Ji Cheon Wu looked at Nam Gung Lin who had fallen asleep leaning on his shoulder.

‘She finally fell asleep.’

After meeting Nam Gung Hyun, Nam Gung Lin seemed to be only half in her right mind. It was the first time Ji Cheon Wu had seen Nam Gung Lin look so anxious.

‘It must have been really hard on her.’

Ever since childhood, Nam Gung Lin had been the person who showed him the way. From the moment he first met Nam Gung Lin, she had been a unique person.

‘She always acted as if she knew the entire future.’

Ji Cheon Wu recalled the words he had said to Nam Gung Lin.

‘You’re always trying to handle everything on your own. Because you’re afraid others will get hurt.’

He wished Nam Gung Lin would rely on him more.

That was the reason he had gone to the Heavenly Demon Cult.

Whenever things were tough in the Heavenly Demon Cult, he thought of Nam Gung Lin. The purpose that drove him to endure those difficult years.

‘And then when I saw you again after so long, you acted distant.’

It was a bit infuriating, but seeing Nam Gung Lin struggling made him feel uneasy.

As always, he preferred Nam Gung Lin to be happy.

‘I left for the Heavenly Demon Cult to become your strength whenever you needed it.’

From a young age, Nam Gung Lin had many enemies and many hardships.

Each time, he hated that he couldn’t do anything.

‘So please depend on me a little.’

With that thought, Ji Cheon Wu carefully lifted Nam Gung Lin’s head.

It was to lay her down comfortably.

The sound of rustling was heard.

Ji Cheon Wu looked sharply towards where the sound came from.

The person who appeared was Dang Hwa Ryeong.

“Oh, looks like Lin fell asleep. She seemed tired.”

He looked at Ji Cheon Wu with his arms crossed. Dang Hwa Ryeong’s gaze did not leave Nam Gung Lin who was leaning on Ji Cheon Wu’s shoulder.

As expected, he was an unpleasant fellow.

Ji Cheon Wu disliked the way Dang Hwa Ryeong looked at Nam Gung Lin.

Because it seemed just like how he looked at her when they were young.

“Lin looks uncomfortable, why don’t you lay her down properly?”

“I was going to do that even without you saying it.”

Saying that, Ji Cheon Wu carefully laid Nam Gung Lin down.

[This is the timeline separator]

They finally arrived at the Nam Gung household.

The Nam Gung household that she was visiting again after a long time had not changed at all.

Her aunt and Nam Gung Yu Cheong looked very surprised to see her party.

Especially when they saw Ji Cheon Wu, they let out a gasp of admiration.

“Is it really you, Cheon Wu? The Cheon Wu I know?”

“My goodness, your divine appearance has really opened up.”

It was understandable.

Ji Cheon Wu had changed so much that anyone would be surprised.

‘I was surprised too.’

Nam Gung Yu Cheong muttered in astonishment.

“You’ve definitely gotten stronger. Astonishingly so. I mustn’t neglect my training either.”

“That’s right. You’ve grown so much taller too. If I didn’t know it was you, Cheon Wu, I wouldn’t recognize you at all.”

Her aunt’s gaze turned to Dang Hwa Ryeong.

“And who might this young hero be?”

Her aunt’s eyes were ceaselessly moving, looking at Ji Cheon Wu and Dang Hwa Ryeong who had come with me.

She also did not forget to look at the two suspiciously.

Dang Hwa Ryeong politely bowed his head. It was impossible to recall his arrogant demeanor from when they were at the Dang household.

“He seems somewhat familiar…could it be the young hero Dang?”

“It’s been a long time.”

“My word, young hero Dang has grown a lot too. As expected, young ones grow up quickly.”

A look of delight passed over her aunt’s face. She had heard before that her father and Dang Hae Yeol were close, and that her aunt also frequently socialized with them.

“You resemble Hae Yeol.”

“……”

“You all must be tired from the journey, go to your quarters first.”

My party and I went to our quarters to unpack. Dinner was prepared very lavishly.

Dang Hwa Ryeong and Ji Cheon Wu, upon seeing grandfather, seemed unable to focus on the food throughout the meal.

Grandfather also looked at them with sharp eyes, though the reason was unknown.

Grandfather said, looking at Ji Cheon Wu,

“You’ve improved a lot.”

At grandfather’s words, Ji Cheon Wu’s face could be seen turning red.

“Thank you.”

And for some reason, aunt looked at Ji Cheon Wu and grandfather with a pleased gaze.

As if remembering something, aunt said to me,

“I heard you won the match against Paeng Su Hyeon at the Gathering.”

“I learned a thing or two.”

“So modest. You’ve definitely gotten stronger. You are the pride of the Nam Gung family.”

Nam Gung Yu Cheong also added,

“That’s right, there’s no one among my peers who doesn’t know of Lin.”

Grandfather also nodded at aunt’s words after hearing them.

He didn’t say anything, but he acknowledged aunt’s words.

Looking at them, I showed a small smile. I could feel my anxious heart gradually settling.

[This is the timeline separator]

After mealtime ended, I stood in front of grandfather’s quarters.

