Two months had passed since the fight with my father.

In the meantime, I had reached the eleventh level of the Bicheon Sword Technique. I had advanced to the next level with the insights I gained from the fight with my father and Ilhwa Sword Master.

Now, there was only one more level left.

The final stage, like the previous one, would require some kind of trigger.

It could be a fight, a real fight, looking at flowers with Ilhwa Sword Master, reading a poetry collection next to the Bloody Heavenly Doma, or taking a walk on a moonlit night with Ian. The realm of the twelve great stars is something that no one can predict.

Now, I postponed the completion of the Bicheon Sword Technique to another destiny of mine and devoted myself to training in the time-space transfer technique.

When you learn martial arts, there are times when you feel something. The martial arts whisper to you, stimulating your whole body, ‘Just a little more.’ That is when you grow to the next level.

The time-space transfer technique kept coming to me with that stimulation.

About ten days ago, I slowly counted to a hundred and reduced the time so that space could unfold. Since then, the constraints have been lifted, and the time has decreased every time I use the space-time transfer technique.

If there is a compatibility between a person and martial arts, this space-time transfer technique was very compatible with me.

Perhaps this martial arts itself is more important in terms of how deep your enlightenment is and how high your talent is for martial arts than the training period. I was almost at the highest level in those two things.

As I practiced, the time continued to decrease.

From one hundred to ninety-nine, ninety-eight, ninety-seven… … .

I pushed on without stopping. I created space like crazy, as if I was riding a speeding carriage. I thought that if I went the wrong way, the carriage might fall off a cliff, but I practiced without stopping.

I practiced and practiced again.

And finally, the carriage arrived at the last station. The horse did not fall, and I did not fall off the carriage.

Tap!

The moment I snapped my fingers, my surroundings changed.

At the same time, a cheer burst out of my mouth.

“I did it!”

I was finally able to use the time-space teleportation technique. It unfolded so naturally, as if it had been my martial art from the beginning.

I was now standing on a pure white sand beach with an endless blue sea. The sky was blue and the sun was hot. There was a tree with big leaves on the beach, and a comfortable chair was placed in the shade under it. A seagull was flying in the distance.

This was my own space that I dreamed of.

It was perfect.

As the time it took to create it decreased, the internal energy needed to maintain this place also decreased.

I leaned comfortably on the chair, then took off my clothes and jumped into the sea.

After swimming, I lay down looking at the sky. My mind was so at ease as I watched the clouds floating by.

It was my perfect time without anyone bothering me. I was happy.

Then suddenly this thought occurred to me.

What if time here could go slower than time outside? What if I could practice martial arts here? Even if I couldn’t stop time completely, what if I could slow it down by half?

It was a dreamy thought, but isn’t creating a space like this a dream in the first place?

When the leader of the Fengchun clan came back, I thought I should discuss this matter with him. Of course, he would probably think it was nonsense.

After lying on the beach for a while, enjoying my freedom, I felt someone arrive outside the space-time transfer technique.

When I entered the space created by the Sehonmajon ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ or the leader of the Fengchun clan, I couldn’t feel the outside situation at all, but when I created the space myself, I could know what was happening outside.

I immediately released the space-time transfer technique and revealed myself.

“Master, are you there?”

The person calling me from the door was Jang Ho.

“I’m here.”

Jang Ho turned around in surprise when I suddenly appeared behind him.

“Gongja? Where have you been?”

On the beach where the blue sea swells.

I held back my answer.

“I was practicing the art of hiding for a while. What’s wrong with you?”

“I got a message from Cheolbang. They said they finished making the item you asked me to entrust to Mannyeonhancheol.”

“Then please do me a favor. Go get the item and call everyone who was there that day.”

“Understood.”

* * *

The seven people stood in a circle, looking down at the items on the table.

The other six, including me, were Ian, Seo Daeryong, Jangho, Hyeolcheon Doma, Ilhwa Geomjon, and Gowol.

I picked up the fan from the items on the table first and gave it to Gowol.

“It’s the fan you asked me to make. I checked it out and it’s well made.”

