Geom Woojin was training martial arts alone in the backyard.

Hwi stood outside the wall, listening to the sect leader’s training sounds.

Always by the leader’s side, only he knew. Recently, the leader was training harder than ever before. And the reason was Geom Mugeuk.

The leader’s breathing, footsteps, jumping sounds, sword swings, the sound of qi being released and withdrawn.

These were sounds Hwi had heard for many years. He had never seen the leader’s training directly. Though the leader said it was okay to watch, Hwi had never seen the training and only listened to the sounds.

From the sounds alone, Hwi could tell. Or perhaps because he only heard the sounds, he could understand better.

The leader’s realm had changed. The leader had thought there was nowhere higher to reach, but could there be another realm?

The leader’s sounds had clearly changed.

When the training ended, someone came to the manor.

When Hwi went out, it was Huang In who had come before.

“What brings you here?”

Huang In said to Hwi with a frightened face.

“May I speak directly to the sect leader?”

Hwi took him to the backyard.

“The master of the Huang Trade Guild has come.”

Geom Woojin’s voice was heard beyond the wall.

“Let him in.”

Huang In recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said on the way.

Don’t make eye contact, be polite.

“I pay my respects to the sect leader.”

After greeting politely, he bowed his head and said.

“Your son has been captured. By someone who came down to investigate this matter. The sect leader said he would cook, but the son would not listen, so the leader said he would cook himself. No, not that…”

As Huang In rambled, Hwi asked.

“Where is the place?”

“About ten ri west from the market, there is an old manor.”

Originally this was what Geum Arin was told to relay before coming here. Then Geom Mugeuk interjected.

―Wouldn’t it be confusing if you just say that? You must specify from which part of the market the ten ri are measured, if there are forks on the way, or if there is another similar manor nearby.

―You said your father won’t come?

Geom Mugeuk looked pained at Geum Arin’s words.

―He is a very heartless person.

Huang In understood. Geom Mugeuk was secretly hoping his father would come.

‘But your feeling was right.’

As Geom Mugeuk said, Geom Woojin showed not a trace of concern or interest.

“I told him to come there. Alone.”

Hwi said as if that was enough.

“Understood. You may leave now.”

Huang In stopped after turning his back. He thought that only by taking Geom Woojin would Geom Mugeuk survive. Geom Mugeuk must live for him to live.

“Your son’s internal power is subdued.”

Still it was no use.

“I told him many times to explain the manor’s location carefully so he wouldn’t get lost. I was really earnest and desperate!”

Even his earnestness with exaggeration was no use.

Still the cold response, Huang In bowed and left.

“Then I will be going.”

Hwi knew the sect leader better than anyone. The Little Pill Master was not the type to come personally for a situation he could handle himself.

But Geom Woojin showed Hwi once more that his change was more than just the sounds of his training.

At that moment, Geom Woojin asked Huang In, who was walking away.

“Did you finish shopping?”

At the unexpected question, Huang In was momentarily confused but quickly answered.

“Yes! Even with internal power subdued, he shopped with both hands full. Vegetables, meat, even fruits for dessert.”

Remembering that, Geom Woojin smiled faintly.

“Lead the way!”

In truth, Hwi was even more surprised than Huang In.

Silently following Geom Woojin, Hwi sensed his guarding would become harder.

If the leader changes, he must change too to protect him.

Still, this change seemed welcome to Hwi. Even on his lips was a rare smile as precious as the leader’s.

The meeting place was an old manor in a sparsely populated area.

Geum Arin immediately planted ambushes all around the manor after returning.

These were people brought along this time. Not many, but experts skilled in ambushes.

They hid everywhere. On trees, roofs, behind buildings. Being very experienced, they found their spots on their own.

Even if their ambush was stopped, they could not prevent her own attack in the gap. The opponents would not leave this place alive.

Whether aware or not of this grave situation, Geom Mugeuk came out from the kitchen preparing tableware.

‘Cooking now in this situation?’

Breaking expectations as he did with shopping, Geom Mugeuk prepared to cook despite the heavy ambush.

He lit a fire in the yard, brought out dishes and tableware, and washed them in clean water.

