The current world was a chaotic era.

Endless scandals flowed from the imperial court, and the central government was corrupt, a time when the buying and selling of official positions was rampant throughout the Central Plains.

The martial artists, who called themselves 'murim-in', sought to become the kings of their own regions.

Incorruptible officials were either driven out by the buying and selling of positions or forced to abandon their beliefs before the swords of greedy martial artists.

As a result, the exploitation of the common people grew worse by the day, and as famine repeated, those who could no longer endure it abandoned the homes they had lived in their whole lives and set off on a long journey that neither the government nor the martial world could touch.

And the place they arrived at was none other than the Heavenly Mountains.

Some said that if you went to the place they called the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, a land awaited where you didn't have to fear the exploitation of the government or the blades of the martial world.

Baek Sowol's Baek family was one of those heading to the Heavenly Mountains.

The Baek family, a family of upright and renowned officials, had protected their region through successive famines by providing relief to the local people free of charge and even paying their excessive taxes for them.

They had not bowed to the sharp blades of the martial artists, but when the martial artists, in collusion with the judges, framed the Baek family for treason and began to kill them, they had no choice but to flee.

But in the process, those who called themselves the Martial Alliance chased them to the end, killing the members of their family.

Baek Sowol's party continued to flee and reached Sichuan, a place far from their original destination.

Nevertheless, the pursuit did not stop, and people died.

In that turmoil, Baek Sowol was separated and barely survived, taken in by Baek Yoonjun.

'I must go to the Heavenly Mountains.'

Although many people, including her father and mother, had died, if anyone had survived, they would have headed for the Heavenly Mountains.

Therefore, for the sake of revenge.

And to meet her family.

She had to go to the Heavenly Mountains.

* * *

Baek Sowol closed her eyes and operated her heart method.

At first, it was difficult to even maintain her breathing, but as she continued to operate it steadily, she was now able to feel her surroundings.

The energy of the surroundings naturally flowed into and out of Baek Sowol's body repeatedly.

As a result, Baek Sowol's senses also began to slowly spread to her surroundings.

At first, she thought it was very small.

But she realized that what she felt was her own current state, which was so very small.

When she sensed the outside of that smallness, a vast world appeared.

That world had an end, but it was absurdly vast.

And the moment she reached the end of that world, she could understand the identity of the world's end.

That end was the end of the mountain peak where the house was.

And when she went outside of that, something changed.

Baek Sowol realized that it was the energy that acted on all things.

For some reason, that energy was flocking towards this place, and at its end, an absurd amount of energy was gathered.

But that energy, though vast, was not ferocious.

A warm energy, like a spring breeze.

The absurdly powerful and large energy was very gentle.

That energy was looking down at Baek Sowol herself and smiling gently.

Baek Sowol organized the immense energy dwelling in her body by contemplating the energy and slowly opened her eyes.

Before her, her master was smiling gently.

"It seems you've had an achievement."

"Yes, I've realized how big the world is and how small I am."

Baek Sowol looked at her master.

Her master, who called himself an ordinary person.

'If Master is an ordinary person, then there would be no one in the world who could be called a martial artist.'

She didn't know why her master claimed to be an ordinary person.

But what she could guess was.

'Perhaps he's tired of the arrogant and conceited appearance of those who rise up in the name of justice, using their small achievements like ranks...'

Of course, it was just her thought, and she couldn't know what the truth was.

But she felt like she knew what her master was thinking now.

The master quietly took out a Go board.

"Now that your training is over, take a breather and keep this master company."

Recently, her master often invited her to keep him company in this way.

"I understand."

Click.

Under the cloudless blue sky, only the sound of the master and disciple placing their Go stones echoed quietly.

They quietly exchanged Go stones for a while.

Click.

"Is something troubling you?"

In that silence, it was Baek Yoonjun who spoke first.

At first glance, it sounded indifferent, but at the words filled with worry, Baek Sowol fell into thought for a moment before voicing the question that had just come to mind.

"I don't understand why Master claims to be an ordinary person."

"That's because I am an ordinary person. What other reason could there be?"

Baek Sowol closed her mouth again.

She couldn't force out the inner thoughts of her master, who wouldn't speak even to this extent.

"What you just said is more of a question than a worry. If you have a worry, tell me."

Baek Yoonjun asked Baek Sowol about her worries again, and this time Baek Sowol thought for quite a long time.

'The fact that he's asking like this means Master has already noticed my worries. But he won't pry.'

Her worries deepened, and the hand placing the Go stone also hesitated more frequently.

