As Geom Muguk returned after meeting with the Illhwa Sword Sovereign, he found Blood Heaven Butcher waiting in the familiar spot where he had always waited.

“What did the fox say?”

Blood Heaven Butcher was tense because of the Illhwa Sword Sovereign.

“She told me to sever ties with you, sir.”

“Just as I thought! What did I tell you? I said it would happen, right? Did she give a reason?”

“She said that Blood Heaven Butcher and I are different, and that you are too free-spirited…”

“Bullshit.”

A cold, dark energy surged from his body.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“Of course, I’ll side with whoever offers the better conditions.”

“What?”

I deliberately provoked Blood Heaven Butcher.

“When you can weigh your options, you should. Wouldn’t you do the same, if it were you, sir?”

Blood Heaven Butcher couldn’t get angry. He would’ve done the same in his position.

“Right now, you’re still in a stronger position. You think anyone could offer something better than the Heavenly Demon Order?”

“Maybe they could. If it destroys me, they'd do anything.”

“Then why did your relationship with Illhwa Sword Sovereign turn sour?”

After a brief silence, Blood Heaven Butcher spoke.

“Is there ever a reason for disliking someone?”

I knew the reason.

Both were people who couldn’t trust anyone, for different reasons. If they were villains, they were villains with a thirst for power. And, if you ask me, that was what made them pitiful.

“Would you like a drink? If we return as we are, you’ll just be left feeling uneasy and bitter.”

“Do you think I’m some kind of fool?”

“Coldness? I don’t think it’s a virtue. When you’re upset, you should be upset. When you’re angry, you should vent. Come, let’s go. I’ll buy you a drink today.”

After a brief hesitation, Blood Heaven Butcher quickly said,

“I’ll wait for you at Magok Village.”

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the distance.

An old man with a temper, for sure.

But, despite that, he was clearly different from the first time he came to me, poking me in the ribs.

Blood Heaven Butcher was waiting for me in front of the “Fungyu Tavern” run by Jo Chunbae.

“I thought you’d be at the Giru.”

“I don’t like places with women around.”

“Surprising, isn’t it?”

“Surprising? Why? Do I look like someone who chases after women?”

“No, it’s not that. I just thought your late brother liked the Giru.”

“Don’t ruin my mood. Forget about that guy.”

“Okay.”

I had mentioned it on purpose. To make sure the wound in his heart wouldn’t fester. Though, I didn’t think it was necessary for Blood Heaven Butcher.

We sat down at the tavern.

“Why did you pick this tavern of all places?”

“I saw the Yellow Spring Division set up a branch across the street.”

It seemed he stopped here after seeing that.

“Be careful. If you start hitting people on the street, you’ll end up getting caught by me.”

Blood Heaven Butcher gave me a look that seemed to say “seriously?” at my joke.

Jo Chunbae greeted us warmly.

“Welcome, gentlemen.”

“It’s been a while.”

“It’s an honor to have you visit again.”

“I’m here because the food and drinks are great.”

Once Jo Chunbae took our order and disappeared to the kitchen, Blood Heaven Butcher spoke.

“You’re unnecessarily kind.”

“What’s wrong with being kind?”

“When you’re driven by sentiment, you’re bound to make mistakes. Take that owner for example. When you’re kind like this, do you think the food will taste better? Or will it taste better when you threaten to kill them if the food’s bad? In that regard, the Duke is more advantageous than you.”

“Surely, being ruthless makes life easier.”

“It’s not too late.”

“Even so, I won’t climb aboard that cold-hearted cart.”

“Why not?”

“Because I believe the dishes being made with fear and trembling will taste worse than those made with a smile and a whistle.”

“Eventually, that owner will ask you for something bigger using your kindness. If you refuse, he’ll slander and insult you. That’s human nature.”

“Eventually, that person will return a bigger favor because of my small kindness. Maybe he’ll even save my life one day. That’s human nature too.”

“Let’s wait and see.”

We drank together.

“Actually, I think you’re more emotional than I am.”

