Geom Woojin was alone in the backyard, engaged in his Martial Arts Training.
Hwi stood outside the wall, listening to the sounds of the Cult Master's training.
Having always been by the Cult Master's side, he alone knew.
The Cult Master had recently been training more diligently than ever before.
He also knew that the reason for it was Geom Mugeuk.
The sound of the Cult Master's breathing, walking, leaping, swinging his sword, and the sound of his aura being emitted and withdrawn.
They were sounds he had listened to for a very long time.
Hwi had never once directly watched the Cult Master during his Martial Arts Training.
The Cult Master had said it was fine to watch, but Hwi, following his principles, never watched the training, only listening to the sounds.
Just by the sound, Hwi could tell.
No, perhaps because he only heard the sound, he could tell even better.
That the Cult Master's level of mastery had changed.
He had thought the Cult Master was at a point where he could rise no higher, but could there truly be another level of mastery?
The sounds the Cult Master made had clearly changed.
Just as one round of training ended, someone came to the manor.
When Hwi went out, he saw it was Hwang In, who had visited before.
"What brings you here?"
Hwang In spoke to Hwi with a frightened face.
"May I speak directly to the Sect Master?"
Hwi led him to the backyard.
"The Lord of the Hwangdo Merchant Group has arrived."
Geom Woojin's voice came from beyond the wall.
"Let him in."
As he walked, Hwang In recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said.
Don't make eye contact, be respectful.
"Greetings, Sect Master."
After bowing respectfully, he kept his head down and spoke.
"Your son has been captured. By the person who came down to investigate this matter. The Sect Master said he would cook for him, but he wouldn't listen, so he said he would cook himself. No, that's not it."
As he spoke nonsensically, Hwi said.
"Where is the location?"
"If you go about ten li west from the marketplace, there is an old manor."
This was the message Geum Ah-rin had told him to deliver before he came here.
Then, Geom Mugeuk had interjected.
-Won't that be confusing? Ten li from where in the marketplace, are there no forks in the road, are there no other manors in a similar location? You must explain in detail.
-You said your father wouldn't come, didn't you?
At Geum Ah-rin's words, Geom Mugeuk feigned distress.
-Because he is a heartless man.
Hwang In could tell.
Geom Mugeuk was subtly hoping his father would come.
'But your premonition was correct.'
Just as Geom Mugeuk had said, Geom Woojin seemed not only unworried but completely uninterested.
"He said to tell you to come there. And to come alone."
Hwi spoke as if that was enough.
"I understand. You may leave now."
Hwang In, who had turned away, stopped in his tracks.
He felt that Geom Mugeuk would only live if he could somehow bring Geom Woojin with him.
And if Geom Mugeuk lived, so would he.
"Your son's inner energy is suppressed."
But that didn't work either.
"Your son repeatedly told me to explain the location of the manor clearly so there would be no confusion. He was truly desperate and earnest!"
His exaggerated plea also failed.
Faced with the still-blunt reaction, Hwang In bowed his head and turned away.
"Then I will be on my way."
Hwi knew the Cult Master better than anyone.
It was not in his character to make a trip for something the Young Cult Master could get out of on his own.
However, Geom Woojin once again showed Hwi in that very spot that the change in him was not just in the sound of his martial arts.
Just then, Geom Woojin asked Hwang In, who was walking away.
"Did you finish your shopping?"
It was an unexpected question, and at first, he didn't know what it meant, but Hwang In quickly replied.
"Yes! Even with his inner energy suppressed, he shopped with both hands full. He bought vegetables, meat, and even fruit for dessert."
Was he picturing the scene?
Geom Woojin smiled faintly.
"Lead the way!"
In truth, the person more surprised than Hwang In was Hwi.
Silently following Geom Woojin, Hwi foresaw that his escort duties would become more difficult from now on.
If the Cult Master changes, he must also change to be able to protect him.
Nevertheless, it seemed this change was a welcome one for Hwi.
As he followed, a precious smile, as rare as the Cult Master's, formed on his lips.
**
The meeting place was an old manor in a deserted area.
As soon as Geum Ah-rin returned, she placed men in ambush all over the manor.
They were the ones she had brought down with her this time.
They were not many in number, but they were masters skilled in surprise attacks.
They lay in wait on all sides.
In the trees, on the roofs, behind the buildings.
Being highly experienced, they found their positions on their own.
Even if he could block their surprise attack, he would not be able to block her own attack that would follow in the gap.
Her opponent would not leave this place alive.
Whether he knew of this grave situation or not, Geom Mugeuk came out from the kitchen carrying tableware.
"Is he really going to cook in this situation?"
Just as he had unexpectedly gone shopping, Geom Mugeuk prepared to cook in a place teeming with ambushes.
He started a fire in the yard and brought out bowls and utensils, washing them in clean water.
