Blood Heaven Butcher swept his gaze over the people seated around the table. The contempt in his eyes spoke volumes.

"You're asking me to sit among these fools?"

Before those words could escape his lips, I greeted him warmly.

"Welcome, Elder. Please, take a seat here."

Everyone stood and greeted him politely, and after a moment of feigned reluctance, he sat down.

"Why did you call me here?"

It seemed that, just like before, Blood Heaven Butcher had expected me to be alone.

The truth was, Blood Heaven Butcher didn’t care much about who was present at the table; the very concept of such gatherings was foreign and burdensome to him. He wasn’t used to such personal settings, just like when I gave him a birthday gift. He wasn’t comfortable with these informal, intimate atmospheres.

"Why did I call you here? To drink together, of course."

I poured him a drink. Though he made a face, he accepted it.

"You have to socialize with younger people to stay young."

"And what would I do with that newfound youth?"

"Even a little bit of youth is precious. What good is skill or power? In the face of time, everyone must kneel."

"You're young as it is, what’s all this talk about time?"

Everyone around us listened in surprise, not expecting such a casual exchange between Blood Heaven Butcher and me.

"You mean we should live in the moment. Who regrets dying? Not being able to learn more martial arts? Not accumulating more internal energy? Not defeating some swordsman in a faraway land? I think not."

"That's why everyone makes a fuss before they die, so they don’t have to die with those idiotic regrets."

"You, Elder, are different."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You, despite your age, remain young and sharp."

Flattery is best served in front of others, isn't it?

"Tch!"

Blood Heaven Butcher scoffed and took a sip, though his expression was less than displeased.

Seo Daeryong, on the other hand, had been looking incredibly uncomfortable since Blood Heaven Butcher entered. His inebriated eyes seemed to convey something like this:

– "No, this isn’t ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ right! What is this? Are you kidding me?"

Poor thing, but he was correct. I was planning to make Blood Heaven Butcher Seo Daeryong’s master.

Jang Ho raised a cup towards Blood Heaven Butcher.

"Thank you for recommending me earlier. I can only formally greet you now."

"It wasn’t my idea; it was the young master’s. You should thank him."

"I’ve already received enough. You, Elder, deserve to be thanked. Honestly, without you, this would have been impossible."

Blood Heaven Butcher stared at Jang Ho.

"I recommended you because I thought you could handle it. Don't worry about it."

"Thank you."

Jang Ho’s expression brightened with the first praise he’d received from a Demon Lord.

Human nature might not change easily, but one’s attitude can shift depending on the circumstances. The Blood Heaven Butcher from when I first met him and the one sitting here now were vastly different. So much so that I could make such a request.

"I have a favor to ask, Elder."

"What is it?"

I glanced at Seo Daeryong. He could no longer hold his liquor and, with his eyes shut, bowed his head in defeat.

"This friend of mine, please teach him martial arts."

Blood Heaven Butcher was taken aback by the unexpected request.

"Who is this mouse?"

Just as I was about to introduce him, Seo Daeryong suddenly lifted his head and slurred loudly.

"He’s a ruthless, power-seeking man who loves only one woman, a rebel who stands alone when everyone else remains silent, a pacifist, and the right hand of the Young Master! And I am not a mouse!"

After spitting out this tirade, he lowered his head again. We could tell that Seo Daeryong was completely drunk.

"Hahaha."

I laughed out loud, and Ian suppressed her laughter, lowering her head. Jang Ho chuckled softly, taking a sip of his drink.

Despite his drunken state, he managed to remember exactly what I had said, showing that he had a sharp memory.

"What’s up with that crazy guy?"

"He’s really drunk, please forgive him."

"Martial arts, you say? You should be grateful I haven’t killed you just for showing your face."

"He’s a necessary person for us."

"No, I don’t want him."

"Elder!"

Blood Heaven Butcher shot me a fierce look.

"Then why him?"

"Because you’re the best at martial arts. I want him to learn from the best."

"You think I’m going to teach martial arts to someone who isn’t my disciple?"

"Then make him your disciple."

"What?"

"I don’t think there’s anyone among your disciples who can take your place. The youngest disciple is kind, but his personality won’t make him a successor. What about this friend of mine?"

"No."

Blood Heaven Butcher quickly rejected the idea.

"You’ve spent your whole life doing only what you wanted. Why not try doing something you don’t like for once?"

"I said no."

"Why? Surely, there’s a reason why you don’t like it."

"I just don’t like it. There’s no reason."

Just then.

"I don’t like it either!"

Everyone turned to look at the owner of the voice—the inebriated Seo Daeryong.

"Do I look like I’d want this?"

Ian, startled, tried to stop him, but Seo Daeryong, with his dazed eyes, had already thrown down a challenge at Blood Heaven Butcher.

"Master Doma!"

At least he didn’t call him ‘Doma.’

"I told you I don’t like it. So don’t even dream of teaching me! No! No! No!"

He shouted each word, and everyone tensed, fearing that Blood Heaven Butcher might lash out.

Seo Daeryong, still shouting, turned to me. His eyes were completely unfocused. If he had been sober, he wouldn’t have dared speak to Blood Heaven Butcher like that. Ah, this was a moment of hwa-gwang-ban-jo (the last burst of light before death).

"Our esteemed Young Master! I have one question to ask!"

"Considering you’re about to get killed, I’ll answer you sincerely."

"Why are you trying to throw me to that ruthless, cold-hearted person? Oh, this is so painful for me."

Blood Heaven Butcher’s forehead twitched in anger. I smiled at him, signaling that I understood.

