"Hey, pull yourself together. You look like you've lost your country."

Chun-bong patted Seo-jun's back, but he couldn't seem to shake his despair. This couldn't be happening. Something was terribly wrong.

"This isn't right… something's gone horribly wrong…"

"Seriously, this guy…"

"I can't accept this."

Seo-jun suddenly shot to his feet, his eyes burning with a determined fire.

"Follow me."

"W-wait, what? Let go of my hand…! Ugh…!"

Chun-bong, who was being dragged along, eventually gave in and followed Seo-jun. His hurried steps led them straight to the dining hall.

"Why the dining hall all of a sudden?"

Without saying a word, Seo-jun poked his head into the kitchen.

"Five servings, please! Make it something that'll put on weight!"

"Isn't this a bit excessive…?"

"This is your duty, Chun-bong. I need those soft, squishy cheeks back in my hands, pronto."

"What…"

"Hurry up! I can't live like this! Before I enter qihuo madness, fix this now!"

Chun-bong stared at Seo-jun, her mouth hanging open as he threw a tantrum like a child.

"Are you sure this isn't already qihuo madness?"

If he went into madness now, would he loop back to sanity? Or just become even crazier?

"Hurry up!"

"…You crazy bastard."

In the end, Seo-jun ate four out of the five servings, but considering how little Chun-bong usually ate, even one serving was a lot for her. Seo-jun, satisfied, decided not to push her further.

"Ha…"

"You’re going to create a sinkhole with all that sighing."

"…Did you grow taller again?"

"You're quick to notice, aren't you?"

Chun-bong stretched, her head now almost at Seo-jun’s chin. She smiled proudly, unconsciously touching her chest.

Pat, pat.

Nothing had changed.

"…Damn it."

Chun-bong muttered in despair, while Seo-jun laughed and stretched his body. The tension from the previous night’s study of defensive energy techniques finally eased from his muscles.

“Alright, I’m off.”

“To the courtesans?”

“Yep. Gotta make sure their discipline is in order.”

“Won’t the Cheongha Sect handle that on their own? Why do you have to?”

“Call it a basic courtesy.”

Whistling, Seo-jun walked off.

A week passed.

It was time to leave the Cheongha Sect.

Seo-jun and Chun-bong stood before the sect leader in the main hall, exchanging farewells. Cheong-un was there as well.

"So, you're leaving?"

"Yeah, it's about time."

"I see. Perhaps we'll meet again if fate allows."

"Why bring fate into it? If we want to meet, we can just meet. No need for the heavens to get involved."

The faint smile on Seo-jun’s lips grew as he slowly drew his sword.

Drawing a blade in front of a sect leader was a serious offense, an act that could easily lead to one's death. But neither the leader nor Cheong-un moved, their eyes locked on Seo-jun.

"I got a pill from you, so I might as well give something back…"

He raised his sword with measured weight. He wasn’t planning to show off any extraordinary swordsmanship. After all, the sect leader was far more skilled with the blade than he was.

But in this one area, Seo-jun was confident.

“Watch carefully.”

His gaze shifted to Cheong-un, and the sword fell in a simple, straight line. It was just a basic downward cut, following the movements of the Samjae Sword Technique, but golden waves rippled out from the blade.

From this single stroke, the gi of the sword adapted, shifting with the wind. It flowed calmly in a gentle breeze, lightly in a playful gust, and fiercely in a storm.

When the sword finally came to rest, the scattered energy gathered like rivers flowing into the sea.

Golden waves danced across the room, and Cheong-un couldn't help but gasp.

"Beautiful…"

“Right?”

“Thank you…”

Cheong-un clasped his hands in a respectful bow. Seo-jun chuckled and returned the gesture.

He turned to the sect leader and asked, “Was that enough to repay the pill?”

“You’ve already repaid it. Now I find myself in your debt once again.”

The sect leader chuckled softly, stroking his beard.

“What do you think of Baekhagwiyang?”

“‘A hundred rivers return to the sea’... I like it.”

Cheong-un’s Cheongryu Sword and the sect leader’s Cheongryu Cheongcheon Sword had evolved, and now this new name embodied the essence of it.

With the image of countless rivers and a vast ocean etched into his mind, Seo-jun smiled.

"See you around."

As Seo-jun passed through the gates of the Cheongha Sect, a faint voice called out behind him.

