“If you have no master, would you consider becoming my disciple?”

No, this was too sudden.

‘Is Ji Cheon Wu leaving already?’

Was it similar to how the Heavenly Demon was drawn to Ji Cheon Wu in Cheonma Jijeon?

The Heavenly Demon might have also felt some kind of destiny with Ji Cheon Wu.

Like how those destined to be master and disciple are inevitably drawn to each other.

‘In Cheonma Jijeon, Ji Cheon Wu immediately followed the Heavenly Demon upon hearing his words. Even though he didn’t know he was the Heavenly Demon.’

Feeling the pull of destiny.

I bit my lower lip hard. Surely, I had intended to send Ji Cheon Wu to the Heavenly Demon while participating in this Cheonha Je.

That was the natural course of events.

‘I thought I was mentally prepared.’

But it seems I had grown too close to Ji Cheon Wu over the past five years.

The thought of Ji Cheon Wu leaving made me feel a void in my chest, as if a hole had been punched through it.

However, Ji Cheon Wu’s next words left me gaping in bewilderment.

Ji Cheon Wu opened his mouth with a resolute expression.

“I don’t want to.”

I was so taken aback that my mouth fell open.

It was because Ji Cheon Wu had refused so firmly.

‘What, don’t you feel the pull between master and disciple?’

My head was spinning.

Ji Cheon Wu pointed at me and said.

“I have no intention of leaving Lin.”

I was startled by Ji Cheon Wu’s words.

‘Then what about Cheonma Jijeon?’

I had never thought about a future where Ji Cheon Wu didn’t become the Heavenly Demon.

The Cheonma Jijeon I knew was about Ji Cheon Wu becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple and his exploits.

‘Though I didn’t read till the end, Ji Cheon Wu surely would have become the Heavenly Demon.’

That was the predetermined future.

But Ji Cheon Wu really seemed uninterested in the Heavenly Demon’s words.

‘Is it because he doesn’t know he’s the Heavenly Demon?’

But that didn’t seem right, because in Cheonma Jijeon, Ji Cheon Wu agreed to become his disciple even when he didn’t know he was the Heavenly Demon.

“Why don’t you think about it a bit more?”

At my words, Ji Cheon Wu tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“Why?”

“Um, well?”

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Then it’s settled. I have no intention of going anywhere else.”

No, this can’t be…

Uncle Dagger clicked his tongue at my reaction.

[Isn’t it obvious?]

‘What’s obvious?’

[That kid is deeply indebted to you. He probably wants to stay by your side and repay that debt.]

‘It’s not that big of a debt…’

[You’re the only one who would say the Taeyanghwali inner energy isn’t a huge debt!]

I kept my mouth shut and poked at the innocent dumplings.

The dumplings were certainly tastier than the noodles, but for some reason, they started to taste bad.

The Heavenly Demon looked back and forth between Ji Cheon Wu and me, shrugging his shoulders.

“Think about it once more.”

I was momentarily amazed.

‘For the Heavenly Demon to ask him to reconsider…’

He really seemed to think highly of Ji Cheon Wu. Well, in Cheonma Jijeon, Ji Cheon Wu and the Heavenly Demon did have a somewhat tender relationship.

It was exactly like the master-disciple relationship seen in martial arts novels.

‘That’s why Ak Wi Cheon was jealous of Ji Cheon Wu.’

The Heavenly Demon, who was like the sky itself.

The master who was always difficult changed when it came to Ji Cheon Wu.

Just look at how the Heavenly Demon was treating Ji Cheon Wu now.

He had only just met Ji Cheon Wu, yet he was acting quite friendly towards him.

“Is it because of that child that you won’t come? You want to stay by her side?”

At the Heavenly Demon’s words, Ji Cheon Wu nodded.

“Well, that’s part of it. And why should I follow someone I just met?”

I felt like laughing at Ji Cheon Wu’s words.

‘You’re the one who followed someone you just met, you know?’

Hearing Ji Cheon Wu’s words, the Heavenly Demon pondered for a moment before asking.

“Hmm, would you come if I revealed my identity?”

“Old man, you’re quite persistent.”

“Indeed, I’m not usually like this.”

“My mind hasn’t changed. No matter what you say, nothing will change.”

“I’m more amazing than you think.”

“Yes, yes.”

Ji Cheon Wu answered half-heartedly.

My heart was pounding just watching this exchange.

‘Ji Cheon Wu, that person is the Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon!’

But my silent cry was in vain. The Heavenly Demon looked at me, his eyes twinkling.

“Hmm, then I’ve compromised a lot. That child can come too. I’ll consider taking her as my disciple as well. Just by looking, it seems her talent is no less than yours.”

The Heavenly Demon looked at me and asked.

“What do you think? Are you not interested?”

The ones who answered his question were not me, but Uncle Dagger and Ji Cheon Wu.

[Ridiculous! So what if he’s the Heavenly Demon? How dare he set his eyes on my disciple?]

