As the sound of the waterfall echoed around us, Cheonak, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

“So in the end, you spent all this time with us just to say that?”

I nodded.

“Even if I’d said the same thing forty days ago, the meaning wouldn’t have been the same. I tried to endure in my own way. Coming here, creating Dark Fragrance Drifting, and learning a few things through sparring were just incidental strokes of luck. But I had always intended to say that it was Makgunja and Sister Jinhyang who saved me.”

Fortunately, it seemed that at least some of my sincerity had reached the two of them. I could tell from their expressions and silence.

Cheonak and the White-Robed Scholar exchanged glances, then smiled at the same time with expressions like air leaking from a balloon.

The White-Robed Scholar let out a short sigh and said,

“You really are something else. I’ll acknowledge you. Whatever that acknowledgement may mean, you’re the most absurd man I’ve ever known.”

Following his words, Cheonak added,

“If Dark Fragrance Drifting means what you say, then even the youngest disciple and Sister Jinhyang in heaven will be pleased. To think you endured here just to say that. I thought you’d only stayed to grow stronger—it seems that was my narrow-mindedness.”

Just knowing that the two of them understood my intentions made me want to bow to them in gratitude.

I had sparred against these two for over forty days. What kind of name should be given to this sort of battle? It was just as grueling as the fight in Dongho. It wasn’t simply a contest to determine who won or lost—that made it all the more exhausting.

The White-Robed Scholar was brilliant.

And Cheonak was a man of great stature.

These two didn’t need any more advice or nagging from me. As soon as I realized that, I also felt it was time to leave the Steel Mountain Lodge. Strangely, the moment I thought that, Cheonak—who had been watching my face—asked,

“...You’re planning to leave right away?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at how he read me so easily.

“I should.”

“What’s the plan?”

I shook my head. I’m not the type to make detailed plans. Though I did have something to say regarding martial arts.

“Now that I’ve learned Dark Fragrance Drifting, I should start mixing it into the swordsmanship I already know. I’ve realized it’s delusional to try and catch up to the Three Calamities through internal energy alone in a short time. That’s something to develop gradually, day by day. No need to rush it. But swordsmanship is different.”

“In what way?”

I took a moment to organize my thoughts before answering.

“There are many experts and martial arts in this world, but if I want to keep up with them, I need to focus on the sword first. Even if my internal energy is lacking, even if I’m slow, even if all my moves are read—my sword can’t fall behind. That way...”

I spoke like I was making a request to the two.

“Even if I’m unlucky enough to run into the Cult Leader, I’ll at least be able to slice off one of his arms. If I fall, the Four Villains will likely come for revenge. A few fingers, some toes—if we’re lucky, maybe another arm. At that point, Senior, you’ll have to step in. Then the title of Strongest Under Heaven will be decided in a duel between Senior Shin Gae and yourself.”

The White-Robed Scholar asked me,

“Is that your official will as Haomun’s Master?”

I nodded, and so did he.

“Understood.”

Cheonak looked at me.

“With your personality, I figured you’d just flee without regret. Why even leave a will like that?”

“You’re not wrong. Still, I always have to assume the worst-case scenario. That’s the proper courtesy toward Jianghu, and a leader’s duty.”

Unexpectedly, Cheonak showed concern.

“You’re too young. It’s reckless for someone your age to duel the top martial artists of our time. Be good at running away.”

The White-Robed Scholar stared at Cheonak in disbelief.

“You were ready to crush his skull before. Why are you suddenly worried?”

Cheonak looked back at him.

“Same goes for you, doesn’t it?”

“Well... sure, it’d be a bit boring without the Master, but not that bad.”

I said to them,

“I have a few favors to ask...”

The White-Robed Scholar looked at me like I’d gone mad.

“I’m already debating whether to grant even one, and now you’re saying a few?”

“Just shut up and listen first. Starting with you, Senior Cheonak.”

Cheonak replied,

“Go on.”

“The White-Robed Scholar’s disciple must be a gentleman.”