“Thank you very much.”

“The materials are the materials, but the fact that it was made by the best craftsman in our school makes it even more valuable.”

“I really didn’t know you would make it for me.”

He also made a dagger for the number of people gathered that day, so he gave it to him. Go-wol looked apologetic when he received the dagger along with the fan.

“I’m receiving two.”

“If it weren’t for you, these daggers wouldn’t have existed in the first place. You’re giving them to everyone.”

“That’s not possible. The one who gave these shackles to the leader of the Pungcheon Church was Confucius. Thank you. I will never forget this great gift.”

It was a great gift.

The Eternal Steel Dagger was extremely sharp and never broke, so it was hard to put a price on it. If I could sell it for a fair price, I could make a few more.

However, this was not the end of the gifts I gave him.

I untied the Supreme Heavenly Cloth from the handle of the Black Magic Sword. I cut it just enough to fill the fan and handed it to Go-wol.

“It’s a very good dagger. If you attach this to that fan, it will become a great weapon.”

Go-wol’s eyes trembled with emotion. The three gifts were truly gifts that were difficult to receive in one’s lifetime.

“I will definitely repay this favor, even if it means sacrificing my life.”

“There’s no need for that. I am giving it to you because I think it is worth it now, not because I am giving it to you with my future life or loyalty as collateral.”

I said this to Go-wol, but at the same time, I was saying it to others.

I handed out the remaining daggers to everyone.

“Thank you for watching over me.”

“Thank you.”

“I will use it well.”

“Thank you.”

Everyone happily received the daggers.

Seodae-ryong looked down at the dagger and said worriedly.

“I am worried that I might lose it.”

“Practice martial arts harder. The stronger you become, the less likely you are to lose it. When training gets difficult, look at the dagger.”

“Yes.”

Seodaeryong nodded vigorously at my words. This dagger will have many meanings for each person.

At that time, Hyeolcheon Doma picked a fight with Gowol for no reason.

“There’s that shabby scholar too, what are you worried about?”

At that moment, someone came in and said.

“Isn’t your disciple even shabby?”

The person who came in was none other than the leader of Pungcheon.

I asked him with a surprised face.

“Are you back already?”

He came back earlier than I thought. I thought it would take at least six months.

“I’m a person with a short temper.”

Then he glanced at Gowol. Gowol smiled at the appearance of his strong supporter.

“I guess I’m not someone who’s been starving. I’m coming back on the fateful day when I’m supposed to get stabbed. Give me my dagger.”

The leader of the Pungcheon Church examined the dagger.

“It’s really well made. I think I can use this as a sacred water. Thank you for taking care of mine too.”

“No. It was made possible because the leader of the church was generous and freed me from my shackles.”

He welcomed his return with kind words. He returned on a fateful day, just as the saying goes. However, that fate was not the day he received the dagger.

Someone opened the door and came in.

The visitor was tall and handsome. He looked great in a white robe embroidered with gorgeous yet sophisticated patterns. He was my older brother, Grand Duke Geommuyang.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on him. Three people followed Geommuyang.

The first one to enter was Mabul, and an old man and a young man came in together.

Geommuyang, who found me among the people, opened his arms wide and walked briskly.

“How have you been, little brother?”

That’s right. My brother was like this. He was so confident and knew very well that he was superior to others.

He thought he was smart enough to be a problem, but he also had a knack for making his arrogance look like confidence to his teammates.

“I’ve been doing well. It’s been a while, brother.”

I hugged my brother tightly. I didn’t do it pretentiously, I hugged him sincerely. I could feel my brother being slightly flustered by my reaction. He probably didn’t know. What I was thinking right now.

‘Brother, don’t let me regret carrying your body. Don’t let me follow in my father’s footsteps.’

I know. Go-wol said that the outcome depended on my brother, but that wasn’t the case. This time, it depended on my efforts.

‘That’s why I’m going to try. Not for you, but for me.’

My feelings were completely different from when I left the school, so Geommu-yang’s eyes flashed with a strange look.

“I heard you became quite famous while I was away?”

