How much could one learn by sharing a sword with a master of the divine realm?

Even if one’s skills were lacking and unable to learn, how beautiful would the scenery be from just a glimpse?

Just imagining it made the body tremble and the heart swell.

‘But I can’t!’

What was Na Rin’s martial art?

It was the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, which scattered pink petal-shaped sword energy and exuded a fragrant scent.

Wasn’t it a martial art second to none in the world for its eye-catching nature?

Even a three-year-old child would recognize it from ten li away, saying, ‘Wow! There must be a plum blossom sword master over there!’

‘I don’t even have permission to enter the library now, so I can’t pretend I learned it from books.’

So I have to give up. I must give up. But…

“Yes. Anything is fine.”

How can he say such things!

While Na Rin was groaning and struggling to suppress her desires,

[What are you pondering so deeply?]

Gong Son Wu sent a sound transmission, grinning without knowing Na Rin’s inner turmoil.

[Do you think you’ll have another chance like this? Feel free to make a request. You’ve earned it with your achievements.]

Is that so?

Na Rin nodded, trying to calm her pounding heart.

Right. It’s worth a try, at least.

Having made up her mind, Na Rin exclaimed enthusiastically.

“What I wish for is…!”

[This is the timeline separator]

“How audacious!”

Elder Oh Im Cheon Hap stormed out of the main hall, grumbling.

Other elders who were close to Elder Oh followed, trying to calm him down.

“Calm yourself. You have high blood pressure.”

“How can I calm down at a time like this! Ugh…! Ah!”

Just as Im Cheon Hap was about to fall backwards, clutching the back of his neck, the Seventh Elder Oh Hyeon Hak quickly came to support him.

“Th-thank you, Seventh Elder.”

“Tsk tsk. How can someone of elder status be so lacking in composure?”

“I’m embarrassed. But Seventh Elder, didn’t you hear what that little girl said?”

“I heard it. Of course.”

The Seventh Elder continued calmly.

“Didn’t she say she wanted to ask the Sect Leader for guidance?”

“It’s what came after that’s the problem, what came after!”

After?

‘What came after?’

The Seventh Elder recalled Na Rin’s specific words in the main hall.

“Just the two of us in a place with no one else! And please keep silent about what happens during the sparring!”

Elder Oh fumed again, as if just recalling it made his blood boil.

“Even if the Sect Leader said to ask for whatever she wanted, how could she be so lacking in manners! A mere lay disciple should be content with receiving rice or silk! To dare, to dare to ask the Sect Leader for a vow of silence…! Ugh!”

“Elder Oh! Calm yourself!”

The other elders fanned Elder Oh as he was about to collapse.

‘For Na Rin, that was actually quite polite.’

The Seventh Elder recalled Na Rin insisting she would teach him the method to break the Immobilizing Technique if he did as she said.

“Let’s be lenient. At a glance, she doesn’t seem old enough to have learned proper etiquette. Besides, the Sect Leader didn’t say anything.”

“That’s because the Sect Leader has no emotions!”

“Shh! Shush!”

“Oh my!”

Elder Oh, realizing his slip of the tongue, covered his mouth in shock.

It was an open secret that Dokgo Cheon had lost his emotions.

Hearing Elder Oh’s words, the other elders looked at him with uncomfortable expressions and said,

“Tsk tsk. I wonder who lacks manners here. I’m leaving.”

“I’m leaving too. Ahem.”

“No, it was a mistake! A mistake! Come with me!”

A man watching the retreating figures of the elders spoke.

“Look at the aftermath of what you’ve done.”

It was the Guardian Gong Son Wu.

Beside him, a child was pouting and fidgeting with her fingers.

Of course, it was Na Rin.

“You told me to feel free to make a request.”

“Did anyone say anything?”

Gong Son Wu chuckled.

‘What a peculiar child.’

A young lay disciple who had just arrived from the Central Plains, asking the Sect Leader for guidance in sparring.

And not just that, but alone, with conditions for keeping information confidential.

“Still, it’s unexpected. I thought you’d ask for spirit medicine.”

Gong Son Wu’s guess was quite accurate.

If Na Rin hadn’t known Dokgo Cheon’s level, she probably would have asked for spirit medicine with high probability.

‘But how many divine realm masters can one meet in a lifetime?’

Having met someone you might barely see once even if you died and were reborn ten times, how could you not ask for guidance and settle for spirit medicine?

“It’s not comparable to something like spirit medicine.”

“That’s true.”

Gong Son Wu smiled gently.

“Follow me. I’ll escort you to the Sect Leader’s training ground.”

The Sect Leader’s training ground.

Though simply called a training ground without flowery words, one would be mistaken to think of it as an ordinary place.

A vast martial arts field so large it would be clearly visible even if viewed from the sky through an eagle’s eyes.

Black mystic iron covering every inch of the 10-li (4km) square floor from end to end.

A building large enough for a thousand soldiers to thrust their spears simultaneously, yet used by only one person.

The Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult. The Heavenly Demon Dokgo Cheon.

‘Is this for real?’

Na Rin felt dizzy at the solid touch of metal under her feet.

What was mystic iron?

Stronger than iron. Stronger than steel. Stronger than hundred-times refined steel. That’s what mystic iron was.

Others would make a fuss about “making a mystic iron sword!” when mixing just a fingernail’s worth, that’s how absurdly expensive mystic iron was.

‘Covering the training ground floor with mystic iron?’

It was mind-boggling.

To think such a madman existed in this world. And that he was my father.

‘I wish I could take just one floor panel to make my sword.’

Na Rin clenched and unclenched her empty hand, looking regretful.

Whether aware of her inner thoughts or not, Gong Son Wu asked,

“By the way, what will you do about a weapon?”