Cheonak looked puzzled.

“Why are you telling me that?”

“Unrivaled used to torture villains into becoming obedient slaves and then trained them to carry out orders. His standards for choosing disciples were twisted. The common trait was that he liked either clever ones or those quick to learn martial arts.”

“That’s true.”

“That won’t do. Someone like that will never master Unrivaled’s techniques properly. Anyone who relies on tricks will eventually be beaten to death. Or killed by someone like me wandering Jianghu. You know this too—at his core, the White-Robed Scholar is a selfish man.”

The Scholar looked at me with a bitter expression.

“......”

“So then, what kind of disciple would a man that selfish need in order to pass on everything he knows?”

Cheonak asked,

“Are you saying that’s a gentleman?”

I nodded.

“Someone who doesn’t calculate. There are plenty who are fast learners or smart. But men with a heart like a gentleman’s are rare. Unless he finds someone like Makgunja, Unrivaled’s martial arts will die out. This isn’t just his personal issue—if he fails to pass them on, the martial legacy of the Scholar’s side will disappear too.”

Cheonak still looked puzzled.

“So why tell me this?”

“I already told you. People don’t change easily. Unrivaled will keep preferring smart guys. But that’s the wrong answer. So when someone shows up who you think has the traits of a gentleman, just remember—they should be Unrivaled’s disciple.”

“Hmm.”

“I want you to remember it instead. You have the judgment to tell who’s a true gentleman. Just evaluate them in his place.”

Cheonak nodded.

“Understood.”

Now I turned to the White-Robed Scholar.

“On that note, Senior Cheonak’s disciple should...”

The White-Robed Scholar blinked.

“What?”

“......”

“Go on. Say it.”

I cleared my throat and shamelessly continued.

“Must not be a gentleman.”

The two stared at each other with slightly dazed expressions. Still, I went on.

“If he takes in some gentleman type, Senior Cheonak’s going to end up with Deviation of the Heart.”

“Then what?”

“Bring in an orphan. Not the kind created by torture like Heukseon used to do. I mean a truly pitiful orphan who lost their parents. And don’t teach them martial arts right away.”

“Then why take them in?”

“Have them start by learning from Brother Habok. That guy’s too busy doing everything alone. Teach them to cook, clean—which goes without saying—and move heavy metal chunks. What I’m saying is: someone Brother Habok would love. Someone who’s good at everything he does, and ideally born with a strong frame. Like a bear. But if they think like a bear too, that’s no good.”

The White-Robed Scholar frowned.

“Why is this so damn complicated? Where the hell do we find someone like that?”

“Ridiculous.”

“What’s ridiculous?”

I replied sternly.

“You think the disciple of one of the Three Calamities can just be anybody?”

“Hmm.”

“This is someone who’s nearly unmatched across Jianghu. It’s not like I told you to find some once-in-a-millennium genius, right? Don’t you know what I mean when I say someone like a fox, but also like a bear? What do you even know, you pathetic bastard?”

The White-Robed Scholar fell silent.

“......”

“And most important of all, they have to know gratitude. Be happy to have a roof over their head. Appreciate the food Brother Habok cooks. Not take a warm bed for granted. Above all, they need to be someone who understands their good fortune and is capable of calling Senior Cheonak their adoptive father.”

Then, like I was ordering a chore, I said to the White-Robed Scholar,

“Go find Senior Cheonak an adoptive son.”

He tilted his head and muttered,

“You goddamn beggar of a man, always telling people what to do...”

“It’s not like I’m ordering you. That’s why I said it’s a favor.”

Cheonak asked,

“Are those your only two requests?”

“One more. If someone like Heukseon reappears, or if a crisis arises that threatens the entire Scholar faction, I plan to help. In return, the Scholar faction must help the Murim Alliance one day. I’m not saying you need to step in on every trivial issue. But if a crisis comes that’s enough to uproot the very foundation—just once, help them.”

Cheonak asked,

“You’re helping the Scholars, so why should the Scholars help the Murim Alliance?”

