Nam Gung Jin Cheon gazed at Nam Gung Hyun sitting in front of him.

Nam Gung Hyun looked haggard.

It was uncertain how long it had been. Nam Gung Jin Cheon stared at Nam Gung Hyun with a face that seemed to lack a sense of reality.

No matter how much time had passed…

Even though his son’s appearance had changed a lot, there was no way he could not recognize him.

The man in front of him was indeed his son, Nam Gung Hyun.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon’s hands trembled. His composure, which he maintained in the face of any threat, was nowhere to be found.

Nam Gung Hyun’s eyes looking at him turned red.

“I have returned, Father.”

“…”

“I apologize. It took too long…”

Nam Gung Jin Cheon slowly stood up and approached Nam Gung Hyun.

He hugged Nam Gung Hyun tightly.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

He could feel Nam Gung Hyun’s thin body. Nam Gung Jin Cheon knew without saying a word.

How arduous a path his son had walked.

And how long and painful the journey here must have been…

Soon, hot tears flowed from Nam Gung Jin Cheon’s eyes.

[This is the timeline separator]

Nam Gung Hyun spoke of the situation he had been in. How he couldn’t return to the family, and what happened to him during that long time.

“It was elder brother who handed me over to the Blood Cult.”

When Nam Gung Hyun brought up those words, Nam Gung Jin Cheon clenched his fists.

His nails dug into his palms, and blood dripped from his hands.

On the other hand, Nam Gung Hyun’s expression was calm.

Even while speaking about what had happened to him, there was no sign of agitation at all.

It was because he had already tasted too much pain to feel grief and betrayal.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon’s heart ached at that fact.

“My memory is not fully intact. The pain of refusing the orders of solitude was considerable, so there were many days when I lost my mind.”

“…”

“I remember many others suffering besides me. The Blood Cult kidnapped many people.”

Nam Gung Hyun clenched his fists as if in agony.

“I have locked up that fellow Hyeol Sin-ui in the prison within the family for now. I had the warriors keep an eye on him at all times.”

“Well done, you’ve been through a lot.”

“I have done nothing. Lin…”

Nam Gung Hyun frowned as if in pain. The thought of his daughter, who had grown up too much while he was unconscious, came to his mind.

‘It was dangerous.’

Nam Gung Hyun couldn’t simply be happy about the fact that Nam Gung Lin had come to save him.

“Lin has grown up wonderfully.”

Nam Gung Jin Cheon said to Nam Gung Hyun.

“Yes, she has grown up well. Really well.”

Soon after Nam Gung Lin left, Nam Gung Jin Cheon received a letter from the White Dragon Merchant Group.

It said that Nam Gung Lin had saved Baek Jin-wi, the successor of the family.

‘And now she has saved Hyun as well.’

But at the same time, Nam Gung Jin Cheon felt a sinking feeling in his heart. Nam Gung Hyun seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Nam Gung Lin’s actions were very dangerous. She acted as if her own life was not important.

Nam Gung Jin Cheon’s face darkened as he slowly got up.

Nam Gung Lin’s past came to mind. Not properly taking care of young Nam Gung Lin was one of his indelible mistakes.

“There is something I need to tell you.”

“…”

“Yes, you should know how Lin grew up.”

Nam Gung Jin Cheon slowly moved his steps.

There was no need to call Nam Gung Lin separately. He could guess where she would be.

“She will probably be at the lake by now.”

[This is the timeline separator]

The atmosphere in the family was chaotic.

The aunt was moving back and forth in front of the grandfather’s quarters, not knowing what to do.

It was the same for Nam Gung Yu Cheong. He was trying to calm his aunt while pretending to be calm, but he also looked very confused.

“Oh my goodness, Hyun. Hyun has returned!”

The aunt alternated between laughing and crying.

It was an understandable reaction, as she was one of the people who loved her father the most.

Nam Gung Yu Cheong was sitting and standing up repeatedly next to such an aunt.

As it seemed that the conversation between my father and grandfather would be long, I carefully changed my seat.

I headed towards the lake where I used to go whenever I had a lot on my mind. Towards me, Uncle Dagger muttered.

[You must be having a hard time hiding your talkative personality.]

That was actually true.

My father and I needed time to become close. I still found the existence of a father to be unfamiliar.

[Why don’t you talk about those things? Haven’t you always been waiting for it?]

At Uncle Dagger’s words, I hardened my expression.

‘It’s all in the past anyway.’

[It’s not something that can be resolved with such words.]

