‘If you go there, you can meet the later disciples of the orthodox sects. Even if you don’t enroll, going to the Heavenly Sect Gathering isn’t a bad choice.’

Although he was the Heavenly Demon Lord, the main enemy in the novel was the Blood Cult. Perhaps it was because they faced the same enemy. Surprisingly, among Ji Cheon Wu’s colleagues, there were quite a few people from the orthodox sects.

Weren’t Dang Hwa Ryeong and Je Gal Yu Ryong also Ji Cheon Wu’s colleagues?

That’s when Yak Ran approached me to speak.

“Nam Gung Hyun Jong has something to say to you.”

My face distorted.

The dagger uncle clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

[He must have found out that you left the clan.]

Yak Ran opened her mouth towards me, looking worried.

“Actually, when you were briefly away, the clan leader summoned Nam Gung Hyun Jong.”

“……”

“While you were growing up, he ordered Nam Gung Hyun Jong not to set foot in the clan. So I think it’s better not to meet him.”

But why?

I was bewildered.

Grandfather was a fair person.

Although Nam Gung Hyun Jong was suspicious regarding the matter with Dang Hae Jun, it was only circumstantial evidence, and there was no proper proof.

So it was strange for Nam Gung Hyun Jong to receive such a disposition.

At Yak Ran’s words, I shook my head.

“No, Yak Ran. Call him.”

Not long after Yak Ran left, Nam Gung Hyun Jong entered the room.

He was looking at me with a distorted face in a frightening manner.

“You, where have you been?”

Since I returned alive, Nam Gung Hyun Jong couldn’t hide his anxious symptoms.

‘Well, he must be terrified.’

Originally, those who hid their sins had no choice but to tremble in fear.

Nam Gung Hyun Jong had committed so many sins that he must have been losing sleep at night.

He was trembling and glaring at me. His condition didn’t look too good.

I spoke with a calm face.

“I went out for a walk.”

“Is that really all you did, just went for a walk?”

“Why?”

At my question, Nam Gung Hyun Jong flinched and stiffened his body.

He was staring at me as if looking at a monster. I found it a bit amusing. Nam Gung Hyun Jong was afraid of me, who was just a child younger than him.

‘He’s the monster himself.’

Officially, my father went missing while trying to protect Nam Gung Hyun Jong.

But it was clear that it wasn’t true. It must have been Nam Gung Hyun Jong who drove my father into that hell.

He took advantage of people’s goodwill.

I clenched my fists tightly.

But there was still no evidence.

Unless my father returned alive and testified.

I widened my eyes and asked Nam Gung Hyun Jong.

“Did you know where I went?”

Nam Gung Hyun Jong’s face turned red.

If it were before Grandfather returned, Nam Gung Hyun Jong would have shouted at me.

Then he would have yelled not to give me food.

But Nam Gung Hyun Jong could only grit his teeth and couldn’t take any action against me. It was completely different from before.

Strong against the weak, weak against the strong.

His simple way of thinking made me want to laugh hollowly.

“What nonsense did you say to Father?”

As expected, I knew he would ask. I didn’t answer and just quietly looked at him.

“Hmph. Fine. Don’t wander around outside recklessly. Who knows what trouble you might cause again.”

“……”

“Why do I have to suffer like this because of you?”

Nam Gung Hyun Jong glared at me with a displeased look.

But when our eyes met, he made a frightened face again and started to walk away.

Anyone could see that he was running away.

As Nam Gung Hyun Jong left, Yak Ran approached me.

Then she whispered in my ear.

The dagger uncle snorted, looking at Nam Gung Hyun Jong running away.

[That bastard, just say the word. I’ll take care of him without anyone knowing.]

I patted the dagger in my bosom. Seeing Nam Gung Hyun Jong made it clearer.

What I had to do.

And the first thing I had to do was to make Ji Cheon Wu strong.

‘I should go see Ji Cheon Wu while I’m at it.’

I headed towards the training grounds where Ji Cheon Wu would be.

There, I could see an unexpected scene. Ji Cheon Wu and Dang Hwa Ryeong were sparring.

Swords clashed against each other.

It wasn’t a real sword, but a dagger spar. But perhaps because both of them were putting their hearts into it?

A chilling sensation could be felt.

The Dang family specialized in hidden weapons and poison, but their swordsmanship was also quite outstanding.

Ji Cheon Wu was holding his own against Dang Hwa Ryeong for quite a long time.

The dagger uncle spoke while watching the spar between Ji Cheon Wu and Dang Hwa Ryeong.

[That impudent brat will lose.]

Here, the impudent brat referred to Ji Cheon Wu.

Although he was holding out for quite a while, Ji Cheon Wu wouldn’t be able to defeat Dang Hwa Ryeong.

I knew the reason.

‘Not only is Dang Hwa Ryeong strong, but Ji Cheon Wu lacks fundamentals.’

Fundamentals.

It was the most important thing for a martial artist.