Then, with skilled hands, he began to prepare the ingredients.
Geum Ah-rin watched him with a 'let's see how far you'll go' attitude.
Geom Mugeuk spoke as he peeled an onion.
"Every time I cook, I feel like I'm learning martial arts. Starting a fire, washing the dishes, studying what ingredients to use, trying this seasoning and that ingredient. Then, when the optimal recipe emerges, I repeat it. What do you think? Isn't it similar to our martial arts?"
"If you put it that way, what wouldn't be?"
At Geum Ah-rin's cold response, Geom Mugeuk smiled and admitted it.
"You're right. Playing an instrument, painting a picture, even going out to work every day, they're all similar."
As he said this, Geom Mugeuk closed his eyes as if the onion was stinging them.
Watching the tears well up, Geum Ah-rin felt certain of at least one thing.
'A martial artist crying while peeling an onion? I've truly never seen anyone like him.'
Most martial artists were like that onion.
People whose insides you couldn't fathom.
Hiding their exterior or hiding their interior.
Pretending to be strong when they are weak, or pretending to be weak when they are strong.
But this man was a new type.
He didn't seem weak, nor did he seem strong.
That's why she couldn't make a decision.
That's why she was watching this absurd scene that moved beyond her common sense.
"Honestly, I'm a better cook than my father. You should know you're about to eat a more delicious meal because of me."
It was at that moment.
Without realizing it, Geum Ah-rin's gaze turned towards the back.
She wasn't the only one.
The gazes of those lying in ambush naturally turned towards the main gate she was looking at.
How long had he been there?
Outside the wide-open gate, a man stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
It was none other than Geom Woojin.
A momentary silence flowed.
Geum Ah-rin's heart began to beat so fiercely that she could hear it in her own ears.
The opponent hadn't revealed any aura, nor had he glared coldly, yet her whole body stiffened as if frozen.
Why is this happening? The opponent has done nothing.
She could tell that the gazes of those in hiding were also all focused there.
The presence of the man standing leisurely with his hands behind his back was making everyone's nerves stand on end, drawing them in.
The person who broke the silence, where not even a breath could be heard, was Geom Mugeuk.
"Father! You've come to save your son! Just as I knew! I knew you weren't a heartless father who would abandon his child!"
The corners of Geom Woojin's mouth formed a sneer.
This time, the sneer said to his son, You? I came to save them, who are being toyed with by you.
Geom Woojin slowly walked inside.
Behind him, Hwang In followed cautiously.
As Geom Woojin entered the yard, someone appeared between Geom Woojin and Geum Ah-rin.
The white-haired masked man was Im Hyeok, the guardian escort who had protected Geum Ah-rin since she was a child.
"You must go, Young Miss."
Having lived as a martial artist for a long time, Im Hyeok had experienced many martial artists.
This was the first time he had faced an opponent who made him feel such a primal sense of danger.
The fact that the opponent had not revealed any aura was even more surprising.
Swoosh!
A hidden weapon flew towards Geom Woojin.
Normally, it would have been a situation where one should have shouted, 'Attack together with more force!' but.
Clang!
The person who threw himself to block the hidden weapon was, surprisingly, Im Hyeok.
He also threw himself to block the second and third hidden weapons that flew in.
"Cease the attack! Stop!"
He halted the surprise attack.
He had realized that their ambush would not work against this opponent.
It was an instinctive judgment that he must not provoke the opponent.
'If we provoke him, we will all be annihilated!'
He proved that his white hair was a symbol of his age and experience with his excellent judgment.
"Everyone, retreat!"
At Im Hyeok's command, all those in ambush withdrew.
Geum Ah-rin leaped.
She did not flee upon hearing his words.
She moved behind Geom Mugeuk and held a sword to his throat.
It was a declaration that if they touched Im Hyeok, she would kill Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk spoke to her.
"There was a reason you've survived until now."
It meant that Im Hyeok had protected her well.
At that moment of tense confrontation.
"Sheathe the sword."
Geom Woojin's low words carried an absolute dignity that could not be defied.
Im Hyeok's judgment was good until the very end.
He sheathed his sword without hesitation.
Sometimes, one could protect someone by putting a sword back in its scabbard.
Then he looked at Geum Ah-rin.
His eyes said, Do as he says.
Geum Ah-rin withdrew her sword.
But she did not move away from Geom Mugeuk.
As if nothing had happened, Geom Mugeuk spoke to his father.
"I will be cooking for you today."
"Did you buy enough?"
"Yes, I bought plenty, just in case."
The words 'just in case' held the implication that he had anticipated his father might come.
It was also a wish for his father to come.
It was at that moment.
Geom Woojin rolled up his sleeves and approached Geom Mugeuk.
And he quietly began to trim the vegetables.
