When I sent Joo Hyangwol off and went to the backyard, Father was standing there with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky.

As always, Father’s silhouette looked lonely.

That loneliness was innate—something no matter how kindly I behaved beside him could ever erase.

Father, please don’t be so lonely. Here is your son. A son who respects and loves you more than anyone else.

“Joo Sojae, who likes you more than I do, came by. She asked me to give you her regards.”

Father turned toward me. Despite my teasing, he showed no embarrassment—only that confident composure.

“Shall we really have that contest?”

It was as if he’d heard everything I said in the front yard; he didn’t ask what I meant, but instead looked as if he was more than willing.

I imagined traveling freely across the Central Plains with Father—not in a situation where bloodshed was inevitable like now, but just a peaceful trip.

What # Nоvеlight # if we drank with the merchants and ladies? I couldn’t even imagine how Father would act in front of them.

“Father, I’m not asking for grandeur. I just want to have fun like this with you.”

Suddenly, Father asked,

“Why are you so concerned about those around you?”

He meant the matter that united the Joo Sword Clan and Hwangdo Trading Company. It wouldn’t have happened without me.

What should I say?

Is it alright to care that much? Since evil is meticulous, I try to be meticulous too? Or should I blame Father? Since you took care of the agreement, this time it’s your responsibility.

Today, I answered simply:

“Because it’s fun.”

A faint smile touched Father’s lips. Yes, “fun” was probably the most understandable explanation.

Father began walking slowly. Together, we walked along the veranda as I spoke about what lay ahead.

“When news of Jeonnak’s death spreads, someone will come down to investigate. I plan to use him to approach the Geumryong Family.”

Destroying everything outright is not always the answer.

Our goal is to uncover the Geumryong Family’s connection to the hidden power and eliminate the roots planted there.

This time, we will use Jeonnak’s death to find a way to approach them.

“It will be more difficult since we have to handle it without killing.”

Father silently nodded, agreeing with me.

“Moreover, since the opponent is the Geumryong Family, we must be careful. I hear the head of Geumryong is close to the leader of the Martial Alliance. That’s why they donate large sums to the alliance every year.”

A displeased look flickered across Father’s face. He must have heard it like this: “Since he’s close to the Martial Alliance leader, you must be careful.” But the opposite would probably please him more.

“Because he’s close to the Martial Alliance leader, I think we should teach him a proper lesson this time.”

That must be the answer Father desires.

But Father, you won’t hear that answer from me going forward.

“Do you have any plans?”

“It won’t be easy to approach the heart of the Geumryong Family without revealing our identity.”

This time, we had to get close to the head of the Geumryong Family to find out anything. Approaching through the local sect, Seodopa, wouldn’t be easy. And pretending to be a mysterious sect would make them even more wary.

“So I plan to ask for help from one place.”

“Where?”

After a pause, I said a place Father never expected.

“The Eunha Trading Company.”

Surprise flickered in Father’s eyes.

Eunha Trading Company was known as the richest merchant family in the martial world.

Below Eunha were the Geumryong Family and the Daeryuk Trading Company. These three were said to be the wealthiest in the world.

“We’ll let them believe we belong to Eunha.”

Only with that identity could we get close to the core of Geumryong. Of course, some tricks would be necessary along the way.

“Will Eunha help us?”

Eunha was impartial to any major faction. But the three families maintained deep relationships, balancing them successfully to become the top merchant company in the Central Plains.

“That’s beyond my power; Father, please make it happen.”

Father looked bewildered at my request.

But this was not an unreasonable demand.

Before the regression, through my previous life, I knew of the special bond between Eunha’s head and Father.

Yong Jamyeong, Eunha’s head, left words about Father before dying.

When he was young and fleeing an ambush, Father had saved him and given him shelter. Father was young then, traveling the Central Plains with Kwonma.

At the time, Yong Jamyeong didn’t know the person who saved him was Cheonma, because he left quietly after saving him.

Years after Father’s death, Yong Jamyeong learned the truth by chance.

He regretted knowing it too late. He spent his whole life searching for his benefactor, never finding him. How could he have found the leader of the Demon Sect?

Originally, this story would have never been revealed after Yong Jamyeong’s death, but since Father was gone and all major factions had sealed their gates, it became known.

“Father, in this life, let’s let him know a little earlier that it was you who saved him. So he can repay the favor. He spent his life looking for his benefactor.”

We would both gain help from this, and the bond with Father would be completed.

Of course, whether this results in a twofold benefit as I hope is unknown. Fate will decide. In this life, let’s do it this way.

“There’s a saying that Eunha’s information is as fast and accurate as the Tongcheongak of the main sect.”

Of course, that may not be true, but it means their intelligence is impressive.

“They would be watching not only the Martial Alliance or Satan Alliance but also the main sect’s movements. They’d know about the birth of the greatest successor ever.”

“Such arrogance to say that themselves.”

“Not only that. They must know the main sect recently led the Majungsa Conference, so they won’t easily refuse.”

Everyone knew Cheonma Sect was the hottest faction these days. What if Cheonma personally asked?

“One more thing, aren’t Eunha and Geumryong on good terms?”

Although they fiercely competed in the merchant world, surprisingly, the two sides weren’t hostile.

