As if entering early winter, the cold wind of late autumn, when the night quickly approached, was exceptionally fast.

When people hurriedly returned to their rooms due to the mountain wind that was cold enough to cause chills if it touched bare skin, Hyuk Dojin was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the training hall, which was open on all sides, with his upper body exposed, quietly closing his eyes.

Even though he was just sitting, a haze rose above his body. Sweat beads formed on his sculpted muscles, flowing down and accumulating repeatedly.

Even in that brief process of lightly exhaling, Hyuk Dojin was extending all his senses to his surroundings, as if trying to perceive the universe.

Above his head, five circles of different colors circled and disappeared repeatedly. It was the so-called Five Elements Rotation, a rare phenomenon that could only be seen in masters who had reached a certain level.

Hyuk Dojin, who had been meditating and training with his eyes closed, slowly opened his eyes. Someone had entered his senses. As his eyelids parted, he could see a person walking from afar.

Hyuk Dojin sat still, facing him without any reaction to the cold air blowing against his body.

“Your attainment is reaching its peak, Young Cult Leader.”

The person who approached closely was the Vice Cult Leader, Man Do. He was looking at Hyuk Dojin with a satisfied expression. Hyuk Dojin nodded his head and rose from his seat. Man Do handed him the upper garment he had brought and continued speaking.

“You’re progressing at a tremendous speed compared to ten years ago, to the point where you can’t be considered the same person.”

“I’m still lacking, Martial Uncle.”

“Ha, lacking, you say.”

Man Do, who had been silently observing Hyuk Dojin as he put on his upper garment, bit his lip tightly.

Currently, Hyuk Dojin had broken through the barrier of the Transcendent Demonic Realm, which even the current Cult Leader couldn’t surpass in his youth. Although there were several stages remaining and he still had to undergo a few more transformations, even in his current state, it was clear that he would become the strongest Cult Leader in history.

If he were to cross swords with Hyuk Dojin now, he couldn’t confidently say he would win. No, he couldn’t even be sure he wouldn’t lose.

That’s how much Hyuk Dojin had achieved an enormous level of attainment that couldn’t be found at his age.

“It’s hopelessly insufficient to challenge that man.”

“…”

The opponent Hyuk Dojin had to surpass. It was his father, the Cult Leader Hyuk Muhyeol. That man. No matter how skilled Hyuk Dojin was, Hyuk Muhyeol was a difficult wall to overcome.

It would be resolved with time, but no one knew if that time would be ten years, twenty years, thirty years, or even fifty years.

Moreover, time was given equally to everyone. Hyuk Dojin’s ten years couldn’t become one year for Hyuk Muhyeol. In the meantime, Hyuk Muhyeol would only become stronger, not weaker.

“Don’t be too hasty, Young Cult Leader. Haste is poison.”

“I know.”

At Hyuk Dojin’s bitter smile, Man Do relaxed his expression. Slowly approaching and moving to the side, Hyuk Dojin, who was the first to step forward, opened his mouth.

“I heard a banquet is being held.”

“I received the news today.”

“Me too, Martial Uncle. The person being celebrated finds out about the banquet held in his honor less than a week before the event. It’s quite amusing.”

“Well, it’s a tactic with obvious intentions, isn’t it?”

Hyuk Dojin turned his head and glanced at Man Do before chuckling. The wind blew, causing his untied hair to flutter long.

“Do you plan to attend?”

“I have to attend. If they’re kindly sorting out the people I need to be wary of, there’s no reason to refuse, is there?”

Hyuk Dojin quietly looked up at the stars that had risen in the sky. His lips, which seemed like they would never part, slowly opened.

“People don’t seem to change. Even as time passes, they seem to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.”

Hyuk Dojin showed a faint smile.

“I remember. It was the same with my mother. They held a banquet under the pretense of celebrating her birthday and invited her, who was in poor health, there. Using the excuse of celebration, they made her stand for three shichen without letting her sit down. Do you know who those people were, laughing and giggling?”