“How did you block my path with those eyes? You couldn’t have misjudged me more.”

I thought I’d seen it clearly. Through all this entanglement, he had spent a lot of emotional energy. Even now, he was pouring it out as he had conversations with me that never existed in his life until this moment.

“Since we’re on the subject, I think you’ll need to manage the disciples and the Devils. Otherwise, you’ll continue clashing with the Yellow Spring Division.”

Blood Heaven Butcher slowly turned his head to glare at me coldly.

“You’re getting more and more arrogant.”

“No, it’s you who’s arrogant.”

“What?”

“You look down on the headquarters and my father, don’t you? You think because it’s me, Blood Heaven Butcher, it doesn’t matter what happens with my disciples? Am I wrong?”

Crash!

The table shattered, and the plates with food and drink fell, breaking into pieces.

“You’re too cheeky. Sometimes I really just want to beat you to death.”

Blood Heaven Butcher, glaring at me, shouted at Jo Chunbae.

“What are you staring at? Get a new table and bring more drinks and snacks!”

“Now, this is what you’re supposed to do, not that.”

I stood up and moved to a different seat.

Then I placed money on the table.

“I’m sorry. This should cover the broken items and the loss for today.”

Jo Chunbae refused to take the money.

“It’s fine. Really, it’s fine.”

“It’s not fine with me. Take it, and bring the drinks again. Don’t spare any expense.”

“Understood!”

After receiving the money, Jo Chunbae hurried to the kitchen.

Blood Heaven Butcher frowned.

“You want me to do this?”

“If you don’t like it, you shouldn’t break things.”

“Are you trying to teach me lessons now?”

“The demonic arts I am trying to build don’t involve destroying the tavern when I’m upset.”

“You…”

“Stop shouting and come sit down.”

Eventually, Blood Heaven Butcher sat at the table I had moved to.

“You’re so cheeky. You really are mad!”

After glaring at me for a while, he coldly spoke.

“If you betray me, I’ll kill you.”

Jo Chunbae, bringing fresh drinks, flinched but pretended he hadn’t heard anything as he placed the drinks and returned to the kitchen.

I filled my glass and offered it to Blood Heaven Butcher.

“Were you serious earlier?”

“Yes, I was serious.”

“Then, pledge your loyalty to me. That’s the kind of threat you can make. But when you’re truly loyal, and you betray me, that’s when you’ll be able to stab the sword into your master’s heart.”

Blood Heaven Butcher couldn’t argue back.

I filled my glass, then offered it for a toast.

Blood Heaven Butcher sneered and drank alone. Though we didn’t clink glasses, in my heart, I could hear the sound of them meeting.

A person entered the Illhwa Sword Sovereign’s private room.

It was her right-hand, Saoujong.

“Your Highness is drinking with Blood Heaven Butcher.”

Illhwa Sword Sovereign, who had her back turned, didn’t speak.

“Such an arrogant bastard.”

Finally, Illhwa Sword Sovereign turned around and glared at Saoujong coldly. Saoujong lowered her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Watch your words. There’s nothing more vulgar than speaking carelessly behind someone’s back.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Saoujong had deliberately insulted Geom Muguk, believing that she was speaking on behalf of the emotions Illhwa Sword Sovereign couldn’t show. She had always been kind to «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» everyone, but with Illhwa Sword Sovereign, she felt special.

“That’s not the Geom Muguk I knew.”

In the few months since the martial arts tournament, the storm Geom Muguk had stirred had been growing larger and larger.

“A storm in a teacup.”

Saoujong underestimated Geom Muguk, but Illhwa Sword Sovereign’s thoughts were different.

“What if that teacup can contain the entire martial world? That greedy old man offered the Heavenly Demon Order. He gave his everything. Doma must have seen a successor in him.”

“Did you also see that potential in Geom Muguk, Sovereign?”

Geom Muguk had certainly shown an unexpected side, but she didn’t think he deserved something as precious as the Heavenly Demon Order.

That thought irritated her. Could it be that the old bastard saw something she hadn’t? She couldn’t stand it.