“The only one who can pull this off is Father. Even if the Martial Alliance or Satan Alliance leaders asked, they wouldn’t accept.”

“Then why do you think they’ll accept my request?”

Though it may sound like flattery, that’s all I could say.

“Because you’re Father.”

Father stared at me a moment and finally asked,

“What should I tell them to do?”

I could tell he had decided to follow my plan.

“One person just needs to come briefly.”

Hwangin and Joo Hyangwol met again on the day Geom Mugeuk had arranged, with the agreement between them.

Awkwardness filled the air, but Hwangin was the first to speak.

“I formally apologize for what happened last time.”

He stood and bowed respectfully. Joo Hyangwol sensed his sincerity.

“Why did your mind change?”

Curious about his honest apology and proper agreement.

Hwangin answered frankly.

“Because of Lord Geom.”

Of course, he couldn’t mention the killing of Jeonnak and the Jeongwi, but he was honest about everything else.

“After meeting him, I felt ashamed of living a slovenly life. I said I wanted to become the owner of Cheonhajeil Trading Company, but I was a man unfit even for a small, rural trading company.”

He wanted to be honest, at least with her. Investing in the Joo Sword Clan was a fresh start.

“I want to do things properly from now on. That’s why I asked to meet here, since this was where it all began.”

They met at the very inn where Geom Mugeuk had first appeared.

If it were for any other reason, Joo Hyangwol would have been suspicious of Hwangin. But for this, she believed him.

“You’ve been influenced by him too.”

She herself had changed a little in her relationship with her mother since meeting them. Of course, neither her nor her mother’s nature would change suddenly. They didn’t expect their relationship to change overnight.

But like Geom Mugeuk said, she would trust the power of good words spoken moment by moment. She would not burst out in anger. It’s understandable; she would try to understand.

“Shall we sign then?”

The two signed the agreement together, each keeping a copy. For both Hwangin and Joo Hyangwol, it was their first real accomplishment.

“Let’s work well together from now on.”

“Likewise.”

They bowed politely to each other.

Joo Hyangwol left the inn first; Hwangin remained. Since it was a day of new beginnings, he wanted to drink to the moment.

“Fate really changed here.”

As he drank, a woman sitting a short distance away spoke.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but it sounds like something big happened here.”

She was a woman in her thirties, dressed neatly in martial robes. A beautiful woman radiating youth and maturity, with a somewhat cold impression that made her even more alluring.

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to listen. I’m just curious.”

The woman sat down at Hwangin’s table holding a bottle.

“As an apology, I’ll pour you a drink.”

She poured the drink.

Hwangin froze and said nothing.

“Why so?”

The woman asked with a soft smile. Hwangin quietly replied,

“So you are the martial artist they said was coming.”

The smile vanished from her face the moment she recognized him. Like an actor switching from a friendly expression to a guarded one.

“How did you know?”

She raised her senses and scanned the surroundings but found no threat.

Hwangin’s reason was purely personal.

“No beautiful woman would approach me first like you did.”

He meant it sincerely. She was truly enchanting. Thinking of her as dangerous might be why his heart trembled.

A strange smile played on her lips.

“You know yourself well.”

Despite the insult, she didn’t look displeased.

“I’ve been waiting for you to arrive, martial artist.”

She was Geum Arin, leader of a secret organization covertly nurtured by the Geumryong Family. As beautiful as she was, her martial arts skills were powerful.

Though unseen now, she had brought trusted subordinates to resolve this matter. The deaths of Jeonnak and the Jeongwi were not trivial.

Hwangin never imagined the terrifying person Jeonnak spoke of was a woman. He didn’t yet grasp how fearsome she was. Martial artists were enigmatic like that.

He had thought over dozens of times how to speak when this moment came.

First, he told her the facts as they were.

“There are three enemies.”

He had practiced calling them enemies in advance. It wasn’t because he was still weighing things; it was to survive.

“Among them, Geom Yeon killed Jeonnak and all the Jeongwi.”

He could be honest; he was told to be.

Though he claimed to have killed them alone, the woman didn’t seem very surprised. Did she think she could kill Jeonnak and the Jeongwi by herself? Or did she just not believe him?

“How did he kill them?”

But not everything was told honestly—for example, the fact that he was there. That he was at the scene where they died? What if he was cut down without any chance to explain?

“I don’t know how he killed them. After going to meet him, there was no news. Maybe he’s still alive.”

Geum Arin’s suspicious gaze intensified.

“They died but you did not.”

“Geom Yeon came to me. He told me to convey this if anyone came looking because of this.”

“What did he say?”

“‘I have something to say, so come to me.’ Shall we go? I’ll guide you.”

Hwangin jumped up ready to go, but Geum Arin sat firmly, showing no intention to move.

“They’ll be waiting in a trap. Do I look that foolish?”

“No.”

Her cold presence made Hwangin sit down again, his face fearful.

“They probably haven’t set a trap.”

“Why do you think that?”

Words he could not say to her came to mind.

They don’t need a trap. You just haven’t seen those people yet.

As he wrestled with what to say, Hwangin’s face suddenly brightened.

“He’s here.”

Geom Mugeuk was entering the inn’s entrance.