Man Do couldn’t say a word as Hyuk Dojin spoke in a forceful voice.

“They were the ones who claimed to be the leaders of the Demon Cult and shouted that strength was everything. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that all the elders, including the Southern Manchuria Do clan and the Cliff Rivers Shin clan, or the Holy Stream League. But interestingly, the same people were involved this time as well.”

The wind caused his unbuttoned upper garment to flutter. Despite the chilly autumn wind blowing, Hyuk Dojin seemed to have no reaction.

“The actions of those who claimed strength was everything were so filthy and despicable that it was hard to believe. The sight of them giggling while making my struggling mother stand is still vivid in my memory.”

“I feel the same way, Young Cult Leader.”

“I don’t believe their words about doing it for the Demon Cult. Whenever they blabbered about doing it for the Demon Cult, I felt disgusted. They are people who are ready to turn their backs the moment they stray even an inch from their own self-interest. So, I have no reason to understand or tolerate them, Martial Uncle.”

“…”

“On the day I lost my mother, I learned only one lesson.”

A bitter smile hung on his lips.

“No one will protect what’s precious to me.”

As they conversed, they had already reached the pavilion. Hyuk Dojin straightened his clothes, buttoned them up neatly, and then brushed his hair back.

Until they returned to the room, neither of them spoke. Hyuk Dojin, with a neat appearance, stopped briefly in front of his room door.

The clattering and footsteps coming from inside the room made a thin smile appear on his lips. Hyuk Dojin smiled and grabbed the door handle.

“I have no intention of repeating the mistake of losing my mother. No one can take Sowol away from me.”

As he opened the door, a bright voice came from inside. Facing Sowol’s face, Hyuk Dojin quietly muttered.

“…Even if the Grim Reaper from hell comes.”

* * *

The preparations for the banquet were steadily progressing. As if keeping her word, Cho Hong brought the outfit on the third day after taking my measurements two days ago.

It was a long dress made of dark black fabric, quite different from the fluttering wedding dress.

Despite the plain black color, the embroidery using gold and silver threads made it feel luxurious, even though it was a dark-toned color.

When I tried on the outfit with Cho Hong’s help, I suddenly felt that it was similar to the clothes Hyuk Dojin wore. From the fabric belt tied around the waist to the tailoring that clearly revealed the neckline. It reminded me of the outfit Hyuk Dojin wore, full of gaps.

When I asked Cho Hong out of curiosity, she also confirmed it. I let out a short exclamation at her words that she had prepared an outfit with a similar feel to Hyuk Dojin’s attire for this banquet.

“Do you perhaps not like this outfit?”

I shook my head at Cho Hong’s worried gaze. It wasn’t that I disliked it, but rather the opposite. I preferred this neatness over fluttering and loose clothes. It wasn’t a banquet I wanted to attend anyway, and I had no desire to wear uncomfortable clothes there.

Moreover, I quite liked the idea of wearing an outfit with the same feel as Hyuk Dojin’s.

As I rubbed the fabric with my hand, I imagined myself standing next to Hyuk Dojin in this outfit.

‘…’

Would we look like a married couple? I had no intention of harboring the desire to spend more years together with Hyuk Dojin. Still, as long as I was alive and able to walk properly, I wanted to stand by his side and look like his wife.

If it was my small wish, I hoped that when I stood wearing this outfit, people would see me as his wife.

As I was rubbing the fabric with my fingertips, Hyuk Dojin entered the room, knocking on the door. Seeing my appearance, he widened his eyes and grinned.

“Young Cult Leader. What do you think of the Young Madam’s appearance? Do you like it?”

Hyuk Dojin silently observed me, smoothly raising the corners of his mouth, and spoke bluntly.

“I don’t particularly like it.”

“Pardon?”