The attendant opened the door.

It seemed grandfather had allowed my sudden visit.

Grandfather appeared to have been preparing for bed. His gaze, dressed in comfortable clothes, turned to me.

“Did something happen?”

At grandfather’s words, I nodded. Something had happened.

Many things at that…

“Yes, something happened.”

“What did you see when you went?”

Grandfather was stroking his beard. His back looked enormous as always.

The dagger uncle’s words were right.

This was something I absolutely could not handle on my own.

‘And it’s not something I can hide from grandfather.’

I knew how much effort grandfather had put in to at least find my father’s corpse.

So I couldn’t hide this fact, at least not from grandfather.

I quietly began to speak.

“Father was alive.”

Grandfather’s hand that was stroking his beard stopped.

He slowly turned around.

“Hyun is…alive?”

For the first time in my life, I saw grandfather’s trembling hands. A face mixed with disbelief and bewilderment.

My eyes and grandfather’s eyes met.

“Judging from your expression, he wasn’t in a good state…”

At grandfather’s words, I touched my face. As he said, I was crying.

‘Seems like I’ve turned back into a crybaby.’

It felt like I had returned to being 8-year-old Nam Gung Lin.

I began to explain to grandfather. About the process of saving Baek Jin Wi and the man in black who had been taking father around.

“Father seemed to have lost his senses. In a state of being controlled by others. As if he had fallen to the Lonely Poison.”

An intense aura burst out from grandfather’s body. Even the attendant standing outside could be heard holding his breath.

“I neglected you for several years, saying I would find Hyun’s corpse.”

Pain could be felt in grandfather’s voice.

“Grandfather…”

“That was the biggest mistake of my life. I shouldn’t have done that.”

Saying that, grandfather tightly clenched both fists.

“I thought father’s disappearance itself was a conspiracy. But for him to be in this state…”

For a long time, I didn’t utter this fact for grandfather’s sake.

Because to grandfather, Nam Gung Hyun Jong would also be a precious son.

Grandfather acknowledged my words.

“Yes, you are right.”

“……”

“If they are vicious enough to use the Lonely Poison, there is only one group that comes to mind.”

Grandfather slowly rose to his feet.

“Their target was probably me. And in the process, they targeted my son.”

He gripped the sword he had hung on the wall.

“It’s time to settle the matter I’ve been turning a blind eye to.”

[This is the timeline separator]

After Nam Gung Lin left, Nam Gung Jin Cheon covered his face with his hands. Hot tears flowed down his hands.

Hyun was alive.

It was something he had always wished for during the years he had searched for Nam Gung Hyun. Nam Gung Hyun’s survival.

But could that be called being alive?

Once afflicted with the Lonely Poison, there was usually no solution.

It was the Blood Cult’s most vicious technique and also the reason the entire martial world was joining forces to oppose the Blood Cult.

‘Lin almost got hurt.’

Perhaps even by Hyun’s hands.

It was an unimaginably terrible thing. He thought of his son, Nam Gung Hyun.

The smile Nam Gung Hyun had when Nam Gung Lin was born.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon saw that smile on his son for the first time.

As if he had gained the whole world, it was a bright smile.

Carefully embracing Nam Gung Lin, he said to Nam Gung Jin Cheon,

“Father, I will protect this child for life.”

When Nam Gung Hyun’s wife Eun Hwa died.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon heard the words Nam Gung Hyun tearfully vowed at his wife’s grave.

“Don’t worry and go. I will raise Lin well. At least that child…”

And he couldn’t keep any of it.

Looking at the sword gripped in his hand, Nam Gung Jin Cheon vowed.

“I will keep your promise, Hyun.”

Nam Gung Jin Cheon knew.

To protect Nam Gung Lin, Nam Gung Hyun would have thrown away even his life.

So…

Nam Gung Jin Cheon decided it was time to really make his move.

It was time to unfurl the body that had been crouching to protect the family.

[This is the timeline separator]

I left grandfather’s quarters. After meeting with grandfather, my thoughts were organized.

Grandfather said he was leaving for the Martial Alliance. He must be planning to seriously go out and crush the Blood Cult.

The reason grandfather had remained docilely at the Nam Gung estate until now was because of Nam Gung Yu Cheong and me.

‘He stayed at the family estate all this time to protect us.’

But now, both Nam Gung Yu Cheong and I had grown up to some extent. It meant grandfather didn’t always have to watch over us at the family estate.

‘The progress is much faster than in the original work.’

In the distant future, the Martial Alliance and the Demon Cult did not join forces until Ji Cheon Wu stood at the forefront of the battle.

‘But grandfather wasn’t there at that time.’

It was the difference between the original and now.

[If one thing changes, everything changes.]

‘Uncle’s words are right.’

I don’t know exactly where the Blood Cult’s headquarters are.

In the final chapter of the Heavenly Demon’s Supremacy, the Martial Alliance and Demon Cult were preparing for the battle with the Blood Cult.

‘And I didn’t get to see that scene.’

But by then, too many people had already suffered.

‘So I won’t let things flow as they did in the original work.’

With that vow, I firmly gripped the dagger in my embrace.