“More than saying ‘You did well,’ show some pride.”

Father began preparing the fish.

With skilled hands, he removed the entrails and scaled the fish. From a little distance away, Hui watched nervously.

“I’ll do it, Master.”

“It’s fine.”

At that moment, I couldn’t help but interrupt.

“No matter how loyal the uncle pulling to stretch the fish is, he can’t beat my fishing skills.”

I had won the big-fish fishing contest against Father.

“That’s the natural result. Just because you’re holding a wooden sword doesn’t mean you can’t kill someone with a real sword, right?”

Father glanced at Hui.

His expression said, Can’t you do something about his mouth? Hui gave an awkward smile.

Father was serious about cooking.

As proof, he reached toward the carriage again.

“What now?”

Then the box opened, and something flew out—several small bottles. Surprisingly, they were seasoning bottles.

I was moved again. Father had even brought seasoning for cooking on this trip.

The dishes he made that way were truly excellent.

“It’s delicious. Honestly, to my taste, better than what the chefs make.”

Pride shone on Father’s face. Somehow, he seemed happier with compliments on his cooking than on his martial arts.

That night, we camped.

We lit a campfire and lay down, but I couldn’t skip this prank.

Unlike the first night, I set up my sleeping spot far away from Father.

Father glanced at me.

“You said you’d endure sleeping despite the fish smell, didn’t you?”

“Did I?”

“If your nose disappears, maybe the smell will be less.”

Father found the dagger he’d used to clean fish and held it.

When Father turned toward me, I had already moved my sleeping spot right beside him and lay down.

“Not sleeping?”

Father smiled faintly. In that fleeting smile, I felt he was enjoying this.

He lay down next to me. Our distance was much closer than when we went hunting.

“Honestly, there’s no smell at all.”

“I know.”

Like he was blowing away alcohol fumes, Father emitted energy to banish the fishy smell into the air.

I lay there, turning my head to look at Father. He silently gazed at the night sky. What was he thinking now?

What else would he be thinking? Revenge.

“Let’s try one more round of night fishing.”

I laughed loudly. Father would never hold a grudge if he lost in martial arts, but fishing was different.

“Are you serious?”

“This time, let’s catch a lot. But change the fishing rods. That old Donghae fisherman has annoyed me since then.”

That was Father. Not looking for better conditions because he lost, but willing to accept disadvantage just to fight again after losing. I really liked that about him.

“All right.”

We got up and grabbed the rods. Father took the one I made; I took Donghae’s rod. It was light but fit perfectly in the hand—true quality.

“Uncle Hui, I’m sorry to be a bother, but tomorrow morning, fish dishes from Father again!”

Next morning, Father was cleaning fish.

Night fishing was also my victory. I caught fish exactly as I cast. So many that I released all but enough for eating.

“The fishing rod in my hand, Donghae’s, is like the Cheonma Sword in Father’s hand.”

I teased him on purpose. If I didn’t tease, Father’s pride might have really been hurt.

“I know you let me win on purpose. If you left cooking to me, you’d have to eat a terrible breakfast, right?”

Father’s dagger paused mid-clean. Hui shook his head from afar, signaling me to stop. If that dagger flew at me, it wouldn’t carry only the fish smell.

I fell silent. Father’s dagger resumed moving.

“Today, we grill.”

I said loudly.

“I’ll light the fire.”

So we had grilled fish, cooked by Father himself, for breakfast.

One might say grilled fish is grilled fish, but if you haven’t tried fish grilled by Cheonma, don’t say that. Father’s fish-grilling skills were top-notch.

As we finished eating, our eyes turned toward a spot.

We sensed someone approaching.

When Hui stood to greet, Father stopped him.

“Stay put.”

Father had already assessed an invisible opponent.

Soon, someone appeared.

A man limping nearly collapsed.

“Water, please.”

Seeing us, his tension relaxed, and he sank to the ground. Meeting three warriors in a remote place should have made him more nervous, but he was too out of it.

I gave him water. His clothes were torn and dirty from wandering the mountains. His injured ankle was swollen.

“How long have you been starving?”

“Three days? Four? I’m not sure.”

I shared rice and leftover fish with him.

“Chew carefully.”

“Thank you.”

Hungry, he ate without hesitation.

After eating, I checked his body. Father silently watched me.

“You hurt your leg.”

The man told me, “I twisted it in the mountains.”

“That leg will make it hard to reach the village. Let me take a look.”

Fortunately, no bones were broken. I treated the sprained ankle and splinted it with a branch. His expression relaxed along with my skill.

“Thank you, really thank you.”

Only then did he breathe easier, freed from the fear of dying.

“How did you get lost?”

“I was searching for medicinal herbs.”

He didn’t look like a herbalist at all.

“Is anyone sick in your family?”

“No.”

His story was something I hadn’t expected.

The man’s name was Im Gye (林系). He ran a school teaching children in the village.

“My father worked as a warrior in Cheonma Sect but retired this year.”

This place, not far from the main branch, was Cheonma Sect territory.

His father had never learned proper martial arts and spent his life as a low-ranking warrior before retiring.

And this year was his father’s 60th birthday.

Im Gye wanted to invite the branch leader (Jidanjoo) to the birthday party to make his father happy. He thought his father would be truly glad if the branch leader came to congratulate him.

“But they said it costs fifty nyang to invite the branch leader.”

“Who said that?”

“There’s someone in the village connected to the branch leader. They said even inviting a renowned guest costs money, depending on their status and how long they stay. The branch leader would come briefly to congratulate, but it costs fifty nyang.”