‘Uncle, the Heavenly Demon has no such intentions towards me.’

Ji Cheon Wu also spoke in a firm tone.

He looked as if he was worried the Heavenly Demon might take me away.

“Lin is not available.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s a member of the Nam Gung family.”

“Oh my, that is a bit troublesome. Even I find it difficult to deal with that eccentric fellow there.”

“By eccentric fellow, do you mean Lord Lightning Sword?”

“Yes, that guy cherishes his family too much. If I said I wanted to take that child as my disciple, he’d challenge me to a duel to the death…”

Saying that, the Heavenly Demon looked at me. His eyes were twinkling with interest.

Ji Cheon Wu also seemed to sense something was off. It was because there was no trace of reverence or fear in the Heavenly Demon’s voice when speaking about our grandfather.

Usually, when martial artists talked about grandfather, they all included a bit of reverence.

“Are you sure you won’t regret it? This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“…”

“If you follow me, your life will change. Many will kneel before you. You’ll have nothing to fear in the world. Yet you still won’t come?”

To the Heavenly Demon’s question, Ji Cheon Wu firmly nodded.

“Yes, I don’t tend to regret the decisions I’ve made and acted upon.”

It was a steadfast attitude befitting a protagonist.

The Heavenly Demon seemed to like Ji Cheon Wu even more for his response.

“Hahaha! You’re an interesting fellow.”

I sighed.

Ji Cheon Wu not going to the Demonic Sect was a choice I had never considered before.

‘Right, so many things about the future have already changed, so this has changed too.’

It was a situation I couldn’t have imagined at all if I were to think about the Ji Cheon Wu in Cheonma Jijeon.

That’s when it happened.

I hadn’t even managed to sort out my confusion.

A commotion could be heard from outside the inn.

“Everyone, make way!”

It was a familiar voice.

‘Tak Mu Gwang is here already!’

That meant the Great Power Divine Demon had also arrived.

Soon after, Tak Mu Gwang entered the inn.

Beside him was an old man with a mischievous appearance. I could immediately tell that this old man was the Great Power Divine Demon.

True to his title, despite being an old man, his enormous build was eye-catching.

His gaze was fixed directly on the Heavenly Demon.

“Are you the one? The person who spoke carelessly about me?”

At the Great Power Divine Demon’s words, the Heavenly Demon’s gaze turned to them.

“That’s right.”

“Did you say that in your right mind?”

Hearing the Great Power Divine Demon’s words, the Heavenly Demon raised one corner of his mouth.

‘Wow, he’s really unpleasant.’

In a way, it was a scene that showed why the Heavenly Demon and Ji Cheon Wu got along.

Even I, knowing his identity, found him this unpleasant, so the Great Power Divine Demon’s feelings must have been even stronger.

As I expected, the Great Power Divine Demon’s face turned red as if it was about to burst.

It looked just like Tak Mu Gwang when he was being bested by Ji Cheon Wu.

“It seems the one who’s not in their right mind is you.”

At the Heavenly Demon’s words, the faces of everyone around turned dumbfounded.

The Great Power Divine Demon gritted his teeth and asked.

“You, do you not know who I am?”

“Who are you?”

“I am the Great Power Divine Demon, one of the Seven Demon Lords of the Demonic Sect!”

The Great Power Divine Demon said this and observed the Heavenly Demon’s reaction.

But despite the Great Power Divine Demon’s ambitious words, the Heavenly Demon just looked at him with an indifferent expression.

“He’s completely lost his mind. When I heard from Mu Gwang, I thought he was an unusual fellow, but…”

The Heavenly Demon stood up as if it wasn’t even worth listening to anymore.

He stood in front of the Great Power Divine Demon.

“So, what have you come to argue about?”

“I heard you were talking about me. Saying I was pathetic.”

“That’s right, you are pathetic.”

As soon as the Heavenly Demon’s words fell, I slowly looked around.

Ji Cheon Wu had already moved to my side.

He pulled me.

“Lin, let’s move away a bit. Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet, we shouldn’t get involved.”

He looked as calm as if watching a fire across the river. I agreed with his words, so I quietly moved.

‘We should have had popcorn for this.’

The Great Power Divine Demon didn’t seem to care about us at all. He glared at the Heavenly Demon and muttered.

“Pathetic…”

The Great Power Divine Demon put his hand on the sword at his waist. His aura was fierce, as if he might draw his sword at any moment.

“Yes, you’re pathetic because that’s how you taught your disciple. Didn’t you hear from that fellow? How despicably your disciple acted?”

Hearing those words, Gwang Seo Jin shrugged his shoulders.

“What does that matter? My disciple thought the match wasn’t over. Rather, aren’t you the one at fault for interfering when the match wasn’t finished?”

I was impressed.

‘He’s completely insisting on his point.’

Gwang Seo Jin didn’t admit his fault at all.