugeuk saw it was a picture of two birds flying, very unique.

Binggung looked silently at Ian. Somehow from the first time she saw it, her gaze kept returning to it.

After staring quietly at Ian, Binggung unexpectedly made a request.

“May I check your pulse once? I’ll explain why after.”

Surprised by the unexpected offer, Ian hesitated. For a martial artist to check another’s pulse was like risking one’s life; they never allowed it unless injured or in special circumstances. Although she didn’t think Binggung would harm her, hesitation was natural.

She glanced at Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk said nothing.

If he thought it dangerous, he would have stopped her. So Ian agreed without resistance.

“All right, I agree.”

Ian extended her arm obediently, and Binggung took her pulse.

After briefly examining her blood vessels, Binggung opened her eyes wide. What crossed her face was a passion long kept in her heart.

Geom Mugeuk and Ian felt her unusual emotion.

After calming down with some tea, Binggung spoke quietly, still looking at Ian.

“The pattern painted on this teacup was drawn by my older sister who left Binggung long ago.”

Ian still could not guess the identity of this strange passion Binggung was showing.

“Could I have {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} seen the pattern drawn by your sister before?”

“Maybe. One thing is certain: this pattern is unique in the world. No one else would paint such a pattern on a teacup.”

Binggung’s voice trembled. Even though she remained calm when Binggung was in danger, now she was shaking.

“Before Elder Seo died, he mentioned my sister. That’s when I felt it. The Usurer killed my sister.”

Back then, Seo Nak had been loyal to her. He had exercised a misplaced loyalty to prevent her sister from threatening the position of Palace Lord.

“Before he died, Elder Seo told me that my sister had a daughter. He hinted vaguely to torment me, but it was clear that she had a daughter.”

Only now did Ian understand why she was asked to have her pulse taken, why such a story was being told.

Her heart began to race wildly. She never dreamed she would have such a conversation in Binggung’s palace hall.

The decisive words came from Binggung.

“The women of our family are born with a special blood vein that is well-suited to mastering Binggong Gong.”

From Binggung’s trembling voice, the result was clear.

“You are my niece.”

Ian was so shocked she was stunned. Even after the secret of her birth was revealed, she remained calm.

She didn’t know how to react or what to say.

She had thought her parents abandoned her and had lived that way until now. But her mother was Binggung’s older sister?

She looked at Geom Mugeuk. She really wanted to ask,

Master, I’m the Palace Lord’s blood relative. How should I react now?

Reading her mind, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“How do you feel?”

“Just…”

She tried to say she was dazed, but suddenly her emotions welled up. The image of her mother who died at the hands of villains flashed in her mind. She had thought her parents had abandoned her and had held a lot of resentment.

“I…”

Ian’s voice cracked, unable to continue.

Geom Mugeuk and Binggung waited patiently.

After a long moment, Ian composed herself. Taking a deep breath, she spoke her mind.

“But nothing will change.”

She calmly conveyed her conclusion.

“From now on, I will be the daughter of Kwonma, former bodyguard of the Little Pill Master, and leader of the Spirit Guard. I am satisfied with my life. I do not want to change it.”

Though it was a painful word to Binggung who was becoming an aunt, this was her honest feeling. She couldn’t think of anything else to say first.

Perhaps expecting this reaction, Binggung also was calm.

“All right, do as you wish.”

She felt sorry for Ian. After all, her sister’s tragedy was ultimately her fault.

Fate’s cruel joke? Ian, the victim of succession strife, trusted and followed the person who ended the fight without bloodshed.

“Thank you for growing up so well.”

Binggung was proud of Ian. Truly grateful for her excellent growth.

“I heard you came here to save the husband of a woman who drank a cup of water. I wouldn’t have come, but your sister would have. You really look like your mother.”

Perhaps inevitable fate led her all the way to the Northern Sea.

A fate infused with her sister’s desperate will.

“The gates of Binggung will always be open to you. Come whenever you want.”

“Thank you.”

Binggung wanted to embrace Ian once, but the words never came out.

Feeling awkward and overwhelmed, Ian politely bowed first.

“Then I will take my leave.”

“All right, rest well.”

Neither aunt nor niece could be said easily yet.

When Ian left the palace hall, only Geom Mugeuk and Binggung remained.

“You’ll need more time.”

“Indeed.”

Binggung was very pleased to have found her sister’s daughter. But Geom Mugeuk halted her soaring mood.

“It would be better not to announce this officially.”

“Why not?”

“Because your sister left to avoid succession struggles. If it’s revealed Ian is kin, someone like Elder Seo might appear plotting to exploit that someday. Your niece might end up bearing the same fate.”

“!”

She hadn’t considered that. She was eager to tell everyone after finding her sister’s kin.

“The more I experience, the more amazed I am.”

Since meeting her, Geom Mugeuk had been flawless.

“We will depart at dawn tomorrow.”

“Already?”

There was a tinge of sadness. Feeling regret at the Demon Sect’s Little Pill Master leaving? Before Geom Mugeuk came, that would have been unthinkable.

But now that he restored relations with his daughter, found his niece, and saved Binggung from crisis, it was natural to feel some regret.

“Until we meet again, stay well.”

“May you achieve your great cause.”

Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, but Binggung said behind him,

“When the Post-Heirs gather, invite Seol too.”

She showed determination to send her daughter to the Central Plains. If Geom Mugeuk waited there, she could trust and send her.

Geom Mugeuk smiled broadly and left an enigmatic joke.

“Of course. I’ll have to invite our young palace lord just to see her dance skills.”

Before leaving, Geom Mugeuk stood side by side with Chimma atop the snowy mountain.

“Because you came with me, I was able to do it.”

An honest statement. Alone, he couldn’t have handled this great conspiracy. Though he killed the Blood King, the process was not something to handle alone.

“If I were alone, I wouldn’t have gotten this cup, and I would have come back last every time after leaving the sect.”

He tried to pressure me to come first now, but it didn’t work on Geom Mugeuk.

“I’ll still be last to see you.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s comfortable.”

“Must be because I’m easy to handle!”

“You want to meet everyone first, then relax and drink with me last.”

“Nice excuse.”

Even if I didn’t come last, how could I feel bad toward Geom Mugeuk?

This journey strengthened our bond and made me understand him better.

The two silently enjoyed the magnificent snowy landscape only visible from the summit.

Before descending, they shared a drink each.

The last cup was thrown into the air from the mountaintop.

“Lord, enjoy your drink well!”