The younger man among the two stepped forward first, cupping his hands in greeting.

"I am So Tae from Shaanxi. I have always had a deep respect for the Heavenly Sect, and by chance, I have become connected with the Great Lord. It is an honor to meet you. This here is my master."

Following this, the older man also offered his greeting.

"I am Jong Mak from Shaanxi. It is a pleasure to meet so many of the heroic figures of the Heavenly Sect."

So Tae and Jong Mak, who were from Shaanxi, were not genuine disciples or masters. They had never lived in Shaanxi, nor would they in the future.

Their true identities were the infamous Yunnan Twin Monsters.

Masters of disguise, they were experts at deceiving others about their age, often switching between appearances of a thin man, a plump one, a merchant, a monk, and even a woman.

In truth, the younger man who greeted first, So Tae, was older than the older man, Jong Mak, who was disguised as the elder.

These two had deceived many people by changing their appearances, committing countless evils along the way. They had plundered merchant wealth and killed people for no reason other than their appearance. If a beautiful woman caught their eye, they would certainly assault her, killing anyone who tried to stop them.

The Martial World Alliance had declared them public enemies of the martial world, but they were never caught. With their strong martial abilities and mastery of disguise, it was nearly impossible to capture them.

They had lived long lives, and at one point, a saying became popular:

"Heaven is not heartless. They are already dead."

This saying was born because of them.

And most decisively, these two were the ones who ruined my life.

The younger man, disguised as So Tae, spoke up.

"It would be a great honor for our family if the noble Young Master could impart a lesson to me."

The inevitable happened.

Something similar had happened during my previous life before the regression.

At that time, I was a fool—truly a fool among fools, the biggest idiot.

Why on earth did I accept the duel?

Of course, back then, I fought them under different circumstances and in a different place, not here. They had followed Master Ma Bu at that time. Master Ma Bu had introduced the Yunnan Twin Monsters at a banquet for the sect's members, and I couldn't refuse his suggestion.

He played my emotions well. Instead of suggesting I accept the duel, he scolded So Tae.

"Why are you asking for a duel with such an esteemed person? This is not a place for you. If you make a mistake and hurt the Young Master, you won’t survive."

Back then, as now, he spoke exactly like that.

When trying to make someone spill their drink, it’s more effective to say, "Would a coward spill it?" rather than, "Man up and spill it."

At twenty years old, I, concerned with what others thought, fell for that cheap provocation.

At that time, I was in a low state, having been badly hurt in the Divine Battle of the Demon and desperately trying to salvage my reputation.

The more I had lost my self-esteem, the easier I was to provoke.

The result was disastrous.

I thought there was no way I could lose to someone my age, but we weren’t the same age.

I broke my arm, cracked a rib, and had bruises on my face, unable to leave the house for some time.

The problem wasn’t the physical injuries. My pride was shattered because I lost to someone of my own age. The self-loathing for falling for their provocation tormented me.

My father and the sect's masters were disappointed in me. I had been thoroughly beaten by an outsider, and my authority and dignity had plummeted.

The Yunnan Twin Monsters ran away that day, and we didn’t even figure out their true identities.

And now, they had appeared before me once more. How excited do you think I was when they entered my room with Master Ma Bu?

"Of course, it would not do to injure such a precious person. The new martial artists these days are truly terrifying."

This was how you handle it. Those confident in their abilities handle it with ease. Of course, I wasn’t going to do it today.

"Still, since you are pleading so earnestly, it would be rude to refuse, wouldn't it?"

I was curious. Did my brother know who these people, who were hanging out with Master Ma Bu, really were? Brother, whether you know or not, it's a problem either way.

"Thank you for accepting the duel. Truly, you are the famous Young Master."

"But, you keep sprinkling gold dust on my face. Have you heard of my reputation? If you know of something I’ve done recently, tell me."

I didn’t expect him to answer so abruptly, but So Tae was stunned.

"I'm sorry, I can't remember well. I have not learned much and lack the manners, please understand, Young Master."

