"Ugh!"

Seo Daeryong groaned as he struggled to rise from the bed, contorting his face in all sorts of expressions.

"I'm thirsty, water! Water!"

"Beside you!"

At someone's words, Seo Daeryong instinctively reached out, grabbed the water by the bedside table, and drank deeply.

"Ugh, my head. If I drink again, I'm a dog, a dog."

Seo Daeryong gulped down the water directly from the kettle.

Only after quenching his thirst did he realize he was in an unfamiliar place. The bed was large and plush, the bedding soft and luxurious.

‘Come to think of it, who was the one who said ‘beside you’ just ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) now?’

Seo Daeryong looked around.

In the distance, someone was sitting by the window reading a book. The sunlight made it impossible to see who it was.

"Who?"

As his eyes adjusted to the light, the figure gradually came into view.

"Ahh!"

Seo Daeryong screamed. The man reading the book was none other than Hyeolcheon Doma.

"Wh-where am I? Why is the Demon Lord here?"

Startled, Seo Daeryong stammered.

"It’s my room."

"Ugh! Why am I here?"

"Don’t you remember?"

"...No."

"When we were about to part ways at the tavern, you suddenly jumped up, shouting that I had to carry you. How could you leave your disciple behind? You grabbed my pants leg too."

"Me? No way?"

Oh my god, I actually grabbed his pants leg, Seo Daeryong thought, flustered and at a loss.

"I haven’t allowed someone to touch my pants in decades."

Hyeolcheon Doma glanced at Seo Daeryong.

"Do you want to die, but lack the courage to jump off a cliff?"

"...."

At that moment, one question occurred to Seo Daeryong.

"Then why did you put me to sleep in your bed?"

"Of course, you wouldn’t remember that either."

Seo Daeryong stiffened at Hyeolcheon Doma's words.

"I brought you here and tried to make you sleep in the guest room, but you complained, calling me a heartless master for putting you in such a shabby place. Then, you plopped down on the floor, crying and saying you deserved to be treated this way."

"..."

"Is life hard? It was hard for me too. I had to hold back from killing you."

Seo Daeryong immediately jumped off the bed and kneeled.

"I’m sorry, I’ll quit drinking."

"Why would you quit drinking such good alcohol? You need to quit your habits, not the alcohol."

"Yes, I’ll quit everything. Please forgive me. I drank too much yesterday."

No matter how much he had yelled and acted out, he could have been thrown into the stable instead of the guest room. The fact that he was sleeping in Hyeolcheon Doma's own room, on his bed no less, was incredibly surprising. Of course, it was because of Geom Muguk, but still, who would have thought he’d be allowed to sleep in his own bed? Seo Daeryong saw a new side of Hyeolcheon Doma.

"Go now."

"Yes."

His outerwear was neatly folded on the bedside table. Of course, it had been tidied by someone, but it still made him feel like he had been treated with respect.

Meanwhile, Hyeolcheon Doma continued reading his book, which felt strange.

‘Is he trying to act all scholarly in front of me?’

But oddly enough, he looked quite fitting reading. The room had several bookshelves, and many books were neatly stacked.

Then, one book caught his attention.

"Huh? This book?"

Seo Daeryong casually took the book from the shelf. It was the story of a young boy who met a peerless martial arts master and grew into a hero, a book he had read several times as a child.

"This is my favorite book. Have you read it?"

Excited, Seo Daeryong turned to Hyeolcheon Doma.

But Hyeolcheon Doma was glaring at him menacingly.

"I hate people who recklessly touch my things."

"Ah!"

Surprised, Seo Daeryong dropped the book and, in an attempt to stop it from hitting the ground, kicked it with his foot. The book bounced and rolled across the floor.

An awkward silence followed.

Seeing the book, now crumpled and open on the floor, Seo Daeryong felt his world darken. Soon, his fate would be just like that book.

He rushed over to the book, picked it up, and tried to smooth out the creased pages with his hands.

"I’m sorry. Oh, fortunately, the boring part was the one that got crumpled… sorry!"

Luckily, Hyeolcheon Doma didn’t cut off Seo Daeryong’s arm but turned his attention back to the book he was reading. Today, he was a symbol of forgiveness.

