A faint thunderclap echoed through the dry sky.

The person who opened her eyes wide while staring at the fist she had just thrown was Cheon Sohee.

“Did you hear that?”

When Kwonma, standing in front of her, nodded, Cheon Sohee shouted with excitement.

“Master! Your disciple did it!”

At last, thunder sounded from her fist.

She had become Kwonma’s second disciple after Geom Mugeuk and had been selected as the next Kwonma.

Since that day, she had been steadily training the Lightning Sura Fist she learned from Kwonma, and today was the first time she produced thunder.

Knowing better than anyone how hard Cheon Sohee had worked, Kwonma smiled—a rare, precious smile seldom seen.

“This is just the beginning.”

“Yes, Master.”

She was so happy she felt like flying.

She knew there were whispers and gossip behind her back—unavoidable jealousy and envy.

Especially, the fact that a woman had been chosen as the next Kwonma was causing concern.

The reigning Kwonma was known for his terrifying face, large physique, and above all, his huge fists—symbols of the Kwonma.

She understood that. Instead, she would clearly show them what this small fist could smash. She would prove it with her skill.

At that moment, someone spoke from behind.

“Congratulations, sister.”

Startled, she turned and saw Geom Mugeuk entering the training ground.

“Senior brother! You’re back!”

She, who had been absorbed in training lately, had not even noticed Geom Mugeuk’s return.

Geom Mugeuk smiled at her and respectfully greeted Kwonma.

“Master, I have returned from the Northern Sea journey.”

“Well done on your trip.”

Kwonma welcomed him unchanged—still terrifying in expression, and his muscular body shining even more.

“There were conspiracies brewing on the Binggung side too. They all got drunk and collapsed in the end.”

“I heard that too. Chimma had a hard time.”

It seemed they had been talking about Father and the situation in the Northern Sea.

Master, do you know what Father is thinking?

Long ago, in his youth, when Father passionately told Hyeolchundo-ma about his dreams, now he must be telling Kwonma about those same things.

After exchanging greetings with Kwonma, Geom Mugeuk took care of Cheon Sohee.

“Already making thunder sounds? Impressive.”

“That’s thanks to your excellent guidance, Master.”

“I’ll treat you to a celebration drink soon.”

“Yes, senior brother.”

Cheon Sohee was very respectful to Geom Mugeuk—not only as her senior brother but also because he was the precious next Cheonma.

But there was an even greater reason.

She became the next Kwonma thanks to Geom Mugeuk. Her fate changed during the late-night training sessions with him.

Geom Mugeuk, who was walking ahead, turned back to her.

“Sister, you will become a truly magnificent Kwonma.”

In her heart, Cheon Sohee no longer called him senior brother, nor did she call him Little Pill Master.

“Master, from now on, I will serve you with all my loyalty.”

The place Kwonma and I came to was the cliff inside Dongkwon Gate.

Kwonma’s dream was to bring down this cliff with a single strike. How much had that dream grown?

I stood beside Kwonma, looking up at the cliff. It was still overwhelming. And the cliff resembled Kwonma who was looking up at it.

Could this cliff really be destroyed?

Could I really persuade this Kwonma?

After staring up for a long time, I began with words to gently soften his heart.

“Ian has gone on a mission.”

“I know.”

“How do you know?”

“She sent me a letter.”

That guy surely is taking good care of Father.

“Then you must have heard the news about finding the family in the Northern Sea.”

Kwonma silently nodded. Instead of asking if he was surprised by the news, I said this.

“Binggung was very shocked by Ian’s identity. The nephew she found had become your adopted daughter.”

The one who should be surprised is not here but over there. I said this to elevate Kwonma above Binggung.

“Did you reply?”

Surprisingly, Kwonma nodded. Adding “of course.”

I imagined Kwonma holding a tiny brush in his huge hand, writing a reply. Since he rarely writes letters, I wondered what he struggled to say.

At that moment, he was probably a father worrying and longing for his daughter.

“I heard that if you hadn’t gone to the Northern Sea this time, An Yi would have been in danger.”

“I’d like to say she would have handled it well even without me. But probably, she would have been in danger.”