‘…’

[I still remember. The things you said when you were young.]

The time Uncle Dagger and I had spent together was very long. As such, Uncle Dagger knew me very well.

When I was young, I often said to Uncle Dagger.

I couldn’t help but laugh at his words.

‘I was just complaining to you, Uncle.’

I shook my head as I couldn’t do any of those things.

After learning about what had happened to my father, I didn’t say anything to him.

I only laughed ambiguously at his question about how I had been doing.

[He will find out someday anyway.]

I patted Uncle Dagger while holding him in my arms.

Uncle Dagger was right. Even if I didn’t say anything, my father would find out.

When that happens, what will he say?

‘Will he scold me for being pathetically victimized?’

[There’s no way that would happen.]

Now that I had actually met my father, I was happy, but it was difficult to deal with him. It was because I had never had a father in my previous life or in this life.

‘Nothing is ever easy.’

It was then.

Ji Cheon Wu appeared beside me.

“What are you doing?”

Ji Cheon Wu tilted his head and asked me. The moonlight made his face seem to sparkle, giving me the illusion.

‘Oh, my heart…’

Ji Cheon Wu’s face was too fatal.

‘Your face is a weapon, Ji Cheon Wu.’

Even the most wicked demons might hesitate for a moment if they saw Ji Cheon Wu’s face.

“I was lost in thought. I’m feeling troubled.”

At my answer, Ji Cheon Wu asked back in wonder.

“Why?”

“Just…”

Ji Cheon Wu extended his hand to me.

“Do you want to spar?”

My eyes widened.

“Spar?”

“We used to spar often.”

That was true, but this was the first time we had sparred since childhood.

Moreover, a sudden spar, what made him suggest it?

I carefully gripped my sword. Although I did spar with Ji Cheon Wu often, it was closer to Uncle Dagger beating him up.

‘It’s been a while.’

Suddenly, a competitive spirit arose.

I had sparred with other children within the Nam Gung family.

However, there was no child anywhere who could properly spar with me.

But the opponent was Ji Cheon Wu, who had become stronger while training in the demonic sect.

He didn’t hinder me when I caught Hyeol Sin-ui. That meant he had become that strong.

Just like the protagonist of this novel.

Could I defeat Ji Cheon Wu with my own strength, not Uncle Dagger’s?

I know how Ji Cheon Wu and Dang Hwa Ryeong think of me.

But I didn’t think my talent was that exceptional. The genius Ji Cheon Wu and Dang Hwa Ryeong might catch up to me someday.

However…

I should try my best until the very end.

Because at some point, I also genuinely came to like the sword.

“Alright.”

I said that and raised my sword.

[This is the timeline separator]

Ji Cheon Wu was having fun.

As he had felt before, Nam Gung Lin had clearly become stronger.

When he first went to the demonic sect, Ji Cheon Wu found it very interesting.

It was a world of constant survival of the fittest.

Sparring, defeating someone, winning, losing.

And sometimes, there were even people who met their deaths.

There, one always had to prove their strength. But the intrigue was only momentary.

In the end, there was no one who could be his match except for Ak Wi Cheon.

He could feel it even more while training in the demonic sect.

‘How extraordinary Lin was.’

Nam Gung Lin was like life itself to him.

It wasn’t because she was strong.

He liked the way she smiled brightly when sparring. He loved her talent and her love for the sword.

Clang, clang!

The sound of swords clashing sounded like a song. The girl in front of Ji Cheon Wu grinned.

Then she attacked his empty right side, aiming for it.

It was a fierce attack, as if it were a real battle. Ji Cheon Wu quickly stepped with his movement technique to avoid her sword.

There was no killing intent in Nam Gung Lin’s sword at all.

It was different from when he sparred in the demonic sect. There, he always had to be prepared for death.

But this spar was even more intense than then. A duel with no concessions from either side.

Their breathing turned rough.

In the midst of their exchanges…

Nam Gung Lin smiled.

A bright smile that showed she was truly happy. At that moment, Ji Cheon Wu could realize that Nam Gung Lin felt the same way as him.

She was enjoying the spar with him.

Ji Cheon Wu felt his heart beating fast.

Because he was out of breath? Or because it was tiring?

No, no.

‘I really am in love.’

With this girl in front of his eyes.

The feelings that had been slowly growing since she saved him in his childhood had now grown uncontrollably.

Even when he was apart from Nam Gung Lin, his feelings did not diminish.

“Ha, haha.”

Ji Cheon Wu involuntarily let out a chuckle.