"I’ll leave now."

Seo Daeryong timidly bowed and was about to leave when Hyeolcheon Doma suddenly asked:

"Why do you like that book?"

"Ah, because I think the main character is similar to me. Born poor, with a gloomy personality, and unable to fit in with others. It’s a story of someone like that becoming a hero... I’ve probably read it twenty times. I keep it nearby and read it when I can’t sleep."

Hyeolcheon Doma stared at him for a while but said nothing and returned his gaze to the book he was reading.

"Then I’ll go now. Thanks for letting me sleep here."

At that moment, Hyeolcheon Doma asked again.

"Do you think the second son will become the successor?"

There was no need for hesitation in Seo Daeryong’s response.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"He’s a great person. I believe he will change the sect for the better, unlike anyone else I’ve seen."

"Would you sacrifice your life for him?"

Seo Daeryong hesitated for a moment before answering honestly.

"No."

"You said he’s a great person?"

"I’m not. I’m not someone who can sacrifice myself for others."

Though his gaze remained on the book, Hyeolcheon Doma’s lips curled into the slightest of smiles.

"Wait outside."

"Yes!"

Seo Daeryong stood in the yard and waited for Hyeolcheon Doma.

‘Did I answer that I have no intention of dying for the second son, and now he’s going to beat me up as an excuse? Should I have said I could die for him?’

As he nervously waited, Hyeolcheon Doma finally came out and threw a large sword in front of Seo Daeryong.

Thud!

The sword lightly flew through the air and landed at Seo Daeryong’s feet. It wasn’t as large as the Heaven-Cleaving Blade, but it was still a long, wide sword.

"Pick it up."

"Yes."

Seo Daeryong picked up the sword. He had always practiced swordsmanship, but never learned how to use a greatsword. He had barely even held one before.

"How does it feel?"

Not understanding the intent behind the question, Seo Daeryong simply said the first thing that came to mind.

"It’s heavy."

Hyeolcheon Doma nodded.

"That’s all."

"Huh?"

"Understanding that weight is the beginning and end of the sword technique I’m about to teach you."

"!"

Suddenly, something clicked for Seo Daeryong.

"My heart skipped a beat."

Looking down at the sword, he raised his head with a flush of excitement.

"It’s because you drank too much yesterday. Or maybe it’s because you have a heart condition."

"Ah! Yes."

Hyeolcheon Doma turned around.

"Don’t be late for training later."

"Yes! I won’t be late!"

Seo Daeryong quickly set the sword down in the yard, ran out, then came back to pick it up and left.

As he walked out, he couldn’t help but wonder: Had he really just had that conversation with Hyeolcheon Doma? Had he really slept here?

‘Maybe I’m still dreaming...’

He left, feeling the weight of the hangover pressing on his body as much as the sword he held in his hand.

Seo Daeryong entered my office.

His hair was still a mess, showing that he hadn’t fully sobered up yet, but he was wearing a greatsword at his waist—one he hadn’t worn before. Just seeing that sword made it clear that things with Hyeolcheon Doma had gone well.

"Has the right arm returned?"

"It must be the right arm I sent to the corpse."

"Glad it didn’t get chopped off."

"How could you send me to Hyeolcheon Doma like that? You should have taken care of it!"

"It seems you don’t remember anything from yesterday."

At that, Seo Daeryong stiffened.

"You insisted on going with Hyeolcheon Doma, even if it meant dying. Do you know what you said to me?"

"What did I say?"

"You asked why I was trying to separate a master and disciple! You really thought we’d been together for fifty years."

"…Please stop lying."

"I wish it were a lie. Before you fell asleep, you swore you’d never learn martial arts again, then suddenly jumped up as his disciple. If you’re still suspicious, ask Lord Jang. He was shaking his head when he saw you."

"Ugh. Does that crazy drunkard really live inside me?"

Seo Daeryong grabbed his head.

"Too bad."

"What’s too bad?"

"You’re more interesting when you’re gloomy and dark. But lately, you’ve been getting brighter. You even made me laugh like yesterday."

"Don’t worry. I’ll be dark again by tomorrow."

"What does that mean?"

"My first training starts after today. You’ll probably almost kill me. Ah! I wish it would never end."