"Thank you…!"

He turned to see the courtesans waving from afar, with Churyung waving the most enthusiastically.

Seo-jun waved back with a smile.

"Take care, everyone!"

With that, he turned and walked away.

"Shall we go?"

"Do you know where we're heading?"

“I’ll figure it out on the way.”

Their next stop was Hongwolru.

“Welcome back.”

As usual, Maewol greeted them. Seo-jun glanced at her, debating something internally.

‘No need to talk in private, I guess.’

There wasn’t much to ask, anyway.

“I’m looking to buy some information.”

“Of course, sir. Shall we head to a private room?”

“It’s nothing major, so we can talk here.”

Seo-jun looked around. There were other customers and Maewol’s guards nearby, but it didn’t seem like they’d mind.

“Do you know where I can get some medicinal pills?”

“Pills, you say? Are you looking for something specific?”

“No, just any good pills will do.”

“In that case, I can tell you right away.”

Maewol approached him with quiet steps, leaning in close enough for him to feel her breath on his ear. The scent of her perfume filled the air, and Seo-jun had to stop his hand from instinctively reaching for his waist.

She whispered softly, “There will be a martial arts competition hosted by the Mount Hua Sect soon. The first prize is Maehwa Dan. Not quite as good as Jasodan, but still a valuable pill, especially rich in Yang energy—it’s particularly beneficial for men.”

Maewol let out a soft chuckle, her breath tickling his ear.

“Back off, you wench!”

Chun-bong, fuming, shoved Maewol away. Seo-jun, who had been subtly wiping his ear, nodded.

“So, the Mount Hua Sect? What’s the price?”

“Oh, sir, there’s no need for payment. This is just a small courtesy from me.”

“Well, in that case…”

Saving money when you could was always a good idea. If she offered it for free, he’d gladly take it.

“Oh, and here.”

Maewol pulled something from her cleavage and handed it to him—a small wooden token with the character for “hidden” carved into it.

"Why was that in there…?”

“It’s quite convenient, you know.”

The token was warm, and Seo-jun held it gingerly by the edges, trying to cool it off.

"Th-that…!"

Chun-bong, who could only dream of hiding anything in her chest, looked dazed.

Poor thing.

But Chun-bong suited her flat chest. Could you even imagine her as some bombshell sex symbol? Trying not to picture it was like trying not to think of a pink elephant—it was impossible.

“That token marks you as a branch leader of Dueumhyang.”

“A regional branch leader?”

Chun-bong squinted suspiciously, recognizing the significance of the title.

Seo-jun knew enough to realize that hyang was like a district in administrative terms, akin to a township.

But if Maewol was a regional branch leader, that was higher than expected. No wonder Chun-bong was wary.

“There’s no need to be so cautious. Even as a branch leader, it’s not that significant. Besides, these tokens are easy to fake. Don’t get your hopes up too much.”

As Maewol said, the token was just a piece of wood. It wasn’t treated in any special way.

“Well, thanks.”

Seo-jun tucked the token into his pocket, giving a small nod.

“Take care.”

“You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s too bad. I suppose tonight will be our last…”

Maewol sighed dramatically, her expression clearly feigned.

“Care to spend this last night with me?”

“No, thanks.”

“You’re so cold.”

This woman really was something else.

Seo-jun shook his head and waved goodbye.

“Maybe we’ll meet again.”

“We’ll meet again? Fate? With her? You really think so?”

“Why are you so mad all of a sudden, Goldie?”

“I’m not mad!”

“You sound really pissed… Is it that time of the month?”

“…You crazy bastard. Shut up?”

“I’ll shut up now.”

Seo-jun and Chun-bong returned to their home to pack.

Food, water, clothes, and other essentials—everything was thrown together until they had a neat bundle to carry.

“Wow, I look badass.”

Seo-jun admired himself in the mirror, especially pleased with the hooded cloak he’d picked up—a dubong, as they called it in the martial world.

It looked a bit warm to wear every day, but layered over his thin pibong, it gave him a perfect martial artist look.

“More like, you are a martial artist.”

“Ah, true.”

And with that, it was time to go.

I, Seo-jun, newcomer to the martial world.

Filled with excitement on my journey, the first people I encountered were bandits.

"R-run for your lives…!"

"Please, spare meee…!!"

Now I’m the one running like hell.

"What the hell is going on?"