'But to have received such grace and then drag my master into my affairs would be an act of ingratitude that would anger heaven and earth.'

Baek Sowol quietly buried in her heart the things that were now boiling inside her and about to become an illness.

Instead, she voiced a more direct question.

"What should I do if I have to leave the mountain?"

Baek Yoonjun was slightly taken aback by Baek Sowol's words.

He knew she had worries, but he hadn't asked the question with any particular guess about her inner thoughts.

In the first place, Baek Yoonjun hadn't really thought deeply about anything since he had holed himself up in the mountains.

To such a Baek Yoonjun, the heavy word 'leaving the mountain' that came from Baek Sowol's mouth was enough to make his heart sink.

Baek Yoonjun calmed his startled heart and calmly opened his mouth.

"Does life here not suit you?"

"No. It has been a more comfortable, fulfilling, and enjoyable time than any other time in my life."

"Then why did you think of leaving the mountain?"

"That is..."

Baek Sowol trailed off, glancing at Baek Yoonjun's expression.

Fortunately, her master was not angry, but had a face full of genuine worry.

Feeling a sting in her heart at that worried gaze, Baek Sowol slowly opened her mouth.

"Because there is something I must do."

Baek Yoonjun's mood became complicated upon hearing Baek Sowol's answer.

'It must be a story related to the thugs who tried to kill Sowol.'

But just as Baek Sowol didn't pry, Baek Yoonjun didn't pry either.

However, he was not very keen on her leaving the mountain when she seemed unable to take care of herself yet.

"I don't know what it is you have to do, but if it's not urgent, is there a need to hurry?"

"There's no need to hurry, but I have to go."

"So let's not hurry, and let's take our time."

"Until when is that time?"

"I can't say for sure until when..."

As Baek Yoonjun trailed off, Baek Sowol asked as if she was puzzled.

"Master. Is there another reason why I shouldn't leave the mountain?"

"No, it's not like that..."

"Come to think of it, you seemed lonely lately. Is it because you have no one to talk to?"

"No, that's not it..."

"Come to think of it, you've often asked me to keep you company after training lately."

"No..."

"Thinking about it, Master, you've been alone here for a long time without any interaction with the opposite sex. In that case, could it be..."

"No! That's not it!"

Baek Yoonjun was beyond disappointed, he was on the verge of feeling wronged.

He had said it out of genuine concern for Sowol, but for her to misinterpret it in this way!

"If that's not it, then what is it?"

"You're fucking weak, aren't you?!"

A strange silence fell between the two for a moment.

"...Pardon?"

"Ah, no, that is..."

"Fuck... ing? What does that mean?"

Baek Yoonjun, whose mind had gone blank for a moment, came to his senses and answered.

"Ahem, it's a strong expression for 'very much'."

"I see. In that case, Master, you are a fucking strong person."

"Ahem, kids shouldn't use words like that carelessly."

"I understand."

Baek Sowol nodded readily and made a resolution inwardly.

'If I say I'm leaving the mountain, he'll try to stop me, so I need to prepare step by step from now on.'

* * *

A month later.

Baek Yoonjun started to get antsy.

His nature was to be cooped up in one place, but the walks and fishing he occasionally enjoyed after going down the mountain with the confidence he gained after developing internal energy had become a wonderful part of Baek Yoonjun's daily life.

Recently, he had restrained himself as much as possible for Baek Sowol's safety, but he was starting to see his limits.

'I was thinking of taking Sowol out for an outing anyway, so should I go on this occasion?'

Having made up his mind, Baek Yoonjun headed to the open space in the backyard.

In the open space, Baek Sowol was in the middle of training her martial arts.

Thump!

A footstep as if to crush someone.

Baek Sowol had named it the Reigning Steps.

'Was the footwork I created that menacing?'

The martial art Baek Sowol was training was named the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, as she had wished.

That Heavenly Demon Divine Art was a martial art created by discussing the martial arts and heart method of the Three Talents Celestial Records with Baek Sowol to make it easier for her to learn.

Although he knew a certain amount about the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Baek Yoonjun had not predicted that it would emit such a menacing aura.

In any case, that wasn't what was important right now.

Baek Yoonjun waited for Baek Sowol's training to finish to some extent, and when it was about to finish, he let out a light cough.

"Ahem."

Only then did Baek Sowol notice Baek Yoonjun's presence and turn her head.

"You've come, Master." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Baek Sowol bowed her head demurely towards her master.

Seeing that, Baek Yoonjun contemplated the number of cases where he should bow his head and when he should do a fist-and-palm salute, but immediately gave up and nodded his head to receive the greeting.