"What a shame. I won’t get to see that."

"Huh?"

"You’ll be expelled today. It’ll take about two months, so while I’m gone, make sure to take care of the Yellow Spring Division."

The playful expression disappeared from Seo Daeryong’s face.

"Are you leaving because of that?"

"What do you mean?"

Seo Daeryong pointed to his own eyes. Only then did I realize what he meant.

Before going out drinking, Seo Daeryong had mentioned that I had shown the look in my eyes—the look of impossibility before achieving something.

"Right, that’s it."

"Sounds dangerous."

"Fortunately, this time, it won’t be as dangerous. I’m going to use the risks I’ve saved up for a while."

"Huh?"

Seo Daeryong didn’t understand, but I didn’t explain further.

Seo Daeryong bowed politely with a serious expression.

"Be careful and come back! I’m sorry for only worrying with words."

"After you’ve learned from Doma, try to help me later."

As I turned to leave, Seo Daeryong called out.

"Master."

"Yes?"

"If it weren’t for you, I would never have had the chance to learn martial arts from Hyeolcheon Doma."

"Who knows what will happen? If it weren’t for me, you might have had the chance to learn from my father. Take care."

"Yes! Don’t worry, just go and take care of things."

With that, I went to find Ian to brief her on the training for the next two months, then quietly left the sect.

I continued heading northwest.

As the realm of Wind Divine Steps increased, my speed also picked up.

Now, even a skilled practitioner wouldn’t be able to match my pace.

If my inner energy began to fall, I would stop in a secluded area of the forest and practice Qi breathing. Once my energy was restored, I would run again, repeating the process.

When I got hungry, I used the techniques my father had taught me to hunt.

I could now sense the wild boars in the forest from a distance.

While roasting a boar over a campfire, hunters or herbalists would sometimes join me, and we’d drink together. I had met many of them before, so their company was comfortable.

About halfway to my destination, I started pacing myself.

There was no point in arriving too early, so I decided to enjoy the journey itself.

If there was a mountain I could climb, I would climb it. But not just by walking—I would scale the cliffs using only my physical abilities, checking my body for any weaknesses or aches.

After all, when one focuses too much on internal energy, it’s easy to neglect the body itself. That’s where the real distinction between true masters and lesser ones lies. True masters never miss the smallest details. They understand that the tiniest difference can make all the difference.

As I climbed the cliffs, if the sun began to set, I would sit on a protruding rock or tree and gaze at the view.

Seeing the beauty of nature like that, something inside me would feel released, as if a block had been cleared from my heart.

I had promised Ian we would go travel together through Central Plains, but as I sat on the cliff watching the sunset, I found myself thinking of my father more than Ian.

I wanted to travel with my father. I wanted to share such moments with him and talk with him. I wanted to know what kind of person he was, what he thought about life.

Would I ever get the chance to do that? Would such a moment ever come for us?

Before the regression, I never imagined I would develop such a close bond with my father. Maybe I missed him, even though I hadn’t even had a proper conversation with him.

Even while enjoying the journey, when it was time to run, I ran as fast as I could.

By the time I reached my destination, the realm of Wind Divine Steps had advanced again. My speed had increased even more, and the internal energy required had decreased.

"Hahahahaha!"

I laughed maniacally as I raced down the path.

As my realm of Wind Divine Steps increased, I realized that the technique was one that struck at a person’s true nature. It heightened the pleasure of running to its maximum, making it addictive.

Now, even when people walking by saw me, they couldn’t recognize me because I was passing them so quickly. It was like I was nothing but a blur.

I had heard similar conversations many times.

"Didn’t someone just pass by?"

"What? I didn’t see anything."

They wouldn’t even notice me if they were lost in thought, having reached the level where they couldn’t detect someone running past them.

If I reached one more stage, even if they stared at me, they wouldn’t know whether it was a person or a bird passing by.

What would happen if I mastered Wind Divine Steps completely?

I began to wonder if I might pass by without anyone feeling it at all.

And so, the place I arrived at was one that no one from our sect would have guessed.

It was Hong Mountain, the headquarters of the Wind Sky Sect.

The place where I had obtained the first ingredient for the Grand Regression Art, the Thunder Bell.

I had returned here.