I glanced at Father and asked,

“How much do you charge?”

Father smirked at my teasing question.

Would the branch leader move for a hundred thousand nyang? A million? Ten million? No, he wouldn’t.

In that sense, this trip’s cost in money was beyond imagination.

“Even if you paid that money, the branch leader wouldn’t come.”

Im Gye asked in surprise,

“What do you mean?”

“If it’s revealed a high-ranking sect official moved privately for money, they’d be fired and maybe imprisoned. So they wouldn’t move for fifty nyang.”

“Oh, I see. I’ve only studied books all my life, so I’m ignorant of the world.”

He bowed his head. Seeing him believe me immediately, I wondered if he really knew who he was trusting.

“That person would pocket the fifty nyang and later say they suddenly had an important appointment with the branch leader. What would you do? Confront them? Would they return the money?”

There were many who exploited naïve people like him.

“If I’m kind, others must be kind too, right? But reality isn’t like that.”

Im Gye sighed deeply.

“My father lived hard all his life for his family. I wanted to do something for him, but time passes, and it’s not easy.”

“Then why risk inviting the branch leader? Even if he came, it wouldn’t be a sincere celebration.”

“That’s right. The branch leader probably doesn’t even know my father’s name.”

That’s reality. There are hundreds of warriors in the branch; how would a low-ranking one be known?

“But why?”

“My father used to say when drinking, ‘Though I live as a low-ranking warrior, though low-ranking, though my role is small.’”

I sensed the sadness of a man who never got to boast in front of his children despite wanting to.

“So I wanted someone important to come and let him brag once. In front of family, relatives, and villagers. I thought that was the way for him rather than just saying ‘You did well.’”

How could I not understand his feelings?

In wanting to do something for his father, he and I were not so different on this trip.

“I heard ginseng that’s a hundred years old sells for over a hundred nyang. Even knowing such a precious thing wouldn’t catch my eye, I couldn’t just stay home.”

Tears gathered in his eyes.

“I’ll be going now. Today is my father’s birthday, and if I hadn’t met precious people, I might not have been able to attend. You’re my lifelong benefactors. Thank you so much.”

He bowed repeatedly and left our place.

Im Gye fortunately returned home on time.

“Brother! What happened?”

He had said he’d be gone a few days, but his sister had worried about his unusual behavior.

“I’m sorry. Things turned out this way.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How’s the birthday preparation?”

“Aunts came to help.”

Father, Im Hak (林壑), spoke gruffly to him.

“You’re back, that’s enough.”

I didn’t know before, but with age, I felt Father’s heart — his worry and relief.

Maybe wandering the mountains for days was not for Father but for myself. To calm my mind. To show I’d tried.

Family and relatives gathered; villagers were invited too.

But Father did not invite the branch people. He said it would only trouble his old comrades.

I sensed Father’s worry. Who would care about a low-ranking warrior’s 60th birthday? If no one came, enduring that shame before his children would be hard.

And when many gather, there’s always someone like this.

“No one from the sect came?”

He was a military officer in the village but now that Father left the sect, his attitude changed.

“They didn’t call them on purpose. Busy with work, wouldn’t want to bother them.”

“They were invited but didn’t come?”

He wasn’t malicious toward Father but habitually negative. You know those people who make things unpleasant even when saying the same words.

Still, today I had to endure it. He was a military officer who truly learned martial arts.

“Just joking, just joking. Why so serious? Getting old makes people timid.”

He ended with an unpleasant tone.

Right then—

The door opened, and a group of guests arrived. Warriors with swords flooded in, and the room went silent.

Im Hak was shocked.

“Branch leader!”

Surprisingly, the branch leader and comrades came to visit. Im Gye and villagers were stunned.

“Im Warrior, I heard it’s your 60th. We came to congratulate.”

Im Hak was too surprised and embarrassed to react.

Younger colleagues came to congratulate him, some close, others less so.

“Please sit here.”

“No, today you’re the guest of honor; sit in the main seat.”

The branch leader was courteous. Wondering how he knew and why he was so polite, yet I felt great joy.

In front of his children and villagers. The previously loud military officer watched, now intimidated.

“If you have any problems, contact me anytime.”

“Thank you, Branch Leader.”

Im Hak was happy but confused by the situation.

He’d worked under many branch leaders but never had private talks. This leader likely didn’t know his name.

The secret was now revealed. The branch leader cautiously said,

“How did you know? You sent this.”

He carefully took out a small box from his chest.

Im Hak’s hand trembled. Im Gye tensed too. What could be inside?

“Here, take and open it.”

Hesitantly, Im Hak opened the box.

Inside was a hundred-year-old ginseng.

“To give such a precious gift!”

Im Hak’s hands shook. Im Gye and villagers came closer to see the ginseng.

But what ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) surprised Im Hak was yet to come.

“This is not my gift.”

Upon hearing this, Im Hak unfolded a letter from the box.

His eyes widened. Im Gye saw Father’s surprised expression for the first time. He checked the letter and screamed. Villagers were terrified.

Im Hak put down the box and bowed deeply. Im Gye bowed with him.

Tears rolled down the wrinkles on Im Hak’s hands. He had struggled his whole life since joining the sect at seventeen.

He had lived enduring pain, suffering to feed his children. He had faced death many times.

And the short message on the note washed away all his past hardship.

[To you who devoted yourself to the main sect, I sincerely thank you.

Cheonma Sect Leader, Geom Woojin.]