Dang Hwa Ryeong had received systematic training from a very young age.

Of course, both of them were still young, but those few years of gap couldn’t be easily bridged.

‘Rather, fundamentals are even more important at a young age.’

That applied to the future Ji Cheon Wu as well. No matter how outstanding Ji Cheon Wu’s skills were, it took quite a long time for him to overcome the fundamentals.

‘Because Ji Cheon Wu didn’t have a teacher.’

Why would the teachers of numerous protagonists in martial arts novels exist?

Dang Hwa Ryeong’s sword stopped in front of Ji Cheon Wu’s neck.

It was Ji Cheon Wu’s complete defeat.

I gripped the sword tightly.

The dagger uncle spoke to me.

[Will you try crossing swords with that fellow?]

‘What?’

[Wasn’t it something you always wanted to do?]

The dagger uncle wasn’t entirely wrong. I had also been diligently practicing the sword ever since I met the dagger uncle.

I even directly felt the sword wielded by the dagger uncle.

[That fellow isn’t even that tired yet. And it seems like he could use some help.]

At the dagger uncle’s words, I looked at Dang Hwa Ryeong.

As the dagger uncle said, Dang Hwa Ryeong, who had faced Ji Cheon Wu, looked very energetic.

I recalled the Dang Hwa Ryeong from the original story. In the original, Dang Hwa Ryeong was greatly shocked after meeting Ji Cheon Wu.

Dang Hwa Ryeong was basically a boy who lacked the will to live. If his father, Dang Hae Yeol, hadn’t been victimized by the Blood Cult, he might not have helped Ji Cheon Wu. It was evident even now.

The boy who had briefly shown an interested expression while looking at Ji Cheon Wu suddenly became bored again.

I recalled the contents of the original work.

What did Ji Cheon Wu say after defeating Dang Hwa Ryeong?

After meeting Ji Cheon Wu and realizing his own arrogance, Dang Hwa Ryeong becomes more dedicated to martial arts training and strives to become stronger.

‘To be precise, he diligently trains with the thought of getting back at Ji Cheon Wu.’

Dang Hwa Ryeong and Ji Cheon Wu met earlier than in the original story.

And for some reason, the two of them had a spar.

Yeah, that was fine up to that point……

‘Ji Cheon Wu lost. It happened because the period he learned martial arts was too short. Moreover, Ji Cheon Wu didn’t have a proper teacher.’

Although his aunt taught Ji Cheon Wu, she didn’t officially become his teacher.

‘Dang Hwa Ryeong has a unique personality of not even considering someone as a sparring partner for ten years once he defeats them.’

Don’t ask me why.

I couldn’t possibly know the unique beliefs of a genius.

Then, for the next ten years, Dang Hwa Ryeong won’t spar with Ji Cheon Wu.

‘Which also means there’s no one to guide Dang Hwa Ryeong on the right path……’

Having realized this unexpected fact, I made a troubled face.

The person who should have won, lost.

And the person who should have lost became the winner.

It became impossible to know what would happen to both Ji Cheon Wu and Dang Hwa Ryeong.

I gripped the wooden sword.

Even without the dagger uncle’s words, a reason to spar had arisen.

‘At least I need to engrave the purpose for Dang Hwa Ryeong to become stronger.’

I had to give back the words Ji Cheon Wu had said to Dang Hwa Ryeong in his stead.

[This is the timeline separator]

Dang Hwa Ryeong looked at the boy Ji Cheon Wu in front of him.

Dang Hwa Ryeong was slightly surprised.

‘A monster.’

Ji Cheon Wu was a boy who looked like he hadn’t been holding a sword for long.

An untrained body with sloppy fundamentals. Although his internal energy seemed strangely pure compared to that, Dang Hwa Ryeong thought that would be it.

However, the boy showed a surprising level of novelty.

Yes, novelty.

It was the reason why the boy, who clearly shouldn’t have been able to exchange more than a few moves properly, repeatedly blocked his sword.

Ji Cheon Wu was an existence that completely deviated from Dang Hwa Ryeong’s expectations.

He couldn’t block the sword he thought he could block. On the contrary, he even made counterattacks that were close to impossible.

Ji Cheon Wu displayed a sword that Dang Hwa Ryeong couldn’t anticipate more than anyone else his age he had ever encountered.

But in the end, Dang Hwa Ryeong won.

That fact was what mattered.

The momentary interest disappeared. Dang Hwa Ryeong put away his sword with a bored face.

‘Boring.’

No matter how much of a genius one was, they couldn’t defeat him. The briefly burning interest faded away like a flame being extinguished.

Dang Hwa Ryeong was about to turn around.

If it weren’t for Nam Gung Lin blocking his way, he would have.

“Do you still have stamina left?”

At Nam Gung Lin’s question, Dang Hwa Ryeong tilted his head.

It was because he didn’t understand her intention for bringing it up.

“Why?”

“Spar with me.”

At Nam Gung Lin’s words, Dang Hwa Ryeong felt bored again.