Kwonma’s eyes softened a little. Now he was not just a disciple or Little Pill Master, but a disciple and Little Pill Master who had saved his daughter from danger.

This was the chance.

“Master. May I ask a difficult question?”

He surely never imagined he would be asked such a question.

“Do you prefer Father? Or me?”

Kwonma looked at me with a bewildered expression.

“That’s too hard, isn’t it?”

“No, I’m surprised because it’s too easy a question.”

Kwonma looked up at the cliff again, and I stared at him.

Could I find out Father’s will from him, whose loyalty was higher and firmer than this cliff?

If I had the Cruel Little Demon, Father had Kwonma.

If I could make Kwonma my ally, stopping Father’s dream of unifying the martial world would be much easier.

But knocking down this cliff before me felt harder than knocking down that big cliff.

“Father has become strange.”

“The Master?”

“He met separately with the Cruel Little Demon and had a contest with Chimma.”

Whether he was feigning ignorance or truly thought so, Kwonma bluntly asked me.

“What’s strange about the Master meeting the Demon Lord?”

“If he did it regularly, it wouldn’t be strange.”

Kwonma’s gaze, which had been fixed on the cliff, turned toward me.

“What do you want to say?”

“I want to know Father’s plan.”

“If you’re curious, ask the Master directly.”

That was a bad answer. Father had openly decided on the contest with Chimma while I was present. He must have known that I would hear about meeting the Cruel Little Demon separately.

When I first returned and stood on the martial stage, Father knew I was poisoned by Mountain Poison. Yet he didn’t intervene, just watched how I would overcome it.

Even now, Father is watching me. It’s like playing Go. I played this move. Now, what will you do?

I want to show Father that more than half of the Demon Lords oppose war.

Whether or not Father’s recent care for the Cruel Little Demon and Chimma was because of that doesn’t matter.

As long as Father has the ambition of martial world unification, this is something that must be faced eventually.

“If you could get an answer just by asking, you wouldn’t hesitate. You know well what kind of person Father is.”

Even Kwonma didn’t deny that.

“Honestly, as soon as I returned, I was surprised. Why suddenly manage Demon Lords when he hadn’t before? Could it be that he’s starting to move for martial unification?”

Though the words ‘martial unification’ were mentioned, Kwonma didn’t waver at all.

“Do you know? Your Master is strange too. Too calm. As if he knows everything. Please tell me what you know.”

Kwonma’s lips were heavy. To make him speak, I frankly explained my situation.

“Just in case I’m right, I’m trying to make Demon Lords my allies. So far, I have met three. One is on my side, one is on Father’s side, and one hasn’t decided yet.”

What caught Kwonma’s attention was the undecided vote.

“Who is the undecided Demon Lord?”

“Elder Doma.”

Kwonma showed a moment of surprise, then nodded as if understanding.

“Doma really cares for you. Given his personality, he’s probably hesitating to decide.”

That’s right. For him, it’s either this or that; he can’t stand indecision.

But Doma is conflicted. Enduring the view that he lacks backbone, only for me.

“Master is obviously on my side, right? If not for me, whose side would you take?”

“You have two disciples and one Master.”

“I’m both disciple and Little Pill Master.”

“Sohui will take your side later.”

I knew a few words wouldn’t change his mind.

So I asked directly. Kwonma wasn’t one to beat around the bush.

“If Father starts a war, will you obey that order?”

Kwonma’s eyes shone fiercely.

“If it’s an order from the Master, of course I must obey.”

I stared at that terrifying face and said.

“Therefore, you must oppose it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because Father won’t be able to ignore your words.”

I knew this would burden Kwonma. As a Demon Lord, I was forcing my will on him.

But, like the Cruel Little Demon said, I was shouting toward the Demon Lords to join my path. Yes, I believed. My attack would split into eight.

“War must never happen, Master.”

Kwonma silently stared at me, then began to take off his upper garment.

“Let’s train after a long time.”

“You want to fight this war with me?”

Even at my joke, Kwonma didn’t stop undressing.

His upper body was revealed.

Kwonma’s body was perfect as always. His large, thick muscles forged by harsh training showed no dullness. His body shone like a diamond.

