"The part that really pisses me off is that someone lumped Yoran together with elixirs, swords, and auction goods."

"Yes."

"I understand the mindset of someone whose business was disrupted. If they lost elixirs, money, or even a sword because of me, I get why they’d be angry. I could accept them coming to confront me. But mentioning a half-blood girl and demanding money from me? That’s like a guilty bastard begging me for mercy. And the whole time, he looked down on me. As if I’m easy? As if I’m some pushover? Hiding out in Dongho like a coward? Sitting on a pile of cash? I’ll kill that son of a bitch with my own hands, so stay tuned."

Moyong Baek said,

"Understood. But, Sect Leader, if you're going to come here in a rage, could you at least lie down quietly?"

Baek So-ah came up beside Moyong Baek and placed a cold towel on my forehead.

Looking down at me, she said,

"Sect Leader."

"What?"

"Try taking some deep breaths."

As I inhaled deeply, Moyong Baek spoke to Baek So-ah.

"Step out for a bit. Don’t stir him up."

"Yes."

As soon as Baek So-ah left the room, I continued.

"You think this is a matter I can just sit still about?"

"It’s not."

Moyong Baek sat beside the bedding and said to me,

"I’m saying this because your fire qi is flaring up again."

"Right."

"If this keeps going, you’ll fall into internal deviation."

"Looks like it."

"If that happens, the Greatest Sword of Dongho will be delighted. Would I be happy about it?"

"You’re right. I should be careful."

"If you collapse before even reaching Dongho, then what?"

I stared at the ceiling and replied,

"Can’t let that happen."

"So, how do you plan to catch him?"

"What? A strategy?"

"Yes."

"I don’t have one. Catching the Greatest Sword of Dongho isn’t about strategy. The Martial Alliance couldn’t even handle him—everyone’s scared. But this isn’t even about money."

"Then what is it?"

"The real issue is that there’s never been a bastard like me."

"I see."

"So, I’m planning to spend the rest of my life in Dongho until I catch that fucker. If I can’t catch him, I’m not coming back to Ilyang County. I’ll comb through every inch of Dongho until I kill him. Even if I grow old and never find him, I’ll still be younger than him, so he’ll probably die first."

"That makes sense."

"I’ll return only after I confirm his death. Whether it takes ten years or twenty, I don’t care. Dongho is my second home now. So, you stay safe during that time too. I stopped by to say goodbye."

Moyong Baek let out a hollow laugh and asked,

"What’s this about putting up that paper?"

"You’ll see if you read it."

"Yes."

"Doctor..."

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"If I don’t return, the second Sect Leader of Haomun is Cha Seong-tae. If something happens to Cha Seong-tae too early, you’ll be the third. While the two of you are leading Haomun, pass down martial arts to Yoran and feed her plenty of elixirs—raise her as the next Sect Leader. That’s my last request before heading off to my second home."

Moyong Baek stared at me quietly.

"I understand Cha Seong-tae, but why me?"

I looked right at him.

"You know me well."

"......"

"You know how I think, how I live. You’re the °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° one who has to pass my heart to Yoran. She’s too young now to understand me. You’ll have to explain it later. Being Sect Leader of Haomun isn’t some grand title. It’s a position you can hold even while continuing your work as a doctor. It doesn’t require some top-tier expert. It just needs someone who understands my intent. Is that too hard?"

Moyong Baek sighed.

"Sect Leader, you're not the type to die easily, so why scare me like this?"

"Preparation is necessary. I’m not easy to kill. But people who want me dead are heading to Dongho too. So are those who want to save me. If they clash and I get unlucky or my side is overwhelmed, I die. A fight is a cold thing—it doesn’t care about sides. The stronger one wins."

"So this trip to Dongho isn’t just to kill the Number One of the Evil Path, is it?"

"That’s the main plan. I’m going to give everything a clean sweep. This fight is between those who treat people like merchandise and those who say that’s bullshit. You either get swept up and die, or you kill."

"Should I come too? This is an important fight."

"You think I’ll say yes?"

"Hmm."

"Stay behind and manage things. Cha Seong-tae can’t handle it alone. Doctor Moyong, you’re my secret weapon. My ace in the hole."

"Me?"

"Of course. You’re going to become way stronger. All the time you’ve spent researching medicine, studying the human body, and dedicating yourself to healing—it’s all going to shine through in martial arts. Trust me and keep pushing forward."

"Understood."

I touched the cold towel on my forehead.

"My fever’s already gone down."

Moyong Baek asked,

"Will Sword Demon, Master Yukhap, and Mongrang be going with you?"

"Naturally."

"When danger comes, you all stick together."

"They’re Yoran’s masters. Of course they’re coming."

After a moment of silence, Moyong Baek cautiously asked,

"...You deliberately chose those three to be Yoran’s masters, didn’t you?"

"That was Deuk-soo’s request."

"But wasn’t it you who pushed them into it?"

"Yeah. But they all know I did it on purpose. In the past, they wouldn’t have done something like this. But after getting swept up in my mess, they’ve all been living more freely. That kind of ‘freedom’ isn’t a bad thing, so they’re probably feeling emotions they never did before. We’ll teach Yoran martial arts—but when it comes to living a proper life, she’s our master."

Moyong Baek muttered in a calm voice,

"Yoran was the master all along."

"No one else has taught the four of us about daily happiness the way she has. Don’t spend the rest of your life alone like us. Find a woman doctor you click with and have a daughter like Yoran."

Moyong Baek chuckled.

"Why specifically a woman doctor?"

"Just a way of saying it."

"When do you depart?"

"Tomorrow."