“In a valley without tigers, a fox reigned as king.”

“If my older brother is a tiger, how can my younger brother be a fox? You don’t have to be humble in front of me.”

At first glance, he seemed like a loving older brother who really cared for his younger brother.

However, in my past life, my older brother persistently bullied me. At the time, I didn’t know it was bullying.

Ever since I was very young, my older brother tried to plant negative images of the martial arts world and power in any way he could.

Stories of people fighting each other and dying, stories of people going mad from a demonic possession, stories of demons betraying the Heavenly Demon.

Most of the stories he told me were cruel and negative. If I tried to break through the Imdokyangmaek (任督兩脈), he would shake my heart by telling me stories of my blood vessels bursting and dying.

I overcame it with my innate strength, but it was true that he had a negative influence on me, knowingly or unknowingly.

I can't say anything about using all means and methods in the succession fight, but that doesn't mean I should do something to my younger brother who is six or seven years old, hyung.

At that moment, Mabul intervened and said,

"Lee Gongja. Now that the Grand Duke has returned, we must help you a lot, hyung. Who in this dangerous world would take care of each other? Humans are betrayers. No one can trust you because you eat rice like rice.”

Then Ma-bul looked at Hyeol-cheon-doma. It was a word that was originally aimed at him. It was an open criticism of Hyeol-cheon-doma, who had supported Geom-mu-yang but then turned against me.

Hyeol-cheon-doma, who felt sorry for the Grand Duke, just snorted.

Unlike the provocative Ma-bul, Geom-mu-yang was polite to Hyeol-cheon-doma.

“How have you been? Sir.”

“Thanks to you, I have been doing well. Are you on your way back now?”

“Yes. I just arrived.”

“Have you seen the cult leader?”

“My father has already gone to bed, so I haven’t been able to see him. I think I should greet him tomorrow morning.”

“The cult leader would be happy.”

After exchanging greetings, Geom-mu-yang said casually.

“I heard that you have been helping your younger brother a lot recently.”

“Old people are more fickle. You understand.”

“No. My younger brother’s business is my business and my school’s business. As an older brother, I thank you.”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

This time, Geommuyang spoke to Ilhwa Geomjon.

“You are still beautiful.”

“I wonder if we are not brothers. Our Grand Prince is also quite philandering.”

Geommuyang took something out of the sleeve of his long robe and gave it to Ilhwa Geomjon.

“This is a cosmetic that I obtained with difficulty from Saewoo. It is said to be much better than what the women of the Central Plains use, so try it.”

“Thank you, Grand Prince.”

Where would I have brought only Ilhwageomjon as a gift? He must have brought a lot of things to please the other Majons.

Even from this short greeting, I could clearly see why my brother was ahead of me at this time. At the time, I didn’t even know that my brother was taking such meticulous care of the Majons. I must have really only looked at myself. I must have lived only for my own greed.

“Jang, Lord, congratulations on becoming a Lord, even though it’s late.”

“Thank you, Grand Duke.”

That was the end of the greeting. I didn’t say hello to Ian or Seo Dae-ryong. My brother was a thoroughgoing authoritarian. His motto was that if only the superiors made their own people, the rest of the subordinates would naturally follow.

After Geommuyang finished greeting the two Majons, Mabul stepped forward this time.

When he saw the leader of Pungcheon, he immediately started a fight.

“Did you put honey on the pillars of the main sect? Why do you keep hanging around?”

Of course, the leader of the Pungcheon Church was not so easy.

“He shit and didn’t clean up. I mean, the small, cute golden shit.”

Ma-bul’s expression hardened at once. The two glared at each other as if they were going to kill each other. Just as it shows that people get closer over time but grow apart in an instant, the two people who were the closest to each other had become so distant.

As the two formed a tense atmosphere, Geommu-yang signaled to the two people behind him with his eyes.

Then, the old man and young man who had come in with Ma-bul stepped forward to greet him.

A cold smile formed on my lips. It was the moment I had been waiting for the most when they came in. In fact, I had been waiting for this moment for decades.