A scar ran across Kwonma’s chest. I had heard why he got it before. It was from fighting in an underground arena before joining the main sect.

He had gotten the scar because he refused to take part in rigged fights forced by the Black Path gang. Though he felt ashamed of the scar now, left by those he could beat with a finger, I told him it looked cool.

At first, I only thought that way, but seeing it again today, that scar looked like a symbol of who Kwonma was. A man who does not fear death.

I also took off my shirt and stepped forward.

“Ah! When will I ever be like your body, Master?”

“If you could change, would you swap bodies with me?”

“...”

Kwonma’s tightly clenched fist quietly thundered.

“I’ll confess in advance. Recently, I’ve neglected Kwon Fist training because I focused on Nine Flames Martial Arts.”

I felt sorry for Kwonma, since that training had been pushed aside every time. But he understood my situation well.

“No rush. Master Nine Flames Martial Arts first, then you can learn Kwon Fist later.”

I thought he’d propose a sparring match, but Kwonma gave his usual teaching.

We stood side by side and began to unleash the Lightning Sura Fist. Putting aside war discussions, we immersed ourselves in training.

Kwonma’s fist tore through the air. I performed the same moves as him.

When I unleashed the First Fist, Black Cloud Sura, our thunderclaps exploded simultaneously.

The Second Fist, Lightning Sura, tore the air so fast it was invisible; Thunder Strike fell heavily. Iron Bone Fist was flashy, and Diamond Fist solid.

We moved as one, like body and shadow.

But the meaning behind the moves was completely different. If Kwonma was the deep sea, I was still just a river.

The final sixth move, the Thunderbolt Lightning Sura from Yeomwang, ended the session.

I had sweated like rain all over. Training shirtless with Kwonma was hotter than any other training.

“The power behind your fist has changed.”

Though I used the same strength as before, he noticed my internal energy had increased.

It’s hard to notice my level changes in mastering Banbak Gwijin now, but the power contained in this fist could not be hidden from him no matter how I tried.

“As a reward for this, Binggung gave you the Mangukbingjeong.”

Kwonma looked at me surprised. He knew what must be done to take Mangukbingjeong.

“I was lucky to take it along with Mannaenyeolhwa.”

His expression asked silently how I could take both with just luck.

“Can you cause cold energy with your internal power?”

The energy of Mannaenyeolhwa was flowing through all my blood vessels and organs.

“Yes, I can.”

“Then try to perform Lightning Sura Fist with the coldest energy possible.”

I unfolded the Lightning Sura Fist alone again. Filled my internal power with cold energy as Kwonma ordered.

The feeling was completely different from before. Though the internal power was the same, its force was stronger.

“Lightning Sura Fist is originally made to shine when the internal power is at the extreme. I think you gaining Mannaenyeolhwa and Mangukbingjeong means you have a deep connection to Lightning Sura Fist. So don’t neglect it and make sure to achieve great success.”

“I will remember, Master.”

Kwonma taught me further about Lightning Sura Fist. Different from the lessons on Seolsan before—contents I skipped then because they weren’t needed, and new realizations he gained since.

Kwonma truly taught generously. When someone becomes a master, they truly become a master; when someone becomes a father, they truly become a father. This is who Kwonma is. He is Father’s Demon Lord.

When Kwonma’s teaching ended, I bowed deeply.

“Master gives such great teachings, yet I have been disrespectful.”

Kwonma lifted me up. In his blunt eyes flashed memories of long ago.

“Do you know how I met the Master?”

When I was about to be killed by the Black Path thugs in the underground arena, Father saved him. Kwonma followed Father to the main sect and joined Dongkwon Gate. When he became Black Fist there, Father visited again. The words Father said then were this:

—I will become the Cheonma; you become my Kwonma.

That day, Kwonma became Father’s man.

That day, Kwonma became Father’s man.

“I died long ago. The life I live now is the one the Master gave me as a bonus.”

Kwonma’s eyes deepened as he looked at me.

“I respect your Madou.”

His intense eyes held sincerity.

But that respect did not change his heart toward Father.

“But I will follow the Master’s Madou.”