“Let’s take a rest for today. I’ve prepared someone new.”

Illhwa Sword Sovereign coldly looked at Saoujong, who was about to speak but stopped herself. The lips that had started to move didn’t say a word.

She spun around and entered the private room.

Saoujong’s expression was complex as she watched the back of Illhwa Sword Sovereign, but her eyes burned with intensity.

As Illhwa Sword Sovereign entered the private room, she activated a hidden mechanism, and the floor opened to reveal a secret passage.

She descended into the passage. The further down she went, the darker it became, but she had clearly been here many times before, descending with ease.

In the underground, there was a long corridor. She walked down it and opened a door at the end.

Inside was a magnificently decorated bedroom.

A young man sat on a large bed and jumped up immediately.

Illhwa Sword Sovereign slowly walked over and sat at the dressing table with a large mirror. The young man’s eyes, reflected in the mirror, were filled with fear.

Illhwa Sword Sovereign spoke gently to the young man in the mirror.

“It’s alright, just take off your clothes.”

After the drinking session with Blood Heaven Butcher, I stopped by Ian’s training hall.

From the intense heat in the air, I could tell how hard she had been training.

She was moving through the training hall, sweating profusely, pushing her limits. Each movement was precise and meaningful, despite the tough training.

Watching her, I knew it was time to teach her a new martial art.

“Ah! You’re here, Young Master?”

“You’ve been training hard lately, haven’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“You’ve lost some weight.”

“Really?”

She smiled brightly, even though she knew it wasn’t true. Since we were talking about weight, she asked the question she had been holding back.

“Young Master, is what you said before true? You can fix the side effects of my technique?”

How much had Ian worried before asking this? She must have agonized over how I would react, thinking I might say, “Just a joke.”

The person who taught her the Stoneflesh Body Art had told her that the side effects couldn’t be removed, but still, she had to ask.

“You really can fix it?”

This was the first time I had seen her so tense.

“I can fix it.”

“Really?”

Now was the time to tell her the truth.

“I know a technique that can remove the side effects of the Stoneflesh Body Art.”

I had found it during my search for the Great Materials in the Central Plains. When I regressed, I made it my goal to restore her body to its original form. It made me realize that my life wasn’t just a barren road to revenge.

“What’s the technique called?”

“It’s called the Detoxification Art (身毒淨化術).”

“… Detoxification Art?”

She repeated the name several times before asking again.

“How did you learn this?”

“That’s a secret. You know that there are many secrets related to martial arts.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

“We could try the technique now.”

“There is a way.”

“Then why haven’t you done it yet?”

“It’s too dangerous and complicated. And I don’t know what variables might come up during the process. So, I’ll wait until my martial skills improve significantly before performing the technique.”

“Ah! There really is a cure!”

Her face was filled with joy.

“You’ll have to risk your life. I can’t predict what might happen during the process. But are you willing to do it?”

“Yes!”

There was no hesitation in her voice.

“This is disappointing.”

“What? Did I make a mistake?”

“I knew you would say this. You could have said, ‘If I die, I can’t protect you, Young Master, so I won’t accept the treatment.’”

It was a joke to prevent that possibility in advance.

“You want me to live my life, don’t you? Wasn’t that the idea?”

Then she smiled brightly as if it were all a joke.

Now I understood. That was her true nature.

The side of her that had been buried under loyalty and responsibility, the natural human heart she had been hiding. I wanted to help her find it again.

“Ian.”

“Yes, Young Master?”

“Is there anywhere in the Central Plains you’d like to visit?”

“No, I don’t have any place in mind.”

She had probably never had the chance to properly visit any place, always only looking at me.

“Let’s go on a trip to the Central Plains later.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. We’ll visit every famous spot and enjoy the best scenery. I’ll let you taste all the famous dishes. I know a lot of places.”

“Is this a promise?”

“You promise too.”

“What?”

“When we go, don’t leave me behind.”

“Leave you? Even if I became the most admired person in the world, I wouldn’t leave you.”

“Let’s wait and see.”