"Why? To teach you martial arts."

"Then why?"

"To boost your self-esteem."

Though I didn’t say it directly, I was planning to make him the next leader of the Yellow Spring Division. If he learned martial arts from Blood Heaven Butcher, he’d have the most powerful backing.

"Ah, I suppose my self-esteem is a bit low."

He lowered his head again. Ian, standing beside him, supported his body.

"You’ve had too much to drink. I’ll escort you out first."

As she tried to help him stand, Seo Daeryong refused her hand.

"I’m not drunk, my dear heart."

"Heart?"

"Yes, I’m the arm. Ian is the heart. The heart is more precious than the arm. The arm can be severed, but the heart should not be harmed."

Ian probably thought Seo Daeryong was just rambling nonsense from being drunk.

That jealous little guy, with his sharp mind, remembered everything, even in this state.

I politely made my request to Blood Heaven Butcher again.

"Please teach him the basics after work. Whether it’s a few days or a few years, if he’s not to your liking, you can teach him for just a day. Just give him a chance."

"You really trust that drunkard?"

"I trust you, Elder."

There was something strangely similar between Blood Heaven Butcher and Seo Daeryong. Both were slightly apart from the mainstream, yet had a passion that exceeded anyone in the mainstream.

Just as Blood Heaven Butcher was about to refuse again, Seo Daeryong jumped in first.

"I told you I don’t like it!"

Blood Heaven Butcher frowned. I saw the emotion in his eyes.

"Do you want me to show you what real dislike feels like? Want me to make you suffer a little?"

Not knowing that, Seo Daeryong, almost closing his eyes, stuck his lips out and shook his head in defiance in front of Blood Heaven Butcher. If he had stuck out his tongue, he’d probably be dead by now.

Fortunately, before Blood Heaven Butcher could strike, Seo Daeryong slammed his head on the table and passed out. What a noble death—this would go down as his most courageous act, not just today, but in all his life.

And it was the act that would change his life.

Blood Heaven Butcher turned to me.

"If I teach that bastard martial arts, what will you do for me?"

The answer I had prepared came out of my mouth.

"I’ll help you resolve long-held grievances."

"!"

Blood Heaven Butcher understood the weight of my words.

A brief silence passed, and we returned to drinking. We no longer spoke of teaching martial arts. We simply drank quietly, discussing other matters.

Two more bottles of wine were emptied, and Ian passed out, while Jang Ho stayed until the end, keeping us company.

We stepped outside for a breath of fresh air.

Standing there, Blood Heaven Butcher came over and stood beside me.

"That remark you made earlier, you weren’t joking, right?"

"No, Elder. There’s no way I can get your martial arts for free."

Blood Heaven Butcher was silent for a while.

Was he hoping to reconcile with the Legendary Sword Lord?

He stared across the street and suddenly asked, "Is that branch effective?"

"It’s running smoothly."

"No, I mean, is it actually helpful? Does it help in boosting your reputation?"

He probably thought I had set it up to boost my own popularity.

"Yes. It’s been very helpful."

I didn’t try to persuade him by explaining it was meant to help the residents of Maga Village. He wouldn’t understand that helping them was just as important as killing the Soul-Seeking Demon Lord.

"Seo Investigator, please take good care of it."

"Really, I’m doing everything now. I leave the rookie behind and what are you doing?"

"I’m busy."

"Busy? What’s so busy?"

"I have to figure out how to kill all these inhumane things, run around looking for the right wing, and kiss up to my father."

He’d realized that the right wing was the Legendary Sword Lord.

"So... does that mean the left wing is me?"

"Yes. If you want to be the right wing, I’ll switch with you."

Blood Heaven Butcher shook his head in disbelief.

"You’re truly insane. To think you want to link me and the Legendary Sword Lord as a pair of wings."

"You said it yourself at the beginning. If I’m crazy, I might just bet my fate on it. Let’s devour it all with madness. Have you already forgotten?"

"I didn’t know you were this crazy."

"Let’s go crazy together. How much longer are you going to hesitate?"

"Is that something you say to an elder?"

"I’m a madman."

Blood Heaven Butcher gave a slight smile.

"Soon, I’ll be leaving for a couple of months. While I’m gone, take care of my people."

"Understood."

The simple "understood" was reassuring, as though it conveyed all I needed to know.

Through tonight’s drinking, I could feel that the door to his heart had opened a little more. But I still wasn’t sure what lay behind that door.

To truly open it, I would need the other wing. When both wings flutter and fight against each other, only then would I understand why they moved like that.

"It looks like the rain will stop soon. The birds will start flying."

We were on our way back with Ian, and I spoke up.

"I made another mistake today."

"Mistake? After drinking that much, falling asleep is natural."

"Falling asleep is a mistake too."

"Well, if I wasn’t around, you wouldn’t have drunk that much, right?"

"That’s true."

"Then it’s not a mistake. It’s just rest."

Ian smiled at my words.

"How many times can I ask that question?"

"It depends on the question."

"For example... Why are you so nice to me?"

I’d answer that question for a lifetime.

"About five times?"

"From now?"

"Yes, starting now."

"Why are you so nice to me?"

"Because I plan to make you work for me for the rest of your life. Why are you so curious about hearing the same answer again?"

Ian grinned broadly.

"I’m going to ask again."

"Four times left."

And so, we walked under the soft moonlight. As if it suddenly occurred to her, Ian asked.

"But what about Seo Investigator? He looked pretty drunk earlier. Did he leave first?"

"Before you woke up, his master came to take him."

"Master?"

Ian’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Did they leave together?"