Na Rin, who obviously had no weapon, just blinked her eyes and said,

“Can I borrow yours?”

“The Blue Dragon Sword?”

So it had such a grand name.

It was clearly going to be a precious item.

Just as Na Rin was about to say it was fine if he couldn’t lend it, Gong Son Wu stroked his chin and said,

“It might be too long for you.”

Even as he said this, Gong Son Wu unstrapped the Blue Dragon Sword from his waist and handed it to Na Rin.

“Here. Try holding it.”

A long sword with a scabbard covered in blue-dyed crocodile leather, bordered with gold and silver, and adorned with colorful jewels.

Even without drawing it, she could tell. This was an incredibly expensive treasure sword.

“No, it’s okay…”

“Is it indeed too long?”

Though length wasn’t the issue, Na Rin just nodded vaguely.

Na Rin handed the Blue Dragon Sword back to Gong Son Wu and asked,

“Is there anywhere else I could borrow a sword?”

“Well… This is the Sect Leader’s private training ground, so…”

It meant it wasn’t a place where other personnel came and went.

‘This is troublesome.’

Should I borrow the Blue Dragon Sword even if it’s inconvenient?

As Na Rin tilted her head in contemplation, Gong Son Wu looked into the distance and waved his hand.

“Ah, Sect Leader! Over

Hadn’t she shown proper etiquette in the main hall, bowing her head and saying things like “I obey!” in her own way?

But Dokgo Cheon seemed accustomed to Gong Son Wu’s attitude, showing no signs of being disturbed.

Or rather, he didn’t seem like the type to be disturbed in the first place.

‘He’s changed into martial attire.’

Dokgo Cheon was wearing simple martial attire instead of his flowing robes.

Of course, it only looked simple; in reality, it was undoubtedly made of breathtakingly expensive material.

“What’s the occasion for dressing up in martial attire?”

“It’s a reward.”

Dokgo Cheon added, sending an indifferent glance towards Ju Na Rin.

“I can’t be careless about it.”

Thump.

Ju Na Rin’s heart beat strongly as her eyes met Dokgo Cheon’s in his martial attire.

Why does he suddenly look so handsome?

Ju Na Rin lowered her head to avoid his gaze, then peeked at Dokgo Cheon repeatedly.

It wasn’t an illusion. His face, which seemed to sparkle as if sprinkled with starlight, was definitely more handsome than before.

‘I must be seeing the divine realm master through rose-colored glasses.’

Ju Na Rin thought her eyes had gone strange, but to anyone looking, Dokgo Cheon was striking right now.

His long white hair that had been covering his face was neatly tied up, and with a black hero’s headband around his forehead, his handsome face was fully revealed.

“…Rin. …Na Rin?”

“Ah, yes!”

Ju Na Rin snapped back to her senses.

Gong Son Wu looked at the dazed Ju Na Rin with worried eyes, clicked his tongue, and said,

“Don’t you have something to ask the Sect Leader?”

“Ask…?”

“Why, this.”

Gong Son Wu tapped the Blue Dragon Sword hanging at his waist.

Ju Na Rin made an “Ah!” sound, and as if suddenly remembering, she scurried over to Dokgo Cheon and said,

“I don’t have a sword to use for the sparring. Could you lend me one?”

“…”

Dokgo Cheon thought for a moment with an expressionless face, then unstrapped the scabbard hanging at his waist and handed it to Ju Na Rin.

“Take it.”

“…I’m just asking, but is this sword perhaps…”

“It’s the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.”

I knew it.

How come the Guardian and the Demonic Cult Leader are doing the same thing?

Asking to borrow a sword doesn’t mean hand over your prized weapon!

“No, that’s too long. You should lend the child a sword she can use.”

“I see.”

At Gong Son Wu’s advice, Dokgo Cheon readily agreed and took out a short sword he carried as a secondary weapon.

The short sword, about 2 ja (60cm) long, was just the right length for Ju Na Rin to wield.

“Thank you, I’ll use it well.”

“Mm.”

“Shall we start right away?”

“Before that.”

Dokgo Cheon’s gaze turned towards Gong Son Wu.

“Leave.”

Gong Son Wu pointed at himself and looked back and forth between Dokgo Cheon and Ju Na Rin.

“Me?”

“The child requested to spar ‘alone’.”

Gong Son Wu spoke in his characteristic relaxed tone mixed with amusement.

“Come on, that’s different! As Na Rin’s guardian, I should naturally be present at the sparring…”

“Is it different?”

Dokgo Cheon asked, looking at Ju Na Rin. Ju Na Rin shook her head as if she had been waiting for this.

“No. That’s right. We should be alone.”

“Na Rin!”

“See you later, Guardian.”

Ju Na Rin smiled brightly and waved at Gong Son Wu.

Gong Son Wu looked disappointed, as if he hadn’t expected to be excluded by the word ‘alone’, but that wasn’t her concern.

‘The fewer people who see the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, the better.’

Watching Gong Son Wu’s retreating figure with a dejected face, Ju Na Rin turned to face Dokgo Cheon.

“Then, I’ll learn one move.”

“Mm.”

Dokgo Cheon gave a slight nod, signaling that he was yielding the first move.

It was common in the martial world to yield the first move to a junior during sparring.

For Ju Na Rin, this was welcome.

‘I need to show my skills before the real sparring begins.’

Ju Na Rin knew that Dokgo Cheon was showing considerable sincerity in this sparring.

He had even changed into martial attire to face a child, which said it all.

But that’s not enough.

‘I’ll make your eyes pop out in surprise!’

Ju Na Rin summoned the internal energy that had long been dormant in her dantian.

So strongly that it could be said to be almost the first time in this life.