"I knew it. Asking for a duel with me right off the bat shows a lack of manners, and you seem to think I don’t know your character or abilities, which only confirms you're definitely lacking in brain power. Still, I’m glad you know yourself."

At my mockery, the expressions of the Yunnan Twin Monsters hardened at once. I could feel the malicious intent they were trying to suppress.

"Since I’m not that bright, let’s have a match, Young Master."

"Very well."

We stepped outside and stood facing each other. Everyone else followed suit.

"Will you use fists or palms?"

"Yes."

"I use sword techniques, so be careful that your hands don’t get sliced by my sword."

"You should be careful too. In the future, you might have to hold that sword in your left hand."

When he tensed up and created a sense of anticipation, Hyeolcheon Doma spoke up.

"I will leave first. As I’ve grown old, I need my evening nap."

He seemed uninterested in the duel's outcome, and didn’t want to stay long where the Young Master and I were.

Then Ilhwa Gyeomjond also stood up.

"I shall leave as well. If I don’t sleep, my skin becomes rough."

As the two bid their farewells, I gave them a polite nod.

"Then, please go. I will visit you later."

The question my brother had was answered by Master Ma Bu.

"Are you not worried, Young Master?"

Hyeolcheon Doma glanced at me and muttered under his breath as he walked away.

"Who cares about worry?"

At least at this point, they were united. They knew that staying around in a situation like this would only bring trouble, and above all, they had no concern for me whatsoever.

Surprisingly, Jang Ho also followed.

"I have matters to attend to, so I must leave now."

As the quick-witted bear moved to leave, the nine-tailed fox also followed.

"Then I shall go as well."

I turned to Ian.

"Ian, are you leaving too?"

"Yes. I need to train."

"I don’t care about the others, but you should at least stay and pretend to care. You’ve changed!"

"Of course, I have changed. Someone kept singing the song that I needed to change, and so I did."

She paused and looked back at Seo Daeryong.

"Are you not going?"

"I will stay and watch. I think it will help with my martial training."

At that moment, Hyeolcheon Doma, who had been walking in the distance, shouted to him.

"There’s nothing to learn from watching. Go take a nap instead."

Since Master Doma said so, Seo Daeryong couldn’t stay. He smiled at me as he left.

"That’s what he said. His ears are sharper than anyone’s."

When Seo Daeryong left, the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect moved.

"If everyone leaves, it would make me seem like I’m too idle to stay."

With that, everyone left, each saying their goodbyes in their own way.

"Everyone’s too much!"

No one turned around at my hollow shout.

I knew. The reasons they left varied, but it was all done with a sense of respect for me. It was for my brother.

We trust you to this extent, Young Master.

By leaving, in their own sophisticated way, they showed loyalty to me.

Now, only Gowoel remained.

"You truly are my loyal subject."

"I was just about to leave and get some rest. I don’t like watching fights."

"That won’t do. Someone has to watch."

"Then please make it quick."

"Very well."

Everyone was watching with expressions of disbelief.

Feeling thoroughly ignored, the Yunnan Twin Monsters openly expressed their displeasure. Even Geom Woo Yang, who rarely showed emotion, couldn’t completely hide his surprise at this situation.

The younger of the two monsters stepped forward.

"Since the spectators have left and the atmosphere is ruined, let’s at least have a fight."

He was eager, worried the duel might be canceled.

Don’t worry, villain.

"Very well. It’s a long-awaited fight after all."

You’ve waited far longer than you could ever imagine.

I accepted the duel not just for my revenge, but for the punishment of the evils they had committed.

These men were among the absolute evils I had spoken of.

Some are called absolute evil because they’re too strong, but there are those like these, who are devious and wicked in ways you can’t even imagine.

Masters of disguise, they can hide anywhere, and catching them seems impossible. They regard other people’s lives as worthless, but they cherish their own, doing anything to preserve it.

Such people live long lives and eventually die comfortably. These are the true absolute evils.

Heaven must have been upset by the saying, "They’re already dead." By sending them before me, it seems Heaven had a hand in their fate.

"Now, I will not go easy on you just because you’re the Young Master!"