Cho Hong’s surprised voice rang out. It wasn’t just Cho Hong who was taken aback. I also thought his answer was unexpected.

Could it be that he was displeased with me wearing an outfit with a similar feel to his? Did he think I was imitating his way of dressing? So…

“My wife is so beautiful that I don’t really want to show her off at a banquet where numerous people will see her. Selfishly, I want to be the only one who knows this sight.”

His hand approached, lightly supporting my waist as if pulling me close, and he smiled.

“My wife is truly fascinating. Even though she’s the same person, she gives off such a mysterious and intelligent vibe… She possesses a charm that others can’t imitate.”

Surprised by his sudden display of affection, I stood frozen as Cho Hong smiled softly, saying ‘Hohoho,’ and disappeared with her maids.

In the space where only the two of us remained, I awkwardly looked up at Hyuk Dojin, who was closely attached to me. I rolled my eyes upward. The corners of Hyuk Dojin’s mouth were gently curved upward.

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Then why all of a sudden…”

“Is it not allowed to do it suddenly?”

“That’s…”

Not that. I shifted my gaze from the corners of his mouth and raised it higher. Hyuk Dojin was smiling lightly. Did something good happen?

As I was making a puzzled expression at his unusual behavior, Hyuk Dojin reached into his bosom and took out a small box.

Hyuk Dojin, who had been holding my waist, stepped back slightly. He turned the box in his hand towards me and lightly opened it. Inside, a necklace shimmering with silver was placed.

As I blinked my eyes in wonder, Hyuk Dojin took the necklace out of the box and held it up. I noticed a red gemstone embedded at the end.

“It’s a necklace made of silver and red jade.”

“Why that…”

As I hesitated, Hyuk Dojin put down the box, unclasped the necklace, and placed his arms behind my neck. The sound of rustling and the friction of fabric against fabric felt sensitive and loud. With the coolness of the silver touching my skin and the unfamiliar sensation, I lowered my head.

Ignoring Hyuk Dojin’s breath coming from close by, I lowered my eyes and looked at the floor. With a small click, Hyuk Dojin’s voice came from above.

“How is it?”

His arms withdrew. Instead, his arms holding my shoulders turned my body towards the mirror. Hyuk Dojin was smiling behind me, holding my shoulders.

I rubbed the necklace with the red jade embedded in it, where his gaze was fixed, with my fingertips and raised my eyes again. Hyuk Dojin’s smile and voice reached me.

“It suits you well.”

“…”

“I thought it would match your white hair beautifully, so I commissioned its creation. They said it would take a long time, but fortunately, it was completed before the banquet. I’m glad it arrived on time.”

“Did you personally order its creation?”

He quietly nodded in affirmation.

“Why?”

“Because I thought it would suit you well.”

“But I already have many gemstones. Even the ones you gave me already exceed dozens. Why did you have to…”

“Well, it’s because I thought it would suit Sowol better than the others.”

He spoke quietly, holding my shoulders.

“I can give you anything. If you ask for gemstones, I can fill this entire building with them, and if you ask for the world, I can give you the world. You can be greedy and throw tantrums. If there’s anything you desire, tell me, no matter what it is.”

Hyuk Dojin’s hand flowed downward. Holding my hand that was facing the floor, Hyuk Dojin lightly lifted it. Hyuk Dojin gently kissed my knuckles and spoke softly.

“Desire can be an important nutrient that makes a person live, after all.”

“…”

I quietly looked at the red jade hanging from the necklace. Its beauty was captivating, and its brilliance gave the illusion of vividly reflecting me, making me shudder. But I wasn’t smiling in it. Rather, I was angry at myself.

‘Hope…’

Even though I knew I shouldn’t give him any room, I couldn’t say a word whenever I faced him. The me reflected in the gemstone was angry at my own behavior.

‘You’re selfish.’

What was I hoping for?

I couldn’t understand myself, who was just receiving his kindness without saying anything.