Moyong Baek said,

"Then sleep at least until tomorrow. You haven’t rested properly for days, being so angry."

I closed my eyes.

"Got it. I’m going to sleep."

As soon as I closed my eyes and dizziness began to set in, I heard Moyong Baek’s voice faintly from outside the office.

"...Shut things down early. The Sect Leader’s sleeping. Move around quietly."

"Yes."

Before I realized it, silence filled the room.

***

The next day, I left the Zaha Guest House and headed for Dongho with the Four Great Villains. I didn’t say a separate goodbye to Yoran. The Lecher had apparently lied, saying he was going to get elixirs—but I figured Yoran was sharp enough not to believe him.

"Are we really fine moving this slowly?"

The Drunk asked, and I answered,

"Let’s take it slow. Like a turtle made of iron."

"Why? I thought you’d be so mad you’d storm over there."

I shook my head.

"Nope. We need to move slowly, like a turtle. We just have to get to Dongho. Eat good food every meal, sleep in comfortable places, go fishing sometimes, hunt sometimes, drink, sleep in as long as we want—just keep heading east."

This time, the Lecher asked,

"And what’s the point of all that?"

I looked at him.

"It means we’re advancing happily. Plus, we need to give our declaration of war time to spread. The ones trying to kill me will come to Dongho. The ones who want to save me will come too. If we move slowly, it gives them time to gather."

The Lecher muttered,

"So... are we killing the Number One of the Evil Path or not? Wouldn’t that just bring more enemies?"

"And more allies. Doesn’t matter."

The Lecher turned to the Sword Demon.

"Master, this fight might get bigger than we thought."

The Sword Demon replied,

"I hope it does."

"Why?"

"That way, I might finally get to live in peace."

"Hmm."

The Drunk asked me again,

"What’s the plan once we get to Dongho? The Number One hasn’t even shown up. He won’t be easy to find."

"I plan to settle in Dongho until I kill him."

The Lecher flinched.

"What?"

"Why so shocked? I’ll live in Dongho until he’s dead. I’ll even watch them build ships, take over an inn, hire a Jomsoi. Do some business. Kill some assassins. If that bastard sends killers after me, I’ll lose sleep. I’ll beat to death every dog under him. Whether it takes a year or ten, I’ll stay."

The Lecher looked flustered.

"Ten years? What about Yoran?"

"It’s just a figure of speech. Even if it does take ten years, Yoran will be sixteen—just the right age to start proper martial arts training."

He made a bitter face.

"Didn’t you tell her you’d be right back?"

I looked at him.

"I never said that. That was you."

"Oh, right."

The Lecher turned to the Sword Demon.

"Master, if we’re unlucky, we’ll be stuck in Dongho for ten years."

The Sword Demon nodded.

"Looking out at the lake morning and night sounds peaceful enough."

"True."

The Lecher suddenly laughed like he’d achieved enlightenment.

Then the gloomy Sword Demon asked me,

"Did you leave instructions with Moyong Baek and Cha Seong-tae?"

I nodded.

"I did."

The Lecher, who had been laughing like a madman, asked seriously,

"Master, are we going to die?"

The Sword Demon answered,

"No. But the Sect Leader is the head of Haomun—it’s only right to prepare for what comes after."

"Yes."

The Lecher looked at the three of us, curiosity overtaking him.

"But Moyong Baek is weak. Why leave it to him...?"

The Sword Demon answered again.

"You think he looks weak?"

"Yes."

"A fool can’t be a physician. He knows more about the meridians than you."

"That much, sure."

"If he has the focus and drive to dig deeply, even if he learns late, he’ll improve quickly. I never thought he looked weak."

"I see. I was the only one who didn’t know. Judging by that face, Second didn’t know either."

The Drunk glared at the Lecher.

"Don’t talk crap. I knew."

The Lecher burst out laughing.

"Second’s cracking jokes now. Hahahaha..."

But no one else laughed, and the Lecher went silent again.

Then, seemingly struck by a dark thought, he said,

"What if someone bullies Yoran while we’re gone? What if someone attacks Haomun?"

I looked at him.

"Where is Haomun?"

The Lecher gave me a look like I was spouting nonsense.

"Zaha Guest House is Haomun, right?"

"That’s just the Zaha Guest House. I am Haomun. Haomun is me. If they want to hit Haomun, they’ve got to hit me."

He blinked.

"Oh, right. Why do you say cool things in such an annoying way?"

I looked at him and replied,

"You're just annoying. You bastard."

This time, the Drunk laughed out loud. But since no one joined in, he too went silent.

After a moment, the Lecher respectfully asked the Sword Demon,

"Master, it’s been a while since we’ve gone out. What should we eat for lunch? Anything you want? Chief Cha gave us plenty of travel money, so this meal is on me."

The Sword Demon looked at me.

"...Chief Cha also gave travel funds to us three. I said we didn’t need it, but he called it military funds."

I nodded.

"That’s money we took from the dark path. Good. If we run out, we’ll rough up some more bastards on the way. Top up the war chest while we’re at it."

Hearing this, faint smiles appeared on the faces of the Lecher, the Drunk, and the Sword Demon. Seeing all three crazy bastards smile at once gave me goosebumps.

Goosebumps...

The Sword Demon returned to his serious expression and nodded.

"Not bad."

The Drunk muttered solemnly,

"Good idea."

The Lecher nodded in agreement.

"Dark path, good."

Everyone was being serious, so I spoke seriously too.

"Great. Hope we run into some bandits. Marauders aren’t bad either. Assassins are good for keeping tension high. So many good things happening."

Why the hell were there so many good things happening all of a sudden?

Of all days, the weather was perfect.