The younger monster’s first strike was merciless. No matter how it turned out, their mission was to beat me and disappear.

How much did Master Ma Bu pay them? They came all the way here to face me, so I assume it was a pretty hefty sum.

I dodged the punch, quickly grabbing his wrist.

He never imagined his wrist would be caught on the first strike, and he was shocked.

He tried to shake it off, but just as I had firmly seized his wrist, I swiftly drew my sword.

In an instant, his wrist was severed.

"Ugh!"

He screamed instinctively, trying to stem the blood from his severed wrist.

Shiiing! Swish!

Without a moment's hesitation, I severed the other wrist as well.

"Aaaahhh!"

He screamed in agony, flailing his severed arms, spraying blood like a fountain.

The blood poured down around us like rain. I didn’t avoid it, nor did my brother.

As the blood poured down, we simply stared at each other.

At that moment, the older monster attempted to ambush me from behind. It seemed like he planned to overpower me and tend to his younger companion. I tried to turn and block, but when I saw my brother unsheathing his sword, I stayed put.

The sword's fierce energy swept past me and cleanly sliced the older monster in two.

In an instant, the area turned into a sea of blood.

I asked Master Ma Bu:

"What exactly did you expect?"

It was a loaded question. Even though my brother was far away, you knew everything about me.

Did you think the Yunnan Twin Monsters could defeat me and humiliate me? Did you expect me to end up like I did in the past, hidden away in a corner?

I removed the mask from the unconscious So Tae’s face.

A middle-aged man’s face was revealed inside.

"Who are you?"

I intentionally revealed his identity, wondering if my brother knew who these people were.

So Tae glared at me with resentment but didn’t speak.

"I’ll cut off your ankles too."

As I raised my sword to sever his ankles, he shouted.

"...We are the Yunnan Twin Monsters."

In that moment, So Tae’s head exploded. Blood spilled around us as golden light flickered and vanished. It was Master Ma Bu who killed him.

Master Ma Bu’s eyes gleamed gold, and an immense pressure filled the air. This wasn’t the same Master Ma Bu who had been bantering with the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect. His aura was cold and sharp as he spoke sternly.

"Did you ask what I expected? I wanted to show your brother the reality. This is the kind of person you’re competing against—the one who can sever the Yunnan Twin Monsters in an instant. I wanted to show you the reality you face, as you were too proud to see it."

He wasn’t speaking to me, but to my brother.

Master Ma Bu! He’s certainly a wicked man, but his feelings for my brother are genuine.

I glanced at Geom Woo Yang. Like me, blood was dripping down his face, but he remained calm.

With a composed tone, Geom Woo Yang asked me.

"Are you hurt?"

"Thanks to you."

"It’s good to see your martial skills improving. It will be beneficial for our sect."

"I’ve improved, but you’ve sharpened your acting skills."

"What do you mean?"

"You’re not the type to just hang out with anyone, are you?"

"If you’re asking if I knew they were the Yunnan Twin Monsters, I didn’t. Let’s meet tomorrow morning and greet Father."

With that, my brother and Master Ma Bu left. I admired his composure. Now I understood why Hyeolcheon Doma supported him. It made sense.

I walked toward the Yunnan Twin Monsters’ corpses on the floor. I killed them so easily because I didn’t want to give any meaning to their deaths. These kinds of people shouldn’t be allowed a final word. Even the cold rice from a brain prison is too much for them. Killing them like bugs and forgetting their existence is the best punishment.

I searched their bodies and found the promissory notes. Each had a 100,000 tael note.

"Just so you know, with 200,000 taels, you could beat the Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect."

At my joke, Gowoel smiled faintly. I handed the promissory notes to him.

"Use it for your work. Or do you think this filthy money is beneath you?"

"Money has no name. Its value is determined by how it’s used at the moment."

Gowoel never makes me regret my decisions. That’s why I brought him with such dedication.

"I’ll take care of the bodies. Go inside and clean off the blood."

Looking up at the sky, I muttered to myself.

"Now that my brother is back, blood rain is falling from the heavens."