Then skillfully started preparing ingredients. Geum Arin watched with curiosity how far he would go.

Peeling an onion, Geom Mugeuk said.

“Every time I cook, it feels like I am learning martial arts. Lighting fire, washing dishes, studying what ingredients to use, adding this seasoning, that ingredient, trying it out. When the optimal recipe comes out, repeating it. How is it? Isn’t it similar to our martial arts?”

“If you say so, everything can be similar, right?”

With a cold response, Geum Mugeuk laughed and admitted.

“That is true. Playing instruments, painting, going out to work every day, they all resemble each other.”

Then Geom Mugeuk closed his eyes as the onion’s pungency hit. Seeing tears fall, Geum Arin thought at least one thing was certain.

‘A martial artist crying while peeling onions? This is a first.’

Most martial artists are like that onion. People who are hard to read.

Hiding the outside or hiding the inside.

Weak but pretending strong, or strong but pretending weak.

But this person was a new type. Neither weak nor strong.

So it was impossible to decide. That was why she was watching this ridiculous behavior beyond her logic.

“To be honest, I cook better than my father. So you are eating better dishes thanks to me.”

At that moment.

Unintentionally, Geum Arin’s gaze turned backward.

Not only hers, but the eyes of those in ambush naturally turned toward the gate she was looking at.

Since when had he been there? A man stood outside the wide-open gate, hands behind his back.

It was Geom Woojin.

A sudden silence flowed.

Geum Arin’s heartbeat became so loud it was almost audible to her ears.

The man had neither revealed any qi nor glared coldly, yet her whole body stiffened as if frozen.

Why was this happening? The man had done nothing.

Those hiding also focused all their eyes on the man standing with hands behind his back, his presence making everyone tense and drawn in.

The silence broken was Geom Mugeuk.

“Father! You came to save your son! I knew you were not a heartless father who abandons his child!”

Geom Woojin’s lips formed a sneer. This sneer was directed at his son. You? You’re here to save those who have been playing with you.

Geom Woojin slowly walked inside. Huang In cautiously followed.

When Geom Woojin entered the yard, someone appeared between Geom Woojin and Geum Arin.

A white-haired masked man was Lim Hyuk, the bodyguard who had protected Geum Arin since childhood.

“Please go ahead, miss.”

Lim Hyuk had lived a long life as a martial artist and experienced many others. This was the first time he felt such primal danger. The fact that the opponent revealed no qi was even more surprising.

Shhh!

A hidden dagger flew toward Geom Woojin. Normally, he should have shouted “Strike harder!” but—

Clang!

The one who leapt and struck down the daggers was surprisingly Lim Hyuk. The second and third daggers thrown were also intercepted by his body.

“Stop the attack! Enough!”

He stopped the ambush. He had realized these attacks would not work. His instinctive judgment was not to provoke the opponent’s anger.

‘If we provoke him, we will be wiped out!’

His white hair symbolized his experience and wisdom, which his excellent judgment proved.

“All, retreat!”

Those in ambush withdrew at Lim Hyuk’s command.

Geum Arin moved swiftly. Not because she heard his words, but on her own will.

She brought her sword to Geom Mugeuk’s neck from behind. A message that if Lim Hyuk was disturbed, she would kill Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk said to her.

“There must have been a reason you are still alive.”

Meaning Lim Hyuk had protected her well.

At the tense moment.

“Put the sword away.”

Geom Woojin’s low voice carried an absolute authority that dared no one defy.

Lim Hyuk’s judgment was good to the end.

Without hesitation, he sheathed his sword. Sometimes sheathing a sword is the way to protect someone.

Then he looked at Geum Arin. His eyes said to obey.

Geum Arin retrieved her sword but did not move away from Geom Mugeuk.

As if nothing had happened, Geom Mugeuk said to his father.

“Today, I will cook for you.”

“Did you buy enough?”

“Yes, I bought plenty just in case.”

The phrase “just in case” implied he expected his father might come. He hoped so.

At that moment.

Geom Woojin rolled up his sleeves and approached Geom Mugeuk.

Then quietly started trimming vegetables. He wanted to help his son cook.

Geom Mugeuk looked at his father with surprise but then quietly focused on cooking.