He was going to help his son cook.
Geom Mugeuk looked at his father with a surprised expression, then quietly immersed himself in cooking.
He was so surprised and moved that he couldn't even think of joking around.
Cooking with his father.
It was the first time he had done so since his regression.
There were many things he wanted to do with his father, but he never thought the moment would come when they would cook together.
This moment was not one he created, but one his father created, which made it all the more moving.
'Father, thank you.'
Geum Ah-rin watched the scene with a frozen expression.
The fact that Im Hyeok had stepped forward like this meant he had sensed a strength in the opponent that she had not.
'Just who are these people?'
She had never heard of a father and son like this in the martial world.
—You must absolutely not act rashly.
It was a telepathic message from Im Hyeok.
It was the first time she had seen Im Hyeok so scared and tense.
She hadn't felt this level of danger.
A short while later, Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin finished their cooking.
Geom Mugeuk finally called for Hwi.
"Uncle."
Then, from between Im Hyeok and Geom Woojin, Hwi undid his stealth and revealed himself.
"Hah!"
Im Hyeok let out a sharp gasp.
It was the first time Geum Ah-rin had ever seen Im Hyeok so startled by someone's appearance.
He wasn't surprised because he recognized Hwi, but because he was astonished by the level of his stealth.
Im Hyeok had not known that the opponent had been concealed just a few steps away from him.
Others might vaguely think, 'he's incredible,' but he alone knew.
Just how incredible a display of stealth that single move was.
A move that would bring greater astonishment to a master, Hwi's stealth was that perfect.
The surprise didn't end there.
The air of a master that emanated from Hwi's appearance.
The opponent was clearly an escort martial artist.
It takes one escort to know another.
'I have never in my life seen such a strong escort martial artist.'
Just who was he protecting?
His skill matched the presence of the man who had appeared earlier.
His gaze naturally shifted to Geom Woojin.
This was certain.
He didn't know who that man was, but he would be someone whose name alone would be known to all.
Just then, Hwi looked at Im Hyeok.
There is something that connects escorts who have dedicated long years of loyalty and devotion.
What kind of escort the other is, what kind of life they have lived.
That must be why Hwi sent such a telepathic message.
—Do you wish to protect your master? Then stop.
Your thoughts, your actions.
And keep your mouth shut.
Im Hyeok understood it as advice to leave everything to them.
It was not advice given to just anyone.
And so, everyone sat around the table.
Hwi, Im Hyeok, and even Hwang In sat down.
"Now, let's eat."
Geom Woojin ate the food.
"How is it?"
Geom Mugeuk asked nervously.
He had been the head chef today, and his father had only assisted.
The Young Cult Master cooked, and the Heavenly Demon assisted—it was truly an unforgettable day in the history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, as well as in their personal histories.
"Not bad."
From his father, that level of assessment was as good as a compliment like, 'This is a delicacy!'
This time, he asked Geum Ah-rin.
"Why aren't you eating, miss? Please, eat. A dish made by my father and me is a dish you may only have once in a lifetime."
Geum Ah-rin had not yet picked up her chopsticks.
She was confused.
The situation had ended before she could even do anything.
Now, the situation was beyond her control.
She was certainly someone who knew restraint in times like these, but this situation now…
"What is this?"
A sigh escaped her lips without her realizing.
Im Hyeok's eyes told her she had to endure it.
Of course, she trusted Im Hyeok's judgment.
But while she could endure her sword being drawn, she could not endure this question.
"What is your identity?"
A question she had asked and thought about several times, but had yet to find an answer to.
At that, Geom Mugeuk looked at her with clear, deep eyes.
"I happened to see someone being forced into an unreasonable contract and helped them. When things went wrong, the one who forced it tried to kill us. So I killed them. Why are you coming here for revenge as if some great people died?"
Because he spoke in a calm and composed tone, and because he had mostly spoken nonsense until now, Geom Mugeuk's words were delivered to her with weight.
"Why do you ask who we are? Isn't now the time for you to ask yourself who you are? Are you a person who deserves to die like those who died? Or are you a person with value in living?"
"..."
Geum Ah-rin could not give any answer.
Anger welled up inside her.
But she could not express that emotion.
Another emotion, intertwined with the anger and holding it back from bursting out, was fear.
Geom Mugeuk was asking now.
Are you a human being worth living?
As a heavy silence descended, only the sound of chewing could be heard.
Pouring water, moving chopsticks.
Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin ate as naturally as usual.
Hwi and Hwang In ate cautiously, while Geum Ah-rin and Im Hyeok barely ate at all.
It was then that a sound was heard from afar.
The sound grew louder.
Dududududu.
It was the sound of a carriage approaching.
The manor was in a remote location, so there was no one who should be coming.
And so, the carriage that had galloped as if by fate, arrived outside the gate.