“Well, it’s pretty much the same thing. If I’m in danger, Alliance Leader Im will come to help. And Haomun doesn’t even exist in reality. There’s no signboard anywhere that says Haomun. Not now, and not in the future.”

“And you still call that a sect?”

“As long as the will continues.”

“What justification is there for the Scholars to help the Murim Alliance?”

“If they think the Alliance is rotten, they don’t have to. But Im Sobaek is a man worthy of Jianghu’s help. I can’t prove that right now. That’s why I’m asking.”

The two didn’t rashly respond. After a moment of mulling it over, the White-Robed Scholar brought up something completely unrelated.

“Hey, Master.”

“What.”

“Why do you call Cheonak ‘Senior Cheonak,’ and even Habok ‘Brother Habok,’ but always talk down to me? Is that really fair?”

I smirked.

“What the hell are you talking about? We’re comrades. What hierarchy is there between comrades? Comrades are comrades. We’re both bastards with no manners to begin with. So we’ve got to respect the consistency of our relationship.”

I was spewing so much nonsense, the conversation didn’t even make sense anymore. As the White-Robed Scholar stood there dumbfounded, Cheonak laughed in his place.

That was enough.

Whether I spoke formally or cursed like hell—it didn’t matter.

Between comrades, those things mean nothing.

That was when I realized my time at the Steel Mountain Lodge had come to an end. From here on out, it was up to fate—there’s only so much a person can do.

Because this was the flow of destiny.

While the White-Robed Scholar had been struggling to divert the waterfall’s stream, I had been doing my best to change the course of their fates.

Feeling a bittersweet mix of relief and regret, I stood up and said goodbye to the two of them.

“Senior. Comrade White-Robed. Let’s meet again. I’ll be off.”

Cheonak nodded.

“Stay alive.”

The White-Robed Scholar looked at me, then nodded too.

“Get lost.”

I walked above the waterfall, unfolded Dark Fragrance Drifting, and soared into the air. I hadn’t decided where to go yet, but I figured I’d descend the mountain first, then wander into some place and order a meal—anything but chicken.

How can anyone live on just chicken?

Goddammit...

...“He’s such an inscrutable bastard.”

“......”

The White-Robed Scholar stared at Cheonak’s silent back. Upon returning to his quarters, Cheonak was staring blankly at Sister Jinhyang’s portrait. After a long, wordless gaze, he let out a short sigh, took the portrait down, and rolled it up.

The White-Robed Scholar looked at him in surprise.

Cheonak turned around and handed him the scroll.

“Take it.”

“Why all of a sudden?”

“I’ve stared at it too long. I thought never forgetting her was loyalty and affection. But I realized there’s no need to remember her this way. It’s the cause of my heart demon—it hinders my training. Take it. Only after the Master came did I realize that my heart demon was something I’d invited myself.”

Understanding Cheonak’s feelings, the White-Robed Scholar took the scroll and said,

“Take a few days to rest.”

Cheonak recalled the conversation at the waterfall and replied,

“Get lost.”

Receiving the same words he had once said to the Master, the White-Robed Scholar let out a hollow laugh. Then Cheonak spoke in a commanding tone.

“Find someone Brother Habok would like.”

“What the hell? You’re not even planning to take a disciple.”

“Who said anything about a disciple? He has to start by learning Brother Habok’s work.”

The White-Robed Scholar sighed.

“Ugh, this is why I didn’t want you two to meet.”

Cheonak nodded.

“If this is fate, I’ll accept it.”

“Fate, my ass. I’m leaving.”

With that, the White-Robed Scholar vanished from the quarters.

Left alone, Cheonak stared silently at the empty spot where the portrait had been. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and the scent of Sister Jinhyang floated up in his mind.

In that empty room, Cheonak murmured to no one in particular.

“I haven’t forgotten you. We’ll meet again someday.”

Opening his eyes, Cheonak ignored the White-Robed Scholar’s suggestion to rest and headed toward the forge.