He was too surprised and moved to joke.

Cooking with his father.

It was the first time since his regression. He had many things he wanted to do with his father but never expected to cook together.

It was even more moving because it was not his moment, but his father’s.

‘Thank you, father.’

Geum Arin watched with a frozen expression.

Lim Hyuk stepping forward like this meant he sensed a strength in the opponent that she had not noticed.

‘Who exactly are these people?’

There was no rumor of such a powerful family in the martial world.

―Do not act rashly.

Lim Hyuk’s telepathic warning came. It was the first time Lim Hyuk looked so afraid and tense. She herself had never felt such danger.

Soon, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin finished cooking.

Geom Mugeuk called Hwi one last time.

“Uncle.”

Then Hwi appeared from concealment between Lim Hyuk and Geom Woojin.

“Gasp!”

Lim Hyuk screamed once. Geum Arin had never seen Lim Hyuk so surprised at someone’s appearance.

It was not that he recognized Hwi but that he was shocked by the level of invisibility.

Lim Hyuk did not know Hwi had concealed himself only a few steps away.

Others might just think ‘he is amazing,’ but she alone knew how incredible that one step of concealment was.

The greater the expert, the greater the surprise. That was how perfect Hwi’s concealment was.

The surprise did not end there. The presence of a master emanated from Hwi’s figure. The opponent was definitely a guard martial artist. Guards recognize guards.

‘I have never seen such a strong guard martial artist in my life.’

Who exactly did he protect?

The skill matched the presence of the man who appeared earlier.

His gaze naturally turned to Geom Woojin.

This was certain. Even if no one knew who the man was, anyone who heard the name would know him.

Then Hwi looked at Lim Hyuk. Among guards who had sworn loyalty and devotion for a long time, there is understanding. What kind of guard, what kind of life the opponent lived.

That was why Hwi sent such a telepathic message.

―You want to protect your master? Then stop. Stop thinking and acting. And shut your mouth.

Lim Hyuk understood it was advice to entrust everything to this side. It was not advice given to just anyone.

They all sat around the table. Hwi, Lim Hyuk, and even Huang In sat down.

“Now, let’s eat.”

Geom Woojin ate the food.

“How does it taste?”

Geom Mugeuk nervously asked. He was the main cook today and his father only helped. The Little Pill Master cooking, the Heavenly Demon assisting. Truly a day unforgettable in Demonic Sect history and their personal histories.

“Not bad.”

That was praise like “this is a delicacy” coming from the father.

This time he asked Geum Arin.

“Why don’t you eat? Hurry and eat. The food my father and I made is not easy to taste in a lifetime.”

Geum Arin had not yet picked up chopsticks.

She was confused. The situation ended before she could do anything. The situation was out of her control. She was definitely someone who knew restraint in such times, but now…

“What the hell is this?”

She sighed without realizing.

Lim Hyuk said with his eyes. You must endure. Of course, she trusted Lim Hyuk’s judgment.

Though she could endure drawn swords, this question was unbearable.

“What are you?”

She had asked many times and thought about it but still had no answer.

Then Geom Mugeuk looked at her with clear and deep eyes.

“I happened to help someone forced into an unfair contract. The one who forced it tried to kill us when things went wrong. So I killed him. Why come here seeking revenge for some big shot killed?”

His calm and composed tone contrasted with all the nonsense before. His words hit her heavily.

“Why ask who we are? Now is the time to ask yourself who you are. Are you someone who deserves to die like those who died? Or are you someone worth living?”

“!”

Geum Arin could not answer.

Anger welled up inside her but she could not show it. Another feeling, mixed with anger that held it back from bursting out, was fear.

Now Geom Mugeuk was asking.

Are you a person worth living?

A heavy silence fell. Only the sound of chewing food could be heard.

Pouring water, moving chopsticks.

Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin ate naturally as usual. Hwi and Huang In were cautious. Geum Arin and Lim Hyuk barely ate.

At that moment, a sound came from afar.

It ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ grew louder.

Dududududu.

The sound of a carriage running.

The manor was remote and no one was expected to come.

Yet like fate, the carriage arrived at the gate.