"Is your training going well?"

"Yes, thanks to you, Master, I am steadily progressing."

"Yes. That's a relief."

Baek Yoonjun nodded his head in satisfaction and let out a small cough.

Then he quietly took out his fishing rod.

"Since today's training seems to be over, why don't we go fishing together?"

Baek Yoonjun recalled the past and thought that Baek Sowol would naturally not refuse, and organized today's plan step by step in his head.

"I-I'm so sorry, what should I do? I feel like my training is progressing well right now, so I'd like to continue a little more."

"Yes, get ready right away... what, what?"

"I'm sorry."

Baek Yoonjun was flustered by the sight of Baek Sowol bowing her head deeply.

But he soon calmed down and carefully suggested going out again.

"If it's training, I can watch you from time to time while we fish, so how about we go out together?"

"I'm sorry, but I'd like to try it alone."

Baek Sowol bowed her head deeply as if she was very sorry.

At the sight of his disciple, Baek Yoonjun felt a little disappointed, but he decided to respect his disciple.

"Do as you wish, my child. In that case, I will also give up on going out today."

"N-no. Since it's been a while since you've gone out, Master, why don't you go?"

Baek Sowol avoided Baek Yoonjun's eyes and suggested he go out.

Baek Yoonjun thought her appearance was very suspicious, but he soon came to the conclusion, 'She must be feeling sorry.'

"Then I'll be back, so keep up the hard work with your training."

"Yes! Take your time and come back!"

At the sight of Baek Sowol, who seemed strangely happy, Baek Yoonjun felt disappointed again.

'No. Sowol has grown up too, so she probably needs some time to herself.'

Baek Yoonjun reached the essence of a different meaning in a different sense.

Of course, it was a completely different thought.

'When Master goes out, I should go down to a nearby village and gather information.'

If it were her master, the moment she went down the mountain, he would quickly follow her while she was briefly lost.

So it would be important to figure out the way down and the geography in advance, and to know where the villages and such were.

After Baek Yoonjun left, Baek Sowol slowly and completely confirmed that Baek Yoonjun had left and prepared to go down the mountain.

Food, weapons, clothes, and herbs.

She had packed everything else, but there was nothing that could be used as a weapon.

'I can't take the practice wooden sword just in case.'

As she was preparing, Baek Yoonjun's sword, which was leaning against the door frame, caught her eye.

'He left his sword? Should I take a quick look?'

Come to think of it, she had never properly seen her master's sword before.

Although her master didn't say anything special about the sword, Baek Sowol had secretly suspected that it might be a divine object that would never be seen again in the world.

She carefully grabbed the sword and lifted it.

"Ugh! Wh-what's so heavy?!"

The sword didn't budge at all.

Even when she put all her strength into her grip, it didn't move an inch.

'So it wasn't an ordinary sword after all.'

Although she couldn't lift the sword, Baek Sowol was satisfied to have confirmed that the identity of the sword was something close to a divine object, just as she had thought.

'I didn't plan on taking it, but I wouldn't have been able to even if I had.'

Turning her attention away from the sword, Baek Sowol looked for another weapon.

Then she found a Chinese cleaver in the kitchen.

Staring blankly at the sharp blue blade, Baek Sowol placed a leaf on top of the blade.

The leaf made no sound and split in half from the point where the blade touched it.

'Even the kitchen cleaver has such sharpness.'

Although it was something used for cooking, it was an object that could be used as a weapon.

Baek Sowol wrapped the cleaver several times with leather she found nearby, tied it to her waist, and moved her body.

After confirming that the cleaver was firmly fixed to her waist, Baek Sowol left the kitchen.

"Ready!"

Unlike usual, Baek Sowol, who looked her age and was excited like a child, hurried down the mountain at once.

Despite the rough mountain terrain, the lightness skill she had learned so far shone, and she was able to descend the mountain without much difficulty.

As she continued down, she found a village sooner than she expected.

'A village in such a rough place?'

Baek Sowol looked at the village with puzzled eyes.

And she noticed.

That every single person in the village was extraordinary.

'The location is strange, and the villagers are extraordinary. This is definitely a village related to Master!'

Baek Sowol was a smart child, so she was able to guess the identity of the village without difficulty and quickly moved away.

While Baek Sowol was quickly moving away from the village with her lightness skill, there was someone who was watching her closely.

"...There's someone who came down from that mountain other than 'him'?"

Baek Sowol didn't notice, but a boy with a calm atmosphere, dressed like a scholar more mature than her, was quietly watching Baek Sowol's back from the middle of the village.

(End of Chapter)